I Corinthians 3:5-15
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
The Old Testament book of Leviticus describes the sacred custom of using a scapegoat once a year to atone for the sins, mistakes, and failures of the Israelite nation. In a solemn ceremony Aaron, the high priest, would lead a goat to the out skirts of the camp. There he would place his hands on the goat’s head and confess over it all the sins of the Israelite people. Through this symbolic act the goat took on the sins. It was then allowed to escape and wander in the wilderness, presumably to die.
The term scapegoat is still with us today, but it is not used in reference to a sacred ceremony. Now it may be used to describe why there are problems, declining worship attendance or decreasing membership rolls with angry/depressed congregational members at some mainline churches. Some say it’s a lack of advertisement; others not enough good programming (Sunday School), the worship service needs to be contemporary, we need a better looking web site, our building needs updating, and our leadership or even suggest it’s a generation problem. We all want our congregation to be vibrant, growing places that make a difference in people’s lives and in the world. We want to do what Jesus asked us to do. But we don’t see it happening. We must be doing something wrong!
In fact, I believe just doing things differently doesn’t matter at all. Don’t get me wrong how we do things does matter; we do need to keep God’s house up. But that’s not the real issue. To me, the only factor that counts is whether we have a clear vision of where God wants us to go, are we willing to do whatever it takes to follow (change) and do we really know who we ARE! This to me is the place to begin.
Lately, I have been trying to work on things inwardly as a Christian (personal responsibilities and accountability) and it’s hard. It’s always easier and more convenient to assume that the answer or the blame lays elsewhere. My/our transformation of the Church and our congregations will not come through some secret, fail safe, see it at a work shop (video) or read it in a book that you can take home, mix with water, bake in our easy bake oven and serve. This transformation will began with me/us with our hearts our minds and life first with a keen sense of tradition and scripture. This will happen as we turn to God in prayer, turn to one another in meaningful and lively conversation about what we believe in and take personal responsibility for just doing God’s work. My question, what are your visions as Christians for the church? Remember Changed people change churches there is no other way!
God Bless You and This Ministry
Sunday, June 24, 2007
“Investment Tip”
I have a philosophy that has evolved over the years. It has helped me through every disappointment through out my life. It has helped me be calm have serenity and oftentimes I can rise above every distressing circumstance while moving on with courage and hope. My grandmother shared this advice with me before she passed away, “What looks like the end of the road,” she would say, “is only a turn in the road, the beginning of a new and more profitable experience. You are never beaten unless you give up.” I have tried hard to live by this philosophy, but sometimes I just need a better investment tip that would guaranteed me to never fade.
Listen to Jeremiah 9: 23-24 Thus says the LORD: “ Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD. The only true road to me is to try to understand and know God. God says that the source of our joy and sense of importance ought to come not from our own wisdom or abilities or possessions, but from the fact that we know Him.
From to time during quiet times, I imagine for a moment living way back in the first century and my favorite apostle, Paul has written a letter or investment tip prayer for me/us today. What do you think would be his first request to God for us? I believe it would be that we increase our knowledge of God and know our history. This knowledge is more than an intellectual knowledge of God but one of a personal kind. In today’s world I have come to the conclusion that two things will determine whether or not we will get to know God better: We must realize that it is possible; and we must desire it.
Salvation is not the end of the Christian life; it is merely the beginning. It is only the first step. It is comparable to birth.
Can a Christian be content with only a casual acquaintance with God?
How can we increase our knowledge of God? How can we get close to Him? How can we know Him better? These are questions that I continually ask and search for.
How do you get to know anyone better? Well, I have determined by spending time with that person? The only way to get to know God better is by spending time with Him.
How can we spend time with Him? By reading His Word, hearing and meditating upon it. Going over it again and again until it becomes truly precious in the heart. Finally, I ask, “are you closer to God now then you were ten years ago?” I am thankful that God chose to reveal himself in such a way that we cannot only apprehend him but also have a personal relationship with him. “May the words of our mouths and the mediations of our hearts be pleasing unto You, our Rock and our Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
God Bless You and this Ministry
Listen to Jeremiah 9: 23-24 Thus says the LORD: “ Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD. The only true road to me is to try to understand and know God. God says that the source of our joy and sense of importance ought to come not from our own wisdom or abilities or possessions, but from the fact that we know Him.
From to time during quiet times, I imagine for a moment living way back in the first century and my favorite apostle, Paul has written a letter or investment tip prayer for me/us today. What do you think would be his first request to God for us? I believe it would be that we increase our knowledge of God and know our history. This knowledge is more than an intellectual knowledge of God but one of a personal kind. In today’s world I have come to the conclusion that two things will determine whether or not we will get to know God better: We must realize that it is possible; and we must desire it.
Salvation is not the end of the Christian life; it is merely the beginning. It is only the first step. It is comparable to birth.
Can a Christian be content with only a casual acquaintance with God?
How can we increase our knowledge of God? How can we get close to Him? How can we know Him better? These are questions that I continually ask and search for.
How do you get to know anyone better? Well, I have determined by spending time with that person? The only way to get to know God better is by spending time with Him.
How can we spend time with Him? By reading His Word, hearing and meditating upon it. Going over it again and again until it becomes truly precious in the heart. Finally, I ask, “are you closer to God now then you were ten years ago?” I am thankful that God chose to reveal himself in such a way that we cannot only apprehend him but also have a personal relationship with him. “May the words of our mouths and the mediations of our hearts be pleasing unto You, our Rock and our Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
God Bless You and this Ministry
That’s all Folks!
That’s all Folks!
John 15:15-17
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.”
The more I study the Bible, the more it becomes abundantly clear to me that God wants to have a strong personal relationship with us. It is also difficult to confess our spiritual need publicly. After all our religion is a very personal matter – just between God and us. Therefore, our relationship with God usually is not discussed with others, not even a spouse, children, or our closest friends. It seems wrong to express one’s relationship with God in the public square. I often wondered why? Listen to these words: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead I call you friends, for everything I have learned from the Father, I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.”
When the Holy Spirit helps us to understand the meaning of these words, we hear God saying, I want you for my friends. I have big plans for you. Together we are going to build an eternal kingdom, and you will have a major role in serving as my ambassadors. You are far more than servants. Servants don’t know their master’s business, but I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from my Father. I have kept nothing from you. We have no secrets. You may not understand all these revelations that have come from the Father, but in faith, you know they are true. You will have many opportunities and challenges in life, but none will be as great as this one. Always remember that you did not choose me, but I chose you to live with me in this Father-child relationship.
This means to me that he wants his children to be a part of building the Kingdom of God.
Let me try to humanize the story. A young boy was doing his best to lift a rock that was too large for someone his size. He huffed and puffed as he tried in vain to lift the huge stone. In spite of his efforts the rock wouldn’t budge. His father walked by and, after watching his son’s struggle, asked if he was having trouble. The boy answered, “Yes, I’ve tried everything, and it won’t move!” The father replied, “Are you sure you have used every resource at your disposal?” The boy looked up, frustration filling his face, and blurted out, “Yes!” Kindly his father bent over and said softly, “No, my son. You haven’t. You haven’t asked for my help”. John 15:16 says “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
Have you ever heard someone say, “I don’t need anybody? I’ll go it alone.” In my younger years, when I had more ambition than common sense, I vaguely recall saying those words. We can’t go it alone. We need and must depend upon each other.
Bearing fruit to me knows two truths. First that Jesus calls us as friends. Secondly we must learn to be friends with Jesus we must love him and love others! How are you doing? Are you a friend to Jesus? Are you a friend to others? When was the last time you phoned and talked to past and present friends? A friend steps in when others step out. In life and death we all need friends to help us bear fruit.
God Bless You and this Ministry!
John 15:15-17
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.”
The more I study the Bible, the more it becomes abundantly clear to me that God wants to have a strong personal relationship with us. It is also difficult to confess our spiritual need publicly. After all our religion is a very personal matter – just between God and us. Therefore, our relationship with God usually is not discussed with others, not even a spouse, children, or our closest friends. It seems wrong to express one’s relationship with God in the public square. I often wondered why? Listen to these words: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead I call you friends, for everything I have learned from the Father, I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.”
When the Holy Spirit helps us to understand the meaning of these words, we hear God saying, I want you for my friends. I have big plans for you. Together we are going to build an eternal kingdom, and you will have a major role in serving as my ambassadors. You are far more than servants. Servants don’t know their master’s business, but I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from my Father. I have kept nothing from you. We have no secrets. You may not understand all these revelations that have come from the Father, but in faith, you know they are true. You will have many opportunities and challenges in life, but none will be as great as this one. Always remember that you did not choose me, but I chose you to live with me in this Father-child relationship.
This means to me that he wants his children to be a part of building the Kingdom of God.
Let me try to humanize the story. A young boy was doing his best to lift a rock that was too large for someone his size. He huffed and puffed as he tried in vain to lift the huge stone. In spite of his efforts the rock wouldn’t budge. His father walked by and, after watching his son’s struggle, asked if he was having trouble. The boy answered, “Yes, I’ve tried everything, and it won’t move!” The father replied, “Are you sure you have used every resource at your disposal?” The boy looked up, frustration filling his face, and blurted out, “Yes!” Kindly his father bent over and said softly, “No, my son. You haven’t. You haven’t asked for my help”. John 15:16 says “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
Have you ever heard someone say, “I don’t need anybody? I’ll go it alone.” In my younger years, when I had more ambition than common sense, I vaguely recall saying those words. We can’t go it alone. We need and must depend upon each other.
Bearing fruit to me knows two truths. First that Jesus calls us as friends. Secondly we must learn to be friends with Jesus we must love him and love others! How are you doing? Are you a friend to Jesus? Are you a friend to others? When was the last time you phoned and talked to past and present friends? A friend steps in when others step out. In life and death we all need friends to help us bear fruit.
God Bless You and this Ministry!
“Weary”
Are you tired? I don’t know how many times I have asked people, how are you doing? And can you do… more commonly than not, the answer is “too busy”. It has become a badge of honor to wear, it seems. I’m not asking people how busy they are but genuinely want to know how they are doing spiritually. I know I’ve come to the place in life where I want to see the church involvement make a difference. I want it to instruct and to lead people into genuine righteousness. I’m troubled with maintenance issues in the church while outside the souls of people are being lost.
Have you found yourself coming over to church night after night, two, three and four nights in one week attending some kind of meeting or activity? Just thinking about it makes me feel tired. If, on a rare occasion the worship service went past eleven thirty, did you feel you were tired? I think part of the spiritual weariness has come from church activities that weary us instead of refreshing lives.
How are we to get control of our lives? This is a big question for me. Work runs many. Family runs others. As Christians, church activities can be over whelming as well. In fact it can be worse at times, because we might confuse seeking God’s kingdom with church mechanics. Matt. 6:33 gives us our big, over arching thrust for our lives. I believe Jesus answers this in the two great commandments he gave for our lives, and he shows us how to prioritize our lives in a way that works and actually simplifies it.
Messiah we are facing lots of challenges and priorities; about finances, building, missions, ministries, youth and being just being tired. We have had some battles over those challenges and we will probably have some more. That’s natural and healthy. But the secret is we must not get weary in doing what is right; the secret is to keep church connected with compassion; the secret is to keep church focused on that fundamental relationship with the Lord and to work for the good of all. Then maybe, just maybe we will not be to busy.
Priorities are hard to set and hard to maintain. However God has given us ours, so it’s easy, and we can know that we’re doing what we should be doing when we are keeping priorities. We need to focus on God, spouse, and family then others. If we’ll keep this order of things in our lives, we’ll do what is most important.
God Bless You and this Ministry!
Have you found yourself coming over to church night after night, two, three and four nights in one week attending some kind of meeting or activity? Just thinking about it makes me feel tired. If, on a rare occasion the worship service went past eleven thirty, did you feel you were tired? I think part of the spiritual weariness has come from church activities that weary us instead of refreshing lives.
How are we to get control of our lives? This is a big question for me. Work runs many. Family runs others. As Christians, church activities can be over whelming as well. In fact it can be worse at times, because we might confuse seeking God’s kingdom with church mechanics. Matt. 6:33 gives us our big, over arching thrust for our lives. I believe Jesus answers this in the two great commandments he gave for our lives, and he shows us how to prioritize our lives in a way that works and actually simplifies it.
Messiah we are facing lots of challenges and priorities; about finances, building, missions, ministries, youth and being just being tired. We have had some battles over those challenges and we will probably have some more. That’s natural and healthy. But the secret is we must not get weary in doing what is right; the secret is to keep church connected with compassion; the secret is to keep church focused on that fundamental relationship with the Lord and to work for the good of all. Then maybe, just maybe we will not be to busy.
Priorities are hard to set and hard to maintain. However God has given us ours, so it’s easy, and we can know that we’re doing what we should be doing when we are keeping priorities. We need to focus on God, spouse, and family then others. If we’ll keep this order of things in our lives, we’ll do what is most important.
God Bless You and this Ministry!
“Keep Pressing On”
Prayer:
Dear Lord, my God above, I thank you for your everlasting love. God, I realize and admit that the last couple of years it has been difficult for me to change. I have not been the best that I could have been. Lord help me to understand how to spread your word, I’ll try to become a person of purpose for your church. Oh heavenly father I know the work of salvation is “all of Christ and none of me” help me understand in order to live out my purpose it must be “ all of Christ and all of me.” Amen
There are many questions that need to be addressed continually when a church moves from one of maintenance to one of purpose. How committed are the new people? How receptive to change are our present membership? Do we really know what we believe and how to properly shepherd to all people? How far spiritually has each one of us really come in the last few years?
Years ago on a variety show, a guest appeared who was a body builder. The crowd went crazy as he entered the stage with his huge muscular body and began to flex his muscles and show his power. After a brief demonstration the body builder sat down and prepared to receive some questions from the audience. The first question asked of him was this: “What do you use all those muscles for?” Without answering, the body builder again stood up and began flexing his muscles while the crowd cheered wildly. A second time, the question was asked, “What do you do with those muscles? Again, the body builder flexed his muscles and the crowd became almost ecstatic.
After asking three times, “What do you do with all those muscles?” the body builder just sat in silence and had no answers. The man possessed a tremendous amount of power, but his power had no purpose other than to show off and bring attention to himself.
I believe there are a lot of people in the world today that are asking the same kind of question as they look at the church. They look inquisitively at the average church gathering and say, “I see the beautiful building and the list of activities. I hear the joyous music and notice the smiles on people’s faces. But what do you really do? Why do you get together every week? What are you really accomplishing? Like the body builder, many Christians don’t have answers to these questions. But these are questions that have answers and deserve to be answered and remembered.
Our task (Purpose) is to sow the seed of the gospel, water it and rejoice in whatever increase God may give. Presently the greatest temptation we may have to over come is to think the tasks at hand are complete. Purpose defines our existence. It is what we are called by God to be. It is our true identity. It is our created intention. It is a matter of our being or essence. It is who we are. Remember it is imperative that we keep the relationship between a purpose driven church and a maintenance one in the proper perspective in order to fulfill God’s purpose for all. So what are God’s purposes for the Church? We can see God’s purpose and design for the church in Matthew 22:36-40 and Matthew 28: 18-20
The road to change requires persistence. Little progress will be made if we think we have arrived. We must maximize the excitement for the ministry continually. In spite of all the positive things that have occurred in the last several years, we need to keep pressing on. How we fulfill God’s purposed will, of necessity, change with the changing needs of the church and the community, but why we exist remains ever the same.
God Bless You and This Ministry
Dear Lord, my God above, I thank you for your everlasting love. God, I realize and admit that the last couple of years it has been difficult for me to change. I have not been the best that I could have been. Lord help me to understand how to spread your word, I’ll try to become a person of purpose for your church. Oh heavenly father I know the work of salvation is “all of Christ and none of me” help me understand in order to live out my purpose it must be “ all of Christ and all of me.” Amen
There are many questions that need to be addressed continually when a church moves from one of maintenance to one of purpose. How committed are the new people? How receptive to change are our present membership? Do we really know what we believe and how to properly shepherd to all people? How far spiritually has each one of us really come in the last few years?
Years ago on a variety show, a guest appeared who was a body builder. The crowd went crazy as he entered the stage with his huge muscular body and began to flex his muscles and show his power. After a brief demonstration the body builder sat down and prepared to receive some questions from the audience. The first question asked of him was this: “What do you use all those muscles for?” Without answering, the body builder again stood up and began flexing his muscles while the crowd cheered wildly. A second time, the question was asked, “What do you do with those muscles? Again, the body builder flexed his muscles and the crowd became almost ecstatic.
After asking three times, “What do you do with all those muscles?” the body builder just sat in silence and had no answers. The man possessed a tremendous amount of power, but his power had no purpose other than to show off and bring attention to himself.
I believe there are a lot of people in the world today that are asking the same kind of question as they look at the church. They look inquisitively at the average church gathering and say, “I see the beautiful building and the list of activities. I hear the joyous music and notice the smiles on people’s faces. But what do you really do? Why do you get together every week? What are you really accomplishing? Like the body builder, many Christians don’t have answers to these questions. But these are questions that have answers and deserve to be answered and remembered.
Our task (Purpose) is to sow the seed of the gospel, water it and rejoice in whatever increase God may give. Presently the greatest temptation we may have to over come is to think the tasks at hand are complete. Purpose defines our existence. It is what we are called by God to be. It is our true identity. It is our created intention. It is a matter of our being or essence. It is who we are. Remember it is imperative that we keep the relationship between a purpose driven church and a maintenance one in the proper perspective in order to fulfill God’s purpose for all. So what are God’s purposes for the Church? We can see God’s purpose and design for the church in Matthew 22:36-40 and Matthew 28: 18-20
The road to change requires persistence. Little progress will be made if we think we have arrived. We must maximize the excitement for the ministry continually. In spite of all the positive things that have occurred in the last several years, we need to keep pressing on. How we fulfill God’s purposed will, of necessity, change with the changing needs of the church and the community, but why we exist remains ever the same.
God Bless You and This Ministry
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