Heard an interesting point made today by Brad Powell. He said (paraphrasing) Religion is a creation of man - the Church was always intended to be relationship not an organization or hierarchy.
Another thing I never heard growing up...what else wasn't I taught? How about you?
No Religion - Just Relationship!
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." - Mark 2:17 (NIV)
Daily Prayer
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Not about Rules, Ritual, or Religion - borrowed from Chip Igram
Jesus on “Authentic Spirituality”
• …you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. – Jesus
Luke 11:39 (NIV)
• …thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that. -Jesus
Mark 7:13 (NIV)
• …you are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight. – Jesus
Luke 16:15 (NIV)
• And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. – Jesus
Matthew 6:5 (NIV)
• And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. – Jesus
Matthew 6:7 (NIV)
• …you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. – Jesus
Luke 11:39 (NIV)
• …thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that. -Jesus
Mark 7:13 (NIV)
• …you are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight. – Jesus
Luke 16:15 (NIV)
• And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. – Jesus
Matthew 6:5 (NIV)
• And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. – Jesus
Matthew 6:7 (NIV)
Friday, February 18, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Exclusive but Inclusive
Christianity is exclusive because Salvation is only available through Jesus but inclusive because it is available to anyone, anytime no matter the manner in which a person has lived their life.
Hard to believe?
Hard to believe?
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Great Question to Ponder
A most interesting question regarding Christianity..."You shall not kill" is a pretty clear commandment. Why can (or should) Christians support killing in certain situations (police officers, death penalty, war, etc.)?
What do you think?
What do you think?
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Spiritual Warfare
Never heard of spiritual warfare or much about the kingdom of darkness in confirmation / Sunday school...the devil was almost portrayed as a cartoon character in the church I attended. What experiences have you had with learning about the devil, demons, and the evil forces? How is the concept of spiritual warfare addressed in your church?
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Marriage and Men
A very straight forward, to the heart, talk to men about men from Mark Driscoll. Never heard anything like this in my church growing up!
Men and Marriage
Men and Marriage
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Being moved by the Spirit...
This is all new to me so to have an experience like I had today is something I have to share...
Sitting in my kitchen, waiting to go to an afternoon obligation, I get this feeling that I am supposed to go out to eat. I am not sure where I am supposed to go but there is no doubt in my mind - I fight it a little because I could save the money but I finally get in my car and head out. I was not even sure where I was supposed to go but then a restaurant that I had not gone to in a couple of years comes to mind. I am thinking, and asking why? I get this feeling that I am supposed to share something with the server. I apprehensively follow this prompting and would you believe that I sit at the bar to order and the bartender is a person that I know. Now, I don't know this person well at all and in fact I am not sure I have ever spoken to them but I felt I should leave the web address to this site on a napkin and put it with my payment for the bill. I did. I have no idea what this all means or how God intends to use this but I am 100% convinced that this was all His doing.
Stay tuned and I will share if I find out how He has used this. What stories, of being led by the Spirit, can you share to help those of us who have limited experience understand these things better?
Sitting in my kitchen, waiting to go to an afternoon obligation, I get this feeling that I am supposed to go out to eat. I am not sure where I am supposed to go but there is no doubt in my mind - I fight it a little because I could save the money but I finally get in my car and head out. I was not even sure where I was supposed to go but then a restaurant that I had not gone to in a couple of years comes to mind. I am thinking, and asking why? I get this feeling that I am supposed to share something with the server. I apprehensively follow this prompting and would you believe that I sit at the bar to order and the bartender is a person that I know. Now, I don't know this person well at all and in fact I am not sure I have ever spoken to them but I felt I should leave the web address to this site on a napkin and put it with my payment for the bill. I did. I have no idea what this all means or how God intends to use this but I am 100% convinced that this was all His doing.
Stay tuned and I will share if I find out how He has used this. What stories, of being led by the Spirit, can you share to help those of us who have limited experience understand these things better?
Friday, February 4, 2011
Desire or Duty?
Religion reeks of duty and endless obligations to the church - Relationship is the passionate DESIRE to know God and from this desire people are moved to serve.
Think of your church and the people there - are they wildly desiring to know God or do they seem to be bogged down under the pressure to do more and more for the church?
Did Jesus say to Matthew (tax collector and viewed as the lowest of sinners), "Son, you need to go to church and get religion and do good deeds and then maybe you will be saved"? Nah. He preferred two words, "Follow Me!"
Think of your church and the people there - are they wildly desiring to know God or do they seem to be bogged down under the pressure to do more and more for the church?
Did Jesus say to Matthew (tax collector and viewed as the lowest of sinners), "Son, you need to go to church and get religion and do good deeds and then maybe you will be saved"? Nah. He preferred two words, "Follow Me!"
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The personality of Jesus...
Does the bible protray Jesus as the same man as the one we learned about in Sunday school and Church? I don't think so...what impressions of the personality of Jesus have you been believing? Consider listening to a great talk by Mark Driscoll on the Jesus the Man.
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