For the last several weeks, I've been praying through the book of Psalm, one chapter a day, then post a selection of verses from that chapter on my Facebook wall.
Here is a sampling from today:
[a prayer of confession AND a prayer for God's intervention]
Dear Lord,
...my health is broken because of my sins. My guilt overwhelms me— it is a burden too heavy to bear. I am exhausted and completely crushed. My groans come from an anguished heart. You know what I long for, Lord; you hear my every sigh. For I am waiting for you, O Lord. You must answer for me, O Lord my God. But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done. Do not abandon me, O Lord. Do not stand at a distance, my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my savior. (excerpts from Psalms 38:3-4, 8-9, 15, 18-18, 21-22 NLT)
As I pour out my heart to you like this, remind me of what Jesus did for me on the cross. Because of overwhelming sin in our lives, You DID intervene by sending Your Son, forgiving my sins, saving me from sin and death. I don't have to wait. You've already come!
Amen!
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Your VOICE Sharing The Love Of Jesus
I'm leading chapel for St. Paul School tomorrow morning and will be showing this clip from The Voice.
In Matthew 5:14, Jesus called His disciples (calls us) to be the light of the world. Paxton Ingram definitely did that! And sharing his love for Jesus even showed to all who watched Paxton's truest identity, his identity in Christ!
Note the judges comments:
Note the judges comments:
- Pharrell - "unleashing of power" (of course that was the power of Jesus working through Paxton), "seeing you the freest", "this is who Paxton is"
- Blake - "Never seen that smile on Paxton", "See what happens when you open up"
What about you? How may you share your voice, as in one who proclaims the good news of Jesus, and BE that light of the world?
Watch the power of Jesus unleashed in you!
Watch for a displaying of your truest self--your identity in Christ! Watch what happens and whom God will use to reach when you open up and be whom God created you to be!
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Group Life/CITYLIGHTS update at St. Paul
Praise God with me for all of HIS work in blessing the the growth of these ministries!
To not miss the text/stats found on the right side of the video, you may want to watch directly on YouTube. :)
To not miss the text/stats found on the right side of the video, you may want to watch directly on YouTube. :)
Friday, April 8, 2016
a challenge...
a challenge...
What if you as a Jesus follower met one person outside of your congregation a week?
What do you think could happen?
Doable?
Over the last month, this has become my goal--and this coming from a full-fledged introvert (maybe to your surprise). It may be challenging in the beginning, but watch how, as you go from week to week, it becoming easier and people you've recently met actually doing the introducing work as they wish you to meet their friends/customers.
Could pastors/church workers model this for our members and lead the charge? Or could our members gracefully inspire church workers to get out of their offices and do life "in" the community? Could this be a way we can "Go" as Jesus commissioned His disciples in Matthew 28:19? Would meeting someone new each week up the chances for someone joining you for worship on the weekend, experiencing Christian community, hearing the good news of Jesus?
Are you up for the challenge? If you are, I'd love to know. Send out a comment.
What if you as a Jesus follower met one person outside of your congregation a week?
What do you think could happen?
Doable?
Over the last month, this has become my goal--and this coming from a full-fledged introvert (maybe to your surprise). It may be challenging in the beginning, but watch how, as you go from week to week, it becoming easier and people you've recently met actually doing the introducing work as they wish you to meet their friends/customers.
Could pastors/church workers model this for our members and lead the charge? Or could our members gracefully inspire church workers to get out of their offices and do life "in" the community? Could this be a way we can "Go" as Jesus commissioned His disciples in Matthew 28:19? Would meeting someone new each week up the chances for someone joining you for worship on the weekend, experiencing Christian community, hearing the good news of Jesus?
Are you up for the challenge? If you are, I'd love to know. Send out a comment.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Wow...Both Surprised and Refreshed
Watch this clip...
I don't know much about David Platt, so don't take this as big endorsement of what he believes/teaches. But he nailed this one!
Back in my early years, I had a friend who doubted/questioned my faith in Jesus because I had not bowed down and said the "sinner's prayer" (you know...the one found nowhere in God's Word). Having grown up in the church my entire life, going to Christian schools, being brought up by Christian parents, not knowing AT ALL what life was apart from my Lord and Savior Jesus...NONE of this weighed in enough for my friend because I never said verbatim the sinner's prayer. Sad and so wrong!
Now if I had a friend with whom I was discipling and who came to faith in Jesus, I would invite him to say a prayer. But...it would be a prayer of thanks for the faith 100% given to him by the Holy Spirit. The faith did not come from his own doing or decision. It was all given by God.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)
May we NEVER discount God's saving work or fool ourselves that we have anything to do with earning our salvation! This is why Jesus needed to come! BOOM! (dropping the mic...walking away)
I don't know much about David Platt, so don't take this as big endorsement of what he believes/teaches. But he nailed this one!
Back in my early years, I had a friend who doubted/questioned my faith in Jesus because I had not bowed down and said the "sinner's prayer" (you know...the one found nowhere in God's Word). Having grown up in the church my entire life, going to Christian schools, being brought up by Christian parents, not knowing AT ALL what life was apart from my Lord and Savior Jesus...NONE of this weighed in enough for my friend because I never said verbatim the sinner's prayer. Sad and so wrong!
Now if I had a friend with whom I was discipling and who came to faith in Jesus, I would invite him to say a prayer. But...it would be a prayer of thanks for the faith 100% given to him by the Holy Spirit. The faith did not come from his own doing or decision. It was all given by God.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)
May we NEVER discount God's saving work or fool ourselves that we have anything to do with earning our salvation! This is why Jesus needed to come! BOOM! (dropping the mic...walking away)
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Meet Jesus - 40 Day Devotional
Meet Jesus was written last summer. So to make it easy for those getting into the devotional now, below are quick links to each day's devotion. Blessings on this 40-day journey, as you meet Jesus and as you become equipped to share who Jesus is with others!
To download the devotional/small group study, go to St. Paul's Meet Jesus small groups page.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Meet Jesus series promo video
Had so much fun putting this together with Andrew Tutwiler, Paul Bishop and Jesus Morales for our Lenten Meet Jesus sermon series!
Friday, January 29, 2016
A Glimpse of CITYLIGHTS...
Yes, I edited the video, but I don't know enough special effects to have manufactured the transparent and enthusiastic responses shared by our folks! Here is a glimpse of our CITYLIGHTS community gathering to worship Jesus in downtown Aurora, IL:
For more on CITYLIGHTS, visit our webpage.
And "LIKE" us on Facebook.
For more on CITYLIGHTS, visit our webpage.
And "LIKE" us on Facebook.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Meet Jesus - 40-day Devotional and 6-week Small Group Study
Check out the pdf version.
At St. Paul, we start this as our Lenten sermon series beginning 2/14/16.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Thursday, December 17, 2015
"Therefore the Lord himself..."
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14 ESV)
This is a verse we often hear around Christmas time. We usually focus on the latter half of this verse and speak of Immanuel—“God with us”. But let’s explore the first half of Isaiah 7:14—“the Lord himself” and find another place in Scripture where God and “himself” are closely associated.
Back in the Old Testament, Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice His own son Isaac as a test of Abraham’s faith in Him. Abraham obeyed.
While things were getting prepared, unknowing his father’s intention, Isaac saw the wood, he saw the fire, but saw something missing. He asked his father, “Where’s the lamb?”
Abraham replied, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son.” (Genesis 22:8 ASV)
These were prophetic words.
Seeing his faith, God held Abraham back from sacrificing Isaac. Instead God provided a ram, caught by its horns in the thicket, to sacrifice.
Seeing us, our sinful state, our hopeless-on-our-own selves, God had a plan. He would provide Himself to save us. He. Himself. Jesus. Eventually caught in the thicket of a crown of thorns. Immanuel. God with us.
What does this mean to you? How does our belief in God sending Himself distinguish itself from all other faiths in the world? What good news do you find in “God will provide Himself the Lamb”? How may you share why Christmas is so merry to those who do not yet know Jesus?
This is a verse we often hear around Christmas time. We usually focus on the latter half of this verse and speak of Immanuel—“God with us”. But let’s explore the first half of Isaiah 7:14—“the Lord himself” and find another place in Scripture where God and “himself” are closely associated.
Back in the Old Testament, Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice His own son Isaac as a test of Abraham’s faith in Him. Abraham obeyed.
While things were getting prepared, unknowing his father’s intention, Isaac saw the wood, he saw the fire, but saw something missing. He asked his father, “Where’s the lamb?”
Abraham replied, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son.” (Genesis 22:8 ASV)
These were prophetic words.
Seeing his faith, God held Abraham back from sacrificing Isaac. Instead God provided a ram, caught by its horns in the thicket, to sacrifice.
Seeing us, our sinful state, our hopeless-on-our-own selves, God had a plan. He would provide Himself to save us. He. Himself. Jesus. Eventually caught in the thicket of a crown of thorns. Immanuel. God with us.
What does this mean to you? How does our belief in God sending Himself distinguish itself from all other faiths in the world? What good news do you find in “God will provide Himself the Lamb”? How may you share why Christmas is so merry to those who do not yet know Jesus?
Friday, December 11, 2015
Ready...Set...GO!
Ready?
As we wait for something we hope for (remembering Jesus’ coming
to the world as a baby)…
We prepare.
We ready ourselves.
We remind ourselves of that in which we hope for and why we
hope for it.
Peter wrote, “Always be ready to answer everyone who asks
you to explain about the hope you have.” 1 Peter 3:15 (ERV)
ARE YOU READY?
Are you prepared to explain the hope you have in Jesus?
We have a simple tool for you—The
Bridge!
Read through it multiple times to become familiar with it.
Practice sharing this with a friend.
Take turns with it in your small group.
Memorize the Bible verses.
Then share it with that friend of yours who does not know
Jesus but who needs the same hope you have and need.
Ready…
Set…
“Go and make
followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 (ERV)
The following is also featured in http://twentydaysofchristmas.weebly.com/.
Monday, December 7, 2015
What Are You Waiting For?
Below is my writing contribution to the December 7 devotion of 20 Days of Christmas.
What are you waiting for?
In the season of Advent, we await the birth of Jesus, or
rather we await the remembrance of Jesus’ birth.
Why wait? Why not skip Advent and jump right to Christmas?
What’s the point in waiting?
Waiting makes the heart grow fonder.
Waiting prepares us for what we hope for.
Waiting forces us to examine ourselves (our motives, our
wants, our desires).
Waiting grows our patience.
Waiting builds our trust in God.
(What else would you add?)
What does the Bible say on waiting?
- "As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me." Micah 7:7 (NLT)
- "but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31(ESV)
- "I truly believe I will live to see the Lord’s goodness. Wait for the Lord’s help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord’s help." Psalm 27:13-14 (NCV)
- "Meanwhile, the Eternal One yearns to give you grace and boundless compassion; that’s why He waits. For the Eternal is a God of justice. Those inclined toward Him, waiting for His help, will find happiness." Isaiah 30:18 (VOICE)
- "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him." Lamentations 3:25 (ESV)
What are you waiting for?
How does waiting grow your heart for Jesus?
Beyond Advent, as we await Jesus’ 2nd coming, how
does waiting prepare how you live your life for Him every day?
How does waiting on Jesus force you to examine yourself?
How does waiting grow your patience?
How does waiting build your trust in God?
Which of your responses reveal where you have the most room
to grow in the area of waiting? In what ways do you believe God is growing you
spiritually through this waiting period? Discuss these questions with a friend.
Pray for one another as you both wait on Jesus.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Me in Jesus - Day 4 of 10
Impossible (right?!) for a butterfly to revert back to a caterpillar? So are we to understand who we are in Jesus.
That person who you were, your regretful past, your sins, ALL gone in Jesus! You can want to not forgive yourself. You can want to hold onto and dwell on the past. But that would be of your own doing and choosing.
In God's eyes, because of what Jesus did on the cross for you, your old self is gone. Gone. Gone. Gone!
In Jesus you ARE a new creation. So what does this mean for your life moving forward? What are the implications? How are you encouraged? Who in your life needs this reminder as well?
Watch the following for a fun way to remember the good news of 2 Corinthians 5:17:
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Me in Jesus - Day 3 of 10
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39 ESV)
Plans will go awry.
People will disappoint.
Misfortune will come.
But one thing...the only thing we can always count on is the love of Jesus!
His plan for you is perfect.
He will always be in your corner.
In Him is found true joy.
What does this assurance, the love of God known in Christ Jesus, mean to you? What could this assurance mean to another?
Be comforted by Citzen Way's Nothing Ever (Could Separate Us):
Friday, October 9, 2015
Me in Jesus - Day 2 of 10
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1 ESV)
Familiar with "junk files"?
Every time you use your computer, junk files are made. They are created when you open a document. They are created when you browse the internet. Just powering your computer up and shutting it down creates junk files.
There are 2 main problems with junk files: 1) They take up a lot of disk space; 2) They slow down your computer. For these reasons junk files should be deleted from your computer on a regular basis. I'll let you google yourself on how to delete junk files, but it is an easy process--only takes a few click.
Now what about the junk, the times we blew it, the past sins, in our lives? They can take up space inside us--filling us with guilt, regret, etc. They also slow us down from being whom God created us to be.
Thankfully, Jesus did something about this! He died on the cross for our sins. He rose from the dead defeating sin and death. Because of Jesus' work, our sins, our past, is wiped clean. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Even though this is a truth about who we are as followers of Jesus, I think we need the reminder. I need the reminder. The church in Rome to whom Paul wrote needed the reminder.
How has your past taken up too much residence in your life? How has your past slowed your life down and kept you from being whom God created you to be?
Read Romans 8:1 over and over again. Hold on to this truth. Let this truth take prominent space in your heart and mind. Let this truth free you to move forward in life, to live your life for Jesus, to share this good news with all you encounter.
Sit back, be refreshed, be reminded and soak in Andrea Hamilton's song No Condemnation:
Familiar with "junk files"?
Every time you use your computer, junk files are made. They are created when you open a document. They are created when you browse the internet. Just powering your computer up and shutting it down creates junk files.
There are 2 main problems with junk files: 1) They take up a lot of disk space; 2) They slow down your computer. For these reasons junk files should be deleted from your computer on a regular basis. I'll let you google yourself on how to delete junk files, but it is an easy process--only takes a few click.
Now what about the junk, the times we blew it, the past sins, in our lives? They can take up space inside us--filling us with guilt, regret, etc. They also slow us down from being whom God created us to be.
Thankfully, Jesus did something about this! He died on the cross for our sins. He rose from the dead defeating sin and death. Because of Jesus' work, our sins, our past, is wiped clean. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Even though this is a truth about who we are as followers of Jesus, I think we need the reminder. I need the reminder. The church in Rome to whom Paul wrote needed the reminder.
How has your past taken up too much residence in your life? How has your past slowed your life down and kept you from being whom God created you to be?
Read Romans 8:1 over and over again. Hold on to this truth. Let this truth take prominent space in your heart and mind. Let this truth free you to move forward in life, to live your life for Jesus, to share this good news with all you encounter.
Sit back, be refreshed, be reminded and soak in Andrea Hamilton's song No Condemnation:
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Me in Jesus - Day 1 of 10
"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4 ESV)
Most of this 10-day devotional is about assurances--assurances of the truth as to who we are in Jesus. These assurances knock down the lies we tell ourselves and/or the deceptions we allow the evil one to whisper in our ears.
Your baptism into Jesus was more than a "thing" you did. It was more than a symbolic ritual that happened to your life. It was more than a proclamation of faith. Your baptism into Jesus was transformational! Your baptism was God changing your life--all His work--100% credit goes to Him. The power of this life change, what made it all possible, flowed out of Jesus dying for your sins and being raised from the dead. Jesus did this so that we would walk in newness of life.
If you were baptized into Jesus, you have a new life--the old is gone! That is the truth as to who you are! There was something in the water which changed your life forever.
Watch Carrie Underwood's music video Something in the Water. Listen to the lyrics carefully. In the song, where do you find God's work in baptism? What hope does Carrie reflect upon regarding her being baptized into Christ? What encouragement do you find in Carrie's testimony? How may you walk in newness of life with the hope and promise God gifted you through baptism? (And if you believe in Jesus, have faith in Him, but have not been baptized, what's stopping you from receiving this amazing grace gift?)
Most of this 10-day devotional is about assurances--assurances of the truth as to who we are in Jesus. These assurances knock down the lies we tell ourselves and/or the deceptions we allow the evil one to whisper in our ears.
Your baptism into Jesus was more than a "thing" you did. It was more than a symbolic ritual that happened to your life. It was more than a proclamation of faith. Your baptism into Jesus was transformational! Your baptism was God changing your life--all His work--100% credit goes to Him. The power of this life change, what made it all possible, flowed out of Jesus dying for your sins and being raised from the dead. Jesus did this so that we would walk in newness of life.
If you were baptized into Jesus, you have a new life--the old is gone! That is the truth as to who you are! There was something in the water which changed your life forever.
Watch Carrie Underwood's music video Something in the Water. Listen to the lyrics carefully. In the song, where do you find God's work in baptism? What hope does Carrie reflect upon regarding her being baptized into Christ? What encouragement do you find in Carrie's testimony? How may you walk in newness of life with the hope and promise God gifted you through baptism? (And if you believe in Jesus, have faith in Him, but have not been baptized, what's stopping you from receiving this amazing grace gift?)
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
new 10 day devotional coming tomorrow....ME IN JESUS
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1 ESV)
I believe all followers of Jesus need those regular reminders as to who we are in Jesus. For whatever reason we allow lies to pervade our mind and forget the truth of our existence in Jesus. Those lies do no good...for ourselves...for the loved ones in our lives. Thankfully in God's Word, especially from the apostle Paul, we have many reminders of the truth as to who we are in Jesus.
You are invited to join me tomorrow for the 10-day journey - Me In Jesus. I could easily have titled this Us In Jesus, but I desire for you, the reader, to really understand who YOU are in Jesus so that you may be encouraged, equipped and hear/know/believe the truth about yourself. Of course you are invited to pass this devo on to others so that they may be encouraged as well.
On the lighter side of life, have a laugh over the lies Brick Tamland believed about himself and the joy he received from the truth. :)
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Meet Jesus - Day 40 of 40 - Divider
Read Luke 12:49-59.
"Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!" (Luke 12:51 NLT)
Wow, that doesn't sound like Jesus. Not the Jesus we hear generally hear about in our congregations. I could have easily skipped this section of Luke onto an aspect of Jesus that would sound more "favorable" to people....more "nice" Jesus. But if we are to meet Jesus, we need to meet the real Jesus--that includes Jesus: Divider.
And go back to read the real Jesus in verses 49-50, "I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished." This is about as human and raw as we are going to see. This is 100% Jesus. This is 100% Jesus: Son of God. He was sent for a most difficult mission--to give up His life, in the worst way, so that we may be saved. It was serious. Jesus was (is) that serious about us. He loved (loves) us that much.
So how would you introduce Jesus: Divider to a friend? What words would you use to explain Jesus' serious, committed, sacrificial love for a world, for a people, steeped in sin and rebellion against Him? How would you explain the good news of Jesus: Divider? I won't give you the answers on that. Something to truly wrestle with on your own, with your small group. Take the time to grapple through it.
And so ends our 40 days of Meet Jesus. Thanks for sticking through this journey! You may be thinking, "Hey Craig, we haven't even finished Luke. Why did you stop in the middle? There are 12 more chapters to discuss!" Well, therein lies the challenge for you.
In 40 days, we've only begun meeting Jesus and learning all of the nuances and complexities of Him. I invite you to keep reading Luke on your own. Read only the header sections and look closely as to who you find Jesus to be in each section. There is a lot more to say about Jesus than 40 characteristics. Keep going. Keep meeting Him yourself. Keep learning how to introduce who you are meeting to others, especially those who are far from Him. This 40-day journey is over. But your journey in meeting Jesus continues! Many blessings!
"Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!" (Luke 12:51 NLT)
Wow, that doesn't sound like Jesus. Not the Jesus we hear generally hear about in our congregations. I could have easily skipped this section of Luke onto an aspect of Jesus that would sound more "favorable" to people....more "nice" Jesus. But if we are to meet Jesus, we need to meet the real Jesus--that includes Jesus: Divider.
And go back to read the real Jesus in verses 49-50, "I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished." This is about as human and raw as we are going to see. This is 100% Jesus. This is 100% Jesus: Son of God. He was sent for a most difficult mission--to give up His life, in the worst way, so that we may be saved. It was serious. Jesus was (is) that serious about us. He loved (loves) us that much.
So how would you introduce Jesus: Divider to a friend? What words would you use to explain Jesus' serious, committed, sacrificial love for a world, for a people, steeped in sin and rebellion against Him? How would you explain the good news of Jesus: Divider? I won't give you the answers on that. Something to truly wrestle with on your own, with your small group. Take the time to grapple through it.
And so ends our 40 days of Meet Jesus. Thanks for sticking through this journey! You may be thinking, "Hey Craig, we haven't even finished Luke. Why did you stop in the middle? There are 12 more chapters to discuss!" Well, therein lies the challenge for you.
In 40 days, we've only begun meeting Jesus and learning all of the nuances and complexities of Him. I invite you to keep reading Luke on your own. Read only the header sections and look closely as to who you find Jesus to be in each section. There is a lot more to say about Jesus than 40 characteristics. Keep going. Keep meeting Him yourself. Keep learning how to introduce who you are meeting to others, especially those who are far from Him. This 40-day journey is over. But your journey in meeting Jesus continues! Many blessings!
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Meet Jesus - Day 39 of 40 - Returner
Read Luke 12:35-48.
[Jesus shared with His disciples,] "Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready."
2,000 years before Arnold coined "I'll be back" (sorry, couldn't help myself), Jesus declared His return.
As we meet Jesus: Returner, let's look at the good news for us.
First, even after Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension, He never left His people. He shared this promise in Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT), "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. AND BE SURE OF THIS: I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE [my caps]."
Second, He promised that when He went away, He would send the Holy Spirit to be with us. (John 16:7).
Third, He offered these words of encouragement, hope and love to His followers, "Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." (John 14:1-3 NLT)
With this good news come questions for our lives.
What does it mean to...
[Jesus shared with His disciples,] "Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready."
2,000 years before Arnold coined "I'll be back" (sorry, couldn't help myself), Jesus declared His return.
As we meet Jesus: Returner, let's look at the good news for us.
First, even after Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension, He never left His people. He shared this promise in Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT), "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. AND BE SURE OF THIS: I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE [my caps]."
Second, He promised that when He went away, He would send the Holy Spirit to be with us. (John 16:7).
Third, He offered these words of encouragement, hope and love to His followers, "Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." (John 14:1-3 NLT)
With this good news come questions for our lives.
What does it mean to...
- be dressed for service?
- be ready?
- carry out His instructions?
- be prepared?
- be entrusted with what we've been given?
And considering Jesus' return...
- Where is there the urgency to introduce people to Jesus--the one who saves those who believe in Him from sin and death?
- How does this impact your call from Jesus to "go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you"?
Take time to ponder these questions. Discuss them with your small group.
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