Stuff I'm Learning This Week

Last night our student ministry celebrated the Lord's Supper. Turns out that the 1st century church was chastised because the Supper was becoming too much of a party. Now our church passes grape juice and crackers in gold-plated trays so a bunch of people can get it all done in 10 minutes or so.

I thought it might be nice for our students to find some sort of balance. So, we had one last night.

We brought our own food.
We caught up on each other's lives during the meal. Our ministry is too large for all our groups to hang out with those not in their grade and this was a good time to mix.
We had some time in worship.
We had some non-alcoholic wine (we did want to be sensitive to those who are struggling with various addictions--and yes, we have some teenagers in that boat, and a few of their parents).
We had some baked bread.
We read from God's Word.
We spent time in prayer.
We spent time sharing what God has done in and through our lives publicly.

And here's what I came up with in what turned out to be an incredibly busy two-week stretch:

That stuff about Satan prowling is something I've taken too lightly. Satan is real. He prowls. He devours. He lies.

When those lies are taken to heart and acted upon, it really is like taking a step off a cliff: You lose control of the rest of your steps and the end result is a messy splatter.

That stuff about being able to resist Satan with a firm faith is equally as real.

I have a newfound understanding of what it means for Christ to be the Head of the Church...both here in Double Oak as well as around the world.

When the Body of Christ works in concert it's a beautiful thing. Absolutely beautiful and wonderful.

That Truth is Truth. It doesn't matter what anyone feels about it or whether or not they like it or whether or not they agree with it or whether or not they live by it.

You'll never regret taking great care to ensure that your speech is full of grace, with salt. Sometimes the truth needs to be communicated in such a way that the blow is softened.

That Christ does indeed hold all things together. And all things means all things. When Christ says He will build His Church and the gates of hell won't prevail against it, He means that.

Anger: We shouldn't let the sun go down on it. We should put it aside. And if we let if fester into bitterness it really is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

Restoration with a spirit of gentleness is easier said than done--or thought. Also, I'd want that exact treatment if it were me. The reality is that restoration is always God's heartbeat.

There's a reason mercy, grace, edifying speech and the like are all higher ideals. The reason that they're referred to as higher ideals is in direct contrast to the baser and more elementary reactionaary emotions that seem to pop into my brain first. The emotions must be taken captive. The higher ideals must be focused on, but they are doable.

I'm acutely aware of how deceitful my own heart is and how dark my own desires can be. The prayers of my friends are coveted and appreciated--and felt. I know that I carry the seeds of my own destruction if I'm not careful.

Certain Psalms are comforting because the whiplash of emotion that I'm experiencing are just as parabolic in the lives of the Psalmists. Especially Psalms 40 & 42.

The requirements of an elder in 1 Timothy 3 are there for a reason...and they have to be lovingly enforced. Failure to hold leaders to this standard is terribly unloving.

James couldn't be more correct on his observations about the tongue...and gossip is sin even if it's couched in the term "prayer request."

I could do this for quite a while, but, finally,

...the abundant life Christ talks about really is THE abundant life.
...the Spirit-led, exchanged life of Christ is really the only accurate view of this life on earth.
...Christ will never leave you nor forsake you. That stuff about a Good Shepherd leading beside still waters, restoring your soul and dwelling in the house of the Lord forever is more than just good poetry.