Discipleship
“But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear in them, nor be troubled but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as Holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” 1 Peter 3:14-15,18.
Have you ever showed up to worship on a Sunday and been so distracted you found that by the time worship services ended you wondered if it was even worth attending because you were so distracted? Most of us have been there. Unfortunately, our society and culture have high demands on our time and we could live in a distracted state of mind for decades before addressing it if we are not careful. Therefore, I want to share a few thoughts with you. Things that I know will help you to worship in a way that will bring you life and help you to give to the LORD and receive from the LORD during worship. It will take a little bit of thoughtful prep… take heart, it won’t be too difficult.
It’s Christmas Time – Get Busy
Fall feels fresh and exciting, a season full of possibilities. School is back in all its forms; families are settling into a new year, new classrooms, and new groups of friends. It can also feel overwhelming, creating struggles to set priorities and find balance in our homes. We also step into church, with great intentions that we’ll show up, we’ll engage, and we’ll be committed to growth in our family and our faith. As quickly as the season starts, we are enveloped with the realities of the new school year — sports schedules, homework, school activities, work, care of family and homes, and then, an overwhelming feeling of inadequacy can sweep over us.
When somebody sins against you and leaves a deep wound, do you find it hard to forgive? When a deadline at work is weighing on you or you are experiencing a life-altering event, do you find it difficult to be truly present with those around you? If you are anything like me, you would answer yes to these questions and a host of other similar questions.
Recently in a sermon, I told the story of how my daughter learned to ride a bike. In case you missed it, here are the essential details. When my daughter was five, she received her first bike. It was pink and green with tassels on the handlebars, and it had “Girl’s World” written in big letters on the frame. She loved the bike and immediately began to show it off to the neighbor kids.
Greetings, friends! Over the last year, I have been participating in an under-utilized practice. This practice has helped me in many ways. I’ve understood some of the Scriptures in different ways, I have heard a large section of Scriptures at one time, and I have caught themes and context throughout a larger section of scriptures. Therefore, I want to introduce you to this nearly forgotten practice (insert drum roll…) HEARING the Word of God.
For the last several months, my LifeGroup has been going through the Friendship Church Bible study curriculum on the life of Isaac and Jacob in Genesis 24-35. Throughout these chapters we see a cycle of God’s promises to and through broken and sinful people. We see these promises put into jeopardy due to the sinful and foolish actions of these people. And yet, we still see that God continues to fulfill His promises despite them. He doesn’t owe us anything, yet He keeps His promises.
As I was driving to work this brisk morning, sipping my coffee, and watching the sun hit the different colors of the changing leaves, I couldn’t help but smile. Fall finally feels like it has arrived, and that always fills me with excitement and anticipation!
I truly love the fall. I wait with anticipation all year for the crisp air, warm apple cider, the smell of bonfires and the proliferation of all things pumpkin. But my absolute favorite part of the fall is the spectacular array of leaves in their glorious, varied hues.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery… – Galatians 5:1
On June 26, we started a series on Sunday mornings called Epic Poetry . It is a series in which we are looking at select Psalms. I thought it might be helpful to provide a brief overview of the book of Psalms as we prepare to meet with God in its pages for the rest of the summer.
