Not the God I Thought: In the Good Company of Habakkuk

“When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. - Deuteronomy 6:20-21 

Habakkuk is by far the most significant of the Minor Prophets.  Habakkuk 2:4 is quoted three times in the New Testament. Paul’s reference in his letters to the Galatians and Romans both changed the life of a monk named Martin Luther and ignited a Reformation. In other words, this ancient letter has great meaning for us today.

Before we can ask what an obscure book like Habakkuk might mean for us today, we must understand what it meant for its original audience. Our tendency is to first ask how the text applies to us now, usually without discovering how it applied in context to the time and people “back then”. Reading Scripture without context is dangerous as it can lead to a total misunderstanding of God’s Word. Habakkuk serves as a smaller part of the larger story of redemption.

So, we must begin our story with Moses who led God’s people in the first chapter of their redemption. From tribes of slaves to a nation of soldiers, eventually God’s people were divided and conquered by godless men. In these final days of the southern kingdom (Judah), Habakkuk writes. He is overwhelmed by the injustice and corruption experienced by God’s own people; all while evil men prosper. Habakkuk complains to God who appears to be silently ignoring all of it...

(Click Here to read the Book of Habakkuk)

The Book of Habakkuk

Some of us didn’t have a clue that a book called Habakkuk existed, and now that we do, we’re not sure if we’re even pronouncing the name right. But, there it is, tucked in between the equally obscure books of Nahum and Zephaniah, unlikely that we would have ever found it. You’re probably wondering why we chose it.   

Some people dismiss the minor prophets as outdated and irrelevant. Instead of delving into these books, some choose to spend their time in more practical books like James. What they fail to realize is that Habakkuk is part of the foundation of the faith that James so plainly fleshes out. Habakkuk is one of the smallest, yet most powerful books in the Old Testament. It has inspired some of the most influential leaders in the history of the Christian faith. 

Personally, I love Habakkuk. I love his raw and honest heart. My prayer is that we will walk by faith and not by sight; that our confidence will not be found in our circumstances, but that in every circumstance we will be found resting in the sovereignty of God. We know that weird, strange, scary, and even evil things happen all around us. Sometimes the God we have isn’t the God we thought we would have. Together we can see, as God counsels Habakkuk, what it might look like for PoC to fully realize a trusting relationship with our loving and all-powerful God. 

Let’s Keep Talking About Jesus, 

Pastor Todd


(Click here to read Habakkuk.)

PREPARE FOR IT! - B|Neighbors - 2 Timothy 2: 1-7, Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 8:34-38, Acts 14:19-22, Ephesians 4:11-16, Proverbs 22:13, Luke 10:1-3, 2 Timothy 4:7

Here are this week's scriptures for our B|Neighbors sermon series...

2 Timothy 2:1-7 (NIV)
2 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.



Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”



Mark 8:34-38 (NIV)
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”



Acts 14:19-22 (NIV)
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.

21 They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.



Ephesians 4:11-16 (NIV)
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.



Proverbs 22:13 (NIV)
13 The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square!”



Luke 10:1-3 (NIV)
10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.



2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Living on Mission – B|Disciplers

Living on Mission – B|Disciplers

Jesus told His own disciples to go into all the world and make disciples. These guys knew what discipleship looked like because they did life with Jesus for around 3 years. They had free access to His life. Every day they walked with Him, listened to Him, watched his interactions with people, and shared the table with Him and whoever He invited to join. The disciples saw the Good News in action every day and were transformed by it.

Caesar Kalinowski said, “Life together with Jesus was not just a weekly meeting. It shouldn’t be for our relationships either.” This is so true!

What do our discipling relationships look like?

Paul and Timothy were a great example of a healthy discipling relationship. They spent a good deal of time doing life together while they traveled to share the Good News. When they weren’t together, Paul kept in touch and encouraged Timothy through letters, encouraging him to carry on and make disciples to perpetuate the mission.

“The Disciples had access to every part of Jesus' life for years. Discipleship is moving from unbelief to belief in the gospel in every area of life. That means those we are discipling will need to see and experience the gospel transforming us in every area too.” ~ Caesar Kalinowski

The disciples had access to Jesus’ life. Timothy had access to Paul’s life. Who has access to your life? Who is able to see the Good News transforming you?

Let’s practice Living on Mission and B|Disciplers like Jesus and Paul – doing life together and watching the Good News transform our lives together.

Pastor Angela

PRAY IT! B|Neighbors

Do you have your eye on people you haven't even met yet (and might never meet)?  Can you envision things that you might never see, personally?  Paul certainly did, and we can see that in 2 Timothy 2:1-2, where he writes to Timothy. 

"Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.  You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses.  Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others." 2 Timothy 2:1-2 (NLT)

Paul has his eye on Timothy.  What a beautiful example of discipleship.  As our B|Neighbors series has progressed we have been able to track fun relationships:  Barnabus encouraged Paul.  Paul admonished Peter.  Rufus' mother was a mother to Paul.  Paul disciples Timothy. 

Paul has his eye on Timothy, sure, but he also has his eye on OTHERS... others that Timothy is supposed to invest in, teach, and pass along the message of Jesus.

How big is your biggest picture?  How clear is your closest detail?  Both are needed in discipleship as we are willing to invest in others in a specific and personal manner, as well as be continually mindful of those that influenced and affected by those we have influenced and affected.

As with everything, it all needs to come back to Jesus.  We're not going to get close to having our eye on others if our eyes are not also on God.  We're not trying to multiply carbon copies of ourselves (how dreadful!), or our best idea of church, we're motivated to reproduce followers of Christ and a Christ-centered body of believers.

Prayer is integral in maintaining the daily presence with God needed to make any worthwhile impact for God.  And prayer is integral in discipleship efforts as well.

"The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit.  These were his instructions to them:  'The harvest is great, but the workers are few.  So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.  Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves."  Luke 10:1-3

As we prepare our hearts and minds for this Sunday's message, let us focus our prayers on continued daily presence with God.  We need God to speak to us.  God to go before us.  God to send us.  God to instruct us.  We need to pray.  We need to ask.  We need to go.  We need to obey.  We need to be mindful. 

The more we walk with God, daily, the more He helps increase our love for Him and our compassion for others.  If the thought of having your eye on others is overwhelming or perhaps even unappealing, the best place to start is having your eyes on God and having an open and prayerful conversation with Him. 

Dear God,
Please continue to draw us close to You, daily.  We need You.  Please help us be individuals that "get it" as well as a church that "gets it" - gets that we need You, gets that we need others, and gets that we need to encourage, admonish, be family, and disciple in Holy Spirit-led ways.
Amen.

PoC|Coverage is tonight at 6pm.  Join us as we come together in prayer and care!

Pastor Celia

FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “B|Disciplers”

Supplies: Bible

SHARE 

God designed us all to be teachers.  Now some he called to do it for a living (and we are SO grateful for them), but we all have an instinct to teach others what we know.  Share a time when you taught someone.  Maybe you taught them how to do something, or maybe you shared information you had learned that they didn’t know.  Who did you teach?  What did you share?  Was it fun?

READ

Have someone read 2 Timothy 2:1-7.

THINK

Paul was what we call a discipler.  Yes, he was also a disciple: a follower of Jesus.  But he was also a disciple-er: one who made more disciples.  He had a passion for helping people come to know Jesus AND in helping them continue to grow in their relationship with Him.  We see a lot of his teachings in the letters he wrote to churches, but we really see him coach younger pastors in his letters to Timothy and Titus.  He offers wisdom, tips and tricks, guidance in tough situations, and even correction at times.  Through it all, Paul’s desire is that these people would grow closer to Jesus in relationship and Christlikeness.

Paul may have been a master, a “professional” discipler, but this is something we are all designed to do.  I think God gave us that teaching gene because he knew we’d need it to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus.  A lot of times we think only pastors can do that, or Sunday School teachers, or…adults!  But ANYONE can disciple someone.  If you’ve known Jesus even a little longer than another person, you can help them learn about our Savior and build that relationship.

APPLY

Who could you disciple?  A younger sibling or neighbor?  A friend at church or school?  Someone who sits next to you in the break room or in the sanctuary?  What are some ways you can reach out to “younger” believers and help them grow?  Work together and brainstorm some ways you can disciple others and help them be more like Jesus.

PRAY

Dear Jesus, thank You for teaching me how to be more like You.  Help me disciple others in the same way. In Your Name we pray.  Amen

REPLY

Did you and your family enjoy this devotional blog?  We'd love to know about it!  Our hope is to continue providing this weekly opportunity for families to do a devotion together.  If your family did this devotion, please shoot us an email, text or just post a comment to this blog.

EXPLORE IT - B|Disciplers - 2 Timothy 2:1-7

2 Timothy 2:1-7   You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  ² And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.  ³ Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  ⁴ No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs-- he wants to please his commanding officer.  ⁵ Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.  ⁶ The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.  ⁷ Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

As we continue our B|Neighbors series, this week we take a look at “B|Disciplers – Paul & ‘Neighbor’ Timothy.”  Timothy comes from a diverse background.  His mother Eunice was a Jew, who had instructed him in the Scriptures, and his father came from a Greek family.  Scriptures do not tell us when Timothy became a Christian, but most scholars believe he was converted during Paul’s first missionary journey when he was in Lystra, Timothy’s hometown. 

Paul took Timothy under his wing, adding him to his traveling party, mentoring and developing him for leadership.  1 Timothy 1:18 and 4:14 reference that Timothy had prophetic messages made about him by the body of elders, confirming his being set apart for ministry, but he still had to learn and grow, preparing for leadership.  This preparation included begin circumcised before departing for his journeys in order to alleviate any opposition from local Jews.

Timothy’s ministry covers many different places.  His first assignment was a special commissioning to encourage the persecuted Christians at Thessalonica.  Timothy then appears with Paul during his time at Corinth.  Timothy is then sent with Erastus to Macedonia and then back to Corinth.  He also travelled with Paul to Jerusalem and then Paul commissioned Timothy to serve at Ephesus, addressing challenges with false teachers, administering public worship, and assigning church officials.

During his travels, Paul disciples Timothy, helping him to be successful in ministry.  Timothy initially seems to be a timid person, Paul encourages the Corinthians to take it easy on Timothy and accept him (1 Corinthians 16:10-11).  Paul admonished Timothy when he needed it, warned him against youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22), and encouraged him to stand firm in relationship to the Gospel message (2 Timothy 1:8).  In our passage this week, 2 Timothy 2:1-7, we see another example of Paul’s discipleship, encouraging Timothy to continue to run the race of faith and finish strong.

Just like Paul and Timothy have one another (a “discipler” and a “disciplee”), we too need a “discipler,” someone who will encourage us along our journey of faith, but we also need those in our life who we are discipling.  If you don’t have these two relationships in your life, I encourage you to prayerfully consider two questions:

1.       Who can I build an intentional relationship with – with the goal of them helping me to grow in my faith?
2.       Who can I build an intentional relationship with – with the goal of me helping them to grow in their faith?

We are all family.  We are all on this journey together.  We must intentionally encourage one another to run the race of faith and to finish strong!

Blessings,

Pastor Amy

READ IT! - B|Neighbors - 2 Timothy 2: 1-7, Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 8:34-38, Acts 14:19-22, Ephesians 4:11-16, Proverbs 22:13, Luke 10:1-3, 2 Timothy 4:7

Here are this week's scriptures for our B|Neighbors sermon series...

2 Timothy 2:1-7 (NIV)
2 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.



Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”



Mark 8:34-38 (NIV)
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”



Acts 14:19-22 (NIV)
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.

21 They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.



Ephesians 4:11-16 (NIV)
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.



Proverbs 22:13 (NIV)
13 The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square!”



Luke 10:1-3 (NIV)
10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.



2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

PREPARE FOR IT! - B|Neighbors - Titus 2:1–8, Romans 16:13, Mark 15:21, John 13:34-35, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 2 Timothy 2:22-26, Titus 2:6-8

Here are this week's scriptures for our B|Neighbors sermon series...

Titus 2:1-8 (NIV)
"You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older mento be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderersor addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.


Romans 16:13 (NIV)
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.


Mark 15:21 (NIV)
21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.


John 13:34-35 (NIV)
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”


2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV)
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.


2 Timothy 2:22-26 (NIV)
22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.


Titus 2:6-8 (NIV)
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Living on Mission – B|Family

Living on Mission – B|Family

All of the scripture passages for this week have a common theme – relationships. Not just any kind of relationships, but meaningful, heartfelt, authentic relationships. Family relationships built on love and not necessarily blood.

These passages give us key behaviors and attitudes as well as things to avoid. We’re encouraged to love, be self-controlled, and to avoid foolish and stupid arguments. These are really important to maintaining successful relationships of any kind, but are certainly crucial for deep and lasting relationships.

Are we experiencing deep and lasting relationships outside of our blood relatives? Are we ready for meaningful, heartfelt, authentic relationships?

We must get past the surface, past shallow relationships that don’t really impact our lives and dive deep into meaningful family relationships modeled for us by Jesus, Paul, and the other disciples. We can’t really B|Neighbors or B|Family unless we’re willing to open our hearts/homes/lives to the people whom God chooses for our divine intersections.

Let’s practice Living on Mission and B|Family by opening up our hearts and lives to build authentic, heartfelt relationships.

Pastor Angela

PRAY IT! B|Neighbors

This week's topic as we continue on in our B|Neighbors series:  B|Family!

Hearing that charge may evoke various responses.  Maybe this excites you and you are ready to B|ring on the familyin'!  Or maybe in place of "family" you'd insert B|Drama.  Or B|Distance. 

As with everything, though, we look to Jesus to help us generate gospel-driven love and compassion.  2 Corinthians 5:14-15 states "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 

Christ's love for Paul, and Paul's love for Christ resulted in Paul having a Christ-centered love for people.  In Paul's letter to the Romans, this authentic love is made clear.  He spends the first 16 verses of Romans 16 greeting over 27 people with personal "shout outs".  The same Paul who writes such powerful statements in Romans as "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (Romans 16:20a) also finds it just as important to express his love and thankfulness to specific individuals.  "Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too." (Romans 16:13).  Can I get a collective "awwwwww"???  Rufus' mother loved on Apostle and missionary-extraordinaire Paul and it did not go unnoticed.  Everyone needs family. 

PoC,
As we prepare for Sunday's message and the continuation of our B|Neighbors challenge (to share our table):
1.  We need to be tight with Jesus.  (Daily presence!)
2.  We need to be willing to invest.  To pastor.  To care.  It's how we are to B|Family.
3.  We need to remember that it is okay to spend time acknowledging and loving on people.  It sounds like a silly reminder, but have you ever been so caught up in your to-do list (ministry or otherwise) that loving on actual people takes a back seat?  It seems silly, but it happens!  Paul was extremely focused on spreading the gospel message, and this included passages such as Romans 16:1-16.
4.  It's okay to get specific.  Sometimes challenges like "B|Neighbors" can be overwhelming because loving on people seems like a HUGE undertaking.  What people?  How many people?  What about all the other people?  Priority paralysis!  Ahhhh!  But, we are being neighbors together.  God has placed some specific people in your life (maybe for a season, maybe for a loooonnnngggg season) for YOU to love on and for YOU to pastor.  The same for me.  The same for all of us. 

If your love of people is feeling depleted, prayer is an appropriate and helpful place to start.  If your love of people is abundant, prayer is appropriate and helpful as well.  (Isn't that great!)  Praying for people is a loving action and also draws us closer to God.  Either way, let's all start here!

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for loving us and for growing our love for others.  Please help us love you more, to humbly receive your love, and to love others even more.  Please continue to show us the people you have placed in our lives for US to pastor - to care for - to love on, and help us follow through.  Help us to encourage, to admonish, and to be family.
Amen.

Looking for a way to love on and pray for a range of needs from local to global?  Check out PoC|Coverage, tonight at 6pm!  Join us as we hear our unifying charge from Pastor Todd, and then break into various groups with various prayer and care missions!

Pastor Celia

FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “B|Family”

Supplies: Bible; the family pet (optional)

SHARE 

I think pets are fantastic.  I admit, I miss having the companionship and joy offered by a four-legged friend in the house.  Of course, I don’t miss the extra work and expense.  If you have a family pet, take a minute and think about all the things necessary to take care of it.  (If you don’t have a pet in your home, have your children guess based on what they know.)  The list can get kind of long, right?  Food, water, doctor visits, medicine and shots, beds, cages, leashes, toys…and that’s just the stuff that costs money.  They also need a lot of love and attention.  

What about taking care of a person?  What does it take to take care of people instead of pets?  Some of the items on the list are the same.  When your parents brought you home, they knew they needed to give you food and water, and I’m guessing you have a decent stash of toys.  But what else do you need to do to take care of someone?  What’s different about caring for a friend or family member than caring for a pet?

READ

Take a look at Romans 16.  Have someone read verses 1-16.  Don’t worry about the names—just do your best. :)

THINK

This is how Paul closes his letter to the church in Rome.  It’s basically a bunch of shout-out’s to people he knows there in that church.  Of course, as you read his comments, you realize that these aren’t just acquaintances.  Look at his words: “whom I love in the Lord,” “my relative,” “my dear friend,” “a mother to me.”  These are special, treasured people in his life.  We don’t know any of these folks, but in these verses we do get a great sense of the love and care that can be found in the family of God.  

When we are adopted by our loving Father, we become a part of a ginormous family.  That means we have love shared with us as we are cared for.  That also means we have love to share with others around us.  Being a good neighbor means caring for the people around us.  Our friends at school.  The people on our street.  Folks at work.  Teammates out on the field.  Everyone has needs.  Everyone has good days when they need someone to celebrate with.  Everyone has bad days when they need a shoulder to cry on.  Everyone needs love and encouragement, and God has chosen you to care for the people around you.

APPLY

Who are you caring for?  Are there people in your life that you are already loving on and encouraging?  Share those names with your family.  Who else do you think God may be calling you to care for?  Share some ideas about what you can do as a family to care for people around you.  Now make a plan to put those ideas into action.  Ready, set, CARE!

PRAY

Dear God, thank you for making us a part of your family.  Help us to love others like brothers and sisters by offering them the love and care that you give us every day.  Open our eyes to see the needs around us and give us the impulse to respond. In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen

REPLY

Did you and your family enjoy this devotional blog?  We'd love to know about it!  Our hope is to continue providing this weekly opportunity for families to do a devotion together.  If your family did this devotion, please shoot us an email, text or just post a comment to this blog.

Explore It - Paul & "Neighbor" Rufus' Mom

Mark 15:21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.

Romans 16:13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

Rufus, a name meaning “red,” is only found two times in the New Testament.  The first time, in the Gospel of Mark, Rufus’ dad Simon is forced to carry the cross of Jesus.  The second time, in Paul’s epistle to the Romans, Paul sends his greeting to Rufus and his mother at the close of his letter.  Paul also states that Rufus’ mother had also been a mother to him.  We don’t receive any additional information on how this woman impacted Paul, only that she did.  We assume Rufus’ mom helped Paul through a situation in life or maybe she ministered to him regularly as he grew in his own faith.  She impacted Paul enough to be mentioned at the end of his letter.

As we travel through life, we will never truly know the full impact we have on those we come in contact with.  Does our attitude turn people away?  Does our self-righteousness turn people against Jesus and His Church?  Or does our love toward one another draw others to our sides as if they are family?  How we act and treat others directly impacts our ability to reach the world for Jesus.

As we go through our day we should look for ways to care for one another.  Maybe spending a few extra moments listening to a friend or sending a quick text or giving a quick phone call will let someone know we were thinking about them and will provide the care they need.  John 13:35 tells us, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  We are called to care for and minister to one another; we are called to love one another.

Who is God leading you to care for?  To minister to?  To share the love of Jesus with?  Maybe God is encouraging you to intentionally come alongside someone just as Rufus’ mom stood by Paul.

Blessings,
Pastor Amy

READ IT! - B|Neighbors - Titus 2:1–8, Romans 16:13, Mark 15:21, John 13:34-35, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 2 Timothy 2:22-26, Titus 2:6-8

Here are this week's scriptures for our B|Neighbors sermon series...

Titus 2:1-8 (NIV)
"You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older mento be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderersor addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.


Romans 16:13 (NIV)
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.


Mark 15:21 (NIV)
21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.


John 13:34-35 (NIV)
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”


2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV)
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.


2 Timothy 2:22-26 (NIV)
22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.


Titus 2:6-8 (NIV)
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Living on Mission – B|Admonishers

Living on Mission – B|Admonishers

Admonish: to warn or reprimand someone firmly, to advise or urge (someone) earnestly.

“I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach (admonish) each other all about them. Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder… Dear brothers and sisters, I urge (admonish) you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:14, 15, 30)

I dare you to look up the phrase “I urge you” on BibleGateway.com. How many references offer advice or a reminder to someone to do the right thing – a thing they already know they should do?

Is it a missional practice to admonish someone? Absolutely! We are each individual members of one body. I need you to love people, to do the right thing, and to stay tight with Jesus. And you need me to do the same. If we’re not all doing what we should, our shared mission could suffer. We have too much good news to share with folks who don’t know Him yet. We need to help each other stay on track.

Who among us doesn’t need a little prodding now and then to do what we know we ought to do?

Let’s practice Living on Mission and B|Admonishers – urging one another to do what we need to do. Love God. Love people!

Pastor Angela

PRAY IT!!! B|Neighbors

When I was in junior high, I was stubbornly engaged in a lawn mowing battle with our next door neighbor (who was, indeed, a middle-aged man).  We had a mutual alley in between our houses that was quite grassy.  I mowed half of it, leaving the other half for him.  It seemed like the common sense action.  Later, I saw that he had mowed EXACTLY two lawn-mower widths worth of grass.  No more, no less.  Even though I had clearly mowed half, he would not take the additional sweep with the mower and remove this last lingering strip of grass (because it exceeded the boundaries of his two-passes-only plan).  Irritated, I too, refused to mow it.  We didn’t talk about it.  It rained.  It grew.  We mowed (but not that strip).  We didn’t talk about it.  It rained.  It grew.  There’s now an Illinois conservation/preservation area in between those two houses where birds and other wildlife take refuge.  (Just kidding).

This week we have been continuing on in our B|Neighbors sermon series, praying to have our lives intersect with people while we stay tight with Jesus.  Last week’s charge was to B|Encouragers… this week, it is to B|Admonishers.  Gulp!  Admonish?!  Isn’t that a dirty word?!

I don’t like confrontation.  It makes me uncomfortable.  I don't want to mow someone over.  And, with the culture that we live in, I’m tempted to think that it is more loving to avoid admonishment (it’s a word!) altogether and let whatever grass may grow, grow.  That’s the loving response, right?  The kind-hearted response, right? 

The loving response has been, is right now, and forever will be Jesus.  And sometimes, He is going to call us to admonish and to engage in the tough conversation.  "The grass is not cute.  The grass stopped being a statement 3 feet ago.  Mow it down already!"

As we have been studying, we look to Galatians 2 as one example, where Paul admonishes Peter.  Here it is, from The Message version, for your viewing pleasure:

^11-13 Later, when Peter came to Antioch, I had a face-to-face confrontation with him because he was clearly out of line. Here’s the situation. Earlier, before certain persons had come from James, Peter regularly ate with the non-Jews. But when that conservative group came from Jerusalem, he cautiously pulled back and put as much distance as he could manage between himself and his non-Jewish friends. That’s how fearful he was of the conservative Jewish clique that’s been pushing the old system of circumcision. Unfortunately, the rest of the Jews in the Antioch church joined in that hypocrisy so that even Barnabas was swept along in the charade.

¹⁴ But when I saw that they were not maintaining a steady, straight course according to the Message, I spoke up to Peter in front of them all: “If you, a Jew, live like a non-Jew when you’re not being observed by the watchdogs from Jerusalem, what right do you have to require non-Jews to conform to Jewish customs just to make a favorable impression on your old Jerusalem cronies?”

We need to pray this week for courage and obedience.  We need to stay tight with Jesus.  We need to truly love people (hence, we need to stay tight with Jesus!)  Jesus-prompted and Jesus-led admonishment is the goal, never to simply mow someone over for fun.

Dear Jesus,

Please help me remain tight with You.  Please guide and direct me, as well as strengthen and encourage me to obey when You prompt me to have tough conversations.  Please provide continued discernment.  Please also help me humbly receive admonishment and to remember to see this as the wise decision.

Amen.

Join us tonight, for PoC|Coverage at 6pm.  Let’s get our pray on together!

Pastor Celia