Are you a multiplier?

And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.  Genesis 1:11-12 


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Outdoor Worship Guide, June 7

Reconciliation:  God’s Mission.  We are exploring God’s mission to reconcile the world to Himself through Jesus Christ and our role in His mission.  You and I both have a responsibility to share Jesus with others and help the come to faith in Christ.  But its hard.  We are all very busy.  How do we join God on mission?  Sunday we will dig into 2 Corinthians 5-6 together and see.  Come join us!


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Justice, Kindness, and a Walk

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?  Micah 6:8

 

In these days of unrest, I keep coming back to this verse in Micah.  We are all angry and frustrated over the effects of COVID, but also the injustices we’ve witnessed over the last week.  How different things would be if we each would pattern our lives around this verse.  Some of us are questioning how to speak and respond to the tragic events taking place.  I encourage you to search the Scriptures as they are sufficient for all godliness. 

In Micah 6:8, the first observation is that there is a right way and a wrong way.  The Lord has shown us the right way, what is good.  He desires that we follow the right way.  As we study God’s Word, we learn more and more the way of life He has called us to. 

Micah defines what is good as doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God.  The fact is that we are to do what is right, cherish kindness toward others as we walk in a right relationship with God.  God has shown us what is right in the Word of God.  Psalm 19:8 says, “The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.”  God’s rules for life are best for all of us.  And we can find answers we seek in His Word.  

God has also demonstrated the kindness and mercy we are to show toward others through the life of Jesus.  His mercy is perfect.  The word mercy literally means “withholding what someone deserves for wrongdoing.”  In our sin we deserve punishment and death as we offend a Holy God.  Yet Jesus came and died in our place, receiving the punishment for our sin that we deserved.  He did this so that we would be made right with him in faith and escape the punishment and death.  What mercy!  We should give others the kindness Jesus has given us. 

But we can’t live this way on our own.  His justice and kindness can only overflow from our lives if we are being constantly filled with Jesus.  We must submit ourselves to the Lord and deny our selfishness and pride.  Humbly, we follow His lead in our lives and we walk with Him.  Walking with God is evidence of a relationship that’s going somewhere.  We aren’t stagnant in our relationship with God but growing.  Conversion is not the ending point of our relationship, but the beginning.  As we walk with God, He changes us.  We increase in our love for God and our love for others – everyone – the more we walk with God. 
 
Pause.  Take a moment and reflect on the circumstances of 2020.  Examine your heart to see if you are in Christ.  Pray for repentance for all of us.  

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Outdoor Worship Guide, May 31

I enjoyed walking through parts of Deuteronomy these last few weeks with you.  It is clear that our best life is lived when we respond to God’s grace in faith, fearing Him as Lord, and obeying His loving commands.  Next, we will explore God’s Mission of Reconciliation as we study Paul’s conversion and his part in God’s mission.  Hope to see you Sunday on the church lawn!


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Going on Mission

“I have now to ask whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world? Whether you can consent to her departure to a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life? Whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death? Can you consent to all this, for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with a crown of righteousness brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall resound to her Savior from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?”


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