Let me begin this devotional by saying that I DO NOT think that we are saved by doing works. I know that we are saved by grace, BUT I also think that when you have the Holy Spirit residing in you, you will have the DESIRE to search out and do things to serve the body and further the Gospel of Christ. Otherwise, as James put it, "faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead."
Often times we will see someone in need and say something to them that fits the standard "church" answer (you know the right words to say or prayers to pray), but you don't actually do anything about it. Has that person's situation changed? No! You have to take action. This is demonstrated in James 2:15-16: "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" Is that brother or sister any less naked or hungry when you have left them? No! You would have to take action for that to change. Sometimes words are just not enough. As the saying goes: "If you're going to talk the talk, you've got to walk the walk."
As Christians, we have been given the command to help others, and we are reminded of this in several places of the Bible. Just a couple of those examples are: Galatians 6:10 "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." and Mathew 25:40 "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
So, don't be a Christian full of kind words and good intentions with no action to back it up. As the saying goes: "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."
What actions can you take today to liven up your faith?
]]>
As a parent (or someone who has worked with children), you probably know how VERY important you are in influencing your child's actions, words and behaviors. I remember when my sister had her first child, she would hear her daughter say things and wonder "Where does she get that from?" Later on she'd catch herself saying the exact words she'd heard her daughter say earlier!! She hadn't realized that her daughter was simply mimicking the example that she was given!
We, as children of God, have the benefit of having the perfect example to look to and learn from. Not only that, but His examples are recorded in a book so we can go back and study it and learn from them again and again! (It's called the Bible, in case you didn't catch that). :)
Instead of looking to our peers or the culture or the media to get an idea of what actions, words and/or behavior we should live by, we should be looking to the Word of God. John 13:14-15 says "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." I think that you can take out the "washed your feet" part and add a blank line ("If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have ___________, you also ought to ______________."). You could fill in so many other things Jesus did: shown mercy, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, loved the lost, shown grace and compassion, served the undeserving, ate with sinners, loved the children, shown forgiveness, and on and on and on! If our Lord and Teacher has done these things, then we also ought to do these things!!
Jesus was not the type to sit around and see what others could do for Him. He went out and did things Himself! So should we. Don't just sit in church and wonder what you're going to be able to TAKE. You need to get out there and do a little GIVING! Opportunities are out there to serve in the church and follow the most excellent example we have been given. But YOU have to take the first step. Get involved.
Cassa Wing
NPCF Children's Ministry Director
]]>You always hear people say that "the children are our future." I would say that most people believe this to be true. It makes sense, right? As each generation gets older and eventually succumbs to the natural progression of death, the next generation takes the place of the last in all areas: having families, in work, and in continuing cultural traditions and religious faith.
You see children being trained or taught from the moment they're born- how to walk and talk and read and write and thrive in all areas of life. Parents have such an instrumental part of this training! Studies have shown that the most influential people in a child's life are her parents (this is true, even if the child does not act like it is true!). The next most influential person in your child's is her teacher. As a Christian, this can include who is teaching/training your child about their faith. This also includes you (as the parent), as well as their Sunday School teacher or pastor.
The vast majority of people who ask Jesus into their heart do so as a pre-teen child. One study I found stated that "a person who is unsaved at the age of 14 has only a 10% chance of being 'saved' later in life" (www.religioustolerance.org). This is why it's so important to get involved and at least try to plant a seed in the lives of children that we see around us. This is also why Northern Peaks has made kids one of the top priorities of our church.
Many kids get their only religious training on Sunday mornings in Sunday School, taught by volunteers from the congregation. Unfortunately, these volunteers are very few and far between. I think that some people hear the word "teach" and get freaked out. They think "I can't teach. I don't know how. I haven't been trained to teach kids. I don't know enough to teach." and other such thoughts. What these people don't realize however, is that so much of teaching a child is by what you do, not so much about what you say or how your lesson plan goes. The best way to teach is by example, through stories, through involvement, and by showing how to love, share, and care.
Christian parents also have a responsibility to be training their child at home, not just leaving that responsibility to the teachers at church. It is important to share your faith with your children, so that when they leave the influence of your homes, they will have formed a habit -- that of taking time daily to talk to God in prayer and meditating on His Word. You are the Christian leaders of your household, and you need to train your child well so that they may become the Christian leader of their own home when the time comes.
We all have an awesome responsibility -- and a great privilege -- to deliver God's message to the next generations, to make sure that the great circle God began when He sent his treasured Son to us as a little babe at Bethlehem is unbroken. And when I say all, I mean all. Just because your kids may be up and out of the house, does not mean that your "job is done." Some of my fondest memories are of older folks spending time with me:my grandma teaching me how to make a latch hook rug, my Sunday School teacher that was such an awesome story teller, our church piano player that I turned pages for while the choir sang, our elderly pastor that came out during youth group to play volleyball with us, and that one older lady from church that was the only person (other than my mom) that could get me to stop crying as a colicky infant (that one is a fond memory of my mom's, I don't remember it at all, but my mom loved coming to church Sunday morning to pass me off to that lady so her arms could get a rest!).
There are so many ways to touch the lives of our kids- teach a class at church, be a helper in a class, get involved with the nursery, volunteer at AWANA or VBS, give some individual time and attention to a child that you know in the community, teach the girls how to bake or sew, teach the boys how to chop woodor shoot a basket, etc. I don't know what you specifically could do to touch the life of a child, but whatever it is-- do it! Invest in the future now by "training up a child in the way he should go."
Cassa Wing
Children's Ministry Director
Northern Peaks Christian Fellowship
]]>As I read these verses the other day, I began to think of all the things that get in the way of people serving in the church. They're "too busy" or they "can't find a place where they'd like to serve" or they're "too old" or "too young" or they "don't like working with kids" or whatever other excuse comes to mind.
This made me think of a couple of other passages from the Bible. In Luke chapter 9 it talks about people wanting to follow Jesus, but they hesitated. One wanted to go bury his father first and another wanted to go say good-bye to his family. To them Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." The other passage comes from Mark 1:16-20: "As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him."
Which of these people are you:
The one that hesitates and thinks about all of the stumbling blocks that are in the way of you doing God's work?
Or are you the one that will drop everything and follow Jesus? Even if it means to "deny [yourself] and take up [your] cross" to follow Him? I'll be the first to admit that giving your time and effort to ministry is a sacrifice and it's not always super fun. But neither was the sacrifice that Jesus did for us.
Take the time to consider what you are doing for the body of Christ. And if you're not already plugged-in somewhere, I would encourage you to get involved. There are many ministries in our church and our community that could use your help. It will end up being a blessing to you.
Cassa Wing
NPCF Children's Ministry Director
]]>So how should we “the Church” respond to this crisis? We should be wise as serpents but innocent as doves. Christians should participate in the political process. We should vote according to our Christian convictions. We should make wise financial decisions – especially right now. We should stand up for what is right and true, but we should never tie our hope or security to the things of this world.
The Church should engage and participate in our culture in such a way that we demonstrate real hope, real peace and real love. We must proclaim the hope of Jesus Christ. So the Church (that is you and I) must not let the politics, policies, finances, and fears of this world become a distraction to our God-given mission to live and preach the Gospel.
Here are some words of hope for today:
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:31-34 (ESV)
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
John 14:1 (ESV)
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
John 14:27 (ESV)
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
In Christ’s Love,
Steve Fish
Lead Pastor
Northern Peaks Christian Fellowship
Financial information taken from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/business/21qanda.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
]]>I’m sitting in the front passenger seat, bathed by the comfortable and familiar glow of my iBook screen. Some of the team is sleeping, some are talking (sort of) quietly in the back. We’re about 70 miles from the California border - and just far enough out of civilization that the stars are uniquely vivid. So far, we’ve only stopped three times. Subway/Burger King for dinner, once to gas up (25 gallon tanks make me grateful for my Honda engine), and once for a rest stop break.
We’re all pretty excited to get to San Luis. It sounds like we will have a pretty balanced schedule. I’m excited to see how the Lord is going to grow the students. We’ve already had the opportunity to have some good conversations. It’s funny how the close confines of a 15-passenger van tend to cultivate honesty. Maybe it’s just the energy drinks.
As you read these updates, please keep us in your prayers. Safety for the team, sensitivity to His Presence as we engage with His work in San Luis and that we would all grow in our knowledge of God through these ten days.
Seeking Jesus in the everyday,
Pastor Andrew
]]>I read and study from many different Bible versions such as the New International Version, the Holman Bible, the New Living Translation, the King James, the New American Standard, and the English Standard Version. I do not hold to the idea that there is one English translation that is "THE" English translation of the Bible but there are certainly some translations that are better then others. If you are looking for a very accurate "word for word" translation my preference would be the New American Standard Bible (NNAS) or the English Standard Version(ESV). The ESV is becoming my Bible of choice for preaching, study, and memorization. If you are looking to purchase a new study Bible I would recommend that you check out the ESV.
For more information on Bible versions check out www.esv.org
]]>The second way the church is referred to in the New Testament is geographically such as the Church in Corinth or Jerusalem. We still refer to the church this way today as we talk about the church in America, the African Church or the Church in China. When we make statements like that we realize there are many local churches in a geographical area and that they are all part of the church universal. We see examples of this in passages like Acts 11:22 and many of the epistles were written to the church of a geographical area
The third way the church is referred to in scripture is at the local level. In passages like 1 Corinthians 16:19, Colossians 4:15 Paul refers to local congregations I think there is very little confusion on the first two definitions of church but there seems to be some confusion on what constitutes a local church John Piper defines a local church like this: "a local church is a group of baptized believers who meet regularly to worship God through Jesus Christ, to be exhorted from the Word of God, and to celebrate the Lord's Supper under the guidance of duly appointed leaders."
In my study and understanding of scripture a local church must have the following 4 things to be considered a church:
1.It must consist of a community of believers who have made a public confession of faith who gather for worship and teaching. Matthew 28:19, John 1:12-13, Acts 2:47 & Romans 15:6-7
2. It must have appointed leaders who preach the Word. Acts 14:23, 1 Timothy, Titus
3. It must of the sacraments of Communion and Baptism. Luke 22:19,1 Cor. 11:24, Mathew 28:19
4. It must exercise church discipline. Mathew 16:19; 18:18, 1Timothy 1:3; Titus 1:13; 1Corinthians 11:34; Titus 1:5; 1Timothy 5:20; 2Timothy 4:2; 1Corinthians 5:3-5,13; 1Timothy 1:20; Hebrews 13:17; 2 Corinthians 10:8; 13:10
If a group of christians claims to be a "church" but do not meet those four criteria I'm not sure that they are a Biblical church. They might be a ministry, a small group, a Bible study but they are not a church.
Why is it important to define "church"? Because in our postmodern world many Christians are buying into the idea that hanging out with Christians on the golf course, meeting up for a beer after work, or talking in a chat room constitutes being a "local church." The "local church" is an important part of our faith. We are called to live out our faith and community and not to forsake the gathering of the saints but the sad thing is many believers are missing out on the blessing of being in biblical community.
]]>