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Saturday, 14 October 2017
2 Corinthians 4:16 This is why we do not lose courage. Though our outer self is heading for decay, our inner self is being renewed daily. 17 For our light and transient troubles are achieving for us an everlasting glory whose weight is beyond description. 18 We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen, since things seen are temporary, but things not seen are eternal.
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The apostle Paul knew firsthand about “the worst” in our world. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 he listed many difficulties he had faced. Those hardships took enough of a physical toll that the apostle said, “We always carry Jesus’ death around in our bodies so that Jesus’ life can also be seen in our bodies” (2 Corinthians 4:10). The apostle could have found reasons to think about giving up a life of serving Christ by counting his scars. Instead, he spoke of a daily reality that kept him going: “the person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day.” Every ordinary day walking down a road, making tents or working with leather (cf. Acts 18:3), riding on a ship, or sitting in a prison cell, his connection with God kept Paul’s spirits renewed and encouraged.
• Scholar William Barclay wrote, “From the physical point of view life may be a slow but inevitable slipping down the slope that leads to death. But from the spiritual point of view life is a climbing up the hill that leads to the presence of God.” * How much daily focus do you give to maintaining your physical well-being? How much to nurturing your connection with God? What changes, if any, can you make to ensure that the person you are on the inside is being renewed every day?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I want strong muscles, and good lab results when I get checkups. Help me to desire with even greater eagerness a strong connection with you, one that renews me every day. Amen.
* William Barclay, Daily Study Bible Series: The Letters to the Corinthians (Revised Edition). Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1975, p. 201.
Family Activity: Even religious families who believe in God often find themselves in their daily routines placing other things above God. As a family, review your calendar and budget. Examine how your family spends its time and money. Ask, “How well do our budget and schedules reflect that we worship God?” Discuss what changes you can make to live more God-centered lives every day. Create a “God is #1” poster or collage and include pictures and words reminding you to place God first. Spend time in prayer as a family, asking God to help you release that which holds you back from truly placing God first in your lives, not just on Sunday but every day.
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Jane Fowler
Jane serves as Group Life Program Director at Church of the Resurrection. In that capacity, she encourages our congregation to be a part of the Journey of Knowing, Loving and Serving God and others by being in authentic community and growing in your love and knowledge of Christ.
On a daily basis, we are bombarded with ways we can improve our physical bodies. You can’t watch TV or read an article online without an ad popping up touting “3 simple exercises for fabulous abs” or “take this pill and lose 5 lbs in one month.” Our society is obsessed with the condition of our physical bodies. But when was the last time you saw an ad or an article about renewing ourselves on the inside?
Richard J. Foster is an expert on spiritual formation, widely known for his book Celebration of Discipline. In the book, there is a list of spiritual disciplines and practices he believes were modeled in the life of Christ. In the Embark class we offer on the Leawood campus, I explain the various disciplines and why you want to incorporate them into your daily life. If we are to be imitators of Christ, we must not only know who He was, but also know how Christ lived.
Richard Foster says, “Disciplines are not the answer; they only lead us to the Answer.” By practicing these disciplines, we can become more like Christ. Below is a list of some of the disciplines and a short description. I encourage you to purchase the book and begin with one or two. These disciplines are not an easy or a quick fix, but rather a way of life.
“The most difficult problem is not finding time but convincing myself that this is important enough to set aside the time.” --Foster
Disciplines of Letting Go
These practices allow us to relinquish something in order to gain something new. Choose disciplines that will help you become more dependent on God.
Dallas Willard writes, “The disciplines of abstinence must be counter-balanced and supplemented by disciplines of engagement (activity).” It’s choosing to participate in activities that nurture our souls and strengthen us for the race ahead.
Jane FowlerJane serves as Group Life Program Director at Church of the Resurrection. In that capacity, she encourages our congregation to be a part of the Journey of Knowing, Loving and Serving God and others by being in authentic community and growing in your love and knowledge of Christ.
On a daily basis, we are bombarded with ways we can improve our physical bodies. You can’t watch TV or read an article online without an ad popping up touting “3 simple exercises for fabulous abs” or “take this pill and lose 5 lbs in one month.” Our society is obsessed with the condition of our physical bodies. But when was the last time you saw an ad or an article about renewing ourselves on the inside?
Richard J. Foster is an expert on spiritual formation, widely known for his book Celebration of Discipline. In the book, there is a list of spiritual disciplines and practices he believes were modeled in the life of Christ. In the Embark class we offer on the Leawood campus, I explain the various disciplines and why you want to incorporate them into your daily life. If we are to be imitators of Christ, we must not only know who He was, but also know how Christ lived.
Richard Foster says, “Disciplines are not the answer; they only lead us to the Answer.” By practicing these disciplines, we can become more like Christ. Below is a list of some of the disciplines and a short description. I encourage you to purchase the book and begin with one or two. These disciplines are not an easy or a quick fix, but rather a way of life.
“The most difficult problem is not finding time but convincing myself that this is important enough to set aside the time.” --Foster
Disciplines of Letting Go
These practices allow us to relinquish something in order to gain something new. Choose disciplines that will help you become more dependent on God.
- Solitude—Spending time alone to be with God. Find a quiet place to be alone with God for a period of time. Use the Bible as a source of companionship with God. Listen to Him. Remain alone and still.
- Silence—Removing noisy distractions to hear from God. Find a quiet place away from noise to hear from God. Write your thoughts and impressions as God directs your heart. Silence can occur even in the midst of noise and distraction. But you must focus your attention on your soul. This could mean talking less or talking only when necessary. And it could mean turning off the radio and the TV.
- Fasting—Skipping a meal(s) to find greater nourishment from God. Choose a period of time to go without food. Drink water and, if necessary, take vitamin supplements. Feel the pain of having an empty stomach and depend on God to fill you with His grace.
- Frugality—Learning to live with less money and still meet your basic needs. Before buying something new, choose to go without or pick a less expensive alternative that will serve your basic needs. Live a simple, focused life.
Dallas Willard writes, “The disciplines of abstinence must be counter-balanced and supplemented by disciplines of engagement (activity).” It’s choosing to participate in activities that nurture our souls and strengthen us for the race ahead.
- Study—Spending time reading the Scripture and meditating on its meaning and importance to our lives. We are nourished by the Word because it is our source of spiritual strength. Choose a time and a place to feed from the Word of God regularly.
- Worship—Offering praise and adoration to God. His praise should continually be on our lips and in our thoughts. Read psalms, hymns, or spiritual songs, or sing to the Lord daily. Keep praise ever before you as you think of God’s mighty deeds in your life.
- Prayer—Talking to and listening to God about your relationship with Him and about the concerns of others. Find time to pray to God without the distraction of people or things. Combine your prayer time with meditation on the Scriptures in order to focus on Christ.
- Fellowship—Mutual caring and ministry in the body of Christ. Meet regularly with other Christians to find ways to minister to others. Encourage one another.
- Confession—Regularly confess your sins to the Lord and other trusted individuals. As often as you are aware of sin in your life, confess it to the Lord and to those you may have offended.
- Submission—Humbling yourself before God and others while seeking accountability in relationships. Find faithful brothers or sisters in Christ who can lovingly hold you accountable for your actions and growth in Christ. *
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
•Steve Williams and family on the death of his wife Anne Williams, 10/3
•Debi Nixon and family on the death of her aunt Anne Williams, 10/3
• Larry Pandjaris and family on the death of his wife Cheryl Pandjaris, 10/1
•Connie Roberts and family on the death of her sister Cheryl Pandjaris, 10/1
•Brian and Scott Setley and families on the death of their mother Judy Setley, 10/1
• John and Susan Casaert and family on the death of their daughter Laura Casaert, 9/30
• Jerry Sommerville and family on the death of his wife Kim Sommerville, 9/27
•Sean McDowell and family on the death of his father David McDowell, 9/27
•Valerie Davis and family on the death of her mother Barbara J. Brown, 9/26
•Steve DeZeeuw and family on the death of his mother Ella DeZeeuw, 9/17
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©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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