Posts the highlight our mission as believers
Study Tip: Second Corinthians
- The Father of mercies
- The God of all comfort
- He comforts us in our tribulation
- 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)
Study Tip: Matthew
- What does Jesus say?
- What is the response to His teaching?
- What do others say about Him?
- What is the kingdom of heaven like?
Study Tip: Fulfilling Your Commission
Baby and Believers
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
Service With a Smile
In Colossians 4:17, Paul sends a message to a young man, Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it." That's a tremendous charge, worth a closer look.
Take heed– From the Greek, it means voluntarily giving careful attention to. Paul's tone is one of encouragement.
Ministry– This is the word deacon comes from and carries an idea of waiting tables. We tend to think "ministry" is only for preachers or other big-shot Christians, but any of us can serve others and attend to their needs.
Received– This one means to "to take near". On a recent trip to a theme park, I received some money for one of the kids. (His parents were afraid he might lose it.) I kept it close to me in a pocket, protecting it, acting as a steward for the money, parceling it out as the boy had need of it.
Fulfill– This is an interesting word and several of the usages carry the idea of filling in what's empty, whether it's a hole or a net or an empty house. Don't leave anything out or undone.
To paraphrase- When you accepted Christ, you agreed to serve Him as needed. Don't you see what a tremendous role you've been entrusted with? Run with it!
Sometimes, in our way of thinking, being a servant is not such a great draw. But if someone we love asks for a favor, we deliver without hesitation. Maybe that was the issue for Archippus. We know from the letter to Philemon, that he was the son of a comfortably wealthy man. Maybe the transition from having servants to being a servant was a little difficult.
Paul said back in chapter 3: "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." Ultimately, all our service is to Christ, not the individuals who receive the immediate benefits.
What is your ministry? Are you fulfilling it?
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