Making Disciples..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Making Disciples

Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 28:18-20

Scripture teaches us to tell others about Jesus Christ. And while sharing the gospel is awesome, it is simply not enough. We should continue to encourage and invest in new believers. Many don't know where to begin reading in the Bible or how to spend time with their heavenly Father.

Of course, God takes each person's spiritual journey seriously, and He won't leave a seeking heart unsatisfied. At the same time, we have a responsibility to invest in the lives of spiritual brothers and sisters by sharing our understanding and experience.

This type of teaching is called discipleship, and it is both an honor and a great responsibility. As you commence this type of relationship, consider the following points.

First, make sure to continually spend time with the Lord so that you are growing and in tune with His Spirit. Second, be prepared with a plan. Your friend needs to understand the basics, such as how to read the Bible, what prayer is, and where to find fellowship. New believers will have questions--answers are important, as is your ability to find resources when you are unsure of how to reply. Third, help the individual understand generally what to expect as he embarks on his Christian walk. Tomorrow, we will explore the stages of a believer's journey.

Most of us learned, struggled, and learned some more till we began to understand the basics of life in Christ. Godly mentors can be a tremendous help. And remember, no matter how long we've believed, we never stop needing advice and encouragement from those farther along in the journey.

Living from Union..... Craig Denison

 

Living from Union

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

This life is marked by a single choice: who or what will we center our lives around? This choice takes each of us down a path of decisions that shape who we are, what we feel, who or what we value, and what we will have accomplished at the end of our days. To center our lives around ourselves or the things of this world leads only to destruction. But, to center our lives around meeting with God fills each moment with the glorious abundance of God’s love, provision, and transcendent peace. May your life be marked by union with your Creator as we explore what it means to center our lives around meeting with God this week.

Scripture:“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Devotional:           

One of the greatest scandals of the Christian faith is that God himself, in all his holiness and love, would dwell in the heart of man. You and I have been brought into union with God by the blood of Jesus. Nothing can separate us from him any longer. He is closer than our breath. He is more real than the very ground beneath our feet.

The New Testament is filled with truth about our union with God. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” Romans 6:4 says, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” And Colossians 1:27 says,“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

There is never a single moment that you are apart from God. God is in you and with you through every trial, success, victory, and defeat. He is for you and available to you all day, every day. Even in our sin, God remains. Even in our rebellion, God dwells within us. What’s left for us to do is learn how to allow this union to permeate every area of our lives. To work out our salvation is to learn to cast aside that which belongs to our former self and live out of our new identity as unified with Christ himself.

If we’re going to truly center our lives around meeting with God, we must learn to acknowledge the fact that he is already with us. He is not a distant God who has to travel from his throne in heaven down to us whenever we make time for him. He’s not a God who only dwells in churches, fellowships, ministries, or clergy. He is the God who dwells within you, loves you, likes you, and longs to be with you in constant communion.

Take time today to renew your mind to the truth of your union with God. Ask him to reveal his nearness that you might “walk in newness of life” today (Romans 6:4). Make space in your heart and mind to allow the presence of God to permeate every area of your life. May today mark a radical change in your life as God himself begins to move, work, bless, and speak in all you do.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on your union with God. Renew your mind by placing your trust in Scripture rather than your feelings or past experiences.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

2. What areas of your life are not marked by union with the Holy Spirit? Where are you doing life as if God isn’t with you? Where are you striving and working for that which is already yours in Christ Jesus?

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal his nearness. Ask him to help you be a person who receives rather than strives and who rests rather than toils.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Oftentimes we take feelings of loneliness, rejection, shame, and guilt and believe that they must be truth. Truth isn’t found in our emotions, but rather in the word of God. Our mind is the gateway to our emotions. We feel the way we do because of what we perceive and believe. If we engage in the process of renewing our mind to God’s word, our emotions will get in line with truth. You and God are one. There is nothing you or anyone else can do to change that. May the truth of Scripture guide you into a lifestyle of centering your life around the union already available to you in Christ.

Extended Reading: 2 Corinthians 5

Five Things To Say To a Friend Today..... LYSA TERKEURST

 Five Things To Say To a Friend Today

LYSA TERKEURST

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:12-13 (NIV)

I remember sitting in the smelly middle school gym like it was yesterday.

I’d survived the awkward and much-dreaded moments of changing into my PE uniform in the girls’ locker room. And now I sat on the hard bleachers, listening to the squeak of tennis shoes, the uneven cadence of bouncing balls, the teacher’s sharp whistle and the girls laughing behind me.

They weren’t laughing with me. That would have meant I was accepted, wanted and invited in to be a part of their group.

No, they were laughing at me. I was the subject of their gossip, the punchline of their jokes. And it hurt. I imagine you know that hurt, too. Change the scenery and people, and this same hurt can be found in most of our lives:

1. When your coworkers all make plans to go to lunch, but you aren’t invited.
2. When that other preschool mom says, “Several of us moms are concerned with how aggressive your child seems on the playground.”
3. When everyone else’s social media makes their life look dreamy and perfect as you cry yourself to sleep.

But on the other hand, there are also those beautiful moments when a friend steps in with a gentle smile and a few simple words of encouragement, and suddenly you’re not alone.

I want to be that friend for you today.

In the midst of whatever has made your heart feel knocked off-kilter, can I whisper what I believe are the five best things one can say to a friend? And then might you give the gift of saying these things to a friend today?

This list is from our key verses, Romans 12:12-13.

1. “You’re wonderful.”

(Romans 12:12: “Be joyful in hope”)

The world is quick to tell us all the ways we fall short. We are hyper-aware of our faults and frailties. So what a precious gift to remind someone of specific ways they are a wonderful friend, a wonderful parent, a wonderful spouse, a wonderful coworker, a wonderful person. This will be more than just a compliment. This is helping infuse a little joy into their hope.

2. “Me too.”

(Romans 12:12: “patient in affliction”)

What a blessing to remind a friend that we all have afflictions, hurts, faults and tender places. We all get sick both emotionally and physically.

The patient friend freely gives grace because she so desperately needs it herself. “Me too” acknowledges I’m no better than you, but together, we are stronger. It’s such a loving and disarming admission that we’re all in this together.

3. “I’ll pray.”

(Romans 12:12: “faithful in prayer”)

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to tell a friend that every time you see a specific color, object or number, you’ll use it as a reminder to pray for him or her? And when you do, shoot that friend a quick text letting them know.

4. “I’ll share.”

(Romans 12:13a: “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.”)

When we notice a need in a friend’s life, might we be willing to step in and be part of the solution?

Recently, I had a friend whose wedding plans were canceled due to COVID-19. My family pulled our resources together and had a small wedding planned for them in eight hours. It wasn’t the perfect day they envisioned, but we showed up for them in the best way we could to make their day beautiful. And us just simply seeing the need, and sharing what we had to make their day special, made the sweetest memories for my friend. She even later wrote in a post on her social media, “It was the most magical day.”

5. “Come over.”

(Romans 12:13b: “Practice hospitality.”)

Welcoming a friend inside the sacred space of our home is such a needed gesture. There’s just something about relationships that are less pixelated when we get eye to eye, voice to voice, and talk.

Really talk.

Over broken bread we share broken hearts. And then we celebrate the parts of us that are still intact.

We reach across the table and across our differences to grab hold of the glorious bond of friendship.

I’ve found that as we purposefully ease the loneliness ache in others, we will see it is beautifully eased in us.

Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of friendship I have with the people I get to do life with. I pray today that You would show me how to uplift, encourage and meet a need in those around me. Put someone on my heart today who needs a touch of love and encouragement. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Light That Travels..... By Jennifer Waddle

 Light That Travels

By Jennifer Waddle

“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” Matthew 4:16

Recently, while watching a documentary about the distant planets in our solar system, I was surprised to hear that light from the sun reaches Neptune in just over 4 hours. For some reason, I imagined it taking much longer for the sun’s rays to travel such a great distance. Yet, in the miraculous way light was created - by the spoken Word of God - I shouldn’t be at all surprised at how light travels.

The Bible speaks of the True Light, Jesus Christ, who came to light the way for all of mankind. Sadly, many have remained in darkness as John 1:5 says, “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

Perhaps, like the dark side of the moon, many remain in darkness, unaware of the brilliant rays of life offered freely to them. They’ve never experienced the life-giving truth Jesus’ light brings. And because they are facing the wrong direction, they only see the vast darkness ahead of them.

That’s why every Christ-follower needs to reflect the light of the Lord within their sphere of influence. Within their homes, their workplaces, and their communities, Jesus’ light needs to shine through the life of every believer. No longer can we keep our faith to ourselves. It’s time to rise like the dawn, over a lost and dying world, and display the light of Christ clearly and brightly.

My friends, as the days grow shorter and we are ever nearer to Jesus’ return, it is imperative that we climb out from our comfortable hiding spots and place our lamps on their stands. Just as beacons of the sun’s light eventually reach the outermost places of the universe, so the light of Jesus can shine through us to reach a lost and dying world. We don’t have to worry about how fast the light will travel, or how far it will go. We simply need to shine.

Heavenly Father, 

Please shine through each of us today. No matter where we are, even in the darkest of places, shine the light of Your Son ever brighter through us. As we carve out daily time in Your Word and in prayer, fill us to the full with rays of hope and peace. Then, send us into the world armored with Your truth. Let us not falter or hide within our comfort zones, but instead, lead us into a dark world that desperately needs your light. It is in the name of Jesus we pray these things. 

Amen.

Be Still..... ..... by Sarah Jennings Phillips

Be Still
by Sarah Jennings Phillips

Be still and know that I am God. (Ps. 46: 10)

The affairs of God are accomplished little by little and almost imperceptibly. The Spirit of God is neither violent nor hasty. -- St Vincent de Paul

The past several weeks have been filled with jam-packed schedules, crowded airports, chattering children and blaring cell phone ring tones -- a never ending stream of noises, technology, and motion. It seems the older I get, the more those lazy summer days of childhood feel like fairy tales from another life.

If you're American, you're probably just as busy if not busier than I am right now. We're a country filled with activity. Studies show we're some of the most sleep-deprived people in the world. We work long hours, come home to more work (completed with the television blathering on in the background) before collapsing into bed to repeat the process again the next day.

Why do we live such frantic, hyper stimulated lives? Sometimes it's out of a sense of obligation - we feel it's a sin to say "no" so we overextend ourselves trying to fill the roll of Savior for everyone around us. Sometimes our frenzied lives stem from a sense of inadequacy - "If I work hard and accomplish such-and-such, I will have value." Sometimes it's a mode of escape - burying ourselves in work or in a TV program keeps our minds off life's disappointments. And sometimes we've just lost sight of our priorities, defaulting to the heightened pace of the culture around us, unaware that we've let our down time slip away little by little.

Regardless of why we're living in the fast (and loud) lane, deep down we all know we need to get out of it. Our souls crave peace, stillness, and silence. And even if we can ignore the cries of our souls for awhile, our bodies demand it when they eventually wear out.

Why do we crave that stillness? It seems the "noise" of life is more often man-made than God-ordained. In Scripture we see that time and again, God calls us to find peace in Him, to lighten our burden with Him, to set aside our anxieties and meaningless business. We see God speak to the prophet Elijah through a "gentle whisper" and tell an anxious Martha that her sister Mary chose the "better" part when she abandoned household duties to sit at Jesus' feet. (Luke 10: 41-42)

After a long day of running here and there, I find myself longing to be peaceful Mary whose only job is to be with Christ. So how can we become more like Mary when the vast majority of us more closely resemble worried Martha? I love the opening Scripture verse -- it's so simple, it cuts through all the junk clanking around in my brain. Be still.

In the midst of the activity surrounding her, Mary made a simple choice. To sit and be still. You and I can make that simple choice too, even when life seems to be pressing on all sides. It may be awkward at first - we may be tempted to grab for the remote or cut our time with God short. But by seeking stillness we are effectively saying, "Nothing else is as important to me as You at this moment, Lord." When I've spent time at our local Adoration chapel - a place void of constant noise and movement - I find I am never sitting in an empty room doing "nothing" but a place filled with God's presence and love, a place I can truly know God.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Visit a local chapel this week where you can sit, reflect and be alone with the Lord for one hour.

Further Reading

Luke 10: 38 - 42
1 Kings 19

A Prayer for Our Girls’ Confidence (in Christ)..... By: Chelsey DeMatteis

 A Prayer for Our Girls’ Confidence (in Christ)

By: Chelsey DeMatteis

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. - Psalm 118:8

I can still remember lingering through the hallways of high school. Feeling like my whole world was held within the walls of one building. My confidence was fully rooted in that one single place. From my friendships, relationships, school activities, and sports, I could not see myself apart from one place that held so much of my life.

Within this season I also had no relationship with the Lord. I prayed, had a friend who talked with me about Jesus regularly, but I had no foundation set in who He was and what He said about me. Being chosen was in the eyes of how the young men perceived me, being smart was held in the hands of my teachers, leading was found in my level of popularity.

This is what a lot of our girls face today. They put their confidence in the hands of everyone else and forget or do not even know about the confidence they should have in Christ. Not because of all He can do for us but all that He has done out of HIs deep love for us. Women’s confidence in the world is the exact opposite of confidence in Christ, and we as bold believers of the Lord need to fight on the frontlines for the hearts of our younger generations.

Psalm 118:8 reminds us that it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. This means our lives should not mirror what the world says. If we know we should not trust the world's ways, then why are we not safeguarding our younger generations?

We can no longer blame everyone else around us. We cannot point the finger - we’ve got to get our hands dirty and do the hard heart work, too. Satan will never back down from his mission to ruin our younger girls' concept of confidence. This is his gateway to derail their lives to live in sin. This pitfall is where they will get wrapped up in the superficial, self-help, seductive world.

I pray we can come together as believers in Christ and come against this darkness by teaching these girls whose they are and what our Heavenly Father says about them. Our girls are chosen in His sight (1 Peter 2:4), fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) and loved with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).

Pray with me now:

Lord, cover our girls. Help them run to you when the world comes hunting after them. God, prepare our hearts for the conversations you desire us to have with them. Remind us to share with them who you say they are and not who we think they are. Thank you for your grace and mercy today and for all eternity. We love you.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.