Friday, January 29, 2010

Accountability

Taken from Extreme Teen Bible

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” - James 5:16

Real accountability keeps your growing and keeps you honest. Meeting regularly with some friends who love you and who love Jesus will strengthen you as a Christian. As you confess your sins to each other, pray together, and grow closer as friends, you'll begin to pull for one another.

Accountability can help you conquer areas you've been struggling with. People who have real accountability in their lives seem to grow faster than people who don't. They work as a team and as a family to become more like Jesus. The Lord is pleased with relationships like that.

I know that for me, meeting with Jeff and Steve for accountability is an awesome thing. We catch up on the more serious things in life and pray together. Every time we get together, I feel refreshed spiritually because we're together for Jesus. We encourage each other and push each other towards Christ because honestly, we're human and we're not perfect. It's uplifting for me because I know that when I face a huge wall of problems, I'm not alone. I got my bros.

“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” - Proverbs 27:17

As a Christian, you don't have to walk the path alone. You have the body of Christ with you. We're here to care for you and help you grow. So if you don't have accountability or discipleship... Talk to Ben, Jon, Jenn, or Cheryl.

Friday: Pray for the Church (Big C)
Pray for Christian based organizations (ex. Feed my starving children) and their role in helping bridge the Big C Church

Thursday, January 28, 2010

The Wait

Long ago, in a galaxy far far away, there were three brothers living in a corrupt country which I’m gonna name Durutia. One brother was a successful businessman, one was a surgeon, and the third was a revolutionary. The revolutionary was respected for his charismatic leadership of his guerilla regime and his military strategy and prowess. Eventually, this brother conquered and ascended to take the throne of Durutia’s rival country, (uhhh thinking of a name…) Arinne. This man, the new emperor loved his brothers dearly and contacted them via some really high-tech communication system. The emperor wanted his brothers next to him, but knew that Durutia would never let them move to Arinne. However, the emperor had been planning to conquer Arinne, and was slowly building his resources and his kingdom, knowing that he could kill two birds with one stone; destroy the evil Durutia regime and retrieve his brothers. So he told his brothers to wait for the day that Durutia collapses, to keep their noses clean and start severing ties with the country. In return, the emperor promised his brothers thrones of their own and unity as a family, but it would take time for this to happen. So the brothers were sent off with orders to not fall to the corruption of Durutia and that the next time they would hear from the emperor would be when he came for them.
Well, the years went by, and nothing really happened…it seemed like Arinne disappeared off the map. The businessman had given up hope and fell to the temptations of the world around him. He used his wealth to buy cars and clothes and hosted raucous parties. He bribed officials whenever he got into trouble with the law, which, by the way, was a lot. On the other hand, the surgeon had given up his practice, donated all his money and possessions, and did work as a hired hand, all the time knowing in his heart that his brother the emperor would never forsake him. Well, this went on for a decade, and still there was no sign of the emperor. Then one day, you guessed it, Arinne had industrialized rapidly and the emperor had incorporated other countries together and formed an army of massive proportions. The emperor came and crushed Durutia. The country was leveled and the government razed, buildings and houses were burned down, and the corruption of Durutia came to an end. The emperor gathered his two brothers and asked them, “So did you do what I asked of you?” The emperor saw what the surgeon had sacrificed and gave him a position as a duke. However, when the emperor saw what the businessman had become, he became very angry and cast the businessman away, saying, “You did not believe in me! You had no faith in me and I am insulted! Out of my sight!”
Read 2 Peter 3:1 – 18
My little narrative is an example of this passage. This teaches us to keep steady in our faith, to wait and trust that one day, even if it isn’t in our lifetime, God will come and claim his kingdom. We cannot fall to the temptations of this world, because there are so much better things waiting for us in another world…God’s world.

Thursday: Pray for the church (small c)
Thank God for the church, that he has provided us a place to gather and worship him.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

On MY Spiritual Life.

Read: 2 Peter 2 and 2 Peter 3:1

2 Peter 2 is about what false teachers are like, and what they’ll get in time. But why did Peter write this? Here, we look at 2 Peter 3:1 - Peter did this as part of a goal to show us how to thinking wholesomely. In a way, 2 Peter 2 is a negative example of that: how not to think. Now, false teachers are everywhere and we shouldn’t be surprised when some heresy pops up surrounding them. But exposing heresies is important so that we can be prepared to deal with them.

So what heresies should we be on the lookout for in 2010, and even beyond? There are many, to be sure, but I think almost all of them can be boiled down to one word: individualism. For those of you who don’t know, individualism is all about me, myself, and -- yes you got it -- moi. It’s about my stuff, my things and, oh yes, my spiritual life. You see already how it’s so easy for such a heresy to seep into the church secretly. Let me dwell on the last point, spiritual life, because we don’t see it as a problem when, really, it is a big problem.

Don’t you know, my dear friends, that your spiritual life is my spiritual life too? Let’s think: we’re the body of Christ right? Suppose I stubbed my toe, like last week because of Jeff’s stupid cat. Does my mouth and hand think, “oh, who cares?” No! My mouth responds by yelling, “MEMPO!!!!!”, and my hands respond by grabbing the nearest stick to hit the cat with, and my legs respond by quickly hobbling towards the cat so I can hit it silly. I epically failed with the hitting, so all you animal-lovers, don’t send me hate mail.

Likewise, when your spiritual life is poor, my spiritual life is adversely impacted as well. That’s why we in the Youth Group want you to share your spiritual highs and struggles. We all respond in joy and happiness when Steven Han was baptized at the waterfall a year ago and when Jeff Huang was baptized at... the WCAC “waterfall”, and react similarly when God blessed Rev. Ben and Annie with Emmaus last week!

But what about when we fall? What about when we sin? Should we not share those as well? Oh, but Henry, that’s my business. It’s something just between Jesus and me.
NO. If my brothers make a mistake in life, is it just their business? No, it’s mine too. If I make a mistake in life, does my mom think it’s just my business? No, it’s hers too. If my brothers and sisters in Christ make a mistake in life, is it just their businesses and their families’ businesses? No, no, no! Your spiritual life is of my concern, just as my spiritual life is of your concern as well. Steven Han and Jeff Huang, when they were baptized, signed themselves up to care for everybody, include their spiritual lives. And we committed ourselves (by virtue of our baptism) to care for their spiritual lives at the same time. I go further!
Don’t you know that Emmaus’ spiritual life is not just the concern of Rev. Ben and Annie, but ours as well? And the day Emmaus is old enough to understand what it means to be a Christian, our spiritual lives are of his interests as well?
That’s why individualism is so damaging to the church! A few years ago, Seung Hui Cho conducted the worst school shooting in US history at Virginia Tech. He was a quiet person at church, and nobody bothered to inquire about his spiritual life. So when he killed 17 people that fateful morning, everybody including his youth pastor was surprised. How is that possible? Because people thought that Cho’s business is his and his family’s, not theirs. I doubt something close to this is happening at WCAC, but the point is that we can’t afford not to care about others!

APPLICATION:
I think Priscilla and Ariel are doing something regarding prayer partners, so perhaps we should take advantage of that to do something. Think about sharing your sins with your prayer partner. Yes, I know, maybe in the sharing your partner will know you’re not as squeaky-clean as everyone thinks. Yes, I know, maybe in the sharing you’re digging into some part of life you don’t want to revisit. Yes, I know, maybe in the sharing your family name is not as holy and perfect as it was. But you realize that in holding back, you prevent others from having a better spiritual life, because your spiritual life is not just yours.
So plan to meet somewhere this weekend, or somewhere after school. Don’t do it during finals week, no, but do it when you have a huge block of time available. Meet somewhere, maybe at the library on 95th street, or at church. If your schedules don’t coincide, share via email, although I really don’t suggest this, ‘cause email is so impersonal compared to sharing face to face. If you don’t have a prayer partner, talk or email a Doulos leader.

Note: I assume all of you are mature enough not to gossip and share your prayer partners’ sins with everyone else without their permission. However, if anything regarding abuse or suicide is brought up, you are required (by law) to bring it to Rev. Ben or Jon Mann’s attention, privately of course.


Wednesday: Pray for friends (inside and outside church)
Pray that your friends will lift up their struggles to God. That they know that He loves them

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Stand Firm to God’s Perfect Word

As I am getting older, I definitely have these times when I think back over the things that God has done in my life. It is amazing to see the ways that God has put different people at different times and the different things that happen in my life that just drew me closer and closer to God. Do you ever just take some time to reflect and remember to share with others all the wonderful things about God? Here Peter is about to past away from this world and he is reflecting and sharing that we have to always remember God and all that He does in our lives. He is going to do that until he finally departs and gets to spend time with God in heaven, something that he eagerly desires.

Read II Peter 1:12-21

Peter wants so desperately all of us to catch the main reason for writing this section. He is one that is passionate because he is about to pass away and also because he sees people that are true and really do love Christ. He doesn’t want to see them deceived and not live fully for what God is telling them. So we see that Peter emphasizes the return of Christ in glory and judgment at the end of history
According to douglas Moo, the reason Peter focuses so narrowly on this one doctrinal point while ignoring or saying little about matters such as Christ’s atoning death, his victorious resurrection, and the work of the Holy Spirit, is clearly because the false teachers were attacking Christian truth at precisely this point. But Peter hints that he is also here thinking about the false teachers and their agenda by denying that the apostles’ teaching about Christ’s return come from “cleverly invented stories” (1:16). In the light of 3:3 – 4, we can assume that the false teachers were dismissing the truth of Christ’s return by attributing the apostles’ teaching to fables or myths.

We are being attacked today as well on the truth of God’s Word. Many are not necessarily telling us that it is fables or myths (but some do), however many are attacking the inerrancy (the Bible has no errors) of Scripture. First, how well do you know Scripture? How well are you prepared to share how you know Scripture to be true? Reflect on these two questions and ask God to show you how to prepare yourself to answer in a loving, gentle but bold way.

Tuesday: Pray for your family
Lift up any burdens that have been hurting your family.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Make Your Calling and Election Sure

Recently, I was engaged in a conversation with several students over the issue of election and free will. Basically, for them it boiled down to “does God choose me or do I choose God?” Now I understand there is curiosity to satisfy when it comes to some of the deeper and more profound aspects of what we believe, and admittedly, I fall in particular towards one side of that spectrum. But what I tried to challenge the students with was, regardless of which side of that debate they supported, how does the knowledge of God’s sovereignty or the freedom of choice affect the way we live? Does coming down on one side of the fence affect the way we follow Jesus? I believe very often we engage deep theological truths without understanding that they’re empty and hollow when we don’t allow them to transform our hearts.

Read 2 Peter 1:3-11

Now, despite my personal beliefs, I’m not trying to make a case for election. What I want to point out is that from this particular passage, it seems that Peter’s understanding of how God works is that He does indeed call us (1:3 and 1:10). But what I found so much more interesting is that even though Peter’s understanding is that God calls us, perhaps we could say “predestines us,” his exhortation to the church is concerning how they should live in light of that calling. Yes, God chose us, and we have life by grace through faith. But what does Peter say in verse 5? Because we have escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire, make every effort to live out your faith. Peter challenges them to supplement faith with virtue, or right living. Virtue with knowledge of God’s word, or else how do we know our right living is what God desires?. Knowledge is to be tempered with self-control, not flaunted to inflate our egos. Self-control with steadfastness, it must be ongoing perseverance. Steadfastness with godliness; perseverance for the sake of Christ. Godliness with brotherly affection; part of true righteousness is holiness within the context of community. And finally, brotherly affection with love. Care and concern and holiness lived within the context of community has to have for its foundation a love for each other that can only come from the Holy Spirit.

After all that, Peter says, “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” He is warning the believers not to be caught up in theological discussions that lack application to holy living.
So then the question for us is, what does our faith look like? I mean, what does it REALLY look like? Have we supplemented our faith with virtue? And our virtue with knowledge? And our knowledge with self-control? And our self-control with steadfastness? And our steadfastness with godliness? And our godliness with brotherly affection? And our brotherly affection with love?
Take some time to reflect on each one of these things. Write down which of these seem to be lacking in your own life and ask God to help you live out your faith in Him.

Sunday: Pray for the Global community
Pray for God to open our eyes to injustice that is happening in our world so we can care for His people.

Monday: Pray for your relationship with God
Pray that your will would be aligned with Gods throughout this week

Friday, January 22, 2010

Where is the Love?

I want you to listen to this song. Go onto youtube, and search “Black Eyed Peas – Where is the Love?” I know it's a secular song, but we can still see what God wants us to do through this. Personally, I think it has very powerful lyrics. So read the lyrics while you are listening to the song. Even if you've already heard it before, I want you this time to NOT sing along and truly reflect on the lyrics. Listen to it as many times as you want or only just once, but I want all of you to be praying to God and seeing what our role in the perspective of the world. Especially with the tragedy that has happened recently in Haiti.


What's wrong with the world, mama
People livin' like they ain't got no mamas
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma
Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin'
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah
Badness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how angers works and operates
Nigga, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all

[Chorus]
People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek
Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love
The love, the love

It just ain't the same, always unchanged
New days are strange, is the world insane
If love and peace is so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong
Nations droppin' bombs
Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones
With the ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young
So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone
So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong
In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin'
in
Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover
The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love

Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the love, y'all

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder
Most of us only care about money makin'
Selfishness got us followin' our own direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema
Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness in equality
Instead in spreading love we spreading animosity
Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down
There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under
Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found

We only got one world

Pray for the Church (Big C)
Pray for those who are training and going to school to become ministry workers

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Dangerous Pride

Whenever I recall my rebellious teen phase, I smile and cringe at the same time. I remember when I would never listen to my parents and did what I felt was right. I remember times when I lashed out at people who tried to bring me down and thought that I deserved respect and distance. Simply put, I was prideful and brash. But hey, a lot of teenagers go through that. Looking back though, it was so silly because it came in conflict with everything that I am learning now. Pride is the illusion that veils responsibility. Pride is the roadblock from Christ, because Christ is the ultimate sign of humility. The problem is, pride is a “Catch 22.” If you are prideful, then you probably don't know it until you have a taste of humility. Fortunately, there is a solution. It takes the form of, you guessed it, the Holy Bible! So let's take a look, shall we? (I feel like Mr. Rogers)

Read 1 Peters 5:1-14.
What strikes me the most in this passage is “God opposes the proud.” God actually opposed me when I was blinded by pride. My God, the One who created me and the entire universe, stood against my pride at that point in my life, and that is definitely humbling. My pride vs. God. You can't even make odds for that kind of match-up. Another wake-up call is knowing that pride opens the door to sin. Satan preys on those who are prideful, and the above passage tells us to resist the attacks. Therefore, the best way to defend against it is to remain humble. Being humble is a huge challenge, and is something I am currently grappling with. What really helps is to keep yourself in check, particularly the tongue. Before you say something, think about it for a second. Does it really help? Is it appropriate? Does it even matter? Another important thing to do is to strip away your perspective of yourself. For me, I just realized that I am not No. 1. It also helps to retain a serving heart. Do things that you normally wouldnt for your friends and family. I know it's hard but its a new year, so make it a resolution or something. Know that God rewards the humble and strikes down the prideful, so you should strike down your pride before He does. But be encouraged, because according to the passage, “you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”


Thursday: Pray for the church (small c)
It’s Senior High Retreat this weekend. Pray for those going, that the Holy Spirit will continue working in their lives.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Suffering in Naperville/Wheaton

Read: 1 Peter 4: 12-19 and Matthew 5: 10-12

Okay, I admit I had a lot of trouble with this passage (the 1 Peter one), but not because I have issues with suffering. Rather, I had trouble because I think we all know, more or less, that suffering is a part of the Christian calling. The problem comes in the form of two questions:
1. Why is suffering part of the Christian calling, and
2. What does that look like, especially to those of us living in the Developed First World?

Perhaps it would help to look at the Beatitudes, or if you have time, the entire Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). The key to all this is that it is in our poverty, in our mourning, in our meekness, in our hunger and thirst, etc. where we see the greatness and beauty of God and His Kingdom. When we are poor in spirit, we see the abounding richness of God. When we are in mourning, we see the comforting loving kindness our God showers upon us. In our meekness, we see the overwhelming power and strength of the God that moves mountains, the God that shatters economies, the God that determines which nations survive the next year.

No wonder John the Baptist declares that “[Christ] must become greater, I must become less. (John 3:30)” Not because St. John is being ke-chi. No - John the Baptist knows that the only way of knowing God in all His greatness and magnanimity is through backing out and letting Jesus take his place in the spotlight.
So now we return to 1 Peter. Why should we be joyful in suffering? Why must suffering be part of the Christian calling? Simply this: it is in suffering, when we lose things of this world, when we see the greatness, the glory, and the lordship of God over us. If we are not willing to suffer, it means we have bigger things in our hearts than God. Thus, to suffer is a tremendous witness for the pagans, but to avoid suffering at all costs is such a devastating example of faithlessness. If the righteous, says Peter, can’t even stick their necks out for their Jesus, what makes Jesus worth following?

Which now begs the question: what does suffering look like to the one who lives in places like America or Singapore? First off, we need to realize is that suffering needs to be context-based. In the USA and definitely Singapore, chances of you getting shot for your faith is quite small (in Singapore, it is none - no guns allowed). I would define biblical suffering as others dishing out something to you that causes great distress and unhappiness simply because of something having to do with your faith in Christ.

Maybe you got made fun of in school because you pray before meals. Or because you quote the Bible all the time. Or because of your ethic that sex is a gift reserved for after marriage. Or because you don’t argue too much for that 1 extra point on your exam because of your pacifist tendencies. Or maybe at work you don’t suck up to your bosses. Maybe you’re labelled as intolerant because you believe that Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life.

In 2003, when America was caught up in the frenzy of “patriotism”, Duke University theologian Stanley Hauerwas spoke up against the War in Iraq. He was derided by most Christians as “out of touch”, “anti-American”, and some even “anti-Christian”. The Iraq War eventually cost American taxpayers $845 billion dollars (costs still rising, by the way). Imagine how far $845 billion would’ve gone to helping the financial crisis in 2008. Hauerwas‘ critics were silenced. My friends, sometimes suffering comes in the form of rejection, from Christians and non-Christians alike.
And why all this suffering? Because in a world of sin, doing what’s right is unnatural. We live in a world of violence. Peace is unnatural. We live in a world of I-get-what-I-want. Loving our neighbors as ourselves is unnatural. We live in a world of self-glory. Humility is unnatural. We live in a world where it’s easy to ignore the victimized. To speak out for the voiceless and the victimized is unnatural.

And when we do what is unnatural to human nature, we will suffer for it. For example, Archbishop Oscar Romero, for speaking out for the poor and against the wealthy businessmen and government members of El Salvador for their oppression, lost his life for doing what’s unnatural.

Jesus instructs us to be salt of the world. Why salt? Two reasons: It preserves and sweetens. Salt preserves meat and fish by drawing out anything that can cause rot out of the meat. Meanwhile, those of you who can cook know that if you use salt correctly, it brings out the sweetness in foods. So as Christians, we keep what is noble and beautiful in our world, making the world nicer and more hospitable in return.

And sometimes, to do that, we need to suffer. So let us not be afraid of suffering when it comes. Instead, let it be more of a reason for us to continue living as Christians in a fallen world.

Wednesday: Pray for friends (inside and outside church)
Pray for your Christian friends, that they will not be swayed by outside pressures

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Living for God

Read and Reread 1 Peter 4:1-11

There may be a few people reading this that can relate to verse 3 that have lived a life where you have followed a lot of the ways of this world. Then you came to know Christ and you have been called to no longer live for these things. However, what about those that never really lived in the ways of this world. I do think we can relate to verse 4 that this world thinks we are strange that we do not do all the things that the world thinks is fun or normal. Then people begin making fun of us. Honestly, then begins this struggle of thinking what are we missing out on or would I understand all this so much more if I did do some of the things that the world does. Also, am I too innocent and goodie-two-shoed and isolated from the world. I want to challenge you with this passage as Christ has called us to know that we should be ARMED with the same attitude that He had. Christ suffered in his body and is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. Christ never lived out sin but He desired so much for people to come back into relationship with Him. When they do that, they don’t live for evil human desires but they find satisfaction and joy in living for the will of God. So don’t think about what kind of things you are missing out on in the world but live so much for God. Christ however still lived incarnated in this world so people never thought that Jesus did not understand them. So in the same way, how can we respect, love, live, understand others and still making sure to live out a life that isn’t living in sin just like Jesus?

Now some may wonder about verse 6 about preaching to people that are dead so I wanted to try to explain that. Are the “dead” those to whom Christ preached after his crucifixion (3:19), the spiritually dead who are now alive, or the Christians of Peter’s churches who have already died? The vast majority of commentators today argue that Peter is referring to Christians in Asia Minor who heard the gospel while alive but are now physically dead. Because this life is only a prelude to life after death, the gospel was preached to those who are (now) dead. And because those people will have to give an account to God for their life, everyone must hear the gospel.

Reflection – Spend some time thinking about the ways is God calling you to avoid the sins of this world? What ways are we called to live lives amongst people that don’t know Jesus that allows us to influence them more than they influence us?

Tuesday: Pray for your family
Pray for any family members that do not know God.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Be Prepared

I remember there have been so many times I’m reading through some blogs or articles online about the church or Christians, and every now and then, I come across one that is so blatantly anti Christian it hurts me to read it. It makes me sad that there are people who have so missed the point on what following Jesus is all about that they ridicule Christians because they’re uninformed or ignorant. And as much as I’m sad that Christians in this way are persecuted, there’s a part of me that wants to post on those blogs or comment at the end of the articles about how they are ignorant and foolish, and get into an online shouting match with them. But the more I think about it, if our response when we’re being ridiculed or attacked is to respond in kind, are we really defending Jesus the way he wants us to? Jesus doesn’t want us to defend him by attacking others. I firmly believe He wants us to defend His name by living like Him so that the world will see that He’s real, and that He and He alone changes lives.

Read 1 Peter 3:8-22

It seems that the believers that Peter is writing to encountered similar situations to what I see everywhere in media. Christians are being slandered and attacked because of what they believe. (I’m not talking about some of the foolishness being said, like Pat Robertson in regard to Haiti. For that situation, we just need to give him more grace and show the world that’s not how followers of Jesus think) But at times, the world is unjustly persecuting us because of who we follow. Peter writes directly to that situation. Reread 1 Peter 3:13-17.

Here’s what jumps out at me. Peter says in verse 15 “regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” He’s saying, keep in mind WHO Jesus is. He’s our King, our Savior, our Deliverer, our Sustainer, our Hope, the list goes on. If you do this, then you should always, always have an answer to why we believe what we believe and why we have hope. Jesus in me. That’s the answer.

But Peter also reminds the believers to temper the truth with gentleness and respect. Yes we have hope, we have security in Jesus. But this isn’t something to flaunt or rub in the faces of those who have no hope. We have to speak the truth in love with those around us, even when making us suffer for Jesus.
Now, maybe you’re thinking I’m not being persecuted or ridiculed for my faith, what does this have to do with me? If that’s the case, take some time to praise God for shielding you from persecution. But here’s the question: When someone does ask you about what you believe, are you not being persecuted because you don’t have an answer?

But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Sunday: Pray for the Global community
Remember those who’ve suffered from natural disasters and are still coping with the aftermath. Pray for their aid and that they look to God for strength.

Monday: Pray for your relationship with God
Confess your sins to Jesus and pray for forgiveness and a changed heart

Friday, January 15, 2010

Brothers and Sisters

1 Peter 3:1-7

Alright, none of us are wives or husbands at this age. But all of us are brothers and sisters in Christ.

So Ben gave an illustration at Joey's wedding, and it relates well with this passage.

“Someone holds up a cheap but rugged coffee mug, noting its strength. Then he holds up a $25 Laura Ashley teacup, noting it's "the weaker of the two vessels." It's more easily damaged but also the more valuable.”

Guys, we are that rugged coffee mug. And girls, you are that Laura Ashley cup. As guys, we are the stronger of the two cups. And as girls, you are the more easily damaged cup but also the more valuable. There is a difference. Therefore brothers, you all must treat your sisters with love and respect because they are more valuable. I know that I also need to work on this. This shouldn't be for ourselves or to please the ladies, but it is to please Christ.

How are we to love our brothers and sisters? Our thoughts and attitudes should be able to make us see that together, we are all called to similar things. Such as not being a stumbling block to each other. This may mean different things. Such as being not being a flirt or dressing appropriately. This should not only be for respect of each other, but also for respect of God.

By the way, the Holy Spirit is living in you. Just pray on what He is telling your heart to do.

Friday: Pray for the Church (Big C)
Pray for God’s Guidance in the furthering the development of the universal Church

Thursday, January 14, 2010

r-e-s-p-e-c-t

from Our Daily Journey with God blog

Read 1 Peter 2:13-25
Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king (v.17).
More - Obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ (Ephesians 6:5).

In what three ways can you model respect for the primary authority figures in your life? How do you show respect to God?
The top reason people leave their jobs, according to Steve Miranda of the Society for Human Resource Management, is due to bosses that belittle their employees or exhibit various forms of disrespectful behavior. “Bad bosses are energy vampires,” Miranda says.
How should you respond when you’re under the authority of a boss or someone else you struggle to respect? Motivational speaker and Olympic swimming gold-medalist Josh Davis believes, “There is never any reason to be rude or abrasive to another human being.” Davis says, “I apply a biblical principle to help me: ‘Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people’ ” (Philippians 2:14-15).
Scripture says respect should be given to . . .
• Governing authorities: “For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials He has appointed” (1 Peter 2:13-14).
• Everyone: “Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters” (1 Peter 2:17).
• Managers: “You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel” (1 Peter 2:18).
• Christian leaders: “Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other” (1 Thes. 5:12-13).
• Seekers: “If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way” (1 Peter 3:15-16).
Today, consider how God would have you demonstrate greater respect to others.


Thursday: Pray for the church (small c)
Pray for our church’s expansion project; that we will be able to raise the pledges needed for it to start.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Temples Built Not of Stone

Read: 1 Peter 2: 4-12

Two of the greatest mysteries of the ancient world concern construction. The great pyramids at Giza were some of the largest stone structures of the ancient world, built with granite boulders several tons each. Historians and archaeologists continue to debate on how the Egyptians lifted the stones into place. Macchu Picchu, the great mountaintop fortress of the Incan Empire in Peru, was built so well that you could not slip a knife blade between any two building stones!
To the Jews of the time, the only building that mattered was the Temple of Jerusalem. It was not built with the stability and structural engineering that went into Macchu Picchu, but no matter - in Jewish theology, this was where the Spirit of God lived. No wonder the Jews were confuddled when Jesus declared that if the Temple were destroyed, he could raise it in three days! I would imagine St. Peter himself was just as confused.

But a few years later the Spirit-filled St. Peter understood what Jesus meant, and he wrote to the Church in what is largely today Turkey that the Spirit lives somewhere closer: our hearts. God, instead of living in a Temple made of rock, decided to live in the Church made of human hearts. What does that look like? For that, we’ll need to zone in on verses 9-12.

Note verse 9. Peter, here, speaks about the purpose of the Church, the assembly of God (or, ekklesia). I’m going to state it here in St. Peter’s words: the purpose of the Church is to declare the praises of Him who has called the Church out of darkness into His wonderful light. Basically, it is to worship Him.
This worship is not exclusively individual, even though worship has an individual component to it. So many half-baked praise music out there is all about my faith, my life, my love, me, myself, and moi. But in verse 10, Peter reminds us that we were once not one people. We were Chinese, Taiwanese, Cantonese, mixed, Caucasian, Black, etc. Or, we were rich, poor; smart, dumb; 5.0 GPAs, not 5.0 GPAs; good-looking, fat; good universities, not-good universities. The categorization goes on.

But, as this year’s youth group theme reminds us boldly, in the Church there are no barriers to worship, no categorizations. The Spirit tears breaks dividing walls of individualism, materialism, racism, elitism, so that all can come together in unrestricted worship of our Lord Jesus Christ, made possible through the blood of Christ. Yes! The Lord our God, the great Lover of our souls, the Giver of all good things, wants no walls between Him and us! He waits for us with open arms so that we all can run to Him and all be children of the Living God! What a privilege, my friends! Have you torn down dividing walls so that you can truly take up God’s offer to be His child? Have you helped others tear down dividing walls so that they can also take up God’s beautiful offer?
As His people, we are to live a life worthy of being members of the Church. Not because we have to, but because we should. As a result some things of this world simply won’t jive with you. According to verse 11, Christians are exactly like that in this world. Now that we are the family of God, we run things God’s way, but that’s not always the way the world wants to run. Maybe you see your non-Christian friends (or even Christian ones!) doing things they shouldn’t be doing, but in the Church, we are to run away from those actions. We live in this world, yes, but we shouldn’t feel like we fit snugly. It’s as if we were, as the great theologian Stanley Hauerwas said, resident aliens living in a Christian colony in this world. We live in this world, but are ultimately never of it.
That’s why we return to verses 4-5, especially verse 5. To shape the Church to be a mighty bulwark that’s never failing, we are constantly being molded so that we look like and fit seamlessly with the Cornerstone that is Christ Jesus. This may sound remarkably like the construction of the Great Pyramids of Giza. After the slaves carved out the one-ton stones from the Aswan quarry, they’re placed together seamlessly.
But then, when the stones are all in place, they chip off the corners so that the pyramid will have smooth sides. The result is a pyramid that reflects the so well that from the ancient capital of Memphis, everyone can see the glimmering glory of the Pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure who built the pyramids.
Like the stonemasons who carved its granite stones, God chisels our lingering imperfections from our lives so that we, together, can fully reflect the glory that is His alone. So close is the bond between brothers and sisters of Christ that Satan can’t even put slide a blade of deception between two of them, just like the stones of Macchu Picchu!

So as we close today I leave all of you with a few questions to think about.
1. Do we allow God to mold and chisel us so that we fit with each other in the story of God’s work on earth? Are we like the stones of Giza and Macchu Picchu, where Satan can’t even fit a knife blade between us?
2. Are we active in tearing down dividing walls between us and God? How about helping others tear down dividing walls between them and God?

Wednesday: Pray for friends (inside and outside church)
Pray for a friend who is going through a difficult situation. Ask God to give them strength.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Be Holy

“We are to be of the world but not in the world. This can be illustrated by noticing the submarine. It is in the water but not of the water. If it is on the ground (out of the water) it is of no purpose... it is not accomplishing its mission. But when it is in the water it must be insulated (not isolated) from the water. If the water ever gets into the submarine then there is cause for alarm and emergency. We must be insulated from the world but not isolated from the world.” -- Wayne Sams

Read and Reread I Peter 1:13-2:3

What does it mean to be “holy”?
Think about the last time you thought what it means that God is holy. Now think what does it mean that since God is holy, he calls us to be holy.

Definition: Holy means the pure, loving nature of God, separate from evil.
To be holy means to be separate from evil. Therefore, we need to separate ourselves from evil, by not associating with evil, being found in a situation where one could get the idea of being evil. That doesn't mean to not have any friends that are not Christians, for even Jesus spent time with the social and religious outcasts of His day. When we associate with those people our behavior needs to demonstrate that we are different from the people or the evil things surrounding us at that given moment.

It says we are redeemed not by silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. These are powerful words and extremely applicable to us. We can’t buy our redemption or earn it. We can’t do “good stuff” and think that is the reason why we belong in God’s Kingdom. It is only by the “precious blood of Christ”. Do you see the adjective there? Precious. When was the last time you recognized that the blood of Christ is precious. Christ is perfect without any blemish which makes his sacrifice and love so precious.

Prayer Calendar
Tuesday: Pray for your family
Pray that God will provide for your family’s daily needs

Monday, January 11, 2010

Living Hope

Here we are at the start of a new set of devotionals about to embark on a study of 1 Peter. As we read through this letter that Peter sent to the churches throughout the region of Asia Minor, it would aid us greatly if we knew the situation that Peter was writing into. The Christians that Peter was writing to were facing persecution from the people around them because of their faith in Jesus. Peter’s letter to them was an encouragement to stand firm in the face of suffering and to continue to live holy lives.

Read 1 Peter 1:1-12

Knowing that the believers were facing persecution on account of their faith in Christ, Peter right away reminds them what they were suffering for. Why was the pain worth it? He reminds them, “According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” Despite all the hardship and trouble they had right now, their hope lay in heaven. Following Jesus meant that there was something to look forward to and Peter wanted to remind them of this. This was worth suffering for! But Peter also gives them assurance. Despite all the suffering, social, physical, emotional, verbal, nothing could take them away from the inheritance that had been given to them. It didn’t matter if people ultimately killed them, their hope was secure in Jesus.

I wonder how often we think about the hope that we have in Jesus. True hope. This isn’t a “I hope I get a PS3 someday” or “I hope the Chicago Bears win Sunday.” This is true real living hope that we have a guarantee of salvation in Jesus. In the face of whatever trials come our way, whether its being mocked by people at school because of what we believe, or our friends and family not understanding how everything is different for us now because of Jesus, do we stand firm because of the hope we have in Jesus?

If you’re like me, I don’t think about the hope I have in Christ nearly enough. And the problem is that as much as I try to think about it, I only understand it in my head, but it doesn’t feel real. I want to experience that hope. Take some time to ask God to show you the hope that you have in Jesus. I want to know exactly what Peter is talking about when he breaks out into praise in his letter to the churches.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

AMEN!

PRAYER CALENDAR
Monday: Pray for your relationship with God
Lift up your complaints to God. Know that he hears them and cares for you

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Core value CMA Part 7 - Faith

Achieving God’s purposes involves taking faith-filled risks; this always involves change. Hebrews 11:6

Read and reread Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

The context of this passage is the author is writing to the Hebrews that are being persecuted. He is sharing the hall of faith (which describes God's people following God with faith). There is story after story of faith that God describes. We can be so encouraged that God continues to do His work throughout the generations and uses us broken-failed people that submit themselves to God and seek him with hearts that are open to him.

I have been challenged lately to think about the ways I have lived a life that reflects one of faith. I have been asking God to allow me to take more faith-filled risks in going to places that God wants me to. Will you do the same? Can you pray that way and be open to what God is going to do?

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Core value CMA Part 6 - Holy Spirit

Without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we can accomplish nothing.

Read and Reread 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

I remember Francis Chan speaking at LIFE 2007 and repeating a phrase that still continues to ring in my head. The phrase was "NO WAY!" His testimony on how God took his life, transformed him and now is using shocks people from his past as it makes everyone who knew him in his past life say, "NO WAY" we thought you would become a pastor. He says he loves that because then it demonstrates that it is all about the Holy Spirit. Francis Chan continues to speak and be influential in the lives of Christians around the world and this again is only by the God's power. He will be the first to tell you that he wasn't a picture of a perfect Christian growing up, so much so that people from his past are blown away with what God has done in his life. God challenges us. Do we trust in the Holy Spirit? Do we invited Him in? Do we truly believe the Holy Spirit is filling us and is around us and is guiding/comforting/instructing/counseling us?

I ask you to pray for God to reveal the Holy Spirit to you. We neglect the Holy Spirit so much in our lives and the ways we live. It is now our chance to embrace the Holy Spirit, learn more about Him and pray more for Him. Let's do this together!

Prayer
Saturday: Pray for the local community
As winter continues, pray for travel safety for those living in your community

Friday, January 1, 2010

Core value CMA Part 5 - Great Commission

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Completing the Great Commission requires mobilizing every fully devoted disciple.

Read and Reread Matthew 28:18-20
I have been in such awe to see the ways God partners and uses us. I mean take a minute and think about it. The Creator of the universe who is almighty and infinite has allowed us to partner and participate in building His kingdom. That is how personal and relational our God is. We know come to the passage known as the Great Commission. Before the Great Commission is given though, Scripture tells us of the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40). All that God calls us to do in this world comes to these two things: Love God with everything and then love one another. Simple right? But without these things, we need not even think about the Great Commission. God first loved us and with this love we are called to love God and then love others which leads us to do the Great Commission. In the Great Commission Jesus tells us that He has all authority in heaven and earth. Then God calls us to GO. We must go. We are to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and to teach them to obey everything that he commanded us to do. Lastly, he says, I will be with you always. What an amazing promise that Jesus will be with us always to the very end of the age. We thus must see how God is calling us to do His work? I truly believe God has been using our youth group and calling us to build His Kingdom. However, have we mobilized every fully devoted disciple in our group. I think we often think, I will leave that up to someone else in our group to do the service project, or help with worship/praise, or pray, or cook for senior celebration…but we must mobilize everyone and allow them to see what a blessing it is to serve God and be used by Him.

How have you been an instrument of God to build His Kingdom?

How have you helped get others involved in building His Kingdom?

Prayer Calendar
Friday: Pray for the Church (Big C)
1 It’s the first day of the new year!!! Pray for the Universal Church as we enter into a new year. That we can become one body in Christ.