I have to agree that this discussion about what makes a church a church and whether church matters has so many roads that need to be taken if not just looked down. There are many questions that emerge. Here are some that I've been thinking.
When did the church start?
What was Christ's purpose of coming to earth?
Why did Christ do other things than just that purpose?
Why did Jesus start the church?
Is there such an importance placed on a local church or was the local church a human development?
Does a local church have to have a pastor/elder to be a local church?
Does the local church have to be the center and institution by which ministry stems from?
Does it matter that I attend a local church?
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Does church matter?
I'm going to put this out here just like this. There are probably multiple areas that can and need to be discussed in this area. But I would love to hear your quick comments first.
What makes a church a church?
Does church matter?
What makes a church a church?
Does church matter?
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Quit or Work It Out
In my previous blog, I posed a question of whether we should take the time to prepare and be more cautious what we say and do or do we just quit and get out before we cause more damage.
I think at this time, I'm just going to list some verses that have come across my mind and study and let you comment of what you think. Not so many liked that I did this so I'm adding quick comments after each set of verses.
Luke 9:23-24 Then he said to them all, "If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
Following Jesus wasn't necessary without hard times and severe bumps along the road. You learn more and more to give up your own wants and desires for God to work His truth in our lives. Don't give up.
Luke 14:26-28 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn't sit down first and compute the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?
Followng Jesus sometimes costs some pretty severe sacrifices. We must know that up front and consider things before we even start them, but there's nothing here about once you start to give up, so don't give up.
Luke 14:33-35 In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions. "Salt is good, but if salt loses its flavor, how can its flavor be restored? It is of no value for the soil or for the manure pile; it is to be thrown out.
Following Jesus, you have to give it all up, no exceptions and you have to keep your zeal through doing it. If you don't, you'll be worthless. Nothing about giving up specifically in this verse, but looks like He might not use us as much to accomplish the business.
Matthew 11:29 -30 Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry."
But even though there are sacrifices beyond comparision, the work is easy to bare?! Even though it is tough, we'll find mush gentleness and rest from it. Who would want to give up on that?
Romans 5:3-5 Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Hope. Now there's something that, if it existed, would never make us want to give up. Maybe we don't appreciate what tough times and learning opportunities teach us and help us grow.
2 Timothy 3:5 They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.
We can't do things and just go through the motions. It has to be in the power of God. If not, our influence decreases. People don't want to be around us. Don't give up, but change.
2 Timothy 3:14-15 You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Go with what you know and those things you've learned from God's word, not what you're opinion is. In this you'll be safe.
Hebrews 12:5-6 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? "My son, do not scorn the Lord's discipline or give up when he corrects you. "For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts."
Don't take the tough times and bad outcomes as a sign to give up. Take them as proper correction from God and correct what needs to be.
Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
If you mess up, don't beat yourself up over and over. Move on and get going to accomplish that which you've started and what God has called you to do.
Be careful before you start, accept the challenges as they come to make you better, rely on God and work even harder to do what you started out to do. Never quit.
I think at this time, I'm just going to list some verses that have come across my mind and study and let you comment of what you think. Not so many liked that I did this so I'm adding quick comments after each set of verses.
Luke 9:23-24 Then he said to them all, "If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
Following Jesus wasn't necessary without hard times and severe bumps along the road. You learn more and more to give up your own wants and desires for God to work His truth in our lives. Don't give up.
Luke 14:26-28 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn't sit down first and compute the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?
Followng Jesus sometimes costs some pretty severe sacrifices. We must know that up front and consider things before we even start them, but there's nothing here about once you start to give up, so don't give up.
Luke 14:33-35 In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions. "Salt is good, but if salt loses its flavor, how can its flavor be restored? It is of no value for the soil or for the manure pile; it is to be thrown out.
Following Jesus, you have to give it all up, no exceptions and you have to keep your zeal through doing it. If you don't, you'll be worthless. Nothing about giving up specifically in this verse, but looks like He might not use us as much to accomplish the business.
Matthew 11:29 -30 Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry."
But even though there are sacrifices beyond comparision, the work is easy to bare?! Even though it is tough, we'll find mush gentleness and rest from it. Who would want to give up on that?
Romans 5:3-5 Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Hope. Now there's something that, if it existed, would never make us want to give up. Maybe we don't appreciate what tough times and learning opportunities teach us and help us grow.
2 Timothy 3:5 They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.
We can't do things and just go through the motions. It has to be in the power of God. If not, our influence decreases. People don't want to be around us. Don't give up, but change.
2 Timothy 3:14-15 You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Go with what you know and those things you've learned from God's word, not what you're opinion is. In this you'll be safe.
Hebrews 12:5-6 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? "My son, do not scorn the Lord's discipline or give up when he corrects you. "For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts."
Don't take the tough times and bad outcomes as a sign to give up. Take them as proper correction from God and correct what needs to be.
Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
If you mess up, don't beat yourself up over and over. Move on and get going to accomplish that which you've started and what God has called you to do.
Be careful before you start, accept the challenges as they come to make you better, rely on God and work even harder to do what you started out to do. Never quit.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
What am I teaching?
It's been several weeks since I last posted a bible blog and some of you have been asking. Thank you. It's not because I don't read my bible. It's not because I haven't found anything interesting to share. Sometimes there's so much to say that where to begin or which one to write about causes me to just not say anything. Posting a bible blog in my mind is more than just writing about my feeling about a passage. It's serious work that is getting published to the world for people to see. For people to read and contemplate. For people to seriously take a check on how they are living out this relationship with Jesus Christ. That's something that doesn't seem can be taken lightly.
I think about James 3:1 that says "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." Now what does it mean to be a teacher. Does it only mean those who preach or teach a story in the children's ministry or those who lead a small group? The word teacher definitely talks about someone communicating knowledge. It is used as a title by many for Jesus (i.e. Matt. 19:16 "teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"). And it certainly talks about anyone who takes a communicating role. The obvious is that all of us are communicating something whether we have such a position or not. We communicate to the world, our families, our children, our church what it is that we believe is wise to think and ultimately do.
But for this moment, let seriously take a look at strictly those who call themselves teachers. It's a scary thing, a humbling thing. I led a Family Ministries meeting this past weekend and right before I prayed for the lunch we had provided, I looked out and saw our entire foyer area full of people. I thought, "oh man, this is just for Family Ministry volunteers...some will feel bad that this food is not for them." Yet, everyone there was a Family Ministry volunteer! All of them, looking at me, submitting themselves to my leadership, waiting for wisdom and knowledge in how to do this ministry, watching me live out my life, my family, my children as an example in how to live theirs. It's a scary and a humbling thing indeed!
And see that's the harder thing about being a teacher. Not that you have wisdom and knowledge to share, but that your life reflects that which you're teaching. That is what this one verse in James is surrounded by. In chapter 2, it's faith that is alive by our deeds. In chapter 3, it's controlling the tongue in order to control the body in doing only those deeds that praise God. In chapter 4, it's giving up our personal desires and wants, so that we don't end up being enemies of God. It's submitting to His leadership and doing things under that will reflect His wisdom and character.
Jesus criticized the teachers of the law because they did not live by what they taught (cf. Romans 2:17-28; Matt. 23:25). We as teachers (and in the broader sense we all are to someone, esp. our children and families) must not be so quick and haphazardly let stuff come out of our mouths. It may just start a fire that goes in directions you didn't want to happen, burn more than you expected, and take years to see any growth return. So we can either be cautious, take time to prepare, consider our words and actions, or become mute, idle, and quit ever ministry we work in. What do you think Jesus would rather us do? Maybe I'll complete that thought tomorrow if you're still wondering.
I think about James 3:1 that says "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." Now what does it mean to be a teacher. Does it only mean those who preach or teach a story in the children's ministry or those who lead a small group? The word teacher definitely talks about someone communicating knowledge. It is used as a title by many for Jesus (i.e. Matt. 19:16 "teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"). And it certainly talks about anyone who takes a communicating role. The obvious is that all of us are communicating something whether we have such a position or not. We communicate to the world, our families, our children, our church what it is that we believe is wise to think and ultimately do.
But for this moment, let seriously take a look at strictly those who call themselves teachers. It's a scary thing, a humbling thing. I led a Family Ministries meeting this past weekend and right before I prayed for the lunch we had provided, I looked out and saw our entire foyer area full of people. I thought, "oh man, this is just for Family Ministry volunteers...some will feel bad that this food is not for them." Yet, everyone there was a Family Ministry volunteer! All of them, looking at me, submitting themselves to my leadership, waiting for wisdom and knowledge in how to do this ministry, watching me live out my life, my family, my children as an example in how to live theirs. It's a scary and a humbling thing indeed!
And see that's the harder thing about being a teacher. Not that you have wisdom and knowledge to share, but that your life reflects that which you're teaching. That is what this one verse in James is surrounded by. In chapter 2, it's faith that is alive by our deeds. In chapter 3, it's controlling the tongue in order to control the body in doing only those deeds that praise God. In chapter 4, it's giving up our personal desires and wants, so that we don't end up being enemies of God. It's submitting to His leadership and doing things under that will reflect His wisdom and character.
Jesus criticized the teachers of the law because they did not live by what they taught (cf. Romans 2:17-28; Matt. 23:25). We as teachers (and in the broader sense we all are to someone, esp. our children and families) must not be so quick and haphazardly let stuff come out of our mouths. It may just start a fire that goes in directions you didn't want to happen, burn more than you expected, and take years to see any growth return. So we can either be cautious, take time to prepare, consider our words and actions, or become mute, idle, and quit ever ministry we work in. What do you think Jesus would rather us do? Maybe I'll complete that thought tomorrow if you're still wondering.
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