New Beginning Columbus

THURSDAY, May 17, 2012: Ephesians 4:17-24 GROWING

newbeginningcolumbus — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:35:11 +0000

The passage points to the “how” and the “how not” of growing. Last Sunday was Mother’s Day. As we consider how our mothers helped us grow – and we honor them for that – we also consider how each of us is called to use our gifts and abilities to build up the body of Christ. We’ve each been given particular gifts to help build up the whole body. This passage warns us about what might get in the way of our growth. We might have to “put off” a few things in order to “put on” the new nature created after the likeness of God. When we consider what it means to grow spiritually, the first step is taking responsibility for our own growth. This is something the church can’t do for us. The church’s role is to shepherd, care, encourage, instruct and teach, but ultimately you hold the responsibility for your own growth. Are you taking responsibility for how you may or may not be growing? Ask God to give you a new vision about how you can grow in Christ.

Filed under: Daily Devotional, Ephesians

WEDNESDAY, May 16, 2012: Ephesians 4:11-16 USE THE GIFTS

newbeginningcolumbus — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:57:00 +0000

If we don’t use the gifts God has given to us, it’s like using the keys to the car to actually drive the car. It would be ludicrous to read the rules of the road, practice driving, study for the driver’s test, take and pass the test, and, when someone hands you the keys to the car, respond, “No thanks, now that I’ve got my driver’s license, I never had to drive again.” We’ve been gifted; God calls us now to use our gifts. In today’s text we find all kinds of roles articulated: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, etc. This is not an exhaustive list; there are many other roles in the body of Christ. The point here is that the servants listed are in those roles to equip the rest of us to serve, as well. Equipping the saints for the work of ministry often gets confused with the idea that paid staff and pastors are the ones who do the ministry. No, they are there to equip others for the work of ministry. Everyone must do his or her part. Do you do the work of ministry? What gifts do you use in that work? Ask God to help you use your gifts.

Filed under: Daily Devotional, Ephesians Tagged: church, equipping the saints, gifts god, keys to the car, religion, theology

TUESDAY, May 15, 2012: Ephesians 4:7 GIFTS

newbeginningcolumbus — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:43:36 +0000

Here Paul gets very pointed in his call to practical Christian living. What he lays out in these seven verses is summarized the chapter’s opening words: “I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called … with humility and gentleness … patience … and unity.” How do I do that? Paul’s answer can be found in the passage, with the reminder that each person has been gifted (graced) by Christ with special abilities to be used for the good and growth of all. We’re simply not in this for ourselves. The body of Christ is intended to be a finely-tuned organism, “joined and knit together by every ligament” for the purpose of growing up into the full stature of Christ. This is oneness. It’s not sameness; it’s oneness. Each person has been given gifts for building up the church; every person must use the gifts God has given. Do you believe you have been gifted by God? What gifts do you recognize that God has given you to use in the Kingdom? Ask God to help you identify your gifts today.

Filed under: Daily Devotional, Ephesians Tagged: church, gifts god, religion, sameness, special abilities, spirituality

SUNDAY, May 13, 2012: John 21:15-19

newbeginningcolumbus — Sun, 13 May 2012 08:07:52 +0000

Peter truly loves Jesus. They share stories and live faith together. How did faith grow in you? Was it taught, or did you catch it from someone who simply loved you? As we look at Jesus’ life, we see how faith is more caught than taught and how friendship is the primary bridge Jesus uses to walk from one life into another. Do you think sharing God’s love means preaching to someone? Do you feel like you need to have all the right answers? Planting seeds of faith isn’t about converting or convincing. It certainly isn’t about shoving the Bible down someone’s throat. It’s about simply befriending someone, loving that person well, earning their trust and respect. And more often than not, in the context of genuine friendship, faith happens – not because we bring the subject up, but because they do. Ask God to help you see how your faith was caught and how that might translate into your relationships today.

Filed under: Daily Devotional, John

SATURDAY, May 12, 2012: John 11:32-44

newbeginningcolumbus — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:06:39 +0000

Jesus weeps at his friend’s death. He knows the power of friendship and uses it. Have you ever noticed how often Jesus simply welcomes people into his life, just loves them as they are? That is often the prelude to a symphony of conversation about faith. In Jesus’ day, the relationship between student and rabbi was one of inferior to superior, but notice what Jesus says to his disciples in our text today: “I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends. … You did not choose me, but I chose you.” Friendship is the relational context for Jesus’ work with his disciples as he shares faith with them. Because faith is more caught than taught, friendship is still the primary context for sharing faith today. When you combine the power of story with the power of friendship, you have the fertile soil in which seeds of faith can grow. Ask God to help you understand the power of friendship.

Filed under: Daily Devotional, John

FRIDAY, May 11, 2012: John 3:9-21

newbeginningcolumbus — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:05:32 +0000

Are you uncertain about how to strike up a conversation? Let’s return to an idea we learned in January called the “conversation stack.” In the text from John 3, Jesus and Nicodemus have a deep conversation about spiritual things and through this conversation seeds of faith are planted into Nicodemus’ life. The “Conversation Stack” developed by Tentmakers can help you start a dialogue like that. First, imagine a nameplate; a person’s name is the sweetest sound to them in the world. Next, imagine a house; where do they live, where are they from, who is in their family. Then an airplane; where have you been, where are you going on vacation. Then a tennis racquet; what do they do for fun, what are their hobbies, what sports do they play. A light bulb; what are their thoughts and ideas. Then a Private First Class soldier at attention; this stands for problems, frustrations and concerns. Then a trophy; what have they accomplished, what makes them feel proud. Don’t forget the flowers; shower them with compliments along the way. Finally, imagine praying hands; if the situation is right, offer to pray with/for the person. This is the ultimate form of conversation, as we include God. Visualize this tool and let it guide you into conversation with someone new today. Try it. Practice.

Filed under: Daily Devotional, John

THURSDAY, May 10, 2012: John 15:12-17

newbeginningcolumbus — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:03:43 +0000

As people whose story is joined to Jesus’ story, we begin by abiding. The disciples are to abide in Jesus just as a branch abides in the vine. While the “how to” of abiding is never laid out, the result of this abiding is: fruit. And the most precious fruit of all is love. Love will define the lives of the disciples who stay connected to Jesus and his word. As we look to how our stories interconnect, the key is love. Followers of Jesus abide by loving one another through what they say and do. The beginning point of this love might be a conversation. Is conversation a lost art? Are we sacrificing real connections in the pace of our high-tech world? How often do you stop what you are doing and simply sit down with someone and talk? Conversation might just be the gateway to sharing your story. When we build genuine relationships for the sake of planting seeds of faith we are, in essence, loving one another. Ask God to help you reach out and begin a conversation.

Filed under: Daily Devotional, John

WEDNESDAY, May 9, 2012: Ephesians 1

newbeginningcolumbus — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:01:54 +0000

In the years following the life and death of Jesus, the church begins to answer some very deep, reflective questions about what this Jesus event means. As Christianity spreads across the world, the “what” of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection becomes firmly embedded into the lives and cultures of many people. But people are not satisfied with merely the “what” of the Jesus story. There’s a need to answer the next question, the question of the heart: “So what?” What does this mean for me? What does this mean for my community? What does this mean for the world? That’s precisely the question the writer of Ephesians is answering. What is the “so what” of the Jesus event for you? Ask God to help you see parallels between Jesus’ story and your own story of faith.

Filed under: Daily Devotional, Ephesians

TUESDAY, May 8, 2012: Psalm 78

newbeginningcolumbus — Wed, 09 May 2012 01:58:40 +0000

Stories and songs (like psalm 78) help us make sense of our current and past reality. When we tell someone a story, we are actually planting a seed into that person. What kind of story we tell matters. Stories are the basis of all our knowledge and the way we express our experiences over a period of time. Stories are the fabric of interpersonal communication and the way we explain other people’s behaviors. Stories form the core of our individual and communal identity and they help us interpret what is happening when we experience new things. Telling our story of faith, or even unfaith, plants seeds of hope, even in the face of whatever crushing force we encounter. Your story has power and no one else’s story is just like yours. What is your story of faith? How does your story give meaning to your existence? Ask God to help you see the power in your story.

Filed under: Daily Devotional, Psalm

MONDAY, May 7, 2012: Psalm 78:1-7

newbeginningcolumbus — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:57:35 +0000

Usually when we read a psalm we think of King David as the author. But this particular psalm is attributed to Asaph or to Asaph’s sons. According to Chronicles, Asaph is a Levite commissioned by King David (around 1000 B.C.) to play worship music and to write worship songs. He also plays the cymbals. Asaph or his sons are credited with writing Psalm 50 and Psalms 73-83. This psalm is about the deeds of God, the wonders of old, God’s wonders, making known God’s strength, redeeming God’s people from Egypt in the Exodus, and leading them through the desert like a flock. Do you have a song in your heart about the wonderful deeds of God? Do you make known what God is doing through your personal story? Does your story include a time when God delivered you from something? Ask God to help you see that you have a story of faith to share.

Filed under: Daily Devotional, Psalm