Written by Administrator Sunday, 31 January 2010 06:11
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Written by Jill Egner Tuesday, 26 January 2010 21:00
Even Greater Things
“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Jesus promised his disciples that if they had faith in him, they would not only do what he had been doing, but they would do “even greater things” (John 14:11 – 14, NIV). And that is exactly what happened. In the years following Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples saw miraculous transformations in the lives of those around them and miraculous multiplication in the sheer number of followers. These transformations and this multiplication are all chronicled in the book of Acts.
Acts provides an invaluable and inspirational account of the spread of Christianity following the resurrection of Jesus. It reveals what life in Jesus’ church was really like way back in the beginning – the people, passions, purposes, problems and priorities. Thus it provides practical vision to help each of us individually and all of us collectively, to understand more of what God expects in Jesus’ church today.
We have concluded our series on the book of Acts.
Click here to listen or download 2010 Lessons.
Click here for a link to a summary of John’s lesson from January 24: Introduction.
Click here for a link to a summary of John's lesson from January 31: Birth of the Early Church.
Click here for a link to a summary of John's lesson from February 21: From Antioch to Aegean Shores.
Click here for a link to a summary of John's lesson from February 28: Paul's Journey to Rome.
Written by Rob Ferry Wednesday, 28 October 2009 17:26
Jesus tells a parable about choices in Matthew 7:24-27, the parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders. The difference between the two builders wasn't their building skill. They could both build excellent houses. The difference between the wise and the unwise builders was their choice of foundation. In this parable Jesus is telling us to - Choose Wisely. Choose the right foundation. A choice to build your foundation on the truth of God's Word is a wise choice.
Life is all about choices. There exists a spiritual condition that affects many (if not all) of us at various times in our spiritual journey - that is the condition of being ineffective or unproductive for God. We know we love God, but we just don't feel effective as a disciple of Jesus. We don't have to be plagued by this spiritual condition! Look at 2 Peter 1:3-11. Peter here gives a recipe for spiritual effectiveness and productivity. He gives certain ingredients in the recipe: faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.
But he also adds an attitude that MUST be present in the recipe: "Make every effort." We not only need to make wise choices, but we need to be zealous in our choices. We need to put our heart into the choices that we make.
This is an important point. God expects effort. He doesn't expect perfection, but he does expect effort. When my wife and I planted the church in Harrisburg, PA shortly after we were married, we lived very near to the Amish capital of the United States, Lancaster, PA. There we learned that Amish quilt-makers always put one defect in their quilts. Why? They want God to know that they realize that they aren't perfect. They want everyone else to know that only God is perfect. God knows we aren't perfect. God doesn't expect perfection.
The attempt to be a perfectionist is a tiring and futile task - I know, because I am one that struggles with it. I need to realize no one is perfect, that God doesn't expect perfection. For me this is relieving and refreshing. But what DOES God expect? What God does expect is effort. He wants us to put effort into making wise choices.
What choices have you been making recently? Have you been making good choices? Are you struggling with perfectionism and wearing yourself out? Have you been spurred on in a lesson or sermon to make a choice, but haven't made the choice or put your decision in to practice? Are you procrastinating any choices? The choice to procrastinate is a choice - a poor one. As one anonymous author once penned, "Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried." Clearly that is not a good choice!
We must believe that we can live a great life for God! To do that we must believe that our choices make a difference - in our lives, in the lives of our family, and in the world around us. We must keep telling ourselves this. Dwight D. Eisenhower said, "The history of free men is never written by chance but by choice - their choice."
What kind of choices are you making?
Jesus tells a parable about choices in Matthew 7:24-27, the parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders. The difference between the two builders wasn't their building skill. They could both build excellent houses. The difference between the wise and the unwise builders was their choice of foundation. In this parable Jesus is telling us to - Choose Wisely. Choose the right foundation. A choice to build your foundation on the truth of God's Word is a wise choice.
Written by Greg Jackson Wednesday, 28 October 2009 17:20
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (II Timothy 2:1)
A week or so ago, within the span of a couple of days, I had some events happen to me that reminded me of "both sides of the coin" when it comes to the grace of God.
I had that nagging suspicion that my truck's license plated needed to be renewed; that it was about time for the tags to expire and I needed to attend to it. I looked at the plates and sure enough, not only did they need to be renewed but the time was way past the month of their renewal. I was in the "grace period" provided by the state of Colorado. I wasted no time, not wanting to take advantage of the grace period, and got it resolved.
In the process of telling my experiences with some brothers, I shared how I had been living in the grace period of the state of Colorado. It did not take long to make the connection between being appreciative of the grace of the state of Colorado and seeing how we are all living in the "grace period" of God. We chuckled about how we all are living in the "grace period of God" and then remarked about differences between man's "grace" and God's grace. As the above quoted passage states "...be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (emphasis added). It would not be hard to see that man's grace, when it is found, pales when compared to the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Thankfully Paul exhorts Timothy (and by implication, all of us) to be strong in the grace of Jesus!
This part of grace - when we are on the receiving end - we all enjoy and it gives us many more chances than we deserve. But another event happened recently where I saw "the other side of the coin" of where we are called to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus - and this was not so enjoyable to experience.
I was in a session where there had been angry, frustrated words spoken and, as usually happens when these types of words are plentiful, feelings get hurt and things are said that lead to regret. And, in this case, disunity had begun.
Grace was needed. There were plenty of hurts to go around and grace had to be given. Here is where you can tell if someone is strong in the grace, to see if they "got it". It is one thing to point out the need for God's grace; it is another to give it. Indeed, one of the clearest indications we know we are living in the grace period of God is that we extend that grace to others.
Jesus told parables along this point - i.e. the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matt. 18:21-35). And he makes it clear, not only that we need the grace of God, but that we have to give it - indeed, your salvation may depend upon your willingness to give it.
Yes, be strong in the grace, all of us. But realize, with humility, that to be strong in God's grace means more than recognizing your need for it - it means you need to give it.
May God Himself help us be strong in the grace - of both sides of the coin.
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (II Timothy 2:1)
A week or so ago, within the span of a couple of days, I had some events happen to me that reminded me of "both sides of the coin" when it comes to the grace of God.
I had that nagging suspicion that my truck's license plated needed to be renewed; that it was about time for the tags to expire and I needed to attend to it. I looked at the plates and sure enough, not only did they need to be renewed but the time was way past the month of their renewal. I was in the "grace period" provided by the state of Colorado. I wasted no time, not wanting to take advantage of the grace period, and got it resolved.
Read more: Be Strong in the Grace - "Heads", You Get it; "Tails", You Give it
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