Let's pray for our pastors:
Pastor Sam
Pastor Benji
Pastor Joy
Pastor Richie
Pastor Publio
Pastor Marta
We thank God for these men and women who lead by reminding us of God's word and His expectations, and pray that God will use them to prepare us to demonstrate our own ability- to independently reflect on His word, and to remain grounded in His word (see Second Peter 1:12).
There will not be a blog post for Sunday. I hope you'll visit the site again on Monday. Blessings and peace to each of you.
-Genise
Showing posts with label Second Peter 1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Second Peter 1. Show all posts
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Leading The Witness
The final part of Sunday's sermon asked the question, "What do the leaders do?" Second Peter 1:12 shows us that the role of the leader is to remind us of what has already been said, to help us to stay on the right track.
Pastor Sam shared two very important components of this aspect of reminding. He stated that leaders are not around forever. Some of you know that this is not the first time our pastor has alluded to his being apart from us. To be frank, it is not something I want to blog about- but here we are, and I sense we really should deal with this today.
The first component of why leaders "remind" has to do with the fact that we are often tempted when we are apart from the body of believers. Yes, there are times when the enemy of our souls confronts us in a church service. But I've found that, in my own life, the enemy battles me when my pastor and my friends are not around to help defend me. There are some situations where decisions have to be made in an instant, independent of any other counsel but the counsel of God as revealed to you.
The second component, which pains me to consider, is that Pastor Sam will not always be around. Contrary to what some people believe, Pastor Sam is human... and so are we. If you live your life banking on the pastor being available to keep you accountable, keep in mind that this is just a slice in time where we've been blessed with him. We need to be able to get through temptations and challenges without him, because one day we will be without him.
So, how do we do this? We listen when our leaders speak to us, and we make sure that we understand what we have been taught. If we have been good students of the word, then we will demonstrate our skills when we have to stand alone:
-We will be capable of our own reflection, which is grounded in the character of God (goodness, glory, love, and power).
-We will be stable on our own foundation, which is grounded in the word of God (not Pastor Sam, not our friends, but Jesus Himself).
As our church leaders prepare to return us "back to basics", let's continue to pray for them even as they pray for God's leading in their endeavor to equip us for the days ahead.
As was said on Sunday, the leaders remind us in order to reinforce us. Let's be ready to learn, to do, and to stand, so that when we are on our own we will make God proud in the way we represent and reflect Him in the world. Amen!
Pastor Sam shared two very important components of this aspect of reminding. He stated that leaders are not around forever. Some of you know that this is not the first time our pastor has alluded to his being apart from us. To be frank, it is not something I want to blog about- but here we are, and I sense we really should deal with this today.
The first component of why leaders "remind" has to do with the fact that we are often tempted when we are apart from the body of believers. Yes, there are times when the enemy of our souls confronts us in a church service. But I've found that, in my own life, the enemy battles me when my pastor and my friends are not around to help defend me. There are some situations where decisions have to be made in an instant, independent of any other counsel but the counsel of God as revealed to you.
The second component, which pains me to consider, is that Pastor Sam will not always be around. Contrary to what some people believe, Pastor Sam is human... and so are we. If you live your life banking on the pastor being available to keep you accountable, keep in mind that this is just a slice in time where we've been blessed with him. We need to be able to get through temptations and challenges without him, because one day we will be without him.
So, how do we do this? We listen when our leaders speak to us, and we make sure that we understand what we have been taught. If we have been good students of the word, then we will demonstrate our skills when we have to stand alone:
-We will be capable of our own reflection, which is grounded in the character of God (goodness, glory, love, and power).
-We will be stable on our own foundation, which is grounded in the word of God (not Pastor Sam, not our friends, but Jesus Himself).
As our church leaders prepare to return us "back to basics", let's continue to pray for them even as they pray for God's leading in their endeavor to equip us for the days ahead.
As was said on Sunday, the leaders remind us in order to reinforce us. Let's be ready to learn, to do, and to stand, so that when we are on our own we will make God proud in the way we represent and reflect Him in the world. Amen!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
D.O.A.
For the handful of you who may not know, D.O.A. is an abbreviation for the term "Dead On Arrival". Today is a good day to reflect on the indictment of the fig tree, a story in Scripture that for some reason keeps resurfacing from the pulpit of Bronx Bethany... it seems that some people are not listening yet, and God has been demonstrating amazing patience in His willingness to stay His hand of judgement.
As we were reminded on Sunday, there are certain principles we must understand:
If you're not growing spiritually, you're probably dead.
Those who are not born again are spiritually dead, and as such cannot see the kingdom of God.
If you claim to have been born again, but you are not growing spiritually, then you are either dying or dead.
In the spiritual world, just as in the physical world, growth is a key indicator of life. Scripture exhorts us to grow in grace, to add to our faith, to demonstrate a maturing in our love for God and each other. A lack of growth indicates that we are both ineffective and unfruitful (Second Peter 1:8). A lack of growth also leads to spiritual blindness and spiritual near-sightedness, which becomes apparent in our conduct and our decision-making processes: a lack of growth evidences itself in a lifestyle lived from impulse rather than from the directive of the Spirit of God.
The strange aspect of this "dead-ness" is that the spiritually dead often appear to be very much alive. Pastor Sam alluded to the cut flowers in the sanctuary, which were beautiful, in full bloom, but had no roots. In the same way, we can pretend to be the carriers of spiritual life, but after a season it will be apparent to all that we were just putting on a show.
I leave you today with a paraphrase of one of Pastor Sam's comments: the indictment of the fig tree (Mark 11:12-25) is that it was presenting a great horticultural display, evidenced by an abundance of leaves, but lacked what was required of it as an agricultural plant- there was no fruit.
Jesus is looking for fruit. What will He find when He walks up to you?
As we were reminded on Sunday, there are certain principles we must understand:
If you're not growing spiritually, you're probably dead.
Those who are not born again are spiritually dead, and as such cannot see the kingdom of God.
If you claim to have been born again, but you are not growing spiritually, then you are either dying or dead.
In the spiritual world, just as in the physical world, growth is a key indicator of life. Scripture exhorts us to grow in grace, to add to our faith, to demonstrate a maturing in our love for God and each other. A lack of growth indicates that we are both ineffective and unfruitful (Second Peter 1:8). A lack of growth also leads to spiritual blindness and spiritual near-sightedness, which becomes apparent in our conduct and our decision-making processes: a lack of growth evidences itself in a lifestyle lived from impulse rather than from the directive of the Spirit of God.
The strange aspect of this "dead-ness" is that the spiritually dead often appear to be very much alive. Pastor Sam alluded to the cut flowers in the sanctuary, which were beautiful, in full bloom, but had no roots. In the same way, we can pretend to be the carriers of spiritual life, but after a season it will be apparent to all that we were just putting on a show.
I leave you today with a paraphrase of one of Pastor Sam's comments: the indictment of the fig tree (Mark 11:12-25) is that it was presenting a great horticultural display, evidenced by an abundance of leaves, but lacked what was required of it as an agricultural plant- there was no fruit.
Jesus is looking for fruit. What will He find when He walks up to you?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The Sincerest Form Of Flattery
After three and a half years at Bronx Bethany I am noticing that my husband and I have, unintentionally, begun to behave more like Pastor Sam. And I think each of you could say the same thing about someone that you work with every day, or that you see every week, or that you are close to.
It seems that part of our human nature is this phenomenon of imitation. We see children imitate their parents all the time. We see teenagers model their emerging selves after favorite performing artists or teachers. We compliment married couples using phrases like "they've been together so long, they are starting to look alike" or "they are so close they can finish each other's sentences".
This past Sunday's sermon reminded us that we can choose to let go of our own nature, and take on the nature of God. Pastor Sam noted that this is not simply participation in community, but participation in the essential nature of God.
The old story is a true story: God is love. In fact, God is Himself a community of love. You may recall Pastor Sam's referencing of Saint Augustine, who perceived the expression of God's love in His creation of community even with Himself: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. He Himself, at once both Lover and Beloved, sharing love. We would do well to imitate Him in our relationships here on earth.
However, in light of that love expressed in community, I will need to warn you. Part of the primary indictment of God against Bronx Bethany is that some of us believe that the mere assembling of believers is sufficient to gain entrance into heaven, and have therefore chosen not to be a living expression of the love of God. Listen. What good does it do you to sit in church, then go home and continue to live in a way that is completely contrary to the nature of God? Dichotomous behavior like that is reminscent of the parables in Matthew 25, which we have already dealt with in earlier blogs. But the warning still sounds: don't put yourself in a position where Christ Himself can only declare, "Truly, I don't know you" (Matthew 25:12).
As we heard on Sunday, ordinary people that struggle with human nature can instead choose to become engulfed in the divine nature. Let's imitate our glorious God today.
It seems that part of our human nature is this phenomenon of imitation. We see children imitate their parents all the time. We see teenagers model their emerging selves after favorite performing artists or teachers. We compliment married couples using phrases like "they've been together so long, they are starting to look alike" or "they are so close they can finish each other's sentences".
This past Sunday's sermon reminded us that we can choose to let go of our own nature, and take on the nature of God. Pastor Sam noted that this is not simply participation in community, but participation in the essential nature of God.
The old story is a true story: God is love. In fact, God is Himself a community of love. You may recall Pastor Sam's referencing of Saint Augustine, who perceived the expression of God's love in His creation of community even with Himself: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. He Himself, at once both Lover and Beloved, sharing love. We would do well to imitate Him in our relationships here on earth.
However, in light of that love expressed in community, I will need to warn you. Part of the primary indictment of God against Bronx Bethany is that some of us believe that the mere assembling of believers is sufficient to gain entrance into heaven, and have therefore chosen not to be a living expression of the love of God. Listen. What good does it do you to sit in church, then go home and continue to live in a way that is completely contrary to the nature of God? Dichotomous behavior like that is reminscent of the parables in Matthew 25, which we have already dealt with in earlier blogs. But the warning still sounds: don't put yourself in a position where Christ Himself can only declare, "Truly, I don't know you" (Matthew 25:12).
As we heard on Sunday, ordinary people that struggle with human nature can instead choose to become engulfed in the divine nature. Let's imitate our glorious God today.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Escapee
What a joy to be free! I'm an escapee!
Let's continue unpacking Sunday's sermon, in which Pastor Sam shared a number of insights from Second Peter 1. In verse 4 of that chapter, we see that we can escape corruption because of what God has done for us. The key is that God has done it, not us. He permits us to be in relationship with Him:
This relationship is possible because of God's glory and goodness. It is not our own glory and goodness, and conversely it is not our lack of glory and goodness either. This dynamic relationship with God is all about God. He has called us into this relationship: beware of falling into the presumptious notion that we have contributed anything to this endeavor- we have not.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, we can escape corruption. This fact is rooted in, and backed by, God's divine power; it is motivated, and guaranteed, by God's glory and goodness; and it is executed in His precious promises.
How can I be sure that the Lord has brought me into relationship with Him? How can I be sure of God's power, character, and word? Because He has spoken: in Scripture, through His servants, and to us individually. Praise Him, God is still speaking. Our responsibility is to hear and obey.
So, let's ask that classic Pastor Sam question: "What has God said?" Are you listening?
Let's continue unpacking Sunday's sermon, in which Pastor Sam shared a number of insights from Second Peter 1. In verse 4 of that chapter, we see that we can escape corruption because of what God has done for us. The key is that God has done it, not us. He permits us to be in relationship with Him:
This relationship is possible because of God's glory and goodness. It is not our own glory and goodness, and conversely it is not our lack of glory and goodness either. This dynamic relationship with God is all about God. He has called us into this relationship: beware of falling into the presumptious notion that we have contributed anything to this endeavor- we have not.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, we can escape corruption. This fact is rooted in, and backed by, God's divine power; it is motivated, and guaranteed, by God's glory and goodness; and it is executed in His precious promises.
How can I be sure that the Lord has brought me into relationship with Him? How can I be sure of God's power, character, and word? Because He has spoken: in Scripture, through His servants, and to us individually. Praise Him, God is still speaking. Our responsibility is to hear and obey.
So, let's ask that classic Pastor Sam question: "What has God said?" Are you listening?
Monday, October 13, 2008
Abundance Of Entrance...
I am starting to sound like a broken record, but I will say it again to start this week's blogs:
Bronx Bethany, how we need to pray!
Sunday's sermon, titled Making Sure In A Time Of Uncertainty, gave us many important insights to reflect on throughout this week. In fact, one week is not long enough to unpack all the details and implications brought out by Pastor Sam's exposition on Second Peter chapter 1.
Today we will just reflect on the phrase "abundance of entrance". Pastor Sam made a comment, complete with animation, of how he desires to enter heaven not by the bare minimum of effort, but after a lifetime of holy living made possible by God's own power working in us. Although we had a good laugh at Pastor Sam's imagery of angels having to step out of his way as he burst into the heavenly realms, there is a passage in scripture that gives us pause... perhaps it even disturbs us, if we think about it long enough.
As was noted clearly in the sermon, there are some believers who are not terribly interested in growing in their walk with the Lord. Their interest is in 'just getting by'. Instead of avoiding pitfalls, they play at the edge in expectation that God will somehow excuse their penchant for living on the edge of disaster.
I'll give a personal example. If God says that I am not to be yoked together with unbelievers, yet I continually choose to date and court non-Christians, then I've deliberately increased the odds that I will end up in serious romantic involvement with lovers who cannot appreciate Jesus Christ, the deepest Lover of my soul. I spent years as a so-called 'Christian' engaged in this pattern of thinking, and am so glad that God in His mercy created the right set of circumstances to break me free from that cycle by His Spirit.
Verse 23 in the book of Jude speaks of 'snatching others from the fire'- that is, those who have chosen the corruption that is in them rather than abandoning their own nature for the divine nature (Second Peter 1:4). I was snatched from the fire. Some of you have to snatch others from the fire. And some of you are in the fire, and due to your callousness might not even realize that you will burn to death unless God sends a rescue team.
God is in the business of rescuing... but when He sends the rescue squad, will you cooperate in the rescue effort? Or will you retreat further into the flames?
Therefore, my brothers... make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Second Peter 1:10-11)
Bronx Bethany, how we need to pray!
Sunday's sermon, titled Making Sure In A Time Of Uncertainty, gave us many important insights to reflect on throughout this week. In fact, one week is not long enough to unpack all the details and implications brought out by Pastor Sam's exposition on Second Peter chapter 1.
Today we will just reflect on the phrase "abundance of entrance". Pastor Sam made a comment, complete with animation, of how he desires to enter heaven not by the bare minimum of effort, but after a lifetime of holy living made possible by God's own power working in us. Although we had a good laugh at Pastor Sam's imagery of angels having to step out of his way as he burst into the heavenly realms, there is a passage in scripture that gives us pause... perhaps it even disturbs us, if we think about it long enough.
As was noted clearly in the sermon, there are some believers who are not terribly interested in growing in their walk with the Lord. Their interest is in 'just getting by'. Instead of avoiding pitfalls, they play at the edge in expectation that God will somehow excuse their penchant for living on the edge of disaster.
I'll give a personal example. If God says that I am not to be yoked together with unbelievers, yet I continually choose to date and court non-Christians, then I've deliberately increased the odds that I will end up in serious romantic involvement with lovers who cannot appreciate Jesus Christ, the deepest Lover of my soul. I spent years as a so-called 'Christian' engaged in this pattern of thinking, and am so glad that God in His mercy created the right set of circumstances to break me free from that cycle by His Spirit.
Verse 23 in the book of Jude speaks of 'snatching others from the fire'- that is, those who have chosen the corruption that is in them rather than abandoning their own nature for the divine nature (Second Peter 1:4). I was snatched from the fire. Some of you have to snatch others from the fire. And some of you are in the fire, and due to your callousness might not even realize that you will burn to death unless God sends a rescue team.
God is in the business of rescuing... but when He sends the rescue squad, will you cooperate in the rescue effort? Or will you retreat further into the flames?
Therefore, my brothers... make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Second Peter 1:10-11)