I must admit, I feel like a worn out puppy! On Saturday, we spent about 5 hours out in the cold at a baseball game. The Sunday morning service is always a physical drain. Of course, we had an Inquirers' class Sunday afternoon. Sunday night, I was ready for my usual day off on Monday.
BUT...a quirk in my normal schedule didn't allow a restful day on Monday. Early in the morning I headed to physical therapy on my back, then to Birmingham for a church planters gathering, and finally to Athens for another 5 hours out in the cold for Hunter's baseball double header. Worn out? Yes. Sleepy? Absolutely! But it is a "good tired" and let me share why...
On Monday I arrived in Birmingham around 9:45 in the morning. Normally, I might be laying in bed with ESPN on and reading a newspaper...relaxing and resting. But yesterday, I was able to be reminded of some great Gospel truths as I listened to my former Homiletics (preaching) professor, Bryan Chapell, speak to our group of Church planters in Alabama.
His topic was Christ-centered preaching. That is Dr. Chapell's area of expertise. He literally wrote the "textbook" on preaching. I had heard it all before, so to speak, in class at Covenant Serminary. In a lot of ways, it was nothing new. But, with six years of preaching behind me, what Dr. Chapell said yesterday didn't just resonate "behind the pulpit". It was reminders on how to live as a believer.
Providentially, his words will have direct impact on our upcoming texts in Ephesians. Let me give you a brief preview...
If you are a follower of Christ, your nature has changed. You are fundamentally different. You have a new freedom in your ABILITY to please and honor God...to love Christ. It is something you didn't have before. With that begins a true battle all believers must wrestle with. We all have different reasons to behave a certain way. We are all motivated by different things. Fear is a motivator. Guilt is a motivator. Gain is a motivator. So, as a believer, what motivates YOU to follow Christ? Why do you NOT sin? What compels you to seek to please God?
We are going to dig into this question as we continue digging into God-honoring relationships in Ephesians. Now, if I could only squeeze in a nap while I try to work!
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Hello Aristonio!
ReplyDeleteI have no problem being friends with different perspectives. I would disagree with you on several points. The issues dealt with at the Council of Nicea did revolve around the nature of Christ. The council's determinations were founded in the Scriptures. The concept of the Trinity and of Christ being the second person of the Trinity is absolutely essential to our faith (and founded in the Scriptures).
Now, if your world view is founded in the Koran, then I understand your disagreement with the view of the Bible. Unfortunately, we can't have a worthwhile discussion on theology when we can't agree on a basis for discussion.