Loved and Sent 5 - Cracked Pots

It’s so easy to do. We so often measure our worth and our meaning by our “net worth.” The idea is grounded in the very word itself. You are worth whatever value your house. You are worth whatever money you have in your bank account. Our money, property, and possessions can quickly use these measures to define the value of a person. And so the lie creeps in – “I am what I have.”

But what happens when we lose those things like Job did? What happens in our hearts if we never have those things at all? And so, our hearts sink again.

But call out the lie! We are not what we have. We are so much more. We are worth the value of blood of God’s own Son who gave his life as the redemption price for us. We are totally competent and sufficient in Christ! We are nothing but beggars who are nothing but what we have received by grace! We are jars of clay so show that the all surpassing power is God’s and not ours. We are sent. One final practice in this series will help us combat these identity lies: Open hands. On the one hand, we are nothing but beggars who receive with open hands what comes graciously from God’s own hand. And on the other hand, we are nothing but generous kings and queens who give away with open hands what God has so carefully entrusted to us. 2 Corinthians 4:1-12

Loved and Sent 4 - Inner Dialogue

There is no one more influential in your life than you because no one else talks to you more than you do. As self-talkers, we have an incredible ability to talk ourselves up or down depending on how we feel at the moment. But what is that talk based on? It can be based on our own evaluation and measurement of a situation. We value and evaluate everything we do, everything we experience, and everything that happens. We measure our value and identity by our best moments. We do the same with our worst moment. “I am good,” or, “I am bad.” “I am successful,” or, “I am a failure.” These are the conversations we have internally. It the inner dialogue we are constantly having. No one talks to you more than you do.

There is another voice speaking life and breath into your hearts. It is the voice of our Father who says, “You are loved! You are loved apart from what you do and experience in your life.” It is the voice of our Savior who says, “You are loved! I gave myself for you that you might live with me for eternally. You are dearly and deeply loved.” It is the voice of his Spirit who whispers in your heart, “You are loved and sent. I have shaped you for service and have sent you into the world. Now, go!” The voice of our God rings out at our baptisms telling us that despite what our own inner dialogue says, we are loved. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5

New Series: Fighting for Family

Our lives are shaped by conflict: we fight with our families and friends, struggle to get along with difficult coworkers, and feel the strain of division and disagreement in our churches. We might enjoy conflict too much or avoid it altogether, but we all want to learn more faithful, biblical ways of addressing the inevitable conflicts in our lives. This series will not just show us how but will compel and drive us toward forgiveness and reconciliation. This is a series about the fight after the fight. The fight for family. The fight toward reconciliation and restoration. This series and the accompanying devotions will give us God’s guidance and help for seeking reconciliation and wholeness in our relationships.

Loved and Sent 3 - Taking off Fig Leaves

There is another lie that threatens our confidence and causes our identity to sink: “I am what people think or say about me.” We can assign so much value to the opinions and words to the people that their words cause us to rise or sink. We can even begin identify ourselves by their words. Solomon is right, however, when he says, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe” (Prov 29:25). When we assign so much value to the opinions of people, we will only be caught in a trap. But trusting in the Lord and in his opinion of us only keeps us safe. This is God’s opinion of us in Christ: “You are my beloved child. I love you. And you are simply awesome. My masterpiece. Created in Christ Jesus to do good works that I have prepared in advance for you to do.” Yet, believing this and living by it is harder than we can imagine.

How can we live for an audience of One, who simple thinks that we’re awesome? We can live this way by entering places of vulnerability.

By opening ourselves up to our closest friends, what some call their “3 am friends,” and, by being truly transparent and vulnerable. As we enter these places of vulnerability, we will let our friends see all the way to the bottom of us (which isn’t always so beautiful). By being transparent and authentic with them, we can break through the idea that we have to put forward a façade that people will validate. But it’s not just that. The best friends will confront us with our sins to break us of any pride remaining. But more than that, our best friends will preach Christ to us, truly consoling and comforting us with the promises of our Savior God. Romans 1:1-13

Loved and Sent 2 - Times for Sabbath

The Devil lies to us about our identity. We can even begin to believe him and start to think, “I am what I do.” The measure of my worth and my identity is tied up to my work, what I do and how well I do it. This is especially true in a consumer world where we are taught that a person is meaningful because of what they can produce. In fact, a person only matters if they can produce. The Israelites were only valuable to Egypt because of what they could do and Pharaoh worked them to the bone; his brick-making quota never ended. But, “I am not what I do.” Instead, “I am what Jesus has done for me.”

Even after they left Egypt, Israel was left with the mindset of work matters. God gave his people the Sabbath as a protest against Pharaoh’s never-ending brick-making quota. He taught them trust in the Lord for provision. He taught them to remember God’s care for them. That’s what the intentional times of Sabbath are for us too. They are a protest against Pharaoh’s never-ending brick-making quota. Hebrews 4:1-11

Loved and Sent 1 - Two Words for the Christian Life

There is a tendency, even and maybe especially for us, that we would start to find confidence in what we do or how things are going for us. We’re Christians; that’s why! God knew that this tendency and temptation existed for his people, the Israelites too. He knew that they might (even would) become self-confident. So, God reminded them: “Its not because of you! Its not because of your righteousness, or your size, or anything about you. Its because of me! I loved you. I am doing and giving this to you. And I have set you here so that you might live as my people in this world.”

Here are the two words for Christian life: Loved and Sent. Notice the passive. This is not something we do. It is something done to us and for us. God chooses to love us. God, then, in mercy sends us as his loved children into the world. Deuteronomy 7:7-11

Armor Up #4 - The Helmet of Salvation

“Armor up” urges us to take up the full armor of God, to put it on and be ready for the spiritual battle that Satan and his forces bring to our door day after day. We will consider carefully the words of Paul who says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph 6:11). Today, we’ll consider the “helmet of salvation.” In our battle against the Evil One, we are protected. We hope in him for salvation from all trouble and an eternity with him.

Armor Up #3 - The Shield of Faith

“Armor up” urges us to take up the full armor of God, to put it on and be ready for the spiritual battle that Satan and his forces bring to our door day after day. We will consider carefully the words of Paul who says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph 6:11). Today, we’ll consider the “shield of faith.” The Devil will throw his fiery darts at us; yet they will not hit their mark because we are shielded by “the faith” handed down to us in the Scriptures.

Jesus' answer to doubt

As we make our way through our lives, many questions arise. Why? What? When? How? Questions come and then doubts creep into our thoughts. We can begin to doubt God’s goodness, his love, even his promises. Peter and the other disciples certainly did. They wondered if Jesus even cared for them. Yet, Jesus answered their every doubt. And he does and will do the same for us, every time.  Matthew 14:22-33

Armor Up #2 - The Breastplate of Righteousness

“Armor up” urges us to take up the full armor of God, to put it on and be ready for the spiritual battle that Satan and his forces bring to our door day after day. We will consider carefully the words of Paul who says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph 6:11). Today, we’ll consider the “breastplate of righteousness.” The Devil can make his accusations and seek to condemn yes. Yet, he cannot because we stand righteous in Christ.

Armor Up #1 - The Belt of Truth

“Armor up” urges us to take up the full armor of God, to put it on and be ready for the spiritual battle that Satan and his forces bring to our door day after day. We will consider carefully the words of Paul who says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph 6:11). Today, we’ll consider the “belt of truth.” We have God’s truth so that we can stand against the Devil’s lies.

Under God #2 - Habits of the Home

Today, we’re continuing to look at our life “Under God.” We’ll specifically consider our family lives under his care and rule. Children, God has something to teach you about living under your parents whom God has given to you. Parents, God has something to teach you about your care for the children he has given you. To all of us, God has something to teach us about the spiritual practices we carry out.

Under God #1 - Long live the King

We’re starting a new series today. Quite simply, it will be a series that looks at the kingdom of God. It will be a look at the kingdom of God and all the other kingdoms of this world. In short, it will be a look at the Second Petition. In this petition, we pray that God’s kingdom will come. It will also look at the Fourth Commandment. In this commandment, God calls us to honor our father and mother, i.e., to honor, obey, and respect all those who are in authority over us. He teaches us how to live in other kingdoms.

Under God is a series that calls us to live under God in his kingdom and under those He has placed over us. That’s what we’ll be looking at and considering over the next couple of weeks. Today, we want to consider the kingdom of God. To do that, we’ll learn to sing Psalm 72, at least in our hearts, as we cry out, “Long live the King!”

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Love with Skin on #4 - Confidence

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The testimony is clear. Jesus is the Son of God, and he has overcome the world. The Spirit also testifies about Jesus. That is what this entire letter has been all about: “So that you may know that you have eternal life” (5:13). We have the same desire as John. We want the world around us to know that they, too, have eternal life in God’s Son. What letter can we write with our words and actions so that others can have the same confidence? What can we do in our lives so that others will share in this confidence? In this way, like John, our joy will be complete.

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Love with Skin On #3 - Weightloss for Christians

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This call to love is a difficult and tricky thing, How to do it is difficult to figure out in each given situation with each dear soul we encounter. It is likewise difficult because of our sinful nature and the pressures of the world. Yet, John refuses to call this love a burden. But how do we lift the load? How does the weight of this command get lifted from our shoulders so that “his command is not burdensome.” Today, we consider 1 John 5:1-5.

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Love with Skin On #2 - Fearless Love

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This Sunday, John teaches us to live with fearless love. We are, after all, at times, afraid to love. There are many reasons for this. We may be afraid that someone will take advantage of our love. We are afraid that our love may make us vulnerable. We are afraid that selfless, sacrificial love will leave us without enough. There are many reasons that we are afraid to love. “What if...” seems to be a repeated theme. Yet, John makes it clear: “Perfect love drives out fear....” Christ’s perfect and all-sufficient love for us drives out fear of God’s judgment and gives us security from God so that we will love others. 1 John 4:7-21.