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Weekend Recap – Word, Work, Other Good Things

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As I try to wrap up Sunday, 1/13, there are lots of highlights.  I really enjoyed teaching my Sunday School class, which overviewed the concept of Missions in the Old Testament.  We charted the course of creation to the promise to Abraham to David and the New Covenant.  It was a good time and the class did a good bit of work to dig in.

My AM sermon from Matthew 9:35-38 entitled God’s Word and God’s Work is online.  This sermon sought to unpack the connection between God’s Word and His work, specifically in leading us to be people of compassion, on mission with Him and prayer fervently.

On Sunday PM, we launched a new small group curriculum entitled Gospel Identity.  I’m really hoping this study helps orient our people in the Gospel in deeper, lasting, abiding ways.

Hope you had a good Lord’s Day, as well.

Leadership Email – Purpose Matters

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Here’s the email I sent out to leaders in Reno County today, 1/8/13:

Hello Everyone.  Welcome into a New Year.  As many of us are strategically thinking this time of year, I was privileged to be a part of 2 discussions and they both drew me back to the importance of purpose.  One was a meeting with the Leadership Reno County Advisory Board.  Lynette was presenting some details on the coming class and asked a gathering question, “What is the purpose of Leadership Reno County?”  Our discussion around this question really helped give us focus, and, specifically, encouraged us to dream about what we’d like to accomplish in the future.
My second discussion area was in the church work.  My leadership team was discussing the ins and outs of a particular decision and one of my leaders asked, “Well, what is the purpose of this?”  The light bulb went off in our collective heads as we realized that all our time in discussion would have been better served if we would have started with that question, because the discussion would have been a moot point.  A direction would have been clear if we agreed on purpose.    
So, purpose matters.  It serves a pragmatic purpose (as my examples show) but also keeps us on target and affects the decisions in the minutiae.  Time and again in life I see how important this is to unite people around purpose and chart direction accordingly. 
Let’s begin this new year, then, holding relentlessly to purpose and see if it doesn’t help foster progress in those issues we care about so deeply.

Weekend Recap – Week of Prayer

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My 1/6/13AM sermon, Praying for God’s Work, from Matthew 9:35-38 is now online.  (This sermon kicked off our church’s Week of Prayer.  Devotional available here.)  The sermon sought to unpack how prayer is really an important part of God’s work, using the life and ministry of Jesus as example #1.  We don’t treat or think of prayer as an important part of God’s work, but Jesus draws the connection close.  Hopefully my sermon pointed you to this truth.

Hope you had a good Lord’s Day yourself.  Now, off to another week living for God’s glory.

Tweets From Revelation

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In late May, I began 202 days of journaling through the 404 verses of the final book of the Bible, Revelation.  To go along with my personal study and preparation to preach through this book in 2013, I developed a tweet from every verse.  Last week, I completed the entire book.  Here’s a compilation of my tweets according to chapter.

Revelation 1 | Revelation 2 | Revelation 3 | Revelation 4 | Revelation 5 | Revelation 6 | Revelation 7 | Revelation 8 | Revelation 9 | Revelation 10 | Revelation 11 | Revelation 12 |Revelation 13 | Revelation 14 | Revelation 15 | Revelation 16 | Revelation 17 | Revelation 18 | Revelation 19 | Revelation 20 | Revelation 21 | Revelation 22

I have to say that tweeting Scripture is a difficult project.  I find it difficult to improve on what God has said in His Word.  I view my tweeting the Bible project as more of an extended way to meditate on the text.  Grappling with how to put the meaning of God’s Word into understandable words takes some thought and energy, especially trying to handle it in context.  

At any rate, this was a fun project and I’m grateful to God that now I’ve completed it.  

Tweets From Revelation 22

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In late May, I began 202 days of journaling through the 404 verses of the final book of the Bible, Revelation.  To go along with my personal study and preparation to preach through this book in 2013, I’m trying to tweet something from every verse.  Today I finished chapter 22 (and the entire book).  Here’s a compilation of my tweets followed by the reference.

Revelation 1 | Revelation 2 | Revelation 3 | Revelation 4 | Revelation 5 | Revelation 6 | Revelation 7 | Revelation 8 | Revelation 9 | Revelation 10 | Revelation 11 | Revelation 12 |Revelation 13 | Revelation 14 | Revelation 15 | Revelation 16 | Revelation 17 | Revelation 18 | Revelation 19 | Revelation 20 | Revelation 21


The life-giving, vibrant water of life flows from God and the Lamb. (Revelation 22:1)
By the water of life is found the tree of life, healing all kinds of people. (Revelation 22:2)
The Lamb has come to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found and remove it. (Revelation 22:3)
No curse. Now we have intimacy with the Lamb Himself. (Revelation 22:4)
No night? In heaven, God’s glory shines bright and He reigns FOREVER. (Revelation 22:5)
God reassures readers of His Word that it is trustworthy and true. (Revelation 22:6)
Jesus is coming soon; therefore, obey God’s Word. (Revelation 22:7)
It’s easy to mistake the messenger with the message sometimes. (Revelation 22:8)
A clear message in the Bible: don’t worship people or angels, WORSHIP GOD. (Revelation 22:9)
God’s Word is a timely disclosure of truth for people. (Revelation 22:10)
Because judgment is coming, we shouldn’t try to be who we’re not. (Revelation 22:11)
Jesus will one day right all the injustice in our world. #maranatha (Revelation 22:12)
Jesus is Everything — Beginning to End. (Revelation 22:13)
Those who relate to God through Jesus are eternally blessed to enter heaven. (Revelation 22:14)
Habitual sinners refusing to repent are not in heaven – they’re outside. (Revelation 22:15)
Jesus wants His church to be built through His eternal promise and holiness. (Revelation 22:16)
God’s call to people is always “Come,” your deepest thirsts are quenched in Me freely. (Revelation 22:17)
Adding to God’s Word or taking away from it has dire consequences. (Revelation 22:18)
Taking away or discounting God’s Word means God will take away or discount you. #serious (Revelation 22:19)
Jesus testifies, “I am coming soon.” #come #advent (Revelation 22:20)
The closing words of the Bible: grace is yours in Jesus. #amen (Revelation 22:21)