Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

 Perry’s Scope

Love Myself?

Someone has observed that the greatest harm done to us usually comes from us. Self-hatred and self-abuse are often our biggest enemies. Without thinking more highly of ourselves than we should, let’s take an inventory of the reasons we should love ourselves (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:43).

Loving ourselves is not just an egotistical exercise. On the contrary, not recognizing our beauty and gifts is a denial of God’s creativity in us. Take a minute and write down your unique qualities. You are the only one of you – ever! Don’t just focus on externals, but also look at your personality, intelligence, athletic ability, and other talents. Look at your spiritual gifts and the ways you have used them. Think back to your victories, not just the defeats.

Then recount the additional ways God has shown your value to him. You are made in his image. You cost the ultimate price, life of his Son. You are worth more than the whole world to him (Matthew 16:26). Feel how special you are!

When we are secure in God’s love and have a healthy self-image we are able to love others. We are able to love even the “unlovable.” Start within and let it move out.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 Open

Share with the Group one or two of the following:

• If I could throw caution to the wind and really risk, I would. . . . .
• The comic character I would like to be like is. . . . .
• The most important decision of my life was/is. . . . .
• As a child, my favorite game was. . . . . .
• My favorite movie of all times is. . . . . .
• What makes me laugh is. . . . . .
• Today, I like to play by. . . . . . .
• I cry when . . . . . . . .

Study

Read Mark 10:35-45 and discuss the following with your group:

• What do you think motivated James and John to make this request?
• How do you think they saw the “kingdom”?
• If you had been James or John, how would you have felt about Jesus’ response?
• What were the cup, baptism, and glory Jesus spoke of?
• Why did the other disciples respond to James and John as they did?
• Jesus did not” waste the crisis.” What lesson does he teach? How does it go contrary to the norm?

Apply

• When have you seen a sacrificial spirit of service? A submissive spirit of service? How did you feel about that kind of person?
• What values has Jesus turned upside down in your life? How has it impacted your life?
• In following the example of Jesus, what is one way you can display a servant’s heart this week?

 Rabbi Akiva was once famous in Judea. He said that a disciple should be so close to his rabbi that he would be covered in the dust from the rabbi’s feet. It reminds me of my little dog. She apparently likes me so much (or at least is curious about what I am doing) that she walks right in front of my feet. I often stumble in my attempts not to step on or fall over her.

I imagine that being a disciple of Rabbi Jesus means that we want to be so close to Him that we walk “under his feet.” We want to hear every word he speaks and understand every lesson he teaches. We want to be just like him. That requires a close walk.

Rabbis were people of the text. They:

• Learned the Text
• Lived the Text
• Taught the Text
• Prayed the Text, and
• Died the Text

Jesus, as the incarnation of the Word (John 1:14), did all of the above. He also expects us to follow in his steps. He expects us to be people of the text – as he was.

What will it take for each of us to be that kind of disciple? Maybe it is getting up a little early to study the Bible. Maybe it is just putting a little more of God’s word into my life, heart and mind today than yesterday.

In whose dust are you covered? The confusing times in which we live show our need for God’s direction. We gain and share that through Jesus.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 I have been reading the Constitution and Declaration of Independence a great deal lately. Those readings along with an increased prayer life are the best things that have happened to me since the new Administration has taken control of Washington.

We are somewhat familiar with the opening words of the Declaration. “When in the course of human events,” and “We hold these truths to be self-evident. . .”  When I came to the end of the document, the words of the last sentence really hit me because we modern Patriots may be facing a similar commitment soon. They read, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

Most of the men who signed the document died penniless. They gave their all — their lives and wealth for the cause of Freedom. They held to their honor — Nathan Hale’s words of regret that he had but one life to give for his country display honor above even his own life.

I am also doing some self-examination with the words of the last sentence. Am I willing to do the same things they did? If I had been there, would I have signed the Declaration, knowing that I might hang or lose my family’s financial security? I hope that I would have and I hope that I will if the necessity comes.

It makes me wonder, what will my last sentence be?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 I am a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Both of my CW ancestors enlisted in their respective armies as privates. Neither was wealthy or owned slaves. Why did they fight?

My Union ancestor was from East Tennessee, a “pro-Union” area of the state. I believe that he fought to preserve the Union and its mission. Many Union soldiers not only fought to keep the Union together, they also fought to free the slaves.

My Southern ancestor was from Georgia. He died in 1863 at Ft. Sumter. He, along with a number of Confederates, is buried in a mass grave in Charleston. I believe he fought, not to keep slaves, but for his state’s rights. Many in the North and South believed in state sovereignty. Loyalty was first to the state and then to the US. The oath of allegiance changed after the firing on Ft. Sumter from allegiance to a state to allegiance to the United States.

Regardless of which side I might align with – and I vacillate, depending on the issue, the weather, and time of day – I believe that the real driver for both sides was the issue of Freedom. It is my humble opinion that the United States was established by Divine Providence for a Divine Mission. That Mission was Freedom. It was not just freedom from Great Britain and the tyrannical rule of a monarchy; it was the cause of freedom for mankind.

God is a God of freedom. He raised Moses up to lead Israel out of Egyptian bondage to Freedom in the Promised Land (Exodus 3:7-10). He brought Jesus into the world to free us from the domination of sin (see John 8:32 and John 10:10).

The Mission of the US is one of Freedom and Equality, not only within our borders, but among other nations as well. Why did we go to Europe in WWI; and to Europe and the Pacific in WWII? Why did we go to Korea or Vietnam or Kuwait or Afghanistan or Iraq? People were oppressed and we responded to our Mission of Freedom.

National freedom can also pave the way for freedom in Christ. How blessed is a nation that has the privilege of worshiping God according to one’s conscience! How blessed is a nation who serves God on a daily basis without fear!

God honors people who honor him. I believe that is the reason for the former prosperity of America. When we seek the One who blesses, we also receive the blessings. When we seek the blessings, we lose both.

 In 1831 when Alexis de Tocqueville visited the United States, he was impressed with the goodness of the people. He stated:

“There is no country in the world where the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America.”

Is it any wonder that Thomas Jefferson and others attributed the nation to the hand of God? He called the basic beliefs the “principles in which God has united us all.”

Would you like for God to bless America again? Honor Him – educate yourself on the current issues – get involved in the politics (remember, our politicians work for us) – vote – pray – speak out against injustice and tyranny in our Congress as well as abroad. As Americans WE are responsible for our nation, not the greedy tyrants in Washington, DC. If WE don’t stand up to and speak out against our corrupt government, who will?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 Communists know that education is important to a society. They found that it is the primary deterrent to the Communist takeover of a nation. So, when they target a country, they also target its educational system, especially in regard to religion and patriotism. They slip in and revise a nation’s history and remove God from their fabric.

There is an application for Christians. In our battle, our adversary wants to “dumb us down.” He knows the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16). He knows what the proclamation of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection can do for people (1 Corinthians 15). He knows the power of truth in our hands (John 8:32).

Jesus responded to each of Satan’s three tests with, “It is written.” He won the battle (see Matthew 4). Ezra was a great servant of God because, ” . . .Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

We can’t do what God says until we know what he says. Once we know we can’t help but do – if we are living by faith.

How is your daily time with God? What new things are you discovering from his word? What are you doing for others because God has directed your steps?

Don’t get distracted from the call of God.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

With ancestors on the North and South in the War Between the States, I have learned to appreciate both sides of the conflict. Occasionally I get to visit battlefields where I imagine the battle that occurred. I remember standing at the starting point of Pickett’s charge in Gettysburg and being overwhelmed with a sense of awe considering the courage of the men (and boys) who marched across that open field.The Bible reminds us of real conflict, too. David really went down into the valley to defeat Goliath. Jesus really went into the wilderness to do battle with the adversary in his temptations. He really went to the cross and rose from the dead to strike the victory blow for us.

There are battles yet to be fought. We are in one right now in our own community and nation. For years Christians have been silent because we did not want to appear “overbearing” or “harsh.” As a result we have allowed corruption to slide into our nation on many levels.

It is time to stand up and fight. It is time to go into the valley to confront the giant. It is time to go into the wilderness to battle the adversary. This is a spiritual battle for the souls of Americans and the world.

Do your part. Pray for God to lift his face toward us. Know, live, and teach His word. Stand against the onslaught of evil anywhere it is present.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 One of my fascinations is with “magicians” (or Illusionists). They say the “magic words” and presto, an object appears! I recently read that the “magic” word, abracadabra, comes from an ancient Aramaic expression which means, “I speak as I create.”

Speech is one of those “inside-out” realities. Jesus said, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person” (Matthew 15:11). Later he clarified his point, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. ¹⁹For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander” (15:18-19).

We truly do create our actions from within. We feel a certain way and we speak or act on it. We see that easily with evil things. What if we were to center our thoughts on the good and pure? What kinds of speech and actions do you suppose would follow?

Putting God and his words into our hearts can only produce good things (Psalm 119:11). Take the time daily to put a little more of Him into your spirit. Look at some of the results:

¹O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?

   Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

 ²He who walks blamelessly and does what is right

   and speaks truth in his heart; Psalm 15:1-2

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene