As we look at the Christian Church in the United States, we would see many different types in terms of worship and beliefs. There are churches in the whole continuum from conservative to liberal.
The apostle Paul had to deal with factions as he was writing to the Christians in Corinth. There were some who claimed to belong to Cephas, some to Apollos, some to Paul himself, and some to Christ! Paul in his writings wanted to affirm the oneness of the church. My message on Sunday will be on Ephesians 4:1-16, where Paul writes about maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. He states that the oneness of the church can be viewed in seven ways.
1. One body
2. One Spirit
3. One hope
4. One Lord
5. One faith
6. One baptism
7. One God and Father of all
Despite whatever differences might have existed, Paul is directing them to realize that in reality there is only one church. He is calling upon them to remember that they are all one and to act with each other "with all humility and gentleness, patience, bearing with one another in love." (Eph 4:2-3)
It is important for us to remember that unity does not mean uniformity! There are different styles of worship and different gifts have been given to those in the church.
As denominations wrestle with social issues there are bound to be differences. The question is: Can Christians still live with one another despite taking differing views on a certain issue? The Presiding Bishop of the ELCA in a news release has called upon members of the church to work toward maintaining unity in the midst of different opinions when delegates meet for the Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis August 17 - 23.
Do you think it is good policy for a denomination to issue social statements? What can be done to help maintain unity despite diverse opinions?
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Surviving a Shipwreck: How a Disaster Can Turn into a Blessing
I come now to the end of my sermon series by looking at the last two chapters in Acts (27 & 28) Just prior to these chapters, the apostle Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem and was taken to Caesarea to appear before the governor. In Caesarea, he appeals to his Roman citizenship and desires to appear before the Emperor in Rome. His wish is granted, and Paul is taken on ship to appeal to a higher authority.
On the way there, his ship is caught in a storm - a northeaster - and the ship lands in a wrecked-state just off of the island of Malta. All 276 persons aboard the ship make it ashore just as Paul had prophesied in the earlier part of his journey (Acts 27:22)!
Paul makes his way onto the island and experiences the hospitality of the inhabitants. He heals the father of Publius - the leading official on the island - and also many others who are sick. It is also most likely that Paul had proclaimed the gospel to those on the island as well.
Even though he was shipwrecked, Paul brought a blessing through the healings he performed.
What about when some tragedy comes into our own lives? Do we expect the worse or can a blessing come from it? I believe as we have seen here, God has the power to turn our "shipwrecks" into blessings.
What we need to do is not dwell on the negative, but rather place our faith in God. Perhaps our tragedy will be a blessing for others. Maybe it is in getting through a difficult illness that we begin to ministry to others who have the same kind of illness. Maybe it is seeing how God is changing the course of our lives to do a new thing.
As we look at the entire book of Acts, we see how the Holy Spirit led Paul and his colleagues to various places and also provided some detours along the way. It's amazing to see that Paul did not give up despite all the unrest and risks to his personal life.
Have you experienced a tragedy in your life where something positive and new came from it? How have you reacted to a tragedy?
On the way there, his ship is caught in a storm - a northeaster - and the ship lands in a wrecked-state just off of the island of Malta. All 276 persons aboard the ship make it ashore just as Paul had prophesied in the earlier part of his journey (Acts 27:22)!
Paul makes his way onto the island and experiences the hospitality of the inhabitants. He heals the father of Publius - the leading official on the island - and also many others who are sick. It is also most likely that Paul had proclaimed the gospel to those on the island as well.
Even though he was shipwrecked, Paul brought a blessing through the healings he performed.
What about when some tragedy comes into our own lives? Do we expect the worse or can a blessing come from it? I believe as we have seen here, God has the power to turn our "shipwrecks" into blessings.
What we need to do is not dwell on the negative, but rather place our faith in God. Perhaps our tragedy will be a blessing for others. Maybe it is in getting through a difficult illness that we begin to ministry to others who have the same kind of illness. Maybe it is seeing how God is changing the course of our lives to do a new thing.
As we look at the entire book of Acts, we see how the Holy Spirit led Paul and his colleagues to various places and also provided some detours along the way. It's amazing to see that Paul did not give up despite all the unrest and risks to his personal life.
Have you experienced a tragedy in your life where something positive and new came from it? How have you reacted to a tragedy?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Desire to Finish the Work to Which You are Called
Our calling as Christians is two-fold. We are called to be Christlike, and then we also have a unique ministry to fulfill based on our giftedness and who we are.
My focus on Sunday will be on the latter. The apostle Paul declared: "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." (Acts 20:24) Paul's calling was to proclaim Jesus Christ to others and to places where the Holy Spirit led him.
Paul recognized, too, that if he felt he were not living out his calling, but just existing (i.e. just living for his own sake and pleasure), his life would be worth nothing. Just as Paul recognized his purpose in life, we also need to look at our own individual purpose (ministry) to which we are called. Pastor Rick Warren in his book The Purpose Driven Life invites people to look at their SHAPE, which is the acronym for spiritual gifts, heart, abilties, personality, and experiences. Through these parts of our lives we would find what is special about each of us and what we have to give to the world.
Once you have recogized your purpose, another factor you must consider is: Do you have the desire to live it out? You could let your purpose lie dormant. I believe we find fulfillment in life, when we are not living strictly for ourselves, but when our lives are aligned with how God has individually made us.
Do you know what your SHAPE would be? Is the desire or passion alive in you for living it out?
My focus on Sunday will be on the latter. The apostle Paul declared: "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." (Acts 20:24) Paul's calling was to proclaim Jesus Christ to others and to places where the Holy Spirit led him.
Paul recognized, too, that if he felt he were not living out his calling, but just existing (i.e. just living for his own sake and pleasure), his life would be worth nothing. Just as Paul recognized his purpose in life, we also need to look at our own individual purpose (ministry) to which we are called. Pastor Rick Warren in his book The Purpose Driven Life invites people to look at their SHAPE, which is the acronym for spiritual gifts, heart, abilties, personality, and experiences. Through these parts of our lives we would find what is special about each of us and what we have to give to the world.
Once you have recogized your purpose, another factor you must consider is: Do you have the desire to live it out? You could let your purpose lie dormant. I believe we find fulfillment in life, when we are not living strictly for ourselves, but when our lives are aligned with how God has individually made us.
Do you know what your SHAPE would be? Is the desire or passion alive in you for living it out?
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Finding Your Venue for Witnessing
In an ideal world if we wanted to bring people to Christ, all we would need to do is invite them to church. They would come to faith through what they experience in the service itself. This route is certainly one way God can work, but we also know that we sometimes do have to meet people where they are at before they would even think of setting foot in church. We would remember how Jesus conversed with the woman at the well in Samaria that led to her coming to faith.
This Sunday, I continue in the series on the book of Acts by having us look at the apostle Paul's experience in Corinth and Ephesus. At Corinth Paul connects with Aquila from Rome because he was a tent maker by trade just as Paul was.
Paul naturally went to the synagogue to converse with the Jews there. When he had moved on to Ephesus, he "argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus." (Acts 19:9) Paul found this hall to be a venue where he could discuss Jesus. Paul was a learned man and maybe he did carry on some very intellectual conversations in order to convince folks that Jesus is the promised Messiah and Savior of all.
What about us?
Is there any activity that you do with non-Christians - involvement in any club, sport, hobby, or organization where you can establish common ground with those who already know you?
I believe that in our witnessing, we do have to come to grips that many non-believers have a negative image of the church. The church has been relegated to the periphery of our society. Many people see Christians as being judgmental and hypocritical. I believe that we don't have to put up any kind of front before others; rather, we can be transparent before them. As we do so, we can explain the amazing love and grace of God that we experience.
Paul was willing to travel miles to bring the word of God to others and even be in places where it was considered dangerous. How shall we try to live out the Great Commission that Jesus has given us?
Do you know what would be your venue(s) for witnessing? How might you begin to nudge unchurched folks that know you into a spiritual conversation?
This Sunday, I continue in the series on the book of Acts by having us look at the apostle Paul's experience in Corinth and Ephesus. At Corinth Paul connects with Aquila from Rome because he was a tent maker by trade just as Paul was.
Paul naturally went to the synagogue to converse with the Jews there. When he had moved on to Ephesus, he "argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus." (Acts 19:9) Paul found this hall to be a venue where he could discuss Jesus. Paul was a learned man and maybe he did carry on some very intellectual conversations in order to convince folks that Jesus is the promised Messiah and Savior of all.
What about us?
Is there any activity that you do with non-Christians - involvement in any club, sport, hobby, or organization where you can establish common ground with those who already know you?
I believe that in our witnessing, we do have to come to grips that many non-believers have a negative image of the church. The church has been relegated to the periphery of our society. Many people see Christians as being judgmental and hypocritical. I believe that we don't have to put up any kind of front before others; rather, we can be transparent before them. As we do so, we can explain the amazing love and grace of God that we experience.
Paul was willing to travel miles to bring the word of God to others and even be in places where it was considered dangerous. How shall we try to live out the Great Commission that Jesus has given us?
Do you know what would be your venue(s) for witnessing? How might you begin to nudge unchurched folks that know you into a spiritual conversation?
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