Raising the Bar of Conversations

[S] Ephesians 5:3-4 --
 ³But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;
 ⁴and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

[O] Following yesterday's passage, Paul continues on about raising the standard of excellence for Christ followers.  This begins by avoiding immoral or impure thoughts in our hearts, not even mentioning any of that either.  Whenever we gathering around with other Christ followers we need to remember this passage of being very careful of what we talk about for fun or not because Paul's clear about one thing that we should give thanks to God and others instead of exchanging of unfitting words with one another.  This is very easy to do, however, and so must be careful not to fall into that mode.

[A] Verse 3 talks about how Christ followers must keep up the standard of their reputation and also to keep their conversations clean.  It's not that we have to use filthy or offensive words to fall into this category but also when we gossip and talk down on others we are guilty of what Paul charges us not to do.  I need to have more of an appreciation of people around me and to praise them with kind words.

[P] Dear God, please fill my heart with more gratitude about everything and everyone you've put around my life.  I want nothing more than the thankfulness come out of my mouth when I'm around others.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Every Joint Counts

[S] Ephesians 4:16 -- 
¹⁵but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
 ¹⁶from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

[O] In order for my whole body to function properly in its tip-top shape, every joint in my body must function at their best condition.  There is no such thing as a more important joint when it comes to the well being of the whole body.  Paul uses that analogy to explain the same effect in the body of Christ which is knit together by multiple parts connected by the joints in order to interact in unison to function as a whole body.  Here also, there is no joint that is more important than another when it comes to the benefit of the overall body.  The part about "proper working of each individual part" causing the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love provided an in-depth perspective of the vision for our small group ministry.  No great plan or execution of such a plan is not going to be the answer to a building up of our ministry but the key lies with each individuals "properly working" to build up the body in love.  This may be a bit vague but ultimately we need to build up the leadership group such that they can nurture and engage each member into the "whole body" of our church.  This should be the driving factor more so than the weekly meeting format itself, or which materials to use for discussion.

[A] This is another guidance from God for the small group ministry's vision.  This chapter's always been inspiring for mobilizing the community in the right direction and this passage is not an exception.  I am going to make "each individuals working properly => causes the growth of the body => building up in love" one of the pillars for building up our small group ministry.

[P] Dear God, thank You so much for continuing to pour into my heart Your vision for our ministry.  It's been a little discouraging moment due to some changes in the leadership group but there's never a shortage of Your wisdom and guidance for me to move on with energy and strength.  So I carry onward in Your Spirit's leadership as I pray in Your name.  Amen.

From the Bottom Looking Up

[S] Ecclesiastes 4:10,12b --
 ¹⁰For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
 ¹²... A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

[O] As a Korean proverb goes -- Even monkeys fall off the trees at times -- we are all bound to fall down here and there no matter how hard and carefully we try to live.  So, having companions close by to lend a hand when I'm facing up flat on my back would be a good thing.  And when I can be the one lending a hand to my friend who's facing up would be a good thing also.  This type of a friendship is what's going to strengthen the fabric of the community I belong to by lifting one another up because as verse 12 closes, such a community will withstand many challenges without giving in easily.

[A] In order to be such a friend to others around me, I need to build more margin around my life such that I will have some room to shift over to those who's fallen down.  My life these days seem to be filled to the brim with so many events to tend to and so very difficult to be an effective "uplifter" for my friends who may be in need of my hand.

[P] Dear God, I pray for wisdom to balance my life better to build more margin around it because I want to be a strength to those around me who may have found themselves facing up from the bottom.  I pray that I would also find friends who may be the one lifting me up from the bottom.  With such striving, please provide a warm and "strong" fabric of community where me and my family may attach ourselves into for maturing in Christ.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

People Need Vision

[S] Proverbs 29:18 --
     ¹⁸Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained,
         But happy is he who keeps the law.  (NASB)
 ¹⁸ When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.
      But whoever obeys the law is joyful.  (NLT)

[O] The central force which unites people's hearts comes from a single vision which is caught by the people.  Without it people will run wild without any common boundaries.  So in such a state all the energy of the people are drained by trying to normalize everyone's diverse views and opinions of who is right or wrong.  Let's face it, there is no one person who is right all the time so what good is it to try and persuade and influence each other about why certain ways are better for the people?  Even if that seems right, implementation of such a way is a whole new can of worms and there most likely be a better and improved idea by another person.  So, while this is not about living a complacent life, I do believe the source of our ideas and improvements must come from God's vision.  My role should be the conduit of His vision to the people which leaves room for God to move people's hearts and unite them to exercise their energy in a single direction joyfully.

[A] Having spent last 10 months of "kick starting" a small group ministry from ground zero at my church had been a good challenge which was very much anticipated, by the way. I could write a book on different methodologies and what to do, don't do, but this verse gave me an insight to be the conduit of God's vision to the leadership group which is being formed.  More so that the how to's, let God's vision inspire them and unite to move forward.

[P] Dear God, grant me Your wisdom to understand Your vision so I may pass it on to the small group leadership group.  And I pray that You would encourage them and unite them to carry forward this ministry which You are at work.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Same Mind, One Voice

[S] Romans 15:5-6 --
 ⁵Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,
 ⁶so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[O] The ultimate goal of godly perseverance and encouragement is to have the same mind in Christ to glorify God.  According to the standards of our society the goal is to be successful which translates into some measurement of quantity such as position, power, or money.  But God's standards are measured by how close my life will follow in accordance with Christ Jesus' principles which He Himself displayed for us during His ministry on earth.  We talk about casting visions and living them out, but unless it is founded on a group of followers with the same mind and with one voice glorify God, that vision is only going to be a dream that may never fulfill.

[A] Any ministry within a local church need to build on top of this principle of same mind and one voice and achieving that requires a common understanding of a certain chain of commands because without it, we will be spending a lot of time trying to figure that out instead of impacting God's ministry itself.  I'm convicted to start praying for this to take place within our small group ministry.

[P] Dear God, please grant the same mind with all the leaders of the small group ministry according to Christ Jesus.  I am not going to worry about all the other logistics for now and focus on this principle to take place.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

No Charter Flights Into Heaven

[S] Romans 14:11-12 --
 ¹¹For it is written,
         "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME,
         AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD." 
 ¹²So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.  

[O] I always envisioned a mass of people worshiping God from this passage with every knee bowed with one voice praising Him.  But today a whole new picture came to mine.  When Jesus returns to give His final account of this world, each one of us will have to stand up on our own.  There won't be any group charter flights into God's Kingdom for example.  Based on this Paul writes further about how there is no need for us to judge one another now because in the end (literally) we will all have to stand before God individually to give our own story.  In light of this, I would like to start practicing bowing and praising before God all on my own.  I want to practice to make it "perfect."

[A] Even now when I worship God or to live out my own walk with God, I must stand up on my own not influenced by what others are doing.  I like to enter into a deeper worship during Sunday worship services regardless of the circumstance or environment.

[P] Dear God, may my knee bow before You and my tongue sing praise to You wherever I am and whoever I'm with.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Prepare Plans, then Make War

[S] Proverbs 20:18 -- ¹⁸Prepare plans by consultation,
         And make war by wise guidance.

[O] As a soccer coach I would never show up to a game unprepared as I would work on the lineup, figure out who's injured or won't be at the game, and study about the opposing team to better strategize for a strong and successful game.  This verse explains how critical it is to prepare for war beforehand making plans by consulting experts of war, sources of intelligence against the enemy, and with the military commanders.  What areas in my life am I not making proper plans by consulting with the right people for wise guidance?  I can so easily be in this place I must constantly ask this question.

[A] I can feel the sense of urgency as we come to our first year mark of the small group ministry at our church because in many ways we are settling into moving further on however along with that momentum, our enemy is hard at work alongside us, too.  I'm realizing this is more than just running a program but an act of war against the enemy's schemes.  I will need wise guidance and that's going to come from the Word as well as others who's expert at doing this.

[P] Dear God, please show me the consultants to receive wise guidance as I engage in this war in the battlefield of small groups at our church.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.