Help
Apr 28, 2004 Print This Post
{ MOOD: Great | NOISE: Birdies }
I really need your help. I am starting a new series next week called “This or That.” Basically, the idea is “We think God is really concerned with THIS when he is really concerned about THAT. Anyhoo, I think it is a great idea, but I am having trouble narrowing the field on this one. So, what would you suggest? What are areas where we have a wrong view on what God is concerned about? I need 4 solid ideas (Mark is going to do one, which will make 5 weeks in the series).
April 29th, 2004 at 9:46 am
the “that” I’ve really been struck with has been Jesus’ focus on our need to forgive if we are to receive the Fathers forgiveness. I always brushed off these two passages but they are pretty challenging. Matthew 6:14-15 // Matthew 18:21-35
April 29th, 2004 at 10:13 am
this: looking good to those who know us; having kind attitudes toward them; helping them, loving them.
that: he’s ALSO interested in our attitudes toward those who piss us off, cut us off on the freeway, go too slowly in the check out-line, say horribly hurtful things about us, blow up innocent people, decieve hordes, etc; we’re supposed to pray for those who piss us off and intentionally or unintentionally hurt us…(do good to those who hurt you; invite someone to dinner who can’t pay you back, etc)
April 29th, 2004 at 11:43 am
I’m thinking about our reactions to death, and what God’s role is in death. He’s not just up there pushing buttons and carrying out his plan. When we mourn, he mourns. He is crying with us and sharing in our sorrow.
April 29th, 2004 at 12:16 pm
This: Our concern for right behavior. what a Christian is supposed to look like. how we are supposed to be fighting the good fight against such ‘enemies’ of God like abortion, homosexual agenda,or dare i say it EVOLUTION!!!
THAT: God is concerned about our behavior but is it possible he is more concerned with showing people GRACE rather than a set of rules. i had an 8th grader say out of the blue ‘maybe we don’t talk about or show grace because we don’t do it. maybe to learn what grace means we have to live it first.’
smart kid…i should just quit and let him have my job.
April 29th, 2004 at 11:09 pm
this: God is concerned with just my personal butt “getting into heaven”
that: God really has a more universal view of what salvation means that our individualistic take on it. Our American/Western version of gospel seems to have less to do with God and more to do with “me”
We have lost our identity with Kingdom living and have turned gospel into another self-help club. Read “Stormfront: The Gospel of God” (if you haven’t) as a great resource.
peace
April 29th, 2004 at 11:11 pm
ok – just in case anyone freaks out about my use of the term “universal” – it isn’t referring to the universalistic take on doctrine…
April 30th, 2004 at 9:34 am
or how about this:
we think God somehow cares more about American’s when he really loves everyone, even our enemies.
May 5th, 2004 at 4:44 pm
Yeah…John Eldredge’s new book “Waking the Dead” talks about how 1) things in this life are not as they seem (he talks lots about the Matrix and the Lord of the Rings); 2) We are at war and 3) We have a hugely significant part to play. It’s a fabulous read…highly recommend it.