Our God calls each of us by name
He formed, created you
He redeemed you – that’s why He came
“You’re mine” He says to you
And thru the trials I’ll be with you
I am your God today
Remember church that I love you
I’ll gather you someday
– From a sermon on Isaiah 42:18-43:7
(To the tune of the “Amazing Grace”)
…we are growing in our character every day. The question is, in which direction are we growing? Are we growing toward godly character or ungodly character? Are we growing in love or selfishness, in harshness or patience, in greed or generosity, in honesty or dishonesty, in purity or impurity? Every day we are training ourselves in one direction or the other by the thoughts we think, the words we say, the actions we take, and the deeds we do.
– Jerry Bridges in The Fruitful Life
Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:
Grace Is Not A Thing – Jeremy Treat (TGC)
Consider several misconceptions and enemies of grace.
4 Reasons to Stop Obsessing about Heaven – Mike Wittmer (TGC)
And set your hope on the resurrection!
Does Your Facebook Rant “Honor Everyone?” – Trevin Wax
Think before you post!
God’s Tapestry – Tim Challies
God weaves the good and bad things in your life into a beautiful tapestry.
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church celebrating God’s grace!
– Thomas Watson
The fruit of the Spirit is fundamentally relational. Rather than originating with us, it flows to us from our union with Christ, and it flows beyond us to bring us into fellowship with others. The secret of this flow – and our unity with God and others – is humility.
– Jerry Bridges in The Fruitful Life
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves,
and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
– II Chronicles 7:14
For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.
– Psalm 18:27
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
– Psalm 25:9
The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.
– Psalm 147:6
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
– Isaiah 57:15
But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
– Isaiah 66:2b
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says,
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
– James 4:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God
so that at the proper time he may exalt you.
– I Peter 5:6
Here are some good posts on children and youth ministry:
3 Ways To Avoid The “Children’s Church” Ditch – Sean Sawyers (Christward Collective)
Who Is Really Leaving The Church and Why? – Andrew Hess (TGC)
3 Common Traits of Youth Who Don’t Leave the Church – Jon Nielson (Church Leaders)
The Only Foundation for Youth Ministry – Josh Cousineau (TGC)
Don’t Segregate the Youth – David Wright (TGC)
How Logic Can Help Save a College Student’s Faith – Dave Sterrett (TGC)
Father,
Thank you for good news of Jesus, thank you for your grace in our lives.
May your work in our lives spur us on to share the good news with others.
May the gracious welcome of Jesus lead us to graciously welcome each other.
May freedom from bondage to sin move us to press on in growing together.
May all that you have done for us draw us to sing and live for your glory.
Amen.
If we are to say no to covetousness, we must learn to say yes to contentment. This involves learning to be content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5). Much of our discontentment may be traced to expectations that are essentially selfish and more often than not completely unrealistic.
– Alistair Begg in Pathway to Freedom
Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
– Romans 15:7
How has Christ welcomed you? Was it based on your good works that he welcomed you? Was it based on your behavior? Was it based on your performance? No, he welcomed you apart from your works, apart from your behavior, apart from your performance. Indeed, he welcomed you in spite of your works, your behavior, your performance. He died for you while you were still a sinner. He loved you when you were unlovable. He welcomed you by grace, in light of his sacrifice on your behalf.
And we are to welcome each other as Christ welcomed us – apart from their works, their behavior, their performance. Even when they are unlovable, when they don’t measure up to our standards, when they are not perfect. We are to look past their sins that Jesus already paid for and see their righteous standing in Christ. We are to welcome each other as Christ welcomed us – by grace.
But again, how has Christ welcomed you? Was it based on your personality? Was it based on your personal convictions about all kinds of little things? Was it based on your standard of living? Was it based on your level of education? Was it based on your sense of humor? No, of course not – he welcomed you based on his finished work on the cross.
And we are to welcome each other as Christ welcomed us – regardless of our personalities, personal convictions, standards of living, levels of education, or senses of humor. We come together in Christ. The church is not a club for people that are all the same. The church is for very different people coming together in Christ, welcoming each other by grace.
Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Brian J. Mikul 