Why Should I Bother Inviting Someone to Church?

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Quite frankly, this post is to the faithful follower of Christ.  Here are a few reasons why you should invite someone to your local church:

1. Jesus invited you

You were invited to follow Jesus. As a result of what God has done for you through Christ, you should naturally desire and long to share that message of God’s crazy love and hope for mankind – The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Isaiah 53; Romans 5:8; Ephessians 1; Colossians 1:13-14).

2. Jesus has done the hard work

We live in a free country where inviting people to hear the gospel has no cost to the one inviting. Yet, on the other hand, it may have a significant eternal cost to the one not invited. 
People invite people to programs, movies, games, barbecues, dinner, activities, whatever…all the time.  We invite people to what we believe in…What we are passionate about…What we care about…What we enjoy…  What we want to share…And Jesus paid the ultimate price, being perfect, so we don’t have to. We live in a free country where inviting people to hear the gospel has no cost to the one inviting. Yet, on the other hand, it may have a significant eternal cost to the one not invited. Continue reading →

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Why Should I Go to Church on Easter?

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So you don’t normally go to church. So why go now? Here are 3 reasons to check out a church on Easter:

1. You have a friend, co-worker, extended family member, or acquiantance that seems to handle life in a way that has your attention.

So you are around someone in your life that you just can’t quite figure out.  This person makes good decisions, actually enjoys life, is pretty open and transparent, and talks about having a relationship with God. What is that all about?  Sometimes this person seems to have some “out of this world” ideas about living for God and loving people, but this person also loves you (not in a romantic way)…like being kind, patient, giving, etc. So, go see if the church can help you know what makes this person tick.

2. You have the reoccuring thought, “There has to be more to life than this…”

So does the church have the answer?  I guess you have to go to find out.

Yeah, the party life only provides so much; then it’s back to reality.  That relationship you are in that seems to be going nowhere, or nowhere good…what now?  And all the stuff you own…is it getting harder to maintain it?  Or maybe it’s starting to rule your life. Kids may be in some trouble, or good at causing it. But at the end of the day when you are sitting in quietness (if you can find any outside of radio, TV, computer, phone, and everything else), does the question arise “Is there more to life than this?” Well, you can’t find out whether the church has the answer if you don’t visit.

3. You are just curious what really goes on at that church down the road.

Maybe you have never been in a church building before.  Maybe it’s been a long time. For a hundred little reasons, or maybe just for one really big reason, you have not walked in the door.  This is one time your curiosity may provide helpful immediate and long term results.

If you are considering or planning on attending a church on Easter, which church do you plan to attend? (Easter will be celebrated this year on April 8, 2012).

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What Is One Simple Way to Minimize Conflict?

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“Love…is ever ready to believe the best of every person…” (1 Cor. 13:7) Much conflict can be avoided by following this simple principle. It’s a basic, but often difficult one to live by.  Another way to say it is: assume positive intention.[1]

If I am to love God and love my neighbor (those I am around; Matthew 22:37-39), then assuming positive intention on the part of another human being is a reflection on how I am doing at loving God.  As I understand God’s love, I am motivated to love others.  This means assuming positive intention, and acting accordingly. Is this easy? Hardly.

Loving others does not mean there will never be conflict, nor is the goal to have a conflict-free life.  But living by God’s word does ensure the path to minimizing and overcoming conflict. (Romans 12:17-21; James 1:2-4; Ephesians 4:25-32; I Peter)

To the Christ-follower, you and I have the responsibility and blessing of believing the best about others. This is incredibly freeing, and gospel fulfilling!  This is a part of living out the Good News of Jesus Christ.

If you would like to know more about becoming a Christ-follower, see my post What is the G.O.S.P.E.L.?.

[1] From Group’s Volunteer Central website,  www.churchvolunteercentral.com/cvdaily/ever-believing-the-best, Sue Brage.

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Should a Boy Wrestle a Girl?

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This question was raised last year due to the Iowa High School State Wrestling trournament.  For the first time in history, girls competed in the Iowa state wrestling tournament.  Joel Northrup, a home-schooled sophomore who wrestles for Linn-Mar High School, made a decision, based on his faith, not to wrestle Cassy Herkelman, a female.  Who knew this would ever cause such a chaotic buzz? People make decisions every day.  Why was this one so newsworthy?

Joel chose to base his decision on an unchanging standard of truth: God’s Word.  Like three Hebrew young men (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) before a powerful king (Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon) chose not to bow and worship an idol (anything or person other than the living God), Joel chose not to bow to the idol of public approval or personal desire for gaining a great name (Gen.11).   I thank God for a young man with such spiritual strengh.

In short, “no”, boys should not wrestle girls.  Now, let’s wrestle with the reasons why the answer is “no” biblically: Continue reading →

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What is the “Rule of Proximity?”

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Have you ever noticed how, within five minutes of walking into a group of people, you find yourself standing or sitting closest to those you know or are most like in the room?

As a pastor of middle and high school students, I am amazed how quickly student with a tendency to make poor choices find kids in the room who struggle in the same way.  Hate to say it, but the rebels find the rebels…usually much faster than the kids making good choices find the other kids making good choices.

What about when you are in a large group in which several interests are represented?  My observation has been, we tend to gravitate physically (proximity) toward those who have interests similar to ours, or toward those we are interested in getting to know better.

Proximity is “nearness in place, time, order, occurrence, or relation” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/proximity).

What is the rule of proximity?  It is simply this:  You can tell where a person’s heart is, to some degree, by whom or what they physically are nearest to… and how often… especially when that proximity is not required to fulfill a responsibility (and sometimes when it is).

So right now you may be saying “give me an example!” Continue reading →

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