Interested in some further reading during the rainy days of fall?  As Pastor Bob came to to the end of the “Posture and Practice” sermon series he suggested a couple worthwhile reads.

In his sermon on “Serving: Outward,” Pastor Bob began with some personal thoughts from Mother Teresa on being “something truly beautiful for God.”  The book “Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light“ is a controversial memoir and compilation of the private writings of the “Saint of Calcutta.”  It is filled with insights, challenging thoughts, and personal struggles that will help you see the heart and dedication of a godly woman who considered herself the “Saint of Darkness.”

In the final sermon in the Posture and Practice Series, Pastor Bob talked about the discipline of Celebration.  Obviously, the classic book on Christian disciplines is Richard Foster’s book “Celebration of Discipline.”  I would highly recommend Foster’s book, but for those who want another view of the disciplines, John Ortberg has written ‘The Life You’ve Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People.”  Here is what Richard Foster said about Ortberg’s book,

“John Ortberg takes Jesus’ call to abundant living seriously, joyfully, and realistically. He believes human transformation is genuinely possible, and he describes its process in sane and practical ways.” — Richard J. Foster

The best way to understand Ortberg’s book is that it is a primer for those who want a place to start.  It is easy to read and has many ways for you to begin applying the disciplines to your everyday life.

We hope you pick up one of these great books, read them, challenge yourself, and then take a friend out for a cup of coffee and share your thoughts.

 

For God’s people, November is the month for Thanksgiving! This is far more than a special day on the calendar. The Bible urges us to live a life of thanksgiving each day. Being thankful to God for all of His blessings is truly a mark of the Christian. In the Sunday’s leading up to the holiday, SFC will look at four biblical ways to express your thanksgiving to the Lord during this season of the year.  To give us a foundation, we will use Psalm 100 – a song of praise to God as our Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer.

There are at least four ways that Psalm 100 instructs us to praise and worship God. Some may be a little scary to those who are not used to joyously expressing praise, but I encourage you not to be afraid!

1. Don’t Be Afraid to Shout Praise to the Lord. (Sunday, Oct. 30)

The Bible says, “Make a joyful shout to the LORD” (Ps. 100:1). In the Bible, shouting is associated with great achievement or joy. Joshua told Israel to march around Jericho for six days and on the seventh day to lift a great shout. When they did, the walls fell down (Josh. 6).  When you are thanking and praising God, don’t be afraid to be a little loud or simply vocal. God loves to hear our praises.

2. Don’t Be Afraid to Serve the Lord with Gladness. (Sunday, Nov. 6)

“Serve the LORD with gladness” (Ps. 100:2). Gladness means mirth, gaiety and happiness. No service to the Lord, whether great or small, should be done grudgingly. Sincere and true delight in service to God should accompany our words and deeds of worship. When you are serving the Lord, don’t be afraid to do it with a glad heart—and don’t be afraid to smile!

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Come into the Lord’s Presence. (Sunday, Nov. 13)

“Come before His presence with singing” (Ps. 100:2). God calls us to come into His presence privately each day and together in corporate worship. “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice” (Ps. 55:17).  It was said of the fledgling New Testament church that they met daily in the temple for teaching from the Word, fellowship, worship and praise. Little wonder that Hebrews 10:25 begs us not to fail to regularly assemble with other believers in thanksgiving, hearing the Word and worship.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Get to Know the Lord. (Sunday, Nov. 20)

The rest of Psalm 100:3 says, “Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture” (emphasis added). The psalmist calls the people to recognize and “know” God’s words, works and ways.  God wants us to know that He is Jehovah God and we are not, that He is the Creator and we are His creatures and that we are His sheep and He is our Shepherd. The heart-longing of every godly person is to get to know God more intimately.

We will conclude this series with the Community Thanksgiving Service featuring Bethel Mountain Blue Grass Band at 6pm on Sunday evening, November 20^th at Silverton Assembly of God Church. Don’t forget to bring a pie!

 

“Community” is a buzzword today. It is overused, misused, confused and rather annoying at times. I used to think it seemed pretty elementary, but when done biblically, I find it much more complicated.

If asked, we probably all would have a slightly different idea of what good community looks like. Personally, I’ve had a few misconceptions about what constitutes community, one being the idea that everyone should be “best friends.”

When I have pictured good community in the past, I usually think of myself in a group of really great friends. We get together on an autumn evening, have a cookout, talk about the “deep stuff,” all the while making light of the greater mysteries of life.

Obviously, in this scenario of good community my happiness is very important. If I am experiencing true community, I know that I am pleased with the way things are going. My friends are always looking out for me, I feel supported, and I am comfortably content.

Over time, I have realized I was wrong about what constitutes true community. I have decided that one of the best, and most difficult, ways to live in community is to spend time with people who are not exactly like me. Knowing the way God works, it is most likely that he doesn’t encourage fellowship with one another for the sole purpose of our own satisfaction. He probably has something for us to learn through community.

For instance, in Romans 12:4-5, it talks about how believers are all part of the same body, but we all have different roles. We have each been given gifts that we are to use for God’s glory. As believers who are striving toward the same goal, we should appreciate one another’s gifts. Instead of thinking that everyone should do things the way that we would, we are to appreciate the diversity that God has placed within the body.

Once I realized this beautiful aspect of community, I was content. Then I found Ephesians 4:2-3.

St. Paul is talking to the Ephesians about being united as a body. He urges them to recognize each other’s individual callings. He also tells them to “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (NIV).”

I am very good at knowing when others need to make an effort to be humble or patient. I can point out when someone should be better at bearing with me in love. And, honestly, the Lord often convicts me about playing my part as well. But what hit me when reading this passage was the command to “make every effort.” I may be completely justified in the fact that I do just enough, but have I done all I can to be united with my brothers and sisters?

Perhaps the Bible so often encourages us to love one another and to be united because it helps us take the focus off ourselves.

I cannot control how other people respond to me. I cannot make them be what they should. All I can do is what I have been asked. And uncomfortably for me, I have been asked to do a lot. I am asked to get my attitude right, no matter what the other person is doing. I am to love at all times. This love for others – whether or not they love me back – is part of my responsibility in encouraging biblical community.

Part of what community teaches us is to slowly and painfully begin to think about others, to forgive others, to bear with one another. Taking the focus off ourselves is part of living in community.

Too often I cocoon myself within my community. I use my desire for fellowship with other believers as an excuse to ignore those who do not believe the words of Jesus. Isn’t this the opposite of what we are supposed to be doing as a biblical community?

Community is less about a great group of people who can make me feel loved and important, and more about how I can make an effort to love those around me, and in turn, how together we can show God’s love to those around us.

by Pastor Bob Henry

Throughout the “Posture and Practice” sermon series Pastor Bob has commented, quoted or taught principles out of several different books.  If you have followed the series, you may have been interested in further study.  Below are a couple of recommended readings that may challenge your thinking, but help you see more clearly how you and SFC can work to make visible the Kingdom of God now.

“Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in 12 Simple Words” by Brian McLaren is not your typical book on spiritual disciplines.  In this book, McLaren presents four spiritual “seasons”—simplicity, complexity, perplexity, and harmony—accompanied by 12 prayer practices. Each practice, described as “simple, doable, and durable,” is rooted in a single word (e.g. here, thanks, sorry, help, why, yes, behold).  Very different from McLaren’s other work, this book gives the “insider” and “outsider” direction, biblical wisdom, and at times tough questions to ask.  Pastor Bob quoted from this book in his sermon on “Wholeness” and will teach from it more this Sunday in his sermon on “Community.”

 

For those who have read the bible for years, or for those just beginning, “The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible” by Scot McKnight is a breath of fresh air.  McKnight calls Christians to a way of reading the Bible that leads beyond old debates and denominational battles. It calls Christians to stop taming the Bible and to let it speak anew for a new generation.  A great deal of what Pastor Bob has been trying to convey in the “Posture and Practice” sermon series has relied on having new eyes to see scripture.  This book will help you see anew!