Early Church of Christ: Recent Episodes
James Glasscock
re feeling the joy of the season or the division that often comes with standing for Truth, this message will challenge you to take up your cross and follow the Prince of Peace.Subscribe for more weekly sermons and biblical teaching!
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.http://bible.com/events/49476074
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.For Video: https://youtu.be/QaqAI-0Q8Ig
Matthew 5:38–42 (NIV)38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Matthew 5:33–37 (CSB)33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord. 34 But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, because it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. 36 Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.
Matthew 5:21–26 (CSB)21 “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. 22 But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister, will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire. 23 So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you’re on the way with him to the court, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny.
Matthew 5:13–16 (CSB) “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:9–12 (CSB)Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:1–12 (NIV)1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 4:23–25 (CSB)23 Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 Then the news about him spread throughout Syria. So they brought to him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. And he healed them. 25 Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
Matthew 4:17–22 (CSB) "From then on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.' As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 'Follow me,' he told them, 'and I will make you fish for people.' 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him."
Matthew 4:12–17 (NASB95)"Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 'THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES—THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.'From that time Jesus began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"
Matthew 3:13–17 (ESV)13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
John the Baptist was not one to mince words, so while it must have been jarring, it wasn't too surprising that his greeting to the Pharisees and Sadducees was "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" Why did he start with this, and how can we learn from their mistakes and instead pursue a vibrant, living faith in Christ?
Matthew 2:1–6 (ESV)1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
Matthew 1:18–25 (ESV)18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
"For many cultures ancient and modern, and certainly in the Jewish world of Matthew’s day, this genealogy was the equivalent of a roll of drums, a fanfare of trumpets, and a town crier calling for attention. Any first-century Jew would find this family tree both impressive and compelling. Like a great procession coming down a city street, we watch the figures at the front, and the ones in the middle, but all eyes are waiting for the one who comes in the position of greatest honour, right at the end."Tom Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1-15 (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004), 2.
Malachi had a message from God of both correction and hope for the people of Israel. They had become careless and negligent in their calling, and were stale in their faith. But God gives them a glimpse of the coming Messiah and his forebearer (John the Baptist) in this call back to a godly focus and life of faith.
Haggai the prophet urged the returning people of Jerusalem to remember their commitments and calling as he called them to complete the rebuilding of the Temple because they had become distracted by misplaced priorities and procrastination. Haggai wasn't the bearer of fire and brimstone, though. As they faithfully returned to their mission, God had some beautiful blessings in store.
"The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”- Zephaniah 3:17, NIV
"How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails.The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.The Lord’s Answer5 “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed.For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.Habakkuk 1:2-5, NIV
We're excited to share this message from James Kinnaird, Regional Advancement Representative for World Bible School, about the past, present, and future ministry of World Bible School. We are also very excited about the hands-on opportunities WBS makes possible for our congregation to share the good news of Jesus with people around the world.
Sometimes the difference between bad news and good news is which side of the news you're on. Such was the case when Nahum prophecies the fall of Nineveh and Assyria. If you had been violent, oppressive, and abusive, the coming of the King of Kings is a bad day. However, if you were among the crushed, the oppressed, the exploited, and pummeled? Delivery is GOOD NEWS! GREAT NEWS!! And such is the case with those who now await the advent of King of Kings."But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."— Philippians 3:20–21 (NIV)
Into a world of injustice, oppression, and greed the prophet Micah spoke justice, hope, and the kingdom of the Messiah."He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
Jonah is an incredibly powerful and dramatic story. Being swallowed by a fish for three days and surviving sounds crazy and miraculous. However, that isn't the most incredible facet of Jonah's story. The most powerful part of the story is God's mercy and redemption of a people so lost, so broken, that God describes them as "not knowing their right from their left." God committed an act of mercy so incredible that Jonah was actually offended by it, and thought it was God who should repent of showing so much grace!
Obadiah. He was, perhaps, the definition of a fire & brimstone prophet. His book is short but powerful as he addresses the nation of Edom (the descendants of Esau) and their abuse of their neighbors in Israel
Amos was a farmer and shepherd from the Southern Kingdom (Judah) sent to the heart of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) to speak truth to power. He held nothing back as he spoke powerfully to oppression, injustice, and deep immorality, calling people to genuine change and a real relationship with God. It's a message that rings as true for the world and the church of Christ as it did then.
Joel 2:13–14 (MSG)"Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to GOD, your God. And here’s why: God is kind and merciful. He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot, This most patient God, extravagant in love, always ready to cancel catastrophe. Who knows? Maybe he’ll do it now, maybe he’ll turn around and show pity. Maybe, when all’s said and done, there’ll be blessings full and robust for your GOD!"
The Book of Hosea is a beautiful, poetic look into the heart of God for his people, Israel. It's also a heartbreaking look at the brokenness of our world, and how it weighs on God's own heart. Through it all, God's justice, mercy, and grace shine through.
This week James updated us on his recent work in Guatemala City, and spoke on Acts 8 and how we can learn from Philip how to share the good news of Jesus.
Esther proved to be a strong, capable, faithful, and courageous woman of faith. That faith and courage was, in part, due to her willingness to have and to listen to wise people around her.
Moses's story starts with such apparent promise, but very quickly goes off the rails. In a moment of anger and rage, he murders an Egyptian and loses the only life he'd ever known as he runs off to hide. For 40 years he hid until one day, by a voice in a burning bush, God came calling.#Godisnotdonewithyou
1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)"But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'"
"In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?" (James 2:25, NIV)Faith can be found in the most surprising hearts, and Rahab is a great example. She was a prostitute in a Canaanite city with a reputation for idolatry and ungodliness. Yet, news of God's deliverance and blessing of the Israelites had reached her ears, and she had come to believe in the Almighty God of Israel. That faith led her to protect His people, and in the process, save her own family.
At a time when Gideon saw himself and his people as powerless and hopeless, the Lord spoke triumph, courage, and valor to his life. We are all more than we think we are, because God sees all we become when we trust him.
“Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the devil an opportunity. Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need. No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.” (Ephesians 4:25–5:2, CSB)
Matthew 8:10–11 (NIV)"When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."#touchingtheuntouchable #healingtheunhealable #bridgingtheunbridgeable
Acts 3:1–8 (NIV)3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
In this series I've been sharing life-changing lessons I learned at church, and this one is perhaps the most important--they showed me the living, breathing, saving, powerful, victorious, compassionate Jesus!The title is special to me, too. It's the song they always sang during baptisms just as the person came up out of the water:Wonderful, wonderful, Jesus is to me;Counselor, Prince of Peace, Mighty God is He;Saving me, keeping me from my sin and shame;Wonderful is my Redeemer Praise His Name.earlychurchofchrist.org
Romans 10:17 (CSB)17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
There is great power -- to grow, learn, and stretch in our faith -- when we finally learn the value of confessing..."I don't know."
2 Peter 1:5–11 (CSB)5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. 11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
Friendship is invaluable. Through friendship, we encounter so many moments of joy, laughter, encouragement, and wisdom. It's a gift from God. Today we look at the blessing of good, godly friends and mentors, and we'll look at why we need to be wise in choosing who we have as friends, mentors, and encouragers in our lives.
Proverbs 4:23–25 (CSB)23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. 24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously. 25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
Notes: http://bible.com/events/49265629Luke 9:51–56 (CSB)"When the days were coming to a close for him to be taken up, he determined to journey to Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead of himself, and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for him. But they did not welcome him, because he determined to journey to Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village."
John 1:43–51 (CSB)The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and told him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him.“Come and see,” Philip answered. Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered. “Rabbi,” Nathanael replied, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!” Jesus responded to him, “Do you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” Then he said, “Truly I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Jose & Marta Martinez and their family were our honored guests this Sunday. Jose gave us an update on the Lord's work in Acuña, Mexico.(The audio will improve greatly at around the 5 minute mark)
http://bible.com/events/49251786John 15:1–17 (CSB)1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. 17 “This is what I command you: Love one another.
John 20:1–18 (ESV)1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes. 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
Good morning! Today we continue our series called "Forgotten Gifts" about gifts granted by the Holy Spirit that too often go dormant, unappreciated, and unused. We want to encourage one another to regain the power of God to change the world through these impactful gifts.This week we are looking at the Gift of Mercy.
Today we continue our series "Forgotten Gifts" about gifts granted by the Holy Spirit that too often go dormant, unappreciated, and unused. We want to encourage one another to regain the power of God to change the world through these impactful gifts, and this week we're looking at the Gift of Exhortation.
This week we are looking at a gift so overlooked that we may literally have forgotten it exists! Yet, we have all loved and appreciated those who have it and are used by God to bless others with their gift.
Good morning! Today we start a new series called "Forgotten Gifts" about gifts granted by the Holy Spirit that too often go dormant, unappreciated, and unused. We want to encourage one another to regain the power of God to change the world through these impactful gifts.
"One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him." Acts 3:1-10, NIV
Today we continue our series "To Be Or Not To Be" and today's passage is like a check engine light for the soul!1 Peter 5:8-11 (NIV)"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."earlychurchofchrist.org
Today we continue our series "To Be Or Not To Be" and today's passage puts a challenge to us: Be holy as I AM holy. This seems like such a high calling (because it is!), but it's not a set up for failure, quite the opposite. God is calling us by grace to thrive in His holiness.1 Peter 1:13–16 (NIV)13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
To Be Or Not To Be. The Christian faith has always been rooted in Jesus' call for us to leave behind the world of "doing religion" and to instead be disciples of Christ. So in this series, we'll be looking at some of the "be" challenges that God puts to us in scripture, calling us to be someone greater than a set of to-do lists.We'll kick off today with a favorite passage of mine, and one that is maybe a bit more obscure...
“Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”” (Luke 1:46–55, NLT)
"Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with [q]all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.' But the Lord answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.'” (Luke 10:38-42, NASB)
"So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith."Galatians 6:9-10, NLT
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:4-7, NIV
Last week, we looked at being rooted in prayer and the word of God to grow into the people God created us to be. This week we will talk about God's gift of the church and the joy of being rooted in community.
"...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."Philippians 4:6-7, ESV
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6-7, ESV
The prophet Daniel spent his youth and all of his adult life as a captive in Babylon doing a job he didn't ask for, in a place he was enslaved, working for men he couldn't possibly agree with, and yet--he earned the respect of kings, saved lives, and declared the hope of the coming Messiah to generations. Mondays in Babylon had to be a drag, but Daniel greeted them with a powerful faith and character.
We're continuing a new series called Redeeming Mondays. Mondays for so many are hard days. In fact, research shows it's the hardest day for most people all week. It's their back-to-the-grind-the-weekend-is-over-how-much-coffee-can-one-person-safely-consume day, and quite often dread sets in on Sunday night because Monday's coming. But what if Mondays could be better? More, what if Mondays have something very special about them that I'm missing because I've been sucked into the Monday blues? What if God made Mondays for something more?"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24Notes in the YouVersion app: http://bible.com/events/49133464(I'm excited about this little series, inspired by a talk given at Christ's Church of Valley a few years ago. called "Made for Mondays". I hope it blesses you! --James)
We invite you to join us for our in-person worship service on Sundays at 10 am. Children's ministry is during the message for kids 3 years to 5th grade, and we have an attended nursery.
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Some music is performed by PraiseandHarmony.tv and is licensed and used by permission.
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Psalm 84 (NIV) For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. 1How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty! 2My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, LORD Almighty, my King and my God. 4Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. 5Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. 6As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. 7They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. 8Hear my prayer, LORD God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob. 9Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one. 10Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 11For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. 12LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.
Psalm 19 (NIV)
Psalm 19
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 116:1–19 (ESV) 1 I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. 2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. 4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!” 5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful. 6 The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7 Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; 9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. 10 I believed, even when I spoke: “I am greatly afflicted”; 11 I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.” 12 What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, 14 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. 16 O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD. 18 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!
Psalm 116:1–9 (NIV)
1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. 2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. 4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: “LORD, save me!” 5 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. 6 The LORD protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. 8 For you, LORD, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 9 that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
Psalm 51:1–19 (ESV) 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; 19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Psalm 29:1–11 (ESV) 1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. 3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. 8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, “Glory!” 10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. 11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!
Choices that lead to life, renewal, and blessing. (July Psalms Series) earlychurchofchrist.org
Psalm 1:1–3 (NIV) 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
Ephesians 4:1–6 (NIV) 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:1–6 (NIV) 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
1 Peter 5:6–11 (NIV)6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Life will throw you all kinds of curve balls, but at every twist and turn, the Lord is there, working for growth, faith, and purpose.
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."John 14:15-17, NIV
1 Peter 2:20–25 (ESV)20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.(1 Peter 4:7-11, NIV)
With spit and mud, Jesus opened the eyes of the blind man in John 9. But the blindness of the Pharisees proved a deeper problem...
In John 3 a Pharisee named Nicodemus comes to Jesus under the cover of darkness. He's nervous, curious, and unsure of just who Jesus is (though he confesses that he must be from God). This exchange, held so quietly and privately, became a powerful revelation of what it means to follow Christ and to fully embrace the kingdom of God.
Matthew 25:31–40 (NIV)The Sheep and the Goats31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 22:1–14 (ESV)The Parable of the Wedding Feast22 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.” ’ 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”- Matthew 21:33-40, New International Version
Matthew 21:28–32 (NIV)28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 “ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
The Parable of the 10 Minas Luke 19:11-27 (ESV)YouVersion Bible App Outline: http://bible.com/events/49008582As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’ ”
The parable of the persistent widow, found in Luke 18:1-8, is a story Jesus told to remind us to pray and not give up. But it isn't just a parable teaching us to pray more. It's a parable rooted in the big-picture story of the coming of Christ, our present challenges, and our future hope.
“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” (Luke 17:7-10, NIV)
“When the day’s work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, ‘Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first.’
“Those hired at five o’clock came up and were each given a dollar. When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar. Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, ‘These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.’
“He replied to the one speaking for the rest, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn’t we? So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can’t I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?’
“Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.”
Peterson, Eugene H. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005. Print.
When the church hit a huge snag -- the issue of whether or not the Gentile Christians had to keep Jewish laws (like circumcision) to be "real" Christians -- the church came together in Jerusalem. They didn't split into denominations, they didn't split their church congregations into Northside and Southside, they didn't ghost their brothers and sisters over the disagreement. They came together and, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, they found a very simple way forward. What would happen if Christianity worked that way again?
As Paul & Barnabas venture out on the first missionary journey they run into some great opportunities. But, as you probably are all too aware, where great things are happening, evil is certain to attempt disruption. This time, the disruption came through a sorcerer named Bar-Jesus. How did Paul respond?
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Jesus wasn't the only one on trial that day. In this study, we'll look at why Pilate caved, how Jesus stood firm, and what both men can teach us about our own handling of the trials that come our way.
Judas and Peter are at the opposite ends of the spectrum of character in most of our minds. But these men had some things in common, too. Why did these men both fail, and then handle that failure so very differently? Are there some lessons for us to gain, both in how we live, and in how we respond to others when they are overwhelmed?
A Bittersweet Day I don't think we can truly grasp the depth of emotion Jesus must have felt that day. For weeks he has been making his way toward Jerusalem, and ultimately toward the cross he knows waits for him there.
As they shouted praise and cries of "Lord, save us!"...if you only knew... As they called for a new king...if you only knew... As the Pharisees and Sadducees sneered and debated the possibility of resurrection...if you only knew... As the disciples celebrated the coming of a cherished religious holiday...if you only knew...
Are You Listenin'? How many times do you ask that question? To your kids when they have that glazed over look? To your students? Your co-workers? Your spouse? Have you asked God if he's listening? Is he asking you?
Jesus knows that sometimes when the answers come slowly we get impatient (sometimes understandably), we ask and ask and ask...and we ask. He tells the story of the persistent widow to teach us not to stop asking. But is that all he was teaching? Are you listening?
What is the kingdom of God? It is easy, in a world of kingdoms built on men, might, and manipulation, to get what the kingdom of God is quite wrong. Early followers--including some of the apostles--did at first, too, expecting military revolution and overthrow of the Roman Empire. What is, then, the kingdom of God? We will explore this as we look at Jesus' phrase, "The kingdom of God is within you."
C. S. Lewis, author of "Mere Christianity" and :The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", said of praise and gratitude, "We delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation." Ah, a truth everyone who has ever spent hours creating a Thanksgiving feast knows--without praise and gratitude (to both God and cooks), it all seems an empty and trivial ritual. There is a real sadness that accompanies great moments with no one to thank, and no one with whom to share the good news and excitement. We were made to praise!
Some of Jesus' teachings really go against the grain of human nature. Or maybe it should be said they go against the grain of our fallen nature (see Romans 6-8). Today, we will look at a couple of ways in which Jesus will challenge our thinking, our emotions, and our assumptions. Because, if we really intend to follow him into his glorious future, it will require some real growth in our hearts and character. Are you up for the challenge?
As Jesus keeps making his way toward Jerusalem and the cross, the tensions rise and his teaching intensifies. In Luke 16 Jesus goes, as we often say, "from preaching to meddling." It would be easy to read his confrontational message to the Pharisees with "sic 'em!" echoing through our minds, but then we would be missing the point as badly as they did. Jesus means for this message to reach every heart, because any heart can fall for the idol of fool's gold that is the love of money.
Are we spending our lives away, or are we investing in a future that will truly matter? Jesus challenges us with this question (and more) in Luke 16:1-10.
"'By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.' Their grumbling triggered this story..."
Jerry DeBord spoke on the power of our words, and the importance of guarding our hearts and mouths closely.
As Jesus makes his way toward Jerusalem, he's teaching and preaching and drawing ever-larger crowds. It must have been something for the disciples to see--all the buzz and excitement. But Jesus now does something that many would find puzzling. In the middle of an effort to draw more and more people into the kingdom of God, he thins the ranks. Why?
Let's dive in.
"Hey, That's My Seat!"
Ugh. Don't you just dread looking up at a stranger at hearing those words, "Hey, that's my seat." It's inhospitable in church, embarrassing at banquets, and can be very awkward at the beginning of a three hour flight. But, Jesus sees these situations as opportunities to build our character and grow the kingdom in his teaching in Luke 14, so let's dive into what Jesus had to say about compassion, humility, hospitality and our seating charts.
"A bystander said, “Master, will only a few be saved?”
He said, “Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you’ll sit down to God’s salvation banquet just because you’ve been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you’re going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you’ll find the door locked and the Master saying, ‘Sorry, you’re not on my guest list.’
26-27 “You’ll protest, ‘But we’ve known you all our lives!’ only to be interrupted with his abrupt, ‘Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing. You don’t know the first thing about me.’
28-30 “That’s when you’ll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace. You’ll watch Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets march into God’s kingdom. You’ll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God’s kingdom. And all the time you’ll be outside looking in—and wondering what happened. This is the Great Reversal: the last in line put at the head of the line, and the so-called first ending up last.” (Luke 13:23-30, The Message)
We don't know what her life was like. We know there was pain, both physically and emotionally. We know she was desperate to be healed. We know it was more than an ordinary backache or scoliosis. Her body doubled over, her heart beaten down, she came to the synagogue that morning because a glimmer of hope had broken through--the one claiming to be the Messiah would be there. Could he, would he set her free?
TOUGH EVENTS LEAD TO TOUGH QUESTIONS.
I was having a Bible study with a young man in 1995 when he asked a tough question: "Stalin killed 35,000,000 people, mostly Russians. More than Hitler. Was this a judgment of God? Did they deserve it?"
How would you have answered this young, budding believer in God?
I went to this passage in Luke 13, when Jesus received a similar question. Pilate was a small fry when compared to Stalin, but the evils he perpetrated were certainly as dark. Because of recent events, men came to Jesus wondering the same thing...did the people Pilate slaughtered deserve it?
Jesus. He's tougher than you may think.
In this last section of Luke 12, we find Jesus again being very frank and urgent about some very serious truths. At first glance, some of it can be startling, especially if your picture of Jesus is of the '60s rambling peacenik variety.
An image of Jesus bearing a sword is not typical in most minds, but this is Jesus as he is (see Revelation 19, for example). He is loving, compassionate, and kind, yes. But, he is also loyal, strong, and willing to speak truth to power, stand in the face of the oppressor, and tell true evil to pound sand.
This morning we'll see how Jesus has called us to be willing to follow him even into those harder situations--times when we will have to stand up to evil, stand with the powerless, and learn to make peace.
Get Packing!
Jesus and his disciples are getting closer and closer to Jerusalem, but that's not the only trip Jesus has on his mind. He is looking beyond--way beyond--and is preparing his disciples and the crowd for for life, death, and the second coming. He wants us ready for the biggest trip of our lives, so let's get to it!
Brothers fighting over inheritance, disciples living on rice and beans, and heard-hearted scrooges living it up...does Jesus have something to say about that? Oh, you bet he does, and taken to heart it can change lives for the better at every level.
Monte Tuttle of Eastern European Missions gave us an update on the exciting things God is doing and Eastern Europe, Greece, and beyond.
As Jesus and his disciples approach Jerusalem, Jesus starts preparing them for the tension and spiritual battles that lie ahead.
Jesus and the Persnickety Dinner Host
No one likes being judged, even less being called out for some faux pas by the host of a dinner party in front of all the guests. Yet, that is exactly what happened to Jesus. And when it did, Jesus used the occasion teach a lesson to the Pharisees about how holiness really comes about (hint: it's not from keeping traditional, elaborate hand washing ceremonies).
Poor vision most often sets in over time, not overnight. Things at a distance get a little blurry, or as you age you find yourself having to move the menu farther and farther away so that you can read it. As Jesus speaks to a crowd full of religious leaders and lawyers, he reveals to them that their spiritual vision has gone bad. They are no longer able, because of sin, pride, and cynicism, to see the truth right in front of them, so he gives them a jarring assessment of their spiritual blindness--and how to get it fixed.
It has always amazed me when reading the gospels how often Jesus' critics reacted in knee-jerk fashion, completely ruining what ought to be a beautiful moment of blessing. In today's text, we begin with Jesus driving out an evil spirit from a man who had been held captive and mute. When he spoke again, surely his words were praising God for his newfound freedom, and the crowd was amazed...but not all the crowd. There were a few who could only see through cracked lenses personal bias who accused Jesus of for the Devil. You know you need an attitude check when you are so fixed on finding "flaws" that you can't even see God blessing people right in front of you, and an attitude check is just what we'll see Jesus accomplish in today's story from the Gospel of Luke.
German reformer Martin Luther once said, "To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." Jesus himself held prayer as a vital, daily part of his relationship with the Father, both privately and with his disciples. No wonder, then, the disciples come to him and ask him to teach them to pray as he did.
Jesus gladly obliged, and gifted them--and us--with not only an example of what to pray, but a prayer from his own heart that would bless through the centuries.
This morning we will look at the prayer and Jesus' expectation that it would become a part of the life of the church forever, how Jesus reveals the character of God through the prayer, and a promise of prayer that brings hope in our time.
Oswald Chambers, in his profoundly popular devotional book "My Utmost for Highest" (1924) said, "The greatest enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but good choices which are not quite good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best."
This is a lesson that Jesus taught Martha one day as she was getting crabby about her sister taking the time to learn from Jesus when she could have been making dinner. But the story isn't really quite that simple, as we will see in this message.
Kent Jobe, who grew up in the Early CofC congregation and now preaches at the College Avenue Church of Christ in El Dorado, AR, shared an encouraging message with us on The Greatest Commandment.
SO...HOW DO I GET TO HEAVEN?
It is the question that everyone has, but many refuse to ask, hoping that opening doors for others and not being on COPS: MOST WANTED will be enough. But this man had the guts to ask it: "Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus answers his question with a question that leads to another question: "Who is my neighbor?" In other words, he asks the same question we've all asked: "Do I really have to love everybody?"
And this was a bit of a trap. The lawyer certainly did not believe that everyone was worthy of the title "neighbor", least of all Samaritans, Romans, or other pagan passersby.
So, Jesus answers with the parable of the Good Samaritan. We have known this story most of our lives, but do we know what it is like to become the Good Samaritan?
FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY
As the 72 disciples returned from their mission to spread the good news about the Kingdom of God to various towns and villages, they could barely catch their breath as they shared their excitement about their victories on the trip. And then Jesus shares with them a vision of a bigger picture, a greater battle, and an even more important victory--one that has repercussions for you today.
THIS IS YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT... [cue the Mission Impossible theme]
The air was thick with a sense of urgency and excitement as Jesus gave instructions to 72 disciples--newly minted missionaries to villages that lie between them and Jerusalem. This second mission trip would go better than the first, but these last minute details showed they would also need to be even more focused. This morning, we will look at what Jesus said to them, and see how there are important principles that affect our own mission today as God's Great Commission people.
A SERIES OF CHALLENGING EVENTS
Luke 9 has been absolutely packed with important events and teaching in the life of Christ, and this last section ups the volume. Jesus is increasingly intense and open about the coming crucifixion, but the disciples are missing the point(s). In today's passage, we will find them--and by extension us--pushed by Jesus to cast the sideshows and temptations aside and follow him.
As Jesus, Peter, James, and John came back from what was both figuratively and literally a mountain top experience, they found a healing gone wrong and frustrated crowd. It was enough to make Jesus ask question how long even his patience could last. You know those moments. It's like coming back from a much needed vacation only to find that everyone has slacked off in every way, and made all the customers and clients mad, too. Boom. The muscles tense, regret builds, and in frustration you sort out a complicated mess that should have never have existed. Yep, Jesus has been there, too.
WHO IS THIS MAN, JESUS? This is still the central question Luke's constantly bringing us to. Who is Jesus? In Luke 9:18-20, Jesus asks Peter who he thinks he is. Peter's reply: "God’s Messiah."
Many in our time see Jesus as merely a great moral teacher. He had some wonderful things to say, but he is a "god". But this brings us to a problem that I will let C. S. Lewis, author of Mere Christianity explain:
"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. ... Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God."*
Lewis brings us to the same intersection Jesus brought Peter. We must decide who we believe Jesus to be.
- Lewis, C. S., Mere Christianity, London: Collins, 1952, pp. 54–56. (In all editions, this is Bk. II, Ch. 3, "The Shocking Alternative.")
WHO IS THIS MAN, JESUS? Throughout Luke's gospel, this has been the central question, asked in various ways, over and over again. You have asked this question, too, haven't you? Who is Jesus? Is he just another teacher, a prophet, something more?
THOSE WHO KNEW HIM BEST The disciples had been so impressed by his teaching that they left everything they knew to follow him, study him, and slowly become more like him. It was not long before they started seeing things that would raise this question in their hearts, too, and when he calmed a storm at sea by the simple command, "Peace! Be still," they asked, "“Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
In Luke 9, you find their answer...
There is an old hymn that gets stuck in my head and heart from time to time, one I learned in the earliest days of my walk with Christ, one that never lets go. "O To Be Like Thee" was written by Thomas Chisholm in 1897. Its music may be dated, but its spirit should never be. As we continue our journey through the life of Christ in the Gospel of Luke, its second stanza fits like a soundtrack:
Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion, Loving, forgiving, tender and kind, Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting ,Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find. Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art; Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
"Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart." As we look at his life this morning, we are going to look at 10 characteristics of Jesus' heart that truly stamp his image on a disciple, so that we may have a heart--and the life that brings--just like His.
Poor disciples. It had been a hard, exhausting day, followed by a near-deadly storm at night, plus the emotional drain of having been rebuked by Jesus for having so little faith. And this was supposed to be their trip to rest and recuperate. We don't know if they left the boat and expected to finally rest, or if by this time they were trepidatious about what shoe was going to fall next. If it was the latter, their nervousness would be justified. Naked, dirty and bloody, and screaming like a banshee demon-possessed guy was not the welcome wagon the Decapolis Chamber of Commerce had been going for
WHEN THE GOING GETS ROUGH, THE ROUGH GET...A NAP??? When I was a kid, my dog was terrified by storms. The slightest clap of thunder and opening of the back door and she was in the house, down the stairs, and into a corner that was the single farthest spot in the house from that door back out into a scary, loud storm. She expected us to give her a place of peace when peace had fled her world. I imagine that's what the disciples expected of Jesus, or at the very least that he would grab a bucket or oar and pitch in. But instead, he was napping...and that's when they felt, "Somethin' 'bout that boy ain't right." Who is this guy?
This week we are further into Jesus' use of parables in his teaching ministry. Jesus was a master at using simple stories and examples to illustrate and illuminate deeper truths.This time, he starts with lighting a simple oil lamp in in the middle of a dark room...
As Jesus continues teaching throughout the Judea countryside, he shares a parable about a farmer who goes out to sow seed in hopes of a great harvest. But there are a couple of things about this farmer that seem, well, upside down and backwards. Just what is Jesus up to?
Yann Opsitch, retired professor from ACU, preacher at the Jim Ned Church of Christ, missionary, and author from France was our guest this year for Missions Sunday. He shared his story of coming to faith, and passages that led him to faith and ministry along the way.
TABLE FELLOWSHIPThroughout the New Testament, there is a great value assigned to time spent around a table. So much, in fact, that Jesus slandered by his enemies as being a drunk and a glutton! (Luke 7:34) Truth is, Jesus loved people, and loved to meet them where they were most themselves--he loved to be at their table. Just think of all the scenes from Zacchaeus to Mary and Martha's house at Bethany. Jesus constantly changed many lives through "table fellowship".Would dinner at Simon the Pharisee's house be any different?
John the Baptist. If ever there was a man whose convictions and faith were so solid that the word "doubt" might be taken as offensive, it would be John. Yet, here we are. At the time of the events in Luke 7, we find that John is in prison (see Matthew 11 for this detail), and his disciples are keep him informed about Jesus' incredible ministry. So John send them to ask if he really is the Messiah. Have you ever been sure, but needed to be really sure? That's when John sent for word from Jesus. A great place to start!
Luke 7 begins with Jesus having just spent some time teaching the crowds, and now has returned to Capernaum, a fishing village on the northern end of the Sea of Galilee that served as a base of operation for much of his ministry (this is already the second time he has been there in Luke's gospel).
With Jesus' reputation growing, and his familiarity in Capernaum, perhaps it's not too surprising that there would be people who would come to him for help, but even Jesus was impressed by the surprising faith of certain Roman Centurion...
At the foundation of everything we believe as Christians is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. As we continue our study of the Gospel of Luke, we will look at how Jesus wrapped up the Sermon on the Plain. We will also see how it, too, is built on the same foundation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus' Sermon on the Plain that is recorded in Luke, while much briefer, has some of the same turn-the-world-on-its-head themes as the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. You may be familiar enough that the things he says seem "normal", but they were--and to the majority of ears in the world today--earth-shattering and counter-cultural. Truth is, even if they seem too familiar to be shocking, they are still teachings that trip up even the most seasoned Christian.
"On a certain Sabbath Jesus was walking through a field of ripe grain. His disciples were pulling off heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands to get rid of the chaff, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, 'Why are you doing that, breaking a Sabbath rule?'
But Jesus stood up for them. 'Have you never read what David and those with him did when they were hungry? How he entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat? He also handed it out to his companions.'
Then he said, 'The Son of Man is no slave to the Sabbath; he’s in charge.'"
As Jesus starts to preach what is known as the "Sermon on the Plain" in Luke 6, we immediately see some common themes to the "Sermon on the Mount". Don't let the familiarity fool you. These four blessings and four warnings were were like an earthquake and its aftershocks as Jesus taught, each saying turning convention and tradition on their heads.
Ever since the fall of man, there have been constant divisions among humanity. The haves and the have nots, the powerful and the pawns, the snoots and the uncouth, the popular and the unpopular, the clean and the unclean. If you are one who is on the "right" side of these divides, you may be able to pretend there is no harm done. But if you are on the "wrong" side of these tracks, you know the truth--you have been dehumanized, ostracized, hurt, abandoned, ridiculed. You are the untouchables, and you long for a world made right. It was into this world that Jesus came in the flesh, and flipped the script...
This message was part of a gospel campaign in Guatemala City at the Iglesia de Cristo en Centro Historico, and is in both Spanish and English.
Three men--Peter, Pilate, and Jesus. Three lives potentially crushed by the weight of public pressures, others' agendas, and pointing fingers. How would you handle pressure? How does God respond when we, like Peter, blow it?
Tres hombres: Pedro, Pilato y Jesús. Tres vidas potencialmente aplastadas por el peso de las presiones públicas, las agendas de otros y los dedos acusadores. ¿Cómo manejarías la presión? ¿Cómo responde Dios cuando nosotros, como Pedro, somos vencidos por la presión?
This Sunday, Jim Hackney of Fort Worth was our guest speaker, and shared a great message on the love and grace of Jesus. God loves us and takes us in where we are, but he doesn't leave us there, he leads us to newer and greater heights.
This message was given at the Iglesia de Cristo en Centro Histórico in Guatemala City, and is in both English and Spanish.
He had quite a life--he was young, rich, powerful, and a generally great guy. But the day he met Jesus, he found out that there was one thing he still lacked, and that one thing was all that stood between him and the new kingdom of God to which had called him.
Tenía una gran vida: era joven, rico, poderoso y, en general, un gran tipo. Pero el día que conoció a Jesús, descubrió que había una cosa que aún le faltaba, y que una cosa era todo lo que se interponía entre él y el nuevo reino de Dios al que lo había llamado.
"It's a hard day's night, and I've been workin' like a dog..." If The Beatles had been a 1st Century Jewish rock band, Peter might very well have been whistling that tune when Jesus saw him on the shore that morning. He and his partners had been fishing all night, and...nada. Stressed, disappointed, and tired, Peter was nevertheless drawn to what this rabbi was teaching as he listened in while cleaning his nets that day.
A Day in the LifeWhen I was a child we had a set of the LIFE Magazine "World Library" books that showed what life was like all over the world. They provided a fascinating look into what life was like in far away places (and now, a far away time). Again the 1990s, photographers all over the planet took photos for 24 hours to get as comprehensive a look as they could at what life is like for a day on earth.
After introducing us to the mission of Christ in Luke 4:18-19, Luke does what those shows us what a day in the life of Jesus' life and mission actually looked like, from sun-up to sundown.
Jesus' trip to the synagogue in Nazareth really ought to be a "hometown boy does good!" kind of story. By now his reputation is spreading, and he is known for his powerful teaching, healing the sick, and giving sight to the blind. But something went off the rails that Sabbath day, and it became anything but a celebration.
"And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil." Luke 4:1-2, ESV
Have you noticed how often Luke mentions the Holy Spirit? 11 times in from Luke 1:1-4:1, and the trend continues through the books of Luke and Acts (aka Luke I & II). If the Gospel is that full of the Spirit, should we be paying more attention to him as well?
This Sunday we had a presentation on the ministry of Orphans Lifeline, Int'l by Kelvin Hoover.
"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." James 1:27, NLT
Could the world use more men and women of God who...
...are full of the Holy Spirit, convicted and convicting? ...have a clear vision of God's design for life, and a heart for restoring people to it? ...will bold speak the truth of sin, grace, and redemption?
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work." (1 Corinthians 12)
The Spirit is calling you...
Have you ever meditated on what Luke 2:52 is saying? "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."
"And JESUS GREW..." Can God, or God's son, grow? What does that mean? How would an omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent being experience anything new?
"No matter who or where you are, the story of Jesus, from the feeding-trough in Bethlehem to the empty tomb and beyond, can become your story. In becoming your story, it will become your vocation. Everybody has their own role in God’s plan. For some, it will be active, obvious, working in the public eye, perhaps preaching the gospel or taking the love of God to meet the practical needs of the world. For others, it will be quiet, away from public view, praying faithfully for God to act in fulfilment of his promises. For many, it will be a mixture of the two, sometimes one, sometimes the other. Mary and Joseph needed Simeon and Anna at that moment; the old man and old woman needed them, had been waiting for them, and now thanked God for them. The births of John the Baptist and Jesus are already beginning their work, of drawing people of all sorts into new worship and fellowship."
Wright, T. (2004). Luke for Everyone (p. 27). London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
It's not just the song the angels sang announcing Jesus' birth that is significant. God had chosen, repeatedly, to use people that were the opposite of our expectations to announce the coming of the Messiah, and the Messiah himself came in the most unexpected way. But this is not just about a drama that catches us off guard, there is purpose and a message here to the broken, poor in spirit, and those who long for the coming of God's justice on earth...
What do we find when we give up our sense of offense, anger, and bitterness? We find what so many in the gospels found in Jesus Christ--love beyond compare, compassion beyond belief, and peace beyond understanding. That's a pretty good trade if you ask me. ;-)
"So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story’s beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught." Luke 1:1-4, The Message
“Acting out of love, to show mercy, to correct injustices, to set things right...is beautiful. Love should be motivation enough to do the right thing. And not 'love' as a fuzzy abstraction, but love as a gutsy, willful decision to seek the best for others.
What the world really needs, I think you’ll agree, is not a group of people patting themselves on the back for being angry. We need people who actually set things right.” —Brant Hansen
- Hansen, B. (2015). Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better. Nashville, USA: Thomas Nelson Incorporated.
“This gavel, the one I awarded myself—who knows why?—is really, really heavy. I can keep pronouncing everyone else guilty for the rest of my life, but I’m not sure why.
I don’t want this anymore. Maybe you know what I mean. So let me ask you…
Ain’t you tired?”
~Brant Hansen, Unoffendable, p. 61
When I was learning to drive, my grandparents' neighbor gave me some advice: "Always assume every other driver is an idiot." What he meant was that you can't assume other drivers are going to do the right thing, but could there be a problem with launching out into the world assuming everyone's an idiot but me? Can we even do Jesus work at all in the world with that outlook? Is there a better way, a more humble way?
This week we kicked off a new series: "UNOFFENDABLE". It's inspired by Brant Hansen's excellent book by the same title, that challenges us to question the myth of "righteous anger" and learn to react to offenses with love, patience, and humility.
James 5:13–20 (The Message) 13 Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. 14 Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. 15 Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you’ve sinned, you’ll be forgiven—healed inside and out. 16 Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. 17 Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. 18 Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again. 19 My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back 20 and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.
"Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time." James 5:7-8, The Message
"Look here, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.' How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, 'If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.' Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." (James 4:13-17, NLT)
James 4:11–12, "Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"
(ESV)
James says in ch. 4:1-3, "Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way."
It seems awfully blunt, but the truth is, we can relate, can't we? So how to do we change our orbit? How do we stop living (self-destructively) as if our own ego is the center of the universe? They aren't the only steps, but we looked at 12 Steps for the Recovering Egocentric this that do certainly help us put things back in a healthier perspective.
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." --James 17-18, NIV11
Jesus' half-brother, James, said of the power of our words, "And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." And we know he's right. Just look around at all the fires started by just a few scorching words. But that does not have to be the end of the story. For all the potential of our words to hurt, they also have immense potential for help, healing, and love--especially when we surrender their use to the power of the Spirit of God.
"Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?"
--James 2:14–17 (The Message)
"My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory." James 2:1 (ESV)
Real, authentic religion has never been mere ritual and ceremony to God. It is loving the vulnerable, lifting the hurting, and making life worthwhile in the name of Jesus.
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (James 1:12). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
"2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4, NIV
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ps 1:1–3). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
Emmett Miller, retired ACU Ag professor, spoke Wednesday, July 18 as part of our Summer Series.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."
II Timothy 1:7, New Living Translation
Mark 8:36, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”
As Paul draws this great letter to a close, he focuses his brothers and sisters again on the mission of being salt & light in the world, sharing grace, love, and hope in a broken world.
The apostle Paul shares wisdom on how the gospel should touch every relationship, every part of our lives.
Brad brought an excellent message on faith, life, and trusting Jesus when the path is not always smooth.
"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." –Colossians 3:12-14 The New International Version
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
(Colossians 3:5-11, NIV)
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
The New International Version. (2011). (Col 3:1–4). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
The apostle Paul warned against the dangers of getting caught up in the performance traps of traditionalism and empty philosophies, and called the church to the way of love and the example of Jesus.
9 All of God lives fully in Christ (even when Christ was on earth), 10 and you have a full and true life in Christ, who is ruler over all rulers and powers. 11 Also in Christ you had a different kind of circumcision, a circumcision not done by hands. It was through Christ’s circumcision, that is, his death, that you were made free from the power of your sinful self. 12 When you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and you were raised up with him through your faith in God’s power that was shown when he raised Christ from the dead. 13 When you were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self, God made you alive with Christ, and he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross. 15 God stripped the spiritual rulers and powers of their authority. With the cross, he won the victory and showed the world that they were powerless.
The Everyday Bible: New Century Version. (2005). (Col 2:9–15). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority."
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Colossians 2:6–10). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21, NIV
As we see in the example of Jesus in Mark 5, showing love and compassion to those suffering from illnesses is a part of "being Jesus" for one another, and a mark of a true disciple.
Colossians 1:27–28 (ESV) 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
The apostle Paul would traditionally open his epistles with a prayer, and these prayers can be quite moving, and quite revealing. The prayer at the beginning of the Colossian letter is not only a beautiful prayer, but opens up to us what this brother in Christ hoped all churches and believers would experience--a life worth living, and worthy of God.
We are beginning a new series on the letter of Colossians, and we kicked it off with a flyover introduction and reading of the letter.
Theme: Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27)
On the surface, this is a strange occurrence in Jesus' ministry: as he heals a blind man, the first try doesn't fully work, and Jesus has to give it another (successful) shot. Why wouldn't Jesus, the Son of God, have been able to do this on the first attempt? Is his power limited? What's going on?
(Or, could Jesus have been up to some sort of "Jedi mind trick" kind of thing?)
This week we had the privilege of hosting an Adventures In Missions team for their Challenge Week. These young men, Tyrus, Adam, and Isaac, will be moving to N. Ireland this summer to work with the church there for a year and a half. We asked them about what lead them to the mission field, and what challenges and lessons they encountered as they prepare.
If pride and jealousy were the pathway life took to get Joseph into the pit, humility and selfless service would be the way forward into freedom.
Joseph was anything but a "hothouse tomato". His faith, his character, and his patience were all being tested through slavery, family rejection, false accusation, imprisonment, and ingratitude. He could have broken. He was only human. But something kept the dream alive, despite some pretty dark detours along the way...
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Joseph lived nearly 2,000 years before Jesus uttered these words in John 16:33, but his faith knew them. Through all his trials--from sibling hatred to slavery, sexual harassment, and a false rape accusation and imprisonment--he held on to his faith in God, and knew there would be blessing on the other side. And God delivered. Every time.
It's a weakness we have as humans, that we constantly seek to create blessing for ourselves through favoritism, manipulation, and control--and it eventually blows up in our faces. All along, God is standing by, waiting for us to realize that true blessing comes from trust, integrity, and leaning on His promises. Joseph learned this early in life, and we'll look at how it helped him in this second part of our series.
Jacob favoritism of his son Joseph backfired. Instead of bringing blessing, it created jealousy, anger, and even hatred among his siblings. But even in the midst of all the hardship this created, God had a plan...
It just isn't Christmas until we've sung "Joy to the World", but did you know this hymn isn't about Jesus' birth or Christmas at all? So what is it all about? That's the message this week, as we wrap up this present series, The Gospel According to Christmas Carols.
What do the prophet Elijah, an impoverished widow, a 13th century hymn, and you all have in common?
O come, all ye faithful, joyful, and triumphant O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold him, Born the King of angels; O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
O holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices For yonder breaks A new and glorious morn
Thanksgiving and Christmas are so deeply rooted in the Christian faith--yet how we spend our time, money, and energy this season can be so...consumerist. This week we look at a few simple-yet-powerful things we can do to bring the Gospel roots of Christmas back into focus.
Too often, we miss the greatest joys and moments of love because we're just too busy, just going through the motions of life. What if we made love a daily commitment? It wouldn't have to always be some monumental act, just simple acts of Jesus-like love shown to others throughout an otherwise ordinary day. Let's see what happens!
"Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us."
1 John 4:7-12 (NLT)
"Those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith."
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Galatians 6:8–10). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
A faith-founded sense of optimism isn't just a bumper-sticker quote, or a plastered on smile. It's rooted in a deep faith that God really does work--even through trials and challenges--to make us "more than conquerors" in life (Romans 8:37).
"God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love."
Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Eph 4:15–16). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
"Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ." ~Ephesians 4:31-32, GNT
Grace #GoodNews #Grudgefree
Glenn Boyd was our guest speaker this Sunday, and the church was blessed by a great message from the Word.
The longer we live and strive to follow the example of Jesus, the more we become aware of the truth of the teaching in James 1:19-20: "In view of what he has made us then, dear brothers, let every man be quick to listen but slow to use his tongue, and slow to lose his temper. For man’s temper is never the means of achieving God’s true goodness."
"A pat on the back, though only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants, is miles ahead in results."
- Royal Neighbor Magazine, via "Habits of a Loving Heart" by Willard Tate
The kingdom of God is so backwards! The one who serves is the greatest, the king was born in a feed trough instead of a palace, and only the humble are lifted up. We're just not wired that way, are we? Neither was Naaman in II Kings 5. When the prophet Elisha gave Naaman an easy way to be blessed by God with healing from his leprosy, Naaman balked at the idea. Why? Because it was too easy, too humble, too low-key. Naaman wanted pomp, publicity, and pride...things that we often have to drop at the waters when the journey with God begins.
Envy. It sucks the life out of your joy, your relationships, and your appreciation of what God's done in your life. In this message we'll look at some of the things you can do to guard your heart against one of the devil's favorite traps.
A message on the power of kindness, consideration, and a selfless focus to open up our lives to the message of Jesus.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." -Jesus, Matthew 5:14-16, ESV
Taking the command to "love one another" from a rule on paper to a true, positive part of our heart and character.
(This series is partly based on the book The Habits of a Loving Heart by Willard Tate.)
Monte Tuttle gave a very encouraging update on what God's doing through the work of Eastern European Missions.
As our series, The Gospel According to Moses, comes to a close, we are looking at some life lessons Moses learned along the journey, and how he left a legacy that lives on even to today.
Sometimes when your back's against the wall, when you're all "prayed up", and when you think you're waiting on God...he's actually waiting on you to get moving by faith.
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It's one thing to accept God's grace, and another to accept his mission. God called Moses (and us) to more than forgiveness--he called him to a life of service and purpose. Moses thinks of every reason God's idea might fail, but in the end, he leans on God's strengths rather than on his own weaknesses.
Moses was damaged goods, and he probably thought any good he could have done for the Hebrew slaves was shot (see Exodus 2). But when God called him from the burning bush, he saw more than a miracle. He saw answered prayers, redemption, and a future...
A desperate mom, shrewd midwives, a faithful and quick-witted sister, and the daughter of a genocidal tyrant--the story of the birth of Moses is full of intrigue, and some surprisingly good news. This is the first in a series called "The Gospel According to Moses".
As Jesus made his ascension to heaven, the apostles--stunned as anyone would be, were given their ultimate task: "And you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the to the ends of the earth.
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5 Things Revelation 21-22 Reveals About Jesus, the Resurrection, and the Life to Come
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Judas had blown it. Big time. No doubt. But did his story have to end the way it did, or is it possible that God's grace really is, as the old hymn says, "a grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt"?
"For here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to take you out of these countries, gather you from all over, and bring you back to your own land. I’ll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. You’ll once again live in the land I gave your ancestors. You’ll be my people! I’ll be your God!" Ezekiel 36:24-28
Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Eze 36:24–28). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
This week we returned to the scene of Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well. But this time, we looked at the other people involved--Jesus' disciples, the townspeople, etc.--because there is more going on in this pivotal conversation than first meets the eye.
"There is only one way to find out what God is like and what his purposes are for the world, and that is to commit yourself to the Son of Man, whose lifting up on the cross is to be the true sign of God’s loving design. Nicodemus cannot go home pretending to be baffled by what Jesus has said. He has to decide."
Williams, J. (2004). Lectionary Reflections: Year A (p. 47). London: SPCK.
The devil can be very cunning, but as we see in his encounter with Jesus in the desert, his abilities and illusions can be shattered in the presence of truth and a faithful heart.
So many things pull at us for our attention, energy, and resources. What really matters? What will really be fulfilling? What leads to peace?
Does the world really need more anger? Bitterness? Division? No. But can you imagine the impact of a Christian community that hears Jesus' call to love, unity, and humble hearts?
"'You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:43-45, ESV
There are two key passages that can really begin to reshape our worldview when it comes to how God sees people, and how we see people (and ourselves): I Samuel 16:7, "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
What does it really mean to be "blessed"? What does it really mean to be happy? How do find blessing in the midst of hardship? The Lord knows...
Two men—outcasts, others, refugees of a sort—sat in prison cell. What had they done? They'd helped the wrong person, practiced the wrong religion, and come from the wrong ethnicity. It would seem not much has changed the last 2,000 years. Or has it? What we can learn from the prison experience of Paul and Silas has informed the walks of Christians and changed not only their outlook, but their identity. Could it change yours, too?
Starting with Jesus' parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18, we look at what it is about our God-defined identity gives us courage, hope, and tenacity when the world throws us marginalization, hurt, and injustice.
"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10, New Living Translation
"We don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other." 2 Corinthians 5:16-18, The Message
Elijah faced 450 prophets of the Baal religion on Mt. Carmel. It was an intersection of faith, humility, courage and conviction, and it speaks to us as we stand at the beginning of new year.
Joseph liked a good plan. Measure twice, cut once. And then his betrothed showed up pregnant--a shock to him! Then she said it was the Spirit of God. You can imagine how you'd react. So God sent a messenger in a dream one night to let Joseph know Mary was telling the truth, God was in control, and there really was a plan...
As the twilight of John's earthly life hovered on the horizon, he couldn't help but ask some serious questions about the purpose his life had served. And when he sent messengers to Jesus to see if he was really the Messiah, his doubts were washed away.
DoYouSeeWhatISee?
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John the Baptist was an unusual guy. Camel hair clothes and a locust diet will do that to you. So what drew people to him? What was it that would draw crowds from all over the country to listen to such a guy?
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The Christmas season is a great reminder that the Christian hope is one of watching and waiting with great anticipation for second coming of the Lord. It reminds us that God kept his promise to send a Messiah, and he'll keep it again!
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"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!" --Jesus, Revelation 3:15, NIV
When the pressure is on and you feel like a small boat in a big, stormy sea, Jesus wants you to know that you're not alone, that he he sees your faithfulness, and that victory is in his hands.
“Up on your feet! Take a deep breath! Maybe there’s life in you yet. But I wouldn’t know it by looking at your busywork; nothing of God’s work has been completed. Your condition is desperate. Think of the gift you once had in your hands, the Message you heard with your ears—grasp it again and turn back to God." ~Revelation 3:2-3
Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Re 3:2–3). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
This time Jesus sent a message to a church that had a lot going for it, and was improving day by day. But there was a false prophet about derail their progress, and Jesus reminds them (and us) of the importance that our love and faith be led by truth and holiness.
The Christians at Pergamum had stood the test of faith--for some even to the point of martyrdom. But with long battles comes fatigue, and it's easy start making compromises of conscience in the face of constant opposition, so Jesus gives them a word of encouragement to help them remain true to the end.
We had a very encouraging report from Monte Tuttle on the work God is doing through Eastern European Missions. From Bibles in the former Eastern Bloc schools to Bibles for refugees from the Muslim world, God is on the move.
When the church at Smyrna saw themselves, they saw poverty, persecution, and testing. Jesus helped them to see that they were blessed, victorious, and possessed a very hopeful future.
donotfear
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The church in Ephesus had been hardworking, enduring, and devoted to the truth, but somewhere along the way they lost what mattered most--love. Jesus wrote them this letter to call them (and us) back to their "first love".
- This week we begin a series on Jesus' letters to the 7 churches of Asia (Revelation 2-3).
Jesus never met a person he didn't love. Just let that sink in for a minute...
HowToNeighbor
LoveYourNeighbor
"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done." Proverbs 19:17, NIV
"The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: 'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?' But the good Samaritan reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?'" — Martin Luther King Jr.
An old hymn says, "Mercy there was great, and grace was free;pardon there was multiplied to me; there my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary." Grace lifts our burdens, forgives our sins, and restores our dignity...but is there more? Could it just be that grace has an even greater purpose, a "make a difference in the world" kind of purpose?
This Sunday we had a scripture and song service centered around the trail and crucifixion of Jesus. The readings are by Jesse Jones, and communion meditation by James Glasscock.
(The singing in this recording was made by various congregations, as we weren't set up to record our own this singing this Sunday.)
Three men--Peter, Pilate, and Jesus. Three lives potentially crushed by the weight of public pressures, others' agendas, and pointing fingers. How would you handle pressure? How does God respond when we, like Peter, blow it?
graceunderpressure
The night of Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane was one full of intrigue, betrayal, and deceit. But in the darkness of it all, Jesus demonstrated the light of grace, compassion, and courage.
If Jesus looked at the church and the world, what would he be praying for? In John 17, we see the heart of Jesus as he prays for the church and its power to change the world for the better. Where did he start? Where should we?
"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Live within my love. 10 When you obey me you are living in my love, just as I obey my Father and live in his love. 11 I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your cup of joy will overflow!" John 15:9-11, LB
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27, English Standard Version
"The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do."
John 14:12-14, The Message
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” --John 13:34-35, New Living Translation
"It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love." John 13:1, NIV84
"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20, NIV
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and the events surround the crucifixion to come, he takes time to enjoy a moment with Mary, Martha and Lazarus at Bethany. What Mary does at supper than night was not only profound and caring, but teaches us all about what moments are most important in life.
"Jesus loves me, this I know." But how much, and for how long? "God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5) This morning we'll look at just how long God has been loving you, and how long Jesus has been searching for you. If you're thinking he's stopped (or even would), think again!
lovedbeforetimebegan
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Martha had sent for Jesus in a time of desperation--her brother on his deathbed--and she was disappointed when he didn't show up before Lazarus died. Many things can bring us to the same questions about why God doesn't act as quickly, or in the same way as we'd hoped. This week we looked story of Martha's question and Jesus' answers, and the perspective faith brings to the ups and downs of life.
"I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
~John 10:9–10, ESV
"As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 9:1-5, ESV
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31–32, ESV
What do an adulterous woman, a group of angry accusers, Jesus, scribbling in the dirt, and Easter have in common? Come and see...
Expectations. They can be exciting, and they can be the root of great disappointment and heartache. When Jesus revealed himself as the Son of God and the promised Messiah, he was rejected by some on the grounds that he wasn't the Messiah that they'd expected. Sure, he raised the dead, healed the sick, and caused the blind to see, but sometimes he did on the Sabbath, and that was just too wild and unruly for the too-tightly-wound Pharisees and scribes. So Jesus tells them what we, too, often need to hear: stop judging Jesus by your superficial expectations, and discern the truth with sound judgment (John 7:24).
After a crowd chases him down looking for a free lunch, Jesus calls them to strive after something more real, more lasting, more eternal—life-transforming faith in Jesus the Messiah.
The feeding of the 5,000 was about so much more than loaves and fish. It was yet another revelation of the character, divinity, and heart of the Messiah—and what it reveals will speak blessing and grace to your life.
In John 5, Jesus makes three very bold claims: 1) that he was equal to God the Father, 2) that he has the power to give life, and 3) that he will be mankind's final judge. Claims like these demand serious proof to back them up, and Jesus makes his case for why they--and you--can accept them as truth, no matter how audacious that may seem.
Sometimes we can get so out of rhythm with God that we can actually miss the powerful opportunity for healing staring us in the face. Jesus invites us back into the rhythm of God's work in the world in this entry in the apostle John's account of the life of Christ (John 5:1-17).
She had gone to the well at the time to avoid people, but found Jesus, and in finding Jesus found acceptance, grace, and a new joy in life that had been full of disappointment. What will you find?
IfYouOnlyKnew
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As we look at the ministry of John the Baptist, his courage, faith, boldness, and even a little eccentricity immediately stand out. But in the encounter we see in John 3:30, one trait rises to the top: his great humility as he served the Lord.
In life, as in laptops and smartphones, sometimes the only fix is a reboot with a fresh OS installation. In John 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus how a life can be rebooted...or as Jesus put it, by being "born again".
"For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever."
(Jeremiah 7:5-7, ESV)
Have you ever wondered why Jesus bothered turning water to wine? It wasn't to show off. He even objected at first. So what drove him to do it, and what does that say about his concern for you?
Three of the most life-changing sentences ever spoken to disciples of Jesus:
- "Behold, the Lamb of God!"
- "Come and see."
- "Come, follow me."