We're talking quite a bit about serving in our small groups, wondering what it will look like and how to get others on board to join in service. In the meantime, I decided to read Philippians again. (I wouldn't want it to lose the life it has!) I'm waiting (?) for the writing muse to strike, I guess, to actually write a Malachi study now that most of the research is done. Maybe I just need a block of creative time when I'm not doing anything else...

Serving.... or not

I spent a fair amount of time last year in Philippians, and determined one of Paul's major themes was service. With our church's emphasis on service this summer, I'd like to keep Philippians current in my thinking. Right now I'm working on a study in Malachi. Last night I noticed it seems to have a theme of "how not to serve." I'll have to give that some more thought, and see if that concept is really there.

Showing God's love

We talked about service yesterday at our women's ministry lunch. We agree "service," or ministry, or reaching out to others, is a good thing, something that should be part of our Christian life. As I considered how to get others on board with this idea of service, I took a quick look to see what Jesus said about it.

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. you are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, becasue a servant does not know his master's business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything that I learned form my Father I have made known to you." John 15:13-15

We serve because we are His friends, because we want to, not out of bondage as a servant. Our master's business is to love people, and to draw all men to Himself, and we can help Him in His business as we reach out to others. We show God's love as we serve, because our service does not look like what the world has to offer.

Hopefully, these ideas will make it easier as we embark on a lifestyle of service in our local church community.

perspectives of God

Over the weekend I read The Shack. It presents a different perspective of God, but I felt it brings God to life. I found myself thinking, I want to read parts of this book again, I don't want to forget some of these ideas. I can see why the book is controversial, but as I read, often it reminded me of specific places in Scripture, enough so that I feel that it lines up with the Bible, for the most part. Granted, it is fiction, and should be treated as such. But I believe Christian fiction also contains truth, and we can learn and grow even through story, just as we can through music. I would love to go back sometime and see if I can make even more direct links to the Bible, and study the Bible more as a base for my perspectives on God.