Posts the highlight our mission as believers

Running with Endurance

Last Monday, I ran farther than I had ever run before – nearly 7 miles. I left the house a little after 5 and got home around 6:15. I ran the whole time. 72 minutes. (Yeah, I'm pretty slow.) Not only that, but it was my third straight "longest ever." I'm not doing anything different than what I did last summer when I couldn't break 5.5 miles. Well, maybe there's one thing different – I'm learning the mental side to running. I'm learning my body can do more than I realized if I don't give in to its whining. I'm also learning to listen to my internal "coach" and not the "critic." Who knows, I may be running a half marathon before the season is out.

Of course, all this has a spiritual application. We can do far more for the cause of Christ than we realize ("all things," the apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:13). However, it is all too easy to listen to that voice inside. You know, the one that says, "That will never work." Or, "You're not qualified." Or, "You're just one person. You'll never make a difference."

How would things change if we listened to our Holy Spirit "coach" instead? What would our families and churches and neighborhoods be like if we grabbed hold of, "You have everything you need. You've got this." Or, "That discomfort is because you're doing something. Keep going!" Or "Look how far you've gone!"

When God called us, He equipped us. We can do the ministry He's given us to do. We can. He has infused us with the Holy Spirit. But we have to make the effort and we have to endure.

(A side note: Endure doesn't mean "exhaust yourself." Sometimes we have to make sure we are running the race God has laid out and not running extra miles someone else piles on us.)

Bottom line- Don't quit. Hang on and push through, and you'll start to see amazing things happen.

"…[L]et us run with endurance the race that is set before us" Hebrews 12:1

(PS- I'm shooting for 8 miles by the end of the month!)

Beginning Running

By Paula Wiseman

The last Saturday this month, my son and I are running 2 mile race and then right after, my husband is running a 10 mile race. My son's 11 and has never run a race, but I told him if he wanted to run, I'd run with him. So we are officially registered. He's mostly in it for the shirt. Oh, and lunch at Wendy's afterwards.

Analogies aren't perfect, but here are some things about our upcoming race that got me thinking…

It would be unfair and even a little cruel to expect Alan run the 10 mile race his first time out. Two miles is much better suited to his abilities (and mine). However, many times we expect new believers to behave the way veteran Christians do. Rather than saddle them with more than they're ready for, let's come alongside and run with them. Help them maintain their pace. Point out their progress and encourage them to keep going.

If I don't prepare adequately I can't help my son at all. It means getting up when the alarm goes off. Some days that means shifting my running time a little later in the day (when it's warmer) to ensure that I get it in. More running means more laundry. But he's counting on me. I can't let him down. I'm not sure we grasp how much newer believers depend on us. We have to shift our routines around for their sakes. If they see us giving up, laying down or sleeping in, they will too.

Having both races the same day, it will be tempting to look at the 10-milers and feel completely inadequate, especially since a number of them will run the 2-mile as a warm-up for their race. Sheesh. Thing is, the 2-milers get the same refreshments and the same shirt as the 10-milers. God lays a different race before each of us, and it's the one suited to our abilities and preparation. We shouldn't feel inferior to believers who have appear to have more faith, or more knowledge or some incredible ministry. At the end, we all get the same shirt- the righteousness of Christ.

How do you encourage folks who haven't been believers as long as you have?

Study Tip: Second Corinthians

By Paula Wiseman

Second Corinthians is the most underrated, underappreciated book in the New Testament, maybe the whole Bible. In it, Paul is passionately personal in his defense of his ministry and his authority, but he also exhorts and encourages the believers in Corinth in a touching heartfelt way. It is packed with tremendous truth. (I could do several posts on my favorite verses…)

One thing worth noticing, even keeping a list of, is everything Paul says about God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit.

For example in 1:3-4, Paul says "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

The Father of mercies
The God of all comfort
He comforts us in our tribulation

Some major topics Paul covers include:

What does it mean to be a minister (and we are)? What are our responsibilities? What should we be doing? (You'll find these answers mostly in chapters 2-6)

What are our responsibilities when it comes to giving? (Look at chapters 8-9)

How a leader should conduct himself and how should we in the body respond? (Try chapters 10-13)

But the guts of the book are found in chapter 5:17-20. It is perhaps the most succinct statement of what God did for us and what our job is as a result. Love these verses!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Is Second Corinthians the most underrated book? If not, which one would you say?

Study Tip: Matthew

By Paula Wiseman

The gospel of Matthew contains some of the most familiar passages in the New Testament- the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer and the Great Commission – and that helps make it great choice for study.

There are two major themes running through Matthew.

Jesus is the long-awaited King – Matthew's audience was Jewish, and he intended to show that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. In fact, tags about the prophets appear throughout the book. His genealogy was royal, His decrees were majestic, and He introduced us to "the kingdom of heaven".

Jesus faced stiff opposition – Beginning with the early threats on His life by Herod, the political ruler, through His eventual trial at the hands of the religious authorities, the King was rejected by all segments of society. Many times Jesus' words ran counter to the conventional wisdom of His day or to the long-held traditional interpretations.

If you are a list-maker, here are some suggestions.

What does Jesus say?
What is the response to His teaching?
What do others say about Him?
What is the kingdom of heaven like?

In some ways, I think it's harder to study the Gospels than some of the other books, maybe because these are the words and actions of Christ Himself. Usually with the Gospels, I tend to study by "episode" rather than take an entire chapter. I like to soak it in and let it percolate before moving on to the next thing.

What do like about the gospel of Matthew?

Study Tip: Fulfilling Your Commission

By Paula Wiseman

The last couple of weeks, we've looked at the value of sharing the insights you gain from your study. Last Tuesday, we discussed our own take-aways -actions we may need to take or attitudes that may need a tweak.

These two mesh together to help us carry out that "second greatest commandment" Jesus affirms in Luke 10:27- the "love your neighbor as yourself" part. Christianity, at its core, is about relationship. God seeks us for a relationship with Him, and as a natural extension, He expects us to build relationships with others. More specifically, He expects us to love others the way He does.

Bible study can help you to carry out this directive in several ways.

First, Scripture reveals the human condition. We're all fallen and failed, and in desperate need of God's grace. It's just that some of us have accepted that gift. Focused time in God's word will root out self-righteousness and grow our compassion for those around us.

Second, Scripture describes human nature. In the Proverbs, the Gospels and the Old Testament stories, we see a cast of characters that we immediately recognize. We regularly come in contact with (or maybe we are) fools, young hotshots, innocents who can't seem to get a break, schemers, women who take on too much and countless others. God's word gives us a deeper understanding of these folks and often gives examples on how to respond to them.

Third, Scripture addresses human circumstances. Loss, poverty, frustration, sickness, anxiety, good fortune, uncertainty, triumph, tragedy and many others get their share of ink in Scripture. Regular study helps us find comfort and context for ourselves and for others.

As you study be aware of passages or principles that will help you minister to others, and so fulfill your personal great commission.

Baby and Believers

By Paula Wiseman

This weekend we got stop and visit my nephew and his wife… and their new baby. What a cutie! My kids- my son especially- were enthralled with her. And with good reason.

Babies are miracles. We celebrate them. We shower them with gifts. We mark each milestone as they grow. But did you ever wonder why we don’t do that with baby believers?

We rejoice when someone is born again, but most times, by next week’s church service, we expect them to act like fully matured seminary-ready “adult” believers. Granted, the individual has a lot of responsibility for his or her own growth, but so do we as their family.

Do we feed them well when they are hungry?
Do we love on them, and comfort them?
Do we pick them up when they fall?
Do we make sure they rest?
Do we let them “help” even when it means we’ll do more work?
Do we watch them for any signs of illness, and get them to see the Great Physician?
Do we see to it they get their vaccinations to protect them from getting sick later?

It’s labor intensive, but I suspect someone (probably not the same someone) did all those things for us to get us where we are.

Do you think we often leave new believers to grow themselves up? Who has the greater responsibility for growth- the new believer or the body?

Want more?
Underappreciated Virtues: Maturity