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Monday, February 28, 2022

The Implications of Jesus' Commandment to Love One Another


"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13: 34-35 NLT

Among the implications of Jesus’ commandment to love one another is that we take an interest in our fellow Christians. We do not refuse to speak to them nor do we ignore them. We are friendly to them. We behave in a pleasant and kind way toward them.

When we show a lack of interest in a fellow Christian and displaying no concern or sympathy for them we are acting like the eye and the head in 1 Corinthians 12: 18-21.

But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 1 Corinthians 12: 18-21 NLT

As the apostle Paul points to our attention in this passage from his first letter to the Corinthians, “God has put each part just where he wants it.” The Christians who form a particular congregation of the faithful have been put by God where he wants them in that particular expression of the Body of Christ.

We are not in a position to judge whether a particular member of that congregation is of no importance or value to us and therefore not worthy of our interest, concern, or sympathy. If they are dearly loved and treasured by God and God has put them where he wants them, we cannot refuse to accept someone because for some reason we do not feel that person is worth having in our life.

We do not have to be bosom buddies with our fellow Christians but loving them like Christ loves us requires showing interest, concern, and sympathy for them and treating them with friendliness, kindness, and respect.

Loving one another involves getting past our personal feelings toward a fellow Christian or our lack of feelings for them. We may not find a particular individual agreeable—pleasant or pleasing. But we love them despite the things that we dislike in them. We do not let our personal feelings toward them or our lack of feelings for them interfere with our relationship with them as a Christian.

It is important to remember that often the reason that we dislike something in a person may have nothing to do with them. It may have to do with us. See “Why It’s Important To Understand That We Hate Others For What We Hate About Ourselves.” The link is https://thoughtcatalog.com/.../why-its-important-to.../.

It is also important to remember that people are not going to know what we dislike in them and do something about it unless we tell them. They may not realize that they are doing something that people may dislike.

I have looked at several articles listing common reasons people dislike someone else and a lot of the reasons that people may dislike a person are things of which that person may not be aware. Some things, while they might bother one person might not bother another. A number of things may be described as well-intentioned: they were things that were meant to have good effects but have bad effects that are not expected.

Some people are quick to find fault with someone else because they prefer to keep other people at a distance. They are uncomfortable with emotional closeness. If someone is too open in sharing personal feelings with them, they will pull away from that person. They are not prepared to show the understanding, affirmation, and demonstration of caring that they feel is expected in the relationship. They may have difficulty expressing their own feelings. They may not be ready to trust that person, lower their guard, and be vulnerable with them. Their rejection of a particular individual may elicit a negative reaction from that individual, which confirms in their minds that they were right in not trusting the individual in question. The problem is that the person may have been more trustworthy than they realized, and they created a situation which would cause the person to act in an untrustworthy fashion and thereby reinforce their distrust of others.

This leads to a second implication of Jesus’ commandment to love one another. Christians need to cut each other some slack! We need to allow our fellow Christians some leeway in their conduct. We need to ease up on them and give them more time or more of a chance. In his teachings Jesus warns his disciples about judging others too severely.

In my own posts I may give the impression that I am criticizing people, expressing disapproval of them. My intention, however, is simply to draw attention to attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that fit with what Jesus taught and practiced and those which do not. In my thinking I am willing to make allowances for particular individuals, to think about their characteristics and not to judge them too severely. In my posts, however, I need to be clear what fits and what does not fit. A lack of clarity can result in misunderstanding.

A third implication of Jesus’ commandment to love one another is that no one in a particular group of his disciples such as a local church is exempt from obeying this commandment. Everyone is expected to do their best to keep it. Everyone is expected to behave in a pleasant and kind way toward the other members of the group. Communicating this expectation clearly to the group conveys the importance of this commandment to their common life together. Jesus said that his disciples would be known by their love for one another. He also said that those who loved him would show their love by obeying his commandments. Whoever obeyed his teachings were his disciples. He further taught that his disciples should be merciful like God is merciful and should be kind and forgiving.

A fourth implication is that all members of a local church have a responsibility to help each other develop those qualities of character that will enable them to live Jesus’ commandment to love one another. These qualities include being approachable—friendly and easy to talk to; kind—generous, helpful, and caring about other people; considerate—thoughtful of other people’s feelings; forgiving—letting go of anger and resentment and not hold things against others; patient—not easily angered or displeased; honest—not hiding the truth, misleading others, telling only a part of the truth, and other similar things; compassionate—showing sympathy with the suffering of others and exhibiting a desire to help; empathetic—understanding the feelings of others and putting ourselves in their place; and the like.

A fifth implication is that all members of a local church should avoid harmful behavior like saying false and unpleasant things about their fellow members; spreading rumors intended to harm or upset them; having conversations with other church members about a particular church member’s private life that are unkind, disapproving, or untrue; not speaking to a particular church member or speaking very little to them; reacting in a very angry way to something that a fellow church member says or does; being extremely unkind and unpleasant to a fellow church member and causing them pain intentionally; annoying or upsetting a fellow church member with unwanted or offensive sexual attention, suggestions, or talk; bullying a fellow church member; trying to turn other church members against a particular church member; and otherwise doing what they can to make life miserable for that person. None of this behavior fits with Jesus’ commandment to love one another. They also do not fit with John Wesley’s general rule not to do harm and to avoid all forms of evil.

A sixth implication of Jesus’ commandment to love another is that members of a local church who are not on good terms or friendly terms with each other should be encouraged to forgive each other and reconcile with each other. When a bad situation festers, it becomes worse because it is being ignored. It can affect other relationships in the local church over time and interfere with the common life of the church.

Holding onto anger and resentment toward a fellow Christ is spiritually and psychologically harmful to the person who is experiencing the feelings of anger and resentment.

People express anger differently. Some express anger directly; others, indirectly. Those who express anger indirectly often act out their angry feelings in ways that can hurt or do harm themselves as well as the person with whom they are angry or upset. While we generally think of anger hurting or doing harm to someone when it is expressed in the form of verbal abuse or physical violence, it can also be damaging when it is expressed in indirect ways. For example, a parent who is angry or upset with a child may withhold all attention from the child to the extent that the child’s life is in danger.

In 1 John 3: 15 the apostle John uses very strong language in warning about the danger of hanging onto angry feelings to the point that they turn to intense dislike, or hatred. “Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart.” In Matthew 5: 21-22 Jesus equates anger with the desire to kill someone. “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!” Feelings of anger and resentment are not feelings that we want to nurse in hearts. Rather we need to verbalize them and then let them go. 

The more we reflect upon Jesus’ commandment to love one another, the more we will see the connection between what Jesus taught and what the apostles themselves taught. Loving one another means being genuinely at peace at with each other, living and working together happily without having any unresolved bad feelings between each other.

Whats On The Web: "Why Are Christians So Mean?" and More

Pray for the People of Ukraine

Why Are Christians So Mean?
It’s not enough to simply believe correct doctrine; as God’s chosen people, we are asked to behave a certain way, particularly as it relates to others....

3 Signs You’re Dying On A Hill That Jesus Never Asked You To
Our non-Christian neighbors don’t hate us for our faith. They dislike us because we have failed to love them well. And we have failed to love them well because we were too busy dying on hills that Jesus never asked us to die on.

5 Ukrainian Worship Songs for War and Peace
Fred Heumen, who heads MusicWorks International, has compiled five Ukrainian worship songs. They include "God the Great One!" (Prayer for the Ukraine).

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Saturday Lagniappe: 'Feed My Sheep' and More


Emanuel Cleaver examines what is means to take care of Jesus' sheep.

What Does a Committed Church Member Look Like?
Thabiti Anyabwile describes 8 ways committed membership expresses itself.

Two Things God Does When You Put Him Second
We put God second in our lives more often than we think.

Read the Room: Leaning In vs Checking Out
It is essential to keep a pulse on your group.

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (February 27, 2022) Is Now Online

All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

What is shaping your life? What is the strongest and most powerful influence in your life? What decides what you think, say, and do? Is it your faith or something else?

The Scripture reading for this Sunday is Luke 9: 28-36 The Transfiguration.

The homily is titled “Why Aren’t We Listening?”

The link to this Sunday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/02/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-sunday_26.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Friday, February 25, 2022

What's On The Web: 'Breaking the Cycle of Human Trafficking' and More


How churches and advocacy organizations are partnering to address the problem of human trafficking.

New Report Details the Influence of Christian Nationalism on the Insurrection
Christian nationalism was used to 'bolster, justify and intensify the January 6 attack on the Capitol,' said Amanda Tyler, head of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.

It's Time to Acknowledge the Power Dynamics Involved in Accepting Hospitality.
A recent editorial created a firestorm over the question of removing one’s shoes in someone else’s home. But going barefoot is about much more than tracking in dirt.

Did Justin Martyr Know the Gospel of John?
There has been a long-standing scholarly discussion about how far back we can trace the roots of the fourfold gospel.

Why Be a Small Group Member? 
Rather than asking how to be a better small group member, let’s start with why.

Are You A Functional Atheist?
This week, how many thoughts did you have, words did you speak, or decisions did you make that omitted the Lord from your process entirely?

The Forgotten Virtue You Can’t Do Without
With the call to “do justice and love mercy” ringing loudly, many of us feel pressure to act and to act quickly. But here, as in many areas, Christians must relearn a long-forgotten virtue: prudence.

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (February 26, 2022) Is Now Online


All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

It is said that hymns shape our faith more than sermons. Saturday evening’s service has as the response a hymn that has influenced my own faith.

The Scripture reading for this Saturday is Mark 12: 28-34 The Most Important Commandment.

The homily is titled “What Did Jesus Teach? Love Your Neighbors As You Love Yourself.”

The link to this Saturday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/02/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-saturday_25.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Thursday, February 24, 2022

What's On The Web: '4 Truths the Next Generation Needs to Know About the Church' and More


4 Truths the Next Generation Needs to Know About the Church
Rather than complain about the church’s faults and criticize those who leave, we need to start discipling students to stay, love the church, and help build the church to be all that Jesus calls it to be.

Handling Controversial Issues in Groups
Is there a way for groups to navigate controversy in a positive or meaningful way?

Building A Church Sound System
The importance of sound in the church cannot be overstated. There are many different types of churches, and each has its own unique needs when it comes to sound systems. This blog post will discuss some things to keep in mind when building a church sound system so that your congregation can have the best possible experience while attending services.

Why Social Media Won't Grow Your Church the Way You Hoped
There’s a tension you’re probably feeling as a church leader when it come to social media. No matter how many new followers you gain, it feels almost impossible to gain traction in your ministry. Which is weird. You’d think the more you grow your social, the more you grow your ministry. Wrong.

What Can I Do About the Sins I Don’t See?
Prejudice, lack of forgiveness, pride, love of praise—all these sins slither unseen beneath the surface of our souls.

The FAQs: Russia’s Military Incursion into Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared two separatist-controlled regions in eastern Ukraine to be independent states, and has sent Russian troops into the area on the pretense of “keeping the peace.” The move allows Putin to build military bases in the region and unleash a major war in Ukraine.

Russia Keeps Punishing Evangelicals in Crimea
Last year, there was an uptick in fines to Protestants and fellow religious minorities in the region annexed from Ukraine.

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

What's On The Web: 'If Your Church Attendance is Stagnant Right Now, It’s Not All Bad' and More


There are times when a church attendance plateau is a victory. I believe many churches are in a season of stagnation, and it’s not all bad.

6 Reasons It's Good to Do a Survey of Your Congregation
Now may be a good time to do a survey of your congregation.

How Environmental Care Is Not Just a Hot Topic but a Biblical Command
God handed humanity the keys to His Creation. How will we respond?

How to Build (and Sustain) a Healthy Volunteer Culture
The lack of volunteers isn’t an anomaly among churches. A healthy volunteer culture seems to be the exception rather than the rule. And it leads many pastors to discouragement. So how do we fix it?

The Seven Works of the Holy Spirit
What does the Bible say about the Holy Spirit?”

Seven Common Misconceptions about the King James Bible
The most widely read English Bible translation has sprouted a series of fictions about it. It’s time to prune them.

God Weaves Your Story into His for His Glory
One of the most effective tools in your evangelism toolbelt is your testimony; the story of how the gospel shapes your life.

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (February 23, 2022) Is Now Online

 


All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

When we are kind to others, we and those around us are happier, according to scientific research.

The Scripture reading for this Wednesday evening’s service is Luke 6: 27-36 Love Your Enemies.

The homily is titled “What Did Jesus Teach? Kindness and Mercy.”

The link to this evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/02/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for_23.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab. If a song begins partway through the video, move the slider back to the beginning of the video.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

What's On The Web: 'Connecting with Unchurched People' and More


What do people in your community need?

The Numbers Behind Community
One of the most important tasks for any leader is the building of community for whatever group they might lead. Whether school, business, team or church, a deep sense of community is one of the most sought-after outcomes. It is also one of the most attractive to those on the outside of the group contemplating whether to explore the group.

Why People Choose (Fill In The Blank) Over Attending Your Church

Why won’t your unchurched friends just come with you to church ONE TIME? Why won’t they accept your invitation just ONCE? While there is no “one-size-fits-all” answer, there are certainly some solutions for the most common reasons unchurched people resist church invitations.

Most Open to Spiritual Conversations, Few Christians Speaking
Americans are curious about the religious devotion of others and are willing to discuss the topic, but most say they rarely have conversations about faith with their Christian friends.

Religious Experiences Are Common. Which Ones Should We Trust?
Reports of divine encounters aren’t always legitimate, but they shouldn’t be lightly dismissed.

Worship Multitracks for Church Plants
Duke Tabor describes an app called WorshipSong Band.

Monday, February 21, 2022

What's On The Web: 'Evangelical Christians Looking for Renewal Should Look to the Margins' and More


Evangelical Christians looking for renewal should look to the margins
The crisis of church and synagogue is not a crisis of faith, so much as a crisis of purpose.

Evangelicals must stop consulting themselves for guidance
The United States cannot afford to give evangelicalism the benefit of the doubt again, and evangelicals cannot afford to just talk among themselves any longer.

Southern Baptist Missionaries See Baptisms and Converts Surge With COVID-19
Leaders cite missiological methods and the work of the Spirit as the reasons for the surprising statistics.

4 Steps to Help Heal the Racial Divide
We should seek to take four immediate steps to help us heal the racial divide.

Bystander training is a first step toward stopping hate against Asians, Pacific Islanders
The training is a practical, very empowering, proven methodology for bystander training designed to give people who witness aggression against the AAPI community the tools to be able to do something about it.

Five Lessons Churches Can Learn from Wordle
Wordle is a recent example of a fad that reflects cultural realities. While churches should not emulate culture for imitation’s sake, we can learn a lot about the mindset of those we seek to reach. Indeed, Wordle can teach our churches five important lessons....

Are You a Time Hog?
Every worship leader goes through a phase when they’re a time hog. It’s an inevitable part of their growth, development and maturity.

The Countdown to Easter
It seems like Christmas services were just yesterday. But on we march forward. Easter is just around the corner and it's time to start preparing.

8 Reasons We Might Grow De-Sensitized to Our Sin This Week

It happens to most of us. We don’t want sin to control us, but still we give it much more power than it should have. In fact, we sometimes get de-sensitized to our sin—and just a little “numbness” over our sin can lead to trouble.


Saturday, February 19, 2022

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (February 20, 2022) Is Now Online


All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, a disciple is a person who believes in the ideas of a leader and tries to live according to those ideas. Jesus told his disciples that whoever obeys his teaching is one of his disciples. In order then for us to be a true disciple of Jesus, we must know and understand what he taught and practiced.

The Scripture reading for this Sunday is Luke 6: 27-36 Love Your Enemies.

The homily is titled “What Did Jesus Teach? Do to Others as You Would Like Them to Do to You.”

The link to this Sunday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/02/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-sunday_19.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'Survivors Remain Skeptical of Anglican Diocese Investigations' and More


As a suburban Chicago ACNA church moves forward with examining sexual abuse and leaders’ responses, critics worry the process hasn’t been independent.

No Longer Christian
Why people are leaving the faith and how we can respond.

Pornography Use Is Becoming an ‘Acceptable’ Sin
A recent poll shows pornography is affecting relationships between men and women—and reveals how indulging in porn is becoming an acceptable sin.

A Call for Theological Humility
We must engage those with whom we have theological disagreements with humility, asking questions to make sure we understand, remembering that we don’t see things perfectly, and always seeking to grow in understanding where we may have blind spots.

7 Tips To Make Reading the Bible Easier
The Bible intimidates many people; even those who are avid readers of other books.

Ten Commandments for Commentary Usage
My own practice is to read a passage first, interpret it, using Scripture and reason, and then consult the commentaries and compare the conclusions of their authors with my own conclusions.

Discipled by Everyone and No One
Is the Internet good for the church?

Friday, February 18, 2022

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (February 19, 2022) Is Now Online

 

All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

Jesus’ teaching about judging others is often interpreted to mean that we should voice no opinion of other people or take them to task for doing something wrong, but is that what Jesus taught?

The Scripture reading for this Saturday is Luke 6: 27-36 Love Your Enemies.

The homily is titled “What Did Jesus Teach? Judging Others.”

The link to this Saturday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/02/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-saturday_18.html 

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab. If a song begins to play part way through the song, move the slider back to the beginning of the song.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

What's On The Web: 'How Putin’s Politics Threaten the Church’s Witness' and More


American evangelicals can learn from Russia—by not treating religion as a tool to maintain power.

How the Gospel Is Good News for Every Worldview
When sharing the gospel, it is helpful to know the world view of the person to whom you are sharing the gospel.

When the Pews Are Empty, Data Can Help
Meaningful insights into your congregants and community can empower your ministry.

Why We Should Not Redeem ‘Deconstruction’
[Deconstruction] has little to do with objective truth, and everything to do with tearing down whatever doctrine someone believes is morally wrong.

6 Ways I’m Responding to People Leaving the Church
Finding better approaches to address the COVID exodus from the church.

5 Ways to Rebuke a Friend
There are times when you have to rebuke a friend in order to be a true friend. Sometimes, the most loving thing you can do is to tell another where he or she is doing wrong. You may be the only one who cares enough to point out what everyone else sees but refuses to address.

15 Resolves for Maintaining Spiritual Balance in Severe Interpersonal Conflicts
How to maintain a grace-filled attitude about the painful struggle through which we may be going.

Reaching People All Over the World Through the Web
How digital platforms and social media are playing an increasing role in spreading the gospel.

The Obvious Secret to Building Relationships With Unchurched People
How you build relationships with unchurched people may vary based on your context. How should your context inform how you go about building relationships with unchurched people?

Could Novavax Win Over Some Religious Vaccine Skeptics?
Novavax's CEO has framed his company's vaccine as an alternative for those who object to the use of fetal cell lines in the development of existing popular vaccines.

Thursday, February 17, 2022

What's On the Web: 'Will They Know Christians by Their Love or Reckless Obsession with Liberty?'


Amidst polarizing views, here is a challenge to reground ourselves in truth, love, and Christ’s heart for others.

3 Truths For When Christians Don’t Remind You Of Christ
Have you ever felt tired and weary by the actions of fellow Christians?

4 Tell-Tale Signs Your Small Group System Is Broken
Did you know there are tell-tale signs that your small group system is broken?

How Can We Overcome Our Fear of Evangelism?
We overcome our fear of evangelism, not by trying harder, but by cultivating a deeper love for Christ.

Church Court Clarifies Disaffiliation Rules
The United Methodist Church’s top court released six decisions Feb. 9 related to a new provision governing how congregations can leave the denomination with property.

Prayer Book Debate Begins Again for General Convention
One proposal would arguably redefine the Prayer Book altogether in the Episcopal Church.

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

What's On The Web: 'The Amazing Shift of Four “Front Doors” in Churches' and More


It is quite a shift. Some churches have not caught up with it.

Abuse in the Church Causes Deep Wounds
Even if abuse occurred in a congregation decades ago, wounds may still need God’s healing. Like other wounds the church may experience, sexual abuse can harm the entire community.

A Concise Guide to Congregational Care
Interested in congregational care ministry? Check out these resources.

Show Up and Look Alert

I would rephrase that to "show up and be on the alert," quick to see, understand, and act in a particular situation.

Most Pastors See Racial Diversity in the Church as a Goal but Not Reality
Most Protestant pastors say every church should strive to achieve racial diversity, but few are achieving it.

5 Ways Pastors Can Equip Their Congregations to Use Social Media
How might pastors who have corralled their relationship with social media into some degree of maturity lead their congregations to do the same?

3 Ways Churches Coddle KidZ and StudentZ
Here are three common ways churches can coddle the next generation – either unintentionally or intentionally.

Jesus, the Living Water, Welcomes Our Mess at the Well. Will We Let Him Draw Us Out?
Find something more fulfilling for your life with this invitation at the well.

Don’t Compartmentalize Your Christianity
Ask yourself: on any given day, what most influences the way that I think about myself and my life? What is the driving factor for the majority of what I think, say, and do?

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (February 16, 2022) Is Now Online

 


All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

You are heading to church for a very important meeting, and you remember that you said some very unkind words to your daughter earlier in the day and she was really hurt. She burst into tears and fled to her room. You left the house in a hurry. What do you do?

The Scripture reading for this Wednesday evening’s service is Matthew 5:23-26 Be Reconciled.

The homily is titled “What Did Jesus Teach? Reconciliation.”

The link to this evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/02/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for_16.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab. If a song begins partway through the video, move the slider back to the beginning of the video.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

What Did Jesus Teach? Forgiveness

In the language of flowers paperwhite daffodils symbolize forgiveness

I have found that many Christians as disciples of Jesus are not as well acquainted with his teaching and example as one would think that they might be. While it is tempting to blame pastors—“They are not teaching what Jesus taught and practiced,” or congregations—“they are not paying enough attention to their pastor when he is preaching and teaching,” I believe that the real culprit is the human brain. If we are not having something taught at regular intervals, our brains are prone to forget it. While we may tune something out if we hear it too often, it is more likely that we will forget what we heard. Just as we need to be reminded what is the gospel, we also need to be reminded what Jesus taught and practiced.

Jesus told the Jews who had begun to follow him that those who were his disciples continued to accept and obey his teaching. It was something that they did all of their lives. Jesus told his disciples that those who love him obey his commands. They live in his teaching and his teaching has become a part of them. They have completely internalized what he taught and practiced. We have not quite accepted or absorbed Jesus’ teaching and example so that it has become part of our character. What is determining how we think, feel, and act are old ways of thinking, feeling, and acting that we acquired during our childhood and early years. What the apostle Paul describes as the old self is strongly influencing how we think, feel, and act.

A Cleveland Clinic article, “You’re Not the Boss of Me! Why We Don’t Like Being Told What to Do” offers a third reason that we do not obey Jesus’ teaching and follow his example.

As humans, we crave independence and autonomy. We want to be the ones calling the shots and making the rules. Since we were little we’ve participated in some form or another of the same song and dance — we don’t like someone else telling us what to do, so we don’t do it or we act out.”

While we need frequent reminders of what Jesus taught and practice, we also need help not only assimilating his teaching and example and incorporating them into the way that we think, feel, and act. As the apostle James put it, we need to do the Word as well as hear it. We need to practice what we are learning. We need to make it a part of our character, so we become what Paul describes as our new self.

We also need to tame our rebelliousness, which is very much a part of our old self. In the Cleveland Clinic article a behavioral therapist Jane Pernotto Ehrman explains how we can keep our inner rebel from sabotaging ourself. The link to the article is https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-we-dont-like.../ .

What I just told you has implications for how we use our quiet time and what we do in the Sunday School class. We need to spend more tie studying Jesus. This requires us to be more focused upon Jesus—his character, his teaching and example, the Old Testament scripture to which he alludes in his teaching and how he interprets this scripture. We need to spend less time studying the details of the construction of the Temple at Jerusalem and the like.

With what I just wrote In mind, let us take a look at what Jesus taught about forgiveness.

1. We cannot expect forgiveness from God if we are not willing to forgive others. In Matthew 6: 14-15 Jesus explains:

For if you forgive other people their failures, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you will not forgive other people, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive you your failures.”

In teaching the first disciples how to pray, Jesus taught them to ask God to forgive their trespasses as they forgave the trespasses of others. A trespass is an offense, a wrongdoing. He further taught:

And whenever you stand praying, you must forgive anything that you are holding against anyone else, and your Heavenly Father will forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11: 26 Phillips)

In some churches the congregation prays the Lord’s Prayer every Sunday, but how many people in congregation really understand what they are asking God to do. Their attitudes and behavior on Sunday and during the week suggest that they do not. They appear to expect God to forgive them even though they themselves are unforgiving. Or they are indifferent to whether God forgives them. They may have been taught that God is so loving that he turns a blind eye to their lack of forgiveness. This, however, is not what Jesus taught. He made a connection between our forgiving of others and God’s forgiving of us. Such attitudes and behavior may also be evidence of an untamed rebellious nature.

2. We are not to limit how many times we forgive someone. In Matthew 18: 21-22 gives this reply to a question from Simon Peter.

Then Peter approached him with the question, ‘Master, how many times can my brother wrong me and I must forgive him? Would seven times be enough?

No,’ replied Jesus, “not seven times, but seventy times seven!

When Jesus walked the earth, the Jewish rabbis taught that someone had only to forgive someone else seven times, after which they could show the other person no further forgiveness. When Jesus says “seventy times seven,” he is speaking figuratively. By “seventy times seven” he means an unlimited number of times. We are not to keep count of how many times we forgive someone.

Implicit in what Jesus told Peter is that how many times we forgive someone does not depend upon their response to our forgiveness. We are to let go of our anger and to not hold what they did against them. Jesus is not saying that we should accept what they did as right or proper, but we are not to keep throwing in their face what they did.

3. Unforgiveness, unwillingness to forgive people for the things that they do wrong, has consequences. In Matthew 18: 23-35 Jesus goes on to explain:

For the kingdom of Heaven is like a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants. When he had started calling in his accounts, a man was brought to him who owed him millions of pounds. And when it was plain that he had no means of repaying the debt, his master gave orders for him to be sold as a slave, and his wife and children and all his possessions as well, and the money to be paid over. At this the servant fell on his knees before his master, ‘Oh, be patient with me!’ he cried, ‘and I will pay you back every penny!’ Then his master was moved with pity for him, set him free and cancelled his debt.

“But when this same servant had left his master’s presence, he found one of his fellow-servants who owed him a few shillings. He grabbed him and seized him by the throat, crying, ‘Pay up what you owe me!’ At this his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and implored him, ‘Oh, be patient with me, and I will pay you back!’ But he refused and went out and had him put in prison until he should repay the debt.

When the other fellow-servants saw what had happened, they were horrified and told their master the whole incident.

Then his master called him in. ‘You wicked servant!’ he said. ‘Didn’t I cancel all that debt when you begged me to do so? Oughtn’t you to have taken pity on your fellow-servant as I, your master, took pity on you? And his master in anger handed him over to the goalers till he should repay the whole debt. This is how my Heavenly Father will treat you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.

4. God extends forgiveness to us and therefore we should extend forgiveness to others. We are to be merciful like our Father in heaven is merciful. Forgiveness must also come from the heart. We must really forgive whoever offended or wronged us. We cannot just make a pretense of forgiving them. We must really stop being mad at them or blaming them for what they did, and let go of anything that we hold against them.

As the Mayo Clinic article, “Forgiveness: Letting go of grudges and bitterness,” draws to our attention, forgiveness has physical, psychological, and emotional benefits for us. The link to the article is https://www.mayoclinic.org/.../forgiveness/art-20047692 . These benefits, as well as the practical and spiritual benefits of forgiveness, help to explain why Jesus taught his disciples to pursue reconciliation with a brother or sister who something against them, even going as far as postponing fulfilling their religious obligations until they had made peace with that person. While Jesus may not mention these benefits in his teaching, he appears to be keenly aware of them.

As we have seen, forgiveness is an integral part of Jesus’ teaching. It is not optional for his disciples, for ourselves.

When it comes to forgiveness, it may be helpful to keep these things in mind. God is rich in mercy and is ready to forgive us. By the help of his grace God enables us to forgive. The Holy Spirit gently nudges us to forgive. God who is good and who gives good things to his children will answer our prayers if we ask him for help to forgive. When we forgive, we are doing God’s will and we are pleasing God. When we forgive someone, we take a great burden of our shoulders and lighten the load that we carry in this life. We also take a burden off the shoulders of whomever we forgive. We allow healing to take place—inner healing as well as healing of relationships.

What's On The Web: 'To See Someone, Love Someone' and More


Love the person you see and see the person you love.

Wait, You’re Not Deconstructing?
What’s behind the exvangelical trend isn’t new. But it sheds new light on theology.

How to Argue Against Gender-Transition Interventions for Children
A new study finds that an increasing number of Americans support hormonal and surgical interventions for adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria. How should Christians convince them to oppose this harm to children?

3 Reasons You Should Learn From People Different Than You
Does the breadth of your learning impact the depth of your learning?

The Importance of Innovation
One of the least talked about issues within churches is innovation.

6 Things Christians Should Know About Gen Z 
What do pastors and church members need to know to welcome and enfold this new generation of believers? TGC asked campus ministry workers across the country about the trends all church leaders should prepare to address in the next generation.

When You as the Leader Are the Obstacle
Sometimes the biggest obstacle to change is you. And the longer you’ve led, the more that’s true.

The Daring Idea of Small Groups
The small group has not always been a feature of Christian church life, even for Protestants. Among evangelicals, the small group traces its origins to two parallel lines of development in the sixteenth century.

Top 10 Ideas for a First Small Group Meeting
Any time you’re starting a new small group meeting, a great first meeting is very important. I include these ideas on a simple handout inside every new small group meeting leader’s packet.

Vices Masquerading as Virtue
I stumbled upon something Gregory the Great wrote warning how vices often masquerade as virtues. It made me pause and reflect.

Black Americans See the Biggest Shift Away from Faith
There are more unaffiliated African Americans, but they’re also more likely to return.

Saturday, February 12, 2022

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (February 13, 2022) Is Now Online


All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

God’s ways are not our ways. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts.

The Scripture reading for this Sunday is Luke 6: 17-26 Happiness and Sorrow.

The homily is titled “God cares About the Little Guy”

The link to this Sunday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/02/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-sunday_12.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'Question: Is Your Church a Ministering Church?' and More


Question: Is Your Church a Ministering Church?
This article's questions focus on your church’s ministry and service. Use these questions to assess your congregation.

Leading Your Church Through Change
Whenever churches move forward with changes, it is the pastor who must lead the way.

How Churches Can Create a Culture of Life in Their Communities
If you are concerned about creating a culure of life in your community, you do need to focus upon a broad set of concerns related to the quality of life of the elderly, the disabled, the poor, the intellectually-impaired and other groups in the communityas well as the unborn child in unplanned pregnancies and not dismiss them solely as pro-choice concerns. Euthenasia, assisted suicide, food insecurity, and a number of other issues should be our concern as well as abortion.

Five Strategies for Being a More Approachable Pastor on Sunday Morning
Sunday morning is an essential time when when people will develop perceptions about a pastor.

How To Modernize Your Church

Why not bring your church into the 21st century by updating the tech equipment that is used?

5 Steps to Create a Discipleship Plan
Discipleship is best viewed as a long-term, planned process, and that plan must be communicated and championed with consistency. The church cannot assume people know where they are on the discipleship pathway. Nor should church leaders assume people always know what their next step should be.

Beware the Complacency of “Once Saved, Always Saved”
If we see that God was willing to cut off branches from his own original tree because of their unbelief, why would we (who have been grafted somewhat unnaturally into this Jewish tree) ever think we can get away with the very things that got them removed?


Be Half Monk and Half Missionary
We are called, like the early disciples, to be half monk and half missionary.

More White Evangelicals Are Vaccinated Than You Might Think, but Still Less Than Other Groups
Most of the people in my region who become infected with the viru are unvaccinated. When omicron became the predominant strain in my county, the number of new cases jumped.

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (February 12, 2022) Is Now Online

 

All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

Jesus’ resurrection has profound implications for us. Among these implications is that Jesus is LORD!!

The Scripture reading for this Saturday is 1 Corinthians 15: 12-20 Our Resurrection.

The homily is titled “Jesus Is Really Lord.”

The link to this Saturday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/02/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-saturday_12.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Personal Christian Retreat: An Outline for Spiritual Renewal


For years, I’ve taken a regular personal Christian retreat. The getaway is a staple for renewing my mind and heart. Taking this time out has become an essential ministry practice, and I recommend it to my students as well.

Here’s an updated format for taking a personal Christian retreat. This is a collection of a variety of resources. If you’re constantly talking about how busy or rushed you are, then you need to stop and spend a day alone with Jesus. Read More

Wednesday, February 09, 2022

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (February 9, 2022) Is Now Online

All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

As Troop Chaplain I accompanied my grandnephew’s Boy Scout Troop on several campouts. On one occasion I got to visit an archery range and try my hand at archery. I had not shot an arrow from a bow for years. I shot arrows over the target and wide of the target. But not once did I hit the center of the target or even come close to hitting the target. With more practice and more effort, I believe that I would eventually have hit the target. Sometime our life as a disciple of Jesus is like that. We keep on missing, but we persist.

The Scripture reading for this Wednesday evening’s service is Galatians 3: 15-22 The Law and the Promise.

The homily is titled “Missing the Mark.”

The link to this evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/02/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for_9.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab. If a song begins partway through the video, move the slider back to the beginning of the video.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Tuesday, February 08, 2022

Tuesday's Three: 'It’s February: Check on Your Single Friends' and More


It’s February: Check on Your Single Friends

Don't forget the single guys. Remember them on Valentine's Day

How to Lead a Dynamic Cell Meeting
If transformation takes place, they will come back/

Question: Is Your Church an Evangelistic Church
In this article Chuck Lawless provides questions for use in evaluating the evangelistic health of your church.

Monday, February 07, 2022

Monday's Five: "Five Reasons Your Current Church Attendance Is the New Normal" and More


Five Reasons Your Current Church Attendance Is the New Normal
Why is your current attendance a new normal? Here are the five most common reasons the Church Answers team found.

4 Systems Church Leaders Should Care About
Eric Geiger identifies four systems which church leaders should care are effective in their churches.

Satan Does Not Live In Hell
It is surpising how old this mistaken belief is. It can be traced as far back as the Middle Ages, if not earlier.

Question: Is Your Church a Worshiping Church?
How would you answer these questions about your church?

7 Trademarks Of An Unhealthy Friendship 
A relationship can be toxic in many ways. Here are seven.

Saturday, February 05, 2022

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (February 6, 2022) Is Now Online


All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

If you have received Jesus as your Saviour and embraced him as your Lord, how did Jesus call you to himself? What happened is a part of your story and your testimony, and Jesus can use it to call others to himself.

If you do not yet know Jesus, how might he be calling you to himself?

The Scripture reading for this Sunday is Luke 5: 1-11 Jesus Calls the First Disciples.

The homily is titled “How Jesus Calls Us.”

The link to this Sunday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/02/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-sunday.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.