Life Together https://www.gracecorning.org Tue, 19 Mar 2024 07:36:26 -0400 http://churchplantmedia.com/ "Grumbling: The Silent Saboteur of Joy" https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/-grumbling:-the-silent-saboteur-of-joy https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/-grumbling:-the-silent-saboteur-of-joy#comments Sun, 12 Nov 2023 18:38:50 -0500 https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/-grumbling:-the-silent-saboteur-of-joy In the hustle of our lives, it's easy to slip into the habit of grumbling and complaining. But did you know that this seemingly harmless act can have profound implications, as illustrated in Philippians 2:12-18?

In these verses, Paul urges believers to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, emphasizing that God works in us for His good pleasure. It's not about earning salvation but living it out in response to our faith. Paul zeroes in on a specific issue plaguing the Philippians: grumbling.

Grumbling might seem trivial, but it has a rich history in the Bible, notably seen in the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Their constant complaints led to consequences, highlighting the seriousness of this behavior.

Grumbling robs us of joy and faith. It substitutes thankfulness with discontent and replaces faith with doubt. Paul warns against this mindset, urging believers to do all things without grumbling or questioning. It's a call to live blamelessly and innocently, standing out as lights in a crooked and twisted generation.

Paul transforms the judgment pronounced on the Israelites into a blessing for believers. Instead of being labeled a twisted and crooked generation, we become blameless children of God. The lesson is clear: grumbling sabotages our joy and witness. It's a subtle thief that steals our contentment and hinders our testimony.

So, let's be vigilant. Next time the temptation to grumble arises, remember the call to live blamelessly in the midst of a complaining world. Choose joy over discontent and trust over doubt. In doing so, we not only honor God but also shine brightly as His blameless children in a world desperately in need of hope.

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In the hustle of our lives, it's easy to slip into the habit of grumbling and complaining. But did you know that this seemingly harmless act can have profound implications, as illustrated in Philippians 2:12-18?

In these verses, Paul urges believers to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, emphasizing that God works in us for His good pleasure. It's not about earning salvation but living it out in response to our faith. Paul zeroes in on a specific issue plaguing the Philippians: grumbling.

Grumbling might seem trivial, but it has a rich history in the Bible, notably seen in the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Their constant complaints led to consequences, highlighting the seriousness of this behavior.

Grumbling robs us of joy and faith. It substitutes thankfulness with discontent and replaces faith with doubt. Paul warns against this mindset, urging believers to do all things without grumbling or questioning. It's a call to live blamelessly and innocently, standing out as lights in a crooked and twisted generation.

Paul transforms the judgment pronounced on the Israelites into a blessing for believers. Instead of being labeled a twisted and crooked generation, we become blameless children of God. The lesson is clear: grumbling sabotages our joy and witness. It's a subtle thief that steals our contentment and hinders our testimony.

So, let's be vigilant. Next time the temptation to grumble arises, remember the call to live blamelessly in the midst of a complaining world. Choose joy over discontent and trust over doubt. In doing so, we not only honor God but also shine brightly as His blameless children in a world desperately in need of hope.

]]>
Wisdom for the Ages: Seeking Knowledge and Understanding in Proverbs https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/wisdom-for-the-ages-seeking-knowledge-and-understanding-in-proverbs https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/wisdom-for-the-ages-seeking-knowledge-and-understanding-in-proverbs#comments Fri, 21 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/wisdom-for-the-ages-seeking-knowledge-and-understanding-in-proverbs Are you in search of some wisdom and understanding? Well, look no further! According to Proverbs 2:1-22, all you need to do is receive the words of your elders and treasure up their commandments, and then voila! You'll understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Easy Peasey?

But hold on a second, it's not that easy. You also need to make your ear attentive to wisdom and incline your heart to understanding. And if that's not enough, you have to call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, seek it like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures. Whew! I'm already tired just thinking about it.

Rewards

When Godly Wisdom and Understanding residesin your heart, the rewards are worth it. With Wisdom and Understanding in your heart, it will be pleasant to your soul, and discretion will watch over you.

So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start seeking wisdom like it's the last hidden treasure on earth! And who knows, maybe you'll even find some humor along the way. After all, laughter is the best medicine, and I'm pretty sure it's mentioned somewhere in Proverbs too.

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Are you in search of some wisdom and understanding? Well, look no further! According to Proverbs 2:1-22, all you need to do is receive the words of your elders and treasure up their commandments, and then voila! You'll understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Easy Peasey?

But hold on a second, it's not that easy. You also need to make your ear attentive to wisdom and incline your heart to understanding. And if that's not enough, you have to call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, seek it like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures. Whew! I'm already tired just thinking about it.

Rewards

When Godly Wisdom and Understanding residesin your heart, the rewards are worth it. With Wisdom and Understanding in your heart, it will be pleasant to your soul, and discretion will watch over you.

So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start seeking wisdom like it's the last hidden treasure on earth! And who knows, maybe you'll even find some humor along the way. After all, laughter is the best medicine, and I'm pretty sure it's mentioned somewhere in Proverbs too.

]]>
From Shepherd to King: The Unlikely Rise of David in First Samuel 16 https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/-from-shepherd-to-king-the-unlikely-rise-of-david-in-first-samuel-16- https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/-from-shepherd-to-king-the-unlikely-rise-of-david-in-first-samuel-16-#comments Sun, 16 Apr 2023 18:00:00 -0400 https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/-from-shepherd-to-king-the-unlikely-rise-of-david-in-first-samuel-16- First Samuel chapter 16 is a fascinating tale of the prophet Samuel's search for the next king of Israel. The story starts with God asking Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint one of Jesse's sons as the new king. Samuel does as he's told and arrives in Bethlehem, where he's greeted by Jesse and his seven sons.

Samuel Seeks

As Samuel examines each son, he thinks to himself, "Surely, this is the one." But God keeps telling him, "Nope, not him." Samuel is starting to get frustrated, and he's getting tired of the whole process. Finally, after seeing all seven sons, Samuel turns to Jesse and asks, "Do you have any more sons?"

Jesse replies, "Well, there is one more, but he's just a shepherd. He's out in the fields tending the sheep."

Samuel says, "Bring him here."

And when David arrives, God tells Samuel, "This is the one. Anoint him as king."

Now, if you're like me, you're probably thinking, "Wait a minute, God. You're telling me that out of all of Jesse's sons, you picked the youngest, scrawniest, most insignificant one?" I mean, it's not exactly what you would call a "winning strategy."

But that's the thing about God. He doesn't always pick the biggest, strongest, or most impressive person for the job. He looks at the heart, and he sees something in David that the others don't have. And as we all know, David goes on to become one of the greatest kings in Israel's history.

What Have We Learned?

So, what can we learn from this story? Well, for one thing, we shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Just because someone looks like a long shot, that doesn't mean they can't do great things. And secondly, we should trust in God's plan, even when it doesn't make sense to us. After all, he's got a pretty good track record of picking winners.

In conclusion, First Samuel chapter 16 is a funny and inspiring tale of how God can use anyone to do great things. So, the next time you feel like you're not good enough, just remember David and his humble beginnings as a shepherd boy. Who knows, maybe you're the next David in the making!

]]>
First Samuel chapter 16 is a fascinating tale of the prophet Samuel's search for the next king of Israel. The story starts with God asking Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint one of Jesse's sons as the new king. Samuel does as he's told and arrives in Bethlehem, where he's greeted by Jesse and his seven sons.

Samuel Seeks

As Samuel examines each son, he thinks to himself, "Surely, this is the one." But God keeps telling him, "Nope, not him." Samuel is starting to get frustrated, and he's getting tired of the whole process. Finally, after seeing all seven sons, Samuel turns to Jesse and asks, "Do you have any more sons?"

Jesse replies, "Well, there is one more, but he's just a shepherd. He's out in the fields tending the sheep."

Samuel says, "Bring him here."

And when David arrives, God tells Samuel, "This is the one. Anoint him as king."

Now, if you're like me, you're probably thinking, "Wait a minute, God. You're telling me that out of all of Jesse's sons, you picked the youngest, scrawniest, most insignificant one?" I mean, it's not exactly what you would call a "winning strategy."

But that's the thing about God. He doesn't always pick the biggest, strongest, or most impressive person for the job. He looks at the heart, and he sees something in David that the others don't have. And as we all know, David goes on to become one of the greatest kings in Israel's history.

What Have We Learned?

So, what can we learn from this story? Well, for one thing, we shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Just because someone looks like a long shot, that doesn't mean they can't do great things. And secondly, we should trust in God's plan, even when it doesn't make sense to us. After all, he's got a pretty good track record of picking winners.

In conclusion, First Samuel chapter 16 is a funny and inspiring tale of how God can use anyone to do great things. So, the next time you feel like you're not good enough, just remember David and his humble beginnings as a shepherd boy. Who knows, maybe you're the next David in the making!

]]>
Thirsting For God https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/thirsting-for-god https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/thirsting-for-god#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/thirsting-for-god We live in a thirsty world. A popular song by Bruce Springsteen said, everybody’s got a hungry heart. Everybody’s got a thirsty heart too. Spiritual thirst is a universal human condition. We are born with a thirst for something that this world just can’t ever seem to quench. 

In John 7 Jesus goes to the Feast of Booths and calls on anyone who is thirsty to come to him for living water: “if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

John 7:37-38

Jesus is inviting those who thirst to come to him where he promises to give us living water. Not stale, stagnant water but running, living water that will then bubble out of us and become a source of living water to others who are thirsty. Jesus not only satisfies our thirst, he wants to use us as channels to quench other people’s thirst. Jesus is what we thirst for. God is what we thirst for. Eternal life is what we thirst for. Jesus spoke about water to the Samaritan woman at the well and said:

 “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Jesus says “come.” He says, choose. Aim your thirst at Jesus and ask him to quench your thirst. This takes getting alone with the Lord. Psalm 42 is a very personal psalm – it’s a man pouring out his heart to his God one on one. If we’re always surrounded by noise and distractions we will find it hard to drink deeply of the Lord. Choose your thirst means setting time aside to consistently get alone with God and drink. When you do…

  1. Be honest with God about your thirst

The psalmist isn’t spouting out some religious cliché that he knows God wants to hear. He really is thirsting for God. I can’t always say that and you probably can’t either. The Sprite ad campaign got one thing right: image is nothing. God isn’t interested in our image; He’s interested in our honesty. This is soul talk – My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and see the face of God? Maybe that’s not true of your soul, maybe it’s not true of mine, but God wants to hear where my soul and your soul is honestly. Be honest with God about your thirst or lack of thirst.

  1. Ask God to give you a greater thirst for Him

The psalmist goes back and forth between praying to God and talking to his soul. He opens with a prayer: as a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. He’s praying about his thirst. That’s a good place for us to start too. Only God can give us a thirst for Him. Ask God to increase your thirst for Him. 

  1. Choose to do things that will increase your thirst for God

I mentioned that the psalmist goes back and forth – sometimes talking to God and sometimes talking to his soul. When he sees that his soul is depressed (cast down) he then talks to his soul – Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

We can choose to direct our souls towards God and do things that will increase our thirst for God. It might mean turning off the TV, putting down the paper, slowing down the schedule. Directing our thirst will include simple things like meditating on God’s word, taking a walk outside with God, listening to a message or spending time with other believers who will encourage you in your relationship with Christ. The more we drink of the fountain of God, the thirstier for Him we become!

We need God. Desperately. 

 

Psalm 42

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

As the deer longs for streams of water,
    so I long for you, O God.
I thirst for God, the living God.
    When can I go and stand before him?
Day and night I have only tears for food,
    while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
    “Where is this God of yours?”

My heart is breaking
    as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
    leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
    amid the sound of a great celebration!

Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!

Now I am deeply discouraged,
    but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
    from the land of Mount Mizar.
I hear the tumult of the raging seas
    as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
    and through each night I sing his songs,
    praying to God who gives me life.

“O God my rock,” I cry,
    “Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
    oppressed by my enemies?”
10 Their taunts break my bones.
    They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”

11 Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!

 

Psalm 42 (NLT)

]]>
We live in a thirsty world. A popular song by Bruce Springsteen said, everybody’s got a hungry heart. Everybody’s got a thirsty heart too. Spiritual thirst is a universal human condition. We are born with a thirst for something that this world just can’t ever seem to quench. 

In John 7 Jesus goes to the Feast of Booths and calls on anyone who is thirsty to come to him for living water: “if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

John 7:37-38

Jesus is inviting those who thirst to come to him where he promises to give us living water. Not stale, stagnant water but running, living water that will then bubble out of us and become a source of living water to others who are thirsty. Jesus not only satisfies our thirst, he wants to use us as channels to quench other people’s thirst. Jesus is what we thirst for. God is what we thirst for. Eternal life is what we thirst for. Jesus spoke about water to the Samaritan woman at the well and said:

 “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Jesus says “come.” He says, choose. Aim your thirst at Jesus and ask him to quench your thirst. This takes getting alone with the Lord. Psalm 42 is a very personal psalm – it’s a man pouring out his heart to his God one on one. If we’re always surrounded by noise and distractions we will find it hard to drink deeply of the Lord. Choose your thirst means setting time aside to consistently get alone with God and drink. When you do…

  1. Be honest with God about your thirst

The psalmist isn’t spouting out some religious cliché that he knows God wants to hear. He really is thirsting for God. I can’t always say that and you probably can’t either. The Sprite ad campaign got one thing right: image is nothing. God isn’t interested in our image; He’s interested in our honesty. This is soul talk – My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and see the face of God? Maybe that’s not true of your soul, maybe it’s not true of mine, but God wants to hear where my soul and your soul is honestly. Be honest with God about your thirst or lack of thirst.

  1. Ask God to give you a greater thirst for Him

The psalmist goes back and forth between praying to God and talking to his soul. He opens with a prayer: as a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. He’s praying about his thirst. That’s a good place for us to start too. Only God can give us a thirst for Him. Ask God to increase your thirst for Him. 

  1. Choose to do things that will increase your thirst for God

I mentioned that the psalmist goes back and forth – sometimes talking to God and sometimes talking to his soul. When he sees that his soul is depressed (cast down) he then talks to his soul – Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

We can choose to direct our souls towards God and do things that will increase our thirst for God. It might mean turning off the TV, putting down the paper, slowing down the schedule. Directing our thirst will include simple things like meditating on God’s word, taking a walk outside with God, listening to a message or spending time with other believers who will encourage you in your relationship with Christ. The more we drink of the fountain of God, the thirstier for Him we become!

We need God. Desperately. 

 

Psalm 42

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

As the deer longs for streams of water,
    so I long for you, O God.
I thirst for God, the living God.
    When can I go and stand before him?
Day and night I have only tears for food,
    while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
    “Where is this God of yours?”

My heart is breaking
    as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
    leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
    amid the sound of a great celebration!

Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!

Now I am deeply discouraged,
    but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
    from the land of Mount Mizar.
I hear the tumult of the raging seas
    as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
    and through each night I sing his songs,
    praying to God who gives me life.

“O God my rock,” I cry,
    “Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
    oppressed by my enemies?”
10 Their taunts break my bones.
    They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”

11 Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!

 

Psalm 42 (NLT)

]]>
The Importance of Sound Doctrine https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/the-importance-of-sound-doctrine https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/the-importance-of-sound-doctrine#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/the-importance-of-sound-doctrine

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longeor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

The New International Version. (2011). (1 Ti 1:3–7)

_________________________________________ 

Five years before 1st Timothy was written, Paul knelt on a beach with the elders of Ephesian church to say goodbye to them for the last time. After charging them to pay careful attention to the flock, he warns them that after he leaves savage wolves will come in among them, not sparing the flock. Now five years later, it has come true, and Paul has left Timothy there with charge to confront false teachers and command them to stop teaching false doctrine. These teachers aren't just slightly off in some minor areas: they are heretics whose teaching had potential to divert followers away from the gospel. Nothing is more serious than that.

The danger of false doctrine

We need to recognize how dangerous false doctrine is. The Bible tells us that the only way for lost sinners to be saved is through an understanding and faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Saved means that rather than spending eternity separated from God and being punished for our sin in hell, we will spend eternity with God, as His beloved and adopted children. It is God who saves - saves through the message of the gospel.

What this means is that God has chosen to save sinful man through a body of doctrine -the message of the gospel -that has been entrusted to the church. False teaching swerves people away from that body of truth which is only way man can be saved. This is dangerous. False teachings lead people away from a biblical faith in Jesus Christ - apart from faith in Christ no one can be saved. The stakes are eternal.

One of the greatest responsibilities of a pastor is to guard the flock from false teaching. There is a bundle of truth that needs to be guarded - that's why Paul ends this letter with this sober charge:

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge" for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. (6:20-21)

I was reading about a road on a mountain in Bolivia called "the most dangerous road in the world". There is a biking company called "Gravity-Assisted Mountain Biking" that takes thrill seekers to top and they ride bikes down. Several bikers had died - the first being a woman who was complaining about her brakes all morning. She fell behind her group and was trying to catch up. Her group watched as she rode off the road right in front of them over an 800 foot cliff. On a ride like that, even a small swerve can be fatal!

Jesus said the road that leads to life is narrow - gospel of Jesus Christ as handed down by the apostles. Swerve from that - results are eternally fatal. Yet it seems there is a lack of concern for guarding the deposit.

A famous pastor, the late Robert Schuller, writes in one of his books, "To be born again means that we must be changed from a negative to a positive self-image--from inferiority to self-esteem ...". He goes on to say that this happens when we meet "the Ideal One" (Jesus) who receives us as his peer and treats us as an equal! As a result, the core of our life changes from shame to self-esteem and we can pray, "Our Father in heaven, honorable is our name"[1]

That is a blasphemous swerve! Amazingly, the book has endorsements from well known Christian leaders and theologians!

We need to guard sound doctrine, to love good doctrine - the same way we would love good brakes on a bike traveling down "the most dangerous road in the world".

The Contrast: What does it promote?

We don't know exactly what the Ephesians were teaching, but it had to do with myths and "endless genealogies". Probably teaching from the Old Testament - especially genealogies - that found hidden meaning and symbols and mysteries that supposedly unlocked deeper spirituality. These teachers and folks that followed them were thinking they were really going deeper and farther than Christians who were just believing the Bible for what says.

The supposed “deeper teachings” were spinning wheels in useless speculating and meaningless talk. Such talking and speculation diverts us from the work of God.

The goal: Love

"Desiring to be teachers of the law; without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions."

Paul has a goal in mind with this charge given to Timothy: a true and Christlike love.

The goal of sound doctrine is love. But notice that love includes commanding certain persons to stop teaching false doctrine. In other words, love will fight for important truth when necessary. Love doesn't fight over every doctrinal difference - that is proud and divisive. It recognizes big swerves that will take people over the side of a mountain and will fight, commanding them to stop.

Love isn't seeking to be liked, its wanting what's genuinely best for others.

The inner workings of love

Paul then goes on to identify where love comes from:

  • A pure heart
  • Good conscience
  • Sincere faith

The heretics were probably sincere men but dangerously misguided. So a sincere faith means holding to truth of scripture with a genuine, authentic faith that permeates the heart.

Conclusion

This is a solemn charge that is as true for us as it was for Timothy. We must guard against false teachers. We must cling to sound doctrine. That sound doctrine must be rigorously and graciously applied so that we grow in love. The charge is for us and we must take it seriously and seek to obey it.

By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. (2 Timothy 1:14)

 

Isaac Watts taught children to sing what is really a prayer:

Order my footsteps by the Word,

And make my heart sincere;

Let sin have no dominion, Lord

But keep my conscience clear.

 

Let's ask God for His power, the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to love sound doctrine, detect false teaching, and grow in love.

 

 

 

 

[1] Robert Schuller, Self-Esteem: The New Reformation [Word, 1982], pp. 68-69

 

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As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longeor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

The New International Version. (2011). (1 Ti 1:3–7)

_________________________________________ 

Five years before 1st Timothy was written, Paul knelt on a beach with the elders of Ephesian church to say goodbye to them for the last time. After charging them to pay careful attention to the flock, he warns them that after he leaves savage wolves will come in among them, not sparing the flock. Now five years later, it has come true, and Paul has left Timothy there with charge to confront false teachers and command them to stop teaching false doctrine. These teachers aren't just slightly off in some minor areas: they are heretics whose teaching had potential to divert followers away from the gospel. Nothing is more serious than that.

The danger of false doctrine

We need to recognize how dangerous false doctrine is. The Bible tells us that the only way for lost sinners to be saved is through an understanding and faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Saved means that rather than spending eternity separated from God and being punished for our sin in hell, we will spend eternity with God, as His beloved and adopted children. It is God who saves - saves through the message of the gospel.

What this means is that God has chosen to save sinful man through a body of doctrine -the message of the gospel -that has been entrusted to the church. False teaching swerves people away from that body of truth which is only way man can be saved. This is dangerous. False teachings lead people away from a biblical faith in Jesus Christ - apart from faith in Christ no one can be saved. The stakes are eternal.

One of the greatest responsibilities of a pastor is to guard the flock from false teaching. There is a bundle of truth that needs to be guarded - that's why Paul ends this letter with this sober charge:

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge" for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. (6:20-21)

I was reading about a road on a mountain in Bolivia called "the most dangerous road in the world". There is a biking company called "Gravity-Assisted Mountain Biking" that takes thrill seekers to top and they ride bikes down. Several bikers had died - the first being a woman who was complaining about her brakes all morning. She fell behind her group and was trying to catch up. Her group watched as she rode off the road right in front of them over an 800 foot cliff. On a ride like that, even a small swerve can be fatal!

Jesus said the road that leads to life is narrow - gospel of Jesus Christ as handed down by the apostles. Swerve from that - results are eternally fatal. Yet it seems there is a lack of concern for guarding the deposit.

A famous pastor, the late Robert Schuller, writes in one of his books, "To be born again means that we must be changed from a negative to a positive self-image--from inferiority to self-esteem ...". He goes on to say that this happens when we meet "the Ideal One" (Jesus) who receives us as his peer and treats us as an equal! As a result, the core of our life changes from shame to self-esteem and we can pray, "Our Father in heaven, honorable is our name"[1]

That is a blasphemous swerve! Amazingly, the book has endorsements from well known Christian leaders and theologians!

We need to guard sound doctrine, to love good doctrine - the same way we would love good brakes on a bike traveling down "the most dangerous road in the world".

The Contrast: What does it promote?

We don't know exactly what the Ephesians were teaching, but it had to do with myths and "endless genealogies". Probably teaching from the Old Testament - especially genealogies - that found hidden meaning and symbols and mysteries that supposedly unlocked deeper spirituality. These teachers and folks that followed them were thinking they were really going deeper and farther than Christians who were just believing the Bible for what says.

The supposed “deeper teachings” were spinning wheels in useless speculating and meaningless talk. Such talking and speculation diverts us from the work of God.

The goal: Love

"Desiring to be teachers of the law; without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions."

Paul has a goal in mind with this charge given to Timothy: a true and Christlike love.

The goal of sound doctrine is love. But notice that love includes commanding certain persons to stop teaching false doctrine. In other words, love will fight for important truth when necessary. Love doesn't fight over every doctrinal difference - that is proud and divisive. It recognizes big swerves that will take people over the side of a mountain and will fight, commanding them to stop.

Love isn't seeking to be liked, its wanting what's genuinely best for others.

The inner workings of love

Paul then goes on to identify where love comes from:

  • A pure heart
  • Good conscience
  • Sincere faith

The heretics were probably sincere men but dangerously misguided. So a sincere faith means holding to truth of scripture with a genuine, authentic faith that permeates the heart.

Conclusion

This is a solemn charge that is as true for us as it was for Timothy. We must guard against false teachers. We must cling to sound doctrine. That sound doctrine must be rigorously and graciously applied so that we grow in love. The charge is for us and we must take it seriously and seek to obey it.

By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. (2 Timothy 1:14)

 

Isaac Watts taught children to sing what is really a prayer:

Order my footsteps by the Word,

And make my heart sincere;

Let sin have no dominion, Lord

But keep my conscience clear.

 

Let's ask God for His power, the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to love sound doctrine, detect false teaching, and grow in love.

 

 

 

 

[1] Robert Schuller, Self-Esteem: The New Reformation [Word, 1982], pp. 68-69

 

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The Wonder of God's Overflowing Grace https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/the-wonder-of-gods-overflowing-grace https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/the-wonder-of-gods-overflowing-grace#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/the-wonder-of-gods-overflowing-grace The Wonder of God's Overflowing Grace

1 Timothy 1:12-17

Paul opens with a charge to Timothy to confront certain people that are spreading false teaching. Paul now looks back in time twenty years to his own salvation event.

Twenty years after he first met Jesus Christ on road to Damascus, Paul has not lost the wonder of the cross or his salvation. He begins his testimony with heartfelt thanks to Jesus Christ and ends with a hymn-like doxology.

To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul is writing this testimony as a clear testimony of what the true gospel. But this is no cold academic presentation of theological truths. It is sound doctrine on fire with wonder and amazement at God's overflowing grace in Jesus Christ.

We are to hold to the gospel. Guard the gospel. Love sound doctrine. We also should never lose the wonder of the glorious gospel. The wonder of God's overflowing grace. Hold to this truth and never lose the wonder.

The gospel is Christ Jesus. Therefore the church and our message must always and truly be centered on the Person of Jesus Christ. He is the gospel. Outside of the Savior, there is no salvation.

Christ Jesus must always be at the center of all we say and do as His church. We need to be on guard that we don't drift from Christ Jesus as our center by focusing on other issues (issues that may be good) but are not based on the centrality of Christ Jesus. 

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...

That is the gospel in one line. It is both doctrinal truth and staggering enough to fill heart with wonder: At a real point in history, Jesus came into the world to live and die to save lost sinners. That is our message - everything else we teach and believe flows from that. That is the nail we will hammer again and again and again.

When our souls grow dull to Him and hunger for other things - rather than chase other things, we should pray May I never lose the wonder of the cross. May I see it like the first time, standing as a sinner lost.

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The Wonder of God's Overflowing Grace

1 Timothy 1:12-17

Paul opens with a charge to Timothy to confront certain people that are spreading false teaching. Paul now looks back in time twenty years to his own salvation event.

Twenty years after he first met Jesus Christ on road to Damascus, Paul has not lost the wonder of the cross or his salvation. He begins his testimony with heartfelt thanks to Jesus Christ and ends with a hymn-like doxology.

To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul is writing this testimony as a clear testimony of what the true gospel. But this is no cold academic presentation of theological truths. It is sound doctrine on fire with wonder and amazement at God's overflowing grace in Jesus Christ.

We are to hold to the gospel. Guard the gospel. Love sound doctrine. We also should never lose the wonder of the glorious gospel. The wonder of God's overflowing grace. Hold to this truth and never lose the wonder.

The gospel is Christ Jesus. Therefore the church and our message must always and truly be centered on the Person of Jesus Christ. He is the gospel. Outside of the Savior, there is no salvation.

Christ Jesus must always be at the center of all we say and do as His church. We need to be on guard that we don't drift from Christ Jesus as our center by focusing on other issues (issues that may be good) but are not based on the centrality of Christ Jesus. 

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...

That is the gospel in one line. It is both doctrinal truth and staggering enough to fill heart with wonder: At a real point in history, Jesus came into the world to live and die to save lost sinners. That is our message - everything else we teach and believe flows from that. That is the nail we will hammer again and again and again.

When our souls grow dull to Him and hunger for other things - rather than chase other things, we should pray May I never lose the wonder of the cross. May I see it like the first time, standing as a sinner lost.

]]>
Resolving Conflict https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/resolving-conflict https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/resolving-conflict#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/resolving-conflict Recently a message from James 4 dealt with conflict in our lives. None of us are exempt from conflict and God can use it to help us grow and work through important things, but how we handle conflict is extremely important. 

I wanted to pass this article by Carey Nieuwhof on to you. It's got some helpful points for us to keep in mind when conflict comes a-knocking. https://careynieuwhof.com/7-healthy-ways-resolve-conflict/

If you want to listen to the message, you can listen to it here https://www.gracecorning.org/…/getting-to-the-heart-of-conf…

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Recently a message from James 4 dealt with conflict in our lives. None of us are exempt from conflict and God can use it to help us grow and work through important things, but how we handle conflict is extremely important. 

I wanted to pass this article by Carey Nieuwhof on to you. It's got some helpful points for us to keep in mind when conflict comes a-knocking. https://careynieuwhof.com/7-healthy-ways-resolve-conflict/

If you want to listen to the message, you can listen to it here https://www.gracecorning.org/…/getting-to-the-heart-of-conf…

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Book Recommendation: So Many Mountains...Which Ones To Climb? https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/https--tinyurlcom-yd9pv3fr https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/https--tinyurlcom-yd9pv3fr#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/https--tinyurlcom-yd9pv3fr My friend Aron Osborne has recently published a book called "So Many Mountains...Which Ones To Climb? What Really Matters In Church Life" and I am really enjoying it. Aron brings a well-grounded, well-written, and humble look at the issues Christians should hold tightly to as of first importance and what we should graciously hold as of secondary importance. Check it out!

B096E03B-CCC1-4671-82F3-63ACDA129801
https://tinyurl.com/yd9pv3fr

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My friend Aron Osborne has recently published a book called "So Many Mountains...Which Ones To Climb? What Really Matters In Church Life" and I am really enjoying it. Aron brings a well-grounded, well-written, and humble look at the issues Christians should hold tightly to as of first importance and what we should graciously hold as of secondary importance. Check it out!

B096E03B-CCC1-4671-82F3-63ACDA129801
https://tinyurl.com/yd9pv3fr

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Pray With Boldness and Expectancy https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/pray-with-boldness-and-expectancy- https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/pray-with-boldness-and-expectancy-#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/pray-with-boldness-and-expectancy- Pray with boldness and expectancy 

-Pastor Allen Snapp

 

Acts 4:23–24,31 (ESV)

 

23 When they [Peter and John] were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, ... 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 

 

Notice that God answers their prayers with a great evidence of His power - He rocks the house. They didn't even ask for that - it was just God showing Himself to be powerful in the face of puny men that were opposing the advance of the good news of Jesus Christ. It gives them the boldness to speak word of God without fear - that is what they asked. But the best answer of all is that He gives them Himself - He fills them with His Spirit.

 

Whatever it is, it is a good thing to want to see God's hand move in our lives. It's a good thing! We can believe great things of God, but we also have the privilege to ask great things of God.

 

In book of Acts we see that the church in its earliest days was also a church that prayed. They were in prayer together when the Holy Spirit descended on them in upper room. After Peter preaches his first message and 3000 people were saved (not bad first attempt!), among other things they "devoted themselves to...prayer." God was moving powerfully - and those first disciples were praying powerfully!

 

If the church loses a strong and vibrant faith that God answers prayer, then prayer becomes a nice religious activity, and prayer meetings become the sleepiest meetings on the church calendar!

 

God always answers the prayers of His people! Always! That doesn't mean He always answers them in the way we ask, or even the way we want, but never does He neglect our prayers and leave them unanswered. Many times in my life I have lifted prayers for a situation to God with hope of certain results only to see God answer those prayers in very different ways than expected, but still knowing a distinct sense of His sovereign hand answering. Often I can see that His way was better, sometimes I can't. But rest assured,His way is best.

 

If you are a Christian, it is important that you pray with confidence that God hears and answers your heartfelt prayers. He answers them in the way that is best for us and for the advance of His gospel.

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Pray with boldness and expectancy 

-Pastor Allen Snapp

 

Acts 4:23–24,31 (ESV)

 

23 When they [Peter and John] were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, ... 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 

 

Notice that God answers their prayers with a great evidence of His power - He rocks the house. They didn't even ask for that - it was just God showing Himself to be powerful in the face of puny men that were opposing the advance of the good news of Jesus Christ. It gives them the boldness to speak word of God without fear - that is what they asked. But the best answer of all is that He gives them Himself - He fills them with His Spirit.

 

Whatever it is, it is a good thing to want to see God's hand move in our lives. It's a good thing! We can believe great things of God, but we also have the privilege to ask great things of God.

 

In book of Acts we see that the church in its earliest days was also a church that prayed. They were in prayer together when the Holy Spirit descended on them in upper room. After Peter preaches his first message and 3000 people were saved (not bad first attempt!), among other things they "devoted themselves to...prayer." God was moving powerfully - and those first disciples were praying powerfully!

 

If the church loses a strong and vibrant faith that God answers prayer, then prayer becomes a nice religious activity, and prayer meetings become the sleepiest meetings on the church calendar!

 

God always answers the prayers of His people! Always! That doesn't mean He always answers them in the way we ask, or even the way we want, but never does He neglect our prayers and leave them unanswered. Many times in my life I have lifted prayers for a situation to God with hope of certain results only to see God answer those prayers in very different ways than expected, but still knowing a distinct sense of His sovereign hand answering. Often I can see that His way was better, sometimes I can't. But rest assured,His way is best.

 

If you are a Christian, it is important that you pray with confidence that God hears and answers your heartfelt prayers. He answers them in the way that is best for us and for the advance of His gospel.

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Welcoming the Outsider https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/180805-welcoming-the-outsider https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/180805-welcoming-the-outsider#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2020 14:00:00 -0400 https://www.gracecorning.org/life-together/post/180805-welcoming-the-outsider How we welcome the “outsider” reflects the heart of Christ. Special sermon.


listen 2

 

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How we welcome the “outsider” reflects the heart of Christ. Special sermon.


listen 2

 

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