I appreciate the positive comments I received on the lesson Sunday morning on the church being a hospital for sinners. I have long been convinced there are many people who really want God in their lives but for many various reasons just don’t get around to it. They and others who don’t attend any religious services have been termed the “unchurched”, that is, they just don’t go to church.
Let me share with you some thoughts by Jack English, a long-time friend of mine who preaches for the Center Street church in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He writes:
“Tom S. Reiner is the president of Church Central (http://www.churchcentral.com/) and Rainer Group Church consulting. He specializes in researching the hearts and mind-set of the unchurched and why they choose to not be involved with a local church. Some of his findings have been surprising and defy the conventional wisdom many Christians have about the unchurched.
“The following ‘surprises’ were published in a recent report that I believe will be very helpful as we attempt to evangelize our community. They are not listed in any particular order.
“Surprise #1: Most of the unchurched prefer to attend church on Sunday morning if they attend. It is assumed they responded this way because that is the time they have always heard church should be. A very distant preference was a weeknight service other than Friday night.
“Surprise #2: Most of the unchurched feel guilty about not attending church. These guilty feelings were especially prevalent among adults who had children living at home.
“Surprise #3: Ninety-six percent of the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if they are invited. This may be the most important part of the study. If we invite them, they will come.
“Surprise #4: Very few of the unchurched had someone share with them how to become a Christian. And Christians have not been particularly influential in their lives. If Christians do not invite them to church, we cannot be surprised if they do not share the gospel with or influence the unchurched.
“Surprise #5: Most of the unchurched have a positive view of preachers, ministers and the church. For the vast majority of the unchurched, the church is still relevant today. If this is true, why are they still unchurched? Some of the unchurched have visited churches, but had a negative experience. But more importantly, most of the unchurched have never been invited to church.
“The main point is this - the unchurched must be invited to church!”
Amen! Do we get the point? God reached out because He cares. Let’s do the same.
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The Thanks of Giving
Thanksgiving Day is soon upon us. Roast the turkey, spread the table …. hours of preparation … sit and eat … gone in less than an hour… clear away the leftovers, do the dishes and clean up the kitchen… whew, is it over? Not at all!
The time spent sharing together… talking with family members… remembering former times… laughing at just about anything… watching the grandchildren. Watch football… time to eat again… bring out the leftovers… clean up - again. Play family games… laugh some more. Try to get the kids bedded down so the adults can have some time together. These are the things that make holidays - at least at our house.
What’s it all about, this holiday? Giving thanks? Yes. It’s thinking about your blessings, the things you have received. But let me ask you to think about it from a different perspective. Why not think at this time about giving thanks for what you can give - the thanks of giving?
Each of us has been blessed in many ways. Also, each of us has something we can give to others. It may or may not be material but what matters is that we give it from the sense of being thankful for what we have and the willingness to share with others.
For example, many here took an empty grocery sack and have filled it up with items for a Thanksgiving Day dinner to share with others. You’ve done that because of what you have and now you have the thanks of giving. Many other examples of this kind of benevolent giving are shown in the Christian’s life.
Another example is our giving to God. He has given us so much for which to be thankful. We give to Him because we are thankful. We receive the blessing of being able to give to Him who has given so much to us. That is the thanks of giving.
Why not talk about this at your family gathering this holiday season. Think about the thanks (blessings we each receive) of being able to give.
“Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” Hebrews 13:15
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
The time spent sharing together… talking with family members… remembering former times… laughing at just about anything… watching the grandchildren. Watch football… time to eat again… bring out the leftovers… clean up - again. Play family games… laugh some more. Try to get the kids bedded down so the adults can have some time together. These are the things that make holidays - at least at our house.
What’s it all about, this holiday? Giving thanks? Yes. It’s thinking about your blessings, the things you have received. But let me ask you to think about it from a different perspective. Why not think at this time about giving thanks for what you can give - the thanks of giving?
Each of us has been blessed in many ways. Also, each of us has something we can give to others. It may or may not be material but what matters is that we give it from the sense of being thankful for what we have and the willingness to share with others.
For example, many here took an empty grocery sack and have filled it up with items for a Thanksgiving Day dinner to share with others. You’ve done that because of what you have and now you have the thanks of giving. Many other examples of this kind of benevolent giving are shown in the Christian’s life.
Another example is our giving to God. He has given us so much for which to be thankful. We give to Him because we are thankful. We receive the blessing of being able to give to Him who has given so much to us. That is the thanks of giving.
Why not talk about this at your family gathering this holiday season. Think about the thanks (blessings we each receive) of being able to give.
“Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” Hebrews 13:15
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
Sunday, November 16, 2008
A Single Life
“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear (or, single in the Greek), your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” - Matthew 6:22, 23.
Anyone who desires any goal at all in this life must put forth some effort to attain that goal. Many people set a goal in their lives and live their entire life around that goal. That becomes their single purpose for living. Frequently we condemn a person for doing this. But this is as it must be with Christianity.
Christianity is single in purpose. Jesus is telling us that we must have clear or definite goals in our life. That means we must put forth effort to make sure our service is acceptable to Him. Paul told the Philippians, “...work out your own salvation” in Philippians 2:12. Salvation is not granted to those who just wish for it. Someone has said, “Don’t wear your wishbone where your backbone ought to be.” They were probably referring to being successful in worldly goals but it also applies to our relationship with God.
When it comes to serving our God, we need to heed the admonition given long ago by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:10. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.” These words are echoed in Paul’s admonition to the church at Colossae as he writes in Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
A single life is reflected in our goals. A Christian desires to serve His Lord. This is reflected in Paul’s admonition in Colossians 3:1, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”
When we have a life that is single in purpose then we will be able to say with Paul, “To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
Anyone who desires any goal at all in this life must put forth some effort to attain that goal. Many people set a goal in their lives and live their entire life around that goal. That becomes their single purpose for living. Frequently we condemn a person for doing this. But this is as it must be with Christianity.
Christianity is single in purpose. Jesus is telling us that we must have clear or definite goals in our life. That means we must put forth effort to make sure our service is acceptable to Him. Paul told the Philippians, “...work out your own salvation” in Philippians 2:12. Salvation is not granted to those who just wish for it. Someone has said, “Don’t wear your wishbone where your backbone ought to be.” They were probably referring to being successful in worldly goals but it also applies to our relationship with God.
When it comes to serving our God, we need to heed the admonition given long ago by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:10. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.” These words are echoed in Paul’s admonition to the church at Colossae as he writes in Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
A single life is reflected in our goals. A Christian desires to serve His Lord. This is reflected in Paul’s admonition in Colossians 3:1, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”
When we have a life that is single in purpose then we will be able to say with Paul, “To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Here Am I
Jesus challenges His disciples with a penetrating statement in John 4:35. He says, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” He then says in verse 36, “And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.”
Long before Jesus came, God had asked a penetrating question. It, and the answer given, is found in Isaiah 6:8, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’”
Many have answered that call. Many more need to. It is up to each of us to preach and teach the good news of Jesus Christ. The following song was written by Doug Lalli and Charles Martin some years ago.
It is still an individual responsibility to take the Word of God to those who are lost. Will we say, “Here am I”?
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
Long before Jesus came, God had asked a penetrating question. It, and the answer given, is found in Isaiah 6:8, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’”
Many have answered that call. Many more need to. It is up to each of us to preach and teach the good news of Jesus Christ. The following song was written by Doug Lalli and Charles Martin some years ago.
Think about these words and the two passages of scripture above. God is still asking “Whom shall I send, and who will go…” and Jesus is still saying to us “look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.” How will you respond?Here Am I
The call’s gone out to all the world;
It’s time to spread the Word.
God’s grace abounds with hope and joy
For those that love the Lord.
So, Christians, RISE and take your stand;
You are the chosen few.
The time is now, the place is here;
And we cry . . . Here Am I.
Chorus
Here am I … Use me, Lord
Here am I … Use me, Lord
Here am I … Take my life
Here am I … Take my life
Here am I … Made for service, Lord
Here am I … Made to serve
Here am I … Here am I
Lord, Here am I
The lost cry out wrapped up in sin;
They need to know the Lord.
They’re dying in their hopeless state;
Not knowing of His Word.
The future’s dim, the light is gone’
They'll die apart from Him.
So Christians feel the awesome need;
And please cry … Here Am I.
It is still an individual responsibility to take the Word of God to those who are lost. Will we say, “Here am I”?
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The Ultimate Price
The Ultimate Price
The ultimate price is sacrifice
And Jesus paid the ultimate price.
He gave His life for you and me
So we won’t have to pay the penalty
For sin that stains the lives of men;
And the Father will welcome us in
To the home He’s prepared above
Made possible by our Savior’s love.
I now live my life as a sacrifice.
Because he paid the ultimate price.
(tl - 10/17/08)
And Jesus paid the ultimate price.
He gave His life for you and me
So we won’t have to pay the penalty
For sin that stains the lives of men;
And the Father will welcome us in
To the home He’s prepared above
Made possible by our Savior’s love.
I now live my life as a sacrifice.
Because he paid the ultimate price.
(tl - 10/17/08)
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. -
1 John 3:1
As children mature they begin to realize the true love of their parents and understand what it means to honor them. As we think of the Father’s love in making us a part of His Family, we remember the price He gave in the form of Jesus. When we partake of a small taste of unleavened bread each Lord’s Day, we realize the sacrifice made for us. The body of God’s Son took my place to pay the price of sin that I owed. It’s difficult for me to grasp that sometimes.
In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. - 1 John 4:9
To know Jesus is to know the love of God. To think of the blood He gave in His death as we take a small drink of grape juice during the Lord’s Supper, should cause us to realize the great price He paid for us to have that privilege. The blood it represents was shed to cleanse me. It was given to wash my sins away.
(God) made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him. - 2 Corinthians 5:21
Oh, what a savior! He made the ultimate sacrifice.righteousness of God in Him. - 2 Corinthians 5:21
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
