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Wednesday, March 19, 2008
800 Minutes of Prayer
As Easter quickly comes this week I want to bring before you a challenge. I do not want to let Easter go by without giving attention to praying for people that God would have us reach as a fellowship. So the challenge is this. Bringing forth eight hundred minutes of prayer for our service, for our community and for our selves. You may ask how can we pull off eight hundred minutes of prayer in the next few days. I am glad you asked. We have about 40 people committed to our launch team. If every person commits to praying just ten minutes this week focusing in on what I stated above and invite one person to do the same with them we would reach the eight hundred minutes.
There some people reading this who are not a part of the launch team but would love to commit to this time of prayer with us. I want to invite you to do so. I only ask that you use the comments button below and let me know how many minutes you are covering. I would love to see us go over a thousand minutes.
Please use Colossians 1:9-15 to help lead you in this time of prayer. It will not lead you in a way that you may think but I believe the results of hearing what Paul has to say about prayer will help us grow.
Pray that we discern God's Will
Notice that Paul's first request is this: I ask that "God fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." The word "fill" means to be completely filled or totally controlled. The word for knowledge is the normal Greek word for knowledge with a prefix that intensifies the meaning. Paul's primary concern is not for physical health, material prosperity, effective witnessing, or a greater experience of spiritual gifts. Paul's first and primary concern is that the Colossians come to love and understand God and submit to His will.
When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane He sought to submit to the will of the Father. Many of us have turned this around. We spend our time pleading with God that MY will would be done. We want God to give us what WE want. We want Him to see the wisdom of our desires. Some even proclaim that praying, "Thy will be done" is a weak prayer. All I can say to such nonsense is, "tell that to Jesus."
We come to understand God's will as we come to understand God. In our marriage relationships we very often can tell you what our spouse will say to a certain request. How can we do this? We have come to understand our mate. We know what they like and don't like. We have a good idea of what their "will" is. The same is true of God.
We understand his plan and purpose in life as we come to know Him in the Bible, through prayer and through our obedience. Paul prays that the Colossians would not be satisfied with a superficial relationship with God. He prays that they would continue to build a relationship with Him until they understand what God is doing and why.
Pray that we DO God's Will
Paul does not only pray that the Colossians are able to discern God's will. He prays also that they might have the power to DO God's will. In verse 10 we read that Paul prayed that they might understand "in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way." Paul is not praying just that we might be more knowledgeable . . .He is praying that we might learn more about God so that we will live more faithfully before Him. As one wise person said, "you can be a master of theology and a failure at living."
Paul is seeking balance in the lives of these young Christians. He prays that they might understand . . . and when they have understood, that they might live on the basis of that understanding.
Do you see how much different the content of this prayer is from the prayers we often pray? When you pray for others are you "aiming low?" Are you asking the Lord for superficial things and neglecting the greater things? Are you focusing on the temporary and neglecting the eternal? Dare we spend all our time focusing on the body and no time focusing on the soul?
There some people reading this who are not a part of the launch team but would love to commit to this time of prayer with us. I want to invite you to do so. I only ask that you use the comments button below and let me know how many minutes you are covering. I would love to see us go over a thousand minutes.
Please use Colossians 1:9-15 to help lead you in this time of prayer. It will not lead you in a way that you may think but I believe the results of hearing what Paul has to say about prayer will help us grow.
Pray that we discern God's Will
Notice that Paul's first request is this: I ask that "God fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." The word "fill" means to be completely filled or totally controlled. The word for knowledge is the normal Greek word for knowledge with a prefix that intensifies the meaning. Paul's primary concern is not for physical health, material prosperity, effective witnessing, or a greater experience of spiritual gifts. Paul's first and primary concern is that the Colossians come to love and understand God and submit to His will.
When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane He sought to submit to the will of the Father. Many of us have turned this around. We spend our time pleading with God that MY will would be done. We want God to give us what WE want. We want Him to see the wisdom of our desires. Some even proclaim that praying, "Thy will be done" is a weak prayer. All I can say to such nonsense is, "tell that to Jesus."
We come to understand God's will as we come to understand God. In our marriage relationships we very often can tell you what our spouse will say to a certain request. How can we do this? We have come to understand our mate. We know what they like and don't like. We have a good idea of what their "will" is. The same is true of God.
We understand his plan and purpose in life as we come to know Him in the Bible, through prayer and through our obedience. Paul prays that the Colossians would not be satisfied with a superficial relationship with God. He prays that they would continue to build a relationship with Him until they understand what God is doing and why.
Pray that we DO God's Will
Paul does not only pray that the Colossians are able to discern God's will. He prays also that they might have the power to DO God's will. In verse 10 we read that Paul prayed that they might understand "in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way." Paul is not praying just that we might be more knowledgeable . . .He is praying that we might learn more about God so that we will live more faithfully before Him. As one wise person said, "you can be a master of theology and a failure at living."
Paul is seeking balance in the lives of these young Christians. He prays that they might understand . . . and when they have understood, that they might live on the basis of that understanding.
Do you see how much different the content of this prayer is from the prayers we often pray? When you pray for others are you "aiming low?" Are you asking the Lord for superficial things and neglecting the greater things? Are you focusing on the temporary and neglecting the eternal? Dare we spend all our time focusing on the body and no time focusing on the soul?
Monday, February 25, 2008
The Goodness of God
Many people live their lives with little regard to the goodness of God. They are unaware of how gracious God has been and is willing to be toward them. So I wonder if you have given much thought to the goodness of God...? All the blessings He bestows on us.
One passage of Scripture that ought to give us pause is the one written in Romans 2:4-11, in which Paul expounds upon "The Goodness Of God." From verse 4, we can glean some important things about...
THE NATURE OF HIS GOODNESS
HIS RICHES...
1. He is rich in grace - Ephesians 1:7
2. He is rich in mercy - Ephesians 2:4
3. He is rich in supplying need - Ph 4:19
4. He is rich in giving things to enjoy - 1 Ti 6:17
5. He is rich in the strength He provides the believer - Ephesias 3:16,21
HIS LONGSUFFERING...
1. "Longsuffering" this describes "a slowness in avenging wrath"
2. We see God suffering long...
a. In the days of Noah, prior to the flood - cf. 1 Peter 3:20
b. In our present day, prior to the Day of Judgment - 2 Peter 3:9-15a
The Psalmist summarizes well the nature of God's goodness: "But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth." (Psalms 86:15). As we return to our text in Romans, we are told of...
THE PURPOSE OF HIS GOODNESS
SHOULD LEAD US TO REPENTANCE...
1. God's goodness is intended to cause humanity to repent - Roman 2:4
2. Based on Paul's description of repentance elsewhere, God's goodness should produce...
a. Godly sorrow which leads to repentance - 2 Co 7:9-10
b. A change of mind (the actual meaning of metanoia, repentance)
c. A turn from sin to God (as evidence of repentance) - 2 Co 7:10-11
SHOULD LEAD US TO DO WHAT IS GOOD...
1. As just described, an indication of true repentance - 2 Corinthians 7:11
2. As later described in our text, it should lead to doing good...
Seeking glory, honor, immortality - Romans 2:7b
1) Glory and honor that will come at the revelation of Jesus Christ - cf. 1 Pe 1:7; 2 Co 4:16-18
2) Immortality (incorruption) that will be given at the same time - 1 Co 15:51-54
So here’s the deal, "eternal life" will be given to those who are properly motivated by God's goodness to repent and do good (Romans 2:7). Our call is to display His glory in such a way that we live worthy of the eternal life given to us by way of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We need to always be thinking about turning our thoughts toward this idea of the mercy of God, to recognize immediately that mercy is entirely the result of and the effect of God’s goodness. It comes not from any other cause, nor any other source, nor from any other reason, except from God’s own goodness.
Both goodness and greatness meet in God.
One passage of Scripture that ought to give us pause is the one written in Romans 2:4-11, in which Paul expounds upon "The Goodness Of God." From verse 4, we can glean some important things about...
THE NATURE OF HIS GOODNESS
HIS RICHES...
1. He is rich in grace - Ephesians 1:7
2. He is rich in mercy - Ephesians 2:4
3. He is rich in supplying need - Ph 4:19
4. He is rich in giving things to enjoy - 1 Ti 6:17
5. He is rich in the strength He provides the believer - Ephesias 3:16,21
HIS LONGSUFFERING...
1. "Longsuffering" this describes "a slowness in avenging wrath"
2. We see God suffering long...
a. In the days of Noah, prior to the flood - cf. 1 Peter 3:20
b. In our present day, prior to the Day of Judgment - 2 Peter 3:9-15a
The Psalmist summarizes well the nature of God's goodness: "But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth." (Psalms 86:15). As we return to our text in Romans, we are told of...
THE PURPOSE OF HIS GOODNESS
SHOULD LEAD US TO REPENTANCE...
1. God's goodness is intended to cause humanity to repent - Roman 2:4
2. Based on Paul's description of repentance elsewhere, God's goodness should produce...
a. Godly sorrow which leads to repentance - 2 Co 7:9-10
b. A change of mind (the actual meaning of metanoia, repentance)
c. A turn from sin to God (as evidence of repentance) - 2 Co 7:10-11
SHOULD LEAD US TO DO WHAT IS GOOD...
1. As just described, an indication of true repentance - 2 Corinthians 7:11
2. As later described in our text, it should lead to doing good...
Seeking glory, honor, immortality - Romans 2:7b
1) Glory and honor that will come at the revelation of Jesus Christ - cf. 1 Pe 1:7; 2 Co 4:16-18
2) Immortality (incorruption) that will be given at the same time - 1 Co 15:51-54
So here’s the deal, "eternal life" will be given to those who are properly motivated by God's goodness to repent and do good (Romans 2:7). Our call is to display His glory in such a way that we live worthy of the eternal life given to us by way of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We need to always be thinking about turning our thoughts toward this idea of the mercy of God, to recognize immediately that mercy is entirely the result of and the effect of God’s goodness. It comes not from any other cause, nor any other source, nor from any other reason, except from God’s own goodness.
Both goodness and greatness meet in God.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The True Meaning of Christmas
Romans 5:1 - Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We live in a sinful world and I’m sure that sometimes there isn’t peace in our relationships, on our jobs or in the communities that we live in. I know that there can even be discord in the church at one time or another that can cause relationships to be strained. I know that when you have kids there isn’t always peace in the house. Sometimes the ideas kids have clash with their parents, but sometimes kids just make a lot of noise in the house. Sometimes even between husband and wife there is a lack of peace.
The truth is that at one point we were all at war with God. There's still evidence of it. If we think, while we're listening to God's Word in a sermon or somewhere else, "this is boring," or "what does this have to do with me?" When we fail to take time to hear what God has to say, then we are at war with God. God wants us to hear what he has to say.
But when He came on the scene, Jesus Christ stepped in between God and us and made peace. This is the peace that the angels spoke about to the shepherds and this is the peace that Paul wrote about to the Christians in Rome. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This is the peace that we have because Jesus Christ came to this earth on that first Christmas and lived a perfect life in our place and suffered the punishment we deserved for all of our conflicts with God.
We should understand this peace that we have with God. No matter what other conflicts we may have in our lives, we have peace with God. When we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior, our conflict with God is no more. Now we no longer suffer with any of the conflicts we may have on this earth, but we enjoy peace in our relationship with God.
What about people that are lost? Our call is to get them to understand that, as they trust that Jesus Christ has made peace between them and God and they too get to enjoy that peace with God now. There is no Christmas that we celebrate the birth of Christ that we shouldn’t also remember sharing the gift of Christ. The receiving and sharing of Christ are one and the same. We should not do one without the other.
So may you enjoy the peace given by the birth and work of Christ. I pray that God will bring someone across your path to share the gift that you so enjoy.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Our First Service
This past Sunday on the 16th of December The Compass embarked on the journey that God has set before us. After months of meeting people, sharing our vision and planning for this day it was great to see God bring it together. I believe that we have put our stamp on this ministry. God is calling us to be more then a fellowship of believers. I believe He is calling us to be true ministers of His gospel. As we gathered for prayer before the service I told everyone that this would be a ministry that has not come to play but come to pray, has not come to play but come to praise and that we have not come to play but come to proclaim. There is much work still to do and our sights are set on our Lord and what He desires for us to do in the community that He has set us in. We are looking forward to our next service, which is on January 13th 2008. Our prayer is that people will return and that we would see people from the community as well. We are so thankful for all the people that came out to support us.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The Vision of the Compass
At our launch team meeting this past Sunday we took a look at our vision and studied some scripture to reenforce why we are being called to bring this vision into reality. It is important to not only have a vision but to also have an understanding of how you will live out the vision. Please take some time to read through our vision and our understanding of how we will live it out.
The vision of The Compass is an urban, multi-ethnic, relevant, holistic, and Christ-centered community that would serve as one part of an overall vision of Christian Community Development in the city of St. Paul; calling and equipping the people of the city in a holistic manner to be set free from the things of this world that can hold us in bondage. In Christ Jesus there is freedom. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty” II Corinthians 3:17 We're not aiming for another religious activity, but an authentic pursuit of Christ and the power and purpose He can bring to each of our lives. And really, T H A T I S C H U R C H! Not pews and pulpits, but people committed to a vital, g r o w in g relationship with J e s u s C h r i s t and one another.
Liberated people bring liberation to people!
As liberated people we will live this vision out by:
1. Building conviction about diversity
a. Biblically: people must know why biblically we should have multicultural churches (see Rev. 7:9-12; Acts 6:1-7; 11:19-26; 13:1-3; Matt. 28:19-20; Eph. 2:14-22; Gal. 3:26-28).
b. Strategically: the urban reality is multicultural and the church must not lag behind the world’s diversity but, instead, demonstrate a healthy model of unity in diversity in Christ to the world.
2. Affirming diversity as part of the church’s identity and vision
a. Through messages: the pastor must speak about it frequently in his messages.
b. Through planning: diversity usually doesn’t just happen; there must be intentionality in our plans to grow as a diverse church.
c. Through worship, outreach, and ministries: worship should be enriched by elements from diverse cultures, and ministries should be developed or refined to be sensitive to concerns of diverse cultures.
3. Building a multicultural leadership team and staff
a. Pray for God to direct you to the people of other cultures he has to grow and serve with you.
b. Pursue those people, challenging them with your vision and their role in it.
c. Disciple/Train them to grow and serve with you.
4. Enjoying progress and anticipate problems
a. Celebrate diversity: it’s a foretaste of heaven that we can relish right here and now!
b. Evaluate dynamics: be alert to how people are interacting on deeper levels.
c. Learn to identify warning signals: factions, undercurrents, and "mysterious disappearances."
d. Facilitate communication: an ongoing need to not only solve problems but maximize what God intends diversity to be.
The vision of The Compass is an urban, multi-ethnic, relevant, holistic, and Christ-centered community that would serve as one part of an overall vision of Christian Community Development in the city of St. Paul; calling and equipping the people of the city in a holistic manner to be set free from the things of this world that can hold us in bondage. In Christ Jesus there is freedom. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty” II Corinthians 3:17 We're not aiming for another religious activity, but an authentic pursuit of Christ and the power and purpose He can bring to each of our lives. And really, T H A T I S C H U R C H! Not pews and pulpits, but people committed to a vital, g r o w in g relationship with J e s u s C h r i s t and one another.
Liberated people bring liberation to people!
As liberated people we will live this vision out by:
1. Building conviction about diversity
a. Biblically: people must know why biblically we should have multicultural churches (see Rev. 7:9-12; Acts 6:1-7; 11:19-26; 13:1-3; Matt. 28:19-20; Eph. 2:14-22; Gal. 3:26-28).
b. Strategically: the urban reality is multicultural and the church must not lag behind the world’s diversity but, instead, demonstrate a healthy model of unity in diversity in Christ to the world.
2. Affirming diversity as part of the church’s identity and vision
a. Through messages: the pastor must speak about it frequently in his messages.
b. Through planning: diversity usually doesn’t just happen; there must be intentionality in our plans to grow as a diverse church.
c. Through worship, outreach, and ministries: worship should be enriched by elements from diverse cultures, and ministries should be developed or refined to be sensitive to concerns of diverse cultures.
3. Building a multicultural leadership team and staff
a. Pray for God to direct you to the people of other cultures he has to grow and serve with you.
b. Pursue those people, challenging them with your vision and their role in it.
c. Disciple/Train them to grow and serve with you.
4. Enjoying progress and anticipate problems
a. Celebrate diversity: it’s a foretaste of heaven that we can relish right here and now!
b. Evaluate dynamics: be alert to how people are interacting on deeper levels.
c. Learn to identify warning signals: factions, undercurrents, and "mysterious disappearances."
d. Facilitate communication: an ongoing need to not only solve problems but maximize what God intends diversity to be.
Our Place of Worship!
1620 Ames Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55106
Please feel free to click on the title Our place of worship. It will take you to the boy's & girl's club website and you can get direction from there.
We hope that you will plan to be with us on December 16th as we hold our first preview worship service.
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