Thoughts, reflections, and ideas that come from recent sermons and teachings.

The Growing church

Wed, 9 Feb 2011 12:08:23 -0500

This past Sunday I started a series for the month on “The Growing Church” and we looked at the topic of healthy growth. One of the things I emphasized is that it all starts with the Lordship of Jesus and the Leadership of the Holy Spirit. Today, I was reading in I Corinthians chapter 3 where Paul talks about the truth that it is God that makes it grow. Paul clarified that it wasn’t himself or Apollos that had caused the church to grow, they were just people that God was using (this Sunday’s sermon is “God Uses People”); it was God that caused the church to grow.

As Paul continues in chapter three, he establishes that he had laid the only foundation that can legitimately be laid and that is the foundation of Jesus Christ. This connects directly with what was said on Sunday that we must start with a common commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The next thing he tells them is that they are the temple of the Holy Spirit. (The you is plural in the Greek and is a reference to you – the church and not you as an individual) Anyone attempting to bring division was not just tampering with a human organization, but they were moving against God’s holy work. God has always intended for the church to be led by the Holy Spirit. This is why Jesus instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the coming of the Holy Spirit. Paul now declares that God’s Spirit lives in the church. Have you ever noticed that when God’s Spirit is moving and leading a service that there is life in that service? The church was designed to be led by the Spirit. The Lordship of Jesus and the Leadership of the Holy Spirit put God’s church in a place where He can bring growth.

renewal

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:52:57 -0500

On Sunday, I spent some time talking about how we think and where we get our learning patterns from. In Romans 12:2, we are instructed not to conform to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The spiritual renewal of the mind must begin with God and with time spent seeking Him through His word and through prayer. As we seek God with all of our hearts He begins to change us inwardly and it’s this changing inwardly that leads to a changed life. We are being changed by God’s power and we are receiving this change through our relationship with Jesus Christ. Romans tells us we can be transformed, an inside – out approach to change as compared to reformed, an outside – in approach to change.

It seems that every week you meet people whose lives are in serious trouble because of their choices and behavior. Many of these seek to change, but they try to change their actions apart from the supernatural changing of the heart that only God can do. This attempt to reform a life usually ends in frustration, despair, and even hopelessness. Sometimes I’ll find myself saying “that what they really need is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” What I mean by that is that when we come into relationship with the true and living God through His son Jesus, He transforms us by His power and begins a deep inward work that begins to impact our choices and our behavior. When the mind is renewed through the Word and through prayer, the relationship with Christ becomes more intense, it has greater effect on our character and nature. Instead of the behavior patterns of the world, I began to act differently – to treat others differently – my disposition toward life is altered by my relationship with Jesus. What I really need is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you want to see some changes in your life then understand that lasting change will begin on the inside. Also understand that “inside” change begins with God renewing our minds through His word by His Spirit.

Thoughts from sunday

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:52:16 -0500

I was thinking about Sunday’s message and our focus on continuing the teaching of Jesus and my mind went to one of my favorite verses from the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” When I was a student in college “all these things” tended to be about issues of the future – future job, future spouse, will I ever graduate. In that time this verse helped me to focus on the truth that all these things will happen as they should if I will just stayed focused on my relationship with Jesus. At this time in my life there are still the “all these things” issues that can be a real distraction to my walk with Jesus. Every day is a new day and a good day to seek Him first and watch what He will do in my life. God truly directs our path and watches over us. He will take care of us. He clothes the fields in lilies and feeds the sparrows and takes care of the “all these things” issues of our lives. Just remember to seek God first.