Download/Play MP3 (14 Min, 6.4MB)
(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download, or use Player below)
We left off last week saying that we'd begin talking this week about tithing and giving as it relates to our life in God's grace, but with this being "Passion Week" or "Easter Week" (or whatever you want or don't want to call it), we decided on a whim to record one program about the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Many of us know the whole story - we know the events that took place during the final week of Jesus' earthly life. But these were not simply historical events. These are happenings that we can personally identify with, since we were crucified with Christ and then we were risen again with Him!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
233. Fear Comes from a Wrong Perspective of God
Download/Play MP3 (14 Min, 6.4MB)
(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download, or use Player below)
Many people unfortunately live with a very unhealthy fear of God (being afraid of Him), all because of a wrong perception of who He is and how He sees us and relates to us. A message of law and of God's wrath and anger toward sinful behavior is taught as a means of trying to stop people from sinning and to keep in a right relationship with Him. But that message doesn't stop sinful behavior and it doesn't help people turn to God or draw close to Him, not to mention that it doesn't represent God or His good news!
This week we talk about how a true biblical 'fear' of God does not mean that we are to be afraid of Him, but rather is more closely defined as "awe and reverence" or "worship." Joel's recent Growing in Grace Together guest Doug Meeker gave a great definition of the essence of worship - "love responding to love." The message of a God who is angry with us and who we are to be afraid of certainly doesn't cause people to respond in love! And that message comes from a wrong perception of God.
We encourage you to believe God's astounding opinion of you! (in the words of another recent guest, Ralph Harris). Believe His love for you and believe how He passionately pursues you!
(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download, or use Player below)
Many people unfortunately live with a very unhealthy fear of God (being afraid of Him), all because of a wrong perception of who He is and how He sees us and relates to us. A message of law and of God's wrath and anger toward sinful behavior is taught as a means of trying to stop people from sinning and to keep in a right relationship with Him. But that message doesn't stop sinful behavior and it doesn't help people turn to God or draw close to Him, not to mention that it doesn't represent God or His good news!
This week we talk about how a true biblical 'fear' of God does not mean that we are to be afraid of Him, but rather is more closely defined as "awe and reverence" or "worship." Joel's recent Growing in Grace Together guest Doug Meeker gave a great definition of the essence of worship - "love responding to love." The message of a God who is angry with us and who we are to be afraid of certainly doesn't cause people to respond in love! And that message comes from a wrong perception of God.
We encourage you to believe God's astounding opinion of you! (in the words of another recent guest, Ralph Harris). Believe His love for you and believe how He passionately pursues you!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
232. Let Love Displace Fear
Download/Play MP3 (14 Min, 6.5MB)
(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download, or use Player below)
Fear can be crippling. There's no doubt about that. The sad fact is that even many believers live in fear (afraid) of God, and don't understand all that He's done for us and that He is for us, not against us. It's easy for many to believe He loves them when they're doing 'right,' but it's harder to accept the reality of His love when they're not. But He loves us unconditionally. He is love. We were never meant to live in fear of Him, even when we've done wrong. God is not the "accuser of the brethren." Satan is. God is not our destroyer; He's our deliverer.
There are too many people living in fear and condemnation. Fear changes our perception of our loving Father. It negatively changes how we see Him and relate to Him. But fortunately it doesn't change the reality of His unconditional love and it doesn't change His view of us. It doesn't change how He relates to us. So we need to let love have it's way with us. We need to displace fear with love.
(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download, or use Player below)
Fear can be crippling. There's no doubt about that. The sad fact is that even many believers live in fear (afraid) of God, and don't understand all that He's done for us and that He is for us, not against us. It's easy for many to believe He loves them when they're doing 'right,' but it's harder to accept the reality of His love when they're not. But He loves us unconditionally. He is love. We were never meant to live in fear of Him, even when we've done wrong. God is not the "accuser of the brethren." Satan is. God is not our destroyer; He's our deliverer.
There are too many people living in fear and condemnation. Fear changes our perception of our loving Father. It negatively changes how we see Him and relate to Him. But fortunately it doesn't change the reality of His unconditional love and it doesn't change His view of us. It doesn't change how He relates to us. So we need to let love have it's way with us. We need to displace fear with love.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Doug Meeker - Worship is About Jesus - Part 2
Download/Play MP3 (13 Min, 6MB)
(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download)
When Doug Meeker visited my home a couple of weeks ago, and when we sat down to talk about the topic of "worship," I had no idea how rich the time and conversation would be! You're not going to get the usual, common, standard thoughts and perspectives from Doug when it comes to talking about worship. In this chat we discuss the question of "what worship looks like," and Doug gives an illustration that shows how it doesn't have to look any certain way and in fact can look lots of different ways to different people.
While our conversation is mainly in the context of corporate worship, in which people get together to sing and praise God, everything that is said is easily translated into our life in Christ in general as well. In the end, if our focus is on Christ (with worship being defined as "whatever you ascribe worth to"), then we don't have to be worried or concerned about what it looks like. Doug shares things that are helpful in moving away from being self-conscious about what worship looks like and instead to having a Christ-consciousness. That is, simply being focused on the object of our worship - Christ Himself - and simply responding to Him and His life and love.
Find out more about Doug Meeker at dougmeeker.com.
Part 1 - Part 2
(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download)
When Doug Meeker visited my home a couple of weeks ago, and when we sat down to talk about the topic of "worship," I had no idea how rich the time and conversation would be! You're not going to get the usual, common, standard thoughts and perspectives from Doug when it comes to talking about worship. In this chat we discuss the question of "what worship looks like," and Doug gives an illustration that shows how it doesn't have to look any certain way and in fact can look lots of different ways to different people.
While our conversation is mainly in the context of corporate worship, in which people get together to sing and praise God, everything that is said is easily translated into our life in Christ in general as well. In the end, if our focus is on Christ (with worship being defined as "whatever you ascribe worth to"), then we don't have to be worried or concerned about what it looks like. Doug shares things that are helpful in moving away from being self-conscious about what worship looks like and instead to having a Christ-consciousness. That is, simply being focused on the object of our worship - Christ Himself - and simply responding to Him and His life and love.
Find out more about Doug Meeker at dougmeeker.com.
Part 1 - Part 2
Sunday, March 07, 2010
231. Love vs. Fear
Download/Play MP3 (14 Min, 6.4MB)
(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download, or use Player below)
"We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; his perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what he might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what he might do to us and shows that we are not fully convinced that he really loves us. So you see, our love for him comes as a result of his loving us first." (1 John 4:18-19 TLB)
It could be argued that the one thing that will hinder a relationship more than anything else is fear. God's perfect love for us is meant to drive away all fear (being afraid). We're not meant to be afraid of Him. But from the very beginning, man has hidden from God even while God has relentlessly pursued a love relationship with man. Adam and Eve hid from God in fear and shame, even when He went out looking for them, and we often do the same.
This week we talk about how a view of God as a harsh, mean taskmaster who we are to be afraid of, is a faulty view of God. We're not meant to be afraid of God or what He'll do to us! What we should be entrenched in is not fear, but in the perfect love and acceptance of God. A relationship based upon love, not fear, is what life in Christ is about.
(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download, or use Player below)
"We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; his perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what he might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what he might do to us and shows that we are not fully convinced that he really loves us. So you see, our love for him comes as a result of his loving us first." (1 John 4:18-19 TLB)
It could be argued that the one thing that will hinder a relationship more than anything else is fear. God's perfect love for us is meant to drive away all fear (being afraid). We're not meant to be afraid of Him. But from the very beginning, man has hidden from God even while God has relentlessly pursued a love relationship with man. Adam and Eve hid from God in fear and shame, even when He went out looking for them, and we often do the same.
This week we talk about how a view of God as a harsh, mean taskmaster who we are to be afraid of, is a faulty view of God. We're not meant to be afraid of God or what He'll do to us! What we should be entrenched in is not fear, but in the perfect love and acceptance of God. A relationship based upon love, not fear, is what life in Christ is about.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Doug Meeker - Worship is About Jesus - Part 1
Download/Play MP3 (20 Min, 9MB)
(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download)
I recently had the privilege of having Doug Meeker in my home when he came to Iowa to lead a worship workshop at a church in a nearby town. We had a great time together, and had some very wonderful conversations about many things, including the topic of 'worship.' We sat down to record some of our thoughts, and here is Part 1 of 2 of our recorded chat.
When it's said that "worship is about Jesus," some might say, "Well, duh!" :) But Doug has a great way of distinguishing between what worship is and what it isn't, as compared to what it seems to have become for many in the church today. For some, worship seems to be more about "the music" or about the style or the atmosphere. And it's not as if those things can't play an important role in worship. Music is a very powerful thing that can truly be used by God to move us. But yet music is not what worship is about. Worship is about Jesus.
And so even though Doug is gifted as a musician, he's the first one to try to help us get our thoughts off of the music, and instead to draw our attention to what true worship is. He says the word 'worship' means "whatever you ascribe worth to." Listen in to see the thoughts he draws from that definition. In the end, worship is about relationship. It's about intimate fellowship with Jesus. It's about love responding to love.
We also talk about a few other things, so I invite you to join me and Doug on this Growing in Grace Together discussion and then join us next week to for Part 2!
Find out more about Doug Meeker at dougmeeker.com.
Part 1 - Part 2
(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download)
I recently had the privilege of having Doug Meeker in my home when he came to Iowa to lead a worship workshop at a church in a nearby town. We had a great time together, and had some very wonderful conversations about many things, including the topic of 'worship.' We sat down to record some of our thoughts, and here is Part 1 of 2 of our recorded chat.
When it's said that "worship is about Jesus," some might say, "Well, duh!" :) But Doug has a great way of distinguishing between what worship is and what it isn't, as compared to what it seems to have become for many in the church today. For some, worship seems to be more about "the music" or about the style or the atmosphere. And it's not as if those things can't play an important role in worship. Music is a very powerful thing that can truly be used by God to move us. But yet music is not what worship is about. Worship is about Jesus.
And so even though Doug is gifted as a musician, he's the first one to try to help us get our thoughts off of the music, and instead to draw our attention to what true worship is. He says the word 'worship' means "whatever you ascribe worth to." Listen in to see the thoughts he draws from that definition. In the end, worship is about relationship. It's about intimate fellowship with Jesus. It's about love responding to love.
We also talk about a few other things, so I invite you to join me and Doug on this Growing in Grace Together discussion and then join us next week to for Part 2!
Find out more about Doug Meeker at dougmeeker.com.
Part 1 - Part 2
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