2018 Christmas Variety Show - Joy to the World!

Today, several of our children shared their Christmas Perspectives in word and song.  I hope you enjoy it!

The Church I Want to Attend

              “Clement was probably a Gentile and a Roman.  He seems to have been with Paul at Philippi in A.D. 57” (Philippians 4:3).  Many years later after the death of Paul and as the persecution in Rome commenced with vigor, Clement penned a letter to the church at Corinth that was experiencing quite a few problems due to a schism in the fellowship.  However, in the opening of the letter, Clement commends the incredible fellowship they once had before addressing the challenges they faced. 

               This commendation is incredible in its detailed affirmation of what a successful Christ-honoring church looks like.  I wanted to share this with you that you might be encouraged and convicted like I was when reading it the first time.

               “The church of God which sojourns at Rome, to the Church of God sojourning at Corinth, to them that are called and sanctified by the will of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from Almighty God through Jesus Christ, be multiplied.

               “Owing dear brethren, to the sudden and successive calamitous events which have happened to ourselves, we feel that we have been somewhat tardy in turning our attention to the points respecting which you consulted us; and especially to that shameful and detestable sedition, utterly abhorrent to the elect of God, which a few rash and self-confident persons have kindled to such a pitch of frenzy, that your venerable and illustrious name, worthy to be universally loved, has suffered grievous injury.  For who ever dwelt even for a short time among you, and did not find your faith to be as fruitful of virtue as it was firmly established?  Who did not admire the sobriety and moderation of your godliness in Christ? Who did not proclaim the magnificence of your habitual hospitality?  And who did not rejoice over your perfect and well-grounded knowledge?  For ye did all things without respect of persons, and walked in the commandments of God, being obedient to those who had the rule over you, and giving all fitting honour to the presbyters among you.  Ye enjoined [commanded, instructed] young men to be of a sober and serious mind; ye instructed your wives to do all things with a blameless, becoming, and pure conscience, loving their husbands as in duty bound; and ye taught them that, living in the rule of obedience, they should manage their household affairs becomingly, and be in every respect marked by discretion.

               “Moreover, ye were all distinguished by humility, and were in no respect puffed up with pride, but yielded obedience rather than extorted it (Ephesians 5:21 & 1 Peter 5:5), and were more willing to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).  Content with the provision which God had made for you, and carefully attending to His words, ye were inwardly filled with His doctrine, and His sufferings were before your eyes.  Thus a profound and abundant peace was given to you all, and ye had an insatiable desire for doing good, while a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit was upon you all.  Full of holy designs [plans, intentions, actions], ye did, with true earnestness of mind and a godly confidence, stretch forth your hands to God Almighty, beseeching Him to be merciful unto you, if ye had been guilty of any involuntary transgression.  Day and night ye were anxious for the whole brotherhood (1 Peter 2:17), that the number of God’s elect might be saved with mercy and a good conscience.  Ye were sincere and uncorrupted, and forgetful of injuries between one another.  Every kind of faction and schism was abominable in your sight.  Ye mourned over the transgressions of your neighbors: their deficiencies you deemed your own.  Ye never grudged any act of kindness, being “ready to every good work (Titus 3:1).”  Adorned by a thoroughly virtuous and religious life, ye did all things in the fear of God.  The commandments and ordinances of the Lord were written upon the tablets of your hearts (Proverbs 7:3).”

What an incredible description of a church family!  I pray that we will so represent Christ to other believers and to our community!

This excerpt was taken from Volume 1 of “The Church Fathers Ante-Nicene Fathers” Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, Published by Hendrickson Publishers Marketing, LLC., Peabody, MA  Fifth Printing, 2012.  ISBN 978-1-56563-082-6

CHERISHED

Listen as Pastor Rick shares with us a "valentine" from the Lord.

"Justice demanded a cross for our crimes.  Love demanded a Savior.  And so, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  This is the glorious message of the Gospel that I never want to escape!  I a wretched wicked sinner – with all the potential evil of history locked up in my heart just waiting to escape; I who wanted God less than I wanted my sins; I who was doomed for Hell and deserved it; I was whom He loved.  And because He loved me, He purposed that I would not go to Hell if He could help it.  And so, while I stood condemned, a cross was erected on Calvary from which dangled the lifeless body of God.  And the wrath of God was poured upon Himself instead of me. Justice was served.  Love was lived.  And the opportunity to be cherished was offered…to me. 

He sealed the transaction with His resurrection and with it offered an eternal marriage proposal to mankind.  Like the prophet Hosea of old, he called us from our whoring in sin to be cherished in His hands.  Rather than leave us to our justly deserved doom in the darkness he called us into the kingdom of light and promised to always be at our side in this life and the next.  He does not need us – but He WANTS us."

The Giving Series - 1 - To Whom Do You Belong?

Listen as Pastor Rick begins a long-promised series on giving.  We will work on this one throughout the year and we hope it will bless you and your family.  In this first sermon of the series, Pastor Rick explores the fundamental principle that should underlay all others when it comes to financial and life principles.  To whom do you belong?

Addicted to Service

Pastor Rick declares what Christians should be addicted to.  Are you an addict to selfless service?

Changes Coming....

Greetings to all my wonderful followers!  I appreciate your interest in my blog.  Changes are coming.  For quite some time, I have used the blog as the engine whereby our church could share news and audio from my sermons.  However, we now have a new church website.  You can reach it by typing www.wateroflifebmc.com, .net, or .org 

It is a work in progress, but very soon all the audio will be hosted there and I will return the blog to its intended purpose of "blogging."  :-)  Thanks for following!

Starving Christians

Listen as Pastor Rick examines the symptoms of starvation and prepares a diagnosis of our souls?  Are you a starving Christian?

CHRIST OUR CORNERSTONE!

Listen as Pastor Rick explores the idea of Christ our precious Cornerstone, the Cornerstone of the Christian church which is built of living stones: you and me!

Contagious 2 - Costs & Benefits

Pastor Rick shares the pros and cons of becoming a soul-winner/witness for the Gospel of Christ.  Are you in?

Choosing a Church

A Stone Soup Church

You remember the story: two weary travelers arrive in a town hoping to find sustenance and rest only to be snubbed by mean and stingy townspeople.  Not to be deterred, the clever fellows set about making a pot of “stone soup” beginning with a simple stone in boiling water.  By and by they manipulate the curiosity of the townspeople so that each member of the town eventually contributes some key ingredient.  In the end everyone, including the creative travelers, enjoys a bowl of the best soup they have ever tasted.  

This weekend, I shared this simple story with my congregation and applied it in the context of 1 Corithians 12 & 13.  In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul delineates a long list of “gifts” or talents held by the individuals of the church.  He even goes so far as to prioritize them.  But, at the end of the chapter, he says, “and yet I show unto you a more excellent way.”  What follows is 1 Corinthians chapter 13 which has been called the crown jewel of the New Testament, also known as the “Love Chapter.”  

Here’s how the two ideas came together: our churches should be soup pots with a soup base made from the stone of love.  Without love, people will not be drawn together to share what they possess in order to make something spectacular.  However, once genuine, sacrificial, Christ-like, servant love is added to the pot, something grand will be permitted to happen.  Whether others are drawn by curiosity, contempt, or conviction, when they experience genuine caring and love, they will often want to be a part of this “bigger something” beyond themselves.

At that point they will have the opportunity to surrender themselves to God and begin to contribute in word and work to the overall good of the “stew.”  When all of the gifts and talents of individuals are freely given in the context of Christ-like love, a church can “boil along” quite merrily and leave a good taste behind for a change!

How about you?  Are you helping to make your church a “Stone Soup Church?”

"Good" Samaritan?

     A few days ago I failed to set my alarm properly which resulted in missing my early-morning ride to work.  However, on my resulting drive to work, I found out why.  As I prayed in my car, I began to wrestle with the idea of who we want in our church. 

     Our church like many others has been attended from time-to-time by people who don’t quite fit the cookie-cutter image of a “Christian” or "typical" church attendee.  Our church is attended by people from every economic station and class.  Some people might be put-off by people who seem to be of greater material or spiritual need.  I had to honestly pray this matter through with God to ensure that I was viewing people as Christ does. 

     I must confess that before this prayer session I would rather have reached doctors and lawyers and other “successful” people: a nice “white-collar church.”  However, I felt very convicted about this mentality.  Jesus Christ came to those who needed Him…to those who needed the touch of the Master Physician.  Who are we to do any less?  How can we turn away from the man, woman, or child lying by life’s roadside who has been kicked and beaten by circumstances and background, abused, and robbed of all dignity, respect, and hope?  Dare we pass by on the other side of the road? (Luke 10:25-36)

     We must pause in spite of the danger that we might be robbed ourselves, in spite of being sullied by the dirt of their lives or blood of their wounds.  We must pick them up, bandage them, and love them with abandon with no expectation of anything in return.  We must have compassion and love as Christ loves: Who died and gave Himself for us.

     And so I prayed today, “Lord, send us the people who need you!  Let our paths cross the paths of those who desperately need to know Your peace and need Your mighty power in their lives.  Let our church be a church for the disillusioned, downtrodden, and broken-hearted!  Don’t bring us people who will harden their hearts, worship other gods, or refuse to repent and be redeemed.  Send us those in need of compassion and ready for the cross.” 

     As I prayed, I wept at this idea: How many Christians and churches abort new babes in Christ?  What about the broken souls who are ready to receive the touch of Christ and instead are turned away, given the cold shoulder, referred to a program, or are lost simply because we do not have the eyes to see, ears to hear, or hearts to have compassion?  With our lives and conduct are we turning souls away from the cross or thwarting the work of the Holy Spirit in our community?  I was heavily burdened by this idea.  I do not want to be one who aborts babes in Christ!

     Instead I want to lead a crowd of “crown flingers.”  What?!  That’s right!  I want to reach heaven someday and when we gather before Him, I don’t want my crown to be the only one clattering to the ground as I prostrate myself before the throne of Christ!  I want a whole pile of crowns falling thick and fast from souls who were rescued from the burning by our church: souls who rejoice with us because we had the compassion of Christ and the stamina of the Holy Spirit to bear fruit unto the Gospel of Christ and bring newborn Christians into the Kingdom!

     This is my heartbeat…is it yours?