the Challenge: Acts 9
Well, here's your chance to respond, to rebuke, to take the challenge. Some of the key points form this week's word.
...faith is deeper than belief. It is defined by our actions
...what in my life needs to be addressed, what is the priority?
...never underestimate the transfoming power of our God.
...what if we were known not for what we believed but for "the way" that we lived?
... why is it that -people in- (added based on T's comments) the church so often don't look any different than the world we live in?
... do you have accountability?
...I've identified mine, at least one of them. What's your TV?
...how can we as a community hold each other to this?
1 Peter 3:15 - "Be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have."
What do you think?
I think that is one of things to think about when introducing a church to someone whose world is different. It wasnt so long ago that I walked through those doors looking for something different than my world had become and what made me come back it was the hope that someday I could be as grace-filled and moved - to be. I made that decision to come back because in the GRAND PICTURE, I could identify with what was said, or perhaps I could see in myself someone in the congregation. (It helped that the music was peppy and someone actually said hi and meant it.)
Ill go on record and state that Work is my TV and its been so hard to change the habits to fill the space with other, more meaningful pursuits. Honestly, two weeks ago when the challenge went out to think of our own tvs, it was a beautiful sunny day and my plan was head in to work to finish up a few projects and get ahead of my week. As I stuck my key in the ignition and pulled out of the church parking lot the thought nagged at the front of my head why was I wasting a beautiful day a day meant to reset to go into work?
Ok so I admit I did go to work, but only for an hour and then the rest of the day I really thought about what I had let my job become to my life the all consuming time warp that has sometimes gotten in the way of relationships and most sincerely has been my most convenient excuse. So these last two weeks Ive made a concentrated effort and I know it sounds so silly but its been an effort to find something I can do by myself that isnt work. I guess accountability is the next thing to tackle
(Comment this)
Is faith an "action" or is it something that just comes along with belief?
There is this man at work I've observed and admired - the way he chooses to live his life isn't extraordinary - he just puts his faith into practice in small ways. He's considerate and kind. But there's more to my observation - its the choices he makes that indicate his resolve to live a life with God at the center of it. At some point I thought about him and wondered ...could I do that?
So - I thought - sign me up - it looks like a great life.
However what I'm finding is that it sure is a whole lot more work and dedication than I ever thought possible. In the end though, as I'm making changes (or finding my "tv") the last few weeks have been sincerely better than the previous two. I can only imagine what such a decision by a community might mean.
(Comment this)
Perhaps its how we see ourselves in the world and church that are what's different about those settings? I went back and read the context from 1 Peter 3 and 4 (something I'll be praying on for sure) and then got to thinking about Saul and his transformation. My own struggle with this is that there is a certain comfort level I have with expressing my faith through words and actions in a church setting but when I get outside, the temptations and risks and something still unknown and maybe a little uncomfortable to articulate make it easy to follow my own way instead of THE WAY. Maybe transformation in some of us isnt as apparent as scales falling from eyes but rather a subtle idea that we are all just one person and we can try and dedicate time and energies towards living the life God means for us to live and when we fail and fall from that ideal, we just re-focus, reset and try again? Is that too simple? Is that too lazy? Is that too easy? (Just questions Im asking myself.)
Whats been most interesting from this sermon series is that Im more aware of the details of the day, the interaction of others and in the quiet spaces of reflection, what things need work.
At work we create Individual Development Plans ways to stretch our comfort zones to become better employees (okay so perhaps I took that straight from the employee manual) however I dont wonder if the same might be applicable here what are ways to stretch to get over being uncomfortable and just make living a faith-centered life who we are?
(Comment this)
Accountability seems to be a major key point in holding ourselves and each other to this life of faith. I know that in examination of my own life I can relate to Paul in the scriptures when he says he is the chief of sinners (1 Timothy). I too find that I get in line right behind him, and that is usually the Words conviction without even speaking really.
But what of that? What of accountability? How does one hold them self to accountability within the faith that they hold? Its almost as if you need accountability for accountability itself.
My wife and I have as much open and honest communication about everything in life (and I mean EVERYTHING). We dont hold back. It is in this everyday conversation that we hold each other accountable to many things in and of life. But then again life often gets in our way too doesnt it?
In response to T: Is faith an "action" or is it something that just comes along with belief?
I would have to say, yes, and just that one word yes. I see it as faith is a gift upon the belief or action of belief. Belief is something that comes only by faith but how is this? When the word faith is mentioned I think in terms of a foundation that is unseen. Now, there are many foundations that we cant see and so too it goes within the realm of faith. Where is the faith focused? Now comes the angle of belief. We (as Christians) place all of our faith upon/within the belief that Christ came to earth, lived as man, died as a perfect sacrifice (never having sinned) and rose from the dead for the all of the sins of all of mankind for all time. The key question lying behind all of this for me becomes this: whats your true motivation? Action that comes out of the motivation will be the action of where your foundation truly lies. At this point I convict myself and note how my claimed foundation is not always my faith. How do I get it to the point that it always is? Perhaps we have come full circle then. We are back at that word of accountability. But accountability only goes so far in a fallen world. I like to add a dash of hope to this accountability that hope is this: 1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Then again, perhaps it is something left to be unexplained (after all it is not for us to know everything, eh?). Until that day comes of entering into His glory, I shall press on with the help of Him who died for me in this world I live in today. Amen (Comment this)
Pondering about this the last few days with friends - one mentioned a verse from James 2 "Faith without deeds is dead" which led me to read the first few chapters there. Granted it seems this focuses on "works" instead of works AND belief and I still think the two have to go hand in hand. (Of course our conversation also led to the audience that James was writing to which spun off another discussion about how to apply the lessons of the bible to the everyday world.)
I like Greg's question/comments about motivation and how to get to the point that the motivation is driven by faith. I'd like to think that we'd always be motivated to act but realistically I know that won't happen all the time. So why not as a community of believers don't we up the ante? And maybe that's just the purpose of this whole sermon series? Identify and explore where we need to improve our walk in life, find ways to implement action...the marks of movement to a deeper meaning? (Comment this)
Pondering about this the last few days with friends - one mentioned a verse from James 2 "Faith without deeds is dead" which led me to read the first few chapters there. Granted it seems this focuses on "works" instead of works AND belief and I still think the two have to go hand in hand. (Of course our conversation also led to the audience that James was writing to which spun off another discussion about how to apply the lessons of the bible to the everyday world.)
I like Greg's question/comments about motivation and how to get to the point that the motivation is driven by faith. I'd like to think that we'd always be motivated to act but realistically I know that won't happen all the time. So why not as a community of believers don't we up the ante? And maybe that's just the purpose of this whole sermon series? Identify and explore where we need to improve our walk in life, find ways to implement action...the marks of movement to a deeper meaning? (Comment this)