Nathan Stam
Children/Comm. Pastor
I recently finished reading G.K. Chesterton’s introduction to the life of St. Francis of Assisi. I had always known a little bit about St. Francis; for instance I knew that he once said: “Preach the Gospel. If necessary, use words.” Or something along those lines. But I never knew much about his person and his place in history.
There were several passages of Chesterton’s that really struck me, but none more powerful than this description of Francis:
“He was a poet whose whole life was a poem…His whole course through life was a series of scenes in which he had a perpetual luck in bringing things to a beautiful crisis.”
A beautiful crisis. The crisis of the Gospel of Christ invading the darkness of the world. The inevitable conflict of the Love of God encountering humanism and materialism. The collision of the Grace of Jesus with poverty, injustice and pride.
Francis was all about living life outrageously and a love relationship with God. A poet whose whole life was a poem. As I think about my life and my relationship with Jesus and with others I can’t help but notice how often I play it safe—in my relationships, in my church, in my community—and I wonder how my life would change if my course in life was “bringing things to a beautiful crisis” for the sake of the Gospel. Jesus once said, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it.”
Apex Baptist Church, are you up for living outrageously? Can you hear the call to follow hard after God? Chesterton goes on to write, “Through all his [Francis] plunging and restless days ran the refrain: I have not suffered enough; I have not sacrificed enough; I am not yet worthy even of the shadow of the crown of thorns. He wandered about the valleys of the world looking for the hill that has the outline of a skull.”
Here’s the challenge for you and me: May the refrain, or theme, of our lives be our desperate love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May we “hang on to reason by one invisible and indestructible hair” and yet spend our days as “ministers of reconciliation,” pleading with all creation on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Ten Questions
Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor
If you have never read anything by Donald Whitney I highly recommend him. His book on the Spiritual Disciplines is excellent and is worth checking out. I recently came across a list of 10 questions that Mr. Whitney penned designed to diagnose your spiritual health. See how you answer these:
1. Do you thirst for God?
2. Are you governed increasingly by God's word?
3. Are you more loving?
4. Do you still have a growing concern for the spiritual and temporal needs of others?
5. Are you more sensitive to God's presence?
6. Do you delight in the Bride of Christ?
7. Are the spiritual disciplines increasingly important to you?
8. Do you still grieve over sin?
9. Are you a quick forgiver?
10. Do you yearn for heaven and to be with Jesus?
If you're like me, these are pretty humbling. I've got a long way to go!
Children/Communications Pastor
If you have never read anything by Donald Whitney I highly recommend him. His book on the Spiritual Disciplines is excellent and is worth checking out. I recently came across a list of 10 questions that Mr. Whitney penned designed to diagnose your spiritual health. See how you answer these:
1. Do you thirst for God?
2. Are you governed increasingly by God's word?
3. Are you more loving?
4. Do you still have a growing concern for the spiritual and temporal needs of others?
5. Are you more sensitive to God's presence?
6. Do you delight in the Bride of Christ?
7. Are the spiritual disciplines increasingly important to you?
8. Do you still grieve over sin?
9. Are you a quick forgiver?
10. Do you yearn for heaven and to be with Jesus?
If you're like me, these are pretty humbling. I've got a long way to go!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
A Call To Fast
We've been challenged this week to fast together as a church during a 24 hour period (Phil suggested sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, but it's your own choice as to when this week) and we just wanted to take a few moments and provide some items for us as a church body to pray for during the fast and to discuss some reasons as to why we do fast and how exactly we should fast.
First, here are a few prayer points to lift up during your 24 hour fast with your family:
1. Pray that as men we would not be afraid to step up to the plate, but would lead our families with integrity and conviction.
2. Pray that as women we would have the courage of Esther and humbly devote ourselves to the Lord.
3. Pray that God would bring revival to our families and subsequently to our church.
4. Pray that as families we would delight to spend time together in God's Word.
5. Pray that we would become families (men, women and children) who are passionate about prayer.
So why do we fast anyway? In the Bible prayer is often times accompanied by fasting (see Nehemiah or Esther) and is usually seen as a time of intense supplication, worship or repentance. Wayne Grudem lists some excellent reasons as to the purpose of fasting:
1. It increases our sense of humility and dependence on God.
2. It allows us to give more attention on prayer.
3. It is a reminder that just as we sacrifice to some small part of our comfort to God (not eating) so we must continually sacrifice all of ourselves to God.
4. It is a good exercise in self-discipline (strengthens our ability to refrain from sin). (Hebrews 5:8; 1 Peter 4:1-2)
5. It heightens our awareness of spiritual things as we concern ourselves less with material things (food).
6. It expresses earnestness and urgency in our prayers.
We look forward to how God will move mightily in our midst as we gather back together this Sunday!
First, here are a few prayer points to lift up during your 24 hour fast with your family:
1. Pray that as men we would not be afraid to step up to the plate, but would lead our families with integrity and conviction.
2. Pray that as women we would have the courage of Esther and humbly devote ourselves to the Lord.
3. Pray that God would bring revival to our families and subsequently to our church.
4. Pray that as families we would delight to spend time together in God's Word.
5. Pray that we would become families (men, women and children) who are passionate about prayer.
So why do we fast anyway? In the Bible prayer is often times accompanied by fasting (see Nehemiah or Esther) and is usually seen as a time of intense supplication, worship or repentance. Wayne Grudem lists some excellent reasons as to the purpose of fasting:
1. It increases our sense of humility and dependence on God.
2. It allows us to give more attention on prayer.
3. It is a reminder that just as we sacrifice to some small part of our comfort to God (not eating) so we must continually sacrifice all of ourselves to God.
4. It is a good exercise in self-discipline (strengthens our ability to refrain from sin). (Hebrews 5:8; 1 Peter 4:1-2)
5. It heightens our awareness of spiritual things as we concern ourselves less with material things (food).
6. It expresses earnestness and urgency in our prayers.
We look forward to how God will move mightily in our midst as we gather back together this Sunday!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Interesting Videos
Here are two interesting videos (one on abortion and one on a believer's relationship to the poor):
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
A Look at Colossians 1
Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor
Phil has challenged us during this current sermon series to memorize Colossians 1:15-20. In light of that challenge I thought it might be a good idea to take a quick glimpse at those verses in this blog.
Some believe that these verses were some kind of hymn or creed of the early church that Paul has pieced together, which is pretty cool if true.
In verse 15 we read that in Jesus the invisible has become visible. The very nature and character of God have been perfectly revealed in Jesus. We also see that same thought in the book of Hebrews. The word “firstborn” here in verse 15 is referring to Christ’s supremacy over creation, or his rank. It’s not saying that he is a created being, it is saying that he is above all created things. He is the Lord of creation.
Paul goes on to expand on this thought in verse 16. He basically says that good or bad, everything is subject to Christ. In fact, Paul is probably referring to hostile rulers or authorities. They all derive their existence from Jesus and they all owe their obedience to Him. Remember, Paul is talking about someone, Jesus, a common criminal, who was crucified maybe only around 25 years before this was written! This sounded like foolishness to a whole lot of people!
In verse 17 we read that there was never a time when Jesus wasn’t! He is before all things! And Jesus sustains all things. If he wasn’t sustaining the universe at this exact moment everything would disintegrate. He sustains all things by his powerful word!
Again, in verses 18 & 19 we read that all the attributes of God—-his wisdom, word, power, glory-—all are perfectly displayed in Jesus Christ.
Paul has emphasized so far that Jesus is Lord of everything and that everything was created by him, through him and for him. But something happened to this creation when sin entered into it that caused everything to be distorted and messed up. Here's the good news though: despite that sobering truth, verse 20 tells us that Christ on the cross has made peace or reconciled those who trust in His Name! Because the Bible is very clear that when we were not believers we were enemies of God and under his wrath. We needed to be reconciled. And Jesus did that on the cross once and for all!
I don't know about you, but I'm excited about memorizing these verses over the next few weeks and having these amazing truths alive in my heart where I can meditate and think on them!
Children/Communications Pastor
Phil has challenged us during this current sermon series to memorize Colossians 1:15-20. In light of that challenge I thought it might be a good idea to take a quick glimpse at those verses in this blog.
Some believe that these verses were some kind of hymn or creed of the early church that Paul has pieced together, which is pretty cool if true.
In verse 15 we read that in Jesus the invisible has become visible. The very nature and character of God have been perfectly revealed in Jesus. We also see that same thought in the book of Hebrews. The word “firstborn” here in verse 15 is referring to Christ’s supremacy over creation, or his rank. It’s not saying that he is a created being, it is saying that he is above all created things. He is the Lord of creation.
Paul goes on to expand on this thought in verse 16. He basically says that good or bad, everything is subject to Christ. In fact, Paul is probably referring to hostile rulers or authorities. They all derive their existence from Jesus and they all owe their obedience to Him. Remember, Paul is talking about someone, Jesus, a common criminal, who was crucified maybe only around 25 years before this was written! This sounded like foolishness to a whole lot of people!
In verse 17 we read that there was never a time when Jesus wasn’t! He is before all things! And Jesus sustains all things. If he wasn’t sustaining the universe at this exact moment everything would disintegrate. He sustains all things by his powerful word!
Again, in verses 18 & 19 we read that all the attributes of God—-his wisdom, word, power, glory-—all are perfectly displayed in Jesus Christ.
Paul has emphasized so far that Jesus is Lord of everything and that everything was created by him, through him and for him. But something happened to this creation when sin entered into it that caused everything to be distorted and messed up. Here's the good news though: despite that sobering truth, verse 20 tells us that Christ on the cross has made peace or reconciled those who trust in His Name! Because the Bible is very clear that when we were not believers we were enemies of God and under his wrath. We needed to be reconciled. And Jesus did that on the cross once and for all!
I don't know about you, but I'm excited about memorizing these verses over the next few weeks and having these amazing truths alive in my heart where I can meditate and think on them!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Heart Connex!
We wanted to let you know about a free resource that we thought was appropriate in light of our current sermon series. These are free family e-devotionals that are provided by Lifeway called "Heart Connex."
"Each week, parents receive two 20-minute devotionals via e-mail. These studies contain solid Bible teaching. The eDevotions are set up so that students and parents alike are involved, with each given specific things to say or do.
These eDevotionals are designed for very busy families. You can easily print the studies and make preparations in only about five minutes."
Check it out. It's Free!! Just click here!
"Each week, parents receive two 20-minute devotionals via e-mail. These studies contain solid Bible teaching. The eDevotions are set up so that students and parents alike are involved, with each given specific things to say or do.
These eDevotionals are designed for very busy families. You can easily print the studies and make preparations in only about five minutes."
Check it out. It's Free!! Just click here!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Coming This Weekend!
There are a couple of exciting opportunities for you this weekend that we wanted to let you know about!
- Saturday (May 2) is Peak Day in downtown Apex. It's a great time when thousands of folks come and hangout in the streets downtown. We'll be there all day and we'd love for you to come and join us. We'll put up the moonwalk and have other games for kids including face painting and we'll be inviting kids to come to VBS this summer in June. If you'd like to come and help send Chuck or Matthew an email.
- Saturday night (May 2) we're kicking off our "Center" sermon series during the month of May with a men's dinner called IGNITE. Warren Lamb is coming and it will be awesome. If you're a man and you haven't signed up yet send Amanda an email. The dinner starts at 6:00 PM and we'll be done by 8:00.
- On Sunday, May 3, Hand of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center is hosting its annual Walk For Life from 2:00-4:00 at South Park in Fuquay Varina. Hand of Hope reaches out to young ladies with the hope of Christ and is an invaluable ministry in our neck of the woods. You can read more about Hand of Hope or the Walk For Life by clicking here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
