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This week’s devotions are based on Sunday’s Message: I Love my church…love in community (WATCH HERE).

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Not every superhero has every super power.

The Justice League on Saturday morning cartoons back in the late 70’s was a combination of many of the popular superheroes of the day (Superman, Superwoman, Flash, Wonder Twins, and more).  They came together in the Justice League for the purpose of overcoming evil and injustices perpetuated by the villans of the world.  The goal was to utilize the strength of each superhero in combination with the strengths of other superheroes to overcome whatever challenge they were facing. 

In amazing fashion in 30 minutes they would all come together and whatever threat the world was facing was overcome by the super team of superheroes.

Have you ever considered the Church to be a superteam of superheros?

When we realize that every person the Spirit brings to faith in Jesus is also one to whom the Spirit gives Spirit powers…Spiritual gifts.  Yet the Spirit doesn’t give every person the same gifts or doesn’t give one person every gift.  So he brings people together in his Church to combine our gifts together to do the work that God has given to us to do.  Here’s how the Apostle Paul describes it:

1 Corinthians 12:12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

The human body is an amazing machine designed and created by the Almighty God.  There are parts of our body that we don’t even know we have until it hurts or fails.  Most of our parts function millions of times a day without even having to think about it.  Millions of cells have hundreds of parts and even each of those parts function together.  Yet, each part has a unique “superpower” upon which all the other parts of the body depend on.  If they are absent or fail to function the body suffers.  When they all function together, the body does amazing things. 

This is the picture of the Church which the Spirit of God uses to describe the body of Christ, the Church.  Many parts…unique gifts…working together for the common good and the glory of God.

This is one of the reasons that we can’t do the Christian faith in isolation.  We need the other parts of the body and the other parts of the body need us.  Sure, one can have faith in Jesus and just have them and God as part of that relationship.  However, God himself designed his Church to be made up of many individuals with many different gifts serving one common purpose.

So what does that mean for you?

The Spirit of God gave you gifts to be part of the team of the Church.

The Team of the Church has been given gifts to combine with yours to do the work of the Church.

So let this devotion be an encouragement, wherever you are.  

If you are not part of a Christ-centered, Bible believing Christian church, let this be an encouragement that you are missing out on the blessing of other members of the body of Christ and they are missing out on the gifts God has given to you.

If you are part of a Christian church and have been more a consumer of the content and program of that church and being blessed by other active members of the body of Christ, let this devotion be an encouragement to become a contributor and be willing to use your gifts in service to the Lord and your church by getting involved.

If you are an attender at Crosspoint, we handed out a flier with opportunities to use your gifts in the ministry in Georgetown.  Thank you to all who filled it out.  Here is the link to that form that you can print out and email or take a picture and text/email back to us.  

It isn’t about “getting people busy.”  It is about using the gifts the Spirit has given to you and using them together with the rest of the team…your church…God’s church.

 

Apply: Prayerfully consider how to use your gifts more fully in the work of the Lord at your local church.

Prayer: Spirit of God, thank you for giving me gifts to use in the work of the Church. Forgive me for sitting on the sidelines.  Empower me and guide me to the place in the Body you would have me use my gifts.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Sunday’s Message: I Love my church…love in community (WATCH HERE).

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If a super hero isn’t using their super powers,  they are just a dude sitting on a couch. 

Super heroes are fascinating.  Whether Superman, Superwoman, Spider man, or Wonder Twins or others, the intrigue of a superhero is that they have three things in common.

1. They have powers others don’t…although no one superhero has every superpower.
2. They have an awareness of their power and are willing to use it.
3. They have an individual or community in need which needs their superpower to prevent dire disaster from happening.

You may have your favorite superhero for a reason…the power they have…the risk they take…or the impact they make.  But perhaps we would be hesitant to say, “I am a superhero.”

I’d be surprised if anyone reading this had a comic book written after them, or were featured in a Hollywood thriller.

Are we just dudes and dudettes sitting on a couch?

Or are we superheroes with powers ready to be used?

While we don’t think of ourselves as superheroes in the way that DC and Marvel comics define superheroes with superpowers, we are superheroes with superpowers.  We don’t have superhuman strength; supersonic speed; or x-ray vision, but we do, as members of God’s church, have Spiritual gifts. 

1 Corinthians 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

This list isn’t exhaustive, but it does list a number of spiritual gifts that God’s Spirit gives.  EACH believer in Jesus is given gifts by the Spirit of God, just as God determined. So the question that you may rightly raise is this, “What is my gift?”  What is my “spirit”power?

Perhaps we wish we would get a little box from heaven that would identify that gift.  “To Michael, the gift of distinguishing between spirits.”  Perhaps we would also like the explanation of how to use that gift. “Use this gift in an upcoming conversation to determine whether what is discussed is from God or from Satan.  Guide with your gift people away from the deceiving spirits of Satan.”

That would be great, right?

While God hasn’t chosen this approach he has promised we all have a superpower/Spirit power.  So how do you know yours and how to use it.

If you want an assessment, here is a LINK to one that can help give a direction.

Perhaps another approach is simply to experiment with different areas of service and see where your abilities, your heart, your talents all line up for an engaging experience of serving the Lord.  Listen to what others say.  Others will notice your gift because Spiritual Gifts are meant to be used to be a blessing to the Lord and others.  And finally evaluate your energy.  Operating in your giftedness energizes, not depletes.  

We’ll look at other facets of spiritual gifts as the week goes on, but for today remember YOU are a Superhero because the Spirit of God has given YOU Spiritual Gifts to be used for the eternal benefit of others!

 

Apply:  Take the assessment on Spiritual gifts and then evaluate which gift you’d like to experiment with at your local church?

Prayer: Spirit of God, thank you for the generosity of your gifts to us.  Forgive us when we sit on the couch with them and empower us to use them all for your glory!

 

PS: If you attend Crosspoint in Georgetown, TX, please take this Spiritual Gift assessment and email to christygeiger@gmail.com.  THANKS!

 

This week’s devotions are based on Sunday’s Message: I Love my church…love in community (WATCH HERE).

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Community takes effort.

Romans 14:19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 

I will be the first to admit that I wish relationships were easy and didn’t take a lot of effort.  I wish that no one would ever get their feelings hurt, put the worst construction on what you say or make assumptions about your motives and actions.

But they do.

I do.

I have a sinful nature and so does every other person.  At the heart of the sinful nature is selfishness.  Selfishness by definition is thinking of self (sorry for the obvious).  When I think of self I don’t think of others and when I don’t think of others, relationships are not easy.

So, thanks to sin in our hearts and lives, relationships and community take effort.

Everyone’s effort.

Relationships are ALWAYS two-way streets.  Sometimes they are lopsided and one gives more than the other for a season, but ideally the relationship is also reciprocated.

I’m grateful for the effort that Jesus made to have a relationship with me.  Down to the very sacrifice of his life, was his heart of love that desired to have me (and you) as his child for eternity.  Of course his love engenders my love, trust, and faithful following.  His love engenders my love for him and for others.  Of course I can walk away from that relationship too.  I can blame Jesus for something that goes wrong.  I can disagree with what he says about my life or lifestyle.  I can assume that he is the cause of bad things in my life.

I would be wrong, but I can walk away.

The community of the church is to model the love Jesus has for us.  To be sure, the relationships can get lopsided and perhaps at times you may feel like someone “owes” something back.  But one can only control their heart and their effort.  If eventually the effort is rejected, you can’t control that.  You can only do as the Apostle Paul encouraged, “Make every effort!”

So what does that look like – especially in the church?

1. Begin to invest in others first.  On a Sunday morning strike up a conversation with someone with whom you have not met or talked with for a while.  Ask them a few questions, “How as their week?  What was challenging?  What was rewarding?  How is their family?  What make them laugh this week? Etc.
2. Take baby steps.  Small steps to build relationships over time will foster a caring community in your church.  Again you don’t have to share your life’s story on the first conversation.  Just interact with someone in a meaningful and sincere way.
3. Manage your expectations.  People are sinful as you are.  Not everyone is going to become a best friend, but people can enjoy getting along with others.  Someone will say something that will be hurtful.  Ask a question to clarify as often there is a story behind what was said…and we often don’t create the right one.  Look for wins rather than for reasons to give up.
4. Remember it’s your responsibility (and everyone else’s).  Everyone working together at building community will build community much quicker than one or two people working at it.  Don’t wait for someone to take initiative…do it yourself.

Remember the community of your church is the place where we get to experience and put into practice the love of Jesus.  It is not always easy.  It takes effort.  But it will always be a blessing!

 

Apply: What is one thing you can do this weekend to build community with someone at your church?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for giving every effort to build relationship with us.  Lead us to respond to your love by loving in community with others and making every effort we can to be a catalyst for a loving, caring community in our church.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Sunday’s Message: I Love my church…love in community (WATCH HERE).

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Extra love opportunities.

Today in Georgetown, TX kids and teens are headed back to school for the 2023-24 school year.  We certainly ask the Lord to bless and watch over them and their teachers and that those that are followers of Christ bear witness to his name and represent him will in the classrooms and hallways and athletic venues.  

One of the challenges kids can have in going back to school is that not everyone treats them well and they don’t get along with everyone.  We hear reports of bullying, shaming, or teasing that creates a challenge for the student to show up and be their best unless the issue is addressed.

The temptation when treated in an unloving way is to repay the evil for evil.  It is very hard to show patience or kindness to someone who does not treat us well or speak well of us.

Perhaps at times, one just has to avoid the person and protect your own safety.

However, perhaps there are these type of people in our lives to practice the love that Jesus has shown to us.

I call them “Extra love opportunities.”

The thing is, they don’t just show up in our schools.  They show up in our workplaces.  They show up in our homes, and, yes, they show up in our churches.

It’s part of being in community with others who are not perfect and have a sinful nature.  To be sure, I would love it if everyone could exhibit perfect patience and love at all times.  But its just not going to happen.

The “easy” out is to step out of that situation or relationship and not lean into it. This can happen in any of these settings, including the church.  How many individuals, perhaps including yourself, have you met that no longer go to church because of what was really or perceived as unloving…something someone said, did, or did not do.

In no way am I justifying or minimizing unloving behavior, but really those situations are not ones to step out of but rather step in to.  The Bible encourages:

“…Be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2)

So, I hate to say this, but each of us is an opportunity for another person to practice this.  In no way am I advocating that individuals should intentionally create “Extra Love Opportunities” with people around them.  I am encouraging to lean into that relationship and seek to understand why the person did or said what they did.  Often behind a cutting word, a mean look, or an unkind action is a hurt or situation they are reacting to…you just get to be on the receiving end of it.

To be in a church community is really a practicing place for us to put the love of Jesus into practice with those around us.  Of any setting (work, school, home), your church is a primary place to receive AND show the love of Jesus to the people around you.

So let’s be patient with one another.  Bear with one another in love.

The better you get at your church, the better you will get at school, at work, at home!

Apply: Who in your life is an “extra love opportunity”?  What might be a kind word or action that would show patience and love to them?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, open my heart to be filled with your love so I might show that love to others. AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Sunday’s Message: I Love my church…love in community (WATCH HERE).

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Are you willing to tear down the fence?

“Don’t throw your trash in my backyard, my backyard, my backyard

Don’t throw your trash in my backyard, my backyard’s full!”

This little ditty was the verse we would often use to warm up in choir.  I sang it on Sunday in the message, so listen to it there if you want the melody!

To be honest, I hadn’t really remembered these phrases and melodies for years…until this week.

I don’t want my neighbor’s trash in my backyard.  I have enough to deal with on my own to take on the others around me.  For us, that would be seven households that have some border on our backyard fence due to the layout of the property.  That’s a lot of trash.  Sure, I’d be more happy to throw my trash in their yard, but I wouldn’t want theirs in mine.

What does this have to do with community and the church?

We build fences around our backyard so we don’t have to interact with our neighbor.  Sure once in a while there is is a “Wilson” conversation over the fence (Reference the TV series: “Home Improvement”)  Perhaps these conversations have great depth like Wilson and Tim did on the sitcom, but for the most part we all keep to ourselves.

And if we are honest with ourselves, most of us are probably pretty comfortable with that arrangement.

But community means allowing the fences to come down.  When the fence comes down, we have to take time to interact with our neighbors and they with us.  We get a front row seat to the trash in their back yard and they into ours.  That’s scary!  That’s uncomfortable.  That’s a picture of the work needed to build community in a church.

Interacting for a few minutes on Sunday morning is a slight risk, but not too risky.  Superficial conversations are easier to have than vulnerable ones.  So a little interaction on a Sunday morning is sufficient.

But listen to this sampling of passages and see if a “superficial” conversation allows us to do this well:

“Carry each other’s burdens…” (Galatians 6:2)

For the most part, we want to carry our own burdens.  There’s even a bit of ego that doesn’t want someone to help (is it just me?).  It takes trust to let someone in on a physical, emotional, or spiritual burden.  When the fences come down, we can see what others are going through and be available to carry their burden.

Here’s a few more…

“Be kind and compassionate to one another…” (Ephesians 4:32)

“…Stop passing judgment on one another.” (Romans 14:13)

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you…” (Ro. 15:7) 

To put these encouragements into practice, we have to let the fence down and build the relationship.  We may have to step through trash, we may have to be inconvenienced…but you know what? People who want to build community with us will have to become comfortable with our trash because our backyard is full too.

Satan loves to keep us isolated…let’s repent and fight against this temptation.

The Spirit of God loves to help us build community with others so we can enjoy the “one another” and “each other” blessings of God’s church…his community.

Apply: Which of the four statements are most challenging for you to follow?  Why?  Ask the Lord to give you humbleness, courage, patience and willingness to take a baby step into community with others.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the community of believers you have put around me.  Help me to tear down the fences and and build community with others. Thank you for the blessings you promise and give as a result.  AMEN.