MAKING DISCIPLES IS A JOURNEY – Part 1 of 2

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)

Making disciples of Jesus Christ is not instantaneous. It takes work. Faith formation is a constant movement of God’s people who are desiring and seeking to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

In our “we-want-it-now” world, we often look for quick fixes and instant results. However, the process of making disciples is a journey that requires patience, dedication, and intentionality. It is a journey that involves the heart, mind, and soul, and it is deeply rooted in our desire to seek and know God in Christ more intimately.

Faith formation is the work of small groups. Small groups are vehicles for those who desire God and who seek to be molded by God. This molding happens when people strive to strengthen their faith through prayer, Bible study, Christian conversation, and service. Small groups provide the best place for this molding to take place. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry, compiled from a variety of sources

#5955

SEEKING GOD

In Genesis 26, there is a story about the Philistines filling the wells Abraham had dug with dirt and debris. Isaac reopens the wells by removing the debris, but the shepherds of Gerar stake claim to them. Then Isaac does something interesting. Instead of arguing over the old wells, he keeps digging new ones.

I don't want to stretch this analogy too far, but I think every generation needs to keep digging new wells. We can't just drink from the wells dug by our fathers. We need to dig new wells.

The 17th century Japanese Poet, Matsuo Basho, said, "Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the men of old; seek what they sought."

Listen, I'm a conference junkie. So take this the right way. But it seems like we spend so much time and energy trying to learn from others. And that is good. But we better be investing more time seeking God because God has the key to our cities. God has the solution to our problems. God has the magic model of ministry. We don't just need good ideas. We need God ideas. You can get good ideas from a conference speaker, but God ideas come from God Himself. And one God idea is worth more than a thousand good ideas!

Keep digging! 

-- Mark Batterson

#5954

FORGETTING GOD

“After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things He had done for Israel.”  (Judges 2:10 NLT)

When I read those words, my heart breaks. My heart breaks for this generation that is summarized in a sentence of not knowing God and who He is. And my heart also breaks because I know that it’s easy to read those words and think, how could they? And I know how easily that could be us, too.

In a world that is so distracted, and in a world where we compete for truth and what’s real, and in a world where there’s so much going on, so much that we would say is against the Word of God, this could easily be us. And I just want to say as one of your pastors, speaking on behalf of our pastors at Grace Church, the staff at Grace Church, the volunteer and leadership teams of Grace Church, this will not happen on our watch.

We will not be a generation that forgets, that leads to another generation not knowing the glory and goodness of God. But here’s the reality, it takes all of us. 

-- Pastor Taylor Brown, Grace Church, Cape Coral, Florida, from his message on 9/22/24

#5953

BEING ANGRY WITH GOD – Part 2 of 2

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” (Psalm 34:17-19 NIV)

God understands our anger, and when we pray, it’s a good thing to tell Him what we honestly feel. But sustained bitterness toward the Lord who loves us is irrational and unwise.

In fact, in 1999 the “Journal of Health Psychology” reported an interesting study. Social psychologist Julie Joula-Exline and her team of researchers found a link between anger toward God and anxiety and depression. Those who couldn’t get beyond their resentment toward God were more likely to experience problems with negative emotions. The good news, according to Juola-Exline, was that “those who were able to forgive God for a specific, powerful incident reported lower levels of anxiety and depression.”

“Forgiving God” is a term I’d rather avoid. It implies that God has done something wrong that requires our pardon. We should underline the statement that by perfection of His nature, God will not and cannot do wrong. What seems like misdeed is mystery. The important thing to remember is that His love and compassion are perfect, unbroken, and forever. 

-- David Jeremiah in “Keep the Faith: How to Stand Strong in a World Turned Upside Down”

#5952

BEING ANGRY WITH GOD – Part 1 of 2

"Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.”  (Psalm 4:4 NKJV)

Author John Killinger tells about the manager of a minor league baseball team who got so frustrated with his center fielder’s performance that he jerked him out of the game and played the position himself. The first hard-hit ball that came to the manager took a bad hop and smashed into his mouth. His next play was a high fly ball that he lost in the sun -- until it smacked him in the forehead. The third ball that came his way was a hard line drive that flew between his hands and popped him in the eye. Furious, the manager ran off the field to the dugout, grabbed the center fielder by the shirt and shouted, “You’ve got center field so messed up, even I can’t play it!” (From “750 Engaging Illustrations for Pastors, Teachers, and Writers”)

When it comes to the difficult seasons of our lives, God is the subject of more than His share of fingerpointing. A seventeen-year-old accused of burning down a church in Nashville, Indiana explained at his trial that he took a cigarette lighter to the nearly century-old building because, in his words, “I was angry with God.”

One woman, having lost both her husband and son in separate accidents, posted a notice on the internet that declared: “I am ANGRY at God. I am VERY ANGRY!” She dared to say out loud what you and I really feel sometimes. When our world is turned upside down, it’s easy to believe that God is the culprit.

God understands our anger, and when we pray, it’s a good thing to tell Him what we honestly feel. But sustained bitterness toward the Lord who loves us is irrational and unwise. 

-- David Jeremiah in “Keep the Faith: How to Stand Strong in a World Turned Upside Down”

#5951

PRAISING GOD

“I will praise You every day; I will praise You forever and ever. The Lord is great and worthy of our praise; no one can understand how great He is.”  (Psalm 145:2-3 NCV)

Creation praises God. Angels praise God. Infants praise God. One day every knee will bow as the whole world praises God. Scripture is full of examples of praise, especially throughout the book of Psalms. Every one of those verses has a lesson to teach about honoring the Lord of the universe. This specific portion of Psalm 145 is significant because it is like a mini-primer on praise. It tells the who, what, when, where, and why of giving God glory.

The WHO explains God is the One most worthy of your praise. He is so deserving that it is impossible to run out of reasons for praising Him. You can praise God for His gifts, but praise is broader than thanksgiving. WHAT praise does is honor God for who He is, not just what He does. By honoring God through your prayers and actions you bless Him, giving Him pleasure. This alone is a great reason WHY you should praise God (along with the fact He deserves it!). Praise benefits the one giving it, as well as the one receiving it. Praise cultivates contentment by helping you develop a right view of God and yourself.

As for WHEN to praise God, Psalm 145 tells you that it is appropriate to praise God every day. The Psalm says that you will praise God forever, which means your praise will reach beyond the borders of this earth right to your eternal home in heaven. That’s a WHERE that you can look forward to.

The Hebrew word for praising God means “to celebrate His perfection.” Put what you’ve learned into practice by taking time to do that right now. 

-- From “100 Favorite Bible Verses”

#5950

WALK THE TALK, TALK THE WALK

“People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:15-16 NRSV)

It is important that our walk matches our talk -- that the way we live our life is consistent with the way we say we should. Too many people talk the right stuff but don't live it.

I see another problem, as well. It is just as important that our talk matches our walk -- that what we say explains what we do. I see many people in churches doing marvelous deeds and good works in the community because they are Christian. But they don't tell people why they are doing it. Are they just nice people? Or is it really more than that? Are they doing it because of the difference Christ has made in their life and because they want to share that love of Christ with others?

Let's walk the talk AND talk the walk. 

-- Rev. David T. Wilkinson, SOUND BITES Ministry

#5949

TALK IS CHEAP

“Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’ But I say, ‘How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.’” (James 2:18 NLT)

“Miraculous!”… “Revolutionary!”… “Greatest ever!” We are inundated by a flood of extravagant claims as we channel surf the television, [browse social media,] or flip through magazine pages. The messages leap out at us. The products assure that they are new, improved, fantastic, and capable of changing our life. For only a few dollars, we can have “cleaner clothes,” “whiter teeth,” “glamourous hair,” and “tastier food.” Automobiles, perfume, diet drinks, and mouthwash are guaranteed to bring happiness, friends, and the good life. And just before an election, no one can match the politician’s promises. But talk is cheap, and too often we soon realize that the boasts are hollow, quite far from the truth.

“Jesus is the answer!”… “Believe in God!”… “Follow me to church!” Christians make great claims but are often guilty of belying them with their actions. Professing to trust God and to be His people, they cling tightly to the world and its values. Possessing all the right answers, they contradict the gospel with their lives.

With energetic style and crisp, well-chosen words, James confronts this conflict head-on. It is not enough to talk the Christian faith, he says: we must live it. “Dear brothers and sister, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone.” (James 2:14) The proof of the reality of our faith is a changed life. 

-- From the “Life Application Study Bible” 

#5948

THE PUNCTUATION OF SILENCE AND SOLITUDE – Part 2 of 2

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

If you have a magazine or newspaper handy, try reading any article without using the punctuation marks. It doesn’t make much sense does it? It all becomes a hectic string of words. The meaning is lost. It lacks direction. The purpose of punctuation in a piece of writing is to guide the reader into the true meaning of the words and phrases; through it we understand. Punctuation also gives life and purpose to the words. Next time you see your favorite actor or actress on television, notice how cleverly they use timing -- pauses and spaces -- to give the words their meaning and power.

Punctuation is a helpful way of thinking about Jesus’ relationship with silence and solitude. Jesus punctuated His life with silence and solitude. His times alone were the commas, pauses and full stops in the story of His life. They gave the rest of His life its structure, direction and balance. His words and His works were born out of those hours of silent waiting upon God…

Solitude is the place where the whole of our personality and being, seen and unseen, is drawn together in the transforming presence of God’s love. But more than that, the silence of solitude is the silence of eternity. We are drawn into the mystery of something bigger than ourselves. It places us, with all that God has made, in the heart of the Father’s love and presence. It is there that life is renewed, restored and given its true perspective. 

-- David Runcorn in “A Center of Quiet: Hearing God When Life Is Noisy,” 1990

#5947

THE PUNCTUATION OF SILENCE AND SOLITUDE – Part 1 of 2

The disciples of Jesus discovered that regular withdrawal from people and activity was one predictable thing about Jesus. He made silence and solitude His special companions. Whatever the demands upon Him, Jesus always found a time and place to hide away and be alone. His hectic teaching and ministering was constantly punctuated by these times of withdrawal. Before all the most important events in His life we find Him preparing by getting alone. His ministry began in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). He chose His disciples after a whole night alone in prayer (Luke 6:12). When John the Baptist died Jesus spent time alone (Matthew 14:13). Before the glory of the transfiguration and darkness of the cross we find Him alone in prayer (Matthew 17:1-9 and 26:36-46). In those lonely places the deep springs of the Spirit’s life renewed Him, the Father’s will strengthened Him and the Father’s love inspired Him.

Jesus taught the disciples to do the same. After one particularly busy time of ministry and teaching He said, “’Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a lonely place” (Mark 6:31-32).

This was the secret of Jesus’ life. This was where He found strength to follow the Father’s will. When we follow Him we must copy not only His words and actions but His silence and moments of solitary withdrawing as well. If Jesus needed these times, then we certainly need them more! Like the disciples we follow Him into the desert places. And in our turn, we must learn from Him how to be alone and still. 

-- David Runcorn in “A Center of Quiet: Hearing God When Life Is Noisy,” 1990

#5946

EVERY AGE HAS ITS OWN PROBLEMS

The Christian finds himself today thrown into a strange and difficult world, full of peril and anxiety. He knows Christ, he believes in Him, and he cannot forget what Christ has done for him in his own life. On the basis of this knowledge and faith [the Christian] seeks to understand and adjust to the terrible questions and uncertainties of the times. He knows it is unworthy of him as a Christian to bewail his fate and exaggerate the challenges in the midst of which he is thrown. Dangerous world? -- yes. Unprecedented difficulties? -- certainly. Tremendous challenges? -- of course. But God does not love him less, nor has [God] singled him out for trial in a special furnace beyond his power to bear or to subdue. He remembers what Paul told the Corinthians and he understands it to be exactly for him: "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13). Every age has its own problems, every age its own burdens and complexities, and throughout man is fundamentally the same, able to know and rest in the truth or to rebel... "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

-- Charles Malik, former President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, in “Christ and Crisis,” 1962

#5945

CONFRONTING GOSSIP

Gossip's main purpose is to spread misery. It's certainly not to build people up or minister to them in the name of Jesus. A gossip's wake is littered by damaged families and broken relationships: "A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends" (Proverbs 16:28).

As Christians, we're called to put the brakes on the spread of gossip. And not only gossip about people we know, but also gossip about those we don't know. Like others, I've been guilty of spinning pretty little stories about certain political figures, even though I had no proof that what I was saying even resembled the truth. I foolishly thought that spreading gossip would make me more popular.

How about you? Are you modeling God's standard of truthfulness and honesty? Are you known as someone who confronts gossip? Or do you pass it on with a few added details of your own?

…As you move beyond gossiping about others, you'll find more time to show them the unconditional love of Jesus. And you might just make a few new friends in the process. 

-- Matt Donnelly, ChristianityToday.com

#5944

OVER THE WEIGHT LIMIT

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  (Matthew 6:34 NIV)

What we have here may be the most important ammunition of all – a systematic strategy to weed out your worry. Jesus is saying something quite interesting: you won’t sink under the burden of today’s crises, but tomorrow’s agenda puts you over the weight limit. Have you ever tried to carry too many bags of groceries at the same time? After cleaning the eggs from your driveway, you’ll know better – and next time you’ll make two trips instead of one. Jesus tells us to carry today’s bag today and make a fresh trip tomorrow.

Living in the present tense is an art. Do you know someone who’s “not all there,” for his or her eyes are focused on some invisible horizon? This person is preoccupied with absent problems. But have you ever known someone who lives completely in the present? Such people seem lively, full of energy and charisma, and getting their money’s worth out of every new thing that comes along, and you won’t catch them worrying. That’s how Jesus wants us to live -- a day at a time. There’s a reason God placed us within the moment, bracketed away from both the past and the future. They’re both off-limits to us, and we need to post No Trespassing signs. The past is closed for good, and the future is still under construction. But today has everything you need. Come here and make your home. 

-- David Jeremiah in “Keep the Faith: How to Stand Strong in a World Turned Upside Down”

#5943

EMBRACING HOPE IN THE MIDST OF TRAGEDY

I cannot imagine what it would be like to endure a tragedy without the hope that God offers.  Without Jesus Christ, there is no hope.  There is simply an eternal, black, cold and unrelenting void.  Just last week I came face to face with a man who didn't believe in anything.  What a miserable way to end life.

Of course, we Christians grieve when those we love are taken from us, but we do not grieve as those who have no hope.  We do not believe that people cease to exist when they die; the Bible tell us that we will again see all those loved ones who put their faith in Christ.  As Paul writes, "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who die, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.  We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have died in Him" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

Hope is available to us, even in the midst of tragedy.  And not only hope for eternal life, but hope of being reunited with those we love.  Hope is available now, even in tragedy, because God has promised to walk with us through any disaster that might over take us.

-- Luis Palau in “Where Is God When Bad Things Happen?”

#5942

EXPERIENCING GOD’S PEACE

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)

Imagine never worrying about anything! It seems like an impossibility; we all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school. But Paul’s advice is to turn our worries into prayers. Do you want to worry less? Then pray more! Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray. “If you do this,” Paul says, “you will experience God’s peace.”

God’s peace is different from the world’s peace (see John 14:27). True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control. Our citizenship in Christ’s kingdom is sure, our destiny is set, and we can have victory over sin. Let God’s peace guard your heart against worry. 

-- Adapted from the “Life Applications Bible Study Bible” New Living Translation

#5941

PEACE IN CHRIST

Jesus said to His disciples, “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.”  (John 16:33 NLT)

Saints are people who are faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ… A faithful Christian life exhibits ongoing and active faith.  Faith is tested by the tough stuff in life -- when the chips are down and the heat is turned up.  I read about an elderly woman, badly crippled by arthritis, who was asked. "Do you suffer much?"  She pointed to her hand and responded, "Yes, but there is no nail here.  He had the nails, I have the peace."  She then pointed to her head saying, "There are no thorns here.  He had the thorns, I have the peace."  Finally, she touched her side and declared, "There is no spear here.  He had the spear, I have the peace."  This faithful woman was a modern-day saint.  She understood the incredible gift of grace given to her by God, and she was filled with "God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand." (Philippians 4:7 NLT)

-- Lenya Heitzig and Penny Pierce Rose in “Pathway to God's Treasure: Ephesians” 

#5940

A WHOLE NEW STRUCTURE

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”  (2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB)

If our view of ourselves is anything less than being a word spoken forth by God, then our self image is a self-constructed façade -- a crust of self…

I have come to realize that the primary work of God's grace in our lives is to liberate us from this destructive bondage to the crust of self in order to shape us into wholeness.  God is seeking to create in us a whole new structure of habits, attitudes, and perceptions, of dynamics of personal and corporate relationships, of patterns of reaction and response to the world.

This new structure is one of increasing Christ-likeness.  God is seeking to break the crust. 

-- M. Robert Mulholland Jr. in “Shaped by the Word”

#5939

A FREE LUNCH?

Clichés are a problem. Take this one, for instance: "There is no such thing as a free lunch." This sentiment is heard frequently, particularly at election time when politicians promise the earth without elaborating the cost. But it is not true that nobody gets a free lunch. Clearly some fortunate people do. But it is also true that somebody somewhere picks up the tab. In the interest of accuracy, we should really say, "While some people get a free lunch, somebody has paid for it."…

"How does a person get right with God?" A commonly heard answer to this is, "By doing enough good to outweigh the bad he's done." Should we then respond, "But the Bible says, 'The free gift of God is eternal life'" (Romans 6:23), the answer will not infrequently be, "There's no such thing as a free lunch!" Many people unfortunately base their theology on this cliché.

…To us -- salvation is free. But is there such a thing as free salvation? Certainly, provided we understand that Someone has paid the price. Christ did that. "When He was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing" (Galatians 3:13). So we enjoy the benefits of salvation freely, by faith (3:14). Some people enjoy a free lunch because someone else paid. And heaven will be full of people who enjoy a free salvation because Jesus paid! And what a price.

-- Stuart Briscoe in “Daily Study Bible for Men” 

#5938

BEING GREAT AT THE GREAT COMMANDMENT – Part 2 of 2

Salvation is always granted on God's terms, and it reflects the nature of God Himself. The most identifiable characteristic of salvation is the quality of our love, first toward God and then toward His people. Without a love relationship on both levels, vertically and horizontally, we have not experienced God's salvation. If we get this basic truth wrong, we are in desperate trouble.

God's strategy to touch this world is vitally linked with these two basic relationships. When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, He said in Mark 12:29-31, “The most important one is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

-- Henry Blackaby and Melvin D. Blackaby in “Experiencing God Together: God's Plan to Touch Your World”  

#5937

BEING GREAT AT THE GREAT COMMANDMENT – Part 1 of 2

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31 NIV)

We’re not great at the Great Commandment.  In too many instances, we’re not even good at it.

That, I believe, is our primal problem.  That is the lost soul of Christianity.  If Jesus said that loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is the most important commandment, then doesn’t it logically follow that we ought to spend an inordinate amount of our time and energy trying to understand it and obey it?  We can’t afford to be merely good at the Great Commandment.  We’ve got to be great at the Great Commandment.

The quest for the lost soul of Christianity begins with rediscovering what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Jesus used those four kaleidoscopic words to describe four dimensions of love.  And there is certainly overlap among them.  It’s hard to know where loving God with your heart ends and loving God with your soul begins.  But one thing is sure: loving God in one way isn’t enough.  It’s not enough to love God with just your heart or soul or mind or strength.  We are called, even commanded, to love Him in all four ways.  Think of it as love to the fourth power.

-- Mark Batterson in “PRIMAL: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity” 

#5936