Jesus' Sermon on the Mount

"If any one will piously and soberly consider the sermon which our Lord Jesus Christ spoke on the mount, as we read it in the Gospel according to Matthew, I think that he will find in it, so far as regards the highest morals, a perfect standard of the Christian life"  Saint Augustine

Greetings, Acts 2 Study Groupers!

This Sunday, March 1 at  7 PM is our next meeting for the Acts 2 Study Group.  We will meet in the chapel, as we did last month.

Sunday night, we will begin a study of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, which St. Augustine called "a perfect standard of the Christian life."  After our study, we will make plans for the community movie night we have discussed at previous meetings.  Bring a friend!

Shine Like Stars

Thanks to everybody who joined us last night for our first meeting of 2014.  I hope you enjoyed our study of Philippians as much as we did.  As we discussed, our meeting next month will take place in the Shawnee Room at Tiffin Tower.  We will serve lunch to the residents Sunday, February 9 at 1:00 and then hold our regular Bible study with any of the residents who would like to join us.  Details to follow.

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."  Philippians 2:14-15 (ESV)

The Book of Joy

Paul's letter to the believers at Philippi is often referred to as The Book of Joy, with good reason.  In it, the great apostle encourages readers and offers practical advice on finding contentment in our circumstances and living joyfully as we are called to do.

Tonight, we'll study Philippians with a focus on starting the New Year the right way...God's way.  7 PM, in the chapel.  Bring a friend!

Galatians 6:9

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Hebrews 13:8

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Back to the blog today after what has been a very hectic last few weeks.  We're going through a lot of changes right now - good changes (moving into our new house), but changes nonetheless.  Change equals activity and busy-ness.  Things have been crazy lately and I have to admit - I have not been as consistent in my daily Scripture reading as I would have liked to be.  I've been busy...maybe too busy?

This morning, I read Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  What a great reminder - our timeless, eternal, unchanging King is always there for us; always waiting for our return with open arms when we've become distracted in our daily hustle.  We can be grateful for the rock-solid foundation His grace and love provide.  Always.

What Does Love Look Like?

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

[...]And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."  1 Corinthians 13:1-7, 13

Walk On Purpose!

"The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them."  Hosea 14:9

"Give careful thought to the paths of your feet, and be steadfast in all your ways."  Proverbs 4:26

On Relationships

I know a guy whose friend Mark died last week at the age of 48 of a massive heart attack.  I knew Mark, though not well...he was more acquaintence than friend to me.  But I knew a little about him.  When I saw him, Mark was always smiling and laughing, and always quick with a joke.  He was a hard worker.  He was reliable and trustworthy.  He loved his family.  He was a good friend.

We were standing in the driveway talking to my friend the day after Mark died.  He was so clearly shaken and upset...he choked up several times talking about it.  One thing he told us really stood out to me.  He said, "Mark was such a friendly, nice person.  You could tell he really cared about people.  Sometimes I think that's why God put Mark in my life...I haven't always been that way."  I can relate.  Maybe you can too.

My wife and I went to Mark's calling hours last night.  Afterward, we agreed that the world would be a better place if there were more people like Mark in it.  I kept thinking about what my friend said...and how it applies to each of us.  God put us here, and God gave us relationships and each other.  What we do with these relationships is a sign of the strength of our Christian faith.  In his book The Relationship Principles of Jesus, Tom Holladay writes:

"[...]In the beginning, God created you for relationships.  He made you to relate to him and to others.  Miss out on relationships, and you're missing the core reason for which God put you on this planet.  And in the end, nothing is more important, because nothing will last longer than relationships.  Your relationships with God and others will last all the way into eternity..."

How perfect.  How true.  May it someday be said of each of us, "You could tell he (or she) really cared about people..."  This is such an important part of God's will for our lives.  One that we would be foolish to overlook.

"Jesus said, 'The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.'”  Mark 12:29-31 (MSG)

1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

"He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.  Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

Just Be Normal!

Max Lucado:

"[...]'Here is what I know,' she told them.  'They held my baby.'..."

We don't have to speak in Christian code or memorize the Bible or try to out-"good" each other to live out our faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).  All that following Jesus requires is that we walk humbly with the God who created us, with gratitude for His Son, who saves us.  That's it...that's all we are called to do!

What would Jesus do?  He would be kind, and help whenever he could.  He would be patient and generous.  He would keep a Servant's heart.  Most of all, he would love others.  That we should do the same...that's what it means to walk with Jesus.  It doesn't cost us a thing...the price has been paid in full...

Rest!

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."  Genesis 2:2-3

"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'"  Mark 6:31

From a recent CNBC article:

"[...]A three-day weekend? We can barely get through three waking hours without working, new research shows. The average smartphone user checks his or her device 150 times per day, or about once every six minutes. Meanwhile, government data from 2011 says 35 percent of us work on weekends, and those who do average five hours of labor, often without compensation—or even a thank you. The other 65 percent were probably too busy to answer surveyors' questions.

There's plenty of debate among economists and psychologists whether the economy is to blame, or we do this to ourselves. There's little arguing that the concept of a Sabbath is in serious danger."

It is so easy, in these digital times to be always 'on;' to be always 'plugged in.'  But this isn't what God has in mind for us - not even close!  Even He takes time to rest (Genesis 2:2-3).  If the Creator and Overseer of the universe has time to take a break, surely we do, too.  When we don't take time to rest, we're saying: 'God, you might need to take a break, but I don't.  I've got the power to keep going and I'm far too busy to stop and rest.  Maybe that works for you, but not for me.'  What a foolish, unwise thing to say!  Pray this prayer today:

"Lord, as we pause this weekend to honor those who have sacrificed so greatly for our freedom, let us also take time to emulate you, and rest; and also to thank you and honor your Son, the Ultimate Payor for our freedom, Jesus Christ.  Let us be wise to take time this Memorial Day weekend to rest and enjoy our families.  By doing this, we are living life as you intended it - with time for work and sowing, and time for leisure and reaping.  This is your best for our lives, God.  Thank you for this blessing.  Amen!"

On Acts: The Mission of the Holy Spirit

Mark Driscoll:

"[...]The mission of the Holy Spirit, as we see throughout Acts, is to bring people to faith in Christ.  As Jesus says to his first followers at the outset of the book: 'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth' (Acts 1:8).

[...]Throughout the book, we learn to recognize evidence of the Holy Spirit at work:

Bold evangelism (4:15, 31, 33)

Passionate worship (2:47, 4:21)

Generous, sacrifical giving (2:45)

Participation in the life of the church (2:46)

Baptisms (2:41, 8:12)

Lives changed (3:8, 4:36-37)

That’s what I want for our church. That’s what I want for Christians everywhere and for non-Christians who are actually going to be Christians (but, in the providence of God, they just don’t know it yet)..."

The Walk: Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding

"For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding."  Proverbs 2:6

"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures."  Proverbs 24:3-4

Pray this prayer today:

"Lord, you are the source of wisdom, knowledge and understanding.  I walk with you because I know you have so much to teach me about how to live wisely for your purpose and your eternal plans.  Search my heart, Lord, and rid me of any destructive thoughts or motivations that might make me less effective today, Lord.  Replace these with the wisdom, knowledge and understanding you have promised.  Not my will today, Lord, but yours; your plans are far greater than any I could imagine.  Amen!"

Guard Your Lips!

"Gracious speech is like clover honey - good taste to the soul; quick energy for the body."  Proverbs 16:24 (MSG)

"I've learned to be careful of becoming a critic.  Criticism really sours your heart."  James MacDonald