Coming to the Still Waters

  It was an in between chapters sermon this Sunday but I think it was at just the right time.  The transition team that I am working with were part of the sermon and a couple of them shared at the end their personal insights in what they have been learning about discipleship.  When you take a deep dive into how Jesus made disciples or fishers of men, you start to change your perspective on how you look at what we have created as the typical modern-day American church.  Your measurements of forward movement start to change.  What do you measure?  How do you measure it?   " Being precedes making. "  " Being a disciple/follower of Christ precedes the making of a disciple/follower of Christ. "  What the transition team was looking at immediately went back to themselves before making any declarative statement on what " we " should do.  Humbly they stood before the congregation with their file folder placards with 8 two word phrases ...

One of the greatest transformations, in my opinion, of Peter's life is the shift from pride to humility.  He was known for " putting his foot in his mouth " on many occasions around Jesus but Acts through the end of the Bible shows a different Peter.  Not perfect but definitely keeping Jesus at the forefront of his speaking and acting.  We have another example of this in our passage today. Peter wants his audience of persecuted 1st century Christians to be very aware of their salvation planned by God, provided by Jesus, and being polished by the Holy Spirit.  He also wants them to be " living out " their salvation until the Lord returns or they met the Lord through physical death, whichever comes first.  Peter is concerned with a problem that we will be introduced to in chapter 2 that they have a correct and precise knowledge of God and Jesus.  One more thing is added to this list that needs to be highlighted by Peter to his audience. Peter is an eyewi...

  I am always thankful to find art that covers the scripture passage we tackled last Sunday.  This one is by Brett Jordan and his rendition of the list Peter gives us in verses 5-7 of chapter 1.  We venture into the second letter from Peter to the 1st century persecuted Christians dispersed in Asia Minor.  It is a few years later than 1 Peter and a few years closer to the end of Peter's life.  Last words are so important.  What does Peter want us and his original audience to know? I summarized the whole book by " The Good " chapter 1, " The Bad " chapter 2, and " The Great " chapter 3.  2 Peter starts very similar to 1 Peter with a focus on our great salvation and therefore a response should follow from us who have received this faith from God.  1 Peter gave us some commands and mandates to follow while 2 Peter gives a list to supplement our God given faith. I thought it might be good to add some other scriptures to each one on the list.  May...

  Back to Philemon this Sunday with the actual reading through of this letter from one church member to another church member about another church member.  Paul is the pusher; Philemon is the receiver; and Onesimus is the carrier.  As a result of Onesimus' conversion now all three are brothers in Christ. How will Philemon receive this instruction from his brother in the Lord, Paul?  Will he respond like the father in the parable of the prodigal son as someone coming home who has been changed or will he respond like the older son and brother who still was focused on himself rather than the other?  How would Philemon's response affect his household and the church that meets in his home?   The topic of forgiveness created quite a " buzz " around the church and in our " Going Deeper " groups after the morning worship service.  Stories were flying about the church foyer of different scenarios with being the one asking for forgiveness or the one giving ...