Wed
Feb
1st
2012
0

Father Forgive them…

This past Sunday we discussed a very difficult topic. It was the topic of forgiveness (you can view the sermon here). Forgiveness is interesting to me because it is something I desperately want from God and others. However, it is something I can be reluctant to want to give at times. I know from email and conversations that this past Sunday was difficult for some of you who have people you need to forgive. One exercise came up in my community group that has been helpful to others and I thought it might be helpful to you. So I want to share the idea:

Today find sometime to be alone. Take a piece of paper and pen. Sit down somewhere you can think and talk to God. Write out ways you have been hurt/offended/bothered by other people in your life. Just write out the ones that come to mind. Ask God for clarity. Write down the person’s name, what they did and how you felt. Ask God to reveal to you how this has affected you. Ask Him why you feel/felt the way you do/did. Spend some time working through these emotions. Here are a few questions from the sermon for you to discuss with God.

  1. Do I really believe that Jesus died for all sin? Maybe you know He died for your sin. Maybe you realize He died for the sins of the world. Do you believe He died for the sins committed against you? (John 1:29; 1 John 2:2)
  2. Is it disobedient to God if I don’t forgive? (Matthew 6:15; Matthew 6:9-12; Matthew 18:21-35; Luke 23:34; Acts 7:59-60; Eph 4:32)
  3. What do I gain if I hold onto this? What do I gain if I let it go?

Tear up the paper! Be free. Take whatever next steps God directs you to.

categories: Growth, Life Change, Southbridge

Sun
May
22nd
2011
0

Humility

This week at Southbridge, we talked about: Revolutionary Choices. Jesus says, in Luke 14:11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” That is revolutionary thinking that will lead to revolutionary living. So what are some practical ways to cultivate humility? C.J. Mahaney, at the end of his book Humility: True Greatness, shares some practical advice on how to weaken pride and cultivate humility. He says:

Always:

1. Reflect on the wonder of the cross of Christ.

As Each Day Begins:

2. Begin each day by acknowledging your dependence upon God and your need for God.

3. Begin your Day by expressing gratefulness for God.

4. Practice the spiritual disciplines–prayer, study of God’s Word, worship. Do this consistently each day and at the day’s outset, if possible.

5. Seize your commute time to memorize and meditate on Scripture.

6. Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.

As Each Day Ends:

7. At the end of the day, transfer the glory to God.

8. Before going to sleep, receive this gift of sleep from God and acknowledge His purpose for sleep.

For Special Focus:

9. Study the attributes of God.

10. Study the doctrines of grace.

11. Study the doctrine of sin.

12. Play golf as much as possible.

13. Laugh often, and laugh often at yourself.

Throughout Your Days and Weeks:

14. Identify evidences of grace in others.

15. Encourage and serve others each and every day.

16. Invite and pursue correction.

17. Respond humbly to trials.

categories: Growth, Southbridge

Mon
Oct
18th
2010
0

Listening?

This past week while I was preparing for the message something struck me. During an amazing event (the Transfiguration) God gives only one command, only one thing to do. It is to listen to His Son. So why don’t we listen? Here are a few reasons why we don’t listen:

1. We are so focused on our plan that we don’t ask God for His. We are like Peter during the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36), and so many other times in his life. We are so focused on what we want to see happen, we fail to realize our plan and God’s plan are not the same. We simply get caught up in our plan and miss the fact that our plan may not be God’s plan. Our plan can seem right, sound good, we may even believe we have good motives, but if we are so focused on pursuing our plan that we don’t ask God what His is, then we can easily fail to hear Him speaking to us. What should we do? Stop and ask Him. God what do you want? How many kids should we have? How should we use our money? Where should I work? Where should I go to school?

2. Sin. Many of us have an obedience threshold. I will obey you God with all of this (fill in the blank), but don’t ask me to (and fill in the blank). We know we have said no to God. No. I won’t trust you with my money. No. I won’t give you that habit. No I won’t stop taking these pills or finding escape somewhere else. No. I won’t control my anger. So God stops communicating with us. We reject His word and reject His word and eventually He stops speaking. Like Amos says to people who keep rejecting God’s Word, “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine through the land– not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD (Amos 8:11). So what do we do? Stop and turn. Stop turning to our sin and turn to God. Hunger and thirst for righteousness and we will be filled.

3. We are too busy. We have so many things we are doing we can’t hear. We have soccer games, business deals, tests to study for, doctors appointments, and deadlines. While we are also doing all of these things there are a ton of voices speaking to us, the television, our co-workers, our pastor, our friends, marketers and salespeople. How can we hear anything? We need to be still and know that He is God. When is the last time you just stopped in silence alone with God?

4. We have twisted what He has said. This fourth reason is a lot like the second with one slight difference. The person who does this no longer realizes what they are doing is sin. God has clearly communicated His plan in many areas and we rationalize and justify why what He has said does not apply to us. God understands why we are living together (forget His plan for sex as a good gift to be celebrated in the context of marriage), we love each other, we are going to get married, besides that is old fashion. God knows why I don’t give, once I get to this level then I will. God knows why I get angry so easy, it was my Dad’s fault. God knows why I don’t forgive like Christ forgave, I have been offended more than Jesus was. What should we do? Get honest with ourselves and stop lying. Stop lying to God, stop lying to others, and stop lying to ourselves. Then see number 2.

5. We don’t know His voice. In John 10 Jesus says that sheep know their shepherds voice (John 10:1-18), and that He is the good Shepherd. If we don’t know the Shepherd we don’t know His voice so when He speaks we can’t listen. Do you know His voice? If not then what you need to do is start a relationship with the Shepherd. Here is how (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-13).

God is speaking, are you listening?

categories: Growth, Preaching, Southbridge

Thu
Jul
15th
2010
0

Freedom

What does it mean to be free? Have you ever watched someone who seemed to not care what anyone else thought or expected? If I am honest when I see people like that, my first thought is usually, don’t they know what everyone else expects? My second, thought is often times, I wish I could do that. Take for instance kids. Kids can say and do almost anything. Like when you are out in public with your kids and one of them points at a rather large round belly and says, “Daddy is that a baby in that belly?” You bend down and say, “No, honey that is not a baby in HIS belly.” Kids can say almost anything. One time Shanna and I were out with our family and while Shanna was in line at Starbucks with one them they were standing next to a woman’s table (Our daughters head is about the height of a table). The woman at this table was wearing some bright, bright red lipstick. My daughter noticed this beautiful makeup, pointed and said KETCHUP! My wife very quickly noticed the woman had a packet of mustard on her table and said, “No, honey that is mustard.” Kids can say almost anything. Why? It’s not that they are trying to be mean, they just don’t know they are not supposed to say these things therefore, they have an incredible freedom in what hey say. They also have freedom in what they do.

So is true freedom to be able to say or do whatever we want whenever we want? No. That is what many of us consider freedom, but true biblical freedom is really to be able to say or do whatever God wants, whenever He wants. Like the woman in Luke 7:36-50 who threw off the religious expectations of the day in an all consuming desire to love Jesus. It is interesting that the religious rules of her day actually hindered her from being connected to Jesus for life change. She threw off those rules, those expectations, because she was free. Free from her wounds, free from shame, free from guilt, free from her past. Are you free? Are you free to do whatever God wants, whenever God wants?

To hear more about this click here. Look for the message titled: The Fuel of Our Faith.

categories: Growth, Personal, Southbridge

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