Lynn started the blog today but got busy at work and asked me to take her spot.
In today's scripture we learn about Paul's view on ministry and how he personally ministered to the early christians at Thessalia. He uses four metaphors to speak about his ministry. First with stewardship, being entrusted by God with the gospel. Second like the gentle sacrificial care of a mother. Third as a father figure teaching via both word and action. Finally he talks about the boldness of a herald. Stott explains that these actions can only occur through truth and love as a result of the Holy Spirit and we have people in our lives who perform these actions every day. Today I wanted everybody to remember the staff at EKPC who have been sent to us as our shepards, who sacrifice to guide us and teach us the gospel.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Metaphors of Ministry
From these...we learn two major responsibilities of those who are called to pastoral ministry... responsibility to the word of God... responsibility to the people of God."
"... the two chief marks of pastoral leaders should be truth and love in combination. how is this possible? Only by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, for he is the Spirit of truth, and the first of the Spirit of friut is love.
Although Stott focuses on pastoral care in examining the characteristics of authentic ministry, I there is something to be learned as sheeps who benefit from our shepherds who are in pastoral ministry. Stott describes the four characteristics:"The faithfulness of a steward, the gentleness of a mother, the encouragement of a father, and the boldness of a herald." He then narrows in on " the two chief marks of pastoral leaders...truth and love in combination." More importantly, Stott shares how the responsibilities in ministry can be carried out- "the indwelling of the Holy Spirit". Just as our pastors are, everyone who is a Christian are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And we have been taught that faith comes by hearing the Word
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Placarding Christ Crucified
When Paul preached the cross, he was met with persecution.
In 2008, the cross is popular in the worst kind of way. It hangs on rear view mirrors of cars, worn on t-shirts and tattooed on body parts. The meaning is lost and people are hostile to hearing the truth about it.
“Placarding Christ Crucified.”
How do we do that in this day and age? Practically speaking what does it look like for us to take Christ crucified into our work places and classrooms?
When you choose daily to be faithful, to live out the truth of what God has accomplished on the cross through His Son… I think you become a kind of a placard for Christ.
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14
In 2008, the cross is popular in the worst kind of way. It hangs on rear view mirrors of cars, worn on t-shirts and tattooed on body parts. The meaning is lost and people are hostile to hearing the truth about it.
“Placarding Christ Crucified.”
How do we do that in this day and age? Practically speaking what does it look like for us to take Christ crucified into our work places and classrooms?
When you choose daily to be faithful, to live out the truth of what God has accomplished on the cross through His Son… I think you become a kind of a placard for Christ.
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14
Monday, June 9, 2008
Authentic Freedom
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm... and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Gal 5:1)
Two things jump out from this verse. First, this verse is teaching us that Christ has set us free. But what kind of freedom is Paul talking about? In Gal 5:13 Paul says, "But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature." So clearly freedom is opposite to sinning. We are not set free so that we can sin all we please. Rather, I believe true freedom is the ability to do what we were created originally to do, which is to love and obey God. As Christians we now have that power through our new nature and by the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The second thing this verse is teaching us is that we must not believe in the lie of sin's slavery. When Paul says "and do not let yourself be burdened by a yoke of slavery", he's basically saying that we must not believe the lie that we are not free. Sometimes the influence of sin is so great, the temptation so irresistible that we feel imprisoned in our sins. But if we are truly Christian, this verse is basically telling us "don't let yourself be fooled into believing the lie"; Christ has set us free!
All true believer have been set free from the bondage of sin and therefore has the power to live a life pleasing to God. It's just that we are so use to the old way of indulging in sin that we find it so hard at times to break out of the old way and to believe that we've been set free from the power of sin. But we have been set free and Paul is telling us to stop believing in that lie that we are in bondage to sin.
So let us not make any more excuses. Next time we're tempted, let us remind ourselves that Christ through his death has broken the power of sin and given us the Holy Spirit to resist and overcome all temptations. Let us cry out to Christ in our moments of temptation!
Posted by Pastor James
Two things jump out from this verse. First, this verse is teaching us that Christ has set us free. But what kind of freedom is Paul talking about? In Gal 5:13 Paul says, "But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature." So clearly freedom is opposite to sinning. We are not set free so that we can sin all we please. Rather, I believe true freedom is the ability to do what we were created originally to do, which is to love and obey God. As Christians we now have that power through our new nature and by the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The second thing this verse is teaching us is that we must not believe in the lie of sin's slavery. When Paul says "and do not let yourself be burdened by a yoke of slavery", he's basically saying that we must not believe the lie that we are not free. Sometimes the influence of sin is so great, the temptation so irresistible that we feel imprisoned in our sins. But if we are truly Christian, this verse is basically telling us "don't let yourself be fooled into believing the lie"; Christ has set us free!
All true believer have been set free from the bondage of sin and therefore has the power to live a life pleasing to God. It's just that we are so use to the old way of indulging in sin that we find it so hard at times to break out of the old way and to believe that we've been set free from the power of sin. But we have been set free and Paul is telling us to stop believing in that lie that we are in bondage to sin.
So let us not make any more excuses. Next time we're tempted, let us remind ourselves that Christ through his death has broken the power of sin and given us the Holy Spirit to resist and overcome all temptations. Let us cry out to Christ in our moments of temptation!
Posted by Pastor James