Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Life Theology

As many in the contepmorary Christian world are probably aware, Pastor Rob Bell has a very controversial book being released this month. The little bit I have heard and read about it worries me, but I'll refrain from passing judgement until I've read it. As the discussion of his theology has come up, a friend, one I hope will serve on staff with me as Associate Pastor to Children and their familes, some day, she asked me what my theology is.

The answer: Live in the Spirit, Preach the Gospel of Jesus, Glorify the Father. Love God, Love others, do what you want.

We see in Acts 2 that after Jesus asscends to Heaven the Holy Spirit comes to empower us and guide us as we journey through life. We are to live in the Spirit a life that is pleasing to God and a blessing to others. The life that God desires for us to live.

I look at life and I see that there is a command, teach people to obey everything Jesus has commanded. This includes His story, becasue we are told to take up our cross daily and follow Him. So we preach the Gospel of Jesus both in word and in action.

Philippians 2.11 says that "every knee will bow, and every tounge confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father." Jesus Himself saught to Glorify God the Father, so why should my life be any differnt.

We serve a Triune God, we interact with each member of the Trinity, each one plays a part.

The second part of my theology I first heard from my mentor Jeremy. He shared it with me and I have really tried to grab a hold of it. Jesus says that the greatest commandment is to Love God, and the second greatest is to love our neighbors as ourselves, and that all the law and the prophets hang on these two.

If I love God I will keep His commands. If my life is lived for God and committed to Him, I don't desire to hurt Him, so I will strive to do everything to please, serve, and glorify Him, not because I am forced to, but because my desire, and my greatest motivation is my love for God.

If I love people, I won't steal, murder, lie, because all of those cause hurt for people, and you don't desire to hurt those you love.

If everything I do is motivated by my love for God and my love for people, then I can do what I want, because my motivation is Love. love doesn't result in pain or hurt, love lifts up, love builds up, love encourages, love tells the truth.

Live, Preach, Glorify, Love.

Peace be with you

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Hand or Face

Over the past few weeks I've been filling in at a church in Cleveland preaching on Sunday mornings. It's been awesome to see who God has completely guided the services, coordinating music and the message without any human conversations regarding scripture of subjects. Last week I preached what I feel is the best sermon I've been given so far, Hand or Face, out of Philippians 4.4-13.

The sermon looks at the way we live life in regards to God, do we live from the Hand of God, simply seeking His blessings, living from blessing to blessing, or is it more than that. Do we live seeking the Face of God, desiring His presence in our lives, and striving simply to do His will? Honestly, it's an awesome message, and I'm simply glad I was in the room when God was writing it.

The reason I love this sermon so much is that the whole focus, the whole purpose, the whole point of the message is God. He is the center of it, and without Him there is no message. That's how a sermon should be, God at the center.

Recently I had saw one of Lou Giglio's video's "How Great is our God" it's incredible. In it, and the previous one, "Indescribable" he looks at the wonders of the universe, and how all of it points to the glory of God. Realizing the size of God, how incompressible He is, how small we really are compared to a star, let alone the one who holds all the millions of stars in His hand, it really puts it in perspective.

Galatians 4.9a says, "Know that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God" It's not a big deal that I know God. Get on Youtube, search for Lou Giglio's videos,

Indescribable part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn2dPZDMOWA

How Great is our God
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KqziOKZ4AE

it isn't a big deal that I know who God is. He made this universe that we don't even know how big it is yet because we can't see it all yet because light hasn't gotten here from the farthest corners of it, and God holds it all in His hand. I should know that God. But the fact that this God knows me, that He can look at this wonder of stars, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, that is in His hand and point to me, that is a big deal. And honestly it just blows my mind.

Daddy, help me to never forget how Great and Indescribable you are. When my faith is weak, help my unbelief. When I fail to fully trust and stumble, catch and carry me. Show me what love really means, and help me to love as you love and serve as you serve.

Peace be with you