When Paul wrote of Timothy to the Philippians, he said, "But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father." (2:22)
Christianity has taken on a nebulous form in modern America. It has something to do with grace, perhaps, and maybe joy, but often requires nothing of us other than perhaps a Sunday. For Christ and his early followers, Christianity was about far more than that: it was about proven worth. As Romans 5 would say,
"We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope." The truest hope requires proven character. It requires the sacrifice in daily life. It requires pushing past the comfort zone and being bold to others about our faith in Christ. Let's do it!
"For the entire Law is fulfilled in in this one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."—Gal 5:14
Recognizing women: credit where it's due!
Sometimes women in churches don't get much public recognition. As one preacher (sadly in seriousness) said, "Women can pass the communion trays as long as they don't stand to do it." The apostle Paul, though, was absolutely willing to publicly praise some early ladies in the assemblies. Check out part of what he said in Romans 16 (in part; emphasis mine):
"I commend to you our sister PHOEBE, who is a deaconess of the church which is at Cenchrea. Greet PRISCA and Aquila who for my life risked their own necks...Greet MARY, who has worked hard for you...Greet Andronicus and JUNIAS, who are outstanding among the apostles... Greet TRYPHAENA and TRYPHOSA, workers in the Lord."
In his salutations, Paul makes it clear that the early church held many women in high regard for their service to Christ. We should certainly do the same! Some public recognition as Paul gave goes a long way to encourage people. : )
Is it possible to lose your salvation?
It is a popular theory that losing one's salvation is impossible, but God says,
"For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame." (Heb 2:4-6)
So how can that be? The Bible speaks of us who are "being saved." (1 Cor 1; 2 Cor 2) It tells us to "grow in respect to salvation." (1 Peter 2) And in Revelation, it threatens to remove people from that security. We are told that we have the "down payment/earnest" (Eph 1:2 Cor 1) of the Spirit.
All these are present, progressive things which haven't yet reached completion; they aren't static/fixed. Thus we can "grow in respect to salvation," but we can also leave it. We can choose to be those who are "being saved," or we can throw God the bird. Let's make the right choice out of love! It's great that He lets us choose. :)
What can Jesus teach you that'll help you reach others?
Do you want to teach people about Jesus? In order to effectively and persuasively teach people about Jesus, we need to learn about Him first! That's why He said,
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. " (Mt 11:29)
Want to be effective in teaching others? Want to be like Jesus? Want people to actually listen to you instead of just being offended? Learn to be like Him by being gentle and humble to others!
What good is a broken spirit?
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." (Psalms 51:17) God can effectively use those who are not prideful, but rather humble and meek. His greatest Servant ever was the best example of humility ever.
Don't think much more needs to be said for this one.
Who can words hurt?
Words can do grievous amounts of damage to someone, including our brothers and sisters in Christ. It's so easy to let loose means words, even if they hold truth. But worse than that, we can grieve even our Creator. Ephesians 4:30-32 records something beautiful, saying,
"Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."
Do your words show a tender heart? There is no call for us to be wrathful—God can manage that in the end. But kindness accomplishes so very, very much. Let's practice that ever hour.
Don't leave people weak.
As strong Christians, we're expected to be leaders to those who aren't. However, the idea of supporting the weak in a way that leaves them still weak is of no benefit—we are supposed to be building them up. Romans 15:1-3 says in part, "Now we who are strong ought to bear the failings of the weak...to build them up."
Imagine a person who is too weak to pick up a box. We can do everything for them, and the task gets done, but the person builds no muscle and remains weak, or we can help them enough that they work and grow muscle, until they can do it on their own.
It's tempting to only help a little. Maybe someone has a personal life that's a train-wreck, but polishes up well for assembly, so we think, "Eh, have 'em lead a prayer or a devotional and that'll be enough." Strength training is not an hour-a-week thing. Ultimately we leave that person the same as before: still weak. Let's take the time to focus on the PERSON, which means their—and our—PERSONAL lives. It's not the easiest path and it has no shortcuts, but it's the one that leads to gains.
When should we encourage others?
As long as Christ's church has the potential for improvement, we need to be serious about encouraging others! Part of that is realizing that young people are the future of the church, so we should be filling their encouragement tanks to the full mark. I like what God told Moses to do, saying,
"But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it.” (Deut 1:38)
Let's encourage young people! They truly will be leading the battle!
What does speaking well of others do?
What's a simple way to encourage someone? Well first, have ya ever heard the saying, "Life's tough, wear a helmet?" The world can beat the ever-loving snot out of you! We should recognize this fact and make sure that we're counteracting that with encouragement.
FACT: We encourage people by speaking well of them to OTHERS!
Paul did that in 2 Corinthians 9:2, writing, “for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.”
Find someone and boast about them to others! And notice that it not only encourages the person about whom good things are being said, but also those hearing about the achievements!
How can I encourage future leaders?
What do you do when tragedy strikes or something bad happens? Some people get angry and turn on God. Others mope. Some just become apathetic. We are all Christian leaders in some facet of our lives, because we should all be leading people to Christ, so what should leaders do?
Moses was a leader who suffered the worst of setbacks: everything he'd worked to see in the Promised Land was denied him. After so many years and so much heartache, his goal was given to others, but he knew that he would never get to see it. Do you know what he did? In the face of it all, he stood tall and encouraged the next leader, saying to Joshua,
"‘Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings; so the Lord shall do to all the kingdoms into which you are about to cross. Do not fear them, for the Lord your God is the one fighting for you.’ (Deut 3:21-22) When we're going through the darkest times in our lives, we can shine the brightest by reacting so very differently than the world would. Let's let Christ shine from us!
Don't get in a scuffle with God!
As a Christian, would you want God to get in a scuffle with you? To fight against you? To resist you? No way! "Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
Think about that! God resists us when we're proud, no matter what awesome achievements or great knowledge we have. Perhaps that's why he instructed pastors of congregations to make sure that they were "Not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."
Being arrogant and prideful makes our example worthless and puts us in opposition to God! Let's watch it. :D
Do you wear your clothes?
Humility is the key to good leadership, because it allows others to be empowered instead of coerced. It is introspection that looks to improve oneself in order to help others. 1 Peter 5:5 says it like this, "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."
One of the first things that we do when we get out of bed in the morning is put our clothes on. Let's all clothe ourselves in humility when we get out of bed in the morning, and let's pray that we keep those clothes on throughout the day!
Our knowledge can be of great help.
As we grow in Christ, our knowledge can be of great help to others, but sometimes we can start getting a little bit-picky about things, or even perhaps seeing ALL THE THINGS WRONG with people! I mean seriously, how can that person call himself a Christian? Wow! But wait! We should remember that we all have different challenges and grow at different rates. See some seriously weak Christian? Remember:
"we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.” (Romans 15:1-2)
Our objective is to build the person up, not just be irritated by the flaws that we're able to see. Reach out. Form a connection. Make a friend, a battle buddy, and help a brother out. :)
Is it ok to celebrate Halloween?
I dressed the Pups up for Halloween, but mainly so we could have fun handing out candy to kids, which I like to do every year. What I didn't do was dress us my dog in order to celebrate Satan, and I'm mostly sure that the 6 y/o boy dressed as a T-rex wasn't too focused on that, either. The girl dressed as a Frozen princess who took TWO handfuls of candy may have had a little bit of an unclean spi—just kidding, she was from the local congregation. :D
That said, some associate Halloween with Satan, as they see a connection between it and ancient druidic, pagan practices and they believe this strongly enough that it bothers their conscience. That is fine! Although my conscience is clean, others may be bothered. In 1 Corinthians 8, some could eat food sacrificed to idols all day long without a care, but others were spiritually damaged by it. Some now can't see the candy apart from a connection to paganism, and some can.
Likewise, Romans 14 addresses these things extensively. In part it says, " One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind [...] But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? [...]This faith which you have, keep between yourself and God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin."
Like Christmas and Easter, if it bugs you, certainly don't partake. And those of us who are not bugged by it should not push it on those who are, thus making them stumble.
Who should we uphold as exemplary?
God is surprisingly picky about not putting youngins' and the wounded on the front lines of battle. Still, current leaders always end up giving way to the next generations as they age, but who should we look to as examples of up-coming leadership? Philippians 3:16-17 says, "Let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained [...] join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us."
So we should look up to those who have it together spiritually. But is it ok to pick young leaders? Absolutely, but when Paul selected Timothy, look at what parts of life Timothy had to be upstanding in: "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." (1 Tim 4:12)
So yes, we should be urging our young people to become leaders, and even looking to them for the example of how to walk—but only if they truly walk the walk in basically EVERY FACET OF LIFE, private and public! It's a tough challenge, so let's help people live up to it!
I feel like I have battle fatigue.
Battle fatigue, or "combat stress reaction (CSR)," includes a range of behaviors resulting from the stress of battle that decrease the combatant's fighting efficiency. The most common symptoms are fatigue, slower reaction times, indecision, disconnection from one's surroundings, and inability to prioritize.
Treatment of CSR is very simple and focuses on human interaction to restore a person's coping skills. As Christians, we can also suffer from battle fatigue, and like a solider in the military, we need quick, focused contact with our brothers and sisters in Christ. In short, we need some dedicated, intentional encouragement. Are you there to be encouraging when your battle buddies are feeling worn down or shocked? I liked Paul's words in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4, and we should give words like this to others:
"We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope [n our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you."
Beautiful, simple; refreshing!
What do we do if a brother or sister in Christ is living a life in open rebellion to God's Word?
What do we do if a brother or sister in Christ is living a life in open rebellion to God's Word? I heard one preacher say, "Just be nice. You can't disconnect a trailer that's not connected in the first place." Another said that we need to "get rid" of such people to "purify the church." Another favored putting them in minor leadership positions to encourage them. So what is God's advice? Check out 1 Thess 3:14-15:
"If anyone does not obey[...] take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."
God recommends a form of ostracism so that it might produce shame and repentance on the part of the one in open rebellion, and thus result in his restoration. Sounds harsh, huh? No leading an assembly for sure, and definitely some disconnecting of the trailer from the truck! But the goal is RESTORATION. The goal is to admonish, which means to "instruct through warning."
And above all, we have to love them, and cherish them as our family. We have to wish for their success. If should grieve us to see them struggling with sin; it should hurt to limit association. Our hearts should be pained, not poisoned.
Can I control my language?
Much of Christianity has made Sunday morning into an extra special ritual called "the worship." I've heard it said that it's impossible to control your language—by those who control it just fine "at church" during "the worship." Yet if a person can control his mouth at church for the "worship hour," he can certainly control it the other 167 hours of the week. It's simply a choice not to.
God's not interested in someone that acts differently for an hour per week. Anyone can do that. Instead, he wants you "to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your rational service." (Romans 12:1)
He died for us so that we might live for Him. A tiny fraction of that is embodied in the statement, "For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech." (1 Peter 3:10) Let's keep every hour clean and above reproach!
Why is Mount Everest like Satan?
Sir Edmund Hillary was the first person to conquer Mount Everest (along with his Sherpa helper Tenzing Norgay) but he didn't beat it on his first try. His first attempt was a failure. But after that failure, he said, "I will come again & conquer you, because as a mountain you can’t grow, but as a human, I can.”
Think about that spiritually. Satan is a powerful and huge, like Mount Everest, but like Everest, he also can't grow. His fate has long been sealed. His bag of tricks is supernaturally powerful but also utterly revealed by God. Now consider what God says about us. "Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation." (1 Pet 2:2)
Unlike Satan, we CAN grow. Unlike Satan, we CAN be destined for perfect glory. And unlike Satan, we have a Tenzing Norgay on our side of unfathomable power. The only way we can lose is if we don't try.
Does how we treat animals matter?
I find it interesting to watch how people treat animals. While we are given them by God for humane slaughter as a source of food, some people are cruel to them, and it reveals something about their hearts. God would say,
"A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, But even the the heart of the wicked is cruel." (Prov 12:10)
Compassion and kindness to animals is a trait that God looks for. Lots of serial killers even start their road to evil by abusing animals. These little things can reveal parts of a person's inner man.