April 13th, 2009

I’ve been showing these video’s that come from the site iamsecond.com. These are people who have publicly declared that Christ is first and they are second. What does that really mean to be second. Aren’t we taught that if we are second we are losers or something. Of course that’s not true, it simply means we have our priorities in a different order than the rest of the world.

In Matthew chapter 6 we are asked not to store up our treasures here on earth, but to store them up in heaven. That is a radical change in what the world says to do. As believers in Christ, this world is only temorary and will go by real fast compared to our time in Heaven. If we put Christ first, then our priority is no longer serving ourselves, but serving Christ.

Here’s what Christ says about serving him. We can not serve two masters, both God and Money. We have to choose one or the other. Living out our life becomes entirely different when God is our master. I love this verse in Matthew 6:33 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

It seems so simple and easy when I read this… but it’s not is it. Putting Christ first means we are changing who we are living for. This requires daily attention to our priorities, and daily devotion to God. We are not only asked to put Christ first, but to live in a Godly way. How do you live in a Godly way? Well, studying God’s word and knowing what it says will help us live in such a way that others will see God living in us. I know that sounds weird… God living in us, but that’s just what the bible teaches us. Once we have accepted Christ and made the decision to follow him, the bible says the holy spirit now dwells in us.

Read Matthew 6:19-21. What is something that comes to mind when you read this? What is something you value so much, you can’t see yourself living without it?

Read Matthew 6:22-23. What is an examples of “bad eyes”? What is the warning in verse 23?

Read Matthew 6:24. When money becomes a priority in our life, it snuffs out the lamp of the gospel and turns it into utter darkness. Prosperity aborts Christian discipleship. What priority should money have in our lives? Can you give an example of how money can better be used?

Read Matthew 6:25-34. What are some things you worry about? What are these verses saying to each of you about those worries? Clothing was a symbol of wealth in those days. What are symbols of wealth you have in your own life? And is this important to God?

April 6th, 2009

“This is the transcript of an ACTUAL radio conversation of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995. Radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations 10-10-95.

Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.

Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.

Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.

Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.

Americans: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES’ ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, THAT’S ONE FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER-MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.

Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.”

How important do we think we are? Do we think to highly of ourselves? Every once and a while someone puts us in our place.

This reminds me of the story of Nicodemus found in John 3:1-20
Nicodemus falls short of believing Jesus is the Son of God. He believes he’s a great teacher but ask questions that give us a glimpse of his unbelief. Just like the Captain of the ship, he seems to be trying to steer Jesus instead of understanding it’s him that needs to change his course.

In the next chapter, Jesus meets a woman at the well. In both stories, Nicodemus and the woman at the well must make a decision… to either follow Jesus and believe him or not.

Look at both stories and answer the following questions:

1) Who comes to faith more quickly and why? Nicodemus or the woman at the well?

2) What is keeping Nicodemus from understanding Jesus?

3) Who brings more people to Jesus? Nicodemus or the woman at the well? What does that teach us about our faith?

How much of what we do is related to ourselves? Just about all our motivations, thoughts and actions are related in how we will be effected.

Scott Harris-

March 30th, 2009

Taylor taught last week on how important it is to take your belief in God from being someone else’s belief to making it your own. Taylor asked us how we felt our relationship with God is? Then he asked a thought provoking question… “What would God say about your relationship with him?” We all have friends, but it’s the friends we spend the most time with we get to know the most. If we really have a desire to know God, We’ve got to spend more time with him.

The video he shared was Richard Ellis, a guy who got to the point where he thought about driving his car off a bridge. He thought, If I just turn my wheel just a little bit, I’ll clip the bridge and die. They’ll all say, “What a great young man, fell asleep” that’s all it’d be. He grew up knowing all the bible story’s but knew nothing of the meaning behind them. He didn’t make his belief in God his own.

There’s going to be times when we don’t know what to do. Times when we don’t know who to talk to for help. Times when we just want to give up… unless… unless we have a that close relationship with Christ. Life happens and we need that strong relationship with Christ that will get us through whatever it is. With Taylor leaving Journey, it’s something I don’t understand. God has plans for Taylor and for a season he was a part of our lives and really challenged us all in many ways.

Taylor was getting ready to start a series on foundation and I want to kick that series off tonight. If we don’t have a strong foundation in Christ, when something happens in our life we can’t handle alone, it could be devastating. Joe just yesterday had a great talk on why we need a strong foundation. He talked about how we need to be studying God’s word regularly. He said it should feel weird when to don’t our bible, not when we do.

Our faith and beliefs are going to be tested. It’s not a maybe thing… it a sure thing.
2 timothy 3:12 says “Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. “
This next video is about a guy who’s foundation was shaken but not broken. It’s a reminder why it’s not about just being a Christian, but about knowing God and what’s he’s done for us.

[Chris Plekenpol Video]

Chris was out of the army, and all he wanted to do was share the gospel. Wow, how quickly did his beliefs get put to the test. Here is a guy that seems so solid with his beliefs that all he wanted to do is tell others about Christ. But very quickly he doesn’t even feel like he’s following Christ.

God wants the best for us. He wants us to spend time with him. Are we so busy that we can’t even take time out of our day to get to know him?

[Luke 6:46-49]

⁴⁶ “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? ⁴⁷ I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. ⁴⁸ It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. ⁴⁹ But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

There are three things Jesus says you must do to build a strong foundation.

1) Come to him. Go to God and talk with him. Get your bible out.
2) Listen to him. Read God’s word. Pay attention to what it’s saying.
3) Follow him. Do what his word says.

In James chapter one we are told not to be like the person that looks in the mirror and forgets what they look like. Don’t we make changes if we see something that needs to be fixed? Of course we do. The same is after reading God’s word. After reading it, make changes is your life that reflect what you’ve learned.

What doe the following verse say to you?

Ephesians 3:19

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.