Time is the one thing we can never have back…tick…tock…tick…tock. Morbid thought? It doesn’t have to be. In fact it can be a motivating force to really live. Let me ask you a question, how are you using your time? Some people say they are just “killing time,” others say “I am wasting time,” still others “I am dong my time (before promotion or retirement)”, or “I have no time,” or I am “out of time.” For too many this means they are just SPENDING their time with very little purpose or passion. They are living with bags full of regrets and failures and have found themselves camped in park. Others are living with the “someday” syndrome…some day I will do this or that.
In two weeks we are beginning a new series based on the New York Times Best-selling book “One Month To Live” by Kerry & Chris Shook. It poses the question “how would I live if I only had 30 days left to live.” What would you do? Make some relationships right, spend more time with your family and friends, spend more time with God, or even take a vacation. Just think how your perspective would change. You would move away from just spending your time to making every moment count. This is the thought in Ephesians 5:15-17:
“So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do” (New Living Translation)
Wisdom is thinking carefully about how you are living life, are you making the most of your time? You can.
Beginning Sunday, September 13th will you please join us as we take the 30 day challenge that thousands already have across the country? Even now begin to pray about what you would do with only 30 days. Let’s quit wasting our time and throw ourselves into becoming the person God intended you to be. There is a huge difference between SPENDING time and INVESTING time. Please come and INVEST your time in coming to this series at church and being a part of a One Month To Live small group. Please invite some friends as the material is so relevant, practical, and life changing. Let’s make the most of our time and really begin to live with no regrets.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
No One Is Beyond The Reach Of God
Have you ever prayed for the most hardened atheist to become a Christian? Or looked at a politician or sports figure and thought what if they gave their life to Christ and then thought “like that will ever happen?” Or, perhaps, someone closer to you like a family member, child, or friend that is making a mess of their life and needs the Lord and thought it’s impossible?
Chances are they didn’t think about it, but if they ever did, it would have been impossible to get their head wrapped around the idea of the apostle Paul ever following Christ. After all he was chucking them in prison, having them tortured, even killed. His words and actions proclaimed a hatred for anything associated with Christ. Hard-nosed, stubborn, opinionated, extremely religious, and prideful; the cards were stacked against him for ever changing. Do you know people like that? Privately in your head you think there is no chance of them ever having a heart change.
There are some great encouragements we can learn from Paul’s conversion in Acts 9.
First, we can learn that no one anywhere is beyond the reach of the Gospel. The Gospel can reach anyone, anywhere, under any circumstances…period. It is just that powerful.
Secondly can learn no one is too lost for God. Even on the road going on his way to get those “in the way”. It says suddenly a light from heaven flashed (Acts 9:3). Isn’t that a great word, looks like that child or spouse will never turn to Christ…”suddenly” God steps in.
Imagine what Jesus is going to say to him, “I am Jesus you are persecuting prepare to die (rephrased reference from “the Princess Bride”). Quite the opposite there is a power and self control, even tenderness in His voice, “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me? (v.4)”
Paul is like “what do you mean “you”? I was just throwing Christians in prison, my beef wasn’t with you. Yet how did Jesus see it? People that don’t think the church is that important or needs to be an important part of their life should consider how important it was to Jesus…Jesus refers to Paul’s persecution of the church as a personal attack of himself.
As only the Lord can do in breaking the stubbornness of a person, Paul realizes he deserves punishment. Instead God gives him this extravagant grace that totally transforms His life. Why? Because no one anywhere is too lost for God.
Third, we can learn that no one is too hard for the Gospel. If even this hardened man could be broken, be encouraged it is not impossible for those people that you love.
Forth, no one anywhere is too evil for God. Let’s be honest there are people that are so offensive and their ways are so evil that we are just repulsed by them. As Paul is blinded and headed to Damascus, the Lord begins to call the prophet Ananias to go there and meet him. The Lord gives Ananias very specific directions, can you imagine listening to the conversation
The Lord: ok go to the street called straight…
Ananias: great I am there, go to house of Judah…no problem,
The Lord: look for a man of tarsus named Saul…
Ananias: What? That is funny I thought you said Saul…
The Lord: I did
Ananias: He’s the guy doing all the harm to us and we have been hiding because that man was coming. We have been hoping he wouldn’t make it.
Can you relate to an Ananias? This man is so evil, look how much trouble he has caused. It was a pretty overwhelming obstacle, yet human obstacles are no barrier to God.
Ananias gives us a great picture of surrender, and God gives us a better picture of grace. “Arise go…he is a chosen instrument of mine. Take down the old label and help him put on the new.” All things are made new, Jesus doesn’t label him a murderer, persecutor, hater, or sinner; instead he is “my chosen instrument.” Thankfully we are not who are past says we are, a great picture of grace. No one is too evil for God.
What banners hang over your past that keeps you from growing in His grace? The cross eliminates our past, Paul said he was the chief of sinners but because of His grace I labor all the more (1 Corinthian 15:10).
What banner have you erected over other people? They can’t change, they are too gone, too evil, too hard, too…. But God sees them in a totally different way.
See the Gospel is not lacking power to transform. The Gospel is failing for lack of faith to believe it has total power to transform. Be renewed today that God’s power is limitless, and no one anywhere, under any circumstances is beyond His reach.
Chances are they didn’t think about it, but if they ever did, it would have been impossible to get their head wrapped around the idea of the apostle Paul ever following Christ. After all he was chucking them in prison, having them tortured, even killed. His words and actions proclaimed a hatred for anything associated with Christ. Hard-nosed, stubborn, opinionated, extremely religious, and prideful; the cards were stacked against him for ever changing. Do you know people like that? Privately in your head you think there is no chance of them ever having a heart change.
There are some great encouragements we can learn from Paul’s conversion in Acts 9.
First, we can learn that no one anywhere is beyond the reach of the Gospel. The Gospel can reach anyone, anywhere, under any circumstances…period. It is just that powerful.
Secondly can learn no one is too lost for God. Even on the road going on his way to get those “in the way”. It says suddenly a light from heaven flashed (Acts 9:3). Isn’t that a great word, looks like that child or spouse will never turn to Christ…”suddenly” God steps in.
Imagine what Jesus is going to say to him, “I am Jesus you are persecuting prepare to die (rephrased reference from “the Princess Bride”). Quite the opposite there is a power and self control, even tenderness in His voice, “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me? (v.4)”
Paul is like “what do you mean “you”? I was just throwing Christians in prison, my beef wasn’t with you. Yet how did Jesus see it? People that don’t think the church is that important or needs to be an important part of their life should consider how important it was to Jesus…Jesus refers to Paul’s persecution of the church as a personal attack of himself.
As only the Lord can do in breaking the stubbornness of a person, Paul realizes he deserves punishment. Instead God gives him this extravagant grace that totally transforms His life. Why? Because no one anywhere is too lost for God.
Third, we can learn that no one is too hard for the Gospel. If even this hardened man could be broken, be encouraged it is not impossible for those people that you love.
Forth, no one anywhere is too evil for God. Let’s be honest there are people that are so offensive and their ways are so evil that we are just repulsed by them. As Paul is blinded and headed to Damascus, the Lord begins to call the prophet Ananias to go there and meet him. The Lord gives Ananias very specific directions, can you imagine listening to the conversation
The Lord: ok go to the street called straight…
Ananias: great I am there, go to house of Judah…no problem,
The Lord: look for a man of tarsus named Saul…
Ananias: What? That is funny I thought you said Saul…
The Lord: I did
Ananias: He’s the guy doing all the harm to us and we have been hiding because that man was coming. We have been hoping he wouldn’t make it.
Can you relate to an Ananias? This man is so evil, look how much trouble he has caused. It was a pretty overwhelming obstacle, yet human obstacles are no barrier to God.
Ananias gives us a great picture of surrender, and God gives us a better picture of grace. “Arise go…he is a chosen instrument of mine. Take down the old label and help him put on the new.” All things are made new, Jesus doesn’t label him a murderer, persecutor, hater, or sinner; instead he is “my chosen instrument.” Thankfully we are not who are past says we are, a great picture of grace. No one is too evil for God.
What banners hang over your past that keeps you from growing in His grace? The cross eliminates our past, Paul said he was the chief of sinners but because of His grace I labor all the more (1 Corinthian 15:10).
What banner have you erected over other people? They can’t change, they are too gone, too evil, too hard, too…. But God sees them in a totally different way.
See the Gospel is not lacking power to transform. The Gospel is failing for lack of faith to believe it has total power to transform. Be renewed today that God’s power is limitless, and no one anywhere, under any circumstances is beyond His reach.
Friday, August 7, 2009
I don't need this??
I want to be real candid with you. Do you ever say the church is not for “me”? "I love Jesus I just don’t need the church."
All we do is stand up, sit down, sing, listen to a sermon, give money, and shake a few hands anyways. Besides I can sleep in and get a dynamic message from Joel Olsteen, Stanley, Hayford or whatever your flavor is. In fact I can sit in my favorite rocking chair and turn on a good FM station of worship songs and reflect. I would rather connect with God in nature. So why bother with the church, they are just a bunch of hypocrites anyways. I still have my “personal” relationship with the Lord, my “own” spiritual journey. And so people are concluding it is not that relevant to my life and letting it go.
Let me ask you, is that biblical? Seriously is God ok with that thought process? To unplug, disengage, quit the church. Yes I know the church as a whole is to blame for doing some dumb things, however, two wrongs don’t make a right.
The church (as a whole) was not created by man, it was God’s idea. God is passionate about the church; He refers to it as His bride. Paul can’t talk about marriage without referring to the symbolism of Christ’s relationship to the church (Ephesians 5:31-32). The epistles which form a large part of the New Testament were written not to individuals but to the church. When people made Jesus the leader of their life they became a part of the church, and so we comprise His body “in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence (Ephesians 1:23).” If you believe you don’t need the church try this (I don’t recommend it but it will make the point) take your hand and chopped it off, then see how much life is in it on its own. In the same way God created this interconnected body that derives life and health from the head (Christ) as we live in community with His body.
If you are saying or you hear it said “I love Jesus I just don’t need the church….” Rick Warren said it is like standing next to your friend and saying “I like you but I can’t stand your wife, or I like you but can’t stand your body.” Jesus is in love with the church, He died for the church; His plans are unfolded through the church. How can we say we are growing in Christ but moving away from His passion. Too many are letting our fiercely independent culture steal the joy, satisfaction, and purpose He created you for in His body.
Resist the strong current of today’s culture that gives the excuse…
I am just too busy
It’s not worth the risk
I don’t really need anyone
I’ll get burned if I get too close
If I reach out, I will look foolish
Please join us as we continue a new series called “Church Refocused” and get refocused on what God’s purpose is for the church and what your part is.
All we do is stand up, sit down, sing, listen to a sermon, give money, and shake a few hands anyways. Besides I can sleep in and get a dynamic message from Joel Olsteen, Stanley, Hayford or whatever your flavor is. In fact I can sit in my favorite rocking chair and turn on a good FM station of worship songs and reflect. I would rather connect with God in nature. So why bother with the church, they are just a bunch of hypocrites anyways. I still have my “personal” relationship with the Lord, my “own” spiritual journey. And so people are concluding it is not that relevant to my life and letting it go.
Let me ask you, is that biblical? Seriously is God ok with that thought process? To unplug, disengage, quit the church. Yes I know the church as a whole is to blame for doing some dumb things, however, two wrongs don’t make a right.
The church (as a whole) was not created by man, it was God’s idea. God is passionate about the church; He refers to it as His bride. Paul can’t talk about marriage without referring to the symbolism of Christ’s relationship to the church (Ephesians 5:31-32). The epistles which form a large part of the New Testament were written not to individuals but to the church. When people made Jesus the leader of their life they became a part of the church, and so we comprise His body “in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence (Ephesians 1:23).” If you believe you don’t need the church try this (I don’t recommend it but it will make the point) take your hand and chopped it off, then see how much life is in it on its own. In the same way God created this interconnected body that derives life and health from the head (Christ) as we live in community with His body.
If you are saying or you hear it said “I love Jesus I just don’t need the church….” Rick Warren said it is like standing next to your friend and saying “I like you but I can’t stand your wife, or I like you but can’t stand your body.” Jesus is in love with the church, He died for the church; His plans are unfolded through the church. How can we say we are growing in Christ but moving away from His passion. Too many are letting our fiercely independent culture steal the joy, satisfaction, and purpose He created you for in His body.
Resist the strong current of today’s culture that gives the excuse…
I am just too busy
It’s not worth the risk
I don’t really need anyone
I’ll get burned if I get too close
If I reach out, I will look foolish
Please join us as we continue a new series called “Church Refocused” and get refocused on what God’s purpose is for the church and what your part is.
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