Questions

Why do we do church the way that we do? What is the purpose of church? The early church met to encourage one another in the faith, at least that was one aspect of it I think. Is that why we have care groups? What about Sunday services? We should proclaim God's Word of course, but what about songs? Do we always need to sing songs in worship? Do the songs need to be practiced or do we just need someone to be able to play them or sing them? If worship is a lifestyle, why do we need to designate a "worship" part of the service? Why DO we include music in our services? I like music, and I find it turns my thoughts towards God as I sing "worship" songs, but I don't know I'd say that songs are a necessary part of every Sunday worship service. How about preaching? Is the purpose of preaching to declare who God is? Then should preaching be more of an outreach tool to those who don't know who God is, or is it a reminder to we who know God? Teaching; does this simply refer to instruction to those who know God or to teaching others about Christ? What parts of preaching and teaching are mutually exclusive?
How do you tell someone in a higher position than you that you think they may have done something wrong and they need to work out a problem they have with another person? How do you Biblically encourage them towards a Christ-like model of conflict resolution? How does one humbly and respectfully seek to correct others when they feel/know the other is in the wrong? When is voicing concerns about someone legitimate and when does it become gossip/a wrong appeal to a third party? What's more important: to be Baptist or to be Christian? Seems like an obvious one. If we're concerned with being Christian, why does being a Baptist matter? How do you revive a people who are already following Christ? Do these people need reviving? How do you renew a sense of urgency and excitement about salvation in a people who have grown up with the concept? Why do I waste so much time writing out questions like this instead of asking God directly?

Blech

I don't really have anything to write about right now. I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the work I'm going to have to do, and the little time I'll have available in which to accomplish everything. And, on top of that, I miss David a lot right now. Sigh...

Devotions August 26, 2008

Psalm 131

1My heart is not proud, O LORD,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.

2But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3O Israel, put your hope in the LORD
both now and forevermore.


Foundation of the Heart (Taken from Our Daily Bread Aug.25, 2008 Devotional Reading)

"The great cathedrals of Europe are not only breathtaking but intriguing in their architecture. Because their massive ceilings were too heavy for the walls to support, flying buttresses, or external extensions, were built to support the expansive roofs.

Although we are 'the temple of the living God' (2 Cor. 6:16), I wonder if we are not more like these cathedrals, with buttresses of external influences holding us up while we remain weak at the core. Pastors, friends, rules, books, and small groups are helpful to support and bolster our faith. But if we depend too heavily on them, they can actually distract us from developing a healthy heart for God.

Our heart is the place where God mets and relates to us personally It's where He allows us to respond to His correction. Spending time in His Word and in prayer opens the door for Him to interact with us at the deepest levels of our need and gives Him opportunities to comfort and convict. As we open our hearts to Him, He fans the flame of an intimate, life-changing relationship.

Authentic Christianity is the inside-out expression of this dynamic relationship with Jesus that provides the strength to live for His glory--regardless of what is happening on the outside! --Joe Stowell"

1 Peter 3:15-16

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

On the Way Home

So, on the way home I was listening to some family program and they were talking to a school principal who has written a book about three traps kids who grew up in Christian families fall into. The one they spent the most time on was feeling assured of salvation just because they grew up in Christian homes. What I found most interesting was their encouragement for parents to get their kids to challenge their faith, ask questions about it, and make sure they aren't just being good kids, doing what they know their parents want. I don't think that I've heard Christian radio shows encouraging that before. I was happy to hear them encouraging parents to help their kids really understand and figure out their own faith, rather than just believe what they are told. At the same time, it was challenging to me, both as a child, and as an adult who teaches Sunday school. I want to help kids grow in their relationship with God, and I want to make sure I think about my faith and figure things out too, rather than just taking everything I've been told. It's always been scary for me to challenge things that people tell me as facts. However, in the end, what I know is that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that if I believe only that, and never figure out anything else, I'm still on the right track.

2 Chronicles 15: 2

"...The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you."

God let me seek you always. Let me be with you always, and never forsake you.
Amen.