I used to work with a very lovely girl. I would always know when she was about to tell me something which (she presumed) I would not receive well, because she would start by saying two or three things about me or my character that she thought was positive.
It was a very cute mannerism, but did she think that I would find the truth hard to swallow and so just ‘dressing it up’?
Paul said that we should “… build up the church …” [bible:niv:nt:1cor14]
But I don’t see Jesus giving a soft, encouraging word when he turns the tables on the people trading in the temple area [bible:niv:nt:john2].
What does this mean for the ‘prophetic’ church. Is ‘building up’ the same as ‘saying positive things’?
Saturday 27 January 2007
Saturday 13 January 2007
Friend or Fo? llower
If I move town, for a new job, away from my current ‘church plant’, it is very likely that I will lose touch with many people in my church community.
The ones I keep in touch with, were they my ‘real’ friends, and the others just fellow believers?
Jesus said “… greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends …” [bible:niv:nt:john14]
We all have different ideas and expectations about friendship.
Should ‘discipleship’ include ‘friendship’?
The ones I keep in touch with, were they my ‘real’ friends, and the others just fellow believers?
Jesus said “… greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends …” [bible:niv:nt:john14]
We all have different ideas and expectations about friendship.
Should ‘discipleship’ include ‘friendship’?
Theoretical Scenario
Janet is a Christian who does a job for John for an agreed price. The job is too big for Janet alone, so she gets a friend, Mark to help. Part the way through the job, Janet goes on holiday, leaving Mark to finish up.
While Janet is away, John realises that he can get the job done a lot cheaper by doing a deal with Mark, who is happy to work for less money. When Janet returns from holiday, the job is finished. Unfortunately, John refuses to pay Janet anything, saying that he was unhappy with the work, and that he asked Mark personally to finish the job for an agreed fee.
Neither John nor Mark reply when Janet tries to call them.
Janet has spent a lot of money on the job and, feeling robbed, wonders what to do. She reads Jesus’ teaching:
" … and if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well … " [bible:niv:nt:matt5].
So should Janet give more money to John?
While Janet is away, John realises that he can get the job done a lot cheaper by doing a deal with Mark, who is happy to work for less money. When Janet returns from holiday, the job is finished. Unfortunately, John refuses to pay Janet anything, saying that he was unhappy with the work, and that he asked Mark personally to finish the job for an agreed fee.
Neither John nor Mark reply when Janet tries to call them.
Janet has spent a lot of money on the job and, feeling robbed, wonders what to do. She reads Jesus’ teaching:
" … and if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well … " [bible:niv:nt:matt5].
So should Janet give more money to John?
Jesus Is The Dot. What ?
“ … most churches are bounded set …”
“ … most of us don’t want to join somebody else’s bounded set …”
Here's a link to a couple of talks that my father-in-law sent me. Each talk is about 2 hours long so you might need to listen over several sessions.
http://www.nycvineyard.org/resources/resources.php?page=schmelzer
It’s slightly abstract, but is there any value in looking at life through these lenses?
“ … most of us don’t want to join somebody else’s bounded set …”
Here's a link to a couple of talks that my father-in-law sent me. Each talk is about 2 hours long so you might need to listen over several sessions.
http://www.nycvineyard.org/resources/resources.php?page=schmelzer
It’s slightly abstract, but is there any value in looking at life through these lenses?
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