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

This thought came to me early this morning. Here is a challenge with the help of my good friend, David Gross’ editing.

The Bible calls us to be like Jesus, and the most remarkable thing about Jesus is that he is so often serving (Matthew 20:28).  So, like Jesus, I need to give (Acts 20:35); I need to be humble (1 Peter 5:5-6); I need to wash feet (John 13), and serve in all of the other ways that we see Jesus serve.

However, serving is not the whole story about Jesus — the Bible also shows him receiving.  Jesus accepted the anointing and foot washing of a sinful woman (Luke 7).  In John 12 he received a meal service from Martha and the anointing of the pure nard by Mary.

Oddly, many Christians find it easier to serve than to receive. If we are to be like Jesus, we must be both a humble giver and a gracious receiver.

How did Jesus do this?  First, he kept his ego in check.  It did not offend or thrill him to serve or be served.  We are subject to the temptation to think we are more than what we are, but Jesus knew exactly who he was.

Second, he knew something we often forget:  that to receive another’s gift gives opportunity for their faith, hope, and love to grow as they exercise their spiritual gifts.  To reject another’s gift is to stunt their growth.  If giving is to be a blessing, it requires a gracious receiver.

God both gives and receives. He expects the same from us.  If we keep our egos in check and our hearts focused on benefiting others through the receiving, we become more like him.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

A Small Group Lesson:

Open:

Finish this sentence:

• On the way to this meeting, I was feeling ___________.
• One real strength I have is _____________________.
• One area of my life in which I’m proud of myself is___________.
• A talent or skill I have is ____________________________.
• An adult who had an impact on me as a teen was_________.

Study

Please read 1 Corinthians 12.1-13 and share your thoughts in the following:

• What is the context of these verses? Why do you think Paul emphasizes the one body to the Corinthians?
• What do you think is the significance of being baptized (immersed) into the body of Jesus? What do you see as key lessons from baptism?
• What is significant about Christians having the shared experience of baptism?
• What role do you think the Spirit plays?
• What role does baptism play in our relationship to God? To other Christians?
• How do you see people as gifts to the body?

Apply:

• Why is it important for us to grasp the concept of the unity of the body of Christ?
• What things were you saying to the world by your baptism? Do you think you are trying to live up to those statements?
• In light of the gift descriptions in 1 Corinthians 12, where do you see yourself?
• How does being baptized into the body release your potential in serving Jesus?

Mark Twain once said, “A great, great deal has been said about the weather, but very little has ever been done.” It is a fact that we often complain about the weather and it is a fact that we can do little about a 106 degree day. About the only things we can do are: step into the shade or sit in an air conditioned room.

The same is true about a lot of things in life. How often do we complain about things that we have little or no control over? Generally, the best we can do is make adjustments.

The Bible makes it clear that we have little control over most things. The world is a bad place and getting worse. We would like to change it but it does not want to change. What do we do? The best I can figure is that, just like with the weather, we make adjustments on a personal level.

The Bible reminds us that we change ourselves and then help others change. The following list reminds us that we can only make changes within ourselves. We can:

• Consider ourselves dead to sin - Romans 6:11
• Present ourselves to God - Romans 6:13
• Devote ourselves to prayer - 1 Corinthians 7:5
• Examine and test ourselves - 2 Corinthians 13:5
• Clothe Ourselves in Christ - Galatians 3:27
• Have the mind of Christ - Philippians 2:5
• Rid ourselves of sinfulness - Colossians 3:8

I would like it if I could wave my “magic wand” and have YOU do the above things, but I cannot. I can only do them myself and encourage you. The interesting thing that happens however is that as each one of us becomes more Christ-like; the world becomes a better place.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

The American Restoration preachers used to tell this story. A man was going on a trip so he left his son in charge of building his farm. He gave him a map of where he wanted everything located and went away. His son took the map and saw the location of the house, barn, well, etc. He said, “I agree with the location of all these things except the barn, it should be in a different spot.” Then he built the farm. The preachers then asked, “How many times did the son do his father’s will? The answer was zero. He only did what he was in agreement with. If his father had a different view, he rejected it.

We might change the setting but the point is still applicable. How many times do we read the Bible and when we come across something tolerable, we will do it; yet, if we find something that puts us out of our comfort zone, we go “around the barn” to find a way NOT to do it? Then we cry, “Grace! Grace!”

When Thomas finally saw the resurrected Lord, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28. Do you think Thomas spoke those words casually? Do you think he was saying, “You are my Lord and God as long as your words please me.”? No, most likely, Thomas reverently said that he recognized that Jesus was exactly who he claimed to be; and with that he would do whatever Jesus wanted.

Legend has it that Thomas was run through with a spear as a martyr for Jesus. That is not the end of a man who would take Jesus casually. It is not the end of a man who spent his life doubting the reality of God or his son. It is not the end of a man who would expect to do as he pleased so that “grace would cover it.” This was the end of a man who sold out to Jesus - come what may.

Jesus is not our Lord and God if we are still in charge. We do not get to pick and choose. We are the servants. He is the Master.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

  “You can do more after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed” (John Bunyan).We may try to treat prayer as a magic cure-all, like the little girl who prayed, “Dear Lord, please make Boston the capitol of Vermont because that is what I put on my test.” Prayer is much more! It connects us to the will and mind of God (Matthew 6:9-13).

A reporter once asked Samuel Morse, “In inventing the telegraph, did you ever come to a place where you did not know what to do?” Morse replied, “Yes.  I asked God for knowledge. That is why I never felt that I deserved the honor I have received for inventing the telegraph. I have made a valuable application of electrical power, but it was all through God’s help. It was not because I was superior to other scientists. When the Lord wanted to bestow this gift on mankind, he had to use someone.  I am just grateful he chose to reveal it through me.”

It is no wonder that the first telegraph message Samuel Morse sent, ‘What hath God wrought?’

How do we view our prayers? What great things are we asking from God? How do we honor him?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

This is a small group lesson based on 1 Timothy 2:8-10 and 1 Peter 3:3-5. The basic concepts include the idea of modesty in appearance and the spiritual applications of being clothed in the spiritual qualities of Jesus and his Spirit.

  Open

***Please share your ideas about the following:

Think about a recent commercials or advertisements. Which was:

• Most appealing to you?
• The worst or most obnoxious to you?
• The most outrageous to you?
• Normal to you?

What do you think our culture is communicating by the things we advertise? By the contents (clothing used; products displayed; etc.) of the advertisements?

***Leaders - to enhance this exercise, you may want to have newspaper or magazine ads available for your group to look through.

Study

Please read 1 Timothy 2:8-10 and 1 Peter 3:3-5 and discuss the following:

• What do you think is the relationship of the “holy hands” and prayers?
• How do you think outward appearances match inward characteristics (see also Mark 7:20-23)?
• Why do you think God does not give us a “uniform” as some religious groups have but gives us leeway in how we dress ourselves?
• Where does “culture” end and God’s will begin?
• Why is it so important that we display spiritual qualities as though we are “wearing” them (see Colossians 3:12-14)?

Apply

• What helps you keep the value of people in perspective? How do you KNOW that the man in fine attire is no more valuable to God than the man in “regular” clothes? How does this impact your treatment of them?
• How can you keep from judging others by appearances?
• What can you do to clothe yourself with Christ and his qualities? What kind of impact will that have on those around you?

The American Restoration Movement does not care much for creeds of men. We have fought the use of creeds because of the potential for dividing believers. Rather, we have opted to “speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.” We do not always accomplish this sentiment but that is the intention.

Recently, I read about the Nicene Creed of 325 AD. The Roman Emperor, Constantine, had converted to Christianity following a military victory that he attributed to Jesus. He legalized Christianity and wanted to unite factions through a standardized creed. He ordered a council to meet and agree on key doctrines.

If you read the tenets of the Creed, you will see its influence on some of our modern beliefs. The Trinitarian view of God came from this meeting. In addition, one baptism for the forgiveness of sin; the universal church; the resurrection; and our concept of eternal life are found in it.

One of the men who helped formalize the Nicene Creed was a church leader from the area where Jesus had exorcised the demoniac in Mark 5:1-20. This unlikely preacher, in an unlikely location paved the way for a strong church to exist. You  never know the extent of your influence when you tell people what the Lord has done for you.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

There are two times in the New Testament where Jesus is “amazed” in regard to the faith of certain individuals. In Luke 7.9 Jesus expresses his amazement at the faith of a Roman Centurion who believed that Jesus could heal his slave. The religious leaders in Israel should have recognized Jesus as the Messiah and should have had faith in him. Instead, many opposed and rejected him. Yet, this Gentile invader believed what he had seen and heard about Jesus. Jesus rewarded his faith and healed his servant.

One Sabbath, Jesus and his disciples went to his hometown synagogue. Here he teaches and is met with doubt. Because of the peoples’ lack of faith, he does not perform many miracles in his town. These people should have known him. They should have known him not only from the scriptures but also from his time he had spent with them Yet, these people doubted him to the point that he was “amazed” at their unbelief (Mark 6.6).

On the one hand we have a “believing unbeliever”. On the other hand, we have “unbelieving believers.” With whom do we identify more? Are we like the Jews who should have known better and practiced faith in the presence of the Messiah? Or, are we more like the Roman who exercised the level of faith he had? He could not quote great portions of the Torah. He was an outsider, yet he believed.

Would Jesus say that our faith - or that lack of faith amazes him? Even faith the size of a mustard seed can be productive when it is exercised. God has promised, believe and do.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Have you ever been in a situation that you initially thought was good and then found out it was not what you thought? I believe there were people who did that with Jesus. In John 6 Jesus gave some hard teaching. A group of disciples decided to walk away. Jesus was what they thought.

The same can be true today. People enter the church for many reasons. Some feel the weight of their sins and their need for forgiveness. Some want an easier road in life and believe that if they follow God, they will have comfort. Some see the church as a place of power. “If I can be a church leader, people will respect me and I can be in a position of authority,” they think.

The rule of God is his kingdom and it takes many forms. Regardless of the form, if we decide to submit ourselves to his kingdom rule, we need to understand that it is different than anything else on earth. Paul wrote:

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.” (Romans 14:17-18)

The kingdom of God is not about the ways of the world. It is supernatural in its scope. It is about spiritual issues, not earthly ones. Therefore, politcs do not belong in the kingdom. Power through intimidation does not belong in the kingdom. Deception does not belong in the kingdom. Personal gain does not belong in the kingdom. The things that we normally see in the word have no place in God’s work. It is different, it is of the Spirit.

The kingdom of God is:

• A place of obedience to God - Matthew 5:19

• A place of exceptional righteousness — Matthew 5:20

• A place of gentleness and humility — Matthew 11:28-30; 18:4

• A Place of Mercy — Matthew 18:23ff

• A place of Service — Matthew20:25-27

Do you want to be part of God’s kingdom? Realize that it is a different place than what you are used to. Sometimes it makes no “earthly sense” and must be approached by faith.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Americans have a view that “law” is restrictive and confining. We look in the rearview mirror, see a police car, and immediately feel like we have done something wrong. This has to do with our view of “law” and our guilty consciences.

We tend to see the “Law of Moses” as the “Restrictions of Moses” and the “Law of Christ” as a set of his restrictions. What if the Bible translators had opted to translate “law” as “instruction”? We would have the “Instruction of Moses” and the “Instruction of Christ.” Rather than a feeling of constraint, the instructions would give us a positive sense of freedom and growth.

Certainly within the instructions there are directives that we are to keep. There are consequences when we do not. God’s intention, however, is not to use his “instructions” to see how many times he can trip us up. He is not out to find an excuse to keep us out of heaven. He wants to be our “Father” now and forever and he has gone beyond the “second mile” to make it possible.

In addition to the gift of his Son, he has given us instructions (law) so that we can be the people he expects us to be. His “Instruction Manual” helps us create an intimate relationship with God. It guides our lives so that we produce the fruit of the Spirit. It helps us see people the way God does.

Let’s resolve to keep the instructions. Let’s follow the way of Christ. Let’s be his people.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene