Student-Teachers

ALL – Psalm 97:1-98:9
ALL – Proverbs 26:13-16
OT – Jeremiah 49:23-50:46
NT – Titus 1:1-16

Interesting passage for the day: Their belief in the truth which they have been taught must be strong and steadfast, so that they will be able to teach it to others and show those who disagree with them where they are wrong. – Titus 1:9, The Living Bible

Thought: The other evening our church had a discussion about biblical femininity. The Bible addresses the topic, for sure, and definitely encourages women to serve God exactly as He made them—as women, not men. The implications of that rather common-sense truth are sometimes less-than-clear, though. As I guided the discussion, I kept remembering how many questions I still have about what God is asking of His church’s women.

I’m still a student. But I’m a teacher. And that is one of the great challenges of being an elder or pastor.

The verse above indicates that elders’ faith in “the truth which they have been taught” should be very firm. In some ways, no problem. On many issues, “the Bible teaches it, I believe it, and that’s the end of the discussion.”

But on some issues, “the Bible teaches it, I believe it, but I can’t give you a complete list of the implications of this teaching yet. I’m still learning.”

As an elder/teacher, sometimes we understand what the Bible says, and we understand what it means, but we don’t quite understand what it means for us and for those we lead. Sometimes we have to make a judgment call. In those cases, what Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 7:25 and 40 is helpful to remember today, too: “I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy … and I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God” (NIV).

To those fellow students who are not leaders and disagree with me or other church leaders at times: first, we cannot lord it over your faith; but second, please remember that our desire is to serve Jesus Christ faithfully by His mercy and the power of His Spirit, and that even without perfect knowledge we may well be trustworthy. We want the best for you and for the kingdom of God.

Question: When you reject a church leader’s advice, how often are you sure that he’s wrong? How often is it just that you’re not sure he’s right? How often might it be because you don’t want him to be right and choose to disregard his message?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Fishing with Jesus

The message covered Luke 5:1-11, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. We think we know so much about what we do at work, at home, even in the ministry. And yet we can’t accomplish what we really want to accomplish on our own. For our dreams to be fulfilled, we have to be listening to Jesus. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.

Knowledge Puffs Up

ALL – Psalm 10:16-18
ALL – Proverbs 19:8-9
OT – 1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17
NT – Romans 2:1-23

Interesting passage for the day: You are so proud of knowing God’s laws, but you dishonor him by breaking them. – Romans 2:23, The Living Bible

Thought: This was originally written to Jews. But Christianity has now been around for 2,000 years, so now even Gentiles with a Christian heritage tend to know God’s laws, and to know them very well. We get to be very content with thinking of ourselves as Christians who know God and who know how to please Him, but we often grow complacent about following Christ.

God is not pleased when we claim to be His people and to know how to please Him, but then refuse to obey Him. God wants us to say no to our temptations instead of making excuses for how often we cave in and sin. God asks us to exercise self-control—one of the fruits of the Spirit. He is not happy with our lackadaisical shrugs, with us saying, “I’m only human.” God has given us His Holy Spirit, and we are now capable of obeying. Perhaps we’re not capable of perfection, but we’re certainly capable of much more zealous and fervent obedience to God than most of us display.

Question: How much of God’s Word have you heard? How much are you obeying what you’ve heard? Why is there a difference?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Know God’s Will by Doing God’s Will

ALL – Psalm 108:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 15:4
OT – 1 Samuel 12:1-13:23
NT – John 7:1-30

Interesting passage for the day: If any of you really determines to do God’s will, then you will certainly know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. – John 7:17, The Living Bible

Thought: We like to think we’re pretty smart. We can figure things out. We are pretty sure we can even use our intellect to figure out what God’s will is. Now don’t get me wrong—intellect is involved. We can definitely use our brains as we hear people make claims about what God’s will is. But we cannot confirm what God’s will is merely by thinking and reasoning. God sent Jesus to teach us His will, and Jesus taught us God’s will so that we can live by it. Until we live out what we’ve been taught, we haven’t really “discovered” God’s will. We’ve just talked about it. It’s like the difference between doing accounting in a classroom and in a business. In the classroom, it only affects a grade; in a business, you’re living and benefiting from what you’ve been taught. Let’s not be classroom disciples. Let’s get down to business, doing the will of God as Jesus teaches us.

Question: Is there any decision you’re trying to make, but you’re not sure what God’s will is? What are the options? Why do you think they might be God’s will? What’s keeping you from choosing one of the options and getting down to business?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.