Happy Wednesday, you lovely things!
Today I thought we’d do something that could really build us up as women of faith as well as charge us on as members of a local body of believers. If you have been around here a while, you know how strongly we believe in the investment of our lives in a local church. Oh, I know, I know. I’ve heard the whole “they’re just a bunch of hypocrites” thing a million times but I can tell you that some of the loveliest, most genuine Christians I have ever known, I met at my local church amid all the flaws and occasional dysfunction. We can get over thinking we’ll ever find a perfect church and, anyway, I always think to myself that, if I could find one, I’d mess the thing up by walking in the door. I am convinced way down in the marrow of my bones that we cannot grow up into full-throttle effectiveness in our callings without being in the framework of a Word-oriented body of believers. This is true even if you and I often minister outside those walls. My home church profoundly affects what I do in ministry on the road and I rarely make a really big decision outside without running it by the leadership inside. This segment of Ephesians 4 is probably the biggest reason why I believe so strongly in the framework.
11 And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Eph 4:11–16). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
That’s a powerful segment, isn’t it? Listen, I know some of you have been badly hurt by a grossly unhealthy church. In case nobody ever said it to you, your sisters here are so sorry that such pain came to you within a local body. It shouldn’t have. But, Sister, there’s another one out there for you. Don’t shut yourself off. You need a community of believers and not just your small group Bible study or accountability group. For it to function as the assembled church Christ ordained, it needs to be one that operates with leaders and shepherds and teachers like Ephesians 4 describes. Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying! I love communities of women in small group Bible study! You know I do! I’m just suggesting that they don’t replace a functioning assembly of believers where the broader gifts are practiced for the growth of those members.
Anyway, I’m just here to say that I really love my pastor. And, yep. He is my son-in-law but I told Amanda and Curtis recently that, this far in, I would have wanted to go right there to that church even if I didn’t know them from Adam. I am growing and meeting many new people. I’m being stretched. I’ve been kicked way out of my comfort zone. I love ministering to the children and helping hold doors and give hugs. And, Sister, I GET A WORD. Some of the most powerful things God has done in my life in the last year came from a seed sown in me through one of Curtis’s messages. (If you were part of the simulcast, that whole message about the Widow’s Oil and the jars developed from a question Curtis asked us the day he taught from 2 Kings 4.)
SO, this is what we’re doing today! We’re going to share ONE (just one please!) of the most important or memorable words God has ever spoken to you through your present pastor in a sermon. If you can do it succinctly, you can also tell us why, but it’s perfectly fine if you simply share the word. If at all possible, please give the text reference. You don’t have to write the verses out. Just the address is fine.
Here’s what I’m going to do for my entry. I want to share with you a recent sermon of Curtis’s that really ministered to me. Many of you probably won’t have time to listen but, for those of you who do, stay with it all the way to the end. His wrap up left me in tears. Perhaps it will be meaningful to you, too. To get to the sermon, click the following link. It will bring you to the Bayou City Fellowship podcast page. Look specifically for the title “What is to Come.” It will be the second one listed there, I’m almost positive. It’s free, of course. I’m not trying to get you to buy something here today. I’m also not selling churches. Laughing. Just hoping this might bless somebody.
Click here to download the podcast on iTunes. Remember, the title is “What is to Come.” If you have any problems connecting with the link provided, you can also search for “Bayou City Fellowship” in iTunes either online or on your computer if you have iTunes loaded there.
Your turn!!! Let’s share some words we’re getting, Sister! I love you dearly. I mean that. You are on my heart every day.
We are studying the book of Mark. I had to go back to see when/where this was because it rocked my world. It was 11/04/12 in our evening service. My pastor, Alistair Begg @ Parkside Church speaking of the fact that heaven, eternity & hell all are real. Jesus speaking of Judas Mark 14:21b “It would have been better for that man if he had not been born” ….better never to have lived at all, than to live without faith, and to die without grace. BETTER NEVER TO HAVE LIVED AT ALL…
I work at a skilled nursing facility and have many “elderly” friends who will be meeting Jesus soon and after hearing these words…I have been so convicted to share with them not wanting them to die without the grace of Jesus. Please pray for me and for them.
We have an interim pastor currently whom we would love to claim as our pastor. He has been preaching in-depth on spiritual warfare. The other Sunday, he gave us a phrase that has stuck with me like none other. It was “faith God’s Word, find God’s blessing.” God’s Word is a container of power and when His word is spoken, His power is released, and His blessing can’t help but flow. Sorry I don’t have the verses…he pulled from all over the Bible showing examples. I pray you will be encouraged by the phrase just as we have been!
My pastor, Lynn Phillips, preached on “Who is my neighbor?” from Luke 10:25-37. It was a powerful sermon, teaching us to always go above & beyond, and my neighbor is anyone that I can witness & minister to. I am also being ministered by your message on affliction, and today when you said God told you “You will live off of Me”, oh, how I agreed! God is everything to me, I can’t skip one morning without His Word, or I will start bowing to the affliction instead of to God. Bless you, Beth, for sharing your life with us!
I don’t have a specific scripture, but my pastor frequently reminds us that we’re losing our Biblical knowledge. We don’t read our Bibles, study our Bibles, etc.
It started me on the road to passionately studying His Word!! Several books, commentaries,dictionaries later 😀
Last Sunday Ryan Wyatt of Fuse Church said “don’t put God first.” We sat there surprised. He then said “put God in the center of your faith, your family, your finances, your field of influence. God should be in the center of everything . Let your life become an offering”. The scripture he talked about was Romans 12:1-2 .
Unfortunately I cannot listen to the sermon you mentioned; I’m deaf. Is there a written transcript anywhere?
“Believing God for immeasurably more in 2013.” This Word delivered by Curtis is helping me see more of what God can do when His people (meaning me!) have humility, faith and obedience! In His name and for His glory, we can love people,reach out to help the lost find the Savior, heal the sick and see the captives set free! IMMEASUREABLY more!
Our pastor is doing an Sunday evening series on Proverbs. He breaks down the book for many different areas but he started with Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools dispise wisdom and discipline. He explained that with such a great deal of detail and it has stuck with me like glue.
The Best is yet to come
Pastor Mark Schrade
Daniel 9:2-3
“Breakout” (Daniel 9:2)
– Sensational stories
– Spiritual strategies
1- we must believe God’s prophetic destiny for our lives
2- intercession always proceeds the fulfillment of
our destiny.
3- Proclaim your promise
4- our promise must include the obedience of others.
5- We must be under authority
6- We must war for our promise
7- We must have a persevering spirit.
“Break-in” (Daniel 10:12-14)
1- You are what you think
2- ****You will always grow to the size
Of your revelation.*****
“breakthrough” (Daniel 12:10)
– The best is yet to come
I attend Reunion Church (ReunionChurch.org)- a non-denom, multi-racial church in the inner city of Dallas. After attending mostly mainline denom churches most of my life, my husband and I have absolutely loved worshiping at Reuion (I feel like it’s a true Acts 2 church). My Pastor is Richard Ellis. Last Sept. he preached the message, “Going Pubic” drawing from several scripts. in the Gospels. Quote: “At some point as a Christian, you are going to have to go public with your faith. Yes- live it, but you have to say it, too. If you are truly living it the words will come out to back up what you live. To say that your faith is a ‘private thing” is simply not Biblical.” And then he closed with the Great Commission in Matt. 28:18-20 “Therefore go (or as you are going) and make disciples…” The command was to “make disciples”. You can do evangelism without making disciples, but you can’t make disciples without evangelism.” I love this message because it’s the heartbeat of what our ministry is about: DIsciples making disciples.
My other fave message was one my own husband, John Tolson (also a pastor) preached recently on leadership from Joshua 1 he reminded us to 1) Remember the Promise of God (v.3) “… I will give you every place you put your foot.” What God promises He delivers! Nothing He promised failed. 2) Remember the Power (vv5-6): He gives us the power to speak up and lead for Him, and 3) Remember the Procedures (v7): Be careful to DO everything… in order to be a success for Him. If you don’t live it it will not impact you or those around you.
Thanks, Beth, for sharing your pastor’s message with us.
xo – P
GRATITUDE!!! Out of John 2: 1-12. It was great, he suggested we choose to be thankful for one small specific thing God does for us every day during lent.
My pastor’s sermon was on James 2…and he left me with the “faith without works is dead” quote. I attend the Salvation Army church and I’ve been attempting to understand what works God has for me to do so that I can volunteer my time within His will.
My pastor, Mike Hein, preached on Hab. 3:17-19 (HCSB). The circumstances in my life were set at a parallel to the beginning of that reading- stressful, discouraging, etc. But words that come after are the ones that grabbed me, and that have been my answer when I have felt overwhelmed “Yet I will TRIUMPH in Yahweh, I will REJOICE in the God of my salvation. Yahweh, my Lord is my strength. He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!”
James 4: 7 & Revelation 12:7 (both 7’s …hmmm)
First James – snakes only attack/react because they’re afraid.
Now Rev – the devil/dragon is just an overgrown little snake
I guess is the hardest thing is coming up with just one thing! About 2 years ago he preached a message about choosing a scripture verse to be ours for the coming year. I can say that following that direction has made a HUGE impact on my life and daily walk with God.
Pastor Trike at Hopecc.com says this:
Jesus is the hero.
The Gospel is the answer.
That is what should be in every sermon. Amen!
Hi Beth,
It’s late on Wednesday night here in the West, but here it goes. My pastor’s name is Mike Howerton and the last two weeks and following weeks he is doing a series called,
“I have a dream”. It’s not about MLK, but it is about what God has to say about dreaming Kingdom dreams, etc. This last week was on broken dreams, and how God can redeem and repair dreams. Specifically using Joseph as an example. My dreams have sometimes felt ripped apart at the seams and the whole sermon encouraged me not to default on my dreams just because circumstances, but to press into those circumstances with the surety that those specific circumstances were ordained by God to actually get me to those God given dreams I have. I felt like I got a double dose in a way because I’ve been doing your bible study on Inheritance.
Love you dear heart-
Lisa
(hisfivefooter)
“But if not” (sorry that’s three words) Daniel 3:17-18
We are doing a weekly sermon series based off of Kyle Idleman’s book “Not a Fan”. Brother Drifty of Pine Ridge Baptist Church leaves us with the question “Are you a Fan or are you a Follower? It is so deep that many just sit there when he is done and ponder that question for a moment or two before we can move or even think about talking to others.
We are studying about the 7 churches in Revelation. Our awesome pastor shared this
On the 1st Sunday— “What’s wrong with the church is what’s wrong with me.” He had us say it with him. Stopped me in my tracks!
Our Pastor just preached on being Drawn In or Indifferent when it comes to our Christian Lives.
My favorite line was – “Being drawin in leads to a breakthrough while being indifferent leads to a break down”
I completely agree with you on being surrounded by the body of Christ. While I was hurt many many many years ago, what I have learned is that I can NOT associate “church” with God. He pursued me and He NEVER gave up on me. Even when I ran and did everything wrong, He loved me.
Last Sunday my Pator broke down Paslm 22.
I struggle with crying out all my struggles and dirt to the Lord.
The psalmist asks why have you forsaken me? after he says My God my God.
We were shown thoughout psalm 22 how in his sufferings the psalmsist learns on his God.
Attend Potters House of God in Columbus, Oh
Our Pastor is much beloved and has so inspired this particular body that we are experiencing radical growth and many salvations. I almost never leave church without a new inspiration/insight so picking one is difficult. However, his current message on Our Lord’s command to make disciples has got the whole church fired up. It isn’t just about geting folk “saved” but about both discipling them and being forever a disciple ourselves. I praise the Lord daily for planting me at my church before I even knew Him.
Wow!!! Thank you for sharing that message. I have prayed that prayer and I truly want to live my life for Jesus!!!!
This is one of my FAVORITE Pastor Aaron quotes:
“Nothing works like the local church works, when the local church works the way the local church is meant to work!” -HA!!!
Say it fast 3 times! Love you ladies and wonderful body of Christ ~ YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!! 😉
On Sunday our Pastor, Dan Wooldridge, used Isaiah 6 and I Timothy 4:7 as his text.
The powerful question that has been with me constantly since his sermon is, “What Stands between me and seeing the Lord?” I am praying that question often because… I want to know!
I love this because my husband now serves as our interim pastor. God uses him to speak life into so many, and especially into me. He preached on John 1 and this is what has settled on my heart: We’re trying to be powerful without the SOURCE of power!
Pastor Michael shared on Luke 19:30-35 where Jesus told his disciples to go untie a man’s colt. Michael reminded us that everything we have belongs to the Lord, possessions, talents, etc. “The Lord has need of your donkey.” My “donkey” was a talent that i was withholding from the Body because of fear of man. I untied it that day. I now use my “donkey” almost daily in my church.
A few years ago, my Pastor shared a message called “Beyond”. He gave us 5 reasons NOT to worship God. I was a little stunned when he told us what he was going to do. Anyway, for each of the 5 reasons, he gave us the Biblical person who didn’t let them stop worshiping God.
He got to the very end and gave us the only reason to worship God. Revelation 4:9-11:
(9)And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, (10) the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
(11) “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they [a]existed, and were created.” NASB
He said, “If we worship God for any reason other than he being who He is, one day we will have a reason to not worship Him.”
I changed that to, “”If I have a relationship with God for any reason other than he being who He is, one day I will have a reason to not have a relationship with Him.”
After that, I committed to following the Lord and having a relationship with Jesus because He is worthy – NOT because He blesses me (which he does), or saved me (he absolutely does), or He makes me happy, or any other reason. It was beautiful. I felt like I got saved (even though I definitely was).
If you would like to listen to it, click on this link: http://www.daystarchurch.tv/videoarchive#!/swx/pp/media_archives/166616/episode/35593
Hey Beth! Love this post! I love it when I hear people can’t get enough of the words from those chosen by God to be our
shepards to the flock.
My pastor is amazing. My husband and I are military, and our pastor was a Army Ranger before his ministry who has received the Bronze star amomg other awards. He is a tough cookie! But the most profound thing he has said that has touched me was we use our gifts to expand His kingdom. And the one gift no one can take away or dispute is MY testimony. How powerful is that?! Even if all is gone, and can still tell others Christ’s power and love for me. Awesome!
Two things: God is our wonderful counsellor. Take our concerns to Him before others.
Secondly: Keep your eyes on your mission, keep your eyes on Jesus!
So very thankful for those who are faithful to bring the Word!
Pastor Mick has said time and time again…”Bring what you have to God and it will be enough”.
God will never allow you to access His storehouse of suppy beyond your understanding… He will release to you what He can trust you with.– Bishop Eddie Tomberlin
Matthew 21: 21-22
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith AND DO NOT DOUBT, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, BELIEVING, you will receive.”
This scripture was so pressed on my heart by the message our Spanish Ministries Pastor, Seraphin Scalise, gave on Sunday, Dec. 30th. He spoke in Spanish, and a young man from our congregation translated. So beautiful and eloquent was his message on FAITH, and KNOWING GOD’S WORD in our hearts!
This was my first memory verse for SIESTA 2013! 🙂
Hi there ladies! Due to chronic pain and other health issues, I did not make it to church last week. However I just listened to Beth’s son-in-law and the sermon “What is to Come.” It so ministered to my heart. I ended up subscribing to the podcasts. Awesome!
This pertains to the whole Bible. Our preacher, Foree Grove in our adult class asked us to put ourselves in the story. I just assumed everyone does! When I realized that others do not I was surprised. Now I encourage others to smell the smells, hear the sounds, become a character like in a play. I have always done this when I read; I guess because I have such a vivid imagination. Beth, I think that is why I connect with you I am guessing you do this too. 🙂 So, if any Siesta’s have not tried this I recommend Esther the Message version is a good place to start. Picture the party in the garden and what you would wear, who you would be….
A few weeks ago our pastor was speaking before we took communion together. He was speaking about coming with a clean heart through introspection to partake. He spoke through a list he felt the Lord had laid on his heart to share. i have the list in my Bible and keep coming back to it, for some sincerely sin searching, life focus and confessing 🙂
Here is the list:
Anger…What makes you mad? Anxiety…what makes you worry? Money…How important is it/what do you do with it? Value…What is most important? Seek first the kingdom of God Influence…What difference are you making in others lives? Companionship…What are the people like that you surround yourself with? Speech…What do you like to talk about? Time…What do you use it for and how well do you use it?
Thank you for this… a good pastor/church is a precious thing!!
Beth, you have inspired me with the wonderful studies you have taught. I started out with Esther and am now doing Believing God and I have gotten so much from it. My husband lost his job this last September 2012. I thought my world had come to an end. With that being said i have now decided I need to rely on God instead of running from him. I could have run and ran far away from him, but He continued to tell me to rely on him. It just goes to show, God is faithful and He is who He says he is. I am ready for the good things that God has in store for me. The praise out of all of this is that my husband is working temporarily for three and a half months doing taxes. I just keep resting in the father and know that I am in his arms loving me. Thanks again for the wonderful studies and the blog. Amen.
“God grants salvation by Grace alone, through Faith alone in his son Christ, alone. Our walk with Christ is getting up each morning and putting one foot in front of the other. One step at a time.”
Rich Nathan, Senior pastor of Vineyard Columbus, Westerville, OH
After eight years of being refined in the fire and writing a book about my husband’s dementia and death, the most common “comfort” offered by others is the Romans 8:28 passage which always makes me prickle a bit–mostly because it is offered by someone who has no idea what you are going through. I have wrestled with this verse and have gone to Jesus often with my wrestlings. My pastor at Heights Church in Prescott, AZ recently gave the “Word” that settled it for me forever: The rest of the passage gives the answer to the working it all together for good. When you ask the question “What good could possibly come from this?” The answer is found in Romans 8:29–He is working it to conform me to the likeness of His Son! That is my heart’s desire. Yes Lord, continue to conform me to Your image.
“If your faith hasn’t changed you, it hasn’t saved you.” ~ Pastor Craig Etheredge
When we first came to our current church (a plant), our pastor preached on the passage in Philippians 2:3-4, that we should esteem each other higher than ourselves. I have been in church since I was in my mother’s womb, and cannot remember a more powerful message on this passage. Our pastor, only 4 years old in ministry, and a retired 30 year cop, taught with transparency how we are to put the needs of the body above our own. I had no problem grasping this concept when it applied to the leadership of our church, but in applying it to the average member who just came on Sunday mornings and didn’t hold any position, I had never thought about it before. And that sermon has changed my life. It seems to insert itself into each decision I make in regard to my service to the body of Christ. I have been confronted with my own personal pride and ambition and am striving daily to set it aside and be more like Christ as I am privileged to lead and serve in this body that I love so much.
Pastor John Swanger of Calvary Road Baptist Church in Waynesville, NC spoke last Sunday on death and life after death. It was such a comfort I wish that everyone facing illness and death as well as those facing an eternity without Christ could hear it.
The sermon was titled “Glimpses Into Glory”
1 Corinthians 15:51-57
We are so thankful to hear the word of God preached faithfully and without fear every week!
Beth the most inspirational thing I’ve heard in a while came from you. I go to church and teach the kids so I don’t get ministered to, but I downloaded the audio from the Simulcast and I love it. I’m struggling with fear, but God has a calling on my life. You quoted this verse…
2 Cor 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
It just hit me yesterday, I don’t have to do it, I just need to trust Him, he will supply whatever I’m lacking…. and I will.
Matthew 5:14a
“You are the light of the world.”
Margie
Hilton Head Island, SC
Beth, thank you for the link to Bayou City podcasts. What a great link!!! I just listened to it while stretching this morning getting ready for my day. : )
Pastor Steve spoke to us about the invalid man waiting at the Pool of Bethesda. The verse he camped on was John 5:6,
“do you WANT to get well?” The discovery for me: how often I like being the way I am (not talking about physical condition); the WANT is missing. Blaming, victimization, rationalizing don’t make it. I must WANT to get well.
Somewhat off-topic:
My daughter is going to be working at TIRR-Hermann in Houston for 10 weeks and visiting your son-in-law’s church! I’m thrilled that he’s a good preacher. 🙂
Succinct, but it stuck! “Isn’t it great that we have a God about whom we can never exaggerate?”
We are going through a period of spiritual cleansing in our body, and to that end, our pastor (admittedly, my husband) has been preparing us for dealing with sin (and generational, at that) that has permeated our local body for probably the 180 year history of our church. This past Sunday, he spoke from 1 Cor. 10:1-13. He talked about how the “grumbling” the Israelites did as they were wandering in the dessert was really just a form of rebellion, which is sin. Plain and simple. And God dealt severely with them for grumbling. He reminded us that we need to remember God is sovereign and we need not complain about anything because He is just that. And no amount of grumbling will change the circumstances God has ordained for us.
This is from a sermon 2 weeks ago from our Spirit-led pastor Chad Mantooth. The sermon was on Nehemiah 2:1-9. Such powerful text anyway and then he said something just for me! He said to pray for the impossible 🙂 Wow! So many times I don’t even pray for things because I think, nah,that can’t happen. Yet look at Nehemiah…he prayed and asked the king for the impossible and God granted it through the king. What I needed to hear because we are at a point in our lives (my husband and I) where we need to pray for the impossible. Chad always preaches from the word and I’m so thankful for him and his heart for God because it translates to me every Sunday and challenges me in my walk with Christ. Thanks Pastor Chad!
Blessings
jennifer