Thursday, August 29, 2013

Inertia

Inertia. This is Newton's first law of motion. It can be summarized like this: "An object at rest tends to stay at rest unless acted upon by an external force OR an object in motion tends to stay in motion in the same direction and at the same speed unless acted upon by an external force." The external force that acts on that object has to be greater than or applied for a period of time long enough to overcome the current force acting on the object and the momentum of that object.

Do churches have inertia? Certainly not physical inertia, but maybe spiritual inertia? Churches moving in a particular direction will continue in that particular direction. Is your church "at rest"---plateaued or declining? Is your church "in motion"--moving forward for the Great Commission? Your church will continue in that direction unless acted upon by an "external force".

Except...the church is not an object. The church is people. She is the people of God indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God brought together and commissioned for the purposes of God in the redemptive plan of God for the whole world. The "external force" (I know the Holy Spirit is not a force; just go with the analogy please) has already acted upon us when He gave us spiritual life. We need Him to act on us again; to wake us up from our spiritual slumber, to break us out of our "at rest" position, to change our direction with such a magnitude that we are "swept up in the flow" of the river of God's grace and power!

Many churches and Christians are "at rest". You are comfortable, you are satisfied with the status quo, you are content to watch everyone else do the work or you complain about the ones who are doing the work because they didn't ask you about it.

Ephesians 5:14 says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

Friday, August 23, 2013

Articles for Edification on August 23, 2013

The Holy Spirit - excellent description of the ministry of the Holy Spirit

Discernment - this is essential for all Christians to cultivate in his or her life

Structured for Mission - this is a very good article about how the structure of the church must help the mission, not hinder the mission nor become the mission of the church

Not Many Were Wise

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Separated Unto God

Read this today from FB Meyer:

"In every great religious movement there always have been and always will be a number of individuals who cast in their lot with it, without knowing the power which inspires it. Beware of them! They cannot stand the stress of the life of separation to God. The mere excitement will soon die away from them; and, having no principle to take its place, they will become hindrances and disturbers of the peace. As certainly as they are harboured in the camp, or their principles are allowed within the heart, they will lower the spiritual tone; allure to worldly policy; suggest methods which would not otherwise occur to us; and draw us toward the Egypt-world.

Nothing but supreme principle can carry any one through the real, separated, and surrendered life of the child of God. If you are prompted by anything less, such as excitement, enthusiasm, fashion, contagious example--you will first be a hindrance, and end by being a failure. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith. Prove your own selves. And, if you are consciously acting from a low and selfish motive, ask God to breathe into you his own pure love."

Articles for Edification on August 22, 2013

What does it mean to fear God?

Child Brides

Preaching in the Valley (good article) - oh, and by the way, dads, you need to go with your son(s) to see "Man of Steel"

The Universe (cool video)


Wednesday, August 7, 2013