Filed under: Week 10
WEEK 10
A Healthy Church Member Is: A Generous and Glad Giver
Devotions by Chris Pope
The beautiful tabernacle was built and funded by volunteers who were former slaves. God had moved the Egyptians to give gold, thread, and other materials to the Israelites as they left, and Moses called for “everyone whose heart moved him” to contribute to the cause. The response was so great that Moses had to hold the people back from giving more than could be used. The building of the tabernacle was a rare time of joyful obedience on the part of God’s People, and considering their history, this generosity was as great a miracle as the parting of the Red Sea. How much more should we as believers have a heart to give and work in the kingdom of God, having Christ’s example and the indwelling Holy Spirit as we do? Pray for a spirit that has to be held back from giving too much.
Filed under: Week 09
WEEK 9
A Healthy Church Member Is: Missions-Minded
Devotions by Eddie Arraya
Read Psalm 67, Isaiah 56:3-8, & Revelation 5:9
As we read these passages there is a commonality that is inescapable. God is concerned with all the nations. He welcomes Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, Europeans, Asians—anyone who believes in his son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The culmination of God’s permanent kingdom will be a representation of people from every nationality. What a glorious promise of Scripture in Isaiah 56:3 where we read that no one is excluded from the opportunity to be a part of his people. In heaven we will just be one family with the communal bond between us being the righteousness we have received through the blood of Christ. How does this pertain to our mission-minded study? As believers in the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ we need to adopt the same heart and perspective for those who look and act differently than us. Do you view an African American in the same light as an Anglo brother? You can’t be missions-minded if you harbor any prejudicial attitudes towards others.
Filed under: Week 09
WEEK 9
A Healthy Church Member Is: Missions-Minded
Devotions by Eddie Arraya
Today’s passage contains three important elements that are noteworthy as we continue to explore the meaning of being missions-minded. The first is that it’s tough work to be this type of man or woman. Paul experienced significant hardships as he pressed forward in his ministry (2 Corinthians 11:24-28). If you encountered difficulties like these would you be able to press forward? The second is that the object of our affection should always be God. We see this in Paul saying that he did not seek glory from people. Questioning and understanding the motives for our actions is always a good practice. The third element we see in these Scriptures is that being missions-minded requires the giving of ourselves. “We were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves.” How much of your time are you willing to give up to others? God has equipped us with all we need. The question left for us to answer is one of obedience and willingness.
Filed under: Week 08
WEEK 8
A Healthy Church Member Is: Missions Minded
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Filed under: Week 09
WEEK 9
A Healthy Church Member Is: Missions-Minded
To prepare for tomorrow’s sermon, read Matthew 28:16-20
Filed under: Week 09
WEEK 9
A Healthy Church Member Is: Missions-Minded
Devotions by Eddie Arraya
Read Romans 15:17-21 & 2 Corinthians 10:14-18
Yesterday’s devotional was concluded by the statement: being missions-minded means we will be people-seeking oriented. In today’s scriptural reading we see a glimpse of the strategy Paul implemented to seek out the lost; “I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named”. To the Corinthians he also said that he wanted to preach the gospel in lands beyond them. As we, individually and as a church body, seek to become more missions-minded, we need to remember that the gospel always extends beyond us. There is no power in the gospel if all we do is retain it for our own benefit. “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house” (Matthew 5:15). Look around and search for opportunities where you can take the gospel beyond you. The act of taking it beyond us is evidence that we are becoming more missions-minded.
Filed under: Week 09
WEEK 9
A Healthy Church Member Is: Missions-Minded
Devotions by Eddie Arraya
Read Matthew 18:12-14 & Luke 15:1-32
God is in the business of seeking lost sinners and wayward believers. Matthew and Luke each highlight the importance of this in their record of these parables. The tasking of doing both is significant. We at times are guilty of overemphasizing one at the expense of the other. The value to God of each of these groups is clearly communicated by Jesus’ words: “there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” and “It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.” Anytime we lose something valuable like an heirloom or useful like our car keys we search for them with urgency until they are found. Are we as passionate about seeking sinners and wayward members as we would a displaced heirloom or car keys? Are you searching for those who are lost in your places of work or community? An aspect of being missions-minded means we will be people-seeking oriented.
Filed under: Week 09
WEEK 9
A Healthy Church Member Is: Missions-Minded
Devotions by Eddie Arraya
Read Matthew 28:16-20 & Mark 16:14-19
A mission and commission are synonymous terms that dictate individual and collective efforts. You can’t have a commission without a mission and vice-versa. A mission is the assigned task or duty whereas a commission is an authoritative order issued to carry out the assigned tasks. In these passages we witness Jesus instructing all believers in what we call the Great Commission. The mission (task/responsibility) is two-fold: (1) make disciples of all nations and (2) baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The commission in these passages is also clear — Go. These are imperatives that should be marks of every believer who professes Christ as their Lord and Savior. To be on mission for God simply means that your life is characterized by seeking to grow God’s kingdom through making and growing disciples. Are you active in fulfilling this mission? Pray that the Lord will give you a daily obedience to be missions-minded.
Filed under: Week 08
WEEK 8
A Healthy Church Member Is: A Sacrificial Servant
Devotions by Eddie Arraya
Read Galatians 2:19-20 & Colossians 3:1-3
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and depend on him to free us from sin’s dominion we instantly become a new creation. The life we live from that moment forward is lived in faith and through the power of Christ. This is relevant to serving because the self-interested person that once controlled our actions has been crucified by the person and work of Christ. In Colossians, Paul instructs us that if we have been raised with Christ we are to seek what is above. At the heart of this is a sold-out commitment to serve others. It’s why Paul also said to the church at Thessalonica that he was ready to not only share with them the gospel of God, but his own self (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8). A life saved from the bondage of sin is one that becomes outward and expressive in giving to others. Has your frequency in serving others grown since you have come to know Christ?
Filed under: Week 08
WEEK 8
A Healthy Church Member Is: A Sacrificial Servant
Devotions by Eddie Arraya
Read Psalm 100 & Colossians 3:17, 3:23
While at times serving others is not desirable and we do it out of Christian duty, our motivation to serve should be characterized differently. The Scriptures make it clear that whatever we do we are to do it enthusiastically and with gladness of heart. We can only achieve this disposition if we understand that our service is an act of worship for the Lord. Anytime we serve out of another motive or to gain the attention and favor of men we will lose the ability to serve gladly. The joy that comes from serving is propelled in the knowledge of knowing the person of Christ and remembering what he has done for us. his love for us facilitates our ability to serve one another through love (Ephesians 5:1-2). Those who receive our acts of service will know the difference. How would you categorize the attitudes and motives when you served others? Is it with a gladness of heart? Is it done unto the Lord?
