Simplicity
Today, Pastors Henry & Amy talked about the spiritual discipline of simplicity and what it means to practice this. We read Matthew 6:25-34:
25. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26. Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27. Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
28. "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31. So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32. For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Christian simplicity is more than just living with less. We need to learn to live without worry which distracts our minds from God. Simplicity starts with our hearts where we put our possessions in their proper perspective. Richard Foster in his book on Christian disciplines suggests 3 ways to put our possessions in perspective:
1. Trust God to care for the things He has given you.
2. Receive what you have as a gift from God.
3. Allow the things you own to be available to others.
Outward simplicity starts on the inside. Where is your heart focused today?Labels: journey
Solitude
Today at MCC, we talked about solitude which is the spiritual practice of voluntarily and temporarily withdrawing to privacy for spiritual purposes. Pastor Henry read Psalm 62 where the psalmist is waiting quietly before God and finding his rock, salvation and fortress in God alone. Jesus also gave us the example of solitude and silence by retreating to spend time alone with His Father. Here are some reasons why solitude is good for us to periodically engage in:
1. To develop a better, deeper relationship with God,
2. To see things in a spiritual perspective,
3. To hear the voice of God,
4. To express faith in God.
You can intentionally set aside time for solitude and read a Bible passage to meditate on or you can view opportunities when you have to wait for something as a time to focus on what God is doing.
When was the last time you spent in solitude with God?
Labels: journey
Service and the Spirit
Today Pastor Amy read
Acts 2 where the Holy Spirit came down to live in the hearts of the disciples and all those who believed. We learned that the meaning of "spirit" is breath or wind and it stands for the most basic thing we need to live. The Holy Spirit fills the church with what it needs to live. It reveals wrong(sin) and right(righteousness).
If the Holy Spirit is involved in our service, it should look different. We'll do it with a Christ-like attitude.
What does your service attitude look like?
Labels: growth, journey
Meditating
1. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
4. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Today Pastor Jason read Psalm 1 and talked about meditiation which is an invitation to apprehend God. When we medititate on His word, we are opened up to the mind of God, His world and His presence in the world. God's word enters us and changes us. In verse 3, the person who meditates on His word is compared to a tree planted by streams of water. God turns us into the people He wants us to be when we love His word.
What passages we meditated on affected you today? What caused them to affect you in that way?
Labels: growth, journey
Fearless & Bold, In Jesus Name
Today, Pastor Amy read
Acts 9:19-31 where we see what happened to Saul after his encounter/experience with God. He began preaching
boldly and
fearlessly that Jesus is the Son of God which is a significant shift from the way he was. People noticed that he had been changed! We see what happened to the people as a result of this preaching in vs. 31:
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
Pastor Amy about the lines we can cross in our journey with Christ.
1 - I believe in the gospel enough to benefit from it.
2 - I believe in the gospel enough to contribute comfortably.
3 - I believe in the gospel enough to give my life to it.
We definitely see that Saul has crossed the 3rd line. Where are you and where do you want to be?
Labels: journey
Turning Point
Today, Pastor Henry talked about the turning point which can be described as a time in our lives marked by the making of a serious commitment which changes our life. Disciples of Jesus have turning points in their lives. We looked at the case of Saul in
Acts 9:1-31 where he had an encounter with the risen Christ and was changed. He saw a blinding light and couldn't see for 3 days. During this time, he became changed by God's spirit.
When did you encounter the Risen Christ and what effect did it have on your life?
Labels: growth, journey
