Alright, I know the readership here might not be a lot yet, but I'm working on my sermon for Sunday and I have some questions for you. It would be very helpful to get some feedback here. First, a little background...
I'm coming back to the last message in our "Deeper" series. The point of the series is to explain that when it comes to spiritual growth, our depth problem is always a "me" problem. In other words, we often have a tendency to blame other people, the sermons we hear, the Sunday school lesson, or whatever else for the lack of spiritual depth. But we looked at the parable of the soils in Mark 4, where we found out that the "seed" of God's Word is always effective to grow when it penetrates the soil of our lives. But it doesn't always grow because we don't allow it to grow--our soil is too hard.
So the process of spiritual growth happens when we cultivate our lives to allow God's Word to sink deep into our lives and begin to grow. The end-result is love--not the fluffy romanticized love of our society, but self-sacrificial, relentless love of Jesus. When God's Word sinks down deep, it automatically grows and bears fruit.
This week, we're going to talk about community--specifically confession. Usually, when we think of confession, we think of one of two things. First, especially if we grew up in the Catholic church, we think of confessing to a priest. If we didn't grow up in the Catholic church, we might think about confessing to God. But few of us think about confessing our sins to each other. So here are some questions for you:
Why do we confess? Should we confess only to God or should we also confess to people? What is a time when you benefited from confessing sin to another person?
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Christmas and Guilt-Free Giving
I know for a lot of people, anxiety goes up when Christmas comes and the reason is oftentimes the subject of giving. I'm not just talking about Christmas gifts, but giving in general. If you even read a little bit of scripture, it's easy to see that God expects us to give. In fact, as I've mentioned in sermons, giving shouldn't just be something we do, but it should be at our very core. I think if people who called themselves followers of Christ would be givers at their core, we could bypass a lot of government programs because there would be little need.
But as it is, most of us need work on our giving (me included). Let me just communicate a few thoughts I have about giving this Christmas season. I'm not really an expert on this, but I have given it a lot of thought, so take it for what it's worth.
1. The Bible calls us to give, that's not up for debate. However, this causes many people a great deal of guilt. How many times have you walked by the "red kettle" and thought, "I should give something." We may even give because we don't want the bell-ringer to think we're heartless, self-centered people. I think the red kettle is fine and all, but I think the guilt comes because we tend to be reactive with our giving rather than proactive.
When we're reactive, we only give when we are compelled by someone who asks. When we're active, we will determine in advance what we're going to give and we give it. Giving actively is really a more thoughtful way to do it. At the beginning of the year, or the beginning of the Christmas season, you can say, "I'm going to give away $XXX" and be sure to do that. Divvy it up appropriately. Give some to the church. Give some to an organization or family in need. You can even set aside an amount to put in the kettle. If you have a plan for giving, you don't have to feel guilty about it.
2. Get your finances under control. Some of the reason we don't give more is that we don't have it to give. Now sometimes people are on a fixed income or have jobs that don't pay them a great deal. If that's the case you just may not be able to give as much as you'd like. Give something anyway. But more often in our society, the problem isn't that we don't make enough, the problem is more that we spend too much. What do we really need to have? How big should our TV be? How much should we spend on a house or a car or eating out? I can't answer that question for you, it's something you have to determine in your own heart. But here's my caution; who do you compare your lifestyle to? The couple down the street with everything, or do you go into the city and see how many other people live? When you come to the end of your life, for what will Jesus tell you, "well done, good and faithful servant."
If you have a lot of debt, work hard to get out of debt--not just so you can buy nicer things, but so you can give more. Make it your goal.
3. Just start giving. Sometimes we tell ourselves that it would be great to win the lottery. Then we could give TONS of money. But first of all, let me just say this--you're not going to win the lottery! Second, if you don't give generously now, what makes you think you'll become a different person just because you have more? Develop a generous spirit by giving now, then if you do happen to win the lottery, you will be able to give a ton of money.
I think that's it. Pretty short and sweet. I'm interested in more ideas or suggestions if you have them.
But as it is, most of us need work on our giving (me included). Let me just communicate a few thoughts I have about giving this Christmas season. I'm not really an expert on this, but I have given it a lot of thought, so take it for what it's worth.
1. The Bible calls us to give, that's not up for debate. However, this causes many people a great deal of guilt. How many times have you walked by the "red kettle" and thought, "I should give something." We may even give because we don't want the bell-ringer to think we're heartless, self-centered people. I think the red kettle is fine and all, but I think the guilt comes because we tend to be reactive with our giving rather than proactive.
When we're reactive, we only give when we are compelled by someone who asks. When we're active, we will determine in advance what we're going to give and we give it. Giving actively is really a more thoughtful way to do it. At the beginning of the year, or the beginning of the Christmas season, you can say, "I'm going to give away $XXX" and be sure to do that. Divvy it up appropriately. Give some to the church. Give some to an organization or family in need. You can even set aside an amount to put in the kettle. If you have a plan for giving, you don't have to feel guilty about it.
2. Get your finances under control. Some of the reason we don't give more is that we don't have it to give. Now sometimes people are on a fixed income or have jobs that don't pay them a great deal. If that's the case you just may not be able to give as much as you'd like. Give something anyway. But more often in our society, the problem isn't that we don't make enough, the problem is more that we spend too much. What do we really need to have? How big should our TV be? How much should we spend on a house or a car or eating out? I can't answer that question for you, it's something you have to determine in your own heart. But here's my caution; who do you compare your lifestyle to? The couple down the street with everything, or do you go into the city and see how many other people live? When you come to the end of your life, for what will Jesus tell you, "well done, good and faithful servant."
If you have a lot of debt, work hard to get out of debt--not just so you can buy nicer things, but so you can give more. Make it your goal.
3. Just start giving. Sometimes we tell ourselves that it would be great to win the lottery. Then we could give TONS of money. But first of all, let me just say this--you're not going to win the lottery! Second, if you don't give generously now, what makes you think you'll become a different person just because you have more? Develop a generous spirit by giving now, then if you do happen to win the lottery, you will be able to give a ton of money.
I think that's it. Pretty short and sweet. I'm interested in more ideas or suggestions if you have them.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Self-Righteousness
Mark and I were at Perkins yesterday afternoon, sitting down to have a bite to eat and continue our staff meeting after a hard-fought game of basketball. We sat down when the waitress, who was wearing a head-band with reindeer antlers came and asked us what we'd like to drink. Mark made a silly comment about wanting a head-band and without batting an eyelash she came back, "Don't play those reindeer games with me!" The comment started off about 45 minutes of sharp (but good-natured) comments among the three of us--as well as the people in nearby booths.
Mark is new as a staff member of Waite Park, so in between verbal jabs, we spent the time getting to know each other, talking about ministry in Minneapolis, and comparing our theologies. When we were finished, we took the check and went up to the counter to pay. When I paid with the church card, she noticed and asked, "What, are you guys some kind of ministers of something?" I said, "Actually, we're exactly ministers."
She said, "Oh great. I'm in trouble now," and continued to tell us that whenever she went into a church with her mom, she'd always fan herself and ask, "Is it hot in here?"
I could be wrong, but I suspect in her remarks that she's only half-kidding. There are a few assumptions behind her comments.
First, she assumes the church is a place of judgment. In fact, even though she may not mean it, she's actually associating the church with hell itself. As she walks into the church, she feels the flames of hell. I'm not sure if that says more about her or about the church. When "sinners" came into contact with Jesus, did they feel the flames of hell?
Second, she assumes that she doesn't measure up. I don't know the waitress at all. I know she's witty and fun, but I don't really know what she's like in her relationships and everyday life. But I'm also sure that she doesn't measure up to God's ideal. Of course, this isn't much of a stretch and it's not meant to say anything specific about her, but about everyone. We don't need the Bible to tell us that we're all sinners--actually now that I think about it, that's not entirely true.
I know a lot of Christians who think they aren't sinners. Oh, sure, if you asked them if they were a sinner, they would say they were, but if you observe them in real life and listen to the comments they make or the looks they give people at Target, you get the idea that they don't really believe it. They believe all the right things and have "accepted Jesus as their savior," and yet there's something about the way they carry themselves that doesn't draw "sinners," but instead repels them.
I just had a friend, who is a Christian say to me, "You know, I've realized that I can't stand to be around Christians." This friend had just had their spouse leave them, but instead of feeling love and support from the church, they felt abandonment and judgment.
So it leaves me with this question, Does God prefer the self-righteous Christian who acts as though he's never sinned or the waitress who seldom graces a church, but knows she doesn't measure up? I think if we look at the life of Jesus honestly, it's pretty easy to see that Jesus went straight for the "sinners" who know they're sinners. Luke 18:
But when we have a great sense of our own sin and the need for a savior, it rids us of the ability to look down on others or keep our distance from sinners. Although neither the self-righteous Christian or the self-deprecating sinner is what God intends, if He had his choice, He would choose the latter. That's someone God can work with.
Mark is new as a staff member of Waite Park, so in between verbal jabs, we spent the time getting to know each other, talking about ministry in Minneapolis, and comparing our theologies. When we were finished, we took the check and went up to the counter to pay. When I paid with the church card, she noticed and asked, "What, are you guys some kind of ministers of something?" I said, "Actually, we're exactly ministers."
She said, "Oh great. I'm in trouble now," and continued to tell us that whenever she went into a church with her mom, she'd always fan herself and ask, "Is it hot in here?"
I could be wrong, but I suspect in her remarks that she's only half-kidding. There are a few assumptions behind her comments.
First, she assumes the church is a place of judgment. In fact, even though she may not mean it, she's actually associating the church with hell itself. As she walks into the church, she feels the flames of hell. I'm not sure if that says more about her or about the church. When "sinners" came into contact with Jesus, did they feel the flames of hell?
Second, she assumes that she doesn't measure up. I don't know the waitress at all. I know she's witty and fun, but I don't really know what she's like in her relationships and everyday life. But I'm also sure that she doesn't measure up to God's ideal. Of course, this isn't much of a stretch and it's not meant to say anything specific about her, but about everyone. We don't need the Bible to tell us that we're all sinners--actually now that I think about it, that's not entirely true.
I know a lot of Christians who think they aren't sinners. Oh, sure, if you asked them if they were a sinner, they would say they were, but if you observe them in real life and listen to the comments they make or the looks they give people at Target, you get the idea that they don't really believe it. They believe all the right things and have "accepted Jesus as their savior," and yet there's something about the way they carry themselves that doesn't draw "sinners," but instead repels them.
I just had a friend, who is a Christian say to me, "You know, I've realized that I can't stand to be around Christians." This friend had just had their spouse leave them, but instead of feeling love and support from the church, they felt abandonment and judgment.
So it leaves me with this question, Does God prefer the self-righteous Christian who acts as though he's never sinned or the waitress who seldom graces a church, but knows she doesn't measure up? I think if we look at the life of Jesus honestly, it's pretty easy to see that Jesus went straight for the "sinners" who know they're sinners. Luke 18:
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’Self-righteousness is the scourge of the earth. Instead of humility, there's only pride. Self-righteous people don't need the Gospel, because they're apparently good enough without it. Only the self-righteous can look down their nose and judge others, because they easily forget that the reason they're good enough is because of God's riches. It's like the heir to a fortune feeling superior to the poor people he drives by in his Lexus.
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
But when we have a great sense of our own sin and the need for a savior, it rids us of the ability to look down on others or keep our distance from sinners. Although neither the self-righteous Christian or the self-deprecating sinner is what God intends, if He had his choice, He would choose the latter. That's someone God can work with.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
New Waite Park Church Blog
Up to this point, we haven't had a blog connected to the church, but we figured it's about time. Check back here from time to time to hear about things going on at the church or maybe interact about the current teachings happening at Waite Park Church.
My goal is that the Waite Park is a place where people are free to ask honest questions and explore all things about faith, particularly faith in Jesus. Jesus is the center of our faith and really the center of everything we do. We rely on Him and His teachings to show us how to live life. We don't have it all figured out and we won't pretend we do.
So come back here or join us for worship on Sundays at 10:45. We hope you'll find you're better off for it.
Blessings,
Kory Kleinsasser
Lead Pastor of Waite Park Church, Minneapolis
My goal is that the Waite Park is a place where people are free to ask honest questions and explore all things about faith, particularly faith in Jesus. Jesus is the center of our faith and really the center of everything we do. We rely on Him and His teachings to show us how to live life. We don't have it all figured out and we won't pretend we do.
So come back here or join us for worship on Sundays at 10:45. We hope you'll find you're better off for it.
Blessings,
Kory Kleinsasser
Lead Pastor of Waite Park Church, Minneapolis
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