Here are my notes from Bible Study last night. No video, sorry!
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Spiraling Out of Control
Do you remember the sit and spin? A great toy, right? Much like you spun out of control tonight in the game in the gym, the sit and spin did the same thing. You would sit on this toy ping until you thought you were going to spin off of it. Then you would get up and try to walk and you felt as if you were about to walk into the ceiling.
Physically spinning out of control when involved in a game is fun. A life spinning out of control is a whole different thing though.
Many times people get some dizzy from a life out of control that they further complicate their life in a variety of different manners:
Drugs, Alcohol, Gangs, Unhealthy relationships, alternative lifestyles, self-harm, and many other things. They do this to stop the spinning, but they actually speed up the sit and spin of life. By the time they realize what is going on they are falling on the floor of life, gasping for air, and getting sick from the spinning.
So how do you stop the spinning and start regaining focus? How do you get it all back under control?
Discipline
Mark 1:35 (NIV)
35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up
1 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
Intimacy with God
Mark 1:35 (NIV)
35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Stop living according to others expectations and start living according to God’s
Mark 1:36-37 (NIV)
36Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
Learn to say NO! (WHEN NECESSARY)
Mark 1:38 (NIV)
38Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
Live intentionally and not crazy
Mark 1:38-39 (NIV)
38Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Apparently I made some waves with it. GOOD! Seriously, I wanted to make some waves with it! The problem? Apparently, some people just did not get it. They said things like, if I was friendly, it would have been like flirting or something. Really, the only way to be friendly is to flirt? That is ridiculous. Saying hey, asking how someone is doing, small talk (weather, how school going for your family, etc) can go a long way in building bridges and making people feel included. I am sorry, there is no excuse for a cold shoulder by anyone who is a Christian. We are called to love God with all our heart and then love our neighbor. This means that we have to show the same kind of Love that Christ extended to us. You did not see him giving the cold shoulder to people as he did his journey. I am sorry, Christians today have a problem with love and kindness. You get shown more love at a restaurant by a waiter nowadays than is shown by most believers.
Posted by Michael Walters on June 14th, 2010 | 1 comment
So this morning I got into the office, but I am having a hard time working. I am thinking too much perhaps. I am looking through pictures of people, editing video, and just thinking. I am thinking about how easy people have started turning their backs on God and their churches. I am thinking about adults. college students, teens, and children, who can simply stay away from church for any reason now. I am thinking about how it used to be and how it is now. I am thinking about who has failed. Is it us in church leadership, the church entirely, or the individuals who decide to abandon all of this. I am not talking about the Bedouin church members (those who migrate from church to church as the “feeling” strikes them or when they become disenfranchised). No, I am talking about the sheer number of people who basically feel no need to worship with the body of Christ and put their faith on a shelf to pick up another day. Those who feel a day at the lake or by the pool is more important than worship. Those who will go out to dinner with friends rather than be in the house of the Lord. I do not know what to think about this anymore. I am frustrated, dismayed, and virtually depressed about this. I know that my responsibility lies in preaching the truth and the rest is between the believer and the spirit. No minister, no matter how dynamic, can force the truth down a persons through and institute digestion.
I guess the reason I am sitting on my blog asking these questions this morning is because I am fearful of the future of the church (universal), particularly here in the south. Now don’t a bunch of you go jumping down my through saying, you can’t live in fear (yadda yadda yadda). I am perfectly aware of this. That frankly won’t help me today. I am sad. The place that for so long has been the hotbed of Christianity has turned their backs on Christ. A good tan or a full stomach is more important than the bread of life.
I guess maybe I am a church nerd. When I was growing up, we were in church every time the doors were open, even on vacation. Yes, I said on vacation. I had perfect attendance in Sunday School for 5 years straight! When we would go on vacation, I would go to church where we are and get the pastor to sign a bulletin saying I was in church so that I would get my perfect attendance pin once again. I went overboard, but my heart was in the right place. I absolutely loved and still love gathering with the body of believers. I loved talking to them, worshipping with them, praying with them, and knowing that I was being prayed for. My question…how can people not want this, this fellowship, this connection, this chance to dive deeper with God? It is so overwhelming….
I know that we are in the end times, but to see believers throwing it all away during this time, not wanting any connection with other believers is so sad. Here are some of the things that I hear from people as reasons for being out and they all relate to time. I want to go out with __________, we are spending family time, homework, going to a movie/event. Sure, leisure time is important, but that used to be what Friday or Saturday nights were for. Would we dare tell our employer, coach, or teacher the same excuses that we give God for not showing up?
I am not trying to be dogmatic, but when are we going to realize that God and our relationship with Him and his people is more important than the petty things in life. Our churches in the South seem to be very much like the church described in Ephesus in Revelation 2. We have a great dislike of immorailty, but very little commitment to God. We need to repent and do the things we did at first…
Revelation 2
1″To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
No video? Visit http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7051897
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Here are my personal notes on this Bible Study
The Christian Life on THE INSIDE
Romans 10:9-13
9That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Ephesians 3:14-21
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
So let’s look at the work of God on the inner man:
New Creation: 2 Cor 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Born again by the spirit: John 3:3-8
3In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. ”
4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
5Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Eternal life/Never Perishing: John 10:25-30
Can hear and obey the voice of God: John 10:27
25Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”
Washed and Sanctified and Justified: 1 Cor 6:9-11
9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Is capable of resisting sin: 1 Cor 10:13
13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
A treasure in the vessel of the body: 2 Cor 4:7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this allsurpassing power is from God and not from us.
Empowered: Romans 8:11
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Final Thoughts:
What happens when you are changed from the inside out?
Philippians 2:1-11
1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being likeminded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature ◙ God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature ◙ of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Strengthens by the LAW OF GOD
Colossians 2:6-8
6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
Announcements:
Sunday – Grads be in sanctuary at 10:15 am
Sunday – Be here Sunday night to give gifts to new 6th graders
June 2 – Pool Party at the giers
June 3 – Six Flags – Money is due this Sunday, May 23
Posted by Michael Walters on May 7th, 2010 | 9 comments
Ok, so today I had an encounter that showed me how much church life needs to change in relation to judgmental Christian attitudes. This knowledge given to me hurt me deeply today! Climbing on my soapbox now.
For about 2 years now we have been homeschooling our children with a local Christian Homeschool cover. Each friday I take the kids to co-op. It has been a joy seeing our kids develop new friends and learn so much great stuff. The relationships that I have built is another story. I have developed no relationships. As a matter of fact, I can count the number of people that actually know who I even am on both hands, but I would not need all the fingers. No one took the time to get to know me, the new homeschooling dad. #1, I am a dad (most of these folks are women), #2, I am new (pretty tight knit group), #3, I do not look like the rest of them (I am a youth minister, so I dress a little different, talk a little different, act a little different… I actually have more in common with the teens than the parents.)
I am not making jabs, but something was brought to my attention today that hurt deeply. On the first Friday of each month is homeschool skate day and each month I am there with my kids. I have been at this skate day at least a dozen times. Each month I am there with my kids and I usually have my head buried in a book (been trying to finish my masters degree). I do not necessarily look for interaction as I am able to get alot of studying accomplished while the kids are skating. I do love it when someone talks to me though, makes me feel less invisible. I can never find a place to sit unless it is one of the pylons where kids put on their skates or a corner near the exit. I sit, get comfortable, and read. Last month, the place was more crowded than usual and I found one place to sit (next to the prize wheel). I sat their the whole time and then headed home, not knowing I was being stared down and judged very critically. Now remember, I have been doing this for 2 years and no one knows me.
So today, the crowd was thinner than normal and I actually got a table. I sat down with my iphone and a book and proceeded to read. Then someone came over and introduced themselves with the comment, are you new to our group? I said no and told her how long I have been doing this. She said, “and I am just now meeting you?” I tol her how I can never find a seat, so I usually find a corner and read. She said, “were you sitting next to the prize wheel last month?” I said yes. She said, “I got several e-mails about you last month, worried about the guy by the door.” I said, why? Well, they said you were by the door and looked sketchy. I said, “I looked like I do today (black t-shirt, jeans, converse), do I look sketchy to you?” She said, honestly, no, but you do not look like the other homeschool parents either though. I said, I have been doing this for 2 years and you are one of just a few people who has even bothered to get to know my outside of my church members. I went on to tell her that I am a youth minister, about my family, etc. We had a good conversation. She apologized to me for the others in the group not being more welcoming. See, this is The big problem, NO ONE HAS EVER TRIED TO GET TO KNOW ME! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. This burns me up. See here is the thing, if people would have taken the time to observe closer, they would have see a christian t-shirt or to write love on her arms shirt. They would have seen me reading the book, “Knowing God.” Homeschoolers who gripe about the lack of social acceptance of their chosen educational path who are judging one of their own with no effort to get to know me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I believe they need the same recognition as public or private schools!
Here is the deal though, if I, as a minister got judged this way, think about the lost who do not fit our cooker cutter mold. I am sorry, but I do not ever plan to wear pullover knit golf shirts, dockers, etc. That is just not my style. I am not a typical 35 year old. I am a 17 year old trapped in a 35 year old body (just ask my wife). I do not like the typical church mentality, I think it scares off the unchurched! When will we stop trying to fit people to the mold we want to start going to the lost like Christ did. We have become the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Christ went to the weirdos, misfits, and ostracized people of this world. Here is the thing, what if I had been depressed, overwhelmed, feeling lost and abandoned. All these people would have done is written a bunch of e-mails talking about the guy by the door and never would have done anything to reach out to me. This is unacceptable behavior by people in the church. It is time for us to start reaching out instead of slamming people down based on appearances (clothing, skin tone, tattoos, body piercing, whatever).
Now, please don’t get me wrong, I love our homeschool group (I wish we could keep doing it). I love the group activities. I love the faith based education. The problem, they shot one of their own and do not even know it.
Well, I shall now climb down from my soapbox. I apologize if I offended, but this needed to be said.
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