Thou Shalt Not Kill Brothers and Sisters

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her class of five and six-year-olds. After explaining the commandment to honor thy father and thy mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"

Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, "Thou shall not kill."

The Discipline of Worship

The Discipline of Worship

1) What thoughts or feelings does the word “worship” bring to your mind and why?

2) How do you define worship?

A) “The word worship comes from the Saxon word weorthscype, which later became worthship. To worship God is to ascribe the proper worth to God, to magnify His worthiness of praise, or better to approach and address God as He is worthy”

B) Biblical images of worship

1. Thomas with resurrected Christ
John 20:28

2. Four creatures in Heaven
Revelation 4:8

3. Twenty-four elders in Heaven
Revelation 4:11

4. The throng of Heaven
Revelation 5:12-13

3) Worship is…

A) Worship is focusing on and responding to God
1. God is the one true object of our worship and no one or nothing else should be
B) Worship is done in Spirit and Truth (Jn 4:23-24)

1. Without the inward filling of the Holy Spirit true worship is not possible

2. We must worship God as He is truly revealed in Scripture. He is a God of mercy and justice, love and wrath, forgiver and judge

3) What is the difference between worshiping God as He is revealed in the Bible and worshiping Him as you might want Him to be?

4. Worship in Spirit and truth is never a duty but always a joy of life

C) Worship is expected both publicly and privately

1. Publicly—Hb. 10:25—metaphors of the church as body, building, household. Worship is a corporate experience

2. Privately—Jesus is our model as He drew apart for private times or worship and prayer (Lk. 5:16). God is always available for private times of worship for as long as you want to worship Him

D) Worship is a discipline to be cultivated

1. Without discipline of worship. Worship will be shallow and inconsistent

2. Worship is an important part of our relationship with God. As with any relationship, times or worship require us to spend consistent time with God

4) Christ is the one true leader of our worship

A) Christ is alive and present as Savior and Redeemer, Prophet and King

B) Christ is present in His power to save us from sin

C) Christ directs the human means of worship (e.g. preaching, singing, praying)

5) Steps into Worship

A) Practice the presence of God daily

B) Have many different experience of worship (e.g. alone, corporate)

C) Prepare by rest, expectancy, confession, preparation and prayer for worship

D) Let go of any agenda in worship and let the power of God flow and speak

E) Cultivate a holy dependence on God for anything significant to happen

F) Absorb distractions (e.g. crying baby) with gratitude and conquer it

G) Offer a sacrifice of worship—Worship even when you don’t feel like it

6) The fruit of real worship is holy obedience. It causes us to change as we hear God’s call to serve and respond

From Gary Chapman's A Marriage Vine

Today's Focus: Marriage After the Children Arrive

How is it that some couples have four children and are able to maintain a growing marriage; while others have one child and don't have time for each other? Often the difference is in how we manage our lives. Would you like to take a walk with your spouse after dinner? Then make it happen. Discuss it with each other and come up with a plan.

What else would you like to do to keep your marriage alive? Make a list and one by one make time, money, and energy to make the dream a reality. The process itself is exciting. The two of you are a team and working together you can have a growing marriage and be good parents. Your children deserve both. And that is also God’s design for the two of you.

From Gary Chapman's A Marriage Vine

Today's Focus: Marriage After the Children Arrive

If God ordained marriage and if God ordained parenting, do you think we have time to do both? The obvious answer is "yes." Then why do couples complain, "Since the children came we don't have time for sex. We had to stop our 'date nights.' We're too tired to watch a movie. It seems we just don't have time to do anything together." The problem is not time, but how we schedule our time. Some couples schedule time to enhance their marriage; while others focus on meeting the needs of the children, and hope that someday they will find time for each other. Unfortunately for some, that time never comes. What could you do this week to enrich your marriage? Then, why not put it on your schedule?

From Gary Chapman's A Marriage Vine

Today's Focus: Marriage After the Children Arrive

Which is the greater priority: marriage or parenting? That's like asking whether water or food should be the priority for the human body. The truth is, they are both priorities. Parents who do not seek to be good parents are delinquent in their responsibilities. On the other hand, couples who do not give priority to their marriage are also delinquent.

A couple who neglects their children in pursuit of their own happiness will live to regret their decision. And, a couple who neglects their marriage while focusing all their energy on their children will also live to regret their choice. Your children desperately need a model of what a healthy marriage looks like. If your children do not learn relational skills they will enter marriage with a huge handicap.

The Discipline Of Submission

1) Abuses of the discipline of submission:

A) The Doormat—allows others to misuse and abuse you to the point where you are treated as a thing rather than a person

B) The Pleaser—wants more than anything else to avoid conflict

C) The Dependent—fears making decisions and allows others to make all their decisions for them

D) The Manipulator—follows all the outward rules of submission, but employs every subtle trick of the trade to get his own way. He tries to indebt others to him or win them over to his side

2) There is freedom in submission:
A) We lay down the burden of needing to get our way

B) We are free from the pressure to compete for position, authority, and recognition

C) We can drop a matter of discontent and forget it

D) We are free to give up our rights for the good of others

3) What images come to mind when you think of self-denial?

A) “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mark 8:34)

B) Self-denial is not the same thing as self- contempt. Self-contempt claims we have no worth; it denies the goodness of the creation; Self- contempt denies we can love ourselves and others at the same time

C) Self-denial means the freedom to five way to others; to hold others’ interests about our interests; (it) is the foundation for submission and saves us from self-indulgence

4) There are important limits t submission:
A) The limit of submission is at the point at which it becomes destructive

B) Sometimes that limit is easy to determine (e.g., participate in a criminal act) and sometimes hard (e.g., a student who is graded unfairly)

C) In determining the limits of submission we must depend on discernment and direction from the Holy Spirit

5) Seven acts of submission

A) Submission to the Triune God

B) Submission to hear, receive and obey the Word of God

C) Submission to our family

D) Submission to our neighbors and those we meet each day in life

E) Submission to the body of Christ, the believing community

F) Submission to the broken, despised, helpless, and undefended of the world

G) Submission to the world—to live responsibly in an increasingly irresponsible world

Mom's Impressive Job Discription

Author and preacher Tony Campolo said that when his wife, Peggy, was at home full time with their children and someone would ask, "And what is it that you do, my dear?" she would respond, "I am socializing two Homo sapiens into the dominant values of the Judeo-Christian tradition in order that they might be instruments for the transformation of the social order into the kind of eschatological utopia that God willed from the beginning of creation."

Then Peggy would ask the other person, "And what do you do?"

Idiot Sighting

IDIOT SIGHTING:

We had to have the garage door repaired. The Sears repairman told us that one of our problems was that we did not have a 'large' enough motor on the opener. I thought for a minute , and said that we had the largest one Sears made at that time , a 1/2 horsepower. He shook his head and said , 'Lady , you need a 1/4 horsepower.' I responded that 1/2 was larger than 1/4. He said , 'NO , it's not.' Four is larger than two.'

We haven't used Sears repair since.

IDIOT SIGHTING:

My daughter and I went through the McDonald's take-out window and I gave the clerk a $5 bill. Our total was $4.25 , so I also handed her a quarter. She said , 'you gave me too much money!'.

I said , 'Yes I know , but this way you can just give me a dollar bill back.' She sighed and went to get the manager who asked me to repeat my request. I did so , and he handed me back the quarter , and said “We’re sorry but they could not do that kind of thing.' The clerk then proceeded to give me back $1 and 75 cents in change.

Do not confuse the clerks at McD's

IDIOT SIGHTING:

I live in a semi rural area. We recently had a new neighbor call the local township administrative office to request the removal of the DEER CROSSING sign on our road. The reason: 'Too many deer are being hit by cars out here! I don't think this is a good place for them to be crossing anymore.'

From Kingman , KS .

IDIOT SIGHTING IN FOOD SERVICE:

My daughter went to a local Taco Bell and ordered a taco. She asked the person behind the counter for 'minimal lettuce.' He said he was sorry , but they only had iceberg lettuce.

From Kansas City

IDIOT SIGHTING:

I was at the airport , checking in at the gate when an airport employee asked , 'Has anyone put anything in your baggage without your knowledge?'

To which I replied , 'If it was without my knowledge , how would I know?' He smiled knowingly and nodded , 'That's why we ask.'

Happened in Birmingham , Ala

IDIOT SIGHTING:

The stoplight on the corner buzzes when it's safe to cross the street. I was crossing with an intellectually challenged coworker of mine. She asked if I knew what the buzzer was for. I explained that it signals blind people when the light is red.

Appalled , she responded , 'What on earth are blind people doing driving?!'

She was a probation officer in Wichita, KS

IDIOT SIGHTING:

At a good-bye luncheon for an old and dear coworker leaving the company due to 'downsizing. ' Our manager commented cheerfully , 'This is fun. We should do this more often.' Not another word was spoken. We all just looked at each other with that deer-in-the- headlights stare.

This was a lunch at Texas Instruments.

IDIOT SIGHTING:

I work with an individual who plugged her power strip back into itself and for the sake of her life, couldn't understand why her system would not turn on.

A deputy with the Dallas County Sheriffs office, no less.

IDIOT SIGHTING:

When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up our car, we were told the keys had been locked in it. We went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the drivers side door.

As I watched from the passenger side , I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that it was unlocked. 'Hey, ' I announced to the technician , 'its open!' His reply , 'I know. I already got that side.'

This was at the Ford dealership in Canton , Mississippi

STAY ALERT! They walk among us...and the scary part is that they VOTE!

Case Of The Missing God

A couple had two boys, 8 and 10, who were always getting into trouble. The parents were certain if any mischief occurred in the community that their two young sons were involved. They were at a loss as to what to do about their behavior.

Then the mother heard about a clergyman who'd been successful in disciplining children, so she brought the boys to him. The minister asked to see the boys individually, and the youngest went first. The clergyman sat the boy down and asked, "Where is God?" The boy made no attempt to answer. The question was repeated in a sterner voice but still no answer. Then the minister shook his finger at the boy and asked in an even sterner voice, "Where is God?" At that the boy ran from the room and into a closet and slammed the door.

His older brother followed him in and asked what happened. The younger brother replied, "We're in trouble this time. God is missing, and they think we did it!"

It's The Soap

Little Betsy had faithfully attended baptism classes. Her mother, wanting to be sure her daughter understood its significance, asked, "Honey, what does baptism mean?"

"Well, it isn't the water that makes you clean … " she began.

Smiling, Mother thought, Yes, she understands.

" … it's the soap."

Vision Statement

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt

The Discipline Of Study

I. There are three Sub-Disciplines

A) Hearing—This is the easiest, but still requires intentional focus. We can hear God’s Word in sermons, Bible studies, tapes, TV, radio, etc…

B) Reading—Expect to encounter the transforming grace of God in His Word and allow it to shape and transform you into the image of Christ.
1) Find time to read God’s Word the same time each day.
2) Find and follow a Bible-reading plan
3) Find at least one word, phrase, or verse to meditate on after the reading

C) Studying—This is the slow, detailed, deep examination of God’s Word. Christians most neglect this study of God’s Word because it is hard work and they are lazy or insecure about how to do it.

John 8:32
32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free

II. It is important to memorize God’s Word

Phil. 4:8
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

A) Memorization supplies Spiritual power as the Holy Spirit brings it to mind when you most need it.

B) Memorization strengthens your faith as it reinforces the truth, often when you need to hear it again

C) Memorization is an essential aid to effective witnessing and counseling

D) Memorization allows God to guide you through recall of His Word

E) Memorization stimulates meditation since God’s Word is available anywhere and at any time

III. Memorizing God’s Word

Deut. 11:18
The Old Testament instructs the Israelites to write the Laws on gates and doorposts and bind them to their wrists so that “they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”
A) Have a plan—prepackaged plan, verse on a topic/theme, entire passage or Psalm

B) Write out the verses

C) Draw a picture to aid memory

D) Memorize the verses perfectly work-for-word

E) Be accountable in this discipline as in any other

F) Review and meditate on memorized verses every day

IV. Meditation on God’s Word

A) Choose the target verse(s), phrase(s), or word(s) that impresses you during your reading encounter with God’s Word

B) Repeat the target verse or phrase and different inflections as you think deeply on the truth that comes to mind as the verse or phrase is read

C) Rewrite the verse or phrase in your own words to discern the meaning

D) Look for application of the text, especially related to your personal response

E) Pray through the text and let the Holy Spirit illumine your mind

F) Take your time and don’t rush through God’s Word

V. Applying God’s Word

A) Blessings come into our lives as we apply the Word of God

B) As you study, expect to find an application. God wants this for you

C) Make certain you understand the meaning of the text before applying it

D) Meditate carefully on the meaning of the text to discern its application

E) Ask application oriented questions of the text

F) Respond to the text by implementing specific applications in your life

VI. The Discipline of Study should include books other than the Bible

A) The Bible is the first and foremost book we study, but not the only book we study. All other books must be judged by the Bible

B) What other books would you include? (e.g. dictionaries, commentaries, theology, ethics, history, devotional classics)

VII. Six Rules to Govern our Study of Books

A) Intrinsic Rules
1) Understand what the author says
2) Interpret what the author means
3) Evaluate the book—right or wrong
B) Extrinsic Rules
1) Experience is necessary to interpret and relate to what we read
2) Other books enhance understanding and give meaning to our study
3) Live discussion with other human beings pursuing a similar course of study enhances our understanding, grasp of meaning and evaluation of books

IIX. We come to the Scripture to be changed, not to amass information

Romans 12:2
2. …but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

IX. There is a clear distinction between the purpose of study of Scripture and devotional reading of Scripture

The Discipline of Simplicity

1) Simplicity is the first of the four outward disciplines (i.e., Simplicity, Solitude, Submission and Service) we will study.

2) Simplicity can be defined as “freedom” and “an inward reality that results in an outward life-style.”

3) What are the key inward elements of simplicity?
A) We must maintain as inward focus and unity of purpose upon God and His ways. Richard Foster calls this a “divine purpose”

B) We must realize our security is not in things we neither need nor enjoy

C) We must be freed of the burden of trying to impress to impress others

D) We must heed the Biblical injunctions against exploitation of the poor and the accumulation of wealth
1. Giving to the needy—Matt. 6:1-4
2. Treasure—Matt. 6:19-24
3. Possessions—Matt. 6:25-34
4. Trust—Matt. 7:7-12

E) What we have we receive is a gift from God to be cared for by God and made available to others.

F) Are simplicity and asceticism compatible? No.
“Asceticism renounces possessions. Simplicity sets possessions in proper perspective…Asceticism finds contentment only when it is abased. Simplicity knows contentment in both abasement and abounding (Phil. 4:12)

4) What is the appropriate outward expression of simplicity?

A) Buy things for usefulness rather than status

B) Reject anything that produces an addiction in you

C) Develop a habit of giving things away

D) Refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry

E) Learn to enjoy things without owning them

F) Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation. Stop and smell the Roses

G) Look with a healthy skepticism at all “buy now, pay later” schemes.
H) Obey Jesus’ instructions about plain honest speech. Yes or No
I) Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others
J) Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of God

Submission At Its Best

Understanding the Biblical view of marriage is another big thing to look at. When we talk about a Biblical view of marriage most men jump straight to Ephesians 5:22:

22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

While this is true that wives have to submit to your husbands let's take a look at what Ephesians 5:21 says:

21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

So this whole submit thing that men have been using on women for ages is something that they were suppose to be doing themselves. Very interesting. We all have to submit to one another, men you have to submit to your wife as she has to submit to you in the process. Now as we follow Paul in this section in Ephesians what does he say next?

23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.

So this word head used here. What exactly does it mean? Just as in the army we have someone who heads up a brigade or a platoon a family must have a head as well. But, does that position necessarily have a higher rank? Nope. When my brother was in the Army he was the head of his unit and yet he carried the same rank as 80% of his unit. What God is using Paul to tell us is that the man is the one held accountable and that God uses the women just as much as the man but so that there is order in the house He placed the man as the overseer.

24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

The church is under the authority of Christ and wives have to submit to this authority that is true, but if you remember Christ didn’t come to be served but to serve. So men is this the way that you are leading your family? Right now as many of you know my wife is pregnant with our second child. The first pregnancy went great until the preeclampsia around week 35, but this one has been a bugger from day one. Heather is sick almost everyday, doesn’t feel like must of anything. Now, I could take one of two approaches to this matter.

1) Heather is the wife and it is her duty to cook the meals and do the dishes and clean the house and do the laundry.

2) I could realize that all of the above mentioned things are family issues and that as not only part of the family but the head of the family it is my responsibility to handle up on these things.

As many of you know even before Heather got pregnant we view housework as a team effort as I do most of marriage. So we did these things together. Now that she is not feeling so well, it has fallen on me to do most if not all the housework. Of course she is doing all of the pregnant work. So in this submission it is just like a team playing basketball, the captain leads the team but everyone is a major player, and when one has an off game everyone steps up their game to assist in the victory!!!

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

Now it’s this section that I get a kick out of. I mean we find out that in verse 21 we all have to submit, so that means in verse 22 women are just doing what everyone else is doing. But here, here we see where men have to love their wives just as Christ loved to Church. He even gave His life for the church. We are to do that to our wives as well.

After looking at all this it does make me want to ask, “Can I change teams?” Just kidding. I love the live that I have because I love the wife that I have. Isn’t it funny how that statement goes together? I love the life that I have because I love the wife that I have.

Marriage, Or Is It?

I know that this whole living together before marriage is suppose to be a good idea. Please don't think that I'm about to come across as preachy or one sided. I have had several friends try this and when I came to Trinity I had three different couples that were trying co-habitation. One couple is no more, one couple are still in the co-habitation period and the other one I married February 10 2007. Is it Biblically wrong? Yes, but based on what the Bible says in James 2:8-13,

8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.

9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,

13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
Or as the Message puts it:

8-11You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: "Love others as you love yourself." But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. You can't pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God's law and ignoring others. The same God who said, "Don't commit adultery," also said, "Don't murder." If you don't commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? No, you're a murderer, period.

12-13Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.

So we see that this is the same as any other sin. So please don't think that I'm just picking and choosing that which we will look at. This is a problem and we must look at where it is leading. As I mentioned before, when I came to Trinity I had three couples that were experimenting with the whole co-habitation theory. One couple said that they wanted to see if it would work for when they got married. This is a popular line of thinking for those who try this, but what do the statistics say about this?
"Living together before marriage actually increases the chances of divorce in a first marriage--67 percent of co-habitating couples who marry eventually divorce, compared to 45 percent of all first marriages." By, Mike and Harriet McManus in their book, Living Together: Myths, Risks and Answers.

That is 22% higher of a risk for those who co-habitate before marriage. Now I know that some of you who read this blog are in that category of the co-habitating area, I am not saying that you are bad or anything of the sort. As I said I married a couple a little over a year ago and they are still going strong. So what is the difference?

Remember your parents old advice? If you give the milk away for free, why buy the cow? Well that is a good part if the equation. Why would someone make something permanent that they get so easy now? Or looked at in another way; women think that they are auditioning for the position and the men just like the free sex. Sorry to be so blunt but these are real issues.

As the scripture in James mentioned earlier one sin is just like the other, it is when we humans place levels on sins that confuses things. I'm not trying to pick out a few sins and write about those I just came across an article written by the McManus's and thought it was good information.

So are the reason's above the only reasons that someone would co-habitate? Nope, as the article continues it shows us that when a couple live together first that when they enter marriage they see it as still temporal, but when a couple wait to live together until they get married they are more likely to believe in its permanency.

So if we don't follow these thing mentioned above we will be all right? Nope, that isn't the case either. Most people getting married today come from some kind of dysfunctional family. I mean my family put the fun in dysfunctional. So what is the answer then? Well, couple in the church should mentor those younger couples looking to get married. They should let them know what the Bible says about marriage and how they made it work for all those many years.

There will be more in following posts about the Biblical view of marriage.

Bye, Bye

Boy am I glad that we don't have a sign board in front of our church like this one. Just kidding.

The Discipline of Service

1) There are six acceptable motives for service:

A) Obedience—“It is the lord your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him. (Deut. 13:4)

B) Gratitude—“But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you (I Sa. 12:24)

C) Gladness—“Serve the Lord with gladness” (Ps. 100:2) Serving is a privilege

D) Forgiveness, not Guilt—“Here am I send me” (Is. 6:6-8)

E) Humility—Jesus washed His disciples feet (Jn. 13:12-16) and humbled Himself in coming to save mankind (Phil. 2:3) Self-righteous service requires external rewards

F) Love—“You My brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love” (Gal. 5:13)

2) Spiritual gifts are the major facility God gives us to serve Him

A) Every Christian receives at least one spiritual gift

B) God’s purpose in giving the gift(s) is for use in serving in His kingdom

3) Foster says service is “a way of living” and suggests nine ways to live out our service

A) Service of hiddenness—Doing things behind the scenes that the one served never knows about

B) Service of small things—simple assistance in small things but which require constant sacrifice

C) Service of guarding the reputation of others—holding one’s tongue; not being party to slander, backbiting and gossip

D) Service of being served—graciously receiving the service of others

E) Service of common courtesy—keeping the rituals of relationship in our culture

F) Service of hospitality--

G) Service of listening—compassion and patience

H) Service of bearing each other’s burdens

I) Service of sharing the word of Life with one another

4) Serving is hard work—“To this end I labor (kopio), struggling (agonizomenos) with all his energy (energeian), which so powerfully (dunamei) works (energoumenen) in me” (Col. 1:29)

5) One of our greatest blessings and often a source of some of our greatest challenges is living together in community with other believer. Dietrich Bonhoeffer address our life together as believers in his book Life Together.