Love beyond our capacity, is only possible when we are filled with the one who is infinite. Love is the key purposes of G2. Love God, Love Neighbor and Love World because He first loved us. Is love possible apart from God? Absolutely. This love, is not the love God has called us to apart from the Holy Spirit. Read Romans 12 see if that moves you to understand how to love. Jesus said they will know us by our love for one another. 1 John speaks in true terms of how we know that we are in Christ, by our love.
Love has to be our driving force. I am a better husband and father when I do what God has called me to do not out of duty but from Love. I am a better friend and neighbor when I act out of Love not duty. Our motives matter. Checking your motives calls in to question your heart. As we know from Scripture our hearts are deceitfully wicked. In a book by Jerry Bridges called disciplines of grace we are reminded to preach the Gospel to ourselves daily. The Gospel is what will allow us to live lives filled with Christ Love.
G2 is a motive checker who are you serving and why? What are you trying to get out of your love, is because you love or want something back? Love matters. Love as we see in first Corinthians does a lot of things which would not be all of why we love, but how we should love when transformed by Christ. Love is a big deal. Love is core to who we are, especially when He first loved us. True biblical love is only possible because of the One who laid down His life for you.
Check your heart, where does your love come from?
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
The drama
Why do we love story so much? What is it about story that captures us. Have you ever thought that we were meant for drama, that we were were made to be interwoven into the greatest drama ever told? Man has always turned to story to describe beginnings, death;and the in between. Drama/story is principle to who we our. Think about that one family member who tells the best stories, you are captivated even if it is the same stories year after year. When story captivates us we talk about it. The movie you saw, the novel that moved you, there is a need for story to be told. Beyond the stories we want to tell, you and I are apart of the greatest story being told.
You and I are in the story of God. His(story). Think about all that God has done. He is involved in the greatest rescue the world has ever known. You and I are the object of rescue. What a joy to be consider as a story line, not by name but by personal transformation from the inside out. We have been pursued, ransomed, and redeemed. Who wouldn't want to write that into a movie script. You and I, for what ever reason tend to forget the rescue that came to us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Where will it all end? In the glory of worship of the rescuer for all eternity in heaven. What a privilege to be in the story and to live out my life for the one who set me free. I can't wait for the day the story can be seen from beginning to end in the glorious hd of eternity.
You and I are in the story of God. His(story). Think about all that God has done. He is involved in the greatest rescue the world has ever known. You and I are the object of rescue. What a joy to be consider as a story line, not by name but by personal transformation from the inside out. We have been pursued, ransomed, and redeemed. Who wouldn't want to write that into a movie script. You and I, for what ever reason tend to forget the rescue that came to us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Where will it all end? In the glory of worship of the rescuer for all eternity in heaven. What a privilege to be in the story and to live out my life for the one who set me free. I can't wait for the day the story can be seen from beginning to end in the glorious hd of eternity.
Children's Bible
The Jesus Storybook Bible
Sally Loyd-Jones
This Children's Bible will move you. Never in my life have i ever thought i would talk about a Children's Bible with this much enjoyment. The story telling of the greatest drama ever is wonderful. I enjoy reading this by my self and with my 3yr old daughter who doesn't want it to end. My favorite line from the book describes Gods love for us" Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love." I am recommending this as an add on to your normal family and individual routine.
Justin
“I would urge not just families with young children to get this book, but every Christian—from pew warmers, to ministry leaders, seminarians and even theologians! Sally Lloyd-Jones has captured the heart of what it means to find Christ in all the scriptures, and has made clear even to little children that all God's revelation has been about Jesus from the beginning—a truth not all that commonly recognized even among the very learned.”
DR TIMOTHY KELLER,
REDEEMER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH , NYC
Sally Loyd-Jones
This Children's Bible will move you. Never in my life have i ever thought i would talk about a Children's Bible with this much enjoyment. The story telling of the greatest drama ever is wonderful. I enjoy reading this by my self and with my 3yr old daughter who doesn't want it to end. My favorite line from the book describes Gods love for us" Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love." I am recommending this as an add on to your normal family and individual routine.
Justin
“I would urge not just families with young children to get this book, but every Christian—from pew warmers, to ministry leaders, seminarians and even theologians! Sally Lloyd-Jones has captured the heart of what it means to find Christ in all the scriptures, and has made clear even to little children that all God's revelation has been about Jesus from the beginning—a truth not all that commonly recognized even among the very learned.”
DR TIMOTHY KELLER,
REDEEMER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH , NYC
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The President, the Passengers, and the Patience of God
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2009/3520/
See article by John Piper.
See article by John Piper.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Histroy here and now
Today we mark and amazing historical event. We have voted in the first African American man as president of the United States of America. We have seen something so many people never thought would happen. What an amazing thing. We have seen a large portion of the injustices and prejudices in our country come undone in just over half a century. One thing to understand, if you believe in the administrations policies or not, this a exciting day in the history of America.
I wonder today if we are going to be the kind of people God called us to be. We are to be a praying people. We will see real change as our President said today not in the halls of Congress but in the streets of America. How as a Christian am I going to respond? We as Christians can pray, we can call on the power of the most high God and ask Him to do something so amazing that people can only point to Him. We can live as Peter called the scattered believers to: "Live such good lives among the pagans that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven". Do you look like a person who will enact change in his or her community? Do we allow ourselves the freedom to pray and ask blessing for those who lead us at a governmental level? Will you pray for our presidents marriage, his girls? We have an opportunity here and now to be a community of believers who call on the power of God to infect our nation.
The Grand question on this historic day is: How will we as Christians respond to the call of God and to the desire to see a nation change by His power?
I wonder today if we are going to be the kind of people God called us to be. We are to be a praying people. We will see real change as our President said today not in the halls of Congress but in the streets of America. How as a Christian am I going to respond? We as Christians can pray, we can call on the power of the most high God and ask Him to do something so amazing that people can only point to Him. We can live as Peter called the scattered believers to: "Live such good lives among the pagans that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven". Do you look like a person who will enact change in his or her community? Do we allow ourselves the freedom to pray and ask blessing for those who lead us at a governmental level? Will you pray for our presidents marriage, his girls? We have an opportunity here and now to be a community of believers who call on the power of God to infect our nation.
The Grand question on this historic day is: How will we as Christians respond to the call of God and to the desire to see a nation change by His power?
Sunday, January 18, 2009
be refreshed
Read through Acts 3:19-21. Repentance leads to refreshing. What an amazing passage to be impacted by. Repentance carries this wonderful imagery of our sin being blotted out, how perfect for what we need. We have mad a huge mess and the only cleaning agent is the blood of the king. Drawing us to the presence of God is one of the greatest gifts of repentance, we get God what more can you want. Be refreshed today.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
G2 and the Church
This is the definition of church as given by Mark Driscoll in his new book, Vintage Church.
"The local church is a community of regenerated believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord. In obedience to Scripture they organize under qualified leadership, gather regularly for preaching and worship, observe the biblical sacraments of baptism and Communion, are unified
by the Spirit, are disciplined for holiness, and scatter to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission as missionaries to the world for God’s glory and their joy."
Notice the last sentence where the goal of the church scattered is to live out the call of Jesus. We gather to celebrate and scatter to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the world around us. What a great and concise description of what Jesus has left us to do.
"The local church is a community of regenerated believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord. In obedience to Scripture they organize under qualified leadership, gather regularly for preaching and worship, observe the biblical sacraments of baptism and Communion, are unified
by the Spirit, are disciplined for holiness, and scatter to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission as missionaries to the world for God’s glory and their joy."
Notice the last sentence where the goal of the church scattered is to live out the call of Jesus. We gather to celebrate and scatter to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the world around us. What a great and concise description of what Jesus has left us to do.
Monday, January 12, 2009
What if...
What if we put all of these things in to practice and lived them out the way in which they were intended with out question. What if?
Matthew 22:36-40 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12 12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Mark 12:28-31,33 28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Romans 13:9 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Luke 10:27 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:36-40 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12 12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Mark 12:28-31,33 28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Romans 13:9 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Luke 10:27 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Volunteer letter 5
Happy New Year: What an amazing first semester we have had. God has blessed us so much. I am so grateful for all that I have learned in my first fall semester with children’s ministries. God has shown me how the gospel transforms children, and how a family can be impacted by the truth. There have been wonderful stories of your willingness to reach out to a child or a family outside of Sunday and that speaks to what God has done in your hearts. I am blown away by the amount of volunteers who see children’s ministries as their life not just a place to serve. To God be the glory for all He has done in and through you.
As we move into this New Year I want to encourage you that our task stays the same; to proclaim the never changing message of Jesus Christ in an ever-changing culture. Be ready to try new things find new ways to present the same message. The gospel is what melts hearts and transforms lives; God uses us and our methods and presentations to bring that message. As you are studying and preparing your lesson, think about how to be creative, fresh for your students. The most important thing to remember about preparation is that you are personally prepared. We as the teachers need to be saturated with Jesus. Our classes should see Jesus in us. When the students come to class no matter what the lesson is the one thing they should walk away with is that there teacher loves them and wants them to know Jesus.
I want you to know that I am so proud of you. I have been so excited to know that you and your teams are the front door to the church for so many children that come on our campus. You have been there church connection for many years. They look up to you and know that you are apart of their faith story. God is using you in tremendous ways and these children may not remember your name but they will look back and know their Sunday school teacher who told them about Jesus loved them. My prayer is that you will finish strong and call others to serve with you who have never been with us before. Have a wonderful 2009 and be encouraged because you are doing what Jesus has called you to do.
As we move into this New Year I want to encourage you that our task stays the same; to proclaim the never changing message of Jesus Christ in an ever-changing culture. Be ready to try new things find new ways to present the same message. The gospel is what melts hearts and transforms lives; God uses us and our methods and presentations to bring that message. As you are studying and preparing your lesson, think about how to be creative, fresh for your students. The most important thing to remember about preparation is that you are personally prepared. We as the teachers need to be saturated with Jesus. Our classes should see Jesus in us. When the students come to class no matter what the lesson is the one thing they should walk away with is that there teacher loves them and wants them to know Jesus.
I want you to know that I am so proud of you. I have been so excited to know that you and your teams are the front door to the church for so many children that come on our campus. You have been there church connection for many years. They look up to you and know that you are apart of their faith story. God is using you in tremendous ways and these children may not remember your name but they will look back and know their Sunday school teacher who told them about Jesus loved them. My prayer is that you will finish strong and call others to serve with you who have never been with us before. Have a wonderful 2009 and be encouraged because you are doing what Jesus has called you to do.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Welcome back
This is a new year, a fresh start. Our lives begin to chase a whole new calendar. What or where have we planned God out of already? Where have i made my life my direction instead of the direction of my savior? I think we can become so focused on our own plan that we move away from the grand plan of God.
G2 has the grip of Jesus all over it. Do you want Gods direction; then move to loving Him more, your neighbor more, and the world more. God has given us brains for a reason, use them. We should not become complacent to the call of Jesus in our lives. We have the most wonderful opportunities to do what Jesus said. They were the two most important commands: love God, love neighbor. God wants us to think ahead but to give Him first priority in all we do. Nothing matters more than our God. Love Jesus more this year than last year give God your best. The blessings that come through a life of love are unbelievable, lets open our eyes to what God might do.
G2 has the grip of Jesus all over it. Do you want Gods direction; then move to loving Him more, your neighbor more, and the world more. God has given us brains for a reason, use them. We should not become complacent to the call of Jesus in our lives. We have the most wonderful opportunities to do what Jesus said. They were the two most important commands: love God, love neighbor. God wants us to think ahead but to give Him first priority in all we do. Nothing matters more than our God. Love Jesus more this year than last year give God your best. The blessings that come through a life of love are unbelievable, lets open our eyes to what God might do.
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