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

Recently I read that the CEO of Google said that there is so much information on the internet that people will have to change their names to avoid the consequences to past mistakes in life. This sounds like the epitome of irresponsibility. I want to dance, but I don’t want to “pay the piper.”

How often do we fail to own up to our behavior? How often do we pass on the responsibility for our actions to someone else? It started in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. When God confronted them, Adam blamed Eve; Eve blamed the serpent. The beat goes on.

There is a legitimate new name for us, however. Revelation 3:12 declares that the followers of Jesus will have his new name given to them. That matches the new identity we have in him. We are “new creatures” in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

As these new creatures in Christ we learn a number of things. First, we are not evolutionary flukes. We have been made and remade by a Creator. Second, as new creatures, we have a new outlook on life. We see that the world in which we live does not revolve around us. The new outlook shows us that all things are for God and His glory (see Isaiah 43:6-7). God is at the center and we, as His creation serve Him.

A third lesson we learn is that we have the opportunity to restart our lives. We get a refreshed beginning. Rather than an arbitrary change of identity as a criminal may have, we get a new identity in Jesus. God blesses and honors us in Him. The old ways pass away and a brand new life stands before us. What a blessing!

God removes the guilt of sin for us. Sometimes consequences remain. We have to own up to and live with those, but they don’t hold us back. The new identity in Jesus gives us hope for the new life and the new world to come.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

We know about the pressures of life. They come in the form of relationships, health, finances, and a host of others. The question is not IF these pressures are coming but WHEN? Then the question becomes, HOW do we respond?

One person described our choice. When pressures hit, we can be like a lump of Play Dough. We can let the impact of the pressure leave its mark on us. Or, we can be like the tennis ball. The pressure causes it to go in for a moment but then it bounces back.

A few years ago Time Magazine published an article in which physicians stated that there are health benefits to religion. They said that people of faith have a higher survival rate than those who are not. People of faith have lower blood pressure than those who are not. People of faith who attend church regularly have less depression than those who do not. In fact, the suicide rate is four times higher among non-church goers.

So, how do we the handle pressures of life? We need biblical answers for this question. John 17 shows us how Jesus handled the pressures he faced. If we can see what he did and apply it to our lives, maybe we feel less pressure and be healthier people.

Remember, Jesus came to give us “abundant life” (John 10.10). That means NOW as well as heaven later.

Keep The Light Burning!

Dr. Perry Greene

Recently I preached, “Take This Job and Love It.” We all have job stresses. One of the ways to help us like our jobs, employers, and fellow workers is to turn our places of employment into “Christian Service Centers” and work with Jesus in mind (Ephesians 6:5-9). When we do, we make our job a ministry by serving others. It becomes more than a paycheck.

It is one thing to stand before an audience and say, “Turn your job into a ministry.” It is another to actually and practically do it. Here is an idea I ran across recently that might be a step in the right direction.

Set up a “piggy bank” (a little box with a slit cut in the top will do). Set it on your desk or another prominent area of your work space. Star putting pocket change in it. If someone asks you about it, you can tell them it is money for a charity (you might even get their help on deciding which one to give to). When you and your fellow workers fill up the bank, send the money to the charity. The start over.

When you make this collection, you have done a service for others and honored God in the process. In addition, you have enabled your coworkers to serve in their contributions, too. Your job has become a place of ministry.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene