I asked last week what the ‘ideal’ church looked like. My prayer is that I challenged you to re-think what goes through your mind as you come to worship God. I proposed a hypothetical question: if a wealthy person donated 1,000,000 dollars to WH, would we know where to invest that money to make the greatest impact in our community? Truth be told, only God—and God alone—changes a human life. Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:13, “For it is GOD who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” However, let’s say a person did give us $1,000,000. I would imagine our first desire would be to design and fund an assortment of church activities and ministries that we believe would help people grow spiritually. Then we would probably encourage as many people as possible to get on board with those activities and ministries. Let’s be honest, though. Does increased attendance in ministry programs automatically equate to spiritual growth? NO, it doesn’t. Although attendance numbers help you determine if people like what you’re doing, making people busy in ministry doesn’t necessarily equate to spiritual growth. In actuality it burns them out because when they grow weary we usually lay guilt on them for not helping enough. While spiritual activities, programs and ministries give Christians an outlet for service, they don’t necessarily help them to grow spiritually. So what DOES help one grow spiritually? One grows by spending quality time alone with the One who created them. How often in your busy schedule do you allow that to happen? Take time today to start spending time alone with the One who adores you and be amazed as to what He wishes to share with you.

Have a blessed day and remember the One who gave it to you! Kevin

This week’s study takes us to Acts and the genesis of the Lord’s church. Most of us are familiar with the picture Luke paints for us in Acts 2 of God’s people meeting with each other, sharing their food with one another, going house to house with gladness in their hearts, etc. We know the early church wasn’t without problems, though. They dealt with lying (Acts 5) Prejudice (ch. 6) Martyrdom (ch. 6 & 7) and persecution (ch.8). We may have been led to believe that if we simply pattern ourselves after the early church and build a framework of practicing what they practiced we’ll have it all figured out. It doesn’t take very long to determine that the early church had it’s fair share of issues related to folks wanting their own way, people experiencing jealousy in regard to spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12) and many other problems. The answer to finding a ‘perfect’ church doesn’t come from making sure we find a pattern in the New Testament and emulating it flawlessly. The answer to finding a ‘perfect’ church is for me to be more perfect. (Matt 5: 48; Colossians 1: 28). Being made perfect doesn’t mean I’m sin-less, it means I’m moving on to maturity in Christ Jesus. To be the church our Lord and Savior called us to be means we move closer to becoming more like HE already is. Live your life in such a way as to mirror the actions of your Lord. After all it is HIS church.

Have a blessed day and remember the One who gave it to you! Kevin

What does the resurrection of Jesus Christ really mean to you? Make it a point sometime to sit down and read Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 and John 20. Does it intrigue you to know that there were many bodies of the saints who raised from the dead after Jesus crucifixion? (Matt. 27: 52-53). What does the story in John 11 and Lazarus’ resurrection mean to you? I ask these questions because of all the things that should mean the MOST to us as believers in Christ Jesus these questions are paramount. We cannot give other people’s life hope of a promised life if we cannot see life emanating from ourselves! Read 1 Corinthians 15 again. If we’re like rover who’s dead all over after this life, let’s eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. But, if there is promise of a future, a picture of hope and an opportunity of life everlasting, why on earth wouldn’t we want to make preparation for that? And, why on earth wouldn’t we want to share that truth with others so they can take advantage of that same opportunity? The greatest gift we have to share with others is letting them know they can have the same gift we’ve been given through Christ. They too can have redemption, they too can have hope. If the reason for hope rests within your own ability to accomplish things, that hope will wane, but if the hope you have originates with what Jesus Christ did on the cross our hope becomes everlasting!

Have a blessed day and remember the One who gave it to you! Kevin

I’m  so  glad  we  have  the  entire  story  of  Jesus’  birth,  death,  burial, resurrection & ascension. I’m even more pleased with the fact that we serve a High Priest that was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without  sin.  In  our  study  this  week,  we’ve  gotten  a  glimpse  of  how loneliness  plagued  the  Son  of  God.  Our  God  created  humanity  for companionship with Himself and each other. He doesn't want people to suffer the emotional turmoil of loneliness. The bible contains pledges of His constant presence as well as instructions to prevent loneliness among our church family. The Lord stressed His constant presence because He knows  our  need  for  assurance,  especially  when  we  feel  deserted  or isolated. His vow never to forsake believers is found throughout the Bible: He spoke this comforting word to the disciples who were about to witness Jesus' ascension (Matt. 28:20). Of all the things Christ Jesus experienced in the Garden, I would imagine loneliness was one of the greatest tests to His faith. Paul preached that nothing can compare to drawing close to Christ (Phil. 3:8). Who better to draw close to than He who experienced some of the greatest forms of loneliness? God wants every believer to implicitly trust that He is near. The church is designed to meet our need for person-to-person intimacy. Notice 1 Corinthians 12. The spiritual body works much like a human body—it contains parts are both independent and interdependent; each needing others in order to function well. We require support from our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to accept one another (Rom. 15:7), bear each other's burdens (Gal. 6:2), and avoid judging  each  other  (Rom.  14:13).  Loneliness  can  cripple  a  person emotionally and spiritually. I’ve experienced it in my own life just as many of you have in yours.  Sometimes we just need reminded that human beings are not designed to walk through this world alone. We are made for relationship, which God gladly supplies. We must never forget that the Lord is near and that He never wants us to feel alone.  

Have a blessed day and remember the One who gave it to you!
Kevin