The Bible condones homosexuality?

You might have seen the cover article in Newsweek about homosexuality and the Bible. Lisa Miller, the religious editor for Newsweek says that you can be Christian and gay and that time will prove that "Fundamentalists" were wrong.

Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Seminary, responded to the article in his own blog. It is worth reading...

http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=2881

Also, he was then interviewed on NPR (National Public Radio) with Lisa Miller who wrote the article. Check it out!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98279341

By the way, Andy Tobin will be addressing the topic of homosexuality when he preaches Jan. 4.

What Does Jesus Want for Christmas?

This Friday the nursery and preschool children at Harvest will be throwing a birthday party for Jesus.  That raises the question, What does Jesus want for Christmas?  It may sound like a silly question, but I think Scripture offers us a very serious answer.

I get my answer from Titus 2:11-14 (ESV) - 11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

These verses give us the reason for Christmas, which is when God’s saving grace in Jesus first appeared.  Verse 11 tells us that God’s grace is meant to train us to live godly lives, and verse 14 says that Jesus gave His life not only to forgive us of our wrongdoing (“redeem us from all lawlessness”) but also to transform us into a people characterized by righteousness (“zealous for good works”).  Jesus’ aim in coming wasn’t simply to offer sin-pardoning grace (as wonderful as that is!) but also to make for Himself a people who live out sin-conquering grace as we wait for sin-eradicating grace at His return.

On the basis of this Scripture I think it is safe to say that what Jesus wants for Christmas is for His blood-bought people to live holy lives that point the watching world to the glory of His incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and imminent return.

Waiting on God...in Prayer

Should we expect revival, empowerment, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, bold witness without tarrying in prayer? Should we expect vibrancy, a passion for the supremacy of God in our midst without a devotion to prayer among us? All that we want for our church cannot be created by careful planning and programming. It is birthed by God through the prayers of His people. There are no substitutes. Jesus told His disciples how to pray and implied rather strongly that some blessings His Father desired to give were reserved for those who persevere in prayer (Luke 11:1-13). James 4:2 tells us that “we have not because we ask not.” I am quite sure we will be surprised to find out all that God would have supplied us if only we would have asked. I am concerned for us at Harvest. Numerical growth is wonderful but numbers can easily become a false hope for pastors and their people. We are full on a Sunday morning but scanty at prayer meetings. We are pumped for God in song but puny in prayer, and therefore vulnerable to the Devil’s attacks.

Jesus told the disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they were clothed with power on high (Luke 23:49). Later you find them in the upper room in Jerusalem “devoting themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14). Waiting on God meant for them a devotion to prayer. Should we who long to see an outpouring of the Spirit in revival do any less? Even after Pentecost (the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church) the people gathered for prayer. Acts 2:42 tells us that “they devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching…and to the prayers.” The way it is stated in the verse, “and to the prayers” indicates that there were set times when the saints gathered to pray. They gathered as a body to seek God, not just individually. This is what I’m pleading for at Harvest. Just so you know the state of things…

Men’s prayer meeting (Wednesday 6:00-7:00 a.m.) has around 8 guys committed to it. Our Sunday morning prayer (9:00-9:30 a.m.) has around 4 people committed to it. The women have their prayer meeting once a month with approximately 5 people showing up.

I am thankful that our Life Groups (Small Group ministry) are seeking to be devoted to prayer each time they gather and that prayer is offered at the beginning and end of every ministry meeting. This is a good start but only a start. What would it look like for Harvest to be devoted to prayer? What does it look like for you to be devoted to prayer?

I want our church to be a God-dependent praying church, don’t you? Join us and let’s get this thing ignited!