In our gathering this week we looked at Joshua 4 and standing stones.
The Visit of the Magi: Matthew 2:1-12
This past Sunday we looked at the coming of the Magi to worship the newborn King.
Why are You Crying? John 20:11-18
This past Sunday we looked at Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb.
It is Finished: Or is It? John 19:31-42
Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak in our gathering.
Do As I Have Done to You
This past Sunday, I had the privilege of teaching from John 13: 1-20.
John 3:1-21
In our Sunday gatherings we have been looking at the Gospel of John. One Sunday a couple of months ago, I had the opportunity to teach on John’s account of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus.
Acts 14
Acts 11
The last few months, I’ve had the privilege of speaking in some of our Sunday gatherings. I thought I’d post the recordings here. So, if you feel so inclined, take a listen.
Church Signs: “The Bible is Chock Full of…
…New Year’s Resolutions. “
I’m not against making resolutions at the beginning of a new year (although I don’t make them), and I’m definitely not against the Bible. I do have a problem with trying to mix the two. It is true that there are commands in the Bible and we are told that there are certain things that characterize followers of Jesus.
Trying to improve in certain areas of our lives is a good thing. As an athlete, I was always trying to improve my skills. As a coach, I never let my players rest on past accomplishments. In many careers, if you’re not improving, you’re going backwards. It’s good to try to be a better husband, father, etc. There is nothing wrong with trying to be a better human being.
Where I differ from what seems like most of American Christianity, is seeing the story of the Bible as a story, not of what we can or need to do, but of what God has done. A great deal of evangelical preaching is on how to be a better (fill in the blank). Fundamentalist preaching is about what we need to do to stay “right with God.” I beg to differ with both.
That kind of preaching can be inspirational, but it is not the gospel. The gospel is not about what we can do. It is about what Christ has done. Ultimately, there is nothing we can do to improve our standing with God, nothing we can do to make him love us. All we can do is put our total trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross. There is no amount of resolutions that can ultimately make us what we already are in Christ.
Again, let me emphasize that I am not against making resolutions, having goals, or trying to improve in areas of our lives. I can think of more than a few areas where I can use some improvement. I just don’t see the “gospel” of self improvement in Scripture. Your mileage may differ. Feel free to disagree.
My Prayer
Abba Father, let your name be glorified in us, in our work and play, in what we say and do, in our relationships with our brothers and sisters.
Your kingdom is a kingdom of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation, a kingdom of healing and wholeness. Let that kingdom come to our relationships as it is in heaven. Your will is that your children be one. Let that will be done in us as in heaven.
Give us each day what we need. Give us sustenance, grace, and faith.
Forgive us our sins, against you and against others. Help us to forgive those who sin against us, as many times as is necessary.
Don’t let us give in to the temptation to build ourselves up at the expense of others, to prove that we are right and others are wrong, to hold grudges. Deliver us from evil.
Help us to remember that it is your kingdom, your power, and your glory forever and ever.
Amen.