Be Bold, Not Fearful

“5-year old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper.  She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn't want to go in alone.  ‘It's dark in there and I'm scared.’  She asked again, and he persisted.  Finally she said, ‘It's OK--Jesus will be in there with you.’  Johnny walked hesitantly to the door and slowly opened it.  He peeked inside, saw it was dark, and started to leave when all at once an idea came, and he said: ‘Jesus, if you're in there, would you hand me that can of tomato soup?’"  (Charles Allen, Victory in the Valleys.)

It is natural for us to be fearful.  Noises in the dark that remain unseen, avoiding things our mind tells us will cause harm, and situations that force us out of our comfort zone such as standing on stage in front of a crowd.  We all have fears.  But when it comes to obeying the commands of Christ (love God, love others, and make and teach disciples) fears can overtake our desire to be bold for Christ.

In 2 Timothy 1:6-7, Paul encourages Timothy to be bold in his faith.  He also urges Timothy to use his God-given gifts with boldness, not fear.  “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).  What does this mean for us today?  How do we fight our natural fear of sharing our love for Christ?  What happens when we move through life with spiritual boldness?

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community as we strive to understand God’s Word and wrestle with these questions and more.  Come prayerfully prepared to hear the truth of the gospel message and how God uses his people for his glory.

Striving to know Christ and make him known,

Mark

J.C. Ryle: The True Church Loves to Please Christ

"If we love a person, we like to please him.  We are glad to consult his tastes and opinions, to act upon his advice and do the things which he approves.  We even deny ourselves to meet his wishes, abstain from things which we know he dislikes and learn things to which we are not naturally inclined, because we think it will give him pleasure.  Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!  The true Christian studies to please Him, by being holy both in body and spirit.  Show him anything in his daily practice that Christ hates, and he will give it up.  Show him anything that Christ delights in, and he will follow after it.  He does not murmur at Christ's requirements as being too strict and severe, as the children of the world do.  To him Christ's commandments are not grievous, and Christ's burden is light.  And why is all this?  Simply because he loves Him" (JC Ryle, Holiness).

J.C. Ryle: The True Church Loves to Read About Christ

"If we love a person, we like to read about him.  What intense pleasure a letter from an absent husband gives to a wife, or a letter from an absent son to his mother.  Others may see little worth notice in the letter.  They can scarcely take the trouble to read it through.  But those who love the writer see something in the letter which no one else can.  They carry it about with them as a treasure.  They read it over and over again.  Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!  The true Christian delights to read the Scriptures, because they tell him about his beloved Savior.  It is no wearisome task with him to read them.  He rarely needs reminding to take his Bible with him when he goes on a journey.  He cannot be happy without it.  And why is all this?  It is because the Scriptures testify of Him whom his soul loves, even Christ" (JC Ryle, Holiness).

A Life Centered on Christ

“God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves” (D.L. Moody).

In general the American culture as a whole is extremely full of itself.  Commercials on television cater to instant gratification and consumerism.  Movies focus on how to satisfy our own cravings.  We cannot even walk through a grocery store without being bombarded with ways to please our own desires.  In short, our culture trains us to have a life centered on us, a very dangerous focus given the eternal consequences of such a life.

This Sunday morning we will begin a series on 2 Timothy, exploring what God has to say about a life centered not on ourselves, but on Christ alone.  What difference does a life centered on Christ have in our daily lives?  How do we grow closer to Christ?  What do we need to do to help others in their daily spiritual life?

Join us this week at Elm Creek Community as we seek God’s truth and gospel message.  May the Spirit prepare us to hear and be sharpened by God’s Word.

Striving to make Christ known,

Mark

J.C. Ryle: The True Church Loves to Hear About Christ

"If we love a person, we like to hear about him.  We find a pleasure in listening to those who speak of him.  We feel an interest in any report which others make of him.  We are all attention when others talk about him, and mentioned with utter indifference, but our own hearts bound within us at the very sound of his name.  Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ.  The true Christian delights to hear something about his Master.  He likes those sermons best which are full of Christ.  He enjoys that society most in which people talk of the things which are Christ's.  I have read of an old Welsh believer, who used to walk several miles every Sunday to hear an English clergyman preach, though she did not understand a word of English.  She was asked why she did so.  She replied, that this clergyman named the name of Christ so often in his sermons, that it did her good.  She loved even the name of her Savior" (J.C. Ryle, Holiness).

J.C. Ryle: The True Church Loves to Think About Christ

"If we love a person, we like to think about him.  We do not need to be reminded of him.  We do not forget his name or his appearance or his character or his opinions or his tastes or his position or his occupation.  He comes up before our mind's eye many a time in the day.  Though perhaps far distant, he is often present in our thoughts.  Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!  Christ 'dwells in his heart,' and is thought of more or less every day (Eph. 3:17).  The true Christian does not need to be reminded that he has a crucified Master.  He often thinks of Him.  He never forgets that He has a day, a cause and a people, and that of His people he is one.  Affection is the real secret of a good memory in religion.  No worldly  man can think much about Christ, unless Christ is pressed upon his notice, because he has no affection for Him.  The true Christian has thoughts about Christ every day that he lives, for this one simple reason that he loves Him" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).