Where am I in the Passage?
Today, in our study of Jude 8-16, we noted four marks of those who have crept into the Church unnoticed with a dangerous doctrine. The first of the marks was their Rebellion against authority.
I believe that how one views authority is a pretty good indicator of the condition of their heart. Please read Romans 13:1-7 and see what Paul teaches about Authority. Click here for a link to the passage.
Here is a suggested Outline for this passage: 1. The Source of all authority is God (1)
2. The result of resisting authority is resisting God (2)
3. The purpose of authority is for the good of people (3,4)
- The Law keepers only bring fear to those who break it.
4. The result of obeying those in authority is avoiding God’s wrath and a guilty conscience. 5
5. The purpose of paying taxes is to support God’s purposes in this world (6,7)
Let’s consider the following thoughts;
1. Does God put into authority those who work against God’s plan?
2. How should we respond to unjust rulers?
3. How does the phrase “if you don’t respect the man, at least respect the Office” fit with this passage? Is this what God commands?
4. How do we implement this in our lives? Give specific circumstances.
5. Can you think of any examples of those in the Bible that put this truth into action?
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What Say You?
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I'm not exactly sure what the meaning is of the title of this post but I've heard it in the movies when something bad is about to happen- it's the sounding of a warning and a call to prepare for it.
We started a series on Jude yesterday and found that Jude was very concerned about people creeping into the Church with a false teaching that distorts the grace of God and whose doom is sure.
Just as an experiment I typed "bad theology" in google search and then selected "videos". It wasn't but just a few seconds and I was listening to a man teach that according to Revelation 3:20 Jesus is standing at the door of your heart pleading to come in to save you. Friends, that's not true. The context for Revelation 3:20 is fellowship. This is being addressed to a Church not the lost. Now I assume his intent was not to deceive but he was wrong. He was trying to support a theological statement based on a wrong interpretation of scripture.
I once heard that theology is like jello, if you wiggle it in one area it starts wiggling all over. What's the point? Be very sober as you open up the word of God. Let the Spirit of God lead you and be certain that your understanding of the text is the correct one. And when you are, live it out with all the passion, excitement and fervor you can muster.
Last night my wonderful bride cooked up a practice run for next weeks Thanksgiving dinner. Now she's been doing this for a good 20 years but she went ahead and did it anyway. It was fantastic and it got me to thinking about Thanksgiving, the response to God's goodness. If Melany's been cooking up fantastic Thanksgiving meals for 20 years but still thinks she needs the practice perhaps we who have been following Christ for a long period of time will not be offended if I challenge you to join me on a little experiment today (or whatever day your reading this) and keep track of all the things that you are thankful for in a day. Identify the things that God brings to your attention and give thanks and write it down. I think if you'll do this you will have a Thanksgiving like you've never had before.
So I ask....Whose with me?
Oh, and please don't be shy. I encourage you to post your responses or what your thankful for today. To do so, just click on "comments" and post away! Let's get going!
It's Wednesday! Over the Hump day we used to call it. Just a few short days until the weekend. We have begun an initiative called "Christmas Lights" for the purpose of leveraging the Christmas season to connect with friends, neighbors, coworkers and family members in hopes of presenting the love of Christ to them. We have challenged people to begin asking God to direct them to the person or persons we ought to engage for the gospel's sake and to write the persons name on a piece of paper and put it in an ornament on the Church Christmas tree. Each time they connect with this person (shine their light) we ask that they put a light bulb on the tree. My hope and prayer is that, working together, we will see people take steps towards the truth in response to God working through us. Just by sending a card, giving a gift, taking someone out to lunch or having a cup of coffee we trust that God will provide, through our intentional relationship building, an opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel.
It's Tuesday and while I have been planning for this coming Sunday for a while, today I jump in with both feet. This coming Sunday is our Thanksgiving Sunday and the text is 1 Thessalonians 5:18. 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. This is yet another one of those texts that challenge me in a big way. I would say that I'm a thankful person in that I consistently identify things for which I am grateful but this verse says that's not enough. "Give thanks in all circumstances", like when you get a nail in your tire when your on vacation, or when you stubb your toe in the middle of the night trying to discover what that noise was. These are times when thanksgiving doesn't come natural. Why do you think God wants us to be thankful for things we are not naturally thankful for?
What am I missing? Did you notice in this record of a disabled man being healed that he doesn't pay much attention to Jesus other than to tell the Pharisee's it was his fault that he was "breaking the Sabbath".
Today at our Creative Team meeting where we evaluate past services and plan for those upcoming , we were looking at Thanksgiving and I was reminded of the many passages I have preached in years past on thanksgiving and was thinking about what my text ought to be this year. There's the old stand bye- 10 lepers that are healed by Jesus but only one returns to give thanks but that one's been done to death. It really highlights the truth of the statement that too often we are more concerned about the gift of God than we are God, the giver.
Think about this friends. Say that somehow your income was cut by 40% (let's hope you never have to experience that). What "fat" do you have to cut? I think just a brief evaluation of what "luxuries" could go demonstrates just how wealthy we really are- cell phones, cable/satellite, internet service, your home phone, one less vehicle, smaller house.... the list goes on.
How thankful are you and to whom are you thankful?
Lord you have blessed me beyond what I could have ever imagined and far beyond what I deserve. Forgive me for taking your blessings for granted. You truly are so good to me and if earthly riches are not enough you give me all that you are and a place in your presence for all eternity. Thank You.
Taking my son to school today he reminded me of what not to say if a police officer pulls you over and asks "Do you know why I pulled you over?" Never, I repeat never say "Because you thought I might have donuts?"
