God broke down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile in Christ. Yet, there remains many dividing walls between different nationalities today. When we become Christians we can no longer allow these walls to remain, walls that separate us from others.
Identify walls that separate us from others. How can we break down these dividing walls in our local church? What kinds of feelings prevent us from breaking down these walls. How can we overcome thse feelings?
Le's talk about these ideas.
God be with you,
George
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Our Help In Him -- Eph. 1:15-23
Remember the three ideas expressed in this passage? Learn to thank God for one another. Learn to be specific in our requests to God. Learn to praise God in your times of prayer.
Sounds so easy. But prayer is a discipline. It's something that needs to be practiced and developed. Most of us aren't naturally inclined to ask for help, especially in the small things of life. We wait until the really big things happen to us. Cancer, loss of a job, death, divorce, unplanned pregnancy, illness. Then we pray.
That's not what God had in mind. He wants us to bring everything to Him and ask Him to help us carry the load. Can you imagine how our lives would be if we took everything to God. Less stress. Lower blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol. Our relationships with God and one another would improve. Things could be a lot better and different for us.
So what prevents us form accepting the good life? How can we change our prayer habits? What have you done to improve this prayer time? Write some things down. Let's encourage one another.
God be with you,
George
Sounds so easy. But prayer is a discipline. It's something that needs to be practiced and developed. Most of us aren't naturally inclined to ask for help, especially in the small things of life. We wait until the really big things happen to us. Cancer, loss of a job, death, divorce, unplanned pregnancy, illness. Then we pray.
That's not what God had in mind. He wants us to bring everything to Him and ask Him to help us carry the load. Can you imagine how our lives would be if we took everything to God. Less stress. Lower blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol. Our relationships with God and one another would improve. Things could be a lot better and different for us.
So what prevents us form accepting the good life? How can we change our prayer habits? What have you done to improve this prayer time? Write some things down. Let's encourage one another.
God be with you,
George
Monday, November 10, 2008
Our Blessings in Christ
Ever get discouraged by the events in our world? Who doesn't. How about the events going on in the church, whether at large or local? Or, what about the events going on your family? Yes, life can be pretty discouraging if ...
If you allow it to be discouraging. That's the point. What do you allow to discourage you in life? It's your choice.
Paul found himself in a prison in Rome and yet he penned Eph. 1:3-14. At least seven blessings are recorded in his longest sentence in the NT. Caught up in the joys of being a Christian, Paul couldn't stop writing about the wonders of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Paul chose to focus his head, heart and hands in praise of God.
What practical ideas do you have to help Christians turn their eyes upon Jesus? What helps you pull yourself up from the depths of depression or irritation, and look at Jesus with eyes of praise?
God be with you,
George
If you allow it to be discouraging. That's the point. What do you allow to discourage you in life? It's your choice.
Paul found himself in a prison in Rome and yet he penned Eph. 1:3-14. At least seven blessings are recorded in his longest sentence in the NT. Caught up in the joys of being a Christian, Paul couldn't stop writing about the wonders of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Paul chose to focus his head, heart and hands in praise of God.
What practical ideas do you have to help Christians turn their eyes upon Jesus? What helps you pull yourself up from the depths of depression or irritation, and look at Jesus with eyes of praise?
God be with you,
George
Monday, November 3, 2008
Our Identity in Christ
We live in a new time. It is the time of identity theft. Credit card numbers have been stolen. Social Security numbers are at risk. In a very short time your life can be turned upside down when someone steals your identity.
Additionally, we can become lost in our culture. Caught up in the activities and thinking of those around us, we can forget who we are. The desire to belong and be a part is too overwhelming for many of us. We need to belong, to be accepted. And often times we do so at our own peril.
In Christ we find our identity. We realize that Christ has a purpose for each of us. He helps us know who we are and whose we are. We're not alone in the world.
How do we prevent identity theft? How do we prevent the Evil One from stealing our identity in Christ? How do we guard that "which has been entrusted to us?"
This past week we began a new sermon series, "In Christ." Over the next few months we'll look deeply into the first three chapters of Ephesians. The emphasis will be, of course, on our position "In Christ."
Take time this week to encourage one another to remain "in Christ," to remember our function, our nature and our character (Eph. 1:1, 2) in Christ.
God be with you,
George
Additionally, we can become lost in our culture. Caught up in the activities and thinking of those around us, we can forget who we are. The desire to belong and be a part is too overwhelming for many of us. We need to belong, to be accepted. And often times we do so at our own peril.
In Christ we find our identity. We realize that Christ has a purpose for each of us. He helps us know who we are and whose we are. We're not alone in the world.
How do we prevent identity theft? How do we prevent the Evil One from stealing our identity in Christ? How do we guard that "which has been entrusted to us?"
This past week we began a new sermon series, "In Christ." Over the next few months we'll look deeply into the first three chapters of Ephesians. The emphasis will be, of course, on our position "In Christ."
Take time this week to encourage one another to remain "in Christ," to remember our function, our nature and our character (Eph. 1:1, 2) in Christ.
God be with you,
George
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Passing the Torch
Every two years we see the Olympic torch being passed to the next home of the Olympics. It represents the undying spirit of sports. Athletes and spectators travel from all around the world to see international athletes compete at the highest level.
Excitement about passing the torch of God's amazing love ought to draw us as Christians to act in the same manner. Yet, Christianity seems to be falling behind Islam and many of the Eastern cults.
What is hindering the spread of the Gospel? How can we correct this hindrance? Be analytical and creative in your answers to these questions.
God be with you, George
Excitement about passing the torch of God's amazing love ought to draw us as Christians to act in the same manner. Yet, Christianity seems to be falling behind Islam and many of the Eastern cults.
What is hindering the spread of the Gospel? How can we correct this hindrance? Be analytical and creative in your answers to these questions.
God be with you, George
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Tearing Down Walls
Barney Wells was our guest speaker this Sunday. He hales from Lincoln Christian College and Seminary. Don't let that college and seminary stuff fool you, though. He worked in a located ministry for 25 years in Arcola, IL. As he describes himself, he's an old country preacher.
Barney talked about tearing down walls that hinder relationships. The biggest wall, of course, is the wall of sin. Only God can break that wall down. He then talked about other walls like skin color. God broke down these walls so that we could have fellowship with Him and with one another.
We at the First Christian Church in Malvern share a deep love for one another and others. Yet, like any other church, we have walls that keep us from truly enjoying fellowship with God and one another.
What walls do you see? And, how would you go about breaking those walls down? Furthermore, what kinds of bridges would you suggest we build to get over the rubble and stuff left behind from the destruction of the walls?
Let me hear from you.
God be with you.
George
Barney talked about tearing down walls that hinder relationships. The biggest wall, of course, is the wall of sin. Only God can break that wall down. He then talked about other walls like skin color. God broke down these walls so that we could have fellowship with Him and with one another.
We at the First Christian Church in Malvern share a deep love for one another and others. Yet, like any other church, we have walls that keep us from truly enjoying fellowship with God and one another.
What walls do you see? And, how would you go about breaking those walls down? Furthermore, what kinds of bridges would you suggest we build to get over the rubble and stuff left behind from the destruction of the walls?
Let me hear from you.
God be with you.
George
Sunday, October 5, 2008
He Is There and He Is Not Silent
This week's sermon topic is from the title of a book written by Dr. Francis Schaeffer back in the '70s. Schaeffer discussed the reality of God and the fact that God has revealed Himself to us. Almost 40 years after Schaeffer's writings his statements are still found to be true. God is there and He is not silent.
God revealed Himself to us through His actions. Creation sings of His majesty. It testifies to God's abundant grace and love for us. The heavens and the earth declare His glory in every passing day.
God has spoken to us through His word. He spoke and the worlds were created. He spoke and man was created. He spoke and told man about his responsibilities. Man is accountable before God. God's Holy Word stands true today.
In these last days, God to us again through His Son Jesus Christ. He has revealed Himself through the incarnate Son. If you want to see God, look at Jesus. If you want to understand hope and grace and love, look at Jesus. He is the radiance of God's glory.
Having said these things, a question remains. Does God still speak to us today? If so, how? Is is some small voice? Is it audible? How does God speak to you, if He does at all? Let me hear from you.
God revealed Himself to us through His actions. Creation sings of His majesty. It testifies to God's abundant grace and love for us. The heavens and the earth declare His glory in every passing day.
God has spoken to us through His word. He spoke and the worlds were created. He spoke and man was created. He spoke and told man about his responsibilities. Man is accountable before God. God's Holy Word stands true today.
In these last days, God to us again through His Son Jesus Christ. He has revealed Himself through the incarnate Son. If you want to see God, look at Jesus. If you want to understand hope and grace and love, look at Jesus. He is the radiance of God's glory.
Having said these things, a question remains. Does God still speak to us today? If so, how? Is is some small voice? Is it audible? How does God speak to you, if He does at all? Let me hear from you.
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