To get you ready and familiar with Exodus, read Exodus 7-15:21; it will probably take you 20 minutes and might just be your best 20 minutes all week. Read that section and then post on this blog some of your observations. What are you seeing? What did God impress on your heart from the text? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Pastor Brian
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Treasuring God; Loving People
These last two weeks, we've focused on the "treasuring God" part of that slogan. Do you remember why we treasure God from Philippians 3?... Because nothing surpasses the worth of knowing Jesus! If nothing surpasses that worth than he is indeed our greatest treasure.
I'd love to hear what God impressed on your heart from these messages. What was the big takeaway for you?
Let me ask one more question: God, in his mercy, doesn't ask most of us actually lose everything to know him. I believe this passage makes clear we need to be ready to, but, it seems, God doesn't put that ultimately to the test. Unless you are a guy like Job, we don't really lose everything... except when we die (think about that). But we need to be ready to.
So here's the question: how do you cultivate in your heart a readiness to lose it all for Jesus when he so often doesn't take everything? How do you make this real?
Pastor Brian
I'd love to hear what God impressed on your heart from these messages. What was the big takeaway for you?
Let me ask one more question: God, in his mercy, doesn't ask most of us actually lose everything to know him. I believe this passage makes clear we need to be ready to, but, it seems, God doesn't put that ultimately to the test. Unless you are a guy like Job, we don't really lose everything... except when we die (think about that). But we need to be ready to.
So here's the question: how do you cultivate in your heart a readiness to lose it all for Jesus when he so often doesn't take everything? How do you make this real?
Pastor Brian
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Bible Reading and 2010
I want to encourage you to regularly read your bibles in 2010. So often, we get discouraged and even feel guilty for not living up to our desire. We feel less spiritual (whatever that means) and a "bad" Christian when we start reading our bibles, but then fall away. God doesn't look at it like that. God is our loving Heavenly Father always looking to help his needy children. We don't need to live under the weight of condemnation (if we are in Christ)when we fail to do what is necessary. Instead, believing God is here to help us, we can continually turn to God for forgiveness and help.
In our attempt to read the scriptures faithfully, we tend to bite off more than we can chew. We need to challenge ourselves, but yet, still be realistic. Below are two links for Bible reading plans. Both will lead you through the entire bible in a year. But there are no rules that say, "you have to read the bible through in a year." If that feels too much, pare it down a little. In both of these plans, there are four columns to read each day; instead of reading all 4, just read 2 if that will help you. The first bible reading plan even gives you grace days to catch up when you miss. The second plan is a little more daunting. You read the OT once, NT twice and the Psalms twice.
Below, tell me and one another your story of bible reading. Tell us your successes and failures. Tell us what you're going to do in 2010. Let's encourage one another.
http://www.navpress.com/uploadedFiles/15074%20BRP.dj.pdf
http://hippocampusextensions.com/mcheyneplan/
Pastor Brian
In our attempt to read the scriptures faithfully, we tend to bite off more than we can chew. We need to challenge ourselves, but yet, still be realistic. Below are two links for Bible reading plans. Both will lead you through the entire bible in a year. But there are no rules that say, "you have to read the bible through in a year." If that feels too much, pare it down a little. In both of these plans, there are four columns to read each day; instead of reading all 4, just read 2 if that will help you. The first bible reading plan even gives you grace days to catch up when you miss. The second plan is a little more daunting. You read the OT once, NT twice and the Psalms twice.
Below, tell me and one another your story of bible reading. Tell us your successes and failures. Tell us what you're going to do in 2010. Let's encourage one another.
http://www.navpress.com/uploadedFiles/15074%20BRP.dj.pdf
http://hippocampusextensions.com/mcheyneplan/
Pastor Brian
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Apostle John and Metaphors
In our sermon Sunday, the Apostle John (like other scripture writers) uses a lot of images and metaphors. Its really important that the scripture writers refer and teach theological truth in a variety of ways; truth about God can hardly be "captured" so the best way to get some handle on theological truth is getting at it from a variety of angles.
I made reference to 4 words or phrases on Sunday. Here are scripture passages for you to examine to understand how they are used.
1. "fellowship" as a reference to our salvation
1 Cor. 1:9
1 John 1:3, 6
2 Cor. 13:14
2. "walk" as a reference to "living life."
Gal 5:16
Eph 2:1-2
1 John 2:6
3. "darkness" as a reference for evil, sin and impurity
Psalm 82:5
Prov. 2:13 (get a running start by starting in vs. 6)
John 3:19
4. "practicing truth" as a reference to living in accordance with Jesus and his way
"practicing truth" is very specific to John so we don't have other references like this. This has a similar connotation to "walking"... it has to do with how we live our lives. "Tom practices medicine." 1 Kings 11:11 says, "Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, 'Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant....'" Consequently then, "practicing the truth" is similar to "walking in the light." It's a metaphor describing how one is living life.
What do you think about these metaphors? Am I missing something that's important to bring up? Also, what are ways you examine your heart to see if you're walking in the light?
Blessings,
Pastor Brian
I made reference to 4 words or phrases on Sunday. Here are scripture passages for you to examine to understand how they are used.
1. "fellowship" as a reference to our salvation
1 Cor. 1:9
1 John 1:3, 6
2 Cor. 13:14
2. "walk" as a reference to "living life."
Gal 5:16
Eph 2:1-2
1 John 2:6
3. "darkness" as a reference for evil, sin and impurity
Psalm 82:5
Prov. 2:13 (get a running start by starting in vs. 6)
John 3:19
4. "practicing truth" as a reference to living in accordance with Jesus and his way
"practicing truth" is very specific to John so we don't have other references like this. This has a similar connotation to "walking"... it has to do with how we live our lives. "Tom practices medicine." 1 Kings 11:11 says, "Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, 'Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant....'" Consequently then, "practicing the truth" is similar to "walking in the light." It's a metaphor describing how one is living life.
What do you think about these metaphors? Am I missing something that's important to bring up? Also, what are ways you examine your heart to see if you're walking in the light?
Blessings,
Pastor Brian
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Prioritizing mission this Christmas
I believe God will mercifully deliver us from the prevailing current of Christmas by getting active with the things of God, namely, by living and speaking the Gospel. When we are active in the greatest mission on earth (God's mission of saving the world of sin), we're not going to find much time on these "less important" missions of Christmas. Assembling your kids new toy won't feel so urgent or important when you're praying fervently for your unsaved neighbor, will it?
Let's share some ideas as to what we can do to be actively engaged in God's mission this Christmas. I shared a couple of things in the sermon; I'd love to hear how God might be leading you. Let's encourage and spur one another on.
Thanks,
Pastor Brian
Let's share some ideas as to what we can do to be actively engaged in God's mission this Christmas. I shared a couple of things in the sermon; I'd love to hear how God might be leading you. Let's encourage and spur one another on.
Thanks,
Pastor Brian
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Prioritizing Christ
This Sunday, we saw Zechariah extolling (praising) God for his great salvation. Instead of getting distracted by al the wonderful gifts God had given him, he kept the main thing the main thing. If you and I are not careful, we will get swept away by all the Christmas hoopla. We won't, though, if we - like Zechariah - are able to stay focused on the greatness of God's salvation.
So, how will you do that? To a significant degree, this is a matter of the heart. But what does this tangibly mean? What will you actually do to stay focused on Christ this holiday season? I'd love to hear your ideas.
Pastor Brian
So, how will you do that? To a significant degree, this is a matter of the heart. But what does this tangibly mean? What will you actually do to stay focused on Christ this holiday season? I'd love to hear your ideas.
Pastor Brian
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Coming Respite from Exodus
Hey, sorry for not posting something last week. I'm not sure why I didn't....
As I mentioned on Sunday morning, we're taking a break from Exodus during the Holiday season with the plan of picking up again in January. I want to know two things.
1) What is the most significant message you've heard from God so far from this study in Exodus thus far? Be specific and encourage me and your fellow brothers and sisters.
2) What are your lingering questions? This will help me as I continue to prepare sermons for this study.
So, let me know what you're thinking.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian
As I mentioned on Sunday morning, we're taking a break from Exodus during the Holiday season with the plan of picking up again in January. I want to know two things.
1) What is the most significant message you've heard from God so far from this study in Exodus thus far? Be specific and encourage me and your fellow brothers and sisters.
2) What are your lingering questions? This will help me as I continue to prepare sermons for this study.
So, let me know what you're thinking.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)