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.
11Â And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12Â to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13Â 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, 14Â 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. 15Â Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16Â 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.
In September my pastor began a series in Revelations. My adult daughter asked to attend with my husband and I, bringing along her two-year-old daughter.My daughter had not attended church in several years, so I was thrilled. I brought my Granddaughter to the nursery and she was not having it, so I ended up staying with her throughout the sermon. When I heard music playing I brought my granddaughter with me into the sanctuary and saw tears streaming down the cheeks of my daughter. A moment later an alter call was made and my daughter rose to her feet and motioned me to come with her. A dear woman led her in prayer and spoke things that could only be from God. My daughter received Christ. The best sermon my pastor preached in 2012; I never heard.
Thank you for sharing, i am covered in goosebumps from this first replay to the post!
Wonderful testimony. Praise God.
That is so GOD. LOVE LOVE!
Thank you for sharing Kathleen. Wonderful, wonderful.
“Sometimes our strengths become our weaknesses, because we do not guard our strengths.” – Pastor Ken Whitten
“ASSURED” is the new series we are all engaged in at the Summit church in Raleigh, NC. Pastor J.D. is preaching from 1 John about how we can be assured we are saved.
“I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God so you will know you have eternal life” 1 John 5:13
This message is speaking so much to me right now because after many years of digging out jumped back in a pit and I was sure that I had lost my salvation. Pastor J.D. cleared it up for me the first message when he said to us “so long as your posture before Christ is that of true repentance and faith, you can know you are saved”. When it no longer bothers you that you are living a sinful life, you might want to question whether or not you truly recieved Christ into your heart.
http://www.summitrdu.com
Cecilia
During our Wed. night Bible study on angels, our Pastor pointed out Jude 1:9 that “even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (NIV). The angel, as powerful as he is, did not accuse Satan because spiritual judgement is left for Christ alone. This was a very powerful revelation to me. Interestingly enough, a couple of weeks later, we looked at the verse during the Deut. Law of Love study.
I’ve enjoyed reading about everyone’s amazing pastors and their messages! What joy!
My wonderful co-pastors deliver meaningful sermons each week. One that sticks with me is when Pastor Thomas preached on the story of the binding of Isaac. Now that’s a story that I’ve always struggled with. I can’t even tell you all the parts of the sermon, but it was really meaningful to me because Pastor Thomas looked at the story from a historical perspective (contrasting Yahweh with other “gods” at the time which did, indeed, require sacrificing one’s own children), a modern perspective (looking at our own sacrifices, things that God is asking us to consider sacrificing, and the kinds of things that we think we need to sacrifice that God is NOT asking us to sacrifice), and a Christian perspective, how Jesus stands in for us just as the ram in the story stands in for Isaac. It was a really powerful message and helped in my comprehension of a story that, up until that day, I really couldn’t bear.
Our pastor just wrapped up a series on Galatians, and our family is more aware of our beautiful FREEDOM than ever.
We’re not motivated by fear and guilt that comes from the law, but rather by the LAW OF LOVE that rules our hearts through Christ Jesus!
Love to you ladies!
He who the Son sets free is free indeed!
Our Pastor repeats this almost every Sunday, and now all of us in the congregation can repeat it as well:
Three things I know to be true…God Loves Me….His Favor is toward me….and He is always at work bringing about His good in my life!
Our church’s motto for the year: “I can’t, he can, I think I will let him.” Coined by Pastor Dave Stone, Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY.
I need this on a t-shirt! Can’t count the times I’ve stubbornly refused to hand it over to him. Please pass along my thanks to Pastor Stone for the easy reminder.
Love this. Wrote is down and hung it over my desk. What a great reminder. Thanks to you and Pastor Stone.
Oh, I listen to your church’s sermons on Sunday mornings on the radio! Wonderful sermons!!! 🙂
Keep your focus on Jesus…
Mathhew 14:28-29 Peter walking on water: Peter asked the Lord to command him to come to Him on the water. Jesus said, “Come!”. Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water…but when he realized what he was doing he became frightened and began to sink… Peter HAD faith or he wouldn’t have gotten out of the boat. It was when he shifted the focus from Jesus back to himself, he began to fear and sink.
for the full (awesome!) sermon go to this site and click on the STUDENT TAKEOVER sermon by Pastor Cory Rice: http://www.mycccfamily.com/media/sermon-audio.html
A note from the sermon series we just finished at my church.
Three Sundays ago we started a new series called the “Generosity Germ”. Let me remind you of the statement we are using to define generosity: Generosity is offering up something you genuinely love for someone you choose to love more! As a believer you should desire to be a person who is generous first towards God and then towards others.
We can only share one? Well … this past Sunday my pastor was preaching from Luke 21:10-19. We go verse by verse and I love that he’s focused on applying these prophetic passages, not just interpreting them. Anyway, this past Sunday he drilled home the point that our persecutions from satan, in whatever form, are opportunities to bear witness, and then said: “When you’re going through a trial, it’s important not to ask the wrong questions. Don’t ask, “Where is God?” “What’s He doing” Instead ask “Where is the opportunity to bear witness?””
This was especially significant as our church is enduring a season of physical warfare where a shocking number of people have had serious health issues or suddenly become caregivers or had serious medical crises among their parents/family members. We’ve also begun an intentional yearlong focus on the persecuted church. So we are reminded through this that just as they have opportunities to bear witness among their trials, so do we – but we have to ask the right questions. Don’t question God – join Him!
So true!!! I have seen this through a dear friend who just passed away from a strong fight from cancer. Left 5 kids with 3 of them still at home. Her husband had left when she was diagnosed. Her faith never wavered. She took every opportunity to witness amongst her trials.
What a beautiful message ~ thank you so much for sharing! Target straight to the heart.
“Count it all joy, …, when you meet trials of various kinds,” James 1:2
My pastor is doing a series on How Faith Works going thru James … when his second point was Faith prompts you to choose joy. Its an attitude and its God’s direction of what attitude to take.
Beth, I love my pastor so much. I really get a Word every week, but this week he spoke on prayer and forgiveness (Eph 4.32) Last thing I wrote down was, “unforgiveness and pride hinder prayers …. we are the body of Christ”. May I be a person that forgives quickly and deeply.
I love the Church! and I love you!!
btw, I just got my “permission slip” signed by my hubs to go to Greensboro LPL!! (lol) CANT WAIT!
We are in a Nehemiah series. Just finished Chapter 2 this week and I loved the important fact that between 1:11 and 2:1, about 4 months or so passes. Four months of praying, mourning, fasting before God moved in a way that was visible to human eyes/perception.
Do not give up in PRAYER. It PREPARES you for the move of God (2:4).
Not my pastor, but a true spokesman for God, Marilyn Meberg tweeted:
“The enemy of our souls whispers lies like…’surely you deserve more…’ That lie worked with Eve in the garden. For Some it still works.
This is from the funeral sermon of a beloved church member who died after a nearly life-long battle with Type 1 diabetes. He was a sweet, humble man with a true servant heart. I resolved, after hearing this, to stop being so self-centered and reach out to others.
“If you want to honor Dan’s memory, go out and do as he did by helping others.”
(Is this the place I should leave my memory verse for first half of January?) I’ll take a chance that it is since I see no other. — I’m technology challenged.
My verse in RSV: Isaiah 43:10
Well I am sure God used my pastor as my word to focus this year is breathe and my pastor gave a great sermon on breathing slowly and taking in the moment. Priceless!
From Gen 24:48
Worship could happen at any time because they lived believing they could and would see God working in daily life.
Thus the natural response to God’s involvement was spontaneous worship. When we approach life expecting God to work among us, our set worship times will be full of genuine expressions of heartfelt praise and thanksgiving to God.
SALVATION.
Many years ago my pastor used a comparison between how Christians and Muslims are “saved”. According to Islam, the only way a Muslim can be GUARANTEED to go to heaven is to die for his religion.
Such a contrast to Christianity where we are GUARANTEED to go to heaven if we believe that Jesus died for us!
When I thought there was no hope left in my marriage, my pastor spoke on Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him”. Two weeks later my marriage was completely restored.
I want to give a big shout out of praise to God for our awesome and loving Pastor Patrick Herring (Crescent Baptist Church, Anaheim, CA) and the power of God’s Word working in and through him! He heads up a multi-ethnic ministry with the dynamics of many different languages and traditions and ethics to deal with on a daily basis. He is the real deal and his life shines as a result of his faithfulness. Pastor Pat has been preaching through the epistles and is now in Revelation and Jesus’ love message to the church. In preparation for our entering into new territory in his preaching, dynamic spirit-filled messages came through the small book of Jude as the preparation for the Bride of Christ, centered on this truth of the power of Christ keeping us from stumbling. Our Pastor Pat preached about us keeping ourselves in the love of God and the power of Christ would cause us to stand in the presence of His glory, with great joy…and a wonderous and spontaneous praise and adoration rose up in the Body, and clapping and shouts of “AMEN! and So Be it LORD Jesus…” arose from us all…Glory and joy unspeakable! It all rang true because of the shining forth of Jesus in our Pastor’s life! What a wonderful servant of the LORD he is…we give God all the praise and glory for giving us such a great man of God to lead and shepherd us. How can anyone grasp the power of Spirit-filled preaching and the worshipful response of the body without being under the nuturing and guidance of a spirit-filled Pastor? No wonder God’s Word admonishes us to forsake not the assembling of ourselves together…how desperately we need the spiritual functioning of all of the body of Christ, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ.
“She isn’t dying mama”…from my Pastor Scott Russell…
After almost 3 years divorce my 14 (almost 15) year old daughter has decided to go live with her father…many tears have been shed, but God has given me such peace….So, my Pastor just looked me in the eye and said, “she isn’t dying mama, no need to cry”….love that man and his family for the ministry they have to both my dauther and myself….
Love ya…..
Passage in Luke where Jesus jumps into Peter’s boat and invites Peter to throw his nets in to catch a huge amount of fish:
“We do not invite Jesus into our hearts. Jesus invites us to follow and obey Him and we can respond to that invitation by bowing the knee in reverance.”
It gives me so much comfort to know that the King of the universe invites me, really! Little old me….
Got a word from my Pastor at Bible Study just last night from the Book of Job. We won’t know the reason “why” every time we are face difficulties on this side of heaven. But God’s purpose is good.
Just a concern. Not everyone uses iTunes. Is there some way to download in mp3 format.
Hey Suzanne! I’m not sure of another way to download besides using iTunes. But if I found out I’ll let you know. But, in case there isn’t a way, iTunes is free to download and you are welcome to use it for things like downloading free podcasts and whatnot. Just an idea!
Good people don’t go to heaven; forgiven people go to heaven.
We are reading through The Story
and this was a theme during the week we discussed The Resurrection.
I just listened to the sermon. Thank you for the link, Beth, I think I will be visiting often
Pastor Jeff just started a series on Daniel.
It’ll be interesting to see what new and different insights he has. I’ve pulled out my Daniel homework book as a refresher when I did Beth’s study.
This past weekendwe gleaned the following out of Daniel 1:
The Providence of God
– God is present always
– God has NO equal
– God has a purpose in ALL He does
The Faithfulness of Daniel
– we need to dig in our heels and stand on the Word of God
– go against what culture is telling is normal and ok
Sorry – that’s more than one word!
Recently a young friend from church went to be with Christ. During the funeral sermon, the most encouraging thing I heard my pastor say was, “This death did not surprise God. He has known this day was coming since the foundation of the world.” It gave me such peace that even in the midst of such grief I could trust Christ to know the why of what was happening and hold me through the journey.
John 15: 1-11
ABIDE: when we learn to abide (cling) there are natural results of fruit. Bearing fruit isn’t my job, it’s the vine’s job…I just need to cling to Him!
The Sunday following the Newtown school shootings, my pastor shared the following: “We feel the pain of others because we are created in the image of God and God is love, so we feel that love and concern for others. We’re feeling what God is feeling — a SLIVER of what He’s feeling.” He then went on to preach one of the most amazing and moving sermons — he is an incredible teacher. So blessed to learn from him. Those words that he shared that morning, I was able to take with me that evening when I went to Newtown to minister to the people gathered there mourning. Love is louder. Love wins. (Calvary Chapel of Southeastern CT)
Unity!
My husband is my pastor and is always making things so easy to understand. He was preaching on sin recently, and explained how Jesus sets a target of perfection. We all fall short of that target, but we need to constantly let the Holy Spirit work in us, and strive for perfection. The world tells us that it is a different time, and tries to move the target. We can’t move the target because it would be easier. Jesus sets the target, He knows what He is doing, God’s word is always true, and always relevant.
My Pastor at Woodman Valley Chapel, when my family was stationed in Colorado Springs, CO. Pastor Heard, did a series on the book of Philippians, all four wonderful chapters. I had to start bringing tissues to church with me because I got a word EVERY TIME. I was in the deepest darkest pit at that time because I had just been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). His series was titled, “Whistling in the Dark”. Through his teaching, I learned through Pastor Heard and more importantly, the Apostle Paul, how to be JOYFUL in my circumstances. I say it again, JOYFUL. A foreign concept to me at that time. Step by baby step, I crawled out of my pit and into the light. Here are the word(s) I got from each chapter. Phil 1: 3-7, Phil 2: 12-18, Phil 3:8-15, Phil 4: 4-9. NASB
Teary eyed just reading these again. Philippians 4:1 “Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand FIRM in the Lord, my beloved.” That is what I have been doing standing firm in the Lord. JOY!!!!!! 🙂
My dad (and pastor) has always repeated this simple phrase: Dig your wells deep. The meaning is probably obvious– in good times, when things are going well, dig hard into the Word and lean into God so you are prepared for the tough times.
On January 6, 2013, my preacher husband preached on Joshua 1:1-9. He shared a story about a talented dance teacher who was retiring and had to pass her studio on — she chose her student of several years who had showed much promise. Not only did the retiring teacher choose this student, but the teacher’s professional dance partner chose this student as his next partner, too. My husband used this as a parallel to Moses passing the leading of the people of Israel over to Joshua. And not only did Moses choose Joshua, but God tells him, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” {among other promises} So it is with us, through Jesus, that God promises to be with us, to never leave us. So good!
My pastor has given so many wonderful sermons. Of the more memorable ones for me was one he did about being Unshakeable. At the beginning of last year, he did a series on how God shakes us and that the purpose is to get rid of any and everything in us that is not like Him. His words couldn’t have been more prophetic. Last year was one of the most challenging years I’ve had; filled with loss and despair. By the end of it all, I truly felt as though I’d been shaken. My pastor gave great examples about the silver and the dross from Ezekiel 22:18, and from Proverbs 25:4. The verse from Ezekiel says, “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me; all of them are the copper, tin, iron and lead left inside a furnace. They are but the dross of silver.” The whole discussion about God’s refining process helped me through the worst of the times I faced last year by reminding me that when it was all over, only the best of me would survive and then I would be free to move on toward His purpose for my life.
Beth, I just had to tell you that is one of the best messages on Heaven I have heard in a long time..I was laughing and crying. What a gift your pastor is. Such truth resonated in my Spirit as he spoke. Thank you for sharing.
Pastor Steven Furtick preached a sermon Sunday called, “It’s not a competition, it’s a calling”
He preached out of Ephesians 1 and talked about seeing other people doing awesome things for Christ, such as leading worship, and thinking “Oh, I want to do that!” But if leading worship is not your calling, it won’t work. You have to do what God has called you to do. He said that your calling is not everyone else’s calling. I can not judge myself against someone who has a different assignment from me.
WTW – Wait to Worry!
From Glen Kersy at First Baptist Valley View, TX this past Sunday:
“God is still in the business of coming to earth.” I needed that reminder!
Not sure if my gorgeous Pastor/Husband came up with this on his own or read it somewhere, but in a sermon about comparison he said, “Comparison is lethal to contentment.”
My favorite sermon in recent memory was from my pastor, Ben Mandrell, November 11, 2012. (www.ebcjackson.org)
“The Love of God Changes Us” (1 Cor. 13:1-4)
I came into the service that day filled with tears because I had been struggling with jealousy. I wasn’t sure what to do, but God knew He had a word for me. 🙂
Ben preached a wonderful sermon on loving others. The words that pierced my heart were, “If envy is wanting what other people have, then bragging is making other people want what I have. Jealousy puts other people down, bragging builds me up.”
Wow! Talk about God’s perfect timing! I’m so happy for God’s Holy Spirit who teaches us all things! I left church that day overflowing with joy!
Thanks for this post. I printed the sermon out today and it is even better than I remembered! I highly recommend it!
My pastor, Guy Gray of River West Church in Lake Oswego,Oregon recently spoke on 1Peter 2:13-17. He spoke right after the inauguration of President Obama, so it was very timely. Verse 13 is about submitting to human authority as Gods will to do good. Peter instructed submission to the emperor, who at that time was Nero. It gave me a fresh insight in looking at the leaders I live under as a Christian, to be holy, loving, and respectful.
It was a good word.
My pastor is Max Lucado and his sermons have changed so much in my life. God has used Max in a powerful way, and my husband and I always say the biggest blessing of living in San Antonio is our church. One thing Max said once was “let your mess become your message.” Those words have always stuck with me.
Thanks for this post, Beth. I’ve enjoyed reading everone’s answers.
Our pastor spoke about anger being one letter away from danger, encouraging us to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. Being completely humble and gentle; being patient, bearing with one another in love. (Eph. 4:1-2)
John 2:1-10 (Jesus’s first miracle, when He turned the water into wine) “Jesus wants to fill our empty pots. Are your pots filled with junk? Are you allowing just a little Jesus in your pot? Jesus won’t fill a pot unless it’s empty.”
In March, I left my church, in search for a more spiritual connection with God. I took the summer to visit different churches. I knew I had to leave my old church, but was not sure what I was looking for. I have listened to two on-line churches for a couple of years now. One in Dallas & other in Houston. I simply fell in love with the Houston church, & once during the sermon, I asked God please let me find a church like this Houston church. Months later, I even forgot my request, then when I decided on a church. I have been oing to it since September. But to my amaze, it is almost identical to the Houston church. Right down to the baptism in the same area & structure. Different denomination, but exactly what I was desiring. This past weeks sermon was on we need each other. Acts 2:41, be committed to your church, to each other. To have a relationship with each other. To build each other up. Bind together, strengthens Gods church, which nourishes the world. But the beginning task, V42, devoted.
My Pastor, Pastor Karen Hagan at Real Life Church in Sacramento preached a sermon on “How to Be a Giant Killer” based on 1 Samuel 17. It all has to do with getting our perspective set. The following is one of my FAVORITE declarations EVER!!
“There is an awakening goin on in God’s people. God is trying to get our PERSPECTIVE correctly set, or, RE-correctly set. God has a plan for you, God has a purpose for you. When God DECLARES something over you, there is NOTHING that can change that!! When God created you, He created you with PURPOSE!!! He DECLARED something over you when you were born, and NO MAN can change that , NO CIRCUMSTANCE can change the original design that God has DECLARED over you!! It doesn’t matter what has happened to you, it doesn’t matter what you have done, it doesn’t matter what man has said over you, GOD has DECLARED something over you from the VERY BEGINNING!!
God is bringing you to a point of decision, between what YOU feel you are and what GOD says that you are!! You can’t bring to the table something that you don’t posses. You can’t impart to someone something that you do not believe!! God is trying to get your PERSPECTIVE back to being based on TRUTH!!
The enemy’s job is to mess with your mind. If you focus on the enemy in your life, you will be STRIPPED of what you posses! Focus on GOD, and who GOD DECLARES that you ARE!!!”
http://pastorkarenhagan.wordpress.com/