by Tim | Mar 15, 2010 | God, Hell, My World, Our Culture, The Church World, The Gospel |
In a recent post, I already touched on hell, but focused mostly on those around the world who have never heard the Gospel–is it fair they go to hell? If you are interested in that topic, I suggest you read that post. In today’s post, I want to focus on my next-door neighbor or the people in our own communities. Most of them have already heard the Gospel at one point in their life. They can’t claim ignorance. Yet they have refused to give their lives over to Christ. Why as churches are we not motivated to reach out to the large number of people who refuse to trust Christ with their lives? Why are we not passionate to reach them? I only see this passion when it comes to growing our churches. I believe there’s a difference between really trying to reach people for Christ and trying to grow our church. Why are there so many “church growth” mega-conferences, best-selling books, models out there, but very little when it comes to investing in people who don’t know Christ? It is a shame that so many of us church leaders think these are one-in-the-same, but that is another topic altogether. I think too many Christians (especially in the South) want to assume that these people in our communities are generally “good folks,” and we have bought into the lie that people around us don’t need to believe in Christ–in the end, they won’t really go to hell, will they? We just think it would be a good idea for them to start coming to church. It would “help them...
by Tim | Feb 17, 2010 | God, My World, Worship |
I had a conversation with a friend this week about being expressive in worship. Like me, he has a problem with people who are expressive when worshiping, but throughout the week, they don’t live for Christ like they present themselves during worship on Sunday mornings. I struggle with this myself. I don’t want to be expressive on Sunday mornings, but then when I’m at my job Monday – Friday, or at the grocery store for that matter, I live as if I’m embarrassed to mention Jesus to co-workers, clients, or the checkout lady. How can I praise God so expressively at church, but refuse to share Christ with my next-door neighbor? How fake is that?! I’ve always felt like we can be so fake at church–we express ourselves one way there, while the rest of the week when we’re “real,” we’re too shy to proclaim Christ. But today it hit me–I’m not being fake at church. That’s really how I feel–that’s really who I am on the inside. I do want to proclaim how awesome Jesus is. It’s the rest of the week where I’m being fake. I’m hiding the real me from non-believers. How I desire to be real with everyone about how much Jesus means to me! I’m real at church–God, help me to be real at home, at work, and at...
by Tim | Feb 8, 2010 | God, My World |
I commented to a friend a few days ago that I wondered what would have happened if the Israelites hadn’t complained about no water to Moses (that’s when God told Moses to strike the rock so water would miraculously flow out for them). Would God still have provided water for them? Or would they have had to suffer w/out water for a lot longer? I’ve also thought about the disciples in the boat w/the wind and waves while Jesus was sound asleep. What would have happened if they didn’t freak out and wake up Jesus? Would God have calmed the winds and waves still? Or might the situation have turned out worse before it got any better? Is it possible one of the disciples may have lost their lives? I guess I’m wondering if it’s sometimes better to doubt God is paying attention and cry out to him in panic, rather than trying to drum up more faith and trying to continue to endure the situation. I think I’d be willing to hear a rebuke from Jesus about my lack of faith, if the waves and wind would die...
by Tim | Feb 2, 2010 | God, My World |
After hearing the story of how David cut off a piece of Saul’s clothes in the cave, instead of hurting or killing him when Saul was chasing David to try and hurt and kill him. I told Naomi that David was nice to Saul even when Saul wasn’t nice to him, and that’s what God wants us to do when people aren’t nice to us. Naomi: Why does God want us to be nice to people who aren’t nice to us? Daddy: Because God is nice to people who aren’t nice to Him, and He wants us to be like Him. Naomi: David wouldn’t know that if God wasn’t born yet. Daddy: Well, God was never born. He’s the only one who was never born. Naomi: He wasn’t? Daddy: No, He’s always been here. (Naomi is confused.) Isn’t that good? We wouldn’t want to be here if God wasn’t here yet. Naomi: But I thought Jesus was born? Daddy: Well, you’re right about that. Jesus is God’s Son, just like you’re my child. And He was born. But God the Father has always lived in heaven. Jesus is God the Son. Naomi: They’re both God?? Daddy: (oh, dear…how to explain this) Yes. God the Father and God the Son. Naomi: How can they both be God? Daddy: It like you’re a person and I’m a person. Both of us are. I’m your daddy and you’re my child. Both of us are persons. Jesus and God the Father are both God. Naomi: (pause) Why is he called “God the Father”? Daddy: Because He’s our Father or Daddy in heaven–just like...
by Tim | Jan 23, 2010 | God, My World, The Church World, The Gospel |
This is my thoughts from bullet #1 of my previous blog post. I am a Christian. I’ve heard the gospel plenty of times before. I’ve believed in Jesus as a result. But I still need to hear the Gospel. I need it repeated to me over and over, because part of me wants to find salvation in my good works or my spiritual insights or my passion for God or my whatever. I want to think that as long as I try to love God and everyone else, I’m cool. I don’t want to think of myself as a damned, wretched sinner who desperately needs God’s grace. I believe we all need to hear it. We all need to bow our knees before our Savior and humbly worship him. When we get a hold of the Gospel and, more importantly, it gets a hold of us…all of a sudden the style of worship at church or the conveniences of this life are so insignificant. Instead, we fix our eyes on Jesus, and our life is now his to do as He pleases. We stop living for this life, and instead start living for eternity. When this happens, our Gospel message will be more readily received by those we preach it to, because we are actually living it out. Yes, I think it’s just as, or even more, important for Christians like me to hear the Gospel over and over...
by Tim | Sep 12, 2009 | God, My World |
Jesus’ voice is quiet, but persistent. What are the screaming voices in my life? My TV. My sinful nature. Other Christians. My supposed busyness. These loud voices are tempting me to live a life other than what Jesus calls me to. He is quiet, but he is persistent. When I make the effort to remove myself those other loud voices, I still hear him. I made the effort tonight, and he’s still there. How about you? Willing to try it,...
