Better Together – Call to Worship & Devotional Thoughts for January 30
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
I think of the familiar story of the little boy who made him a toy sailboat. He carried the little boat out to the pond and began watching it float on the water. However, the wind pulled the little boat away from shore, and all the broken-hearted boy could do was watch it be blown out of reach and sight. Several weeks later he was walking through town and he saw his little toy boat for sale in a pawn store window. He rushed inside and bought the boat and was overheard as he walked down the street hugging his little boat saying, “You are now mine twice. I made you and now I have bought you.”
Today we celebrate the truth that we have been both created by God and also redeemed by God to be His very own. What have we been created and redeemed for? Today as a united body of Christ we are His ambassadors seeking to proclaim to the world that they have been redeemed by Christ and He no longer holds their sins against them. Jesus has secured access to God the Father and an eternity with Him in heaven. As a Salvation Army let’s again today make it our goal to be ambassadors to the lost, that those swept away by sin can once again be re-united with their Creator and Lord who cared enough to buy them back into fellowship.
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Live holy, preach Jesus!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sunday's Sermon - How to never miss your miracle again.
To listen to Sunday's sermon preached at the Anchorage Corps last Sunday, just click the play arrow here.
For a basic manuscript of this message use download, or sharing options, click the menu button at the right of this square and choose your option.
For this sermon, past sermons, podcasting options, and countless other preachers check out the sermon site at http://sermon.net/Thielenhaus
God bless your study!
Live holy, preach Jesus!
For a basic manuscript of this message use download, or sharing options, click the menu button at the right of this square and choose your option.
For this sermon, past sermons, podcasting options, and countless other preachers check out the sermon site at http://sermon.net/Thielenhaus
God bless your study!
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
A holy temple - Better Together 11
Better Together – Call to Worship & Devotional Thoughts for January 23
Ephesians 2:18-26 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Take a moment to look around your congregation. As you look at others around you I hope you realize, that for each of you who have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are each fellow citizens of His Kingdom and family members in His household. A glorious fact for us today is that not only are we to be individually filled with God’s Holy Spirit, but as a family of believers we become a home for Him to dwell within. Today as you start your time of worship make sure to thank the Lord that He wants to build you and your corps to become the place where He Himself continually dwells.
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Live holy, preach Jesus!
Ephesians 2:18-26 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Take a moment to look around your congregation. As you look at others around you I hope you realize, that for each of you who have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are each fellow citizens of His Kingdom and family members in His household. A glorious fact for us today is that not only are we to be individually filled with God’s Holy Spirit, but as a family of believers we become a home for Him to dwell within. Today as you start your time of worship make sure to thank the Lord that He wants to build you and your corps to become the place where He Himself continually dwells.
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Live holy, preach Jesus!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Fwd: Confessions of the World’s Worst Evangelist
This is a repost of an article from http://www.churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/outreach-missions-blogs/147420-Confessions-of-the-World%E2%80%99s-Worst-Evangelist.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily-Update
Confessions of the World’s Worst Evangelist
Being a "bad evangelist" isn't the point...it's not about you.
You can teach an old dog new tricks.
For years, I’ve hidden behind the excuse that “I’m the world’s worst evangelist.” I was right. But that’s not the point.
1. It’s not about me.
Mission is not about us. It’s about God and what he has done through Christ. It’s about what Jesus continues to do today through us by the power of the Spirit. No more excuses. God is already at work.
For years, I’ve been telling people, “I’m the world’s worst evangelist.” It was an excuse. It was about me, not about what God was doing.
One Sunday afternoon, Michelle and I started walking around looking for “persons of peace.” It took half an hour to find our first one. Now we have a thriving ministry to people from all over the globe living on our doorstep. Monday night, we’ll baptize three new believers.
I’m still the world’s worst evangelist, but that no longer stops me from stepping out in faith to see what God is going to do.
2. Share the gospel—leave the results to God.
The gospel of our good deeds is a shadow. The gospel of our church cannot save. The gospel of our political agendas is a distraction. The gospel of our silence is unloving. The only hope for this lost world is the death and resurrection of Jesus—Christ in us, the hope of glory.
If this is true, why are we so slow to share it? We talk about “earning the right to speak” as though the Cross is not enough.
I’ve learned to share Christ the first time I meet someone. So many of the people I’ve shared with are now my close friends. Being up front with people has helped them see how important knowing Jesus is. My goal is not to convert anyone, but to find responsive people who want to learn more.
3. Teach them to obey.
The command was never just to teach; it was “teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” That’s what discipleship is.
We start discipling people before they have decided to follow Jesus. I regularly meet with people who grew up in Communist countries. Some are still members of the Party. They’re atheists. We read a simple Bible story—the Good Samaritan or the Prodigal Son—I don’t teach; I ask questions. “What is this saying to you?” “What does this tell us about God? About humanity?” “If this story is true, what difference would it make to your life this week?” “Who could you tell this story to?”
I want them to discover Jesus for themselves and to begin learning to obey him. I finish up by asking how I can pray for them. Then we pray. You would be amazed at how many atheists are touched by your prayer for them. You’d be surprised how many come back the next week and tell me how the God they don’t believe in has answered our prayers.
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For years, I’ve hidden behind the excuse that “I’m the world’s worst evangelist.” I was right. But that’s not the point.
1. It’s not about me.
Mission is not about us. It’s about God and what he has done through Christ. It’s about what Jesus continues to do today through us by the power of the Spirit. No more excuses. God is already at work.
For years, I’ve been telling people, “I’m the world’s worst evangelist.” It was an excuse. It was about me, not about what God was doing.
One Sunday afternoon, Michelle and I started walking around looking for “persons of peace.” It took half an hour to find our first one. Now we have a thriving ministry to people from all over the globe living on our doorstep. Monday night, we’ll baptize three new believers.
I’m still the world’s worst evangelist, but that no longer stops me from stepping out in faith to see what God is going to do.
2. Share the gospel—leave the results to God.
The gospel of our good deeds is a shadow. The gospel of our church cannot save. The gospel of our political agendas is a distraction. The gospel of our silence is unloving. The only hope for this lost world is the death and resurrection of Jesus—Christ in us, the hope of glory.
If this is true, why are we so slow to share it? We talk about “earning the right to speak” as though the Cross is not enough.
I’ve learned to share Christ the first time I meet someone. So many of the people I’ve shared with are now my close friends. Being up front with people has helped them see how important knowing Jesus is. My goal is not to convert anyone, but to find responsive people who want to learn more.
3. Teach them to obey.
The command was never just to teach; it was “teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” That’s what discipleship is.
We start discipling people before they have decided to follow Jesus. I regularly meet with people who grew up in Communist countries. Some are still members of the Party. They’re atheists. We read a simple Bible story—the Good Samaritan or the Prodigal Son—I don’t teach; I ask questions. “What is this saying to you?” “What does this tell us about God? About humanity?” “If this story is true, what difference would it make to your life this week?” “Who could you tell this story to?”
I want them to discover Jesus for themselves and to begin learning to obey him. I finish up by asking how I can pray for them. Then we pray. You would be amazed at how many atheists are touched by your prayer for them. You’d be surprised how many come back the next week and tell me how the God they don’t believe in has answered our prayers.
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Steve Addison is the author of Movements That Change the World, a calling to spark church planting around the world. He has been a life-long student of movements that renew and expand the Christian faith. Steve currently serves as director of Church Resource Ministries (CRM) Australia. He is married with four children and lives in Melbourne.
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Live holy, preach Jesus!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
You aren't here for yourself - Better together 10
Better Together – Call to Worship & Devotional Thoughts for January 16
In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn't. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus. "These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold." "Which channel do you want?" asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can't you guys get organized like that?" (Charles Schultz.)
Ephesians 4
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. … … … 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Today our scripture reminds us that our lives in the Body of Christ were meant to be lived in community. You are not here for yourself. God has intended that only as we all live united, each with our gifts, and all under His Headship will we ever experience all He intends for us. In Ephesians the Apostle Paul again tells us that Christ himself gave us each other so that the body might be build up, become mature, reach unity in the faith, and even all attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
I myself have not arrived to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ today, but the good news is that God has provided us the very support system to insure it can become a reality for each of us this year. Commit again today to do your part in the body of Christ, and then remind yourself you cannot do His work alone.
United to the body and with Christ as our Head, we are better together.
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Live holy, preach Jesus!
In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn't. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus. "These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold." "Which channel do you want?" asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can't you guys get organized like that?" (Charles Schultz.)
Ephesians 4
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. … … … 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Today our scripture reminds us that our lives in the Body of Christ were meant to be lived in community. You are not here for yourself. God has intended that only as we all live united, each with our gifts, and all under His Headship will we ever experience all He intends for us. In Ephesians the Apostle Paul again tells us that Christ himself gave us each other so that the body might be build up, become mature, reach unity in the faith, and even all attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
I myself have not arrived to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ today, but the good news is that God has provided us the very support system to insure it can become a reality for each of us this year. Commit again today to do your part in the body of Christ, and then remind yourself you cannot do His work alone.
United to the body and with Christ as our Head, we are better together.
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Live holy, preach Jesus!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
A reminder of the call to prayer - Better together 9
Better Together – Call to Worship & Devotional Thoughts
January 9, 2011
Acts 4 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
When were the disciples filled with the Holy Spirit for speaking the word of God boldly? When they were united together in prayer and of one heart and mind. When was grace powerfully working in all of them, when they were united in the work of proclamation of the gospel and the supporting of those among them. God has intended that we are better together and that coming together in prayer be part of His means of granting us unity and power.
General Shaw Clifton, International leader of The Salvation Army has proclaimed a world wide united call to prayer. Here is the full text of the Call, published on 1 November 2010:
Dear Comrades and Friends in Christ,
A GLOBAL CALL TO 24-7 PRAYER: A day and night cry for justice.
Following thorough preparation by the Centre for Spiritual Life Development (a department of International Headquarters) and prayerful consideration by the International Management Council, I have agreed to the launching of A Global Call to Prayer: A day and night cry for justice (Luke 18:7) to all Salvationists, to commence on 1 January 2011.
Therefore, I am writing to my fellow Salvationists around the world, to call you to united, focused intercession in relation to the need for justice for the oppressed, according to Luke 18.
The spreading corrosive influence of human trafficking, corruption, and impurities beyond imagining call for nothing less than Salvationists to be on our knees before the One who alone can bring about a restoration of justice in the earth, even a holiness revival. Indeed, the great need of the times in which we live and serve urges us onward in day and night prayer.
Many Salvation Army territories around the world are already engaged in 24-7 prayer, with more prayer rooms and prayer networks being developed continually.
In recent years The Salvation Army's Centre for Spiritual Life Development in London and the International Social Justice Commission in New York City have been established and are born of the Spirit. This call to prayer will produce a spiritual synergy the world over.
In Luke 18:8 Jesus concludes his teaching with the question, "However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Perhaps Jesus is looking for evidence of faith on the earth upon his return, in his chosen ones crying out to him day and night. May The Salvation Army be a part of the faith that he finds.
Yours in Christ, Shaw Clifton - GENERAL
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Live holy, preach Jesus!
January 9, 2011
Acts 4 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
When were the disciples filled with the Holy Spirit for speaking the word of God boldly? When they were united together in prayer and of one heart and mind. When was grace powerfully working in all of them, when they were united in the work of proclamation of the gospel and the supporting of those among them. God has intended that we are better together and that coming together in prayer be part of His means of granting us unity and power.
General Shaw Clifton, International leader of The Salvation Army has proclaimed a world wide united call to prayer. Here is the full text of the Call, published on 1 November 2010:
Dear Comrades and Friends in Christ,
A GLOBAL CALL TO 24-7 PRAYER: A day and night cry for justice.
Following thorough preparation by the Centre for Spiritual Life Development (a department of International Headquarters) and prayerful consideration by the International Management Council, I have agreed to the launching of A Global Call to Prayer: A day and night cry for justice (Luke 18:7) to all Salvationists, to commence on 1 January 2011.
Therefore, I am writing to my fellow Salvationists around the world, to call you to united, focused intercession in relation to the need for justice for the oppressed, according to Luke 18.
The spreading corrosive influence of human trafficking, corruption, and impurities beyond imagining call for nothing less than Salvationists to be on our knees before the One who alone can bring about a restoration of justice in the earth, even a holiness revival. Indeed, the great need of the times in which we live and serve urges us onward in day and night prayer.
Many Salvation Army territories around the world are already engaged in 24-7 prayer, with more prayer rooms and prayer networks being developed continually.
In recent years The Salvation Army's Centre for Spiritual Life Development in London and the International Social Justice Commission in New York City have been established and are born of the Spirit. This call to prayer will produce a spiritual synergy the world over.
In Luke 18:8 Jesus concludes his teaching with the question, "However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Perhaps Jesus is looking for evidence of faith on the earth upon his return, in his chosen ones crying out to him day and night. May The Salvation Army be a part of the faith that he finds.
Yours in Christ, Shaw Clifton - GENERAL
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Live holy, preach Jesus!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
United and Annointed - Better Together 8
Better Together – Call to Worship & Devotional Thoughts for January 2, 2011
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Psalm 133 A song of ascents. Of David.
1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion
As we start this New Year for the Lord’s glory, let’s look at David’s psalm in Psalm 133.
David professed it is good and pleasant when God’s people live together in unity. Not only is it good and pleasant for us, but it is pleasing to our Lord when we choose to unite under the banner of Jesus Christ.
David says that when God’s people are together in unity it is like a picture of anointing. I picture David describing the anointing of oil on the people of God. There is a lavish anointing available when we are united. David pictures precious oil poured on the head, running past the beard, and down onto the collar of the robe of the anointed. David says it’s as if the blessings of the Lord where being poured out as dew from Mount Zion
Today as we celebrate this first Sunday of the new year, let’s insure that we have the blessing of the Lord. Today commit to live united with fellow soldiers and followers of Jesus in the cause to see the whole world come to find the Savior.
Lord may a fresh anointed fall on your united Salvation Army this next year and make us better together.
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Live holy, preach Jesus!
Better Together 7
Better Together – Call to Worship & Devotional Thoughts - meant for December 26th, the post might be late, but the Word of God is never out of season!
December 26
Here is just a portion of “the heroes of the faith” section of the bible from Hebrews 11.
Look at these amazing scriptures about our need for unity in the faith.
Hebrews 11
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. … … 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
All of these heroes of the faith had to put their trust in God without seeing the person of Jesus as we understand Him today. Prior to Jesus life lived among us, prior to his teaching, before his suffering and death, and without the evidence of His resurrection these men and women of faith simply believed God and backed up their faith with their lives. Each of these heroes did more than seek God merely for themselves, in part their faith was lived to point the way for us.
As we look at starting a new year of faith, let’s make sure we live our lives not simply to be obedient to the Lord for our sakes, but let’s take the blessing of being on this side of the tangible life of Christ and together with the prophets before us, let’s show the world God’s plan of Salvation.
Let’s proclaim the good news of a risen Savior who came and is coming again. Our Savior is worthy of an Army, and we are better together.
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Live holy, preach Jesus!
December 26
Here is just a portion of “the heroes of the faith” section of the bible from Hebrews 11.
Look at these amazing scriptures about our need for unity in the faith.
Hebrews 11
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. … … 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
All of these heroes of the faith had to put their trust in God without seeing the person of Jesus as we understand Him today. Prior to Jesus life lived among us, prior to his teaching, before his suffering and death, and without the evidence of His resurrection these men and women of faith simply believed God and backed up their faith with their lives. Each of these heroes did more than seek God merely for themselves, in part their faith was lived to point the way for us.
As we look at starting a new year of faith, let’s make sure we live our lives not simply to be obedient to the Lord for our sakes, but let’s take the blessing of being on this side of the tangible life of Christ and together with the prophets before us, let’s show the world God’s plan of Salvation.
Let’s proclaim the good news of a risen Savior who came and is coming again. Our Savior is worthy of an Army, and we are better together.
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Live holy, preach Jesus!
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