Sunday, January 24, 2010 was a significant Sunday for not just me, but our entire church. After some tense weeks, lots of rumors, frustration, hurt, anger, and a slew of other things our senior leadership team had a significant breakthrough. There had been some disagreements and tension within the five men that lead our church (this is all public knowledge). So the five senior leaders decided that something had to be done about the tension they were feeling with each other, which led to a two day get-a-way where they were going to solve it all.
The 24th is when Pastors Steve and Bret came back and told the church what was going on and how it was getting resolved.
Since we’ve been studying 1 Corinthians in January, Bret took us to chapter 3 verses 1 through 4 which says:
Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?
Bret then went on to say that he and Steve had been quarreling and that they were mere men. We are called to live for Christ, which is a set apart life that is different in every aspect from our worldly ways. However, we often times resort back to the old ways of living and when we do, we are acting like mere men.
This is where my revelation came, though. Yes, I know they will mess up, but I also know that they (and the rest of the leadership team) will continue to seek God and listen to His guidance in all things. I had never thought of Pastor Steve and Pastor Bret as mere men. When Bret said that he and Steve were mere men, my whole perspective on these Godly men changed. I don’t think I’ll ever look at them the same again.
Thanks Pastor Steve and Pastor Bret for your openness and honesty about some tough issues. Especially about this “mere men” thing that you have kept hidden for all these years.
Chris Chaudoin over and out
So good times were had by all at Passion. It was an awesome time of intense worship, solid teaching, breakout sessions, chalxin’ (yeah I said it) and hanging out with my wife. Fourteen hours in a car together does good things to a marriage. Lots of talking and processing on the way back. I’d say my biggest takeaway came from my breakout session taught by Gabe Lyons who wrote the book Unchristian. It’s about non-Christians responses to a survey about Christians and how they perceive them. The thing that caught my attention though was he talked about the full Gospel vs. a half Gospel. At its very basic the full Gospel includes creation at the beginning and restoration at the end, whereas the half Gospel only includes our sin and need of a Savior. It has caused me to think a lot and I’ll probably read a book on it to delve further into the subject. But for now, enjoy this video of highlights from Passion 2010.
http://www.vimeo.com/8602275
So, after Trunk or Treat, all of those that stayed to the end of clean up went to IHOP (that’s the international house of pancakes…not prayer). We ordered and got our food, and Pastor Dave also got his food. Just by looking at what he got, I could tell it was crepes with hollandaise sauce on it. Before even tasting it, he picks up the Old Fashioned syrup container (not to be confused with the butter pecan one, which looks very similar) and starts pouring it all over his crepes. Many times crepes are served with something sweet so syrup is not out of the question, but with hollandaise sauce? Then he proceeded to salt them. I don’t care who you are, salt and syrup is delicious. At this point I ask him what he is doing and what exactly he ordered. He can’t remember, so we ask the waiter. Dave got the Chicken Florentine Crepes. Here is the description of them from the menu, “Chicken Breast strips sauteed with fresh spinach, mushrooms and onions in light seasoning. Rolled inside two delicate crepes with swiss cheese and topped with rich hollandaise.”
Now if that doesn’t scream “pour syrup on me!”, I don’t know what does. So I told the waiter that Dave had poured syrup on his dinner. His response was, “WHAT?!?!?!” and his eyes bugged out so much I thought I was going to have to catch them and put them back into their sockets. Then when he found out it was Dave he said, “Oh it’s a breakfast food, so you can pour syrup on it…plus he’s paying so I have to be nice.”
Dave then decides that regular syrup isn’t doing the trick, so he goes for the strawberry syrup. At this point, our table had ridiculed him so much he decided to go to another table where he wouldn’t be oppressed for his eating habits. But we snagged a picture (below) before he left us.
I think though that Dave was living out Psalm 63:5 “My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.” We were praising God for a great Trunk or Treat night, and eating rich food. Rich, hollandaised, old fashioned syruped, salted, strawberry syruped, food. How sweet it was.
Who wants some syrupy goodness?
Okay, so this survey is for an upcoming series we are doing called Infiltrate about culture, it’s influence, and how we, as followers of Christ, should engage it. So take this survey (it’s anonymous) and be honest. We want to be able to address the issues you face as teens so help us help you! Click here for the survey!
Lost: Week 1- Tuesday
Read: Luke 15:5-6
A guy had lost his sheep and when he finds it, he’s not angry at the sheep for running away. He doesn’t beat the sheep, yell at it, or even punish it in any way. The shepherd puts it on his shoulders, taking the sheep home. But notice how this is done. It’s done joyfully! If it were me, I would be frustrated that my sheep ran off and I would hit it with a stick to make it run back to the rest of the flock. But this story isn’t just about sheep. It’s a parable so that means it is a story we can understand that paints a picture of God and His characteristics.
So what does a shepherd carrying a sheep home joyfully have to do with us? I’m glad you asked. Firstly, the shepherd represents Jesus as he came to seek and save the lost (that’s us!). But the shepherd can also represent us because Jesus tells us who follow Him to go and make disciples, meaning that we find those who need Christ, and share His love with them. The problem occurs when Christians do not look for the lost sheep or they do not do it joyfully. There are people that go to public places and yell at people and tell them how awful they are. Then they try to tell them about Jesus, but who wants to know about the God of Love and His Son when they have just been put down in an awful manner? In the same manner that Jesus rescued us, we should go out and rescue others joyfully as well. Jesus picks us up and carries us home to His loving Father. We should go and do likewise.
What is hard about looking for those who need Christ and bringing them home (not to your house, but into God’s house, in His presence)?
Who, besides Jesus, has helped carry your difficulties in life?
How did you feel towards that person?
Who have you helped lead to Christ?
If no one comes to mind, who can you pray for this week that needs to know Christ?
Ask God to show you one person that needs to know Christ. Ask God to give you wisdom in talking to them about His love and forgiveness through Christ. Pray that God would help you to be bold in talking to these people, but also to do it joyfully.
Lost: Week 1- Monday
Read: Luke 15:3-4
Jesus begins to tell the people (tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, and the teachers of the law) a parable. A parable is a short story that has a deeper meaning and teaches a lesson. Parables usually include things that we use in every day life and are relevant to the culture. So, this particular parable would have been relevant to the people and culture of Jesus’ time.
The parable talks about sheep, which would have been of great value to someone living back in the time of Jesus.
What would be something that would be of great value to you now?
When was a time that you searched high and low for something that you lost?
What was going through your mind as you searched for your lost item?
The person in the parable leaves his 99 sheep to go search for the one lost sheep.
What risk is the person taking, leaving his 99 sheep in the open country?
What does this tell you about the shepherd’s feeling for his sheep?
The shepherd in the parable can be compared to God and the sheep can be compared to you and me and people in general.
How do you feel knowing that God searches for His lost people?
Have you ever felt lost in any situation? Lost in understanding school? Lost in what to do with your friends? Lost with figuring out who you are as a person?
What are some other ares you could be lost in?
Give up your lost feelings to the Lord and know that He wants to find you and help you get through this life. Pray and ask God for help and for wisdom. He will help you.
LOST
Week1
Sunday
Read: Luke 15:1-2
Imagine people that you would never hang out with. Maybe these people were jerks to you, maybe they are a teacher’s pet, maybe you just don’t like their face.
Tax collectors in Jesus’ day were the worst. They often cheated people out of money and kept it for themselves. They would demand citizens to pay outstanding amounts of money and kick them out of their homes when they couldn’t pay.
But the Pharisees ran the church. They were respected and everyone obeyed the laws they put into place.
Why do you think that the Pharisees did not want to have compassion on these “sinners”?
Why do you think that Christ wanted to spend time with them?
As you go about your day, consider how you are treating people that you don’t have any reason to like. How would Jesus treat those people? What can you do to be more like him?
Worship Is…
Week 4
Saturday
Read: John 4:39-42
These people called Samaritans were separate from the Jews, God’s chosen people. (P.S. People that aren’t Jews, including you probably, are called ‘Gentiles.’) For a rerun of why the Samaritans were separate, look to Sunday’s devotional. Remember that the Jews think that Samaritans are scum. If you read vs. 27, you’ll see that even the disciples didn’t understand why Jesus would talk with such a woman. But, lucky for us, Jesus reaches out to everyone, not just the people in the ‘in crowd.’
What happened because this woman shared her story?
What was the woman’s testimony?
What’s your story, or testimony, with God and what he’s done with your life. (It often helps to write it down.)
How can you live out you testimony in your life? How can people know who Jesus is by what you say and do? Everything that you do today matters. Will your actions today just glorify yourself, or will they glorify God?
Worship Is…
Week 4
Friday
Read: John 4:27-30
I know that Jesus wouldn’t like it, but when I read this I just kind of want to shake this woman. After Christ explained things, she’s still convinced that someone else will come along and make things easier to understand. But how are we the same? How often do we look at what God has done in the world and in our lives, and yet not be satisfied with it? When I think about that, I know that I’m the one that God needs to give a little shaking to.
Have you ever asked God what to do and not like the answer he gave you?
How did you respond—did you turn away or obey?
What is this woman missing out on by not hearing Jesus wholeheartedly?
Is there anything you think you might have missed out on? If so, did not listening to God really make life any easier?
Ask God to give you ears to hear today. As you interact with people or do things by yourself, listen deeply for God’s answers to your questions and his will for your life.
Worship Is…
Week 4
Thursday
Read: John 4:19-26
This conversation keeps changing subjects, doesn’t it? The woman has asked what she can do to get the living water, and now she thinks that if she worships in the right place it will make things right. But is it about where you worship God—whether it’s at church or school or home or at Aunt Marmy’s house where 13 cats live?! No! It’s not about where you worship, but about worshiping in spirit and in truth.
Read the passage again. What do you think, according to these words that God expects from you?
Why is Jesus taking so much time to get through to this woman? Why does it matter so much?
How does what he says define what your relationship with God should be like?
Worship wherever you are today. Remember the things you are thankful for no matter where you are, and look for ways to tell others why you are thankful.
