Getting to Know You...On Purpose!

Some thoughts for reflection:

There is a strong correlation between spiritual progress in one’s life and one’s relationships.   Pastor Andy Stanley speaks about establishing intentional relationships.  He reminds us that when we apply for a job, because we need the money and we seek a certain vocation, we choose to invest in the relationships with whom we work.  When we pursue an education to gain knowledge and open doors of opportunity, we form relationships with fellow students and instructors.  When we move to a new neighborhood, because we like the house, we choose to meet and get to know our new neighbors.  Why then would we not seek intentional relationships within the realm of church?  Why would we only respond to those who seek us out first?  Why are we not more intentional about joining groups for the purpose of making spiritual progress? 

Read Acts 2:42-47. 

1.        How did the believers show intentionality in becoming a community?

2.       How well do you think these Christians knew each other?

Significant relationships require some transparency.  Yet, we live in a culture that is very much image oriented.  We can be whoever we are on facebook!  To get real, we have to allow others to know what is beneath the surface.  When people come in for counseling there is a predominant belief that everyone else in the church has it together except themselves.  This is simply not true.  We are all human and we all struggle!  Only God has it all together! 

Read James 5:16.

3.        If we are forgiven by confessing our sins to God through Jesus, our High Priest, why does this verse admonish us to confess our sins to each other? 

4.       Why do you think it is healing to open up to another trusted individual, whom you admire in the faith, and confess your sins? 

5.       Can you name someone who knows your struggles and can pray for you with a real knowledge of your life?

Read Romans 15:7. 

6.       Give an example of when you felt accepted by someone?

7.       Explain what it means to accept someone.

Read Romans 15:5.

8.        Who gets the glory when we are real with each other, work through difficulties, become transparent with each other, confess our sins to each other and pray for each other?

9.       After working through this study have you become more convinced that it is necessary for your spiritual progress to be intentional about establishing and nurturing relationships?  What specific step will you take as a result of what you learned? 

Need a Bible Reading Program?

For the New Year, or at any time you want to get started, it is helpful to have a Bible Reading Program to have a systematic way to stay immersed in God's Word.  There are many online from which to choose.

I found the following one, and have been using it for about ten weeks now.  The strong suit is that it keeps one in many places in the Bible over the course of a week.  Some days area a little more or a little less, but it is definitely "doable." 

May your time this year be rich in God's Word!

Here's the link:  http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/biblereading-1yr.html

Camellias

It was an uncharacteristically warm summer morning as I was preparing for my work day.  I stepped out on the back porch to catch some fresh air before finishing my make-up.  I glanced over at a camellia bush that had most obviously turned a corner.  It had been struggling through the summer, but now I could tell it was dead.  I sighed.  We had babied that plant through many summers on the North Coast but didn’t water as much as we should have in the last few rainless months, mostly because the Fortuna water bills tend to be high.  But I was discouraged that the plant didn’t make it through after all these years – probably fifteen summers of “babying” since we planted the little tender shoot.   I thought about the old Victorian home we used to own.  The grounds of that home had a rather stately look and mature camellias that surrounded a wide shady porch as well as many other beautiful plants in the yard.  Funny, I thought - we never had to water those camellias during the summer… they were such old, mature and beautiful specimens.   Their root system and plant girth was so deep and wide that the water provided during the many rainy months and the early morning dew was enough to sustain these magnificent plants.  We don’t have to water the redwood forest – these mature trees are able to receive what they need from the rich environment provided from our Heavenly Father.

Then came the ah-ha moment.  Lord, I want to have the spiritual maturity that is represented by the old mature camellias that adorned our old home.  I want my relationship so rooted and so deep and totally constant in You that I am not affected by a dry spell here and there.  Lord may my encouragement and sustaining power come directly from You as I continue to commit to our relationship through daily times of study and prayer.  I so desire to attain that kind of spiritual growth, stability and maturity.

The Scriptures tell us, “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to Him.  Let your roots grow down into Him and draw nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught.  Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done.”  Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT)

Our Christian “walk” goes through many phases.  When we are that new believer – that “tender shoot,” there is much watering and protecting that needs to take place through our Christian brothers and sisters in the Church.  An experienced gardener once told me as we were purchasing some new plants that they would need “to be babied” at first with gentle watering every day.   We are called upon, as believers in Christ, to “disciple” one another in the faith.  If we are “older” in the faith, we are admonished to care for the “younger” (Titus 2:4-5).  The principle is not so much chronological age, but time spent walking with Jesus.  When we grow to the point of having our own daily “quiet time” of regular, consistent Bible study and prayer (that influences the way we live), our spiritual life and relationship with God takes a big leap.  It makes sense.  A relationship improves in quality and depth as there is significant time devoted and invested in the relationship.  Time spent in worship with other believers is incomparable.  In the working out of relationships in our spiritual family, we grow in Christian virtues of understanding, patience and most importantly, forgiveness. 

There are many opportunities presented by the body of Christ here at Hydesville Church that are specifically designed to aide spiritual growth.  However, nothing takes the place of that personal commitment to relationship and growth between the living Lord and oneself. 

We want to be a church that is characterized by that picture of many beautiful stately mature camellias that adorn the gardens and provide shade and protection to the “tender shoots” that the Lord entrusts to this congregation.  May we encourage each other and grow together in this new season.