Last Wednesday I started a nice argument in our Bible Study and maybe I can get you in on this debate.
We read 1 John 4: 16b – GOD IS LOVE
Here is the passage in context...
13. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the Day of Judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
The question I asked, which started the debate is this: “If God is Love, can we then say Love is God?” The arguments on both sides broke out after that. I wrote possible formulas for this and asked which the group liked.
1. God = Love
2. God > Love
3. God < Love
After some discussion I chose no. 2, because even though I believe that God does have (agape) love, He is more than that. He is also righteous, Holy, and the judge of all mankind. If he were no. 1 or no. 3 then certain realities, like hell for example, would not make any sense. I also believe that He is more than a principle (like love), and we are to relate to Him as a person.
What do you think? What side of the argument would take?
Friday, August 31, 2007
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Bad Questions?
Are there any bad questions?
No, not if you are willing to be open to the truth.
As a Pastor I love to explore questions with people about the truth especially as it relates to God, faith and the meaning of life.
I want to invite you to ask your questions and send them to me at pastorjohn@clearwire.net . I will post them on this blog and attempt to give the best Biblical, Christ centered response I can give. Others will read our statements and hopefully be part of the conversation.
Why would I do this?
I really believe what Jesus told us, that if we seek we will find, if we ask we will receive, if we knock the door will be opened. Truth is a person, not an idea or an opinion. As we ask the questions that move us towards the truth we will find ourselves moving towards Jesus Christ and a personal relationship with truth himself.
So... ask, and will shall seek and knock together on the gates of heaven.
Pastor John
No, not if you are willing to be open to the truth.
As a Pastor I love to explore questions with people about the truth especially as it relates to God, faith and the meaning of life.
I want to invite you to ask your questions and send them to me at pastorjohn@clearwire.net . I will post them on this blog and attempt to give the best Biblical, Christ centered response I can give. Others will read our statements and hopefully be part of the conversation.
Why would I do this?
I really believe what Jesus told us, that if we seek we will find, if we ask we will receive, if we knock the door will be opened. Truth is a person, not an idea or an opinion. As we ask the questions that move us towards the truth we will find ourselves moving towards Jesus Christ and a personal relationship with truth himself.
So... ask, and will shall seek and knock together on the gates of heaven.
Pastor John
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Celebrating the Small Church Pastor
For many years I have been a fan of Frank Peretti’s novels and one book in particular really won me over. “The Visitation” was a wonderful revelation of the strength of small church pastors making a tremendous difference the lives on individuals despite the lack of glory and honor. The novel also implied that the larger church can have serious problems that make it less attractive and even dangerous to the life of the believer.
I want to celebrate the dedication and hard work of the unsung hero, the pastor of the small church. They have made a difference in the world far greater than their numbers and will never be recognized or honored for their work. They are available 24hrs. a day and demonstrate a wide set of skills that make them effective in ministry.
As our nation becomes in love with big and bigger the small group ministry, the small cell, or the small home church is still the universal building block of any significant congregations. For years now the experts have been warning that the small group is far more effective than the large group in changing lives and bringing people to salvation in Jesus Christ.
Small does not make everything virtuous any more than big makes everything better. Yet it is in the small group that accountability, and teach-ability becomes effective. The world largest church in Seol Korea is actually a community of small house churches. Small is God’s plan whether we are talking about cell groups or congregations.
The Pastor of a small church, group, or house church is the front line minister who closes to the real work of Christ. Those who move up in administration over Pastors move further away from working with the lost and the recently saved.
So this is to all those individuals out there who lead a bible study group in their home, Pastor a congregation of hundred people, or have a house church meeting in their living room. You are one of the most important workers in the Kingdom of God, and we love you for your service. No fame or rewards are as great as what you do each and every week over the flock you love and nurture. Keep it small and let others learn from your example. Our reward is great in heaven.
I want to celebrate the dedication and hard work of the unsung hero, the pastor of the small church. They have made a difference in the world far greater than their numbers and will never be recognized or honored for their work. They are available 24hrs. a day and demonstrate a wide set of skills that make them effective in ministry.
As our nation becomes in love with big and bigger the small group ministry, the small cell, or the small home church is still the universal building block of any significant congregations. For years now the experts have been warning that the small group is far more effective than the large group in changing lives and bringing people to salvation in Jesus Christ.
Small does not make everything virtuous any more than big makes everything better. Yet it is in the small group that accountability, and teach-ability becomes effective. The world largest church in Seol Korea is actually a community of small house churches. Small is God’s plan whether we are talking about cell groups or congregations.
The Pastor of a small church, group, or house church is the front line minister who closes to the real work of Christ. Those who move up in administration over Pastors move further away from working with the lost and the recently saved.
So this is to all those individuals out there who lead a bible study group in their home, Pastor a congregation of hundred people, or have a house church meeting in their living room. You are one of the most important workers in the Kingdom of God, and we love you for your service. No fame or rewards are as great as what you do each and every week over the flock you love and nurture. Keep it small and let others learn from your example. Our reward is great in heaven.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Celebrating The Small Church
I love the small church. She deserves more respect than she is given.
The idea of a large mega-church did not come until recently. Not long ago their was no congregation in America or Canada that could boast the numbers we now see in some worship services. On the other hand we have not seen the decline of the small church like we have today. Most congregations in North America are small churches, and they are in rapid decline.
Big churches are growing and small churches are closing.
So what's the problem?
The problem is that there is a smaller precentage of people attending church in North America than there was before the Mega church. People know less about their faith, read the Bible less, and pray less than ever before. The majority of people who do attend church don't act much different than those who don't believe in God.
Bigger is not always better.
The congregration I have served for the last eleven years is not a big church. In the last 80 years of her life, the First Church of God (Medford, OR) has never been big. This small congregation has seen many generations of believers and many pastors. We who make up the nature of this congregation come and go but the church remains. But we know each others name and we have journeyed through many hardship sharing each others burden. Like most small congreations, were small, tough and loyal.
The trouble is that we are also rejected because of our size. Our size is our strength. The small church is a place where people miss you when you are not there. It is a place where we talk about you when your not around wondering what is going on in your life. We may even feel the permission to meddle in your life because we are concern about what is happening. In other words, we are like family.
In the next series of blogs I want to celebrate the small church, and what she has done around the world over the last 2000 years. She is not obsolete yet and she has a lot to say to a fast paced post-modern world.
What is your take on size? Does it matter?
The idea of a large mega-church did not come until recently. Not long ago their was no congregation in America or Canada that could boast the numbers we now see in some worship services. On the other hand we have not seen the decline of the small church like we have today. Most congregations in North America are small churches, and they are in rapid decline.
Big churches are growing and small churches are closing.
So what's the problem?
The problem is that there is a smaller precentage of people attending church in North America than there was before the Mega church. People know less about their faith, read the Bible less, and pray less than ever before. The majority of people who do attend church don't act much different than those who don't believe in God.
Bigger is not always better.
The congregration I have served for the last eleven years is not a big church. In the last 80 years of her life, the First Church of God (Medford, OR) has never been big. This small congregation has seen many generations of believers and many pastors. We who make up the nature of this congregation come and go but the church remains. But we know each others name and we have journeyed through many hardship sharing each others burden. Like most small congreations, were small, tough and loyal.
The trouble is that we are also rejected because of our size. Our size is our strength. The small church is a place where people miss you when you are not there. It is a place where we talk about you when your not around wondering what is going on in your life. We may even feel the permission to meddle in your life because we are concern about what is happening. In other words, we are like family.
In the next series of blogs I want to celebrate the small church, and what she has done around the world over the last 2000 years. She is not obsolete yet and she has a lot to say to a fast paced post-modern world.
What is your take on size? Does it matter?
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