On Friday, November 1, the 30-Day Giving Challenge began.
Here's my summary so far:
Friday - volunteered at a local library
Saturday - helped with my church's English classes for immigrants in our community
Sunday - helped with my church’s music ministry
Monday - donated to a local food shelf
Tuesday - paid for coffee for the person behind me in the drive-thru
Wednesday - helped with my church’s children’s ministry
Thursday - gave a micro loan through Kiva
Friday - volunteered at a local library
Saturday - helped with my church's English classes for immigrants in our community
What opportunities have you had to give? If you need some ideas, check out this Pinterest board or follow #30DayGive on Twitter.
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Sunday, November 10, 2013
Tuesday, November 05, 2013
Growing in Christ
As believers, both our salvation and our sanctification take place in Christ. We are saved through His righteousness, and we are progressively sanctified through an increasing knowledge of Him. As saved individuals, it is imperative for our existence as Christians to continue to grow in the knowledge of Christ. This knowledge is not just “a ‘warm and fuzzy’ feeling toward God” but it is also a knowledge of who God is and what He wants from His creation.
The only way that we can grow is to know Him more and more. This in turn is only done as we spend time studying God’s word. This is not a flighty scanning of the Scriptures, but a digging deeper into the storehouse of knowledge about God that is contained therein. Just as it takes work to prepare meals for us to eat each day, so we must realize that it will take work for us to prepare “spiritual meals,” as it were, for ourselves each day.
And those of us who are responsible to feed others spiritually must realize that it will take an extra amount of effort on our part so that we will have something to share with these who rely upon us. The virtuous lady in Proverbs 31 illustrates even this point, for verse 15 states, “She rises also while it is yet night, and gives meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.” While this verse is talking primarily about physical food, it also has a spiritual application. Spiritual food must be given to those for whom we are responsible and it will take effort expended on our part.
The only way that we can fulfill our responsibilities is by growing in grace and peace by means of the knowledge of Christ.
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The only way that we can grow is to know Him more and more. This in turn is only done as we spend time studying God’s word. This is not a flighty scanning of the Scriptures, but a digging deeper into the storehouse of knowledge about God that is contained therein. Just as it takes work to prepare meals for us to eat each day, so we must realize that it will take work for us to prepare “spiritual meals,” as it were, for ourselves each day.
And those of us who are responsible to feed others spiritually must realize that it will take an extra amount of effort on our part so that we will have something to share with these who rely upon us. The virtuous lady in Proverbs 31 illustrates even this point, for verse 15 states, “She rises also while it is yet night, and gives meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.” While this verse is talking primarily about physical food, it also has a spiritual application. Spiritual food must be given to those for whom we are responsible and it will take effort expended on our part.
The only way that we can fulfill our responsibilities is by growing in grace and peace by means of the knowledge of Christ.
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Tuesday, October 29, 2013
The Target Audience of Pioneer Missions
God has commanded those who follow Him to proclaim His word to the world. As a result, Gentiles turn from their false worship and turn to obeying God. As believers seek to spread the good news around the globe, their target audience is those who have not yet heard that good news.
Those who have not heard are not another’s foundation.
Paul strove to preach the good news to people in places where the truth of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection had not yet been told.
Those who have not heard must see and understand.
One man who saw more than mountains. One man dedicated to His God. One man expending His life to bring the gospel to the lost. One man who knew how to pray. J. O. Fraser spent the majority of his life trekking up and down steep mountain passes working among a people often ignored by the outside world. The Lisu people. Their villages dotted the sides of the mountain ranges located in the southwestern corner of China. They themselves were bound by the dark cords of their heathen beliefs and their desperate worship of the demons that wreaked such fear and havoc in their lives. Such a people so steeped in Satan's darkness. Would the light of Christ ever break forth among them? Who would be the torchbearer? J. O. Fraser was God’s chosen man. Fully believing that it was his job “to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 4:6), J. O. Fraser left behind his home in England and traveled to China to work among the Lisu people.
Paul’s statement in Romans 15 is both a paradigm for the work of pioneer missions as well as a challenge to follow his example. This challenge calls for dedication and determination. However, along with the seemingly daunting task comes also the reassurance of Christ’s own words that He has all authority and that He will be with us, “even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18, 20).
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You have just finished reading The Target Audience of Pioneer Missions .
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Those who have not heard are not another’s foundation.
Paul strove to preach the good news to people in places where the truth of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection had not yet been told.
Those who have not heard must see and understand.
One man who saw more than mountains. One man dedicated to His God. One man expending His life to bring the gospel to the lost. One man who knew how to pray. J. O. Fraser spent the majority of his life trekking up and down steep mountain passes working among a people often ignored by the outside world. The Lisu people. Their villages dotted the sides of the mountain ranges located in the southwestern corner of China. They themselves were bound by the dark cords of their heathen beliefs and their desperate worship of the demons that wreaked such fear and havoc in their lives. Such a people so steeped in Satan's darkness. Would the light of Christ ever break forth among them? Who would be the torchbearer? J. O. Fraser was God’s chosen man. Fully believing that it was his job “to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 4:6), J. O. Fraser left behind his home in England and traveled to China to work among the Lisu people.
Paul’s statement in Romans 15 is both a paradigm for the work of pioneer missions as well as a challenge to follow his example. This challenge calls for dedication and determination. However, along with the seemingly daunting task comes also the reassurance of Christ’s own words that He has all authority and that He will be with us, “even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18, 20).
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You have just finished reading The Target Audience of Pioneer Missions .
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Tuesday, October 22, 2013
The Scope of Pioneer Missions
When God’s word is faithfully proclaimed, it results in obedience of the Gentiles. Just how far does this mission extend? It extends to and involves the entire planet.
The world includes Jerusalem.
In the first century, Jerusalem was where Jesus was executed, where He rose again, and where His followers began proclaiming the truth of God’s word.
For us in the twenty-first century, we need to be faithful in first reaching our home communities.
The world includes Judea and Samaria.
The phrase “round about unto” expresses that Paul’s journeys did not take him on a direct route to Illyricum, but that rather he traveled around before reaching such a distance.
The world includes the remotest parts of the world.
God has created all humans on this planet. Thus, He seeks to save every tribe, every language, every race, every individual.
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You have just finished reading The Scope of Pioneer Missions .
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The world includes Jerusalem.
In the first century, Jerusalem was where Jesus was executed, where He rose again, and where His followers began proclaiming the truth of God’s word.
For us in the twenty-first century, we need to be faithful in first reaching our home communities.
The world includes Judea and Samaria.
The phrase “round about unto” expresses that Paul’s journeys did not take him on a direct route to Illyricum, but that rather he traveled around before reaching such a distance.
The world includes the remotest parts of the world.
God has created all humans on this planet. Thus, He seeks to save every tribe, every language, every race, every individual.
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You have just finished reading The Scope of Pioneer Missions .
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
30-Day Giving Challenge 2013
Since 2010, I have participated in the 30-Day Giving Challenge during the month of November. The premise is rather simple: each day of November be a blessing to those around you by giving each day. Since I have had a busy fall, I have realized that I really need to be intentional with my giving this year. So, this last week I sat down and planned out what I wanted to do.
I have put together a Pinterest board with some of my ideas. Check it out here if you'd like to see some of my plans.
As in the past, I will be blogging about my experience.
Also, I will be participating in the challenge by trying to make each of my "giving" acts anonymous. And thus, my posts might at times be a bit vague in order to keep things anonymous.
Come join me in the adventure!
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I have put together a Pinterest board with some of my ideas. Check it out here if you'd like to see some of my plans.
As in the past, I will be blogging about my experience.
Also, I will be participating in the challenge by trying to make each of my "giving" acts anonymous. And thus, my posts might at times be a bit vague in order to keep things anonymous.
Come join me in the adventure!
-----
You have just finished reading 30-Day Giving Challenge 2013.
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
The Result of Pioneer Missions
As individuals faithfully proclaim God’s word to those who have never heard it before, what happens? The result of pioneer missions is the obedience of the Gentiles.
Obedience comes by the messenger’s words and deeds.
Both the words of the messenger as well as the deeds – the actions – of the messenger must point the unbeliever to the gospel of Christ. Thus, the messenger becomes a living example of what it looks like to be a follower of Christ.
Obedience comes by the power of Spirit.
Ultimately, however, no messenger can make his hearers obey the word of God. That work can only be done by the Holy Spirit, as He works in the lives of the hearers. In addition, the messenger himself can only find the strength to carry out the proclaiming of God’s word through the power of the Holy Spirit.
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You have just finished reading The Result of Pioneer Missions .
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Obedience comes by the messenger’s words and deeds.
Both the words of the messenger as well as the deeds – the actions – of the messenger must point the unbeliever to the gospel of Christ. Thus, the messenger becomes a living example of what it looks like to be a follower of Christ.
Obedience comes by the power of Spirit.
Ultimately, however, no messenger can make his hearers obey the word of God. That work can only be done by the Holy Spirit, as He works in the lives of the hearers. In addition, the messenger himself can only find the strength to carry out the proclaiming of God’s word through the power of the Holy Spirit.
-----
You have just finished reading The Result of Pioneer Missions .
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.
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