Posted by David on February 15, 2004 under Bulletin Articles
I often wonder, “Why do I always have to learn so many things the hard way?” What does that mean? For most of us, it means “I have to make a huge mistake before ‘it gets my attention’ and causes me to realize ‘uh-oh! That was dumb!'” I find neither comfort nor delight in realizing that “the hard way” is the precise formula many, many others follow in “learning life’s difficult lessons.”
So, why do so many of us learn “the hard way”? Allow me to suggest some responses to that “why.”
Reason # 1: we are humans, not God. As humans, we prefer falling prey to imagined deceit rather than learning from truth. As humans, we like to pretend we are god. As humans, we like to believe we are “the masters of our own fate” [when we are, commonly it is bad, not good!]. For those who prefer deception, for those who consider themselves god, for those who think they “know best” about most things, the only way to learn (and remember!) is by learning the “hard way”! Others’ mistakes mean nothing! Our hard experiences mean everything!
Reason # 2: we remember what we live through and survive. It is almost like we have internal juvenile arguments with ourselves: “Is too! Is not! Is too! Is not!” The fact that someone we know already learned the “hard way” means nothing to most of us. “We” are different! That experience would not produce the same outcome and results in us! We are [take your pick] wiser, more alert, more gifted, more intelligent, more discriminating, have better judgment, etc., than “they”! Only when we repeat their failure do we “own” the consequence! What a crash when we finally realize we really are not different!
Reason # 3: some of our richest, most appreciated blessings rise from the ashes of our failures. It is true that “we do not know how to appreciate what we lost until we lose it.” Learning the “hard way” teaches us to appreciate what we take for granted. In fact, blessings we consider curses suddenly become invaluable treasures. We know how to appreciate what we lost–if we get it back!
Reason # 4: learning “hard lessons” from horrible experiences equips us to (1) use those experiences to teach the few who will listen [if we are willing to share our failures] and (2) be an invaluable source of encouragement to those who need to rise above their mistakes.
The downsides of learning the “hard way”: (1) the mistake may destroy us before we learn the lesson; (2) the education hurts others as well as ourselves; (3) it is a wasteful way to learn; and (4) it leaves God’s wisdom and guidance out of our learning process.
Fortunately, the Christian belongs to the God who produces blessings from mistakes–even big ones! His biggest blessings are discovered in allowing Him to guide us away from the “hard way”! Unmade mistakes are invaluable!
Posted by David on February 8, 2004 under Bulletin Articles
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” (Galatians 6:9)
The problems in congregations in the Roman province of Galatia were extremely difficult. Two features in Paul’s letter to those congregations reveal how discouraging the problems were. A group of Jewish Christians followed behind Paul when he established congregations in non-Jewish areas. Basically, these Christians (Judaizing teachers) made two points. # 1: Paul was not a genuine apostle; neither this man nor his message were to be trusted. # 2: Since you were converted through a “faulty” message about Christ, your conversion is invalid. Thus, you still need to be saved.
What a discouragement to Paul and to the people he called to Christ! With great personal sacrifices, Paul made his mission trips [2 Corinthians 11:21-33]. With enormous personal patience and kindness, he taught people of idolatrous backgrounds [1 Thessalonians 2:5-12]. Paul cared about the people he taught! Those responding to Christ by redirecting their lives were of great encouragement! For Christians to cause these people to doubt their salvation was an enormous personal discouragement.
When Paul heard what happened in the Galatian congregations, it defied belief! He was so upset that he began his letter in a unique manner. In virtually all his letters to congregations, Paul began by giving thanks for them. He did that even with the deeply troubled Corinthian congregation [1 Corinthians 1:4-9]. Yet, he did not begin Galatians with a statement of thanksgiving! He started with a declaration of disbelief. “I cannot believe you left Christ for a message falsely presenting itself as good news!” [Galatians 1:6-9.] He then (1) defended his spiritual credentials and (2) verified his message.
As discouraging as the situation was to Paul, have you considered how discouraging it was to the few who were not deceived by the Judaizing teachers’ false message? Would that not be reason to give up? Would that not make you feel pointless in your conversion and commitment? Would your mind not constantly declare: “Just quit! Just give up!”
Near the end of the letter he wrote the above statement. “Do not stop doing good! Do not faint! Do not let weariness win! The harvest is certain! Doing good glorifies God!”
Why in the face of discouragement continue to do good? (1) This is the only way those in Christ can say “thank you” to God. (2) Those who know God through Christ need encouragement. (3) Those who do not know God need to see Him in your life.
Posted by David on February 1, 2004 under Bulletin Articles
On Sunday mornings during the month of February [beginning this Sunday, February 1], the focus of morning assemblies will be on communion. Basically, the following will be each Sunday’s format for the month. With praying and singing together, we will praise God. I will focus our minds on a specific accomplishment God achieved in Jesus’ death and resurrection. We will take communion together as we focus on the sacrifice of Jesus’ body and blood. After remembering the gift which allows us to exist as God’s family, Chris will challenge us to focus on our response to God’s achievement.
Each Sunday morning in the month of February, we [as a congregation] will focus on a different achievement God accomplished in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Each Sunday morning we will be challenged to respond to God’s accomplishment in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
This Sunday morning we will focus on God’s gift of freedom (redemption).
The challenge to worship God as a response to His achievement in giving Jesus’ life for us is an extension of our focus on Sunday evenings. Beginning in January, each Sunday evening we focused on worship as a concept. In January, we noted from scripture in a study of Genesis 4 and Isaiah 1 the first concept: worship must arise from the person’s heart. We also noted the inadequacy of the conviction that we worship because we physically are at a place.
Concept two: worship is a declaration of dependence on God. We stressed this fact: it is possible for a person to be surrounded by those who are worshipping while he/she is not worshipping.
On Sunday evenings in February, we will stress the difference between worshipping God and worshipping idols, the importance of God’s creative power, and the moods of worship. Most of the Life Groups focus on these same lessons about worship concerns in their Sunday evening meetings.
The objective is simple. We want each person to worship God. We deeply appreciate everyone’s presence. In no way would we discourage anyone from attending. Yet, we seek for more to happen than people being present. We want each person’s presence to honor God as he/she glorifies God in his/her mind and heart.
Glorify God in your every word and action all week! Join with us in praising God Sunday! May each of us care about the God Who cares so much about us!
Posted by David on January 25, 2004 under Bulletin Articles
My personal joys in being in this congregation are many! Is it perfect? No. Is it stimulating people to grow and mature in Christ? Yes. That challenge is issued in a variety of ways. The call is for each person to grow continuously closer to God through Jesus Christ. The call is not: “Grow closer to God by submitting to my personal agenda.”
This congregation offers an incredible variety of stimulating challenges. No, we do not offer enough. Yes, we will grow and are growing in the variety we offer as God’s community. How many forms of challenge should we offer? How many human needs exist? The God who knows the number of our hairs always is interested in the “whole person.” Those who recognize their needs can hear His call in Christ.
We need as many challenges as there are needs around and among us. Every realized, addressed need opens realizations to our need for God in our life. Every life reality can focus a person on his/her need for a relationship with God. Such needs represent an enormous variety! They also represent enormous spiritual opportunity!
Never be intimidated by our variety of encouragements/outreaches. Please consider these insights and, if possible, make them your own.
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Christians and those who have yet to commit to God through Christ learn and understand by following different paths. “Faith” is not confined to one method of learning. “Spirituality” is not confined to one procedure for understanding what God did and does in Jesus Christ. “Godliness” is not the result of a single method. If someone learns truths about God’s work in Jesus Christ in a manner that differs from the route my understanding took, it is okay. Whether my route to understanding was through lectured understanding or knowledgeable sharing/interacting is insignificant.
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Thus, paths that arrive at the same genuine understanding may take different routes. For example, the objective is to (a) understand that Jesus is the Christ, and (b) to understand how that affects who I am and how I behave. The route to that understanding is not primary if I understand he is the Christ and let him be Lord.
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Different Christians travel at different speeds to a mature understanding. If one is able to travel toward maturity at 70 mph, wonderful! As far as God is concerned, if the best one can do is travel toward maturity at 10 mph, that is equally wonderful! Speed does not define the objective! The destination does.
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Thus we always remember Christian variety exists to encourage, not to rival.
Please accept a warning! Never falsely assume, “Someone will do it,” or, “Our size means it is covered–all I need to do is enjoy the options.” Nothing happens here by “accident.” We always need help. Enjoy the variety, but do something to help sustain it.
A goal: create hard choices. Oh, that God would bless our efforts so much that everyone wants to be more places than he or she can be! Be somewhere as part of something!
Posted by David on January 18, 2004 under Bulletin Articles
1 Corinthians 6:15-20 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “The two shall become one flesh.” But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
Paul wrote this statement to Christians living in Corinth. The majority of them (a) had idolatrous backgrounds and (b) were converted from pagan lifestyles. With those backgrounds and lifestyles, sexual immorality was sanctioned and often considered “godly.” Some temples [depending on the god or goddess worshipped] maintained sacred prostitutes in order to worship that god or goddess through sexual acts.
Paul informed these Christians this was an ungodly concept. That which belongs to Christ cannot be shared with a prostitute. Their bodies belonged to God through Christ. God’s Spirit lived in their bodies. They belonged to God, not to sexual immorality. They could not unite themselves with sexual immorality and continue to belong to God.
The point called to your attention: while sexual immorality could not continue, the fact that in their confusion they were [as Christians] practicing this lifestyle did not immediately, automatically remove them from Christ.
Paul made the same point to the same congregation in 1 Corinthians 8. Some Christians thought idols represented actual gods. Some Christians knew better. Some Christians thought diet made one spiritual. Some Christians knew better. The Christian objective: do not allow correct knowledge to cause the weak to fall from Christ (verse 11). Does this sanction ignorance? No! It condemns the destructive use of knowledge.
Bottom line: we do not know how far God extends mercy and grace to those in Christ. God extends mercy and grace to every one of us! In all our situations, our personal ignorance is viewed by someone else as inexcusable stupidity! We must never forget it is God’s mercy and grace, and He alone determines its limits in specific situations.
On what basis does God extend mercy and grace to an ignorant Christian? He extends both on the basis of that Christian’s motives. If that person is in the process of growing toward spiritual completeness and understanding, God is patient. If he/she is justifying ungodly acts in defiance of God, God holds him/her accountable and responsible for the defiance. Our motives as Christians determine if God is patient with us or insulted by us.
Posted by David on January 11, 2004 under Bulletin Articles
I hope every person who considers himself or herself a Christian quickly has a ready answer. I hope the answer is a shared answer: “The Lord owns me!”
I grew up in a rural congregation on the western edge of east Tennessee. Several songs frequently were part of our worship. They were sung at least once a month. One (written by Fanny J. Crosby) was, “I am Thine, O Lord.” In my mind, I still can hear us sing the chorus:
“Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.”
It is an affirmation, intent, and awareness. The singer affirms he/she wants the Lord to bring him/her closer. The singer wants to come closer and closer to the Lord. The singer is aware that the crucified, bleeding Jesus is the means of closeness to God.
That is a wonderful affirmation, intent, and awareness. If it is only an inner conviction, it is simple to voice. If it is an inner conviction expressed as the daily focus of one’s life, it is sobering and costly to voice this song.
Perhaps the greater our conviction, the more difficult is our challenge. Jesus draws us nearer through his sacrificial suffering and bleeding. By coming closer to Jesus, we come closer to God. Why does Jesus attract us? He bled for us! How do we come closer to God? The same way Jesus did! As he, we come closer through self-surrender by sacrifice and suffering. That is a hard, serious decision, not a simple, casual decision.
That decision involves many things! It involves different things for different people! For some, it involves rethinking “whom I allow to be my Lord.” For some, it involves a major commitment to repentance, a genuine redirecting of life. For some, it involves allowing “my theology to affect my daily behavior.” For some, it involves relationship issues. For some, it involves letting faith in God be bigger than fear of the past. For some, it involves the determination to endure pain for God.
For all it involves an enormously difficult challenge: the challenge to grow. To grow in what? Understanding, wisdom, purpose, faith, realization of what is eternal. Never will come the moment when we do not seek greater understanding, wisdom, purpose, faith, and realization of the eternal. The issue is not, “Am I comfortable where I am?” The issue is, “Is God pleased with where I am?” Are we constantly willing to grow, to be drawn nearer to the cross and the precious bleeding side?
Matthew 26:39, 42 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” … He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
Posted by David on January 4, 2004 under Bulletin Articles
The holiday period from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day produces a fascinating conflict of emotions in most of us. We usually exit this period with fewer [not more] insights into ourselves. Most of us enter the period with great expectations. Most of us leave the period focusing on the things we would like to change, but with a resignation that admits changes either would be temporary or non-existent. We enter with excitement as we embraced it with “Hi!” and leave it with pretended reluctance as we say “Bye!”
Why? Why is there so much excitement as we enter the period and such relief when it is over? Why the same basic sense of excitement when we greet the period with an exuberant “Hi!” and leave it with the same exuberance in saying “Bye”?
It is reunion time-perhaps with family we have not seen in a long time, or perhaps with friends from some past era of life. As we anticipate these reunions, for a moment it seems we will step back into a time and world where nothing has changed.
“It will just be like old times again!” Yet, it is not. Times have changed. We have changed. They have changed. It takes maybe an hour to “catch up” with each other. Then we spend the rest of the time “remembering.” We must spend a lot of time “remembering” because we are no longer a part of each other’s “present.” It is not that we do not love each other dearly nor have deep appreciation for old friends or family members’ contributions to our lives “back when.” It is just no longer “back when.” It is “now,” and “now” is undeniably different from “back when.”
What in anticipation was to be a wonderful visit to the cherished past times becomes a powerful reminder that our past is gone and will not return. While reunions bring the joys of wonderful memories, the remembrances are just that-memories.
As we remember the wonderful times of past eras, we are woefully reminded about what we never did or how we need to change. Many “resolves” are stirred to life. For a brief time we are committed to doing what we always intended to do or changing what we always intended to change. However, it does not last long. We are not the same person we used to be “back when.” Our resolve means that (a) we have to change [permanently] the person we have been a long time and/or (b) change the way we live. Even for the most flexible, vigorous people, those are huge demands requiring major commitment!
As you plunge ahead into life, take a powerful, wonderful lesson with you as you say “bye” to the holidays. The lesson? Realize and remember that you do not live in the past, no matter how wonderful [or awful] it was. Realize and remember that you live in the present, and it just takes one day to change the present for the better.
You may not know what the future holds, but you know where the future is. Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Posted by David on December 21, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
Ask this question of the man or woman who does not belong to God. Then ask this question of the man or woman who truly belongs to God. The result: it is as though two unrelated questions were asked.
Those who do not belong to God present numerous answers. It may be money. It may be power. It may be pleasure. It may be “success.” It may be image. It may be status. It may be control. Do those answers have a common denominator? Yes — “me!” Whatever delights “me” as “I” seek “my” gratification controls “me.”
The answer is singular from those who truly belong to God — “God!” I exist for God’s benefit and purposes. He controls who and what I am. Why? I came from God. I am God designed. Left to myself, I am destructive to me as well as others. I become the most significant person I can be when I allow God to teach me who I am and my purpose for existing. I learn God’s values now so I can live with God later.
In Paul’s words of Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
The problem is seen in the struggle. It is one thing to say God is in control of who I am. It is quite another deliberately to place God in the position of controlling who I am.
Why? The majority of Christians take the “down the road” view of existence. “I am afraid that I will not overcome that problem.” “I am afraid suffering will destroy my faith.” “I am afraid my death will terrify me.” We are good at killing ourselves with “what if” questions.
The primary issue is not a matter of “what will I do in the future.” Tomorrow is not the issue. Today is the issue. We cannot conquer tomorrow’s troubles — tomorrow is not here. We can only conquer the troubles of now. Only they are here.
How can I let God control me? I place Him in charge of my emotions, motives, behavior, and attitudes today. Why? Simple! Each day has enough troubles now to overcome. I never need to borrow tomorrow’s troubles because today has enough troubles of its own.
Thus, I place God in control of today’s emotions, motives, behavior, and attitudes. If I focus on placing God in control today, I will continue to place God in control when tomorrow becomes today. Do not look at the future and intend. Place God in control now. Only by having the faith and courage to place God in control of today are you prepared to place God in control of tomorrow.
Posted by David on December 14, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
Matthew 5:13-16: You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
A question that should be on the minds of all who belong to God: “When you look at me, what do you see?” Everyone who looks at any Christian sees something. The question: What does he or she see?
Do they see only a body, but not a person? Or greed? Or arrogance? Or selfishness? Or a lover of money? Or a lover of things? Or someone deeply impressed with “me”? Do they see someone who looks like all ungodly people? Do they see a sensual existence? A pleasure-centered life? A self-indulgent existence? An addictive life? A self-centered person? A shallow person? A “take but never give” person? A fanatic? An angry person? A bitter person? A hate-filled person? An unreasonable person? A “hard-to-get-along-with” person?
Let’s be quite honest. Do they see things characteristic of Satan or things characteristic of God? What are the obvious influences on our lives? Things characterizing those unconcerned with God? Or, things centered in God?
When others examine our relationships, do they see godlessness or godliness? What do they see when they examine our values [the things that thrill and fulfill us]? Our priorities [matters we consider important]? Our standards [the means we use to determine right and wrong, good and bad]? Our purposes [the concepts that determine why we live life]?
Is God’s influence on us obvious? Is it obviously a good influence? Are society, family, friendships, occupations, and neighborhoods better because God influences us? Are our “works” good? Based on others’ observations, why should they want God to influence them as He does us?
Will everyone value God’s influence on the godly? No! Those who despise God resent it! But there are those who long for a godly existence.
The Christian’s objective may be explained in these ways. (1) Those with empty but open lives are impressed with God’s influence. (2) Those with empty but closed lives find it necessary to explain the godly. Be the kind of Christian that attracts the open to the God who gave us Jesus, and who must be explained by the closed! May our strength to live come from the God who gave us Jesus!
Posted by David on December 7, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
Romans 4:1-5: What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness …
For the sake of focus, let me begin with some disclaimers. What I now share is not about a “faith only” concept, not about a “mental affirmation” faith, and not about the transition from Satan’s kingdom to God’s kingdom. Paul wrote the above statement in a letter to Christians in Rome, not to those ruled by Satan.
Of all people, Christians should be faith-filled. Those in Jesus Christ have greater reasons for faith than anyone else. Faith in Jesus’ resurrection and enthronement began our journey from Satan’s rule to God’s rule. Faith in what God did (does) through Jesus allows us to be recreated by God Himself. Faith in God’s work through Jesus leads us to change our emotions, our minds, our behaviors, our purposes, our values, and the nature/character of our relationships. Faith leads us on our journey through life. Through faith we come before God as part of His family in judgment. Faith is the heart and soul of a Christian’s nature, existence, and commitment. Without faith, there cannot be a Christian man or woman. If you destroy faith, you destroy who we are.
THE question: faith in what? My accomplishments? A system? Compliance with a few commands? Membership? A performance imposed on me? Compliance with others’ expectations? A movement? Traditions? Human reasoning? A select group of people?
Scripture urges none of those. Scripture urges faith in God. People can be good influences on us, but God is the focus of our faith. Jesus teaches us how to do good, but God is the focus of our faith. Scripture enlightens our understanding, but God is the focus of our faith. When we are Christians, we are part of the church, but God is the focus of our faith.
Why? God promised Abraham to bless all families through his descendants (Genesis 12:3). Because of Abraham’s faith, God accepted him as righteous (Genesis 15:6). God sent Jesus. God sacrificed and resurrected Jesus. As Jesus died, God allowed our sins to be placed on his body so we could become righteous (1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21). God resurrected the dead Jesus and enthroned him at His right hand (Ephesians 1:20) to be Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36) until Jesus returns all things to God to restore Him to the position of the “all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28).
Faith in God saves, not faith in the church, not faith in our deeds, not faith in a movement, not faith in a religious system, not faith in traditions, not faith in human endeavors. When our faith is focused in God, the power that resurrected Jesus protects us as God’s property and designs us to live eternally (1 Peter 1:5). Place faith in God!
