What I miss about the good 'ol days

Like the Israelites who romanticized their time as slaves (Num 11), many Christians reminisce over a past when Christ was more influential. But were those times truly more influenced by the teachings of Christ? Was the Church really living out the gospel more fully during times of slavery, segregation, or lynching? How can we help the Church live out the teachings of Christ better today and influence society to follow?

Pastor Says

 Political leaders love to use Romans 13 to enforce obedience and to claim God's authority as their own. We might note that not all authority is worthy of trust or obedience. In Acts 5:29 Peter refuses to obey those who have authority because their demands contradict God's commission to Peter. Rulers are meant to protect the free the afflicted, (Psalm 82), not impose their power on others.

That's Just Your Interpretation...

 Many commentators note the hard rebuke Jesus gives to Peter when Peter insists that Jesus, as the Christ, must not die (Mark 8). Peter believed that the Messiah would be a military leader who kills His enemies, but Jesus seemed to prefer sacrifice to violence. Do your interpretations of Messiah look like Jesus or like the military leader? Do you think Jesus would rebuke you for your interpretation? 

Awesome not hearing you

 In Mark 7 Jesus heals a man's deafness and asks that no one advertise the miracle. Those who witnessed the act could not seem to help themselves and soon the miracle no longer belonged to the man, but it had been appropriated for the crowd's purpose of promoting Jesus as the Messiah. We might notice how quickly the man disappears from the story to be replaced by the crowd's agenda.

Who are you?

 In Deuteronomy 4 God's people are encouraged to remember all that God had done for them, and all that God promised for them. The message reminded Israel to remember where they came from and what values defined them. What values to do we demonstrate to show that we are followers of Christ? Do we value our rules and laws more than we value the neighbor that Jesus told to us to love as ourselves?

The Big Shopper

 Joshua 24:15 is often quoted as a declaration of our commitment to worshipping God and God alone. While printing the shortened version of this verse on various pieces of merchandise may serve as a passive declaration to put God first, it could also be a substitute for actively acting like Jesus. Are we more interested in looking like a Christian than in we are in loving like Christ loved?

Politician asks for the ability to lead well

God came to Solomon in a dream and the asked the young king what he would like God to provide
(1 Kings 3). Rather than asking for things that would increase his power and solidify his rule, Solomon humbly asks for the ability to know right from wrong so that he can be a fair, just and effective leader of the people. When have you sought to benefit those around you with the gifts you have received?