Playdough Scripture Heb 4:12

"For the word of God Bible is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. "

Heb 4:12 (Playdough Version)

Is there anything in the surrounding passages that would lead us to think this verse is talking about the Bible? Why do we read it that way? Tradition?

The verses surrounding this are talking about Jesus.

Jesus was often called the word of God. 'Word' here in greek is λόγος or logos, which is the same used in John 1:1 - referring to Jesus.

Why wouldn't we think this verse is about Jesus?

Jesus is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

True... and challenging. When I read this verse as "the Bible is"... it was only piercing my heart when I opened it to read it... But if this is about Jesus... He can be piercing my heart whenever I'm off track, any time of the day.

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Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy

To lead does not always mean to plan or make decisions for those you want to follow.

Sometimes leading means just doing what you need to do. You may become a leader if others recognize they should be doing the same. If someone starts following, just encourage them as they find their place in the movement as well.

Leadership is not decision making

Alan over at the assembling of the church got me thinking this morning with a re-post of Leadership is not decision making.

He makes the claim that:

When we study the idea of leadership in Scripture, we find that leadership in the church is not decision-making, and decision-making is not leadership. When we study the idea of leadership in today’s church, we find that leadership is primarily about decision-making.

Then he summarized a few passages to support this notion. This caught my attention. Is Alan onto something?

Acts 6:1 - 6 (NIV)

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

Interesting. The leaders gave their idea, but the whole group took the idea, found workers to solve the problem, and presented them back to the leaders. I have never noticed this before.

I suspect if a similar senerio happened in a typical 'church' group today, it may look more like this:

• Somebody observes a problem (possibly either lay person or clergy)
• The problem is reported to the leaders
• The leaders meet to discuss and pray about a solution behind closed doors
  
• If the decided upon solution requires volunteer workers, the leaders will seek out suitable volunteers
• If the decided upon solution requires more paid staff, the the leaders will seek out suitable staff
• The leaders will present the solution to the rest of the body

Alan also looked at examples in Acts 15, and 1 Cor 5 with similar observations. But... I am wondering if there are also other examples in the New Testament Church where the leaders imposed their decisions on the body. There may be. However Alan has pointed out these passages that show the leaders didn't assume it was their right or duty to make these decisions on their own.

Is it too much of a pie in the sky idea that we could actually just let Christ be head of His church? That he could lead each of His children individually. Members of His body would give discernment, encouragement, teaching, admonishing etc to one another. Leaders would be examples of those who serve others... leading the the way that others would want to follow... but not leading by lording over or making decisions on behalf of others? I'd like to taste a piece of that pie. :)

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Thomas on Why I blog

Two verses (from the Gospel of Thomas). Both back to back make me think of why I blog, and also a concern with blogging.


Gospel of Thomas vs. 33 reminds me of my motivation to make my journey public:

Jesus said, "What you will hear in your ear, in the other ear proclaim from your rooftops.
After all, no one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, nor does one put it in a hidden place. Rather, one puts it on a lampstand so that all who come and go will see its light."

Gospel of Thomas vs 34 reminds me of a potential danger of following a blogger (or following anyone for that matter):

Jesus said, "If a blind person leads a blind person, both of them will fall into a hole."

http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gosthom.html

Thomas on the Kingdom

I'm not sure if I agree with all gnosticism, or if the Gospel of Thomas should be viewed as an equal to the other gospels. However I am pleased to discover that verse 3 of the Gospel of Thomas lines up very well with a theme I see in the other gospels:

• the good news of the kingdom of God or kingdom of Heaven
• that we must be born again - a new spiritual birth
• that we are children of God
• that God is our Father
• that God wants to be our Lord/King

Gospel of Thomas vs. 3

Jesus said, "If your leaders say to you, 'Look, the (Father's) kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the (Father's) kingdom is within you and it is outside you.
When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty."
http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gosthom.html

So do you know who you are? Do you live it?

When I recognize I am a child of God, I should consider his wishes since I am 'living under his roof' so to speak.

If I think I'm just a child of my earthly parents, now living on my own, my own selfish desires will rule.


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My 95 Thesis - Point 11 - Sermon Centered

Here's my 11th Point in My 95 Theses.

Why has our gatherings become centered around a sermon? Why does the body of Christ, the royal priesthood, sit passively listening to the same person speak week after week?

There is nothing wrong with a good sermon. But are we missing out on something better?

The way I read the New Testament, most of the preaching was done outside the gathering - directed at non-believers. Yes, when the believers gathered they did teach each other, but:

• I don't think a 30 minute monologue was the main part of the gathering
• I don't think it was done primarily by one person
• I don't believe the listeners were passive, I believe they would have responded with discernment
• There are many ways to teach. Some of the best teaching is done in one on one conversations and/or modeling a life.
  

1 Corinthians 14:26 (New International Version)

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (New International Version)

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

1 Timothy 4:13 (New International Version)

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

Ephesians 5:18-21 (New International Version)

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (New International Version)

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

Romans 12:6-8 (New International Version)

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Are we doing church by the book on this one? And if not, should we?

Have we made the sermon the main part of our gathering? Why? Does it need to be? What are the pros & cons? Is the body missing out on something with this focus on the sermon?

I think these are valid questions to discuss.

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