Category: Stewardship

Good, Hard Work

Every Christian has been created in Jesus Christ for good, hard work!  This is clear with what Paul says in Eph. 2:10 –

 

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

Paul reinforces this truth in Eph. 4:28 –

 

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

 

In the hope of all God’s riches and power in Christ, Christians must avoid every temptation to steal.  Positively, we must excel in working hard.  Hard work is God’s design, hard work is honorable, and hard work has a purpose – that we might share with others in need.

 

To encourage you in Gospel-motivated, Spirit-empowered good hard work, here are a few short and helpful books to check out:

 

 

Beloved, may we continue to trust God’s power and provision moment-by-moment, and work hard for the blessing of others, and the glory of God!

 

Because Christ lives, and is returning,

Greg

Godly Attitudes and Actions

Beloved, we find in Eph. 4:1-3 that the proper posture of a worthy walk is to have an eager readiness to do God’s will.  And as Paul makes clear, this involves embracing godly attitudes (“…with all humility, gentleness, and patience…”), and fulfilling godly actions (“…bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”).

How could we whom God in Christ has so chosen, adopted, redeemed, and lavished with immeasurable grace (Eph. 1-3!), not joyfully and earnestly love one another for His pleasure and glory?  Nothing is more basic to our calling as His children than this, that we passionately care for one another as our Father cares for us!  So it is that these blessed obligations are expressed in our “Membership Commitment” to each other at RCG:

I will walk humbly in love with my brothers and sisters in Christ, regarding others as more important than myself, speaking with wisdom and graciousness for the edification of others, giving and receiving admonition with gentleness and patience, and eagerly seeking forgiveness and reconciliation whenever transgression may break the bond of peace with any brother or sister.  I will diligently pray for and work for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace in this church.

I encourage you to pause, and consider 1 or 2 specific ways, with specific people, God would have you “walk worthy” in these matters.  Perhaps it’s a prayer, a phone call, a note, an invitation to dinner, some gift of kindness, by which you can encourage a brother or sister in Christ.  Perhaps you’ve noticed someone who’s been absent from our gatherings for some time.  Perhaps you should seek them out in love.

Oh beloved, how amazing that God would design to manifest His holy love through us His children!  And how endless are the tangible ways His love can be expressed toward one another!  May we continue to cultivate this proper posture of a worthy walk, that Jesus’ promise would be all the more fulfilled through us:

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (Jn. 13:35)

Praying for you, and with you, to this end,

Greg

Preparing for the Lord’s Day

As we prepare to gather again this coming Lord’s Day, let me encourage you in a few specific ways.

First, take advantage of the “order of service” information we include in this newsletter.  Individually, or with family/friends, take some time in the days prior to our Sunday gathering to read through the various Scripture passages we’ll be using.  Also take time to read or sing through the songs we’ll be singing (you can easily find the lyrics on the internet).  This will help your own heart and mind be that much more prepared, and also help you serve and encourage others as we meet.

Second, as we’ll be diving back into the book of Ephesians this Sunday, I encourage you to read the whole book before we meet.  It’s a relatively short 6 chapters, and only takes 20-30 minutes to read.  Again, this will be helpful in the preparation of your heart and mind.

Third, let Paul’s prayers in Eph. 1:15-19 and 3:14-19 be a guide for how you pray for our brothers and sisters at RCG.  And together, let’s confidently expect God to do as He’s promised in Eph. 3:20-21!

Finally, if you’re not already in the habit of joining us for our “Sack Lunch Sunday” following the worship service, why not begin this Sunday?  We enjoy an informal lunch from around 12:30pm to 1:15pm.  You can either bring a “sack lunch”, or grab something from a nearby restaurant.  Following lunch, we have a time of sharing and prayer from about 1:15pm – 2:00pm.  There’s always a range of folks who attend: singles, couples, and families with kids (young and old).  Of course it makes for a bit of a long morning and afternoon, but the sweetness of encouraging fellowship is well worth it, and brings glory to God.

Beloved, what a privilege and blessing we have to share life in Christ together at RCG.  Participating in what He wills for us each Lord’s Day is a huge part of that privilege and blessing.  I look forward to being with you again, as we eagerly await gathering with all the redeemed before God’s throne in heaven!

Because Christ lives, and is returning,
Greg

Stewarding Technology

We live in a day in which the use of many forms of technology (smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc.) is as common as breathing.  And breathing is a good thing – as long as what you’re breathing isn’t toxic and destructive!

 

As believer’s, we need to heed the Holy Spirit’s exhortation – “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise…” (Eph. 5:15).  Certainly one area which requires the exercise of great care and wisdom is our use of technology.  The many forms of technology are not evil in and of themselves.  But as with any good and beneficial thing, there are also great dangers we need to recognize and avoid.

 

I found this post, Technology and the Christian Life (by Dr. C.J. Williams), to be thought-provoking and helpful.  Here’s the heart of Williams’ concern:

 

“In any case, one of the greatest daily challenges a Christian faces in the modern world is to think clearly about his or her use of any technology.  Does it help you achieve good ends in your heavenly calling and service to Christ, or is it an avenue of distraction and temptation?  Would Jesus look on and say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’”?

 

Beloved, God has given us a great stewardship.  It’s not just about the time and resources we have, but about what we do with such time and resources.  May God help us all to “walk worthy” of the calling He’s given us as His children (Eph. 4:1), and show great discipline and discernment in how we use what He’s given – including technology.

 

Because Christ lives and is returning,

Greg

On Biblical Inerrancy

As you know, last week’s Shepherds’ Conference focused on the theme of the inerrancy of Scripture.  Ever since the Garden of Eden, when Satan tempted Eve by saying, “did God actually say…?” (Gen. 3:1), the authority and reliability of God’s Word has been under attack.  Satan’s strategy is as simple as it is deadly:  if he can tempt you to doubt God’s Word – which is now permanently revealed in the 66 books of Scripture – then you’ll be deceived into thinking there’s no need to treasure, trust, and obey that Word.

Because this issue of inerrancy is so important for the spiritual health of individual Christians, and the whole church, I encourage you to learn more.  All of last week’s 18 general sessions are helpful in this way (some more than others).  You can find them here.  While it’s best to listen to the messages in order, you might start with the Panel Q&A, which provides some helpful background to the topic.

Additionally, more information about the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy, which gives a somewhat recent historical context, can be found here.

Beloved, God’s holy word is the treasure of all treasures.  He has given it that we might know and grow in His salvation through Jesus Christ – 2 Tim. 3:14-17.  May we be faithful stewards of what He has entrusted to us!

Because Christ lives, and is returning,
Greg

How to Read the Bible: A Matter of Stewardship

Following my post in this column last week, I learned of this helpful article (thanks Sharon Lowery!):  Do’s and Don’ts When Reading the Bible.  These are very helpful encouragements, reminding us that more important than simply reading Scripture, is the vital question of how we read Scripture.

 

Given that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16) and also that all Scripture clearly and comprehensively reveals Jesus Christ (Jn. 5:39-40; Lk. 24:27), it behooves us to approach scripture in the right way, with the right heart.

 

Beloved, we live at a time in history, and in a part of the world, where God’s word has never been more available.  Let alone the opportunities for our own reading, study, memory, and meditation, but we also have access to countless resources in hearing the word of God faithfully preached and taught.  This is indeed a great privilege, and also a great stewardship.

 

So may we be devoted and diligent to grow in faith by feeding on God’s word, both individually and corporately.  And may we be faithful stewards in proclaiming God’s glorious word to others!

 

Because Christ lives, and is returning,

Greg

Beginning a New Year

The beginning of a new year is a great time to refocus your energies in reading and feeding on God’s Word!  To that end, Ligonier Ministries has put together a helpful list of a variety of Bible reading plans available online.  If you don’t already have a focused approach to the regular reading of Scripture, I encourage you to look over these plans and implement one that works for you.  And you could even pursue this with another relative or friend!

You might also find encouragement from this brief article.

Beloved, the Spirit of God uses the word of God to grow us in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:11-12; 2 Tim. 2:15-16; 1 Pet. 2:1-3).  As we gather weekly to share together in the reading, preaching, and teaching of God’s word, so may we individually be immersing ourselves in His word day-by-day!

Richest blessings, and Happy New Year!

Greg

God’s Will for Your Life

What is God’s will for my life?  This honest question is one which Christians often ask, and with good reason.  When God graciously saves and transforms a person, there is a new desire to know and do the will of God.  As God has been pleased to reveal His will in His word, so His people have the blessed responsibility to learn of His will, and to submit to what pleases Him.  The Apostle Paul speaks of this directly in Eph. 5, when he says:

 

“…try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord” (vs. 10)

“…Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (vs. 17)

 

While God has given us everything we need in Christ to know and do His will, we sometimes wrestle with what this looks like in our ordinary, daily lives.  If this is a topic of concern/interest to you, let me encourage you to read one of the following books over the summer – maybe even find 1-2 other folks to join you.  These books are all related to knowing and doing the will of God, and I’ve listed them from shortest to longest by way of length.

 

 

Beloved, may the Lord help all of us to “…walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which [we] have been called…” (Eph. 4:1) – even as we seek to love, help, encourage, and pray for one another to this end.  What a joy and privilege to share this life together with you in the local church of RCG!

 

Because He lives, and is returning,

Greg

The Shepherd of Shepherds

While there are many metaphors God uses to describe His relationship with His people, one of the more prominent in Scripture is that of a shepherd with his sheep.  Extending from numerous Old Testament references (Gen. 48:15; Ps. 80:1; Is. 40:11; etc.), Jesus is revealed to be the Good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11-16), the Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20-21), the Shepherd and Overseer of his sheep (1 Pet. 2:24-25), and the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4).  Our exalted Shepherd accomplishes His faithful care of His sheep (feeding, leading, correcting, and protecting), through Elders that He raises up as “under-shepherds” (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-3), and through the shared love and ministry His sheep are to have with one another (1 Pet. 4:7-11).  All of this points to the local church as the arena in which God shepherds His people.

Beloved, there is a strong, God-ordained connection between your hope-filled delight in God’s shepherding care, and your humble devotion to His wise design for the local church.  If we actively submit to His design in faith, we’ll increasingly taste of the Lord’s gracious goodness (1 Pet. 2:1-3).  Conversely, to arrogantly resist God’s design is to resist His shepherding care, and to provoke His powerful opposition (1 Pet. 5:6).

I’m sure I speak not only for myself, but also for Smokey, Steve, and Chuck in saying that we’re humbled, honored, and blessed to serve among you as Christ’s under-shepherds at RCG.  As we yearn for you with the affection of Christ, so we thank Him for you, and continually pray for your fruitfulness and joy in the hope of the Gospel (Phil. 1:3-11).

To God be the Glory!
Greg

Trustworthy Stewards of God’s Grace

The Apostle Peter distinctively taught and exemplified the truth that believers must understand their identity, among other things, as stewards of the grace of God in Jesus Christ.  This is the central reality that forms the basis of his exhortations in 1 Pet. 4:7-11.  And of course, to live faithfully as those who are stewards, means living as those who are accountable to our Master.  What sobering, focusing, and comforting truths these are!

 

Peter was certainly not alone in understanding this divine stewardship.  Paul likewise expresses as much in 1 Cor. 4:1-2, when he says:

 

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

 

Beloved, as stewards of the mysteries of God – His grace in Jesus Christ – our singular “job description” is to be found trustworthy/faithful.  And all of Scripture defines and describes what this faithfulness is to look like day-by-day in our lives.  May God give us grace to prioritize our life around this stewardship, eagerly anticipating the return of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ!

 

Because He lives,

Greg