Compassion Campaign
Posted by
LB
at
12:39 PM
We have so much to be thankful for! Don't we? I know I do. This holiday season I have challenged my family and friends to approach the holidays with more than talk. I have provoked them to take action. Throughout God's Word we are told to take action. Our actions can bring blessing, they demonstrate our faith, and let the world know we are what we claim to be. This Thanksgiving and holiday season it would be easy to just sit back and talk about how good God has been, but what would that prove? My challenge is that we take action. Let's be a light this season. Let's show our Thanksgiving and Christmas spirit by making a difference. I'm not asking for anyone to take on new activities that keep you away from family, just be on the lookout for an opportunity to do good. Help someone at the store load their groceries. Give that stressed out Wal-Mart employee a tip or a God bless you. Give up your spot in line to a wearied shopper. Go to a neighbor or friend that you know will spend the holidays alone and invite them to eat Thanksgiving Dinner with your family.
If you do the research you will quickly find that more people take their own lives during the holidays than any other period of the year. Why? Because they are alone and don't know the Savior, Jesus Christ. How many lives can you impact this year? Why not find out. Be thankful by giving the grace and love God has given to you.Let others see the love of God by the example you live this season.
Matthew 25:34-40
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Labels:
compassion,
holidays,
Thanksgiving
Fellowship Matters
Posted by
LB
at
2:35 PM
Acts 2:42-47
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper[i]), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity[j]—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Fellowship is a word derived from the original word which means communion or forming a community. A community is a group of people who share common interests. But a fellowship or Christian community isn't meant to be an ordinary gathering of people. We are meant to gather together with one mind and one accord. The passage of scripture above says a lot about what's wrong with the church today. The people of the first real church of the New Testament met together daily. They like each other! They even hung out on days other than the sabbath. The scripture says they shared everything they had, not in some communistic society but they freely shared due to genuine concern for one another. They worshipped together at the temple everyday! Can you imagine if we tried to have church everyday. How many services would you make? I'm not blaming you there are churches I've been involved in that I didn't want to attend every service. Some I have pastored were hard to go to. So what made this church different? Were they just super-spritiual? No. Clearly they weren't because we know that they had their issues just like we do. The one thing I can see is they had a common purpose. They knew why they had a church, they understood their purpose, and they had a clear plan to accomplish their goals.
This church wasn't built to serve those who would attend although it did just that when necessary. It wasn't built as an outreach location, though as we see in this scripture it also served that purpose. In fact, this church wasn't about a building at all. We can see from the passage they had just as much success and fellowship in their homes were they also frequently met. This church wasn't a dead dry formal or religious location is was vibrant. They stayed true to their purpose and they saw the power of God demonstrated regularly. The scripture finally says that the Lord added to the church daily those that were saved. Notice here that the Lord added to the church. They didn't all converge in a room to determine whom they wanted to add they let God lead and determine who these new members would be.
It doesn't sound like this church was filled with committees or those who controlled its doing but rather genuine believers with little concern for their status in the fellowship. You see fellowship isn't about me it's about us. Fellowship means I care about others welfare right along with my own. It's a place where you can come to find refuge. A place were you don't have to worry about your past rather you can find out about the brightness of your future. I know, this sounds like a Utopian society but is it?
Does this passage of scripture describe your church? I have to admit my church is far from this model. What is our purpose? What are our goals? One thing is certain we need to get back to the simplicity with which these people lived. I would guess that if our churches meet with the criteria above they would be equally vibrant, they would be growing. One mind, one accord, constantly in prayer and fellowship. Prayer for one another. God help us to return to the values of the church you established. Help us to remember why we are here. Help us to find our purpose and work hand in hand toward it's completion.
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper[i]), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity[j]—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Fellowship is a word derived from the original word which means communion or forming a community. A community is a group of people who share common interests. But a fellowship or Christian community isn't meant to be an ordinary gathering of people. We are meant to gather together with one mind and one accord. The passage of scripture above says a lot about what's wrong with the church today. The people of the first real church of the New Testament met together daily. They like each other! They even hung out on days other than the sabbath. The scripture says they shared everything they had, not in some communistic society but they freely shared due to genuine concern for one another. They worshipped together at the temple everyday! Can you imagine if we tried to have church everyday. How many services would you make? I'm not blaming you there are churches I've been involved in that I didn't want to attend every service. Some I have pastored were hard to go to. So what made this church different? Were they just super-spritiual? No. Clearly they weren't because we know that they had their issues just like we do. The one thing I can see is they had a common purpose. They knew why they had a church, they understood their purpose, and they had a clear plan to accomplish their goals.
This church wasn't built to serve those who would attend although it did just that when necessary. It wasn't built as an outreach location, though as we see in this scripture it also served that purpose. In fact, this church wasn't about a building at all. We can see from the passage they had just as much success and fellowship in their homes were they also frequently met. This church wasn't a dead dry formal or religious location is was vibrant. They stayed true to their purpose and they saw the power of God demonstrated regularly. The scripture finally says that the Lord added to the church daily those that were saved. Notice here that the Lord added to the church. They didn't all converge in a room to determine whom they wanted to add they let God lead and determine who these new members would be.
It doesn't sound like this church was filled with committees or those who controlled its doing but rather genuine believers with little concern for their status in the fellowship. You see fellowship isn't about me it's about us. Fellowship means I care about others welfare right along with my own. It's a place where you can come to find refuge. A place were you don't have to worry about your past rather you can find out about the brightness of your future. I know, this sounds like a Utopian society but is it?
Does this passage of scripture describe your church? I have to admit my church is far from this model. What is our purpose? What are our goals? One thing is certain we need to get back to the simplicity with which these people lived. I would guess that if our churches meet with the criteria above they would be equally vibrant, they would be growing. One mind, one accord, constantly in prayer and fellowship. Prayer for one another. God help us to return to the values of the church you established. Help us to remember why we are here. Help us to find our purpose and work hand in hand toward it's completion.
Labels:
church,
fellowship,
one accord,
unity
Change is in the Air
Posted by
LB
at
11:20 AM
Change seems to be the word of the day. We just finished a verrrry long presidential election centered around the word "change". Outside the leaves and grass are changing colors. My wife and I have a senior in high school our lives are changing. We are preparing our daughter, Samantha, for the change from dependent to independent. One thing I've learned is that old saying "the more things change the more they stay the same" still rings true. You see the trees and flowers will bloom again next year. Our government will continue to ...uh I guess do what government does. When it comes right down to it just how much does this "change" change our lives? One thing seems very clear ministry is changing. People are being reached around the world by ministries they have never heard of from cities they have never visited. Churches are broadcasting their services live to multiple locations and right into our living rooms. While technology is changing and forcing ministries to keep up, there is one thing that will never change. People still need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. People still need to know there is a church or a Christian neighbor down the street who is willing to pray, someone who cares for them.
We are getting ready to go into the holiday season. While these times may be celebratory for the believer what about those who are alone and don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ. The one change that everyone needs is the change that is made when we accept Christ as our personal Savior. This is the only change that is eternal. While the government will continue to frustrate us, the seasons will come and go, and yes our children will grow up and become less dependent upon us, the change we experience when we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ will last forever. By the way, from what I'm told the kids never go away either :)
So, don't get too caught up in these changing times. Remember to continue to do what you know to do, continue to show the love of God to those around you and maybe just maybe we, by our actions, can affect some real change on some who don't yet know Him.
Isaiah 40:7-8
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our
God stands forever."
NIV
Blessings,
Pastor Larry
We are getting ready to go into the holiday season. While these times may be celebratory for the believer what about those who are alone and don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ. The one change that everyone needs is the change that is made when we accept Christ as our personal Savior. This is the only change that is eternal. While the government will continue to frustrate us, the seasons will come and go, and yes our children will grow up and become less dependent upon us, the change we experience when we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ will last forever. By the way, from what I'm told the kids never go away either :)
So, don't get too caught up in these changing times. Remember to continue to do what you know to do, continue to show the love of God to those around you and maybe just maybe we, by our actions, can affect some real change on some who don't yet know Him.
Isaiah 40:7-8
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our
God stands forever."
NIV
Blessings,
Pastor Larry
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