Confidence in God Our Father

"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26)

Do we know how to be children of our Father in heaven? Jesus says that birds do. He says that lilies do, too.  Yet we, who are of greater value in God's eyes, have a difficult time being children of God. We are anxious, distrusting, thankless, busy - all because we don't trust our Father in heaven. Jesus patiently reminds us of how great a Father we have. He speaks to us in words we can understand. He wants us to know that we now have a Father unlike any we have known. But we have to learn how to become trusting children of our Father. It's not a one-way relationship.

1. When did you last think of God as your Father?

2. What do you think of when you remember God as your Father? Are these the things Jesus says about him, or are the influenced by your earthly father?

3. How would your day be different if you were as confident and secure in God your Father as Jesus says you should be?

-- Charlie

Your Ambassadorship to Him

"When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?' He said to him, 'Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Feed my lambs.'" (John 21:15)

If God is our King, are we doing the King's business? Or do we have our own agenda? After Jesus was crucified, the disciples disbanded and went back to their former way of life. Here, Jesus finds Peter and some others resuming their lives as fishermen. They weren't living as ambassadors. Jesus, having risen from the tomb, approaches them and takes Peter aside. He convinces Peter that Peter really does love Jesus. Jesus says, then, "Go. Feed my sheep."

1.  What has Jesus called you to do in your ambassadorship to him?

2. If you don't know, how might you find out what Jesus wants you to be doing for him?

3. If you do know, what steps can you take to ensure you're following his plan and not losing sight of it?

-- Charlie

Fatherly Love

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him." (1 John 3:1)

The nature of God's love for us is that of a Father. That should overwhelm us. It's one thing to think of God having reconciled us to him. But this describes the quality of his love for us: that of a father to a child. What a privilege! The quality of God's love for us should so impact us that the world sees it—and starts to become alien to us. Those outside of God's fatherly love should find us a bit incomprehensible.

1. Why does God choose to love you as a child?

2. What does that kind of love do to you as you think about it?

3. Can you think of a person who didn't really understand something about you (because you are God's child?)

-- Charlie

Going Astray

"My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." (James 5:19-20)

Like our Savior, we have a duty to be shepherds to each other. God uses us as instruments of his grace to others. Any of us can go astray like sheep. One of us can wander from the truth of God's word. Unlike sheep, we can be quite willful in going astray.

God urges the rest of us to do our duty and be watchful for those who wander. God places such a high value on such shepherding work, he promises to reward it. God is our Shepherd. He cares for his flock. But he chooses to delegate to those of us in the church to watch out for each other and take action if necessary. He doesn't want to lose any of us to falsehood.

1. When did you ever notice a brother or sister struggling with their life and wandering from God's way? Did you do anything to get involved?

2. Have you ever wandered? Did anyone get involved with your situation? In retrospect, how did that work out?

3. If you've had a bad experience with receiving or giving shepherding help, can you think of a way to have it go better next time?

-- Charlie

Teaching Others

^"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food..." (Hebrews 5:12)

Once we have entered into salvation with God through Christ, we still have accountability to him for our growth. Here, the writer of this letter is exhorting these Christians about their lack of personal growth. Specifically, he is pointing out their lack of understanding of doctrine. They should be solid in their understanding of the basic principles of theology. They should be teaching others. But, instead, they are still just listening to teachers and are unable to explain things to others.

Because of this, they are not effective in the service God wants them to do. They need, once again, to hear the basic principles but this time they need to do some work and get to the point where they can begin teaching others.

1. Have you ever explained the Gospel of Jesus Christ to someone?

2. How would you apply what you learn each week to someone who doesn't seem to understand the Gospel? Think of two people you've encountered recently to whom you could explain some aspect of God. What would you say?

3. Does this passage describe you? How can you begin growing so that you know these basic principles well enough to explain them? By this time next year, will this still be true of you?

-- Charlie

Redemption Comes From God

"Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)

We typically take these words as a barrier to entry. We see this famous statement by Jesus as the ultimate gateway to heaven. Accomplish this, we say, and you will be in. Fail to accomplish this, and nothing else matters.

If you look at the context, Jesus is actually lifting a great burden from Nicodemus, the one to whom Jesus is responding. Nicodemus was suggesting that Jesus was like them only better. Jesus responds by saying that he's on the wrong track.

Redemption comes from God who is above. It's as out of your control as your coming into this world was. You cannot achieve it. You cannot will it into being. You must be born from God above. He must reach down and give you new life. You are helpless. And that is good news, really.

1. What are your thoughts about Jesus' statement? What did you think it meant?

2. Have you experienced this re-birth that Jesus describes? If not, what do you think that means for you?

3. If you have experienced the re-birth he describes, how often do you think about it?

-- Charlie

Here am I! Send me.

"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'" (Isaiah 6:8)

God puts out his call to service to all of his people. It's the same call to everyone: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"

He has already made the call. All of us who have given our lives to him have heard it. Now, it's up to us, like Isaiah, to respond. Of course, Isaiah had particular circumstances and abilities. He worked it out in his unique way. Yours will be different. But you don't need to wait for the call. God has already made it. Ours is only to say "Here am I! Send me."

1. In what ways have you already responded to God's call to go into the world and be his ambassador?

2. What does your response look like? Think about specific ways in which you are responding to God's call to represent him in this world?

3. If you don't think you have really responded, what steps could you take? What would your "Here am I! Send me" look like one year from now?

-- Charlie

Lunar New Year Celebration

You are invited to come join us to celebrate Lunar New Year 2010! This special event is something you don't want to miss. We will be having a delicious Chinese cuisine surrounded by beautiful decorations. After dinner, enjoy a musical performance and a Christian message.

The event will take place on Saturday, February 6, 2010, 5:30 pm at the Tenth Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall located at 1701 Delancey St. Philadelphia, PA 19103. The cost for a working adult is $ 5 and FREE for students/children.

If you are able, please consider arriving early to help set up and/or staying after to help with clean up.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Join In Imitating Me

"Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us." (Philippians 3:17)

How does God shepherd us? Is he always leading you with a special revelation of the holy spirit? Does every circumstance you face require new insight and a unique response from God? Certainly God has the hairs of our head numbered. Nothing escapes his attention.

But God has already provided abundant means of shepherding us. One of them is the example of other godly people. When faced with uncertainty about how to proceed, sometimes the simplest thing is to consider the example others in your circle of believers would act. In that way, God multiplies godly behavior and shepherds his flock in a consistent direction.

1. Who is the last person you considered when you wanted a good example of how to act in a situation?

2. Why is that person a good example? What about them makes you want to follow their pattern?

3. Are you a good example to others? Can you think of a case where someone said they were thinking of you when they faced a difficult situation?

-- Charlie

Trust in the Lord

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

What is God's means of redeeming us from our sin-sickness that he describes in verses 7-8? That we abandon self-reliance and trust completely in him. What's the sign of someone who is healing from their sin-sickness? They abandon self and trust wholly in God. What does that look like? God is helpful here in creating that visual. He pictures a tree planted near water. Not in a desert, but near a source of life. As a result, it survives heat and drought. Even under bad conditions, it still looks OK and bears good fruit.

1. How do you plant yourself near God's supply of nourishment for you? Think of some examples of God's means of feeding you.

2. Trees don't grow alone. They are always together with other trees. What does this mean for you and your life as a Christian?

3. Trees don't move around looking for new sources of nourishment. They stay planted by the reliable source of water. What does this mean for you?

-- Charlie

Your Time, or God's Time?

"Peter said to him, 'Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.'" (John 13:37)

Sometimes we're quite eager to be ambassadors for our Lord. Peter was. But sometimes, our King's plan for our service is quite different than our ambitions. Peter was not short on ambition or devotion. At least in his head. But Jesus' plan for him was different than his own. Jesus knew that Peter would fail.

Jesus, in his wise way of teaching, knew that Peter had to go through the bitter experience of falling. When God gives us something empty or blank, we need to accept that and not try to fill it in with our own scheme. Wait patiently on God's providence before taking action in service.

1. Are you eager or impatient with your current circumstances? What is God not allowing that you think should be happening?

2. Can you imagine what might go wrong if you had your way right now?

3. How will you know when it's God's time for you to move on to the next thing in service to him? What might the clear indication be that he is leading you?

-- Charlie

Letting Go

"When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood." (Genesis 22:9)

I have to acknowledge Oswald Chambers for today's thought.

What was God, Abraham's heavenly Father, teaching him here? Abraham, Isaac's father, was obeying God to the point of sacrificing his only son for him. Is that what God wanted? Clearly not. What God wanted was Abraham's full and complete devotion. He wanted nothing to come between them.

Abraham could only live for God if he died to everything else dear to him. And this is the means God used to rip away that one idol that would come between Abraham and God: his precious only son. Now, Abraham was free to adore and love God with nothing in this world holding him back. He loved his son Isaac no less, but he now unconditionally loved his Father in heaven.

1. Has God ever taken you to the point of letting go of something in order to have your full devotion to him?

2. When you let go of that something, what have you gained?

3. Have you considered all of the talents and capabilities God has given you and how he wants to use them? What's holding you back from using all of who you are more fully in God's kingdom here in this world?

4. Pray, if you dare, that God will remove any remaining loves that come between you and him.

-- Charlie

University City Bible Study for International Students

This semester, Lani Borgman Shade will be hosting a Bible study on the book of Romans every Monday night at the Charis House in University City at 7:45pm.  We will be using John Stott's Bible study guide as we work our way through the book. Refreshments begin at 7:45pm with Bible study following. All international students and scholars are invited. Opportunity will be given for discussion and application based on observations made from scripture.

What: Bible Study on the book of Romans

Where: The Charis House, 4441 Spruce St. (on the corner of 45th and Spruce), University City

Time: 7:45 pm

When:  Monday evenings starting January 18th

For more information: contact Lani at  laniborgman@earthlink.net or call 215-386-0956

For public transportation: #42 bus

Lani Borgman Shade
4441 Spruce St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
 

Repent and be Baptized

"Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:37-38)

Whenever God pronounces his judgment on people, his mercy is not far away. Peter presents a case for what God has done in Jesus—who they killed. Their reaction? They were devastated. Peter's words convicted them of their rebellion against God. But they also wanted to know what they could do. Peter's answer: the God you have rejected will also save you. Repent and be baptized. Turn from your rebellion. Ask God to forgive you in the name of Jesus. He will, and he will give you the Holy Spirit. God is as thorough in his redeeming work as he is in his judgment.

1. How often do you consider God's judgment and his eagerness to forgive you?

2. Do you think this applies only to those who don't yet have a relationship with God?

3. What is your reaction to God's firm offer to forgive you and give you his Holy Spirit?

-- Charlie