eastside journey

Christian Atheist Part 1

2010-04-21T15:22:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, Jonathan began his final series at Eastside by talking about something really important to his heart ... living out what we say we believe in.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me in the message...

2 Timothy 3

5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

Revelation 3

15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!

16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

I can be just as lukewarm as the next “Jesus-follower”! I pray that God will reveal and remove any “religiosity” in my life that is an act and replace it with His Holy Spirit ... using the same power that raised Jesus from the dead to revive and renew and reignite my heart for Him, my passion for Him. I pray He does the same thing in your life and in your heart.

3 John

2010-04-20T12:00:00.000-04:00

Take a few minutes to read 3 John ... trust me, you can do it. You can read it in your own Bible or find it online here.

Here is the verse/thought that stood out to me...

3 John

11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.

It is so easy to let the opinions and attitudes of others (friends, family, co-workers, neighbors) influence the way we think. Take the advice John offers his friend ... filter your influences, follow the good and avoid the bad.

2 John

2010-04-19T17:03:00.000-04:00

Take a few minutes to read 2 John. It’s not as hard as it sounds ... it’s only thirteen verses long. You can read it in your own Bible or find it online here.

Here is the verse/thought that stood out to me...

2 John

4 How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.

“Live according to the truth” ... the truth of God’s love and Word and grace, the truth of Jesus’ life and resurrection and grace ... that sounds like a good motto for my journey.

1 John 5

2010-04-16T11:40:00.001-04:00

Take a few minutes to read 1 John 5. You can read it in your own Bible or find it online here.

Here is the verse/thought that stood out to me...

1 John 5

21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

Set aside some time this weekend and take an inventory of your life ... your time, your thoughts, your finances. Is there anything in there that might be taking God’s place in your heart? If so, do everything you can to get rid of it ... it’s not worth keeping.

1 John 4

2010-04-15T09:25:00.001-04:00

Take a few minutes to read 1 John 4. You can read it in your own Bible or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

1 John 4

10 This is real love - not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.

12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

I love the possibility of that thought ... that people can experience God’s love when they see me expressing it to others. This is all the more important when you consider that a lot of people haven’t chosen to accept God’s love because they really don’t understand it.

In Over Your Head Part 2

2010-04-14T11:26:00.001-04:00

This past weekend, I used the story of Mary (Martha’s sister) to remind us where God wants to lead us on our journey in this life. Take a minute to reread the beautiful picture of how she brought honor to Jesus.

John 12

2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him.

3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

Jesus wants to lead us to a place of humble sacrifice ... a place where He can use us to make an eternal difference in the lives of others (reread Mark 14:9). This can only happen when we set aside some really good distractions so we can experience the “one thing worth being concerned about” (reread Luke 10:38-42). Are you spending 10 minutes a day “listening at the feet of Jesus”?

1 John 3

2010-04-13T09:52:00.000-04:00

Take a few minutes to read 1 John 3. You can read it in your own Bible or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

1 John 3

18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.

It is always good for me to be reminded that actions speak louder than words.

1 John 2

2010-04-12T13:48:00.000-04:00

Take a few minutes to read 1 John 2. You can read it in your own Bible or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

1 John 2

15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

There are a lot of things that satan tries to entice us with in this world; but we need to maintain an eternal perspective. The achievements and pleasures of this world are all temporary. A true, personal relationship with God ... maintained through obedience to His word (see 1 John 2:5) ... is eternal.

1 John 1

2010-04-08T09:52:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday, we finished John’s account of Jesus’ life, so I am going to begin reading through some of the letters John wrote to other Jesus followers. Today, I read 1 John 1. I invite you to open your Bible and read it too or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

1 John 1

8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

My prayer for you is that you would have a healthy, on-going relationship with God. Confession is an important ingredient for maintaining the “healthy” part of the relationship ... it helps restore the intimacy that sin disrupts. Take a few minutes right now to ask God to search your heart and reveal any sin that you might be ignoring or trying to hide. Then, take some time to confess that sin and ask God to forgive your sin and renew your relationship.

In Over Your Head Part 1

2010-04-07T09:58:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, Jonathan began a brand new series entitled, “In Over Your Head”, by talking about the fact that good people don’t go to heaven, forgiven people do.

Here is the verse/thought that stood out to me in the message...

Titus 3

3 Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.

4 But - “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,

5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.

7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

We can’t save ourselves ... only God can. Thankfully, He did ... through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. If you have experienced God’s grace, I encourage you to live in confidence today because God loves you and has taken care of the biggest problem you will ever face. If you haven’t, please email me (jeff@myeastside.cc). I would love to talk with you about how you can experience that same grace and live in that same confidence.

John 21

2010-04-06T11:12:00.000-04:00

Today, I am read John 21. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 21

18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.”

19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved - the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?”

21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”

22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”

Just before this, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three times ... a process of restoring Peter from the three times Peter denied being associated with Jesus the night Jesus was arrested. Now, Jesus is teaching Peter one of the most challenging elements of following Him. Just like with Peter, Jesus offers us grace; but He also asks us to surrender ... to surrender our plans, our dreams. My prayer for you is that, like Peter, you will surrender to the plans Jesus has for you (trusting that His plans are better than your plans) and follow Him no matter where He leads you.

John 20

2010-04-02T11:08:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, we read through John’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion. Today, I invite you to read his account of when he first knew that Jesus was alive. As you do, I pray you are reminded of the joy you experienced when you first believed ... the hope you experienced when you first encountered grace ... the love you experienced when you first understood what it meant for the tomb to be empty. Happy Easter!

John 20

1 Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

2 She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

3 Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb.

4 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

5 He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in.

6 Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there,

7 while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings.

8 Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed -

9 for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead.

John 19

2010-04-01T09:26:00.000-04:00

In preparation for what we call “Good Friday”, the day Jesus died on a cross for our sins. I would simply ask you to read through John’s account of that experience. I will reserve comment because there is nothing I can add; but I would encourage you to key on Jesus’ words in verse 30 ... it is my favorite line in the whole story.

John 19

16 Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away.

17 Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha).

18 There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them.

19 And Pilate posted a sign over him that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

20 The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.

21 Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”

22 Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.”

23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

24 So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did.

25 Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.”

27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”

29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips.

30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.

Free* Part 6

2010-03-31T09:40:00.001-04:00

This past weekend, we completed the Free* series with a celebration and a reminder.

I invite you to reread the story Jonathan used in the message this past weekend. You can find it in Matthew 14:22-33. Here are the verses I wanted to focus on.

Matthew 14

28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.

30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

So many of you, through this Free series, have begun to walk toward Jesus. You have experienced something you thought was impossible ... freedom from fear or bitterness or rejection. Keep your eyes on Jesus. When you are tempted to look at the “wind and the waves” (the lies you once bought into), resist the enemy and keep walking toward Jesus. If you happen to slip, ask Jesus to pick you up and start walking again. This was never intended to just be a six-week experience. It is an invitation to reengage in a journey that will take a lifetime.

John 18

2010-03-30T10:08:00.001-04:00

Today, I am reading John 18. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 18

4 Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.

5 “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said.

Another reminder that Jesus was in complete control of His own sacrifice. I pray I remember that the next time I face a challenging situation ... Jesus is in complete control.

10 Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave.

I, like Peter, have sometimes carelessly hurt others with my attempts to “defend” Jesus. Instead of careless defenders, Jesus needs followers who provide examples of the same grace and humility and control and trust that He displayed in this moment.

25 Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.”

Peter catches a lot of flak for being the one to deny following Jesus; but I know there have been many times when I have done things or said things that express a similar denial.

37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime.

It saddens me every time I read this passage ... watching Pilate cynically reject Jesus’ offer of truth. I am sad for Pilate; but even more so, I am saddened by the friends that I have that are currently turning away from that same truth. I pray they will learn to love the truth and recognize Jesus as the one that offers it.

John 17

2010-03-29T10:21:00.000-04:00

Today, I am reading John 17. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 17

15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.

One of the natural inclinations we have as Jesus followers is to withdraw from the things of this “world”; but that isn’t what Jesus did and it isn’t what He wanted for us. I would love to have had the opportunity to watch (and learn) as Jesus interacted with some of the more well known “sinners” of His day. He was able to maintain obedience to God while extending grace to “sinners”. I love that about Him and pray I become more like that ... more obedient and more gracious.

20 I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.

As a Jesus follower, did you know that Jesus prayed for you? A very cool thought.

23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

Do you know what Jesus prayed for? That we, as Jesus followers, would get along. Jesus just taught the disciples about this (John 13:34-35) and now He is praying we would all be able to express it.

John 16

2010-03-26T16:33:00.001-04:00

Today, I am reading John 16. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here is the verse/thought that stood out to me...

John 16

1 I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith.

I appreciate the fact that Jesus understands there will be moments when we might want to abandon our faith.

22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.

For us, we rejoice when we discover the truth about Jesus’ death and resurrection. I pray that the joy of that moment is never stolen.

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

Again, I appreciate Jesus’ honesty. In terms of our journey as Jesus followers, this might be the most important one we ever encounter. The reality is that we will face some overwhelming, potentially faith-ending challenges on our journey ... when you do, remember that Jesus’ death and resurrection have overcome this world. The phrase I like to use is, “In the end, God wins”.

John 15

2010-03-25T10:05:00.000-04:00

Today, I am reading John 15. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 15

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

Beyond saving us, God wants to transform us. Jesus described it here as producing fruit in our lives ... outward demonstrations of an inward change. Paul would later write about this topic and described the fruit as, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22,23) The key to this transformation is “remaining” in Jesus. The key to “remaining” is learning to trust and obey His teachings more and more every day.

18 If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.

This is such an important reminder. Your journey with Jesus won’t always be accepted by others with open arms. When that happens, remember that its not about you.

Free* Part 5

2010-03-24T14:12:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, we continued the Free* series with a guided prayer experience.

There were a lot of really cool elements to the experience; but one really stood out to me. It was when we talked about “fighting” for the freedom of others. Most of this series has been helping us discover the freedom Jesus came to offer; but freedom like this is too good not to share. So, as in the experience, I would encourage you to take a moment to pray for a friend or a family member or a coworker or a neighbor that has never experienced freedom ... and keep “fighting” for them on a daily basis. Seriously, take a minute and do it right now.

John 14

2010-03-23T09:51:00.001-04:00

Today, I am reading John 14. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 14

1 Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

Death is a reality; but thankfully, it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming reality or a fearful reality. Jesus offers us a very important promise ... an eternal home with Him in heaven; but it comes with an important requirement ... trust in God and Jesus. If you have never put your trust in Jesus, I would love to talk with you about it. You can email me at jeff@myeastside.cc.

15 If you love me, obey my commandments.

The word “obey” has developed a very negative connotation. We fear it will steal our independence or rob us of some freedom. Jesus’ request is not a response to fear ... it is a response in love. Our obedience to Jesus should flow out of our love for Jesus.

John 13

2010-03-22T11:43:00.001-04:00

Today, I am reading John 13. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 13

14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.

15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

In the midst of this same moment, Luke writes about an argument the disciples were having, “Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them.” (Luke 22:24) You can see why Jesus felt the need to provide a visual example of what He wants from us ... service and humility.

34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

Jesus was raising the stake here. Before, Jesus reiterated God’s command to “‘Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31, Leviticus 19:18); and now, He is teaching that we should love ... “as I have loved you.” That’s different. My love is corrupted by my selfishness. His love is sacrificial and unconditional.

35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

It isn’t the number of times we go to church or the number of verses in the Bible we have memorized that prove to the world we are followers of Jesus. It is the way we treat each other. A reminder that actions always speak louder than words.

John 12

2010-03-19T14:02:00.001-04:00

Today, I am reading John 12. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here is the verse/thought that stood out to me...

John 12

25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

I love the way Dr. Thomas Constable explains this verse, “Anyone who selfishly lives for himself or herself loses his or her life in the sense that he or she wastes it. Nothing really good comes from it. Conversely anyone who hates his or her life in the sense of disregarding one's own desires to pursue the welfare of another will gain something for that sacrifice. He or she will gain true life for self and blessing for the other person.” Has your life demonstrated a “love” or a “hate” for your life?

John 11 (Part 2)

2010-03-18T09:47:00.000-04:00

Today, I am finishing up John 11. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 11

35 Then Jesus wept.

Growing up, we would always joke about having memorized this verse because it wasn’t much of a challenge being the shortest verse in the Bible. However, one evening while I was still in college, I was reading through this story for the first time in a long time and as I got to this part of the story I actually started crying too. I knew Jesus wasn’t crying because Lazarus had died ... He was going to reverse that. In that moment, I felt the true humanity of Jesus. More specifically, His great love for humanity in understanding the pain that moments like this cause. Later on, a friend also reminded me that His tears flowed from a deep anger at sin which causes moments like that. My prayer for you is that you too would memorize this verse; and that every time you recall it, you will remember how much Jesus loves you and how much He hates sin.

43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”

44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

Just in case you didn’t know how the story ended, Jesus demonstrated His power over death. I love the phrase ... “let him go!” I know Jesus was talking about the graveclothes he had been wrapped in; but there is also a reflection of how Jesus speaks toward sin and death regarding us ... “let them go!”

Free* Part 4

2010-03-17T16:09:00.002-04:00

This past weekend, Jonathan continued the Free* series by talking about the blahs, breaks, blues and blessings of our freedom journey.

Here is the verse/thought that stood out to me in the message...

Joshua 21

43 So the Lord gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there.

44 And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies.

45 Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.

I pray that this past weekend’s message provided some insight in your journey ... insight that will encourage you to keep moving forward in your journey toward true freedom (especially when you are experiencing the “blahs” or the “blues”). Along the way, I pray that you will discover that God always fulfills His promises’.

John 11

2010-03-16T09:37:00.000-04:00

Today, I am reading John 11. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 11

21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.

22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”

I appreciate Martha’s faith in the face of such loss. You never know how you will react to a tragic situation, until it is forced upon you; but this is the way I pray I would respond.

25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.

26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

An extremely important statement and an even more important question.

27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”

This is possibly the most important verse in this book so I am going to pause right here in the middle of the chapter (we’ll finish it on Thursday).

If you have never made this confession in your life, please email me (jeff@myeastside.cc). I would love to talk with you about it.

If you have, I encourage you to reflect on that moment when you first experienced grace and say a simple prayer. Here is the one I prayed, “Father, thank you for Jesus and the grace you offer through Him. I pray that you would help (a friend of yours that doesn’t know Jesus) come to know Jesus the way I do and accept the same gift of grace that I have.”

John 10

2010-03-15T10:04:00.000-04:00

Today, I am reading John 10. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 10

4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.

We need to “know” God’s voice. I’m not talking about recognizing His voice on the phone. I’m talking about recognizing His “voice”, among the gut feelings we have floating around in our own heads and the advice we hear from others, by making sure our gut feelings and the advice we receive matches up with what He teaches.

10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

Remember, we face an enemy that is destructive ... so don’t take his lies lightly. Thankfully, we don’t face him alone; but this is why it is so important to be familiar with Jesus’ teachings ... so you can know you are following the right voice.

18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.

I appreciate the reminder that Jesus was in control the whole time. He had a plan and followed it ... sacrificially and obediently.

John 9

2010-03-12T09:36:00.001-05:00

I know that I am always trying to get you to read along with me; but seriously, you should read through John 9. It is one of my favorite scenes in the life of Jesus. You can read it online here.

Here are some of the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 9

2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.

I love Jesus’ focus ... this situation can be used to glorify God. I would like to have/maintain that same focus when facing difficult situations.

25 “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”

It can be difficult telling others about your experiences in following Jesus. Like the Jewish leaders, some may want to question everything. Like this man’s family, some may distance themselves from you because they fear the opinion of others. That is why I love this man’s response so much. He was basically saying, “I don’t know how Jesus did it and I really don’t care. I know that my life is different because of Him.” Sometimes that is the best answer you can offer.

John 8

2010-03-05T11:50:00.001-05:00

Today, I am reading John 8. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are two of the verses that stood out to me...

John 8

43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me!

44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

I love the way God’s timing works. Today, we are reading through John 8. This weekend in the message, we are going to be talking about these two verses; but you’ll have to stop by to hear the other verses that stood out to me and what I think God wants to teach us about them.

Next Monday through Wednesday, I am going to be out of town visiting family.

I will see you next Thursday.

John 7

2010-03-04T10:41:00.000-05:00

Today, I am reading John 7. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 7

40 When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, “Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.”

41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee?

42 For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.”

43 So the crowd was divided about him.

This scene saddens me for a couple of reasons. The first is that the world today ... 2,000 years later ... is still divided in its view of Jesus. The second, and more important, is that the reason they weren’t accepting Him was because of misinformation. Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a city in the region of Galilee; but had been born in Bethlehem. Misinformation is still a reason that too many people haven’t accepted Jesus today. They believe that God doesn’t love them or can’t forgive them or won’t accept them. As Jesus followers, it is our responsibility to make sure God’s grace is demonstrated in our lives and shared in our words.

Free* Part 2

2010-03-03T09:28:00.001-05:00

This past weekend, Jonathan continued the Free* series by talking about Jesus’ role as the “freedom-giver”. As a side note, a video version of our messages are available at vimeo.com/eastsideonline.

Here is one of the verses/thoughts that stood out to me in the message...

Galatians 5

1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

If you are anything like me, you have searched for freedom in a variety of places ... places that offer anything but freedom. True freedom can only be found in Jesus. If you have never done so, I pray you will accept the freedom He came to offer.

John 6

2010-03-02T11:47:00.001-05:00

Today, I am reading John 6. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 6

9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

Too many times, we think that what we have to offer God isn’t good enough; but you would be amazed what God can do through you when you give it to Him.

19 They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, 20 but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!”

Too many times in the midst of the storms in our lives, we are so busy “rowing” that we forget to look for God. Then, when we finally see Him, we are startled instead of comforted. Instead, when ever we see the storm clouds of life rolling in, we should look for Him first and begin “rowing” toward Him.

66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” 68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

Prior to this exchange, Jesus had been using some challenging metaphorical language to teach that following Him would require more than a “surface-level” commitment. There will be times in your journey when the challenges Jesus offers you will require you to reevaluate (and hopefully reaffirm) your belief of who Jesus really is.

John 5

2010-03-01T13:51:00.001-05:00

Today, I am reading John 5. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 5

6 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”

This question has always saddened me. You would think/hope everyone wants to “get well”; but there will always be those that prefer to remain “sick”. There are some people you just can’t help because they don’t want to be helped.

9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, 10 so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”

My prayer is that I don’t “object” to good things that God is doing in my life, or the lives of others, just because He isn’t doing it the way I think it should be done.

39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!”

It is important to remember that, even though it is a collection of 66 books, the Bible is telling one story ... a story focused on Jesus. Every time you read the Bible, you need to “look” for Jesus so you can see how that passage/chapter helps tell the story.

John 4

2010-02-26T11:55:00.001-05:00

Today, I am reading John 4. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 4

9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

It is sad that acceptance offered through kindness, and because of grace, is so surprising.

11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water?”

As I read this verse, I was reminded of the many times I have narrow-mindedly questioned God’s ability to do something that seemed illogical to me ... not stopping to think that God looks at life differently.

23 But the time is coming - indeed it’s here now - when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.

Apparently, there were some people in Jesus’ day trying to confine worship to a specific time and place. Jesus was teaching the idea that worship was spiritual and meant to be expressed in every aspect and every moment of our life. Others, in Jesus’ day, were trying to conform worship to fit their life. Jesus was re-teaching the fact that true worship all about God, not us.

34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.”

An interesting thought ... true fulfillment, spiritual fulfillment comes from obediently following God.

John 3

2010-02-25T10:35:00.001-05:00

Today, I am reading John 3. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 3

17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:16 gets all the press (and great seats at a lot of games); but the verse that follows it has a pretty powerful message too! God’s heart isn’t to judge ... it’s to save.

30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

That is really the best view anyone can have of Jesus.

Free* Part 1

2010-02-24T09:41:00.001-05:00

This past weekend, Jonathan kicked off our new series ... Free*. As a side note, a video version of our messages are now available on our Facebook Fan Page. Jonathan talked about the possibility of living a life that is truly free ... and shared several verses that broke down some misconceptions about being a Jesus follower and experiencing freedom. Here was my favorite...

2 Corinthians 3

17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Unfortunately, most people view Christianity as a set of rules designed to exclude freedom from their life. The truth is that Jesus came to offer freedom.

I also wanted to remind you of the definition we established for freedom ...

“Total freedom means living completely fearlessly, passionately and joyfully - regardless of your circumstances, not because of them.”

I pray you have taken a step closer in your journey to experiencing the freedom God desires for your life.

John 2

2010-02-23T11:54:00.000-05:00

Today, I am reading John 2. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 2

5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

In this scene at the wedding, I appreciate Mary’s submission to Jesus. I aspire to have the same heart.

17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”

It makes me wonder ... what am I so passionate about that it consumes me?

23 Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. 24 But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature.

This is an important thought considering our current series, “Free*”. Jesus didn’t “trust” them in the sense that He didn’t base his value of Himself on their opinion. Neither should we. Our view of who we are should be rooted in the fact that we are uniquely made by God and maintained by the love Jesus demonstrated and the grace He continually offers.

John 1

2010-02-22T10:35:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone, I apologize for last week’s absence. It was a very hectic week; but the time away was actually good for me. I think you need to take a break every once in a while to evaluate where you are on the journey. I’ve also found that it is good to mix things up every once in a while so that your journey doesn’t become stagnant. With that in mind, I’m going to make a few changes to the blog. Beginning today, I am personally going to begin reading longer passages ... a chapter a day. I will continue to only list, and comment on, a verse (or two or three) that stand out to me as I read; but I hope you will open your Bible and read the chapter with me. With this new start, I am going to start a new book ... John. John was one of Jesus’ disciples; but more than that, he was one of Jesus’ closest friends. That is what I love so much about this book ... it’s like a biography written by a best friend. So let’s get started ... John 1. You can find a link here if you would like to read it online.

Today, there were actually three verses that stood out to me...

John 1

18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

I love John’s description of what Jesus’has done ... “He has revealed God to us.”

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

There are certain moments in time that we would all like to have seen firsthand. For me, this is one of them ... the moment Jesus is introduced as the promised messiah, what a great description.

46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.

I love Philip’s reply, “Come and see for yourself”. When you have a friend that you want to invite on this journey with you ... this journey of following Jesus, this is the perfect line to refer to, “Come and see for yourself”.

Slave

2010-02-11T11:16:00.001-05:00

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

2 Peter 2

19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

Slave. Peter spends a lot of time, between verse 2 and verse 19, talking about the consequences of following false teaching. Then, he writes this thought ... “you are a slave to whatever controls you.” That is a great point that leads to a pointed questions ... What controls you? In other words, what influences the decisions you make ... you, someone else, something else or God?

False

2010-02-10T16:30:00.001-05:00

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

2 Peter 2

1 But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.

2 Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.

False. For those of you that were confused (like me) the first time you came across the word heresy, it is an opinion or belief that is contrary to what the church teaches. Peter spent the first section of this letter (chapter 1) encouraging these Jesus followers to continue growing in their faith and stand firm in what they had been taught ... now you know why. It is the same reason I keep encouraging you to be reading/studying God’s Word on a daily basis ... so your journey can continue on “the way of truth”.

Confidence

2010-02-08T11:37:00.001-05:00

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

2 Peter 1

16 For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes

17 when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” *

18 We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

19 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place - until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.

Confidence. When you have moments of doubt about this journey, reread this passage and be reminded that this isn’t some made-up story. These are real people that have experienced God in a real way ... and you can too.

*The moment Peter is recounting can be found in Mark 9:2-7.

Free*

2010-02-03T09:27:00.002-05:00

During our next series (Free.*), we would like for everyone to participate in a Community Group. Below, you will find a list of the groups we have available. All you have to do to register is email your name, phone number and the group number you are interested in to jeff@myeastside.cc.

1. A group open to everyone on campus led by Jonathan

on Wednesday nights at 7 pm. Childcare available.

I need childcare for _____ kid(s). Ages:_____

Groups available on Sunday:

2. A group open to everyone in Milford at 6 pm

3. A group for singles/divorced 30+ in Batavia at 6 pm

4. A couples group in Milford at 6:30 pm

5. A group for anyone in Norwood at 6:30 pm

Groups available on Monday:

6. A group open to everyone in Milford at 7 pm

7. A women’s group in Milford at 7 pm

8. A group for families with kids in Loveland at 7 pm

Groups available on Wednesday:

9. A women’s group in Milford at 6:30 pm

10. A single moms group on campus at 7 pm

11. A singles group in Milford at 7 pm

12. A couples group in Milford at 7 pm

13. A group for 18-35 in Eastgate at 7 pm

14. A couples group in Sycamore Twp at 7 pm

15. A men’s group in Amelia at 7 pm

Groups available on Thursday:

16. A group open to everyone on campus at 7 pm

17. A men’s group on campus at 7 pm

18. A women’s group at Panera Bread in Milford at 7 pm

19. A group for 30+ in Milford at 7 pm

20. A group for couples 20-50 in Loveland at 7 pm

21. A group open to everyone in Anderson at 7 pm

22. A group for singles 35+ in Mason at 7 pm

Groups available on Friday:

23. A group open to everyone in Milford at 7 pm

24. A couples group in Milford at 7 pm

25. A group open to everyone in Batavia at 7 pm

I will be out of town with my family the next couple of days.

See you on Monday.

Respond

2010-02-02T16:15:00.001-05:00

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

2 Peter 1

5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge,

6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness,

7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

Respond. There is nothing I could ever do to earn God’s grace or repay His love; but, as a response, I can “make every effort” to live a life that reflects His purity and His wisdom and His patience and His compassion and His love.

2010-02-01T13:00:00.000-05:00

Today, I am going to start reading through 2 Peter. I believe there is something valuable in each book of the Bible; but for me, there is something very profound about this one. It could be because Peter followed Jesus personally. It could be because Peter was instrumental in the development of the early church. It could be because this is believed to be Peter’s last letter before he was executed. Whatever the case, I am really looking forward to reading through this letter with you. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

2 Peter 1

2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

More. This verse confirms, for me, two elements that are very important to our journey. One, we need to be reading/studying God’s Word on a daily basis so we can grow in our knowledge. Two, our knowledge should lead us to express more (and more) grace.

Encourage

2010-01-29T14:43:00.001-05:00

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

1 Peter 5

12 I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.

Encourage. Obviously, I didn’t write this letter; but like Peter, my purpose in connecting you with God’s Word is to “encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.” I love that thought and pray you take it to heart as you journey.

Humble

2010-01-28T15:52:00.001-05:00

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

1 Peter 5

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

Humble. I could spend a whole week on this passage; but I wanted to present it as one thought. It covers everything from worries to temptation to suffering while warning of danger and promising restoration; but it all begins with humility. We need to humble ourselves before God ... daily.

Never

2010-01-26T16:42:00.000-05:00

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

1 Peter 4

19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

Never. God will never fail you ... an important reminder from a guy writing to a group of people being persecuted for following that same God.

Privilege

2010-01-25T16:51:00.001-05:00

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

1 Peter 4

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.

13 Instead, be very glad - for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

14 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.

15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.

16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

Privilege. I appreciate Peter’s clarification regarding suffering in verse 15; but I was struck by the thought in verse 16 ... “Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!” It is a privilege to be called a Jesus follower; too often, I live as if it is my right.

Gift

2010-01-22T13:25:00.000-05:00

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

1 Peter 4

10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Gift. What is your gift? If you don’t know, email me (jeff@myeastside.cc) and I will send you a couple of links. More importantly, are you using your gift to serve? Our beauty, as a community following Jesus together, is never fully displayed until everyone is expressing their gift ... a beauty that offers God glory as we reflect His glory.

Explain

2010-01-21T15:44:00.001-05:00

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

1 Peter 3

13 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?

14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.

15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.

16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

Explain. In the midst of talking about the persecution this group was facing, Peter challenges them to continue following and “always be ready to explain” why they follow Jesus. If someone asked you “why”, what would you say? At Eastside, we encourage every Jesus follower to take some time and write out their “life story” ... write out what life was like before you met Jesus, when (and why) you decided to follow Him and how things have changed on your journey since you began following. Then, every six months or so, reread it ... remember why ... and add to it where your journey has gone recently. Always be ready to explain.

Decide

2010-01-20T10:22:00.001-05:00

This past weekend, Jonathan continued our “How To Be Rich” series by talking about the opportunity we have to decide how we can be generous with our resources.

2 Corinthians 9:7

7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

Decide. As Jesus followers, we are called to decide in advance what we do with our resources. This past weekend, we passed out a handout that offered a challenge to make that decision. Below, you will find a copy of that challenge. We encourage you to reread it and pray about this opportunity to decide in advance.

I’m beginning in my generosity and will begin giving away _____ % of my income.

I’m taking the tithe challenge and will be giving away at least 10% of my income.

I’m already tithing (or beyond) and want to increase my generosity by giving away an additional _____ %.

I’m going to be showing generosity by: (please be specific) _______________________
I’m signing up for Financial Peace University.

Each week of this series, we have been building a thought about how we can be rich. As a reminder, here is what we have so far, “God has blessed me with more than I need. I am rich; but I will not trust my riches. I will trust the one who richly provides and since I have more I will do more and I will give more.”

Peace

2010-01-19T13:34:00.001-05:00

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

1 Peter 3

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.

10 For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.

11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

Peace. Peter is concluding his thoughts on respecting one another and throws in a reference to a passage in Psalm 34 to support his conclusions. I love the line about searching for peace and working to maintain it. Don’t wait for it to come to you. Be proactive. Look for it ... in your relationships at home and work and the community, with people that like you and those that don’t ... look for it and work to maintain it.

Example

2010-01-18T14:42:00.001-05:00

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

1 Peter 2

21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

Example. I love the fact that Jesus led by example. He isn’t asking us to do something that He hasn’t already done. He is simply asking us to follow Him.

Sake

2010-01-15T11:00:00.000-05:00

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

13 For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority - whether the king as head of state,

14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.

16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.

17 Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king.

Sake. When we put our trust in Jesus, we also surrender the leadership of our lives. As a result, there will be times in our journey when we are asked by God to do something that doesn’t make sense to us ... giving away money, forgiving people that have hurt us, loving people that hate us ... “for the Lord’s sake”. That is why I love (and respect) this passage so much ... Peter was challenging others to respect the authority of a government that was persecuting them, “for the Lord’s sake”. Don’t give in to your logic, trust God’s leadership.

Crave

2010-01-14T09:21:00.001-05:00

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

1 Peter 2

1 So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.

2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.

Crave. What you crave goes a long way in determining the direction of your life. My prayer is that you would crave God’s Word ... “pure spiritual milk”. If you don’t, ask God to change the desires of your heart so they match the desires of His heart. In the meantime, please continue to journey with us ... by being in God’s Word on a daily basis you allow Him to reveal His heart.

Trust

2010-01-13T10:37:00.001-05:00

This past weekend, Jonathan continued our “How To Be Rich” series. He used Paul’s writings to remind us all of an important challenge.

1 Timothy 6

17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

Trust. Where does your trust lie ... in God or in your stuff? That is the heart of this past weekend’s message. Each week, we have been building a thought that Jonathan has asked us to repeat. I invite you to repeat what we have so far .. “God has blessed me with more than I need. I am rich; but I will not trust my riches. I will trust the one who richly provides.”

Love

2010-01-12T09:28:00.001-05:00

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

1 Peter 1

21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.

Love. As we learn more and more about God, we should become more and more loving toward others. It should be a direct correlation ... the more you learn, the more you love. If you haven’t found that to be true in your journey, you might want to rethink your steps.

Holy

2010-01-11T14:47:00.000-05:00

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

1 Peter 1

13 So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.

15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.

16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

Holy. Last week, Peter talked about our “priceless inheritance” and the “wonderful joy” that lies ahead. In light of all that, he now challenges us to live lives that are holy ... lives that are pure, lives that are different, lives that are “a cut above” our old way of living. My prayer is that you will seek holiness in your life ... not out of obligation or an attempt to earn what you have been freely given; but as a response to the grace and love you have received.

Ahead

2010-01-08T09:49:00.000-05:00

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

2010-01-07T12:26:00.001-05:00

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

2010-01-06T12:41:00.001-05:00

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

2010-01-05T10:46:00.000-05:00

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

2010-01-04T09:44:00.000-05:00

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?

"Year in Review" - October

2009-12-29T08:39:00.000-05:00

I really liked the simple message of the “Love God. Love People.” series in October; but my favorite part was getting to know some new people in a Community Group. My favorite entry came from October 16th...

Wealth

I am currently reading through 1 Timothy 6. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here. Today, Paul offers a helpful equation.

1 Timothy 6

6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.

7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.

8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

Wealth. As a former math student and teacher, I love equations. Paul, in these verses, offers a great one ... true godliness + contentment = great wealth. Part of God’s goal, for our journey as Jesus followers, is changing the way we evaluate life. If we view life the way the world does, wealth is a physical issue ... money, homes, cars, clothes. According to God, wealth is actually a combination of spiritual and emotional issues ... living a life that honors God and experiencing an attitude of contentment. Are there any other areas of your life in which you are using the wrong equation to evaluate success?

"Year in Review" - September

2009-12-28T12:27:00.001-05:00

This week, we are going to finish our 2009 Year in Review by looking back at the month of September. My favorite part of September was the Back To School Bash. My daughter had a blast playing games, getting her face painted and jumping up and down at the concert ... and I got to sit in a dunking booth (the water was actually warmer than you would think). My favorite entry came from September 25th...

ARMOR

Paul finishes up this letter with some final advice that seemingly comes out of nowhere.

Ephesians 6

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Armor. As Paul explains, we are surrounded by a spiritual world. I don’t think his intention, in mentioning this world, was to induce panic. I believe he was simply wanting to make us aware of its reality. The thing I found interesting is that God does not intend to remove us of the evil. Instead, He wants to arm us so that we can live truthfully and righteously and peacefully and faithfully in the midst of it.

"Year in Review" - August

2009-12-23T09:50:00.000-05:00

Oddly, my favorite part of August was something I had nothing to do with ... relaunching the Pre-Teen Ministry in a brand new classroom. Looking back on life, I know that was a time in my life when I learned a lot about God and being a Jesus follower and I am excited there is a cool place where our younger Eastsiders can do that too. My favorite entry came from August 11th...

SUPREME

There are several different areas of concentration within the study of God, known as “theology”. One specific area is the study of Jesus or Christ, known as “Christology”. The following verses provide one of the most important passages for this study. Paul included this description of Jesus because the church in Colosse was being impacted by some false teachers that were basically creating their own religion by trying to harmonize aspects of several different beliefs. In the process, they were minimizing the importance of Jesus. Paul wanted to remind them of the absolute supremacy of Jesus.

Colossians 1

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.

19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,

20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

Supreme. Interestingly, things have come full circle or maybe they never really changed. Today, we live in a culture where people “collect” aspects of a variety of faiths to create their own personal belief system. It is considered politically incorrect to say that Jesus is supreme over other faiths. I’m not suggesting you become militant in your beliefs regarding following Jesus; but I do hope that passages like these remind you of exactly who Jesus is and help you stand confidently while on your journey.

"Year in Review" - July

2009-12-22T10:41:00.001-05:00

Picking my favorite moment in July was a bit of a challenge with Yoda showing up in one of Jonathan’s messages and kicking off Help Build Hope: Clermont (thank you to everyone that helped rehab Mattie’s home, especially John Corrigan for leading the project); but for me, it was volunteering with New Life Furniture on a Saturday morning with the guys from my RESET group. My favorite entry came from July 16th...

REJOICE

This week, we have been listening to Paul explain the idea of justification. Today, he offers a list of blessings that come with being made right in God’s sight. One of them will shock you. It did me.

Romans 5

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.

10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Rejoice. According to Paul, one of the blessings of justification is the fact that we can “rejoice ... when we run into problems”. When you first read that phrase, you probably think it’s a typo. It certainly sounds like one. Who would ever rejoice about a problem? The beauty of Jesus’ sacrifice (verse 6) is that it solved THE most difficult problem we will ever face (verse 9) and offered us a new perspective on problems. If Jesus can handle our most difficult problem, He can handle any problem. If He can handle any problem, the question isn’t CAN Jesus handle this mountain of a problem I am facing right now; it is HOW is Jesus going to handle it. With this new perspective, problems become more like tutoring sessions that reveal to us more and more about God as they “develop” and “strengthen” us.

"Year in Review" - June

2009-12-21T16:24:00.000-05:00

Today, we are going to continue our 2009 Year in Review by looking back at the month of June. My favorite part of June was launching some new community service projects ... like our partnership with Sauls Homeless Shelter. My favorite entry came from June 25th...

GIVE

Back to Paul’s letter ... Today, he offers what most would consider an oxymoron.

2 Corinthians 8

1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.

2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.

4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.

5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving.

7 Since you excel in so many ways - in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us - I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.

9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

Give. Most people would think that if you had “many troubles” you wouldn’t have “abundant joy” or that if you were “very poor” you wouldn’t overflow “in rich generosity” or that no one would ever “beg” to “share” (let alone consider it a “privilege”). For most people, none of that makes any sense! I think the key is in verse 5 ... if we are to ever understand this concept of giving (of generosity), we must first give ourselves completely to Jesus. When we do, I think we will see that most of what we thought about this life was upside down to begin with. When we begin to understand who he was (verse 9), we can stop being like most people and start being more like him.

"Year in Review" - May

2009-12-18T08:59:00.000-05:00

Picking my favorite moment in May was really easy ... Awake! It was an amazing night of worship. If you would like to re-live the night or weren’t able to be there, purchase a copy of the Awake CD this weekend. They make great stocking stuffers! My favorite entry came from May 1st...

You

All week, we have been talking about relationships. Today, we will actually find the key to extraordinary relationships in the final six boundaries God laid out in establishing a relationship with the nation of Israel. You are closer to the answer than you think.

Exodus 20

12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You must not murder.

14 “You must not commit adultery.

15 “You must not steal.

16 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.

17 “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”

You. Here’s a challenge ... think of the best relationship(s) you have ever experienced. Now, think of how you would describe the person(s) you had that relationship with. I would be willing to bet your description would include words like ... caring, honest, genuine, concerned, generous and considerate. It may seem ironic; but each of those is really an antidote for the actions God wanted us to avoid in our relationships. Ordinarily, people are selfish when it comes to relationships. Extraordinary relationships are possible when we live extraordinarily ... when you and I are caring, honest, genuine, concerned, generous and considerate. What changes do you need to make so that your relationships can be less ordinary (self-centered) and more extraordinary (others-centered)?

"Year in Review" - April

2009-12-17T08:35:00.000-05:00

Picking a favorite moment in April was really difficult because the “Not-So-Extreme Church Makeover” was a beautiful day in more ways than one and the Easter service(s) was awesome (remember “Come Alive”); but for me, nothing could top the Baptism Celebration ... fifty people publicly expressing their faith in Jesus. My favorite entry came from April 6th...

This week, we will conclude our look at Luke’s account of the story of Jesus. It will include some important reminders as we prepare for the most important moment in history.

Luke 22

14 When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. 15 Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16 For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.” 19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” 20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people - an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.”

My. I love how “my” (my body, my blood) is followed so quickly in Jesus’ teaching by “you” (given for you, a sacrifice for you). My oldest daughter is at the stage in her young life where she is becoming very possessive ... my blanket, my plate, my doll. My wife and I are trying to replace that word in her vocabulary with the word share. This passage, and this week leading up to Easter, are great reminders that we should be constantly evaluating our lives ... looking for opportunities where “my” can be replaced with “you” ... in our relationships, at our work, with our resource, everywhere.

"Year in Review" - March

2009-12-16T13:54:00.001-05:00

My favorite part of March was Thursday nights when we would have 80 to 90 people participate in the RESET Group on campus. My favorite entry came from March 10th...

HOW

We are currently revisiting the story of Jesus as written by Luke. Our goal is to complete Luke’s account with the RESET series. In order to do that, we will periodically skip over a passage. Today, we receive a reminder about prayer.

Luke 11

1 Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

2 Jesus said, “This is how you should pray: “Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon.

3 Give us each day the food we need,

4 and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.”

5 Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him,

6 ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’

7 And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’

8 But I tell you this - though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

How. I love verse 10; but too often I forget verses 2-4. I love hearing that I will receive what I ask for. I forget that I am supposed to ask for is what I need to survive physically (food) and spiritually (forgiveness). I love hearing that I will find what I am seeking. I forget that I am supposed to seek God’s honor in my life and in this world. I love hearing that the doors (opportunities) I am knocking on will be opened. I forget that the doors I should be knocking on lead to opportunities to forgive and escape temptation.

"Year in Review" - February

2009-12-15T13:22:00.002-05:00

My favorite part of February was kicking off the RESET series with so many churches throughout Cincinnati. I especially liked launching so many RESET Groups. My favorite entry came from February 17th...

Servant

We are currently revisiting the story of Jesus as written by Luke. Today, we witness a great example.

Luke 1

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee,

27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.

28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!

31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.

33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.

36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month.

37 For nothing is impossible with God.”

38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Servant. Can you imagine how fast Mary’s mind must have been spinning? I love the honesty of the phrase “confused and disturbed” and the sincerity of the question ... “How?” More than anything, I appreciate her response, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” That is the level of discipleship I want to achieve ... that mindset, “I am Your servant” ... that willingness to truly follow no matter what and no matter where.

"Year in Review" - January

2009-12-14T13:38:00.004-05:00

Over the next couple of weeks, I would like to spend some time reviewing our journey through 2009 ... one month at a time ... sharing a favorite moment and a favorite entry from each month. I pray God will use this review to refresh the memory of your journey while renewing your passion for continuing it.

My favorite moment(s) came from the “Why?” message series. I love when we use God’s Story to help us address some of the difficult questions we face. My favorite entry came from January 15th...

HELP

We are making our way through a letter Paul wrote to Jesus followers in Corinth. Today, Paul moves on to a new topic.

1 Corinthians 12

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.

9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.

10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.

11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have

Help. There are some days when I read God’s Word and it seems a little ambiguous or irrelevant. There are other days (like today) when a thought jumps right off the page and applies directly to my life. For me, the thought that stood out was actually an entire verse ... seven. “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” When we accept God’s grace and believe in Jesus, God (in the form of the Holy Spirit) moves in ... into our heart, into our mind, into our life. According to Paul, He brings along a “house” warming gift ... a spiritual gift. Which raises two important questions ... Have you identified your gift? Are you using it to help others? I didn’t say the application would be easy ... just obvious and relevant.

Finished

2009-12-11T09:13:00.000-05:00

Today, we are going to finish up Paul’s second letter to Timothy (2 Timothy). I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

2 Timothy 4

6 As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

8 And now the prize awaits me - the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

Finished. Over the past couple of weeks, I have had the honor of performing three funeral services. Unfortunately, we wait until moments like that to evaluate our journey. Don’t. I would encourage you to take a few moments and do it this weekend ... are you on the path or have you wondered away ... are you moving forward or have you settled into a comfort zone ... have you remained faithful? Finish the race.

Ministry

2009-12-10T11:21:00.001-05:00

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 4

5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

Ministry. What ministry has God given to you? If you don’t know, pray ... ask God to make it clear to you how He can use you (your passions, your abilities) to bring Him the most glory. If you do know, pray ... ask God to help you be more and more effective in that ministry.

Decided

2009-12-09T10:04:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, Jonathan began a new series entitled “Christmas Classics”. We talked about how God can help us deal with some difficult family situations. I invite you to reread the passage he referenced during the message.

Matthew 1

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.

19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.

25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Decided. I love how Jonathan pointed out, this past weekend, that Joseph made his decision, to not disgrace Mary, before getting all the facts. It’s a lot easier to be the “good guy” ... the grace-giver ... after the fact. God asks us to be grace-givers ... before the fact.

Reject

2009-12-08T09:19:00.001-05:00

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 4

3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

Reject. I may be speaking out of turn here; but I think we all struggle with this. Each of us has a certain area of life (vocational or financial or relational) in which we reject what God teaches. We don’t want to hear it because we don’t like what He has to say. One of the major challenges of this journey is learning to submit wholeheartedly, completely to what God says.

Patiently

2009-12-07T12:27:00.001-05:00

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 4

1 I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom:

2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

Patiently. Last week, we read Paul’s instruction on how God uses His Word to help us live right. Today, Paul challenges Timothy (and us) to use that preparation to help others live right. If we want to help people change, we most definitely need to be prepared with understanding (teaching) that is correct (“good”); but more important than that, we have to be patient. Change doesn’t come quickly and it doesn’t come through aggression.

Prepare

2009-12-04T10:07:00.001-05:00

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.

Faithful

2009-12-03T14:47:00.000-05:00

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

14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.

15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

Faithful. The idea of remaining faithful, in marriage, has been in the news a lot lately. It, along with this passage, is an important reminder that we need to be mindful of the temptations in our life that could disrupt our relationship with God.

Canceled

2009-12-02T13:34:00.001-05:00

Today, I invite you to reread the story Jonathan looked about last weekend as we talked about the importance of being thankful.

Luke 7

36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat.

37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume.

38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”

40 Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.

41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people - 500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other.

42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said.

44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet.

46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.

47 “I tell you, her sins - and they are many - have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”

48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Canceled. I pray that I never (and you) forget the debt that has been canceled. I’m not talking about living in guilt. I’m talking about living in grace ... thankful for the fact that my debt has been canceled.