What an experience the Lord allowed us! It was a very moving and very powerful experience for the four of us! Afterwards, we visited John Wesley's home, saw the bed in which he died, saw his grave, and ran to catch a train to the airport!
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
SUNDAY WORSHIP AT WESLEY'S CHAPEL!
What an experience the Lord allowed us! It was a very moving and very powerful experience for the four of us! Afterwards, we visited John Wesley's home, saw the bed in which he died, saw his grave, and ran to catch a train to the airport!
Monday, November 14, 2005
OPEN WIDE THE GATES!
The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun (Paperback)
by Paul Hattaway
by Paul Hattaway
Thursday, November 10, 2005
IT'S OUR CHOICE, NOT GOD'S!
Good day dear friends.
I'm reverting back to the standard no "rich-text" style of the last few ConCafes as I've heard from some that the full message did not make it to your mailbox. Most ConCafes, not prayer results, are archived at http://theuniversityoftheway.blogspot.com.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: Let’s go to the last book of the Bible, Revelation. Look up Rev. 7:4-17. In this passage we catch a glimpse of the last “government” that of God. What are your thoughts about this governing system? Compare that with Rev. 20:10. What do you think about that “government?”
Here is that passage in NRSV:
7:4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the people of Israel: 5 From the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6 from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7 from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand sealed. 9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" 14 I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
In pure worship, there is only one political party present and that is The Kingdom of God. While we may debate what constitutes "pure" worship, let us just say when we feel God's spirit moving and we are touched at our core by knowing God's awesomeness and our need to receive God's love, that is close enough for me and most. I just returned from our fall board meeting of the trustees of Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. We were honored to be on campus for the Tuesday chapel service. And this is always a moving experience. Guests, especially those visiting the campus as prospective students are received like one would imagine receiving the winning team of the Super Bowl. I kid you not, the guests are introduced by name, asked to stand, and the applause and the whooping and yelling that follows is beyond belief. The audience, made up of faculty and students and other guests do not stop clapping and yelling until the worship leader introduces, or tries, the next guest. It's no wonder this seminary has among the highest enrollment of most US seminaries of any denomination. Then the singing in that chapel with some of the most wonderful voices on God's earth join together to praise God like no other place. We were just honored in having President Jeffery Greenway on our campus and on Sunday morning during our worship services, his voice easily dominated most of our sanctuary, but at Asbury his voice is not even heard!
Such is the image I have of the passage that we just read. In this glimpse of Heaven, John records this type of pure worship in which the citizens of Heaven join together to praise He who will be praised for all eternity. This is in radical contrast to the picture we had of the assembly in which Samuel, dejected and rejected as God's representative, heard the cries of God's people asking for a king, all the while rejecting God as their king. I hate to wonder this, but I wonder how many in Samuel's crowd are among those in John's crowd? I'm sure there are some and I believe it was those who ultimately realized that what matters eternally is where our hearts and devotion to He who will reign forever are in terms of pure worship and understanding of God's place in our lives. What are your thoughts about this governing system in place there in Heaven?
Let's look now at Rev. 20:10: "And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Not a pretty picture nor one I hope to see in person, but again, here is a governing system that has come to a terrible end. I wonder again, how many of Samuel's crowd, chose for themselves, to be in this scene? Remember it is OUR choice, not God's, to either surrender to God or to live our lives separated from Him. And it is our choice to face that consequence of our lives' choices.
How will we vote today? To seek God and to serve and worship Him with all our lives? Or are we content to vote against God and that which God offers? Sometimes it is not an easy choice and one we shouldn't make alone. Through prayer and worship attendance and fellowship with other believers we can make eternal choices that glorify God.
PRAYER: Eternal God, let my heart seek to worship You today in purity and truth. Let me make those choices and decisions that will allow You to govern my life in ways that are life-affirming and pleasing to You. I pray for those on my heart that do not yet know you. I pray for those who have asked me to pray for them and their loved ones that they may come to your saving grace. And I pray in the name of He who died for me, Jesus my Lord. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
I'm reverting back to the standard no "rich-text" style of the last few ConCafes as I've heard from some that the full message did not make it to your mailbox. Most ConCafes, not prayer results, are archived at http://theuniversityoftheway.blogspot.com.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: Let’s go to the last book of the Bible, Revelation. Look up Rev. 7:4-17. In this passage we catch a glimpse of the last “government” that of God. What are your thoughts about this governing system? Compare that with Rev. 20:10. What do you think about that “government?”
Here is that passage in NRSV:
7:4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the people of Israel: 5 From the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6 from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7 from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand sealed. 9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" 14 I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
In pure worship, there is only one political party present and that is The Kingdom of God. While we may debate what constitutes "pure" worship, let us just say when we feel God's spirit moving and we are touched at our core by knowing God's awesomeness and our need to receive God's love, that is close enough for me and most. I just returned from our fall board meeting of the trustees of Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. We were honored to be on campus for the Tuesday chapel service. And this is always a moving experience. Guests, especially those visiting the campus as prospective students are received like one would imagine receiving the winning team of the Super Bowl. I kid you not, the guests are introduced by name, asked to stand, and the applause and the whooping and yelling that follows is beyond belief. The audience, made up of faculty and students and other guests do not stop clapping and yelling until the worship leader introduces, or tries, the next guest. It's no wonder this seminary has among the highest enrollment of most US seminaries of any denomination. Then the singing in that chapel with some of the most wonderful voices on God's earth join together to praise God like no other place. We were just honored in having President Jeffery Greenway on our campus and on Sunday morning during our worship services, his voice easily dominated most of our sanctuary, but at Asbury his voice is not even heard!
Such is the image I have of the passage that we just read. In this glimpse of Heaven, John records this type of pure worship in which the citizens of Heaven join together to praise He who will be praised for all eternity. This is in radical contrast to the picture we had of the assembly in which Samuel, dejected and rejected as God's representative, heard the cries of God's people asking for a king, all the while rejecting God as their king. I hate to wonder this, but I wonder how many in Samuel's crowd are among those in John's crowd? I'm sure there are some and I believe it was those who ultimately realized that what matters eternally is where our hearts and devotion to He who will reign forever are in terms of pure worship and understanding of God's place in our lives. What are your thoughts about this governing system in place there in Heaven?
Let's look now at Rev. 20:10: "And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Not a pretty picture nor one I hope to see in person, but again, here is a governing system that has come to a terrible end. I wonder again, how many of Samuel's crowd, chose for themselves, to be in this scene? Remember it is OUR choice, not God's, to either surrender to God or to live our lives separated from Him. And it is our choice to face that consequence of our lives' choices.
How will we vote today? To seek God and to serve and worship Him with all our lives? Or are we content to vote against God and that which God offers? Sometimes it is not an easy choice and one we shouldn't make alone. Through prayer and worship attendance and fellowship with other believers we can make eternal choices that glorify God.
PRAYER: Eternal God, let my heart seek to worship You today in purity and truth. Let me make those choices and decisions that will allow You to govern my life in ways that are life-affirming and pleasing to You. I pray for those on my heart that do not yet know you. I pray for those who have asked me to pray for them and their loved ones that they may come to your saving grace. And I pray in the name of He who died for me, Jesus my Lord. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Go and Vote!
Good day dear friends.
Note of thanks: Our sister Glenda Martin received a good report this past week. Louise Pollard, under hospice care, is responding very well to new treatment. Sally Kingsbury received a very good report as well.
Prayers for Pat Dentino, undergoing surgery today. And for our sister Billy Hardesty also having surgery today. May the Lord bless them with a great victory through these.
It's election day and that's what this message will be about. But first, here is the study guide:
Tuesday: Read 1 Samuel 8:4-20. In this passage the people make a drastic decision about their form of government. This passage shows who they were rejecting and what they were agreeing to when they made the decision. How would you have “voted” had you been present in that group during that time? TODAY IS ELECTION DAY! GO VOTE!
Here is that text in The Message version:
8:4 Fed up, all the elders of Israel got together and confronted Samuel at Ramah. 5 They presented their case: "Look, you're an old man, and your sons aren't following in your footsteps. Here's what we want you to do: Appoint a king to rule us, just like everybody else." 6 When Samuel heard their demand - "Give us a king to rule us!" - he was crushed. How awful! Samuel prayed to God. 7 God answered Samuel, "Go ahead and do what they're asking. They are not rejecting you. They've rejected me as their King. 8 From the day I brought them out of Egypt until this very day they've been behaving like this, leaving me for other gods. And now they're doing it to you. 9 So let them have their own way. But warn them of what they're in for. Tell them the way kings operate, just what they're likely to get from a king." 10 So Samuel told them, delivered God's warning to the people who were asking him to give them a king. 11 He said, "This is the way the kind of king you're talking about operates. He'll take your sons and make soldiers of them - chariotry, cavalry, infantry, 12 regimented in battalions and squadrons. He'll put some to forced labor on his farms, plowing and harvesting, and others to making either weapons of war or chariots in which he can ride in luxury. 13 He'll put your daughters to work as beauticians and waitresses and cooks. 14 He'll conscript your best fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his special friends. 15 He'll tax your harvests and vintage to support his extensive bureaucracy. 16 Your prize workers and best animals he'll take for his own use. 17 He'll lay a tax on your flocks and you'll end up no better than slaves. 18 The day will come when you will cry in desperation because of this king you so much want for yourselves. But don't expect God to answer." 19 But the people wouldn't listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We will have a king to rule us! 20 Then we'll be just like all the other nations. Our king will rule us and lead us and fight our battles."
"It's the cost of doing business," one could easily say to the above passage, but you realize 1) The rejected God as their king, 2) they no longer wanted to be "an example to the nations," 3) they would pay any price. God told Samuel to tell them honestly: 1) you'll lose your sons, 2) you'll lose your daughters, 3) you'll lose your land, 4) possessions, 5) start paying taxes, 6) you yourselves will be forced to work on the king's land, 7) you'll lose your prize animals and livestock. What a price just to say, "We're like everybody else!" And sadly, they put their faith and trust in humans rather than God. Reread that last verse in this passage. "Our king will rule us, lead us, and fight our battles." What a way to vote.
How many times haven't we voted in that way as well? We vote for ourselves or our friends and without realizing it, we're voting against God himself.
Today as you cast your vote, please remember all that God has entrusted to us and let us vote in a way that glorifies God; vote compassion, vote love, vote in a way that cares for "the least of these." Pray before you vote. Familiarize yourself with all that is before us and then go and make a difference!
PRAYER: God of life, we thank you for the freedoms, precious and costly that they are, and we thank you for the right we have to vote. Let us use our vote to serve You. Let us seek to vote in a way that is compassionate, loving, and caring for the least of these. We pray in the name of He who paid the price, Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Note of thanks: Our sister Glenda Martin received a good report this past week. Louise Pollard, under hospice care, is responding very well to new treatment. Sally Kingsbury received a very good report as well.
Prayers for Pat Dentino, undergoing surgery today. And for our sister Billy Hardesty also having surgery today. May the Lord bless them with a great victory through these.
It's election day and that's what this message will be about. But first, here is the study guide:
Tuesday: Read 1 Samuel 8:4-20. In this passage the people make a drastic decision about their form of government. This passage shows who they were rejecting and what they were agreeing to when they made the decision. How would you have “voted” had you been present in that group during that time? TODAY IS ELECTION DAY! GO VOTE!
Here is that text in The Message version:
8:4 Fed up, all the elders of Israel got together and confronted Samuel at Ramah. 5 They presented their case: "Look, you're an old man, and your sons aren't following in your footsteps. Here's what we want you to do: Appoint a king to rule us, just like everybody else." 6 When Samuel heard their demand - "Give us a king to rule us!" - he was crushed. How awful! Samuel prayed to God. 7 God answered Samuel, "Go ahead and do what they're asking. They are not rejecting you. They've rejected me as their King. 8 From the day I brought them out of Egypt until this very day they've been behaving like this, leaving me for other gods. And now they're doing it to you. 9 So let them have their own way. But warn them of what they're in for. Tell them the way kings operate, just what they're likely to get from a king." 10 So Samuel told them, delivered God's warning to the people who were asking him to give them a king. 11 He said, "This is the way the kind of king you're talking about operates. He'll take your sons and make soldiers of them - chariotry, cavalry, infantry, 12 regimented in battalions and squadrons. He'll put some to forced labor on his farms, plowing and harvesting, and others to making either weapons of war or chariots in which he can ride in luxury. 13 He'll put your daughters to work as beauticians and waitresses and cooks. 14 He'll conscript your best fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his special friends. 15 He'll tax your harvests and vintage to support his extensive bureaucracy. 16 Your prize workers and best animals he'll take for his own use. 17 He'll lay a tax on your flocks and you'll end up no better than slaves. 18 The day will come when you will cry in desperation because of this king you so much want for yourselves. But don't expect God to answer." 19 But the people wouldn't listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We will have a king to rule us! 20 Then we'll be just like all the other nations. Our king will rule us and lead us and fight our battles."
"It's the cost of doing business," one could easily say to the above passage, but you realize 1) The rejected God as their king, 2) they no longer wanted to be "an example to the nations," 3) they would pay any price. God told Samuel to tell them honestly: 1) you'll lose your sons, 2) you'll lose your daughters, 3) you'll lose your land, 4) possessions, 5) start paying taxes, 6) you yourselves will be forced to work on the king's land, 7) you'll lose your prize animals and livestock. What a price just to say, "We're like everybody else!" And sadly, they put their faith and trust in humans rather than God. Reread that last verse in this passage. "Our king will rule us, lead us, and fight our battles." What a way to vote.
How many times haven't we voted in that way as well? We vote for ourselves or our friends and without realizing it, we're voting against God himself.
Today as you cast your vote, please remember all that God has entrusted to us and let us vote in a way that glorifies God; vote compassion, vote love, vote in a way that cares for "the least of these." Pray before you vote. Familiarize yourself with all that is before us and then go and make a difference!
PRAYER: God of life, we thank you for the freedoms, precious and costly that they are, and we thank you for the right we have to vote. Let us use our vote to serve You. Let us seek to vote in a way that is compassionate, loving, and caring for the least of these. We pray in the name of He who paid the price, Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Monday, November 07, 2005
How Then Shall We Vote?
Good day dear friends.
Yesterday our sermon was on the responsibility we as Christians have to vote. We studied the forms of government we find in The Bible and how we as Christians "vote" every day in terms of our obedience and faithfulness to the Lord and whether we're pleased with God or not. Ours is the responsibility to cast our votes to show compassion, love, the idea of our being a part of the Body of Christ, and to care for "the least of these."
If you're not registered to open, your priority would be to pray for those who are that they would be motivated to vote. Your second priority is to go and get registered to vote in the next election!
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: In Genesis 41:37-44, we find an interesting story of power. Read the story and see how God used this man to rule over a foreign nation. What lessons can we learn from this particular lesson of government?
Here is that passage in NRSV: Genesis 41: 37 The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?" 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has shown you all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command; only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you." 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." 42 Removing his signet ring from his hand, Pharaoh put it on Joseph's hand; he arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in the chariot of his second-in-command; and they cried out in front of him, "Bow the knee!" Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."
This is part of the Joseph story. The "key" to Joseph's success as a Hebrew in an Egyptian court is found in verse 38. Even pharoah could see there was dwelling in Joseph "the spirit of God." We know from reading all the story that God had blessed Joseph because Joseph sought God and God's direction in all the he undertook. You remember that Joseph found himself the victim of a terrible plot by his older brothers and this may have been enough for others to have given up on families and even in God but he didn't. He knew that even in the midst of this that he was suffering he needed God. And God blessed all he did, and took him from that pit where he was thrown, to a jail until he finds himself in the palace of Pharaoh. And not just any place, but the second in command to all of Pharoah.
St. Paul would have said as we read in Romans, that any style government helps the believer if the believer seeks to serve God. (Romans 13). In Joseph's case, he finds himself first as a slave sold into captivity and later as the second most powerful ruler in this government where the Pharoah ruled as sole authority over the people. Joseph never quit praying nor waiting on God.
As we prepare to see the results of this election and the issues before us, we pray that our votes, as guided by God, would serve to glorify God.
PRAYER: Lord of all life, we pray that you would bless me to a deeper understanding of who I am in the midst of where I am. Let me seek Your face and Your blessing each and every day so that in all things I would be a blessing to You and to Yours. I pray this in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Yesterday our sermon was on the responsibility we as Christians have to vote. We studied the forms of government we find in The Bible and how we as Christians "vote" every day in terms of our obedience and faithfulness to the Lord and whether we're pleased with God or not. Ours is the responsibility to cast our votes to show compassion, love, the idea of our being a part of the Body of Christ, and to care for "the least of these."
If you're not registered to open, your priority would be to pray for those who are that they would be motivated to vote. Your second priority is to go and get registered to vote in the next election!
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: In Genesis 41:37-44, we find an interesting story of power. Read the story and see how God used this man to rule over a foreign nation. What lessons can we learn from this particular lesson of government?
Here is that passage in NRSV: Genesis 41: 37 The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?" 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has shown you all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command; only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you." 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." 42 Removing his signet ring from his hand, Pharaoh put it on Joseph's hand; he arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in the chariot of his second-in-command; and they cried out in front of him, "Bow the knee!" Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."
This is part of the Joseph story. The "key" to Joseph's success as a Hebrew in an Egyptian court is found in verse 38. Even pharoah could see there was dwelling in Joseph "the spirit of God." We know from reading all the story that God had blessed Joseph because Joseph sought God and God's direction in all the he undertook. You remember that Joseph found himself the victim of a terrible plot by his older brothers and this may have been enough for others to have given up on families and even in God but he didn't. He knew that even in the midst of this that he was suffering he needed God. And God blessed all he did, and took him from that pit where he was thrown, to a jail until he finds himself in the palace of Pharaoh. And not just any place, but the second in command to all of Pharoah.
St. Paul would have said as we read in Romans, that any style government helps the believer if the believer seeks to serve God. (Romans 13). In Joseph's case, he finds himself first as a slave sold into captivity and later as the second most powerful ruler in this government where the Pharoah ruled as sole authority over the people. Joseph never quit praying nor waiting on God.
As we prepare to see the results of this election and the issues before us, we pray that our votes, as guided by God, would serve to glorify God.
PRAYER: Lord of all life, we pray that you would bless me to a deeper understanding of who I am in the midst of where I am. Let me seek Your face and Your blessing each and every day so that in all things I would be a blessing to You and to Yours. I pray this in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
WHAT IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE?
Good day dear friends.
We continue our study of being a radioactive (radiant) Christian. Here is our study guide for today.
FYI: Lee Sowell's farewell party set for this coming Saturday has been cancelled due to her surgery and rehab. Lee is in great spirits in Room 326 at CTMC. Please continue to pray for her and her upcoming move to Oklahoma. Her daughter-in-law was coming to help coordinate the movers.
Tuesday: Look up 2 Peter 3:9 and read what is shared there. God’s concern is for who? What does God desire instead of what is destined for those who don’t know Him? How can you be a part of turning that tide around?
Here is that text from the NRSV:
3:9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
God's concern is for you and me. Notice what the verse says, God does not want "any to preish, but all to come to repentance." The whole point of these series of sermons has been to better equip us all to do God's will in the world. The work of God's kingdom is to bring others into it. Kingdom work is to rescue the perishing. And thank God His promise is giving us opportunities right now to give witness to our faith so that others might come along.
As was presented Sunday, our sharing our faith is part of our purpose as Christians. To bring fulfillment into our lives we must be praying about when and where and how to share our faith. It won't be easy and as we heard, it may complicate our lives, but it bring eternal dividends. To be a Christian is to be part of a long-term (eternal) investment plan. We're not in it for the short-term quick payoff. We're dealing with seed planting and God nurturing business. We must possess the faith and patience of farmers with the dedication and love of avid fishermen and the optimism of hardened golfers.
PRAYER: God of eternal reward, equip me now to serve You. Let Your Holy Spirit guide me to a better understanding of the how and when I should open my mouth. Let my heart be open right now to share now. I ask this in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
We continue our study of being a radioactive (radiant) Christian. Here is our study guide for today.
FYI: Lee Sowell's farewell party set for this coming Saturday has been cancelled due to her surgery and rehab. Lee is in great spirits in Room 326 at CTMC. Please continue to pray for her and her upcoming move to Oklahoma. Her daughter-in-law was coming to help coordinate the movers.
Tuesday: Look up 2 Peter 3:9 and read what is shared there. God’s concern is for who? What does God desire instead of what is destined for those who don’t know Him? How can you be a part of turning that tide around?
Here is that text from the NRSV:
3:9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
God's concern is for you and me. Notice what the verse says, God does not want "any to preish, but all to come to repentance." The whole point of these series of sermons has been to better equip us all to do God's will in the world. The work of God's kingdom is to bring others into it. Kingdom work is to rescue the perishing. And thank God His promise is giving us opportunities right now to give witness to our faith so that others might come along.
As was presented Sunday, our sharing our faith is part of our purpose as Christians. To bring fulfillment into our lives we must be praying about when and where and how to share our faith. It won't be easy and as we heard, it may complicate our lives, but it bring eternal dividends. To be a Christian is to be part of a long-term (eternal) investment plan. We're not in it for the short-term quick payoff. We're dealing with seed planting and God nurturing business. We must possess the faith and patience of farmers with the dedication and love of avid fishermen and the optimism of hardened golfers.
PRAYER: God of eternal reward, equip me now to serve You. Let Your Holy Spirit guide me to a better understanding of the how and when I should open my mouth. Let my heart be open right now to share now. I ask this in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
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