Jack Gill

Luke 9: 18-26

Actually, I really wasn’t all that interested in writing those cards. It was a lot of work and hassle as far as my eight-year-old self was concerned. However, when I got to class on Valentine’s Day, I was very interested in receiving those Valentine wishes from others!

Somehow, there is something about a note addressed to us that really gets our interest. Whenever someone takes the time to get out a piece of paper…or buy a card…and then personalize it by writing something nice…well, that just really grabs us. It’s the same way with a note sent via email. I haven’t met anyone that quickly dismissed a truly encouraging note. (Even today I keep a folder in my email account labeled “encouragement!”)

Taking the time to consider someone else is a form of love. I think that’s why we read in our Bible to:

… encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, … encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24–25

On Valentine’s Day, you will seek to encourage your spouse or your romantic interest with your love and recognition of them. You want them to be affirmed and even built up by your words. But encouragement is not meant to be practiced occasionally. It is something that we all need, and frequently!

When was the last time you thought to drop a note of encouragement to someone else—like maybe the cleaning people in your office? Or your co-worker? Ever thought to give your babysitter a boost? Perhaps the coach of your child’s sports team could use a little note, especially after giving up countless hours to your child. Maybe it’s a neighbor that could use a little affirmation. Or what about that LIFE group leader…or even the host of your LIFE group?

Who is it in your sphere of life that could use a little boost? This month as we see those little pictures of Cupid shooting his arrows of love on Valentine’s Day, maybe we could also remember to shoot a little encouragement to one another as well!

Luke 9:10b-17

Jack Gill

Luke 9:1-11

January 15th, 2012

January 8th, 2012

Jack Gill

The books Jack recommended during the sermon:

30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Max Anders (also a good family devotional tool)

The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life by A.W. Tozer

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem

Lectures in Systematic Theology by Henry C. Thiessen

Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson

Major Bible Themes by Lewis Sperry Chafer

On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision by William Lane Craig

Church History in Plain Language, 3rd Edition by Bruce Shelly

Story of Christianity: Volume 1, The: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation by Justo L. Gonzalez

Also Jack recommended biographies on Christians including:

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

And don’t forget that the church has a small library. You can view the book available online here: Blue Ridge Library

John 1 :1, 14-18

Our culture today is one that lives for safety and comfort. Paul and the other apostles not only did not have that mentality, they could not have it! In the earliest days of the church, its members were continually threatened to speak out for Christ. Rather than pray and ask for safety, they instead prayed for boldness, only asking that God take note of the hostile actions against them (Acts 4:27-29). Later on, as Peter and the apostles began to teach and were imprisoned for preaching the gospel, the Pharisees had them beaten and ordered to no longer teach and preach about Jesus (Acts 5:40). Note their response: “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41).

These instances demonstrate that a Christian must have a biblical view of suffering and trouble that will usually run against the cultural perspective. Our goal is not to try to avoid suffering, but to grow from it, looking to Jesus and the apostles’ examples for guidance. Just as they were not above suffering and great difficulty, neither is the follower of Christ. Just as God accomplished much good through the sufferings of Christ and the apostles, so too will God continue to work through us and our suffering. While we often will not understand why we must undergo the struggles and sufferings allotted to us, we can trust that God is at work. “What God has done in the past is often a model of how He will work in the future—though He is creative in how He will do it.”¹ We may not always understand our circumstances from our perspective, but we can trust in God’s faithfulness.

Footnotes:

1 James E. Allman, “Acts of the Apostles” (lecture, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX, June 20, 2011).

Jack Gill, December 4th, 2011

Luke 8