Big Idea: True joy comes when we make less of ourselves and make more of Christ.
Reflections Questions:
What makes community life challenging? What gets in the way of harmonious relationships?
What does conflict reveal about ourselves?
What “lens” does Paul call us to put on and see life through? How does this affect the way we see ourselves? each other?
When we look at Jesus’ life, why is there no room for boasting?
How can make less of ourselves and make more of Christ in our daily lives? What would this look like day to day? How can this lifestyle lead to greater joy?
Ed Stetzer, a missiologist I follow on Twitter, is in Taiwan right now and has some fascinating posts on contextualizing the gospel in Taiwan. I’m curious if the anyone especially Alifers had any thoughts on his initial perceptions.
Last summer, Wayne and Gail Chen visited our church a little more than a year ago to share about their calling to be missionaries to Papua New Guniea. Wayne gave us a stirring challenge to us as a congregation to take seriously the cause of the Great Commission. They are currently starting their lives as full time missionaries in the PNG. They have blogs both in english and chinese so feel free to check in and see what God is doing through them. They are missionaries that our church supports so please keep them in your prayers. Here is the latest update from Wayne: (more…)
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:5
Over the past couple of weeks the Lord has been impressing upon us the importance of our dependence on him. Our culture tells us not to depend on anyone, if we want something or we need to get something done do it ourselves, push through the difficult times and power through until the task is done. Our physical move from Virginia to Texas has been much like that, keep working until everything is packed. Keep driving until we reach the half way point between Va and Tx. Drive faster and longer until we reach TX. When all our stuff was delivered in Texas, keep working until it was all put in it’s place. (more…)
For some reason, I’ve been bumping into Chrysostrom a lot lately:
“He who is not angry when there is cause, sins. Unreasonable patience is the hotbed of many vices”
– John Chrysostom
I’ve been considering the implications of this quote, especially for highly repressed cultures. Anger turned inward is often virtuous in certain circles, but I’ve seen its fruit and its not tasty at all.
In Ephesians 4, we are called to put off falsehood and speak the truth in love since we are family. Paul assumes there will be anger in the midst of sinners and does not denounce it. Rather, “in your anger, do not sin”. Usually we think of the “blow up”, but not repression as sin. If we let it brew within, we are giving the devil a foothold in our lives. Scary thought.
The implications are great. Rather than repress anger and let it open doors to all sorts of unsavory attitudes and actions whether it’d all at once or over a period of time, let’s leverage it well to bring about holiness within ourselves and in our community.
This Fall, we will be starting a new sermon series by exploring the theme of “Joy” in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In addition, our home groups during the week will be unpacking and applying the texts as well. Join us this fall as we seek Christ as our ultimate joy no matter what the circumstances.
