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Thanks, Bob
Monday, January 17, 2011
Friday, October 15, 2010
Redeeming Greatness
I just finished listening to Mark Driscoll preach a sermon called "Redeeming Greatness" It's part of his series on Luke and you can find it on this page: http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/luke
I won't rehash all of his stuff, since you can listen to it yourself, but it has prompted me to think again about a lesson that I am having to learn over and over again. It's the same lesson from Matt 23.11 "but he who is greatest amoung you shall be your servant."
Understanding this valuable lesson initially seems simple enough. All you have to do to be great is to serve someone else. But as I start to work that into my life, I have to check my motives to make sure I'm doing it right. It's all about what's in the heart, right?
As I understand John 12.24-26 and the parallel verses in the other gospels, my serving must be totally selfless. After all, if a seed falls to the ground and germinates, you can pull up the resulting plant and try to find the original see, but it is no longer recognizable. Jesus said, "Take up your cross and follow me". The cross is not just a burden that one has to bear, the cross represent death.
OK, so now I think I'm doing ok. I'm not perfect yet, but I know how to examine my life, see where the areas are that I reserve for myself and where I'm serving ok. I can look around me and see that, "OK, I need to serve my wife better here", or "I did ok for my son here", or "I need to find a way to serve the church better". But after the examination, I realize that I'm still doing all this because I want people to respond to me, to say, "That guy is a really nice guy, I like him!" Which kinda gets back to the selfish part.
This is where I will typically overact in the way that Mark Driscoll points out, by rejecting greatness and trying to adopt a position of total humility (which is a false humility), and putting my own desires, talents and abilities to the side. I still haven't got it. So on to the next step: Redeeming greatness.
It's time to find a way to improve and sharpen my abilities, use my talents and desires to serve others with the things that God has given me to serve with. Again, it's all about motives. I need to move away from worshipping myself by promoting my talents and abitities, AND I need to move away from a false humility that ignores all the stuff that God has given to me to use for HIS glory, and move into an area where I can serve other selflessly, through the talents He has given me to see His will accomplished in others.
Hmmmm... As I reread this, I see there's still alot about "me" in here...
I won't rehash all of his stuff, since you can listen to it yourself, but it has prompted me to think again about a lesson that I am having to learn over and over again. It's the same lesson from Matt 23.11 "but he who is greatest amoung you shall be your servant."
Understanding this valuable lesson initially seems simple enough. All you have to do to be great is to serve someone else. But as I start to work that into my life, I have to check my motives to make sure I'm doing it right. It's all about what's in the heart, right?
As I understand John 12.24-26 and the parallel verses in the other gospels, my serving must be totally selfless. After all, if a seed falls to the ground and germinates, you can pull up the resulting plant and try to find the original see, but it is no longer recognizable. Jesus said, "Take up your cross and follow me". The cross is not just a burden that one has to bear, the cross represent death.
John 12.24-26
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it produces much grain.
He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me, and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
OK, so now I think I'm doing ok. I'm not perfect yet, but I know how to examine my life, see where the areas are that I reserve for myself and where I'm serving ok. I can look around me and see that, "OK, I need to serve my wife better here", or "I did ok for my son here", or "I need to find a way to serve the church better". But after the examination, I realize that I'm still doing all this because I want people to respond to me, to say, "That guy is a really nice guy, I like him!" Which kinda gets back to the selfish part.
This is where I will typically overact in the way that Mark Driscoll points out, by rejecting greatness and trying to adopt a position of total humility (which is a false humility), and putting my own desires, talents and abilities to the side. I still haven't got it. So on to the next step: Redeeming greatness.
It's time to find a way to improve and sharpen my abilities, use my talents and desires to serve others with the things that God has given me to serve with. Again, it's all about motives. I need to move away from worshipping myself by promoting my talents and abitities, AND I need to move away from a false humility that ignores all the stuff that God has given to me to use for HIS glory, and move into an area where I can serve other selflessly, through the talents He has given me to see His will accomplished in others.
Hmmmm... As I reread this, I see there's still alot about "me" in here...
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Here's some books I recommend
I've heard the sermon series that Mark Driscoll preached before putting them into books and they are very good. I'm adding these books to my library.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Why Church Is Important
The Bible talks a lot about the fellowship that we have with one another, encouraging us to love one another, share in each other's sufferings and rejoice in each other's triumphs. But Luke 17.1 tells us that it is impossible to never experience offenses. The truth is that whenever believers get close to each other there is going to be things that just "bugs" each other.
Luke continues to say that when someone offends us, we are to forgive many, many times (vs 3,4). Sometimes, that requires going to the offender and talking it out, because that person may not even be aware of the problem. We are reminded that if we have anything against another Christian, we are to go and make it right, otherwise our acts of worship to God may not be accepted (Mat 5.23,24).
Wow! Being part of the church, especially the local church, can be a lot of work! It's times like this when you might feel like taking a break from church for awhile. I know there are a lot of people who do. I am reminded, however, of the Book of Revelation. It is interesting to me that the messages from Jesus are directed to His church, and specifically to local churches. I find that His plan involves the church. If I don't stay included in the church, I might miss what God wants to say or do in the earth.
Because of the importance of gathering together with other believers, I remind myself that He is the purpose for our gathering. I am responsible for bringing my worship into the sanctuary to blend with the worship of others toward our Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot, nor will not, depend on the right worship songs, an inspiring message, or happy people around me to determine my level of worship. Whether I feel like it or not, I will present my life, my money, my attitudes and feelings to the Lord for Him to do with as He wishes.
See you Sunday!
Luke continues to say that when someone offends us, we are to forgive many, many times (vs 3,4). Sometimes, that requires going to the offender and talking it out, because that person may not even be aware of the problem. We are reminded that if we have anything against another Christian, we are to go and make it right, otherwise our acts of worship to God may not be accepted (Mat 5.23,24).
Wow! Being part of the church, especially the local church, can be a lot of work! It's times like this when you might feel like taking a break from church for awhile. I know there are a lot of people who do. I am reminded, however, of the Book of Revelation. It is interesting to me that the messages from Jesus are directed to His church, and specifically to local churches. I find that His plan involves the church. If I don't stay included in the church, I might miss what God wants to say or do in the earth.
Because of the importance of gathering together with other believers, I remind myself that He is the purpose for our gathering. I am responsible for bringing my worship into the sanctuary to blend with the worship of others toward our Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot, nor will not, depend on the right worship songs, an inspiring message, or happy people around me to determine my level of worship. Whether I feel like it or not, I will present my life, my money, my attitudes and feelings to the Lord for Him to do with as He wishes.
See you Sunday!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Thoughts About People in Authority
It is true that God is My Lord and Saviour. He is Supreme and Ruler of all. There is no higher authority. It is also true that God has put people in my life to keep me accountable. As I was growing up, I had parents. To this day, I still give honor and respect to my mother (my father transitioned into heaven last year). I consider carefully the words in Ex 20.12, Eph 6.2, and many other scriptures relating to my attitude towards my parents. In school, I had educators that I needed to honor. It was their authority that guided my learning. I have worked for bosses and I know people who are self-employed who work for customers. (See Eph 6.5). There is civil authority; government authority that the Scripture tells us to obey (See Rom 13.1,2). I don't know of many Christians who would disagree that these authority figures in our lives are to be honored as long as they don't go against God's laws. God Himself remains the ultimate authority.
It is easy to see how each of these authorities are designated by God. I am born to parents. I had no say in who my teachers were to be. Although I vote for my civil authorities, I often do not get who I vote for.
Church authority seems to fall into a different category. Some go to whatever church they want. And when the pastor or leadership say or do something they disagree with, it's time to move on. In other words, Church Authority is not really authority at all. For a pastor to keep a church together, he will have to be popular with everyone and never offend anyone. I disagree.
For me, I carefully consider what church I am to attend. For this, I turn to God. I believe the same God that cares for my soul, designates parents, teachers, etc as authority in my life, will also direct me to a church that will best fit my spiritual needs, including the need to serve others. Therefore, if God leads me to a church, I would assume that the leadership of that church is designated by God to have authority in my life. This is a somewhat terrifying thought and requires a great deal of trust. Often, I am directed by my authority (whether my employer, or pastor, or whoever) to do things or make changes in my life that I am uncomfortable with. This is not easy, even if God Himself is directing me from scripture to make an uncomfortable change. I have to ask myself, Did I really hear God when He directed me to this church? Is what I am instructed by the church against God's Word?
David, who is described as a man after God's own heart, would not harm King Saul, who was likely much worse in his leadership than many pastors who are critisized today. My uncle, who has worked with many church leadership teams, said that he noticed that if the people are faithful to God, then God will deal with the leadership.
For me, it is important to stay where I am, to listen carefully to the advice of my pastor, and to be faithful to the local church where God put me. If I hear or see something I don't agree with, I will, of course, go to the pastor in person, but will not be publically critical of him. I will pray for him and support him the best that I can. If God sent me to this church, with this pastor, it would be foolish of me to leave the church without a word from God.
It is easy to see how each of these authorities are designated by God. I am born to parents. I had no say in who my teachers were to be. Although I vote for my civil authorities, I often do not get who I vote for.
Church authority seems to fall into a different category. Some go to whatever church they want. And when the pastor or leadership say or do something they disagree with, it's time to move on. In other words, Church Authority is not really authority at all. For a pastor to keep a church together, he will have to be popular with everyone and never offend anyone. I disagree.
For me, I carefully consider what church I am to attend. For this, I turn to God. I believe the same God that cares for my soul, designates parents, teachers, etc as authority in my life, will also direct me to a church that will best fit my spiritual needs, including the need to serve others. Therefore, if God leads me to a church, I would assume that the leadership of that church is designated by God to have authority in my life. This is a somewhat terrifying thought and requires a great deal of trust. Often, I am directed by my authority (whether my employer, or pastor, or whoever) to do things or make changes in my life that I am uncomfortable with. This is not easy, even if God Himself is directing me from scripture to make an uncomfortable change. I have to ask myself, Did I really hear God when He directed me to this church? Is what I am instructed by the church against God's Word?
David, who is described as a man after God's own heart, would not harm King Saul, who was likely much worse in his leadership than many pastors who are critisized today. My uncle, who has worked with many church leadership teams, said that he noticed that if the people are faithful to God, then God will deal with the leadership.
For me, it is important to stay where I am, to listen carefully to the advice of my pastor, and to be faithful to the local church where God put me. If I hear or see something I don't agree with, I will, of course, go to the pastor in person, but will not be publically critical of him. I will pray for him and support him the best that I can. If God sent me to this church, with this pastor, it would be foolish of me to leave the church without a word from God.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
My House shall be called a house of prayer
"Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."
-Isaiah 56: 7
As I think about this verse and what it means to our church, I wonder if I've really gotten a hold of the vision the God wants me to have. Do we, as a church, truly consider prayer a priority? If we do, how do people know that it is a priority for us? Are we on time for prayer? Do we pray fervently? Does our individual prayer time reflect our priority?
I hope I do not let the setup time, greeting time, worship time, sermon time, and "tear down" time distract me from my true purpose for coming to church. I want to concentrate on God and what He wants from me. I want to be a part of His church as He builds His church.
"I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the LORD.'" -Psalms 122.1
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