Hope: What an amazing word, but you might be surprised by what it really means. Hope is a word used in our world as something that might happen. We use it to talk about the future and what we might become or do. When we use this word in the way the Bible uses it we see that it is a future event that will happen. There is certainty and fact about the word Hope.
We celebrate at Christmas time the hope that the people of Israel had that the Messiah would come and rescue them. There hope was fulfilled it was true when God said thousands of years before that He would send a rescuer to come and set them free. You and I can remember the story so clearly; we have been taught the story since we were little children before we could talk. We celebrate the day our Savior came into the world.
The other part of the Hope we celebrate at Christmas is the hope of Jesus return that He will come back and reign as the rightful king of the world. The true Hope that God will do what He said He would do. 1 Corinthians 1:10 reminds us that God has delivered us from and sin and will one day bring us to be with Him. We know how the story ends, it ends in a beautiful city where Jesus is sitting on His throne, and we get to spend eternity with Him forever.
Now that you understand the true meaning of Hope you can change the things you hope for this year. The presents are fun and enjoyable but the hope that comes in knowing Jesus, as your Savior and King will last forever.
The question to ponder: How is true Hope helping to prepare your heart for the day we celebrate Jesus birth?
Monday, November 30, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
a calling God
Our God is a calling God. Throughout all time, we find God calling people to carry out specific tasks – wealthy and settled Abraham was called to leave everything and go to a land that God would show him; the reluctant Moses was called to lead the people of Israel to freedom; the shepherd boy David, not old enough yet to shave, was called to be king; Gideon, who wanted proof that it was really God who was speaking to him, was called to lead an army against Israel’s enemies; the cheat and thief Matthew was called to be a disciple; the Christian hater, Saul of Tarsus, was called to be a missionary to the Gentiles. What is evident in all these examples is that the people whom God calls to do his work are ordinary people like you and me – people with weaknesses and handicaps, people with their fair share of marriage and family problems, people who don’t have much going for them from a human point of view. It is not beyond God to seemingly call the wrong people, for the wrong jobs at the wrong time and place. It seems all wrong doesn’t, but God knows what he is doing.
What are you called to?
What are you called to?
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Cultivation
Take a few minutes and read the evbc mission statement and reflect on it.
We exist to glorify God by cultivating Christ in each other so that we can be Christ to the world. We are a people who love God, love His word, and love people.
What words stand out to you why? What makes them so significant to you? What do you thinks this means to a Sunday school classroom?
When I look this statement over there is a word that fits so clearly with children. It is cultivate. Why you may ask? This is what we are about when we are planting the seeds of the Gospel. Think about the times you have read the Gospels in the New Testament, how many time can you think of or remember Jesus using agricultural language? Largest portion of Jesus illustrations were using agricultural terms think about how then we can use these in thinking about discipleship.
Here a few examples of the words He used:
Plow, yoke, winnowing fork, vine and branches, fig tree, pruning, sower and the seed, soil, wheat and weeds, mustard seed, harvest, white with harvest, parable of the weeds, a tree and its fruit, and many more.
Now think about these things in light of the mission statement you just read. Now think through the lens of a farmer, especially in the cultivation of soil and examine the definition below:
Cultivate: 1 : to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops; also : to loosen or break up the soil about (growing plants)
2 a : to foster the growth of b
1. To grow plants, notably crops
Farmers should cultivate their crops to get a good harvest.
2. To nurture; tend
They tried to cultivate an interest in learning among their students.
3. To turn or stir soil in preparation for planting.
Discipleship is a cultivation ministry. It takes hard work and time; it takes thought and relationship to do this word justice. Cultivation is not easy sometimes it hurts. Imagine trying to cultivate soil with out modern machinery. How would this feel? How long would it take? What muscles or body parts would be sore after you were done? Cultivation is what God has called us to as the church, which is where you come in as a Sunday school teacher. The thing about cultivating children is that we are preparing their heart soil; we are helping to nurture and prepare their hearts. This word cultivate is very significant when you think about the ramifications. What will they see in you and remember about what was said in class about the God of the universe?
What a profound ministry we have, to be apart of what God will do in the heart of children. Have you ever thought that sometimes children have a different perspective when they listen to you then when they listen to their parents? It is like bringing in new machinery that has not been on a field before. It has the potential to go deeper into the heart of the soil, unlock something that has not seen sunlight. Remember when you would listen to other adults and not your parents? Our goal is to work hard to come along side of families to help cultivate the heart soil of their children, to bring added nutrients from scripture to be apart of the process. What a joy that we have to be able to love these little ones this way, now go back to and re-read the mission statement with some fresh perspective. What comes alive now? How will your class look different having thought through the mission the leadership of evbc has set forth?
We exist to glorify God by cultivating Christ in each other so that we can be Christ to the world. We are a people who love God, love His word, and love people.
What words stand out to you why? What makes them so significant to you? What do you thinks this means to a Sunday school classroom?
When I look this statement over there is a word that fits so clearly with children. It is cultivate. Why you may ask? This is what we are about when we are planting the seeds of the Gospel. Think about the times you have read the Gospels in the New Testament, how many time can you think of or remember Jesus using agricultural language? Largest portion of Jesus illustrations were using agricultural terms think about how then we can use these in thinking about discipleship.
Here a few examples of the words He used:
Plow, yoke, winnowing fork, vine and branches, fig tree, pruning, sower and the seed, soil, wheat and weeds, mustard seed, harvest, white with harvest, parable of the weeds, a tree and its fruit, and many more.
Now think about these things in light of the mission statement you just read. Now think through the lens of a farmer, especially in the cultivation of soil and examine the definition below:
Cultivate: 1 : to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops; also : to loosen or break up the soil about (growing plants)
2 a : to foster the growth of
1. To grow plants, notably crops
Farmers should cultivate their crops to get a good harvest.
2. To nurture; tend
They tried to cultivate an interest in learning among their students.
3. To turn or stir soil in preparation for planting.
Discipleship is a cultivation ministry. It takes hard work and time; it takes thought and relationship to do this word justice. Cultivation is not easy sometimes it hurts. Imagine trying to cultivate soil with out modern machinery. How would this feel? How long would it take? What muscles or body parts would be sore after you were done? Cultivation is what God has called us to as the church, which is where you come in as a Sunday school teacher. The thing about cultivating children is that we are preparing their heart soil; we are helping to nurture and prepare their hearts. This word cultivate is very significant when you think about the ramifications. What will they see in you and remember about what was said in class about the God of the universe?
What a profound ministry we have, to be apart of what God will do in the heart of children. Have you ever thought that sometimes children have a different perspective when they listen to you then when they listen to their parents? It is like bringing in new machinery that has not been on a field before. It has the potential to go deeper into the heart of the soil, unlock something that has not seen sunlight. Remember when you would listen to other adults and not your parents? Our goal is to work hard to come along side of families to help cultivate the heart soil of their children, to bring added nutrients from scripture to be apart of the process. What a joy that we have to be able to love these little ones this way, now go back to and re-read the mission statement with some fresh perspective. What comes alive now? How will your class look different having thought through the mission the leadership of evbc has set forth?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
bless
I have been working really hard to orient my life around others. I have been using a model given to me by a friend who got it from someone else, which is how it normally works. The model is called B.L.E.S.S. missional rhythms. Bless is a way to think intentionally about your life here is the basics for bless:
Each week we respond to the identity that God gives to us in his grace by trying to
B. L. E. S. S. others through what we do.
B. We bless
Each week we aspire to bless others in our Christian community and our spheres of influence in word, action or gift at least three times. As a guide we seek to bless 1 believer, 1 unbeliever, and someone not like us.
L. We listen
Each week we aspire to listen to God, looking for him to guide us through his word and Spirit. And we listen to people around us to understand their stories and the story of our culture.
E. We eat
Each week we aspire to eat or have a drink with people outside our immediate family at least three times (1 believer, 1 unbeliever, and someone not like us) offering friendship and community.
S. We speak
Each week we aspire to tell people the story of Jesus and our story of Jesus, making Jesus a normal part of our conversations. And we speak to God through prayer, recognizing our dependence on him in all things.
S. We sabbath
Each week we aspire to spend time in rest, praise, play, partying and creativity.
I found this to be an amazing way to think about others and what it is that God has for me. think through this how would this fit into what you are doing already to be intentional about others.
Each week we respond to the identity that God gives to us in his grace by trying to
B. L. E. S. S. others through what we do.
B. We bless
Each week we aspire to bless others in our Christian community and our spheres of influence in word, action or gift at least three times. As a guide we seek to bless 1 believer, 1 unbeliever, and someone not like us.
L. We listen
Each week we aspire to listen to God, looking for him to guide us through his word and Spirit. And we listen to people around us to understand their stories and the story of our culture.
E. We eat
Each week we aspire to eat or have a drink with people outside our immediate family at least three times (1 believer, 1 unbeliever, and someone not like us) offering friendship and community.
S. We speak
Each week we aspire to tell people the story of Jesus and our story of Jesus, making Jesus a normal part of our conversations. And we speak to God through prayer, recognizing our dependence on him in all things.
S. We sabbath
Each week we aspire to spend time in rest, praise, play, partying and creativity.
I found this to be an amazing way to think about others and what it is that God has for me. think through this how would this fit into what you are doing already to be intentional about others.
Monday, August 31, 2009
when it all clicks
Have you had a moment lately when you feel like things have clicked together. I have these moments regularly but they are not when i have figured it out but when the Holy spirit works it out in me.
In the last three weeks my family has seen big changes we have welcomed a new child into our family, and now have three girls under the age of 4 figuring life out together. My wife and I were talking last night about what it is that God is doing in us as parents. The thing that has been overwhelmingly clear is that God desires to make us more like Jesus. I feel like marriage was a no big deal transition in life, but being a parent has been what God has used to make me more dependent on Him. I love the picture that parenting a toddler paints for me. you can instruct a toddler they seem to get it and then as quickly as there is a shimmer of understanding it falls away. This must be a wonderful picture of Gods interaction with us. We seem to get it and we are walking byt the spirit and as soon as we lose sight of our Savior we fall away.
So back to the click, I now feel like things fit together better, that my instruction and discipline of my children is just as much for me as it is for them. It is this beautiful reminder of how God wants me to respond to Him. To be soft and obedient to recognize when i have disobeyed and failed. This process is also for me to show my children a small picture of what God is like (see exodus 34 for the exact description) although it be really small picture. My desire is to be more like Christ but not by my effort but by the Holy Spirit shaping me through all that God has in store for me.
In the last three weeks my family has seen big changes we have welcomed a new child into our family, and now have three girls under the age of 4 figuring life out together. My wife and I were talking last night about what it is that God is doing in us as parents. The thing that has been overwhelmingly clear is that God desires to make us more like Jesus. I feel like marriage was a no big deal transition in life, but being a parent has been what God has used to make me more dependent on Him. I love the picture that parenting a toddler paints for me. you can instruct a toddler they seem to get it and then as quickly as there is a shimmer of understanding it falls away. This must be a wonderful picture of Gods interaction with us. We seem to get it and we are walking byt the spirit and as soon as we lose sight of our Savior we fall away.
So back to the click, I now feel like things fit together better, that my instruction and discipline of my children is just as much for me as it is for them. It is this beautiful reminder of how God wants me to respond to Him. To be soft and obedient to recognize when i have disobeyed and failed. This process is also for me to show my children a small picture of what God is like (see exodus 34 for the exact description) although it be really small picture. My desire is to be more like Christ but not by my effort but by the Holy Spirit shaping me through all that God has in store for me.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Generational Faithfulness
Generational faithfulness:
The original outline for Gods plan for parenting is found in Deuteronomy 6. God clearly describes the goal of our homes. God has allowed us to know how to continue our faith through our children. This is the most missional thing we can do, parent in Gods aproach, so that others will see our love for our children becasue of the love God has poured out on us.
3 things from Deuteronomy 6
1. God says to teach and talk to our children about who He is and what His statues are.
They way God commands us to teach and talk is diligently. This means with purpose and intent. Life is the classroom and God has provided the objects and the call of what to teach. Scripture has been for thousands of years the textbook for life. The first book most children until the last two centuries would have read first was the bible. God is very clear that is commands and statues are what guide our lives and set us apart from the world around us. God did not give us aimless things to teach our children He gave us they very things they need for life and to know Him.
2. God says make these things you teach and talk about apart of everyday life.
Teaching your children fits in to all the learning styles based on what God says in Deuteronomy 6:
Auditory –listening
Visual-watching
Tactile and Kinesthetic- movers and shakers
God knew exactly who He was talking to when He gave this commandment. God knows that His little creations are each individually unique, and need all of these approaches to teach His truths.
Modeling:
He knows that your children watch you. Your children will learn to worship what you do. They were designed to be followers, and Jesus has a strong warning for those who lead them astray. They have a high level of perception to the way you orient your life.
I.e. Computer, tv, phone, husband, wife, family, work
Teaching Moments: The world around you and things that happen everyday are perfect opportunities to talk about the Godly and biblical response. When our children see that our very first response is to seek the council of God they to in time will begin to act the same way, this does not mean they are believers. It is a step to talking about why we as there parents respond to God as our father.
TV- caillou and his whining problem
Grocery store and screaming children
Nature and Gods creation
Homeless people on the side of the road
Food for the hungry
Prayer is not just for food and bedtime
Books looking for places to point out sin and good behavior
3. God says these things happen out of love.
First for God, second for our children, Deuteronomy 6:20 is the answer to why we teach and talk to our children about these things. So that when your son asks why do we do all of these things you will have an answer. The reason is that they might know God and not forget who He is. When we remember God for all that he has done it shows our love for Him and proves our love for the one we are speaking to. If you found the perfect wrinkle remover wouldn’t you tell the people you love. You know how great our God is and you tell the people you love.
Here are a few questions about Deuteronomy 6:20 to probe the way you live.
What in your life is there to ask about?
Why would they want to ask you?
What about your life brings up questions now to your preschooler, elementary, jr high, high school students?
Do the answers to they questions they have point them to your God?
The reason the Israelites fall apart can be found in Judges 2:10: And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the work which he had wrought for Israel.
The older generation did not tell the younger. God has called us to be the front lines of discipleship in the world. This is the quickest way to share your faith. As moms and dads you are on the edge of evangelism everyday. If the people of Israel had truly taken seriously Deuteronomy 6 this could have been a different outcome.
God desires that the family be the strongest missional focus in the world. This passage gives us purpose to be set apart from the world. We are different: our parenting is not about us; it is for the God who saved and loves us. The reason that we spend time with our kids is because we love them and because of that we continually remind them about Jesus. When the world sees that they see that we live for a greater purpose then our selves and our kids.
A few Passages for reflection:
David knew well what leaving a Godly legacy could do. Listen to these two passages.
Psalm 78
Psalm 71
Proverbs is clear about children and parents. So perfect is the model of Godliness in proverbs 31 that we should all take note.
Proverbs: 1:8, 7:1, 3:26, 31:10-31
The New Testament even gives a glimpse at the heart of generational faithfulness.
Luke 1:17 John the Baptist job description
Luke 1:50 Mary and the magnificat
The original outline for Gods plan for parenting is found in Deuteronomy 6. God clearly describes the goal of our homes. God has allowed us to know how to continue our faith through our children. This is the most missional thing we can do, parent in Gods aproach, so that others will see our love for our children becasue of the love God has poured out on us.
3 things from Deuteronomy 6
1. God says to teach and talk to our children about who He is and what His statues are.
They way God commands us to teach and talk is diligently. This means with purpose and intent. Life is the classroom and God has provided the objects and the call of what to teach. Scripture has been for thousands of years the textbook for life. The first book most children until the last two centuries would have read first was the bible. God is very clear that is commands and statues are what guide our lives and set us apart from the world around us. God did not give us aimless things to teach our children He gave us they very things they need for life and to know Him.
2. God says make these things you teach and talk about apart of everyday life.
Teaching your children fits in to all the learning styles based on what God says in Deuteronomy 6:
Auditory –listening
Visual-watching
Tactile and Kinesthetic- movers and shakers
God knew exactly who He was talking to when He gave this commandment. God knows that His little creations are each individually unique, and need all of these approaches to teach His truths.
Modeling:
He knows that your children watch you. Your children will learn to worship what you do. They were designed to be followers, and Jesus has a strong warning for those who lead them astray. They have a high level of perception to the way you orient your life.
I.e. Computer, tv, phone, husband, wife, family, work
Teaching Moments: The world around you and things that happen everyday are perfect opportunities to talk about the Godly and biblical response. When our children see that our very first response is to seek the council of God they to in time will begin to act the same way, this does not mean they are believers. It is a step to talking about why we as there parents respond to God as our father.
TV- caillou and his whining problem
Grocery store and screaming children
Nature and Gods creation
Homeless people on the side of the road
Food for the hungry
Prayer is not just for food and bedtime
Books looking for places to point out sin and good behavior
3. God says these things happen out of love.
First for God, second for our children, Deuteronomy 6:20 is the answer to why we teach and talk to our children about these things. So that when your son asks why do we do all of these things you will have an answer. The reason is that they might know God and not forget who He is. When we remember God for all that he has done it shows our love for Him and proves our love for the one we are speaking to. If you found the perfect wrinkle remover wouldn’t you tell the people you love. You know how great our God is and you tell the people you love.
Here are a few questions about Deuteronomy 6:20 to probe the way you live.
What in your life is there to ask about?
Why would they want to ask you?
What about your life brings up questions now to your preschooler, elementary, jr high, high school students?
Do the answers to they questions they have point them to your God?
The reason the Israelites fall apart can be found in Judges 2:10: And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the work which he had wrought for Israel.
The older generation did not tell the younger. God has called us to be the front lines of discipleship in the world. This is the quickest way to share your faith. As moms and dads you are on the edge of evangelism everyday. If the people of Israel had truly taken seriously Deuteronomy 6 this could have been a different outcome.
God desires that the family be the strongest missional focus in the world. This passage gives us purpose to be set apart from the world. We are different: our parenting is not about us; it is for the God who saved and loves us. The reason that we spend time with our kids is because we love them and because of that we continually remind them about Jesus. When the world sees that they see that we live for a greater purpose then our selves and our kids.
A few Passages for reflection:
David knew well what leaving a Godly legacy could do. Listen to these two passages.
Psalm 78
Psalm 71
Proverbs is clear about children and parents. So perfect is the model of Godliness in proverbs 31 that we should all take note.
Proverbs: 1:8, 7:1, 3:26, 31:10-31
The New Testament even gives a glimpse at the heart of generational faithfulness.
Luke 1:17 John the Baptist job description
Luke 1:50 Mary and the magnificat
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
How sweet it is...
How sweet it is to think how much our Heavenly Father loves us. God has made it clear to us that when He called us His children at the conversion of our hearts He provided exactly what we need. 2 Peter 1:3-10 describes this reality, Peter declares that we have everything we need for life and godliness. What an amazing statement, all of this was granted by His divine power through the knowledge of the one who called us. If you follow this passage all the way through you will be blown away by how much God truly loves you. If you were in doubt about Gods provision let that doubt be washed away by the security of the Love of your Heavenly Father. God cares and loves you. You are his most precious creation. David Crowder writes a song called "everything glorious" where he describes Gods creation. The process of the song takes us down the road that God makes (everything glorious and I am yours, so what does that make me?). That makes you His prized possession. As a child of the King you are an heir to the kingdom and the promises the King gives His children, be excited today as you think about how loved you really are. God knows you, take joy in your Father.
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