I teach a men's Bible study every Tuesday morning. These are wonderful men who love God and their families. They know me, accept me and allow me to teach with passion without getting offended. It is great to be yourself around others to the degree that even when you mess up they just love you anyway. Lately we have been on the subject of living the gospel-centered life with joy as outlined by the apostle Paul in Philippians. In the past several weeks I have been asking these men about "how" they are living out the Christian life. For example I have asked questioned like:
1. When is the last time you invited a couple over just to pray about specific needs in each others families?
2. Have you in the last year had some people over just for the purpose of sharing the word of God?
3. Are you in community with others where you are fasting on a regular basis?
4. If I were to do an inventory in the last month of your time, energy and money would Christ be at the top of the list? By that question I really mean is Christ the "main thing" in your life?
5. Here are two questions regarding wives: Does your wife know you love her? And does she feel loved? (Guys, go and ask your wives these two questions)
As I said before this is a wonderful study and these guys are real. Each of us is processing through a 21st Century American mentality especially as it relates to our lives in Christ. We are coming to find out that active jobs, wives schedules, kids activities and the ongoing social opportunities have drawn us away from the word of God. I recently heard that at a Christian conference 100 people were asked to give a definition of the gospel and when they came back only 1 person had given a correct Biblical answer. As parents we would hardly accept our children getting F's on all their subjects in school but most of us don't mind if we get an F in the gospel. What could be more important that this topic? And yet the culture consumes us to find other things that continue to grab our attention. Hey folks it's time to get back to the word of God - if not you, then who and if not now, then when?
1. When is the last time you invited a couple over just to pray about specific needs in each others families?
2. Have you in the last year had some people over just for the purpose of sharing the word of God?
3. Are you in community with others where you are fasting on a regular basis?
4. If I were to do an inventory in the last month of your time, energy and money would Christ be at the top of the list? By that question I really mean is Christ the "main thing" in your life?
5. Here are two questions regarding wives: Does your wife know you love her? And does she feel loved? (Guys, go and ask your wives these two questions)
As I said before this is a wonderful study and these guys are real. Each of us is processing through a 21st Century American mentality especially as it relates to our lives in Christ. We are coming to find out that active jobs, wives schedules, kids activities and the ongoing social opportunities have drawn us away from the word of God. I recently heard that at a Christian conference 100 people were asked to give a definition of the gospel and when they came back only 1 person had given a correct Biblical answer. As parents we would hardly accept our children getting F's on all their subjects in school but most of us don't mind if we get an F in the gospel. What could be more important that this topic? And yet the culture consumes us to find other things that continue to grab our attention. Hey folks it's time to get back to the word of God - if not you, then who and if not now, then when?
