When we were talking about Thomas this weekend it struck me how gracious Jesus is to meet people where they are rather than where the "should" be. One reason that is very hopeful is that "should" is totally subjective. I have one idea of where I "should" be but you may have a totally different perspective. Rather than establish some secret level of faith, love or commitment the Lord comes to each of us where we are. Pretty amazing.
Of course Jesus does not leave people where he finds them. Jesus does not save us from our sins and our past then move out of life. No, Jesus is in this for the long-term.
The Lord meets us where we are. He moves us toward him and brings us to a place of repentance (turning around) and faith. He changes our hearts and then begins changing our lives. Again, pretty amazing.
Thomas had to struggle with the idea of Jesus rising from the dead but once he was convinced his only response was "my Lord and my God."
I am wondering how and where you will meet Jesus and how you will express your faith? My Lord and my God.
It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day to.
steve
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Sunday, April 23, 2017
Reflections From Sunday Evening
Once in awhile I come across the question asking what time in history you would like to visit. There are variations of the game. I have thought about different historical eras. There is a fascination with the roaring twenties. Can you image being a Methodist preacher in Kansas City in 1925? That would be interesting.
My latest thought is inspired by our recent celebration of the resurrection. I think it would be amazing to be one of 500 people the risen Lord Jesus appeared to not long after he was raised from the dead. (See I Corinthians 15:6).
Jesus was raised from the dead. He appeared to Cephas. (Peter) Then he appeared to the Twelve. (disciples) "After that he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time." (Acts 15:6)
That would have been something to be one of those. I would have heard about Jesus. I would have been in his presence and known who he was. I would have some affiliation with others who were coming to the place where we were seeing something unique in Jesus. I would have been among many who were in the vicinity of the cross when Jesus was crucified. I would have been among the troubled, saddened and fearful. I would have been one of those who heard that something had happened and now people were going around saying they had seen Jesus. He was alive. I doubt I would have believed it at first but evidently the witness of those who saw him would have been pretty amazing.
I don't know where I would have been. Maybe Cindy and I would have been at a gathering of others who had a strong hope in God. There he was! I don't know how long he would have been with us. I don't know what he would have said. I just know that being in the presence of the risen Lord would have changed me forever!
As a matter of fact I don't have to be one of the 500 to believe Jesus rose. And he has changed me...and keeps changing me...forever.
It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day too.
steve
My latest thought is inspired by our recent celebration of the resurrection. I think it would be amazing to be one of 500 people the risen Lord Jesus appeared to not long after he was raised from the dead. (See I Corinthians 15:6).
Jesus was raised from the dead. He appeared to Cephas. (Peter) Then he appeared to the Twelve. (disciples) "After that he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time." (Acts 15:6)
That would have been something to be one of those. I would have heard about Jesus. I would have been in his presence and known who he was. I would have some affiliation with others who were coming to the place where we were seeing something unique in Jesus. I would have been among many who were in the vicinity of the cross when Jesus was crucified. I would have been among the troubled, saddened and fearful. I would have been one of those who heard that something had happened and now people were going around saying they had seen Jesus. He was alive. I doubt I would have believed it at first but evidently the witness of those who saw him would have been pretty amazing.
I don't know where I would have been. Maybe Cindy and I would have been at a gathering of others who had a strong hope in God. There he was! I don't know how long he would have been with us. I don't know what he would have said. I just know that being in the presence of the risen Lord would have changed me forever!
As a matter of fact I don't have to be one of the 500 to believe Jesus rose. And he has changed me...and keeps changing me...forever.
It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day too.
steve
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Reflections From Sunday Evening
Easter is always a "Wow" and this year was no exception. Thanks to all for the great music and service that goes into a weekend like this.
The emphasis was on the witnesses to the resurrection. Peter and the early apostles proved to be credible witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. The credible witness of Christians has continued through the ages and we continue to have the Church of Jesus Christ alive and well in the world today.
I was thinking about the idea of credible witness. Who has credibility with you? There is this dispute between Charter Cable (Spectrum) and Fox Sports. Will we continue to get the Royals broadcasts? Who has more credibility; the cable provider or the producers of the ball games? I will let you decide. I have my opinion.
But there are more serious issues in the world. On this Easter Day I think of where do we find a credible witness to Jesus Christ and the truth of the Gospel? The American Church is struggling to provide the type of credibility that captures the imagination of people, especially people who do not have a relationship with Christ. Frankly we give the impression that "church" is primarily about personal rights. Can be important but is this our best?
Last week two Coptic Churches were bombed. The Christian minority in Egypt was faced with terror and death. They responded by reciting the Nicene Creed. (They have strong, clear belief) They exhibited forgiveness - the heart of Christianity. They continue to provide a witness for Christ in the world today. It is a witness of faith, truth and the love of Christ.
A credible witness? Where will our area look to find a credible witness for Christ? At you? At me?
It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day too.
steve
The emphasis was on the witnesses to the resurrection. Peter and the early apostles proved to be credible witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. The credible witness of Christians has continued through the ages and we continue to have the Church of Jesus Christ alive and well in the world today.
I was thinking about the idea of credible witness. Who has credibility with you? There is this dispute between Charter Cable (Spectrum) and Fox Sports. Will we continue to get the Royals broadcasts? Who has more credibility; the cable provider or the producers of the ball games? I will let you decide. I have my opinion.
But there are more serious issues in the world. On this Easter Day I think of where do we find a credible witness to Jesus Christ and the truth of the Gospel? The American Church is struggling to provide the type of credibility that captures the imagination of people, especially people who do not have a relationship with Christ. Frankly we give the impression that "church" is primarily about personal rights. Can be important but is this our best?
Last week two Coptic Churches were bombed. The Christian minority in Egypt was faced with terror and death. They responded by reciting the Nicene Creed. (They have strong, clear belief) They exhibited forgiveness - the heart of Christianity. They continue to provide a witness for Christ in the world today. It is a witness of faith, truth and the love of Christ.
A credible witness? Where will our area look to find a credible witness for Christ? At you? At me?
It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day too.
steve
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Reflections From Sunday Evening
Today we preached on the text from Matthew 13 - The Parable of the Weeds. It is the parable where Jesus talks about a field planted with good seeds then an enemy comes along and sows weeds among the wheat. The servants would pull up the weeds but the master says no. When wheat and weeds have their roots mingled you will ruin the wheat if you pull up the weeds. Jesus explains that this will all be sorted out at the end of the age. We used this story to stress patience (which we have been talking about each week during Lent). The patience we stress is not idle. Our patience teaches us to trust God.
As I worked on this I remembered a story from Fred Craddock about the Parable of the Weeds. He put it in a different context with a different message. He talked about people in the church who sometimes get "read off" the membership rolls.
We have this process where if a person does not attend worship or participate in any way for a period of time their names may be read at a "charge conference" and if nothing changes over a year they may be removed from the membership rolls.
When Craddock talked about this he made the point that if you pull out a "weed" you may actually take out a follower of Jesus. So let the field grow and allow God to sort it out.
A few years ago I decided his little lesson made more sense to me than some provision in the Book of Discipline. Our practice has not been to read names and take people off the rolls. I find myself uninterested in taking people off. I want to be busy bringing people on!
Who knows why someone looks like a weed for a season of life. We may read them incorrectly. They may just appear to be a weed but by God's grace (patience) we one day realize they are good wheat ready to enter into God's store.
So we may write to our "in-active" members but it will be to bless them and ask how to best pray. We watch growth take place and trust God to produce the good crop in the church.
It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day too.
steve
As I worked on this I remembered a story from Fred Craddock about the Parable of the Weeds. He put it in a different context with a different message. He talked about people in the church who sometimes get "read off" the membership rolls.
We have this process where if a person does not attend worship or participate in any way for a period of time their names may be read at a "charge conference" and if nothing changes over a year they may be removed from the membership rolls.
When Craddock talked about this he made the point that if you pull out a "weed" you may actually take out a follower of Jesus. So let the field grow and allow God to sort it out.
A few years ago I decided his little lesson made more sense to me than some provision in the Book of Discipline. Our practice has not been to read names and take people off the rolls. I find myself uninterested in taking people off. I want to be busy bringing people on!
Who knows why someone looks like a weed for a season of life. We may read them incorrectly. They may just appear to be a weed but by God's grace (patience) we one day realize they are good wheat ready to enter into God's store.
So we may write to our "in-active" members but it will be to bless them and ask how to best pray. We watch growth take place and trust God to produce the good crop in the church.
It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day too.
steve
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Reflections From Sunday Evening
The theme of holiness streams throughout the Bible. Holiness is found in the Old Testament. Holiness runs clear through the New Testament. Holiness is a theological theme we have studied and discussed over and over.
My great-grandmother went to the Church of God Holiness. She was a "holiness" church person. Her holiness was of the sort where she did not wear jewelry and maintained a modest outward appearance.
Holiness has been defined by dietary laws (Old Testament) and avoiding sin.
Holiness of heart and life is something I continually pursue along with millions of others. My problem is I am not sure exactly what it looks like. I have concluded that holiness is not merely the absence of anything "bad". I can move in the direction of perfect love for God and others but find that hard to describe. I do know holiness is much more than self-denial and self-righteousness!
Currently I think like this. There is a biblical image of "seeing in a glass darkly". That could be a mirror that reflects or a glass that is looked through. The point is made that the glass is cloudy, or tarnished. (That is one way we describe human nature in light of Original Sin - the image of God in us is sadly tarnished).
So what if holiness was like a crystal clear glass. When a person looks through the glass into our heart they see Jesus with perfect clarity. So holiness is having the tarnish removed so others may see Christ in us with clarity.
There is more. We are also able to see Christ in others and in the world with clarity.
These would be the results of holiness. So how does the tarnish get removed. We can surely remove some obstacles from our own lives. But it is ultimately not up to us. Grace upon grace continues to transform us and holiness is the result.
I pray you see Christ in the world and in the lives of others with greater clarity this week. That is a sign of holiness! May others see Christ in us with increasing clarity.
It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day too.
steve
My great-grandmother went to the Church of God Holiness. She was a "holiness" church person. Her holiness was of the sort where she did not wear jewelry and maintained a modest outward appearance.
Holiness has been defined by dietary laws (Old Testament) and avoiding sin.
Holiness of heart and life is something I continually pursue along with millions of others. My problem is I am not sure exactly what it looks like. I have concluded that holiness is not merely the absence of anything "bad". I can move in the direction of perfect love for God and others but find that hard to describe. I do know holiness is much more than self-denial and self-righteousness!
Currently I think like this. There is a biblical image of "seeing in a glass darkly". That could be a mirror that reflects or a glass that is looked through. The point is made that the glass is cloudy, or tarnished. (That is one way we describe human nature in light of Original Sin - the image of God in us is sadly tarnished).
So what if holiness was like a crystal clear glass. When a person looks through the glass into our heart they see Jesus with perfect clarity. So holiness is having the tarnish removed so others may see Christ in us with clarity.
There is more. We are also able to see Christ in others and in the world with clarity.
These would be the results of holiness. So how does the tarnish get removed. We can surely remove some obstacles from our own lives. But it is ultimately not up to us. Grace upon grace continues to transform us and holiness is the result.
I pray you see Christ in the world and in the lives of others with greater clarity this week. That is a sign of holiness! May others see Christ in us with increasing clarity.
It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day too.
steve
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