Scripture Reading: Psalm122
Focus Verse: Psalm 122: 1 "I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go into the house of the Lord.""
We gather together as a community of believers to worship God. There is great peace, comfort and unity in the Body of Christ when we can worship our Creator together. It is important to meet together. It doesn't matter as much if you meet in a church, a home or under the shade of a tree. The main thing is that you worship together. We should praise the name of the LORD.
We can see that by verse 8, the worshiper has found that as a result of worshiping God with his fellow believers, that he is wishing them peace and goodness. He has spent time in the presence of the LORD and the LORD has given him a heart of love for others. The love is shown through peace and goodness. This can create a strong Christian community for the glory of God!
Are you glad when you go to meet others to worship? Does your worship create a heart of love that shows?
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, November 30, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
Everyone's Involved
Everyone's Involved
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
Focus Verse: 1 Corinthians 12:12 "The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ.
You have a place to function in your local fellowship or church. Every person has an important role to play in the body of Christ. God has a specific purpose for you. He has given you certain gifts to help you carry out that purpose. Sometimes you may feel that you have nothing to offer God. But God knows just what His plan and purpose is for your life. We don't function alone but need each other. We realize that it can be difficult to work with some people. But there is one who unifies us and His name is Jesus. See Ephesians 3:10-11 where it says, "to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord ". When the church functions as God intended it is a powerful witness to the world!
No gift of the Holy Spirit is more important than another. We each have a special place in the body of Christ. Someone may have the gift of hospitality and be able to cook very well. Another person may be able to work well with their hands and fix things. Another might teach. There are many different gifts. When we each use our gift as God intended, it is like a well oiled machine running smoothly. We need each other. Just as when you have coals that you are cooking over. If one coal gets separated from the others it soon grow cold. But when all the coals are together the heat last for a long time. Let us not think that we can be a service to Christ all by ourselves. We need each other. Everyone in the body of Christ should be involved together.
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
Focus Verse: 1 Corinthians 12:12 "The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ.
You have a place to function in your local fellowship or church. Every person has an important role to play in the body of Christ. God has a specific purpose for you. He has given you certain gifts to help you carry out that purpose. Sometimes you may feel that you have nothing to offer God. But God knows just what His plan and purpose is for your life. We don't function alone but need each other. We realize that it can be difficult to work with some people. But there is one who unifies us and His name is Jesus. See Ephesians 3:10-11 where it says, "to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord ". When the church functions as God intended it is a powerful witness to the world!
No gift of the Holy Spirit is more important than another. We each have a special place in the body of Christ. Someone may have the gift of hospitality and be able to cook very well. Another person may be able to work well with their hands and fix things. Another might teach. There are many different gifts. When we each use our gift as God intended, it is like a well oiled machine running smoothly. We need each other. Just as when you have coals that you are cooking over. If one coal gets separated from the others it soon grow cold. But when all the coals are together the heat last for a long time. Let us not think that we can be a service to Christ all by ourselves. We need each other. Everyone in the body of Christ should be involved together.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Donkey in the well
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The people intended it for burial, but God used it for GOOD. We can get out of the deepest wells just by trusting God to show us the way out. Shake it off and take a step up.
Biblical example of intended harm that brought life instead: Joseph's brothers put him in a well and then sold him into slavery. Genesis 50 (click to read) Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."
Friday, November 16, 2012
Everyone Is Invited
Scripture Reading: Philemon
Focus Verses: Philemon 10-12 "I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,"
As we continue to learn about a Christian Community, is there anyone that should be excluded from becoming a part of God's family. No. When Christ died on the cross, His death covered the sins of everyone on the whole earth. No one is beyond the reach of Christ love. Sometimes we try to qualify people and say, "Oh, they would never become a Christian."
What is the purpose of Paul's writing of Philemon? It was to get Philemon to accept Onesimus. Onesimus name means "useful". In verse 11 Paul talks of his usefulness to himself and Philemon. I have heard my pastor say, "If God is calling you to join in this fellowship, then this church is incomplete without you."
Sometimes we may feel that we have an exclusive attitude with those in our Christian community. If we have that attitude, then we are missing a piece of the body of Christ. Think of some people in your community that need to feel the love of a fellowship or church. How can you reach out to them this week?
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, November 9, 2012
All Together
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:40-47
Focus Verse: Acts 2:42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."
Sometimes when I preach in Kenya and I see many people accept Christ I wonder if they all knew what they were doing, and if they understand. What kind of life do believers have after receiving Christ? What should it look like to begin a Christian community.
As we continue our devotional study on "Christian community" let's observe a few things about the early church in Acts. In this passage we see that about 3000 people were saved when Peter preached. We see that right away these new believers were united with the other believers. Verse 42 says they had fellowship with them, continued in the doctrine (teachings), they shared in the Lord's supper together, and they prayed together.
We see that these early believers shared what they had so that all could benefit from God's gifts. Sometimes governments of some countries take taxes from those that earn money and then give to those that are in need. Its a nice plan, but God says that it is the church's responsibility to help those in need, not just the government's. When the outside world sees the church helping each other they will know something is different. But so many times the outside world sees the church divided and not able to get along with each other. This is damaging to our testimony.
A healthy Christian community attracts people to Christ. The early church's passion for worship and love for each other was contagious. A church that is healthy and loving will grow in numbers. What can you do today within your church that will attract others to Christ? Who is in need that you can help?
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Acts 2:42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."
Sometimes when I preach in Kenya and I see many people accept Christ I wonder if they all knew what they were doing, and if they understand. What kind of life do believers have after receiving Christ? What should it look like to begin a Christian community.
As we continue our devotional study on "Christian community" let's observe a few things about the early church in Acts. In this passage we see that about 3000 people were saved when Peter preached. We see that right away these new believers were united with the other believers. Verse 42 says they had fellowship with them, continued in the doctrine (teachings), they shared in the Lord's supper together, and they prayed together.
We see that these early believers shared what they had so that all could benefit from God's gifts. Sometimes governments of some countries take taxes from those that earn money and then give to those that are in need. Its a nice plan, but God says that it is the church's responsibility to help those in need, not just the government's. When the outside world sees the church helping each other they will know something is different. But so many times the outside world sees the church divided and not able to get along with each other. This is damaging to our testimony.
A healthy Christian community attracts people to Christ. The early church's passion for worship and love for each other was contagious. A church that is healthy and loving will grow in numbers. What can you do today within your church that will attract others to Christ? Who is in need that you can help?
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Monday, November 5, 2012
Built to Last
During the next 12 weeks we will study how to have a Strong Christian Community
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22
Focus Verse: Ephesians 2:21 The whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
This Christian community of friends around us is built to last, because we will be with these people for all eternity. Keep in mind we will have perfect bodies once we get to heaven. Let's look at what Paul has to say about building a strong Christian community that will last.
There were some problems between the Gentiles and Jews described in verses 11-13. But Paul wants wants to bring these groups together in a peaceful way. Paul says in verse 14 that Christ has broken down the wall of separation between man and God. This also breaks the wall of separation between all believers. This is very important to understand because when Christians are divided it is a bad testimony to the outside community.
Christ himself is our peace through the cross. As members of Christ body we stick together like bricks of a building. We are strong when we are interlocked together. When we are separated we make ourselves weak and vulnerable to attack from the enemy.
I like to think of it like a building. A good caretaker will maintain a building. He will see problems when they are small and make repairs before they get big. This is how we can maintain a strong Christian community that is built to last. Let us be strong together for Christ. Let Christ Jesus be the mortar that brings us together to build the strong body of Christ. You can't control the actions of others, but as far as yourself, you can control your reactions. God bless you as you grow strong together.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22
Focus Verse: Ephesians 2:21 The whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
This Christian community of friends around us is built to last, because we will be with these people for all eternity. Keep in mind we will have perfect bodies once we get to heaven. Let's look at what Paul has to say about building a strong Christian community that will last.
There were some problems between the Gentiles and Jews described in verses 11-13. But Paul wants wants to bring these groups together in a peaceful way. Paul says in verse 14 that Christ has broken down the wall of separation between man and God. This also breaks the wall of separation between all believers. This is very important to understand because when Christians are divided it is a bad testimony to the outside community.
Christ himself is our peace through the cross. As members of Christ body we stick together like bricks of a building. We are strong when we are interlocked together. When we are separated we make ourselves weak and vulnerable to attack from the enemy.
I like to think of it like a building. A good caretaker will maintain a building. He will see problems when they are small and make repairs before they get big. This is how we can maintain a strong Christian community that is built to last. Let us be strong together for Christ. Let Christ Jesus be the mortar that brings us together to build the strong body of Christ. You can't control the actions of others, but as far as yourself, you can control your reactions. God bless you as you grow strong together.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
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