When Children Say I'm Bored by Julie Lowe

We have a common crisis in our home; it is the calamity of boredom. Our children might even consider it a catastrophe. “I’m bored” is repeated so often it would not be an overstatement to say that these words echo continuously throughout our home especially during any break from school. These are children with limited media time but still children with a Wii and Xbox system, a pool outside our door, multiple games, toys, and other planned activities. Yet “I’m bored” rolls off our children’s tongues with great frequency and displeasure.

As a result, we came up with a clever solution. We told our children that every time we hear the words, “I’m bored” (and all versions of boredom: “I’m tired”, “Nothing to do”, etc.), we would assign a chore to do. It didn’t take long before the words slipped out and thereafter, my kids appeared to find ways to occupy their time. Though it is a clever solution (and a great way to get the house cleaned), doing chores does not address their more fundamental struggles.

First, young people struggle with being over-entertained. When left to their own devices, they will often turn first to technology which allows them to be passively entertained rather than actively engaged in a hobby or activity. By spending time on social media, video games, TV or movies, they are, quite literally, entertaining themselves to mindlessness. When there is a moment of silence or inactivity, the adversity of boredom descends upon them and they feel incapable of overcoming it. Assigning a few chores makes them aware of their plight, but it is only an external impetus for behavioral change. They need to learn to engage free time more productively.

Second, we need to help our children foster the neglected gift of stillness. There is something lost when we do not learn to just sit, to be quiet, swing on a hammock or take a walk without something bellowing in our ear. We all need to stop and smell the roses, experience creation, to cease striving and know that He is God. We need to learn to enjoy such moments as a delight, not a period of boredom. Like us, children need to learn to reflect, contemplate, and meditate on the things of God. How will that happen if we do not endeavor to instill this in our children?

Third, kids need to be less self-consumed by their personal comforts and desires and learn to think outside of themselves. There is a world of need, service, job opportunities, education and life to be lived and they need to be nudged (or sometimes dragged) in the right direction. Teens are not going to wake up one day and feel charitable and ask to go serve in the local food pantry. It requires cultivating generosity and a desire to serve. It means instilling in them a willingness to give of both time and resources. As parents, we have to be willing to do the hard work of steering our kids towards service and imparting within them a desire to be other-centered.

So, if your kids are bored at home, you might try the chore response. It does have a certain appeal. But recognize its limitations. It will not instill in them the godly character you really desire for your children. That only comes through careful examination of what captures their affections, and equipping them to thoughtfully steward their free time.

Friday, May 25, 2018....From the Shepherd's Heart

I am on vacation this week and this Sunday our church as the opportunity to hear our Student Pastor, Zac Gardner, preach.  It is always a joy to hear God's Word through him.  If you are in town, then be faithful to the House of God for Sunday morning Sunday School and worship.

There are no Sunday night services and the church office is closed Monday due to Memorial Day.

The Secret Benefit of Fasting by David Mathis

We’re prone to think of fasting in negative terms. It’s understandable. Fasting is abstaining. It’s going without food and drink, or some other otherwise good gift from God. Perhaps the reason so many of us fast so infrequently is because we think of fasting mainly as what we’re going without rather than what we’re getting.

But Christian fasting is not only going without. It is not simply abstaining. The goal of Christian fasting, in fact, is not going without but getting. Our abstaining always serves some greater end and purpose — some eventual gain, not loss. Christian fasting is abstaining for the sake of some specific Christian purpose, or it is not truly Christian.

Jesus did not waffle as to whether his church would fast. “When you fast,” he said — not “if” (Matthew 6:16–17). “They will fast,” he promised (Matthew 9:15). And so the early church fasted (Acts 9:9; 13:2; 14:23), and for two millennia Christians have fasted. And when we have done so in truly a Christian way, the end result has not been loss but gain. But in order for Christian fasting to become a spiritual feast, we have to rehearse its purpose and benefits.

Purpose in (Christian) Fasting

Fasting is freshly fashionable in many quarters today — which means Christians need to be all the more careful to take our cues on this subject from Jesus, and not popular culture. Just a generation ago, a growing number of voices were claiming that fasting is bad for your health. Now it’s flipped. Today, more and more dieticians are preaching, “When done correctly, fasting can have beneficial physical effects” (Celebration of Discipline, 48). But what’s the difference between fashionable fasting and Christian fasting?

The key difference is Christian purpose. We could say Spiritual purpose — with a capital S for the Holy Spirit. Not just spiritual as opposed to material, but Spiritual as opposed to natural. For Christians, an essential, irreducible aspect of Christian fasting is a Christian purpose. Whether it’s strengthening earnest prayer (Ezra 8:23; Joel 2:12; Acts 13:3). Or seeking God’s guidance (Judges 20:26; Acts 14:23) or his deliverance or protection (2 Chronicles 20:3–4; Ezra 8:21–23). Or humbling ourselves before him (1 Kings 21:27–29; Psalm 35:13). Or expressing repentance (1 Samuel 7:6; Jonah 3:5–8) or grief (1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 1:11–12) or concern for his work (Nehemiah 1:3–4; Daniel 9:3). Or overcoming temptation and dedicating ourselves to him (Matthew 4:1–11). Or best of all, expressing love and devotion to him (Luke 2:37), and saying with our fast, “This much, O God, I want more of you.”

Without a Spiritual purpose, it’s not Christian fasting. It’s just going hungry.

Benefits of (Christian) Fasting

Christians might fast for dietary reasons and for the various physical benefits nutritionists now highlight. But dietary goals aren’t what make fasting Christian. Rather, what Spiritualfruit might we receive from God in response to our purposeful Christian fasting? How does God reward faith-filled fasting?

That Christian fasting is rewarding is plain, in the words of Christ himself, in a very prominent place. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus exhorts us to fast in secret, not for show, with the promise that “your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:18). God rewards fasting. But how?

First, a vital clarification. The fasting God rewards is not a declaration of our strength of will, but an expression of our emptiness, longing to be filled by him. Christian fasting doesn’t come from our own power, but from a heart that God himself works in us (Philippians 2:12–13) and strength that God himself supplies (1 Peter 4:11).

Realizing this is not about our strength or willpower, what are the rewards he gives, through his free and unconstrained grace, when we fast for his eyes, and not as a show for others?

1. Answers to Earnest Prayer

The first and most immediate answer is the reward of what our fast is for. What was the specific stated purpose as we rehearsed above? Fasting functions as a kind of assistant to prayer. It comes alongside some specific request we’re making of God, through the access we have in Christ (Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:18; 3:12), and expresses an unusual earnestness. Fasting, as a handmaid of prayer, makes some special plea to God, with an added intensity from normal, everyday prayer.

Fasting is a kind of special measure in the life of faith. Normal life is not fasting. Normal life is steady-state prayer and enjoying the Giver through his gifts of food and drink. Fasting is a special mode, for unusual prayer and for showing the Giver we enjoy him more than his gifts.

2. More of God Himself

This leads, then, to the ultimate reward of Christian fasting, and the “best of all” purposes we highlighted above: God himself. More important than God’s earthly guidance and protection and deliverance and provision is our eternal reception of and rejoicing in him.

God made us eaters and drinkers to teach us about himself. He made our world edible and drinkable so that we might better taste his goodness when our mouths are full, and rehearse that he is better than food and drink when our stomachs are empty. Fasting serves as a reminder that our God is himself the Great Feast: “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1).

God himself, in Christ, is the one who satisfies more than the best of foods, and quenches our thirst more than the purest of water, the richest of milk, and the best of wine. In him, our souls “eat what is good” and we “delight [our]selves in rich food” (Isaiah 55:2). He is the one who says, “To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment” (Revelation 21:6). We who have tasted and seen his goodness (Psalm 34:8) now join his Spirit in saying, “Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price” (Revelation 22:17).

Turn Your Aches upon Jesus

When we fast, the aches in our stomachs and pains in our gut are reminders that Jesus is the true food, not our daily bread, and that Jesus is the true drink, not our typical beverages. Christians will fast, as Jesus promised, because as people of faith, we know that believing in him means coming to him to satisfy our soul’s hunger and quench our soul’s thirst (John 6:35) — and one of the best regular reminders of it can be abstaining temporarily from other food and drink.

The great (and often hidden) reward of fasting is God himself. “Open your mouth wide,” he says, as we empty our stomachs, “and I will fill it” (Psalm 81:10). God rewards Christian fasting because it attunes us to the very purpose of God in the universe: to magnify himself in our desiring, enjoying, and being satisfied in him. And he rewards it not just with whatwe’re asking for with our fast, but ultimately with who he is as our desire, enjoyment, and satisfaction.

Christian fasting is not mainly about what we go without, but who we want more of.

Friday, May 18, 2018....From the Shepherd's Heart

I'm so excited about Sunday and all the day provides for us as the Rainsville First Family.

First, it is our annual Graduate Honor Service and we are honoring twelve high school graduates during the service.  We will be presenting them their "spiritual yearbooks" (Bible journals) and then Roxanne and I will be hosting them and guests for a luncheon.

Second, is our annual picnic beginning at 4:30 with games followed by eating around 5:30.  This is always a special evening of fellowship, fun, and faith.  Bring your lawn chairs and join us for a fun afternoon.

Third, is the message "How is Your Spiritual Eyesight?" based on Luke 11: 33-36.  Essentially the Jews are blaming Jesus for their lack of faith when the truth is they are blind, walking in darkness and not the Light.  Can't wait to unpack this passage with you Sunday morning.

Roxanne and I will take a few days of final vacation beginning Monday.  I will be back in the office May 29. 

Love you and am delighted to be your preacher.

Church Membership: Loving What Jesus Loves by David Prince

He was reading his Bible and I struck up a conversation with him. We talked about the gospel and then I asked him, “What church do you belong to?” He answered, “I attend different churches all over but I’m not a member of any of them. I’m into Jesus, that’s all that matters.” I find his response fairly common.

I asked him, “Do you think someone who is passionate for Jesus should be passionate for what Jesus is passionate about?” He quickly responded, “Absolutely! That’s all that matters!”

Jesus purchased the church with his own blood (Acts 20:28).Jesus’s church is the fullness of him (Eph. 1:23).Jesus called the church his bride (Eph. 5:23, Rev. 19:7).Jesus says to persecute the church is to persecute him (Acts 9:4).Jesus said he will build his church (Matt. 16:18).Jesus said the gates of Hades will not prevail against his church (Matt 16:18).Jesus says he loves the church and will sanctify the church (Eph. 5:25-26).Jesus cherishes the church (Eph. 5:29).Jesus is the head of the church (Col 1:18).Jesus says the church is his body (Rom. 12:4), his flock (1 Pet. 5:2-3), and his family (Eph. 2:19).

Jesus is passionate for his church. Jesus doesn’t simply love the idea of a church and identify with the church in the abstract. Jesus loves, identifies with, and shed his precious blood for actual local expressions of his church. And we are to love, identify with, and sacrifice for the local church as well. Local bodies, in particular places, with people and problems. It is striking that much of the New Testament was written to particular churches facing a myriad of problems.

Has there ever been a church with as many problems as Corinth was facing? Nevertheless, Paul writes, “To the Church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours” (1 Cor. 1:2). He writes to the believers at Corinth, “as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:7b-8).

Church Membership Identifies You with Jesus Publicly

Jesus calls those who follow him to do so by loving and being an accountable member of a local expression of his church. By church membership, the believer identifies with Jesus publicly. It is in the local church that the believer participates in baptism and the Lord’s Supper—signs of Christ’s kingdom. Paul writes that the many members form one body of Christ in local churches (1 Cor. 12:12-27). It is those bodies, that constitute the public witness of Christ in the world. A single person can offer a private and individual witness but only as faithful members of his church can we provide a recognized public and corporate witness.

By the Holy Spirit’s power, a local church represents the active presence of Christ’s kingdom in the world. It is organically interrelated, interdependently connected, and functions in harmony as one body. People are “added” to the body and they “join” the body, which represents “the whole church” (Acts 2:41, Acts 5:13, 1 Cor. 14:23). The church provides members accountability in order to love and nurture them and to preserve the witness of the church. Thus, a church must sometimes practice church discipline by removing members from the body (Matt 18:15-20, 1 Cor. 5:1-13). You must formally know who is a member of a local church to be able to remove someone from the church. A local church is the baptized, spirit-filled, visible body of Christ.

Church membership Joins You to the Blood-Bought Community of Jesus

By church membership, the believer joins the blood-bought community of Jesus (Acts 20:26-28). Your physical body is not a casual, random collection of unrelated or loosely related parts. Other images for the church make the same point. A flock is not a random group of sheep (1 Pet. 5:2) and a household has identified members (Eph. 2:19-20). Likewise, the body has identifiable members and so does the local church (Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 12:27). In the body of Christ there are no inferior (1 Cor. 12:14-20) or superior members (1 Cor. 12:21-27), because “God arranged the members in the body, each one of them as he chose” (1 Cor. 12:18).

The cruciform community of Jesus does not reckon the world according to the world’s wisdom based on outer distinctions. By determining to know nothing among anyone “except Jesus Christ and him crucified,” the church is clearly defined community of Jesus built on grace alone. Any notion of inferiority or superiority among the members of the church mocks the grace of God. The diverse gospel community is empowered to,

Love one another (John 13:34, 1 John 4:7, 11).Honor one another (Rom. 12:10).Live in harmony with one another (Rom. 12:16).Accept one another (Rom. 15:7).Instruct one another (Rom. 15:14).Comfort one another (2 Cor. 13:11).Serve one another (Gal 5:13).Forgive one another (Col. 3:13).Encourage one another (1 Thess. 4:18, 5:11).Pray for one another (James 5:16).Show hospitality to one another (1 Pet. 4:9)Greet one another (1 Pet. 5:14).

Church Membership Allows You to Participate in the Mission of Jesus

By church membership, the believer participates in the mission of Jesus. The purpose of the diversified unity of local churches is gospel mission. Just as a football team who only had players from 150 to 175 pounds or exclusively had players between 300 to 350 pounds would be ineffective because it would lack diversity needed for the sake of its mission. The local churches unified diversity is essential to effectively engage in spiritual war for the sake of its gospel mission. The Spirit-given gifts to members of the church are to be used “for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7). The local church makes the most provocative political, cultural statement of all, “Jesus is Lord” (1 Cor. 12:3). The church’s mission, no matter its locale, is to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:16-20).

Church membership is not some arbitrary, man-made custom. It is a gift from the risen and ascended Christ to his people. Charles Haddon Spurgeon said,

Now, I know there are some who say, “Well, I hope I have given myself to the Lord, but I do not intend to give myself to any church, because——” Now, why not? “Because I can be a Christian without it.” Now, are you quite clear about that? You can be as good a Christian by disobedience to your Lord’s commands as by being obedient? Well, suppose everybody else did the same, suppose all Christians in the world said, “I shall not join the Church.” Why there would be no visible Church, there would be no ordinances. That would be a very bad thing, and yet, one doing it—what is right for one is right for all—why should not all of us do it? Then you believe that if you were to do an act which has a tendency to destroy the visible Church of God, you would be as good a Christian as if you did your best to build up that Church? I do not believe it, sir! nor do you either. You have not any such a belief; it is only a trumpery excuse for something else. There is a brick—a very good one. What is the brick made for? To help to build a house with. It is of no use for that brick to tell you that it is just as good a brick while it is kicking about on the ground as it would be in the house. It is a good-for-nothing brick; until it is built into the wall, it is no good. So you rolling-stone Christians, I do not believe that you are answering your purpose; you are living contrary to the life which Christ would have you live, and you are much to blame for the injury you do (Joining the Church. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons vol. 60, London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1914: 295-296).

Do you love the church? Not the idea of the church. Not some abstract thought about the church. But rather, the local church, the one with people and problems but in the midst of it all there’s public witness to Jesus as the blood-bought community of Christ’s kingdom, and the focal point of his mission in the world to the end of the age.

The post Church Membership: Loving What Jesus Loves appeared first on Prince on Preaching.

Friday, May 11, 2018....From the Shepherd's Heart

This Sunday is Mother's Day and we at Rainsville First take this opportunity to celebrate all Christian women (mothers, singles).  What a great privilege to take a moment and give thanks to God for all Christian women who serve their families, communities, and churches, so well.

One of those is our own Whitney Traylor, our Children's Minister.  What a joy to serve with her and watch her in her gifting as she prays, plans and promotes our Christian faith with our children and preschoolers.

So plan to be present Sunday morning.

Also, I will continue preaching from Luke 11 with a message "There's ENough Here For You To Believe" based on Luke 11: 29-36. 

We will not have Sunday evening services giving you the opportunity to spend time with family.

We are now Livestreaming all our Sunday worship services at 10:15 and 6:00.  Go to our website at rainsvillefirst.com and click on the button at the top "Livestream."  Previous services are there, as well, plus my full notes of the sermon I preached that service.

Upcoming events:

Sunday, May 13 - No Sunday night service
Sunday, May 20 - Church Picnic 4:30-7:00
Sunday, May 27 - No Sunday night service
June 3-7 - Vacation Bible School

10 Ways to Pray for Children’s Workers this Weekend by Chuck Lawless

(This article first appeared on a Friday; but on this Monday, pray for our Children's workers)

Every week in our churches, many volunteers serve in our children’s departments. I’m afraid, though, that we pray too little for them and their important work. Would you take a few minutes today and pray for your church’s children’s workers?  

1. Pray they will be walking with the Lord themselves. Even if children don’t always understand how important one’s walk is, we adults do. Workers cannot assume their commitment matters less since they’re “only teaching children.”  
2. Pray they will see the significance of what they do. For some children, these adults are the most consistent adults they ever see—including in their own homes. They may also be the most loving adults some children know. 
3. Pray they will see themselves as much more than childcare workers. That’s not what they’re to be doing; they’re teaching and laying the foundation for children to serve the Lord for the rest of their lives. 
4. Pray all will show up—or will take appropriate steps to notify leaders. It’s burdensome—and can even be dangerous—when too few adults are present to take care of children.  
5. Pray they will be wise in dealing with children. So many things are important to consider: safety issues, health issues, allergy issues, discipline issues, teaching issues, etc. Children’s workers need much wisdom. 
6. Pray they will make sure children hear the gospel. It’s tempting to do a lot of fun things and teach too little for children. Pray the teachers will plan fun stuff while also teaching the good news of Jesus. 
7. Pray they will teach at a child’s level without compromising the gospel. Some workers make one of two mistakes when teaching children: they either teach at an adult comprehension level, or they weaken the gospel to get to a child’s level. It takes skill to communicate the gospel well to children.  
8. Pray they will wisely follow established policies and procedures. Churches have these policies in place to protect the worker and the children – and to maintain the strong testimony and witness of the church. Workers need to pay attention to the accepted standards.
9. Pray they will remember that children seem to hear everything others say—and often repeat it. Workers shouldn’t be saying unrepeatable things anyway, but this reminder is still a wise one to follow. If children repeat something workers say, let it be the gospel and Bible stories. 
10. Pray they will be wisely alert to their surroundings. I wish I didn’t need to add this prayer, but our world is dangerous. All of us need to be alert without being paranoid. 

Friday, May 4, 2018 .... From the Shepherd's Heart

I look forward to our worship gatherings this coming Lord's Day with the Rainsville First Family.  Sunday morning we continue to preach through Luke 11 with a message "There's Enough Here for You to Believe" from Luke 11: 29-36. 

But I want to highlight the closing message in the book of Philemon planned for this Sunday night at 6.  It is part two of message-based out of Philemon 17-25 "The Man God Uses in His Chruch."  I feel God really blessed the first part of this message last Sunday night and I look forward to the second part.

Paul is addressing Philemon on a very personal level and there are characteristics Paul knows about Philemon.  These same qualities are possible for every man in the local church .. even in 2018 at Rainsville. 

We are now Livestreaming all our Sunday worship services at 10:15 and 6:00.  Go to our website at rainsvillefirst.com and click on the button at the top "Livestream."  Previous services are there, as well, plus my full notes of the sermon I preached that service.

Upcoming events:

Sunday, May 13 - No Sunday night service
Sunday, May 20 - Church Picnic 4:30-7:00
Sunday, May 27 - No Sunday night service
June 3-7 - Vacation Bible School

Wednesday, May 2, 2018 ... From the Shepherd's Heart

You remember April 20 we did "Secret Church" with David Platt as he taught "Cults and Counterfeit Gospels."  During the broadcast, there was a short period when the audio went out.  It was during his teaching on Jehovah's Witnesses.  That audio has been corrected.

We are going to show that entire teaching tonight at 6:10 for those who were here to see it.  Also, if you have never been to Secret Church, you will be exposed to the tremendous, deep and helpful teaching of David Platt. 

There are a few extras booklets available for the entire teaching if you would like one.  Also, we have the "Answer Key" that we will give you tonight for all of his teachings.

There is no Wednesday night meal tonight.  Next Wednesday night is the closing night of Arrow Kids' Clubs and we will celebrate with our children in the Large Fellowship Hall beginning at 6:10.  Also, we are scheduled to have the new carpet for the Auditorium to be installed next week.

Our Students meet every Wednesday night at 6:10 and Bro. Zac is doing some great preaching and teaching from I Corinthians.  Tonight, he is in chapter 15.  Make sure your students are in Wednesday night worship.

We are hosting the DeKalb County Band Festival tomorrow through Saturday.  I think this is the third consecutive year we have hosted this event.  Glad to be of service to our community.