A friend recently recounted going to a family reunion years ago.  It was his first time to be with his new wife’s extended family.  Later in the day, as different relatives left he became uneasy.  With each departure the remaining family members began to talk about those who had just left.  Everything that was said was disparaging.  After this happened several times he informed the group that to keep from being talked about, he and his wife were going to be the last ones to leave.  They laughed, but hopefully it gave some reason for pause.

The biblical record indicates that churches are susceptible to spiritual cannibalism.  Paul warned the Galatian believers, “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” (Gal. 5:15).  Some at Corinth were even willing to cannibalize one another in the court system (1Cor. 6:1ff).

The godly solution to this problem is not to attempt to avoid conflict.  It is not to become a doormat for others to wipe their shoes on, either.  Healthy conflict resolution is what’s needed.  Jesus directed his disciples to go to the person and try to work it out, just the two of you.  Then take someone else if that doesn’t work.  As a last resort you bring the group into the situation.

Yes, Paul tells the Galatians about the time he confronted Peter in the presence of other people (Gal. 2:11-21).  But there is a context of Peter’s actions already leading those other people into improper behavior.  Peter’s hypocrisy was so influential that “even Barnabas was led astray” (2:13).

Few of our conflicts are parallel to Paul’s with Peter.  Even then he did it face to face with Peter.  Backbiting is eliminated when we address our disagree-ments directly with one another.  I personally believe that nothing will be more helpful to churches becoming maturer than learning and practicing healthy conflict resolution skills.  Conflict always happens when people are in community.  The issue is how we will seek to resolve it.

John Kenneth King  

As I’ve told you already, the shepherds have been doing some prayerful planning.  We have identified the following seven priorities:

1.      Become more mature through discipleship training.  We need to acquire the mind of Christ in the areas of giving, service, sacrifice, humility and conflict resolution.

2.      Build stronger marriages.  Our home life directly impacts our capacity to be involved in ministry.

3.      Grow stronger leadership.  As shepherds, we need to grow.  All of our ministry leaders and teams need to grow in teamwork and in faith.

4.      Improved communications.

5.      Increased community awareness of who we are and what we are about.

6.      Update our current facilities and begin planning to expand.

7.      Prepare for revival!

Please join us in prayer regarding these priorities.  Help us to refine these and make them a reality.  Our desire is to know and do the will of God.  We want this church to be a “city on a hill.”  God can use us to increase our impact on this community.

What is your part in this?  Are you maturing?  How are your conflict resolution and communication skills?  Is your marriage healthy?  Your walk in these areas impacts your capacity to influence other people.  As we grow into the image of Jesus we will be light and leaven.

Please pray for revival.  Spend daily time in God’s word.  Lift this church up in your prayers.  God is at work and we seek his greatest blessings.  Please pray for the shepherds.

John Kenneth King  

But wait, you don’t answer an either/or question in the affirmative or the negative.  That’s right, but some of life’s deepest issues aren’t either/or questions.  Few of us are totally pro-active or totally reactive.

 It is likely that most of us spend too much of our lives in the reactive mode.  By refusing to attempt to anticipate important issues and choose ahead of time how we will respond to them (being pro-active), we abdicate the direction of our life path to responding to what happens to us.

Acknowledging our failure to be more pro-active is an important first step to change, but by itself it produces no increase in living an actively chosen, purpose-directed life.  How can we become more pro-active?

The congregation where John Magnuson ministers has been working through a process to accomplish this.  He’s shared some things with me that I think are worthy of considering for our individual lives, our families, our businesses, and our church life.

Their process entails identifying your purpose, mission, core values, strategy, vision and priorities.  To identify each of these you have to answer the following questions:

Purpose—Why do I/we exist?

Mission—What would God have me/us do?

Core Values—What do I/we believe is important?

Strategy—How will I/we accomplish my/our mission?

Vision—What will I/we look like?

Priorities—What must I/we do to reach the vision?

            Working through each question for your individual life will have a significant impact.  It will help you choose which way to go when numerous forks in the road arrive.  Your family, business and our church can benefit by answering those questions too.

John Kenneth King

 Evidently not.  God knew there was a better way for the disciples to carry out the great commission to go into the whole world proclaiming the gospel.  It was time for another member of the Godhead to take over the work among the called.  It was time for the Holy Spirit to begin his ministry among God’s people.

The Holy Spirit is to serve as “another Counselor” (Jn. 14:16).  The Greek word translated as “Counselor” is “Paraclete.”  It has been translated as “advocate,” “intercessor,” “counselor,” and “helper.”  Here is the idea of someone who comes alongside to help.  The Holy Spirit will continue the work of helping the disciples that Jesus began.

Jesus is the only other individual who is called by that name in Scriptures, thus the “Spirit of truth” is called “another counselor.”  In 1John 2:1 Jesus is spoken of as “one who speaks to the Father in our defense…”  The Spirit and Jesus carry on the same work on behalf of Jesus’ disciples.

The Spirit doesn’t merely put in a good word for us he brings active help.  His work goes beyond that of an intercessor.  Consider the following:

¨      “he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin” (Jn. 16:8)

¨      “the Counselor…will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (Jn. 14:26)

¨      while the world doesn’t recognize him, the disciples do because “he lives with you and will be in you” (Jn. 14:17)

¨      “he will testify about [Jesus]” (Jn. 15:26)

¨      “he will guide you into all truth…taking from what is [Jesus’] and making it known to you” (Jn. 16:12-15).

Through his ministry, the Spirit is indeed a helper.  He continues the ministry of Jesus.  Join us Sunday to consider God alongside us.

John Kenneth King

 Our American “pursuit of happiness,” programs us to be highly suspicious if not outright rejecting of the long-term benefits that might come from suffering.  We want to reject a hard path to growth and maturity.  We prefer our way be easy and that it come with lots of assurances that it is only going to grow easier.

You would think our powers of observation would burst such naïve dreams, but they are quite resilient.  It is tragic when they are more persevering than our faith.  Faith tempered by the fires of suffering becomes much stronger and more capable of holding up through difficult times in life.  Watching Jesus in the gospels reveals the way to glory often travels through the valleys of agony.

Do we take seriously our call to discipleship?  Do we want to learn from Jesus how to face adversity?  Yes, through his miracles there were numerous people whose pains were alleviated.  His goodness shines from his healing the sick, raising the dead and giving sight to the blind.  But Jesus personally experienced suffering.  “Man of Sorrows, what a name…” are the words to the old hymn.  Are you sure you want to follow him?

When life is going well and good things happen, praise God.  Don’t look over your shoulder expecting the next shoe to drop.  Just praise him and enjoy.  When suffering comes, praise him, too.  Realize the good we experience is a gift from God.  The hard things can be used by him to make us people of strong, enduring faith.

Tragedies don’t have to have tragic endings.  We all know people who’ve come out on the other side better people.  People of real depth and substance that assures us we want to be around them because they’ve weathered the storms.  God brought them through the worst life has to offer.  He will do the same with us if we persevere.  Don’t give up when the way is difficult.  Keep on keeping on.

John Kenneth

             I must say it is odd to hear a vehicle referred to by that name.  Especially one that has lots of horsepower, air conditioning, power steering and a CD player.  The designation is still true, but it just doesn’t fit with our modern situation.

            The Bible speaks of Christians by a name that sounds just as antiquated to most modern hearers.  With the exception of some long-dead individuals I don’t know that I’ve ever heard someone referred to as a “saint.” By contrast, it was a very common designation during the time the New Testament was written.

            We’ve lost the word “saint” because it was used to refer to a group of people who were deemed especially holy.  Since people didn’t want to make that judgement regarding someone’s life while they were still alive (I guess they could have messed up bad enough to be removed if still living), the term was used of the deceased.

            But Paul speaks of Christians as “saints.”  He speaks of all people set apart for God’s service with this term.  Yes, it carries with it the sense of “holy,” but Paul recognized that our holiness comes through Jesus’ substitution rather than us being perfect law-keepers.  While all of us have sinned, some of us have been called by God into His family.  We’ve been adopted as His children and He has made us holy–“saints.”

            I believe Paul used the term as a way of reminding 1st Century Christians who they were.  Maybe we need to restore use of the term as a way to remind each other that we are God’s people–set apart for His purposes.  Maybe we also need the reminder so we will live consistent with that designation.

John Kenneth King

 One of the songs in the Christmas program has already sparked some thinking.  The song is “I Hear Angels Singing.”  Its words imagine the angels who sang at Bethlehem, over the birth of Jesus, singing again when a new birth happens in the life of a person today.  Notice Claire Cloninger’s words:

For since you spoke my name and since your love came in,

You’ve made this heart of mine into Your Bethlehem!

I hear angels singing!  “Someone’s been born again!”

Let’s sing songs of glory like we did in Bethlehem!

For this is a Christmas we will remember.

Let the rejoicing start, for Jesus Christ is born

this Christmas day in another heart!

Those words struck me because they reminded me of something said at the beginning of John’s Gospel.  As the apostle reflects on the pre-incarnate Word becoming flesh, he discusses the possibility of a new birth.  Speaking of Jesus’ coming John said, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (Jn. 1:12-13).

Your spiritual birth parallels Jesus’ physical birth.  Joseph was not his father—God is!  Your new birth was divine in origin too!  God is the procreator of every new birth.  He accomplishes a type of Bethlehem every time another person turns to Jesus in faith.  God gets the glory because that birth is the direct result of his divine redeeming grace.  Praise be to God, he’s still in the birthing business.

John Kenneth King

 I am thankful to be among a group of believers who are not afraid to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  It astounds me to hear some Christians talk about how ungodly the world is becoming and then miss out on the one season each year when the world considers Jesus.

The birth of Jesus is a biblical truth.  Paul reminds us, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons” (Gal. 4:4-5).  Matthew and Luke both give us detailed insights into the events surrounding his arrival.  Do you have a good reason for ignoring this biblical subject?

Yes, I know the standard line, “But you don’t know when he was born!” referring to the date.  If you don’t like December 25, choose a date—any date.  But don’t complain about others who set this time aside as a season to rejoice in God drawing near.

A significant reality about Jesus’ birth is that God came to be with us.  When I face a crisis there are people that I know understand and care about me.  But the ones that I am most likely to connect with are the ones who choose to be with me through that crisis.  God chose to show his love and understanding completely.  Because of his immanence, Jesus was called Immanuel—“God with us” (Mt. 1:23).

Tell the stories of the reindeer.  Enjoy the carols about jingle bells.  Spend time with families and exchange gifts.  But don’t ignore the greatest gift of all.  When you praise God for his gift of redeeming love, you honor Jesus.  Marvel at the greatest love the world has ever seen.  Consider Joseph and Mary and their amazing faith.  Realize the incredible drive that led the wise men to follow that star and worship him.  Wise men and women still worship him.

As noted on the cover, one way we will celebrate the birth of Jesus is through our third annual Christmas program.  We would love to have you join us for any of the three nights.  As we remember Jesus we can make this a Christmas to Remember!

John Kenneth King

 Likely you’ve seen the commercial where the elderly lady is removing leaves from her above ground pool, but the voice you hear doesn’t fit her.  The piece is using the fear of identity theft to promote a particular credit card company because of their protections against such happening to their users.

High-tech thieves are taking the money of unsuspecting individuals without personally entering their homes or lock boxes.  By acquiring your account numbers and other personal information they pretend to be you as they blow through your financial resources.

Taking someone else’s place and accessing their resources is a biblical topic—no, not through fraud, but through faith.  You and I have received the privilege of being identified with Jesus.  As the old hymn says, “I owed a debt I could not pay, He paid a debt He did not owe.” 

More accept that as the grounds of our justification than our sanctification.  We run the risk of making the same basic mistake of the Galatians.  Paul expressed his outrage over their choice to try to live the Christian life from a position of merit:  “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”

Salvation doesn’t just begin “by grace through faith,” it is completed “by grace through faith.”  Sanctification (the process of becoming holy) is accomplished when God carries to completion the good work he has begun in us.  The resurrection power that raised Jesus from the grave is the same power that transforms us into his image.  But we have to beware of the temptation to seize control of our lives and attempt to live up to a human standard of holiness.  God has called us to a life of grace, not law.

Our identity as children of God should shape us into spiritually maturing people who progressively become more like the one in whom we live—Jesus.  No one can steal his identity, but it has freely been offered to all.  With Paul we can say, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

John Kenneth King

 Because of this arrangement the Psalms have had more opportunities to challenge me.  Their persistent presence in my daily routine allows them to shock me, comfort me, and shape me.  Some in our fellowship are probably starting to feel a little uncomfortable.  I can hear someone saying, “But John, you’ve got to remember that’s Old Testament!  You’ll come out with some heretical teaching if you’re not careful!”

I recognize there is a need for recognizing that God has extended a new covenant through Jesus.  But I am equally convinced we’ve been arbitrarily selective on this matter at times.  The other thing I believe is the early church approached the Psalms differently than I used to deal with them.  Some have noted that the Psalms were the early church’s hymnal.  Paul directed that believers were to teach one another with the Psalms.

Scattered through the Psalms are numerous reminders that each generation is responsible to tell the next generation what God has been doing.  For example, consider the following passage from Psalm 71:17-18:

“Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,

and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray,

do not forsake me, O God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

your might to all who are to come.”

Our Baby Blessing service is an attempt to take seriously this message from the Psalms.  It entails us actively reminding one another that we must teach the next generation who God is and what he continues to do in our world.  We would love to have you join us in this act of faith.

John Kenneth King