service

But first, who is God?

January 13, 2021 — Leave a comment

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:1-2

Paul knew his identity. He knew his audience. And he knew his message. Each step builds off of the prior planting. Before Paul could have his message, he needed to know his audience. He needed to know the people he was trying to communicate with. He needed to understand what specifically the people of Ephesus needed to hear, what were their pains, what were their hopes, what language would best resonate. The messages comes out of the audience because its purpose is to serve those receiving. Before Paul could find his audience, he needed to know who he was. He needed to know who he was called to connect with. He needed to know his community. He needed to understand his place in the world. Out of that trust and stillness emanates the connections. Before Paul could know who he was, he needed to know God. He needed to know the God who created him and the world. He needed to know the God who structured and watches over this world. He needed to know that God is kind, good, loving and desires to redeem all of this world. He needed to know and experience the God who is near, who can move mountains, who can do the impossible. Paul’s identity flows out of this knowing of God.

  1. How do you see God? How do you view God? What does God’s identity say about your identity?
  2. Who are you? What is your “title” or “role” in God’s kingdom? Who needs your specific leadership and wisdom?
  3. Who are the people you already connect with? Who are the people you hope to connect with? What are they longing for? What do they hope for?
  4. What message and offering will serve the people you are called to? What message and offering will bring these people to God’s presence?

CBG: #12

April 1, 2020 — 1 Comment

Can the world say, GOTCHA, this was a joke HAPPY APRIL FOOL’S…let’s go back to…? Back to what…? Back to all the things we took for granted like going to the store without anxiety of invisible virus attackers in the air? Back to daydreaming in a coffee shop and building relationship currency with the barista? Back to hugs and physical closeness and to a time when you didn’t know physical touch was on your top 5 love languages? Joe Biden always talks about going back to when….? To when…? When only some of us were aware of the rampant racism bubbling under the surface ready to launch at anyone who isn’t alike on the outside? When most of us let the leaders do the “organizing” and we sat back? When the lucky few of us thought this world isn’t too bad?

There’s no going back. We are changed. We may not have the words or know what the change means for our future decisions, however, things have and will continue to shift.

  • What has shifted because circumstances have shifted? This is the stripping of all those YOLO decisions.
  • What has rooted deeper because what is unshakeable glows brighter? This is the building of all those YOLO intentions.

Prayer/Meditation: For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3: 14-21

Creative: It’s national poetry month! Write a poem.

Brave: Where have you been living in scarcity? How can you shift that?

Generous: What was a service that you loved? How can you honor the person who gave that to you?

John 13: Out of everything we serve

January 15, 2020 — Leave a comment

Jesus knowing that God had given everything to him, gets on his knees to wash his disciples feet. His act of service flows from abundance, from knowing that he lacks nothing and from knowing his cup has everything. His act of service is not to get anything or to prove anything. It is simply out of abundance and love.

What motivates us to serve? What motivates us to give? Is it out of knowing that we already have everything or is it out of trying to get something?

You ever get that icky feeling when someone tries to help you. Like you owe them something? You ever get that icky feeling when you try to help? And you have a slight, maybe minuscule feeling of bitterness when your service isn’t acknowledged? Our service and generosity MUST flow from an inner abundance and fullness so that all we do is not to get, but simply to exist. Without the inner abundance and security, everything we do has a disclaimer or a need.

What areas of your life do you feel lack? How can God fill those so we don’t attempt to be the filled by those in this world?