"How Litte We Know" by Terry Gardner

“How Little We Know”

 Terry Gardner

   In 1899 David Lipscomb wrote about “The Bible and Evolution” and “The Bible and Geology,” topics that Lipscomb had “studied . . . in my younger days.” Lipscomb was disinclined to accept the view that the “day” of Genesis 1 “was an indefinite length of time,” thinking that it was an “ordinary day of twenty-four hours.” Yet, Lipscomb hastened to add, “We have not felt sure about this, but the style naturally suggests the common day.”  The plain text of Genesis seemed to suggest that a “day” was a twenty-four hour day, but Lipscomb could not be “sure” about the matter.

 

   A few weeks later Lipscomb published a letter from Samuel Jordan.  Jordan conceded the possibility that the author of Genesis 1 had twenty-four hour days in mind, but Jordan pointed out that “the first three days of creation lacked the phenomena that are so essential to our twenty-four-hour periods, sun and stars.”  As Jordan regarded “these periods,” he concluded, Lipscomb’s “thoughts seem to be correct and, of course, beautiful, because unanswerable; but to think of the six-days’ creation as six days of twenty-four hours each, your thoughts are remarkable, geology as taught decidedly wrong, and the Bible language forced to imply miracles needlessly.”

 

   “It has not been my purpose,” Lipscomb replied, “to present or discuss any theory of geology or of creation, but to present the truth that there is no discrepancy between the facts of geology that are regarded as established and the teachings of the Bible.  As I have said heretofore, my study of the facts and the theories date back from twenty-five to fifty years ago.  I have not kept abreast of the investigations of late years, save in their general theories.  I have held doubtful the idea of the day of Genesis one being a long period of time, but I have not formed a very fixed judgment on the subject.  I have long cultivated the habit of holding doubtful questions in doubt—not forcing a conclusion—for years.  The theory would readily solve all difficulties on the subject; but while the Bible does not forbid such a construction, does it suggest it, with our present knowledge of the structure of the earth?  If not, I hesitate and wait.  I do not wish to force a statement of the Bible.  What I wished was to suggest that men of science often put forth crude conjecture as scientific truth; and believers in the Bible frequently form their ideas more from popular sentiment than from Bible teaching, even on common subjects, and, from failure to observe, oppose the simple statements of the Bible.  Between the two antagonism is presented, where, with regard for the true teaching of science and the Bible, they would be found to harmonize and sustain each other.  We recognize the positions of our brother as in not contradicting the Bible, and, if true, fully removing all difficulties on the subject.”

 

  No one knows everything.  Lipscomb knew enough to know that surely he was not an expert in all areas and candidly admitted it.  His statement, “I have long cultivated the habit of holding doubtful questions in doubt—not forcing a conclusion—for years,” is remarkable.  We live in a world of increasingly shrill argument. We hear “authorities” and “activists” from all sides of every spectrum speaking and acting as if they know everything. Lipscomb did not know everything, as surely as no one of us knows all.  I don’t even know all the questions anymore, much less all the answers.

 

   The letter of James reminds us that we “know … everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).  People become violently angry about things posted on the internet (especially on Facebook) and respond with ill-tempered wrath.  Often they are responding to things that are patently false and sharing them with others as fact.  We shall do well always to restrain our anger and, like Lipscomb, keep from forcing a conclusion for years, if necessary.

 

   Many years ago, I was working for Procter & Gamble when a rumor got started that the company had been purchased by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon and as proof the corporate symbol of a man in the moon and thirteen stars was cited.  Later, the rumor changed, claiming that Mr. Gamble (who had been dead for 100 years) had prayed to God for healing and when that did not happen he prayed to the Devil, was healed and now gave 10 per cent of the profits of the Company to the Devil.  Again, people cited the man in the moon symbol, arguing that if you held the logo up to a mirror (and looked at it backwards) three strands of the moonman’s beard made the number 666. Both rumors were, of course, false and misleading.  Many “Christian” people spread these rumors until the company began suing the most vocal propagandists and removed the man in moon from the company’s packaging. Among those who peddled these rumors were people whose business enterprises competed with Procter & Gamble.

 

   “For every careless word that people speak,” Jesus tells us, “they shall account for it in the day of judgment.”  I enjoy the internet and Facebook, but I suggest a little less Facebook and a lot more of God’s Word will do us all a world of good.  Every day I must remind myself that I don’t know everything.

Love Each Other by Steve Faidley

I am enjoying the good fortune and blessing of a relatively new job.  I had been with my previous succession of employers (mergers and acquisitions) for over 22 years and was beginning to look toward the retirement benefits that I was accruing and the shape of my career path with this employer for the next 15 years or so.   Then, out-of-the-blue, and without getting into all the details, I was contacted last December by the “talent acquisition team” of my soon-to-be new employer.  I had no specific desire to change employers.  For what I think to be obvious reasons, I was reluctant at this point in my life to leave the career I had known and tackle a new career.  But Melanie and I prayed about it; we talked about; we weighed everything out.  I kept asking the Lord if this was really what he wanted me to do?  Well, you already know the answer.  I took a leap of faith and accepted their offer.  I said all that to give the rest of my blog some context.  One of the true blessings of working for my non-profit, faith-based employer is the daily “Reflections” that are sent to us by our Director of Mission Integration.  Glenn is his name, and he is our “spiritual” leader at my employer.  His background is a little different than mine, but he is an ardent follower of Christ, and EVERY day he creates some great food for spiritual thought.  So I wanted to share one of his recent reflections (Glenn has given me permission to use and share his reflections and some of you have seen them in your e-mail).   Glenn wrote the following:

 

In recent years Morton Kondracke has been one of the most recognizable American political commentators.

 

The independent-thinking journalist appeared as a panelist on The McLaughlin Group and co-hosted The Beltway Boys on the Fox Network.

 

But few knew the back story of Kondracke’s life during those years.  In 1988 his wife Milly was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.  Kondracke remembers:

 

“She had beautiful handwriting, and she was writing a check and couldn’t form the letter K.  It looked fine to me.  But she insisted that, no, there was something wrong. 

 

“Later she had a tremor in the little finger of her right hand, and then her foot would sort of wobble on the brakes when she was driving.

 

“She was given Symmetrel – which is a Parkinson’s medicine – by a doctor, and he didn’t tell her what it was.  But she called me at work one day, totally distraught and hysterical in a way that I’d never heard Milly before. 

 

“She said, you have to come home right away.  Something terrible has happened.  So I raced home.

 

“There she was standing in the bedroom with this bottle in her hand.  She said, ‘This is a Parkinson’s medicine.  I’ve seen Parkinson’s.  It’s a horrible disease.  I won’t be able to talk.  I won’t be able to walk.  I won’t be able to swallow.  I won’t be able to eat.  You’ll have to take me to the bathroom.

 

“’I’ll be totally dependent.  You won’t love me anymore.  You’ll leave me.’

 

Every one of the physical limitations that Milly dreaded came true.   She ultimately lost her battle to Parkinson’s in 2004.

 

But Kondracke did not leave her.  And he did not stop loving her. 

 

During one of the hardest times he wrote:  “Multiple times a day I pray for help and strength and Milly’s deliverance.  I simply couldn’t do this without feeling that I was doing God’s work in a small way.  I’ve asked God innumerable times, So what is my purpose here on earth? hoping that he will add a new and grandiose dimension to this, which he never does.

 

“The message always comes back the same:  Your job here is to take care of Milly.”

 

No matter what we’re facing today, and no matter how silent God might seem, we can be certain of one of our most important jobs.

 

Our job, by God’s grace, is to help take care of each other.

 

Glenn

 

 

I’ve often shared Mr. Kondracke’s hope – that my time on this earth would be noteworthy and have a memorable impact either for simple good or in a way that would glorify God through my life and work.  But what is glorifying God?  It’s certainly not my lack of humility.  I would think one could not argue with the idea that it is to live out the words of His son to the best of our ability, starting with Mark 12:

 

²⁹ “The most important [commandment],” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^{[e] 30} Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^{[f] 31} The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[g] There is no commandment greater than these.”

 

And that goes back to what Mort Kondracke and Glenn expounded upon.  We’re here to love each other…warts and all…and to take care of each other – in the name of our Heavenly Father.

 

That IS our grandiose purpose in the eyes of the only One that matters – and it starts with me.

 

Grace and Peace to you,

 

Steve

So; You Think You Know It All by Frank Black

“SO; YOU THINK YOU KNOW IT ALL”

(September 20, 2015 – F. Black)

 

            No, I’m not talking about book knowledge or electronics and computers, etc.  I can quickly squelch any hint that we ‘know it all’ by simple questions such as:  “How high is up?” or “What is life and can you create it?”  But don’t most of us think that in matters of judgment, politics, religion, and morality our thinking is the best, the most accurate, and ‘right’.  Come on now; don’t you think this?  Of course we wouldn’t have the audacity to state this (after all, our name isn’t Trump).  But deep down; don’t we really think so?  We (you notice that I keep putting myself into the mix) think our logic is sound, true, and impeccable. 

 

            Okay Frank, this sounds rather erudite.  “What are you talking about?”  I bring this up because we live in the epitome of a “ME generation” – quite narcissistic and outspoken. In our world most everyone thinks ‘they’ have the right and best answer or action. “Everyone needs to conform to me.” NO THEY DON’T! Unfortunately the individual, the solitary complainer, or the outspoken are given center stage in our country. It reminds me of the old adage, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”  And to speak against such folks is considered intolerant, bigoted, and not “PC”.  And let’s be honest; such a stance in our world does inhibit us – perhaps not in how we live but maybe by speaking in a more guarded way or by limiting how we publicly demonstrate  our Christianity. 

 

            No matter how “smart” we think we are, it is absolutely impossible to touch the hem of the garment of God’s knowledge and wisdom.  Isaiah 40:28 says, “…….His understanding no one can fathom.”  Our Bible often speaks of “worldly wisdom” and “divine wisdom”.  There is a huge chasm separating the two – the two can NEVER meet. I think all too often in today’s world (whether people claim to be God followers or deny Him totally), people think they know as much as God Himself.  I had a thought recently; it was an analogy that had to do with the sheer impossibility of us knowing what God knows.

 Just as animals cannot possibly know what humans know (reasoning, creativity, artistic endeavors); humans cannot possibly know what God knows.

 

            What I’ve said is nothing new.  You know this. Let me back up a step and remind you that Luke 16:8 says, “…..For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” (that’s us Christ followers).  Also Jesus says in John 16:33, “…..In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  In I John 3:13 we are warned: “Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.”  I Peter 4:4 says,  “…….they (the world) heap abuse on you.”  More than any time in my life of 73 years, all this seems to be the case.  We all need to be prepared for this.  Just remember the early history of Christianity with the hatred, discrimination, and persecution.  I think we have entered another such era.  Believe it and be prepared.

 

            What do we do?  

• HOLD FAST TO OUR FAITH
•  TRUST GOD’S PROMISES
•  RECOGNIZE THAT OUR CHRISTIANITY  AND MORAL CHOICES OFTEN GO CONTRARY TO THE WORLD’S POSITION
• PRAY FOR WISDOM IN WHAT TO SAY AND WHEN TO SAY IT; THEN  DO  IT!!
• HOLD FAST TO BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES OF RIGHT AND WRONG  [SIN]
• EXPECT RIDICULE  [OR WORSE]
• GAIN STRENGTH THROUGH WORSHIP AND BEING WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS
• PERSEVERE  -  PERSEVERE  -  PERSEVERE
• KNOW THAT GOD  PROMISES THE END RESULT – CHRISTIANITY WINS !!!

 

 

(I’ve written on similar topics before; but I sincerely think they need to be kept in the forefront)

To Defend or To Obey? by Mike DeCamp

A friend recently told me that I needed to “stand up and defend God.”  His words struck a chord with me and I’ve given them a good deal of thought.  As I watch the TV news and follow my Facebook news feed, I see lots of other Christians who seem to feel compelled to do that.  They are taking their “stand for God.”  They are marching.  They are protesting.  They are shouting at people.  They are writing biting articles and calling their senators.

I do respect their feelings and their convictions and understand their motives.  I appreciate their concern, and share their concerns over the moral state of our world.  I really do.

So, should I too stand up and defend God?

I guess my humble answer is that I think God is plenty capable of defending Himself.  He’s an incredibly powerful being that is much stronger, wiser, more patient, and more dangerous than I will ever be.

I don’t need to defend Him.  I need to obey Him.

God did tell us to march:

“If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.”  Jesus – Matthew 5:41

God did tell us to protest:

Defend the oppressed.  Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.  Isaiah 1:17

God did tell us to shout:

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.  Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  Psalm 100:1-2

God did tell us to write:

Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.  Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.  Proverbs 7:2-3

No, I don’t think God ever commanded us to stand up and defend Him.  We must not deny him, but defending him is not something he expects.  It is my feeling that He can take care of Himself pretty well.  Rather, I think He wants us (each one of us who claim him as Lord) to OBEY Him.  And personally, I plan to start with the following commands and build on from there:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it:  Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Jesus – Matthew 22:37-39  (And don’t forget that parable about who your neighbor is.)

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”  Jesus – Matthew 5:44-45

Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”  Paul – Romans 12:17-20

That's enough to keep me busy for quite a while.

And, lastly, Jesus did tell us how to respond to persecution…

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  Jesus – Matthew 5:10-12

That said, I'd like to add a bit of perspective.  We are a long way from serious persecution.

Consider this picture of Coptic Christians in Libya who refused to deny Christ:

We have not yet resisted to the point of shedding our blood.

“To obey is better than sacrifice.”  I Samuel 15:22

I don’t want to become so caught up in being right—so intent on maintaining my form of faith—so focused on my rights—so obsessed with trying to enforce moral standards—that I forget my real reason for being here.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.  And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.  Paul – 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

I think if we focused on doing what God actually asked us to do, then just like the early church, we will truly change our world.

Before I Go...by Chris Kirby

Before I Go…

…I would just like to take a moment to formally say thank you for allowing me, Jill, and the kids to be part of the family at Southeastern. It’s hard to believe it’s been over 8 years since we made our move north to become Hoosiers. We will never forget our time here and will always be grateful for our experiences.

…I’d like to express how grateful we are for the many blessings that have shaped our family during our time here. Our family has grown from 3 to 5 and our children have been treated with love and compassion from so many people who have taught them in classes, played with them in the playroom, hung out with them on youth trips, babysat for us, or cared from them in the preschool. Our kids know nothing different than being Hoosier (we’ll never let Jack know he was born in ‘Bama! J). They think that winter is supposed to be long, very very long, and be filled snow and bitter wind; bedtime in the summer is way too early because the sun is still up; hills aren’t a part of everyday life; racecars aren’t supposed to have fenders; and that every kid must have a really amazing children’s museum to play at on rainy days.  They are excited about moving close to family but we are definitely going to have our work cut out to make a new home that matches their love for Indy!

…I want you to know that I have learned so much about ministry from being part of successes and learning from failures here. We’ve spent a lot of time and covered many miles with our group in vans on our way to serve, grow in faith, building community, and just having a great time together. I’ve been given nicknames from teens, made up silly songs and stories with the group, played some games that were tons of fun (and some that weren’t! ha), and shared some tears along the way. Most importantly, we have been able to witness young people give their lives to Christ. We’ve had teens go through transformation and maturation in faith that have born witness to the greatness of Christ. We’ve seen teens try new things and blossom as they gained a sense of identity in the Lord. It is awesome to be in the positon as a youth minister and get a front row seat for God to work in powerful ways in young people!

… I want to give a special thanks to the young adult small group we were able to meet with for several years. We shared meals together, had spirited conversations, helped each other out when a need was present, and were able to experience true Christian fellowship with a group that we call family. So many of the young adults at Southeastern are talented and have so much to offer. I hope that they will choose to exert themselves in selfless ways to the ministry of Southeastern and that the church will recognize the potential of the group.

… I have to let the staff know I couldn’t ask for better partners in ministry than Greg, Joey, and Dale. Each of these guys display obvious hearts for the Lord and bring such unique gifts and passions to the table. I hope that they will continue to shine in their ministries and help Southeastern and North Central be lights for the Kingdom in Indianapolis. Also, Debbie and LeAnne both exemplify such sacrificial hearts for the church at Southeastern. They do so on the job and in their efforts that are outside of job descriptions. I can only hope for such a strong connection with the staff at Tusculum and know that I have learned what it means to work as a team from my time at Southeastern.

… you should hear that I’m appreciative to the shepherds at Southeastern. Over the 8 years  I’ve been here there have 12 different men I’ve worked with for some length of time. Several of the men served the full length of my tenure. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that they strive to lead Southeastern in a humble way and with the good of the congregation at the heart of their decisions. I can also say they strive to treat staff fairly and with dignity. I still remember the day we accepted the job at Southeastern in May of 2007. We had hesitations about leaving the south and our families. One of the elders, I believe it was Brian, talked to me on the phone and assured me that the good of our family would be a top priority at Southeastern and to only take the job if I felt it would be good for us personally.  That compassion toward our needs sealed the deal for us to move north! I hope that they will continue to lead with humility, prayer, and boldness to follow the leading of God!

… that we are excited to move into another season of ministry, but it also comes with sadness about leaving. However, we pray for a bright future at Southeastern. We hope that you will passionately present Jesus to those who don’t yet know Him, grow in your faith together as a family, and strive to honor God in everything you do. Be a group of disciples who take seriously the charge to bring justice and mercy into your community while walking humbling with God. Don’t just keep the doors open, run out of those doors with passion to reach the world for Jesus. We believe that the best days for Southeastern can be in the future and not the past if God is in the middle of everything here.

… you should know this one last thing: Be sure to stop and see us if you’re ever passing through Nashville. We’d love the chance to see anyone from this family we’ve called ours for almost a decade. We love you and will miss you!

Two Coins - Too Much? by Joey Kincheloe

Two Coins - Too Much?

 

The widow had two copper coins left. They were the very last of her possessions. Beyond those two coins, there was nothing.

            *Tink-tink*

She dropped them into the collection tray. That’s it. She’s done. There’s nothing left.  What will she do now?

 

Jesus spoke highly of this woman.

            “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

                                                            - Luke 21:3-4

 

Her sacrifice was greater than anyone else’s at that place and that time. With two measly coins, she out-gave the wealthy folks that were filling the tray to the brim before passing it.

            We get that. It was about her heart right? She gave it all to God. She held nothing back. This was about a woman wanting to honor her God with everything she had (even though what she had was almost worthless to anyone else). That day she gave God honor. She gave God her trust. She gave God her hope. She gave God her life. She sacrificed it all.

            That’s great stuff. There are lessons there for us. I imagine many of us have heard those lessons so I won’t try to put a fresh spin on that. I’ll move to something else.

 

            Something that strikes me is that Jesus accepted and encouraged that widow’s full sacrifice. He didn’t guarantee that she would be taken care of after giving her everything either. You might think he would assure his disciples that when you sacrifice everything, God will make sure that everything will turn out fine (or maybe you’ll even end up with more than you gave), but he didn’t.

            To our knowledge, Jesus did not give this woman any assurances. He didn’t tell her to keep her head up and everything will be just fine. He didn’t go up to her and say, “Hey, I can see that your heart is in the right place and that you want to honor God with everything you have - but don’t give the last of your money. God understands that life is difficult for you right now. He doesn’t really expect you to give up the last of your money to him. He’s ok with you not giving that money.” Nope, he doesn’t say that at all. He honors her. He elevates her for her sacrifice.

 

            Could it be that the Son of God who was about to give his everything knew that sometimes, a sacrifice really hurts? There was no out for Jesus. When he sacrificed, he wasn’t getting an intervention at the last moment from God saying, “Alright son, you’ve proven to me that you love and honor me…there’s no need to go through all the torture and this horrific death. There’s another way. After all, it’s your heart that matters. And you have obviously shown me that your heart is in the right place.” Nope, he didn’t get that. What he did receive was the opportunity to honor his Father with everything he had.

 

I promise, this is not a post about giving more money. This is a post about giving everything. This a post about holding nothing back. This story is about someone who withheld nothing from her God. This is about Jesus seeing that and pointing it out to those around him. Essentially Jesus is saying, “Hey! Look at this! Take notes. Plan to do this yourself in the future. This widow lady has got it right!”

 

 

Sometimes, the sacrifice is not about what others get from us. It certainly wasn’t about the offering numbers getting a huge boost from this widow’s offering. Sometimes the sacrifice is about us - the ones doing the sacrificing. Sometimes the act of sacrificing does something to us and in us.

            Don’t hear me wrong. I’m not saying that we should give lots of money and stuff to make us feel good about ourselves or to make us look good in God’s eyes (and certainly not in man’s eyes). I am saying that sometimes when we are willing to sacrifice and give everything over to God, we are living out the story of Jesus. When we start to sacrifice and give of ourselves like Jesus did, we become more like the Creator. We become just a little bit more like what we are supposed to be.

 

So don’t give of yourself to receive honor. Don’t do it to feel good about yourself. Do it to be like Jesus. Let us give more and more of ourselves to the LORD. Let us become more and more willing to sacrifice the important things in our lives for the most significant thing in the world - our Master and Redeemer.

 

Can you part with your two copper coins?

Growing Hearts in Community by Greg York

Growing Hearts in Community 

 

…be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  

–Ephesians 5.1-2

 

Southeastern folks who were present last Sunday know that we have begun the lead up to a “reset” of our small groups ministry. Now, I know that this blog is supposed to be a place where the leadership of Southeastern talks about what it means to grow in Christ and our individual experiences in that journey. But that is precisely why I want to take the time to do some shameless promotion of small group participation. Because being deeply involved in the lives of fellow believers (and small groups are an excellent way to do that) is critical to our growth in Christ.

 

As we noted in the sermon last week, God works with groups of people, and even in those places in the Biblical narrative when he works with individuals, it is most often for the benefit of a larger group of people.

 

For instance: When someone becomes a Christ-follower, it is not merely a “salvation transaction.” No, she becomes part of the church, a “fellowship of differents” (to borrow Scot McKnight’s wonderful phrase), where she has a contribution to make to the spiritual health and vitality of the whole even as her spiritual health and vitality is contributed to by others in the fellowship.

 

There’s a principle at work here, one that may go back to the fact that we were created by a relational God: We become our best selves in relationship with others. It’s a principle captured in the wisdom of Israel: Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens [the face of] another (Proverbs 27.17). (Our English translations usually leave out that little bit in the brackets; typically for the Hebrew language, it earthily, graphically illustrates the point that we are shaped in the most fundamental ways by our (face to face) relationships.)

 

More than 50 times in the New Testament, Christ-followers are told to do something to or something for “one another” or “each other.” “One another” or “each other” means “your fellow Christ-followers.”  The most common “one another” command – by far – is to “love one another.” All of these things are things you cannot do from a distance. They are all things that require us to be (actually, not just “virtually”) part of one another’s lives.

 

 

And just being in the same large room on Sunday mornings does not mean you are a part of another believer’s life. Where are we investing in the lives of fellow Christ-followers, not just hitting the thumb-up “like” icon? Who is investing in our spiritual well-being?

 

 

That’s where small groups can come in on several levels.

 

For one: We may not be able invest in (sharpen) the lives of 300 people; in fact, that sounds nothing short of overwhelming, the kind of task you give up on before you start. No, we may not be able invest in (sharpen) the lives of 300 people, but we can invest in the lives of 10-12.

 

For another: We seldom truly process the teaching and preaching we get in our classes and in sermons. We tend to treat those things like an event that had a very short shelf life. But when we are teaching and preaching from the word of God, we are dealing with something that has no expiration date. In fact, we are dealing with something that must be newly applied and lived out in changing situations. Frankly, there are ways in which living for Christ today is not like living for Christ 50 years ago. Or, even 10 years ago. Where are we finding wisdom for applying God’s word in such a time? Is that not perhaps exactly how one person (of faith) can be sharpening another? Who do you get with to process how to live out the word of God?

 

Beginning in late September, our default setting for our groups will be that the Bible study portion will seek to discuss how we apply the lesson of the sermon that week. Joey ran this approach on a test basis in a couple of groups in the spring with very good results. This fall, we move to that being the “preferred” setting for all of our groups, so that all of us can be working together toward the same goals spiritually.

 

Think of our groups as “fellowships for discipleship.”

 

We will continue to talk about this more in the sermons this week and on August 23 and 30. But here are some things to keep in mind as we move forward. In fact, think of this as something of a study guide a teacher gives you before a test: I’m hoping that after you think about it and prepare for it, you will have an answer ready when you are asked about participating in a group in a few weeks.

 

 

If you have any interest in leading or co-leading a group or hosting a group, contact me now. We’ll be starting our training soon. (If you are uncertain about whether or not you are interested, contact me now.)

 

Keep on praying about your participation in one of our small groups and be prepared to signal your interest in a few weeks when we ask for you to sign up to be a participant.

 

The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

– Ephesians 4.11-13

For the Love of a Dog by Mike DeCamp

For the Love of a Dog

By Mike DeCamp

Clint Davis emailed me a video the other day.  He didn’t say anything in the email.  He just sent the link.  At first, I was hesitant to click on it.  I thought he might have been hacked and maybe it was a virus.  However, he called me a day or so later and told me it was okay.

So, I watched it.  Here’s the link if you want to check it out: https://vimeo.com/122375452

I’m not going to give it away, but it’s entitled “Denali” and it’s about a man and his dog—from the dog’s perspective.  It will make you cry.

Sugar--and I guess maybe she is judging my clothing choices.

I’ve had five dogs in my life.  The last two (Leo & Xena) are still with me.  I’ve loved them all, and they’ve all loved me back.  I can remember my first one, Sugar.  She was a puppy when my folks got her—the runt of the litter.  I was one.  She died when I was seventeen.  She used to sit so patiently and listen to all of my problems.  No judging.  No laughing.  She didn’t drift off.  She didn’t get distracted by the TV or her cellphone.  She just sat there and let me vent, smiling her doggie smile.  And, then she’d give me an affectionate lick on the cheek.  I always felt better after our “talks” out on the back landing at my folk’s house.

Sally was my third dog.  We got her when my girls were young, and we had to put her down when she was around ten or eleven—some sort of tumor on her snout.  She was my dog.  No one could hold her if I called her.  Like Sugar, she was an outdoor dog, but if I was outside, she was right there with me.  If I sat down, she hopped up next to me—so affectionate.  And, like Sugar, she was a great listener.  Something in my heart broke when she died.

Leo with Nancy, and Xena by her dish

Leo is one of my current dogs.  He’s really Nancy’s dog.  She is his favorite by far, but he loves me too.  He just wants to be with us.  If one of us goes upstairs, he cries.  When we come back down, he acts like he hasn’t seen us for years.  He jumps, bounces, and runs around the room with joy.  If I bend over, he hooks his front legs on me and sort of pulls himself into my arms.

I wonder—what would it be like if we loved one another the way that our dogs love us?

Listening without judging.  No laughing.  No condemning.  No conditions.  Just listening out of love.

Paying attention without distraction.  Always there—in the moment.

Eager to show affection.  Okay, so no licking, but still, a warm hug would be nice.

Overjoyed to see one another.  I mean, seriously joyful, bouncing off the walls happy to be together.

Well, so maybe bouncing off the walls with joy is a bit much to ask, but the Bible does have something to say on the matter:

1 Peter 1:22 – Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.  Apostle Peter

Romans 12:10 – Be devoted to one another in love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Apostle Paul

John 13:34-35 – A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  Jesus

I know I’ve got a long ways to go before I reach the standard that has been set for me in scripture, but along the road I can learn from the example set for me by the unconditional and limitless love of my dogs. 

Even so, I promise not to jump up into your arms and lick your whole face when I see you.  I’ll stick to the warm hugs.