Back in the Swing of Things
Well, sadly, spring break is over and it's time to get back in the swing of school things. If you're having a hard time gettin back in the swing of things, I know of the perfect place to go for a break. That's right, the Union for supper at about 5:45 tonight!
Rightly so, missions has been a big topic this semester. The word on the street is that the spring break missions to Dallas and New Orleans went well and that there are two more opportunities for missions this weekend. The first is a Sunday morning trip to Mt. Judea to help with the morning services at Jacob Hudson's home church. We'll be leaving from the student center at about 8 in the morning. When we get there, we'll have Bible class, worship service, a potluck lunch, a short devotional and then we'll get back here to Fayetteville mid to late afternoon. I'll be teaching class on Acts 8. It'd be a big help if you could read it ahead of time and be ready to discuss. Nick Ruple will be preaching and Wilson will be leading singing. Please be praying for us and for everyone leading and going this weekend.
The other opportunity is a short trip to Cave Springs to help with their Sunday evening services. If you're going to Mt. Judea, don't feel like you can't go to Cave Springs too. The plan is to get back in time to go to Cave Springs as well. I'm not sure who's doing what in Cave Springs, but please keep this trip in your prayers as well.
God is faithful!!! Lately prayers have been answered and doors have been opened concerning missions this summer! We now have teams going to Prague, Czech Republic; Cluj, Romania; and Cosenza, Italy. We also have RFCs going to Africa and the Ukraine and helping with summer camps and going other places as well. Please keep all these places and people in your prayers. "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16b
Well, for this week’s mini devo, I just thought I'd throw out some more verses for you to chew on dealing what we talked about tonight in class about not being yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14-7:1). Some will have to do with guy/girl relationships and some will have to do with everyday friendships:
[speaking about the nations the Isrealites would drive out] "Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods, and the Lord's anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you." Deuteronomy 7:3,4
"A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." Proverbs 12:26
"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in here and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.' Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31:10-12,28-31
"Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. 'I hate divorce,’ says the Lord God of Israel, ' and I hate man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,' says the Lord Almighty."
Malachi 2:15,16
"I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with any who claim to be fellow believers but are sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such persons do not even eat.
What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. 'Expel the wicked person from among you.'"
1 Cor 5:9-13
"Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.' Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame." 1 Cor 15:33-34
"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view."
2 Cor 5:16
"For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no on deceive you with empty words; for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them." Ephesians 5:5-7
"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let you conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:5,6
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so they you will not be dependent on anybody." 1 Thess 4:11,12
"Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." 1 John 2:6
After reading back through these verses, I realize that they don't provide a simple, works-for-every-situation formula. However, our competence comes from God and he has given us the ability to discern the implications of the situations we find ourselves in or perhaps allow ourselves to be in. It seems to me that the simple goal is to be in the world and to be a light to it while at the same time not allowing ourselves to be corrupted by it. I think the last verse about walking as Jesus did sums it all up. Jesus definitely spent a lot of time around "sinners." Yet, when he was around them he was changing their lives for the better and was at the same time keeping himself pure.
Have a great day!
In HIM,
Mitch
Rightly so, missions has been a big topic this semester. The word on the street is that the spring break missions to Dallas and New Orleans went well and that there are two more opportunities for missions this weekend. The first is a Sunday morning trip to Mt. Judea to help with the morning services at Jacob Hudson's home church. We'll be leaving from the student center at about 8 in the morning. When we get there, we'll have Bible class, worship service, a potluck lunch, a short devotional and then we'll get back here to Fayetteville mid to late afternoon. I'll be teaching class on Acts 8. It'd be a big help if you could read it ahead of time and be ready to discuss. Nick Ruple will be preaching and Wilson will be leading singing. Please be praying for us and for everyone leading and going this weekend.
The other opportunity is a short trip to Cave Springs to help with their Sunday evening services. If you're going to Mt. Judea, don't feel like you can't go to Cave Springs too. The plan is to get back in time to go to Cave Springs as well. I'm not sure who's doing what in Cave Springs, but please keep this trip in your prayers as well.
God is faithful!!! Lately prayers have been answered and doors have been opened concerning missions this summer! We now have teams going to Prague, Czech Republic; Cluj, Romania; and Cosenza, Italy. We also have RFCs going to Africa and the Ukraine and helping with summer camps and going other places as well. Please keep all these places and people in your prayers. "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16b
Well, for this week’s mini devo, I just thought I'd throw out some more verses for you to chew on dealing what we talked about tonight in class about not being yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14-7:1). Some will have to do with guy/girl relationships and some will have to do with everyday friendships:
[speaking about the nations the Isrealites would drive out] "Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods, and the Lord's anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you." Deuteronomy 7:3,4
"A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." Proverbs 12:26
"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in here and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.' Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31:10-12,28-31
"Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. 'I hate divorce,’ says the Lord God of Israel, ' and I hate man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,' says the Lord Almighty."
Malachi 2:15,16
"I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with any who claim to be fellow believers but are sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such persons do not even eat.
What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. 'Expel the wicked person from among you.'"
1 Cor 5:9-13
"Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.' Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame." 1 Cor 15:33-34
"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view."
2 Cor 5:16
"For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no on deceive you with empty words; for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them." Ephesians 5:5-7
"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let you conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:5,6
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so they you will not be dependent on anybody." 1 Thess 4:11,12
"Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." 1 John 2:6
After reading back through these verses, I realize that they don't provide a simple, works-for-every-situation formula. However, our competence comes from God and he has given us the ability to discern the implications of the situations we find ourselves in or perhaps allow ourselves to be in. It seems to me that the simple goal is to be in the world and to be a light to it while at the same time not allowing ourselves to be corrupted by it. I think the last verse about walking as Jesus did sums it all up. Jesus definitely spent a lot of time around "sinners." Yet, when he was around them he was changing their lives for the better and was at the same time keeping himself pure.
Have a great day!
In HIM,
Mitch
posted by mitch | 3:15 AM
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