Monthly Devotions
February 2012
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
March 2009
February 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
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February 2012
Encouraging Bible Verses
2012 Church Theme: Encouragement
Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
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November 2011
Who Gets the Thank?
Teed Nail
1 Chronicles 29:12 "Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all."
According to a recent news article, a Washington resident found a small package on her doorstep that contained a car key and a note that read, “This is a gift for you because I love you.” It also included a Scripture verse and was signed, “An angel of the Lord.” In her driveway was a late-model car– just what she needed to replace her old unreliable one.
The woman was so grateful that she hung a poster on her garage door that read, “Thank You, God.” She wanted to thank to convey her thanks to her anonymous friend who might pass by. But her sign was also making an important statement: All good gifts ultimately come from God.
David recognized this truth as he and his people celebrated the enormous offering that had been given for the construction of the temple. They could have slapped one another on the back and exchanged mutual praise for the other’s generosity (1 Chronicles 29:1-20). But they didn’t. David showed his wisdom and maturity as Israel’s leader by thanking the Lord for all blessings. He knew that when a gift comes from human hands, it’s the Lord who deserves the praise.
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October 2011
Procrastination
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A publication called “Last Month’s Newsletter” is printed every so often and is free to members of the Procrastinators’ Club of America.
A sample from one edition reads, “Please forgive us this one time, but our club president’s message, which was planned to appear in this space, missed our late deadline; he promised to make every effort to get a message prepared in time for our next issue, if and when it comes out, provided he’s not pushed or rushed into it and end up with a message as inferior as this one would have been.”
Sometimes procrastination is funny. But as Genesis 19:16 reveals, a delayed response to God’s commands is serious business. “And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, the Lord being merciful to him.” Lot seemed to act appropriately when the Lord told him to get his family out of Sodom and run for his life. Yet he lingered in the city until the angels of God had to take him by the hand and lead him out. If the Lord had not mercifully put up with Lot’s tendency to put off, he and his entire family would have been destroyed.
The Lord knows that we are too often like Lot. So we must pray: “Lord, please be merciful to us, as You were to Lot. We know that we should be as quick to do Your will as Jesus was. We need the help of Your Holy Spirit to enable us to give You the prompt obedience that You so much deserve.”
There are three months left in this year. If we have been procrastinating and we have not yet shared our testimony of Christ’s love for us with someone else and if we have not yet invited someone to attend a worship service with us then let’s not put it off any longer.
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September 2011
Witnessing for Christ
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At the January Planning Meeting the theme of “Being witnesses for Christ” was introduced to the Church leadership. A motto was adopted for the 2011 church year: “Witnessing for Christ in our Character, Actions, and Relationships.” Scripture support for this motto is focused on two passages: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1Peter 3:15); “…Contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3). The morning sermons (January through May) were all designed around the 2011 theme and each message encouraged the individual Christian and the church family as a whole, to practice witnessing for Christ. Several volunteers gave their personal testimony to the congregation. The 2011 theme was further supported by the Minister’s Adult Sunday Bible Class teaching on the theme of “Making Disciples.”
During the summer, the morning messages focused on lessons from the Book of Psalms.
This September and October the morning messages will return to the theme “Witnessing for Christ in our Character, Actions, and Relationships.” Those individuals that did not have the opportunity to share their personal testimony will be invited to do so.
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August 2011
The Qualities of an Encourager
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Acts 11:23 “When [Barnabas]...had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all.”
Every Christian should be an encourager. But what does it mean to be an encourager?
A good example is found in the disciple Barnabas, whose name means, “Son of Encouragement.” He is overshadowed by the great apostle Paul, but he played an important part both in the life of the apostle and the early church.
Acts 4:36-37 reveals that he was a “generous” man, willing to give his possessions to help other Christians. It was Barnabas the encourager who “befriended” the new Christian, Saul of Tarsus, when he was still suspect by the apostles because of his reputation for persecuting the church (Acts 9:26-27). Barnabas “took a genuine interest in” others who experienced the grace of God (Acts 11:22-23). And even though he had been a Christian longer than Paul, Barnabas was “willing to take a subordinate place” (Acts 13).
These are some of the qualities of an encourager:
• Generosity in God’s work
• Willingness to befriend a stranger
• Gladness when God shows His grace to others
• A humility that is ready to let someone else have a more prominent role
Let encouragement be our distinguishing characteristic.
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July 2011
True Freedom
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In 1776, the 13 British colonies in North America protested the limitations placed on them by the king of England and engaged in a struggle that gave birth to a brand new republic. The infant nation soon adopted the now famous document known as the Declaration of Independence.
Almost 2,000 years ago, the Lord Jesus cried out on the cross, “It is finished,” proclaiming the believer’s “declaration of independence.” All of humanity was under the tyranny of sin and death. But Christ, the sinless One, took our place on Calvary and died for our sins. Having satisfied God’s righteous demands, He now sets free for eternity all that trust Him.
Paul wrote, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13).
Romans 8: 1-2 assures us, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus….for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Galatians 5:1 urges all who have been redeemed to “stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free.”
We are thankful to God for any freedom we enjoy in our nation. But above all, believers everywhere can praise Him for the freedom that is found in Christ!
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June 2011
The Task of a Father
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What admirable quality is common to marmosets, siamangs, sea horses, and jacanas? Here are your clues: Marmosets are squirrel-size monkeys; Siamangs are members of the ape family; Sea horses aren’t really horses. And jacanas are robin-size wading birds, sometimes called “Lily Trotters” because their long toes allow them to walk across water on lily pads.
Time is up. Here’s the answer I’m looking for: The male of each of these species takes care of its young.
I wish this could be said of all Christian fathers about the spiritual nurture of their children. Dads have a wonderful opportunity to encourage, to warn, to teach, to counsel, and to model the Christian life for their children. It is significant that Moses’ instruction in Deuteronomy 6 was directed toward fathers. Verse 7 especially spells out one task of a father: “To teach his children the commands of God.”
This sounds like Paul’s statement in Ephesians 6:4. He said that fathers should rear their children “in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Christian fathers who do this will distinguish themselves from other dads and will be obedient to God’s will.
A Christ-like example is a father’s greatest gift to His children. Someone wrote: “Fathers, give your children guidance and instruction from God’s Word; then with wisdom and compassion teach them how to love the Lord.”
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May 2011
People Who Sing!
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Revelation 15:3 “And they sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb”
Emperor Penguins love to sing. They are among the most musical creatures on earth. When courting, the male and female bow and sing to each other. Her voice is soft and gentle; he sings loud and long. When the mother penguin has laid her eggs, she goes off to the ocean for two weeks to feed. While she is gone, the father sits on the eggs and sings. After regaining her strength, the female comes back to the nest and sings as well. And shortly before a little one is hatched, if you lean your ear down close to the shell, you can hear the chick singing inside.
The people of God are also singers. When Moses led Israel out of Egypt, he paused to praise God in song (Ex. 15:1-18). Deborah sang in victory (Judges 5). David’s songs were numerous. Many psalms begin with a reference to singing. The disciples sang in the upper room (Mark 14:26). Paul instructed believers to sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). And our verse for today tells of the song of the redeemed in heaven: “And they sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb” (Revelation 15:3).
Are we singing Christians? Are we expressing the joy of the Lord in song? It may not always be on our lips, but it should resound in our hearts and minds. If you have no song, something is wrong. Christians are a people who cannot help but sing to the Lord!
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April 2011
The Amazing Come Back
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Hebrews 12: 1-16
Who is not inspired by the competitor who makes a comeback after being down and seemingly out of the running? The runner who stumbles while coming off the starting blocks but moves gradually into the lead stirs the imagination of us all. The team that can come from behind in the last moments to win excites us even more than the team that constantly wins by scoring big in the first part of the game. Jesus made the most amazing comeback the world has ever seen. After being humiliated, insulted, spit upon, whipped, beaten, and nailed to a cross, His executioners claimed victory and declared Him dead. A military guard secured His tomb. How could anyone be more down and out than that?
Yet the struggle was not over; it was only the beginning. Three days later, He rose from the grave and reappeared as the victor over sin, death, and hell - comeback like no other in all of history.
Are you feeling out of the running today? Have you stumbled badly? Think about Jesus’ suffering. Ponder His resurrection. Ask Him to give you the victory. Just imagine what He has to offer you, no matter how far down you are now.
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March 2011
A Heart for God
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1 Samuel 13:14 “The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart”
1 Samuel 13:14
Two scenes in David’s life show why he was a man after God’s own heart. SCENE ONE: King Saul was dead, and the way was clear for David to be king. Saul had tried repeatedly to kill David. Yet when David learned of Saul’s death, he tore his clothes and mourned. Then he “inquired of the Lord” (2 Samuel 2:1). What nobility! What respect and compassion for God’s anointed and what dependence on God!
SCENE TWO: King David was ruling well. Then came a tragic fall. Adultery and a cover-up murder disgraced God’s name before the heathen and devastated David’s household (2 Samuel 11:1-15). But he faced his sin and humbly accepted God’s judgment. Then came another downfall. Without consulting the Lord, David ordered a census (2 Samuel 24:1). Although not wrong in itself, David’s action revealed self-sufficiency or pride or both. God was greatly displeased. But no sooner had the numbers come in than David’s own heart condemned him. “I have sinned greatly,” he said (2 Samuel 24:10). David was brought very low, no longer to rely on his own resources.
David thirsted for God. He confessed his wrong doing as sin and repented. He relied on God’s mercy. That is why he was a man after God’s own heart – he had a heart for God! Can that be said of us?
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February 2011
Fear & Courage
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1 Corinthians 2:3 “I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.”
Walter Anderson was the editor of Parade Magazine in the 1980’s. He wrote a book titled, “Courage is a Three Letter Word.” His message was clear and simple. Real courage means saying “Yes” to life instead of backing down when we face a challenge. He says in his book, that courage “is acting with fear, not without it.” He says, “Of all the successful people I’ve known and written about it is not just that they’ve learned to live with anxiety or to cope with it, they’ve learned to live better because of it.” Then Anderson described a public figure he felt had shown great character and courage because he had said “Yes” to life after being humiliated and embarrassed before the entire nation.
By Anderson’s description, the apostle Paul also was a man of real courage. In 1 Corinthians 2, he freely admits that he lived with fear, not without it (v. 3). He said he was “in much trembling” as he carried the message of Christ to hostile people. Yet Paul also said that he had learned to live better because of his fear. As he recognized his own weakness and inadequacy, it gave him reason and occasion to depend on the power and the Spirit of God (v. 4).
As we focus on “Witnessing in our character, actions and relationships” in 2011, several people have volunteered to give their personal testimony to the gathered church. These are people that are filled with fear and anxiety at the thought of getting up in front of the whole church and telling the story of their journey of faith. These people have said “Yes” to the challenge that was placed before them and as a result, the whole church will be blessed. Someone said, “Courage is not the absence of fear but he conquest of fear.”
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January 2011
Happy New Year!
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The slogan we embraced for 2010 came out of our fiftieth anniversary as a church and it has served us well to help us to remember to Celebrate God’s blessing: “Celebrate the blessings we share as the assembled people of God.” We find in the New Testament one single plan to grow the church and advance the Gospel. That plan is very simple: Witness the Good News of Jesus Christ to others; tell others how Jesus has changed us and how we continue our relationship with Him. Our slogan for 2011 will be: “Witnessing for Christ in our character, actions and relationships.” The Scripture we will use as our base is found in James 1 verse 22, “Do not merely listen to the Word but do what it says!”
Starting January 23 we will try to have different people from the congregation share their witness and give their testimony about their relationship with Jesus Christ. It is hoped that this will be an encouragement to us all to make Jesus the topic of all of our conversations with everyone we meet. The people who will be asked to participate in giving their testimony will be given a worksheet that will help them focus their sharing.
May 2011 bring us spiritual growth as well as numerical growth and may this new year find us faithful to putting the Word of God into action in our individual lives and in the life of our church.
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December 2010
Hiding in Plain Sight
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Luke 1:31 “You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.”
Many years ago a Baltimore congregation found the answer to their financial troubles hanging on the wall of their church. It had been “hiding” there for more than twenty-five years! Someone finally recognized a piece of art hanging in the chapel- it was a valuable woodblock print by Albrecht Durer, the greatest artist of the northern Renaissance. The 1493 work shows the angel telling Mary she would give birth to God’s Son. Some members of the congregation just could not believe they had been unaware of the value of the old masterpiece, saying in effect, “If it were real, why would it be here?”
What about us? Are we overlooking the value of the event depicted on that woodblock print? Jesus is not hiding. The truth that God came to earth in human form is plainly announced in His Word. It is reflected in our art and in our hymn books. But the significance of Christ’s birth is still neglected. We get so wrapped up in activities and programs that we miss the immeasurable worth of knowing who that Baby was.
What’s missing in our worship? Think about the meaning of His birth. Jesus is God! He came to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21) and give us eternal life
(John 3:14-18). This Christmas, join with the wise men and shepherds and give praise to Jesus, God who became Man.
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November 2010
The Therapy of Thanksgiving
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Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
A recurring theme in the letters of the apostle Paul is the encouragement to practice thankfulness in every circumstance of life. To the Thessalonians he wrote, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18). And to the Philippians he wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (4:6).
Such exhortations often appear in the context of suffering, trial, or persecution. Paul Rees called giving thanks “the holy therapy of thankfulness.”
Even in times of trial and adversity, when it is difficult to feel grateful, we need to think of who we are in Christ, what He’s done for us, and what He is doing in us by His Spirit. Cam Thompson wrote, “When prayers are heavy and slow, how often do we find that the blockage lies in our failure to thank God for what He has already done!”
We may be living in the midst of difficult circumstances. Perhaps we are disappointed by unfulfilled dreams or a frustrating turn of events. Determine now to thank God in spite of everything. Look for the good in our situation. What healing begins when we start naming our blessings.
Thankfulness is good therapy.
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October 2010
The Secret of Joy
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Habakkuk 3:17-18 “Though the fig tree may not blossom,…yet I will rejoice in the Lord.”
One of the shortest books in the Old Testament is the book of Habakkuk. In its three brief chapters we see an amazing transformation in the prophet’s outlook on life. His opening words express depths of despair, but at the close of the book he has risen to heights of joy.
What caused this remarkable change? Why did Habakkuk begin with a complaint and end with a song of praise? The answer lies in three verses in chapter 2. In addition to God’s message of judgment on the wicked, the Almighty told the troubled prophet, “The just shall live by his faith” (v. 4). He also promised that someday the earth would “be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (v. 14). Finally, He assured him that “the Lord is in His holy temple” (v.20). These wonderful truths were just what Habakkuk needed to lift him out of his deep depression. By fixing his eyes on God, he rose above his discouraging circumstances and found a source of lasting joy in the Lord.
Like the prophet, we too must walk by faith and look forward to that glorious time when Jesus will return to earth to set up His kingdom of peace and righteousness. Maintaining our confidence in Him is the secret of true joy.
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September 2010
The Heart of the Church
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What makes a church successful?
Does a big turnout on Sunday morning make a church successful? Does a multimillion-dollar budget make a church successful? Does a state of the art building with up-to-date equipment make a church successful?
We all know those things are not the criteria that define a successful church. Whether a church seats stadium-size crowds or has just a few in attendance, numbers are not the measure God uses for success. God looks at the heart of the church.
The apostle Paul planted an important church in Thessalonica, the capital city of Macedonia. He showed his desire for the church members there when he wrote: “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our
God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13). With these words, Paul showed us two characteristics that are vital for a successful body of believers, love for one another and holiness.
Congregations, church buildings, and budgets come in different sizes. The true measure of success is demonstrated by followers of Christ who love God and each other, and are committed to living holy lives. Our challenge can be found in the words of the prophet Micah: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (6:8.)
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August 2010
Where Are You Looking?
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Hebrews 12:1-2 “Let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”
Peter began to sink when he walked to Jesus from a boat. Jesus said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” But we do Peter a great disservice if we remember only Jesus’ loving rebuke. Remembering only this glosses over Peter’s enthusiasm and faith when he started toward Jesus. Would I have gotten out of that boat? Would I have believed that I could walk on water?
It was not until Peter took his eyes off Jesus and began concentrating on the wind-whipped waves around him that he began to sink. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us to look always to Jesus but, like Peter, we are often distracted also by what is going on around us.
What causes us to take our eyes off Jesus? Certainly the quest to accumulate power and possessions and our anxiety about them can do it. The pursuit of pleasure can also distract us from making Christ our primary focus. It is even possible that we can get so busy working in the church that we forget to look to the Lord in daily prayer and Bible study. Fortunately, Christ still reaches out a saving hand to us as he did to Peter, pulling us back and helping us to focus on him.
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June 2010
Salt of the Earth
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Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor,...it is then good for nothing.”
What did Jesus mean when He told His followers that they were “the salt of the earth”? (Matthew 5:13). In the ancient world, salt had many uses. For one, it preserved food. Without salt, meat and fish would quickly spoil. In a similar way, Christians who uphold God’s moral standards can slow the decay of society.
Salt was also used as fertilizer. Until the mid 1900’s, English farmers added salt to their fields to increase the yield. Salt helped crops to grow. Christians too can encourage the growth of what is good wherever they live.
Salt also brings out the flavor of food. By their witness, salty believers help the people around them to taste life fully as God intended.
Yet Jesus warned that salt can lose its flavor. Pure salt as we know it, made up of sodium chloride, can’t lose is taste. In ancient Israel, however, farmers would dig salt from the shores of the Dead Sea. Although it was called salt and looked like salt, it was mixed with other substances. Farmers would heap the salty material in a field, but when the rains came and poured down on it, the pure salt would sometimes drain away. What was left looked like salt, but it had lost its saltiness.
What about us? Are we salty Christians? It has been said, “A salty Christian makes others thirsty for Jesus, the water of life.”
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May 2010
They're Back!
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Proverbs 30:25 “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer.”
Every spring / summer they come back to prove that Agur, the writer of Proverbs 30, was right. They appear one by one in the church kitchen to “prepare their food in the summer.” On their own, the little guys aren’t very strong, but they sure are persistent. No matter how clean we keep the kitchen, and regardless of what brand of repellent we use, ants always seem to find another crack through which to poke their tiny heads. Almost nothing can stop them.
Ants are “exceedingly wise” according to Proverbs 30:24. Their wisdom is seen in their ability to work together as they gather their food in the summer: “Go to the ant…consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-8). One lone ant can’t accomplish much. Oh, he can move a few crumbs around and dig out a few grains of dirt, but he can never construct a vast underground community by himself. That requires communication and cooperation. But ants are experts at teamwork. And that is the point they can teach us.
Ants: little on the earth, yet so wise. People: masters of the earth, yet still learning from the ants. As Christian workers, are we learning the lesson of working together with our fellow believers to accomplish God’s work? Or are we trying to do it all ourselves- risking burnout and failure. Let us learn from Agar’s ants.
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April 2010
Three Crosses
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Luke 23:33 “…There they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”
One of the most beloved hymns of the church is “The Old Rugged Cross” written by George Bennard in 1913. The artist Rembrandt was inspired by the events of Calvary and painted a picture he called The Three Crosses.
Writing about the crosses, Myron J. Taylor wrote, “One cross portrays a thief dying IN sin, and the other a thief dying TO sin. But the center cross speaks of the Redeemer dying FOR sin. It divides all humanity into one of two categories – those who reject Christ and die in sin, and those who receive Christ and can die to sin.”
Having received Christ, how do we die to sin? We must realize that we are no longer enslaved by its power. Yielding to God’s Spirit, we put to death the sinful deeds of the body. We speak truthfully instead of deceitfully, deal with anger daily, engage in honest work to help others, check the first shoots of bitterness, and forgive as God has forgiven us.
Those crosses confront us all along life’s highway. Sin’s penalty was paid and sin’s power was broken on that center cross. By dying daily to our sins, we experience the fullness of eternal life.
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March 2010
The Way to Praise Him
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On March 28 we will celebrate “Palm Sunday.” We will recall again the “Triumphal Entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem a few days before His death. We will focus our attention on Christ as our Lord. When Jesus sent His disciples to get the colt He was to ride, He instructed them to tell its owners, “The Lord has need of it” (Luke 19:31). And when the crowds shouted their praise, they quoted Psalm 118:26, saying “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19: 38).
Jesus is Lord! His is “The name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). As part of Christ’s title, the word Lord refers to His sovereignty. He is the King, and every believer in Him is a member of His kingdom.
We make Jesus the Lord of our lives by bowing to His authority as King. This means that we live in obedience to Him. We can’t be like the man who claimed to be a Christian and yet chose to use illegal substances and live in an illicit relationship. When his minister confronted him, he glibly replied, “Don’t worry, pastor. It’s okay. I am just a bad Christian.”
It is not okay. Not at all! Not for a member of Christ’s kingdom (Luke 6: 43-49).
As we prepare to celebrate this Palm Sunday let us make sure that we are honoring Him with our deeds as well as with our words. Then we can join with others in proclaiming, “Jesus is Lord!”
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February 2010
Lifted from the Depths
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"Celebrate the blessings we share as the assembled people of God!"
A British submarine laid disabled on the ocean floor. Several days passed and the crew lost hope of being rescued. The prospect was especially dim because they had not been able to communicate their exact position to allied ships on the surface. The commanding officer explained to the men that they didn’t have much longer to live, and he suggested that they sing a hymn. So together, they sang these words: “The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide.”
As the oxygen supply began to run out, the men gradually weakened. One sailor was affected more quickly than the others and lurched forward, crashing against the vessel’s surfacing equipment. Suddenly the faulty mechanism began to operate, and the vessel slowly rose from the ocean floor. They all made it back to port safely.
Greater than any deliverance from a literal sea is God’s provision for those who are trapped in the ocean of unbelief. Only a miracle of grace can bring them out of the depths of sin and degradation.
Whoever is caught in the grip of sin, Jesus alone can give them a new start. If they will put their trust in the Savior, they will be lifted out of the waters of judgment and into the sunlight of God’s forgiveness.
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand" (Psalm 40:1-2).
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January 2010
Into the Unknown in 2010
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Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called... And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
One of the greatest obstacles we face in following Christ in 2010 is fear of the unknown. We yearn to know in advance the outcome of our obedience and where He is taking us, yet we are given only the assurance that He is with us and that He is in charge. And with that, we venture into the unknown of 2010 with Him.
Abraham modeled the response of a person who is willing to walk with God into an unknown future. “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8).
Abraham knew that God had called him and had given him a promise and that was enough. He was willing to entrust his future to the Lord.
We may do the same in 2010 by trusting our Lord for the future and stepping out in faith. As we stand on the threshold of a new year, may this prayer of faith and anticipation be an encouragement to us all:
O Lord God, who has called us, Your servants, to ventures of which we cannot see the ending; by paths as yet un-trodden and through perils unknown; Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love is supporting us. Amen.
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December 2009
A Joyous Celebration
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Luke 2:10 "...Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people..."
When God shows His goodness, He loves to see us celebrate and respond with joy. For example, when God brought the Israelites back from captivity, He told them to hold a festival to commemorate the completion of the new temple and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem (Neh.8). And celebrate they did!
If God wanted the Israelites to have a good time of feasting and sharing because of His goodness, would He condemn a festive spirit at Christmas time?
Was not the angel’s message to the shepherds one of “good tidings of great joy”?
It is true that the Bible does not tell us to celebrate Jesus’ birthday, and we don’t know the exact date. Then too, much about the season has a pagan background. But this doesn’t make it wrong to celebrate if Christ is kept uppermost in our lives. We don’t think of mistletoe, holly, and evergreens as being pagan any more than we associate Sunday and Monday with the worship of the sun and the moon gods after which these days are named. Just because unbelievers abuse Christmas time doesn’t mean we will.
Keep Christ central. Then enjoy the season. Sing the Christmas hymns. Gather for family fun. Even make shopping a joyous celebration of God’s goodness. When we love Jesus, He blesses our festivities.
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November 2009
A Basket of Thanksgivings
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Psalm 103:2 "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."
The story in Luke 17:11-19 records the terrible sin of ingratitude. In desperation ten lepers cried out to Jesus, and He graciously cleansed them. Only one however returned to offer thanks for his healing.
Such thoughtlessness is disturbing, but what is even more distressing is the fact that the same attitude often characterizes our relationship to God. An old legend tells of two angels sent by the Heavenly Father to earth for the purpose of gathering requests and notes of praise from His children. The one messenger named Prayer carried a large basket, for it would be filled with many petitions. The other whose name was Thanksgiving had only a small basket, since very few expressions of gratitude would be conveyed to Heaven from the hundreds who had been blessed by the Lord.
At this season of the year when we are especially admonished to remember God’s goodness, may we confess our own selfishness and fill a large basket with thanksgivings. Then tomorrow and the days that follow, let us echo the words of the psalmist: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
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October 2009
Broken Loaves, Broken Lives
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John 6:12 "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is left."
When I taught Middle School at West Seattle Christian School I passed around a loaf of unsliced bread and I asked each eighth grader in my Bible class to respond to it. One boy squeezed the bread and said, “It is fresh.” Another student commented, “It smells delicious.” One of the girls noted, “It looks nourishing.”
Finally, one of them said, “That’s true, but I’m hungry!” With that, he broke off a piece and ate it. His response said it all: Unbroken bread is useless.
One day Jesus faced 5,000 hungry people. Only by breaking the five loaves and two fish into pieces could He miraculously feed the multitude (John 6:11), and He refused to waste any leftover fragments (v. 12).
Not only did this miracle foreshadow Christ’s giving of his body on the cross but it also speaks of the brokenness that believers must experience if they are to be used by God.
Do you fear a loss of usefulness, broken health, broken hope, or broken promises? Fear not! Although some things lose their usefulness once they are broken, there are two things that become more useful: broken loaves and broken lives.
If we will only yield the fragments of our life to God, He will not waste a crumb of what we are going through.
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September 2009
FIFTY YEARS OF FRIENDLY MINISTRY
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Sunday
September 13, 2009
2:30 P.M.
Mountlake Terrace Christian Church
Fifty Years of Ministry
Speaker: Steve Lyons
Song Leader: Don Green
Reception
A group picture will be taken and a Mountlake Terrace Christian Church Women’s Group Cookbook will be available for purchase
Come help us celebrate the past, present and the future of our church!
Ephesians 4:2 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Since our beginning in 1959 we have tried to be a friendly church. A friendly church where the welcome has always been unconditional and where people could find a sympathetic ear for their troubles and a strong shoulder to help bear their burdens of life. Today we like to think of our friendly church as the final stop for those in search of a friendly church. We have always tried to live up to our claim and we will continue to strive to meet the goal of being “rich in Christian love.”
The Israelites left Egypt a disorganized ban of more than six hundred thousand people. They carried everything they owned with them, including the gifts of gold, silver, and clothing the Egyptians gave them. In less than three months, they arrived at Mount Sinai. There they would stay for a year. And there they would become a nation, with laws, the priesthood, the tabernacle, and the institution of offerings and feasts.
Israel was not a “perfect” nation. But even in times of their deepest failure, God was able to find some who remained true to Him. Our church, the Mountlake Terrace Christian Church, was not – is not- and will not be “perfect” either. But as we continue to do our part to remain faithful now and into the future then others will follow. What can we do to maintain our claim to be a friendly church? We must follow the advice of Paul and "be completely humble, gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
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July 2009
Protect Us by Thy Might
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Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember...the Lord our God."
Every year on July 4, Americans celebrate Independence Day. Other countries have their own special days for commemorating their nation's birth.
French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, said, "I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!"
If any land is to be free, its citizens must acknowledge with the psalmist, "We will remember the name of the Lord our God!" They must not trust in massive armaments, material wealth, or scientific progress. Many nations have done this, only to be destroyed.
History bears silent witness to this truth: No nation can stand that refuses to trust in God.
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June 2009
Joyful Worship
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2 Chronicles 7:3 "....They bowed their faces to the ground..., and worshiped and praised the Lord."
It wasn't a normal, run-of-the-mill morning worship service when Solomon dedicated the temple. There was the sacrifice of countless animals (2 Chron. 5:6). Special music was provided by the Levites on stringed instruments, cymbals, and harps, and by 120 trumpet-playing priests (5:12). There was the thick cloud in which dwelt the glory of the Lord (5:14). There was the prayer of dedication by Solomon (6:12-42).
The most dramatic event occurred, however, when fire fell from heaven and consumed the offerings (7:1). The people, awed by God's presence, bowed low in worship (7:3). Two weeks later, when Solomon sent them home, they were "joyful and glad of heart for the goodness that the Lord had done" (7:10).
Although we cannot duplicate the majesty of such a celebration, from it we can learn about the transforming power of worship. And we can be challenged as believers to seek to worship God more effectively.
As we attend worship, let us review the mighty works God has done in our life and in the lives of our fellow worshipers. Let us bow before the Lord in gratitude for who He is and sing praises to His greatness, power, and glory. In the spirit of the people at the temple, let us joyfully worship the Lord.
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May 2009
A Ruminating Christian
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Psalm 119:97 "Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long."
This spring or summer as you drive through the countryside, you may see the familiar scene of contented cows chewing their cud. These are known as ruminating animals. They digest their food in this manner because chewing and rechewing is essential for the process of assimilation.
The same is true with the spiritual meat of God's Word. It becomes a part of us as we prayerfully reflect upon it. I read of a devout Christian who had "meditated through the Bible three times." This is quite different from simply reading through it. Now, do not misunderstand me, I'm in favor of that. In fact, it has been my practice for a long time to read the Bible through once a year. But that's not the activity the psalmist is referring to in Psalm 119:97. He had gone beyond merely reading God's Word. He had made it the substance of his thinking all day long. By "chewing and rechewing," he had made it a part of his entire being.
Meditation takes time and concentration. No late-for-work departure in the morning will give sufficient opportunity for this kind of exposure to the Scriptures. If it is to become spiritual bone and marrow, we must follow Paul's admonition to Timothy, "Meditate upon these things; give yourself wholly to them" (1 Tim. 4:15).
In Israel, only the animals that chewed their cud were considered "clean." As believers, we experience the purifying effect of the Word when we "meditate" upon it. The Lord Jesus said, "Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you" (John 15:3).
Careful meditation on the Scriptures make for a closer walk with the Savior.
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March 2009
Hasty Conclusions
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1 Corinthians 4:5 "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes."
A Persian king wanted to teach his four sons never to make rash judgments. So he told the eldest to go in winter to see a mango tree, the next to go in spring, the third in summer, and the youngest in the fall.
After the last son had returned from his autumn visit, the king called them together to describe what they had observed of the mango tree. "It looks like a burnt old stump," said the eldest son. "No," said the second son, "it is lacy green." The third described it as "beautiful as a rose." The youngest son said, "No, its fruit is like a pear." "Each is right," said the king, "for each of you saw the tree in a different season.
What a lesson this fable holds for Christians. We quickly forget that our brothers and sisters in the faith are at different stages of growth and come from many different backgrounds and cultures. Conversion to Christ is just the beginning of a lifetime of replacing old thoughts, attitudes, habits, and actions with new ones created by the in-dwelling Holy Spirit, who continually works to change us.
We must take the time to understand people, get to know them, learn their backgrounds, and try to discern what season of spiritual development they are in.
God sees the whole picture, and He never draws hasty conclusions. Neither should we.
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February 2009
Squirrel Feeder
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"You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance." Psalm 65:11
When we lived in Edmonds we enjoyed feeding the neighborhood squirrels. We put out a simple device- two boards and a nail on which we put a corncob. Each morning a squirrel would come to the feeder to enjoy that day's meal. She was a pretty thing- gray and brown, with a white tummy.
We would sit on our back porch in the morning and watch her eat. She plucks each kernel from the cob, holds it in her paws, turns it around and eats the heart out of the kernel. At the end of the day no kernels remained, only a neat little pile of leftovers.
Despite our care for her, the creature was always afraid of us. When we approached, she would run away, taking refuge in her tree and chattering at us when we got too close. She did not realize that we were the ones providing for her.
Some people are like that with God. They run from Him in fear. They don't know that He loves them and richly provides them with everything for their enjoyment (Ps. 65:11).
Henry Scougal, a 17th century Scottish minister, wrote: "Nothing is more powerful to engage our affection than to find that we are loved by One who is altogether lovely...How must this astonish and delight us; how must it overcome our fear and melt our hearts." God's love is the perfect love that "casts out fear" (1 John 4:18).
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December 2008
The Secret of Peace
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“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14
A few days ago, while preparing December sermons, I was reading the Christmas story and I made an amazing discovery. Many times I had read the angels’ song of glory to God and peace and goodwill on earth. I thought, “Peace and good will is what we are all looking for.”
This Christmas finds our military committed to fighting two wars, and the economic situation is threatening the stability of households all over the nation. We want peace for our hearts, minds and bodies.
As I read the Christmas story again I discovered the secret to peace. It dawned on me that when we give God glory, He gives us peace. I asked myself three questions: “What is this glory that God must get? What does it look like? And how much does it cost?” Then the answer came to me. Glory means “place.” It means to give God His place. So I realized, maybe for the first time, that when God gets His place in my life, I get peace. When God gets His place in my family, my family gets peace. When God gets His place in our world, our world gets peace.
Christmas tells us that God comes in Jesus Christ to take His place in our lives, giving us the peace we so desperately need and desire.
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November 2008
A Basket of Thanksgivings
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“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” Psalm 103:2
The story in Luke 17 portrays the terrible sin of ingratitude. In desperation 10 lepers cried out to Jesus, and He graciously cleansed them. Only one, however, returned to offer thanks for his healing.
These are difficult economic times and the unemployment rate is climbing and getting worse each day. The local news recently reported that “Monster Job. Com helped 2500 Washington State citizens find employment in October”. In their statistics they also reported that only ten people from that large number took the time to express their appreciation for the help they received by Monster Job. Com. What a sad commentary on human nature. So often when a person gets what they want, they neglect to say, “Thank you.”
Such thoughtlessness is disturbing, but what is even more distressing is the fact that the same attitude often characterizes mankind’s relationship with God. An old legend tells of two angels sent by the Heavenly Father to earth for the purpose of gathering requests and notes of praise from His children. The one messenger named “Prayer” carried a large basket, for it would be filled with many petitions. The other whose name was “Thanksgiving” had only a small basket, since very few expressions of gratitude would be conveyed to Heaven from the hundreds who had been blessed by the Lord.
At this season of the year when we are especially admonished to remember God’s goodness, may we confess our own selfishness and fill a large basket with thanksgivings. Then with all the days that follow, let us echo the words of the psalmist: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
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October 2008
Prayer and Politics
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In 1787 a convention was called in the United States to revise the Articles of Confederation. For weeks delegates reviewed ancient history and analyzed modern governments, searching for insights. But nothing suited the infant nation.
Finally, a distinguished gentleman named Benjamin Franklin rose and said, “In this situation of this assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth and scarce able to distinguish it when it is presented to us, how has it happened that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights to illuminate our understandings?” Mr. Franklin believed there was a sovereign God who could provide guidance to those who sought it.
If ever there was a time to follow that prayerful example, it is now! Paul said that governments are ordained of God (Romans 13:1), and that we are to pray for those in authority over us (1 Timothy 2: 1-2). This prayer principle also applies to the election of our leaders. We must become informed and vote prayerfully for those who shape our laws.
Because God has instructed us to do so, we can, indeed we must, unashamedly and boldly mix prayer with our politics.
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September 2008
Life is a Puzzle
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“’I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11
While visiting with Dan and Esther Burris one day, I sat down at their dining room table on which a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle was half assembled. I tried to determine where several pices would fit. I couldn’t place even one. Then Esther sat down and began placing pieces in rapid succession and details for the “zebra” picture began to emerge. I watched fascinated. “It seems you’ve done this before,” I said to Esther.
“I have a puzzle set up on the dining room table all the time,” she said.
Sometimes life seems like a jigsaw puzzle to me. I don’t know how to assemble the fragments of experiences that are out of synch. My confusion only mounts when I try to impose order on my own.
But when I turn to God and ask for wisdom and insight, I can look at my situation differently. As I allow the “Expert” to rearrange the fragments, I begin to see the picture God plans for my life. And because I trust that the Lord is in charge, I can face and deal with whatever happens, knowing it will ultimately work for my good and God’s glory.
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August 2008
Busy As a Bee
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One day last week as I was working in my yard getting ready for the progressive dinner I came upon a hive of bees. I took time to stop and admire their work ethic. Do you know that the bee has one of the most highly developed social structures in the animal kingdom? At the heart of the hive, which may house as many as 80,000 bees, is the queen. Without her, the colony has no future. But the 80,000 bees don’t just sit around watching their queen. Each bee has a specialized duty to fulfill.
The forager bees encounter the perils of the outside world to collect food. The guard bees protect the hive entrance from intruders. The undertakes are responsible for removing dead bodies from the hive. The water collectors bring in moisture to regulate humidity. The plasterers make a kind of cement to repair the hive. And then there are the fanner bees that station themselves at the entrance and fan the scent outward to signal the location of the colony to lost or disoriented bees. The scout bees keep the hive alerted to opportunities and dangers of the outside world. The variety and specialization of the worker bees seem endless.
In a similar way, the Lord has given special gifts and tasks to all the people in the church. Paul writes, “God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased” (1 Corinthians 12:18).
Someone has written: “Christ builds His church and makes it strong by using you and me; and if we all will do our part the world His love will see.”
No one has been called into the church to merely sit around. Everyone can do something. The work of the church will not get done unless all of us do what God has called us to do.
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July 2008
Celebrate Freedom
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After being kidnapped, held hostage for 13 days, and released, New Zealand news cameraman Olaf Wiig, with a broad smile on his face, announced, “I feel more alive now than I have in my entire life.”
For reasons difficult to understand, being freed is more exhilarating than being free.
For those who enjoy freedom every day, Olaf’s joy was a good reminder of how easily we forget how blessed we are. This is also true spiritually. Those of us who have been Christians for a long time often forget what it’s like to be held hostage by sin. We can become complacent and even ungrateful. But then God sends a reminder in the form of a new believer who gives an exuberant testimony of what God has done in his or her life, and once again we see the joy that is ours when we are “free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).
If freedom has become boring to us, or if we tend to focus on what we can’t do, consider this: Not only are we no longer a slave to sin, but we are freed to be holy and to enjoy eternal life with Christ Jesus! (Romans 6:22).
Everyday let us celebrate our freedom in Christ by taking the time to thank God for the things we are able and free to do as His servant.
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June 2008
Good Dads
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Columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. grew up with a father he describes as physically present but emotionally absent. In his first book on parenting, Pitts openly chronicles his struggle to come to terms with his alcoholic father and the climate of fear he had created in their home. Pitts challenges all men to resolve the resentment toward their absent or abusive fathers instead of passing it on to the next generation.
There is a passage in Hebrews 12 that applies to all Christians, but it has special relevance to dads. It reads: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord; looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (vv. 14-15)
Think of what could happen in our families if we emptied our hearts of bitterness and made peaceful relationships our goal! If we have been blessed with a wise and loving father, we should be grateful and follow his example. But if our father has failed us, we must rely on God’s grace, resolve our anger toward him, and strive to be the kind of dad we never had. It won’t be easy, but with our heavenly Father as a perfect example, we can learn to be good dads.
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May 2008
David's Hiding Place
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Psalm 31: 2
“Be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me.”
Protection comes in many forms:
A rabbit dives for the safety of his hole
A deer runs for the dense cover of the forest
A two year old runs to the arms of their parent
A soldier digs in under cover of supportive artillery
But what does a Christian do? Where does a Christian hide when surrounded by danger?
I have been teaching a Sunday morning Bible class on the Book of Psalms and the primary author of the Psalms, David. David knew where to find protection from danger. When he wrote Psalm 31, things were not going well for him. He was tired, weak, and hurting. His mind was distressed. His heart was broken. His enemies were chasing him, and his friends had let him down. He was in a vulnerable position- but he was not defenseless. He knew that God is the best possible source of safety, and that a right relationship with God is the wisest defense strategy. That’s where David found safety.
Just as a small child finds confidence in calling out for their older brother when threatened by a bully, David called on the name of the Lord. Because he was living in fellowship with Him, he hid himself in the security of the One who had helped him so many times in the past, and who loved him with an unfailing love.
We must ask ourselves, “Are we as quick to seek that same security?” God can be trusted! He was a sure hiding place for David (Psalm 31:20 “In the shelter of your presence you hide them…”), and He is also the One we should cling to for our protection.
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April 2008
Wounded for Me
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“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities.” Isaiah 53:5
If we were to study the painting of the crucifixion by the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt, out attention will first be drawn to the cross and to Jesus. Then, as we look at the crowd around the cross, we are drawn to the faces of the people involved in the awful crime of crucifying the Son of God. Finally, our eyes drift to the edge of the picture and catch sight of another figure—almost hidden in the shadows. This, we are told, was a self-portrait of Rembrandt, for he recognized that by his sins he helped nail Jesus there.
Someone has said, ”It is a simple thing to say that Christ died for the sin of the world. It is quite another thing to say that Christ died for my sin!” It may be an interesting pastime to point fingers at those who crucified Jesus, but it is a shocking thought that I can be as indifferent as Pilate, as scheming as Caiaphas, as calloused as the soldiers, as ruthless as the mob, or as cowardly as the disciples. It isn’t just what they did—it was I who nailed Him to the tree. I crucified Christ. I joined the mockery.
Think again of Rembrandt’s painting. If you look closely, you will see that in the shadows you too are standing with bloodied hands, for Christ bore the penalty of your sin! And you will say, “He was wounded for me.”
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March 2008
Christ In Our Midst
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“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them…” Luke 24:36
The Easter event did not happen only to a small group of grieving women one Sunday morning. It is our event, too. It continues to happen.
Let us imagine that first Easter evening. We sit behind closed doors for fear we too will be arrested. We grieve for our dead Master. Our hearts ache as we recall how we deserted Him. Suddenly Jesus stands in our midst. “Peace be with you”, He says. He shows us the nail prints in His hands and the wound in His side. This is no apparition. This is really happening! The “defeated”, crucified Savior is alive and in our midst! We sense a strange peace. We feel a joy we have never known before. The risen Christ breathes into us the Holy Spirit and we are never the same again.
Christ came to the first disciples over and over during the weeks from Easter to the Ascension. Although we do not “see” Him, His presence can be ours too. We can sense that presence in fellowship with other Christians, through scripture read and preached, in the Lord’s Supper, as we serve others in Christ’s name, and in countless other ways.
We affirm with the disciples the good news that,
“Christ Is Risen!”
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February 2008
Love Letters
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“Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us.” Ephesians 5:2
To “walk in love” means that we continually do the little acts of kindness that can make life bearable and better for another person.
One practical way to express our love costs only the price of a postage stamp- plus paper, ink, and a little thought.
All of us have felt the nudge to write a letter- an unexpected note that could brighten another person’s day. Perhaps it is a note of appreciation, an expression of concern, or a compliment for a task well done. Too often the letter goes unwritten and the impulse is unexpressed. We convince ourselves that we don’t have time, or that our letter won’t matter.
A young minister cherished a note he received from a busy architect in his congregation. The letter said simply, “Your sermon met me where I was on Sunday- at the crossroads of confusion and hurt. Thanks for preaching it!” Those words met the young pastor where he lived- at the intersection of discouragement and pain- and encouraged him to keep on in the ministry. The note took less than five minutes to write.
Can you think of someone in the congregation who needs encouragement, thanks, or a reminder that you are praying for him or her? Someone once wrote: “It was only a brief little note, or a word that was prayerfully spoken, yet not in vain, for it soothed the pain of a heart that was nearly broken.” Today, “walk in love” to the mailbox.
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January 2008
A New Year’s Resolution: Attend Church in 2008
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According to our records there are 57 people who identify with our congregation as members. Of that number 46 are active members (attending church at least twice a month) yet our average weekly attendance is 45.
Hebrews 10:22-25: “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Let us examine the context of this one New Testament command for assembly.
The primary exhortation (v.22) is, “Draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” Verse 23 exhorts us to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.” Verse 24 reads, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Verse 25 is not a command for a passive audience. It emphasizes a community in which each member contributes to the spiritual growth of the others. The purpose, as suggested by verse 24, is to develop an active community, performing good deeds.
Why do some people come to church?
Some people come to church for entertainment.
Some people attend worship from a sense of duty.
Some go to church for fellowship.
A few attend church to be encouraged and to encourage others.
Why do some people not come to church?
Some may not come because of indifference; they feel they do not benefit from the service. Some may stay home out of stubbornness- “No preacher is going to tell me I have to be in church!”
Others may miss church because they have higher priorities: sports, recreation, and travel- maybe just sleeping in.
Some people are physically unable to attend. Some are not available because they work on Sunday.
The New Testament congregation was a community with a sense of common nurture.
A true “assembly of the saints” should aim for mutual edification. The purpose of our assembly is to encourage one another to live a holy life.
Let our resolution for 2008 be to “meet together”; and together, “let us draw near to God”; “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess”; and let us “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
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