When Jesus came to earth to reveal the Kingdom of God, he turned the world upside down. The meek shall inherit the earth. The first shall be last and the last shall be first. Blessed are those who mourn. Love your enemies. Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.
You get the idea.
But here is the amazing thing. When Jesus left the earth, he left it up to you and me to continue his work. He even said in John 14:12, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”
We are called to be Christ’s ambassadors to the world. That’s the plan. There isn’t another plan. If the Kingdom of God is going to spread, it’s up to you and me.
That doesn’t mean that God will not help us. We have the Holy Spirit to lead us, teach us, and guide us. But we are necessary partners with God for his work in the world. Paul says it this way…
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:13-15)
We are the feet that bring the good news. We are the ones who others will hear. Sometimes words. Often with our lives. We are called to live lives that preach a sermon on the good news. We must join God in his work in the world.
Are you teaching others about Jesus and the Kingdom? This doesn’t mean you shove Jesus down their throat. It isn’t about guilting people. It’s about living your life in such as way that you, in the words of Jesus, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
shine!
Jason
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Scripture and wealth
We live in an affluent society. Even many of us who think we live modestly live pretty well compared to the rest of the world. Our society and economic prosperity can often lessen our sensitivity to the words of Scripture as they speak of wealth. The apostle Paul wrote the following…
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)
Notice that Paul does not say that money is evil. The Bible does not teach that money and possessions are inherently bad. However, that does not mean that our material possessions are disconnected from our faith.
How we handle our finances says a lot about our faith. How we spend our money is a reflection of what we think is important. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
Jesus is not saying that we cannot have possessions. Rather, he is saying that our possessions cannot have us. There is nothing wrong with having money and possessions as long as they don’t come before God and His Kingdom. Placed in the proper perspective, wealth can actually be something that helps us reveal the Kingdom of God.
If we use what we have to bless others, God can work in amazing ways. James wrote, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)
How does the way you look at your money and possessions reflect your faith? This can be a difficult question to ask. To be honest, it’s a difficult question for me to type. I know that my life and how I look at what I have often reveals my selfishness. I often want to hold on to what I have for my own benefit or security.
I press on knowing that God is a God of grace and mercy where I fall short, but that God is also a God of judgment and holiness that calls me to strive for a way of life that fully reflects His Kingdom. As we consider what we have, let us all find comfort from God’s grace while experiencing conviction from God’s holiness. When we open ourselves to both, we will be challenged to examine our wealth and how we can use it to expand the Kingdom.
shine!
Jason
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)
Notice that Paul does not say that money is evil. The Bible does not teach that money and possessions are inherently bad. However, that does not mean that our material possessions are disconnected from our faith.
How we handle our finances says a lot about our faith. How we spend our money is a reflection of what we think is important. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
Jesus is not saying that we cannot have possessions. Rather, he is saying that our possessions cannot have us. There is nothing wrong with having money and possessions as long as they don’t come before God and His Kingdom. Placed in the proper perspective, wealth can actually be something that helps us reveal the Kingdom of God.
If we use what we have to bless others, God can work in amazing ways. James wrote, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)
How does the way you look at your money and possessions reflect your faith? This can be a difficult question to ask. To be honest, it’s a difficult question for me to type. I know that my life and how I look at what I have often reveals my selfishness. I often want to hold on to what I have for my own benefit or security.
I press on knowing that God is a God of grace and mercy where I fall short, but that God is also a God of judgment and holiness that calls me to strive for a way of life that fully reflects His Kingdom. As we consider what we have, let us all find comfort from God’s grace while experiencing conviction from God’s holiness. When we open ourselves to both, we will be challenged to examine our wealth and how we can use it to expand the Kingdom.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, October 07, 2012
A sent community
When Jesus left to establish his Kingdom in this world, his work was not complete when he left. While he had finished what he intended to do, there was still much work to be done. So, as he prepared to return to the Father, Jesus spoke these words to his disciples…
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 28:18-20)
There are three things that Jesus asks us to do as we continue to spread the Kingdom of God: go, baptize, and teach.
Go. We are called to go out and spread the news of the Kingdom. Once we become Christians, Jesus does not call us to sit in our pews and wait for people to show up at our church buildings. Rather, we must go into the world proclaiming in the Kingdom.
This isn’t just something we do with words. The apostle Paul says it this way: “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17) When we go to share the good news, we live the good news. We go out into the world and proclaim the Kingdom with our lives.
We are also called to invite people into the family of God. As we baptize those who are drawn to the Kingdom of God, we welcome them into a family - a family where love, grace, and mercy reign. We welcome them into a family where we encourage and challenge one another. Baptism is not simply something that guarantees us a future; it also offers us something now. It is the promise of eternity with God’s people that begins today.
As people who go and baptize, we must also teach. The Kingdom of God must be shared and modeled to others. As new people enter the family, we have the responsibility of helping them learn what it means to be disciples of Christ. We are teachers for the Great Teacher. God has given us the responsibility to transmit the Kingdom of God.
God is partnering with us in his grand work for all creation. The church is a community that is called to multiply. We must go into the world. We must baptize those who believe. We must teach them what has been taught to us. This is what it means to be the church, the living and active body of Christ.
shine!
Jason
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 28:18-20)
There are three things that Jesus asks us to do as we continue to spread the Kingdom of God: go, baptize, and teach.
Go. We are called to go out and spread the news of the Kingdom. Once we become Christians, Jesus does not call us to sit in our pews and wait for people to show up at our church buildings. Rather, we must go into the world proclaiming in the Kingdom.
This isn’t just something we do with words. The apostle Paul says it this way: “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17) When we go to share the good news, we live the good news. We go out into the world and proclaim the Kingdom with our lives.
We are also called to invite people into the family of God. As we baptize those who are drawn to the Kingdom of God, we welcome them into a family - a family where love, grace, and mercy reign. We welcome them into a family where we encourage and challenge one another. Baptism is not simply something that guarantees us a future; it also offers us something now. It is the promise of eternity with God’s people that begins today.
As people who go and baptize, we must also teach. The Kingdom of God must be shared and modeled to others. As new people enter the family, we have the responsibility of helping them learn what it means to be disciples of Christ. We are teachers for the Great Teacher. God has given us the responsibility to transmit the Kingdom of God.
God is partnering with us in his grand work for all creation. The church is a community that is called to multiply. We must go into the world. We must baptize those who believe. We must teach them what has been taught to us. This is what it means to be the church, the living and active body of Christ.
shine!
Jason
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