I
John 2:6 tells us “the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in
the same manner as Jesus walked.” What does that look like in our culture
today? As Christ followers what does it look like within our church?
Here's
what it might look like: One of our church members had been wanting to visit a
neighbor for over a year, but had not connected. His desire was to go from a
waving neighbor to actually meeting the neighbor and hearing his story. One day
this church member was walking past the neighbor’s house praying and depending
on the Holy Spirit to lead him that day. Lo and behold the neighbor pulled into
their driveway right in front of him. A quick thank-you prayer and a
give-me-courage prayer was said. He was praying for the right words as the
neighbor got out of the car. With only a few questions, he found out
where the neighbor was from, what they did for a living, what were some of his
pains and what brought joy to his life. Our church member was invited back for
more conversations. I believe this happened because he was depending on the
Holy Spirit’s leading and prayer. Jesus modeled for us how to depend on
the Holy Spirit for direction.
Another
illustration of walking as Jesus walked was another one of our members from our
church whom I will call Bob. Bob has been praying for his friend who did not
know Christ. Actually his friend leaned toward an atheistic philosophy. Bob had
his friend over for dinner. Bob prayed for courage, wisdom and the power to
listen carefully and to ask questions intentionally. Bob listened carefully and
did not debate with his friend. He was able to share the good news of Jesus
Christ and has an open invitation for more conversations. The friend is open to
reading the Scriptures together. Jesus modeled for us how to pray so we could
walk as He walked.
We
had a 6-week class this summer called Walking
as Jesus Walked. It was an overview of what Jesus modeled for us as
He walked on the earth. He modeled the following to help enable us to walk as
Jesus walked:
Prayer--Jesus depended on prayerful guidance.
Obedience—Jesus obeyed with perfect obedience.
Word—Jesus obeyed God’s Word in every area.
Exalted—Jesus exalted His Father in everything.
Relationships—Jesus was intentional about developing
relationships.
Holy Spirit Power is how Jesus lived His
life, so can we. This is an exciting adventure, as others in our class can
testify.
--Pastor Leon
I
have always enjoyed the stories that Jesus tells of lost things being found.
Maybe you are familiar with them as well; a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost
son all being sought after and all being found as read in Luke 15. There is so
much that resonates with me in these images the Master Storyteller describes
for the Pharisees and teachers of the time. Like the sheep who finds itself
separated from the flock wondering how did I get here—been there. Or the coin
that doesn’t even know it’s lost—been there. Then there is the son who
willfully gets lost and comes to his senses—been there. But even more than
seeing myself in the stories I love the response to each being
found—Celebration! The neighbors are called, the fat calf is put on the BBQ and
the party starts. There is just something about a good party for a good reason.
Have
you noticed we become more of the life of the party depending how much the
person or thing at the center of the celebration means to us? This can even be
compounded if the journey for the reason for cheering has been a rigorous one.
In these stories I’d have to say the ones leading the rejoicing are the
shepherd, the woman, and the father who have the most invested. This becomes
even more amazing when you get Jesus is the one leading the celebration of us
sinners repenting; He is the life of the party. And like the shepherd, woman,
and father, Jesus doesn’t celebrate alone. The rejoicing is contagious as we
read in verses seven and ten that heaven gets involved in the festivities. I wish
I could see these celebrations but am glad in our own way we get to join in
this side of heaven. There is just something about a good party for a good
reason and I can’t think of better one than the salvation of friends.
Every
week it seems like new names are being read from the “book of life” and it so
fun to cheer and applaud. I hope we never get tired of this. Recently in Thrive
and Fusion we started a celebration wall. It’s a few strings of lights mounted
to the wall with the bulbs taken out. The thought was when a student commits
their life to Christ they would write their initials on a bulb with the date
and screw it into the wall, symbolizing them coming from darkness to the light.
We started this wall along with our series we are teaching called Winsome. It
comes out of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 where he talks about
becoming all things to all people to win some. We wanted not only a visual for
celebration but one of expectation that when the Gospel is lived out it has
power and Jesus is mighty to save. Since we have started this wall nine
light bulbs have been put in and come to life! Just last Tuesday one of our
students named Andrew who has been seeking with us for awhile gave his life to
Jesus and put a bulb in the wall. It was such a joy to watch as the leaders,
his friends and life group were all cheering and then tell him the party going
on in heaven was even bigger. It’s fun and a blessing to have celebration a
part of our culture at Salem First Baptist. May the party never end for those
being saved.
--Pastor Brian
Way
back in the little town of Sodus, NY, smack dab in the heart of apple country,
lived a tiny family. I was the wife and mother. Actually, I still am, but no
sense of "tiny" exists any longer.
I
don't know if we were typical or peculiar, but although Jim worked for the
Establishment--we protested the Vietnam war and that Establishment on the
weekends.
Chronologically,
I may have the following details mixed up, but in retrospect they happened, and
surely according to God's plan.
I
remember sitting in our first little home, rocking our second baby, scanning
our simple belongings but thinking, "I have everything I ever wanted--a
husband I love and who loves me; an actual family of my own; our home in the
country, even a second-hand pool--but what was this empty feeling inside?"
Jim
went along with all my "ideas" as we became temporary vegetarians,
attended childbirth classes, then LaLeche League meetings. It seems as though 3
things happened at once:
*one
of my new friends from the classes excitedly loaned me her Bible;
*
My LLL mentor began telling me that there really is a devil (I was surprised
she still believed this) I mean, after all, I was educated now;
*
And an old friend gave me a book to read called "The Cross and the
Switchblade".
I
had seen David Wilkerson on a talk show. When he said that the only hope was to
accept Jesus Christ as Savior, I set my iron down, pulled up my hassock and
waited for him to explain what that meant. My confusion was that I had been a
pretty religious person, but had never heard that terminology.
In
the midst of these incidents, Jim and I decided to visit every church in town.
Maybe we'd find one that simply used the Bible, since we were getting back to
the basics in every other area. And so,we,a very hippie-looking couple
began our search, as God Himself was "searching" for us.
After
our second visit to a Baptist Church, the Pastor greeted us with a jovial,
"You folks sure are hard to get a hold of. I've been to your place 3 times
and you weren't home."
We
were so impressed that he cared that much, that Jim asked me to call him and
invite him and his wife over the following night. Being a Cross and the
Switchblade "scholar", I quipped, "Maybe we'll even get
saved." Of course, I was joking. I still couldn't comprehend it's meaning.
The
next morning as I called the pastor, I had no idea that at that very moment, he
and his wife were asking God if they should try to visit us again.
That
night, April 12,1971, thanks to Pastor and Mrs. Bate, a borrowed Bible, some
curiosity about this strange "saved" terminology, and a dawning on
this young wife that,yes, Marilyn, there really is a devil...God brought peace
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, peace.
These
are the facts, but what I can't convey to you is the love and gratitude to my
Savior, Jesus Christ, for saving my soul, and changing the whole course of my
life. That itself will take a lifetime.
--Marilyn
Cunningham
Pastor Jim's wife
