Eggs and the Resurrection

An idea on how to transition a conversation to share the gospel:

 

Use the fact that people have decorated with eggs or that they are taking their kids on an egg hunt...Tell them how easy it is for you to forget the meaning of the eggs.  Then go on to explain that the eggs symbolize new life.  You can then explain about being born again, about Jesus giving us new life, and unpack the gospel in a way that makes sense to who you are talking to, and bring Easter into a new light for that person.   

 

Eggs and resurrection.  They go together.  Our new life is because of what Jesus did on the cross and that he rose from the dead.  O, what an amazing truth!   

Holy Week

So many people celebrate Easter.  They have egg hunts, big meals, decorate with bunnies, etc.  Would you be so loving to tell someone this week about how your savior rose from the dead?  Will you tell someone how He gave His life for your sins?  Please, this week, share the gospel with someone.  The timing this week is ripe for ears to listen.

 

"He who has ears, let him hear."   

 

 

Free Time

From a CNN article about the middle class: "What's your top priority? In a 2008 poll by the Pew Research Center, it wasn't healthy kids, a strong marriage or a great career; 68 percent of respondents said it was free time."

 

Does this change the way we evangelize?  Think about it.

 

Maybe instead of trying to invite people to things all the time (not that inviting people to things is a bad thing), we should focus on changing what they value...having conversations with people that begin to allow the gospel to take root in their hearts (this means purposeful conversations).  If this happens, their whole value system changes, instead of just their schedule.   

Mission and Vision

This week at Strategic Planning we will talk about the mission and vision of the church.  But today, my question is to you as an individual:  What is you mission as a follower of Christ?  What do you envision to accomplish through that mission?  Think about these things, and hopefully they will help you live more purposefully. 

Hatchet

"Do no remove a fly from your neighbor's face with a hatchet" -Chinese proverb

 

Thought this was a funny proverb with profound insight.  The idea is that we are not to turn small issues into huge problems.  It is all about perspective.  In the grand scheme of things, are the things that bother us really all that big of a deal?  We are far too easily swayed by emotion.  If our hope is in the things of this world, than a fly on your neighbors face is a big deal (figuratively).  But if our hope is not in the things of this world than we are able to let the little things in life roll off our shoulders, we are able to be more resilient to the pain in life, and are more focused on things that matter. 

The Passion

In response to the movie “The Passion”:

“Images cannot adequately convey the gospels content.  The gospel message isn’t visual, it’s truth.  It is truth to be believed, not simply a collection of images to be viewed.   –CJ Mahaney

 

We have to remember this when we share the gospel and communicate about Christ.  We are not merely trying to get people to understand WHAT happened, but get them to understand WHY.  This is the truth of the gospel.  Let the truth of what happened on the cross sink deeply into your hearts (how Christ died in your place for your sins, reconciling you to the father and giving you eternal life with Him).  And ask yourself if those around you understand this incredible reconciling truth.  Pray that you would be bold to share it and that God would be gracious enough to reveal it to them. 

Sunday School

I am having some email issues, so am posting this email here about sunday school: With spring break, we will cancel Sunday school this Sunday. On March 21 we will do chapter 6 and discuss our experiences with the questions at the end of chapter 5.

I tried to post more blogs this week, but had trouble. A 31 year old pastor from my old church passed away, so after the funeral Tuesday I had trouble keeping my mind focused. In light of this, my prayer for me, for you, and for our church is that we would live ferociously for God. Life is short, life is precious, but this life is not the end. Let us live in light of the life to come!

The Boss

“And [Christ] is the head of the body, the church”

 

That means it is Christ we submit to, period.  We don’t submit to attractive ideas, clever methods, squeaky wheels, or organizational structures.  We submit to Christ.  Pray we would be a church that first follows Christ, and not first follows opinions, ideas, sessions, pastors, ect.  Those are secondary to our submission to the One who saved us and has sent us. 

Thirsty

"As a deer pants for flowing streams, so my soul for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." Ps 42:1-2

 

There are times where I get so thirsty that all I can think about is water.  I think of how incredible it will be when the water touches my lips and quenches my thirst.  O, how I want to thirst that way for God.  How different would it be if all I could think about was God, and thirsted deeply for him. 

 

Today, think of one thing that increases your desire/passion for God, and do it.  It could be taking a walk on a beautiful day (like today), it could be reading the Psalms, it could be listening intently to a worship song, slowly drinking a cup of coffee because it tastes good - not because you need the caffeine.  Whatever it is that brings your pallet to thirst for him, do it.  For as our desire for God increase, our desire for evangelism will increase as well. 

 

Loved

"The fact that I am loved and will forever be loved frees me to love peoples how are hard to love" -Jonathan Dodson

 

Part of evangelism is showing people love.  As we do that, we must remember that the love we receive is from someone we have sinned against (God).  So pray that you can free yourself of judgment, anger, frustration, and anything else that is hindering relationships with those in your life.  Ask God to help you love them.  It is when we show love at the most unexpected times that people really see God at work.  Love those who don't deserve it!  After all, that is the reason we are all Christians...because God did that to us. 

Purpose of the church

There are 2 main purposes of the church: 1) Glorify God (1Cor 10:31), 2) Make disciples (Mt 28:19-20)

 

Are you doing both?  Is your life revolved around trying to accomplish these two purposes?  Pray that you and the church would better fulfill these purposes.