Video On 1 Thessalonians 1
http://napatv.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=3085
The teaching starts at 7:50 into the video.
Feb
26
Feb
23
Having A Healthy Trans-Generational Church
It takes intention and effort to really hear what people are saying. As water always runs downhill, it is natural for all people to get into social ruts. We have our favorite people, groups, movements, and social tendencies, but (social) ruts limit lateral movement (awareness), and as Tozer has suggested, ruts turn into graves.
I have noticed that people often don’t see the need to cross the generational bridge to see what is on the other side. Perhaps they feel too busy to put in the extra effort needed to enter someone else’s “foreign” world. It could be rightly claimed that most of us can’t even keep up with our chosen friends, much less take the time to meet others who live in a parallel but distant world.
I have a hunch that in most cases, people don’t care that much about other people, and see no redeeming value in crossing the generational bridge. Why bother? Is it really worth the effort to learn about the “other culture” that sits in the same church as me, but seems so different? Some might argue that we ought to just “give each other some space”, and be happy with a peaceful but non-integrating co-existence.
The Bible teaches that Christians are “One Body”, and that we are organically and inextricably joined together in Christ, bur lack of social interaction seems to indicate that we don’t believe that, or at least are unwilling to pursue and enjoy it.
When is the last time a high school or college group sponsored an appreciation dinner for veterans of WW2? When is the last time a 20 year old invited a 60 year old out to coffee, and ask to hear his/her Christian testimony? The reverse is true as well. When has a group of retired folks (who have a lot of free time), gotten together and plan an event for a college group? How many high schoolers does the older generation know by name?
Why is this missing in our churches? I am sure that trans-generational fellowship happens here and there, but it certainly seems to be the exception rather than the norm.
My encouragement would be that both sides reach out. Meet someone from a different generation than your own. “Adopt” a young person, and pray for them, mentor them, learn about them, and pour yourself into them. “Adopt” an old person, realize the wisdom and experience that is available, and listen to them. Retired people have much to give, including time and experience. Older people might get rejected by some younger people, but keep trying. Pray for that one young person who you can be a friend and mentor to.
Young people have time too, even though they “think” they are busy. ;-) I often read the facebook status of young people about how bored they are, and that they want to know “who wants to go to the beach or the movies”. I suggest that young people find an older person to connect to, to visit with, to assist, and to learn from. There are retirement homes full of older people who are extremely lonely. There are older people in churches that would greatly benefit from the energy and presence of a young person.
The Apostle Paul stated it beautifully when he said of the Thessalonians, “So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us”. (1 Thessalonians 2:8)
Paul imparted his life to others. Other Christians had become dear to him. May we impart our lives to others as well, and may we cross the generational bridge to do so.
Feb
9
When Jesus Has Something Against You
Jesus said to the church at Ephesus, “…nevertheless, I have this against you…”. (Revelation 2:4)
Any Christian hearing this ought to take notice.
In fact, they ought to have a sick feeling in their stomach.
Are you comfortable with the fact that Jesus might have something against you, or does that possibility cause you to stop and take inventory of your life?
I know that in my Christian life, I have certainly had seasons where these words were appropriate.
I look back with sadness, but I currently stand in grace and look forward in joy.
The church at Ephesus was a busy and biblically literate church.
They hated evil and kept false teachers away, but they left their first love of Jesus.
A Christian doesn’t LOSE their first love with Jesus, they LEAVE it.
You accidentally lose something.
You purposely leave something.
For these Christians, this wasn’t a matter of an accidental departure from closeness with Jesus.
It was a series of decisions to “be Christian” without loving Jesus.
Jesus loved them and told them the remedy.
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…”. (Revelation 2:5)
All they needed to do was to remember how it had been good before, and then turn back to Jesus.
Not complicated.
Maybe not easy….but not complicated.
They had some serious decisions to make.
Finally, there was a warning and a promise.
The warning…
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent”. (Revelation 2:5)
If they didn’t repent, their witness would be extinguished.
The light would go out.
The church would stay open, but Jesus wouldn’t be there.
They would go through the motions of Christianity, but have no illumination going forth from their lives.
They would hold correct doctrine, but enlighten no one.
They would have an appropriate hatred of wicked things, but make no difference in the world.
The promise
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’ (Revelation 2:7)
If they would listen…
If they would repent…
If they would do the first things…
Then they would overcome.
And then they would be with God.
They had quit listening…
They were doing their own thing…
They had quit doing the first things…
They were on the verge of having their light removed.
They were on a path to not overcoming.
Jesus lovingly invaded their world, commended them for good, addressed what was wrong, warned them of the consequences, show them the path back to right relationship with Him, and made them a conditional promise of Paradise…
If they would repent…
Christians don’t earn their salvation…that’s a gift received by faith. (Romans 6:23)
But we must maintain our salvation, lest our light be removed, and we become useless in this world.