Welcome to the 1st Century…Again « Thoughts from Paul Hill

Welcome to the 1st Century…Again « Thoughts from Paul Hill.

Interesting thoughts on what it means to be the church now in this time…

How can we let go of the past and move forward in what God has called us to be, knowing that we are not leaving anything behind, but maintaining the richness of our heritage and boldly going where only God can take us…

Who is in control…

Sometimes it seems like the wheels are spinning so fast and there is no traction and you wonder if this thing will ever move, and then you realize that if the wheels take hold you are going to go spinning off so fast that there will be no way that you can control this thing…

We face life day in and day out and think that we are in control of things.  We have the free will to choose the things we do, but who has ultimate control?

Who is in control of your money?  Who is in control of your spending? Who is in control of your job?  Who is in control of your family? Who is in control of your home? Who is in control of your congregation?

If you can not faithfully and quickly say God to all of these, then there is sin and idolatry.  God is the center of our lives and we need to acknowledge that…

So let go of the worry and allow God to have the stick and fly yo to places you have never dreamed of.

Good Works – Do Lutherans believe in these???

I received the following in an email the other day.  It is a great way to look at life and who we are.  And while works will not save us, they are the out flowing of the love of God in our lives. So yes Lutherans do believe in good works!

Good Works

I am a vessel through which God’s work is done.
We each want to do good work using our unique gifts and talents. How do I discern what is mine to do? I call upon the indwelling Christ for clarity. I set an intention to be motivated by love, kindness and generosity–rather than by fear, judgment or obligation. In the silence, I seek to better understand my purpose and listen for the still small voice of wisdom.
My guidance reveals ways I can serve authentically. Likewise, I am redirected when something is not mine to do.

With clarity of purpose, motivation and direction, I carry out good works that bring good results. I am a vessel through which God’s work is done.

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these.–John 14:12

YouTube – TEDxTC – Peter Benson – Sparks: How Youth Thrive.

This is a great talk on helping our children and youth to see what it is that makes them move and be and know they have a purpose.  Can we know this for ourselves and then help the youth around us discover and fan the flames of their own spark…

YouTube – TEDxTC – Peter Benson – Sparks: How Youth Thrive..

June 2011 Front Page

“Membership is about getting; discipleship is about giving.
Membership is about dues; discipleship is about stewardship.
Membership is about belonging to a select group with its privileges and prerogatives; discipleship is about changing and shaping lives by the grace of God.”  Michael Foss 

We are called by Jesus to go and make disciples, Matthew 28 19-20 says “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Jesus tells us to go and make disciples not go and make members, so why are we so hung up on members and membership?

This summer we will embark on a journey of building disciples.  Starting on June 19 we will journey through a book written by Michael Foss, an ELCA pastor of St Marks Lutheran Church in West Des Moines, Iowa.  The book is titled Power Surge: Six Marks of Discipleship for Changing a Church.”  We will journey through the six marks and see how applying these principles to our own lives will in turn grow the church.  Because if you look for the Biblical witness of church growing, it is God that brings the growth.  In Acts, God added 3000 to their number, and Paul speaks of one planting, another watering and God bringing the growth. We can have an effect on the loves of others, and help to plant seeds and water what has been planted, but we do not bring growth. If we live in such a way that shows forth the abundant life we have in Christ, then the growth of God will come, through his living and working on our lives.

You can start incorporating these marks into your daily lives now.  They are easy to remember as the acronym for the six marks is the title of the book.

Pray Daily
O
Worship weekly
E
Read your Bible

Serve inside and outside your congregation
U
Relationships with those in the congregation and beyond
Give of your talents, time and money
E

If we can build disciples and not worry about members, God is going to light a fire here that will consume everything around us! So seek to be His disciple and give up being a member…