...by Beka Jackson
Sunday's message happened to be one that is very important to me. Not that I am always very good at showing love first... Actually, I have had to learn to show love first to those who don't know Jesus. And really, I am still learning!
When Bobby and I moved to Northwest Indiana, we prayed that God would put us in a home where we could impact the community. We prayed for a neighborhood that didn't know about Christ. He heard that prayer and answered it very quickly.
But it has been a learning experience for me even this past week. I am surrounded by people who haven't realized the love of Christ. (You know, exactly what I asked for!) But often times I am offended by how they live. How can they do that? What makes them think that's okay? And, embarrassingly, I have even communicated as much to them in the past.
I came home from church this past Sunday and really, the second I pulled in the car I was chanting my new mantra, "Love First, Love First, Love First." It isn't always easy to do. But it is what we are called to do. It is what I told God I wanted to do. And though I thought I would be really good at it, He shows me that I am not. Even when I do it, and it may seem natural to those around me, I am working hard on the inside against an incredibly judgmental woman that I am naturally.
One thing I have learned is to focus on what is important. I tell my kids all the time, we live the way we do, do the things we do because we understand what Jesus has done for us. How can we expect those who don't understand His love and sacrifice to behave the way we want them to?
And so when I see non-believers I pray that God will show me people who haven't experienced His love, not people that yell too loudly, or keep their yard messier than mine, or don't dress as neat or modestly as I think they should...
This past Sunday, we were asked to write on the walls about times we feel God’s love. These are some of the responses.
I Experience God’s Love When...
...He forgives me of my sins.
...I am playing on worship team and I see the church worship.
...I first became saved and realized who Jesus was.
...Jesus saved my son’s life from death.
...I delivered my first baby.
...I feel God restoring love and respect in my broken marriage.
...He provides financially for my family.
...I pray with my boys at night.
...I think about the kindness of the people surrounding me in my life.
...I see the joy and smiles on the peoples’ faces here at Suncrest.
...I saw my first granddaughter being born!
...I am serving Him. Because the memory of who I was and what I have done is never far behind me. But His grace has made me the person He has called to serve Him!
...I realize His mercy is for me no matter what I’ve done, He loves me!
...I was still a sinner, God loved me.
...I celebrated our 25th anniversary with family and friends.
...I see my children overcome any obstacle, challenge or disability.
...I am holding my children and I get to tell them about Jesus.
...I see the ultrasound picture of my 18-month-old grandson.
...I share a smile with a stranger and share a prayer for them.
...I pray each night.
...He gives me strength when I felt I had none left.
...I am loved by family and friends.
...I am at Camp LRCA.
...I attended a funeral visitation. He was there.
...I am at SLW.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
74. Sharing the Word (Acts 8:26-40).
by Lynn Barbee
God has such a sense of humor. Or timing. When I saw that the assignment I had been given for this blog was Acts 8:26-40, I had to smile. August 26 (8/26 for the numerically minded) was the day I was baptized in 1971 at the tender age of… (mumbles something) whatever I was. I was a young sophomore in high school, and met a girl who became my best friend and is still one of my closest friends to this day. She invited me to attend church youth group with her, and the rest is history. I was baptized at Camp LRCA , which was in Cedar Lake back then, and my life has never been the same. I always say my life changed, not only for the hereafter, but for the here and now. I grew up in an alcoholic home, and my dad died when I was still young. I was headed for a life of going my own way. I can only imagine the path my life would have taken if someone had not opened the Book with me!
I remember sitting at a big table in the basement of the First Church of Christ in Whiting in the Sundays before that monumental decision. The youth group leaders and other teens would answer my questions…and there was this huge black Bible…. how could I understand, unless someone explained it to me? I had been a Christian all my life, but had never even learned how to look up a Bible verse. On August 26, 1971, I went from Christian to Christ-follower, and have never looked back. What a wonderful journey it’s been!
We all have the responsibility to share what Christ has done in our lives, and we all can tell what we know. You might not be the Bible scholar you want to be, but like the teens in my high school youth group, share what you know. I saw the difference in their lives. You and I have the potential to let God use us to change lives as well; I pray that we will let him to do that!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
73. The First Martyr (Acts 6:8-8:8).
by Wesley Blackburn
And now, things continue on in the story of the early church with the first martyr, Stephen. We don’t know a whole lot about Stephen, or how he came to Christ, but we do know that the Holy Spirit was obviously with this man. He would soon distinguish himself as one of the leaders in the church, and would be a trusted helper in the disciples’ ministry to the widows in the church.
As you read today, Stephen would speak boldly for Christ. Unfortunately, this would be met with quite a bit of opposition from the Jewish leadership, who would eventually bring him before the Sanhedrin. After offering a bold speech about the identity of Christ, sharing who He really was, Stephen would be stoned. What’s more, he would be stoned under the cold approval of a man named Saul, who actually becomes quite a big figure in the story of the early church. We’ll hear more about him (and from him) later.
From the life of Stephen, though, I think I learn some important things. One of those is that Stephen wasn’t afraid of conflict, and I shouldn’t be either. This isn’t to say that Stephen was a person who necessarily embraced conflict, and certainly doesn’t mean that he shared about Christ without love. But this is to say that when conflict arose, Stephen wasn’t afraid. I wish I had more of that. Sometimes, when I’m in situations with people who are hostile toward Christ or Christianity, my tendency is actually to be quiet and say nothing. Maybe I need to step up and exhibit some of the boldness that Stephen showed in this passage. I need to share about Christ firmly, yet lovingly.
I think the second thing we should see in the life of Stephen is something that might be incredibly easy to look over or to miss: Stephen was an active part of the secular (if we can use that term here) world in which he lived. Think about it: the fact that Stephen came into conflict with people over Jesus meant that he was constantly surrounding himself with people who didn’t know Jesus. Stephen didn’t hide away, even though that would be easy; in fact, it would have helped him avoid his death. But instead, Stephen didn’t retreat into a holy huddle. He boldly engaged the world in which he lived. I need to do the same.
And finally, I think the last lesson we learn from Stephen is that he lived with a heavenward focus. Even in his final moments before death, he was still looking toward heaven, and he actually saw the face of Jesus. I think a big source of our fears, concerns, anxieties, and worries in this life revolve around the fact that we don’t live with a truly heavenward focus, because in light of heaven, those issues fade away. If we could live like Stephen, truly focusing and believing in the incredible reward of heaven to come, I think it would drastically affect how we live today.
And now, things continue on in the story of the early church with the first martyr, Stephen. We don’t know a whole lot about Stephen, or how he came to Christ, but we do know that the Holy Spirit was obviously with this man. He would soon distinguish himself as one of the leaders in the church, and would be a trusted helper in the disciples’ ministry to the widows in the church.
As you read today, Stephen would speak boldly for Christ. Unfortunately, this would be met with quite a bit of opposition from the Jewish leadership, who would eventually bring him before the Sanhedrin. After offering a bold speech about the identity of Christ, sharing who He really was, Stephen would be stoned. What’s more, he would be stoned under the cold approval of a man named Saul, who actually becomes quite a big figure in the story of the early church. We’ll hear more about him (and from him) later.
From the life of Stephen, though, I think I learn some important things. One of those is that Stephen wasn’t afraid of conflict, and I shouldn’t be either. This isn’t to say that Stephen was a person who necessarily embraced conflict, and certainly doesn’t mean that he shared about Christ without love. But this is to say that when conflict arose, Stephen wasn’t afraid. I wish I had more of that. Sometimes, when I’m in situations with people who are hostile toward Christ or Christianity, my tendency is actually to be quiet and say nothing. Maybe I need to step up and exhibit some of the boldness that Stephen showed in this passage. I need to share about Christ firmly, yet lovingly.
I think the second thing we should see in the life of Stephen is something that might be incredibly easy to look over or to miss: Stephen was an active part of the secular (if we can use that term here) world in which he lived. Think about it: the fact that Stephen came into conflict with people over Jesus meant that he was constantly surrounding himself with people who didn’t know Jesus. Stephen didn’t hide away, even though that would be easy; in fact, it would have helped him avoid his death. But instead, Stephen didn’t retreat into a holy huddle. He boldly engaged the world in which he lived. I need to do the same.
And finally, I think the last lesson we learn from Stephen is that he lived with a heavenward focus. Even in his final moments before death, he was still looking toward heaven, and he actually saw the face of Jesus. I think a big source of our fears, concerns, anxieties, and worries in this life revolve around the fact that we don’t live with a truly heavenward focus, because in light of heaven, those issues fade away. If we could live like Stephen, truly focusing and believing in the incredible reward of heaven to come, I think it would drastically affect how we live today.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
72. Growth and Persecution (Acts 3:1-4:37).
by Bobby Jackson
As corny as it might sound, I wrote my high school term paper on Acts 4. Ten pages seemed like an amazing amount at that point and I wanted to write about something that could keep my interest. I chose the subject of authority, responsibility, and jurisdiction. Authority is tricky in this text. We are taught to respect authority, submit to authority, to honor those in authority. So how does all of that coincide with the apex of this chapter?
18Then they (the Sanhedrin) called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
When do we listen to and obey “those that rule over us” and when do we purposefully go the other way? Is there a time when leaders in the church do not have to be followed? Should not be followed?
Admittedly I was more looking for a loophole so that I didn’t have to listen to some of the authorities in my life, but I stumbled onto a good Scriptural concept: we are not called to be drones that merely go along with whatever the perceived authority calls us to, but we have to follow Christ above everything else (but we must disobey authorities lovingly... see Romans 13). Peter and John were with Jesus and had an unusual courage. I pray that I can stand up for what is right and have courage that others might recognize that I have been “with Jesus.”
As corny as it might sound, I wrote my high school term paper on Acts 4. Ten pages seemed like an amazing amount at that point and I wanted to write about something that could keep my interest. I chose the subject of authority, responsibility, and jurisdiction. Authority is tricky in this text. We are taught to respect authority, submit to authority, to honor those in authority. So how does all of that coincide with the apex of this chapter?
18Then they (the Sanhedrin) called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
When do we listen to and obey “those that rule over us” and when do we purposefully go the other way? Is there a time when leaders in the church do not have to be followed? Should not be followed?
Admittedly I was more looking for a loophole so that I didn’t have to listen to some of the authorities in my life, but I stumbled onto a good Scriptural concept: we are not called to be drones that merely go along with whatever the perceived authority calls us to, but we have to follow Christ above everything else (but we must disobey authorities lovingly... see Romans 13). Peter and John were with Jesus and had an unusual courage. I pray that I can stand up for what is right and have courage that others might recognize that I have been “with Jesus.”
Friday, September 3, 2010
70. The Ascension (Acts 1:1-11).
by Wesley Blackburn
Last words say a lot about a person.
Maybe you've experienced that firsthand, watching a family member or a loved one die. Perhaps you got to hear some last words from that person that you still hold near and dear to your heart today. Recently, there was a huge buzz over this book (I believe featured on Oprah) called The Last Lecture, where a college professor who knew he would die soon of cancer gave his final lecture ever, talking about life and what really mattered.
Whatever the case, people have a tendency to get real very quickly when it comes to their famous last words. What is at our core; at our heart, comes out. Jesus' last words before ascending back into heaven are probably pretty familiar to you by this point if you're a part of Suncrest:
Last words say a lot about a person.
Maybe you've experienced that firsthand, watching a family member or a loved one die. Perhaps you got to hear some last words from that person that you still hold near and dear to your heart today. Recently, there was a huge buzz over this book (I believe featured on Oprah) called The Last Lecture, where a college professor who knew he would die soon of cancer gave his final lecture ever, talking about life and what really mattered.
Whatever the case, people have a tendency to get real very quickly when it comes to their famous last words. What is at our core; at our heart, comes out. Jesus' last words before ascending back into heaven are probably pretty familiar to you by this point if you're a part of Suncrest:
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Yep, that's the infamous (can you call a Bible verse "infamous?") Acts 1:8 of Suncrest Jesus Mission fame. But these are also, interestingly enough, the last words of Jesus while on this earth. And what does Jesus do? He commissions His followers. He tells them to go. He asks them to be His witnesses.
I've got to think that that command applies just as much to us today. Just like the apostles 2,000 years ago, Jesus is commissioning us to go and be His witnesses in our part of the world. As a church, we've tried to capture this by launching campuses in Highland and Walkerton, as well as stepping up our involvement in Liberia with churches there. But I believe we also need to think personally; what's the mission field God has placed each of us in? Where is he calling us to be His witnesses? Maybe it's your "one" that we've been talking about over the past couple weeks of our Journey series at Suncrest. Maybe you get this sense or longing from the Holy Spirit that God wants you to lead the way in a relationship or at work. Whatever it is, go and do it! Christ has commissioned us all... let's be His witnesses.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Beyond Sunday - Journey: Only God
...by Kevin DeBraal
“Being used by God to change lives”.
At Suncrest this is our mission. It is accomplished in many ways. Through service, testimony, financial contributions, relationships, etc. Those are the areas where I am most comfortable. Reaching out to the seeker or those who do not know God is more difficult for me. I think I have the typical resistance due to hesitations related to how people will react to me. How will they respond? Will they ask questions I can’t answer? Will they reject me and my approach? Will I pick the right time to approach them? What if I fail?
Greg taught us to identify the “One” whom we could engage and bring the message of Christ’s love and redemption. He taught us that we should pray for the interaction we would have. One question he asked was “Do I believe prayer actually has an effect?”. I believe God has answered my prayers. I have experienced it and seen it in retrospection. I always have a vision of how God should respond to my prayers; He obviously has a different perspective, plan, and vision. I accept that because in the end I believe He has a plan far beyond my comprehension.
So this week I will trust in God and the power of prayer. I will pray to identify my “One” I will pray for God to “affect” that person so that they might be responsive to me. I will pray that I will recognize the opportunity that is presented for me to engage my “One”. I will pray very hard that I can overcome my “hesitations”.
Finally I will embrace that Only God “makes things grow” and that my interaction is just the planting of a seed or watering of the plant. That takes off some of the pressure that leads to the hesitance. I hope you will join me.
“Being used by God to change lives”.
At Suncrest this is our mission. It is accomplished in many ways. Through service, testimony, financial contributions, relationships, etc. Those are the areas where I am most comfortable. Reaching out to the seeker or those who do not know God is more difficult for me. I think I have the typical resistance due to hesitations related to how people will react to me. How will they respond? Will they ask questions I can’t answer? Will they reject me and my approach? Will I pick the right time to approach them? What if I fail?
Greg taught us to identify the “One” whom we could engage and bring the message of Christ’s love and redemption. He taught us that we should pray for the interaction we would have. One question he asked was “Do I believe prayer actually has an effect?”. I believe God has answered my prayers. I have experienced it and seen it in retrospection. I always have a vision of how God should respond to my prayers; He obviously has a different perspective, plan, and vision. I accept that because in the end I believe He has a plan far beyond my comprehension.
So this week I will trust in God and the power of prayer. I will pray to identify my “One” I will pray for God to “affect” that person so that they might be responsive to me. I will pray that I will recognize the opportunity that is presented for me to engage my “One”. I will pray very hard that I can overcome my “hesitations”.
Finally I will embrace that Only God “makes things grow” and that my interaction is just the planting of a seed or watering of the plant. That takes off some of the pressure that leads to the hesitance. I hope you will join me.
69. The Resurrection (John 20:1-21:25).
by Wesley Blackburn
And now, after some very deep, tough posts over the past few days, we arrive at the joy of the Resurrection!
I believe that the resurrection of Jesus is a reliable, historical fact. There are plenty of reasons we can know and believe in it and place our confidence and trust in what Jesus has done here. The Son of God rose from the dead, proving once and for all that He has conquered sin and death and hell. Nothing can stop us! If Jesus can conquer the dead, truly there is a chance for all of us as well! To put it simply, Jesus' resurrection is the down payment on the future glory that all of us will have a chance to experience in heaven one day.
But for me, this story has one side note: Thomas. Growing up in the church, I felt like we gave poor Thomas a lot of flack for doubting that Jesus had risen again. But can you really blame the guy? People don't just rise from the dead everyday. I can respect where Thomas was coming from, for sure. But what's exciting the most to me are Jesus' words to Thomas after he has felt the wounds in Jesus' hands and side. Jesus tells the disciples, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
We are all in that category... called "blessed" by Christ himself! I don't necessarily know what that blessing entails, but I know that God is happy when we live a life of faith in Him. Let's keep hoping, and keep believing. And let's always carry around in our hearts the incredible hope and inexpressible joy that comes from knowing our God is not dead... He is surely alive!
And now, after some very deep, tough posts over the past few days, we arrive at the joy of the Resurrection!
I believe that the resurrection of Jesus is a reliable, historical fact. There are plenty of reasons we can know and believe in it and place our confidence and trust in what Jesus has done here. The Son of God rose from the dead, proving once and for all that He has conquered sin and death and hell. Nothing can stop us! If Jesus can conquer the dead, truly there is a chance for all of us as well! To put it simply, Jesus' resurrection is the down payment on the future glory that all of us will have a chance to experience in heaven one day.
But for me, this story has one side note: Thomas. Growing up in the church, I felt like we gave poor Thomas a lot of flack for doubting that Jesus had risen again. But can you really blame the guy? People don't just rise from the dead everyday. I can respect where Thomas was coming from, for sure. But what's exciting the most to me are Jesus' words to Thomas after he has felt the wounds in Jesus' hands and side. Jesus tells the disciples, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
We are all in that category... called "blessed" by Christ himself! I don't necessarily know what that blessing entails, but I know that God is happy when we live a life of faith in Him. Let's keep hoping, and keep believing. And let's always carry around in our hearts the incredible hope and inexpressible joy that comes from knowing our God is not dead... He is surely alive!
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