Monday, August 24, 2015

If...

It's the question that kills the soul.

We talked about it last night at Drink Deep (our time together with sr. high students). When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, the first two times each temptation starts with the word "if". The one word that can immediately cause doubt and open up a world of hurt and other questions.

It's funny that the first temptation also deals with doubt. "Did God really say...".

Too often we see temptation is being convinced, swindled, pushed into doing something wrong. Maybe it's way simpler than that. Maybe it's just someone adding confusion. Asking "if".

There's only one way to truly combat anyone who asks "if" or "did _____really say/do". To know the truth wholeheartedly and hold onto that truth with all you have.

Find the Truth, and don't let go.

"Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from Me. " John 14:6 (MSG)

T

Monday, August 17, 2015

The One Thing I Know For Sure About Jesus Is:

This past Sunday was our FIRE & WATER Student Ministry Sunday, a day where we share stories and let people know who we are and what we are doing as jr. and sr. high students.

It was slightly different this year in the way that I spoke at the end. I did a little experience with the congregation that our students took part in at our Winter Retreat. Fun for all. But then at the end I did something that we do every week. Whenever we meet (as often as I can) we end our time with the question above. "The One Thing I Know For Sure About Jesus Is:" It's just something we do to help students and ourselves be sure we are learning about Christ and looking for Him in all that we do. We are always learning more about Jesus, who He is and who we are in Him if we take the time to look for Him.

What I didn't realize is how that would make a bigger impact than the actual experience we did. That statement is why people stopped and talked to me after service. In our staff meeting that question and the idea of making sure we have something to take away from our worship times together came up. Out of everything we did Sunday, that little question and the two minutes it took to think about seems to have had the biggest impact (at least with those who have talked with me).

Here's the thing, we can do that anywhere anytime. We don't need the pastor to ask us that on Sunday, we can talk about it with our families or think about it ourselves. Every night before we go to bed we can ask ourselves where we have seen Jesus today and what we can learn about Him. Every time we read our Bibles or serve we can end our time with contemplating this idea.

So what about you? What's the one thing you know for sure about Jesus?

T

Monday, August 03, 2015

Biblical Common Knowledge

For those that don't know, I love old books. I read a lot of older titles, not a ton of new fiction. I'm currently almost done with Moby Dick (they're going to get that whale!).

But in this book, like many of the other older books, there is a certain literary style that still gets to me. They quote and/or reference Scripture. A lot. But what's more amazing is they don't say, "this is in the Bible at ____". They just assume that the reader knows exactly what they are talking about.

Like where I am in Moby Dick. They quoted an obscure story in Daniel. All they said were a few sentences. No reference to Daniel or the Bible or chapter and verse, just told it as part of the story thinking everyone reading would understand what is going on.

It makes me wonder how well people knew the Scriptures just a few decades ago, or how little we know them now. What if we actually knew and understood the Bible like that? What is it about today that makes it so hard to read the Bible? So many other options and distractions?

What if we knew the Bible so well that like these authors we were able to weave it into everyday conversation and story-telling...

T