MapMyRoute

I enjoy running. Yes, I run even though I’m not being chased. Anyway, I use this I-Phone app when I run called “mapmyrun.” It’s a neat little tool that lets me know through my earphones in an unemotional and direct female voice, how long I’ve been running, how far I’ve gone, and how slow my minute per mile pace is. One of the coolest aspects of the app is that when my run is finished I can see a picture of my route. I like pictures. It’s always interesting to see what the route looks like. Usually my route resembles some state. Sometimes it makes a big state like Texas or Alaska, sometimes an Oklahoma or Illinois. And sometimes when I’m tired a Hawaii or Rhode Island. Two Biblical passages come to mind when thinking of routes. The first one comes from the Old Testament. Just imagine Israel’s route in the wilderness. Can you say scribble scratch!? Remember Israel was freed from Egypt and traveled through the wilderness on their way toward the Promised Land. A journey that should have taken about two weeks was stretched into forty years! If we were to look at that route, it would tell a story. It would tell the story of a people who weren’t sure where they were going and who were not prepared to enter the place God prepared for them. Their map was a tightly woven circular route of cleansing and preparation. It was a painful, extended, and redundant journey that eventually prepared them for crossing the Jordan River. As a church staff, we have been in the process of prayerfully sketching out the route God wants to take. Strategic ministry planning is challenging but exciting work. We have been inspired to think and dream about where God wants to take the Bayside church family. We know this. We do not want to be Israel wandering in the wilderness. The other Biblical route that comes to mind is from the ministry of Jesus told in the New Testament. It is found in John 4. Jesus was in Judea in the South on his way to Galilee in the North. We are told that Jesus ‘had to go through’ Samaria. Interestingly, what we know from history is that during that time period Jews intentionally avoided going through Samaria to avoid being defiled by a people considered unclean. But Jesus ‘had to go’ through Samaria because Samaritans had to be reached with the gospel. His route tells a story. That journey tells as story of fearless love for all people, “even the least of these.” As for our church family, Jesus’ example tells us that a route that is faithful to the mission of reaching people will often be unconventional and rarely safe. I’ve often wondered what my personal route would like if I had an application called “map my spiritual route.” I think it would be filled with straight lines, a few big loops, and even a few well worn dots- places where it looked like I wasn’t moving at all. What would your route look like? Today wherever you are on your route, step toward Jesus. That, you can be sure, is never a wrong move. And one day we will see what shape our completed route took. As a Christian, regardless of the final shape we know where our route ends. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Cor. 2:9

SMART JESUS

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 Benny was a really smart kid I went to elementary school with. I was smart for a while too, but then for some strange reason in the fourth grade I got a “C” on my report card. I wasn’t smart anymore. Benny didn’t stop in the 4th grade, he just kept getting smarter. The saving grace in my unspoken competition with Benny was that I was much better basketball player than him. So I was usually eager to get out of the classroom and onto the court for practice. The court provided me opportunities to put it in Benny’s face (in the love of Christ of course). My dominance was assisted by the fact that he was about 4 inches shorter than me. But one day in the third grade, Benny beat me at my own game. Our coach had the team doing layups at the end of practice. In the course of doing the lay ups, everyone had missed at least one layup except for Benny and me. A teammate noticed this and began to provoke the competition. Who would miss first? So it went back and forth. He would make a layup and then I would make one. He made one. Then I made one. Then him. Then I, with a little bit too much confidence, went to the basket too strong. The ball ricocheted off the backboard, grazed the front of the rim and bounced onto the hardwood. The thud of the basketball was a dagger. He had beaten me at my game. I always respected Benny as the smart kid in the classroom, but from that day on I respect him a bit more as a ball player. I’ve met a lot of people who respect Jesus as a compassionate and caring person. On the field of kind words and warm hearts many people respect Jesus. Many even admire him because they know that in the compassion arena no one has a game like Jesus. And that is true. Jesus has exemplified for the world much about kindness and compassion. What many miss is the “smart Jesus.” I don’t know that we speak enough about how smart Jesus was. This is important because if we doubt a person’s intelligence it’s very unlikely that we will heed their advice, much less obey their direction. Very few talk much about the intelligence of Jesus. Some talk about his courage. Many laud his grace, his mercy, and even his devotion to God. But too few talk about how smart he was. People seem comfortable talking about his spirit and heart, but not as much about his mind. That to me is a missing link in much of our understanding of Jesus of Nazareth. If you’re a thinker, if you are a brain, let me just say it. Jesus was really smart. He was indeed the smartest person to ever grace this planet. The apostle Paul was one of the most well-educated, fiercest debaters, and sharpest minds of his day. And he found no problem bending his intellectual knee to the superior mind of Christ. In fact, Paul would pray that people might have the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:1) and he marveled at the knowledge held in the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). I want to encourage you to continue to love the Lord with all your heart, with all soul, with all your strength and with all of your mind. It could deepen your worship of Jesus more than you thought possible. Jesus invites us, “Come let us reason together.”

Time To Shine

In a few weeks the Games of the XXX Olympiad will begin. We will watch young Olympians compete at the highest level. Young athletes we’ve never heard of before, with success in their disciplines, will become household names. Yet, what we know is that these overnight successes have been years, sometimes decades in the making. Countless hours of training and preparation has gone in to ready them for peak performance in their “moment.” That moment for some will begin with fingertips on a starting line, for some toes on the edge of a diving board, for others hands raised on the corner of a gymnastics mat. With the pride and support of their homeland, each individual’s ability will be on display for the World to observe. It will be their moment to shine. Everything they have worked for will matter in that moment. As Christians we resonate deeply with such Olympic themes as training, perseverance, honor and victory because we too are in a great competition. Our Apostolic trainer, St. Paul called on the themes of sport to inspire and instruct Christ-followers toward the worthy prize of godliness and the ultimate reward of heaven. God’s Word teaches us that now is our time to shine. “Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky…” (Phil 2:15). On August 5th we will be starting a sermon series through the book of Philippians. Philippians is a training guide for how we can compete with joy at the highest level. Join as at Bayside as we seek to apply its principles and win the most important prize of life…and have fun doing it! August 5 Finish What You Start / Philippians 1:1-11 August 12 Live Up To the Hype / Philippians 1:12-29 August 19 Be Remarkable / Philippians 2:1-11 August 26 Time to Shine / Philippians 2:12-21 September 2 Understand the Scoring System / Philippians 3:1-11 September 9 Dig Deep / Philippians 3:12-21 September 16 Joy in Everything / Philippians 4:1-7 September 23 Contentment Always / Philippians 4:8-23

Leader Check List

Eight Questions in Identifying a Leader

1. Are they discontent?
A person with the leadership gift usually thinks s/he could do it better if only they were running things. Leaders are always looking to improve things and are often discontent with status quo. A constructive spirit of discontentment is found in the heart of Godly leaders.

2. Do they bring ideas to the table?
There is a difference between critics and leaders. Criticism is easy. Leadership is not. Like a critic, leaders see problems but unlike the critic the leader chooses to be part of the solution. Leaders find practical solutions to the problems they see.

3. Is anybody listening to them?
If people are paying attention to what "x" is saying. Then "x" is a leader. Identify those that others are listening to.

4. Are they respected by others?
Some people talk but are not respected. They are not leaders. Find those whose opinions and ideas carry weight because the person voicing them is respected.

5. Can they create and/or catch vision?
Not all leaders are able to cast vision, but all leaders get jazzed about possibilities. Their eyes widen when vision is spoken.

6. Do they show a willingness to take responsibility?
Leaders step up.

7. Do they finish the job?
Good leaders get-'r-done. They show perseverance and determination, not stopping until the job is complete. A quitter is not worth following.

8. Can they handle Criticism?
All leaders face criticism, doubt and questions. Leaders learn not to whimper every time people talk negatively about them. Followers are suppose to talk about leaders... you're the leader! If they aren't talking about you then you probably aren't leading them any where. Criticism is part of the price tag of leadership so tough mindedness is a must.

(adapted from Multi-site Church Revolution)

Gospel of Mark

Click Here To View Series Video Introduction.

Fast. Raw. Razor Sharp. Unrefined. Urgent. Poignant. Each an appropriate characteristic of the gospel of Mark. No shepherds, no manger or silent night, Mark blasts out of the blocks with, "The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."
"Immediately" is one of the most used words in Mark. Jesus is presented as the Son of Man who has a mission to accomplish, an urgent job to do. Namely, crush Sin and set Sinners free through the Cross.
Written to a Church facing intensely unjust persecution, literally being burned as living torches for Rome's perverse entertainment, Mark wants to make powerfully clear that Jesus Christ is Sovereign and therefore all suffering for his name is worth it and will be rewarded mightily.
Like a top fuel dragster off the line, Jesus accelerates throughout the book of Mark until he takes the Roman Centurion's checkered flag, "Surely this man was the Son of God" (15:39).
Experience the thrill ride of Mark's gospel with us. Fasten your seat belt, the green flag drops February 26th.

Two Laned Path to Greatness

When it comes to making an impact for Christ, it seems there are two very important questions to ask.

1. Where are we showing up?
The ministry of presence is powerful. As a Church (as Christians) we have impact when we show up for events, outreaches, difference making gatherings in our community. So where are you showing up? Where you show up says a lot about what you care about.

2. What are we giving away?
Impact is made by our presence and what we leave behind in those places. The greatest impact on this world came through Jesus. And the coming of JEsus meant that 1) God showed up and 2) He gave himself away. God came to earth in the incarnate Son and gave his life as a ransom for sin for the entire world. His Church that continues to exists as the hands and feet of Jesus are at its best when it shows up and gives away compassion, grace, love, food, clothes, money.

So where are you showing up? What are you giving away? The way you answer those questions will largely reveal your impact for Christ in the world.

I'm grateful to pastor a church that shows up and gives away in our community! I'm convinced those two questions make up the two laned path to greatness in the Kingdom of God.

SOAP BOX: Too many of us in churches get it backwards. We judge our impact by how many show up for our stuff (our own church/denominational events, progams, services) and give us stuff (tithes, offerings, time). While gatherings have there place in accomplishing impact, I think this view is at best woefully inadequate.

DONE! ...Our Challenge

QUESTIONS-> Do you ever want to say “I’m done!”? Does your life seem stuck? Do you feel like you’re on a plateau? Are you tired of the spiritual rut? Are you eager to see your life, your family and your church achieve a deeper devotion to, and impact for, Christ? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions then you will be very interested in the NEW sermon series and small group semester starting August 28th.

DONE! -> “I’m done!” This is a phrase we often use in exasperation to declare we are closing one chapter and beginning and new one. The reality is that advancement in any endeavor, achievement of any goal, growth in any area of life demands that we say “I’m done.” We must forsake certain things and replace them with others. To achieve a goal, old habits are forsaken and replaced with new ones. You’ve probably noticed that most people remain stuck in unfulfilling patterns of life because they are unwilling to forsake useless, even harmful ways and replace them with healthy, life-giving ones. They haven’t yet come to the place of saying “I’m done”, so their misery continues. We must give up to go up! Improvement means declaring an end to lesser things for greater things.

JESUS‘ EXAMPLE -> Christ was done with people lost without salvation. So he forsook the previously unbroken fellowship with the Father in Heaven, to come to Earth to die on the cross for our sin. He gave up “equality with God” for a greater mission, the mission to redeem people far from God.

SMALL GROUPS -> I urge you to come hear the messages AND to participate in a small group. In our small groups, we will discuss in greater depth the previous Sunday’s message and corresponding challenge. Every member of our church family serious about Jesus should be participating in a group. Groups are forming now and will start the week of August 28st.

BACK STORY -> I read a book and I prayed. In the fall of 2010, I read a book entitled Radical written by David Platt. I knew God wanted me to preach on the topics covered in the book so I waited for the right time. In the meantime, I have been praying a radical prayer for our Church, including you! Because of Radical and Jesus’ words in places like Luke 14, I’ve been praying that all of us would take up the challenge to forsake spiritual mediocrity and replace it with whole-hearted devotion to Jesus. I’m praying every one of us will say “I’m Done” with spiritual mediocrity.

August 28 DONE! with Ignorance of the Bible
September 4 DONE! with Spiritual Apathy
September 11 DONE! with Complacency
September 18 DONE! with Materialism
September 25 DONE! with Isolation

Wisdom -- Follow Me

Street smart, common sense, has a clue, intuitive, emotionally intelligent... these get close to what the book of Proverbs means when it calls us to gain wisdom. Technically, wisdom is the right application of knowledge. We tend to admire knowledge and neglect the critical value of wisdom. Now the Bible celebrates knowledge. Smarts is good! But horse sense is even better! Knowing how to apply said knowledge, having wisdom, is the real treasure. We all know really smart people who do really dumb stuff! Knowledge acquisition is no guarantee that a person will have any clue how to relate to others, order their finances, manage time, or speak with tact (for example).

The ancient sages of the Bible esteemed wisdom highly because they saw a created order in the universe. They rightly perceived that certain moral principles governed human life. Therefore they implored their youth to know those laws (knowledge) and properly apply the principles (wisdom)so that they would have success in life. "He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers" (Prov. 19.8).

It's frustrating when we smart folk consistently find our lives hitting the "proverbial" brick wall. Here's the truth. It may not be because we lack knowledge, it may be that we are futilely attempting to defy wisdom. The Lord promises to instruct us, if only we will listen.

June 12 we will begin a series on the book Proverbs. Each Sunday through the summer we will be talking and learning wisdom from Israel's wisest King Solomon. The school of wisdom is now enrolling.

When We Pray

Two things are true of prayer. (1) Never is a Christ-follower STRONGER than when s/he is praying. (2)Nothing in the Christian life is HARDER than praying. We desire to pray but honestly we fail so often at it. Prayer gets misunderstood. Evidence of this is seen in how much time is spent discussing and debating postures and volume - sit or stand, quiet or loud, hands up or folded, eyes open or closed, written or spontaneous. Which is the right way? Which is better? Which way works?

Did you know the original disciples of Jesus were just as curious about prayer as we are? They once asked Jesus (the master pray-er), "how do we pray?" Jesus told them, WHEN YOU PRAY say...
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

You've heard it before. It's been called the Lord's Prayer, the Our Father, even the Disciples' Prayer. What's important to remember is that the words of this prayer are not a rhetorical rabbits foot, or spell or incantation, they contain the Lord's insighful teaching on prayer. And the prayer is POWERFUL!

In the next few weeks at Breiel Church we are going to plunge the topic of prayer by looking verse by verse at the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6. We're not going after pat answers or evidence to defend our preferred method of prayer. We are seeking illumination into the power of prayer and inspiration to do it! I'd love to have you join me in this study of prayer. The series runs from May 1 - May 22.

Re:Presenting Christ

"Better"... that is the one word that sums up the book of Hebrews. Twenty-five times the cluster of words, 'greater', 'better', 'more' appear in Hebrews' 14 chapters. The book, which really functions and reads more as a sermonic letter, reveals how much greater Christ is than... well than everything! The Supremacy of Christ is a powerful biblical truth that Christ reigns over all. This doctrine is a deep and crucial one that every follower of Jesus must understand and be convinced of. It has practical implications for our lives. Understanding that Christ is above and over all impacts our worship, our understanding of suffering, our understanding of the cross, our decision making, even our understanding of the history of the world. Just to name a few.

This letter was originally written within the first few decades after the resurrection of Jesus. The writer of Hebrews provides encouragement to a weak, scared, confused and intensely persecuted church by pointing them to the truth of Christ's Supremacy. He heads off their fear fed temptations to turn away from Christ, back to false religion by reminding them of the greatness of the One that saved them.

So, if you are a Christian who is questioning your faith; or if you're not a Christian and wondering what's the big deal about Jesus; or if you're simply unfamiliar with the doctrine of the Supremacy of Christ then this preaching series will be of great benefit to you. The series, RE:PRESENTING CHRIST, continues each Sunday from February 20 through Easter (April 24).

One Outstanding Student Loan

With our 16th Anniversary just days away I thought I'd re-post this in her honor. This was written to my wife Kristy upon OUR graduation from Asbury, 13 years ago.

From May 22, 1998
At times I am overwhelmed with gratefulness for the wonderful person I have married. This time in my life, when the sentiments are running high, I can’t help but express in words how much you mean to me. These past three years of our marriage have been nurtured in a place we have both grown to love. We have had celebrations –September 20th, and we’ve had disappointments- like when the couch wouldn’t fit! But through it all we have maintained our sense of humor and been willing to adapt to each situation.

As I prepare to walk the stage this Sunday I want you to know that you will walk with me. You, probably more than me, earned this degree. You deserve to be celebrated. It takes an extraordinary person to delay his or her own plans and dreams for someone else’s, like you have for me.

So as we look at paying back the monetary loans, let me assure you that I realize that there is yet one other outstanding debt to be paid. I hope that this down-payment of gratitude is a good start to my lifelong payment plan: a plan that includes honoring you, serving you, and never forgetting the hard work you have done to make this graduation from Asbury so meaningful.


I LOVE YOU,
Terry
May 22, 1998

A Simple Plan to Become More Like Jesus

At Breiel Church our mission is to see “more people become more like Jesus.” If you want to be more like Jesus, here is a simple plan to follow. Commit to the following plan and you will be more like Jesus by the end of 2011.

1. Worship (Love)
Practice: Devotions
Frequency: Daily
Make a habit of doing devotions (Bible reading and prayer) every day, or at least most days. This will make your relationship with Christ personal and authentic. The daily devotional can be as simple as reading a few verses from the Bible and praying on your way to work. Making this a daily habit is vital to your maturation as a Christian.

Practice: Community Worship
Frequency: Weekly
Go to Church each week. Grow in your love for God by worshipping him along with the local Body of Christ. Weekly large group worship will lift you up and keep you encouraged.

2. Discipleship (Learn)
Practice: Small Groups
Frequency: Once Every Six Months
Participate in two discipleship sessions per year. This will deepen your knowledge of God’s Word as well as help you connect with other Christ-followers. Attend two discipleship classes per year (10-20 meetings). This will look different for each person depending on their needs. For example, your two discipleship sessions might be a (1) Fall Financial Peace University course and (2) Spring Bible Study. Or it could be an eight-week (1) Sunday night ULearn elective in the Fall and a (2) Summer small group. Or it could be two sessions of a Sunday morning class (Sunday School).

3. Serving (Live)
Practice: Serving
Frequency: Once a year
Obviously there will be times to serve more often than once per year. But make it a point to participate, at least annually in an outreach event. This could mean involvement in a local outreach event like serving the homeless or volunteering at a block party outreach. Or it could mean that you go on an overseas mission trip to Peru or Ecuador. Another option would be involvement in a special outreach production like a Christmas or Easter outreach event

There you have it, a simple plan that can help you become more like Jesus.
"Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
2 Peter 3:18

Never Waste a Crisis

No one likes a crisis. I know I don't. Actually, I like to avoid them if possible. But here's my suggestion, if avoiding a crisis in not possible then for heavens sake don't waste it! I discovered that a crisis, though hard and treacherous at times to navigate through, provides golden opportunities. Some times these are once in a life time opportunities! Here are three good things a crisis can give you.
1. A crisis zooms us in what is most important. When you're in a crisis, you discover very quickly what is really important, what the real mission is, what the real purpose is.
2. A Crisis cuts through the bull. Few things reveal true attitudes, thoughts, feelings, movitations quickier and as clearly as a crisis situation. Often what we call crisis is merely bringing to the surface what has been lying below the surface all along. Thus, a crisis gives you the opportunity to deal with what's really going on and to understand what is really happening in the relationship, family, or organization.
3. A Crisis provides the opportunity for systemic change. A crisis, a real good one, will provide the opportunity to address and change long-standing, deep-rooted and systemic dysfunction in your relationship, family, or organization.

My advice, never waste a crisis!

The Season for Getting

Christmas is the season for giving! At least that's what we are told. But really? Well really... it's not. Now I like giving and recieving gifts as much as anyone. But Christmas doesn't begin with what we give, it begins by getting. Christmas is really the season for getting (receiving). This is not a call for unbridled greed nor is it a grinch like stiffling of the family gift exchange. What it is, is a call to a humble acknowledgement that we need what God came to offer - the way for reconciliation with God. God gave first. We recieve. The mandate of the gospel is “Get it!” Get what God gave through the incarnation of Jesus.

The pressure to give is largely to blame for the anxiety (and debt) that drains the joy of this season. Receiving what money could not buy, but what Jesus purchased by giving his own life, that is the gift humanity gets through Christmas. Christmas is about getting the good we did not, indeed could not earn nor deserve. Christmas is about getting grace. That’s what it’s all about. So by all means, if you haven't, get it!

My 100 Words on 100 Years

My hundred words on a hundred years…

- a pastor giving his boutonniere to a little girl
- a boy invited to stand on a pew to sing "This Little Light of Mine"
- a dollar given a young man for a 'good job' singing a song he couldn't finish

Reaching out while encouraging within. It feels right to celebrate our past when our future burns bright with promise. Dozens of young leaders receiving batons Sunday morning assure us of that! Should Jesus tarry, they will celebrate the 150th, and their children the Bi-Centennial. Find us faithful, God we pray.

Sin Cheats

In 2 Samuel 12 Nathan the prophet, confronts King David regarding his adultery and murder. Nathan makes the point to show David how much God had graciously given him. David had been blessed. Nathan declares that God was willing to give him even more. But instead of seeking God, David chose to have his desires met outside the will of God. The results (as always) were devestating.

This text makes me wonder how often sin is the result of greed and selfishness. Like a spoiled child David wanted more and he wanted it now. He was unwilling to wait or seek God for what he needed. Greed and selfishness led to his sin.

Sin is often our attempt to meet our own wants/needs outside the will of God. Sin not only cheats us, it also cheats God. Selfishness, impatience, and greed cheats the "God who wants to give us more". Sin provides what we want but adds destruction. Conversely, God's Will provides what we need, multiplies joy and takes away the (minus) destruction.

Man Up = Serve God

The Scripture indicates that King David's middle son, Abonijah, was raised to do his own thing (1Kngs 1.6) without direction or correction from his father. This left Adonijah with a squishy middle, without the strength and depth of a godly man. What C.S. Lewis would call "a man without a chest." Abonijah's chestlessness plays out when David is near his final days. Abonijah takes the opportunity to crown himself king of Judah and Israel. With partying, celebration, and self-indulgence he proclaims his paper crown. It was all done without God, by a man without a chest. And it all failed miserably. When Solomon, the rightful heir calls Abonijah to the mat Abonijah quickly wilts and cries in fear because he (to his credit) realized he acted thoughtlessly and without God. In humilitaion he bows before Solomon and spares his own (miserable) life.

The Bible shows that men (and women) who serve God prosper. Those who 'man-up' succeed. In Biblical terms to "man up" is to be a man with a chest, a strong man who serves God.

Shortly before his death, King David gave Solomon this advise. "Be strong, show yourself a man (man-up) and observe what the Lord your God requires....so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go." (1 Kings 2.2-4)

The Bible is clear, Man up = serve God.

Proximity is not Reconciliation

God does not take away life; instead he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him" (2 Samuel 14.14)

From this text I am reminded of how much God values genuine reconciliation. King David, for all his success as a military and political leader, was not an exemplary father. In fact, he stunk! Absalom, David's son, murdered his brother. David forgave him, but never communicated that forgiveness. In place of the confrontation that might have led to genuine reconciliation, he merely ignored the sin. He allowed Absalom back in Jerusalem but never addressed anything to do with Absalom's bloody offense. The guilt of Absalom, and the silent treatment of David combined to create an explosive mix that would rip a family and kingdom apart.

I think David mistook proximity for reconciliation. People can live in the same town and still be estranged from each other. Shoot, I've known people who slept in the same bed but could not have been further apart. The Scriptures reveal to us the God who devises plans to reconcile people. And as his followers, he leads us away from estrangement toward reconciliation. God is a master reconciler! He devised a plan of reconciliation for sinful people to be reunited with their Holy Heavenly Father- the plan of salvation that comes through Jesus Christ. The Bible is filled with stories of reconciliation. A few examples- Jacob and Esau, Jesus and Peter, Paul and John Mark.

I guess I am just reminded today that closeness is not intimacy, proximity is not reconciliation. And ignoring a persons problem (sin) is not the same a offering forgiveness. Ignoring leads to destruction, forgiveness leads to healing.

Preparing to Hear a Sermon

How to Listen to a Sermon
by George Whitefield

Keys for getting the most out of what the preacher says

Jesus said, 'Therefore consider carefully how you listen' (Luke 8:18). Here are some cautions and directions, in order to help you hear sermons with profit and advantage.

1. Come to hear them, not out of curiosity, but from a sincere desire to know and do your duty. To enter His house merely to have our ears entertained, and not our hearts reformed, must certainly be highly displeasing to the Most High God, as well as unprofitable to ourselves.

2. Give diligent heed to the things that are spoken from the Word of God. If an earthly king were to issue a royal proclamation, and the life or death of his subjects entirely depended on performing or not performing its conditions, how eager would they be to hear what those conditions were! And shall we not pay the same respect to the King of kings, and Lord of lords, and lend an attentive ear to His ministers, when they are declaring, in His name, how our pardon, peace, and happiness may be secured?

3. Do not entertain even the least prejudice against the minister. That was the reason Jesus Christ Himself could not do many mighty works, nor preach to any great effect among those of His own country; for they were offended at Him. Take heed therefore, and beware of entertaining any dislike against those whom the Holy Ghost has made overseers over you.

Consider that the clergy are men of like passions with yourselves. And though we should even hear a person teaching others to do what he has not learned himself, yet that is no reason for rejecting his doctrine. For ministers speak not in their own, but in Christ’s name. And we know who commanded the people to do whatever the scribes and Pharisees should say unto them, even though they did not do themselves what they said (see Matt. 23:1-3).

4. Be careful not to depend too much on a preacher, or think more highly of him than you ought to think. Preferring one teacher over another has often been of ill consequence to the church of God. It was a fault which the great Apostle of the Gentiles condemned in the Corinthians: 'For whereas one said, I am of Paul; another, I am of Apollos: are you not carnal, says he? For who is Paul, and who is Apollos, but instruments in God’s hands by whom you believed?' (1 Cor. 1:12; 2:3-5).

Are not all ministers sent forth to be ministering ambassadors to those who shall be heirs of salvation? And are they not all therefore greatly to be esteemed for their work’s sake?

5. Make particular application to your own hearts of everything that is delivered. When our Savior was discoursing at the last supper with His beloved disciples and foretold that one of them should betray Him, each of them immediately applied it to his own heart and said, 'Lord, is it I?' (Matt. 26:22).

Oh, that persons, in like manner, when preachers are dissuading from any sin or persuading to any duty, instead of crying, 'This was intended for such and such a one!' instead would turn their thoughts inwardly, and say, 'Lord, is it I?' How far more beneficial should we find discourses to be than now they generally are!

6. Pray to the Lord, before, during, and after every sermon, to endue the minister with power to speak, and to grant you a will and ability to put into practice what he shall show from the Book of God to be your duty.
No doubt it was this consideration that made St. Paul so earnestly entreat his beloved Ephesians to intercede with God for him: 'Praying always, with all manner of prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and for me also, that I may open my mouth with boldness, to make known the mysteries of the gospel' (Eph. 6:19-20). And if so great an apostle as St. Paul needed the prayers of his people, much more do those ministers who have only the ordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit.

If only all who hear me this day would seriously apply their hearts to practice what has now been told them! How ministers would see Satan, like lightning, fall from heaven, and people find the Word preached sharper than a two-edged sword and mighty, through God, to the pulling down of the devil’s strongholds!

This excerpt is adapted from Sermon 28 from The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield. Published by E. and C. Dilly, 1771-1772, London. George Whitefield (1714-1770) was a British Methodist evangelist whose powerful sermons fanned the flames of the First Great Awakening in the American colonies.

Reflections for BoB (Blessing of the Bikes)

Last Sunday (May 30) was an amazing day. Such unity, love and Kingdom impact. Here are just some of my quick reflections on the day. When God does great things I too rarely take time to physically note it, and too often forget God's amazing work. This is a way to just give God praise for a breakthrough day.

What I noticed...
1. God clearly had a plan.
2. Visitors felt embraced and welcomed BECAUSE the church (we) looked outward.
3. Our church family invited their friends and family members.
4. There was Tangible (you could feel it) unity and love for each other that welcomed (and fanned) the Holy Spirit.
3. Christ followers from every generation served side by side. Beautiful sight!
4. Powerful worship in both services. Did I mention God was there!
5. We celebrated with freedom in Christ. It was a time free from that stifling religious spirit of dos-don'ts and judgement.
6. God stretched our outreach bandwidth. God helped us see we could reach even more types of people with the good news.
7. We met some amazing Christian brothers and sisters in the motorcycling community.

If you were there, I'd love to hear your reflections. If you're up to it, feel free to add how God blessed you last Sunday and what God might have been teaching you and/or our church.