I think God's fundamental motivation in all that He does is Love. Yes, it is true that God responds to His Word — His commitments. But why would He do that? One could say He does so because He is a God of Truth, which is absolutely true. But more than that, He does so because He is a God that loves us and His love for us is a primary motivation for keeping His commitments to us.
We see in the Scriptures that Jesus was repeatedly moved with compassion and as a result He healed and touched people. So often we are not moved with compassion when it comes to others. We interact with people based on pity, judgment, desire to make things right, desire to look good, and the list goes on. Our motivations are so twisted and hidden from us that it is rare, I think, that we are really moved to act out of Love unless we are allowing the Holy Spirit to move through us.
The great thing is, if we do cooperate with the Holy Spirit, His motivations will flow through us and we will find ourselves ministering to people out of love and compassion. That's the kind of minister I want to be.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
LifeLab #6 — Types of Healing
Last night we covered the topic, "Types of Healing". Pastor Chris Goldsmith was our speaker.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Past, Present and Future Deliverance
2 Corinthians 1:8-11
8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
I love this passage. In it, Paul is talking about the deliverance that he experienced while in difficulty. At the same time he reflects how the very deliverance they experienced comes from a God who has delivered us in the past, is currently delivering us right now and who will deliver us in the future.
I think this is so practical because as we walk through life we must constantly wait on and believe God for deliverance. We look to the past and we see that He has freed us from the curse of sin and death, we look at our lives currently and we see that He is still working in us and delivering us from the presence of sin today and we look toward a future day when He will deliver us from even the presence of death in heaven. Praise God!
8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
I love this passage. In it, Paul is talking about the deliverance that he experienced while in difficulty. At the same time he reflects how the very deliverance they experienced comes from a God who has delivered us in the past, is currently delivering us right now and who will deliver us in the future.
I think this is so practical because as we walk through life we must constantly wait on and believe God for deliverance. We look to the past and we see that He has freed us from the curse of sin and death, we look at our lives currently and we see that He is still working in us and delivering us from the presence of sin today and we look toward a future day when He will deliver us from even the presence of death in heaven. Praise God!
LifeLab #4 — Deliverance from Sin
Last night we covered the topic, "Deliverance from the Power of Sin". Jim Childress was our speaker.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Salvation — Do You Take it for Granted?
Whenever I study salvation, it is clear that this miracle is wonderful beyond comprehension. There are so many different aspects to the covering and atoning that Christ offers for our sins that it is impossible for us to be able to truly appreciate it. We get glimpses and gain a fuller appreciation, but it is so huge that our human minds cannot totally grasp its significance.
I am also reminded of how frequently I take my salvation for granted. Because Christ has removed my sins from me as far as the east is from the west, because He has given me a measure of peace in my life, because I am no longer driven by sin in the way that those who have not yet been set free are — for all these reasons, I so quickly forget how incredible this gift is.
This is why it is so important to stay in contact with the real world. Sometimes we get in our Christian bubbles and we forget about the world that is lost and dead in sin. We get so focused on enjoying our freedom in Christ and building relationships with others in the faith (which are good things, no doubt), that we often loose our passion for the lost.
We forget that God is as passionate about the world as He was for us!
What do you tend to forget or take for granted about your salvation?
I am also reminded of how frequently I take my salvation for granted. Because Christ has removed my sins from me as far as the east is from the west, because He has given me a measure of peace in my life, because I am no longer driven by sin in the way that those who have not yet been set free are — for all these reasons, I so quickly forget how incredible this gift is.
This is why it is so important to stay in contact with the real world. Sometimes we get in our Christian bubbles and we forget about the world that is lost and dead in sin. We get so focused on enjoying our freedom in Christ and building relationships with others in the faith (which are good things, no doubt), that we often loose our passion for the lost.
We forget that God is as passionate about the world as He was for us!
What do you tend to forget or take for granted about your salvation?
LifeLab #3 — The Solution to Sin
Last night we covered the topic, "The Solution to Sin: Salvation."
- Teaching Notes
- Discussion Questions
- Supporting Material: Video - The Lost Sheep
- Supporting Material: Video - Sacrifice
Thursday, September 11, 2008
LifeLab #2 — The Problem of Sin
In LifeLab #2, we discussed the question, "The Problem of Sin".
- Teaching Notes
- Discussion Questions
- Supporting Material: Video - Sin
- Book Recommendation:
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Get to Know Jesus!
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Carvaggio (circa 1601)
Since our topic for the first week of LifeLab is "Who Is Jesus?" I thought it might be appropriate to share this wonderful image from the baroque painter Carvaggio. There is something about this representation of the story from Scripture where Thomas is brought in to see the resurrected Christ and actually is able to place his fingers on Christ's wounds.
John 20:27
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
In Carvaggio's version we see Christ actually thrusting Thomas' finger into His side. We see the others looking on in anticipation and amazement. All of this fully demonstrates that Christ has a physical body. Though He is resurrected, He is still in corporeal form — His human body is now glorified, but is still real and human.
I love the idea that Christ is so concerned with Thomas' doubt, that He gets very physical and intimate with Him. He settles all doubt once and for all. Not only has He been raised from the dead, but He is raised not just as a spirit but as a glorified body. The look on Thomas' face is priceless.
September 3 — Who is Jesus
In LifeLab #1, we discussed the question, "Who is Jesus?".
- Teaching Notes
- Discussion Questions
- Supporting Material: The Names of Jesus
- Supporting Material: Video - The Names of Jesus
- Supporting Material: Song - Give Me Jesus
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