mission management

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

1 Corinthians 16.  Reading this chapter is like reading the minutes to a business meeting.  You get an idea of the things that are high on the agenda for Paul and his missionary team.

  1. Benevolence offering for the needy in Jerusalem.
  2. Plans to visit and minister in Corinth.
  3. Sending Timothy for a short-term visit.
  4. Apology for Apollos’ delay.
  5. Encouragement for the Corinthians to recognize and follow those who serve among them.
  6. Thanks for those who the Corinthians sent to help Paul.
  7. Greetings.

This agenda reveals that Paul and his team are deeply committed to discipling the Corinthian believers, and for meeting the needs of believers elsewhere as well. They are grateful to receive ministry as well as give it.  Love reigns, and people matter.

LORD, may our ministry be managed by our love for you,  our love for the people we serve, and our love for  the people we work with.

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good news and bad news

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12549 Isaiah 2.  The prophet has good news and bad news. First, the good news.  The light of the LORD will some day bring peace between the nations, ending the need for swords and spears.  The prophet calls on God’s people to walk in that light (and that peace) today.  But he also has bad news. Before the deliverance happens, there will be judgment, because the house of Jacob is full of things from the east:  fortune-tellers, foreign allegiances, stuff, idols. All these things keep the children of Jacob from being faithful to their LORD. 

LORD, help us to get rid of all the stuff in our lives that is keeping us from being faithful to you. Prepare us for your reign.

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joyful noise

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

 SDC12567 Psalm 98.  With earthquakes, tsunamis and wars and strife all around us, is it appropriate to make a joyful noise to the LORD?  Yes, because of what he has done for this planet.  He has been faithful to Israel and brought forth the Messiah as he promised. He has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations through that same Messiah.

LORD, forgive us for being short-sighted. We only see the pain, when you have already administered the cure.

Thank you for caring so much for us that you have revealed your righteousness and remembered your covenant.

I pray for my friends today, that no matter what personal pain they face — it will not keep them from rejoicing in Christ.

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victory through resurrection

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12558 1 Corinthians 15.  It is clear from what Paul says in this chapter that some in the Corinthian churches were trying to downplay the doctrine of the resurrection.  Paul encourages the Corinthians to continue to preach it, because the victory that the believer has is the resurrection.  If you take away the resurrection, Christianity is an empty religion with no real hope, and believers are “of all people most to be pitied” (19).   The reason is that all human beings are born mortal. We have a death sentence hanging over us because of Adam’s rebellion.  We imitate Adam by being creatures who return to the dust.  But the resurrection gives us an opportunity to imitate Christ, the man from heaven (48).  This will happen at the last trumpet, when Christ returns (52-53).    The resurrection is our victory.

LORD, give us the courage and the wisdom to keep preaching the resurrection.

Posted in conditional immortality, courage, mortality, resurrection, second coming | Tagged | 1 Comment

when worship makes God sick

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12554 Isaiah 1.  The Israelites are continuing their worship in the temple, but there is so much wickedness in their lives that the worship makes God sick.  He threatens to come as a consuming fire and destroy them. Only a few survivors will be rescued because they repent and clean up their lives.  Everybody else will be destroyed.  God cannot tolerate unrighteousness among those who claim him as their father.  It is time for his people to start acting like it.

LORD, may we — your people — get our lives sorted out before our worship makes you sick.

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the sovereign over situations

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12552 Psalm 97.  The nations know all about their gods. There is no mystery that cannot be explained by the specialist, for a price.  But the God of Israel is shrouded in darkness and mystery.  The nations can manipulate their gods with the right offering, or the right ritual.  But righteousness and justice are the  foundation of the God of Israel’s throne. He cannot be bought off.  The nations play around with their gods of limited power and authority, but Israel’s God is most high over all the earth; he is exalted above all gods.

LORD, I praise you for your infinite power, righteousness and glory.

I confess that I often feel powerless — and I shouldn’t — because you are my God, and all power is yours.

I thank you for reminding me today that things are under control, because they are all under you.

I pray for my friends today who are overwhelmed by the circumstances of their lives. I pray that you give them each a reminder today that you are sovereign in their situations.

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word problems

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12551 1 Corinthians 14.  All of the problems that Paul was dealing with here have to do with speaking in church. He identifies three specific problems:
1) too many people were “speaking in tongues” instead of prophesying;
2) too many people were speaking all at once, which was leading to confusion;
3) some of the women of the congregation were speaking, and, for some reason that too was causing disorder.

In verse 12, Paul encourages the Corinthians to keep striving to excel in building up the church. That is the BIG IDEA that Paul is trying to get across in chapters 12-14. May we never forget that. We need to constantly evaluate ourselves to see if the things we are doing when we meet together are actually building up the body. If First century Corinth could have problems – even after being founded by Paul himself – then we have no reason to assume that the 21st century church is immune.
_________
LORD, before we say anything in church, help us to ask ourselves “will this help the people who hear it?” If it will not help, give us the consideration and love to keep our mouths shut!” Amen.

For more information about 1 Cor. 14, see http://jeffersonvann.blogspot.com/2010/08/call-for-edifying-manifestations.html

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universal worship

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12550 Psalm 96. The LORD is worthy of the worship of all the earth for what he alone has done.  The other gods are worthless idols, but he has made the heavens (1-6).  The LORD is worthy of the worship the families of the peoples because of his glory and strength (7-9). The LORD is worthy of the worship of all the nations because he reigns, and is coming to judge the earth (11-13). 

LORD, i confess that my view of you is often too small. I see you as my personal savior when you are the creator-redeemer-judge of the universe.

Thank you for opening my eyes to your greatness.

I pray for my friends, that you give each of them a glimpse of your universal worth-ship today.

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loving service

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12549 1  Corinthians 13.  Paul is still addressing the divisions caused in the Corinthian churches by those who are partial to one or the other minister.  They valued those gifted with good communication skills, insight, faith, generosity, sacrificial commitment — and who wouldn’t?  But Paul said that all these characteristics are nothing if the servant  simply uses his or her giftedness to gain a following, but does not serve out of love.  Loving service is humble service because it realizes the temporary nature of knowledge compared with the eternal value of relationship.

LORD, may those of us who lead in your family first learn how to love our brothers.

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they heard his voice

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12548 Psalm 95.  The Israelites heard God’s voice one day,and he said “keep going, I will sustain you.”  But all their fear said “we have no water. ”  Later, they heard his voice, and it said “take the land.” But their fear said “But there are giants there.”  They went astray in their heart.

LORD,  I confess that my fear has been getting in the way of my obeying your voice.  I have hardened my heart. I have been failing the test.  Forgive me, Father.

Thank you for being gracious and not condemning me.  I wait on you for your deliverance.

I pray for my friends today, as they also have opportunity to listen to your voice, to obey — to keep going in the right direction. Give them loyal hearts.

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