Church: Part 1

How is being a member of a church like being a family member? Wow, if you are like me at all, you would have a lot to say about family and church. I think that there some similarities between the two. Key word here is “expectations”. We all have them, and when the church or the family, doesn’t meet our expectations, we are pretty quick to defend why our expectations are what they are, and even try to make them sound biblical. Sometimes we place expectations on people without ever verbalizing it to them. Example, most people believe that the church exists “to meet their needs”, when in fact the church does meet needs, but it is the result or the by-product of being a group of people who desperately want to see the lost to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The soul purpose of the church is not to meet needs, but to meet souls.

So in reality there are 2 types of misplaced expectations:
1. The unspoken expectation:
“Well, he is a Pastor, he should come and knock on my door.”

2. The unrealistic expectation:
“Why isn’t the church doing more for the marching band fund raiser?”

Using an analogy that a good friend shared with me, kind of sums it up concerning expectations, “at a football game, you have 10,000 people (in need of exercise) not in the game, but complaining what the 11 on the field, (that needs rest), should be doing in order for us to win”

Remember this, you can’t place an expectation on a family member that only the church can fill, because as a Christ follower you were created to have Christ community, and you can’t place an expectation on the church that only God can fill, because without a growing relationship with Him you will forever be dissatisfied, regardless what a family member or a church does or doesn’t do.

Paul said in Ephesians 4:1-2
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Side Note:
As a family member the expectation is to Love and be Loved. That does not exclude you from washing the dishes.

As a Church member our focus is Him and not us, and we don’t earn the right not to serve.

Gather, Grow, & Go

Tim

I am Protected and I do Fall

The past 4 years I have enjoyed mountain biking. There is a sense of freedom and accomplishment that comes from a fast ride though the woods with creeks and wildlife. Riding fast does create a problem. Very hard falls are a reality. I have a scar or two that proves it. The one single thing that has protected me has been my helmet. I never think about my helmet while I’m riding. But after getting my bell rung from a hard fall, (while trying to be superman) I always take a moment and look at my helmet, and think, “Wow, this helmet was expensive, but it just saved my life or kept me from a serious injury.

Ephesians 6:17-18 says:
17. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

The Spiritual helmet that we wear was expensive. As a Christ follower, I have found my self getting up from a fall. And just like biking, the fall always came when I least expected it. I was not alert. And just like biking, I don’t think about my spiritual helmet until I fall.

Helmets are expensive but worth it. Riding a bike or as a Christ follower choosing not to wear it, is ill advised. Not only did my bike helmet protect my skull from being cracked, but kept objects (stuff) from entering my head.

LifeSong Discovery
This is our New Members class, and our next one is this Sunday after worship. The following is just a few “Tim” thoughts about church membership:

1. Belonging to a church can help develop Spiritual Strength, and not belonging to a church is an unnatural state for a Christian.
Eph 2:19
19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,

2. A church family helps you develop Spiritual Muscle.
2 Cor. 4:15
5All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

3. You will share in Christ’s mission in the world.
Eph. 2:10
10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

4. Church is a place for Encouragement
Heb. 3:13
13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Gather, Grow, & Go
Tim

Warfare

When someone says "Spiritual Warfare", what immediately comes to mind?

Have you ever sensed that you were in a Spiritual Battle?

There are 5 basic truths concerning Spiritual Warfare:

There is an invisible world
2 Kings 6:15-18
Ephesians 6:12

We are involved in an invisible world
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
2 Corinthians 4:4

Our foe is formidable
1 Peter 5:8

We must respect our foe but not fear him
2 Corinthians 2:10-11

We do not fight for victory, we fight because we have victory
1 John 4:4
1 John 5:4-5
James 4:7

When conflict erupts in your life, what is your response?

Why do we struggle? We struggle because we forget that a battle is going on.
The battle is raging in our homes, our church, and our community, and we have forgotten,

Ephesians 6:10-18 (The Message)
10-12And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
13-18Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

If you are like me, I seem to find myself in "battle" most weeks. My prayer for you this week is that you will embrace God's word for us and be reminded that we fight because we have victory already.

Gather, Grow, & Go
Tim