The message, preached on November 14th, 2010, covered 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. To follow God’s one voice as very different people, Christians need to know our God, to accept different gifts and to serve one another. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
Showing posts with label service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label service. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Vulnerable Indestructibility
ALL – Psalm 113:1-114:8
ALL – Proverbs 27:18-20
OT – Ezekiel 31:1-32:32
NT – Hebrews 12:14-29
Interesting passage for the day: Since we have a Kingdom nothing can destroy, let us please God by serving him with thankful hearts, and with holy fear and awe. For our God is a consuming fire. – Hebrews 12:28-29, The Living Bible
Thought: If you made yourself indestructible, you’d probably be proud. But if someone gave you a way to be indestructible, wouldn’t you be thankful?
God’s done that for us. He’s the only truly indestructible one ever—and forever. But He’s created an indestructible kingdom, and He’s made those who believe in Him into a new, indestructible creation. So as far as earth’s challenges are concerned, we’re indestructible. Oh, it might look like we’ve been destroyed, but we’ll be back.
On the other hand, our God is a consuming fire. He is still quite capable of destroying us. He fully intends for us to live our indestructible lives for Him.
Between gratitude for His gift of an indestructible life and fear of His consuming wrath, don’t we have some good reasons for service and obedience?
Question: What motivates you to serve God more? Looking forward to the fulfillment of His promises when you become indestructible? Or looking back at the fire of His wrath and trying to move as far from His fury as possible?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 27:18-20
OT – Ezekiel 31:1-32:32
NT – Hebrews 12:14-29
Interesting passage for the day: Since we have a Kingdom nothing can destroy, let us please God by serving him with thankful hearts, and with holy fear and awe. For our God is a consuming fire. – Hebrews 12:28-29, The Living Bible
Thought: If you made yourself indestructible, you’d probably be proud. But if someone gave you a way to be indestructible, wouldn’t you be thankful?
God’s done that for us. He’s the only truly indestructible one ever—and forever. But He’s created an indestructible kingdom, and He’s made those who believe in Him into a new, indestructible creation. So as far as earth’s challenges are concerned, we’re indestructible. Oh, it might look like we’ve been destroyed, but we’ll be back.
On the other hand, our God is a consuming fire. He is still quite capable of destroying us. He fully intends for us to live our indestructible lives for Him.
Between gratitude for His gift of an indestructible life and fear of His consuming wrath, don’t we have some good reasons for service and obedience?
Question: What motivates you to serve God more? Looking forward to the fulfillment of His promises when you become indestructible? Or looking back at the fire of His wrath and trying to move as far from His fury as possible?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Weekly Sermons in Swanton: As Men and Women, Serve God Well
The message, preached on October 17th, 2010, covered 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. As men and women, we’re called to understand God’s design for the way we relate to others so that we can live God’s design for us, exactly as we are. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Painful Ministry
ALL – Psalm 54:1-7
ALL – Proverbs 23:1-3
OT – Isaiah 6:1-7:25
NT – 1 Corinthians 11:16-33
Interesting passage for the day: I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food; often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. – 2 Corinthians 11:27, The Living Bible
Thought: Martyrdom. Persecution. Suffering. When I think of the Christians who have endured severe trials for Jesus and His kingdom, I am amazed by them. They seem so strong. What great perseverance! What incredible faith! What certain hope they must have had to walk through the difficulties they did.
And as I am amazed by them, I begin to daydream about if I were ever to go through the same things. I daydream about the powerful statements of faith that would fall from my lips as I stood trial before my persecutors, statements like Stephen’s, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them,” and Martin Luther’s, “Here I stand. I can do no other.” And in my daydreams, persecution and martyrdom almost begin to seem like glorious experiences.
They aren’t glorious. They’re dreadful. They’re overwhelming. They’re exhausting.
The verse above is just one verse in quite a lengthy list of sufferings that Paul endured as he proclaimed hope through Jesus Christ. And Paul didn’t write about them to display his strength. He wrote about them to demonstrate his weakness, His complete dependence on Jesus, and the genuine nature of His ministry to the Corinthians. He didn’t endure them because he was strong and glorious; Paul endured them in spite of his weakness because Jesus is worthy.
Question: Do you remember how worthy Jesus is? When Jesus asks you to do something hard, how do you respond? How should you respond?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 23:1-3
OT – Isaiah 6:1-7:25
NT – 1 Corinthians 11:16-33
Interesting passage for the day: I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food; often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. – 2 Corinthians 11:27, The Living Bible
Thought: Martyrdom. Persecution. Suffering. When I think of the Christians who have endured severe trials for Jesus and His kingdom, I am amazed by them. They seem so strong. What great perseverance! What incredible faith! What certain hope they must have had to walk through the difficulties they did.
And as I am amazed by them, I begin to daydream about if I were ever to go through the same things. I daydream about the powerful statements of faith that would fall from my lips as I stood trial before my persecutors, statements like Stephen’s, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them,” and Martin Luther’s, “Here I stand. I can do no other.” And in my daydreams, persecution and martyrdom almost begin to seem like glorious experiences.
They aren’t glorious. They’re dreadful. They’re overwhelming. They’re exhausting.
The verse above is just one verse in quite a lengthy list of sufferings that Paul endured as he proclaimed hope through Jesus Christ. And Paul didn’t write about them to display his strength. He wrote about them to demonstrate his weakness, His complete dependence on Jesus, and the genuine nature of His ministry to the Corinthians. He didn’t endure them because he was strong and glorious; Paul endured them in spite of his weakness because Jesus is worthy.
Question: Do you remember how worthy Jesus is? When Jesus asks you to do something hard, how do you respond? How should you respond?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Weekly Sermons in Swanton: God and Marriage
The message, preached on September 5th, 2010, covered 1 Corinthians 7, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. Following Jesus involves being ourselves—but redeemed, maximizing our service, and being wholly His. Even making the decision about whether to marry or not, and how to live as a married person or a single, needs to be submitted to Jesus Christ. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
A Servant Who’s Not Serving
ALL – Psalm 31:1-8
ALL – Proverbs 8:1-11
OT – Exodus 26:1-27:21
NT – Matthew 25:1-30
You remember that line from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast song, “Be Our Guest”? “Life is so unnerving for a servant who’s not serving…” It’s a good line, except that Lumiere painted poor Cogsworth as the unfaithful servant, when he was actually the one seeking to obey their master, the Beast. Servants are not just meant to serve everyone; they’re supposed to serve their own masters.
Jesus told a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven in which a man went away to another country, leaving three servants and giving each of them some money to invest for him while he was away. Now this was a really good master. He knew his servants well, and he did not give any of them more than they could handle.
Two of the servants did as their master told them. They invested the money and gained a return. They served him. For their faithful service, the master rewarded each of them with greater privileges and responsibilities.
But one of them did not obey. He did not invest the money at all, not even in an interest-paying bank account. He was too scared about what his master might think or do (Matthew 25:24-25).
The NIV concludes, “For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (Matthew 25:29).
This verse seems confusing. All three servants still had money to give to their master, even if the third one had only the original money. What does a person need to “have” to be given more? What is it that will make a person lose everything if he “doesn’t have” it?
The answer isn’t “money,” though you might possibly argue that at least “a gain” is necessary. But how do you measure gain in the spiritual realm of the Kingdom of Heaven? Not with money!
What did the first two servants have that the third servant didn’t have? They had faithful, responsible service. The monetary gain simply showed that they had been hard at work, serving as their master commanded them to do. Servants are meant to serve. And since this parable says that the master gave each servant a task that fit his abilities, we can assume that faithful service to our King Jesus will result in the kind of gain He desires. Jesus knows our capabilities and entrusts us with service we can do. It’s not up to us to compare our abilities to others. It’s not up to us to worry about whether our service will give Jesus the return He’s looking for. It’s up to us to serve. If we don’t…?
For the man who uses well what he is given shall be given more, and he shall have an abundance. But from the man who is unfaithful, even what little responsibility he has shall be taken from him. – Matthew 25:29, The Living Bible
Jesus’ faithful servants receive a reward. Servants who don’t serve lose everything. What’s holding you back?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 8:1-11
OT – Exodus 26:1-27:21
NT – Matthew 25:1-30
You remember that line from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast song, “Be Our Guest”? “Life is so unnerving for a servant who’s not serving…” It’s a good line, except that Lumiere painted poor Cogsworth as the unfaithful servant, when he was actually the one seeking to obey their master, the Beast. Servants are not just meant to serve everyone; they’re supposed to serve their own masters.
Jesus told a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven in which a man went away to another country, leaving three servants and giving each of them some money to invest for him while he was away. Now this was a really good master. He knew his servants well, and he did not give any of them more than they could handle.
Two of the servants did as their master told them. They invested the money and gained a return. They served him. For their faithful service, the master rewarded each of them with greater privileges and responsibilities.
But one of them did not obey. He did not invest the money at all, not even in an interest-paying bank account. He was too scared about what his master might think or do (Matthew 25:24-25).
The NIV concludes, “For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (Matthew 25:29).
This verse seems confusing. All three servants still had money to give to their master, even if the third one had only the original money. What does a person need to “have” to be given more? What is it that will make a person lose everything if he “doesn’t have” it?
The answer isn’t “money,” though you might possibly argue that at least “a gain” is necessary. But how do you measure gain in the spiritual realm of the Kingdom of Heaven? Not with money!
What did the first two servants have that the third servant didn’t have? They had faithful, responsible service. The monetary gain simply showed that they had been hard at work, serving as their master commanded them to do. Servants are meant to serve. And since this parable says that the master gave each servant a task that fit his abilities, we can assume that faithful service to our King Jesus will result in the kind of gain He desires. Jesus knows our capabilities and entrusts us with service we can do. It’s not up to us to compare our abilities to others. It’s not up to us to worry about whether our service will give Jesus the return He’s looking for. It’s up to us to serve. If we don’t…?
For the man who uses well what he is given shall be given more, and he shall have an abundance. But from the man who is unfaithful, even what little responsibility he has shall be taken from him. – Matthew 25:29, The Living Bible
Jesus’ faithful servants receive a reward. Servants who don’t serve lose everything. What’s holding you back?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Monday, February 1, 2010
When God’s People Rebel
ALL – Psalm 26:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 6:16-19
OT – Exodus 13:17-15:18
NT – Matthew 21:23-46
The good news is wonderful! When we first learn that Jesus, the King and Creator of the world, would rather forgive and restore us than kill us for our sins, we’re ecstatic! We can’t praise and obey Him enough! But then as time goes on, the wonderful grace of Jesus becomes the familiar grace of Jesus. We enjoy so much of God’s grace over time that we sometimes forget how gracious it is. And as we grow familiar with Jesus’ grace, we begin to feel comfortable. And then we begin to desire comfort and to seek it out, because it’s so enjoyable. We begin to set aside the work God’s given us to do, which is not always comfortable. We become lazy in His service. And sometimes, we even get to the point where we rebel against any suggestions Jesus sends us via His Word and via His messengers that we ought to be working. We cling to our comfort and safety, forgetting that the safety and comfort we’ve been given is designed to give us the freedom to serve our King. We replace service with laziness and self-enjoyment, and we use Jesus’ grace as our excuse, attacking anyone who asks us to serve God wholeheartedly.
Jesus told a parable about when God’s people try to keep all of God’s blessings for themselves, rather than giving God the return He wants. In the parable, some farmers (God’s people) rent land, from which they are able to grow enough crops for themselves and for their landlord (God). But when the landlord sends servants (prophets, priests, pastors, apostles) to collect the landlord’s share of the crops, the farmers rebel. They abuse the servants, even killing some of them. The landlord tries again, with the same results. Finally, the landlord sends his own son (Jesus), hoping that the farmers will at least respect his son. But the farmers kill the landlord’s son, thinking that they will now be able to keep the land and all its blessings for themselves. In other words, God’s people rebel, seeking to use God’s grace (the land) only for their self-enjoyment and not for God. They try to take the kingdom away from the King.
The Jews listening to this story were horrified. When Jesus asked them what the landlord would do, they were quick to say:
He will put the wicked men to a horrible death, and lease the vineyard to others who will pay him promptly. – Matthew 21:41, The Living Bible
Jesus confirmed what they said. At that point, of course, He was talking about them. The Jews were not serving God. Instead, their leaders were trying to take control of the whole Jewish religion for their own benefit. And Jesus was warning them that God would punish their wickedness and give God’s kingdom to people who would “pay him promptly.”
But now we are the people of God—not only Jews, but also Gentiles, all who believe in Jesus Christ. We are the ones who are expected to “pay him promptly.” We should not become self-contented and self-satisfied, assuming that because we have received God’s grace we are spend His blessings only on ourselves. We are still called to serve Jesus with all our hearts, souls, minds, strength—to give God His portion of the crops. We would do well to err on the side of being over-generous toward God, rather than toward ourselves.
Why are we holding back? Why are we risking our destruction?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 6:16-19
OT – Exodus 13:17-15:18
NT – Matthew 21:23-46
The good news is wonderful! When we first learn that Jesus, the King and Creator of the world, would rather forgive and restore us than kill us for our sins, we’re ecstatic! We can’t praise and obey Him enough! But then as time goes on, the wonderful grace of Jesus becomes the familiar grace of Jesus. We enjoy so much of God’s grace over time that we sometimes forget how gracious it is. And as we grow familiar with Jesus’ grace, we begin to feel comfortable. And then we begin to desire comfort and to seek it out, because it’s so enjoyable. We begin to set aside the work God’s given us to do, which is not always comfortable. We become lazy in His service. And sometimes, we even get to the point where we rebel against any suggestions Jesus sends us via His Word and via His messengers that we ought to be working. We cling to our comfort and safety, forgetting that the safety and comfort we’ve been given is designed to give us the freedom to serve our King. We replace service with laziness and self-enjoyment, and we use Jesus’ grace as our excuse, attacking anyone who asks us to serve God wholeheartedly.
Jesus told a parable about when God’s people try to keep all of God’s blessings for themselves, rather than giving God the return He wants. In the parable, some farmers (God’s people) rent land, from which they are able to grow enough crops for themselves and for their landlord (God). But when the landlord sends servants (prophets, priests, pastors, apostles) to collect the landlord’s share of the crops, the farmers rebel. They abuse the servants, even killing some of them. The landlord tries again, with the same results. Finally, the landlord sends his own son (Jesus), hoping that the farmers will at least respect his son. But the farmers kill the landlord’s son, thinking that they will now be able to keep the land and all its blessings for themselves. In other words, God’s people rebel, seeking to use God’s grace (the land) only for their self-enjoyment and not for God. They try to take the kingdom away from the King.
The Jews listening to this story were horrified. When Jesus asked them what the landlord would do, they were quick to say:
He will put the wicked men to a horrible death, and lease the vineyard to others who will pay him promptly. – Matthew 21:41, The Living Bible
Jesus confirmed what they said. At that point, of course, He was talking about them. The Jews were not serving God. Instead, their leaders were trying to take control of the whole Jewish religion for their own benefit. And Jesus was warning them that God would punish their wickedness and give God’s kingdom to people who would “pay him promptly.”
But now we are the people of God—not only Jews, but also Gentiles, all who believe in Jesus Christ. We are the ones who are expected to “pay him promptly.” We should not become self-contented and self-satisfied, assuming that because we have received God’s grace we are spend His blessings only on ourselves. We are still called to serve Jesus with all our hearts, souls, minds, strength—to give God His portion of the crops. We would do well to err on the side of being over-generous toward God, rather than toward ourselves.
Why are we holding back? Why are we risking our destruction?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Temple cleaning
Mark 11:12-19
I am so accustomed to this story of Jesus cleansing the temple that I sometimes read over it without taking any time really to think. I am part of a world that loves convenience more than God. I know that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and there is no longer a specific attachment between any building and holiness. But honestly, that makes this an even bigger issue. Jesus quotes, "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers." If that was an issue when dealing with a physical temple, how much more so when dealing with my heart?
Is my heart a place of prayer? Or is it a "den of robbers"? Perhaps I am not scheming about how to rip people off. But I may steal the devotion that is rightly due to God by filling up my time with marketplace activities, my thoughts with business ideas, my heart with visions of personal glory. This cannot be permitted. The holy God has made me holy, His holy servant. I am utterly devoted to Him, and my activities, thoughts and heart are utterly His.
I am so accustomed to this story of Jesus cleansing the temple that I sometimes read over it without taking any time really to think. I am part of a world that loves convenience more than God. I know that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and there is no longer a specific attachment between any building and holiness. But honestly, that makes this an even bigger issue. Jesus quotes, "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers." If that was an issue when dealing with a physical temple, how much more so when dealing with my heart?
Is my heart a place of prayer? Or is it a "den of robbers"? Perhaps I am not scheming about how to rip people off. But I may steal the devotion that is rightly due to God by filling up my time with marketplace activities, my thoughts with business ideas, my heart with visions of personal glory. This cannot be permitted. The holy God has made me holy, His holy servant. I am utterly devoted to Him, and my activities, thoughts and heart are utterly His.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Life is about service
So many day to day activities are mundane and obnoxious and meaningless. Why do them? Who cares? It really seems sometimes that no one cares. It's almost depressing.
But life is really about serving God. And most of these mundane things are done to take care of the people and possessions God has entrusted into our hands. It is very humbling to realize that the meaningless things I am doing are the most meaningful things I do, and that my life will be measured by how faithfully I do them.
By the grace of God, I will persevere. By the grace of God...
But life is really about serving God. And most of these mundane things are done to take care of the people and possessions God has entrusted into our hands. It is very humbling to realize that the meaningless things I am doing are the most meaningful things I do, and that my life will be measured by how faithfully I do them.
By the grace of God, I will persevere. By the grace of God...
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