Deliverance
Today, we read from
1 Peter 4:12 -5:14 focusing on verses 5-9,
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
We talked about God's mighty hand as a sign of deliverance. As the Lord said to Moses in Exodus 6:1, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country."
Where have you experienced God's mighty hand delivering you?The situation that comes to mind first when I think of this is a time where I felt I was being treated unfairly in a job and I questioned other people's integrity but I felt trapped. God came through with a new job for me in the most astounding way and I'll never forget that.
Labels: 1 Peter
Using Your Gifts
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully
administering God's grace in its various forms. I Peter 4:10
Today we talked about the verse above and how if we used the gifts that God has given us, his grace will be faithfully administered. We can serve people with our gifts and together, with our church, we can serve the community. This summer, we have great opportunities to do this in the Bloom '08, Kid's Games, Riverfest Monroe North and Riverfest 2. If you haven't signed up yet, prayerfully consider where you can use your gifts!
Labels: 1 Peter
Pentecost
Today we talked about Pentecost - when the Holy Spirit came to live in the hearts of believers and the church began. We read about the new community of believers in
Acts 2:42-47 and talked about many of the characteristics that described them: they were devoted to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer; they were filled with awe; many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles; they broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
We then looked again at
1 Peter 3:8-18 through a "we" lens this time. Instead of thinking individually about the reason for the hope we have, Pastor Amy talked about the reason for the hope we have as a church. Using the image of a door, she talked about the many doors of opportunity MCC has had and the blessings that have come when they are walked through by faith. After talking about new doors of opportunity, we were encouraged to pray for these. We have a reason for the hope we have, but many people don't have a community that cares about them, and we have some opportunities to reach out to them.
Where have you seen God working at MCC?I think that we have such a strong encouraging community at MCC that is focused around God's word and is looking with expectation for what He will do next. As we crave spiritual milk and are built into a spiritual house, we can declare His praises by letting what we believe shine through our lives like we talked about a few weeks ago. And we have been given some new doors of opportunity to do it!
Labels: 1 Peter, Pentecost
Being Prepared
Today we read 1 Peter 3:15 -
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be
prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the
reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
Pastor Henry talked about how this verse means we should be prepared to give an answer, and not an argument and not to convert or convince people of your reason for the hope you have. A helpful answer should be brief, clear, use everyday language and be done with gentleness and respect. A helpful answer answers the question, "What difference has Jesus Christ made in your life?"
If someone asks you, do you feel prepared to give an answer for the hope you have in Jesus Christ?I do feel prepared to tell people about the hope I have and even more so after working on it at church and talking about it with the people at my table because now it's more personal.
Labels: 1 Peter
