Category: Church - River of Life Church

Conflict and the Church

5/19/2014

A father heard a commotion in his yard and looked outside to see his daughter and several playmates in a heated quarrel. When he reprimanded her, his daughter responded, "We're just playing church!"

There’s not a single church that is conflict-free. If you find one, don’t join it because it won’t stay that way long.

The Bible records all kinds of conflicts that the early church faced:
* Acts 6 is the conflict over a certain group of widows that were neglected while another group was being cared for.
* Acts 15 is a theological conflict over what to make the Gentile believers observe of Moses’ law
* Paul and Barnabas were in conflict over whether to take John Mark on their second missionary journey, causing them to split up their great ministry team.

The people of God have always struggled to get along with each other. During Jesus’ ministry on the earth, His disciples argued about who would be the greatest in the kingdom. And if you go back to the OT you find as much conflict among the people of God as in the NT.

James 4:1,7-10
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James is writing to Christians. He does not ask or guess if conflicts are occurring, he knows it is happening. James offers four solutions for creating a culture of peace in the local church.

Creating a culture of peace requires you to:
>Take God seriously (vs 7)
>Take satan seriously (vs 7)
>Take sin seriously (vs 8)
>Take prayer seriously (vs 10)

If each of us lives these four solutions in our churches, we will create a culture of peace in our local churches.

What is "The Church" ?

2/8/2013

How would you define or describe the local church? Is it:
a)     The People of God
b)     A Building
c)     The Body of Christ
d)     The Temple of the Holy Spirit
e)      All of the Above
f)       None of the Above
g)     Some of the Above

Milliard Erickson defines the church this way, “The church is the chosen people of God; they belong to Him and He belongs to them.”

This is a very good description for the universal and local church. The correct answer to the question is g) Some of the Above. The church is the people of God. Often we identify it as a building or place, such as, "Let’s go to church!” But the church is made up of people.

The church is the body of Christ. Christ is the head of this body. The body is an image of interconnectedness between persons who make up the church. It is a unified body characterized by genuine fellowship. It is universal and the church is an extension of Christ’s ministry.

The Holy Spirit brought the church into being in Acts 2. It is the temple of the Holy Spirit with individuals and the collective group indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

The church is an easy target of criticism and some of it is deserved. However, Jesus is more confident in the success of the local church than anyone.

Matthew 16:18-19
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Find your place and fill your role in a local church this week.

Family Reunions

7/16/2012

Yesterday I enjoyed two special family reunions. My mother’s families get together every year for the Larson family reunion. This year was a little bigger because it coincided with Aunt Carole’s 80th birthday. Uncle Burt came up from Florida and was sporting a cap with long grey locks that matched his real grey hair well. Denny and Shirley came from Los Angeles; Dorothy and Dick from Seattle; Larry and Gail from Fargo and my mother rounded out the surviving brothers and sisters of Carole.

There were first, second and third cousins that sometimes required a brief family background to connect the relationships. A smaller group of cousins who live in the area get together on a regular basis every month.

While it is enjoyable to see family and catch up with one another, the highlight of every family reunion is new faces and new births. New family members get center stage at every family reunion. Babies are passed around until they are put down for naps, need changing or feeding. Engaged couples and newly married couples are welcomed into the family with a crash course of family trees that seem to go back to the Mayflower.

Before the Larson reunion was a special family reunion that we celebrate a couple times each week. My spiritual family gets together each Sunday to celebrate God’s goodness in our lives. Smaller groups called Life Groups, meet during the week for the purpose of growing in our relationship with Jesus Christ and with one another.

While it is enjoyable to see my spiritual family and catch up with one another, the highlight of every Sunday celebration and Life Group discipleship is new faces and new births.

A couple who had been driving over 50 miles to church was looking for a church family closer to their home and was led by God to come to River of Life. God’s directing was very evident in the circumstances of their first visit and following times of joining in worship. The husband and wife made intentional steps of visiting and participating in certain activities to get to know this new family. They attended our “River Headwaters” class which lets people know our church’s history, core beliefs, and vision.

Yesterday, we celebrated their decision to become active partners at River of Life. We describe partnership as an ownership in the ministry. If a member of a golf club hears that the clubhouse is leaking, it is not his problem. However, if she or he is a partner in the business and the clubhouse is leaking, it is their concern and problem.

On Sunday, we publicly welcomed them into the church family, they signed a pledge committing to protect the unity of their church, share the responsibility of their church, serve the ministry of their church and support the testimony of their church.

The best part was the prayers of the other partners. The couple was surrounded by their church family and expressions of thanks were given to the Lord that they were led to our church. Thanks and acknowledgment of the spiritual gifts and strengths they have been given that our church family needs were expressed in prayer. Also, a responsibility that we have as a family to encourage, support and uphold them and each other as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.

I know of no other organization or families that welcome, receive, and bless new family members like the local church!

Ephesians 4:15-17 (NLT)
15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

How was your family reunion on Sunday?

Revealing

6/22/2012

A great trilogy of children’s books by David and Karen Mains called Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance and Tales of the Restoration are the best allegories I have read about the kingdom of God. I recommend these books for children and adults. The illustrated books are out of print, but can be bought through amazon.con or other used book sites and are worth the price.

During great celebrations in the story is the Sacred Flames which reveal the true character of a person. Unassuming people are seen as brave warriors because their courageous character. People who are outwardly important are seen clothed in rags during revealing because of their lack of character.

Camping together has a revealing effect. True character is displayed, tents are not sound proof, and our outer adornments are limited or non-existent. Our church family is camping together for three days and we will see one another in a truer light. It is too easy to wear a mask for a couple hours each Sunday. Spending 72 hours together in a primitive environment has a way of thinning any masks that may have been worn. Even without masks, you know one another in a deeper, truer way.

Mission trips have the same effect only better because you are spending more days or week together. Some are comfortable with who they are and being seen in a more raw environment is not a big deal. Others are not comfortable or even fearful. They are concerned that people would not accept them if knew them more clearly.

Jesus spent three years living 24/7 with his disciples. They saw Him in the early morning with “bed hair” and “morning breath”. Authentic relationships with others is an important aspect of kingdom living.

How would you feel about spending 24/7 with your church family for three days at a campground?
Comment here:

Hail and Revival

6/15/2012

Our state (Minnesota) was under a severe thunderstorm warning yesterday. The southern portion of our state had the most activity. My rain gauge showed 6/10” of rainfall, while some southern areas received seven to nine inches of rainfall and hail. We got large raindrops at the office and a person less than a half mile away got hail. Hail or hailstones are produced in strong thunderstorms with intense updrafts. Precipitation is lifted thousands of feet into the cloud, freezes, falls and is lifted up again by the updrafts. This is repeated until the hailstone becomes too heavy or catches a downdraft. Hail can be very spotty and sporadic.

The apparent randomness of hail has similarities to spiritual revival. We have heard revival defined in a variety of ways, so I will use the definition from dictionary.com:
re·viv·al [ri-vahy-vuhl] noun
1. restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc.
2. restoration to use, acceptance, or currency: the revival of old customs.
3. a new production of an old play.
4. a showing of an old motion picture.
5. an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion.

There have been notable spiritual revivals in the past such as the Evangelical Revival, the Welsh Revival, and the Hebridean Revival. Each of these lasting one to three years with thousands saved and the characteristics of entire nations transformed. Recent revivals such as the Toronto Blessing, Brownsville Revival/Pensacola Outpouring, Kansas City Revival and Redding Revival have impacted thousands of lives as well.

We are learning more about weather patterns and are better prepared to sense when conditions are present that bring a potential for hail. Is there spiritual weather patterns that allow us to be better prepared to sense when conditions are present for revival?

Unstable atmosphere: conditions in our nation such as intentional harm by another person to a pregnant mother and her unborn baby results in a double charge: mother and unborn baby, but she can legally abort the baby without any charges. There are many double standards such as this that makes for a very unstable atmosphere in our nation.

Intense updrafts: There are more houses of prayer, 24/7 prayer, boiler room places of prayer, and small groups of prayer creating intense updrafts to the LORD. Students gathering before school, families praying around their dining room table, business men and women meeting to pray, and ministry leaders from different denominations cross pollinating for the purpose of prayer.

Do you believe your state and our nation may be under an intense spiritual revival advisory?
Comment here:

Last Day of School

6/7/2012

Today is the last day of school for our community’s public and Christian schools. Many students look forward to summer vacation. Summer is filled with hanging out with friends, summer jobs, family vacation, no homework assignments and a freer schedule. I could not wait for summer vacation to come and never felt it lasted long enough.

During my fourth grade year of school, I came home with C’s and D’s on my report card. My parents made me go to summer school. My summer was stolen from me. All I remember of summer school was trading turtle eggs for Marvel comic books and vowing in my heart to never get poor grades again because of the loss of summer.

There are other students whose homes are unstable and lack love. School is the one place that is consistent, has a regular meal, is a safe place and has adults that are encouraging them. Summer vacation for them means a more hostile environment, lack of purpose and hope.

Communities provide a variety of activities for children and young people during the summer months. Often there is a participation fee and the need of transportation to get them to the activity. There are students that have no ride and have no finances. Churches often are able to offer a type of big brother/big sister mentoring relationship for those who would benefit from ongoing adult support. Local churches also link together with parents offering support in a variety of areas.

The last day of school is a good day to pray for those students who will have more activities than time to choose from and for those students whose summer is uncertain.

What does your church do for students needing role models?
Comment here:

Life Choices and Life Changes

6/4/2012

The graduation ceremony in our high school was yesterday and this morning I saw the bleary eyes of seniors who were just leaving the all-night party at the high school. Today, they begin the biggest changes of their life! Apart from the dramatic physical changes from infant to age five, the next five years for the graduate includes major life choices and changes.

Over the next five years, today’s high school graduate could enter the military, enter the work force, or complete their undergraduate studies at a tech school, community college, or university. They may begin a career and before five years have passed may already change careers. They may marry and begin raising a family. They will likely move from home, stay at a dorm, rent an apartment, buy a home or all of these before their five year high school reunion . Their move from home may bring them to worship at a different church than what they grew up in, cause them to pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ or not go to church at all.

The choices the graduates make over the next five years are major life decisions:
What college should I choose?
What branch of the military do I serve?
What career do I pursue?
Who will I spend the rest of my life with?
Where will I worship?
Who will I worship?

The prayers you and I can offer up for the graduating seniors in our lives are prayers that they would keep their eyes and heart on Jesus.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Tell me about the graduate in your life that you are praying for. Comment here:

Baccalaureate

5/29/2012

Tonight is our high school’s baccalaureate service. This is a student-initiated inter-church Christian service for the graduating seniors. A mix of students from various churches lead the worship and students are selected to share about their faith. When a pastor in the community has son or daughter graduating, they are invited to share a sermon to the graduating class. For many students, this may be the last service they attend.

Following graduation, there is a summer full of open houses, summer jobs, and heading off to college. Unless the college freshman is attending a religious university with required chapel, many students forgo attending any church and often neglect their spiritual life altogether. A survey by George Barna shows that 65% of Christian high school students will leave their faith. So, a room with 100 Christian students, 65 of them will stop attending church and leave their after they graduate from high school.

Several reasons account for this change. New freedom, the change of routine and busyness of their freshman year changes their routine of life. Proper sleep, balanced diet, regular exercising and many other healthy disciplines are cast aside during college years.

Another reason their spiritual life is neglected is because it was something they had to do while growing up in their family and had never become a real relationship with God who loves them. I call this the “take your medicine” or “eat your vegetable” syndrome. They had to do it because they were told it was good for them, but the more they went, the less they enjoyed Christianity.

Many students face the same temptations in college that they did in high school, but now away from family or friends experimented and after plunging in, found it difficult to get out. Other students had never thought critically about the big questions of life. A brilliant professor or the belief systems of other students pulled them off of unsecured moorings. Still other students walk away from their faith because they grew tired of seeing people profess faith in Christ, but did not live a faith in Christ.

The baccalaureate service comes at the beginning of a student’s most important years of their lives. The next five years many students serve in the military, graduate from college or tech school, start a career, marry and begin a family. More than ever, they need the words from the Bible to transform their lives.
Ephesians 2:4-10 (NLT)
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

What would you say to the graduating class if you were giving the baccalaureate message?
Comment here:

Softball Teams and Church

3/15/2012

The record breaking warm spring may result in our church softball team practicing much earlier than expected. The team enjoys one another and enjoys the sport. They are looking forward to playing and practicing.There are a number of similarities of our softball team and of our church. As a church, we enjoy one another and we enjoy coming together to honor Jesus Christ. We look forward to our Sunday celebrations, our Life Group meetings as a small group, we enjoy serving our community, and we look forward to serving on a short term mission trip next spring.

When a new player joins the softball team, our coach asks what positions they have played and what their strengths are as a player both offensively and defensively. The coach knows what areas of the team needs support and will place the new player in the best spot in the roster for the team. There are times our coach must have a player in a utility position. That means they are moved to where the team needs are rather than where that player's strongest talent is.

The Bible writes about Christians as a team.
1 Corinthians 12: 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
A pastor/coach will ask new people where they have served and what they feel are their spiritual strengths. He knows the church team and will place them in the roster where it brings the most strength to the team. We have a number of utility players who are serving multiple positions until other players that join the team can step into the roster.

God uses the Holy Spirit through others to equip, train, and enter people into the line up of the greatest adventure on this earth: serving on a local church team.

In your church:
Do feel you are on the roster or on the bench?
Are you serving as a utility player or are you in your sweet spot?
Comment here.