Ahead

I am currently reading through 1 Peter 1. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

1 Peter 1

6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.

7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Ahead. One of the great challenges of our journey is maintaining what I call an “eternal perspective”. You will face “many trials” (period); but you can (and should) express gladness knowing that what lies ahead is joy. I would encourage you to memorize that thought, “Be truly glad ... there is wonderful joy ahead.”

Inheritance

We spent most of 2009 reading through letters written by one of the early church leaders, Paul. Over the next couple of weeks, I would like to read through a couple of letters written by another leader, Peter. Both were written in the latter part of his life to Jesus followers that were being persecuted.

1 Peter 1

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,

4 and we have a priceless inheritance - an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

Inheritance. The thing that struck me most was Peter’s description of our inheritance. There is so much in our world that is impure or falling apart. I especially love the use of the phrase “beyond the reach”. Keep that image in mind the next time you experience the frustration of destruction in this world.

Rich

This past weekend, Jonathan kicked off the new year with a new series entitled “How To Be Rich”. He focused in on one eight word phrase...

1 Timothy 6

17 Teach those who are rich in this world...

Rich. At the end of the message, Jonathan asked us to repeat a phrase ... a phrase that can make some feel awkward, others experience peace and some to even feel angry. I would encourage you to repeat it again, wherever you are reading this thought. Repeat it a couple of times and allow the thought to sink in ... “God has blessed me with more than I need. I am rich.”

"Year in Review" - December

My favorite part of December wasn’t one event as much as it was watching your generosity displayed week after week. From resources for Help Stuff Hope at the beginning of the month to games and food for Sauls Homeless Shelter at the end of the month and all the gifts, shoes, cookies and wrapping paper in between, I love journeying beside you guys as we follow Jesus. My favorite entry came from December 4th...

Prepare

I am currently reading through 2 Timothy. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

2 Timothy 3

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Prepare. I love the way Warren Wiersbe summarizes verse 16 ... the Bible helps us know what is right, what is not right, how to get right, and how to stay right. This is why it is so important for us to be in God’s Word on a daily basis. More important than that, our knowledge must translate into action. Don’t stop studying God’s Word; but don’t stop there ... live God’s Word.

"Year in Review" - November

It was almost impossible for me to pick a favorite moment in November with the hiring of Shane Hively (our new student pastor), the Help Build Hope trip to Appalachia and the Angel Tree project; but my favorite was participating in the Baby Dedication Weekend with my wife and our daughter, Addison. My favorite entry came from November 9th...

Teach

I am currently reading through 2 Timothy. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

2 Timothy 2

1 Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.

2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.

Teach. Right before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His disciples their “marching orders” ... make more disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). The primary vehicle there and here is teaching ... “teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you” and “teach these truths”. As Jesus followers, it is our responsibility to teach the people we know what we know. You may not feel like you know enough ... don’t wait, teach them what you know so far. Then, keep learning. Who are you teaching? What are you learning?