Monthly Archives: November 2024

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To What Interest Do We Serve?

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Something of a sermon outline here that I’d like to share.

“Saved by Grace Through Faith” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Formula for healing and salvation, if so inclined, as God is inclined, toward those who are in opposition to Him

What if this principle were applied to MARRIAGE, FAMILY, CHURCH, and SELF

Saved—made whole; preserved from destruction

Grace—favor on behalf of the other with no thought of self

Faith—living presently in the reality of the future best

Reconciling to our SPOUSE

are we interested in securing the BEST in our MARRIAGE

Reconciling to members of our FAMILY

are we interested in securing the BEST in our FAMILY

Reconciling to the KINGDOM OF GOD on earth

are we interested in securing the BEST in God’s church

Reconciling to YOURSELF

are we interested in securing the BEST in YOURSELF

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Dead in Christ

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When involved in Desert Storm it was a common attitude to think that we could not have done better with our lives than to offer it freely for a cause of another, or a cause outside of ourselves. A friend of mine who also served in Vietnam confessed the reason for his volunteering for the Persian Gulf War. He said, “You don’t appreciate life the most until you are withing seconds of losing it.” Our life’s end could not be more nobly spent than for the benefit of others. Many have been curious as to how they will meet their life’s end. Think about this. Choosing life to its fullest by living for the best interest of others determines what end you will face. Abraham Lincoln said it best, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Make for a good death.

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Kingdom Culture

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Promoting the Kingdom of God on Earth

I remember as a retail manager how culture was important. I had to develop the kind of work environment that made people attracted to work while salaries were generally lower. “Making work fun” was indeed an ominous task and it was hard to manage the complainers, and “bucket dippers” as I called them, to prevent negativity from ruling the roust. Negative people would often “dip” out of the positivity of others and breed negativity. It’s not much different in the community of the church.

Kingdom Culture– kingdom mindedness. Christ’s Kingdom has been established and those who are His are subject to it. Do we live as subjects of the King? Are our attitudes and actions reflective of Christ-likeness? Kingdom Culture represents a community that shares the attitude that seeks the other person’s best interest and highest good. It grants forgiveness, promotes apologies, seeks reconciliation, makes for peace, restores, repents, encourages, uplifts, and edifies.

On this day and days to follow, I want to consider the aspects of a “Kingdom Culture.” We’ve adopted this motto at our school so that we can keep what is part of the community of Christ on the forefront of our thinking. Our lessons will be surrounding how we, as subjects of Christ’s Kingdom, can serve Him for others’ good and His glory. We will put to practice the attitudes and actions that seek the other person’s best interest and highest good. Our prayer is that this emphasis will translate into a greater abundance of spiritual fruit and increase in the produce of the Kingdom of God. Our place as Warriors and Princesses of a type will help generate an identity that considers what that title means and how we can best honor the Lord who bestowed it on us.