The main goal of my lesson on Sunday was the as Christians we are to value all life as God would expect it. I opened up with the following question: Think of a time where you didn't feel valued. I got answers including being picked last, interviewing for a job, not being included in certain circles and such.
I then asked how society devalues certain individual's lives: mentally or physically handicapped, homeless, economically disadvantaged, race, criminals. We all agreed that we tend to put certain values on people's lives.
We looked at Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God created EVERYONE and loves everyone. He desires fellowship from everyone. I brought up Osama Bin Laden and how if he were captured and killed many would be excited. I know when bad things happen to bad people I tend to think they deserved it. I feel we also pick and choose who is worth loving and helping. God isn't as selective. He desires fellowship with EVERYONE and his call to salvation is for everyone.
I referenced to Matthew 22 and looked at the Greatest Commandment where the disciples asked Jesus about the law:
36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
It is hard to love a criminal as I would myself. Or the neighbor who parks a boat or a pull behind camper in his drive way. How about the co-worker or Sunday school class member who requires a lot of extra grace.
If we truly devoted ourselves to these 2 commandments there would be no room for selfishness or laziness.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
James 5
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
20 ....remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
I think it is extremely important to develop a friendship within your Christian circles that will help you grow in your faith. This friendship should be one where the 2 people involved truly share what is going on in their lives: struggles, joys, triumphs, trials, etc. If you continue to hide your sins from others obviously God knows these sins and these sins break the fellowship that God desires from us. I do feel you can only turn someone from their errors if you have developed a trusting relationship with that person. You would be less likely to get any retaliation or fault pointing if you've built up that relationship. This friendship is what I would consider as an "accountability partner." You've got to make sure this relationship doesn't enable both people to continue sinning or it brings both persons away from God.
20 ....remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
I think it is extremely important to develop a friendship within your Christian circles that will help you grow in your faith. This friendship should be one where the 2 people involved truly share what is going on in their lives: struggles, joys, triumphs, trials, etc. If you continue to hide your sins from others obviously God knows these sins and these sins break the fellowship that God desires from us. I do feel you can only turn someone from their errors if you have developed a trusting relationship with that person. You would be less likely to get any retaliation or fault pointing if you've built up that relationship. This friendship is what I would consider as an "accountability partner." You've got to make sure this relationship doesn't enable both people to continue sinning or it brings both persons away from God.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
James 4
I think the 2 verses that stand out the most to me are verses 7 and 8 respectively.
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.
First verse 7. I think it is comforting to know that if you resist the devil it says he will flee from you. I had in mind that when you turn away the devil and avoid temptation that his effort to sway you would become stronger. It may, but we are told here that Satan will FLEE! I love that idea.
Verse 8. I taught a lesson on Sunday about "Walking With God." I looked in Genesis at how Noah was the first one in the bible to be called righteous and in Genesis 6 it says Noah walked with God. Noah lived over 600 years so he did a lot of walking. To be close to God it must involve a move on our part first. God is always there so if you feel distant from God, it's YOU and not God hiding from you. God ALWAYS wants our time, attention, talents, tithes, etc. So if you feel that God is distant, find a way to get your self "nearer" to God.
Verse 17 is simply said as well, "17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.
First verse 7. I think it is comforting to know that if you resist the devil it says he will flee from you. I had in mind that when you turn away the devil and avoid temptation that his effort to sway you would become stronger. It may, but we are told here that Satan will FLEE! I love that idea.
Verse 8. I taught a lesson on Sunday about "Walking With God." I looked in Genesis at how Noah was the first one in the bible to be called righteous and in Genesis 6 it says Noah walked with God. Noah lived over 600 years so he did a lot of walking. To be close to God it must involve a move on our part first. God is always there so if you feel distant from God, it's YOU and not God hiding from you. God ALWAYS wants our time, attention, talents, tithes, etc. So if you feel that God is distant, find a way to get your self "nearer" to God.
Verse 17 is simply said as well, "17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Crave Spiritual Milk
Last night at our Wednesday night bible and prayer time we read out of 1 Peter where he tells the reader to "crave spiritual milk just like a baby." The spiritual milk here is the word of God and good biblical teaching. One lady actually had an infant there and made the following analysis: She said that babies know when they are hungry and they need the momma's milk and its nutrients in order to grow. That is the same with the bible and our reading it for meaning and understanding.
I've kind of always known this and know that reading the bible is important and that we need to surround ourselves with good teaching and biblically based friendships.
This lady also added that the momma's milk changes as the baby's needs change as it grows. I know that I've read some bible passages over and over and each time I was able to apply it differently in my life or it meant something a bit different. As I thought about it I was able to make sense of it. I have poured over or have studied different passages in the bible and God is able to reveal things that I need in my life RIGHT now.
I do fully enjoy reading the bible and fully understand how important that it is in our spiritual growth. You can usually tell if someone reads the bible on a regular basis because their talk usually gravitates toward talking about what they've read. I guess it is similar to working out. If someone is chisled it is obvious that they go to the gym. If someone is a bit out of shape or heavy then it is likely that this person doesn't work out.
Spiritually speaking I think you can really see who is in the word on a regular basis. As Zig Ziglar said at our church a few Sunday's ago, "this person looks as if they are the cruise director of the Titanic." The more you are in the word I think you stress less. You treat others better. Your actions come closer to doing what Christ might do. And just like working out I don't think you become a spiritual speciman overnight.
Being a spiritually fit Christian does take time and you often need a trainer or someone who knows a bit more than you!
I've kind of always known this and know that reading the bible is important and that we need to surround ourselves with good teaching and biblically based friendships.
This lady also added that the momma's milk changes as the baby's needs change as it grows. I know that I've read some bible passages over and over and each time I was able to apply it differently in my life or it meant something a bit different. As I thought about it I was able to make sense of it. I have poured over or have studied different passages in the bible and God is able to reveal things that I need in my life RIGHT now.
I do fully enjoy reading the bible and fully understand how important that it is in our spiritual growth. You can usually tell if someone reads the bible on a regular basis because their talk usually gravitates toward talking about what they've read. I guess it is similar to working out. If someone is chisled it is obvious that they go to the gym. If someone is a bit out of shape or heavy then it is likely that this person doesn't work out.
Spiritually speaking I think you can really see who is in the word on a regular basis. As Zig Ziglar said at our church a few Sunday's ago, "this person looks as if they are the cruise director of the Titanic." The more you are in the word I think you stress less. You treat others better. Your actions come closer to doing what Christ might do. And just like working out I don't think you become a spiritual speciman overnight.
Being a spiritually fit Christian does take time and you often need a trainer or someone who knows a bit more than you!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
Matthew 13
44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
WOW. Short and sweet today. Imagine something worth so much to you that you would sell everything you have just to buy it. I personally wonder if either of these men had families that they had to consult? As I read verse 44 I kind of think that this would be a deceptive move in society's terms. I remember reading about a baseball card dealer who found a rare card at some boy's yard sale and bought the card for the $1 face value. This card ended up being worth thousands. Anyway.....
I would think that if you had such a great treasure you would be telling and showing everyone about it. It would be such a great thing that you couldn't bare keep it a secret from everyone. So it should be with what we have in our faith and salvation in Jesus Christ. We too will inherit the treasure called Heaven. The best thing about this is that we don't have to keep it to ourselves, we get to share it with EVERYONE!
Just as it says in 1 Timothy 2:5-6
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.
I pray that we as believers truly trust in this great treasure we are given called Heaven and that we would excitedly and purposefully share our faith with ALL that we meet.
Matthew 13
44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
WOW. Short and sweet today. Imagine something worth so much to you that you would sell everything you have just to buy it. I personally wonder if either of these men had families that they had to consult? As I read verse 44 I kind of think that this would be a deceptive move in society's terms. I remember reading about a baseball card dealer who found a rare card at some boy's yard sale and bought the card for the $1 face value. This card ended up being worth thousands. Anyway.....
I would think that if you had such a great treasure you would be telling and showing everyone about it. It would be such a great thing that you couldn't bare keep it a secret from everyone. So it should be with what we have in our faith and salvation in Jesus Christ. We too will inherit the treasure called Heaven. The best thing about this is that we don't have to keep it to ourselves, we get to share it with EVERYONE!
Just as it says in 1 Timothy 2:5-6
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.
I pray that we as believers truly trust in this great treasure we are given called Heaven and that we would excitedly and purposefully share our faith with ALL that we meet.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Mustard Seed and the Yeast
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
Matthew 13:31 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
33 He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."
I did a little research on this one to try to understand the meaning. Keep in mind Jesus taught a series of parables here in Matthew 13 and they all should be considered when pulling just one like this apart. The mustard seed was indeed the smallest seed in the region that one would intentionally plant in efforts to have a harvest. A seed so small would indeed grow into a bush or shrub so big that it had characteristics of a tree and it actually produced a decent amount of shade and a place for birds to rest. Similar to this is the small amount of yeast that is introduced into a fair amount of dough. Eventually it penetrates the full amount.
I guess so it is with our Christian faith and message. At the time when Jesus was teaching these parables it really wasn't okay or openly acceptable to be a follower of Christ. From this small group of dedicated followers would emerge the guys who who begin to spread the gospel throughout the region and eventually to all the world.
If you try to apply this on a personal level someone with a little bit of faith can do so much. One faithful person can impact many.
Matthew 13:31 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
33 He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."
I did a little research on this one to try to understand the meaning. Keep in mind Jesus taught a series of parables here in Matthew 13 and they all should be considered when pulling just one like this apart. The mustard seed was indeed the smallest seed in the region that one would intentionally plant in efforts to have a harvest. A seed so small would indeed grow into a bush or shrub so big that it had characteristics of a tree and it actually produced a decent amount of shade and a place for birds to rest. Similar to this is the small amount of yeast that is introduced into a fair amount of dough. Eventually it penetrates the full amount.
I guess so it is with our Christian faith and message. At the time when Jesus was teaching these parables it really wasn't okay or openly acceptable to be a follower of Christ. From this small group of dedicated followers would emerge the guys who who begin to spread the gospel throughout the region and eventually to all the world.
If you try to apply this on a personal level someone with a little bit of faith can do so much. One faithful person can impact many.
Monday, November 26, 2007
The Parable of the Sower
Matthew 13
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying:
"A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear."
10 The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"
11 He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18 "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
The first thing Jesus did here was position himself a little bit away from the people who came to be healed and hear him speak. What a great speaker he must have been. Imagine the voice he would need to be able to teach THOUSANDS and without a microphone. I'm sure he set up his speaking area to resemble an amphitheatre.
I like how the disciples asked Jesus why he was teaching in the form of parables and Jesus then quoted scripture from Isaiah. Jesus in verse 11 hints that the parables are basically a hidden code that believers would find deeper meaning while those who weren't interested in the real message that Jesus was delivering would just think he was telling stories.
The following is an excerpt I found at http://www.jesuscentral.com/
Christianity wouldn`t be legalized until 313 by Constantine via the Edict of Milan, becoming the official religion of the entire Roman Empire less than a century later. Thus, parables would keep them safe from those who weren`t meant to hear them. For example, to the faithful, the parable of the sower contains deep spiritual meaning, helping them to get closer to God. As far as the authorities and anybody else hostile to the faith are concerned, it`s just a simple story about some guy planting seeds, and thus no big deal.
In this parable the seed(word of Jesus) falls on 4 types of ground(potential believers). For some people they will not understand the message and before anyone or this person can persue being a believer Satan takes the message away and nothing happens. Others receive the message about Jesus with joy, but since they do not have a solid foundation of understanding they soon fizzle out. The third type of person hears the message and most likely understands it, but the things of the world remain important and eventually crowd out any chance that this person has of becoming a faithful follower. The last person is ready to receive the message and apply to their life. This is the person who tries to live an obedient life that reaches many others.
The thing that I get out of this is some seeds just wont take. Some people just wont accept the message of the bible. Some hear it and quickly fall away. The question is how in depth do you go after this person. Some "rocky" ground can be turned into productive ground, but it requires a lot of work. The smart farmer finds fertile soil and spends most of his time here.
Personally I think I need to keep my own soil "good." This requires surrounding myself with other people who are rooted in "good" soil. If I start hanging around people trapped in weeds, then those weeds can easily infiltrate my productive soil. Just like my neighbor has a very weedy yard, I have to constantly work at pulling weeds on my part of the lawn that attaches to his. I have to spend more time working that small patch of lawn than I do the rest which is 10 times larger. Keeping my soil good requires daily reading of the bible and I haven't been doing that lately. It requires praying with a purpose instead of randomly and at meals. It requires that I seek out ways to serve others. It will also require seeking and finding a good friend that I can become accountability partners with.
I'm glad to be back! Bro Bill challenged me to remain faithful in presenting the word which means I have to read scripture daily. I LOVE reading the bible, but become lazy and then other things sneak in and take my time away. WEEDS!
Matthew 13
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying:
"A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear."
10 The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"
11 He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18 "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
The first thing Jesus did here was position himself a little bit away from the people who came to be healed and hear him speak. What a great speaker he must have been. Imagine the voice he would need to be able to teach THOUSANDS and without a microphone. I'm sure he set up his speaking area to resemble an amphitheatre.
I like how the disciples asked Jesus why he was teaching in the form of parables and Jesus then quoted scripture from Isaiah. Jesus in verse 11 hints that the parables are basically a hidden code that believers would find deeper meaning while those who weren't interested in the real message that Jesus was delivering would just think he was telling stories.
The following is an excerpt I found at http://www.jesuscentral.com/
Christianity wouldn`t be legalized until 313 by Constantine via the Edict of Milan, becoming the official religion of the entire Roman Empire less than a century later. Thus, parables would keep them safe from those who weren`t meant to hear them. For example, to the faithful, the parable of the sower contains deep spiritual meaning, helping them to get closer to God. As far as the authorities and anybody else hostile to the faith are concerned, it`s just a simple story about some guy planting seeds, and thus no big deal.
In this parable the seed(word of Jesus) falls on 4 types of ground(potential believers). For some people they will not understand the message and before anyone or this person can persue being a believer Satan takes the message away and nothing happens. Others receive the message about Jesus with joy, but since they do not have a solid foundation of understanding they soon fizzle out. The third type of person hears the message and most likely understands it, but the things of the world remain important and eventually crowd out any chance that this person has of becoming a faithful follower. The last person is ready to receive the message and apply to their life. This is the person who tries to live an obedient life that reaches many others.
The thing that I get out of this is some seeds just wont take. Some people just wont accept the message of the bible. Some hear it and quickly fall away. The question is how in depth do you go after this person. Some "rocky" ground can be turned into productive ground, but it requires a lot of work. The smart farmer finds fertile soil and spends most of his time here.
Personally I think I need to keep my own soil "good." This requires surrounding myself with other people who are rooted in "good" soil. If I start hanging around people trapped in weeds, then those weeds can easily infiltrate my productive soil. Just like my neighbor has a very weedy yard, I have to constantly work at pulling weeds on my part of the lawn that attaches to his. I have to spend more time working that small patch of lawn than I do the rest which is 10 times larger. Keeping my soil good requires daily reading of the bible and I haven't been doing that lately. It requires praying with a purpose instead of randomly and at meals. It requires that I seek out ways to serve others. It will also require seeking and finding a good friend that I can become accountability partners with.
I'm glad to be back! Bro Bill challenged me to remain faithful in presenting the word which means I have to read scripture daily. I LOVE reading the bible, but become lazy and then other things sneak in and take my time away. WEEDS!
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