As Christians, we have two jobs and both are done to glorify God: To know Him and make Him known. Everything outside of this is incidental. Make sure you always take this phrase into account and see how it can apply to what it is you are doing - How can I get to know God better through (fill in the blank) and to make Him known through (fill in the blank)? As you read the Bible, you will know more about who He is and what He wants you to do. As you live life in obedience to what He says, you will grow more and see who He is. You may not understand why you did what He told you to do, but that will come in time. All he wants you to do is to obey. As Chambers stated, "understanding comes through obedience."
Amen or ouch? Ouch. Man, sometimes I feel that the lessons I give to the youth group are more applicable to me than it is to the kids.
November 09, 2006
November 06, 2006
Have a thoughtful faith
What do you think of when you hear the word "thoughtful"? It implies both reasoning and compassion. Our faith in Christ should be reasonable and should show compassion, not simplistic, thoughtless rhetoric and posturing.
Don't be a mindless/thoughtless Christian. You can't claim ignorance in this life; God already gave you His word to understand Him better and to make Him known. The main reason why people don't live a full life, a God blessed life, is sheer laziness, which results in ignorance. Laziness stems from fear - fear of work, fear of effort, fear of failure, fear of being different, fear of whatever. The ignorant Christian only has fire insurance and doesn't live too differently from the worldly, unsaved person. At best, the ignorant Christian, the thoughtless Christian, has the basics and still goes with the flow of his feelings and/or the opinion of the world, and not on obedience to Christ.
Is your belief merely a program in your mind or is it a personal possession? Is your belief real and truly yours or is it no different from the belief you had in the tooth fairy or Santa Claus? My job as your youth leader/teacher is to move your perspective and your beliefs from the point of passive indifference to a passionate reality.
Don't be a mindless/thoughtless Christian. You can't claim ignorance in this life; God already gave you His word to understand Him better and to make Him known. The main reason why people don't live a full life, a God blessed life, is sheer laziness, which results in ignorance. Laziness stems from fear - fear of work, fear of effort, fear of failure, fear of being different, fear of whatever. The ignorant Christian only has fire insurance and doesn't live too differently from the worldly, unsaved person. At best, the ignorant Christian, the thoughtless Christian, has the basics and still goes with the flow of his feelings and/or the opinion of the world, and not on obedience to Christ.
Is your belief merely a program in your mind or is it a personal possession? Is your belief real and truly yours or is it no different from the belief you had in the tooth fairy or Santa Claus? My job as your youth leader/teacher is to move your perspective and your beliefs from the point of passive indifference to a passionate reality.