The Purpose of the Church
The question, “Why did you become a pastor?” is one I’m pleased to answer!
First, it’s God’s call on my life. But the framework of that calling began when I was a child.
Church was always an adventure to us as a family. Even on vacations, going to a worship service was a meaningful part of each trip. Even guests who came to visit us knew they’d be going to church with us Sunday morning.
Never treat church as just one of several options. If you’re not in a church worth the commitment for you and your family, then find one that is!
It isn’t the task of the church to get Jesus in the heart of your child. That’s your job. The purpose is to support you as a unique family unit—one that God has ordained to help you do your job in establishing Jesus in the heart of your child!
(From Skyline message/November 19, 2017)
Preach the Word
What the apostle Paul wrote to a young preacher deserves our attention now more than ever!
In 2nd Timothy 4:2-4, Paul charges Timothy to “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with patience and great instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
Sound familiar? There’s hardly a week goes by that I don’t hear of some pastor or organizational leader who has capitulated to the pressure of the culture.
The good news is, many are standing firm!
The bad news is—not nearly enough!
(From Skyline message/April 30, 2017/Part 6)
Let’s Call it Sin
Carl Menninger, the famous psychiatrist, wrote a book titled, What Ever Happened to Sin?
Good question!
Sin! It’s a word we rarely hear in our politically correct culture today! In our avoidance of anything that might smack of criticizing or stepping on someone’s rights.
We’d rather think in terms of “messing up!”
Or how about, “making an error”, or we say, “It’s just a failure, a shortcoming in my personality.”
Suuuure! Anything but sin!
Pastors aren’t even saying it in pulpits.
It just doesn’t occur in the language—Christian or not!
It comes from the Greek word, “amatia”—to miss the bulls-eye!
And Proverbs 20 verse 9 asks the pertinent question: “Who can say I have kept my heart pure? Who can say I am clean—without sin?”
And when we do?
Let’s not call it anything but what it actually is—sin.
A Vision of the Future
It’s been said, “I am what I tolerate!”
In a 2016 article by the editor of the media site, VOX, the headline reads: “American atheists . . . have radically different visions of the future.”
And just what IS their vision of the future?
The article’s author wrote: “We are at a turning point in American life. Religion, the long-stubborn source of our national ills, is finally dying.”
Many would like to minimize the relevance of Christianity in our history and our society. But if so, the result will be a nation without the moral compass of biblical truth.
It will give way to a form of government that stifles our freedoms.
We are at a turning point! A time to use our constitutionally guaranteed First Amendment rights to articulate a “well versed”—in Scripture—understanding of community and national life!
Quote from: http://www.vox.com/2016/6/29/12051872/reason-rally
Bible Studies in the U.S. Capitol Building
Bible studies are taking place in the most unusual places!
Would you guess the U. S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.?
In our U.S. Capitol Building, a number of Bible studies are taking place as members of Congress come together to study the Bible. The church I pastor is one of those organizations who sponsor a ministry in the Capitol Building. We’re also launching Bible studies in other agencies and departments across Washington, D.C.
It’s encouraging to know how much Bible study is taking place by people in governmental authority. God’s Spirit is at work in places you might never have expected. We all hear bad news every day. But isn’t it exciting to know that the “good news” of the Gospel is being presented on an ongoing daily basis—and that members of Congress are the ones who’re participating? You bet it is!
Revival in America
If we would believe God and pray and fast accordingly, we could see revival in the church in America and renewal in our nation!
The issue for me is, can we have biblical values reinstated into our culture?
I want people appointed to duties who’re respecters of our U.S. constitution. Why? Because the ones who wrote it, and signed it feared and loved God, overwhelmingly so. Of the signers, the most quoted book in their writings was the Bible. And the second strongest quotation they used was other people who quoted the Bible!
In other words, they were riddled with understanding of the Scripture. I want people in leadership who’re high in integrity, constitutionally prone, and driven by biblical values. We’ve been given this moment to pray for revival within the church, for renewal of our culture and our nation!
Let’s not miss the time we have!
(From Skyline message/November 20, 2016)
