JESUS’ PREACHER TRAINING SCHOOL

Dec10

When I was in elementary school, recess was the time for team activities. We played various games, including softball. There was a boy in my class that was a terrific hitter. When it was his turn to bat, we all moved out as far as possible. We knew he would hit it to the fence, and he always did.

I remember the choosing of teams. The boys were always the captains, and each team wanted the boys first. The girls were the last to be chosen. Times have changed, and girls sometimes get picked first. It is the best, the fastest, the most accurate, the one that stands out that gets the priority pick.

Have your ever thought about why Jesus chose the men He did as His disciples? We can suppose that He chose them because they stood out in some way, were humble men, were proficient in some way, or were preselected by God. Could it have been a matter of chance? I suppose, but I think there was a purpose in each selection. They were chosen to fit a role, a place in Jesus’ ministry.

Luke 5 tells about the selection of Simon, James, and John. Jesus selected Simon’s ship from which to teach the people on the shore. He selected both Simon’s ship and the ship belonging to the sons of Zebedee from which to miraculously catch a multitude of fish. From that ship, Jesus proclaimed, “Fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men” (Luke 5:10 KJV).

With this simple statement, Simon Peter, James, and John became disciples. Matthew 4 tells us that Peter’s brother, Andrew, was there too. Later, Jesus picked Matthew from the tax collector’s table in Capernaum. One by one He found men that would soon become His students, His preacher students. After three years of studying at the feet of Jesus, all would deny Him and scatter lest they be arrested and possibly killed with Him. One would actually be the deliverer of his mentor to the authorities.

What a wonderful chance these twelve men would have to hear sermons, see miracles, and travel from Galilee to Judea and back. They would stand in the presence of kings, meet the highest-ranking Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and elders.

Just how quickly were the disciples expected to grow in their spiritual lives? By chapter 8 of Matthew, the disciples had already heard Jesus preach the Sermon on the Mount, been taught to pray, told not to worry about food or clothing. They had watched the healing of a leper, the centurion’s servant, and even Peter’s mother-in-law. Jesus had admonished them about the cost involved in following Him. They had been saved from a storm on the Sea of Galilee and watched a man possessed with demons healed and the demons cast into pigs.

I think Jesus expected them to step up to the task of being His disciples sooner than they did. Remember what Jesus said to them after the stilling of the storm? “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26).

In chapter 14, after having seen all kinds of miracles, the disciples couldn’t figure out that Jesus could feed 5,000 men plus women and children. They didn’t have enough faith to step out of the boat and walk with Him on the water. Jesus rebuked Peter by saying, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” After three years with Jesus, they were still wondering about the kingdom.

How quickly were new Christians expected to grow in the first century church? They were converted on Pentecost, and the immediate result was this. “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:44-47).

So, these new Christians were already studying, worshiping, sharing their possessions, making friends and converting others. They wasted no time in learning what God wanted them to do and putting it into practice.

The writer of Hebrews warned, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” (Hebrews 5:11-13).

How long have you been a Christian? Where are you in your spiritual maturity? How many of us are still expecting to be fed the milk of the Word when we should be teaching? Are you digging into the Word? Are you sharing the Gospel with others? Being faithful does not mean filling a pew on Sunday morning.

We were chosen for a purpose. It was not an accident that Jesus died for all mankind. We are not subject to chance, but we have been bought with the blood of Jesus.

Sandra Oliver

Do you teach your children responsibility?

Dec9

He did what the Lord approved and followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps; he did not deviate to the right or the left. 2 Chronicles 34.2

Do you teach your children responsibility? Do they have chores to do each day? Do they contribute to the good of the family? Most importantly, have you taught them the need to know God and how to follow him?

Josiah was crowned king in Jerusalem when he was eight. He was a good king. Even though he did not have good examples in his father and grandfather, someone had trained him to do what the Lord approved and not to deviate from the path.

Josiah was responsible for ridding Jerusalem and the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon and Naphtali of idolatry. He repaired the temple which his predecessors had allowed to fall into disrepair. After Hilkiah found the law scroll in the temple, Josiah gathered the people and read the scroll aloud renewing the covenant with the Lord. He restored observance of the Passover festival. All of this was accomplished within a span of thirty-one years.

Josiah had a heart that sought God. What are you teaching your children?

Vicki Matheny

It’s interesting how we can relax on a plane, but not know the pilot

Dec8

Arthur Somers Roche said, “Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.”

We define worry as: “a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems.”

Anxious, uncertain, concerned. Does that sound familiar? I find it funny that the definition includes not only actual problems, but potential ones! Anxiety can easily get the best of you, and it’s overwhelming. I’d like to take a look at Matthew 6:25-34 and see what Jesus has to say.

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Jesus uses two examples to show how creation is cared for: birds and flowers. Both are fragile and short lived, but they are still taken care of. The birds are fed and the wildflowers grow beautifully, only to be here for a short time. Why are we worried, when we are more valuable to Him?

Verse 27 stands out to me, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” We know that worrying doesn’t help a thing, but it seems to difficult to manage. But, why? He’s got us.

In verse 32, Jesus says: “These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” We shouldn’t let our anxieties control us, because we have Him on our side. We should know, that He knows!

He continues to say in verse 33 that if we focus our energy on His church, His family and align our moral standard with His, He will take care of us.

It’s interesting how we can relax on a plane, but not know the pilot. We step onto a plane with the confidence that the pilot knows what he is doing. The pilot will fly you safely to your destination. Why can’t we relax in life knowing that God is in control? He’s here for you, He loves you and wants you to know that you’re taken care of. It really is a comforting thought, as He is the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). Go to Him with your concerns and once you do, let them go.

We often sing “Bring Christ Your Broken Life” and it serves as a great reminder:

“Bring Him your every care, if great or small. Whatever troubles you – oh, bring it all. Bring Him the haunting fears, the nameless dread. Your heart He will relieve, and lift up your head.”

By Chelsea Pollard

Good trades and bad ones

Dec6

What might a gardener busy herself with on a warm December day? Why, collecting seeds, of course! A friend of mine is interested in growing a Dutchman’s Pipe Vine at her new home, and I really only collected enough to bring to our big local Seed Swap in January. A friend who has a daylily farm stopped by yesterday and also wanted some seeds of the lovely Aristolochia. She felt bad about not having anything to swap with, but she has shared countless flowers over the years.

Many of my most treasured plants have come from such trades, as my budget has been very slim. I attend at least one major plant swap every year, and have come away with an incredible bounty of horticultural gems. But not all swappers seem to value plants the same, and maybe don’t accurately describe their wares online for the swap arrangements. I’ve traded a full-grown rooted thornless blackberry plant for a one-inch seedling which subsequently died.

We swap all the time, whether we realize it or not. Time is money, and we aren’t always careful stewards of it. As for money, its sole purpose is as a currency with which to “trade.” Even those of us who consider ourselves bargain hunters have found ourselves on the bad end of somebody else’s bargain, like when I parted with my blackberry plant.

Samson was one clear example of somebody who should have experienced “buyer’s remorse” a couple of times. The jokes abound about how we swap our freedom for a spouse, but there is a lot of truth in it, especially in the case of women. Even our work for God is affected.

“But one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband” (1 Corinthians 7:33-34, NASB).

Clearly, Samson was not considering how best to serve God when he chose a bride among the Philistines. His parents protested. His answer – “Get her for me, for she looks good to me” (Judges 14:3, NASB 1995).

Oh, the times when something “looks good to me” but it wasn’t a good trade! I recently bought some tulip bulbs that looked good in the catalog, but were all dried out and chewed up when they came. I traded my hard-earned dollars for something from a questionable source that made it seem like a bargain.

The worst trade-offs are the biggest ones. We want material things so badly we sometimes are willing to trade time with our loved ones to get them. We may trade time with our brethren in worship or service to God for a career advancement or even an extra hour of sleep on Sunday. Either way, it’s a bad trade.

You know the saying, “Better than a stick in the eye?” I literally got a stick in the eye last summer, and I can verify that almost anything fits that sardonic description.

Samson’s next choice, Delilah, got him just that, and worse. Nothing again would “look good” after the Philistines put out his eyes. (Judges 16:21).

Let’s be careful about trading our treasures for what “looks good.”

Christine (Tina) Berglund

We had made poor choices that led to other poor choices.

Dec6

We live in a culture that teaches us to hide our weaknesses and failures. We are told not to interfere with people’s lives, and they should not interfere with our lives. Children express the sentiment well when they say, “It is none of your business.” It breaks my heart to see how many Christians have allowed this idea and cultural response to disrupt Christian relationships. It is an absolute contradiction to the example set forth in God’s inspired Word.

Ten years ago, my family faced a life altering experience. We had made poor choices that led to other poor choices. Without realizing it at the time, sin was at the heart of the whole matter. As our actions bore forth their consequences, we truly regretted what we had allowed our lives to become. By God’s amazing providence, we had recently started attending services with a congregation who understood love and bearing with one another. This congregation took us from two broken Christians who had fallen away while sitting in the pews for years to where we are today, in ministry.

Without the love, support and forgiveness of this congregation, we would not be here today. The eldership, ministers, deacons and members came to us with open arms, asking us how they could help put our broken family back together. Piece by piece, they used God’s love and His Word to change us. We have no doubt that our lives would not be the same without this group of individuals. In fact, we know of many congregations that would have turned their backs on us. We very likely would have left the church without the support we received.

Repeatedly, I see people who encounter tragedies who have no understanding of the church family. They believe they must hide all their struggles and sins instead of turning to the church for the love and the support that God intended.

Galatians 6:1-2 tells us that when our brothers fall into transgressions, we must go to them and help them return from that life of sin. We see in Romans 12:13 that we are to contribute to the needs of the saints, and from Romans 12:15, we learn that we are to rejoice and weep with those who are doing such. These are not suggestions but are commandments from God. We are to love and to support each other through both the good and the bad times. If we choose not to provide that love, we are failing to meet the law God set forth. However, there is another side to this coin. If Christians refuse to share their needs by choosing to live lives of privacy, they are preventing others from fulfilling the law. They have become a stumbling block to their brothers.

Christians, we need to understand that no one is immune from sin and tragedy. God knew this, and He knew living faithfully to Him would be a struggle at times in our lives. Yet, God is so good, and He never leaves us unprepared. He gave us the church to love, support, guide and correct each other. It’s time we put our culture, personal beliefs and fears aside. We need to fulfill the law that God gave us.

Jenny Choate

THE SEA OF GALILEE

Dec3

Some years ago, I made a trip to Israel. It had been a dream of mine for many years. I had taught and have continued to teach lessons from the life of Christ, but I teach those lessons very differently than before I made the trip. I saw the places I had taught about, and the stories are more real to me. I try very hard to make them real to my students.

Several stories in Jesus’ ministry on earth center around the Sea of Galilee. When you see it, you understand why. When the wind is calm, it is a peaceful place; but when the wind begins to pick up, it is a different story.

The Sea of Galilee is about 13 ½ miles long, 7 ½ miles wide, and 160 feet deep in some places. You can easily see from one side to the other.

I can close my eyes and visualize this beautiful body of water, see boats in the middle of the sea, with nets hanging from the sides of the boats. Three stories immediately come to my mind when I do this. Because I have been on a boat in the middle of this body of water, the stories are very clear in my imagination. I can see Jesus walking on the water. Because of the turbulence we experienced while on a boat in the middle of the sea, I can imagine the wind rising and the boat the disciples and Jesus were on being tossed about in a storm. I can also imagine Jesus on the shore, the disciples in a boat, distraught because they had fished all night and caught no fish. I can almost hear Jesus calling to them from the shore, telling them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. I can almost see the fishermen struggling to pull in the great catch of fish.

No matter how clear these events seem in my mind, it is not the story itself that is so compelling to remember. It is not just that Jesus allowed a man, a human being to walk on top of water, it is not just that Jesus awoke from a well-deserved sleep to save the disciples from a terrible storm. It is not just that Jesus filled the nets of the fishermen. It is what each of these stories represents to us today, in our lifetime.

The lessons we learn from these three stories give Christians all the assurance they need to live faithfully on this earth. They fit every situation, every struggle, every temptation, every need for reassurance.

When Peter stepped out of the boat to walk on the water with Jesus, he could have walked all around the boat, walked to shore, or walked across the sea. He didn’t do any of these, because he took his eyes off of Jesus. He looked at the waves and the way the wind was blowing, and he began to sink (Matthew 14:30). The lesson here is simple. Don’t take your eyes off of Jesus. Stay focused on Him and His sacrifice for man. Put Him first in your life; and when the winds blow, He will protect you.

When Jesus reached the point of exhaustion, He just wanted a quiet place to rest. Sometimes He wanted to commune with God; but in this case, He needed physical rest. While He lay sleeping in the boat, a storm raged around the fishing vessel; and it was tossed around on the sea. Matthew says the boat was covered with waves, so this was no little storm. The disciples woke Jesus, and begged Him to save them. With three words, Jesus brought everything under control. Simply put, the disciples’ faith wavered. When the storms of life engulf us, we need unwavering faith. The Lord will not fail us, if we keep the faith.

Seven of the disciples, trying to put things back together after the crucifixion and resurrection, decided to go fishing. It was an unproductive night, and they must have been tired and disappointed. Looking toward the shore, they saw someone but didn’t recognize that it was Jesus. A voice called to them and asked them if they had anything to eat. To their negative answer, the voice told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. They obeyed and brought in more fish than their nets would hold.

Once on shore, the disciples were fed by Jesus. Peter received more than physical food; He received a chance to be forgiven. Three times the Lord asked Peter if he loved Him. Three times Peter affirmed that he did. Then the Lord predicted what would happen to Peter, letting him know he would die for Him.

Though Peter had proclaimed his love for Jesus three times, he had the nerve to question what plans there were for the disciple Jesus loved—John. Jesus told Peter that what happened to John was none of his concern. In other words, “it is none of your business what is going to happen to John. I’m telling you what is going to happen to you.”

Our lesson from this story is two-fold. First, we can be forgiven for anything, even denying Christ, if we will only repent. Peter had denied Jesus three times before the crucifixion, and he was given three chances to make up for those denials. The Lord loved this man with all his failures, and He had great things planned for him.

Second, we can’t be concerned with what is ahead for everyone else. Our concern must be about our own life, how we live it, what we do with our opportunities, and how we can best serve God.

God has a plan for each of us. No matter how weak and sinful we are, God loves us.

Sandra Oliver

Faith-building Questions

Dec2

There are many passages in the Bible that describe God’s character, and I’m thankful for that. Anytime I read about His mercy and compassion, it encourages me. His power and might create everything, yet His love is expressed to me personally. What a beautiful truth! It reminds me that I have worth. His holiness demands purity and goodness, yet His grace covers my sinfulness. This makes me want to try harder to live as Christlike as possible. How blessed we are to love and serve our great God!

Gather around the table with your family and look up the answers to these questions so you can be encouraged together. Or just grab a cup of coffee and your Bible and spend a few quiet moments soaking up some reassurance. God is good and always is, no matter what’s going on in the world.

How is God described in 2 Cor. 1:3?
What three character traits are ascribed to God in Exod. 33:19?
What does God abound in according to Exod. 34:6?
What words do Psa. 86:15 and Psa. 103:8 have in common?
Can you memorize Psa. 116:5?
What is God’s compassion compared to in Psa. 103:13?
What all did God do for the one who waited patiently for Him in Psa. 40:1-2?
What do we learn about God’s lovingkindnesses in Lam. 3:22?
What should God’s mercy cause us to do, according to Luke 6:36?
What can our High Priest do, according to Heb. 4:15?

Wasn’t that a faith-building study?

Kathy Pollard

Finish Strong

Dec1

Philippians 4:13-14 “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.”

Our persuasive son somehow convinced the family to run the half-marathon. Truthfully, my “running resume” boasted only a jog to the mailbox and back but my mother-heart soared at the thought of family bonding. So, the training began.

A week in, my husband was sidelined with an injury and joining him on the couch sounded oh, so sweet. If not for the encouragement of my son, that is exactly where you would have found me.

On race day, four of us stood in the rain awaiting the air-horn start. A quick survey of the crowd, all dressed in professional running attire, left me feeling underqualified as I stood shivering in my church-camp t-shirt. When the gates opened, my children were quickly out of sight, leaving 13.1 miles of solidarity between me and the finish line. Gratefully, “wogging,” (my made-up word for walking and jogging) sustained me until mile eleven, at which point I was officially over it!

Then, out of nowhere a woman shuffled up beside me and said, “I can’t make the finish line alone. Might we ‘run’ together and encourage each other?” We chuckled at her optimism of referring to what we were doing as “running,” when we realized from all sides we were being passed by walkers. Our laughter was the shot of adrenaline needed.

Encouragement received can come from the most unlikely of sources at the most opportune moments. The same should be said of encouragement extended. Our path may place us in the company of strangers needing a kind word, a smile, a pat on the back, or a scripture of hope. Life may be more difficult than imagined. The journey may seem impossible. The finish line may be afar. But our earthly race to an eternity with a Father whose love knows no bounds, is not to be run alone.

Philippians 4:13, one of Paul’s most quoted verses, tells us all things can be done through the strength of Christ. Often, we stop reading right there and miss what Paul says next: “Yet, it was good of you to share in my troubles.” Yes, even Paul, a mighty proclaimer of the Gospel, needed encouragement.

On that race day, two unlikely women completed their first, and most likely, only half-marathon. The finish-line photo bears the image of me, arms raised, hand in hand with a perfect stranger whose name I do not know. That medal was not mine alone, for without my son I would never have taken the first step, and without a stranger, I would never have taken the final one.

While we persevere to do all things through Christ and His strength, may we receive great joy in the journey as we lighten each other’s loads and together finish strong.

Father God, open our eyes to ways we can give and receive encouragement.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane

Tips for Dealing with the Winter Blues

Nov30

by By Kathy Pollard

Some people really struggle with feeling blah when darkness descends so much earlier. Here it’s getting dark around 4:30 p.m. so by the time it’s 8:30, it feels much later. It takes some getting used to! If the shorter days are getting you down, try a few of these simple tips and see if they help:

Eat some citrus as it starts to get dark. The smell of citrus is a natural mood lifter. Grab a couple of cuties and enjoy the taste of sunshine.
Take Vitamin D.
Drink more water. You may not feel like drinking cold water when all you want is a hot cup of coffee, but your body really needs it. The last thing you need is to fuddle your brain with dehydration. Plus, your skin will thank you.
Get outside for a bit everyday, no matter the weather.
Keep moving! You may feel like hunkering down under a blanket but surprise your body by going for a walk or going up and down the stairs a few times. It will warm your muscles, wake up your mind, and is perhaps one of the best things for mental health.
Try yoga. Find an instructor on YouTube that you like and just spend 15 minutes stretching your body. You will feel good all over.
Cook with lemon and lime. Lots of wholesome foods (like chicken, fish, whole grains, beans, and all kinds of greens) taste wonderful topped with a drizzle of olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice.
Cook with green herbs and warming spices. Not only will they awaken your taste buds but they’re good for you, too.
BRIGHTEN someone else’s day. A fun winter challenge could be to lift at least one person each day. Send a thoughtful text or card. Offer sincere compliments to the people you run across. Express appreciation. Do a small act of service. Surprise your spouse in a sweet way. It’s amazing how doing for others is a double blessing. It encourages them and ends up making you feel so good, too.
Saturate your soul with SONshine. There are many Bible verses that will cheer you from the inside out. A quick Google search is a great starting point. You can search “Scriptures about light” or “Scriptures about shining.” For example, “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned” (Matt. 4:16). You could start your own “SONlight” journal by jotting down a verse each day.
Pray. God knows, cares, and always listens.
Smile! Besides, everyone looks better when they’re smiling. 🙂
Sing. Especially hymns. They’re not just for church and will lift your heart.

For those struggling with clinical depression or anxiety, these tips aren’t meant to take the place of professional care and counseling. But I think they can serve as a little extra TLC to help you get through the challenging winter months.

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What are you teaching your children?

Nov29