WATERTOWN CHURCH OF CHRIST

There's No Place Like Home

2009-08-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

It is wonderful to be back with the congregation after a trip outside of the country! When one travels abroad, one not only notices how well off even the poorest of us in the U.S. are but also how much one misses their home land. The food, the smells, the familiar sights, and the ENGLISH all welcome the traveler back with open arms. After many days of hard work, we have returned from our mission trip to Honduras with many stories and adventures to tell. The trip changed our lives as much as it changed the lives of the Hondurans we helped! Plans are already in progress for next years trip! The date should be set by next week and I pray you will consider going on the adventure and serving others with the love of Christ.

Although our part in the mission trip has been completed the mission is not finished. Journey Mission Camp is in need of many things. More groups are coming in over the next year and the camp is suffering from disrepair and broken down vehicles. Tires, new engines, fans, paint, and much more are needed in order to get the camp back on its feet and fully efficient. Three of us was not much of a strain, but after evaluation, a group of 20-30 will have trouble accomplishing their goals. Journey Mission does much more than build houses. It plants churches, clothes the poor, feeds the hungry, educates those who cannot afford schooling, and much more! The longer the camp is in disrepair the less the mission will be able to accomplish. We all know that a house in disrepair costs much more to run than a house that is kept up and run smoothly. Due to our economy and recent events, Journey Mission has lost some of its finances which would normally go towards camp upkeep. They have attempted to keep finances helping others, but unless the camp is brought up to par, it will eventually fall to self defeat! Returning JMC to complete working condition will enable more funds to be poured into the true mission of Journey—the people. If you or someone you know is interested in helping donate to the much needed repairs please let me (Josh) know!

Thanks to the Fairfax Church of Christ and Phil McKinney, we had the funds to build a house while in Honduras. Their group had to cancel their trip so we were graciously allowed to use those funds and build a house for a family in need. Thank you all for your prayers and support as we prepared and carried out this mission trip! I pray more of you will be able to go next summer and truly Live The Mission!

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

Purpose

2009-07-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

With many congregations facing a problem of lacking involvement, they have often ask what it is they must do to motivate people to do more for the Lord. Motivation is the key to involvement. Although many think the problem is laziness, I believe it is that their members are involved in many other activities which crowd their time. A while back I shared a thought about taking a Sabbath. We often over work ourselves and accidentally leave God out. It’s not that people don’t want to work for God, they just have their priorities jumbled up! I even fall into this category from time to time. A church sign in North Carolina said “the main thing is to see that the main thing is the main thing.” Often we forget what the main thing actually is. We forget to prioritize the most important things in life so they are lost in the lesser important.

Look at Malachi 1:6-10

The OT priests dishonored God because they did not give Him their best. Although we, today, do not offer animal sacrifices, we do offer ourselves as sacrifices (Romans 12:1). This offering involves our time, lifestyles, money, and everything else. Where do we spend our energy and effort? Do we really wish we could do more instead of thinking we have already done our share?

I want to congratulate all of you as members for your willingness to do what is needed. With that said, I know many of us struggle at times with making sure the main thing is in fact the main thing. Many of us sometimes slip into a slump and forget our purpose on earth. If you are one of those and currently down, find the strength to get back up and do what’s needed for God’s Kingdom!

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

Obstacles

2009-07-19T13:32:00.000-07:00

As they neared the sea, the Israelites knew that there was no way out of it. They looked behind them and saw the Egyptians gaining on them and became afraid. As they cried out, they told Moses it was better to be slaves then in the situation they were now in!

My favorite part of this story is Moses’ response to the Israelites. As they cried out, Moses told them “Do not fear. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today...The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

All the Israelites needed to do was to trust in God. They so quickly lost faith and wanted to turn back to their old lives as slaves. At this moment, they could not see past the situation they were in and they could not see the deliverance God was bringing.

How many times in life have we done this same thing? How many times have we been caught in the middle of something and were not able to see God’s hand working? We need only to be still and watch for God.

Are you going to let Satan and this world convince you that your old life was better than it is now? Are you going to turn from God because you can't let go of the sin(s) you were in? I pray that we continue to take a stand and press on no matter how the odds are. God used an army of hundreds to beat an army of thousands! The obstacles we face in life are God’s to deal with. God tells us to “lay down our burdens.” So what are you waiting for? Go ahead, tackle your obstacles and press on!

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

Humility

2009-07-12T13:31:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Memphis! As you worship this morning, I will be worshiping in Memphis, TN. This coming week will be filled with lots of study and Old Testament discussion as I take one of my Graduate courses! Although I deeply miss being with my Watertown family, I am confident it is in good hands as brother Joe will bring our class and morning sermon and Aaron will bring our evening sermon! May God bless you as you worship Him and learn from His Word.

1 Peter 5:5b-6 says “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.”

Humility is more than denying one is good at something. It is more than poor self esteem and looking at the ground. In fact, this is not at all what is meant by humility. Humility is more along the lines of submission. We must not be proud and arrogant individuals. We must not consider ourselves “wiser than the others,” or “holier than others.” We must not fall into the trap of building ourselves up while it tears down others or the trap of being un-teachable. Humility is best seen in the example of Christ. Christ was submissive to God, comfortable with who he was while not lording it over others. As a child we see that Jesus is teachable! We see him sitting in the temple not only asking questions but learning from the Rabbis of old. If Jesus wanted too could he have walked in and told them how it is and how it is going to be? Sure he could have! Could he have spoken every time he attended synagogue? Of course! However, Jesus had a humble attitude and was willing to listen! Do we have the attitude of Christ? An attitude of humility? Or are we un-teachable, prideful, and the best Christian of the bunch? If we are never wrong...we are not humble (and possibly naïve). We must clothe ourselves with humility and only then will God exalt us!

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

Independence Day

2009-07-04T05:49:00.000-07:00

I pray that you all had a wonderful (and safe) 4th of July! It’s always good to remember our freedom and those who have served our country and given their lives for what we enjoy here in the United States. I am happy to live in such a great country! Sure, we have our problems, but what country doesn’t? Celebrations such as our Independence Day help us look past the negative aspects of things that sometimes happen and focus on the positives. One doesn’t have to travel very far out of the country to see the difference between the United States and other countries. Many times I hear people complaining about the United States and how much they hate living here…”there’s a simple solution,” I tell them, “change citizenship and move somewhere else.” Guess how many have actually taken my advice. The truth is that we are a blessed nation in so many ways and the poorest of us are rich by the worlds standards. Thank God for our blessings while we have them!

As much as I love the United States, I have to come to the realization that our ultimate goal is not the United States (or any other country for that matter). Recall the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13b-14: “But one thing I do: ‘forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.’” Although Paul was proud of both his Jewish and Roman citizenship, ultimately, it was his citizenship with God ‘s Kingdom that gave his life meaning. Yes we should be proud of the United States and strive to continually better ourselves and our country, however, we must remember that our primary focus is to be that of God’s Kingdom! After all, independence day for God’s Kingdom was around 33A.D. on a Sunday. Happy Independence Day!

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

A Person Of Integrity

2009-06-27T18:48:00.000-07:00

It’s great to be back after a long week. I am so thankful that I am able to leave everything in wonderful hands when I must be away on a trip! I pray you applied everything we learned last Sunday about prayer. Prayer is very powerful and is our primary communication with our Heavenly Father.

Job chapter two is found in the midst of his suffering. We see Satan talking with God and accusing Job of only following God because he has the “good life.” God allows Job to be tested but his life is not to be messed with. The scene quickly jumps from the throne room of God and to a scene taking place somewhere in the Middle East on earth. We see Job already stricken with soars and being pressured to renounce God. In Job 2:9 his wife comes to him and said, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” Notice in the question Job’s wife is questioning his motive for holding onto integrity. Job was faithful to God in the midst of all his suffering. Job spent a lifetime following God and when it comes to the moment of truth, Job matches his actions with his words. Job is truly a good example of a person with integrity.

How do we handle pressure at work, school, and home to go against everything we claim? Sometimes we are asked to put aside our integrity and give in just this one time. When Satan temps us to give in and forget that God seeks integrity, we must remember that these are vital moments to spiritual growth. Being an individual of integrity is not always easy, however, it is the most rewarding characteristic one can develop.

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

Prayer Power

2009-06-20T18:54:00.000-07:00

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”--Martin Luther King, Jr.

The theme for today is prayer. Often prayer is left out of our devotional lives, our decisions, and our interaction together. The only time some people pray during the week is on Sunday morning and the beginning and ending of services. Jesus however saw the importance of prayer and the closeness it brings to the creator.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, prayer is around almost every corner. You cannot go very far until Jesus is found praying again or teaching about prayer. If prayer was so important to Jesus, it better be important to the spiritual giant. The spiritual giant seeks to have a close relationship with God and knows a key to that relationship is communication on his part.

Some very important points about prayer are made in John 18:
1) Don’t stop praying, there is way too much at stake.
2) Don’t give up when everything seems to be against you...keep asking.
3) Sometimes the answer is just around the corner, God hears you!
4) Keep praying, God is working...even if you can’t see it at the time.
5) Jesus keeps his promises and he tells us that if we ask, God will respond.

Sometimes we get caught up in tough times and situations and feel alone. Sometimes we pray and forget that juts because we think it is an urgent matter, that God should feel the same way. When you are tempted to stop praying and take matters into your own hands, remember that God is faithful and will answer when the time is right. All we need to do is continue to talk to Him.

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

Paralysis of Analysis

2009-06-13T20:54:00.000-07:00

Many times people amaze me at how they handle situations. I’ve sat with people who have only a little time left on this earth. One obvious observation is there are basically two ways people handle this point in life: 1) some people accept it and are at peace and even ready for death, or 2) others become angry, afraid, or heartbroken at the news (understandably so). I’ve also sat with cancer patients, surgery patients, many sick people, and recovered people. However, sick people aren’t the only ones who amaze me at their responses to the lemons life throws them. My father has amazed me with his response when he was let go from his job of many years. Others also have this amazing “up-beat” attitude. But how do people handle the crossroads in life? Sometimes somebody’s response to difficulty makes me think “wow, talk about a spiritual giant!” While other times, I can’t help but wonder if they truly are who they claim to be.

Life is full of struggles, ups, and downs. We do our best to trudge through the swamps and (on a good day) enjoy the grassy fields. As a people of God, we must follow the example of the spiritual giant when we face both difficulty and a time of joy. The spiritual giant asks for God’s direction, even if it takes him down a less desirable path at the time. Often we get so caught up in making a decision that we forget to seek out God’s decision FIRST. However, sometimes we paralyze ourselves when we cannot clearly see God’s direction (especially between two wonderful choices) by not moving at all. When this happens I want to encourage you to do what Peter did in Matthew 14—get out of the boat and just GO! But when you do, stay focused on the goal and don’t second guess your choice. Trust that God will let you know if it was the right choice or not. After all, God works all things for the good. What boat do you need to step out of this week?

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

Finding Passion

2009-06-07T19:00:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love about the Apostle Peter is his passion for God. Although we often give him a hard time about action without thinking, one has to admire the dedication and passion in Peter’s heart. Peter loved Christ so much that he was willing to fight for him against a mob of people. I can’t help but wonder if Peter was a bit of an outsider before Christ met him. The devotion Peter shows to Christ challenges the faith and devotion of us all.

One of my favorite stories of Peter (besides when he walked on the water) is at the end of the life of Jesus. When Jesus declares that somebody will betray Him, Peter quickly announces that it would not be him. In fact, he would never do such a thing! Can you imagine how Peter must have felt when Jesus looked him straight in the eyes and said, “Actually Peter, you’re going to disown me three times before morning breaks”? Poor Peter put up his guard so that the prediction would not come true. In fact, he shows just how dedicated he was when he drew his sword at the arrest of Jesus. We all know the story, however. Peter let’s down his guard and disowns not only his Savior, but his best friend three times before the night is over.

The reason I love this story is not because of the events and Peters commitment (or lack there of). No, the real reason I love this story is because of Peters reaction after he disowns his friend. At a low in Peters life, the Bible tells us he heard the rooster, remembered the words of Jesus, and then went out and bitterly wept. Even though Peter messed up, you can still see his love for Christ.

When we mess up, do we still weep? Have we been hardened so much that it has been a long time since a tear was shed on the behalf of Christ? A while back I stated that one thing I loved about the Amazed!? video was it reminds me of my sinfulness and Christ’s love. Do you still weep at the thought of your sinfulness? Do you still have a passion for God or have you allowed the world to harden your heart?

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

Leaders Prioritize

2009-05-31T00:16:00.000-07:00

As we talk about spiritual giants and what it means to be a leader, I couldn’t help but think about all the roadblocks we come across in day to day life. If we are supposed to be leading others to Christ, how do we fit that into a schedule that is already filled with kids, soccer games, work, church, family, and friends? This question has an answer which is simple in theory yet more complicated in practicality. The answer is PRIORITIZING.

Look around at today’s young people. One thing missing is the discipline of prioritization. Caught up in incredible technology, advanced communication, and an ever changing culture, young people have become accustom to the art of multi-tasking. However, while this is an important skill, when it is not balanced with prioritization multi-tasking becomes a crutch. In fact, even adults deal with this dilemma. A church does not grow by adding 20 or 30 ministries to its portfolio. Rather, it grows by assessing and prioritizing needs. It grows by excelling in one or two areas. Sadly, because so many want to play the resume game, multi-tasking becomes the only disciplined practice of Christ’s body. If we are going to be intentional about growth, we must prioritize.

A poem by William H. Hinson reads:
He who seeks one thing, and but one,
May hope to achieve it before life is done.
But he who seeks all things wherever he goes
Must reap around him in whatever he sows
A harvest of barren regret.

Interestingly enough, this mirrors a teaching of Jesus found in Luke 14:28-33. It is here that Jesus discusses the discipline of planning and prioritizing. As Hinson and Jesus point out, those who fail by lack of prioritizing will be ridiculed for it.

As a church (and individual) we can take a very important lesson from this. If we take a shotgun approach to reaching our community, we will likely fail. Although that multi-tasking is at times beneficial, it cannot be separated from prioritization. However, if as a congregation we prioritize and excel in one or two areas to begin with, growth will come. The same is true for ones spiritual life. We all have lots to work on. Some of us need to work on our prayer life, cussing, drinking, Bible reading, etc. Rather than tackling all at once, try focusing on one or two at first. Once those are mastered it’s time to move to the next. This approach will bring more success and will leave you with a better sense of accomplishment.

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

Great Leaders Set The Example

2009-05-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

A young boy had just gotten his driving permit. He asked his father, who was a minister, if they could discuss the use of the car. His father took him to his study and said to him, "I’ll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up, study your Bible a little and get your hair cut and we’ll talk about it." After about a month the boy came back and again asked his father if they could discuss use of the car. They again went to the father’s study where his father said, "Son, I’ve been real proud of you. You have brought your grades up, you’ve studied your Bible diligently, but you didn’t get your hair cut!" The young man waited a moment and replied, "You know Dad, I’ve been thinking about that. You know, Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair, and even Jesus had long hair...." To which his father replied, "Yes, and they walked every where they went!"

Moses, Samson, Abraham, and Noah are all considered leaders. These great leaders all had something in common: whenever they led the people, they FOLLOWED AFTER GOD. Another good example of this is the Apostle Paul. We would all agree that Paul knows how to lead people. After all, he had a HUGE impact on the early church and has continued to impact us over the last many centuries. Paul was able to confidently say “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).

As leaders, we must be able to make a similar claim as Paul. We need to encourage others to follow us. They need to have an example of how to walk, talk, live, and give of themselves. We must be able to exclaim “follow me as I follow Christ.” It isn’t for our glory. It’s not to bring attention to ourselves and our actions, it is to point those following toward Christ. We are only a mirror of Christ. We reflect the image of Christ back to Christ himself. What do you need to change in your life so that you can exclaim “follow me as I follow Christ?”

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

Greetings From Virginia

2009-05-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Richmond, VA! As you worship this morning, Katie and I are worshiping in Richmond, Virginia (along with her mom) and preparing for the journey back to the great, white north! This morning, Terry Tenney will be bringing our message about God’s Grace and how it restores us to a relationship with Him. This is one of the most important ideas when speaking to a non-Christian. We need to completely understand that if it was not for the grace of God, we would not be able to be in communion with Him! In fact, if it wasn’t for Jesus Christ, we would not be set free from our sins!

Tonight, brother Chris will bring our lesson concerning commitment and salvation! When you share the gospel with an individual, you cannot stop with only sharing. We have to call for a response of sorts and that is where commitment comes in. If a person accepts the appropriate response, they can move on into salvation. However, we must remember that from time to time, we will need further study with somebody as they may not be ready at the moment. Many times they have objections and questions as Joe discussed in class this morning! Evangelism is about having patience and love. We must make sure our focus is to help them in the process and remember that we may not have all the answers. We must remain vulnerable and able to share our own personal stories with them.

This study has truly been a wonderful one! I pray daily that you have all gained a nugget of fresh knowledge and have been more prepared in the process of reaching out to your friends, family, and even those you don’t know yet! In order to learn the most effective means of evangelism, find somebody who has accomplished it and learn from them. Be careful who you look to…if you learn from someone who is no longer effective, you will not be effective. If you learn from somebody who has been effective and practices it daily, you too will learn to be effective. Katie and I were blessed to have learned and walked with many wonderful and effective evangelists. If you think about the wisdom of all who have mentored me…I have over 150 years of experience. You should also study under somebody! Make sure the 150 years of experience are from those who are effective and you will be unstoppable in this world!

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

The Challenge

2009-05-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

Our current series truly has been a delight to work on and share with you. I pray that you are continually learning more about yourselves and God’s story throughout this study. The point of our endeavor is to learn how to effectively reach the “lost” and evangelize not only our back yard, but the world. As somebody who has been learning, studying, and practicing this since high school years, I find no greater joy than passing on the bit of knowledge I have learned concerning the subject. I have been blessed to have many people in my life take me under their wing and mentor me and I pray as we finish up this study of the next few weeks you will decide to find someone to pass this onto!

Next week, I will be absent due to my travel to Virginia. However, Sunday has been left in very capable hands! I know you are all excited to hear brother Terry speak in morning worship and brother Chris bring a lesson in the evening! Terry will be discussing God’s restoring grace and how His grace restores our relationship with Him. This will prove to be a wonderful study that uses Romans 5 as a springboard. Chris will be bringing the lesson for our Thematic topic that night and will be covering our response and God’s salvation using events and examples in the book of Acts as a springboard. Both sermons will prove to be worthwhile and I wish I was able to hear them in first person (although, the recorded audio will have to work for me this time). Also, Joe will be teaching the morning adult class and will lead you through different objections you may run into throughout the evangelism process! Please keep these three in your prayers as they prepare for Sunday! I am so thankful we have wonderful men who are willing to step up and lead the congregation!

Challenge: I challenge you to continue working on your story and begin practicing that story until it is concise, to the point, and 3-4 minutes in length! Then pray for an audience to share it with (i.e. a non-Christian).

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

The Gospel Message

2009-04-26T12:23:00.000-07:00

With the warm weather comes much excitement! One of the most exciting things to me is the increase in our members availability to attend services and events! As many of us are unable to come at times in the winter due to snow (especially on Sunday and Wednesday nights), spring and summer bring longer days and no more snow! I truly am looking forward to seeing more of our membership now that the harsh winter has lifted. Currently, we are studying the Thematic Approach [to evangelism] on Sunday nights and on Wednesday nights we are in the book of Daniel.

Although in class this morning we will be discussing what Christ has done in our lives and what our story is, we must never forget that the most important story is what Christ has done for all people. We must learn how to tell HIS story also. Could you communicate the main message of the Christian faith in a concise fashion in a short amount of time? If somebody asked you what it means to be Christian could you answer without “losing attention” due to drawn out stories?

The gospel message can be broken down into four parts: GOD, US, CHRIST, YOU.

GOD—God is loving (1 John 4:16b), holy (1 Peter 1:15-16) and just (2 Thessalonians 1:6). When discussing the central theme of the gospel, this is the first step one should take. These three understandings about God are key in ones understanding about salvation.

US—We need to understand that we have rebelled against the loving God. We were created good, but became sinful (Romans 3:23), we deserve death (Romans 6:23), and we are spiritually helpless (Isaiah 64:6; Ephesians 2:8-9). This puts into perspective that because of our rebellion against God, we are sinful, deserving of death, and unable to rectify the situation ourselves.

CHRIST—We must realize that Christ is the only one who can solve this dilemma. Christ is God who became man (John 1:1,14; 8:24), Christ died in our place as our substitute (1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21), and finally, Christ offers forgiveness as a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23).

YOU—This final point relates to you, me, and our friends. Individually, each one of us decides the outcome of our own story. We must respond (John 1:12; Romans 10:13), we must ask for forgiveness and be baptized (1 John 1:9; Acts 2:38) and we must understand the result is a spiritual transformation (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

In short, this sums up the story of God and his people (you, me, and the world). If we can learn to be able to share this message in a timely manner, we can get to the heart of the gospel quickly and confidently. Pray that God sends somebody your way this week who is searching for truth!

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

Why We C.A.R.E.

2009-04-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

Our current study over evangelism is truly a wonderful topic of discussion. As the world changes, evangelism does also. Different people learn and respond to different things. This is what makes our current study so important when considering reaching this world. However, we must all keep in mind that it is not something that happens over night. It takes months and even years sometimes to see growth from a planted seed.

There are four characteristics a community of believers must have in order to grow. These four characteristics must also be passed down to every believer and “new comer.” These characteristics can easily be remembered as the C.A.R.E. principle (communal, accountable, respectful, and evangelical).

Communal—Community is HUGE when it comes to today’s culture. Note that even in the book of Acts followers of Christ spent a lot of time with each other. We must not be any different today. If we claim to be a family, we must truly function as one. I’m not sure about you, but my family was always with each other and helping each other. The building of community also encompasses the building of relationships. We must build relationships with both those inside and those who are outside.

Accountable—Accountability is another priority. This does not mean shun somebody who has slipped up and fallen. It does not even mean to lecture that person. However, it does mean that we need to watch out for each other and help each other achieve the standard set before us. We need to help each other stay on track in our prayer life, our struggles, our attitudes, and every other aspect of our walk with Christ.

Respectful—A growing body of Christ is respectful to all of its members. It does not talk behind anyone’s back and it does not disrespect somebody intentionally. If we are to grow, we must constantly respect each other and those who are outside of our congregation. It’s true, our respect should extend to everyone. We can disagree and still be respectful...whether its within our family or if its with someone who is outside of the family.

Evangelical—Evangelism is the lifeline of the body of Christ. Just like milk helps our physical bodies grow strong and be nurtured, evangelism helps grow and nurture the body of Christ. We are commanded to go and share the Good News of Christ. We are not commanded to share doctrines, theologies, or even opinions, but the good news. Everything else comes later. If we are not evangelizing in our daily lives (not only on Sundays) we are not living a right life with Jesus Christ. Even more, if we are not evangelizing daily, we are out right disobeying Jesus.

If we hold to these four characteristics, we will see a harvest and growth both spiritually and numerically. Where do you need improvement?

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

EVANGELISM 2

2009-04-11T05:26:00.000-07:00

This morning, many gather together in order to worship God, remember Christ, and celebrate the resurrection. What a wonderful day to begin a study on evangelism! Sunday mornings remind me of why we go out proclaiming the good news. After all, there would be no good news if it wasn’t for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The death of Jesus truly is a testimony but what would it amount too if Jesus had stayed in the grave all these years? Evangelism comes from the excitement of ones conviction that Jesus does live and that He continues to change lives! Throughout this study, we will learn tools to help us become more comfortable and equipped to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

Today, we live in a “post-modern” culture. It is truly a unique culture that requires a little bit of creativity and understanding if you wish to reach it. It is a culture who would rather have a friend then a stranger share the good news. It is a culture that desires authenticity and relationship before the exchanging of ideas and “truth.” It’s not that the “post-moderns” don’t believe in anything, it’s that they believe anything that comes their way. The movement comes from the scrutiny of modernism and its tight reigns. The post-modern movement is an outcry for an actual relationship and meaning in life rather than statistics and facts. Our advantage is while all of these “seekers” are searching for meaning and purpose, we have that to offer them. Our challenge is that there are many false shepherds out there claiming to offer a better alternative (i.e. Wicca, Baha'i, etc.).

If one wishes to reach this culture of “post-modernists,” there are a few rules to follow:

1. Learn to speak their language. When the KJV was translated, it was written in the vulgar (or common) language. Although this is not a horrible translation, if you are witnessing to someone under the age of 30 who did not grow up in church, you are better off using a translation that speaks their language (as the KJV is no longer fulfilling its intention...i.e. it is no longer in the common language). I typically use the NIV. Other good suggestions are the ESV and the NKJV. Whatever you use, make sure it is not hard for someone to read and understand.This rule also means use down to earth terms. Canonical, eschatological, and temporal are a few examples of words that would only detract from the goal.

2. Feed the masses. I am not literally talking about feeding people (although it is a good example). Most people don’t care what you know until they know that you care. Finding a few non-threatening events to invite someone two will open up lines of communication. For example: inviting someone to bowling and other events are good ways for you to get to know each other. A conversion is not likely to take place within the first three meetings with someone you just met. Use the time to get to know them. Find ways to interest people in you and your life. Notice that those who came to Jesus typically came for their own needs (i.e. food, healing, answers, overthrowing of the government). Jesus used these as ways into their life. We find those who came for selfish reasons be changed and begin following Christ.

3. Be genuine. People don’t need another gimmick. They don’t need another person to befriend them in order to win them to their side only to be dropped if they fail to comply. People today (just like long ago) need a real friend, that means a friend who is still a friend even if they don’t accept the gospel.

Following these three simple rules will get you off on the right foot in evangelism. Only by studying the culture and our surroundings will we know how to present the Gospel in a relevant way without changing the message of the Gospel. Teaching methods can change as long as the Gospel stays the same.

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

EVANGELISM

2009-04-06T16:23:00.000-07:00

Today is our final day studying the book of Mark. It has truly been a wonderful experience and I am certain we have all learned much more about the depths of Mark’s Gospel. Looking forward, we now prepare to move into our six week study of evangelism. This will be an exciting study that will challenge the way each of us thinks about evangelism and will give practical tools and tips concerning your personal outreach.

If you think about it, evangelism is a lot like a worship service. Just like there are appropriate things to do and not to do in worship service, there are appropriate and inappropriate things to do in evangelism. When you are intentionally seeking out a person in order to share the Gospel, this must be kept in mind. I want to share with you a few practical tips to remember concerning evangelism:

1) There is a time and a place for that. One must constantly remember that there is a time and place to discuss ones opinions about something that could potentially look negative. Sharing the gospel is not the time to vent frustration or pursue any certain “agenda.” Most of us struggle with this sometimes.

2) Perception is reality. Whether it is true or not, how your friend sees you is their reality. How they perceive you as a follower of Christ becomes their reality. We must watch our tones, body language, etc. when sharing the Gospel (Col. 4:5).

3) Each person is not a project. Too often people we witness to feel as though we are using them as a “project.” Whether they accept the gospel or not, prepare to invest in this person for the long haul.

4) Be a friend first! In today’s culture, nobody cares about your convictions until they see a genuine care for their current situation. Make sure you aren’t just starting a project, but that you are beginning a long term friendship.

5) Ask questions. The worst thing you can do is preach at somebody for 45 minutes or so. Try asking questions! Questions are magical...they can lead somebody to a conviction and give you insight into their world.

6) Don’t chase every rabbit. Not everything that comes up has to be looked into at the moment. You will run into a lot of scenarios and interesting questions/comments. Keep the focus of the conversation in mind and don’t preach about every issue that comes up. It’s okay to say “let me get back to you on that.”

7) Don’t leave without setting a time and a place for the next “get together.” Before you close with a prayer, discuss a time and place to meet together again and exchange contact information.

8) Have some fun! Get together sometimes just to hang out or watch a ball game! Show that you are interested in them and not just their response! Nobody likes to feel used.

9) Ask them to pray. If you are comfortable with this, try asking them to start the prayer after a few meetings...let them know that it’s okay if they wish not too. If they do, be patient...it may be their first time. If they do pray, listen carefully...prayers often reveal a lot about an individual.

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

ADIOS MARK & HELLO EVANGELISM

2009-03-28T17:42:00.000-07:00

I sincerely hope you have enjoyed the Gospel According To Mark as much as I have. Throughout our study of Mark and the Jesus Style, I have learned some very important key things that I have tried to pass on to you. I sincerely believe that we leave this study knowing Jesus Christ better than when we started. Next week will be our final study in the Life of Christ and Jesus Style.

After leaving the Gospel According To Mark, we will venture into a subject that is near and dear to my heart. We will be moving to Evangelism and what it means to be a Contagious Christian. The world is full of people who proclaim to follow Christ but today’s culture is crying out to actually see and experience Christ. Many who claim to follow Jesus sincerely love Him but have no idea how to reach today’s culture with the Good News. The methods and tools my father used to evangelize before I was born no longer produce mass results. The same is true today. Our methods and tools today will not carry the same effect 50 years from now. As the body of Christ, we must learn to adapt to the culture while maintaining the purity of the message.

The Apostle Paul set the example for relating to a culture the message of Christ while in Athens as recorded in the Acts 17. Over the next several weeks, as we study what it means to be a Contagious Christian, we will repeatedly come back to Paul and his methods.

When we began the Gospel According To Mark, I mentioned that it was a wonderful Gospel to use for evangelistic efforts. Now that we have explored this tool for evangelism, we will make our way into the exploration of a few more tools. I want to challenge you to be in prayer for this coming study and that God will open your mind and clarify your thoughts. I want to challenge you to bring an eager attitude that is willing to learn and be stretched. I hope you will join us as we learn how to more effectively reach the world!

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

ARE YOU AMAZED?

2009-03-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

“There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home!” It is truly great to be back home again in Watertown, New York with my wife and church family! Dallas was great (despite the rain and cold weather I seemed to take with me) and Greg’s wedding was beautiful. As much fun as my short trip was, it is always a wonderful feeling to be back where you belong and to be back in the swing of things. Thank you to everyone who preached and taught while I was absent! I have heard nothing but wonderful things concerning last Sunday!

As we near the conclusion of our study of the Life of Christ and Jesus Style, this Sunday is a very special benchmark. We find many throughout the New Testament who marvel at Jesus Christ, His character, and what He accomplished for those who would follow Him. Jesus had a history of “jaw-dropping” as He went from city to city preaching the Kingdom of God. His miracles, teachings, and style were completely different from all those who have gone before. Jesus challenged the way the first century viewed God and the Messiah. The secret is, Jesus still challenges us today! I pray that your view of God has come to be more Biblical throughout these last few months. I pray that your view of our Messiah and His style has changed to more accurately represent who Jesus Christ really was and is. Jesus was a “radical” in the first century, and continues to be one today. I want to encourage you to refrain from putting Christ into a box of our preconceived ideas and misconceptions.

This morning we are focusing on how amazing Christ is and what that means for our lives. Often times we cease to be amazed by Jesus. We often fall into the same rut and forget the awesome power Christ brought to this world. When we cease to be amazed by Christ, we declare (intentionally or not) that there is nothing special about this man Jesus. When we don’t live out a life of one who has been amazed we discredit His claim to change lives. When was the last time you were amazed by Jesus Christ?

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

THOUGHTS FROM DALLAS

2009-03-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

As you read this, I am currently in Dallas, Texas waiting to board a flight back to the great, white north! I was given the privilege to attend and participate in my best friend’s wedding this weekend. It was truly a wonderful experience and comforting to know that God has plans for Greg and his wife. I hope one day you will receive the blessing of hearing this wonderful man of God speak in our congregation!

Today is a very special day for the Watertown Church of Christ and I am saddened that I am unable to attend. We have two wonderful speakers and a wonderful teacher leading the congregation in my absence. This morning, brother Christ Burkhart will be teaching Mark chapter 12 in our adult Bible class. This truly is a wonderful chapter of the Gospel According to Mark and will prove to have real application and insight for our walk with Christ in today’s culture. Sunday morning, Paul Slayko will be bringing our message concerning a very important part of Mark 9 and I know you will enjoy what he has diligently prepared. I have seen bits and pieces of this lesson and you are truly in for a treat. Last, but not by any means least, Joe LaClair will be bringing our Sunday evening sermon. I know we are always excited to hear Joe share God’s word with us and I look forward to this opportunity for you to be enriched by Joe’s study.

As you know, there are a few of us going to Honduras. What a wonderful proclamation for the Watertown Church of Christ to be sending some of its own to do the work of our Lord and Savior. If you would like to support those going to Honduras financially, see me (Josh) and I can give you more information next week. I know what a blessing this small, yet effective, group will be to the Hondurans. I have spoken with Wilmer (the Honduran director) and he is already planning for us and very excited about this trip! Please be thinking about how you can get involved and support our missionaries this summer! Also, remember to be encouraging those of us who are going and continually praying for us!

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

2009-03-07T18:21:00.000-08:00

It’s interesting to me how many times the Bible uses the term “sheep” when referring to God’s people. At times, one feels almost insulted at the idea that those who follow God are considered to be sheep. Growing up, my sister used to have some sheep. These truly are some of the dumbest animals I have ever seen. They have no idea what they are doing and would come just short of opening a lions mouth and jumping in to make it easier on the predator. Having said all of that, I understand the beauty of this imagery and the depth of meaning it carries for those who are God’s children. More importantly, I have come to understand the meaning of having a “good shepherd” opposed to a poor one.

David was known as a shepherd. In fact, he was called in from the field when he was chosen for kingship. This would prove to allude to a messiah who would come much later and save God’s people. In light of all of this, Psalm 23 stands out to be one of the most beautiful passages in the Old Testament. David penned a psalm that pointed to the man we now know as Jesus the Christ, our Lord and Savior!

Jesus leads us to gentle water and green pasture. Notice that we are not forced to follow but are lead. Jesus does not drive the herd of sheep but walks before it, giving the flock a point of reference. A shepherd would file the sheep into the sheep pen overnight and would lay across the gate so that anyone or anything wishing to enter must go through him. A shepherd would also defend his sheep against wild animals and thieves and would go to find even one sheep who strayed from the flock. Jesus, being the good shepherd that he is, does the same for us. He laid his life down for you and me. He tends the gate and requires entrance through Him if we wish to enter the sheep fold. Jesus presents humanity with the opportunity to have a fulfilled life and green pasture. Jesus offers us eternity...we only need enter through the gatekeeper. Have you entered through the Good Shepherd?

QUESTIONS

2009-03-01T18:41:00.000-08:00

A famous proverb says, "Whoever asks a question may appear to be a fool for the moment, but whoever fails to consistently ask questions will remain a fool for life." How can we obey God if we do not even know what He wants from us and where He is leading us? Growing up, I recall always being told to ask questions. When I would apologize for asking, I would hear my teacher say “never be sorry for asking…that is the way we learn.” No matter what you want to do or learn, you must ask questions if you wish to be successful. It is true that there are no stupid questions! A question is just a question. It is a probing for clarification. We must all continue to ask God questions. If we are going to obey God’s Word, we must continually ask Him questions.

As a youth minister, I used to hear from concerned parents from time to time about the questions their children were asking. Many times they are curious where they received these questions or why they are asking them. My response was simple: "they want to learn." Questioning is a healthy exercise when we want to follow a teaching or way of life. How are we to follow what we don’t understand? Jesus was found as a boy in the temple asking questions to the elders who sat with him. The questions and understanding Jesus had amazed all who heard. We too must ask questions!

If you walk through life and never ask a question or question yourself, you are not walking wisely. If you rebuke those who question parts of the Bible, their faith, or God, you are hindering their growth. It is natural to be afraid of the questions your teenage may ask about God. It is natural to be afraid of the questions you may find yourself asking. But remember, your teenager and you as an individual are growing through these questions. Jesus asked over 300 questions in the four gospels. Countless stories in both the New and Old Testaments revolve around those who have questioned circumstances or even God. If we suppress our questions or the questions of others, it is as if we don’t believe God can answer them for Himself.

I pray that you never stop asking questions. When an individual stops asking questions, they stop learning. When a child stops asking questions, they cease to understand. When the body of Christ becomes content and stops exploring questions, it dies and strays from the Bible! What good questions have you asked lately?

TEMPTATION

2009-02-22T20:10:00.000-08:00

Temptation is a challenge we face every single day. It greets us when we wake up in the morning, it finds us as we travel to work and school, and it even waits for us to come home! The reality is that temptation is not going away, so we musGt learn how to handle it. There are a few things we need to understand about temptation. First, although God will help us and lead us through times of temptation, he will never tempt us to do evil! James tells us that when each person is tempted, it is because of his own desires and that “no one should say, ‘I am being tempted by God...for he himself tempts no one’” (1:13-14). Second, we must realize that the devil will use our weakness to tempt us! We must rejoice when we are tempted and begin looking at it as a “training exercise.” Many times, if something is tempting you, you are weak in that area and need to be strengthened. Jesus was tempted after 40 days with no food! He was weakened and hungry...a perfect time for Satan to tempt the Son of od. When you realize you are being temped, think about why it is tempting you. We must also understand that Satan takes scriptures and twists them to serve our desires. Sometimes a passage is not saying what you (or somebody else) is trying to make it say.

We need to realize that temptation is a part of life. Only by understanding temptation and relying on God can we overcome our desires and fully serve God! One of the best ways to overcome temptation is to open God’s Word when you are being tempted and meditate upon it. Talking with God will give you the strength you need to overcome. Remember, God did not promise it wasn’t going to be really hard sometimes...but He did promise that He would never allow the temptation to exceed what He knows you can handle. If you find yourself being tempted, remind yourself that God knows you can handle it and He’s eagerly awaiting your victory over this temptation! Jesus Christ also knows what you are going through. You’re not alone! “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in ever respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

What is tempting you in life? What do you need to change in order to overcome your temptations?

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

FORGIVENESS

2009-02-14T20:17:00.000-08:00

“Forgive and forget” is a lot easier said than done. In fact, most of the time we either forgive and can’t forget or we attempt to forget yet we don’t forgive. If you
consistently bring an old matter up, you have not truly forgiven the one who hurt you. You know, forgiveness is one of the hardest disciplines to practice. We are so bent on justice that we forget we are to forgive others and let God take control of the situation. It makes sense to us to “get back” at whoever has hurt us. In fact, it may not even be as healthy as you think to “forgive and forget!” Forgiving somebody does not mean you have to forget that it happened. Many times it’s impossible to forget what happened. But if one does not truly forgive an individual, we plan to strike back at them.

There is a story told of two men named Paul and John. One day, Paul sawed down a tree which adjoined their two properties. The tree fell and smashed John’s lounge windows. John stormed out of his house and hollered at Paul. Paul hollered at John and soon they each had each other by the clothes. Finally, John threw Paul to the ground. After Paul got up and brushed himself off, he said to John, “Now look here, John, it’s high time one of us acted like a Christian!” He paused for a moment, then glared at his neighbor and said, “So, why don’t you turn your left cheek and let me punch you!?”

As comical as this is, we have all felt this way before. We have all been so angry that we would rather knock somebody out then forgive them. This, however, is not the attitude of a follower of Christ. Hebrews 12:14-15 tells us: “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Paul is warning us to not allow bitterness to come betweens us in anyway because it is like poison and will lead to destruction. Allowing bitterness in your life (and in this congregation) can and will destroy our joy, peace, and relationship with Christ Jesus. In fact, Christ says that if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us! I hope you think about the forgiveness you have received and the forgiveness you are to give others as we spend time in worship this morning. Are you the forgiving follower of Christ that you are called to be?

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

ANTI-SCRIPTURAL VS. UN-SCRIPTURAL

2009-02-08T14:22:00.000-08:00

In my opinion, one of the greatest journeys taken by men is the journey of restoring the New Testament Church. Throughout the history of the church, one learns of countless numbers of people who tried to reform and even restore the church to what God’s intention was for His body. Although people like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Alexander Campbell were imperfect in their theology (as are all of us), they truly are some of the stepping stones for the movement to return to the followers God intended. Whether we agree with the philosophy and theology of those who have gone before us or not, we must realize that they played a large part in where we are today. I pray you have had the blessing of studying about these great men of faith and their challenging examples!

A common phrase heard throughout the Restoration plea was “speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.” This wonderful phrase has, at times, been taken out of its original context and meaning. It was never intended to be a “letter of the law” rule, but an idea. It was intended to rally people behind God’s Word and learn the difference between human tradition (or church created tradition) and God’s teaching (although it is VERY important to seek God’s intentions of each matter). Along with this idea of discerning God’s Will for His people, we must understand the difference between “un-scriptural” and “anti-scriptural.” The first question many go to on a matter is “is this un-scriptural?” This, however, is the wrong question to be asking. As we discussed in the Wisdom Literature, the correct question to ask is “Is this wise to do?” The question will then be answered by whether it is anti-scriptural (or against Christ’s teachings). We do many “un-scriptural” things such as purchasing a building, using multiple cups during the Lord’s Supper, and using song books/PowerPoint. Although these are “un-scriptural” I’m sure we all agree that they are not “anti-scriptural.” Infant baptism, claims that Jesus is not the Messiah, and lying are only a few examples of things that are “anti-scriptural.” However, it is important to realize that the ultimate question (after asking what God has to say about it and so forth) is “Is this the WISE thing to do?” Sometimes it may not be anti-scriptural but it may also not be the wise choice. For example, burning a bush on stage to illustrate Moses’ encounter with God is not un-scriptural but I think we would all agree it is not the WISE thing to do.

—Josh
“Try great things for God and expect great things from Him!”

HONDURAS 2009 PROMO

2009-02-01T13:38:00.000-08:00

**note: there is sound in this presentation so you may want to check your audio if you wish to hear it**