by Cathy Baker | Faith |
In a rushed, distracted, and worried world how do we pursue God above all else? How do we make intimacy with God our top priority?
Kyle Estepp not only taught from Luke 10:38-42 Sunday morning at Summit, he brought it. I encourage you to listen online this week, but for today’s purpose I sense this is all the Lord would have me share:
Martha was fuming about dinner; Mary was feasting on every word that came from the mouth of God.
Martha was troubled by many things; Mary chose the one thing.
Martha was distracted; Mary was focused.
Martha responded to Jesus in the light of circumstances; Mary responded to the circumstances in the light of Jesus.
Martha told Jesus what to do; Mary listened for what Jesus wanted her to do.
Martha left Jesus to go to work; Mary left the work to go to Jesus.
Martha initiated for Jesus; Mary responded to Jesus.
Martha spoke to Jesus; Mary heard from Jesus.
Martha was dutiful; Mary was devoted.
– Howard Baker, Does Jesus Prefer the Ideal Worker or the Ideal Worshipper?
If our friends and family were to say what is most important to us—what we value most—based on our choices, how would they answer?
**As with all the Snippets, I try to jot down everything verbatim, but it’s not always possible.To listen to the sermon in its
entirety, I invite you to visit Summit’s site.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Jason Malone brought this message on Sunday. I believe it to be one of the best he’s ever preached—and that’s saying something!
As
mentioned in the past, I try to jot everything down verbatim, but it’s not
always possible. To listen to the sermon in its entirety, I invite you
to visit Summit’s site.
- Our heavenly Father doesn’t desire a casual, courteous, respectful-based-on-a-holiday or sitting-in-the-building-nicely-dressed type of relationship with His people.
- God desires an intimate relationship.
Revelation 3: 20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
- In speaking to believers here, we’re introduced to the concept that our God, with all His power and ability, says He will not force us to have an intimate relationship with Him.
- Many times we opt for religion instead of a relationship because we can treat God with respect (keeping Him at arms length) without true intimacy (knowing Him).
4 Ways to Pursue Him
- We have to give Him some time. Unrushed, unstructured, sitting and talking, listening kind of time. If the full extent of our relationship with Jesus Christ is showing up on Sunday mornings we don’t have a relationship—we have a religion.
- We have to be transparent. Stop working with formulas (Bible reading+church attendance+memorized prayers = successful walk with Christ.) Just talk. We won’t catch our heavenly Father off guard. He already knows when we’re angry, bitter, and ticked off so be honest. We can share all these things without being disrespectful. He desires honest communication.
- We have to obey what He says. Sometimes we avoid #1 because we don’t want to hear what we think He’ll say to us — but when we have a relationship with God, we can trust His best for us and pursue Him because of it.
- We have to be willing to grow and learn. Showing up once a week isn’t growing.
- Jesus says I want you to love Me, not just respect Me.
- He won’t force the door open – but He will come in and fellowship. It’s not because He can’t get in. It’s that He wants to be invited in.
(I encourage you to set aside 30 minutes this week to take a listen. My notes doesn’t do his sermon justice. Powerful and packed with tweetable truths.)
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Music stirs my soul into a divine frenzy.
Rarely do I drive without it—especially on the Sunday mornings. But this wasn’t the case yesterday.
Music was playing when I cranked ‘ol faithful (’99 CRV) but I quickly punched the knob to turn it off when I felt impressed to pray for Brian (who played at our Cherrydale campus), for Brandon (leading worship in Ohio), and for specific members of our family.
Within a couple blocks, I began praying for a friend’s daughter, uncertain of her needs, but certain of the One who did.
A mile down the road, a man in our life group who just had heart surgery came to mind as I passed his daughter’s sub-division.
A few minutes later, I passed our former church — praying God’s blessings, discernment, and glory to fall upon that place.
Drawing closer to Summit Church, I prayed for the ladies study on Tuesday night, asking God to keep us focused on Him…and not our space, or lack thereof. More ladies have decided to join us in the past week. Praising God, and trusting Him too.
As I pulled into a parking space, the silence caught me off guard. I’d not turned the radio on! No music had played—or had it?
“What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my
mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my
mind also.” 1 Corinthians 14:15 ESV
Oh, the sweet melody of prayer!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
The Gospel changes all our relationships.
- Relationships are hard—they’re a mess, exhausting, and draining—but they’re also life-giving. So we don’t walk away.
- The way we do life testifies that Jesus is Who He says He is. This is why we cannot say, “I’m done.”
- One mark of a Gospel-centered friendship is that we’re willing to give our life away. We’re able to do this once we’re fully convinced of God’s love and acceptance for us. This kind of confidence frees us to love others unconditionally.
Brothers and sisters, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Galatians 6:1
- Who are the spiritual? We are. Every person in whom the Holy Spirit dwells—Christ followers. A Gospel-centered friend neither enjoys confrontation or avoids it.
- The legalist says to one in sin: “I will never understand how you…” The Gospel-centered friend realizes the same potential for sin exists within him/her and says “I’ll get involved.”
- We can be available to bear burdens of our friends because we know there is a true and better Friend who bore the ultimate burden of sin and death for us.
Two questions:
Do we have these types of friends?
Am I being that kind of friend?
– Notes taken from today’s sermon at Summit Church Upstate, given by Jason Malone. To listen to the sermon in its entirety, please click here.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Welcome to Sunday Snippets!
Kyle Estepp led today’s topic in Galatians 5 on the Fruit of the Spirit. He brought a fresh perspective to one of the most studied passages of Scripture. To enjoy the sermon in its entirety, please visit Summit Church’s sermon archive.
A few favorite quotes from today:
- It is fruit of the Spirit, not fruits. We can’t have one without the other. Unless we’re growing in all of them (to differing degrees) we are not growing in any of them.
- We’re only as mature as our weakest character trait.
- Practically speaking, spiritual fruit is grown only through intentional biblical community.
Kyle also listed specific definitions, but my fingers couldn’t keep up. Below is a similar list from Timothy Keller, along with opposite and counterfeit traits.
Agape – love
Definition – To serve a person for their good and intrinsic value, not for what the person brings you.
Opposite – Fear: self-protection and abusing people.
Counterfeit – Selfish affection.
Rescuing someone but really rescuing self. Attracted not to a person,
but to how this person’s love makes you feel about yourself.
Chara – joy
Definition – Delight in God and his salvation for sheer beauty and worth of who he is.
Opposite – Hopelessness, despair.
Counterfeit – Elation that comes with blessings not the Blesser! Mood swings based on circumstances.
Irene – peace
Definition – Confidence and rest in the wisdom and sovereignty of God more than your own.
Opposite – Anxiety and worry
Counterfeit – Indifference, apathy, not caring about something. “I don’t care.”
Makrothumia – patience
Definition – Ability to take trouble (from others or life) without blowing. To suffer joyfully.
Opposite – Resentment toward God and others.
Counterfeit – Cynicism. Self-righteousness. “This is too small to be bothered about.”
Chrestotes – kindness
Definition – Practical kindness with vulnerability out of deep inner security.
Opposite – Envy. Unable to rejoice other’s joy.
Counterfeit – Manipulative good deeds. “Right hand knowing what left hand is doing.” Self-congratulation and self-righteousness.
Agathosune – goodness. (integrity)
Definition – Honesty, transparency. Being the same in one situation as another.
Opposite – Phoniness; hypocrisy.
Counterfeit – Truth without love. “Getting it off the chest” for your sake.
Pistis – faithfulness.
Definition – Loyalty. Courage. To be principle-driven, committed, utterly reliable. True to one’s word.
Opposite – Opportunist. Fair-weather friend.
Counterfeit – Love without truth. Being loyal when you should be willing to confront or challenge.
Prautas – gentleness. (humility)
Definition – Self-forgetfulness.
Opposite – Superiority: self-absorbed self-aggrandizement.
Counterfeit – Inferiority: self-absorbed, self-consciousness.
Egkrateia – self-control
Definition – Ability to choose the important thing over the urgent.
Opposite – A driven, impulsive, uncontrolled person.
Counterfeit – Willpower through pride or through more “functional” idols.