Growing Through Acts

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."--Maya Angelou

Will Bowen, a Kansas City minister and author of A Complaint Free World, recognized there was far too much complaining in the world. He proposes that word choice determines thought choice, which determines emotions and actions. Bowen believes if you can eliminate complaining, you will experience more happiness.

So what exactly is a complaint?
 
For me, any negative description of an event, person, or issue is a complaint. Gossiping is pretty easy to define. Criticizing is too. Discussing facts is okay. Complaining is not to be confused with informing someone of a mistake or deficiency so that it can be put right. And to refrain from complaining doesn’t mean you have to put up with bad quality or behavior. There's no complaint in telling the server your coffee is cold and needs to be heated up -- just stick to the facts -- which are neutral. “How dare you serve me cold coffee?” That’s complaining.

The church has had to deal with its fair share of complainers. Look at what happened in the very first church:

But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers...--Acts 6:1

The church was dealing with growing pains, making it difficult for the leaders to minister to everybody. This situation could have created an even greater rift between the Greek and Hebrew believers, but the apostles dealt with the difficulty with wisdom and grace. Satan didn't get a foothold in the fellowship!

Lake Christian Church, like all growing churches, has occasionally had to face a serious problem that presented the members with a number of challenges. But those challenges gave the leaders a chance to examine ministry and make essential changes.

In Acts 6, the apostles realized they created the problem themselves. Instead of praying and teaching, they got caught up in the secondary task of running a food program. They were trying to do too much. Even today, church leaders get so busy with secondary tasks that they fall short in the areas of prayer and study. They fail to "keep the main thing the main thing." As a result, the church becomes spiritually anemic making it easy for even more problems to develop. (Do you think we'll ever hear a church member complain that his or her minister doesn't pray and study enough?)

It is valuable to remember that complaining isn't an attractive attribute in anyone!

It's better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.--Proverbs 21:19

Note: The message on the book of Acts will be on Sunday, August 7 at 10:30a.

Growing Through John

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me." The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.--John 20:29-31

John emphasizes belief in his Gospel. He makes close to 100 references to believing in Jesus Christ. Even though you and I can't see Christ perform miracles, we do have John's record of those miracles, so we don't need to "see" Jesus in order to believe. After all, faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ (Romans 10:17).

In his commentary on the book of John, Warren W. Wiersbe writes: "Faith in His miracles should lead to faith in His Word, and this leads to personal faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Jesus Himself pointed out that faith in His works (miracles) was but the first step toward faith in the Word of God (John 5:36-40). The sinner must 'hear' the Word if he is to be saved..."

At Lake Christian Church, we are growing together through God's Word! That's why we diligently search the Scriptures daily to discover: 

The Works of Jesus Christ

"I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father."--John 14:12

The Words of Jesus Christ

"I tell you the truth, those how listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life."--John 5:24

The Walk of Jesus Christ

Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.--1 John 2:6 (NIV)

By depending on the power of Holy Spirit (Hebrews 4:12), we believe in Jesus Christ and walk as he walked. To learn to live as he lived, read the book of John this week. See Jesus performing miracles. Hear Jesus speaking life-changing words. See Jesus living a perfect life. I hope and pray you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Growing Through Luke

“Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny.”--Luke 12:57-59 (NLT)

No church can do what God called it to do if the people are caught up in conflict. The same goes for your work and your family. Do you know what's crazy about conflict? It usually starts with something insignificant.

Consider the infamous feud between the Hatfields and McCoys. In 12 years it claimed the lives of twelve people: three Hatfields, seven McCoys, and two bystanders. The conflict started over the ownership of a hog. Even though both sides hated each other, I'm sure neither Hatfield nor McCoy believed a hog was worth more than the lives of their children.

Jesus offered some sage advice about dealing with difficult people:

Realize that you can be the one who's wrong.

To paraphrase Jesus' words: "On the way to court try to patch things up with the difficult person, because when you stand before an impartial judge, he may decide that you are the one who is wrong." Whenever we disagree with someone, it's only natural to believe that we're in the right. After all, no one would hang on to an opinion that they thought was wrong. It doesn't matter how right you think you may be, realize that you can be the one who's wrong from time to time.

Realize that you can be the one who offers to reconcile.

It isn't easy to "turn the other cheek," but I have found that most people are willing to resolve a conflict and put it in the past regardless of who's at fault. However, there is the occasional difficult person who'd "rather fight than switch." When a Christian brother or sister takes a step toward reconciliation, the other person will usually take a step too.

Realize that you can be the one who doesn't make matters worse!

Hey! If it is you who is the difficult person, then this will be an impossible task! Difficult people think they have to have the last word. Difficult people think they have to return an insult. Are you a difficult person? Be honest. How do you react when someone cuts you off in traffic? Difficult people keep things stirred up much longer than necessary. In last week's reading, Jesus challenged his followers: "You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other" (Mark 9:50b) This means you realize that you can be the one who doesn't make matters worse. You might not be able to make the situation better, but as a follower of Jesus, you certainly don't have to make it worse.

Jesus dealt with difficult people. But in those dealings, he never compromised the truth and he never stopped loving them: "Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34a). It isn't always easy, but it is possible to live in peace.

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.--Romans 12:17-18

Growing Through Mark

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

Mark is the shortest book of the four gospels. It gives us a clear, concise picture of Jesus' service and sacrifice. Jesus constantly serves others throughout the book of Mark--even to the point of death (Mark 15:37).

Chapter 8 in Mark's gospel presents a pivotal event. In verse 29, Peter makes the good confession: "You are the Christ." That faith-response is a statement that each and every one of us is expected to make if we intend to become a Christian:

For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.--Romans 10:10

The key verses (Mark 10:43-45) in Mark's gospel provide an unequivocal challenge to all who read them! In his 1989 Inaugural Address, George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st President of the United States of America, stated:

We meet on democracy's front porch, a good place to talk at neighbors and as friends. For this is a day when our nation is made whole, when our differences, for a moment are suspended.

And as my first act as President is a prayer. I ask you to bow your heads:

Heavenly Father, we bow our heads and thank You for Your love. Accept our thanks for the peace that yields this day and the shared faith that makes its continuance likely. Make us strong to do Your work, willing to heed and hear Your will, and write on our hearts these words: "Use power to help people." For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people. Help us remember it, Lord. Amen.

Lake Christian Church's ongoing goal to serve the world is reinforced by Christ's words in Mark 10. Let's remember the high price that was paid to gain our freedom--both our national freedom and our spiritual freedom--as we celebrate Independence Day! 

"But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”--Mark 10:43-45