A Place in the Church

The apostle Paul urged the early church to receive both Jewish and non-Jewish believers (Rom 15:7), excluding neither group. Today the Church seems to exclude others based on cultural norms and political ideology. Who do you find yourself excluding from the life of the church?

We ARE the Church

 Peter describes the followers of Jesus as a building that relies on the foundation of Christ (I Pet 2). What does it look like when Christians follow Christ's commands and example to love and give rather than to hoard, seek power, and marginalize others? Do our critics have good reason to call the Church hypocritical when we fail to live like Jesus? Are we acting like the Church or are we playing church?

Wait for it (Him)

 After His resurrection, Christ instructed His disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Ghost to be given to them (Acts 1). As followers of the risen Christ, sometimes the hardest thing we have to do is to just wait. Can you think of a time when you've tried to do God's work without the Holy Spirit's guidance? When you are moved to action, do your actions seem like the actions Christ would take? 

Judging the sprout

 Jesus warns of those who pretend to be speaking for God, but are really just using God's name to gain wealth or power (Matt 7). In our fast-paced world, we might be a little too quick to judge who is 'good' and who is 'bad.' Jesus speaks of judging the tree, or the person, by what they produce. Farmers know that it takes time for fruit to form, and maybe we would all do well to slow our judgement until the fruit is formed.

How do you measure God's love?

 Most Christians eventually begin to wonder how much God loves them, and if they should perform certain acts to gain more of Gods' care and provision. In 1 Corinthians, we are reminded that God's ways won't make sense to us, and instead of comparing ourselves, we can accept the love God provides and let it motivate us to act out the gospel everyday. Can you think of times when you thought you needed to win God's love?

A Tale of 3 servants

Although a powerful military figure, Naaman was inflicted with a disfiguring disease that isolated him from his community 2 Kings 5. Naaman heeded the advice of a slave he had taken who pointed him to the prophet Elisha. Although pride almost kept him from obeying, Naaman eventually listened to his servant and the servant of Elisha and received healing. These acts of humility led directly to his cure.
 

Soul-Winning without a net

 Most Christians take the great commission (Matt 28), as a serious expectation to evangelize, or to "Preach the gospel" to everyone. However, the methods employed are often more like a sales pitch than a gospel witness. When you consider those who are living as disciples of Christ, did they come to Christ because of a sales pitch, or through personal observation of someone else living out Christ's good news?

Remember that time?

 When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he reflected that all of his memories of them were happy (Phil 1). What kinds of memories do you have of your brothers and sisters in Christ? What kind of memories do they have of you? Are you living out the joy of Christ in a way that uplifts others or are you keeping busy with your own interests?

Your Rights vs God's Word

 Many Christians live in areas that provide extended personal freedoms, some of which seem to even cater to our faith. While we may enjoy our freedoms, we should always consider how those freedoms might infringe on others' ability to enjoy their freedoms. Like Paul (1 Co 9), we should be willing to forego our rights when it means that others could be hurt.

The courage of faith

 Ananias demonstrated great faith and courage by ministering to Saul, the persecutor of the Church (Acts 9). Although Saul was certainly a threat to any follower of Christ, Ananias followed God's command to find Saul and teach him about the way of Christ. Saul was healed of his physical and spiritual blindness and became one of the most important figures of the New Testament.

God seems to be moving slowly

Christians believe that God is actively involved in our daily struggles, but sometimes He seems very distant and uninterested. For example, when Lazarus was sick, Jesus did not immediately go to him with healing but waited until Lazarus was dead (Jn 11). Jesus was able to demonstrate his power over death by raising Lazarus from the dead. What pain are you suffering through now? Can God gain greater glory through it?

Healing the Nobleman's child

John 4 tells of a 'nobleman' who asks Jesus to come heal his sick child. The nobleman must have been surprised when Jesus asked for nothing in return, and declared the child was now healed. The nobleman demonstrated faith by taking Jesus at his word and not pressing for more details. The man returned to his home to find the child was healed as Jesus said. How can you demonstrate a similar faith?

Wedding Feast Miracle

 When Jesus asked the wedding servers to fill the guests cups from the pots used for ceremonial cleaning, it must have seemed like some kind of joke. However, the water had miraculously been transformed from a ceremonial and utilitarian use to an element of celebration and wonder (John 2). As Christians we try to listen for God's miraculous and celebratory changes in us.

Heaven Must Sing

 

Although hidden to the kings and rulers, the birth of Christ could not be silent. A host of angels called out to the lower class shepherds to bear witness of this most significant event (Luke 2). In what ways do you find it impossible to keep quiet? Is it when you feel slighted or when you are filled with God's love and marvel at how wonderful He is?

No Room for Jesus

 Joseph and Mary were unable to find adequate lodging after they were forced to travel (Lk 2). This "No Room" story is often used to illustrate how Christians should respond differently by making room for Christ in their lives. This story might also remind us to make room for strangers and those in need. Another teaching is that this event foreshadowed Christ never having a home and always being a stranger in this world. 

Luke starts with a problem

 

Luke's gospel begins with a personal crisis of infertility. Like Sarah, Hannah and so many other women in the Bible, Elizabeth found herself greatly distressed because she was not able to conceive (Luke 1). Elizabeth's faith was rewarded with a special baby who would become John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ. While we may not understand Elizabeth's distress, we can marvel that God came to her rescue.

The Original Witness

 

Mark's account of Christ's life (Mark 1) begins with the witness given by John the Baptist. While the other gospels provide credentials based on who Christ is, Mark shows us how others reacted to him. Christians should be confident and full of joy when speaking of our lord and savior. Are you able to tell others about the Christ who died, rose again, and lives on for you?

Jesus lived before he was born

 

As we consider the birth of Christ, John reminds us that Jesus Christ existed before the incarnation. John points us back to a time before Genesis 1, to a time before anything was created, and John ascribes all of the creative acts to the pre-existing Jesus, referred to as the "Word" (John 1). This description of Christ leaves us in wonder that the very creator of all things slipped into His creation to demonstrate His love for us.

God gives hope

 During their Persian exile, the Israelites seemed to have lost hope that they would ever return to their own land and their old way of life. Their way of worship and all that they understood seemed to change overnight. During this time God sent Ezekiel with words of hope letting the people know that they might not live to see it, but God would return Israel to their land and to their faith practices (Ez 37).

Valley of Dry Bones

Ezekiel's famous vision of the valley of dry bones (Ez 37) reminds us that God can resurrect bodies, nations, and a person's hope. The vision was given during a time when Israel was unable to participate in the rituals that defined them, but God gave them hope that their identity as God's chosen would be resurrected. What hopes or dreams have you given up? Can you trust God to resurrect them?