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12.18.2009
12.13.2009
12.11.2009
12.06.2009
Prayer Request
As Millie and Nichole stated in their e-mails, Nichole really needs our prayers right now. She has pain and medical issues with her body. For some reason, the doctors do not know what is wrong with her. Nichole will be going to her doctor again this week for more tests.
Matthew 9:27-30
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"
When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"
"Yes, Lord," they replied.
Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; and their sight was restored.
Matthew 9:27-30
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"
When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"
"Yes, Lord," they replied.
Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; and their sight was restored.
I hope you find this as encouraging as I do:
But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day.
We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-11
We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-11
11.21.2009
11.12.2009
Salvation and Sanctification
Celeste and I are so thankful for and proud of all of you for wrestling with these deep and important topics with us. Salvation and sanctification are big words! So far, we have defined salvation as accepting Jesus as your personal lord and savior and we have thought of sanctification as the process of becoming like Jesus. We are continuing to learn and grow together in our understanding of these concepts.
Last night, we arrived at a unique place in our discussion of the truths from the Gospel of Wholeness. Truths 1, 2, and 3 all focus on our human sin and brokenness and truth 4 brings us to the point in the story where we recognize that we (as humans) are not the solution--Jesus is. So, truth 4 is turning the corner in the sense that we move away from the problem (sin) and towards the solution (walking with Jesus).
Truth 4 highlighted how the same way that we receive Christ (or salvation) is the same way that we become like Christ (or achieve sanctification). Colossians 2:6 and 7 are our key verses:
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
We talked through how salvation happens--through God choosing us and showing us grace, among other things. We discussed how it is also through God choosing us and drawing us to Himself and showing us grace (among other things) that cause us to become more like Jesus. This is the point in the truths where our focus shifts from recognizing human sin and brokenness to recognizing how we need Jesus. We have emphasized this in our previous series on the Holy Spirit and spiritual warfare, but again we see that it is only through relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit that we are changed.
We know that this is somewhat challenging and maybe even a new way of thinking about sanctification. We hope that as we continue to walk out the rest of the truths (focusing on supernatural exchanges, forgiveness, confession, etc) that this will start to make more sense. The materials last night showed us that it isn't through human effort or striving that will bring wholeness to our lives, but rather is this divine and supernatural movement of God in our lives. This for sure doesn't get us off the hook (as some of you pointed out)! We have a role to play in this relationship with God.
This discussion reminds me of Ezekiel 36: 26-27: I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Please post comments/questions/confusion!! Although, (maybe this goes without saying) please do this in a respectful and loving way. It is very much okay if we disagree, but we want to learn together how to do that in a way that builds each of us up. So, please be sensitive and aware as you type. We want this to be safe place for everyone to share!! Also, we are hoping to really connect in meaningful ways and have a true dialogue, so we don't just want to talk at one another, but rather to one another!
Last night, we arrived at a unique place in our discussion of the truths from the Gospel of Wholeness. Truths 1, 2, and 3 all focus on our human sin and brokenness and truth 4 brings us to the point in the story where we recognize that we (as humans) are not the solution--Jesus is. So, truth 4 is turning the corner in the sense that we move away from the problem (sin) and towards the solution (walking with Jesus).
Truth 4 highlighted how the same way that we receive Christ (or salvation) is the same way that we become like Christ (or achieve sanctification). Colossians 2:6 and 7 are our key verses:
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
We talked through how salvation happens--through God choosing us and showing us grace, among other things. We discussed how it is also through God choosing us and drawing us to Himself and showing us grace (among other things) that cause us to become more like Jesus. This is the point in the truths where our focus shifts from recognizing human sin and brokenness to recognizing how we need Jesus. We have emphasized this in our previous series on the Holy Spirit and spiritual warfare, but again we see that it is only through relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit that we are changed.
We know that this is somewhat challenging and maybe even a new way of thinking about sanctification. We hope that as we continue to walk out the rest of the truths (focusing on supernatural exchanges, forgiveness, confession, etc) that this will start to make more sense. The materials last night showed us that it isn't through human effort or striving that will bring wholeness to our lives, but rather is this divine and supernatural movement of God in our lives. This for sure doesn't get us off the hook (as some of you pointed out)! We have a role to play in this relationship with God.
This discussion reminds me of Ezekiel 36: 26-27: I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Please post comments/questions/confusion!! Although, (maybe this goes without saying) please do this in a respectful and loving way. It is very much okay if we disagree, but we want to learn together how to do that in a way that builds each of us up. So, please be sensitive and aware as you type. We want this to be safe place for everyone to share!! Also, we are hoping to really connect in meaningful ways and have a true dialogue, so we don't just want to talk at one another, but rather to one another!
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