May 19, 2013
Pastor Tyler Thompson

Genesis / Jacob’s New Name, Rachel’s Death, the Birth of Benjamin (Mother’s Day Service)

May 12, 2013
Pastor Tyler Thompson

Genesis / Jacob’s Leadership and Obedience

May 5, 2013
Pastor Tyler Thompson

I want chickens. Somewhere along the line I decided that owning a small flock of chickens would be a fantastic idea. It has yet to come to fruition, but it is a fantastic idea nonetheless.

I’ve done the research: breeds, feed, predators, coops, etc. The whole coop thing seems to be the biggest investment, but a lot of folks have found clever ways to repurpose materials and spaces they already have on hand. My favorite? The car.

There are whole galleries of images of old, broken down cars that have been retrofitted to house chickens. Fascinating, kitschy, and, as you may have deduced, thought provoking.

The chickens that live in a car have an amazing thing at their disposal. If they got their act together, they could have that thing up and running! With a little elbow grease and know-how, the sky (or, road) would be the limit! Those chickens are really missing out on quite the opportunity.

I realize that improving their situation is an impossibility, but the auto-chickens came to mind when I was thinking about our current series on Wednesday nights.

“Your Bible & You” is meant to reveal an amazing opportunity that we’ve had right in front of us. God has given us His revealed word, but many of us don’t utilize it for a fraction of its potential.

Of course there is the error of not using the Bible, which really makes us about as smart as a chicken. However, we often do give reading the Bible a go now and then but end up bogged down by language, obscure references, or a lack of direction in study.

This series focuses on understanding and applying the Bible according to the way it was written and delivered to us. The key scripture for the study is 2^nd Timothy 3:16-17:

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

All scripture means that each word has significance. Every good work means that there isn’t any situation we’re going to encounter that the Bible doesn’t speak to.

We’re studying certain important interpretive principles such as languages, cultures, authors, audiences, and genres. We’ll be sure to know the difference between exegesis and eisegesis. Most importantly, our focus is going to be on the context of the inspired Word of God.

When we sit down to read our Bibles, it isn’t enough for us to read it and check it off the list for the day. That is chickening out. We need to determine what the text is saying, and allow it to speak to our lives. Be sure to join us on Wednesdays as we learn about how we can, through the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, get the most out of our time in scripture.

April 28, 2013
Pastor Tyler Thompson

Genesis / God’s Promises to Jacob and to Us

April 21, 2013
Pastor Tyler Thompson

Genesis / Jacob and Laban, Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 2

April 14, 2013
Pastor Tyler Thompson

Genesis / Jacob and Laban, Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 1

April 7, 2013
Pastor Tyler Thompson

-Religion is trying to control our minds.

-Big corporations are pulling the strings.

-The man is keeping us down.

But science; that is an upstanding institution, right there.

Never you mind that scientists can be religious, affiliated with political parties, and on the payrolls of corporations. Facts are facts.

Or are they?

Why don’t we ask the same questions of scientists that we ask of churches, corporations, or political parties?

Why do we take bits and pieces scientific conclusions, and rarely ask what context they exist in?

Christians are accused of blind faith, but there is an enormous percentage of the population that will quickly consume the newest discovery hook, line, and sinker.

We can get in trouble when we look at information in a vacuum. Isolated from the bigger picture, we treat the latest story or sound byte independent from its context and excuse ourselves from complete critical thinking. Not thinking can get you into trouble in any area of life, with science not being excluded.

That being said, there is another side of the coin. Within the church, there can by an overzealous skepticism for whatever the secular world produces. We shouldn’t be afraid to take the information, and synthesize it into our worldview. There isn’t a verse in scripture that says you have to eat it all up, bones included – just chew on the meat.

The reality of the situation is that every human on this earth realizes there is something bigger than us (Romans 1:18-20). For some it is the God of the Bible, for others it is another god, and for many it is the entirety of the physical world itself. The thing is, not one of us – regardless of ideology – was there. So we must weigh the evidence and act on faith.

The Bible teaches of a God that is not only the author and sustainer of this world, but also our lives and relationships with Him (John 1:1-5)

Studying this world without underlying spirituality is like devoting one’s life to appreciating the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel while ignoring Michelangelo.

God’s common grace (Acts 14:17) allows all men and women to appreciate His creation. For some, marveling at creation is a catalyst in a journey that finds salvation in Jesus Christ. For others, the inherent spiritual blindness just becomes more and more calloused (Ephesians 4:17-19).

The next time a story pops up that strongly urges you to rethink everything in light of the newest findings, don’t be so quick to change the way you see the world – because you’ll just have to change it again tomorrow, potentially back to the way it was yesterday (got that?). Also, don’t be dismissive – but don’t be afraid to ask tough questions.

In our short-term, quick-gratification culture we are prone to prioritizing based upon what is right in front of us. It isn’t anything new. Think about Esau, who was willing to give away his birthright because he was hungry (Genesis 25:30). He was thinking with his stomach, not using his brain in conjunction with his stomach.

Often times we can be carried away by the whims of our stomach, but we are also influenced by other fickle organs: our eyes, our hands, our heart.

Where does Jesus, leading up to Easter no less, fit in? When do we champion Him? Shouldn’t it be always? Should not our other priorities, our other causes, everything we are be firmly rooted in the fact that it is by His grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8)?

Most Western Christians have it easy, which gives us opportunity to focus an anything and everything we want to. Having it easy leads to complacency, which leads to compartmentalizing our faith to the times and places it is convenient. That isn’t to say that we can’t be interested or passionate about other things. Yet when our hearts become infatuated with something else, shouldn’t it be first run through a Biblical critique and then be rooted in Biblical truth?

Politics, education, recreation, food: you name it, it all falls under the sovereignty of God. More importantly, as a Christian Jesus has placed you right before the holy throne of God. Do we act like it – every day?

Oh LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?

            Or the son of man, that You think of Him?

            Man is like a mere breath;

            His days are like a passing shadow.

                        Psalm 144:3-4

Change your picture on Facebook, change your hairstyle, champion a cause, write a letter to the editor, try to win an argument on the internet, lead a movement, whatever. Just ask these questions:

1. Is it Biblical? 1^st Corinthians 6:12
2. Is the degree of my devotion to this thing glorifying to God? 1^st Peter 4:11

Mom: “How was school? Did you do your homework?”

Tuesday night, dinner table.

Dad: “You have that test tomorrow – are you going to study?”

Wednesday night, dinner table.

Mom: “How did you do on your test today?”

( Teens: Even though I didn’t put your normal, insightful responses of “good,” “okay,” and *grunt* into the dialogue, it doesn’t mean you aren’t a part of this.)

I want to be clear – there is nothing wrong with these snippets of conversation. Think about it, though: What is the direction and emphasis of your daily conversations with your children at the dinner table (or the breakfast table, or in the car on the way to school, etc.)?

School? Athletics? A mutual hobby? Their future? Those are all good things, and can definitely be worth spending time discussing on a regular basis.

Problems can arise when the talk about and encouragement of hours of studying math / practicing trombone / throwing pitches becomes the most significant thing your child receives from the home. That occurs when those things take priority over God. Or even if those things aren’t really the top priority, but it appears that way in the child’s perception.

Once more: each individual, regardless of age is accountable for their own actions and standing before the Lord. What we’ve looked at over the past few days is just a quick overview of the responsibility that Christian parents have to raise their children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). That means setting them up for success, and giving them every opportunity to see you modeling a faithful Christian walk.

There is nothing wrong with achievement. In fact, in anything we are responsible for or commit to do we ought to strive for achievement. “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17). The key there is how we all should be seeking to achieve. We shouldn’t win, get straight A’s, or make six figures for the sake of doing it or to show how great we are. We should do it because every single aspect of our life is under our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our accomplishments, and those we encourage our children to pursue, must start on the foundation of faith and aim towards glorifying God.

Here is another thing to think about real quick: If you are making spiritual matters a priority in the home, how are you doing it? Are rules the emphasis? Is keeping up appearances the focus? We have to be vigilant that we don’t fall into a trap of an unbalanced walk, one that doesn’t put authentic faith and all it entails in the center of our lives and homes.

It might sound like quite the charge, but it is what following Christ demands. Think about the conversation between the “rich young ruler” and Jesus:

And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. (Matthew 19:16-22)

Jesus didn’t ask for a little obedience, or even a whole lot of commitment. He asked for total, sold-out devotion.

For the man in that passage it was money, and the priority might be something else for us and our children. Nothing should come before God. Is that the message we communicate? Not just to our children, but to our spouse, our coworkers, and our neighbors?

The great thing about God is that He honors righteousness and obedience immediately. If things haven’t been what they should be in your home, putting Him first will make a difference. Since sin is still present, instituting family devotions or having regular conversations won’t be a cure-all – but it is sure better than nothing.

Plus, it might surprise your kids into saying more than two words at the dinner table.

Every parent models for their children. Babies come out of the womb pretty inept at using a fork, throwing a baseball, and budgeting. However, God has designed humans so that we pay attention to the big people around us that have figured it out.

It might be passive, like using an iPhone. It might be active, like showing how to be gentle when you pet a kitten. Either way, your progeny will be watching and emulating.

“Do as I say, not as I do” doesn’t cut it in the real world. Parents who drink wonder why their kids experiment with alcohol, even if they tell them not to. Adults who lose their temper are surprised when, in spite of yelling threats at him, junior talks back to his teacher again.

The same thing goes for spiritual growth. If we aren’t spending consistent time in prayer and the Bible, what message does that send our children? If attending church takes a back seat to sports or vacations, why should we be surprised when kids don’t get involved in a church when they leave home and get busy with school or work?

A beautiful picture of the continual, devoted modeling and training firmly rooted in God’s word exists in Deuteronomy 6:4-9:

Israel Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

This passage, the opening part of the Hebrew Shema, emphasizes what kind of priority loving the Lord should take:

• do it with all your heart, all your soul, all your might
• put it on your heart
• teach it diligently to your children in and our of the home, evening and morning
• keep it close to you, and make it the basis for your home

It would be awfully difficult to follow that pattern and live in hypocrisy. God’s Word sets us up for success, by making it infinitely clear that devotion to Him requires daily, repeated effort.

Getting right with God personally is the first step to getting your kids right with God. Repentance, accountability, and dedication to purposeful growth all must be in place and moving in the right direction. Thankfully, we are surrounded by other men and women in the body of Christ who can come alongside of us and offer insight and encouragement. We can take solace that families were not designed to handle life on their own – even when the Shema was delivered it was given to the community of Israel.

Modeling the truth of who God is and the obedience that comes from faith is part of Biblical parenting. Passing on the good news that was entrusted to you unto your most precious gifts is parenting with wisdom and love.

In The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader tries to egg Luke on by getting him to act out of emotions such as passion and rage. These, of course, are contrary to how Jedi are supposed to act. The real kicker and the struggle for Luke in Return of the Jedi is the discouragement that comes from the possibility that he is destined to fail because his father did.

What great, angst-ridden cinema – right?

The underlying element here is the whole “I always said I would never turn into my father/mother” pattern we all acknowledge as we mature. Do these sound familiar?

• My mom yelled at me for the smallest thing, and I hated it. Now why am I yelling at my kids for their little mistakes?
• My dad had extremely high expectations for me, and it drove me away from trying to succeed. Now why do I hold unreasonable high academic standards for my child?

It doesn’t take a psychoanalyst to prove this is something we all go through in one way or another. Look at the patriarchs of the faith and the kings of Israel and Judah. These were (sometimes) God-fearing men who suffered directly for their fathers’ mistakes, yet they repeated them. There is personal accountability all around, but you can’t ignore how generational sins impact children.

This topic is enormous, but one specific facet that is so incredibly important for parents of teenagers is the issue of priorities. I’ll cut to the chase: If you want your children to put their relationship with the Lord as their top priority in life, do they know it?

I suppose the first question should be “Do you know it should be the top priority?”

The most pertinent parenting Proverb of all, 22:6, gives us the rationale of why this is important. “Train up a child in the way he should go / Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

What does “the way he should go” mean here? Simple: a Biblical foundation, which means salvation, growth, and ministry. Having Christ be the first priority sets your child up for success in academics, employment, relationships, whatever – it is the most important thing you can impart upon them. Without it, their success will be as empty as if they failed miserably.

Real training doesn’t just involve learning from a book, nor is it just mimicking someone else. The best training you can get, whether it be in a sport, occupation, or life, is by having someone explain while they demonstrate. Is that what you’re doing, or are you just setting your children up for problems down the line?

Here are two ways to diagnose if you are doing what you should do to make sure they know it:

• Is your life the model of Godly faith yourself?
• Do you treat their spiritual growth with the same intensity as other areas of their life?

We’ll explore those two questions in the next few days. Like two exciting sequels…

March 31, 2013
Pastor Tyler Thompson

Good Friday

March 29, 2013
Pastor Tyler Thompson

Romans 10:1-17 / The World’s Greatest Need

March 24, 2013
Guest Speaker: Phil Hunt, Missionary to Zambia with IBMGlobal

Genesis / Jacob’s Children

March 17, 2013
Pastor Tyler Thompson

Genesis / Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

March 10, 2013
Pastor Tyler Thompson

Genesis / Action and Reactions: Esau’s Bitterness

March 3, 2013
Pastor Tyler Thompson

Why, you ask?

There was a time, kids, where to get your sports news you had to visit multiple websites. Believe it or not, you would actually have to go to ESPN.com, individual teams’ sites, follow commentators’ blogs… it was exhausting. Now, all I have to do is scroll down my Twitter feed on my phone and I can see what is going on all over the sports world.

That being said, I don’t Tweet. In the years and years of having an account, I’ve not added anything to the Twitterverse. I’ve not yet felt the need to add snarky one-liners to the internet… yet. I’m a consumer, not a producer.

The thing is, that is a trap that we can fall into in our families, our youth groups, and our churches. We will take, take, take all day, and not really offer anything in return. Then in the off chance someone thinks we have something to offer, we grumble and complain about pitching in.

We are very familiar with “it is better to give than to receive.” What is really fascinating is the context in which we find that quote. At the end of Acts 20 (vs. 17-38), Paul is saying goodbye to the church at Ephesus. He is encouraging them to stay strong in Christ, and to contribute to the body of believers by watching out for false teachers, admonishing one another when sin pops up, and caring for the weak.

That isn’t exactly the common use of “it is better to give than to receive,” which parents often pull out on Christmas morning in anticipation junior’s reaction to receiving some socks.

This is selflessness, meekness, discernment, vigilance, charity, and compassion. Giving goes beyond a gift or a check and becomes the sacrifice that Paul talks about in Romans 12:1 and the love that Jesus talks about in John 15:13.

The best picture I can think of is found in Philippians 2, when Paul implores Christians to:

“…make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Luckily for me, there are no spiritual or moral implications from “receiving Tweets rather than giving Tweets.” But we shouldn’t want that in our real lives. We should strive to give of ourselves, particularly to our brothers and sisters in Christ. The opportunity that the Lord has given to us to be a part of His body in the world is so special, that we should jump at every chance we have to serve.