Thursday, August 7, 2014

Acts 14:8-19

⁸ In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked.  ⁹ He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed ¹⁰ and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.

¹¹ When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 

¹² Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. ¹³ The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 

¹⁵ “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. ¹⁶ In the past, he let all nations go their own way. ¹⁷ Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” ¹⁸ Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.¹⁹ Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. ²⁰ But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

 Reflection

This is a story of one of the miracles that God does through the ministry of Paul. We often times want to stray away from miracles. Especially when it might be a miracle that God accomplishes through us. We can struggle and think that we do not want to get our hopes up or we think that miracles should only happen on our terms. But if we are aligned with the heart of God and joined with the transformative power of God, God will perform miracles through our ministries. Miracles are at the heart of the transformation of the world. How do you feel about God doing miracles through you? Share it with God.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Acts 13:6-15, 38-44

¹³ From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ From Perga they went on to

Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. ¹⁵ After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”¹⁶ Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! ³⁸ “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. ³⁹ Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain

under the law of Moses. ⁴⁰ Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: ⁴¹ “‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”⁴² As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.

 ⁴³ When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. ⁴⁴ On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

Reflection

This is the story of Paul’s work in Antioch (pronounced Ant-E-Awk.) The importance  of this scripture to our missionary mentality is the need to share our faith. Many people think that they are ill equipped to share the gospel. They say that they have had no training and that this should be the job of a pastor who has gone to school for this. The truth is that we have a very simple faith. It can all be brought down to the fact that Jesus died so that we may have life and have it abundantly. This is the basis of what Paul tells the people in

Antioch and the results speak for themselves. Do you worry about sharing your faith? Why? 

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Acts 13:1-12
¹ Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ So

after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off ⁴ The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. ⁵ When they arrived at Salamis, they

proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper. ⁶ They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,⁷ who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. ⁹ Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ¹⁰ “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? ¹¹ Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

Reflection

This  is the start of Paul’s first missionary excursion.

The key element to this story is found in verses 4 and 5. Paul and Barnabas are not going out on their own. They are called by God and sent with the Holy Spirit into the world to make new disciples. This is why Connect Grow Serve is so important.  We need to be connected to God and growing closer in our intimacy with Him to be able to hear God call us and to be sent out into service. We are sustained in our service through that connection with the Holy Spirit.  This is important in having a missionary mentality.  How are you connecting with God through Jesus Christ? How are you growing in Jesus Christ  so as to hear God’s call in your life to serve in the world for Jesus Christ?

Monday, August 4, 2014

Acts 9:1-9,17-18
¹Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. ¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 

¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 

Reflection

Saul (later to be called Paul) is converted and called by Jesus  to preach and proclaim the gospel. The problem is the fact that  he has to do this with people he had once

persecuted and to people he had seen as second class

citizens (or worse.) We have the same call in our lives to serve people we may not like at times and to serve people who at one time we would have seen as inferior or lacking. We have to do this without judgment. This is all part of the missionary mentality. As the church we are in the people business and that is what makes mission so hard. Do you have trouble working with other people and or sharing the gospel with people who are not like you? Be honest. Share your concerns with God.

Weekly Theme August 3 through 9

Using Conversation to Build Relationships

 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 9:22-23

                          

How do you intentionally build relationships?  Or do you?  If we want to build relationships then we need an intentional plan that will put us in places where we have the opportunity to connect with people and then develop a relationship

.

What is your plan?  Is it to develop meaningful and growing relationships with your co-workers?  Or maybe you are very intentional about making a connection with your neighbors and the people who live in your community.  Maybe you are very active in your Home Owners Association so that you will have the opportunity to get to know people who live in your neighborhood.  Maybe you share some baked goods with your neighbors from time to time in order to be able to start a conversation.  Maybe you have children who are involved in various activities and you use that as an opportunity to get to know the parents of the children who are involved with your children.  Waiting with other parents when your child is in gymnastics or karate class is a great way to get to know other people.  Don’t just sit reading a book or a magazine instead use that time to start a conversation!

Are we intentional about getting to know people or are we haphazard about the way we connect with other people?  Worse yet, do we avoid people because we don’t want to take the risk of developing a relationship and having to open ourselves to someone new?  It is amazing how many people actually avoid conversations because talking with someone they do not know is just too uncomfortable for them.

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Revelation 4:1-11

¹After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, 

“Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” ² At once I was in the Spirit,  and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. ³ And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.

⁴ Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. ⁶ Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. ⁷ The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. ⁸ Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy,

holy is the Lord God Almighty, ’who was, and is, and is to come.” ⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:¹¹ “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Reflection

The Revelation of St. John gives us a glimpse at what our praise achieves. In Revelation 4 we see that the praise of God is never ending. It does not stop to take breaks but our God is eternally praised. When we let go of our own wants and  focus on the heart of God, our praise becomes a part of the eternal praise of God. This should remind us that

worship is much larger than us. Through Jesus Christ we are able to tap into the eternal praise of God and this is not something to take lightly. Worship is all about Jesus and the marvelous things God has done for us. What has God done for you? 

Friday, August 1, 2014

Matthew 4:8-11

⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and

attended him.

Ephesians 6:17-18

¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit  on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Reflection

Things have not changed since Jesus’ temptation in the desert. There are still forces in this world that are working to keep us from worshipping what we should and that is our Lord Jesus Christ. So it is not easy to get ourselves away from these things that seek to grab our time and attention away from our central point, which is the worship of God in Jesus Christ. That is why we must stay rooted in God and wear the armor of God. John Wesley stresses that even if one has this armor, resisting the powers of darkness  requires engaging in incessant prayer so as to exhibit continual dependence on God not just on the gifts He gives. It is hard work and sacrifice to worship in spirit and truth.  For it involves letting go of our preferences in favor of God’s purpose and battling a world that gives us a myriad of other choices to be our personal gods. It is only through the power drawn from prayer and intimate

relationship with God that we can resist temptation and make God first in our lives. Take time to set aside when you will spend time with God in prayer tomorrow. Then take some time today.