The Relevant Disciple

We all need refreshment from the Lord. For many of us it is long over due and it is not because the Lord has not wanted to be close to us, it is because we have not wanted to be close to Him. This past weekend, I saw several (10+) of the teenagers in my youth department draw close to the Lord. I have been praying that God would start a spiritual fire with in our group. It's not that our group has been dead but the fire has not been their and that happens to all of us. My job now as a minister is to help lead this group into a deeper walk with Christ (this always been my job but now the desire is their on their part). God has some great and wonderful things in store for FBC and I am looking forward to 2009.
In 2009, I am praying that God will renew our church in a special way. Our community like all communities needs Christ and we must be faithful to that calling that was issued in Matthew 28. It is time to get in the ballgame and I pray that our youth will lead in that charge. Every great revival has started with young people and I believe something great is about to happen.
God is very gracious to us and it is time to return to our calling. The question is what calling? The calling of serving the true and living God with no fear because He desires it. If we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us and I think that is a shame for us to be ashamed. It is time to become Biblically Correct and not Politically. Stand up and pray for revival and join in the revolution that God is starting.
2009 Prayer - God use us at FBC to change our community for your glory. We can not do it alone nor do we desire. Take your servants and use them as you wish and may you get all the glory for it is Christ whom we serve.

Pastor John

As we get closer to Christmas Day, my mind begins to think more and more about the reason we celebrate Christmas. When I was younger (Current age 30), I remember seeing Christmas stuff after Thanksgiving for the most part. This year I saw Christmas displays in early September. The U.S. and world economy is in downward turn and business are hoping that the Christmas season saves their business. People have become more greedy and the stores are taking advantage of that. For most people Jesus is no longer the reason for the season. Receiving and giving have become the reason for the season. That is a shame an utter shame.
As I sit here and type my minds is thinking about how things would have been when Jesus was born. That dirty manager and the smelly shepherds. God himself came in human flesh and why? He came because of his love for us, a love that surpasses all other types of love. This season I pray that we begin to remember why we celebrate and what we celebrate. We celebrate the greatest gift ever given. No matter how much money we have, we can never give the type of gift God gave, but we can help share in that gift. We help by sharing Christ love with our friends and family. Take the time this Christmas season to share Christ love. Merry Christmas and May God bless you.

Pastor John

What compels us to love Christ? In 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, we see that it is Christ's loving, substitutionary death that motivated Paul. So, if that motivated Paul it should motivate us as well. As I look at the church today our motivation is gone. We are no longer moved to share the love of Christ. We are not compelled to share the love of Christ with anyone. We keep it to ourselves which is unbiblical to the core. We are now living for ourselves and not for Christ. Christ love should compel us to love others and by truly loving others we should be willing to share the gospel with them. The love of Christ should be our motivating factor.
Christ love should change the way we see others as well. The world looks at the outward appearance of men and women, but God looks at the heart. In verse 16, Paul says that we are to regard no one from a worldly point of view. Teenagers and adults alike look and judge by our outer appearance and because of that we are guilty of judging by the worlds standards. But we are a new creation in Christ and we are to look at people as Christ does and that is to look inward at the beauty of the heart. Christ died for all of us and we are to love all even if they do not want to be loved.
Finally, Christ love leads us to tell others about God's love for them. In verses 18 - 21, Paul tells us that we are reconciled to God through Christ. We do not have the ability on our own to be reconciled to God. It is only through Christ that we can be saved. Christ love for us commands us to share that love with others. We are not to be ashamed of the gospel, but we are to present the gospel with boldness and love. Paul understood his role as an ambassador for Christ and we must do the same. My desire is for the church and myself to become more bold with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Take time today and share your faith with others. May God Bless you.

Pastor John