Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Christ - the End Game?

The Question is contentment...What is something you would not be able to live with indefinitely during your life? For example - if your job, marital status, health never changed would you be ok with it?

If you had to "tweet" (140 characters) what the end game or point of Christianity is, what would you say?
Concerning Change of Status
 17 Nevertheless, each of you should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to you, just as God has called you. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each of you should remain in the situation you were in when God called you.
 21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22For those who were slaves when called to faith in the Lord are the Lord’s freed people; similarly, those who were free when called are Christ’s slaves. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, all of you, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation in which God called you.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Patient Anticipation

Here is the idea...

We focus too much on the short term...not paying any attention to the fact that we will live in "heavenly bodies"...sex is a temporary thing...how can we anticipate what will be?

Question 1: When was a time you anticipated something? What was it?
Question 2: When was a time you experienced peace...what was it and how long did it last?

1 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 
2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 
7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
God has called us to live in peace
1 Corinthians 7:1-2, 7 

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Patient Anticipation

Sorry it took some time to get this up this week...let me know your thoughts

12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins people commit are outside their bodies, but those who sin sexually sin against their own bodies. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:12-19

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Generous Justice

Here is the rub for next weekend:
What is the most embarrassing thing you have seen a church or a few members of the church do in "public"?
What does "turn the other cheek" mean in the 21st century? Should we abstain from lawsuits?


Here is 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
1 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!
 7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor practicing homosexuals 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

As always, Leave your thoughts, comments and interpretation of the text in the comment section:)

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Flat Friendship

6 Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 

13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

We are looking at 1 Corinthians 5:6-13
Here are the questions/subjects - 
1. Have you ever had something small in your life snowball into a large issue?
2. Have you ever had to break a relationship with someone because of their actions?

Look at the rest of the text and leave your feedback in the comment section:)


Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Aggressive Love

Tough Love: Is it hard for you to show "tough love"? Could you share a story of when this has worked in your life (either giving or receiving)?
Divine Neglect: In your experience is the American church too judgmental or too "relaxed" when it comes to the behavior of its members?

1 Corinthians 5:1-5 (MSG)
1-2I also received a report of scandalous sex within your church family, a kind that wouldn't be tolerated even outside the church: One of your men is sleeping with his stepmother. And you're so above it all that it doesn't even faze you! Shouldn't this break your hearts? Shouldn't it bring you to your knees in tears? Shouldn't this person and his conduct be confronted and dealt with?

3-5I'll tell you what I would do. Even though I'm not there in person, consider me right there with you, because I can fully see what's going on. I'm telling you that this is wrong. You must not simply look the other way and hope it goes away on its own. Bring it out in the open and deal with it in the authority of Jesus our Master. Assemble the community—I'll be present in spirit with you and our Master Jesus will be present in power. Hold this man's conduct up to public scrutiny. Let him defend it if he can! But if he can't, then out with him! It will be totally devastating to him, of course, and embarrassing to you. But better devastation and embarrassment than damnation. You want him on his feet and forgiven before the Master on the Day of Judgment.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Foolish Simplicity

We are looking at 1 Corinthians 4:6-21 this weekend - here are the verses I am highlighting:
10 We are fools for Christ...
16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me...
20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power...
So my questions are -
Why are we required to become "foolish" for Jesus? 
When was a time you told someone to imitate you?
And finally What does it mean that the kingdom of God is a matter of power?
Looking forward to all your thoughts and comments:)