Life in Christ is Hard

Dave Ramsey once said, “If we want to be thin we should do what thin people do.”  In other words, if we really want to be healthy there is a price to pay, sacrifices that must be done.  Many of us who desire to be more healthy would love to wake up tomorrow morning having been completely transformed overnight, with no effort or sacrifice on our own part.  But that is not reality.  Transformation takes effort, time, and sacrifice, but many are not willing to pay the price.

After teaching the crowd what they must believe and give up to follow him, Jesus witnesses a mass exodus.  The cost of being his disciple was too great to many, so they left.  Why did Jesus not stop them from leaving?  What about the price was so high?  What is the difficulty in following Jesus?  What encouragement is there in is teachings for the true disciple of Christ?

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we study what John 6:60-71 teaches us about the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ and why that cost is too great for so many.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Pastor Mark

J.C. Ryle on the Effects of Evangelism

"Do you want to understand what the times require of all Christians in reference to the souls of others?  Listen, and I will tell you.  You live in times of great liberty and abounding opportunities of doing good.  Never were there so many open doors of usefulness, so many fields white to the harvest.  Mind that you use those open doors, and try to reap those fields.  Try to do a little good before you die.  Strive to be useful.  Determine that by God's help you will leave the world a better world in the day of your burial than it was in the day you were born.  Remember the souls of relatives, friends and companions; remember that God often works by weak instruments, and try with holy ingenuity to lead them to Christ.  The time is short, the sand is running out of the glass of this old world; then redeem the time, and endeavor not to go to heaven alone.  No doubt you cannot command success.  It is not certain that your efforts to do good will always do good to others but it is quite certain that they will always do good to yourself.  Exercise, exercise, is one grand secret of health, both for body and soul. 'He that waters shall be watered himself' (Prov. 11:25).  It is a deep and golden saying of our Master's, but seldom understood in its full meaning, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive' (Acts 20:35)" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

John Calvin on a False View of Scripture

"Those who, rejecting Scripture, imagine that they have some peculiar way of penetrating to God, are to be deemed not so much under the influence of error as madness.  For certain giddy men have lately appeared, who, while they make a great display of the superiority of the Spirit, reject all reading of the Scriptures themselves, and deride the simplicity of those who only delight in what they call the dead and deadly letter.  But I wish they would tell me what spirit it is whose inspiration raises them to such a sublime height that they dare despise the doctrine of Scripture as mean and childish.  If they answer that it is the Spirit of Christ, their confidence is exceedingly ridiculous; since they will, I presume, admit that the apostles and other believers in the primitive church were not illuminated by any other Spirit.  None of these thereby learned to despise the word of God, but everyone was imbued with greater reverence for it, as their writings most clearly testify.  And, indeed, it had been so foretold by the mouth of Isaiah.  For when he says, 'My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever,' he does not tie down the ancient church to external doctrine, as he were a mere teacher elements; he rather shows that, under the reign of Christ, the true and full felicity of the new church will consist in their being ruled not less by the word than by the Spirit of God.  Hence we infer that these miscreants are guilty of fearful sacrilege in tearing asunder what the prophet joins in indissoluble union.  Add to this, that Paul, though carried up even to the third heaven, ceased not to profit by the doctrine of the Law and the Prophets, while, in like manner, he exhorts Timothy, a teacher of singular excellence, to give attention to reading (1 Tim 4:13).  And the eulogium which he pronounces on Scripture well deserves to be remembered, i.e., that 'it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect' (2 Tim 3:16).  What an infatuation of the devil therefore, to fancy that Scripture, which conducts the sons of God to the final goal, is of transient and temporary use?  Again, I should like those people to tell me whether they have imbibed any other spirit than that which Christ promises to his disciples.  Though their madness is extreme, it will scarcely carry them the length of making this their boast.  But what kind of Spirit did our Savior promise to send?  One who should not speak of himself (John 16:13), but suggest and instill the truths which he himself had delivered through the word.  Hence the office of the Spirit promised to us, is not to form new and unheard-of revelations, or to win a new form of doctrine, by which we may be led away from the received doctrine of the gospel, but to seal on our minds the very doctrine which the gospel recommends" (Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin).

J.C. Ryle on the Narrow Way

"Do you want to understand what the times require of you in reference to your own soul?  Listen, and I will tell you.  You live in times of peculiar spiritual danger.  Never perhaps were there more traps and pitfalls in the way to heaven; never certainly were those traps so skillfully baited, and those pitfalls so ingeniously made.  Mind what you are about.  Look well to your goings.  Ponder the paths of your feet.  Take heed lest you come to eternal grief, and ruin your own soul.  Beware of practical infidelity under the specious name of free thought.  Beware of a helpless state of indecision about doctrinal truth under the plausible idea of not being party-spirited, and under the baneful influence of so-called liberality and charity.  Beware of frittering away life in wishing and meaning and hoping for the day of decision, until the door is shut, and you are given over to a dead conscience, and die without hope.  Awake to a sense of your danger.  Arise and give diligence to make your calling and election sure, whatever else you leave uncertain.  The kingdom of God is very near.  Christ the almighty Savior, Christ the sinner's Friend, Christ and eternal life, are ready for you if you will only come to Christ.  Arise and cast away excuses; this very day Christ calls you.  Wait not for company if you cannot have it; wait for nobody.  The times, I repeat, are desperately dangerous.  If only few are in the narrow way of life, resolve that by God's help you at any rate will be among the few" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

John Calvin on New Testament Proofs of the Credibility of Scripture

"When we proceed to the New Testament, how solid are the pillars by which its truth is supported!  Three evangelists give a narrative in a mean and humble style.  The proud often eye this simplicity with disdain, because they attend not to the principal head of doctrine; for from these they might easily infer that these evangelists treat of heavenly mysteries beyond the capacity of man.  Those who have the least particle of candor must be ashamed of their [fussiness] when they read the first chapter of Luke.  Even our Savior's discourses, of which a summary is given by these three evangelists, ought to prevent everyone from treating their writings with contempt.  John, again, fulminating in majesty, strikes down more powerfully than any thunderbolt the petulance of those who refuse to submit to the obedience of faith.  Let all those acute sensors, whose highest pleasure it is to banish a reverential regard of Scripture from their own and other men's hearts, come forward; let them read the Gospel of John, and, willing or unwilling, they will find a thousand sentences which will at least arouse them from their sloth; no, which will burn into their consciences as with a hot iron, and check their derision.  The same thing may be said of Peter and Paul, whose writings, though the greater part read them blindfold, exhibit a heavenly majesty, which in a manner binds and rivets every reader.  But one circumstance, sufficient of itself to exalt their doctrine above the world, is, that Matthew, who was formerly fixed down to his money-table, Peter and John who were employed with their little boats, being all rude and illiterate, had never learned in any human school that which they delivered to others.  Paul, moreover, who had not only been an avowed but a cruel and bloody foe, being changed into a new man, shows, by the sudden and unhoped-for change, that a heavenly power had compelled him to preach the doctrine which once he destroyed.  Let those dogs deny that the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, or, if not, let them refuse credit to the history, still the very circumstances proclaim that the Holy Spirit must have been the teacher of those who, formerly contemptible among the people, all of a sudden began to discourse so magnificently of heavenly mysteries" (John Calvin, Institutes of Christian Religion).

J.C. Ryle on Our View of Ministers of Christ

"What do you think of the minister of Christ? Strange as that question may seem, I verily believe that the kind of answer a man would give to it, if he speaks honestly, is very often a fair test of the state of his heart.

"Observe, I am not asking what you think of an idle, worldly, inconsistent clergyman, a sleeping watchman and faithless shepherd. No! I ask what you think of the faithful minister of Christ, who honestly exposes sin, and pricks your conscience? Mind how you answer that question. Too many nowadays like only those ministers who prophesy smooth things and let their sins alone, who flatter their pride and amuse their intellectual taste, but who never sound an alarm, and never tell them of a wrath to come. When Ahab saw Elijah, said, 'Have you found me, O mine enemy?' (1 Kings 21:20). When Micaiah was named to Ahab, he cried, 'I hate him because he doesn't prophesy good of me, but evil' (1 Kings 22:8). Alas, there are many like Ahab in the nineteenth century! They like a ministry which does not make them uncomfortable, and send them home ill at ease. How is it with you? Oh, believe me, he is the best friend who tells you the most truth! It is an evil sign in the church when Christ's witnesses are silenced, or persecuted, and men hate him who reproves (Isa. 29:21). It was a solemn saying of the prophet to Amazia, 'Now I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this, and not hearkened to my counsel' (2 Chron. 25:16)" (J.C. Ryle, Holiness).

God Seek People to Worship Him in Spirit and in Truth

I once had a conversation with a gentleman concerning the type and style of music played during the worship services.  He was very insistent upon a piano and organ playing only hymns found within the hymnal.  All other music or instruments were not appropriate to be used during a worship service.  The reasoning behind his thinking was that true worship of God can only be done through certain types of music and instruments.

Clearly this man misunderstood the meaning of the worship of God.  Worshiping Him is far greater and deeper than music, singing, and instruments.  In John 4:1-45 Jesus uses a conversation with a Samaritan woman living deeply in sin to teach her (and subsequently us) about true worship of God.

Join us this week as we read and study John 4:16-26, seeking where, how, and whom we are called to worship.  May Jesus’ words to this woman drive us to understand and experience the glory and greatness of the one whom we worship.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Mark

The Calling of the First Disciples

“I was speaking at an open-air crusade in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Billy Graham was to speak the next night and had arrived a day early. He came incognito and sat on the grass at the rear of the crowd. Because he was wearing a hat and dark glasses, no one recognized him.

“Directly in front of him sat an elderly gentleman who seemed to be listening intently to my presentation. When I invited people to come forward as an open sign of commitment, Billy decided to do a little personal evangelism. He tapped the man on the shoulder and asked, ‘Would you like to accept Christ? I'll be glad to walk down with you if you want to.’ The old man looked him up and down, thought it over for a moment, and then said, ‘Naw, I think I'll just wait till the big gun comes tomorrow night.’ Billy and I have had several good chuckles over that incident. Unfortunately, it underlines how, in the minds of many people, evangelism is the task of the ‘Big Guns,’ not the ‘little shots.’" (Lieghton Ford, Good News is for Sharing, 1977, David C. Cook Publishing Co., p. 67.)

Who are the “big guns” and the “little shots” when it comes to disciples of Christ?  Who is most qualified to speak the truth of the Gospel message to others?  We may be tempted to think that only a select few (pastors, Sunday School teachers, Bible Study leaders, etc.) are really qualified to speak the Gospel message clearly, but the reality of life as a disciple of Christ is that every disciple is a “big gun.”  This makes each of us a missionary, called to speak the truth of the Gospel to those around us.

Join us this week as we dive into John 1:35-51 where we will learn about the call of the first disciples and what this means for disciples of Christ today.  May we bathe Sunday morning in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself in a mighty way so that the Gospel of Christ is clearly understood by all.  For His glory!

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Pastor Mark

"Behold, the Lamb of God"

“A gathering of friends at an English estate nearly turned to tragedy when one of the children strayed into deep water. The gardener heard the cries for help, plunged in, and rescued the drowning child. That youngster's name was Winston Churchill. His grateful parents asked the gardener what they could do to reward him. He hesitated, then said, "I wish my son could go to college someday and become a doctor." "We'll see to it," Churchill's parents promised. 

“Years later, while Sir Winston was prime minister of England, he was stricken with pneumonia. The country's best physician was summoned. His name was Dr. Alexander Fleming, the man who discovered and developed penicillin. He was also the son of that gardener who had saved young Winston from drowning. Later Churchill remarked, "Rarely has one man owed his life twice to the same person." (Ron Hutchcraft, Wake Up Calls, Moody, 1990, p. 22.)

As Jesus approached him, John the Baptist declared in a voice for all to hear, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).  Jesus has redeemed the sinner.  He has taken away the sins of those who put their trust in Him, repent of their sins, and follow His commands.  To change the above words of Winston Churchill, “Never has one man owed his life for all eternity to the same person.”  And yet in Christ this truth is found.

Join us this week as we study John 1:29-34 in an attempt to understand the work of the Lamb of God in the lives of sinful humanity.  May the work of the Spirit be evident as we strive to understand our God and His call for our lives more deeply.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known!

The Word

The force of gravity is very straightforward.  If you drop an object from any height it will fall to the ground.  But by looking at the elements which make up the force of gravity (matter, space, time, mass, etc.) we begin to see the complexity of what just moments ago seemed so simple.

The first five verses of the gospel of John seem on the surface very simple, but each phrase is deeply spiritual and pushes us to learn more about our God.  John uses words such as “in the beginning” and “Word” and “light” and “darkness.”  And where these words come from and how John uses them to describe Jesus Christ drives us into a deeper relationship and understanding of Jesus Christ.  What moments ago seemed simple is revealed as complex and powerful.

Join us this week as we dig into God’s Word by reading and studying John 1:1-5.  I would encourage each of us to read through these verses, if not the whole first chapter in preparation for our time together.  May the Spirit guide us and may we grow in our faith and love in the Lord as we read His Word together.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Preach the Word

In college I was the backup to one of the best offensive linemen in our conference.  This meant that I was seldom given the opportunity to play in a game.  Yet, I had to prepare for each game with the same intensity as if I was starting.  Because of the violent nature of football the chances of injury were always great meaning that if the man I was backing up was hurt in the middle of a game I was called upon to take his place.  It could be a disaster if I wasn’t prepared at every moment to fulfill what I was called upon to perform.

The gospel message is so powerful and important that every disciple of Christ should be prepared to speak the gospel at any moment’s notice.  In 2 Timothy 4:1-5 the apostle Paul again stresses the power and importance of the gospel message and the reason for being prepared to speak the life-changing Word of God.

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we look to God’s Word for encouragement and conviction, heading and striving to live out His life-giving Word.  May we be prayerfully prepared to experience His Truth and leave willing to preach the Word whenever and wherever God calls.

Striving to know Christ and make him known.

Godlessness

For a number of years it was our family tradition in the Fall to drive to a friend’s farm and pick out pumpkins for decoration and carving.  There were generally three types of pumpkins: those which were already rotten and decaying, those which were healthy and ready to be picked, and those which appeared healthy but were rotten on the inside.  It was wise to avoid these later pumpkins because your hands could easily break through skin and cause them to fall apart.  The struggle was determining which pumpkins were playing the part of health and which were actually healthy.

As the pastor/elder of the church in Ephesus, Timothy encountered teachers who on the outside had the appearance of health and Godly truth, but on the inside were rotten to the core.  Paul warns Timothy to keep an eye out for such deceivers.  In 2 Timothy 3:1-9 he provides a list of “fruit” which can be used to identify those counterfeit Christian teachers in Timothy’s midst.  But Paul also provides an encouragement for Timothy.

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community as God’s Word teaches us how to recognize those who have a healthy façade but are rotten in the heart, those who seem to be teaching right doctrine, but teach falsehoods meant to deceive and lead people astray from the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

May we be prayerfully prepared to hear God’s Word, worship Him together as His people, and encounter the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and hearts.

Striving to know Christ and make him known.

The Servant of God

Sign on door: “Gone out of business.  Didn’t know what our business was.”  (University Christian Church, NY, 1963).

The background story to the above statement must certainly be interesting.  It is difficult to run a business successfully when one does not know the business of the business (if you get my drift).

The same can be said for the church of God.  Though the body of Christ is far from a business, it is true that the church cannot be the church is it doesn’t know how to be the church.  In other words, everything done by the church must have a focus, a purpose, an end-goal.  This is far from the Purpose Driven Life made famous by Rick Warren.  This is the purpose driven life to which the church has been called by our Creator God.

In 2 Timothy 2:22-26 Paul once again encourages Timothy to flee sinfulness, pursue righteousness, and correct false teachers.  But the full purpose behind this is not to have Timothy’s or the church’s reputation held high.  The end game is far greater than any reputation of a man or group of believers.

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we look at God’s Word together, seeking the truth, and striving to give God the glory in all things.

Striving to know Christ and make him known.

The Word Cannot Be Bound

Recently, the Islamic State executed dozens of Christians on the shores of Libya.  But as horrific an event as it is, many people are unable to see beyond the futility of such an act.  ISIS is attempting to eradicate the Christian faith by killing and inducing fear.  It is the same action that the Jewish leaders took to silence Jesus by hanging him upon the cross.  It is the same action that Rome took in sending thousands of Christians to the arena to be torn to shreds by wild animals.  It is the same action that Communist China, both in the past and today, has taken when Christians are jailed, tortured, and killed for their faith.

Such action is futile because, though the people of God be jailed, tortured, and killed, the gospel message that makes them the people of God does not stop moving.  It is active and saving souls even in the midst of war and death.  The body may die and the mouth may no longer be able to speak the truth of the gospel message, but the Word of God cannot be stopped.

In 2 Timothy 2:8-9, Paul reminds Timothy that though Paul is bound by chains the Word of God cannot and will not be bound.  How is this encouraging to us as His people?  How does this affect my life as a disciple of Christ?  Should I fear the persecution of God’s people? 

Join us this week as we study God’s Word, encouraging one another, and growing in our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ.

Striving to know Christ and make him known.

The Strength and Value of the Gospel

“A story is told of a man who loved old books. He met an acquaintance who had just thrown away a Bible that had been stored in the attic of his ancestral home for generations. ‘I couldn't read it,’ the friend explained. ‘Somebody named Guten-something had printed it.’ ‘Not Gutenberg!’ the book lover exclaimed in horror. ‘That Bible was one of the first books ever printed. Why, a copy just sold for over two million dollars!’ His friend was unimpressed. ‘Mine wouldn't have brought a dollar. Some fellow named Martin Luther had scribbled all over it in German’

(Our Daily Bread, June 7, 1994).

Many times the values of something is in the eye of the beholder.  One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, as the old saying goes.  But when it comes to the gospel message, those who have a relationship with the Creator understand it’s true value.  It’s strength to affect a life is beyond measure and it’s value is beyond comprehension.  Those who do not know God intimately do not understand that in hearing the gospel message they are being introduced to a life-altering message.

What is the gospel?  How has the gospel affected us?  What strength lies in the gospel?  What are we do with the gospel once we hear it and believe?

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community as we look into what 2 Timothy 2:1-2 has to say about the gospel and our responsibility once we hear the Truth.

Striving to know Christ and make him known!

J.C. Ryle: To Have No Heart-Faith is to be Without Christ

There are disciples of Christ who refuse to judge whether those around them are true believers of Jesus Christ.  Their fear of hurting others, receiving backlash, or even severing friendships with such individuals prevents them from seeing the spiritual condition of so many, even within the walls of the church.  With "Who am I to judge!" as their mantra, a lack of understanding of the Word of God and a fear of man is revealed.

These words of J.C. Ryle are as true today as they were one hundred years ago.  Let them sink in and may the true church of Jesus Christ stand firmly on the foundation of Christ, speaking the truth of the gospel message, and calling everyone (including many within our own churches) to KNOW Christ with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength.

"A man is 'without Christ' when he has no heart-faith in Him as his Savior.  It is quite possible to know all about Christ, and yet not to put our trust in Him.  There are multitudes who know every article of the belief, and can tell you glibly that Christ was 'born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.'  They learned it at school.  They have it sticking fast in their memories.  But they make no practical use of their knowledge.  They put their trust in something which is not Christ.  They hope to go to heaven because they are moral and well-conducted, because they say their prayers and go to church, because they have been baptized and go the Lord's table.  But as to a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ - a real, intelligent confidence in Christ's blood and righteousness and intercession - they are things of which they know nothing at all.  And of all such people I can see but one true account.  They are 'without Christ.'

"I am aware that many do not admit the truth of what I have just said.  Some tell us that all baptized people are members of Christ by virtue of their baptism.  Others tell us that where there is a head knowledge we have no right to question a person's interest in Christ.  To these views I have only one plain answer.  The Bible forbids us to say that any man is joined to Christ until he believes.  Baptism is no proof that we are joined to Christ.  Simon Magus was baptized, and yet was distinctly told that he had 'no part or lot in this matter' (Acts 8:21).  Head-knowledge is no proof that we are joined to Christ.  The devils know Christ well enough, but have no portion in Him.  God knows, no doubt, who are His from all eternity.  But man knows nothing of anyone's justification until he believes.  The grand question is: 'Do we believe?'  It is written, 'He that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.'  'He that believes not shall be damned' (John 3:36; Mark 16:16).  If Bible words mean anything, to be without faith is to be 'without Christ'" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

Do Not Be Ashamed of the Gospel

In Matthew 26:69-75 we read the well-known passage of Peter’s denial of Jesus.  After Jesus was arrested, Peter followed him to the courtyard of the high priest.  Three times Peter was identified as a disciple of Jesus and three times he denied the charge.  Why would Peter, such a strong-willed and ardent disciple, do such a thing?  It could be that he was attempting to avoid the same fate as Christ.  It could be that the situation was so overwhelming to him that he didn’t know what to do but deny knowing Jesus.  Whatever the reason one thing is clear.  In that moment, Peter was ashamed to know Jesus and confess his allegiance to Him.

In 2 Timothy 1:8, Paul encourages Timothy to not be ashamed of the testimony that he has confessed.  In other words, do not be ashamed of the gospel in which you have believed and do not hesitate to share with others the truth of the gospel message.  No matter the consequences.

Join us this week as we look more deeply into why we should not be ashamed of the gospel message and what Paul’s own life teaches us about perseverance despite any persecution for our faith.  May we be prayerfully prepared to hear his word of truth which has the power to changes lives.

Neglecting the Gospel

“In St. Louis in 1984, a woman noticed a few bees buzzing around the attic of her home.  Since there were only a few, she made no effort to deal with them.  Over the summer the bees continued to fly in and out of the attic vent while the woman remained unconcerned, unaware of the growing city of bees.  The whole attic became a hive, and the ceiling of the second-floor bedroom finally caved in under the weight of hundreds of pounds of honey and thousands of angry bees.  While the woman escaped serious injury, she was unable to repair the damage of her accumulated neglect” (Robert T. Wenz).

Most of us are clearly aware that if we neglect a leak in our homes or a hole in the ceiling we will eventually pay the consequences, which usually are greater than the initial repair costs.  And yet many of us fall prey to the habit of neglecting our most valuable possession, the gospel message.  How do we fall into the dangerous position of gospel neglect?  Why is it so dangerous for us to neglect the gospel message?  What is so valuable about the gospel message?

As we gather this Sunday to worship our God and Creator may we be prayerfully prepared to hear the words of the Holy Spirit through God’s Word.  May we fight the tendency in our hearts and lives to neglect this vital message: the Gospel.  Join us this week in hearing the words of God to his people.

Church Values: Reaching the Lost

When I was young my family traveled to Mount Rushmore on a family vacation.  In a large crowd of people, I had been having the terrible habit of wandering from my parents.  Having been warned by them to stop wandering and to stay close to them I made every effort in my mind and body to not stray from their side.  Unfortunately, that didn’t last long.  As we came upon the sight of the four faces I was transfixed.  And where my parents turned into a store to browse I continued to walk forward.  It was a large number of steps of my little feet before I finally looked up to my parents, pointing at the mountain.  But the person next to me was not my mother.  I eventually found them in the gift shop and to make a long story short, didn’t leave their side for the rest of the trip.

The interesting thing about this moment in my life is that I didn’t even realize I was lost until I looked up.  So it is with the lost in this world we call home.  How does God’s Word define the lost?  What is our role in reaching the lost?  What is the point of reaching the lost?

As disciples of Christ, there are many around us who are lost and may not even know of their own condition.  Our prayer for us as a church is to glorify God by making disciples through reaching the lost.  Join us this week as we study God’s call for us as his people and may we be convicted, encouraged, and led to join the harvest of the lost around us.

A Call to Action

For many of us who are disciples of Christ the name Billy Graham is very familiar.  Though in recent years he has shied away from the limelight, his ministry has impacted the lives of many people throughout the world.  At the end of the Second World War, Billy Graham began his ministry of preaching the gospel message to millions, traveling from city to city, country to country.  He spoke of God’s grace and mercy and he called those in attendance to repentance of sin.  The kingdom of God truly expanded and grew through his ministry.

 

What is so special about Billy Graham?  We hear his name and immediately we think of stadiums filled with people, thousands coming forward to receive Christ or rededicate their lives to their Savior.  Just the name Billy Graham brings to mind the sense of man called by God to preach the Word to millions.

What is the difference between Billy Graham and the “normal” disciple of Christ?  Nothing.  Sure, Billy Graham was called to preach to millions.  Sure, Billy Graham was called to travel the world to speak to leaders of countries.  But Billy Graham still sins and is in need of the grace and mercy of God as much as everyone else in the world.  He is still human.

Every disciple of Christ is called to preach to everyone around them, a group which may only consist of a few people.  As disciples we are all called to preach the gospel, whether or name is Joe Smith or Billy Graham.  And in a real sense, every disciple of Christ is called to be a Billy Graham where they live.

Join us this week as we study the words of God through is servant James.  James 5:16-20 is a call for God’s people to action.  No more sitting by idly waiting for something to happen.  We are called to be proactive for the gospel, not just reactive.  What does this call look like?  How can we live out this call?  How can we be encouraged by God’s movement in “larger than life” figures like Billy Graham?

May we be prepared as the Spirit speaks to us and may our hearts be softened to His leading.