(Act 10:24 KJVR) And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
This verse is part of an important account of the spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles. God had worked on both sides of the issue: preparing the heart of a prejudiced preacher who had the truth to share it with a seeker of the truth who would not have otherwise thought to ask that preacher. The setting for their meeting was Cornelius' home where he had gathered others who were interested in the truth, possibly some just because Cornelius himself was excited about the truth.
Many of these people would have found it difficult to attend the regular services of the church at Jerusalem or any other church of that day for several reasons. Do those reasons really matter or is it more important that God saw fit to send the messenger to the hearer instead of requiring the hearer to attend services at the local church facility? I am in no way diminishing the importance of congregational worship services. However, I am convicted that far too often we have forgotten our Great Commission responsibility to GO with the Gospel to those who are in need. No where do I find a responsibility for the lost to attend a routine church service to have the truth presented.
Throughout the New Testament we see the Gospel presented in homes and churches that are organized in many of those same homes. Confining the teaching of God's Word to church facilities and at somewhat arbitrary times may be limiting our effectiveness in reaching the lost and young disciples. Outside of direct Scriptural mandate, example, or implication, should we not be ready and willing as God's people to sacrifice self to present the truth to whomever and wherever we may gather a group of people? This seems to be the method used by the apostles and early churches. They did not forsake coporate worship, but they did not limit themselves to that format for sharing the truth.
I challenge us to prayerfully consider whether we are more interested in maintaining a structure of services and methods with which we are comfortable or in sharing God's Word by going out to those who need its teaching at personal sacrifice if need be. Small home groups are being used by churches and missionaries today very effectively. I have found several people in my own field of influence who are receptive to such a forum, some of which have negative opinions about organized religion or specific churches. I am convinced these people need to hear the truth from someone who will love them enough to present it to them in a comfortable setting. I have and will continue to look for those opportunities and will gladly make the sacrifices necessary to share the hope of Christ in me with them. What would God have you do?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
What's the Temperature of Your Love?
(Mat 24:12 KJVR) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Jesus makes this statement as He prepares His people for His return. I have personally thought and heard many times that this verse refers to God's people compromising with the sinful world and thereby drifting away from the Lord. I still believe that this verse refers to such and has proven to be a true indictment of far too many of God's people today.
However, I believe another facet of the verse is overlooked. Looking at the word translated "iniquity", we find that another meaning is lawlessness. Now I am not saying that lawlessness is not sin or inquity. Yet it does have a nuance that enlightens another view. The lawlessness refers to the lost, and Jesus tells us that sin will have its normal, progressively negative effect. Have you seen any evidence of this in our world today? Good being called evil, and evil being called good seems to be the rule of the day rather than the exception. Criminals are receiving little to no consequences for their evil actions to good citizens. Politicians are continually misusing and abusing the trust of the people they have been elected to represent.
How do these things make you feel? Does it seem hopeless to even try to tell people about the great news of the Savior? Surely people have no interest in church or things of the Lord, do they? I think you can see where I am going with this. All of this is enough to make a Christian forget that God still loves these people and Jesus died for their sins. If we are not careful, our love will begin to cool as the cold breath of lawlessness attempts to extinguish the fires of evangelism.
Jesus told the Ephesian church in the letter addressed to them in Revelation that they had left their first love. They were doctrinely sound and had a great passion for exposing and dealing with those who taught contrary to the scriptures. However, Jesus reminds them and us that God's people must remain focused on our main mission. The mission that God established before He created man and revealed in the person and ministry of His Son, Jesus Christ. That mission is to seek and to save all that are lost. He does not want any person to go to Hell no matter how lawless they have been.
Let us never forget that it is only by God's grace that we are not in the same or worse shape than those who seem so uncaring of the hope we have. Let us be faithful ambassadors of our great heavenly kingdom. Let us pray, witness, and live that the lost may see the love of Christ in us. Let us guard our attitudes by keeping our eyes on things above. Let the love that motivated God to send His Son and Jesus to willing die burn passionately in our hearts and minds!
Jesus makes this statement as He prepares His people for His return. I have personally thought and heard many times that this verse refers to God's people compromising with the sinful world and thereby drifting away from the Lord. I still believe that this verse refers to such and has proven to be a true indictment of far too many of God's people today.
However, I believe another facet of the verse is overlooked. Looking at the word translated "iniquity", we find that another meaning is lawlessness. Now I am not saying that lawlessness is not sin or inquity. Yet it does have a nuance that enlightens another view. The lawlessness refers to the lost, and Jesus tells us that sin will have its normal, progressively negative effect. Have you seen any evidence of this in our world today? Good being called evil, and evil being called good seems to be the rule of the day rather than the exception. Criminals are receiving little to no consequences for their evil actions to good citizens. Politicians are continually misusing and abusing the trust of the people they have been elected to represent.
How do these things make you feel? Does it seem hopeless to even try to tell people about the great news of the Savior? Surely people have no interest in church or things of the Lord, do they? I think you can see where I am going with this. All of this is enough to make a Christian forget that God still loves these people and Jesus died for their sins. If we are not careful, our love will begin to cool as the cold breath of lawlessness attempts to extinguish the fires of evangelism.
Jesus told the Ephesian church in the letter addressed to them in Revelation that they had left their first love. They were doctrinely sound and had a great passion for exposing and dealing with those who taught contrary to the scriptures. However, Jesus reminds them and us that God's people must remain focused on our main mission. The mission that God established before He created man and revealed in the person and ministry of His Son, Jesus Christ. That mission is to seek and to save all that are lost. He does not want any person to go to Hell no matter how lawless they have been.
Let us never forget that it is only by God's grace that we are not in the same or worse shape than those who seem so uncaring of the hope we have. Let us be faithful ambassadors of our great heavenly kingdom. Let us pray, witness, and live that the lost may see the love of Christ in us. Let us guard our attitudes by keeping our eyes on things above. Let the love that motivated God to send His Son and Jesus to willing die burn passionately in our hearts and minds!
Monday, February 16, 2009
G.R.O.W. Training
Sunday, Feb. 15th, we completed our second session of training in the outreach program G.R.O.W. The acronym stands for God Rewards Our Work. God likens His Kingdom business to a garden with each church representing a field in which He is the Creator, Landowner, and Head Farmer. As I was praying one day asking God to help Bethel MBC grow, He impressed upon my heart that if we wanted to see a growing crop we needed to be planting seeds in the field instead of pouring them out in the barn!
My dad loves to garden. He grew up farming and has continued it through his adult life. Some of the most vivid memories of my childhood are those relating to my working with my dad, usually quite reluctantly, in the garden. We always seemed to have enough to feed the whole county, but I never saw all those people there when it came time to harvest! Though I wish now I had paid more attention back then, I did pick up on a few things. This idea of pouring the seeds in the barn is not only comical but foolish and a sure way to be in a lot of trouble. It would not be long before my dad would have realized that something was not right when he didn't see plants growing out in the field we had plowed and prepared for planting.
As I considered what God was revealing to me, it finally sunk in that we pour the seeds in the barn when we as church members think that all of our work for Jesus revolves around our church services. We come together to teach the Gospel, sing the Gospel, and preach the Gospel in the barn, a rather nice one for most of us. Then we go out into the field and play in the rows of the garden that our Heavenly Father is plowing and preparing for planting. The few times I did that as a child did not prove to be in my best interest!
As I continued to meditate on this topic my heart broke as I saw how often I had miserably failed my Heavenly Father. I began asking the Lord to help lead the church He has called me to pastor in taking the seed out into the field in a purposeful manner. God is answering my prayers in this regard. I am excited about utilizing the G.R.O.W. program as a tool to aid us in organizing our efforts as we plant and water in the local field God is plowing and preparing for us. I have no doubt that we will see the increase for our Heavenly Father does no work in vain!
My dad loves to garden. He grew up farming and has continued it through his adult life. Some of the most vivid memories of my childhood are those relating to my working with my dad, usually quite reluctantly, in the garden. We always seemed to have enough to feed the whole county, but I never saw all those people there when it came time to harvest! Though I wish now I had paid more attention back then, I did pick up on a few things. This idea of pouring the seeds in the barn is not only comical but foolish and a sure way to be in a lot of trouble. It would not be long before my dad would have realized that something was not right when he didn't see plants growing out in the field we had plowed and prepared for planting.
As I considered what God was revealing to me, it finally sunk in that we pour the seeds in the barn when we as church members think that all of our work for Jesus revolves around our church services. We come together to teach the Gospel, sing the Gospel, and preach the Gospel in the barn, a rather nice one for most of us. Then we go out into the field and play in the rows of the garden that our Heavenly Father is plowing and preparing for planting. The few times I did that as a child did not prove to be in my best interest!
As I continued to meditate on this topic my heart broke as I saw how often I had miserably failed my Heavenly Father. I began asking the Lord to help lead the church He has called me to pastor in taking the seed out into the field in a purposeful manner. God is answering my prayers in this regard. I am excited about utilizing the G.R.O.W. program as a tool to aid us in organizing our efforts as we plant and water in the local field God is plowing and preparing for us. I have no doubt that we will see the increase for our Heavenly Father does no work in vain!
Monday, February 9, 2009
How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Show THE Way!
It's that time of year when "love" is in the air. Valentine's Day is around the corner and the chocaholics are ready for paradise! Seriously though, this is a wonderful opportunity (maybe reminder) for us to let those we love know what we often fail to say. As we let our loved ones know our feelings for them, let us not forget that romantic love is not the greatest love!
Though extremely powerful, romantic love is only one of three types of love recognized by the Greek language of Jesus' day. To clarify matters, the Greek language actually had three words describing differing charaterstics of what we lump together in one word. Another word was used to describe brotherly or friendly love. Yet greater still was the word used to describe sacrificial love, agape.
Jesus used agape in John 15:13 when he stated, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." He again used this same word in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
As you express your love this Valentine's Day, remember to share Jesus so that your love will be complete and the greatest it can be!
Though extremely powerful, romantic love is only one of three types of love recognized by the Greek language of Jesus' day. To clarify matters, the Greek language actually had three words describing differing charaterstics of what we lump together in one word. Another word was used to describe brotherly or friendly love. Yet greater still was the word used to describe sacrificial love, agape.
Jesus used agape in John 15:13 when he stated, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." He again used this same word in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
As you express your love this Valentine's Day, remember to share Jesus so that your love will be complete and the greatest it can be!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
A Different Perspective on the Economy
Bad times! That seems to be the overused comment of the media. However, is it really true? No doubt from a strictly material perspective things are not as good as they have been in past years. But that only means that for most of us we cannot spend as much money on our wants. We have yet to reach the point where we struggle just to eat as many people around the world.
A different perspective, one might even say the Christian perspective, with regards to our current economic situation is great opportunity! As people realize that wealth is an unreliable friend, we who know that the Lord is the only sure deal will have the privilege of sharing our faith with them. As God allows our country to reap the crop we have sown, many will begin to look for answers. What an amazing opportunity for those who know the One with all the answers! While we will certainly face difficult times as well, our faith remains solid in Jesus Who never changes nor fails. If you have been praying for a lost friend to be sensitive to the Gospel message, God may be answering your prayer. If you haven't been praying for a lost friend or acquaintance, now is definitely the time to start.
Pro 18:10-11 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. (11) The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own conceit.
A different perspective, one might even say the Christian perspective, with regards to our current economic situation is great opportunity! As people realize that wealth is an unreliable friend, we who know that the Lord is the only sure deal will have the privilege of sharing our faith with them. As God allows our country to reap the crop we have sown, many will begin to look for answers. What an amazing opportunity for those who know the One with all the answers! While we will certainly face difficult times as well, our faith remains solid in Jesus Who never changes nor fails. If you have been praying for a lost friend to be sensitive to the Gospel message, God may be answering your prayer. If you haven't been praying for a lost friend or acquaintance, now is definitely the time to start.
Pro 18:10-11 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. (11) The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own conceit.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
WHAT IS THIS THING WE CALL "CHURCH"
In this question I am not referring to the institution created and commissioned by Jesus during His earthly ministry. Nor am I referring to the building where a body of Christ meets. I am referring to whatever it is that we mean when we say, "Let's go to church."
When we make such statements, do we really have in mind anything that would be familiar to Jesus and first century believers? For many it seems that the purpose of such words is to imply one is preparing to gather at a given facility to perform their duty for God. No wonder so many miss the true adventure of the Christian life!
When we gather with a local New Testament church for Sunday services, it is our privilege to:
When we make such statements, do we really have in mind anything that would be familiar to Jesus and first century believers? For many it seems that the purpose of such words is to imply one is preparing to gather at a given facility to perform their duty for God. No wonder so many miss the true adventure of the Christian life!
When we gather with a local New Testament church for Sunday services, it is our privilege to:
- Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ for that is the reason the Apostles and early Christians began meeting on the first day of the week;
- Worship God Who is deserving of all honor and glory all the time;
- Praise Jesus with Whom we have been involved in Kingdom business throughout the last week;
- Prepare to be better servants by allowing the Holy Spirit to minister to us through the teaching and preaching of God's Word;
- Encourage and receive encouragement from fellow members as we engage in the battle for the souls of people for whom our Savior died.
Though this list could be expanded, it is sufficient to demonstrate the difference between the intended versus the reality. Attending the services of a God-honoring church is a wonderful part of the daily experience of a disciple of Jesus otherwise known as a Christian!
I pray that each reader will learn what meeting with Jesus for services in one of His churches really means.
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