Thursday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Ezekiel 41
NT: Hebrews 2
W&W: Psalm 119.153-160
Friday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Ezekiel 42-43
NT: Hebrews 3
W&W: Psalm 119.161-168
Today’s Reflection:
As leaders from BNC (Bethel Nazarene Church) came together for the “New View Leadership Conference 2009,” Doug Van Nest, our district superintendent delivered the keynote address. Today, I continue with part 3 of his address: “Ask Better Questions.”
Dr. Van Nest spoke from Matthew 21.28-31, The Parable of the Two Sons:
28"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
29" 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.
31"Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered.
We have seen that, Better Question #1 is “What is God calling us to be and do?” Better Question #2 is “What does our community need?”
But we have to go beyond planning to doing: Hence question 3:
Better Question #3: “What is our genuine response going to be?”
In this story, there are two sons with two very different responses.
1. One said yes but did no.
2. The other said no but did yes.
What we truly believe is what we do.
Anybody can say the right things, but if you don’t live it, you don’t truly believe it.
Things like this New View Leadership Conference won’t make a difference unless we do the right things.
Let’s ask better questions:
What is God calling us to be and do?
What does that look like at Bethel Nazarene Church? (What does our community need?)
What is our genuine response?
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
We are trying a whole Psalm this week – the shortest “chapter” in the Bible – Psalm 117: Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.
About Me
- Pastor Scott
- I've been married to my wife, Lana, for nearly 40 years. She is the love of my life and still makes my heart beat fast! We have three beautiful daughters and accompanying handsome husbands. They are spread across the eastern part of the United States. We also have 4 precious granddaughters, a grandson and another little fella one on the way! I am blessed way beyond what I deserve. I have been a follower of Jesus Christ since I was fourteen years old. (Suffice it to say that that is a lot of years!) I have been a pastor since I was 32, embarking on my second career and my life's calling after I had been working in industry for ten years after college. In 2018 I retired from active pastoring and refocused my ministry to writing, speaking, coaching, and being a spiritual friend. I have formed a non-profit corporation called Momentum Ministries to help me fulfill my life's calling.
2 comments:
I think your point about our genuine response is a good one, Dad. Many times I can remember sitting in church and thinking "we need to do this" but really thinking "THEY need to do this"... is it something that I strongly believe in if I'm waiting around for someone else to take care of it? Who is this mysterious "they" who is supposed to be taking care of all these issues?? It takes genuine support from us regular church-attenders to make a difference in our church and communities. I know it's something I should pray about too!
It took me a couple days, Jenny and Eric, but I found your comment! Good observation! I've often wondered who "they" are myself. When somebody says, that "They need to do something bout that," it generally means "I certainly don't intend to do anything about it!"
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