Be the Church with a Biblical Mind - Week 2

Have you purchased a GPS unit? Why did you buy it? I don't do much traveling but have always wanted to purchase one ever since I found a website where I can download Mr. T.'s voice as the one giving the directions [link] . How cool would it be, "turn right fool!" or "I pity the fool who don't turn right in 400 yards!"

What is your funniest, "Honey, I think were lost story?" Or, "Honey, why did you throw away the directions story?"

Why are clear concise directions important when you go on a trip? Well they...
- help you get there - keep you from getting lost - save money - help you avoid trouble - help save time - help avoid arguments - helps make the trip more enjoyable

Psalm 119:9
The Psalmist asks the question, "How can a young man keep his way pure?" You and I might ask, "how can I live the good life?" The ad agencies would ask, "How can I young man live the Miller High Life?"

But the Psalmist is not asking how can I - live a safe life - live a comfortable life - live a life of leisure - live a life filled with stuff...that's not what he is asking. "How can I keep my life pure?" This is his question and in his asking we learn that there are two ways we can live our lives:

1. A life that is pure and pleasing to God.
2. A life that is impure and displeasing to God.

How can you and I live our lives such a way that we don't contaminate them? Think of a fifty-five gallon drum filled with crystal clear, pure, cold rainwater. Think of how that water refreshes, think how good that water tastes, think of how that water satisfies. Now go to your most unhappy place, the worst gas station you have ever visited. Think of the rancid, stopped up toilet that hasn't been cleaned for days, imagine the smell as this "soup" has been baking all summer. Now, take a dropper and pull one drop from the toilet and put it in your rainwater. Not very appealing now is it? One drop into fifty-five gallons pollutes the whole thing.

How do we avoid the pollution, the rot? How do you and I live so that we are: - a good friend - a good employee - a good husband/wife - a good dad - a good follower of Jesus?

How do you and I live so that we can one day stand before King Jesus and hear, "Well done good and faithful servant"...not "depart from me, I knew you not."

Psalm 119:9 Says that we keep our way pure by guarding it. By putting up our defenses, posting guard, installing video cameras, putting another deadbolt on the door, turning on our alarms....this is serious stuff! We guard that which is treasured and valuable and we guard when we know we are going to be attacked.

1 Peter 5:8 says that the devil is looking for the weak, the stragglers of the heard, those who are isolated, alone, those who have let their guard down. Jesus said in John 10:10 that the thief comes only to "steal, kill, and destroy." Jesus has great plans for your life Jeremiah 29:11 as He is using all things to conform you to His likeness. Satan also has plans for your life and they are to - attack you - destroy your life - to steal your joy - to kill your relationships.

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart for it is the well spring of your life." Everything comes from your heart, how you think, how you act so don't let anything in that could contaminate your heart...above all else...guard it!

But how?
Psalm 119:9 By guarding it according to the word of God.

Jesus builds His church for His plans and purposes. To Be the Church of Jesus we are commanded to assemble on a regular basis [link] to challenge, motivate, encourage, and to stir one another to love and good works.

In Acts 2:42 we see the church devote themselves not only to regular assembly but to regular study and learning of the Bible. An important part of Being the Church is thinking with a Biblical mind. For us to Be the Church Christ desires our minds must be set on and obedient to the word of God.

The Bible must be the authority for our living - to prevent heartache - to avoid trouble - to prevent loss - to prevent confusion - to keep from getting lost - to direct us on how to be a better husband/wife, friend, employee, follower of Jesus - to make the trip more enjoyable - to keep our way pure - to learn how to live a life pleasing to God with a Biblical mind.

You and I have to guard our lives according to the word of God. Hebrews 4:12 says that the word of God is a sword, think Scottish Claymore.

Remember the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4? What happened? Jesus went to the dessert to fast for forty days. At the end of the forty days when Jesus was at His weakest Satan came to tempt Him. How did Jesus respond? Jesus rightfully and powerfully unsheathed the sword of the word of God and hacked Satan to pieces!

You and I have this powerful weapon in our arsenals yet many of us fail to practice with it, carry it, or use it in times of danger. Charles Spurgeon [link] once told his congregation "There is enough dust on some of your Bibles to write damnation with your fingers!"

Using Psalm 119:9-16 I want us to look at a pattern of how we can develop and maintain a Biblical mind.

#1 Make a daily choice to live the word. Psalm 119:10-11
The Psalmist says "With my whole heart I seek you." This is a conscious, deliberate, decision to follow Jesus, not a half-hearted attempt. Matthew 6:24 Jesus said that we cannot serve two masters. Jesus wants us all in and in Revelation 3:16 Jesus said that lukewarm, half-hearted, Christians who straddle the fence make Him want to puke.

Is the Bible God's word? Genesis to Revelation? Do you really believe the Bible is what it says it is? Is the Bible to sole authority for your life? Does the Bible shape how you live, how you treat other people, how you spend your time, money, energy, and resources?

Everyone has a worldview...the question is do you have a secular worldview or a Biblical worldview?



Our worldview shape our thinking, shapes how we act, and how we relate to each other and to God. Will you make the conscious decision to live in the word of God daily? Will you let the Bible shape and define your mind?

#2 Make a daily choice to learn the word Psalm 119:12
Here are eight steps instructing you on how you can begin today to learn the Bible.

1. Schedule time for it - if you don't put it on the calendar it won't happen.
2. Pick a book of the Bible and work your way through it beginning to end.
3. Take your time - I usually don't read more than a chapter at a time.
4. Begin each session with prayer asking the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and to give you
understanding as to what you are about to read.
5. Use a journal to jot down important thoughts, repeating words, commands, promises.
6. Summarize what you just read in ten words or less. This will help you retain what you just
read.
7. Write out any applications for your life.
8. End with prayer thanking God for His grace, asking for forgiveness of any sins revealed.

#3 Make a daily choice to love the word Psalm 119:13-16
Loving God's word does not come natural to us and is a choice. Loving God's word is us submitting our will to His and doesn't come easy yet once you begin what once started off as something hard, difficult, quickly becomes something ingrained in you, something you miss when you aren't able to do it, and something you love.

To love God's word verbalize it - Psalm 119:13 - know it inside and out...begin memorizing it.
To love God's word meditate on it - Psalm 119:15 - chew on it, think on it, think deeply over it
again and again and again. Don't just let it pass or do a quick scripture drive by.
To love God's word contemplate it - Psalm 119:15 - realize that we are under the authority of
God's word...never in authority over it.
To love God's word delight in it - Psalm 119:16 - enjoy God's word, look for answers in God's
word, and see Jesus in God's word Luke 24:44.

Questions:

On a scale of 1 - 10 how would you answer the following? 1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strongly agree

1. The word of God is the authority for all my life.
2. I wish the word were more central to my core beliefs and decision making.

Will you respond right where you are by committing today to - live by the word - learn the word - and love the word?

Will you respond?

How will you do it?

Post any words of encouragement, advice, prayers in the comment section below.

Be the Church - Week 1 Assembly Required

Why do you go to church?
Why do people stop going to church?
On a scale of 1 - 10 how important is church attendance?
What is the primary reason for us to gather together as a church?

In May of 2009 Parade Magazine [link] conducted a survey of over 1000 people asking questions about their religious beliefs.

Of the 1000 respondents 45% stated that they were religious. Out of that group - 30% responded that they attend service once or more a week - 20% stated they attend once a month or a few times a year and 50% responded as rarely or never attending at all.

In Matthew 16 Jesus stated that He would build His church upon the foundation of Himself and in Acts 1:15 we see the early church led by Peter, about 120, praying to Jesus, singing to Jesus, gathered together to hear the word of God preached. In Acts 2:41 we see 3000 people added to the church, added to the kingdom of Jesus.

Over the next six weeks we will look at what it means to "Be the Church."

What should our thinking look like?
What should our prayer life look like?
What should our giving look like?
What should our focus be and what should our mission be as the church?

Today however, our focus will be on answering the question: "How important is it that the church assemble today?"

Let's begin with looking at some common reasons as to why people don't regularly attend church.

1. Don't like organized religion - this is funny as I don't like disorganized religion.
2. Takes too much time or isn't convenient for me. Both of these are self-centered and are what Eugene Peterson refers to as the new trinity of my holy feelings, my holy needs, and my holy wants.
3. Not commanded and no longer serves a purpose. People who believe this say things like....I can worship God anywhere, I can read and learn about God on my own, I can serve God and give anywhere, and you can and you should. The problem with these statements is that they assume the primary purpose of church attendance is to worship God, that church is a place to give money, or that church is the vehicle for learning and service.
4. Pride - I don't need church, I don't need other people, I am fine.
5. Still others would say:
-God does not exist, if He does exist He is impersonal, distant, and cold
-The gospel is foolish - A virgin with a baby? God become a man? Really?
-Church is a waste of time

Is assembly of the church important? Critical? Even commanded?
What's the answer? Where does the truth lie?

Hebrews 10:19-25

There are two promises found in this passage (Hebrews 10:19-21) 1. God has made a way through the blood of Jesus and 2. God has given us a great high priest in Jesus.

God does exist. God is very personal and He knows all and sees all including all the things we have done against Him in thought, word, deed, and inaction.

Because God is holy, righteous, and just all sins, all injustices, all crimes must be paid for or punished in order to make things right.

Romans 6:23 states that the payment for such crimes against God is death. Someone or something must die. Hebrews 9:22 states that under the law without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

"Under the law" meaning the Old Testament where God established His laws, His order, the detailed instructions for sacrifices for sin.

Leviticus 16 outlines the steps necessary for the day of atonement, the one day where a sacrifice was made for the people for the sins they had committed the previous year. The day of atonement was the one day the high priest would enter into the temple and enter through the curtain into the Most Holy Place to be before God. Before doing so the high priest had to cleanse himself through bathing, had to put on the special, holy garments, and had to offer a blood sacrifice for himself. Once purified the high priest would enter into the Most Holy Place through the curtain and stand before the mercy seat, before the Ark of the Covenant, and before God to make a blood sacrifice for the people's sins. So serious was this task that the priest would tie a rope around his waist so that if he did anything wrong in the presence of God ans was struck dead his body could be pulled out.

There is only one problem with this though...Hebrews 10:3-4 states that our sacrifices are imperfect, that they never take away our sins, and in fact act as a reminder over and over and over again of our sins and of our need for a savior.

Hebrews 10:19-21 says that Jesus is our one time, perfect sacrifice for all of our sins, Hebrews 10:12. Jesus lived without sin, a perfect life and died in our place for our sins so that we could be forever reconciled to God. Upon completion Jesus took His seat of prominence at the right hand of the Father and He sits resting upon His finished work until the appointed time of His return. By the blood of Jesus we can confidently go before God and by His body the curtain that once separated man and God has been ripped in two (Matthew 27:51). What once was a sixty foot, foot thick boundary between us and God has been forever removed by the new and living way, the flesh of Jesus. Jesus is also our great high priest.

Based on these two promises - 1. God has made a way through the blood of Jesus. and 2. God has given us a great high priest in Jesus. We have three commands to follow:

1. Hebrews 10:22 Draw near to God.
Some will say....God does not exist and if He does He is distant, cold, impersonal.
James 4:8 says "draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
The writer of Hebrews says we draw near to God with:

- a "sincere heart - this means undivided allegiance to Jesus.
-with "full assurance of faith" - full trust in Jesus in all areas of our lives including our
marriages, our children, jobs, money, time, possessions
-with "hearts sprinkled"- free from the guilt of past sins
-with "bodies washed"- not externally like the priest but internally cleansed by the blood of
Jesus....not just a showing on the outside but through regeneration of the Holy Spirit.

2. Hebrews 10:23 Hold Fast
Some will say....the gospel if foolish.
1 Corinthians 1:18 says that "the message of the cross is foolish to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Don't give up, don't give in, hold fast, preserve, keep your faith.

So what about our question? How important is it that the church assemble today? Is it critical? Is it commanded?

3. Hebrews 10:24-25 commands that we stir one another up and continue to meet together.
If your answer to the question of "What is the primary purpose of church attendance?" was to worship God, to serve God, to learn about God or to give to God you would be wrong. We do worship and serve God in church and we do learn about and give to God in church but the primary reason we gather is found in Hebrews 10:24-25 and that is to stir one another up.

Hebrews 10:24 says we are to stir one another, to challenge each other, to get in each other's grill that when we assemble we are to think about ways to spur one another on in our faith.

When was the last time someone lovingly called you to the carpet for your faith? When was the last time a brother or sister challenged you, stirred you up about your walk with Jesus?

"This is too legalistic" or "this is none of my business" you might be thinking...really? We are to be accountable to one another and we are commanded to do this.

Hebrews 10:24 says "let us consider" let us think about, come up with ways to push each other over the finish line. Think in terms of a campfire that is dying down. You can still see the hot embers inside but the fire isn't putting off much heat or much light. All it takes is a little fuel and a few pokes and WHOOSH! You have a roaring fire!

Hebrews 10:25 says don't neglect or abandon meeting together. Use this time to encourage or to give courage to one another as each day that passes is one day closer to the return of the King.

Do you see evidences that the end is near? Evidences pointing to Christ's return? Then don't neglect meeting as this should drive you closer together.

Assembling together as the church is commanded, Hebrews 10:25, by scripture and it is critical to our spiritual health.

Would God have you increase your frequency of meeting with other Christians? Is so...how? Worship, Bible Fellowship, Small Groups?

Is there someone God would have you stir up? How? Note? Phone call? Visit? Email?

Will you do it?

New Series Begins This Sunday - Be The Church

Join us this Sunday as we begin a new, six week series - Be the Church.

Do we still need to meet on a regular basis?

What should the church look like in comparison to the culture?

How should the church pray?

What should our giving look like?

What should the focus of the church be?

Week 1 begins this Sunday - Assembly Required.

See you Sunday.

Flag Football Video Preview

Mark your calendars as we prepare to hit the gridiron Saturday, November 21st.

What? ONE Flat Football / lunch fellowship
Where? Details to follow
Time? Game begins at 10:30 / lunch to follow at 12:00

Here is a short preview to get you motivated.



See you soon

2 hot 4 church? Survey

What topic or topics have you always wanted to know about but were afraid to ask? What questions do you have that the church seems to avoid or downplay?

What topics are 2 hot 4 church?

Help me by providing your input and you may just see your suggestions in class!

Click on the following [link] to take this short, 5 question survey.

Oaks Farm Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch

Please make plans to join us for our next ONE, fellowship event.

This month we have planned a class get together at the Oaks Farm Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch [link].

Here are the details:

When? Saturday, October 17th at 10:30 - Oaks Farm Corryton, TN - see map below - followed by lunch at BJ and Emily's home at 1:00.

Can't come to the pumpkin patch? No problem...join us for lunch!

Can't come to lunch? No problem...join us at the pumpkin patch.

Here are some photos from last year [link].

Here is a map to the farm.

Can ONE reach 101 before 2010?

Can ONE reach 101 plus in attendance before the end of 2009?

101, is it a challenge or a goal? Both. Our class has experienced many blessings over the past 20 months. What began as a core group of 8 leaders has grown to over 30 plus in regular weekly attendance (our highest attendance for 2009 was 41).

Our current role has over 84 people assigned to it and we have had many new visiting couples over the past 4 weeks.

I began thinking about this goal last Sunday as I noticed we had five new visiting couples! If we were to take everyone in attendance for that Sunday plus add in those who usually attend but were missing due to travel, vacation, sickness, etc that would put us well over 70 in attendance!

Why the focus on numbers? Well, there is book in the Bible named numbers so it is Biblical.

Numbers represent people and we are all about getting more people plugged into fellowship. We are all about reaching more people to share the gospel with. We are all about getting more people exposed to God's word, to share in prayer with us, to partner in ministry with us, and to grow with us in their walk with the Lord.

How are we going to do it?

1. With prayer - God has to be in this or it won't work period.

2. With breakfast - history has shown that when we serve food more people come. So we will target the first Sunday of each month as a special time when reaching our goal is possible.

3. With care - care group leaders will be making calls to their care groups each week leading up to the first Sunday with a personal invite.

4. With outreach - our outreach couple have been diligently contacting all of the prospects for our class and will continue to do so.

What can I do you ask? This one is easy.....come to class, especially on the first Sunday of each month and eat breakfast with us.

Can ONE reach 101 plus in attendance before 2009? I don't know but I think it is a challenge for sure and a worthy goal to pursue.

Will you join us as we try to break this milestone?