I saw this at www.preachermike.com.  Love it.

HT: Monday Morning Insight

Jesus said that those who would follow him could expect persecution and suffering.

Sometimes those trials come on us because of our faith in Jesus.  Sometimes they come because we asked for it.  God bless in discerning the two:

I thought this was a brilliant video created by Elevation Church to drive home the message on the simplicity of handing money God’s way.  They used Elijah Furtick, the Pastor’s four year old, to explain how simple it really is!

Going through a message series out of 1 Peter which is addressed to Christians who are going through trials and suffering because of their faith in Jesus.  Not everyone around them is “yippy-skippy” about their faith in Jesus.

Trials and suffering come in many forms.  Sometimes it is as simple as taking a little teasing.  It can look like this:

• How do you live as a Christian when you are surrounded by those who aren’t?
• What should you do when you have received a new life in Jesus and rather than celebrating that reality with you, your spouse, family, friends, co-workers make fun and/or alienate you?
• What happens when your faith in Jesus causes you to feel like you don’t quite fit in anymore with your social surroundings?

You have two options:  1) abandon all of your relationships with non-Christians and opt for only hanging out with Christians; or 2) learn how to live as a Christian in the middle of a non-Christian world.  We think you should choose option #2. Come Sunday as we begin talking about how to live as an authentic Christian even when it feels you are a “square peg” trying to fit in a “round hole.”

October 11 – Gain That’s Worth the Pain (1 Peter 1:1-12)

October 18 – Odd Man Out (1 Peter 1:13-2:10)

October 25 – Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About (1 Peter 2:11-3:22)

November 1 – That Was the Old Me (1 Peter 4:1-11)

November 8 – Hit Me With Your Best Shot (1 Peter 4:11-5:14)

Bring a friend!!!

A recent conversation with another minister has sparked a few thoughts (yea…I have one every now and then).  The overall admonition the other minister was making was a call for churches to be Bible-centered.  Before I enter my diatribe let me say upfront – I’m not interested in being the voice that says, “Hey, let’s forget or marginalize the Bible!”  The debate we had revolved around what it looked like to be bible-centered (or “biblically compromised” in his wording).

After a little thought (and at the risk of sounding heretical), I’m not sure the church should be Bible-centered.  Hold on.  Let me finish.

I believe the church should be JESUS-CENTERED. (you are probably asking “what’s the difference…)

If a church is Jesus-centered, it will go deep in regards to the Bible.  A Jesus-centered church never marginalizes the Bible (why?  Because Jesus doesn’t marginalize the Bible).  A Jesus-centered church is always striving to interpret rightly the Word of God and applying it to life.  A Jesus-centered church acknowledges the authority of Scripture, and submits itself to it.

BUT…

You can be a Bible-centered church and look nothing like Jesus!  I think you can be so Bible-centered that it leads to bibliolatry (the worship of the Bible…which by the way, is why I don’t sing hymns to the Bible…and yes…they do exist).  I think it is possible to be a Bible-centered church full to the brink of Bible knowledge and totally miss the heart, character, and person of Jesus.  More information (Bible knowledge) does not necessarily mean transformation.  And as the Bible tells us so clearly, sometimes, knowledge (I would suggest even Bible knowledge) can make us puffed up (prideful, arrogant, judgmental, etc.) [1 Corinthians 8:1].

What is so interesting is Jesus’ on words on this matter to a group of people (called Pharisees) who were TOTALLY Bible-centered.  They loved the Scriptures.  They were devoted to the Scriptures.  They invested hours each day reading and studying the Scriptures.  Many of them had the entire Old Testament committed to memory.  They loved to debate, argue, and discuss the Scriptures.  And then Jesus comes along and says this:

“You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life.  These are the Scriptures that testify about me...” (John 5:37-40)

The Bible doesn’t give us life.  JESUS gives us life!  The Bible didn’t save anyone.  Jesus is the one who saves.  The Bible didn’t die on a cross.  Jesus is the one who died on the cross.  The Bible is not God…JESUS is God!!!

The Bible isn’t our meal, it is the menu that points us to our meal (Jesus, the Bread of Life)!!  The Bible never screams…LOOK TO ME…LOOK TO ME…but rather always points us to – Jesus!

And just like in the days of Jesus, it is very possible to be a Bible-centered church and still be mean, angry, bitter, judgmental, unloving, full of contempt, harsh, argumentative, legalistic, self-righteous, condemning, etc.  It is possible to have Bible studies galore within the church (Sunday morning Bible Study, Sunday morning sermon, Sunday night sermon, Wednesday night Bible Study, Thursday morning women’s study, etc.) and have people in those studies who miss the heart and purpose of Jesus.  Happens all the time.

But you can’t be these things if you are Jesus-centered.

So…I know it seems a slight distinction, but if I have to pick between being Bible-centered or being Jesus-centered…I want to pick Jesus-centered every time!

Rex Butts attended and was married in this church (it was the Donmoyer Church of Christ then).  He has experienced the pain of suffering more so than most his age.  He wrote a reflection on the goodness of God, unanswered prayers, and the death of his son, Kenny.

I know many are struggling through the same questions.  I would highly recommend an article he wrote that was just published.  You can find it here.

I think the goal (at least one of them) is to be in a place where God can give me everything I want!

Yea…that’s right.

I want God to give me all the desires of my heart!!!

I’m not there yet.

But I want the heart of God with such passion that what I want IS what He wants; that what my heart desires IS what He desires.

Where the kingdom and will of Sam is so yielded to the Kingdom and will of God that He can say without hesitation… “I can give Sam everything he wants and desires!”

[With apologizes to Andy Stanley in whom I was convicted of this principle and am now trying to paraphrase in my own words]

If I want to go to Florida but head west on the 80/90 Toll Road towards Chicago, you know what will happen?  I will NEVER make it to Florida.  If I pray and ask the Lord to get me to Florida; if I’m wearing swim trunks meant for the beaches of Florida; if I am wearing sun screen and have packed a bag ideal for the conditions of Florida – BUT I’m on the 80/90 Toll Road headed towards Chicago, you know what?  I’M NEVER GOING TO GET TO FLORIDA.

The reason…direction ALWAYS determines destination.

We all know this truth in regards to geography, travel, navigating maps, etc.  What is interesting is how there is a complete disconnect between this profound truth (which we know to be true in one area of our lives) and how it applies to EVERY other area of our life.

We like to judge our lives based on intention, dreams, desires, etc.  We intend certain things.  We dream about certain things.  We want certain things for our lives.  We even pray for certain things.  BUT all of those intentions, dreams, desires, and prayers are trumped by one simple thing…DIRECTION!

• You may intend to have an awesome marriage, but the real question is what path are you on, and is that path going to lead you to an awesome marriage?
• You may intend to lose weight and be fit physically, but the real question is what path are you on?  And does that path lead you straight to Culver’s Butter Burgers?
• You may intend to grow in your discipleship to Jesus, but the real question is not about my intentions, but rather about my direction.  Am I on a path that will lead me to growth in discipleship?
• You may intend to lead a church to be outward and mission, but the real question is not what our hopes, dreams, and prayers are…but rather, what is the direction of your church?  Is it on a path that leads you to be outward and missional (e.g. measured in emphasis, time, budget, energy, resources, etc.)

Anyone can say they want a good marriage, healthy relationships, spiritual children, fitness goals, organization goals, spiritual goals, etc.  We can intend for those things, we can hope for those things, we can dream about those things, and we can even pray about those things.

But if the directional movement of our lives aren’t set for those things…we will never get there.

DIRECTION not INTENTION is ALL that matters when it comes to where you life is heading.

So get the road-map of your life out and take a look.  If you continue down this path, will you REALLY get to the destination you intend, dream, hope, imagine, and pray for?

DIRECTION DETERMINES DESTINATION