Morning: The sermon, "Wrestling with Weakness," focused on Colossians 4:12-13. Through the life of Epaphras, Paul reminds us to be weak enough to pray hard. Those who realize the their weakness then to have a fuller prayer lives. His work is characterized as continual, dedicated, and personal. He prayed that people would experience a full faith. And Paul said he worked hard at it.
Evening: Movie Night.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Called to Learn
I love learning new things. I had to learn vocabulary word in an English class. My favorite part of that assignment was the study of origins of the words. I also like factoids-those little bits of information that can be stashed for trivia games.
The human brain was designed for life long learning. From a spiritual angle, we were called to life long learning. As Christians, we are the disciples or students of Christ. We have come to him to learn. He teaches us how to live in order to please the Father.
Solomon instructed his son to, "Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge" (Prov. 23:22). His words are a command. Learning about our Lord and Savior isn't a mere suggestion, but a marching order.
The call is to open our hearts to instruction. The heart can refer to the inner person. The term instruction can also be translated discipline. Solomon is calling his son to open his heart to correction.
Most of us don't like correction. It tends to be embarrassing and unpleasant. But our hearts are bent away from God and in need of correcting. The shaping of our hearts happens as a result of instruction and discipline. We must be trained how to live in God pleasing ways.
How are we trained? By hearing and applying God's Word to our lives. If we will listen and apply the truths we learn, we will experience growth. It is hard work, but well worth the effort.
The human brain was designed for life long learning. From a spiritual angle, we were called to life long learning. As Christians, we are the disciples or students of Christ. We have come to him to learn. He teaches us how to live in order to please the Father.
Solomon instructed his son to, "Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge" (Prov. 23:22). His words are a command. Learning about our Lord and Savior isn't a mere suggestion, but a marching order.
The call is to open our hearts to instruction. The heart can refer to the inner person. The term instruction can also be translated discipline. Solomon is calling his son to open his heart to correction.
Most of us don't like correction. It tends to be embarrassing and unpleasant. But our hearts are bent away from God and in need of correcting. The shaping of our hearts happens as a result of instruction and discipline. We must be trained how to live in God pleasing ways.
How are we trained? By hearing and applying God's Word to our lives. If we will listen and apply the truths we learn, we will experience growth. It is hard work, but well worth the effort.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The Nature of Failure
Have you ever dropped the ball? We are told, "to err is human," but do we really believe that anymore? How could we not? Mistakes happen all the time.
We all fall short. We fall short of the glory of God. We fall short of our own standards. We fall short of our promises and potential.
The truth is that none of make it out of this world without failing. The truth is we fail a lot. When I speak of failure, I am not equating it with sin, although sin is a particular type of failure.
Most people make well-intentioned promises that they never keep. They don't do this because they hoping to deceive or destroy another. They do it because they are not giving careful thought to future. They speak with certainty when they should use caution.
Failure is a molder, a shaper. It forms and fashions those who endure it. Some are ruined by its touch. Others learn from failure and grow in their potential. Failure is only fatal to those who allow it to stand in the way.
Failure has the potential to stretch us beyond our current capabilities. Every failure is an opportunity to examine the gaps in our thoughts and imaginations. It is an opportunity to find out what we don't know or what we can't do at this moment.
Failure is not determinate. It cannot predict the future. Failure here and now does not mean failure always. What we do with our failures will determine what we become.
We all fall down. We must learn to pick ourselves up and move forward. All the while, we keep in mind that failure is just around the corner and opportunity is right behind it. If we seize the opportunity, it turns our failure into a springboard to success.
We all fall short. We fall short of the glory of God. We fall short of our own standards. We fall short of our promises and potential.
The truth is that none of make it out of this world without failing. The truth is we fail a lot. When I speak of failure, I am not equating it with sin, although sin is a particular type of failure.
Most people make well-intentioned promises that they never keep. They don't do this because they hoping to deceive or destroy another. They do it because they are not giving careful thought to future. They speak with certainty when they should use caution.
Failure is a molder, a shaper. It forms and fashions those who endure it. Some are ruined by its touch. Others learn from failure and grow in their potential. Failure is only fatal to those who allow it to stand in the way.
Failure has the potential to stretch us beyond our current capabilities. Every failure is an opportunity to examine the gaps in our thoughts and imaginations. It is an opportunity to find out what we don't know or what we can't do at this moment.
Failure is not determinate. It cannot predict the future. Failure here and now does not mean failure always. What we do with our failures will determine what we become.
We all fall down. We must learn to pick ourselves up and move forward. All the while, we keep in mind that failure is just around the corner and opportunity is right behind it. If we seize the opportunity, it turns our failure into a springboard to success.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Choose to Work Hard
"The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor" (Prov. 21:25, ESV).
I have learned a lot about myself in the last few weeks. I realized at some point several months ago that I shifted into auto-pilot. I haven't quite figured out how to change it. I guess that isn't quite true. I know what it will take to change it, but I am afraid to do it. I feel like Frodo in the Fellowship of the Ring.
The right course is usually not the easiest course. Sometimes it is full of danger and loneliness. But more than that, it is usually filled with action. In truth, the right course is most usually perpetual action.
The hardest part for some is decision to do. Will I? or Won't I?
The question then becomes: what sort of person am I? Do I want, yet lack the heart to act? Or do I refuse to want because I'm not going to act?
The sluggard or lazy person want, but lack to heart to act. They can't get themselves motivated to do anything. The sluggard is marked by inaction.
I have found in my own life that several things lead me to laziness. Sometimes I lack focus or direction. Other times I lack genuine passion or concern about things. More often than not, I realize that it will take hard work to achieve what I want, and I'm not willing to do it.
I have tried to analyze the why of inaction, but I haven't found the magic bullet. They answer is as complex as the problem. In one venture it seems like the pay off isn't worth the effort. In another, it feels like the risk for failure it just too high.
In the end, I guess what matters is what kind of person we want to be and what kind of life we want. Do we want to be the kind of person who failed to pursue their dreams and therefore spends the rest of their lives consumed by regrets and what ifs? Or do we want to be the kind of person who looks back on their life and sees a legacy. This proverb calls us to work hard for our dreams. We would be wise to heed the advice.
I have learned a lot about myself in the last few weeks. I realized at some point several months ago that I shifted into auto-pilot. I haven't quite figured out how to change it. I guess that isn't quite true. I know what it will take to change it, but I am afraid to do it. I feel like Frodo in the Fellowship of the Ring.
The right course is usually not the easiest course. Sometimes it is full of danger and loneliness. But more than that, it is usually filled with action. In truth, the right course is most usually perpetual action.
The hardest part for some is decision to do. Will I? or Won't I?
The question then becomes: what sort of person am I? Do I want, yet lack the heart to act? Or do I refuse to want because I'm not going to act?
The sluggard or lazy person want, but lack to heart to act. They can't get themselves motivated to do anything. The sluggard is marked by inaction.
I have found in my own life that several things lead me to laziness. Sometimes I lack focus or direction. Other times I lack genuine passion or concern about things. More often than not, I realize that it will take hard work to achieve what I want, and I'm not willing to do it.
I have tried to analyze the why of inaction, but I haven't found the magic bullet. They answer is as complex as the problem. In one venture it seems like the pay off isn't worth the effort. In another, it feels like the risk for failure it just too high.
In the end, I guess what matters is what kind of person we want to be and what kind of life we want. Do we want to be the kind of person who failed to pursue their dreams and therefore spends the rest of their lives consumed by regrets and what ifs? Or do we want to be the kind of person who looks back on their life and sees a legacy. This proverb calls us to work hard for our dreams. We would be wise to heed the advice.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Sermon Recap 1-20-13
Morning: The sermon, "Every Life Matters," focused on Colossians 4:7-18. In this passage, Paul reminds us through his farewell that every life matters. As Paul says good-bye to the church in Colosse, he introduced them to some of his friends. They were friends who had encouraged him and who made a difference.
Evening: The lesson, "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made," focused on Psalm 139:13-16.
Evening: The lesson, "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made," focused on Psalm 139:13-16.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Sermon Recap 1-13-13
Morning: The sermon, "Gospel Shaped Relationships," focused on Colossians 3:18-4:1. In this passage, Paul reminds us that the gospel should shape all of our relationships. The temptation some face in relationships is to please the other person within that relationship. Other want to please themselves in relationship. In all of our relationships, we need to remember that we should live to please the Lord. Here is how the gospel should shape our relationships:
1. Wives should submit to their husbands. Paul's command suggests humility and equality. The husband is not to subject his wife, she is to come under his leadership. The wives submission acknowledges the created order. It also fits the larger model. Jesus, the Son is equal to the Father, but submits to him. The Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son, but submits to them. Believers are to submit to their leaders and each other. Paul also notes that this submission is not blind obedience. Wives are only to submit as fitting to the the Lord. In other words, they don't have to violate their consciences when husband led them astray.
2. The husband is to love his wife and not be harsh. He is to give himself to the nurture and care of his spouse. His needs are to give way to hers. He is to guide with gentleness and care.
3. Children are to obey their parents. Rebellion toward parents is rebellion towards God. Children honor God when they obey their parents.
4. Parents shouldn't embitter their children. There are numerous things one could do to embitter their child: unrealistic expectations, too much praise, not enough praise, violence, verbal abuse, etc.
5. Employees need to work hard. We don't have an exact correlations to slavery today. However, an rough analogy can be drawn between slave/employee and master/employer. The employee is to work with sincerity. They should work at the same level of excellence whether or not their boss is present. The should work with passion. As they work with all their might, they reflect the glory of God and make that glory known to those around them. They must also work in faith knowing that their work will receive a reward greater than a paycheck.
6. The employer is also reminded to do right by his workers. God shows no favoritism. He expects workers to work, and their employers to provide for them fairly.
Apart from the gospel, these types of relationships are not possible. It is only by the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit that we are able to live out these God-given roles.
Evening: We reviewed our church covenant tonight.
1. Wives should submit to their husbands. Paul's command suggests humility and equality. The husband is not to subject his wife, she is to come under his leadership. The wives submission acknowledges the created order. It also fits the larger model. Jesus, the Son is equal to the Father, but submits to him. The Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son, but submits to them. Believers are to submit to their leaders and each other. Paul also notes that this submission is not blind obedience. Wives are only to submit as fitting to the the Lord. In other words, they don't have to violate their consciences when husband led them astray.
2. The husband is to love his wife and not be harsh. He is to give himself to the nurture and care of his spouse. His needs are to give way to hers. He is to guide with gentleness and care.
3. Children are to obey their parents. Rebellion toward parents is rebellion towards God. Children honor God when they obey their parents.
4. Parents shouldn't embitter their children. There are numerous things one could do to embitter their child: unrealistic expectations, too much praise, not enough praise, violence, verbal abuse, etc.
5. Employees need to work hard. We don't have an exact correlations to slavery today. However, an rough analogy can be drawn between slave/employee and master/employer. The employee is to work with sincerity. They should work at the same level of excellence whether or not their boss is present. The should work with passion. As they work with all their might, they reflect the glory of God and make that glory known to those around them. They must also work in faith knowing that their work will receive a reward greater than a paycheck.
6. The employer is also reminded to do right by his workers. God shows no favoritism. He expects workers to work, and their employers to provide for them fairly.
Apart from the gospel, these types of relationships are not possible. It is only by the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit that we are able to live out these God-given roles.
Evening: We reviewed our church covenant tonight.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Sunday Recap 1-6-13
Morning: The sermon, "New Year, Same Focus," examined Colossians 4:2-6. In this passage, Paul urges us to make the most of every opportunity. We do that in two ways.
1. We devote ourselves to prayer. We do this by staying alert. We must be alert to the weaknesses of our flesh, the pull of the world, the schemes of the devil, and the coming of our Lord. We are kept from getting weary by the continual reminder that we are to be ready when Jesus returns.
We must also stay grateful. The core of our prayer life should by gratitude. God is great and infinitely worthy of worship, praise, and thanksgiving.
We must also pray for those in the service of the Lord. We should ask God to give them opportunity to share his message, to share it faithfully, and to share it with clarity.
2. We must watch how we live. Paul urges us to live wisely. Our actions must match what we proclaim.
We must make our conversations full of grace. Part of this is taking time to listen. And we should also season our speech with salt. There should be a winsomeness to our sharing.
As we work in the new year, we must remember to keep our focus the same: Jesus Christ and his glory.
Evening: Business Meeting
1. We devote ourselves to prayer. We do this by staying alert. We must be alert to the weaknesses of our flesh, the pull of the world, the schemes of the devil, and the coming of our Lord. We are kept from getting weary by the continual reminder that we are to be ready when Jesus returns.
We must also stay grateful. The core of our prayer life should by gratitude. God is great and infinitely worthy of worship, praise, and thanksgiving.
We must also pray for those in the service of the Lord. We should ask God to give them opportunity to share his message, to share it faithfully, and to share it with clarity.
2. We must watch how we live. Paul urges us to live wisely. Our actions must match what we proclaim.
We must make our conversations full of grace. Part of this is taking time to listen. And we should also season our speech with salt. There should be a winsomeness to our sharing.
As we work in the new year, we must remember to keep our focus the same: Jesus Christ and his glory.
Evening: Business Meeting
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