On Mission: Week 2 - Following God Together

On Mission – Following God Together

June 23, 2013

Acts 2:41-47

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.  All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.  A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.  And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.  They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.  They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity - all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

The disciples trusted the Holy Spirit.  They stepped out on faith and spoke the message of Christ.  God honored this.  In one day three thousand people became believers.  A great way for the church to start.  Not only did these people become believers, their lives changed.  They devoted themselves to learning the way of Jesus, spending time in community with other believers, sharing life with other believers, and to prayer.  They gave their lives over to God as disciples.  This wasn't casual.  It took a great deal of time, attention, and money.  They shared what they had.  They sold personal possessions for the good of the church.  They sacrificed in order to live out and proclaim the message of Christ.  The same Spirit and faith that led those first few disciples to step out now became the norm among this larger group of disciples that formed the first church.  It is this Spirit and faith that needs to still be the norm for any group that calls itself “church”. 

This devotion and sacrifice brought great things into the lives of these believers.  Praise, joy, a deep sense of awe, generosity, goodwill, and miracles became standard.  It wasn't easy being a believer, but it was worth it.  When being a believer becomes easy we miss something.  When deep devotion becomes casual attention we miss out.  What would it look like to stand in awe of God as these first believers did?  What would it feel like to worship and praise God as these first believers did?  What’s missing? 

The work of the Holy Spirit gave strength to these first believers.  There was something very attractive about their devotion and lives.  Every day the Lord added to their number.  Every day new faces believed and lives changed.  God at work.  God wants to do this with us.  Will we follow Him?

On Mission: Week 2 - Taking Action

On Mission – Taking Action

June 16, 2013

Acts 2:1-7

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.  Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.  And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.  At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed.

The disciples had been given their mission.  They were to “go and make disciples of all nations”.  Jesus personally delivered this final command forever answering the question “so now what?” for all believers.  What makes a believer into a disciple?  Doing what Jesus says to do.  You cannot go wrong when following Jesus with an open and humble heart. 

This day of Pentecost is the first significant event following Jesus returning to heaven.  Language is often the focus of these verses.  However, the type of language is less important that what it represents.  At the Tower of Babel, God confused the language of the people and they dispersed.  On this day, language was no barrier and God brought all people together with the Good News of Jesus Christ.  People of all shapes, sizes, and beliefs were able to see and hear the true message of Christ.  The “all nations” part of the great commission is being fulfilled.  What’s more, God is the one who made it possible as the Holy Spirit filled worked through the disciples.  God still works this way.  How much focus do we give the Holy Spirit?  What does God want to do in our lives that we miss because we aren't looking for it?

Everyone came running.  People were amazed.  “What are you doing?”  “How can this be?”  The people are responding.  This isn't an action that was well planned and thought out.  It doesn't take place behind the walls of a church.  It’s real people living real lives going about their everyday business.  It’s disciples who are willing to take a risk and allow the Spirit to work through them no matter the possible cost.  It is action taken to accomplish the mission God has given.  It’s what we are to be about.   How do we need to change in order to be like these disciples and take action?

On Mission:Week 1 - Our Reason

On Mission – Reason & Call

June 9, 2013

What makes a Church a Church?  We can make a list of all the things that are part of a church.  There is a building, instruments, songs, styles, programs, bylaws, budgets, boards & committees, missionaries, Bible studies, communion, small groups, outreach events, fellowship activities, kid’s activities, adult activities, youth activities, women’s activities, and all the other general unwritten parts of belonging to a church.  Beyond the physical and tangible elements there is the work of the Holy Spirit, the message of Salvation, a call to discipleship, personal and communal connection to God, prayer, study of scripture, and a desire to live in the Will of God.  All of these things are part of church.  They are not bad.  Yet each in and of itself cannot fully tell us what makes a church a church.  Underneath all of this is one core concept the drives everything else.

Matthew 28: 18-20

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This is the Great Commission.  When the church was nothing but a few scared disciples facing a resurrected Jesus, this is what He gave them.  This is the foundation from which every other aspect of the church has been built out of.  It answers the question “what now?”  It gives believers a focus and clear goals by which to live out the salvation they have.  It is nothing less than the Savior’s primary guiding words to those who would follow Him.

So why is it that baptism’s are often few and far between?  Why is it that the world is moving away from Christ instead of towards Him?  How can it be that the commands of Jesus are given less and less authority in the lives of believers than they once had?  How much attention is paid to the ever present Spirit of the Lord? 

When the church trades its primary mission for some secondary and smaller part of what makes a church a church it loses focus and it gets out of step with God’s Will.  It is time to reclaim this central defining call.  It is time to be the Church God created.  It is time to return to the mission.

Message Devotional: Well Done

Well Done!

May 26, 2013

Matthew 25:14-30

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.  He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.  The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more.  But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.  The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ 

Jesus spends a good deal of time describing the Kingdom of God.  The Kingdom of God is that which all followers of Jesus are a part and are to give the highest authority.  Knowing what this Kingdom is like and what is expected will allow us to follow God more closely.  In this present world, God is not physically present.  He is not walking and talking amongst us.  The Holy Spirit gives guidance and God continues to be at work, yet that work is subtle and requires faith to fully comprehend.

  

So the Kingdom of God is like a master who has gone on a trip and entrusted his followers (servants) with the task of doing the needed work while he is away.  We are the servants.  We have work to do.  The Lord trusts us to carry out His mission on earth and He has given us what we need to do it.  Each of the three servants was given tools to use (money) and opportunity to use them according to their skill set.  Two servants took this seriously and did the master’s work while he was away.  One servant was afraid and failed to do anything with that the master had given him.

To those who use what God gives and live out the mission Jesus provides there is great reward.  What better words could be heard from the Lord than “Well done good and faithful servant”.  To the one who did nothing a punishment was given and that servant was cast out.  Which of the servants are we most like?  How can we best use what God has given us?

Message Devotional: Being God's People

Being God’s People

May 19, 2013

1 Peter 2:1-3; 9-12

So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.  Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.  “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

A Christian cannot follow God and remain as they are.  Becoming God’s person requires a change of life, attitude, and action.  Peter lists several things that must be “stripped off” (deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, unkind speech).  He also warns believers to stay away from “worldly desires” and to live properly.  The phrase worldly desires cover a wide range attitudes and actions.  Galatians 5:19-21 gives a partial list.  From selfishness, to anger, to drunkenness, to sexual immorality our previous sinful nature will try to reassert itself.  Our behavior maters.  A follower of Jesus must work hard to live rightly and honorably no matter what.

If this is what we are to stay away from, what is it that we are to embrace?  Peter likens us to newborn babies crying out for pure spiritual milk.  A follower of God finds nourishment in God’s word, prayer, worship, and in the company of other followers.  We discover new life in salvation as we partake in these things.  We are given a new identity.  God’s people.  Royal priests.  A holy nation.  We are now citizens of God’s kingdom rather than the kingdoms of this world.  It is a high calling and a high placing.  This identity is greater than any previous understanding of life there may have been.  So we live with wonder and joy inside this kingdom.  It changes who we are, how we think, and how we live.  If we were to take a hard look at ourselves today, who are we living for?  This world or the Kingdom of God?

Message Devotional: The Godly Parent

The Godly Parent

May 12, 2013

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

“Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.  And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.  And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.  Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.  Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.  Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Proverbs 1:8-9

My child, listen when your father corrects you.  Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.  What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.

Just after the greatest commandment is given, the one that sums up the ten, there is a call to teach the way of God to our children.  That’s how important it is.  The people then know what we have been experiencing for two generations in America.  We are always one generation away from stepping out of God’s will.  When we neglect the Biblical command to raise our children on the way and word of God we fail to give them something vital and important to life.  Our children get their morality from us.  In fact, a child will not become more morally solid than their parents or another significant parental figure already is.  When they mature they will make their own choices, but in those vital formative years it is the parent’s faith and morality that matters most.  That faith is to be obvious.  Repeated.  Visible in person and at home.  Not is a trinket sort of way, but in a real and practical way.  A child should not wonder long what a parent believes about God.  Our God is a God of grace.  Should changes need to be made, God can help us make those changes.  How are we doing as parental figures?

Let’s not leave the child out.  It is the child’s duty to listen.  It is a child’s duty to accept the instruction that comes from parents.  When a parent leads a child correctly and raises them in God’s way, that child is given a great blessing.  A crown of grace and a chain of honor.  The child will benefit throughout his or her life and will end up making right choices more often than not.  If the child doesn’t listen then problems come.  Parents can only lead and teach.  May God help us to lead and teach our children.

Message Devotional: Our Inescapable God

Our Inescapable God

May 5, 2013

Psalm 139:1-12; 23-24

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.  I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day.  Darkness and light are the same to you.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Human beings are incredibly complex.  No one is capable of understanding how our bodies work, let alone our thoughts and emotions.  Yet God digs down deep into us.    He sees the depth in our hearts, knows our most intimate thoughts and ideas, and is aware of all we do.  He knows us more fully than we can even know ourselves and this is a great thing.  Blindly loving someone or something can often be tragic.  Loving someone when you know as much as possible about them is powerful and beautiful.  God extends his love to us knowing everything thing there is to know about us.  No one can accept us for who we are more fully than God.

Yet how many of us try to escape?  The Psalmist speaks from experience.  No matter where he (and the people of God) goes, God is present.  There is no hiding from God.  Even while far away, God still guides.  He still gives support and strength.  The goodness of God is never far away from us, despite our efforts to reject, ignore, or escape it.

So the reality of God’s presence becomes a request.  “Search me” says the writer.  He embraces God’s presence in his life.  He accepts the inescapable reality of God and his love.  He desires change.  He wants more.  He wants to be led by God.  May this request be our request today.