Sometimes Pastors have to step up to the plate and preach on some tough issues. That's the way I feel about this next series of messages. Sometimes we have to be warned about the pitfalls of our culture. They have a sneaky way of creeping into the theologies of our churches, and watering down our Core Values.
"To be forewarned is to be forearmed." I have often said that it would surprise even the most avid reader of the Bible how influenced he is by his culture. We are often more by-products of our culture then we are of our religious beliefs.
When I first started out as a pastor I was told by a Mentor to be careful not to preach a "Reader's Digest" type of Gospel. He said, "Stick to the Word. It will never let you down."
The meaning of the word culture is the beliefs, customs, practices, and social behavior of a particular nation or people. When your nation or continent is made up of a hodge-podge of beliefs and practices, from New Age to Eastern Mystical beliefs and practices, from the religion of psychology and philosophy to Fundamentalism, the truth can be quite confusing to say the least. The Word of God has never been as important to our rule of faith and practice as it is today.
Sunday's message is a precursor to the new series of messages on the book of Jude that will start on February 27. It will take its 'Good News' from Joshua 24:1-15; focusing on Joshua's instruction to "choose whom you will follow."
We have spent the last two months reviewing our Core Values. They should help to protect us from the various cultural influences that might infiltrate our weakness and water down our beliefs. Now, it is good to openly talk about some of those destructive influences.
Helen is leading the Study Program from the Beth Moore series entitled, "Breaking Free". I believe that my messages and this series of lessons will compliment each other as we focus on turning away from negative influences and placing our full faith in God through Jesus Christ.
Take time to reflect upon Joshua 24:15 as preparation to Sunday's message. God has given you the 'liberty of free will' for a purpose. Can you figure it out? The answer will be shared in Sunday's message.
Blessings,
-Leo
Friday, February 18, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Hey Jude!
Hi Folks,
What do you think of my message theme title? I am borrowing it from the Beatles' song: "Hey Jude!" As you may have guessed, my next series of messages will be on the tiny book of Jude.
It is one of the smallest book of the Bible, but it packs a powerful punch. Jude does not mince his words. He is a straight shooter; probably an approach that is not done very often in our churches today.
Jude's message is not so much an evangelistic message; but rather a letter of rebuke and correction to the unidentified church to which he is writing. It is also a timeless message to all churches - a message of warning. Every church era has face the same challenges which permeated the church of which Jude addresses.
What was the problem? False teaching - actually, disgraceful false teaching. It was false teaching for the purpose of sinful acts and deeds; a false teaching with a hedonistic agenda attached. These were teachers who perverted the Gospel message for the gain of their own selfish pleasures. I remember reading some time ago that the early church was accused of sex orgies in the river. This was reference to baptismal services where people were supposedly baptized in the nude. The church that Jude is addressing may be the cause of such rumors.
False teachings can be subtle and subliminal. We may not even be aware of the wrongness of the teachings that pervade our minds, and creep into our theologies. One such theology that is very popular today is what is called, "The Gospel of Oprah." Oprah Winfrey is watched and intently listened to everyday, Monday to Friday. She preaches a message that sounds good, but reaches far beyond the Bible into New Age Philosophy.
Jude addresses such 'Wolves in sheeps clothing' in his short but very intense letter. He also gives us a criterea for exposing false teaching, a formula that can still work today (this will be one of the focuses of these messages on Jude).
I hope to have some fun, but yet be very serious with this next serious of messages. They will start on the last Sunday of February, and will carry us into the Easter Season. Why not take some time to prepare. Read and research this short letter of the Bible. Enjoy.
Check out this brief commentary on Jude:
http://www.christianinconnect.com/jude.htm
-Leo
What do you think of my message theme title? I am borrowing it from the Beatles' song: "Hey Jude!" As you may have guessed, my next series of messages will be on the tiny book of Jude.
It is one of the smallest book of the Bible, but it packs a powerful punch. Jude does not mince his words. He is a straight shooter; probably an approach that is not done very often in our churches today.
Jude's message is not so much an evangelistic message; but rather a letter of rebuke and correction to the unidentified church to which he is writing. It is also a timeless message to all churches - a message of warning. Every church era has face the same challenges which permeated the church of which Jude addresses.
What was the problem? False teaching - actually, disgraceful false teaching. It was false teaching for the purpose of sinful acts and deeds; a false teaching with a hedonistic agenda attached. These were teachers who perverted the Gospel message for the gain of their own selfish pleasures. I remember reading some time ago that the early church was accused of sex orgies in the river. This was reference to baptismal services where people were supposedly baptized in the nude. The church that Jude is addressing may be the cause of such rumors.
False teachings can be subtle and subliminal. We may not even be aware of the wrongness of the teachings that pervade our minds, and creep into our theologies. One such theology that is very popular today is what is called, "The Gospel of Oprah." Oprah Winfrey is watched and intently listened to everyday, Monday to Friday. She preaches a message that sounds good, but reaches far beyond the Bible into New Age Philosophy.
Jude addresses such 'Wolves in sheeps clothing' in his short but very intense letter. He also gives us a criterea for exposing false teaching, a formula that can still work today (this will be one of the focuses of these messages on Jude).
I hope to have some fun, but yet be very serious with this next serious of messages. They will start on the last Sunday of February, and will carry us into the Easter Season. Why not take some time to prepare. Read and research this short letter of the Bible. Enjoy.
Check out this brief commentary on Jude:
http://www.christianinconnect.com/jude.htm
-Leo
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