Tag: church

Categories
Exodus Devotions

Taking a breath

The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it throughout their generations as a permanent covenant.

It is a sign forever between me and the Israelites, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:16-17)

Interesting phrase there at the end: The Lord rested and was refreshed.

It almost sounds as if he was tired and needed to recharge.

But of course, him being God, that was not the case.

Rather, he simply ceased his work and took a breath, not because he was tired, but to enjoy his creation.

How often do we stop what we’re doing, take a breath, and enjoy our Creator?

Of course it’s good to do that every day. But it’s especially good to do it on Sunday.

Sometimes people ask, “Do I have to go to church every Sunday?”

But that question shows a wrong way of thinking.

Going to church isn’t a “got to.” It’s a “get to.”

For a couple of hours every Sunday, we get to step away from our work, from our studies, from the drudgery of every day life, and enjoy our Creator. To remember his goodness toward us.

More, we get the chance to bless and be blessed by others in God’s family.

What is church to you?

A “got to?”

Or a “get to?”

Categories
1 Corinthians Devotionals

Building each other up

1 Corinthians

In this passage, we see a lot of instructions Paul gives the church, particularly concerning the use of the gifts of tongues and prophesy.

These instructions are important, but if that’s all we see, I think we’re missing something.

What is Paul’s main point?

His main point is that in the church, we should not be primarily thinking about ourselves and building ourselves up. Rather, we are to think of others and how to build them up.

Again and again, he talks about building up the church. But he’s not talking about building up the church as an organization. He’s talking about building up God’s people. For God’s people are the church.

Paul essentially says that when we go to church, if all we’re thinking about is if we’re being built up, we’re thinking like children. (1 Corinthians 14:20)

So many people come to church saying, “I want to be built up. I want to be encouraged.”

I hope you are built up and encouraged at your church. But Paul tells us that each person should bring something to build others up. (1 Corinthians 14:26)

So if you’re going to church this week, look for someone you can build up. Intentionally reach out and touch them. Encourage them. Pray for them.

And if you can only attend an online service, think of someone you can call or do a video chat with. Again, be intentional about it.

Let us be a church where we intentionally touch and build one another up.

Categories
Acts Devotionals

No need for Christian fellowship?

Acts

And [Paul and Barnabas] spent a considerable time with the disciples. (Acts 14:28)

Paul and Barnabas were very strong Christians. Not only that, they were very active in the Lord’s work. And yet, it’s very clear they considered Christian fellowship as vital.

It would have been so easy for them to say, “Jesus and I are good. I don’t need other Christians.” Or, “I’m doing important work for God. I don’t have time for Christian fellowship.” 

But they didn’t do that. Rather, they spent considerable time with the Christians in their home church. 

Why? Probably one reason was that they could strengthen and encourage them. But another reason was probably so that they themselves could be refreshed. 

Right now, there are many of us who can’t meet in person at church. But do we put a priority on Christian fellowship?

We need each other. And even in this time of pandemic, we can still do things like sending email, doing video chats, or just do an old-fashioned phone call. 

Who can you touch today? 

Categories
Luke Devotionals

Why we come to church

Luke

There were a lot of things that struck me in this chapter, but Jesus’ words at the synagogue really made me think.

The synagogue leader was worried about keeping religious rules in the synagogue. So when Jesus healed a woman, the leader wasn’t rejoicing over it. Rather, he got upset.

There are six days when work should be done; therefore come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath day. (Luke 13:14)

But Jesus said,

Satan has bound this woman, a daughter of Abraham, for eighteen years—shouldn’t she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day? (16)

When we come to church, what are we most concerned about? Maybe it’s not religious rules. But how often are thinking only about ourselves and what we can get at church?

How many people do God send to church that are bound by Satan and need to be set free? Do we even notice them?

Lord, open my eyes when I’m at church. Help me to see those who are bound by Satan and hurting. Let me be an agent of your love to them so that they may be set free.

Categories
1 Peter

Facing suffering as a church

1 Peter

Throughout this letter, Peter addresses Christians as they face persecution and suffering for the sake of Christ.

He addressed them first as a collective body of Christians throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. As the living stones who were all part of that one spiritual house that God was building.

Then he addressed individual Christians, the slaves, the wives, and the husbands.

Then he addressed them once again as that collective body of believers.

But now in this final chapter, I think he addresses them as individual churches. When the whole church is going through suffering, how should it respond?

It starts from the top and the example the leaders set. Peter tells them to be shepherds who really care for the flock, especially in this time of trial.

It’s easy in times of trial to look out for number one. But leaders especially are not to do that. Nor are they to lord it over their sheep. Rather, they are to put their sheep and their sheeps’ needs above their own.

I’m not sure, but I think perhaps Peter was recalling God’s condemnation of the bad shepherds of Israel in Ezekiel 34, the ones whom God had charged to lead his people, but who instead only lived for themselves.

And it’s possible Peter was saying, “Don’t be like those shepherds. Care for your flock. God will hold you accountable for what you do. But if you are faithful, then,”

When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1 Peter 5:4)

Peter then addresses the young men, telling them to be submissive to those in leadership. (5)

It’s easy, especially for those who are younger, to think they know all the answers and to criticize those in leadership. But Peter says, “Submit. Your leaders may not always be right, but submit. Don’t divide the church through your pride.”

Then he said,

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. (5-6)

Like I have said before, in times of trial, it can be easy for people to turn against each other, particularly because of pride.

But Peter says, “Be humble in your dealings with each other. And more importantly be humble before God. And if you do so, he will lift you up out of those sufferings.”

Verse 6 is actually part of one longer idea found in verse 5. Humble yourself before God. Don’t think you can solve all your problems on your own. You can’t. Instead, cast your anxiety on him because he does care for you.

So many times, we can’t find peace in our lives because we fail to do just that. In our pride, we take all these burdens upon ourselves because we can “handle it.”

But God tells us, “Trust me. Humble yourself before me and lay these things in my hand. And I will handle it.”

Peter then tells the church to be on the alert. Satan would destroy them through these trials if he could. But Peter says, stand firm in faith. Remember you’re not alone in your sufferings. Other brothers and sisters are struggling too. So encourage one another.

He then concludes,

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. (10-11)

And so we have come full circle. God has called you. He’s sanctifying you each day that you might become more like his Son. Part of that sanctifying process is the sufferings you endure. And God’s purpose in all things is that we might live for Jesus Christ.

But the thing to remember is we don’t have to do this in our own strength. Humble yourself before him. Trust him. And in the end you will come out strong, firm, and steadfast, to his glory.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ. (14)

Categories
1 Timothy

Why our conduct matters

1 Timothy

From the beginning of chapter 2 until verse 13 of chapter 3, Paul has been talking about the church.

He talks about how the men and women should conduct themselves during the service.

He talks about the types of people that should be pastors and deacons in the church, and the kind of character they should have.

And then he brings it back full circle to his overall point that he started in chapter one. That the most important thing is that God’s work, God’s kingdom be advanced. (1 Timothy 1:4).

That’s why Paul blasted the false teachers, and all the controversies they stirred up. It hindered the work of God.

But the other thing that can hinder God’s work is when his own people don’t conduct themselves properly.

That’s why in chapter 2 he addressed how the men and women should behave in the church and why in chapter 3 he addressed the issues of the leaders in the church.

Now Paul concludes this section by saying,

Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:14-15)

The church is to be the pillar and foundation of God’s truth to this world.

When people see the church, the men, the women, and all the leaders within the church, they should see the truth of the gospel, not only in our words, but in our changed lives.

They should see that our leaders don’t act as the leaders of the world do, and that the men and women in the church behave differently from the men and women of this world.

But if we are no different from the world, if our leaders are just as corrupt as the world’s leaders, if the men and women in the church behave no differently than the people of this world, the truth of God becomes tarnished in their eyes, and the truth we proclaim crumbles in the light of how we live.

This is not how things should be. But too often it is.

So let us watch how we live. Let us, as God’s church, conform no longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Let us not bend to the pressures of our culture and how our culture says things should be. But let us stand together as the pillar and foundation of truth to this world.

Categories
1 Thessalonians

Because the Lord is coming

I am coming soon

After talking about being ready for the Lord’s return, Paul gives us some instructions on how we as a church and as individual Christians are to live. And he starts with our relationships with each other.

In talking about our leaders within the church, Paul says,

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 

Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)

How often do we take our pastors and other church leaders for granted? How often do we criticize them and disrespect them for their mistakes or failings?

The truth is, we all fail. We all could be subject to criticism if the spotlight were put on us.

But while it is true that leaders are to be held to a higher standard, Paul tells us, “Respect your leaders. They’re working hard for you, probably more than you know.

And don’t just respect them, hold them in the highest regard. Do this in love because of all that they do for you, for God, and his kingdom.”

Why? Because the Lord is coming.

We don’t have time to constantly criticize our pastors and leaders for every little fault they may have and every little mistake they may make.

God will hold them responsible for what they do. He is their judge, not you. So instead of making their lives miserable, Paul says,

Live in peace with each other. (13b)

Remember that while they may be over you in the Lord, they are also your brothers and sisters. So instead of fighting against them, work with them as God leads them and you.

Paul goes on to say,

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. (14)

Pastors and leaders in the church are not the only ones subject to criticism. Often times, others are too. And if they are truly in sin, Paul tells us we are to warn them.

For others, they are timid and easily intimidated by the Enemy in this spiritual war we fight. So encourage them. Stand and fight by their side. Help them be strong in the midst of their circumstances.

Others in the church are weak, whether physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. And Paul says to help them. For they are our brothers and sisters too.

And for all these, we are to be patient with them, knowing that the Lord is patient with us too. God hasn’t given up on us. We shouldn’t give up on each other.

Finally, Paul says,

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. (15)

Even within the church, people wrong us. And it can be hard to forgive.

But again, the Lord is coming. And we can’t afford to hold grudges and bitterness in our hearts. So Paul says to again leave judgment to God, and instead respond with kindness to those who wrong us.

And not only to those within the church, but to those without, that they may see the love of Christ and may be drawn to him too.

The Lord is coming soon.

How are you treating your pastors and leaders?

How are you treating your brothers and sisters in Christ?

And how are you treating those people God has put around you outside the church?

Categories
Philippians

Shining as the stars

PhilippiansHope

Chapters and verses in the Bible are great in one sense. They certainly make it easier to find passages.

But often times, they interrupt the flow of the authors’ thinking, and make us think that they are starting entirely new thoughts when that is not the case.

This is certainly the case with this passage.

I was going to just cite verses 12-18, and realized it was simply impossible. Because all of this comes down to one thought: living lives worthy of the gospel.

The whole point Paul is trying to make is that we live lives worthy of the gospel by living in unity with one another.

In order to do that, we need to follow the example of Christ who laid down everything for us, putting our needs above his own in order to save us.

It is at the end of this thought that Paul goes on to say,

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12-13)

So often we take these verses and apply them individually to ourselves.

But once again, Paul is talking to the church as a whole, and is saying, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling because it is God who is working in all of you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

In other words, Paul is saying, “God has given you all this salvation by the sacrifice of his Son. Now make the most of this salvation you have received.

“Know that God is working in you, the church, to desire the things he desires and to act according to the purpose that he has for you as his body.”

But we can’t live out that purpose if we are constantly fighting one another, bickering, and as Paul says in another passage, biting and devouring one another (Galatians 5:15).

And so Paul tells us,

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. (14-16)

When the church is fighting itself, the world looks at it and says, “What makes them different from us?”

But when the world sees a church where people love and serve each other, when they see a church where there is no bickering or complaining, all of a sudden, we become bright lights that make them wonder, “What makes them so different?  I want what they have.”

And so Paul tells the Philippians, “My desire is that you will be those lights so that when I stand before Christ, I can point to you with pride at what you have become.”

He then concludes by talking about his own attitude toward them, saying,

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on a sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. (17)

In other words, “It’s no burden for me to do the things I have done for you. I myself am merely working out my salvation just as you are. And I rejoice with you at all that God is doing in you.

So don’t grieve or worry that I’m in prison for the gospel, but rejoice with me. And as we work and rejoice together, this world will see our light.”

How about you? Is that your attitude? Are you seeing God work not only through you, but through you and the brothers and sisters God has put around you?

Are you seeing God work out his purposes as you walk together in cooperation and unity?  Are all of you together shining the light of God that those around may see your good works as a church and glorify your Father in heaven?

Or do those around you see a people like themselves, always bickering and fighting?

May we all as a church work out our salvation with fear and trembling that the world may know the Lord who loves them and gave himself up for them.

Categories
Ephesians

That we may be filled with his glory

Ephesians

In 1 Kings, it says about the completion of the temple Solomon had built,

When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD.

And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple. (1 Kings 8:10-11)

Just as the glory of the Lord filled the temple, God desires that his church be filled with all the fullness of his glory. And that’s what Paul prays for here.

He says,

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)

Whenever I’ve read this passage in the past, I’ve always taken that “you” as singular. But actually, these “you”s are all plural.

Paul is saying, “I pray that the Spirit would empower you all through his Spirit in your inner being. I pray that you all would be rooted and established in love. I pray that you all may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Of course, I think Paul wanted that for each individual Christian. But as he was writing this, I think he was thinking of them as a unified whole. They were and we are, after all, one in Christ.

It is the very point he was hammering home earlier in chapter 2, and continues to do in chapters 3 and 4.

So he was praying,

God, please empower your church through your Spirit working in each person.

Lord Jesus dwell in their hearts through their faith in you.

Father, may they be rooted in your love for them. May that be the foundation of their lives.

And as they root themselves in your love for them, may they also be rooted and established in their love for each other.

As they do, may they really start to see and understand how wide, long, high, and deep are the riches of your wisdom and your love.

And may the result of all this be that you flood your church with all your fullness, with all your glory, just like you filled Solomon’s temple long ago.

That’s God’s vision for the church. That we would be his temple, filled with his glory, shining his light to the world.

But the thing to remember is this does not come about through our own efforts. Rather, it comes about through the work and power of God working in you and the church.

So when you feel discouraged at what you are and what the church is like now, remember that he “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (20)

He can do the miraculous. He can take broken lives and a broken church and turn it into something glorious. All we need to do is start cooperating with him.

And ultimately, the day will come when he will be glorified in us and in his Son who bought us with his blood.

So don’t be discouraged. Instead, let us sing as Paul sang,

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Categories
Ephesians

Being a steward of God’s grace

Ephesians

I like how the ESV renders verse 2 in this passage,

…you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you. (Ephesians 3:2)

A steward of God’s grace. That’s what we are called to be.

God hasn’t given us his grace simply to bathe in it for our own benefit. He has called us to be stewards of his grace as we deal with the people around us.

Of course, Paul’s stewardship was quite different from ours. The stewardship God gave him included starting multiple churches and writing scripture which teaches us all about God’s grace and the “mystery” of the gospel.

There are certainly people today that God has gifted with the ability to plant churches, but not everyone has that gift.

And there are certainly no people today that can write scripture, although God has gifted some with the gift of teaching so that they can help illumine the scriptures to others.

But whether you have these kinds of gifts or not, each of us in our own way are to be stewards of God’s grace.

What do I mean?

First of all, we should be sharing the gospel with other people. But also we should be reaching out to others, touching them with the love of God.

When people see us who are the church, they should see stewards of that grace we have received.

That starts first of all with showing grace to each other. Paul says,

This mystery (that God has revealed and Paul now shares) is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 3:6)

When God first called Abraham, God promised that all nations would be blessed through him. (Genesis 12:3)

For years, it was unclear just how that would happen. Now, Paul says, the answer has been revealed.

Through Christ and his death on the cross, all of us, Jew and non-Jew, black, white, Asian, Hispanic, male, female, or whatever, have together become God’s heirs.

Together, we have become part of one body with Christ as our head. And together we share in the promises given to us through Jesus Christ.

Now through the church, Paul says that God’s intent is that,

the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (10-11)

When all the angels and demons see the church, they start to see the many facets of God’s wisdom.

In particular, they see the wonder of a plan that brings people of all races and genders together, loving each other because of the love God has showered upon them, fulfilling the purpose for which God created them, and reflecting his glory.

But not only should they see this, the world should too. And when it does, it can’t help but be astonished by God’s grace and be drawn to it.

That’s the way it should be, anyway. But is it?

Too many times it’s not because we aren’t faithful stewards of his grace toward each other and to the world.

How about you? Are you a faithful steward of God’s grace? Is your church? When people see you, do they see God’s love and grace pouring out of you in your actions towards them and your brothers and sisters?

What kind of steward are you?

Categories
1 Corinthians

That the church might be strengthened

1 Corinthians

In this passage, Paul gives instructions on how the church service was to be run. And the main thing to him was that there was to be order, not chaos, in the church.

For that reason, if someone spoke in tongues, only two at a time could do so, and there had to be interpretation. If there was no interpretation, they were to pray in tongues silently.

In short, if they weren’t building people up during the service, they were to be silent.

There was also to be order concerning prophecy. Only one person could speak at a time and what was said had to be weighed carefully.

Weighed by what?

First and foremost by scripture. Is what was said consistent with what scripture teaches, for God will never contradict himself.

Second, the inner testimony of the Spirit by those who hear.

And third, if what the prophet said is actually true or comes true.

In addition, as with tongues, there shouldn’t be a bunch of people speaking out prophecies all at the same time, lest there be confusion as to what is said.

Then we have this thing about women being silent. There are numerous different interpretations on the passage. I don’t think it’s saying women have to be completely silent for two reasons.

For one thing, we already saw in chapter 11 that Paul takes for granted that women pray and prophesy in the service.

Second, when Paul elaborates on his meaning in this passage, he speaks specifically of women asking questions about what is being taught.

In church services today, a pastor or teacher speaks uninterrupted. That’s taken for granted in this day and age.

Apparently, this was not the case for the Corinthian women.

Some have speculated that the men and women were sitting apart from each other as they did in the Jewish synagogue and that women were calling across the room to their husbands asking for an explanation.

Whether that’s true or not, it does seem that the women were interrupting what was going on. So Paul specifically says,

If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home. (1 Corinthians 14:35)

He mentions nothing about women praying or prophesying or anything else, just inquiries.

On the other hand, Paul had just said that everyone should bring something, a hymn, word of instruction, etc, in order to strengthen the church. (1 Corinthians 14:26)

So what can we get from this? Some people were apparently disrupting the church by speaking in tongues without interpretation.

Others seemed to be shouting down what others were saying because “God led them,” to speak.

Others were interrupting the Word of the Lord by their constant questions.

And all of this hurt the strengthening of the church.

We may not face these problems now, but are you doing things that are hurting the strengthening of the church?

Instead of praying for people’s problems, are you gossiping about them?

Instead of encouraging others, are you constantly criticizing them?

Are you, because of your pride, refusing to help others with the same gifts as you, for fear that they might surpass you?

Are you hurting the strengthening of the church by your negative actions?

Are you doing nothing for the strengthening of the church because of your passivity or selfishness?

Or are you actually contributing to the strengthening of the church?

I don’t know about you, but I would prefer to be the latter.

Which of the three describes you?

Categories
1 Corinthians

Bringing something to give

1 Corinthians

One excuse people often use as to why they leave the church is, “I’m just not getting anything out of it.”

It’s almost as if they expect to be entertained or coddled, and if that’s not happening, they are no longer interested in coming to church.

But that way of thinking is purely selfish, and it is not how we are to think of church. Paul wrote,

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.

All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. (1 Corinthians 14:26)

In Paul’s thinking then, when we come to church, our attitude should not be “Gimme, gimme, gimme,” and “me, me, me.”

Rather our attitude should be, “What do I have to give? How can I strengthen the people in the church?”

And Paul doesn’t say that just the pastors should be doing this. Rather, he says “everyone” who comes ought to bring something to give.

From the most mature Christian to the least mature, all should be thinking, “How can I bless the people I meet at church today?”

Even a young Christian can share something that they read in the Bible that week that touched them. Even a child can share a song they learned praising Jesus.

Just this week, my five-year-old daughter was singing a song she learned in Sunday school to someone who was feeling down, which said, “Where is God? God is here, and he’s with you wherever you go.”

So as we go to church, let us not go with a self-centered attitude of “What am I going to get from church today?”

Rather, let us look for ways to encourage and build up those we meet.

And let us consider, contemplate, and plan how to spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day of the Lord’s return drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Categories
1 Corinthians

How we approach our work for the Lord

1 Corinthians

In a lot of ways, I’m kind of reiterating what I said yesterday, but certain things kind of struck me as I reread the passage today and I wanted to highlight them.

One thing is the privilege that we have to work hand in hand with God. Paul said,

We are God’s fellow workers. (1 Corinthians 3:9)

Think about that for a minute. God doesn’t really need us. He could do everything he wanted to accomplish without us.

But he chooses to use us. And he invites us to join him in his work. I read that and just say, “Wow!”

God doesn’t just save us to sit down and bask in his grace. He wants us to also become an active part of his Kingdom.

And so he stretches out his hand toward us and says, “Won’t you join me in this work? Let’s work together on this.”

The second thing we need to remember though is he doesn’t call us into this work to bring glory to ourselves. Paul said,

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe–as the Lord has assigned to each his task. (1 Corinthians 3:5)

A servant doesn’t draw attention to himself. For the most part, the best servant is invisible. You barely notice he’s there, and yet all that needs to get done is done. And in the end, he should say humbly,

We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty. (Luke 17:10)

Still, though an earthly master might not show any appreciation for his servant and even treat him as a nobody, God again sees us as his fellow workers. And he gets down into the mud with us to do the things he has asked of us.

More without him working in us and through us, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything. For as Paul writes,

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. (1 Corinthians 3:6)

So where is the room for pride? There is none. Paul tells us,

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Corinthians 3:7)

One final thing to remember in whatever ministry we’re in is that the people we’re working with are not, “my people.” Rather they are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:9)

Too often, we get wrapped up with marking out our territory in ministry. And if we’ve been doing certain things in the church for a number of years, we mark those duties as our territory, and the people we’re working with as our people.

But the Lord assigns each person their own task, and sometimes those tasks change as he invites other people to join in his work. And he does that for the betterment of his kingdom.

Yet many Christians become upset when Christ calls others into work that “encroaches” on their territory. And they become jealous when they find that others are more skilled or talented than they are.

Let us remember, however, that each person has their part in the body of Christ. Each person has been assigned their task. And as much as we are fellow workers with God, we are also fellow workers with each other.

So let us work with one another, casting aside our jealousy and territorial way of thinking, realizing that it is God’s field, not ours. It is God’s building, not ours.

Most importantly, let us focus on the relationship we have with God.

One of the main reasons he calls us to join him in his work is so that we can spend more time together with him. And as we do, we will find joy.

How do you approach the work God has given you?

Categories
1 Corinthians

With what we are building up the church

1 Corinthians

It’s interesting pulling this whole passage together. Usually when I have read it in the past, I’ve taken different parts of it and looked at them individually, but I’ve never really read it as a whole.

What is Paul talking about here? He’s talking about how we are building up our churches, and he warns us that we need to be careful how we build.

He reminds us first of all that Christ alone is the foundation of the church. (1 Corinthians 3:11)

But with what do we build on that foundation? The charisma of this pastor or this leader? Jealousy? Backbiting? Pride?

Charisma isn’t bad, but you can’t truly build a church on a pastor’s charisma.

And the rest? It will tear a church apart.

And so as each person, from the pastor all the way down the chain to the newest Christian, does their work within the church, they need to ask, with what materials am I trying to build this church up?

And depending on what we use, we will be judged.

Paul says,

If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light.

It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.

If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

In other words, none of us will go to hell because we fail in the duties that God has given us. But we can lose our reward. And some will literally get into heaven with nothing to show for all they did here on earth.

Why? Their hearts were not right before him. And again, Paul is pointing specifically to hearts of pride, jealousy, and division, things that can destroy the church.

It is with this in mind that he says,

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

The “you”s here are all plural in the Greek.

And Paul is saying, “You Christians collectively are God’s temple.”

Put another way, “The church is God’s temple.” And if we do things that destroy the church, God will bring judgment upon us. If our pride, jealousy, and divisive spirits tear apart the church, God will hold us accountable.

So Paul tells us to get rid of these things. Get rid of the “wisdom” of this world that leads to pride, jealousy, and division.

Instead, embrace the “foolishness of the cross,” that would lead us to be humble and grateful to God, and accepting of those around us.

How about you? Whether you’re a pastor or the newest Christian in the church, you have a part in building up Christ’s church. With what are you building it up?

Categories
Acts

What pastors and leaders cannot do

Acts

The early church was not without its growing pains. And we see an example of it here.

Among the things the church did was provide for the needs of the poor among them. But as the church grew, the responsibilities for this ministry grew exponentially.

At first, the apostles took care of the collecting and dispersing of the money. We see this when Barnabas and Ananias came before Peter and the apostles to present the money they had received from selling their land.

But now, with the great number of believers within the church, balls were starting to get dropped.

Not only that, a racial divide started to develop between the Hebraic Jews and Grecian Jews, with the needs of the Grecian widows being neglected in favor of the Hebraic widows.

How could this happen? I don’t know. I don’t believe the apostles were purposefully racist. But with too many other things to attend to, they definitely dropped the ball on this.

Their solution? They said,

It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.

Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.

We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:2-4)

Upon doing so, the Word of God spread, and the church continued its rapid growth.

What can we get from this? One major thing.

There is one thing that our pastors and leaders cannot do: everything.

Yet so often, we leave ministry to the “professionals.”

The truth is, all of us are part of the body of Christ. We all need to do our part. But to do our part, we all need to be filled with God’s Spirit.

Too many people in the church complain when balls get dropped in the church and they criticize the leaders for it.

But are we daily being filled with God’s Spirit, and doing our part to take the burden off of them so that they can do the things that God has specifically called them to do?

Are we helping them to avoid getting distracted by the things that would detract from their calling?

I suppose the question from the pastors’ side is what do they feel their main calling is as a pastor? What is God calling them to do within the church? And what things do they need to let go of so that they can focus on that calling?

Just as importantly, are they raising up Spirit-filled people who can take on the other responsibilities of the church?

Pastors and leaders can’t do everything. And if we can learn that, from the pastor down to the newest member in the church, God’s church can grow.

But if we don’t, we will face definite limits going forward in trying to extend God’s kingdom.

How about you? Are you doing your part?

Categories
Acts

Unity, power, and grace

Acts

What is the church supposed to look like? I think we get a picture of it here.

Unity.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. (Acts 4:32)

How many churches can say this of themselves? One in heart and mind. One to the point that they didn’t even see their possessions as their own.

All they had belonged to the Lord, and whenever they saw need among their brothers and sisters, they shared what they had to the point that there were no needy persons among them.

But nowadays, many people in the church don’t think that way. When they hear about tithing, they get offended, and say, “It’s my money. All this about tithing is Old Testament law. It has no relevance to me.”

I’d agree that tithing is Old Testament law, and that we are not bound to it.

But to say that it’s your money is not true. God ultimately is the one who made you able to earn your money, giving you your gifts and your talents. So anything you earn off of those gifts and talents ultimately belong to him.

The early church recognized this, and because of it, they were generous with what God had given them, and as a result, there was much…

Grace.

As it says in verse 33,

Much grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:33b)

God, of course, shows much grace to us directly, forgiving our sins, and showering his blessings on us every day.

What we need to remember, however, is that God desires us to be agents of his grace. He wants us to share the grace we have received with others.

But when we are self-centered, holding on to the things God has freely given us, the pipeline of grace gets clogged.

On the other hand, if we get our eyes off ourselves and on to others, grace flows freely within the church.

Power.

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 4:33a)

Power included miracles as well as the Spirit-infused power of their witness turning them from ordinary, uneducated fishermen into people that turned the world upside-down.

The same Spirit that did that back then can do it today. We need to be praying for that. Not only for the miracles of healings, but for the miracles of changed lives as the Spirit speaks through those who bring us the Word.

A pastor’s words are nothing if they are not infused by the Spirit of God. So let’s pray for our pastors that they would be filled with God’s Spirit, and that he would speak his words through them.

But let’s also pray that God would speak through us as well as we touch the lives of those around us. After all, we are God’s priests to the world too.

Unity, grace, and power. May Christ’s church be filled with these things like it was 2000 years ago.

Categories
Psalms

Unity

Psalms

As the pilgrims continued their ascent up to Jerusalem to worship at the temple, they sang about something that is vital for the church today.  Unity.

David wrote,

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)

Unity truly is a beautiful thing in the church of Christ.  Disunity and dissent, on the other hand, is an ugly stain on the church.

When people can walk into the church, and see a people united in the love of Christ, it draws them in and makes them want to become a part of it.

But when people walk into a church and see complaining, bitterness, gossip, and backbiting, nothing will chase them away faster.  It leaves a foul taste in their mouth, as they ask, “Is the church any different from the world out there?”

That’s why Jesus told his disciples,

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.  (John 13:34-35)

Later, Jesus prayed for the church asking,

…that they may all be one ; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.  (John 17:21)

Through unity, those outside the church see Christ in us, and can come to know God’s blessing.  But not only are those outside the church blessed, so are those inside the church.

David writes,

It (that is unity) is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.  (Psalm 133:2)

The oil referred to is the anointing oil of the priests, a very pleasant mixture of myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, and cassia.

David writes that for the priest (Aaron, of course, was Israel’s first high priest), unity is like being anointed with that mixture.

And for pastors today, to see a church united under Christ, loving each other and serving each other as Christ commanded, brings joy to their hearts.

Oil is also a sign of the Holy Spirit.  And as people are led by the Spirit, we see the fruit that comes from him leading to unity.  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.

A united church is filled with this kind of fruit.

David goes on to say,

It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.  (3a)

The picture is of dew from a higher mountain (Hermon) descending on the lower (Zion).  A dew that refreshes and cleanses.

That’s what unity does in a church.  It refreshes all who go there and leaves them feeling clean, touched by the hand of God.

David closes by singing,

For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.  (3b)

For the church that is united under Christ, God’s blessing is upon them.  And all who walk in their fellowship will find the life that comes from God.

What kind of church are you going to?  Are you going to a church united under Christ, bearing his fruit?  Or to one divided?

Are you contributing to your church’s unity?  Or are you tearing it down?