ALL – Psalm 25:1-15
ALL – Proverbs 6:6-11
OT – Exodus 10:1-12:13
NT – Matthew 20:1-28
May God bless as you read. I ended up not having time to write anything today.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Hope
ALL – Psalm 24:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 6:1-5
OT – Exodus 8:1-9:35
NT – Matthew 19:13-30
Following Jesus costs. It sometimes hurts. Not because Jesus hurts us, but because people who reject Jesus hurt us. Families might disown us—parents, siblings, wives, children—any of them might walk away from us because they simply can’t live with people committed to following Jesus. We might lose homes or property (for instance, right now I don’t believe that, as a follower of Jesus, I would be in the right to sue a company that owes my wife a significant payment for her web design work for them—so that payment is probably lost). Following Jesus costs.
So what’s our hope? Why is the loss worthwhile?
And anyone who gives up his home, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or property, to follow me, shall receive a hundred times as much in return, and shall have eternal life. – Matthew 19:29, The Living Bible
Jesus made a promise. He’ll keep it. He’s our hope, and He’ll take care of us.
Perhaps you’re worried about a significant loss right now that you wouldn’t accept apart from the fact that you’re following Jesus. Could you share? Show us your hope.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 6:1-5
OT – Exodus 8:1-9:35
NT – Matthew 19:13-30
Following Jesus costs. It sometimes hurts. Not because Jesus hurts us, but because people who reject Jesus hurt us. Families might disown us—parents, siblings, wives, children—any of them might walk away from us because they simply can’t live with people committed to following Jesus. We might lose homes or property (for instance, right now I don’t believe that, as a follower of Jesus, I would be in the right to sue a company that owes my wife a significant payment for her web design work for them—so that payment is probably lost). Following Jesus costs.
So what’s our hope? Why is the loss worthwhile?
And anyone who gives up his home, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or property, to follow me, shall receive a hundred times as much in return, and shall have eternal life. – Matthew 19:29, The Living Bible
Jesus made a promise. He’ll keep it. He’s our hope, and He’ll take care of us.
Perhaps you’re worried about a significant loss right now that you wouldn’t accept apart from the fact that you’re following Jesus. Could you share? Show us your hope.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Jesus Overcomes Our Sins
The message, preached on January 24th, 2010, covered 1 John 2:1-6, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. What happens after we’ve come into the Light to fellowship with the God in whom there is no darkness at all—and then we sin again? Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
Marriage is a Hard Commitment
I hope you remembered to check the reading chart yesterday. If not, that’s ok. Yesterday’s reading was:
ALL – Psalm 22:19-31
ALL – Proverbs 5:15-21
OT – Exodus 4:1-5:21
NT – Matthew 18:1-20
It was a wonderful reading. But if you weren’t able to read it, don’t feel obliged to “catch up.” Bible reading shouldn’t be a burden, but a joy! So, unless catching up IS your joy, feel free just to read along with me today:
ALL – Psalm 23:1-6
ALL – Proverbs 5:22-23
OT – Exodus 5:22-7:25
NT – Matthew 18:21-19:12
I was torn today, because this section of Matthew includes the parable of the unmerciful servant—one of my favorite parables teaching one of my favorite lessons. On the other hand, this section of Matthew’s gospel also deals with marriage and divorce, and I’m quickly finding out the reality of how deeply men and women in our church need to hear Jesus’ message here.
Before I start, let me say that I know that many marriages that end in divorce do so not because both partners wanted a divorce, but because one partner wanted a divorce. There may be blame to share (oftentimes) in terms of the reality that marriage among Christians involves two sinners saved by grace coming together under Christ, each one working to obey Him and yet sometimes failing. Neither spouse is exempt from the charge, “You sinned against me and hurt me.” Not entirely. But the responsibility for divorce often lies in the lap of just one spouse—the one who chooses to stop forgiving the other spouse’s sin and “can’t put up with it anymore!” And to see that forgiveness is a responsibility, please be sure to read the parable of the unmerciful servant in today’s reading.
With that said, let’s turn to the question of marriage. In response to the Pharisees’ question about whether Jesus permitted divorce, He said:
Don’t you read the Scriptures? In them it is written that at the beginning God created man and woman and that a man should leave his father and mother, and be forever united to his wife. The two shall become one—no longer two, but one! And no man may divorce what God has joined together. – Matthew 19:4-6, The Living Bible
Marriage is a lifetime commitment. Period. Did your spouse hurt you? Every couple since Adam and Eve has sinned against each other. Believe it or not, no matter how badly you’ve been hurt, you share a common experience with millions of other people throughout the course of history. But Jesus says that “no man may divorce what God has joined together.”
The Pharisees, of course, thought they had some justification for divorce in the law of Moses (which God had given—it wasn’t just Moses’ thoughts, as Jesus Himself would agree). Moses permitted divorce. But Jesus responds:
Moses did that in recognition of your hard and evil hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. – Matthew 19:8, The Living Bible
So even in the law of Moses, divorce is not a good thing. It’s a recognition of rebellious, sinful hearts. Jesus went on to say:
And I tell you this, that anyone who divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery. – Matthew 19:9, The Living Bible
So not only is divorce utterly wrong, but divorce and remarriage to another is wrong. Jesus calls it adultery! Adultery! Legalized adultery, made “ok” by a certificate, but utterly wrong in God’s eyes. The only instance in which remarriage following divorce is not considered adultery is when divorce follows a spouse’s adultery.
Even Jesus’ disciples couldn’t swallow this one:
If that is how it is, it is better not to marry! – Matthew 19:10, The Living Bible
I hope those of you who are married are listening, but at this point I hope even more that those who are NOT married are listening—not to me, but to Jesus’ disciples. When they heard Jesus’ response to the Pharisees, it scared them. It made them reconsider the whole question of whether they even wanted to be married or not. Under the laws and customs of the day (like in our own day), marriage was a “safe” risk. If it “didn’t work out,” you could just get a divorce. So sure, why not marry? Right?
But according to what Jesus taught, marriage is NOT a “safe” risk. It is a dangerous, lifelong commitment. It is a pledge to stay faithful to a spouse no matter how much it hurts—and when you hear “no matter how much it hurts,” that means NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOUR SPOUSE HURTS YOU. Don’t get me wrong. It is not a license for spousal abuse, a license to hurt one another as much as we feel like because no one’s allowed to get a divorce anyway. But the fact of the matter is, marriage is a commitment. It is often a tough commitment. And Jesus’ command concerning marriage is God’s intention from the beginning: “No man may divorce what God has joined together.”
I’ll close by saying again that not everyone who has experienced divorce has disobeyed God, because many who have been divorced were divorced against their will as they worked to stay faithful to their spouses in obedience to Jesus. Not everyone who is divorced is guilty of the sin of divorce.
But marriage is a hard, lifelong commitment. Do not enter into it lightly or thinking that divorce is a ticket to freedom whenever you need out. Divorce is not a ticket to freedom, but to slavery to sin. Avoid it like the plague.
Responses?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Psalm 22:19-31
ALL – Proverbs 5:15-21
OT – Exodus 4:1-5:21
NT – Matthew 18:1-20
It was a wonderful reading. But if you weren’t able to read it, don’t feel obliged to “catch up.” Bible reading shouldn’t be a burden, but a joy! So, unless catching up IS your joy, feel free just to read along with me today:
ALL – Psalm 23:1-6
ALL – Proverbs 5:22-23
OT – Exodus 5:22-7:25
NT – Matthew 18:21-19:12
I was torn today, because this section of Matthew includes the parable of the unmerciful servant—one of my favorite parables teaching one of my favorite lessons. On the other hand, this section of Matthew’s gospel also deals with marriage and divorce, and I’m quickly finding out the reality of how deeply men and women in our church need to hear Jesus’ message here.
Before I start, let me say that I know that many marriages that end in divorce do so not because both partners wanted a divorce, but because one partner wanted a divorce. There may be blame to share (oftentimes) in terms of the reality that marriage among Christians involves two sinners saved by grace coming together under Christ, each one working to obey Him and yet sometimes failing. Neither spouse is exempt from the charge, “You sinned against me and hurt me.” Not entirely. But the responsibility for divorce often lies in the lap of just one spouse—the one who chooses to stop forgiving the other spouse’s sin and “can’t put up with it anymore!” And to see that forgiveness is a responsibility, please be sure to read the parable of the unmerciful servant in today’s reading.
With that said, let’s turn to the question of marriage. In response to the Pharisees’ question about whether Jesus permitted divorce, He said:
Don’t you read the Scriptures? In them it is written that at the beginning God created man and woman and that a man should leave his father and mother, and be forever united to his wife. The two shall become one—no longer two, but one! And no man may divorce what God has joined together. – Matthew 19:4-6, The Living Bible
Marriage is a lifetime commitment. Period. Did your spouse hurt you? Every couple since Adam and Eve has sinned against each other. Believe it or not, no matter how badly you’ve been hurt, you share a common experience with millions of other people throughout the course of history. But Jesus says that “no man may divorce what God has joined together.”
The Pharisees, of course, thought they had some justification for divorce in the law of Moses (which God had given—it wasn’t just Moses’ thoughts, as Jesus Himself would agree). Moses permitted divorce. But Jesus responds:
Moses did that in recognition of your hard and evil hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. – Matthew 19:8, The Living Bible
So even in the law of Moses, divorce is not a good thing. It’s a recognition of rebellious, sinful hearts. Jesus went on to say:
And I tell you this, that anyone who divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery. – Matthew 19:9, The Living Bible
So not only is divorce utterly wrong, but divorce and remarriage to another is wrong. Jesus calls it adultery! Adultery! Legalized adultery, made “ok” by a certificate, but utterly wrong in God’s eyes. The only instance in which remarriage following divorce is not considered adultery is when divorce follows a spouse’s adultery.
Even Jesus’ disciples couldn’t swallow this one:
If that is how it is, it is better not to marry! – Matthew 19:10, The Living Bible
I hope those of you who are married are listening, but at this point I hope even more that those who are NOT married are listening—not to me, but to Jesus’ disciples. When they heard Jesus’ response to the Pharisees, it scared them. It made them reconsider the whole question of whether they even wanted to be married or not. Under the laws and customs of the day (like in our own day), marriage was a “safe” risk. If it “didn’t work out,” you could just get a divorce. So sure, why not marry? Right?
But according to what Jesus taught, marriage is NOT a “safe” risk. It is a dangerous, lifelong commitment. It is a pledge to stay faithful to a spouse no matter how much it hurts—and when you hear “no matter how much it hurts,” that means NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOUR SPOUSE HURTS YOU. Don’t get me wrong. It is not a license for spousal abuse, a license to hurt one another as much as we feel like because no one’s allowed to get a divorce anyway. But the fact of the matter is, marriage is a commitment. It is often a tough commitment. And Jesus’ command concerning marriage is God’s intention from the beginning: “No man may divorce what God has joined together.”
I’ll close by saying again that not everyone who has experienced divorce has disobeyed God, because many who have been divorced were divorced against their will as they worked to stay faithful to their spouses in obedience to Jesus. Not everyone who is divorced is guilty of the sin of divorce.
But marriage is a hard, lifelong commitment. Do not enter into it lightly or thinking that divorce is a ticket to freedom whenever you need out. Divorce is not a ticket to freedom, but to slavery to sin. Avoid it like the plague.
Responses?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
When Elijah Comes!
ALL – Psalm 22:1-18
ALL – Proverbs 5:7-14
OT – Exodus 2:11-3:22
NT – Matthew 17:10-27
Expectations exceed reality. Often.
The Jewish leaders were teaching that Elijah had to return before the Messiah was coming. If you know anything about Elijah, he was an amazing prophet and man of God, a man of wonderful character who boldly proclaimed that God was in charge and would hold even kings accountable. To the Jews and their teachers, the vision of Elijah’s return must have been mouth-watering. To have a man of Elijah’s stature appear, to see the miracles he did, to watch him boldly confront their Roman oppressors, protected by God’s own hand, would be glorious! They had high expectations.
But the disciples were following Jesus, and they couldn’t remember having seen Elijah. Which was a bit confusing considering that Jesus was supposed to be the Messiah. So they decided to ask Jesus about the idea that Elijah would come before the Messiah. And Jesus said:
They are right. Elijah must come and set everything in order. And, in fact, he has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and was badly mistreated by many. And I, the Messiah, shall also suffer at their hands. – Matthew 17:11-12, The Living Bible
The disciples heard clearly:
Then the disciples realized he was speaking of John the Baptist. – Matthew 17:13
John the Baptist carried on Elijah’s ministry, boldly confronting sin. He confronted Romans, but he also confronted Jews, even Jewish leaders. That’s probably why they didn’t recognize him. Their imaginations had constructed a glorious Elijah who would be on their side rather than opposing them. John the Baptist didn’t fit those expectations. And as Jesus said, he “was badly mistreated by many.”
His mistreatment demonstrated the kind of reception Jesus the Messiah would receive, too. “I, the Messiah, shall also suffer at their hands.” And it helps us today to set better expectations for our walk with Jesus. The world’s not going to run up and pat us on the back. They won’t see anything special in us. They’ll mock us for trusting in a man who lived and died 2000 years ago, they’ll mock our claim that He has any power today, and they’ll ignore us or mistreat us fairly frequently. True religion is not about having everything go our way. True religion is about going Jesus’ way, even if it doesn’t feel so good.
So let’s follow Him together.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 5:7-14
OT – Exodus 2:11-3:22
NT – Matthew 17:10-27
Expectations exceed reality. Often.
The Jewish leaders were teaching that Elijah had to return before the Messiah was coming. If you know anything about Elijah, he was an amazing prophet and man of God, a man of wonderful character who boldly proclaimed that God was in charge and would hold even kings accountable. To the Jews and their teachers, the vision of Elijah’s return must have been mouth-watering. To have a man of Elijah’s stature appear, to see the miracles he did, to watch him boldly confront their Roman oppressors, protected by God’s own hand, would be glorious! They had high expectations.
But the disciples were following Jesus, and they couldn’t remember having seen Elijah. Which was a bit confusing considering that Jesus was supposed to be the Messiah. So they decided to ask Jesus about the idea that Elijah would come before the Messiah. And Jesus said:
They are right. Elijah must come and set everything in order. And, in fact, he has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and was badly mistreated by many. And I, the Messiah, shall also suffer at their hands. – Matthew 17:11-12, The Living Bible
The disciples heard clearly:
Then the disciples realized he was speaking of John the Baptist. – Matthew 17:13
John the Baptist carried on Elijah’s ministry, boldly confronting sin. He confronted Romans, but he also confronted Jews, even Jewish leaders. That’s probably why they didn’t recognize him. Their imaginations had constructed a glorious Elijah who would be on their side rather than opposing them. John the Baptist didn’t fit those expectations. And as Jesus said, he “was badly mistreated by many.”
His mistreatment demonstrated the kind of reception Jesus the Messiah would receive, too. “I, the Messiah, shall also suffer at their hands.” And it helps us today to set better expectations for our walk with Jesus. The world’s not going to run up and pat us on the back. They won’t see anything special in us. They’ll mock us for trusting in a man who lived and died 2000 years ago, they’ll mock our claim that He has any power today, and they’ll ignore us or mistreat us fairly frequently. True religion is not about having everything go our way. True religion is about going Jesus’ way, even if it doesn’t feel so good.
So let’s follow Him together.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Why the Link at the Bottom?
Yesterday is an example of why the last comment in every email and every blog post is, “To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.” Some days, even if I manage to read at home, I have a hard time posting even the daily readings to my blog. My commitment is to post every day, but sometimes I fail. When that happens, I don’t want you to be left without knowing what to read. I link to a chart with the daily readings in the blog post you’ll arrive at if you click the link. Just in case you want to save it somewhere, I’m also linking to the chart here.
You might wonder, “If I have the chart, why bother keeping up with Matt’s devotional?” Obviously, you don’t have to. On the other hand, following a chart by yourself is a very different thing from reading the Scriptures with friends. And while we can’t be together in person, we can in spirit. I hope it provides you with a sense of personal encouragement from a friend to keep reading. I hope it also provides you with fresh thoughts and interactions with the Bible. I know that your participation has helped me. I feel personally encouraged to keep reading because I know that others are learning with me. Also, your reading gives me a sense of accountability, just as I hope my writing gives you. Some days, knowing that others are reading the Scriptures with me is my greatest motivation to keep going. I need you, and I really appreciate that you’ve been following the Scriptures with me.
But I don’t want you to be clueless about what to read when I forget to post anything. Which is why I want to make sure you have access to the daily readings through the links above. But just so you know for sure, yesterday’s reading was:
ALL – Psalm 21:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 5:1-6
OT – Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10
NT – Matthew 16:13-17:9
Keep up the GOOD work of listening to Jesus with me!
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
You might wonder, “If I have the chart, why bother keeping up with Matt’s devotional?” Obviously, you don’t have to. On the other hand, following a chart by yourself is a very different thing from reading the Scriptures with friends. And while we can’t be together in person, we can in spirit. I hope it provides you with a sense of personal encouragement from a friend to keep reading. I hope it also provides you with fresh thoughts and interactions with the Bible. I know that your participation has helped me. I feel personally encouraged to keep reading because I know that others are learning with me. Also, your reading gives me a sense of accountability, just as I hope my writing gives you. Some days, knowing that others are reading the Scriptures with me is my greatest motivation to keep going. I need you, and I really appreciate that you’ve been following the Scriptures with me.
But I don’t want you to be clueless about what to read when I forget to post anything. Which is why I want to make sure you have access to the daily readings through the links above. But just so you know for sure, yesterday’s reading was:
ALL – Psalm 21:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 5:1-6
OT – Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10
NT – Matthew 16:13-17:9
Keep up the GOOD work of listening to Jesus with me!
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
ALL – Psalm 20:1-9
ALL – Proverbs 4:20-27
OT – Genesis 48:1-49:33
NT – Matthew 15:29-16:12
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 4:20-27
OT – Genesis 48:1-49:33
NT – Matthew 15:29-16:12
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Ignore the Plants
ALL – Psalm 19:1-14
ALL – Proverbs 4:14-19
OT – Genesis 46:1-47:31
NT – Matthew 15:1-28
Some people like offending others.
I don’t. I hate offending people. I feel awful. I see myself as a people pleaser. The only reason I’m not purely a people pleaser is that I sometimes feel like it’s necessary to confront people with God’s lovingly-intended truth. Even then I sometimes am tempted to worry about what people will think of me. And all because I hate to offend people.
Especially religious people. Especially Christian religious people who work really hard to do what’s right and seem to have a good grasp of the truths of the Scriptures. But sometimes I find that a seemingly respectable member of the Christian faith constantly turns the Scriptures into rules that aren’t really there. I don’t know why something feels off at first—usually, anyways. But eventually a time comes along when this person’s rules clearly clash with the Scripture’s commands. And even if I say so in the most inoffensive way I know, I take the risk of offending another person, whether I like it or not.
The goal should never be to offend, just to be clear. The goal, ideally, is to guide everyone via the truth to faith in Christ Jesus and in His Father. But sometimes the truth is offensive, especially to people who have made a lifestyle of portraying their opinions as truth (and yes, I’m aware of the danger that I could be and probably am sometimes one of those people).
Jesus spoke the truth. And sometimes it offended people. One time His disciples approached Him, concerned about how He had offended the Pharisees by confronting their neglect of God’s commands. What did Jesus think about offending people who were spreading falsehoods and not obeying the truth?
Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my Father shall be rooted up, so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and both will fall into a ditch.” – Matthew 15:13-14, The Living Bible
Wow. Ignore them. Jesus didn’t seem to be too concerned. This is the Jesus who never sinned, the Jesus whose self-sacrifice provides the model for love, whose impromptu foot-washing ceremony provides the model for service. This is the Jesus who claims to be “gentle and humble in heart” (Matt. 11:29). You would think that Jesus would be at least somewhat concerned about offending the Pharisees.
But He wasn’t.
Jesus was concerned with leading people to His Father. The Pharisees were just concerned with leading people. And Jesus could see from their teachings and behaviors that His Father had not planted them. They were denying the truth with both their words and their actions, promoting their own words and actions as truth instead. Jesus spoke the truth unapologetically, and He let the chips fall where they may. His Father would deal with the Pharisees at the appropriate time.
May we people-pleasing people follow Jesus’ example. May we first make sure that we know the truth, listening intently and obeying constantly. But when we know the truth, may we learn to speak it unapologetically, even if it offends. The offended persons may never change, but perhaps we can lead others away from their falsehoods.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 4:14-19
OT – Genesis 46:1-47:31
NT – Matthew 15:1-28
Some people like offending others.
I don’t. I hate offending people. I feel awful. I see myself as a people pleaser. The only reason I’m not purely a people pleaser is that I sometimes feel like it’s necessary to confront people with God’s lovingly-intended truth. Even then I sometimes am tempted to worry about what people will think of me. And all because I hate to offend people.
Especially religious people. Especially Christian religious people who work really hard to do what’s right and seem to have a good grasp of the truths of the Scriptures. But sometimes I find that a seemingly respectable member of the Christian faith constantly turns the Scriptures into rules that aren’t really there. I don’t know why something feels off at first—usually, anyways. But eventually a time comes along when this person’s rules clearly clash with the Scripture’s commands. And even if I say so in the most inoffensive way I know, I take the risk of offending another person, whether I like it or not.
The goal should never be to offend, just to be clear. The goal, ideally, is to guide everyone via the truth to faith in Christ Jesus and in His Father. But sometimes the truth is offensive, especially to people who have made a lifestyle of portraying their opinions as truth (and yes, I’m aware of the danger that I could be and probably am sometimes one of those people).
Jesus spoke the truth. And sometimes it offended people. One time His disciples approached Him, concerned about how He had offended the Pharisees by confronting their neglect of God’s commands. What did Jesus think about offending people who were spreading falsehoods and not obeying the truth?
Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my Father shall be rooted up, so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and both will fall into a ditch.” – Matthew 15:13-14, The Living Bible
Wow. Ignore them. Jesus didn’t seem to be too concerned. This is the Jesus who never sinned, the Jesus whose self-sacrifice provides the model for love, whose impromptu foot-washing ceremony provides the model for service. This is the Jesus who claims to be “gentle and humble in heart” (Matt. 11:29). You would think that Jesus would be at least somewhat concerned about offending the Pharisees.
But He wasn’t.
Jesus was concerned with leading people to His Father. The Pharisees were just concerned with leading people. And Jesus could see from their teachings and behaviors that His Father had not planted them. They were denying the truth with both their words and their actions, promoting their own words and actions as truth instead. Jesus spoke the truth unapologetically, and He let the chips fall where they may. His Father would deal with the Pharisees at the appropriate time.
May we people-pleasing people follow Jesus’ example. May we first make sure that we know the truth, listening intently and obeying constantly. But when we know the truth, may we learn to speak it unapologetically, even if it offends. The offended persons may never change, but perhaps we can lead others away from their falsehoods.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Provided
ALL – Psalm 18:37-50
ALL – Proverbs 4:11-13
OT – Genesis 44:1-45:28
NT – Matthew 14:13-36
Have you ever been in debt? You look at the $5 bill in your wallet, knowing that your debt is so much more, and you kind of wish you could just multiply your money and pay the whole thing off. And then your mind starts to wander as you daydream about what kinds of things you could provide for your wife and kids if you had the ability to multiply money. It’s a nice dream. But at the end of it, you come back to reality remembering that you’re not a super-human money-multiplier, that you’re limited, that sometimes needs are greater than your ability to meet them.
Jesus, on the other hand. . . Jesus can provide exactly what is needed at a moment’s notice. Jesus is God. Jesus has authority over the whole creation. If He wants to meet a need, He meets it.
Then he told the people to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and two fish, looked up into the sky and asked God’s blessing on the meal, then broke the loaves apart and gave them to the disciples to place before the people. And everyone ate until full! And when the scraps were picked up afterwards, there were twelve basketfuls left over! (About 5,000 men were in the crowd that day, besides all the women and children.) – Matthew 14:19-21, The Living Bible
We men like to be good providers. But no one can provide like Jesus. No one else is God. Creation obeys no one else. Things that aren’t become things that are, just because Jesus tells them to. Too Little becomes Too Much. Hunger becomes Satisfied. Empty becomes Full. Exhausted becomes Invigorated. Discouraged becomes Bold. Poor becomes Rich. Weak becomes Strong. Dead becomes Living. Sinner becomes Saint. What we need, Jesus provides. As men who like to see others provided for, our wisest work is to introduce people to Jesus. Then we, the limited, can sit back and joyfully watch our God meet people’s needs.
What has Jesus provided for you?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 4:11-13
OT – Genesis 44:1-45:28
NT – Matthew 14:13-36
Have you ever been in debt? You look at the $5 bill in your wallet, knowing that your debt is so much more, and you kind of wish you could just multiply your money and pay the whole thing off. And then your mind starts to wander as you daydream about what kinds of things you could provide for your wife and kids if you had the ability to multiply money. It’s a nice dream. But at the end of it, you come back to reality remembering that you’re not a super-human money-multiplier, that you’re limited, that sometimes needs are greater than your ability to meet them.
Jesus, on the other hand. . . Jesus can provide exactly what is needed at a moment’s notice. Jesus is God. Jesus has authority over the whole creation. If He wants to meet a need, He meets it.
Then he told the people to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and two fish, looked up into the sky and asked God’s blessing on the meal, then broke the loaves apart and gave them to the disciples to place before the people. And everyone ate until full! And when the scraps were picked up afterwards, there were twelve basketfuls left over! (About 5,000 men were in the crowd that day, besides all the women and children.) – Matthew 14:19-21, The Living Bible
We men like to be good providers. But no one can provide like Jesus. No one else is God. Creation obeys no one else. Things that aren’t become things that are, just because Jesus tells them to. Too Little becomes Too Much. Hunger becomes Satisfied. Empty becomes Full. Exhausted becomes Invigorated. Discouraged becomes Bold. Poor becomes Rich. Weak becomes Strong. Dead becomes Living. Sinner becomes Saint. What we need, Jesus provides. As men who like to see others provided for, our wisest work is to introduce people to Jesus. Then we, the limited, can sit back and joyfully watch our God meet people’s needs.
What has Jesus provided for you?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Responding to The God Who Is Light
The message, preached on January 17th, 2010, covered 1 John 1:5-10, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. John announces one life-altering truth: God is Light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we want fellowship with this God, we must walk in the light and confess our sins, finding that the God who is Light forgives and purifies us, too. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
Honor Your Prophets
ALL – Psalm 18:16-36
ALL – Proverbs 4:7-10
OT – Genesis 42:18-43:34
NT – Matthew 13:47-14:12
Familiarity breeds contempt, right? It certainly did for Jesus:
When Jesus had finished giving these illustrations, he returned to his hometown, Nazareth in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue and astonished everyone with his wisdom and his miracles.
“How is this possible?” the people exclaimed. “He’s just a carpenter’s son, and we know Mary his mother and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. And his sisters—they all live here. How can he be so great?” And they became angry with him.
Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own country, and among his own people.” – Matthew 13:53-57, The Living Bible
How often in our churches across the country do we look at the elders who have matured within our churches as second-class elders, but look at those who matured in other communities with special respect? We often hire pastors we don’t know (yes, I’m included), and set them in positions of authority and honor above men older, wiser, godlier, and more mature than they are. Even as Christians, we often perceive those from our own communities as “common” and those from outside as “special.”
As one of these outsider-pastors, I’d like to take a moment to urge Christians across the country and across the world to honor their home-town elders. These men are just as wonderful and godly and honorable as the men like me who are brought in from outside your communities to serve Christ. Some of you honor such men more than outsiders, because you’ve seen Christ grow and transform them over the years, and you know His hand is on them. But some of you honor such men less than outsiders because you feel familiar with them and, like the town of Nazareth, you’re offended that someone you know so well would be honored so highly. As Christians, let’s stop taking offense at our elders who serve Jesus Christ so faithfully. Instead, let’s be encouraged that Jesus Christ can take people just like us and turn us into His useful, honorable prophets. Let’s respect our home-grown church leaders.
Describe one of your home-town church leaders, someone you admire, respect and trust.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 4:7-10
OT – Genesis 42:18-43:34
NT – Matthew 13:47-14:12
Familiarity breeds contempt, right? It certainly did for Jesus:
When Jesus had finished giving these illustrations, he returned to his hometown, Nazareth in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue and astonished everyone with his wisdom and his miracles.
“How is this possible?” the people exclaimed. “He’s just a carpenter’s son, and we know Mary his mother and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. And his sisters—they all live here. How can he be so great?” And they became angry with him.
Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own country, and among his own people.” – Matthew 13:53-57, The Living Bible
How often in our churches across the country do we look at the elders who have matured within our churches as second-class elders, but look at those who matured in other communities with special respect? We often hire pastors we don’t know (yes, I’m included), and set them in positions of authority and honor above men older, wiser, godlier, and more mature than they are. Even as Christians, we often perceive those from our own communities as “common” and those from outside as “special.”
As one of these outsider-pastors, I’d like to take a moment to urge Christians across the country and across the world to honor their home-town elders. These men are just as wonderful and godly and honorable as the men like me who are brought in from outside your communities to serve Christ. Some of you honor such men more than outsiders, because you’ve seen Christ grow and transform them over the years, and you know His hand is on them. But some of you honor such men less than outsiders because you feel familiar with them and, like the town of Nazareth, you’re offended that someone you know so well would be honored so highly. As Christians, let’s stop taking offense at our elders who serve Jesus Christ so faithfully. Instead, let’s be encouraged that Jesus Christ can take people just like us and turn us into His useful, honorable prophets. Let’s respect our home-grown church leaders.
Describe one of your home-town church leaders, someone you admire, respect and trust.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Buy It!
ALL – Psalm 18:1-15
ALL – Proverbs 4:1-6
OT – Genesis 41:17-42:17
NT – Matthew 13:24-46
What would you do for a million dollars? That question has generated some interesting answers over the years—especially when the person asking the question is serious about giving his million dollars away.
We all love the thought of finding hidden troves of treasure. Finders keepers, right?
And yet we find the thought of eternity with Jesus boring?
What’s up with that? People imagine winning a million dollars and their eyes glaze over as they go into a private world of imagination and daydreams. But when those same people think of eternity with Jesus, they respond with a blank stare.
Eternity with Jesus in the Kingdom of heaven is going to be unfathomably more beautiful, more exciting, more comfortable, more fulfilling, more challenging and more satisfying than anything we could do with the entire world’s wealth! No wonder Jesus told this parable:
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure a man discovered in a field. In his excitement, he sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field—and get the treasure, too! – Matthew 13:44
Let me know how God’s been teaching you to treasure a future with Jesus.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 4:1-6
OT – Genesis 41:17-42:17
NT – Matthew 13:24-46
What would you do for a million dollars? That question has generated some interesting answers over the years—especially when the person asking the question is serious about giving his million dollars away.
We all love the thought of finding hidden troves of treasure. Finders keepers, right?
And yet we find the thought of eternity with Jesus boring?
What’s up with that? People imagine winning a million dollars and their eyes glaze over as they go into a private world of imagination and daydreams. But when those same people think of eternity with Jesus, they respond with a blank stare.
Eternity with Jesus in the Kingdom of heaven is going to be unfathomably more beautiful, more exciting, more comfortable, more fulfilling, more challenging and more satisfying than anything we could do with the entire world’s wealth! No wonder Jesus told this parable:
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure a man discovered in a field. In his excitement, he sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field—and get the treasure, too! – Matthew 13:44
Let me know how God’s been teaching you to treasure a future with Jesus.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Distracted
ALL – Psalm 17:1-15
ALL – Proverbs 3:33-35
OT – Genesis 39:1-41:16
NT – Matthew 12:46-13:23
How long do our eyes need to be off the road ahead for us to have an accident? How much of a distraction can a runner afford in his focus without losing the race? How many mouse-clicks on favorite sites does it take to eat up a quarter of an hour’s premium work time? Is distraction really that big of a deal?
It most certainly is.
A moment’s distraction can cost us an hour’s work, the win of a racing career, and even the life of a loved one. If a moment’s distraction can cost us so dearly, what could a lifetime of distraction cost us, especially a lifetime of being distracted from God’s aim for our lives?
In Jesus’ famous parable of the sower, he had some warnings for us about being distracted from the good news of His Kingdom:
The ground covered with thistles represents a man who hears the message, but the cares of this life and his longing for money choke out God’s Word, and he does less and less for God. – Matthew 13:22, The Living Bible
The NIV puts it this way: “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.”
What a waste! Jesus came to invite us into an eternal, glorious Kingdom with an eternal, glorious King. But we can get so distracted by the cares of a temporary, cursed, fading world and by fleeting opportunities for fleeting wealth that our lives end up being unfruitful, wasted, in vain. And Jesus warned us about unfruitfulness: “The ax is already at the fruit of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:10, NIV).
Distraction is deadly. Don’t be deceived. It truly matters what you focus your mind and energies on. Let’s focus on Jesus Christ and following Him.
What distractions tempt you the most? What has Jesus taught you that helps you ignore them?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 3:33-35
OT – Genesis 39:1-41:16
NT – Matthew 12:46-13:23
How long do our eyes need to be off the road ahead for us to have an accident? How much of a distraction can a runner afford in his focus without losing the race? How many mouse-clicks on favorite sites does it take to eat up a quarter of an hour’s premium work time? Is distraction really that big of a deal?
It most certainly is.
A moment’s distraction can cost us an hour’s work, the win of a racing career, and even the life of a loved one. If a moment’s distraction can cost us so dearly, what could a lifetime of distraction cost us, especially a lifetime of being distracted from God’s aim for our lives?
In Jesus’ famous parable of the sower, he had some warnings for us about being distracted from the good news of His Kingdom:
The ground covered with thistles represents a man who hears the message, but the cares of this life and his longing for money choke out God’s Word, and he does less and less for God. – Matthew 13:22, The Living Bible
The NIV puts it this way: “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.”
What a waste! Jesus came to invite us into an eternal, glorious Kingdom with an eternal, glorious King. But we can get so distracted by the cares of a temporary, cursed, fading world and by fleeting opportunities for fleeting wealth that our lives end up being unfruitful, wasted, in vain. And Jesus warned us about unfruitfulness: “The ax is already at the fruit of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:10, NIV).
Distraction is deadly. Don’t be deceived. It truly matters what you focus your mind and energies on. Let’s focus on Jesus Christ and following Him.
What distractions tempt you the most? What has Jesus taught you that helps you ignore them?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Tasting Words, Testing Hearts
ALL – Psalm 16:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 3:27-32
OT – Genesis 37:1-38:30
NT – Matthew 12:22-45
Jesus had just cast demons out of a man, demons that had been preventing the man from talking or seeing. Now the man was completely healed.
Most of the crowd was, rightly, amazed. They said things like, “Maybe Jesus is the Messiah” (Matthew 12:23, The Living Bible). But some people in the crowd hated Jesus’ ministry and, assuming that He couldn’t possibly be associated with God, said that Jesus was associated with Satan, instead. They said demons were listening to Jesus because Jesus represented their demon-king.
Some responded with good words. Some responded with bad words. Not that words ought to be measured merely by how kind they seem to be. As we’ll see in a moment, Jesus’ response to those speaking bad words doesn’t seem to be filled with good words.
You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For a man’s heart determines his speech. A good man’s speech reveals the rich treasures within him. An evil-hearted man is filled with venom, and his speech reveals it. – Matthew 12:34-35, The Living Bible
Jesus starts off by calling them a brood of snakes! But then he criticizes them for revealing their evil hearts by their speech! What about His own speech, you might ask? What’s the difference? Isn’t Jesus returning insult for insult?
No. He’s not. Jesus’ words are designed to reveal the truth to the hearts of wicked men, while their words were designed merely to oppose Jesus by obscuring the truth. Their words opposed what was truly good; Jesus’ words revealed what was actually bad. So their words were evil. Jesus’ words were good.
When Jesus was calling men to speak what is good and right, He was calling them to speak the truth in love. His speech, even in response to the evil speech of his opponents, was the truth spoken in love, revealing precisely the kind of good heart Jesus had described. He wants us all to lovingly reveal the truth by our speech, and sometimes the truth won’t sound friendly.
But the goal is not to sound unfriendly. The goal is to lovingly tell the truth, rather than lying. If you must oppose people, do so from a pure heart. If you have to lie in order to make your point, then you’re trying to make a point that shouldn’t be made. Your character is at stake! And discerning people will know your heart when they hear your words.
Who has a clear example of this – either a clear example of a good person’s heart being revealed by amazingly good words, or of a bad person’s heart being revealed by evil words?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 3:27-32
OT – Genesis 37:1-38:30
NT – Matthew 12:22-45
Jesus had just cast demons out of a man, demons that had been preventing the man from talking or seeing. Now the man was completely healed.
Most of the crowd was, rightly, amazed. They said things like, “Maybe Jesus is the Messiah” (Matthew 12:23, The Living Bible). But some people in the crowd hated Jesus’ ministry and, assuming that He couldn’t possibly be associated with God, said that Jesus was associated with Satan, instead. They said demons were listening to Jesus because Jesus represented their demon-king.
Some responded with good words. Some responded with bad words. Not that words ought to be measured merely by how kind they seem to be. As we’ll see in a moment, Jesus’ response to those speaking bad words doesn’t seem to be filled with good words.
You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For a man’s heart determines his speech. A good man’s speech reveals the rich treasures within him. An evil-hearted man is filled with venom, and his speech reveals it. – Matthew 12:34-35, The Living Bible
Jesus starts off by calling them a brood of snakes! But then he criticizes them for revealing their evil hearts by their speech! What about His own speech, you might ask? What’s the difference? Isn’t Jesus returning insult for insult?
No. He’s not. Jesus’ words are designed to reveal the truth to the hearts of wicked men, while their words were designed merely to oppose Jesus by obscuring the truth. Their words opposed what was truly good; Jesus’ words revealed what was actually bad. So their words were evil. Jesus’ words were good.
When Jesus was calling men to speak what is good and right, He was calling them to speak the truth in love. His speech, even in response to the evil speech of his opponents, was the truth spoken in love, revealing precisely the kind of good heart Jesus had described. He wants us all to lovingly reveal the truth by our speech, and sometimes the truth won’t sound friendly.
But the goal is not to sound unfriendly. The goal is to lovingly tell the truth, rather than lying. If you must oppose people, do so from a pure heart. If you have to lie in order to make your point, then you’re trying to make a point that shouldn’t be made. Your character is at stake! And discerning people will know your heart when they hear your words.
Who has a clear example of this – either a clear example of a good person’s heart being revealed by amazingly good words, or of a bad person’s heart being revealed by evil words?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
January 17, 2010
ALL – Psalm 15:1-5
ALL – Proverbs 3:21-26
OT – Genesis 35:1-36:43
NT – Matthew 12:1-21
Sorry, I meant to post this yesterday. I only managed to send it out in my email, though.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 3:21-26
OT – Genesis 35:1-36:43
NT – Matthew 12:1-21
Sorry, I meant to post this yesterday. I only managed to send it out in my email, though.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Wanting Jesus to Fit Our Box
ALL – Psalm 14:1-7
ALL – Proverbs 3:19-20
OT – Genesis 32:13-34:31
NT – Matthew 11:7-30
What shall I say about this nation? These people are like children playing, who say to their little friends, “We played wedding and you weren’t happy, so we played funeral but you weren’t sad.” – Matthew 11:16-17, The Living Bible
That’s what we’re like. We're childish. We want Jesus to do as we do. But Jesus sets the pace. We’re supposed to do as He does. We join Him; Jesus leads us. Not the other way around.
Where does Jesus not seem to be the way you might want, and what effect would it have on your life if you conformed to Him?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 3:19-20
OT – Genesis 32:13-34:31
NT – Matthew 11:7-30
What shall I say about this nation? These people are like children playing, who say to their little friends, “We played wedding and you weren’t happy, so we played funeral but you weren’t sad.” – Matthew 11:16-17, The Living Bible
That’s what we’re like. We're childish. We want Jesus to do as we do. But Jesus sets the pace. We’re supposed to do as He does. We join Him; Jesus leads us. Not the other way around.
Where does Jesus not seem to be the way you might want, and what effect would it have on your life if you conformed to Him?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Experience Life to the Full
The message, preached on January 10th, 2010, covered 1 John 1:1-4, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. As John begins to write, he wants his readers to know what’s coming. He’s experienced life, and John invites his readers into his experience of life, urging them to be part of God’s family. John wants more and more readers to share in the joyous life he has in community with God the Father and the Son. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
On the Other Hand, I Don’t Want to Be Denied.
ALL – Psalm 13:1-6
ALL – Proverbs 3:16-18
OT – Genesis 31:17-32:12
NT – Matthew 10:24-11:6
Yesterday I contemplated Jesus’ warning that loyalty to Him means we should expect hatred from various people in my life. The good side was that, if we endure their hatred, we’ll gain His salvation.
Today’s more about what happens if we don’t endure the world’s hatred. What happens if we cave in to people’s pressure? How loyal does Jesus want us to be. Is Jesus ok with us loving Him, but not really letting anyone know it? Here’s what He says:
If anyone publicly acknowledges me as his friend, I will openly acknowledge him as my friend before my Father in heaven. But if anyone publicly denies me, I will openly deny him before my Father in heaven. – Matthew 10:32-33
So yesterday we were struggling with whether we were ready to endure other people’s hatred. Today the question is whether we want Jesus to deny us before His Father. I’m not sure I’m ready for that, either, you know?
Those who read the Bible find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place. Because the Bible is honest—Jesus Christ is honest. He lets us know what to expect, no matter which way we turn (unlike advertisers, who tell us only the benefits of following their advice and never the downfalls). We have two choices: on the one hand, we can follow Jesus and be hated by at least some of the people who don’t follow Him; on the other, we can deny Jesus and find that He denies us before His Father in heaven. In other words, there’s no escaping some sort of pain. If we follow Jesus, we’ll experience the pain of people’s rejection. If we deny Jesus, we’ll experience the pain of God’s rejection.
Some people take these words as if Jesus is threatening us. I don’t. I take these words as a loving warning and as wise advice. Jesus wants our good. In yesterday’s reading, he promised salvation to those who endure people’s hatred to follow Him (Matt. 10:22). In today’s, Jesus promises to let God know that we’re His friends if we publicly acknowledge Him as our friend throughout our lives (Matt. 10:32). In terms of pain, we’re caught between a rock and a hard place, and there’s going to be some kind of pain in our lives no matter what we choose. But Jesus lets us know that life isn’t ALL pain and rejection. He has good things in store for us, things the people around us simply can’t offer.
So yesterday we struggled with whether we were ready to be hated by other people, and today we find out that the alternative is to be denied by Jesus Christ. The question isn’t really whether we’re ready for either. One of them is coming our way, whether we’re ready or not. The question is really whether we trust Jesus to give us the salvation and friendship He promises if we’re faithful to Him. If we trust Him, we can make our decision.
I pray that you join me in trusting Jesus. He’s faithful and good.
In what ways do you struggle with trusting Jesus? Have you trusted Him anyway? What have you learned?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 3:16-18
OT – Genesis 31:17-32:12
NT – Matthew 10:24-11:6
Yesterday I contemplated Jesus’ warning that loyalty to Him means we should expect hatred from various people in my life. The good side was that, if we endure their hatred, we’ll gain His salvation.
Today’s more about what happens if we don’t endure the world’s hatred. What happens if we cave in to people’s pressure? How loyal does Jesus want us to be. Is Jesus ok with us loving Him, but not really letting anyone know it? Here’s what He says:
If anyone publicly acknowledges me as his friend, I will openly acknowledge him as my friend before my Father in heaven. But if anyone publicly denies me, I will openly deny him before my Father in heaven. – Matthew 10:32-33
So yesterday we were struggling with whether we were ready to endure other people’s hatred. Today the question is whether we want Jesus to deny us before His Father. I’m not sure I’m ready for that, either, you know?
Those who read the Bible find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place. Because the Bible is honest—Jesus Christ is honest. He lets us know what to expect, no matter which way we turn (unlike advertisers, who tell us only the benefits of following their advice and never the downfalls). We have two choices: on the one hand, we can follow Jesus and be hated by at least some of the people who don’t follow Him; on the other, we can deny Jesus and find that He denies us before His Father in heaven. In other words, there’s no escaping some sort of pain. If we follow Jesus, we’ll experience the pain of people’s rejection. If we deny Jesus, we’ll experience the pain of God’s rejection.
Some people take these words as if Jesus is threatening us. I don’t. I take these words as a loving warning and as wise advice. Jesus wants our good. In yesterday’s reading, he promised salvation to those who endure people’s hatred to follow Him (Matt. 10:22). In today’s, Jesus promises to let God know that we’re His friends if we publicly acknowledge Him as our friend throughout our lives (Matt. 10:32). In terms of pain, we’re caught between a rock and a hard place, and there’s going to be some kind of pain in our lives no matter what we choose. But Jesus lets us know that life isn’t ALL pain and rejection. He has good things in store for us, things the people around us simply can’t offer.
So yesterday we struggled with whether we were ready to be hated by other people, and today we find out that the alternative is to be denied by Jesus Christ. The question isn’t really whether we’re ready for either. One of them is coming our way, whether we’re ready or not. The question is really whether we trust Jesus to give us the salvation and friendship He promises if we’re faithful to Him. If we trust Him, we can make our decision.
I pray that you join me in trusting Jesus. He’s faithful and good.
In what ways do you struggle with trusting Jesus? Have you trusted Him anyway? What have you learned?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
I’m Not Sure I’m Ready to Be Hated
ALL – Psalm 12:1-8
ALL – Proverbs 3:13-15
OT – Genesis 30:1-31:16
NT – Matthew 10:1-26
Everyone has an opinion about Jesus and His followers. Some of those opinions aren’t the nicest. Jesus told His disciples to plan on it being that way:
Brother shall betray brother to death, and fathers shall betray their own children. And children shall rise against their parents and cause their deaths. Everyone shall hate you because you belong to me. But all of you who endure to the end shall be saved. – Matthew 10:21-22, The Living Bible
“Everyone shall hate you because you belong to me.” A lot of people don’t like Christians. People from other religions don’t like Christians because we claim that they are wrong in their beliefs and that they will go to hell if they continue to cling to their most treasured, passionate religious worldviews. Secularists don’t like Christians because Christians believe in God. Naturalists don’t like Christians because Christians believe that God raises the dead. Following Jesus is not popular. I mean, really following Jesus is not popular. In America it’s still pretty acceptable to belong to a church.
But really following Jesus is another matter. Those who really follow Jesus wholeheartedly tend to stand out from the crowd, even in church. They make others nervous. They get teased, perhaps mocked. If they’re fortunate, their families share the same beliefs and the same fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit. But often Jesus’ followers are alone in their beliefs when they go home. And family resents, even hates, a man, woman or child who stands faithfully for Jesus.
Lord, give Your people thick skins here on earth, and big hearts to look forward to Your resurrection, the reward of enduring this world’s hatred.
Are you ready to be hated?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 3:13-15
OT – Genesis 30:1-31:16
NT – Matthew 10:1-26
Everyone has an opinion about Jesus and His followers. Some of those opinions aren’t the nicest. Jesus told His disciples to plan on it being that way:
Brother shall betray brother to death, and fathers shall betray their own children. And children shall rise against their parents and cause their deaths. Everyone shall hate you because you belong to me. But all of you who endure to the end shall be saved. – Matthew 10:21-22, The Living Bible
“Everyone shall hate you because you belong to me.” A lot of people don’t like Christians. People from other religions don’t like Christians because we claim that they are wrong in their beliefs and that they will go to hell if they continue to cling to their most treasured, passionate religious worldviews. Secularists don’t like Christians because Christians believe in God. Naturalists don’t like Christians because Christians believe that God raises the dead. Following Jesus is not popular. I mean, really following Jesus is not popular. In America it’s still pretty acceptable to belong to a church.
But really following Jesus is another matter. Those who really follow Jesus wholeheartedly tend to stand out from the crowd, even in church. They make others nervous. They get teased, perhaps mocked. If they’re fortunate, their families share the same beliefs and the same fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit. But often Jesus’ followers are alone in their beliefs when they go home. And family resents, even hates, a man, woman or child who stands faithfully for Jesus.
Lord, give Your people thick skins here on earth, and big hearts to look forward to Your resurrection, the reward of enduring this world’s hatred.
Are you ready to be hated?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Just the Reading – For Now
ALL – Psalm 11:1-7
ALL – Proverbs 3:11-12
OT – Genesis 28:1-29:35
NT – Matthew 9:18-38
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 3:11-12
OT – Genesis 28:1-29:35
NT – Matthew 9:18-38
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
How Sick Are You?
ALL – Psalm 10:16-18
ALL – Proverbs 3:9-10
OT – Genesis 26:17-27:46
NT – Matthew 9:1-17
We hate going to the doctor. At least, many of us do. We’ll moan, groan, and walk around the house in our pajamas for a week. We’ll let our spouses serve us breakfast in bed, tuck us into bed, set us up in front of the TV with a remote and a bowl of chicken soup, and treat us—in general—like babies. But we won’t go to the doctor. And we sometimes despise people who do. “They’re always sick!” “They can’t take care of themselves.” “They’re hypochondriacs!”
When the Pharisees saw Jesus surrounded by “notorious swindlers,” as the Living Bible puts it, they couldn’t understand why Jesus would have anything to do with such people (Matt. 9:10-11). They had failed to discern that the Christ would come as a doctor, healing the spiritually sick. In response to their question about why Jesus associated with low-lifes, He said:
Because people who are well don’t need a doctor! It’s the sick people who do! – Matthew 9:12
The Pharisees were like those of us who get sick, but refuse to see a doctor. Instead, they were trying to tell the Doctor how to run His practice. Jesus wasn’t diverted by them at all. He continued to minister to the spiritually sick and to heal them.
Have you realized how sick you are? Have you come to Jesus for healing?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 3:9-10
OT – Genesis 26:17-27:46
NT – Matthew 9:1-17
We hate going to the doctor. At least, many of us do. We’ll moan, groan, and walk around the house in our pajamas for a week. We’ll let our spouses serve us breakfast in bed, tuck us into bed, set us up in front of the TV with a remote and a bowl of chicken soup, and treat us—in general—like babies. But we won’t go to the doctor. And we sometimes despise people who do. “They’re always sick!” “They can’t take care of themselves.” “They’re hypochondriacs!”
When the Pharisees saw Jesus surrounded by “notorious swindlers,” as the Living Bible puts it, they couldn’t understand why Jesus would have anything to do with such people (Matt. 9:10-11). They had failed to discern that the Christ would come as a doctor, healing the spiritually sick. In response to their question about why Jesus associated with low-lifes, He said:
Because people who are well don’t need a doctor! It’s the sick people who do! – Matthew 9:12
The Pharisees were like those of us who get sick, but refuse to see a doctor. Instead, they were trying to tell the Doctor how to run His practice. Jesus wasn’t diverted by them at all. He continued to minister to the spiritually sick and to heal them.
Have you realized how sick you are? Have you come to Jesus for healing?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Monday, January 11, 2010
I’ll Follow Wherever You Go
ALL – Psalm 10:1-15
ALL – Proverbs 3:7-8
OT – Genesis 24:52-26:16
NT – Matthew 8:18-34
Commitments. We all make ‘em. We all break ‘em. That’s what it seems like, anyways. We get so much into the habit of making half-hearted commitments that, when we come across a commitment that’s really serious—like marriage—we’ve already lost the battle to fulfill our commitments.
Likewise with our commitments to Jesus Christ. It’s nothing new. Back in Jesus’ day, people were already making half-hearted commitments to Him. But Jesus saw right through their shallow promises, just like He sees through ours.
Just then one of the Jewish religious teachers said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you no matter where you go!”
But Jesus said, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but I, the Messiah, have no home of my own—no place to lay my head.”
Another of his disciples said, “Sir, when my father is dead, then I will follow you.”
But Jesus told him, “Follow me now! Let those who are spiritually dead care for their own dead.” – Matthew 8:19-22, The Living Bible
When we give our lives into Jesus’ hands, we shouldn’t demand them back at the first sign of difficulty.
What kinds of things tempt you to pull your life away from Jesus’ control?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 3:7-8
OT – Genesis 24:52-26:16
NT – Matthew 8:18-34
Commitments. We all make ‘em. We all break ‘em. That’s what it seems like, anyways. We get so much into the habit of making half-hearted commitments that, when we come across a commitment that’s really serious—like marriage—we’ve already lost the battle to fulfill our commitments.
Likewise with our commitments to Jesus Christ. It’s nothing new. Back in Jesus’ day, people were already making half-hearted commitments to Him. But Jesus saw right through their shallow promises, just like He sees through ours.
Just then one of the Jewish religious teachers said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you no matter where you go!”
But Jesus said, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but I, the Messiah, have no home of my own—no place to lay my head.”
Another of his disciples said, “Sir, when my father is dead, then I will follow you.”
But Jesus told him, “Follow me now! Let those who are spiritually dead care for their own dead.” – Matthew 8:19-22, The Living Bible
When we give our lives into Jesus’ hands, we shouldn’t demand them back at the first sign of difficulty.
What kinds of things tempt you to pull your life away from Jesus’ control?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
January 10, 2010
ALL – Psalm 9:13-20
ALL – Proverbs 3:1-6
OT - Genesis 23:1-24:51
NT – Matthew 8:1-17
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 3:1-6
OT - Genesis 23:1-24:51
NT – Matthew 8:1-17
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Resolving Christian vs. Christian Animosity
The message, preached on January 3rd, 2010, covered Philemon, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. Paul’s letter urges Philemon, a Christian with reason to hold a grudge against Onesimus, to replace his animosity with love for his newly-converted Christian brother. Such an attitude transformation comes to Christians who pray for a growing faith in Christ’s work for us all, who understand that Christ makes debtors into brothers, and who follow Christ’s example of self-sacrificial, reconciling love. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
“Fruit” Means Obedience, Not Exploits
ALL – Psalm 9:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 2:16-22
OT – Genesis 20:1-22:24
NT – Matthew 7:15-29
Some of the most frightening passages in the Scriptures are those where Jesus describes the kind of people who will NOT be allowed into the kingdom of heaven. Why? Because Jesus talks about people who have an appearance of righteousness—and I have to agree, they appear to be righteous. They appear to be on Jesus’ team. And then it’s easy to begin to wonder, “How can I tell the difference between those who appear to be on Jesus’ team and those who actually are?” And the next question is, “How can I tell whether I merely appear to be on Jesus’ team or whether I actually am?” Scary thoughts. The questions are sobering, frightening and disconcerting because we, so often, judge merely by appearances. We’ve lost the ability to discern between those who are truly Jesus’ followers and those who merely appear to be.
But Jesus tried to help us. He gave us instructions designed to lead us into understanding. And He told us, By their fruit you will recognize them (Matthew 7:16, NIV).
So what fruit are we looking for?
Not ministry exploits, that’s for sure:
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ – Matthew 7:21-23, NIV
Never assume that anyone—no matter how respected, no matter how much of a leader, no matter how famous, no matter how great a Bible teacher, no matter how successful he is in ministry exploits—is a follower of Jesus Christ. Ministry exploits are not the fruit Jesus is after.
So what’s Jesus after? What fruit does he want us to discern?
The simple, humble fruit of daily obedience:
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. – Matthew 7:24, NIV
This talk about fruit came at the end of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. He’d urged men and women to accept pain and persecution for His sake (Matt. 5:3-12), to do good deeds for the Father’s praise (5:13-16), to practice and teach God’s commands (5:17-20), to make peace rather than to be angry (5:21-26), to avoid lust (5:27-30) and divorce (5:31-32), to live a life of truth (5:33-37), to focus on doing good even above getting justice (5:38-42), to love enemies as friends (5:43-48), to give and pray and forgive and fast with the Father in mind (6:1-18), to serve God rather than money (6:19-24), to trust God with earthly needs (6:25-34), to judge themselves instead of others (7:1-6), to ask God for good gifts (7:7-12), and to find and follow the narrow road (7:13-14). Only after all these commands and directions did Jesus begin to describe how to discern between good fruit and bad, good teachers and bad.
How many of the commands Jesus gave in His Sermon on the Mount are commands that cannot be faithfully pursued by every single disciple? How many of them are exclusive to ministers and professionals?
Jesus did not condemn teachers who called Him ‘Lord.” He did not condemn men and women who prophesy, drive out demons and perform miracles in His name. These are all aspects of valid ministry.
But great ministry exploits are not the marks of great teachers and ministers. False teachers may well do great ministry exploits. The fruit of a good minister is the same as the fruit of any other disciple of Jesus Christ: the simple, humble, enduring fruit of daily obedience.
Father, may I and all your people produce this fruit in abundance!
Can anyone share an example of such a fruitful, faithful man or woman of God? Someone whose life may or may not have been filled with great ministry exploits, but whose life was certainly filled with consistent and faithful obedience to Jesus Christ?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 2:16-22
OT – Genesis 20:1-22:24
NT – Matthew 7:15-29
Some of the most frightening passages in the Scriptures are those where Jesus describes the kind of people who will NOT be allowed into the kingdom of heaven. Why? Because Jesus talks about people who have an appearance of righteousness—and I have to agree, they appear to be righteous. They appear to be on Jesus’ team. And then it’s easy to begin to wonder, “How can I tell the difference between those who appear to be on Jesus’ team and those who actually are?” And the next question is, “How can I tell whether I merely appear to be on Jesus’ team or whether I actually am?” Scary thoughts. The questions are sobering, frightening and disconcerting because we, so often, judge merely by appearances. We’ve lost the ability to discern between those who are truly Jesus’ followers and those who merely appear to be.
But Jesus tried to help us. He gave us instructions designed to lead us into understanding. And He told us, By their fruit you will recognize them (Matthew 7:16, NIV).
So what fruit are we looking for?
Not ministry exploits, that’s for sure:
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ – Matthew 7:21-23, NIV
Never assume that anyone—no matter how respected, no matter how much of a leader, no matter how famous, no matter how great a Bible teacher, no matter how successful he is in ministry exploits—is a follower of Jesus Christ. Ministry exploits are not the fruit Jesus is after.
So what’s Jesus after? What fruit does he want us to discern?
The simple, humble fruit of daily obedience:
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. – Matthew 7:24, NIV
This talk about fruit came at the end of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. He’d urged men and women to accept pain and persecution for His sake (Matt. 5:3-12), to do good deeds for the Father’s praise (5:13-16), to practice and teach God’s commands (5:17-20), to make peace rather than to be angry (5:21-26), to avoid lust (5:27-30) and divorce (5:31-32), to live a life of truth (5:33-37), to focus on doing good even above getting justice (5:38-42), to love enemies as friends (5:43-48), to give and pray and forgive and fast with the Father in mind (6:1-18), to serve God rather than money (6:19-24), to trust God with earthly needs (6:25-34), to judge themselves instead of others (7:1-6), to ask God for good gifts (7:7-12), and to find and follow the narrow road (7:13-14). Only after all these commands and directions did Jesus begin to describe how to discern between good fruit and bad, good teachers and bad.
How many of the commands Jesus gave in His Sermon on the Mount are commands that cannot be faithfully pursued by every single disciple? How many of them are exclusive to ministers and professionals?
Jesus did not condemn teachers who called Him ‘Lord.” He did not condemn men and women who prophesy, drive out demons and perform miracles in His name. These are all aspects of valid ministry.
But great ministry exploits are not the marks of great teachers and ministers. False teachers may well do great ministry exploits. The fruit of a good minister is the same as the fruit of any other disciple of Jesus Christ: the simple, humble, enduring fruit of daily obedience.
Father, may I and all your people produce this fruit in abundance!
Can anyone share an example of such a fruitful, faithful man or woman of God? Someone whose life may or may not have been filled with great ministry exploits, but whose life was certainly filled with consistent and faithful obedience to Jesus Christ?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Recession
ALL – Psalm 8:1-9
ALL – Proverbs 2:6-15
OT – Genesis 18:16-19:38
NT – Matthew 6:25-7:14
Many here in America have been hurt by the economic recession. A member of our church lost his job just a few weeks ago; the recession’s not over. So times have been tough, and will probably continue that way for a while. Men and woman are having difficulty affording the basics—their homes and transportation and food—let alone paying off their debts. Most people would understand the mood of worry that seems to be in the air.
But Jesus did not want His people to worry.
So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to. So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time. – Matthew 6:31-34, The Living Bible
How often the hearts of believers look like the hearts of pagans! We get concerned about food and clothes and all that we own and provide. We forget (and don’t really trust) that the Father has our provisions in His hands.
Father, help us trust You.
Can you share a story about how God has met your daily needs?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 2:6-15
OT – Genesis 18:16-19:38
NT – Matthew 6:25-7:14
Many here in America have been hurt by the economic recession. A member of our church lost his job just a few weeks ago; the recession’s not over. So times have been tough, and will probably continue that way for a while. Men and woman are having difficulty affording the basics—their homes and transportation and food—let alone paying off their debts. Most people would understand the mood of worry that seems to be in the air.
But Jesus did not want His people to worry.
So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to. So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time. – Matthew 6:31-34, The Living Bible
How often the hearts of believers look like the hearts of pagans! We get concerned about food and clothes and all that we own and provide. We forget (and don’t really trust) that the Father has our provisions in His hands.
Father, help us trust You.
Can you share a story about how God has met your daily needs?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Laughing At God
ALL – Psalm 7:1-17
ALL – Proverbs 2:1-5
OT – Genesis 16:1-18:15
NT – Matthew 6:1-24
We all have times when we kind of laugh at God, times when God’s promises seem to be too good to be true… at least, in our lives. We think, “Perhaps God will do wonderful things for others, or perhaps He’s done amazing things in the past, but I just can’t imagine Him touching my life in a miraculous way.” Perhaps we can’t imagine that God would give children to us, because the doctors have said that we’re infertile. Perhaps we can’t imagine that God would heal our cancer-ridden bodies. Perhaps we can’t imagine that God would help us to quit a harmful habit, like smoking cigarettes or getting over alcoholism. Perhaps we can’t imagine that God would take the heart of our abusive husband and transform him into a man of gentleness.
Even Abraham had a point where he laughed at the idea that God would do the miraculous in his life:
Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?" – Genesis 17:17, NIV
And yet God gave Abraham and Sarah a son, Isaac.
God’s design for your life is good. And God can make good things happen. It may take a while. We may even have to wait until we’re face to face with God in heaven before our lives experience the dramatic change God is looking for. But God often is pleased to do the miraculous in our lives while we still live in this world. He wants the world to know His intentions toward us are good.
So let’s not laugh at God’s promises. Let’s trust them, and let’s joyfully celebrate when we see His transformational work in our lives.
Would you like to share something you’ve seen God do? I’d love to hear it!
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 2:1-5
OT – Genesis 16:1-18:15
NT – Matthew 6:1-24
We all have times when we kind of laugh at God, times when God’s promises seem to be too good to be true… at least, in our lives. We think, “Perhaps God will do wonderful things for others, or perhaps He’s done amazing things in the past, but I just can’t imagine Him touching my life in a miraculous way.” Perhaps we can’t imagine that God would give children to us, because the doctors have said that we’re infertile. Perhaps we can’t imagine that God would heal our cancer-ridden bodies. Perhaps we can’t imagine that God would help us to quit a harmful habit, like smoking cigarettes or getting over alcoholism. Perhaps we can’t imagine that God would take the heart of our abusive husband and transform him into a man of gentleness.
Even Abraham had a point where he laughed at the idea that God would do the miraculous in his life:
Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?" – Genesis 17:17, NIV
And yet God gave Abraham and Sarah a son, Isaac.
God’s design for your life is good. And God can make good things happen. It may take a while. We may even have to wait until we’re face to face with God in heaven before our lives experience the dramatic change God is looking for. But God often is pleased to do the miraculous in our lives while we still live in this world. He wants the world to know His intentions toward us are good.
So let’s not laugh at God’s promises. Let’s trust them, and let’s joyfully celebrate when we see His transformational work in our lives.
Would you like to share something you’ve seen God do? I’d love to hear it!
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Missions Trip to Brazil
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. – 1 Peter 1:3
Hi,
If you received our Harner family Christmas letter or viewed it online at my three-quarter tank blog, then you know that God’s been very good to my family and me this year. It’s a privilege to serve as pastor at Swanton Alliance Church, where the believers are so wonderfully gracious.
Just like many churches, Swanton Alliance Church sends teams overseas on missions trips. For the past five years, we’ve sent teams to Brazil, where we’re cooperating with several Brazilian churches to plant a church in a location known as Estruteral, a village of poor people find living space in a garbage-dump area. We’ve also been helping with the Brazilian churches’ outreach efforts.
So on this particular trip, we look forward to passing out hygiene items in Estruteral, hosting an English camp, witnessing, extending church invitations to people we meet, perhaps doing some construction and maintenance work, and celebrating a partner church’s fifty-year anniversary with them. Oh yeah… and I’ll be preaching. Twice. With a translator, I hope.
I yearn for your prayers. Needless to say, many details have to come together in order for 10 people to plan a 2 week (July 14th-28th, 2010) ministry trip to Brazil. Pray for our health, for our safety, for our cooperation and unity, for our spiritual preparation (we’re working through the book of Mark together), for our ministry preparation, for our organization, for our hosts—anything that you can think of, we probably need prayer for it. So please pray. At least once a week.
And I could also use your financial help. The trip will cost me (and every other team member) about $1600.00, maybe a little more. I’ve already been setting my own money aside, and our team has also been doing fundraisers together—pancake breakfasts, garage sales, silent auctions. We’re trying to be frugal about our trip planning, too; we’ll be staying in church members’ homes rather than in hotels. But I could still use your help; my own funds are currently $1300 short. If you can’t contribute, please pray for us regularly, anyway. But if you can contribute, whether $5, $15, $25, $50, $100, $500 (ok, most of you can’t contribute $500, but some of you could if you wanted—I wouldn’t mind!), it would help a lot.
Let me know if you’ll be praying for me and the rest of the team. If you are also able to give, your gift will be tax deductible if you make your check out to “Swanton Alliance Church” and write “Matt Harner’s Brazil Trip fund” on the memo line. Any money coming in above the costs of my trip will go towards another team member’s expenses, and that would be a huge blessing to us all. We’re trying to buy our plane tickets in mid-to-late February. You can send any letters or checks to me at:
Swanton Alliance Church
113 Franklin Ave
Swanton, OH 43558
Thanks for being a part of my life and for praying faithfully for me, whether you can give or not.
Grace and peace –
Matt
Hi,
If you received our Harner family Christmas letter or viewed it online at my three-quarter tank blog, then you know that God’s been very good to my family and me this year. It’s a privilege to serve as pastor at Swanton Alliance Church, where the believers are so wonderfully gracious.
Just like many churches, Swanton Alliance Church sends teams overseas on missions trips. For the past five years, we’ve sent teams to Brazil, where we’re cooperating with several Brazilian churches to plant a church in a location known as Estruteral, a village of poor people find living space in a garbage-dump area. We’ve also been helping with the Brazilian churches’ outreach efforts.
So on this particular trip, we look forward to passing out hygiene items in Estruteral, hosting an English camp, witnessing, extending church invitations to people we meet, perhaps doing some construction and maintenance work, and celebrating a partner church’s fifty-year anniversary with them. Oh yeah… and I’ll be preaching. Twice. With a translator, I hope.
I yearn for your prayers. Needless to say, many details have to come together in order for 10 people to plan a 2 week (July 14th-28th, 2010) ministry trip to Brazil. Pray for our health, for our safety, for our cooperation and unity, for our spiritual preparation (we’re working through the book of Mark together), for our ministry preparation, for our organization, for our hosts—anything that you can think of, we probably need prayer for it. So please pray. At least once a week.
And I could also use your financial help. The trip will cost me (and every other team member) about $1600.00, maybe a little more. I’ve already been setting my own money aside, and our team has also been doing fundraisers together—pancake breakfasts, garage sales, silent auctions. We’re trying to be frugal about our trip planning, too; we’ll be staying in church members’ homes rather than in hotels. But I could still use your help; my own funds are currently $1300 short. If you can’t contribute, please pray for us regularly, anyway. But if you can contribute, whether $5, $15, $25, $50, $100, $500 (ok, most of you can’t contribute $500, but some of you could if you wanted—I wouldn’t mind!), it would help a lot.
Let me know if you’ll be praying for me and the rest of the team. If you are also able to give, your gift will be tax deductible if you make your check out to “Swanton Alliance Church” and write “Matt Harner’s Brazil Trip fund” on the memo line. Any money coming in above the costs of my trip will go towards another team member’s expenses, and that would be a huge blessing to us all. We’re trying to buy our plane tickets in mid-to-late February. You can send any letters or checks to me at:
Swanton Alliance Church
113 Franklin Ave
Swanton, OH 43558
Thanks for being a part of my life and for praying faithfully for me, whether you can give or not.
Grace and peace –
Matt
The Baby’s Awake!
ALL – Psalm 6:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 1:29-33
OT – Genesis 13:5-15:21
NT – Matthew 5:27-48
My baby just woke up, so I’m just going to send the readings out, for now. Maybe I’ll have some thoughts to share later. Of course, if you have thoughts, feel free to share them here.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 1:29-33
OT – Genesis 13:5-15:21
NT – Matthew 5:27-48
My baby just woke up, so I’m just going to send the readings out, for now. Maybe I’ll have some thoughts to share later. Of course, if you have thoughts, feel free to share them here.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Re-Friending
ALL – Psalm 5:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 1:24-28
OT – Genesis 11:1-13:4
NT – Matthew 5:1-26
You used to get along. But then something happened. You know your friend was offended, but you were offended, too. Neither one wanted to be the first one to apologize; both of you felt that the other had sinned more. The relationship has never been the same.
Jesus has something to say about that:
So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and suddenly remember that a friend has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar and go and apologize and be reconciled to him, and then come and offer your sacrifice to God. – Matthew 5:23-24, The Living Bible
Your relationships with others are more important than completing “official” acts of worship! Wow! I mean, it’s not as though sacrifice is unimportant. So that must mean that reconciling with a friend is so important to God that we can’t worship without at least making the attempt. In fact, re-friending people matters so much to Jesus that it might even be considered a part of our worship.
Consider these verses:
“When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. . . . Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.” – 1 Cor. 11:20-21, NIV
“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” – 1 John 4:20-21, NIV
These verses both talk about people claiming to love God, seeming to worship God. Yet as they go about their version of loving God, their version of eating the Lord’s Supper, they show a complete lack of concern for others.
As Saul learned the hard way so long ago,
“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” – 1 Sam. 15:22, NIV
Are you obeying God by re-friending people you don’t get along with? If not, you might not be as close to God as you think you are. So, what’s the next step for you?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 1:24-28
OT – Genesis 11:1-13:4
NT – Matthew 5:1-26
You used to get along. But then something happened. You know your friend was offended, but you were offended, too. Neither one wanted to be the first one to apologize; both of you felt that the other had sinned more. The relationship has never been the same.
Jesus has something to say about that:
So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and suddenly remember that a friend has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar and go and apologize and be reconciled to him, and then come and offer your sacrifice to God. – Matthew 5:23-24, The Living Bible
Your relationships with others are more important than completing “official” acts of worship! Wow! I mean, it’s not as though sacrifice is unimportant. So that must mean that reconciling with a friend is so important to God that we can’t worship without at least making the attempt. In fact, re-friending people matters so much to Jesus that it might even be considered a part of our worship.
Consider these verses:
“When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. . . . Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.” – 1 Cor. 11:20-21, NIV
“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” – 1 John 4:20-21, NIV
These verses both talk about people claiming to love God, seeming to worship God. Yet as they go about their version of loving God, their version of eating the Lord’s Supper, they show a complete lack of concern for others.
As Saul learned the hard way so long ago,
“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” – 1 Sam. 15:22, NIV
Are you obeying God by re-friending people you don’t get along with? If not, you might not be as close to God as you think you are. So, what’s the next step for you?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Let There Be Light
ALL – Psalm 4:1-8
ALL – Proverbs 1:20-23
OT – Genesis 8:1-10:32
NT – Matthew 4:12-25
What would the world be like without light? Not just without the sun, but without stars, electric lights, candles, fireflies—without any light whatsoever? Would the world just be dark? Or would it be dead?
When God created the world (as we read about in Genesis 1), He said, “Let there be light.” That was day 1. The creation of a world of life began with light.
And yet we sometimes miss the significance of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, a ministry of creating new life in a world that was dead because of sin. Listen to what Matthew says about Jesus’ move from Judea to Nazareth and Capernaum, just as His ministry was about to start:
This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, beside the lake, and the countryside beyond the Jordan River, and Upper Galilee where so many foreigners live—there the people who sat in darkness have seen a great Light; they sat in the land of death, and the Light broke through upon them.” – Matthew 4:14-16, The Living Bible
Jesus’ ministry was the beginning of God’s new work of creation. God was again bringing life to the world, and His new work of creation through Jesus Christ began with sending Light into darkness.
We carry on that ministry even now, because there are still many who sit in darkness. God calls us to share the Light, Jesus Christ, as He continues His new work of creation in the lives of sinful men.
What is your next step in taking the Light into lives of darkness?
ALL – Proverbs 1:20-23
OT – Genesis 8:1-10:32
NT – Matthew 4:12-25
What would the world be like without light? Not just without the sun, but without stars, electric lights, candles, fireflies—without any light whatsoever? Would the world just be dark? Or would it be dead?
When God created the world (as we read about in Genesis 1), He said, “Let there be light.” That was day 1. The creation of a world of life began with light.
And yet we sometimes miss the significance of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, a ministry of creating new life in a world that was dead because of sin. Listen to what Matthew says about Jesus’ move from Judea to Nazareth and Capernaum, just as His ministry was about to start:
This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, beside the lake, and the countryside beyond the Jordan River, and Upper Galilee where so many foreigners live—there the people who sat in darkness have seen a great Light; they sat in the land of death, and the Light broke through upon them.” – Matthew 4:14-16, The Living Bible
Jesus’ ministry was the beginning of God’s new work of creation. God was again bringing life to the world, and His new work of creation through Jesus Christ began with sending Light into darkness.
We carry on that ministry even now, because there are still many who sit in darkness. God calls us to share the Light, Jesus Christ, as He continues His new work of creation in the lives of sinful men.
What is your next step in taking the Light into lives of darkness?
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Some Help?
I’ve realized I’ll probably be more helpful to anyone following this blog if I send at least the scheduled readings out in the morning. Comments can wait for later in the day.
I’ll probably also be more helpful if I send the scheduled readings on time. So sorry about yesterday!
Here’s yesterday’s reading:
ALL – Psalm 2:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 1:7-9
OT – Genesis 3:1-4:26
NT – Matthew 2:13-3:6
And today’s:
ALL – Psalm 3:1-8
ALL – Proverbs 1:10-19
OT – Genesis 5:1-7:24
NT – Matthew 3:7-4:11
If I have any comments for today, they’ll come later. But God and His Word are what’s most important. Take some time to listen to Him today.
I’ll probably also be more helpful if I send the scheduled readings on time. So sorry about yesterday!
Here’s yesterday’s reading:
ALL – Psalm 2:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 1:7-9
OT – Genesis 3:1-4:26
NT – Matthew 2:13-3:6
And today’s:
ALL – Psalm 3:1-8
ALL – Proverbs 1:10-19
OT – Genesis 5:1-7:24
NT – Matthew 3:7-4:11
If I have any comments for today, they’ll come later. But God and His Word are what’s most important. Take some time to listen to Him today.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Got Discipline?
ALL - Psalm 1:1-6
ALL - Proverbs 1:1-6
OT - Genesis 1:1-2:25
NT - Matthew 1:1-2:12
People say that I’m a disciplined guy. But right now, I don’t feel like that’s very true. I don’t get out of bed when I’m supposed to. I don’t go to bed when I should. I don’t exercise. I barely manage to feed the dog—let alone play with her. I can’t seem to find time to manage the family finances. And when I get online for work purposes, I keep getting distracted by news story after news story after news story; they go on forever!
So I’ve been praying that God would give me discipline. Because I need it. I need discipline so that I can take care of my family as I should. I need discipline so that I can serve Christ’s church as I should. I need discipline just to take better care of myself!
Enter today’s reading from Proverbs:
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;
for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair; - Proverbs 1:1-3
If I hadn’t been praying for discipline, I don’t think I would have noticed how often the word “discipline” comes up in these opening words. Why read the Proverbs? Because the Proverbs are “for attaining…discipline” and “for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life.”
If you’re like me, and you need discipline in your life, join me in reading through the Proverbs this year.
Father, give me (us) discipline through Your wisdom!
Who’s with me?
ALL - Proverbs 1:1-6
OT - Genesis 1:1-2:25
NT - Matthew 1:1-2:12
People say that I’m a disciplined guy. But right now, I don’t feel like that’s very true. I don’t get out of bed when I’m supposed to. I don’t go to bed when I should. I don’t exercise. I barely manage to feed the dog—let alone play with her. I can’t seem to find time to manage the family finances. And when I get online for work purposes, I keep getting distracted by news story after news story after news story; they go on forever!
So I’ve been praying that God would give me discipline. Because I need it. I need discipline so that I can take care of my family as I should. I need discipline so that I can serve Christ’s church as I should. I need discipline just to take better care of myself!
Enter today’s reading from Proverbs:
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;
for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair; - Proverbs 1:1-3
If I hadn’t been praying for discipline, I don’t think I would have noticed how often the word “discipline” comes up in these opening words. Why read the Proverbs? Because the Proverbs are “for attaining…discipline” and “for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life.”
If you’re like me, and you need discipline in your life, join me in reading through the Proverbs this year.
Father, give me (us) discipline through Your wisdom!
Who’s with me?
How to Use This (Customizable) Devotional
Happy New Year! This year I’ll be reading through the whole Bible instead of only through the Old Testament. But you don’t have to. I’ve chosen a Bible reading plan that you can customize to help you take the next step in your own spiritual life (the Bible reading plan, by the way, can be found and downloaded from http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan.asp?version=51&startmmdd=0101).
So here’s how it works. Each day, there will be four readings—for example, today’s readings are:
Genesis 1:1-2:25
Matthew 1:1-2:12
Psalm 1:1-6
Proverbs 1:1-6
And each day I will mark the readings with the following abbreviations: OT (Old Testament), NT (New Testament), ALL (Everyone). It will look like this:
ALL - Psalm 1:1-6
ALL - Proverbs 1:1-6
OT - Genesis 1:1-2:25
NT - Matthew 1:1-2:12
Notice that I rearranged the readings, putting the 2 readings labeled ALL on top. Those two readings will usually be the shortest, because they come from the Psalms and the Proverbs. I’ve put them on top because I would encourage everyone who doesn’t have another Scripture reading plan to read at least these two Scriptures each day.
The rest of the reading plan is just as simple. If you would like to read through the Old Testament in a year, then read through the Scriptures labeled OT, in addition to the ones labeled ALL. If you would like to read through the New Testament in a year, then read through the Scriptures labeled NT—and I would encourage you to continue reading the Scriptures labeled ALL, too. And some of you will want to read through the entire Bible—just join me in reading each Scripture each day.
I’m sure that there will be some who read this plan days, weeks, or even months after we’ve started it. No worries! Join us wherever we are. Don’t worry about “catching up.” If you stay faithful in your reading, starting now, you’ll have plenty of time to read the Scriptures for yourself.
Which plan have you chosen?
So here’s how it works. Each day, there will be four readings—for example, today’s readings are:
Genesis 1:1-2:25
Matthew 1:1-2:12
Psalm 1:1-6
Proverbs 1:1-6
And each day I will mark the readings with the following abbreviations: OT (Old Testament), NT (New Testament), ALL (Everyone). It will look like this:
ALL - Psalm 1:1-6
ALL - Proverbs 1:1-6
OT - Genesis 1:1-2:25
NT - Matthew 1:1-2:12
Notice that I rearranged the readings, putting the 2 readings labeled ALL on top. Those two readings will usually be the shortest, because they come from the Psalms and the Proverbs. I’ve put them on top because I would encourage everyone who doesn’t have another Scripture reading plan to read at least these two Scriptures each day.
The rest of the reading plan is just as simple. If you would like to read through the Old Testament in a year, then read through the Scriptures labeled OT, in addition to the ones labeled ALL. If you would like to read through the New Testament in a year, then read through the Scriptures labeled NT—and I would encourage you to continue reading the Scriptures labeled ALL, too. And some of you will want to read through the entire Bible—just join me in reading each Scripture each day.
I’m sure that there will be some who read this plan days, weeks, or even months after we’ve started it. No worries! Join us wherever we are. Don’t worry about “catching up.” If you stay faithful in your reading, starting now, you’ll have plenty of time to read the Scriptures for yourself.
Which plan have you chosen?
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