Sunday, August 29, 2010
Opinions on Things: Luke 12
Opinions on Things: Luke 12: "We just recently read Luke 12. Here is a passage that stood out. 42And the Lord said, 'Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom h..."
Friday, August 27, 2010
Knock and It Shall Be Opened
Luke 11:5-10
5Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'
7"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness [or persistence] he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
If your neighbor came knocking on your door at three in the morning saying, "Hey man, I need some bread." You would probably react the same way the man in the story did. But, if he kept knocking and asking, knocking and asking, you would want to do anything to make the noise go away. So he would get his bread. Not because "he is your friend", but because of "the man's boldness".
What is more likely to get your attention? Someone quietly asking every now and then if you could help them with something, or someone on their knees every day begging you to get them through this trial? Which person would you be most likely to help? Which person seems more passionate about what they need? If you were asking God for something or just thanking Him for all that He's done, which technique is more likely to show Him how much you love and need Him?
I put all this in here to say, when we're coming to God with our burdens, shouldn't we come as the friend in the night? Loud, Bold, Persistent, and Passionate.
5Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'
7"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness [or persistence] he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
If your neighbor came knocking on your door at three in the morning saying, "Hey man, I need some bread." You would probably react the same way the man in the story did. But, if he kept knocking and asking, knocking and asking, you would want to do anything to make the noise go away. So he would get his bread. Not because "he is your friend", but because of "the man's boldness".
What is more likely to get your attention? Someone quietly asking every now and then if you could help them with something, or someone on their knees every day begging you to get them through this trial? Which person would you be most likely to help? Which person seems more passionate about what they need? If you were asking God for something or just thanking Him for all that He's done, which technique is more likely to show Him how much you love and need Him?
I put all this in here to say, when we're coming to God with our burdens, shouldn't we come as the friend in the night? Loud, Bold, Persistent, and Passionate.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Who has our attention?
We are reading the gospel according to Luke in the park, and I just wanted to share something that stands out to me.
Let's be honest. We have a tendency to hang on every word that comes out of the mouth of important people. When Barack Obama speaks, we listen to every word that he says. We analyze, criticize, memorize, and sometimes even praise his words. This is the reason we have 17 news stations, so we can hear people discuss the ramifications of what he or any other political figure has said. These important people have our attention!
But is this where we are to hear from God?
Luke chapter 3 begins in a very intersting way. It starts with Luke telling Theophilus (and us) who the important people are. Here is Luke 3.1-2a:
"Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, in the high preisthood of Annas and Caiaphas..."
What a line up! Emperor, Governor, Tetrarch, Tetrarch, Tetrarch, High Priest! These are some important people that Luke is mentioning. But Luke goes on to say...
"the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (Luke 3.2b-3)
After listing all of these prominent men, Luke states that the word of God came to John, a man who lived in the wilderness. John is pretty much a nobody. He doesn't have a special title. But if we've been listening closely, we will remember that John's father (who was filled with the Holy Spirit) has already told us about John's one-of-a-kind mission:
"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways; to give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace." (Luke 1.76-79)
The title-less John will inform a hurting people that their salvation has arrived. He will inform the people that have been sitting in darkness of the sunshine that is on the way! John will. Not Caesar, not Pilate, not Herod, not Philip, not Lysanias, not Annas, or Caiaphas. John, the son of Zacharias, a wilderness dweller. The other folks may be making headlines, but John is preparing the way for Jesus. Luke wants us to know that John's preparation for Jesus is God's word to His people.
God's word doesn't always shout out where men usually expect important things to be said. It may be shouting out in the wilderness. God's word doesn't have to come from the high-profile people. It may be coming from someone who appears to be quite "unqualified". Wherever God's word comes from we can be sure of this, it will be preparing us for Jesus. Jesus and what He has to say is most worthy of our attention, even though it might not be making headlines.
Come join us at Fireside Park (MWF @ 6PM) as we hear from the one who is our salvation!
Let's be honest. We have a tendency to hang on every word that comes out of the mouth of important people. When Barack Obama speaks, we listen to every word that he says. We analyze, criticize, memorize, and sometimes even praise his words. This is the reason we have 17 news stations, so we can hear people discuss the ramifications of what he or any other political figure has said. These important people have our attention!
But is this where we are to hear from God?
Luke chapter 3 begins in a very intersting way. It starts with Luke telling Theophilus (and us) who the important people are. Here is Luke 3.1-2a:
"Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, in the high preisthood of Annas and Caiaphas..."
What a line up! Emperor, Governor, Tetrarch, Tetrarch, Tetrarch, High Priest! These are some important people that Luke is mentioning. But Luke goes on to say...
"the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (Luke 3.2b-3)
After listing all of these prominent men, Luke states that the word of God came to John, a man who lived in the wilderness. John is pretty much a nobody. He doesn't have a special title. But if we've been listening closely, we will remember that John's father (who was filled with the Holy Spirit) has already told us about John's one-of-a-kind mission:
"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways; to give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace." (Luke 1.76-79)
The title-less John will inform a hurting people that their salvation has arrived. He will inform the people that have been sitting in darkness of the sunshine that is on the way! John will. Not Caesar, not Pilate, not Herod, not Philip, not Lysanias, not Annas, or Caiaphas. John, the son of Zacharias, a wilderness dweller. The other folks may be making headlines, but John is preparing the way for Jesus. Luke wants us to know that John's preparation for Jesus is God's word to His people.
God's word doesn't always shout out where men usually expect important things to be said. It may be shouting out in the wilderness. God's word doesn't have to come from the high-profile people. It may be coming from someone who appears to be quite "unqualified". Wherever God's word comes from we can be sure of this, it will be preparing us for Jesus. Jesus and what He has to say is most worthy of our attention, even though it might not be making headlines.
Come join us at Fireside Park (MWF @ 6PM) as we hear from the one who is our salvation!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
communion and community
Jesus is a light of revelation to the nations and the glory of God's people Israel (Luke 2:32) In tonight's scripture reading at the park we heard of Simeon from the Gospel of Luke chapter 2. Simeon was a man in communion with God. Because He was in communion with God, he was enabled by the Holy Spirit, not only to see Jesus, but to recognize Jesus as the salvation of God's people. What a privileged position Simeon had. Simeon was in such tight communion with God, that God gave him discernment to enjoy the only true hope. That hope is Jesus Christ, and God has granted us the very same hope and the very same joy. He is at work in the lives of many individuals here in Oceanside. Together we desire to grow in our personal communion with God and encourage others along the same lines. It is true that communion with God will come to expression in community with others. If founded on true communion, the community will function as a microcosm, or miniature version, of the spiritual community of all who are united to Jesus Christ by faith.
That is why at the corner house, we are looking for new community founded on real communion. We are thrilled to join Simeon in seeing what God is doing through Jesus. Jesus is the salvation of the Lord, He is the light of revelation to the Gentiles, and He is the glory of his communing people, Israel. You are welcome to join us in communion and community.
That is why at the corner house, we are looking for new community founded on real communion. We are thrilled to join Simeon in seeing what God is doing through Jesus. Jesus is the salvation of the Lord, He is the light of revelation to the Gentiles, and He is the glory of his communing people, Israel. You are welcome to join us in communion and community.
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