Month: April 2012

by

What’s Inside?

I’ve been working at cleaning and organizing the maintenance shop at camp with the help of my family — well, MJ has been  helping and Susan has patiently watched movies while we worked. 🙂  As we have pulled boxes, containers, and items off shelves and out of corners one question keeps coming up, “What’s inside?”! 

If you’ve ever sorted through years worth of things others have accumulated, you probably already know the secret to finding the answer to that age-old cleaning question, “What’s inside?” — you  have to look, open, or empty the container and see what comes out!  You quickly learn that the writing or label can say whatever it wants– that may, or may not, have anything to do with the actual contents.

That is kind of like life and people, isn’t it?  We can dress up the outside and label ourself, and others, but at some point what  is really inside comes out and is revealed.  Jesus puts it this way, “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”  (Luke 6:45) 

Carl Evans shared a sermon tonight at Deer Run that challenged each of us to allow God’s Word and Spirit to check us for heart trouble.  So, how do we do that?  How do we check the condition of our spiritual heart and what do we do about what we find?  Well, I have good news and even better news. 🙂

The good news is that this heart check-up is not difficult — it could be painful to see and acknowledge, but definitely not difficult.  God says that if you want to know the condition of your heart then you should carefully observe just what it is you say and do.  In Galatians, Paul writes that the actions of our sinful desires are obvious.  He goes on to list many actions and activities that we would often put in different categories of very bad, bad, not so bad, and somewhat tolerable.  Paul, however, says all of them are symptoms of a heart that is in trouble — so much trouble that God says if we choose to continue to live in these actions we will not have a place in His kingdom.

The even better news is that there is a cure to whatever heart trouble our spiritual check-up may reveal! 🙂  Paul follows up the list of actions that come from a bad heart with a list of characteristics that flow from a good heart — a Spirit-filled heart.  In Ezekiel 11, God tells his people that he will call them back to himself and they will put away the actions that were in disobedience and rebellion toward him and he will put within them a new spirit — he will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.  The cure for our heart trouble is to repent from the deeds of sin and rebellion and live by the Spirit.

To fully recover from the heart transplant, Carl pointed out tonight some instructions that are commonly given when a person faces a physical heart trouble.  To follow-up on our spiritual heart change, we need to change our diet and get appropriate exercise.  🙂  We must live, and feast, on a steady diet of God’s Word.  As we allow God’s Word to fill and satisfy us, we must get appropriate exercise by actually doing what it says.

I pray that your container, your jar of clay, really does contain what the exterior says is inside.  I pray that you spend time with God listening intently to what comes out of you that would reveal how accurate the label Christian is in your life.  I pray that you  are living with a changed heart and that you are maintaining that renewed heart with a healthy diet and plenty of regular exercise! 🙂

by

1 Samuel: Lesson 31 — Bewitched

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

Here Comes A King:
A Study of the Book of 1 Samuel

Lesson 31 (Bewitched)
1 Samuel 28:1-25

The Text:

  1. What are the Philistines preparing to do?  What is expected of David?  How does David respond to that request?  How does Achish take the response?
     
  2. What was significant about Samuel’s death?  What good thing is mentioned that Saul had done in the past?  What is Saul’s reaction when the Philistines come and set up camp?  What does he do first?  What response does he get?
     
  3. When Saul’s initial inquiry fails, what is his next request?  What did he do with the information he received?  What interaction takes place between Saul and the woman at Endor?  What is the woman’s reaction at who she brings up?  What is Saul’s reaction?
     
  4. What is the reason Saul gives to Samuel for bringing him up?  How does Samuel respond?  Was this a new message?  What is said specifically about Saul and his sons?   
     
  5. What is Saul’s reaction to this message?  What concern does the woman have?  What does she want Saul to do?  Who joined her in making this request?  What happens?

                 

The Application:

  1. Have you ever been asked to join a group of people who are heading out to do something that you don’t like — perhaps something that is even harmful or wrong? What are some ways you could respond? Are there ways that you could go but have a different motive than everyone else?
     
  2. How serious are you about getting rid of sin, and even its temptations, from your surroundings? What do you do when you face a situation that makes you afraid and full of terror? Are there times in your life where God is silent?
     
  3. What do you do when God seems silent? Are there things that you continue to do but would deny your involvement in them if you don’t know or trust the person asking? What might that say about the action or activity?
     
  4. What are some areas where we might try to give a good reason for doing a wrong action? How often do you go to God for a different answer when you don’t like the one He’s given?
     
  5. How do you respond to God’s truth that is specific to your life? Would people be fearful of you if they were the means of delivering God’s truth into your life?

                  

Next week: 1 Samuel 29:1-11
Not Everyone Approves

by

1 Samuel: Lesson 30 — Hiding In Plain Sight

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

Here Comes A King:
A Study of the Book of 1 Samuel

Lesson 30 (Hiding In Plain Sight)
1 Samuel 27:1-12

The Text:

  1. What concern does David have about his future?  How does the “but” that begins chapter 27 tie in with the end of chapter 26? 
     
  2. Where does David decide to go?  What is his reasoning?  Who goes with David?   
     
  3. How effective was David’s plan?  What does Saul do when he hears where David has gone?
     
  4. Who was Achish?  What was David’s request of Achish?  How did Achish respond?  How long did David stay there?   
     
  5. What did David do during his time in Ziklag?  What did he tell Achish he was doing?  How did David protect the news of his actual actions?  How did Achish feel about David?

                

The Application:

  1. Are you a skeptical person?  How far do you trust someone who has continually betrayed you in the past?  Are there advantages to being a skeptic?  Disadvantages?   
     
  2. Does God have a plan for your life?  Are there times that plan inconveniences you?  Are there limits to what you would do to see that plan fulfilled?       
     
  3. How does it feel when a course of action that you take seems to work the way you had planned it?  How often do you recognize God’s hand in successful plans?  Have you ever given up on something that seemed very important to you at one time because it became too difficult?       
     
  4. How easy/difficult is it for you to ask someone for a favor?  What if that person would seem to have little reason to grant it?  What are some ways to keep from compromise when you live in enemy territory?  
     
  5. Have you ever had someone think something good about you that you knew wasn’t true?  How does it make you feel?  How about if they think bad about you that isn’t true?  How important is your reputation or character to you?  What extent would you go to in order to protect it?  Do people consider you trustworthy?  Should they?

                 

Next week: 1 Samuel 28:1-25
Bewitched

by

1 Samuel: Lesson 29 — Missing A Few Things

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

Here Comes A King:
A Study of the Book of 1 Samuel

Lesson 29 (Missing A Few Things)
1 Samuel 26:1-25

The Text:

  1. What does Saul do when word comes to him of David’s location?  Where does Saul and his chosen men camp?  How does this location compare to where David is supposed to be?
     
  2. What does David do when he sees that Saul is on the move again?  What does he find out?  When the reports come back, where does David go?  What does he take notice of?
     
  3. David asks for a volunteer from two of his men — where does he want someone to go with him to?  What does Abishai want to do?  What is David’s response?  What do they do instead?  Why didn’t anyone wake up?
     
  4. When he is a safe distance away from Saul and his army, who does David call out to?  What message does David deliver?  What is David’s proof that Saul’s guard did not do its job? 
        
  5. Who calls out to David?  What is David’s response?  How does Saul respond to David’s words?  Under what terms do David and Saul part ways at this time?

               

The Application:

  1. How often do you return to something that hasn’t worked out the way you want?  Do you tend to follow directions even if initially it doesn’t look like it will get you what you want? 
        
  2. Do you tend to take things at face value or are you more likely to investigate?  How hard is it for you to head in a direction that doesn’t appear to make sense or be safe?  What does it take for you to do that?     
     
  3. If you were asked to accompany someone into a dangerous situation would you do it?  How hard is it to remain consistent in doing the right thing — particularly in regards to people who aren’t doing right and there wrong may be directed at you?  
           
  4. When people are against you, are there good ways that you can get their attention?  When things, or people, seem to be against you do you often consider God could be behind it?  Could He?  Why or why not?  
     
  5. How hard is it to admit your actions have not been appropriate?  Is it harder to admit or to change bad actions?

                

Next week: 1 Samuel 27:1-12
Hiding In Plain Sight

by

Overcoming The TOMB

I had the privilege of preaching the Easter sermon at the North Wayne Mennonite Church this morning.  We looked at the gospel accounts of the resurrection of Jesus in light of Paul’s statement in Philippians 3.

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow,to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”  Philippians 3:10-11

When it comes to knowing Christ, what are some ways that we can experience “the power of his resurrection” in our everyday life?  I addressed four of those areas as we considered overcoming the TOMB areas of our life.

Turmoil   It is hard to read the resurrection accounts without noticing the turmoil that existed in the lives and minds of the followers of Jesus.  The death and burial of Jesus seems to have caught all of his followers by surprise even though he had been telling them this was about to happen.  Their approach to the tomb was filled with more questions than answers.  The power of the resurrection teaches us that there is hope and joy beyond the turmoil that exists in our life.  Jesus tells us that in this world we will have troubles, or turmoil, but to take courage as he has overcome the world. 

Obstacles  As the women approached the tomb to finish the burial process and anoint the body of Jesus, they were concerned about the obstacle they would face.  Who would roll away the stone?  There is a lesson here that we must learn for when we face the obstacles in our life.  The women went to the tomb to do what needed done even though they didn’t know how they would get beyond the obstacle of the stone.  How often do we quit, give up, or not even start something that God would have us do simply because the obstacle looks bigger than us?  The power of the resurrection shows us that we must walk by faith and not by sight.  Jesus has power that even defeats the obstacle of death as his blood brings us life and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

Mundane  Often more deadly and entrapping in our life than the turmoil and obstacles are the mundane things of daily life.  It was the mundane and ordinary things that kept the followers of Jesus from even considering that he could be alive.  They were expecting the usual and customary results — someone dies, you bury them, and the body will still be there whenever you return.  It was the mundane details of life, and having a guest, that kept Martha from enjoying the very presence of Jesus when he paid a visit to her home.  The power of the resurrection teaches us that the mundane everyday tasks should pale in comparison to living in fellowship with Jesus.  God calls us to live a life in passionate pursuit of him that will not be distracted by the busyness and mundane tasks of life.  Yes, the mundane details of life will still exist but the resurrection teaches us to keep them in a proper perspective in our life.

Baggage  Too often we carry things in life that keep us from enjoying the freedom and fullness of life that Jesus offers us through a relationship with him.  Jesus left the wrappings of the grave cloths, the baggage, behind as they were no longer important or necessary.  Some of our baggage is bad — harmful, sinful things that separate us from a healthy relationship with God through Jesus.  For many though, much of our baggage consists of good things that left unchecked crowd out our time and pursuit of knowing Christ and the power of his resurrection.  In Philippians, Paul writes of his credentials and accomplishments that would stack up favorably against anyone of his peers.  But when compared to the “surpassing greatness of knowing Christ”, it is all rubbish — baggage that would easily get in the way of a relationship with God that is more valuable than anything else.  The power of the resurrection teaches us that Christ-like life can not be lived while still wearing the grave-clothes, the baggage, of our dead life. 

So, how are you doing at allowing the power of the resurrection to overcome the TOMB that you experience each day?  I pray that the power of the living God, through His Spirit, will equip you to know Christ and the power of his resurrection not only on this Easter day, but every day of life that you live on this earth.

by

1 Samuel: Lesson 28 — A Fool’s Very Temporary Reprieve

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

Here Comes A King:
A Study of the Book of 1 Samuel

Lesson 28 (A Fool’s Very Temporary Reprieve)
1 Samuel 25:1-44

The Text:

  1. What significant event takes place as chapter 25 opens?  How does Israel react?  Where does David go?  Who else is there?  What do we know about them?
     
  2. For what purpose does David send men to see Nabal?  How do they greet him?  What information do they give?  What are they actually saying?  What is Nabal’s response?  How does David react to the news of Nabal’s response?
     
  3.  Who does one of Nabal’s servants go to with news of Nabal’s response to David’s men?  What does the servant say about David and his men?  What does he say about Nabal? 
     
  4. What does Abigail set out to do?  What is her plan?  Who doesn’t know?  What happens when she meets David?  Who does she blame for David’s anger?  What is David’s response to her words and actions?   
     
  5. What was Nabal doing when Abigail arrived home?  When did she tell him what she had done?  What happened?  How did David respond?  What happened to Abigail?

               

The Application:

  1. What things in a person’s life would cause an entire nation to mourn his death?  How can you life in such a way as to have people truly mourn their loss at your passing?   
     
  2. How would you ask someone for help?  How can you talk well of your actions without bragging or being arrogant?  How well do you listen to what people are actually saying?  How do you react when someone responds to your requests in a way that seems very inappropriate?     
     
  3. Who would you go to if you know of a situation where one person has unjustly treated someone else?  How can you accurately identify if there is a right and wrong in a situation?       
     
  4. How difficult is it to take blame for something someone else did that you would have done differently had you known?  How readily do you accept a genuine apology?  
     
  5. How hard is it for you to let God handle punishment, justice, and reward?

                

Next week: 1 Samuel 26:1-25
Missing A Few Things