Tuesday, Jul 29, 2008

TWG - July 29, 2008

Download this episode (20 min)   
TWG - July 29, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Leviticus 13:1-28; Psalm 64; Acts 18

Today is July 29, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. T This is your invitation to take one step forward every day in your relationship with Christ. We invite you to do something unbelievably radical. We invite you to deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Jesus

Another day off is past. Yesterday Susan and I spent most of the day moving our 10X14 shed. It was in the middle of our back yard, and we wanted it at the far end. I got fence posts for rollers and put down 2X4s to roll it on. It took us a while. We had to get blocks out from under and remove anchors. But… now it is next to the fence! Yahoo! Later in the day I worked out with Kyle & Marcia. We walked for 40 minutes. And then I went to watch a church softball massacre er game I mean. Don’t know what the score was, but we lost. I put a picture of Chris & Christiana & Greg at our Discovery Class BBQ on the Blog at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com. Check it out.

This week’s theme verse is Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

What causes Christians to miss church? Why would the writer of Hebrews have to tell them to get back in there? I thought Christians and Church went together like peanut butter and chocolate? #1 Back then one reason could have been fear of persecution. If they went to church, they were marked! We American Christians don’t have much fear of that yet. But there may have been other reasons. #2 Lack of interest. Some people don’t see their need for church. “I can worship God in nature better than I can in church! When I look at the trees, mountains and rivers, I feel closer to God than I ever have in church.” Since when has a tree ever taught your children scriptural values? Or when was the last time you discipled or encouraged a river? Is nature God’s plan for evangelizing the world? No matter how nice, you won’t find God’s church in nature. But let’s try some other substitutions for church. “I feel closer to God when I’m on drugs!” You’ve got to be kidding! No! I am not! I’ve honestly, actually heard someone say this to me! And their lips were moving! My brain could not believe what my ears were hearing! Nature? Drugs? Why not prostitution or paint ball? Hey! If you are just looking for your “happy place” why not just have a lobotomy and get it over with! Then you can be happy forever! If you check your brains out at the door, you most certainly won’t need church. It doesn’t matter what the excuse, the church IS the body of Christ, and you can get it nowhere else but the church. #3 Another reason for neglect: Dissatisfaction with the preacher or the people or the programs. The church I go to isn’t perfect. But abandoning it won’t help. Why not be part of the solution? Why not restore relationships with the people there and jump in with both feet to make it work as it should! #4 One last reason: Doubts about the necessity of it. “Who needs it? Where does it say in the Bible that going to church makes me a Christian?” It doesn’t. But it does say that “Christ loves the church.” If you love Christ, you will love what he loves. And we know that if you love something you want to spend as much time as possible there. There are over 100 mentions of the word “church” in the New Testament. The book of Acts which is our History has twenty. Here are a few salient verses: “The Lord ADDED to the church daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47. “The number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:2 “Then the churches… were multiplied.” Acts 9:31 In fact if you take the church out of the book of Acts you get nothing! No New Testament! No Apostle Paul! No Christianity! Christianity and the church are virtually synonymous. Try this: remove the church from the New Testament and see how much you have left? You might have a verse or two… like these, “Judas went out and hanged himself!” “Go thou and do likewise!” “And whatever you do, do it quickly!”

Dear Jesus, you are the Lord of the Church. I am part of the Body. I wish to be the kind of member of your church that you want me to be. I want to avoid excuses and begin to make an impact in my world and in my community. I want to see people changed for the glory of God!

Above all things put on love And let the peace of God rule in your hearts and be thankful.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:07 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

<< Home