Encouraging Words - Acts 20:2

Acts 20:2 Paul traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece. (NIV)

We are living in pretty discouraging times. Our people are divided and our leaders are not working together. Terrible acts of violence have been committed and hatred is on the increase. Good folks everywhere are feeling insecure and most people are looking for real solutions to our problems. All this strife is adding to our stress which fragments our relationships, leaving us isolated and vulnerable. No one seems to know how to fix things and heal our problems. Our souls are damaged and our hearts are crushed. We just need something or someone to say the right things, give the right word, and point us in the right direction.

This is the Great Commission of Christ’s Church in the 21^st century. We still have a pertinent platform where words of encouragement can bring people closer to God and, in the process, bring us together. How we express those words is very important to the folks around us. For encouragement to work, we have to be sensitive and supportive. If we present Christ in compassionate ways, we will help others who are struggling with life. If we share our confidence in God’s love, we will enable others to find refuge in Him. It all depends whether we are willing, like Paul of old, to be vessels of Christ’s mercy and grace. If we choose to channel His Loving Spirit, we will help others to overcome their fears and rediscover the inner strength which faith in Christ empowers.

Wherever you are today, be an encourager. Whatever you do, let it be done in love.

Point to ponder

How does God encourage me? How can I share this with others?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we can grow weary of the world and fearful of its fallen ways. Enable us to overcome our current concerns by placing our hopes, dreams, and lives into Your hands. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest winter drawings called ‘Red Cardinal in Snow.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Cardinal.

Church in a Digital Age

Membership vs Relationship

I’m at a special theological course in Columbia Seminary, Decatur, GA which is all about the Church in a Digital Age. It’s a great program and is opening up new ideas which are challenging me. The biggest thing regarding church life is the major shift from emphasizing church membership to cultivating congregational relationships. The vast majority of the upcoming generation – 35 and under – no longer feel the need to join a church, they just want to be accepted, embraced, and allowed to participate in the life, ministry, and mission of a local congregation.

This means that we are transforming from a 20^th century statistical institution into a 21^st century relational community. Numerical statistics are not as important anymore; nurturing spirits is the key process for churches to survive and thrive.

Wow! This takes Church World to a whole new level, as well as a new way of thinking. I hope I can begin to embrace this change.

Faith Sharing devotion: Mighty Acts - Psalm 145:4

Psalm 145:4    One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.

            While reading this verse today, I started wondering what mighty acts of God have happened during my lifetime, which could be told to the upcoming generation.  I was born in 1957, so perhaps what I’ve experienced as mighty acts may not be so great to the next generation. I can list several things: the success of the Civil Rights movement under Dr. King; the Peace Accords in Northern Ireland; the tearing down of the Berlin Wall; the rebuilding of New York after 9-11; the restoration of the Gulf Coast after Katrina; the invention of cell phones; the major medical breakthroughs in the fields of cancer and disease research; the progress of space exploration. There are many more that I have surely forgotten; there are other major events that I have not recalled.

            In the Faith community, the mighty acts of God are harder to pinpoint because they have a major effect on individuals and small groups, rather than being noticed on a world-wide scale. I have known people to be cured of cancer through the power of prayer. I have seen people so moved by the words of Christ that their lives have changed. I have watched the people of God embrace those who are deeply hurt by loss and tragedy. I have seen the spiritual nurturing of young children who have grown in the Christian faith. I have been with people as they pass over from this world to the next, quietly surrendering themselves to the Almighty will of God.

            God’s mighty acts can be seen and found wherever there are people on Earth. He has never abandoned us to the evil that mankind often does, nor has He ever forsaken us in the midst of our troubles. His mightiest act was to send His Son Jesus Christ into our world to save us from our sins, to heal us of our hurt, and to restore us to God’s favor. Above all else, this mighty act of salvation through Jesus, is the one amazing event that I want to tell constantly to the next generation. In my humble opinion, there is no other greater story, there is no other mightier act of God.

Questions for personal reflection

When and where have I seen God’s mighty acts in the world during my lifetime? When and where have I personally experienced His mighty acts in my own life?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for being present in the world and in our own lives. We seek Your guidance and look for Your presence each day. Help us to see God’s mighty acts in the world, as well as the ones we can experience in our everyday lives. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called ‘Summertime Sunflowers.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Sunflowers.

Church devotion: God is for Us - Romans 8:31

Romans 8:31  What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

            John Calvin, the Father of the Presbyterian Church, used to finish his lectures with the above verse. In the midst of the Reformation, which brought about a hundred years of war all over Europe, John Calvin encouraged Reformed pastors to remain resolute and focused. He knew that for Protestantism to survive, the clerical leaders had to be faithful and courageous. Many of them would be hunted down, imprisoned, and even killed. Calvin used this verse to inspire them with the knowledge that God was on their side.

            Five hundred years later, we appear to be at the beginning of a new Reformation in the life of the Presbyterian Church. Throughout ‘mainline’ Christianity, a lot of huge changes are taking place. At the moment, no one knows what shape we will take or where we will be in the next decade. A lot of guessing and envisioning is going on, which in turn is creating a great deal of anxiety among pastors and members alike.

            No matter how it ends, the smartest thing is to be faithful and endure. John Calvin recognized this five hundred years ago, just as Paul did when he wrote the original verse to the persecuted Roman Christians almost two thousand years ago. Both Paul and Calvin did not know what the outcome of Christianity’s troubles would look like, but they both believed that God was in control, shaping Christian history and reforming the Church, just as He had intended. If God could do that centuries ago, then surely He is still doing the same today? After all, if God is for us, then who can be against us?

Questions for personal reflection

What makes me anxious about today’s Church? Where do I see God at work in today’s Church?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, the Church is Your Everlasting Bride. During these troubled times for Your Church on Earth, remind us of Your Love for Her. Help us to see what You are doing through the Church and allow us to fervently join You in that holy work. In Your Sacred Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask a question about today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing for his Psalms art project. It’s based on a verse from Psalm 137. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2838/9426814170_b4797dbe53_b.jpg

Church devotions: Food for Thought - Acts 10:15

Acts 10:15       The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

It had nothing to do with food; it all had to do with prejudice.

Peter’s story in Acts chapter 10 is not about how hungry he was, or what kosher food he chose to eat. It was all about God letting Peter know that the Gentiles were just as acceptable to God as were his own people, the Jews. Peter followed Christ, but also maintained his Jewish standards and traditions. He seemed to believe at this time that the Gospel was meant for the Jews first.

God, however, had other plans, so Peter would have to change his ideas about who was acceptable to God. Peter was a living witness to the teachings, life, and resurrection of Christ. His personal testimony was crucially important, so God was not going to keep it limited to Jewish hearers only. Peter was about to undergo a whole new ministry experience and broaden his theological horizons. The old ways were comforting, but they needed to be challenged. His traditional ways were cozy, but they needed to be changed.

Two thousand years later, change is still not easy for the Church, and challenges to our traditional beliefs, standards, and teachings cannot be avoided. We may not like to think about the church changing and perhaps want to remain in our own theological comfort zone, but we really need to ask ourselves these important questions: Are we against change just because it is inconvenient and uncomfortable? Are we propping up our traditions for God, or merely pandering to our prejudices?

Perhaps we need to revisit our opinions and ask God to show us what or who is acceptable to Him.

Questions for personal reflection

What are the crucial beliefs about my form of Christianity? Is this my Christianity or Christ’s vision for His Church?

Prayers:          Lord Jesus, we need to be constantly challenged in order to keep a living faith. We need a revitalized vision of what it means to You for us to actually be Christians. Keep us from cozy spirits and a familiar faith. Protect us from our prejudices and liberate us through Your sacred love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Pentecost drawings. It’s called “Free Spirit.” If you would like to view a larger version of the image, please click here: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8265/8664735974_02c3db424b_h.jpg

 

 

Youth devotions: Vital Vision - Acts 2:17

Acts 2:17         ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.’

            Currently, some of our young people are going through the process of Confirmation. Our Youth Leader is doing a wonderful job with them and I’m attending the classes, more as an observer and adviser. As always, when I enter into a church teaching situation, I end up learning more about what I believe. Our young students bring vitality to the faith that we share, and I receive new insights into what they believe and what’s important to them.

            Last night, they composed a new statement of faith based upon what Presbyterians call the ‘Great Ends of the Church.’ Through their minds and with their ideas, I experienced a new understanding of what Church is all about and what it will become to future generations. Instead of being anxious and worried, I was both moved and impressed by what they wrote together. At their Confirmation service, which will take place on the Day of Pentecost, our congregation will use their Statement of Faith in our morning liturgy. Here is what they have brilliantly written:

At Erin Presbyterian Church, we will seek to be God’s people by:

·         Declaring that Jesus Christ is the Savior for all people.

·         Caring for and providing a strong community of faith for all of God’s children.

·         Taking care of godly praise.

·         Keeping the message of God alive.

·         Encouraging the fair treatment of all people everywhere.

·         Showing the world God’s grace.

I think that the future of the Church is in very good hands, don’t you?

Questions for personal reflection

As a teenager, what were my views and vision of the Church? How have I fulfilled that vision in my life?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of our young people and for the vitality that they bring to our churches. May their thoughts and ideas be aligned to Your future vision of the life, ministry, and mission of the Church to come. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask a question concerning today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Holy Week drawings. It’s called “Eye of God” depicting Christ crucified. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8489798601_5bcd371d9b_h.jpg

Free devotions: Church Restoration - Isaiah 58:12

Isaiah 58:12    Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. 

The Church as we once knew it is broken and just like Humpty Dumpty in the old children’s nursery rhyme, I’m not sure that it can ever be put back together again.

The dilemma that we currently face is this: do we stand around and weep at all of the broken pieces, or do we pick up what is left and build something better? Do we repair what is wrecked or do we create something new with the broken material?

One of my favorite television programs is called “American Restoration.” It’s all about a small business in Las Vegas where the owner and his family restore old machines, gas pumps, and vintage toys into something new. They start with a worn out piece of junk that nobody would want but, by the end of the program, it’s a completely restored item, in perfect working order and newly painted. Sometimes the restorers cannot mend a machine or the parts are so badly worn that they need to be replaced. When that happens, the boss and his workers re-invent the inner workings of the item and build it into something new, something that works, and something that is attractive.

I think that is what the task of God’s church currently is: to become restored and renewed. We cannot ever be what we once were, but with God’s guidance and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and churches, we can become something beautiful for Christ. Therefore, the challenge we face this: are we going to wait, weep, and wail over what is broken and end up with nothing, or are we ready to re-gather the pieces, restore our hopes, and rebuild what we have into something new?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, as Christians we are Followers of Your Way, Seekers of Your Truth, and Lovers of Your Life. Your Church is broken and we have lost something that can never be re-found. We are afraid of the future and fear the unknown; therefore we seek Your Living Presence among us so that we can faithfully and successfully rebuild, restore, and renew our churches for Your continuing ministry and mission in our communities and across the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s passage, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest digital glass designs. It’s called “Celtic Dawn.” In the larger version, you can almost touch the contours of the borders on the digital window. You can view the larger version here: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7064/6957944417_d242cd6902_b.jpg

Devotions - Epic Fail - Ecclesiastes 7:18

Ecclesiastes 7:18a       The man who fears God will avoid all extremes. 

I am appalled, but not surprised, at the riots in Britain. It’s shocking to see so much destruction and violence, but I believe this has been festering for a number of years.

The Church has failed an entire generation. We’ve allowed people to follow strange and selfish paths which lead to emptiness, anxiety, and aggression. I saw this happening in Scotland prior to me leaving in 1995. Christian beliefs were beginning to wane and humanism was on the rise. The Church was largely discarded as an anachronism. Traditional beliefs were ridiculed and much of the Calvinist Reformed Theology was mocked. In England, the Church gave in to cultural pressure, so that anyone could live as they liked and believe what they wanted. Eventually, the whole structure of the new society was shaped to disregard the Church and to entirely diminish Christianity.

They succeeded. And now anarchy and atheism have become so entrenched in this new generation that there are no longer any spiritual, ethical, or moral boundaries. Civilization in Europe, which has been held together by Christianity since the 7^th century AD, is beginning to crumble. Those who ignored the warning signs are reaping what was sown. All that the Church can do is stand by the sidelines and watch society destroy itself. Greed and pride, selfishness and brazeness have overtaken the souls of the people. Foolishness and ignorance, poverty and violence are on the increase. Instead of progressing into the 21^st century, Britain and other European nations are stepping back into the Dark Ages. The law of the jungle and the survival of the fittest has taken over from the love of Jesus and the strength of faith.

My heart bleeds for Britain, but I need to work over here. The signs of the same things are occurring and I am anxious about the younger generation. They are like sheep without a Shepherd and I worry that their society is going to be hardest upon those among them who keep their Christian convictions alive. Persecution seems so far away and is only an extreme possibility; but sometimes I wonder if it’s only a matter of years before committed Christians over here are going to be harassed, harangued, and hunted down as we once were during the Dark Ages.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we are seeing the bitter fruits of faithlessness emerge violently and satanically in other places around the world. Your Church has been culpable in planting the seeds of discontent, unhappiness, and meaningless in the hearts, mind, and souls of this 21^st century generation. We have neglected the true message of the Gospel and have allowed it to be replaced by a mythical morality, futile theology, and insipid ideology. Forgive us for being distracted, dishonorable, and disloyal to You. Help us to recover and restore our people through repentance, revival, and redemption. In Your Holy Name, we plead and pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is one of John’s latest Chess series prints. It’s called “Knight takes Rook” and is a pop art image of the game. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6186/6024701992_405a71c6de_b.jpg