"Is it discipline?" One of the first questions you need to ask when facing a stressful situation. Often God will allow a difficult situation to blow against your house to discipline you toward maturity. Like a good parent disciplines their child so the Lord will discipline us.
Hebrews 12 offers a perfect picture of how discipline can help us grow in Christlike maturity. The Apostle Paul quotes the Proverb, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
What is interesting about this statement is the word rebuke, which means to expose, bring to light, and proving. This is true of stress - it exposes our weakness and reveals the strength of our faith.
Hebrews 12 uses the template of parenting to describe the discipline of the Lord and this Sunday is perfect to address this comparison because we are dedicating several parents and children to the Lord. Parenting is described by the Chinese as a tension between danger and opportunity. How true. Parenting is a dangrous occuption, the risk of success is huge, and the opportunity is great. I came across 10 tips for parenting this week in my study:
10 Tips for Stress-less Parenting
1. All kids can and do misbehave.
2. There are no perfect kids.
3. There are no perfect parents.
4. Parenting is a short season of your life.
5. Physical affection is therapeutic; give and receive hugs.
6. See humor (somewhere) in each situation.
7. Take a break. Exercise, listen to soothing music, read a passage from the Bible, or enjoy a cup of coffee.
8. Talk to other parents to ease frustration.
9. Overlook some behaviors.
10. Take comfort in knowing that the Perfect Parent (God) is available to help you. He has children who are out of control too.
If you are looking to be strengthened by stress, then you need to ask the Lord to show you how He may be using hardship to discipline you to maturity (don't get stressed out).
Monday, November 24, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
STRESS: IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK - Philippians 4:6-7
We are living in one of the most opportunity-filled times in history. Opportunity - to share the Gospel with people who are stressed out. You know, Gospel simply means - good news. There are a lot of people in need of good news. What good news? - that God can strengthen you through stress. That is good news!
God created you to handle stress. In fact, your bodies react very well to stressful conditions, when you allow it to rest as well. Through this teaching series on stress, I believe God wants to prepare you for effective living and ministry in the coming months. There are several stressful pressures that will try to distract you from good, loving ministry. God is revealing the season to you. Like a good sailor predicting the condition of the winds or a farmer predicting the weather, the Lord wants you to understand how to live successfully with stress, through stress, and around stress. I like what one Pastor said about living through storms, "the key to surviving a storm is to outlast it."
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
The emphasis of the first teaching by Pastor Greg is on changing the way we look at stress. Far from being negative, stress is often the means by which we break new ground spiritually. The key is in viewing God, rather than the devil, as active in our stress. Our point of view on stress will change when we connect with God through worship in the midst of our stress. In this way we can gain God’s perspective, which will then enable us to see God’s purpose and activity in our stress. In short, to be strengthened by stress we must acknowledge God and worship Him in the midst of our stress.
Remember, God is not stressed and He can lead us to experience His confidence and peace.
God created you to handle stress. In fact, your bodies react very well to stressful conditions, when you allow it to rest as well. Through this teaching series on stress, I believe God wants to prepare you for effective living and ministry in the coming months. There are several stressful pressures that will try to distract you from good, loving ministry. God is revealing the season to you. Like a good sailor predicting the condition of the winds or a farmer predicting the weather, the Lord wants you to understand how to live successfully with stress, through stress, and around stress. I like what one Pastor said about living through storms, "the key to surviving a storm is to outlast it."
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
The emphasis of the first teaching by Pastor Greg is on changing the way we look at stress. Far from being negative, stress is often the means by which we break new ground spiritually. The key is in viewing God, rather than the devil, as active in our stress. Our point of view on stress will change when we connect with God through worship in the midst of our stress. In this way we can gain God’s perspective, which will then enable us to see God’s purpose and activity in our stress. In short, to be strengthened by stress we must acknowledge God and worship Him in the midst of our stress.
Remember, God is not stressed and He can lead us to experience His confidence and peace.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
THE NEXT 4 YEARS -Romans 12:9-21
While studying and praying this week about the upcoming Sunday, I felt led to change my direction from a teaching on Water Baptism to a teaching on our response to the recent Presidential and National Elections. We are still going to witness the baptism of four individuals. What an awesome joy to witness a person finding forgiveness. Yet given the Election of a New President, Barak Obama, and the passage of several propostions and changing of political power in Senate and the House, I felt it was essential for us to reflect on God's thoughts about our changing environment.
The first statement that comes to mind is one from Jesus, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)
Love. It must be sincere. No Hypocrisy. Love is the most obvious sign of God's presence. "If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to benefit another, but have not love, I gain nothing." (1 Cor. 13:2-3)
My message for Nov. 9, the Next Four Years, is a reminder to take up the most challenging initiative ever given to humanity - "Love Your Nieghbor as Yourself." Romans 12 focuses on both loving people within your circles and outside it. I cannot teach through all of chapter 12 this Sunday; I will only cover verses 9-13. (It would take hours to teach the entire chapter.) There are 10 descriptions of Love given in these 5 verses, which I believe will shape our love toward all people. I will walk through these. It will give us a good start.
This is something we need to think about after Nov. 9. On Nov. 10, you and I will need to start applying verses 14-21 - the expressions of love toward outsiders, so allow me to give you 12 Expressions of Love toward outsiders. Once you resolve to love (from verses 9-13) - are consumed by it, you will find yourself given multiple opportunities to love those on the outside.
12 Expressions of Love Toward Outsiders:
(Romans 12:14-21)
1. Love blessing our Persecutors (v. 14)
2. Love interesting itself in Others (v. 15)
3. Love finding Points of Agreement (v. 16)
4. Love spurning unworthy Ambitions (v. 16)
5. Love consorting with the Lowly (v. 16)
6. Love avoiding Self-Esteem (v. 16)
7. Love refusing to take Revenge (v. 17)
8. Love endeavoring to Attract (v. 17)
9. Love keeping the Peace (v. 18)
10. Love entrusting its Cause to God (v. 19)
11. Love returning Good for Evil (v. 20)
12. Love winning the True Victory (v. 21)
Recongize, I only gave you the second half of this teaching. The emphasis is on being not doing; doing is the result and expression of being. Verses 9-13 focus on being while Verses 14-21 give the doing. God always works from the inside out. Think about it. Pray about it. Looking forward to your thoughts.
~Eric
The first statement that comes to mind is one from Jesus, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)
Love. It must be sincere. No Hypocrisy. Love is the most obvious sign of God's presence. "If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to benefit another, but have not love, I gain nothing." (1 Cor. 13:2-3)
My message for Nov. 9, the Next Four Years, is a reminder to take up the most challenging initiative ever given to humanity - "Love Your Nieghbor as Yourself." Romans 12 focuses on both loving people within your circles and outside it. I cannot teach through all of chapter 12 this Sunday; I will only cover verses 9-13. (It would take hours to teach the entire chapter.) There are 10 descriptions of Love given in these 5 verses, which I believe will shape our love toward all people. I will walk through these. It will give us a good start.
This is something we need to think about after Nov. 9. On Nov. 10, you and I will need to start applying verses 14-21 - the expressions of love toward outsiders, so allow me to give you 12 Expressions of Love toward outsiders. Once you resolve to love (from verses 9-13) - are consumed by it, you will find yourself given multiple opportunities to love those on the outside.
12 Expressions of Love Toward Outsiders:
(Romans 12:14-21)
1. Love blessing our Persecutors (v. 14)
2. Love interesting itself in Others (v. 15)
3. Love finding Points of Agreement (v. 16)
4. Love spurning unworthy Ambitions (v. 16)
5. Love consorting with the Lowly (v. 16)
6. Love avoiding Self-Esteem (v. 16)
7. Love refusing to take Revenge (v. 17)
8. Love endeavoring to Attract (v. 17)
9. Love keeping the Peace (v. 18)
10. Love entrusting its Cause to God (v. 19)
11. Love returning Good for Evil (v. 20)
12. Love winning the True Victory (v. 21)
Recongize, I only gave you the second half of this teaching. The emphasis is on being not doing; doing is the result and expression of being. Verses 9-13 focus on being while Verses 14-21 give the doing. God always works from the inside out. Think about it. Pray about it. Looking forward to your thoughts.
~Eric
A GODWARD PERSPECTIVE - Acts 4:23-31
I started reading through the Book of Acts several days ago. I am surprised once again at the boldness of the newly forming Church to evangelize the world around them. Their lives were totally oriented around the person of Jesus Christ. No cost was too great, no sacrifice too small, in comparison to their desire to follow their Lord & Savior.
As Hillside comes to the close of two very exciting months of pulpit ministry, I was moved to remind us once again how to maintain a God-centered Perspective. There are many pressures trying to move us away from the Heart of Father God.
What will keep us thinking about others first, putting aside personal preferences for the good of another, or sacrificial giving that then enables another to go do the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Without continually reaching toward God's Perspective, we will not maintain a Vision for the Next Generation nor a Passion for Outreach & Missions.
As Hillside comes to the close of two very exciting months of pulpit ministry, I was moved to remind us once again how to maintain a God-centered Perspective. There are many pressures trying to move us away from the Heart of Father God.
What will keep us thinking about others first, putting aside personal preferences for the good of another, or sacrificial giving that then enables another to go do the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Without continually reaching toward God's Perspective, we will not maintain a Vision for the Next Generation nor a Passion for Outreach & Missions.
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