Programs Of Progress

"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."(Colossians 1:9-10)

In reading our text, these two verses of Scripture, should be the main objective of every church. And the programs we have should work to accomplish this objective. I believe that Sunday School, is a program that in many churches has declined, or has been discontinued all together. Instead of the Bible study programs, we have gone to the fellowship programs, and the recreational programs, just to keep believers interested, and involved.

But if the goal of the church is to accomplish the spiritual essentials mentioned in our text, then we are going to have to have these Bible teaching programs in place,to help both children, and adults grow in the knowledge and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

If we are to bear fruit in every good work, than we must continually be in God's Word. I remember when Vacation Bible School was like Bible school. You had a Bible teacher for your class, you had Bible lessons, and you were to memorize verses of Scripture, that would stay with you all of your life.

Don't get me wrong, I like to have fun. But many times, life is not fun. And we need the teachings of God's Word, to prepare us, to meet the challenges that come in life. GP

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The First Things

 " Till we come to the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:13) 

Now that Donald Trump has been elected president, I hear the news media posting this question: "What should he do first? "What should he be focused on, his first 100 days in office?"

 There are always "first things" that must be considered in the completion of any important endeavor.

The Apostle Paul writing to the Christians at Ephesus, told them of three, "first things" that must happen before the church could have a strong maturity, unity, and stability.

The three-fold progression is this: We as Christians, must come to:
1. A Unity Of Faith. We must come together in our trust in Jesus, as our Savior and Shepherd.
2. A Knowledge of the Son of God. This is not just to know about Jesus, but to get to know HIM. We must all strive to have a personal relationship with Him.
3. A Fullness Of Christ  To be fully rooted, and grounded in the teachings of Jesus. To be fully committed to living, and serving Him. To embrace all the teachings and blessings that come, in our relationship with Him.

 All three of these steps are "first things" in the development of our Christian maturity, unity, and stability. The more we trust Jesus, and get to know His will for our lives, the more we will experience the wonderful blessings of having Him in our lives. The more He will enhance, and strengthen the Christian community.

Instead of majoring in minor things, lets make these "first things", priority things! GP

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A Work In Progress

 "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:12-14) 

Where do you place yourself in regards to your maturity, and personal growth?

There are some, who feel that they have arrived, and that there is not much more they have to learn, or to accomplish, in achieving maturity and personal growth. And there are those who are working on it on a daily basis, and feel that they are gaining every day. And then there are those, who because of life's mistakes, failures, or disappointments, have given up on gaining any amount of maturity, or personal growth.

When we talk about personal growth, the question that we need to look at is: Are we wiser, and stronger, than we were five, or ten years ago?

In our text, the Apostle Paul, expressed his desire of reaching forward to obtain all that the Lord Jesus Christ had for him to be, and to do. His maturity was not based on the ways of the world, but on the knowledge of the person: Jesus Christ. He wanted to grow up in Christ in every way. Forgetting the past things, and pressing on to a future maturity and to the blessings that are found in Jesus Christ.

 I would be bold to say, that all of us, are a work in progress. And if we have not started our journey with the Lord Jesus Christ, we need to begin today.
It is far greater, to be found mature in Christ, than in the world.

But it is a choice, and one that needs to be made before our opportunities run out? GP 

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