Teleos Blog that we may present everyone complete in Christ

Spiritual Disciplines: Bible StudyPosted by Phil on January 27th, 2009

We’re going to look at different disciplines in random order. We’ll jump back and forth between disciplines of engagement and disciplines of abstinence so there’s variety. You may want to read chapter 9 of the book to get an overview of many of them. Each week you’ll get notes with a couple of brief articles on the discipline we’ll be looking at and a goal for you to look towards. Really, I’ll set the goal as a minimum…I’d encourage you to go beyond it if you are able. Then during the week, take a look at the articles and try to get through that discipline. Then we’ll use our small group time to talk about our experiences, if it was useful, if it was lame, or if we weren’t able to handle it. And finish up with if we could see ourselves using that discipline again in the future to teach us something about ourselves or about God.

Bible study probably sounds kind of like a duh statement and possibly a simple spiritual discipline. However, there are many different ways to study the Bible. For me, when I read my Bible at home is completely different than when I’m preparing a lesson, which is completely different than when I’m preparing a series. At home I’m looking specifically for application whatever the section I might be reading. For a series, I’m trying to pick up the big picture so I can break it down as we go on. And each week becomes an in depth study of a passage often w/ word studies or trying to figure out the whole context of the passage.

Hopefully you’re already in the habit of reading your Bible on a regular basis. But for the next 2 weeks I’d love for you to try a few different Bible study methods. This time, you need to go online to get your materials because I’ll give you a link to a site with Bible study methods and then a site to provide helps and study materials for you as well.

Bible Study Methods

http://www.eachnewday.com/HowToStudyTheBible/the_Bible_study_methods.htm

Bible Study Tools

http://bible.crosswalk.com/

IT: Where Am I Going?Posted by Phil on January 25th, 2009

i’ve always had a plan for my life, but it always seems to change.  there was a while when i was absolutely positive that i was going to be a farmer…but then i turned 4 and that passed.  i wanted to be a fireman, professional baseball player, and for the longest time i wanted to be a business man.  that one stuck for a long time…through high school really.  i wanted to do what my dad did.  i excelled at math and science and it seemed like a natural fit.  new cars on a regular basis and it paid well….plus it should keep me where i grew up.  but when it came to go to college i only picked schools with youth ministry programs.  not sure how it happened because i was set on a business degree, but i went to school for ministry.  then came time to graduate and i was ready to get a job.  i was convinced, i didn’t need seminary b/c a lot of godly men have done quality work in languages so i don’t need to learn it.  so i graduated and went to seminary.

i’ve always had a plan for my life, but it always seems to change.  i’m heading down one path and then the path moves.  sometimes it’s fairly easy and sometimes it’s terrifying.

how can you be content with your future?  how can you accept what comes your way?

there are plenty of reasons why you might not be content.  you might be filled with uncertainty.  choosing a major, then graduating and saying “now what?”, or questioning how you’ll be able to find a job.  maybe things have just gone wrong for you.  you get sick forcing you to drop out of school backing you up at least a year, or not getting a high enough grade forcing you to retake a class, or losing your job, or a meltdown a home that just ruins your year.

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

great….i just wish i knew what those plans were.  maybe you hear Romans 8:28 or the words of Christ, “don’t worry about tomorrow…”  you’re filled with questions and these answers don’t really seem to answer your questions with the detail you want.

here’s the difficult part, we don’t really see how to steps laid out in Scripture.  we simply see people respond to God’s call with very few questions.

Paul was on one track and then was blinded by light on the road to Damascas.  his big question was, “who are you?” and that was the fight he put up.  ok…i’ll go.  we don’t see his struggles as he takes time to adjust from his old life to the new life.

the disciples all had jobs of their own and Jesus came along and said, “follow me” and they went.  they dropped their things and followed Jesus.  we see one ask to go say goodbye to his family.

abraham and moses led people to wander through the wilderness.  when God said stopped they did and picked up and moved again when they were told to.

we don’t see the stories of the people who questioned God.  the disciple that said, “eehhhhh….i’m not so sure about that.  i’ve got a plan for my life.”  they just aren’t there.  i mean, there’s the story of Jonah, but that didn’t work out so well for him.  and then the rich young ruler, but he walked away unfulfilled.

they all just trusted.  they had faith that left them convinced that God was looking out for their best.  so how can you be content with your future when you have no clue what’s coming?  have faith.

so then how can you help grow your faith.  faith here is a spiritual gift.  it might sound like a huge church answer….but read the Bible and pray.  read the stories of the Bible…the narrative passages.  Genesis, Exodus, Judges, Kings, Ruth, the Gospels, or Acts.  read stories of people who God turned their direction and see how they trusted and recognize that God had a plan for each of them.  pray and ask God to give you faith.  not that he would point out his path, but for faith to trust him to go when he says to.  and hang out with people who seem content with their life.

Spiritual Disciplines: SecrecyPosted by Phil on January 20th, 2009

We’re going to look at different disciplines in random order. We’ll jump back and forth between disciplines of engagement and disciplines of abstinence so there’s variety. You may want to read chapter 9 of the book to get an overview of many of them. Each week you’ll get notes with a couple of brief articles on the discipline we’ll be looking at and a goal for you to look towards. Really, I’ll set the goal as a minimum…I’d encourage you to go beyond it if you are able. Then during the week, take a look at the articles and try to get through that discipline. Then we’ll use our small group time to talk about our experiences, if it was useful, if it was lame, or if we weren’t able to handle it. And finish up with if we could see ourselves using that discipline again in the future to teach us something about ourselves or about God.

The idea of secrecy, at least to me doesn’t seem like a spiritual discipline. I guess I naturally think of keeping secrets and then start thinking about gossip and I can’t quite figure out how gossip could possibly be spiritual. But all of us crave attention, we want to be noticed, we want to be praised, and we want to be loved. Those aren’t bad things, but sometimes we go out of our way to make sure someone pats us on the back and tells us well done.

So secrecy as a spiritual gift is all about kindness. Doing something for someone just because. Not expecting any credit…in fact, hoping that you don’t get any credit. Really, this week I would hope that you’d set 2 goals. First, try to pick out the moments where you try to get credit for something you did. But then, set a second goal to do something nice for someone. Leave a gift for a stranger, an anonymous note for a friend, since it snows every day it seems, maybe shovel your neighbors driveway. Come up with ideas w/ your group….what could you do? And then pick one or two, or get really ambitious and do a bunch of stuff. Again, it’s not bad to be thanked or praised, but this week, let’s try to serve people because it will please God and not because we want people to notice us.

Article

Also check out the small group book The Spirit of the Disciplines (pg 172-174)

IT: Who I AmPosted by Phil on January 19th, 2009

i’m not sure if people think that self-esteem is a problem we’re done wrestling with after middle school or high school.  i’m quite positive it’s something we struggle with our entire lives.  we might become comfortable with ourselves, but i still think we wish things were different.  we wish we were more like someone else.  and this all goes much farther than the way we look or the body type we have.  personality traits, the way our voice sounds….everything.  we all have a desire for someone to tell us that we are valued…that we’re attractive, look nice, fun to be around, appreciated for something in us.  we need people to tell us that we matter.

so how can i be content with who i am?

Philippians 3 has a great section written by Paul pleading with the people that their entire value is found in God alone.  he starts off saying to rejoice and celebrate.  don’t listen to the people that say you have to look a certain way, dress like this, eat certain foods, or say the right things.  “for it is we who are the circumcision.”  interesting choice of words, but he’s saying we are the ones set apart.  God has set us apart from the rest of the world, we are able to worship God because of the Spirit inside us all because of the life and death of Christ.  we should have no confidence in ourselves….and we don’t have to.

Paul goes on.  if there’s anyone who could put confidence in things they’ve done themselves….it’d be him.  best education, best health care, the highest standard of living.  most people should be jealous of the life he’s had and the standards he’s set for himself.  but he says all those things are worth nothing….they’re worth less than nothing.  all those things are considered a loss.  they might even work against him.  all those things he can put confidence in might actually point someone away from the power of the cross.  it might tell them he’s got it all together when really….he offers nothing that God hasn’t done for him.  Paul actually gets quite colorful here and this word for rubbish is not such a nice word.  it’s the only time it’s used in the Bible and basically is a crude word for excrement….figure it out?  everything that I can offer is a pile of crap.  it’s nothing.

who i am is all up to God.  i am set apart, in relationship with God because of the work of Christ and the Spirit inside me.  Psalm 139 says God knit me together.  i’ve seen people knit….it doesn’t go quickly.  it takes time and has a lot of details.  God knit you together….he took his time and made you just the way he wanted.

looking at the gospels, i love the stories of Jesus with the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultury, Zacchaeus, and several others.  all these people who doubted themselves.  people who didn’t think they had much value.  and Jesus stopped to spend time with them and tell them how much they matter.  not if they fixed their lives….they matter right then and there.

i think i need to remind myself daily that i matter to God.  he made me who i am.  he loves me like crazy.  when i wish i looked or acted differently, when i doubt myself, i need to remember that it doesn’t matter.  i’m just who God wants me to be.  God has set me apart…he made me special.  i have a relationship with him not because of anything great about me, but because of him.  that’s where i can find my confidence and how i can be content with me.  i just need to remind myself more often and worry less about what others think.

Spiritual Disciplines: MemorizationPosted by Phil on January 13th, 2009

We’re going to look at different disciplines in random order. We’ll jump back and forth between disciplines of engagement and disciplines of abstinence so there’s variety. You may want to read chapter 9 of the book to get an overview of many of them. Each week you’ll get notes with a couple of brief articles on the discipline we’ll be looking at and a goal for you to look towards. Really, I’ll set the goal as a minimum…I’d encourage you to go beyond it if you are able. Then during the week, take a look at the articles and try to get through that discipline. Then we’ll use our small group time to talk about our experiences, if it was useful, if it was lame, or if we weren’t able to handle it. And finish up with if we could see ourselves using that discipline again in the future to teach us something about ourselves or about God.

The next discipline we’re going to tackle is memorization. It might not be something you’d done since you were a kid. I know I’ve definitely gotten away from memorizing verses. The goal is putting God’s word in your head. Are you ever amazed by people who can quote verse after verse? Wouldn’t it be nice if your mind wandered and it was Bible verses that popped into you head? That won’t happen unless we put in effort to do it.

So pick a new passage. Not something you memorized as a kid and forgot it, but something new. Push yourself a little, but don’t go overboard. And don’t “memorize” like you did as a kid, where you read it over and over and over just before time is up. Read over your text every day. Maybe write it on a post it note and put it in your car or in your bathroom. The goal is to still remember this passage weeks, months, or even years from now.

Article 1
Article 2 -This is from Dallas Willard’s website.  The short section on memorization is down near the bottom of the page.

IT: What is IT?Posted by Phil on January 11th, 2009

everything’s amazing and yet we’re still not happy.  hopefully this video works because it’s very fitting for our world today.  do you realize how good life is?  now, word of warning….i do not recommend any of this guys comedy, but this is quite fitting.

but it’s true isn’t it?  i have a computer, but it’d be nice if it was faster.  my phone works, but i can’t wait to get a new one.  i’ve got a job that pays the bills, but i want something else. i’m getting good grades, but i wish i was the top of the class.

we’re going to be talking about contentment.  one of my old pastors talked about contentment and the problem of living in ice cream land.  a boy gets a bowl with a HUGE scoop of ice cream and he’s as happy as can be…..until…..he sees his brother or sister with 2 scoops of ice cream.  now life isn’t fair.  they have more.  doesn’t matter if it’s the same amount of ice cream and your scoop is bigger than the two of theirs.  contentment can never happen as long as your living by comparisons.  comparisons will eat you up inside.

Matthew 20 tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard.  a landowner goes out and selects workers at 6 am who agree to work for a denarius (a days wage).  the owner goes back out at 9, noon, 3 pm, and even 5 pm and gets more workers for his fields and says he will pay them what is right.  closing time comes and some have worked 12 hours and some just one.  the owner pays the last workers first and gives them a full days wage for 1 hour of work.  the guys there all day must have gotten excited thinking they’d get much more.  and they become outraged when they were given the days wage that was promised….that they had agreed too.

the owner asks them…”are you envious because i am generous?”  interesting question.  he doesn’t focus on the other workers but himself.  you’re upset with me because i’m a generous man….you must be jealous.  imagine this story if the workers who were there all day had been paid first and went home before the others got their share.

would they have been content?  they wouldn’t have anything to compare to.

we all have what God has given us.  Paul writes in Philippians 4 that he has learned to be content in any and all circumstances.  he can survive with plenty and while in need.  and it’s in that context that he says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”  I can handle every situation, I can be content in all times because of God’s amazing blessings.

contentment is something we learn…and most likey have to relearn over and over again.  contentment is not laziness or a lack of motivation.  it’s not having everything you want.  contentment is being satisfied with what you have.  I can live without IT.  I would like IT, but I don’t have to have IT.

whatever we have doesn’t seem so bad until we start looking around.  we can feel pretty good about IT when we look at people worse off than we are.  or we can be jealous when we think about people who have more of IT.  it gets even harder when we have to move back a step.  we got used to living a certain way and we don’t always adjust.  like living on your own and then having to move back home.  like having money with a job and then losing it and adjusting your spending.

so what is IT?  is it money? stuff?  education?  a job?  your future?  relationships?  marriage?  your image?  confidence?

God has blessed you, loves you, and made you who you are.  may you be content with the person that is and realize that you are blessed.