Upside Down

Ahh, the perks of leadership: Big office, your name on the door, underlings to boss around, sitting at the front of the important meetings.  And did I mention those underlings you get to boss around???

Our world has a perspective of “getting to the top” that includes perks and privileges.  People relish achieving a certain position or title so you can have authority, and tell other people what to do.  But Jesus made a really interesting statement in Matthew 20:  “"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.  Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.”  Once again Jesus is pointing out one of those little ‘differences’ between the world kingdoms and God’s kingdom.

In the world system, you work to become great so that you can receive power and privilege.

In God’s system you serve others, and in doing so you become great.

Sounds kind of upside down, doesn’t it?  But which one is upside down, and which one is right-side up?  Join us Sunday as we explore God’s promotion system.

 

Till the whole world hears...

 Pastor Clay

 

Surprises in Heaven

So the last will be first, and the first last.
Matt 20:16

Ever think about the reward ceremony that will take place in heaven? We can imagine that Peter and the other apostles will receive great and wonderful rewards.  Some of the early church fathers, such as Polycarp, Ignatius, Justin Martyr, will receive wonderful crowns of distinction!  Then there were the great evangelists Billy Sunday, Dwight Moody, Billy Graham; men who won thousands to Christ.  And then there are the current roster of men who have reached millions through TV, Crusades, and the internet:  Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie, Franklin Graham. Oh and we can’t forget the great women of the faith:  Deborah, Priscilla, Lydia, Mother Teresa, Joni Eareckson Tada,  Ann Graham Lotz. Just to name a few.

When we think of all of these people that have made such a mark on the world for Christ, it can be a little intimidating.  We might even become apathetic about the “Bema Seat” of rewards that Paul talks about in 2 Cor 5, as we think we’ll be sitting in the five millionth row back!  Talk about a nose bleed section!

But is that the way it will really be?  Is that just our “human perspective” of those rewards? Might the Lord Jesus have another perspective?

Last week Peter asked about those ‘rewards’ and Jesus gave him assurance that whatever we invest now, we will receive a hundredfold return (get some of that, Wall Street!).  Now as we move into chapter 20, Jesus gives us a parable that describes how those ‘rewards’ will be allocated in the Kingdom.  And trust me, it’s not how we do things here on earth. I believe there will be some real surprises in heaven!

Join us Sunday!

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Till the whole world hears...

Pastor Clay

How good do I have to be, really?

Over the past few weeks we have looked at things like: “How many times do I forgive my friend?  When can I cut him off?”, or “How much do I have to take at home before I can ditch my spouse?”  We have found that people often look for a measuring stick for grace, and yet the answer we keep getting from God is “keep forgiving, keep loving, stay married…”  In other words “keep pouring out love and grace.”

 

As we move further into chapter 19 of Matthew, we find a young man coming to Jesus with a similar question:   “…behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"  

 

In other words this man is asking “so, what’s it gonna take to get into heaven?  What do I do?  How good do I have to be, really?”

 

The question is reasonable and logical.  It’s an excellent question.  As with any excellent question, it brings us to a place of self-examination:

1. What is important to God?

2. What is important to me?

3. How do the two resulting answers align with one another?

 

Join us Sunday as we explore the account of the rich young ruler, and how his encounter with Jesus might help us to see what really matters to God, and perhaps what should matter to us.

 

Till the whole world hears,

 

Pastor Clay