Archive for September, 2019
You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:48, ESV
One way to understand this is “to perform your function or purpose.”
Therefore, as God is sovereign over all and sustains all with power, love, and grace, we should be striving outdo each other in love and share the Gospel to the glory of God.
Technically, our little church only just started official membership (and only the leadership team has signed the agreement!)
However, I know I get excited to see the people who show up Sunday morning. Yes, even those who … are not quite as easy to love. They have different perspectives, keep me on my toes theologically, and helped grow in Christ as I help them grow.
To quote Red Green, “We’re all in this together. I’m pullin’ for ya” fellow congregants.Daniel
This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Be Eager to Meet Church Members.
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for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:24-25, ESV
The Word (Bible) tells us we are all destined for destruction, unless we follow and believe the Eternal Word (Christ) has shed His blood on our behalf and rose to life again to give us hope of eternal life.
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:6, ESV
If all you think about is worldly pleasures, problems, or passions, you may find yourself anxious, angry, or against God.
Maybe not in this life, but the only way to find the peace of eternal life is to listen to the Holy Spirit and focus and believe on Christ.
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Revelation 2:4
Today, we are closing up our discussion on what losing the first love means. It’s been fun, and I really appreciate all the good comments and thoughts. I’d like to start this one off by including three Scripture for reading.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and…
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But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
Jude 1:20-21, ESV
We were saved at the cross. Yet, we await the full salvation of our bodies and minds at Christ’s return. That mercy – the removal of all taint of sin from Creation – demonstrated in His love, will be like waking from a dream, even a nightmare, into glorious life.
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
2 John 1:6, ESV
We show we love God by following His commands, and what are His commands:
This, folks, is what we call satire. I am pretty sure Anthony is demanding people always be in the church building when some service is happening. He is probably saying, “Hey, ya’ll! We have church things happening! It would be great if you would come! If you seem to be coming up with excuses, that might mean you need to be there even more! (Legitimate concerns or an actual desperate need for a rest are obviously good reasons.) We just want to see your face and worship God with you!”
Daniel
Hey, don’t be ashamed! Listen, you don’t have to feel guilty for NOT going to church on Wednesday night. It’s not like it’s the Lord’s Day, or something, right?
Look, should that crusty, old, Bible-thumping preacher come at you with a large-print Ryrie, using words like “backslidden” and phrases like “God rewards faithfulness,” just hold your ground. There are actually several reasons why staying home while the faithful few gather to pray is perfectly acceptable.
1) The Genesis Argument. Wednesday was not the day on which our Savior was resurrected, nor is it the Sabbath; it was the day the sun, moon, and “lesser lights” were made. Therefore, should we “go back to Genesis,” the most logical thing to do on Wednesday is enjoy the sun till the moon comes out, then rest under the lesser “night” lights until Day 5.
2)…
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I do not disagree with what is said here. I would argue that forgetting to show love/charity to others IS forgetting their love of Christ. “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” “A new command I give you: love one another.” “The [two] greatest commandment[s]: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength. . . . Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Our youth group has a set of guidelines to follow. I have stressed they are not necessarily hard and fast rules, unless they need to be. We have grace that flows from a love people and wanting them present to learn from the Word. It would take something severe to be told not to return, and it would (usually) come after one-on-one conversations.
It strikes me that Jesus’ reprimand in Revelation is against the Ephesians making sure the doctrine was perfect, even if it pushed people away and/or they neglected caring for the needs of others.
Like when my family left the Catholic Church when I was two, because the priest was so adamant that my parents follow a local rule for the congregation that he publicly shamed my pregnant mother. (Seriously, it is a fun story! *ahem*)
So, again, I do not disagree. I have added thoughts to explain how everything else said on Wally’s post is true, but it could also be deeper, as so often happens with the Bible. I am happy someone pointed out this often overlooked fact of charity being integral to agape love!
Daniel
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Revelation 2:4
Hello friend! Again, I apologize for the temporary lag in posting in this series. Time in the day is limited, and sometimes other things have to take priority.
As readers may recall, we have been in verse 4 of the letter to the church at Ephesus, and have been discussing what it might mean that they had lost, or abandoned, their first love. In the first post on that, we discussed the loss of this love as sort of a fading of fervor such as married couples sometimes experience in the later years of their relationship. Next, we discussed how perhaps our love for doctrine, while important, might actually have taken the place of love for one another and for the love of Jesus and our personal relationship with Him.
I want to…
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So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:17-20, ESV
We are born as diseased trees, selfish in nature, so that all our works are as bd fruit.
But Christ’s blood can restore us and make us living and healthy, able to truly do good works.
