Tuesday, January 31, 2017

How To Find a Church



~ Finding the Right Local Church is Extremely Important ~

Introduction  ~  Finding an excellent local church can many times be very difficult.  The goal should be to find a church where the leaders (not just the senior pastor) are becoming more and more Christ-like and where the church is as close as possible to the early New Testament churches.  How do we do find that kind of church?  By all means the choice should be bathed in earnest prayer.  Here are a few things to evaluate during church visits.

Leadership That Is Careful With Doctrine  ~  Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).  Search for a church which is Christ-like in care for correct doctrine.

Leadership That Is Careful With All The Sheep  ~  “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.  For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or, ‘Sit here at my footstool,’ have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:1-4).  Search for a church which exhibits Christ-like care for all the sheep. 

One way to evaluate this is to watch the pastor (and other spiritual leaders) before and after the service.  Who do they mingle with and who do they seem to avoid?  One result of this type of leadership is a friendly congregation which welcomes visitors.  Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).

Leadership That Is Careful With Their Own Lifestyle  ~  As a mentor to Timothy the Apostle Paul wrote, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.  Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.  Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.  Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.  Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:12-16).  Paul walked his talk and could also write, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).  Search for a church with leaders who are truly seeking to be Christ-like in their personal lives. 

Additional Thoughts  ~  (1) When our family was small my wife and I deliberately chose our local church based heavily upon where our children would grow spiritually.  This was much more important to us than the best fit for us as a couple.  (2) You may desire to review a previous post entitled “Church Choice” (Looking for a New Church?) which was posted on May 22, 2012. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:
(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.
(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.
(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 
(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Monday, January 30, 2017

Identity in Christ, 108



~ I Am Destined to Return to Earth With Christ ~

Introduction  ~  When Christians understand the various characteristics and aspects of the birthright which came with their second birth, they comprehend their identity in Christ.  Once Christians understand their identity, their destiny is also clear!  This series of “Abundant Life Now” posts will look at one of those facets each week. 

This Week’s Verse  ~  “Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.  And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13).

~~~ EXPLANATORY “IDENTITY IN CHRIST” NOTES ~~~  
(1)  Each Monday ALN posts an example of Scripture’s description of aspects/characteristics of Christians—those who have personally trusted in Jesus Christ, The Messiah, as their personal Savior.
(2)  This series is not intended to be an exhaustive list.
(3)  God the Father described Himself to Moses as the great “I AM” (Exodus 3:14).  God the Son also said “I AM” (John 8:58). 
(4)  Jesus Christ is the Son of God and several times in the Gospel of John He refers to Himself as “I am.  I am the Bread of Life” (6:35-51), “I am the Light of the World” (8:12, 9:5), “I am the Door” (10:7-9), “I am the Good Shepherd” (10:11-14), “I am the Son of God” (10:36), “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (11:25), “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (14:6), “I am in the Father, and the Father in Me … Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me” (John 14:10-11), and “I am the True Vine” (15:1-5). 
(5)  Individual Christians are also sons and daughters of God.  This series will show some of the various “I am” aspects of a Christian. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:
(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.
(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.
(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 
(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Jesus Saw, 30of30



~ Jesus Christ Sees Individuals, and He Sees You! ~

This is the final post in our “Jesus Saw” series. 

Introduction  ~  In this series we have seen multiple examples of Jesus seeing individuals—not crowds! 

How Do You Think God Sees You?  ~  This is not just an academic question, rather it is an important question to your satisfaction, happiness, and joy in this life.  Strange as it is many spend much of their time worrying about how other people see them and very little time contemplating how the God of this universe sees them. 

Some Options  ~  Some people think that since “God is love” they can assume that no long-term harm will come to them.  Some think God is like a great cosmic teacher who grades on a curve: all I have to do is be better than the next guy.  Others might think God is disappointed in them… or angry with them… or surprised by their actions.  Some have given up and decided there is no way to meet God’s standards—so why try? 

The Truth  ~  You are in fact unable to measure up to God’s standard of righteousness, and yes, God is love and He loves you as the individual you are!  That is why He sent His Son to pay the penalty of your sin.  “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:14-17).

True Options  ~  There are only two options.  Either you remain separated from God because of your sin and are bound to an eternity separated from God OR you accept His provision and are reunited with God and headed to an eternity in heaven with Jesus Christ. 

Separated From God  ~ Hell is a real eternal place.  It is punishment which is described in Scripture as a bottomless pit (Revelation 20:3-6), a prison (1 Peter 3:19, a place of torment (Luke 16:21), a fire (Matthew 13:42-50), and as a worm that never dies (Mark 9:44-48).  It is also called the second death (Revelation 21:8), and the wrath of God (Romans 2:5).  Perhaps the one of the most significant descriptions is a place of darkness (Matthew 8:12 and Jude 13) which is in contrast to heaven which will be full of light (Revelation 22:5).

United With God  ~  Jesus Christ said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

the key question:  “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).  This is the most important question you will ever answer.  If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:
(1)   The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.
(2)   There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.
(3)   You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 
(4)   You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .