Talk!

Luke 24: 15

As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them.

A good discussion about the things of God, draws people’s attention.

There are so many things that we don’t know about the Bible, so healthy dialog is good for all the folks involved in the discussion.

That’s how we closed our worship service yesterday.

Each person was given a number, and whatever number you got, you went to that specific group of people.

The discussion was supposed to center around 3 questions:

1    1) Do you know what God wants you to do?

2    2)What is your plan for finding out what He wants you to do?

3    3)How do you plan to have your faith built as a result of Christ centered experiences?

Sharing experiences is good for everyone involved.

There had to have been some great conversation yesterday.

So considering those questions, how do you think God wants to use you? How have your experiences with Jesus, helped to shape you?

How would you respond to those questions?

Having healthy conversations about Jesus, let’s other people know what motivates us.

Although people don’t always enjoy sharing on themselves for some reason.

Maybe if we had more discussions about Jesus, rather than on the Packers, the church might look a whole lot different than it does…. 

Worthy Walk!

Ephesians 4: 1 - 3

I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Are you eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in your church.

You’d be surprised at how many in the Body of Christ, aren’t interested in maintaining anything positive.

We have a pond at church, and the musk rats chewed a hole in one of the tubes running to the aerators.

Had we signed up for the regular maintenance plan like the installer wanted us to, that little problem wouldn’t be an issue.

The Hebrew OT word for “maintain”, is “asah”.

One of the meanings of that word is, “execute”.

In what ways are you executing your daily walk with the Lord Jesus?

Are you doing any regular maintenance?

Don’t get caught flat footed when things break down.

Regular maintenance is a good thing in the long run.

The automotive repair shop that we take our vehicles to in Omro, has this on their marquee out front of their repair shop:

“Regular maintenance prevents costly repairs”…

Less is More!

Philippians 2: 14

¹⁴ Do all things without grumbling or disputing…

Have you ever met a person like this in your church?

Honestly, I wished I fit this bill, but I’m a whiner from way back.

It isn’t very often we meet this kind of follower in the church these days.

Everyone has to have their own way it seems, and if they don’t get it, there’s grumbling that goes on without stop.

There’s a person who stands out in the church I attend.

When you look up the word, “servant”, in the Miriam Webster dictionary, this person’s picture should be plain to see.

No matter where you see this individual, they stop at nothing to serve everyone else before themselves.

When they do so, you almost never hear them complain or dispute about anything.

When I grow up, I want to be just like this person.

I know if you talked to their spouse, they might give an entirely different answer, I realize that.

Are you satisfied in not getting the fan fare?

Do you serve Christ and the Body without grumbling?

I am proud to be this person’s friend, and the recipient of their love.

Honestly, with less, you actually do get a whole lot more…more or less… 

Deeper!

Ezekiel 3: 10

“Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself.”

There are a lot of people these days, who think they are expressing God’s will, by just quoting a Bible verse.

The truth of the Bible is a whole lot more than words…it’s life.

That’s why it’s important to read the Word…listen to the Word, and then let it sink in deeply.

Frankly, most people aren’t interested in going deep. It’s no wonder we don’t have people hearing from God.

We’ve drifted so far from hearing, and allowing the Word to sink in deeply, that when someone appears that really does, they are quickly disposed of.

One day we’ll know the truth about that, then we’ll have it revealed about those who tried to offer deeper thoughts from God, and were turned away.

There are scores of people now days, who are trying to press God’s Word into other people, without first applying it to their own life.

The word to describe those kinds of people, is still “hypocrite”.

In the end, this kind of person who won’t listen and apply God’s truth, is someone who manufactures confusion, not life.

And yet God is inviting us to be one of the few, who will listen, but most are too busy with meaningless stuff.

Very few in the church now days, want to savor and chew on God’s Word.

Maybe that’s why a very small percentage of people, actually attend Bible study or Sunday school anymore…

“Lord God…I think we want this? Whatever blessings and benefits there might be from Your truth, we want Your Words to sink in deeply…Amen.”

One!

Acts 4: 32             ESV

³² Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul…

I had a couple of meetings at church last night, and the feeling there was electric.

The ABC people were planning/strategizing and meeting in one room, and the new Missions group were in another.

On top of that, Jake & I chatted with two young ladies who are the future of our church.

I don’t know a time when I as Pastor, have been more overwhelmed with joy, and moved with appreciation for God’s active people.

Not to mention it, but there’s a group of men who are already unified and preparing for our October evangelistic outreach.

There’s something mighty powerful, when the church is of one heart and one soul.

Are you part of the full number at WCF, making things happen for the cause of Christ?

If not, what on earth is keeping you from getting involved?

When the church is together and of one accord, there’s no stopping it.

When the spirit of the church is severed, there’s absolutely nothing worse.

It takes sometimes a cleansing, to get the heart beat of the church corrected.

Sometimes the churches soul, needs a good shock to get it on the right path again…

We are the church TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!

Don't be a cheater!

Proverbs 23: 10

¹⁰ Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers; don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.

My parents used to tell me that honesty was always the best policy.

I wonder if that’s still true today?

I mean, if you had something to say in the way of criticism about another person, would you say it to their face?

Unfortunately, people feel more comfortable talking behind people’s backs.

That doesn’t appear like the most honest way to approach the situation.

And yet it seems like people are less honest today, than ever before.

Watch the evening news, and it seems like it’s every night, someone is reporting about a certain scam going on.

These kinds of cheating people prey upon the elderly, and that upsets me, because one day I’ll be one!

Do you ever stretch the truth? Do you ever cheat the system?

I know at times I do, and I’m sort of ashamed to admit that.

I know a friend recently, who wouldn’t compromise a position in their job, and it cost them their job.

I wish I was that honest.

When we demonstrate honesty, God will honor our life and our efforts, and He will send 

blessings in our direction…

Father in Heaven, prompt us to exercise honesty in every action, thought, and attitude. Amen

Royalty!

Psalm 23: 5 - 6

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever…

When I first met my wife, we were invited over to her folks for supper. I think it was my first interview to see if I would make the grade.

It was also the closest thing to royalty, that I ever experienced.

I was a blue collar kid, and well, let’s just say, Deb wasn’t.

I was so afraid I was going to spill something that night…and I didn’t, but Debbie did! J

I can hardly believe it, when I think of how lost I once was, and then July 29^th, 1992 came along.

Since that day, I’ve been making plans to go to my Father’s house.

I can’t even begin take it in, that since He found me and saved me, goodness and mercy will always follow me.

I’m going to live in His house one day, forever and ever.

Does that at all blow your mind?

If it doesn’t, then take some time to think deeply on this verse of promise.

God is also going to set a huge table, and I have a feeling a few people that didn’t like me in this life,  will also be there.

But I have a distinct feeling, we won’t be eating on TV trays.

One day I’m going to go back to where I came from, and I’ll be back where I belong…in the midst of royalty…