Dahhh…

At prayer meeting today Pastor Eric shared today from Luke 7 about the differences between John and Jesus.  I never really thought about the differences in their ministry before.  John basically lived somewhat like a hermit, living out in the desert, and baptizing and preaching those who came to him.  Jesus was sort of the opposite, he was sort of in the middle of all the action, traveling and preaching to crowds, but also building up a small group of disciples.

This was interesting to me because I feel like naturally I would be more like John.  I don’t like large groups all that much, so I would be happier in the ‘desert’ building up a select few.

Pgee’s sermon today was from a very familiar passage.

Salt and Light – Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

This passage from the sermon on the mount I’ve read many times and studied it many times in different bible study groups.  Pgee did a really good job of summing it up. Wherever we are, we should make such a positive impact that people will praise God. Well okay, it basically is just rephrasing the last verse of the passage.  But he made a point that really stuck with me.  He asked the question, are we sending mixed messages with the way we living our lives?  Does the message of what I say and the message of how I live my life both act together to cause others to praise God?

One thing I’m becoming acutely aware of through leading in Acacia is that it is impossible to please everyone.  Some might think the group is too serious.  Others might think that the group is not serious enough.  Some people want a small group of 4 people, some people want a small group of 10 people.

I read this verse this morning.

Galatians 1:10

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Our goal is not to please everyone in the group.  Our goal is to please God.  Sometimes I forget that and drive myself crazy trying to please everyone at the same time, which ends up being impossible.  I guess that’s why the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul and mind.  Then the second command is to love your neighbor as yourself.  First God, then  man.

Our first bible study of the school year way back in September was about community.  We studied the famous passage on community in Acts 2.  It describes an amazing church community.  Tonight at Acacia we studied the ‘one anothers’ in the new testament.  I think if we practice these ‘one anothers’ we will be well on our way towards the amazing community described in Acts 2.

• Love one another: John 13:34-35
• Serve one another: Galatians 5:13
• Accept one another: Romans 15:7
• Build up one another: Romans 14:19
• Encourage one another: Hebrews 3:13
• Carry each others burdens: Care for one another: Galatians 6:2
• King/compassionate / Forgive one another: Ephesians 4:32
• Submit to one another: Ephesians 5:21
• Devoted to one another/ Honor one another: Romans 12:10
• Have fellowship with one another: 1 John 1:7
• Tolerant of one another / bearing with one another Be patient with one another: Ephesians 4:2
• Be interested in one another: Philippians 2:4
• Confess to one another: James 5:16
• Live in harmony with one another: / Be of the same mind toward one another: Romans 12:16
• Let no debt remain  -  don’t hold grudges Do not be conceited to one another: Romans 13:8
• Do not pass judgment to one another: Romans 14:13
• Do not slander one another: James 4:11
• Greet one another: Romans 16:16
• Admonish one another: Colossians 3:16
• Spur one another on toward love and good deeds: Hebrews 10:24
• Meet with one another: Hebrews 10:25
• humble/gentle/patient/bearing to one another in love: Ephesians 4:2
• Be at peace with one another: Romans 12:18
• Sing to one another: Ephesians 5:19
• Comfort one another: 1 Thessalonians 4:18
• Live in peace with one another: 1 Thessalonians 5:13
• Do not be consumed by one another Galatians 5:14-15
• Not be conceited/provoking/envying: Galatians 5:26
• Do not lie to one another: Colossians 3:9
• Do not grumble to one another: James 5:9

Sometime during our 4 day backpacking trip, George decided that we should remember a verse together.  I think it was at the point when both of us were really tired and didn’t know if we wanted to continue on.  The verse he picked was Romans 5:3-4.

Romans 5:3-4

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

At that point, I guess we were suffering.  But we continued to press on.  I wouldn’t say we rejoiced in our sufferings, but I’m pretty sure it produced perserverance and character.  Hope I’m not too sure of.  How does marching on when you’re tired and weary produce hope?  Well actually, what caused us to continue on was the thought/hope of buffet or a big juicy burger at the end of the hike.

In general though, in the biblical context it seems that suffering produces hope because in the end we have hope that our sufferings are not futile, that there will be a reward for persevering through our trials and suffering.  The reward of course is much better than the big buffet or the big juicy burger, and comes with none of the regrets. =P