Short Sermons – Page 6 – Serminutes

What if Church…

July 27, 2011R. Mangold

…was not about me?

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4

What if…

Instead of going to be encouraged…we went to encourage others…

Instead of hoping to sing my favorite song…we hoped to sing “their” favorite song…

Instead of looking to be served…we intentionally served others…

Instead of waiting to be welcomed…we welcomed others first…

Instead of asking to be prayed for…if we sought to pray for others…

Instead of going to receive a blessing…we went to be a blessing…

What difference would it make in our church experience?

Of course, church is ultimately not about either of us…it’s about Jesus…

But, church is also where people who want to make much of Jesus gather to grow, fellowship and worship Jesus…

So, I wonder how our church experience would be made different, if we approached it considering the interest of others…

Just wondering…

Special thanks to Pastor Ron Edmondson for allowing me to re-post this article.

For more by Pastor Ron Edmundson visit www.ronedmondson.com

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians! Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

From Grief of Mind to Peace of Mind – Training Our Generations

July 26, 2011R. Mangold

And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: ³⁵Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah. Genesis 26:34-35

Trampling underfoot the direction of his grandfather Abraham (Gen. 24:3), Esau married two “Canaanite” women who grieved the mind of Isaac and Rebekah. Esau was bent on bucking the values and mandates of his forefathers. As generations progress there is a propensity for challenging things we may not have been properly taught to respect and revere.

We could easily allow certain boundaries and traditions in our walk with God to fall to the wayside relegating them to old fashioned, burdensome, and narrow-minded. As strict or loose as you live for God, your children, and grandchildren could, if not properly taught and trained, start to allow some timeless standards, traditions, and values to drop off feeling they’re antiquated.

God commanded Israel to teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up (Deut. 6:7).

For every one time you teach your child something is right or wrong, there’s a wicked world out there telling them, “If it feels good do it!” We need to be relentless in our love, teaching and training of our children and even our grandchildren; essentially transforming them from a “grief of mind” to a “peace of mind.”

Lot's Law of Unintended Consequences

July 25, 2011R. Mangold

Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. ¹²Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. ¹³But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. Genesis 13:11 -13

Lot witnessed firsthand the blessings God showered on Abraham’s household. Just by virtue of the fact Lot accompanied Abraham he too lived a blessed life. When the blessings began to cause “strife,” Abraham released Lot to go in the direction of his choice. Given the chance, who wouldn’t have chosen the well-watered plains of Jordan?

The law of unintended consequences played heavily in Lot’s choice of the “greener pastures” of Jordan and cost him dearly. Despite his best efforts to positively affect his environment, Lot was the only righteous man in Sodom (2 Peter 2:7) and was spared, but tragically his family would never be the same. Lot’s rebellious wife became a pillar of salt. His sons-in-law were incinerated with the Sodomites. Finally, in a drunken stupor Lot’s incestuous relationship with his two daughters birthed the Moabites and the Ammonites who were wicked before the Lord and arch-enemies of Israel.

We may be tempted to make choices in the name of popularity, convenience, or financial security, but at what catastrophic cost? Choices made now can forever affect your descendants for generations to come. Weigh each choice against the backdrop of God’s perfect Will and direction for your life; not wowed by “greener pastures.”

“Unintended Consequences” Series – LINK

The Danger of Doing Nothing

July 24, 2011R. Mangold

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:21

Winston Churchill called World War II the most preventable conflict in history saying, “Never was a war more easy to stop than that which has wrecked what was left of the world from the previous struggle.” Cowardice and timidity ruled the day! Europe’s constant side-stepping and appeasement cost millions their lives and brought the world to the brink of a dark and militaristic reign of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany.

Evil in our modern day is pandemic. More blatant than ever is the world’s disregard for God and His Word. Laws are enacted and bills passed daily that are subtly making what you believe and practice as a Christian, a criminal activity!

What is a Christian to do?

Cowering from and ignoring the devil is not the answer – Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Paul admonished the Romans to overcome evil with good. Our Christian duty is not to declare war on our neighbors or society, for “we wrestle not against flesh and blood.” Rather, “He (God) hath showed you, O man, what is good; and what the LORD requires of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

Weakness = Perfect Strength (Part 2 of 2)

July 23, 2011R. Mangold

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ephesians 6:10

Weakness reveals areas where strength is needed. Later, as weaknesses are revealed, those that are wise build support around those areas of their life, shoring them up and guarding them, where others hide them or behind them. Of course, try as we may, hiding our weaknesses from God is futile.

Our strength is imperfect, where God’s strength is perfect when we allow Him full reign. See, God can use our weaknesses to better reveal deeper facets of His Grace and Mercy. Rather than curse our weaknesses, we should glorify in them as the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9…Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.“

Rather than hide from them, or behind them, Paul allowed the sources of weakness; his embarrassment, shame, and perhaps even his past, to be a source of glory, not that he was proud of them, but rather than bring him down, Paul allowed those “flaws” to remind him, and others, as long as they were there, Christ’s power was resting upon him, as if to say, Paul had Christ’s undivided attention.

If you are weak, stop hiding behind, or even from your flaws; allow God’s infinite omnipotent power to equip you in every way possible to overcome your weakness and become strong, not in your power or might, but in the Lord’s!

Link to Part 1 – Weakness = Perfect Strength

Weakness = Perfect Strength (Part 1 of 2)

July 22, 2011R. Mangold

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ephesians 6:10

Whether genetic or social, it seems engrained in us to want to please our parents. With few exceptions, we take great pride in gaining the approval of our parents. We want to show our independence and strength almost as if to say, “Hey Mom and Dad look what a great kid you raised.”

Ironically, this same display of “strength and independence” is viewed quite differently by God. Our text indicates the source of our strength should come from…The Lord and the power of his might (my emphasis). In fact, Apostle Paul learned this lesson while facing perhaps the most difficult time of his ministry. God’s answer to Paul’s request, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Cor. 12:9).”

When we “grow up” our inclination may be to want to take the reins. Not so with God. We become God’s “poster child” of perfected strength when we gain a proper perspective of our weakness. Weakness, borne out of humility, builds a strong reliance on God. His perfected strength revealed through our weakness brings God optimal Glory, and for us ultimate victory!

A Decision in Due Season

July 21, 2011R. Mangold

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9

We’ve all been guilty of making snap decisions, or decisions based on too little information. Or, there are times we make hasty decisions out of anger, spite, or frustration. More often than not, when making decisions under duress, we aren’t very often successful. Just as important are the times, the decision may be a good one, but the timing may be incredibly wrong. I found the following piece below that illustrates what can happen when making a decision at a bad time.

Robert Schuller tells of a winter at home, when his dad needed firewood. He found a dead tree and sawed it down. In the spring, to his dismay, he found new shoots had sprouted from the trunk. He said to his son, “I thought sure it was dead; the leaves had dropped, the twigs snapped, it seemed as if there was no life there. But now I see there is still life at the taproot of the old tree.”

He looked at his boy and said, “Bob, don’t forget this important lesson. Never cut down a tree in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in a low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst mood. Wait. Be patient. The spring will come.” (R. Robert Cueni, Tenders of the Sacred Fire)

God's View Inside vs. Man's View Outside

July 20, 2011R. Mangold

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. I Samuel 16:7

When reading this text we could view man’s inability to see through to the heart as a negative; it’s not – it’s a reality. When God looks on the heart, only He can fairly judge the “thoughts and intents of the heart.” But, man is not helpless in making some judgment calls.

On several occasions the bible indicates man’s judgment is based on what he sees outwardly. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always tell the whole story if our intent is to mask our true feelings. Good or bad our outward appearance tells a story.

Even Jesus indicated this by saying, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works (outward appearance – my addition), and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matt. 5:16).” In other words, what you do reflects your relationship (or lack thereof) with your Heavenly Father.

Next time you feel it doesn’t matter what you do, and people shouldn’t judge based on the things you say and the choices you make – remember, man looks on the outward; it’s the only way he can judge your character. There may be some bias, but it’s a reality even God knows exists. The best way to be properly judged by both God and man is to ensure both your heart and your actions align properly with God’s perfect will!

A Piece of Clay – Forming While it Counts

July 19, 2011R. Mangold

I took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day,
And as my fingers pressed it still,
It moved and yielded at my will.

I came again when days were past;
The bit of clay was hard at last,
The form I gave it still it bore,
But I could change that form no more.

I took a piece of living clay,
And gently formed it day by day,
And molded with my power and art
A young child’s soft and yielding heart.

I came again when days were gone;
It was a man I looked upon;
That early impress still he wore,
And I could change it never more.

(Author Unknown)

Knowing vs. Feeling

July 18, 2011R. Mangold

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: Job 19:25

A great deal of what we do is predicated by what we feel. Our society is all about doing whatever makes us feel good. Think about how many times a day you say these words, “I feel like…or I don’t feel like.” But, what about a level of living that goes beyond what we feel and centers more around what we know?

Folks that live in this dimension are more driven. For example, we know exercise is good for us, and if we determined to do it only when we felt like it, with few exceptions, we just plain wouldn’t do it. We know that eating certain food is healthy for us, so our choices, if lead by knowing vs. feeling will include, according to nutritionists, are better for you.

When living for God, there is a time we must fall back upon what we know and less upon what we feel. Knowing God’s Will and Word, will take you much farther than just “feeling” it. Our feelings are so fickle. If we waited until we felt like praising God, our flesh would soon win out.

Job couldn’t change the way he felt about his dilemma, but he tapped into a vital resource, his knowledge of who his redeemer is! Life is going to make you feel highs and lows. Your moods will change like the wind, but what should never change is what you know God is capable of…exceeding, abundantly above all that we could ask or think!

Just wondering…

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