Kids love their pets. So when they die the question eventually comes, “Will I see my pet in heaven?” Instead of passing it off as a stupid or trivial question, my friend, Eric Schumacher, seeks to answer it (and other questions below) in a recent sermon. You can listen to it here.
What is the nature and purpose of animals in creation?
What is the relationship between animals and man?
Why do animals suffer and die?
Will animals be redeemed?
Will particular pets be recreated?
What is the root of this question, and where should we go with it?
Al Mohler recently spoke at the Connecting Church and Home Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. In his message, “Christian Parenting is Combat,” he gives 4 things Christian leaders must do to connect the church and home.
#1 The church must present faithful vision of the family, marriage, and parenting – and equip believers to transfer that vision to the next generation.
#2 The church must overcome the zone of privacy and autonomy that keeps individuals from being accountable to the church community. We need to get into each others face. Our parenting and marriage are not properly ours – but belong to Christ and are the affairs of the whole church. Someone needs to get involved when people struggle in these areas.
#3 The church has got to be a place where brokenness is overcome by the Gospel. We slander the good news when we act like the only people who can glorify God are those who have never experienced brokenness.
#4 The church has to got to be the place where families are rescued and armed for the combat to which we are called. Discipleship is a battle. We come to church because we can’t afford not to come. We need to get together because we need to be equipped by the preaching of the Word of God and the fellowship of the Saints.
Daniel Montgomery, Pastor of Sojourn Church in Louisville, Kentucky, shares 5 different “images of a small god” that we create in our minds. Each one is a startling contrast to Jesus Christ, as described in Colossians 1:14-23. The Jesus we often settle for is not the Jesus of scripture. He’s a small Jesus, who acts like: (click on each one for more)
This made me think of Bonhoeffer’s quote below (Hat Tip to Zach Nielsen):
‘Nothing can be more cruel than that leniency which abandons others to their sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than that severe reprimand which calls another Christian in one’s community back from the path of sin.’ (105)
Here’s a short illustration from my latest sermon on showing the difference between trying to do life on your own versus life together in community. The visual of “the juggler” and “the wheel” was taken from the book, Total Church, by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis. Thanks to Eric Ball for putting this video together!
I’ve always applied Romans 12:1-2 to individual Christians. But look at it.
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers (plural), by the mercies of God, to present your bodies (plural) as a living sacrifice (singular), holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind …”
Paul envisioned all the individuals in the church community offering up their bodies corporately to God as one living sacrifice. It’s no coincidence that he continues on in the following verses (3-13) to show us what it looks like to be a body that humbly serves one another in love. From this text and others we see that gospel transformation is something God wants for us to experience together. We change together as we remember God’s mercy, live humbly and are committed to community. On Sunday I preached from Romans 12:1-13 on this topic. I pray it encourages you.
This Sunday I’m blessed to be a part of Stephen Cavness’ Spring Renewal Services at his church in Cave City, Kentucky. Here’s the list of speakers and their topics. I’m looking forward to preaching from Romans 12:1-2 on, “The Gospel for Day 2 and Beyond.” My buddy, Lisle Drury, will preach on Sat. from Luke 18:9-14 on “Genuine Repentance: for Salvation and Everyday.” Please pray for us.
thursday, may 20th 6:30 PM – randy shaw – “the holiness & majesty of god”
friday, may 21st – 6:30 PM – brandon porter – “man’s relationship to god: in need of redemption”
saturday, may 22nd – 6:00 PM – lisle drury – “genuine repentance: for salvation & and every day”
sunday, may 23rd – 11:00 AM – doug wolter – “the gospel for day 2 and beyond”
sunday, may 23rd – 6:00 PM – john nelson – “more than religious: loving christ ”
From the very beginning, man has tried to cover his own sin and it hasn’t worked. Like a little kid standing in the middle of the room covering his eyes, we think no one will see us. But we’re fooling ourselves. We can’t cover our sin. Only God can cover our sin and make us secure in Christ. And because he loves us, he comes after us in our rebellion and confronts us with our sin so we would confess it and continue no longer in it. His goal is that you would be broken before him and out of this heart that’s been humbled, tell of his mercy and grace.
This was the story of David. And it’s our story too if we choose to respond the way David did when God came running after him. This past Sunday I preached from 2 Samuel 12:1-15 to remind us that we cannot cover up our sin – only God can cover it with His grace.
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My message came on the heels of my good friend Lisle’s message on 2 Samuel 11 where he reminded us of the reality of David’s sin and that if it can happen to David, it can happen to any of us. I encourage you to listen to his message as well.
This past Sunday I invited my church to take a journey with me into the heart of God for broken people like you and me. I preached from the story of David and Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:1-13), one of the most beautiful expressions of God’s love in the Old Testament. I hope it encourages you.
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