Archive for the ‘Family of God’ Category

29 Jun

History Lessons

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Change, Christian Living, Eternal Life, Faith, Family of God, God's Word, Gospel, Prayer, Truth.

Hello all,
We’re staying home this week. It’s not that we don’t like camping, there are things at home that need done. And, after three Sundays of vacation, I am ready to return to ‘work’.

The first of the week, we were camped at Ponca State Park. Some of Nebraska’s early history centers on that area of the Missouri River. As I tried to remember how much of that history I could remember, I realized I was closer to that history in grade school than I am now. I was reminded that in the early days, this was wild, uncharted territory. Now it is just one of many vacation spots along the river, with paved camper pads and electric hookups. The only hardship now is the lack of Wi-Fi and cell service. Now, that is really roughing it!

As I contemplate history, I wonder how many of us remember times in our own lives when history was being made? I can name a few times personally. This past week, history was made in our country, the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Here are a few of my thoughts regarding that event. There has been a decision handed down by the highest court in America that I believe is wrong. That said, I, along with many others, believe that there is a Higher Authority who will someday have the final say in this matter. In the meantime, we who bow to that Higher Authority have a responsibility to represent Him in society and in the current culture. We must do so with the voice of reason, and present His case in a non-confrontational manner, and in a spirit of peace and love. It will not be popular to do so, but we, too, will someday stand in judgment, giving an account for our response to these things. In matters eternal, it is the Word of God that matters, and it is the authority of His word upon which we must stand.

I return once more to the words of the old hymn:
“The Bible stands though the hills may tumble,
It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;
I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,
For the Bible stands.”

There will be more on this topic in weeks to come. In the meantime, keep looking up.

In His eternal love,
Pastor Jerry

18 May

The Importance of Worshiping as Families

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Body of Believers, Christian Living, Faith, Family of God, God's Word, Truth, Worship.

Hello again,
If it seems we are stuck between the end of winter and the start of spring, you are not alone. When the overnight low is forecast to be in the thirties, I wonder. On the positive side, if you have planted a new lawn, this weather is about perfect. Our new grass is growing even better than we expected.

For several weeks, I have been preaching on the importance of being a biblical church member. We have learned that such a person is a functioning member, a unifying member, and one who loves and prays for the other members. Yesterday, we learned of the importance of leading our families to be healthy church members.

Number one: By praying together for the church. That is we pray in a family setting for the church’s leaders and all members. As families, we pray in these ways: For spiritual protection, and for protection from moral failure. We pray for the families of church leaders. For all members, we can pray for encouragement, wisdom, and discernment as they go through their day.

Number two: By worshiping together as a family. As church members, we are responsible for leading our entire family to worship together in the church. If you are married, include your spouse in your worship. Parents, include your children. Single Christians, you need to join others in worship. We need to be examples to others of people who love the church. Not the building, but the people who are part of the body of Christ.

If you happen to be the only believer in your family, don’t be discouraged. God has given your family to you for a mission field.

Finally, as leaders in our families we are to show our deep love for the church. We are not just to like our church or serve our church well. We are to fall deeply in love with our church. Unconditional love is not always easy, but we are to love other members of the church without wavering, and with an unconditional love.

Jesus has demonstrated this kind of love for us perfectly. He loves us, sins and all, so much that he died on a cross for us.

It is of great importance for us to include our families in worship at every level. As scripture says, “Let us not give up meeting together…” (Hebrews 10:15).

Blessings,
Pastor Jerry

11 May

On Staying Close

Posted by sandhillspastor in Body of Believers, Christian Living, End Times, Family of God, Fellowship, Persecution, Salvation, Temptation.

It is 38 degrees here this morning, with a forecast low tonight of 31. I fear the global warming theory will be a hard sell in this area. Last week, I reported that we had sown the grass seed. After the rain this week, I see mowing in my future.

The local Canada goose population is on the increase. Goslings of varying sizes are making their appearance on the lake. I noticed one family with 4 little ones, three of them stayed pretty close to the parents, but one always seemed to be lagging behind. Lately, that goose family has only three young ones. I suspect the little straggler became lunch for some predator.

There is a lesson here for God’s people.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 3:8). Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as the you see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25).

Remember Paul’s words to the Ephesian elders, as he prepared to leave them: “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that when I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! (Acts 20:28-31).

Finally, from Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus: “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one…be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:11-18).

In an age when Christianity is being challenged and attacked, I believe it is more important than ever that we remain in close fellowship, encouraging each other in our faith. As the old saying goes, there is strength in numbers. The enemy’s strategy is to divide and conquer. We must stay in close fellowship with our God and with each other.

In Him,
Pastor Jerry

4 May

The Body of Christ

Posted by sandhillspastor in Body of Believers, Christian Living, Family of God, Fellowship, Giving, God's Word, Service, Truth, Worship.

Finally! We have seeded the lawn at the lake house. Now we’ll try to keep it wet with the hose, and pray for some gentle rain to help out. Someday soon, we will have actual grass instead of just dirt for a lawn.

In our current sermon series, I have been examining what a biblical church member looks like. These sermons are built around a book called “I Am a Church Member” by Dr. Thom Rainer. As I study and look at the biblical texts concerning how members of the body of Christ (the church) is supposed to function, I see application to much of life and how people should interact. Today we will look at three ways we can be better members of His church. I also believe these attitudes would benefit society as a whole.

Number One: I will be a functioning member. This gives the idea that everyone has a part in the working of the body. Each one of us is uniquely gifted to serve in the body, and only when every part does its job, is the body healthy. Concerning the church, the apostle Paul wrote, “The body is one unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12).

Number Two: I will by a unifying member. Everything we do in the body of believers should be done with a view of working as one unit, with a common purpose and goal. Unity in this context is a result of unconditional love on the part of everyone involved. Read 1 Corinthians chapter 13 with the body of believers in mind. “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:14).

Number Three: My preferences must be put aside as I serve others. We are to serve others, not expecting anything in return. Jesus’s words go counter to the ‘me first’ attitude of our current culture. “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35). Again, the words of Paul; “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:4-5).

Serving Him,
Pastor Jerry

13 Apr

On Christian Fellowship

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Blessings, Body of Believers, Christian Living, End Times, Family of God, Fellowship.

The larger blessing of the past week has to be the rain that fell. Amounts vary over the area, but it was all greatly appreciated. It is good to see the daffodils, and tulips and now the wild plums are near to blooming. As mentioned before, spring has to be my favorite time of year.

Now to our devotional thought for the week. I often encounter people who say they are Christians, yet they do not think it is important to go to church. The usual reply is they can worship in the outdoors, while they are at the lake, in the hunting blind, or wherever they find themselves on a Sunday morning. In fact, in the days before I came to faith in Christ, I used the same argument for why I did not “attend church.” It is not just a Christian excuse.

Where do we get the idea we can be lone wolf Christians? Scripture does not indicate that this is a great idea. In fact, quite the opposite is taught by Jesus and the apostles.

Romans 12:5… “In Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
1 Corinthians 12:27… “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
Hebrews 10:24-25… “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

I believe we are living in a time when it is becoming more and more important to spend as much time in Christian fellowship as possible. We are increasingly under attack for our Christian beliefs, and we must band together to stand strong.

There is a story about a man who stopped going to church. His pastor visited him on a cold day, and as they sat in front of the fireplace, the pastor took a hot coal from the fire and set it aside, where it began to cool and eventually went out. After a bit, the pastor moved the coal back closer to the live coals, where it immediately began to burn again. The man got the message and returned to church the next week.

In Him,
Pastor Jerry

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