Writer Ann Lamott tells a story about a seven year old girl who got lost one day. As she ran up and down the streets of the big city where they lived, she could not find a single landmark that she recognized. Finally, a policeman stopped to help her. He put her in the passenger seat of his car and they drove around until she finally saw her church building. She pointed it out to the policeman and said, "You can let me out now. This is my church and I can always find my way home from here".
I have no idea whether that is a true story or not, but I like the picture it gives. The church (more accurately – not the building but the gathering of God's people) should be the place from which we can "find our way home". The church should be a place that locates us, helps us and points us in the right direction.
Getting together with other Christians can also encourage us and help keep us going. Hebrews says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching” (10:25).
“The day” that is approaching in this passage is the return of Christ. In other words, the writer is saying, “Keep meeting together and keep each other going until we get to the end together”.
Could you use some encouragement and some direction? Our church is simply a group of people who meet to study God’s word and to encourage one another. You would be more than welcome to join us anytime.
Together, we can find the way home.
“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me” (Jesus, as quoted in John 14:6).
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
A New Kingdom
Sara and I have recently made friends with a couple who have moved here from Germany and it has been interesting to see Canada through their eyes. Everything is different. The language, the food and even driving (You cannot go 300 km/h here as you can on the autobahn) are different. In some ways, even, our friends have become different people than they were. Living in a new country changes everything.
Lately, I have been thinking that we need for a new word for “church”. One that better describes what we are about and what God wants for us.
Did you know that “Kingdom” is the word that Jesus most often used when describing his people? As well, the phrases “Kingdom of God” or “Kingdom of Heaven” are used at least 111 times in the New Testament. I like the idea of a “Kingdom” because it reminds me of some great truths.
For example, obviously, a Kingdom has a King. The good news is that I am not in charge. God is the king and he is working things out in his kingdom even when we do not see it or understand it at the time (Mark 4:26-29).
A Kingdom is also a community of people. There is no such thing as a one-person kingdom. God set up his kingdom so that we would have other people to help us. When the first kingdom sermon was preached in Acts 2, the believers became both a community and a family (42-47 and 4:32-37).
How do you become part of this Kingdom? Well, that is another great thing, because entrance is not gained by merit but by trust. In other words, you do not earn your way in. Jesus said, “Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Luke 18:17). “Those who accepted the message were baptized and about three thousand were added to their number that day” (Acts 2:41). They were added to the kingdom because they trusted in Jesus and they chose to come in.
Our German friends came to Canada because they wanted a new life and a new beginning and they found that in a new country. What about you? Could you use a new start? Could you use a new life in a new kingdom?
God is waiting for you. The community that we call the church would welcome and celebrate with you.
You too can start a new life in God’s kingdom.
Lately, I have been thinking that we need for a new word for “church”. One that better describes what we are about and what God wants for us.
Did you know that “Kingdom” is the word that Jesus most often used when describing his people? As well, the phrases “Kingdom of God” or “Kingdom of Heaven” are used at least 111 times in the New Testament. I like the idea of a “Kingdom” because it reminds me of some great truths.
For example, obviously, a Kingdom has a King. The good news is that I am not in charge. God is the king and he is working things out in his kingdom even when we do not see it or understand it at the time (Mark 4:26-29).
A Kingdom is also a community of people. There is no such thing as a one-person kingdom. God set up his kingdom so that we would have other people to help us. When the first kingdom sermon was preached in Acts 2, the believers became both a community and a family (42-47 and 4:32-37).
How do you become part of this Kingdom? Well, that is another great thing, because entrance is not gained by merit but by trust. In other words, you do not earn your way in. Jesus said, “Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Luke 18:17). “Those who accepted the message were baptized and about three thousand were added to their number that day” (Acts 2:41). They were added to the kingdom because they trusted in Jesus and they chose to come in.
Our German friends came to Canada because they wanted a new life and a new beginning and they found that in a new country. What about you? Could you use a new start? Could you use a new life in a new kingdom?
God is waiting for you. The community that we call the church would welcome and celebrate with you.
You too can start a new life in God’s kingdom.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Uniquely You
Scott Wade, a friend of mine who preaches for the Church of Christ in Weyburn, wrote the following article. He makes such a great point that I just had to pass it on.
____
“For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles” (Galatians 2:28)
God was at work in the ministry of Peter and in the ministry of Paul. Are we sure about that? The Galatian churches seemed to be questioning whether or not God was at work in the ministry of Paul. This is why Paul says what he does in the above verse. God at work in a ministry dedicated to reaching Jews? Of course! But God at work in a ministry dedicated to reaching non Jews? Apparently they said “no”.
Paul emphatically says “yes!” God is at work in a Jewish scholar, author of 1/3 of the New Testament, who is reaching out to Gentiles. And yes, God is at work in a Jewish fisherman who reaches out mainly to Jews. God is at work in two very different people in two very different ways with the same gospel.
You mean that they were not clones? No! They had different approaches, methods and ways of reaching people? Absolutely!
And God was at work in both of them. Is there a message here for us? Yes! God doesn’t need you to be a clone of me, or the person who sits next to you every Sunday morning.
God needs you to be you so that he can use you to reach others for him.
____
“For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles” (Galatians 2:28)
God was at work in the ministry of Peter and in the ministry of Paul. Are we sure about that? The Galatian churches seemed to be questioning whether or not God was at work in the ministry of Paul. This is why Paul says what he does in the above verse. God at work in a ministry dedicated to reaching Jews? Of course! But God at work in a ministry dedicated to reaching non Jews? Apparently they said “no”.
Paul emphatically says “yes!” God is at work in a Jewish scholar, author of 1/3 of the New Testament, who is reaching out to Gentiles. And yes, God is at work in a Jewish fisherman who reaches out mainly to Jews. God is at work in two very different people in two very different ways with the same gospel.
You mean that they were not clones? No! They had different approaches, methods and ways of reaching people? Absolutely!
And God was at work in both of them. Is there a message here for us? Yes! God doesn’t need you to be a clone of me, or the person who sits next to you every Sunday morning.
God needs you to be you so that he can use you to reach others for him.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Four Important Words
In Luke 5, Peter and his fishing partners, James and John, have just come in from a night of work. They are cleaning their nets and getting ready to go home after a very unsuccessful night on the water. At that moment, Jesus comes along, gets into Peter’s boat and begins to teach a crowd of people who have gathered on the shore.
When he is done, Jesus turns to Peter and says, “Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch” (verse 4). Peter does not want to go. He reminds Jesus that it is the wrong time of day, that they have been up all night and that they had not caught anything. He is not interesting is trying again.
Peter then says something that changes everything: “But because you say so, I will let down the nets” (verse 5).
Peter overcomes his complaints, his circumstances, and his lack of success and decides to do what Christ asks him to whether it makes sense or not. The result is that they catch so many fish that they almost sink both boats. After seeing what Jesus could do, it says, “So they pulled their boats on shore, left everything and followed him” (verse 11).
The hardest part about faith is not the “learning” part but the “doing” part. All of us can come up with numerous reasons why we cannot do what we know we should be doing. Excuses are abundant, but obedience brings results.
“Because you say so…” are four important words.
What is God asking you to do? Are you willing to do it?
Who knows? Maybe God is just waiting for you to “go out into the deep water” so that he can “fill your boat”.
When he is done, Jesus turns to Peter and says, “Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch” (verse 4). Peter does not want to go. He reminds Jesus that it is the wrong time of day, that they have been up all night and that they had not caught anything. He is not interesting is trying again.
Peter then says something that changes everything: “But because you say so, I will let down the nets” (verse 5).
Peter overcomes his complaints, his circumstances, and his lack of success and decides to do what Christ asks him to whether it makes sense or not. The result is that they catch so many fish that they almost sink both boats. After seeing what Jesus could do, it says, “So they pulled their boats on shore, left everything and followed him” (verse 11).
The hardest part about faith is not the “learning” part but the “doing” part. All of us can come up with numerous reasons why we cannot do what we know we should be doing. Excuses are abundant, but obedience brings results.
“Because you say so…” are four important words.
What is God asking you to do? Are you willing to do it?
Who knows? Maybe God is just waiting for you to “go out into the deep water” so that he can “fill your boat”.
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