tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57371774864965939742024-03-13T08:20:54.449-07:00To Live and Love Like JesusLearning together how we may treasure Christ the Cornerstone of our lives.John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-58482770238935265162010-04-07T21:30:00.000-07:002010-04-07T21:37:25.182-07:00Have you learned from the ant?<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AXx3IfHqxRA/S71dRrcpBMI/AAAAAAAAAQA/hoVU7k9zURg/s1600/ant.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AXx3IfHqxRA/S71dRrcpBMI/AAAAAAAAAQA/hoVU7k9zURg/s200/ant.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457620881744921794" /></a><br />I just got off the phone with a relative who is in a financial predicament. It could have been prevented if they had only “considered the ways of the ant” and saved some of their income. <br /><br />The Bible encourages preparing for the future. Proverbs 21:20 says, “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.”<br /> <br />Of course, saving for ourselves must be kept in balance. Yes, God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment,” we are told in 1 Timothy 6, but we’re reminded of that provision in the context of being generous toward others. Furthermore, in James, we’re warned against presuming on the future. That provides yet another needed balance to our savings efforts.<br /><br />But save we should. In fact, the Bible encourages us to save by pointing us to the most humble of insects, the ant. Proverbs 6:6-8 says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” <br /><br />Hmm. Have you and I considered the ways of the ant? Before you flick a pesky ant off your picnic table, at least stop to admire his preparation and determination in providing for the future. He just might be doing a better job than we are.John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-21517981471490279622010-04-04T20:08:00.000-07:002010-04-04T20:29:33.708-07:00The Road to Emmaus"Jesus explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures." Luke 24:27<br /><br />Can you imagine this two hour walk to Emmaus? Jesus Christ is teaching a crash course through the entire Old Testament, and the way it all pointed to Him.<br /><br />This text challenged me, so I opened my Old Testament and began to wander through it. I imagined what I would have heard, had I been walking along from Jerusalem to Emmaus. <br /><br />Here is a rapid look at the ways Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was pictured and prophesied in each book of the Old Testament:<br /><br />•Genesis – He is the prophesied seed who will crush the serpent’s head. Like Abraham called to sacrifice his only son, so God the Father actually did sacrifice His only Son! Like Joseph, Christ is the brother betrayed by His kinsmen, whose betrayal will lead to their deliverance. Like Joseph, Christ is conspired against and sold for silver, condemned though he is innocent, and raised from humiliation to glory by the power of God.<br />•Exodus – Jesus is the great “I AM”; He is the Passover Lamb whose blood protects His people from the angel of death and the wrath of God; He is manna from heaven and water from the rock;<br />•Leviticus – Christ is our high priest. He is the Holy of Holies – in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead.<br />•Numbers – He is the great hope in whom all can safely put their trust; He is the bronze serpent lifted up in the wilderness. <br />•Deuteronomy – He is the Lord our God; He is the city of refuge where criminals may run for protection;<br />•Joshua – Christ is Yeshua – Yahweh is salvation. He is the champion over every enemy that stands in the way of God’s people;<br />•Judges – He is the angel of God, empowering the weak and pursuing the wandering; He is the perfection of grace and patience toward His wandering people; He is the ultimate Prophet, Priest and King.<br />•Ruth – He is the Kindsman-Redeemer, the wealthy landowner who redeems His gentile bride from hopeless poverty; placing her in the family line of royalty; giving her the right to everything of His vast estate;<br />•I and II Samuel– He is the name of the Lord, in whose strength young men of faith conquer enemies and slay giants; His dynasty will be permanent and He will sit upon the throne of David.<br />•Kings and Chronicles – He is the sovereign King behind and above all kingdoms, both pagan and God-fearing;<br />•Ezra – He is the keeper of divine promise to Israel and the hand that liberates His people from bondage;<br />•Nehemiah – He is the re-builder of broken lives and the restorer of broken fellowship;<br />•Esther – He is the sovereign Lord behind the scenes, outsmarting the evil one and seeing that His remnant remain, whispering into the ear of a young queen that for such a time as this, she has been crowned.<br />•Job – Job acknowledges a Redeemer and cries out for a Mediator, Christ is the majestic One who rides upon the wind and commands the lightning; He is the Lord of mystery who does not explain life, but reveals He is sovereign over all of life; He is the Redeemer, the Mediator and our Advocate.<br />•Psalms – He is the rock of refuge, the Shepherd of the sheep, the tower of shelter, the chief Cornerstone;<br />•Proverbs – He is everlasting wisdom; divine counsel for those who accept His invitation to turn aside and listen;<br />•Ecclesiastes – He is eternal satisfaction over every earthly desire; He is the One to be remembered in the days our youth;<br />•Song of Solomon – He is the Bridegroom who pursues His bride, stopping at nothing until she is safely in His arms;<br />•Isaiah – He is Emmanuel, the suffering Savior, the One crushed for our iniquities and the coming Prince of Peace whose strong shoulder will one day bear the governments of the world;<br />•Jeremiah – He is the branch of righteousness who brings justice and equity; He is the promised One who will write a new covenant on the hearts of His people;<br />•Lamentations – He is the father who disciplines the sons He loves;<br />•Ezekiel – He is resurrection power, breathing life into dry bones and bringing life from death; He is the faithful leader re-gathering His wandering flock;<br />•Daniel – He is the stone, cut without hands, rejected by kingdoms, yet smiting the false image and filling the earth with His glory; He is the one whose Kingdom will not end;<br />•Hosea – He is the faithful husband of the faithless wife;<br />•Joel – He is the hope of His people, the strength of the children of Israel;<br />•Amos – He is the wrath of God against oppressors; He is the promise of vineyards and gardens where His children will one day rest;<br />•Obadiah – He ascends Mount Zion as the deliverer who judges the kingdoms of this world and inaugurates His own everlasting reign;<br />•Jonah – He is the fulfillment of the sign that after three days and three nights, the Son of Man will come forth vindicating the righteousness of God and resurrection power;<br />•Micah – He is the One who pardons our iniquities; who does not retain His anger forever; who delights in unchanging love; He is the one who treads our iniquities under His feet; who casts all our sins into the depths of the sea;<br />•Nahum – He is slow to anger and great in power; of Him the mountains quake and the hills dissolve, yet He is a safe haven for all who hide in Him;<br />•Habakkuk – He is radiant like sunlight; whose strength makes our feet like the hinds feet, and makes us walk on high places;<br />•Zephaniah – He is the One who will gather those who grieve and those who are lame and those who are outcast; He is the One who will turn their shame and despair into everlasting praise;<br />•Haggai – He is the victorious Lord of hosts who will shake the heavens and the earth as He overthrows the nations of this world; He is the One who will wear His chosen people as jewels around His omnipotent fingers;<br />•Zechariah – He stands with His redeemed on the Mount of Olives; His holiness will be praised, even by the inscriptions on the bells of horses’ bridles as they gallop through the city of His glory – “Holy to the Lord” will be their praise for the Messiah;<br />•Malachi – He is the divine Refiner, sitting over the melting pot of His universe, purifying His chosen people as silver and gold; He is the great King, who does not change; and for all those who believe in Him, He will one day rise with healing in His wings!John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-37004518646736598842010-01-07T16:31:00.000-08:002010-01-07T16:40:53.935-08:00Bible Reading Plans for 2010With the New Year comes new opportunities to read through the Bible.<br /><br />While I read and preach from the NASB, the ESV translation website has <a href="http://www.esv.org/biblereadingplans">10 reading plans</a> to choose from. <br /><br />My wife, Paula, is going through the Bible chronologically. My daugher, Marie, is using the One Year Bible. The boys and I are simply reading a chapter a day. Not sure what plan Jennifer is following. <br /><br />In any case, I encourage to be intentional and plan how you are going to read the Bible. Don’t leave it to chance.John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-65318269185486089412009-10-20T11:30:00.001-07:002009-10-20T11:46:25.716-07:00Do Christians need to hear the gospel?In Sunday's sermon, I quoted CJ Mahaney in his book The Cross Centered Life, <span style="font-style:italic;">“Three main tendencies in particular tend to draw Christians away from the gospel:<br /><br />1. Subjectivism, which means basing our view of God on our changing feelings and emotions.<br />2. Legalism, which means basing our relationship with God on our own performance.<br />3. Condemnation, which means being more focused on our sin, or on others sin, than on God’s grace.”</span><br /><br />Several people commented after the message, how much they appreciated the focus on the cross of Christ. It is not uncommon for us to base our relationship with God on feelings, or on performance, or on thoughts of guilt.<br /><br />The apostle Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20<br /><br />Notice Paul does not say, “Christ loves me” as we might expect him to say, but that “Christ <span style="font-style:italic;">loved</span> me.” <br /><br />In other words, Paul could not graduate past the cross of Jesus Christ as the source and power of his faith. It is at the cross that we gain a full assurance of God’s specific, passionate and personal love.<br /><br />So where does the cross of Christ intersect with your daily life?John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-39142780463555509442009-10-15T12:50:00.000-07:002009-10-15T12:53:51.671-07:00Anxiety and FrustrationSound Bites from our Men's Leadership Study this morning:<br /><br />“It has been said that our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon, 1834-1892, British Baptist Preacher<br /><br />“Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” Arthur Somers Roche<br /><br />“Every office battles the copier and all too frequently the copier is victorious.” Unknown<br /><br />“Much of our frustration in life comes from attempting to control what we cannot control, and neglecting to control what we can.” Dr. Richard Dobbins<br /><br />The real challenge of Christian living is not to eliminate every uncomfortable circumstance from our lives, but to trust our sovereign, wise, good, and powerful God in the midst of every situation. <br /><br />Things that might trouble us such as the way we look, the way others treat us, or where we live or work can actually be sources of strength, not weakness. <br /><br />Jesus said to His disciples, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” John 16:33.<br /><br /> As disciples of Christ, we need to accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world and allow God to do His perfect work in us. Our Lord will give us His peace as we confidently entrust ourselves to His care. <br /><br />Some people assume worry is the result of too much thinking. Actually, it’s the result of too little thinking in the right direction. If you know who God is and understand His purposes, promises, and plans, it will help you not to worry.John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-35042221946725674992009-10-14T10:49:00.000-07:002009-10-14T11:00:36.005-07:00Metrical PsalterMy Austin had a poem assignment for his 10th grade English class. He needed to take a Psalm and turn it into a metrical psalter (8 syllable - 6 syllable rhyme). He chose Psalm 13:<br /><br />How long will You ignore me Lord?<br />When will I see your face?<br />How long shall I be abhorred,<br />Having sorrow and disgrace?<br /><br />For how long must I be humbled?<br />Regard me and reply.<br />Answer me or I will stumble,<br />And my enemy will say “die”<br /><br />And my enemy will delight<br />In my time of deep need.<br />But I will remain in Your might<br />My soul shall worship Thee.<br /><br />My voice will be raised to the Lord<br />For He has been generous to me,<br />And His mercy will be adored!John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-61637176130832965702009-06-24T11:07:00.000-07:002009-06-24T11:09:04.911-07:00Prayer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AXx3IfHqxRA/SkJrnkaSmkI/AAAAAAAAAPw/p7A0WjGQKuk/s1600-h/IMG_5922+%5B800x600%5D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AXx3IfHqxRA/SkJrnkaSmkI/AAAAAAAAAPw/p7A0WjGQKuk/s320/IMG_5922+%5B800x600%5D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350957634802588226" /></a><br />Before we started work this morning, we prayed for a truck container full of food headed for Kenya.John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-92213417473149053182009-06-24T11:04:00.000-07:002009-06-24T11:06:58.094-07:00Midweek at Gleanings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AXx3IfHqxRA/SkJrJoReFqI/AAAAAAAAAPo/EAo4kc-3AmU/s1600-h/IMG_5928+%5B800x600%5D.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AXx3IfHqxRA/SkJrJoReFqI/AAAAAAAAAPo/EAo4kc-3AmU/s320/IMG_5928+%5B800x600%5D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350957120443258530" /></a><br />We are halfway through our week of serving at Gleanings for the Hungry. Our group has been getting complements by the staff here on our good attitude, unity, and eagerness to serve - Praise the Lord!John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-911844186941662042009-06-23T09:56:00.000-07:002009-06-23T10:00:41.129-07:00Gleanings for the HungryThis week 4 adults and 17 youth from Cornerstone are serving at Gleanings for the Hungry. Check out some photos at <a href="http://www.gleanings.org">www.gleanings.org</a><br /><br />I am studying in the morning and then working the processing line in the afternoon. Just working half a day is tiring! I am so proud of Shane and our youth for their labor of love here!John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-87505328068545775432009-05-05T11:32:00.000-07:002009-05-05T11:40:24.818-07:00Women's Retreat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AXx3IfHqxRA/SgCHkJ2QO2I/AAAAAAAAAPg/59UiaxjNgF8/s1600-h/IMG_5388.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AXx3IfHqxRA/SgCHkJ2QO2I/AAAAAAAAAPg/59UiaxjNgF8/s400/IMG_5388.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332411013995182946" /></a><br /><br />I heard the women's retreat was edifying and fun ...it had to be with funny gals like Debbie!John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-43113148734761629792009-05-05T11:10:00.000-07:002009-05-05T11:28:42.931-07:00Why Seminary?Shane shared on Sunday that he will be leaving in early August for Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. As the elders shared on Sunday, Shane is not simply leaving Cornerstone ... we are sending him out! <br /><br />Shane and Jess have prayed much about this decision and have sought counsel from godly people inside and outside of Cornerstone. God has put on Shane's heart the desire to pastor a church like Cornerstone, perhaps in the Northwest where there is a great need for Christ-centered, Bible-centered churches. He is going to seminary to be better prepared for a lifetime of ministry and leadership in the church.<br /><br />Southern Seminary is led by Dr. Albert Mohler (www.albertmohler.com, his radio program is on 890AM at 3 p.m. here on the central coast). The seminary has outstanding faculty, a great Master of Divinity program, family housing on campus, a seminary wives program where Jess can attend electives each semester, and they even allow pets in campus housing (the Sanders rottweiler "Kia" is like a member of the family)!<br /><br />Please keep praying for the Sanders as they prepare for this move. We will miss them, but are thankful that they will visit with us when they are in town visiting Jessica's parents.<br /><br />Also pray for clear leading and wisdom for the Cornerstone church leadership as we will need to identify the right person/people to help with family ministry.John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-17486723903226977312009-05-05T10:58:00.000-07:002009-05-05T11:09:36.510-07:00Community GroupsOur family visited the South Atascadero Community Group at the Covington's on Sunday night. It was a joy to see all the children playing in the back yard and gave us a greater appreciation for how Kevin and Felicia are serving the young families! <br /><br />Shane did a wonderful job of leading music, discussion, and prayer - but it was neat to see everyone in the study engaged and participating in the dialogue. I was also blessed to hear my daughter Jenn and son JP wrestling with the Bible text, asking questions and offering insights.<br /><br />Studying the book of Acts has provided a great window to see the love the saints had for each other. Sunday night was an encouragement to see love in action in Atascadero!John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-26419677055244823052009-04-30T13:36:00.001-07:002009-04-30T13:38:23.227-07:00George MacDonald PoemI shared this poem in the closing of Sunday's sermon. God may be calling you to go to a place you do not want to go and speak to someone you don’t feel like talking to. But like Philip go and speak the grace and truth of the gospel. And like both Philip and the Ethiopian, rejoice in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.<br /><br />I said, “Let me walk in the field”;<br />God said, “No, walk in the town”;<br />I said, “There are no flowers there”;<br />He said, “No flowers, but a crown”;<br /><br />I said, “But the sky is black,<br />There is nothing but noise and din”;<br />But He wept as He sent me back,<br />“There is more, ” He said, “there is sin”<br /><br />I said, “But the air is thick,<br />And smog is veiling the sun”;<br />He answered, “Yet souls are sick,<br />And your work is yet undone.”<br /><br />I said, “I will miss the light,<br />And friends will miss me, they say”;<br />He answered, “Choose tonight,<br />If I am to miss you, or they.”<br /><br />I pleaded for time to be given;<br />He said, “Is it hard to decide?<br />It will not seem hard in Heaven<br />To have followed the steps of your Guide.”<br /><br />I cast one look at the field,<br />Then set my face to the town;<br />He said, “My child, do you yield?<br />Will you leave the flowers for the crown?”<br /><br />Then into His hand went mine,<br />And into my heart came He;<br />And I walk in a light Divine,<br />The path I had feared to see.John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-10477944617981547342009-02-12T12:45:00.000-08:002009-02-12T13:12:47.959-08:00Shack AttackIn light of Shane's comments from the pulpit on Sunday, I thought you might enjoy Fred Sander's (professor at Biola) review of the biblically troubling and strangely popular book entitled The Shack.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.scriptoriumdaily.com/2009/02/02/the-shack-four-walls-four-reviews/">The Shack: Four Walls, Five Reviews</a>John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-9758410347451955092009-02-09T17:14:00.000-08:002009-02-09T17:36:08.493-08:00Marriage Retreat EvaluationThe Marriage Retreat was a blast! Shane and I enjoyed read through the evaluations. Here are some random results:<br /><br />Best Part of the Retreat:<br /><br />"The couple discussion questions and exercises"<br />"The teaching and the honesty of the speakers"<br />"The location, the price, being together as couples"<br />"Time alone with my spouse to refocus our marriage"<br /><br />Worst Part:<br /><br />"Too short"<br />"Went by too fast"<br />"The cookies were hard as rocks!"<br />"Would like more time to get to know the other couples better"<br /><br />How has God spoken to you and how can we pray for you?<br /><br />"The importance of pursuing God first above all"<br />"That we will apply all that we learned"<br />"That we would follow-through and close the loop on conflict step-by-step"<br />"That I will treat my spouse as my best friend"<br />"That we will be faithful to pray together"John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-42839668085765191762009-02-04T17:17:00.000-08:002009-02-04T17:27:31.458-08:00Marriage RetreatI have been working on my teaching notes for this weekend's marriage retreat. Friday night I will be speaking on the first love in our marriage and how to "close the loop" on conflict.<br /><br />Shane will be teaching Saturday morning on keeping your spouse a priority and how to get to know each other again.<br /><br />Saturday afternoon I will be looking at how we can build spiritual intimacy and grow in physical intimacy. The physical intimacy is last so that we can keep the attention of the men to the very end! Also the hotel is hoping after I share all the love secrets, couples will book another night (they paid me to share this).<br /><br />Paula and I are looking forward to the time with all the couples that are coming!<br /><br />Don't forget to bring cash for dinner at the Main Street Grill Friday night, and to bring a lunch for Saturday (or cash to buy some food).John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-39315892007078261892009-01-29T14:12:00.000-08:002009-01-29T14:22:04.789-08:00"Hypokrites"The word “hypocrite” is an interesting word. The English comes directly from the transliteration of a Greek word, <span style="font-style:italic;">hypokrites</span> which means “to play a part, to act out, to feign.”<br /> <br />In the early days of Christ, most of the drama that occurred on the stage was done by actors who had masks in front of their faces. You might have seen the traditional icon of the stage that consists of two masks. One mask is a man with a deep frown and the other is a man smiling a broad grin. That emanates from the Greek stage.<br /><br />The masks hid who the actors really were, and allowed them to act as if they were someone else. The word “hypocrite” eventually came to mean someone who is acting as if they are someone or something else. A person may look spiritual, but it is just an act. Or they look moral, but it is a mask hiding dark secrets.<br /><br />By God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be authentic Christians. Honest, humble, full of grace and truth as we depend on God and His Word. Integrity and evangelism are powerful companions!John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-47399226142207316162009-01-29T14:01:00.000-08:002009-01-29T15:04:47.589-08:00Unmasking HypocrisySorry for the long Blog drought. Life is busy ...but so it is for everybody I know!<br /><br />This Sunday I will be preaching through Acts 5:1-11 and the story of Ananias and Sapphira. I've entitled the message, "Removing the Mask of Hypocrisy."<br /><br />I have been challenged and blessed by this Bible text. Luke wants us to understand just how serious God takes hypocrisy. It is easy to try to wear a mask and hide our struggles, battles, and temptations.<br /><br />Sometimes when people are struggling they isolate themselves because of the guilt they feel, or maybe they feel shameful, or maybe they don’t want to be a burden.<br /><br />As a pastor, I often find myself wrestling with the dilemma of what I should do. Should I step in? Should I “intrude” and offer my assistance, even though uninvited?<br /><br />Or should I stay out of the way and let the individuals involved work through the problem themselves? There are no hard and fast rules. I’ve done both…and had both backfire! I have also had both result in a wonderful time of reconciliation and growth. In my head I can still hear both extremes:<br /><br />“Pastor, what business is this of yours? If you had stayed out of it, we could have worked things out. You only made it worse.”<br /><br />And then I’ve heard : “Thank you Pastor. Thank you! Had you not stepped in and cared enough to comfort, (or confront or listen – whatever), who knows where we’d be today?”<br /><br />But I have also heard: “We appreciate the fact that you gave us room to work through the conflict. Thank you for not pushing your way in and forcing the issue.”<br /><br />And then I’ve heard: “Where were you? Why didn’t you make yourself available? Obviously, you didn’t care even though you knew we were hurting!”<br /><br />I tell you, sometimes it is enough to make me want to go back in the Navy full-time! <br /><br />But the hope you and I have is not in each other to fix our problems, but our hope is in the Lord. We can help each other see our circumstances from God's perspective and realize how sufficient and satisfying God truly is.<br /><br />If we want to help each other know Him and reflect His character, then we need to trust God and let down our guard and be open and honest with our struggles, our battles, our conflict, and our temptations.John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-35239766835265258202008-11-05T12:28:00.000-08:002008-11-05T12:40:37.732-08:00Election Results"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth...Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases." Psalm 115:1,3<br /><br />Paula and I prayed and gave thanks this morning, not because we got the kind of election outcome we hoped for, but because God is worthy of our praise all the time.<br /><br />Rather than writing at length my reaction to the election outcome, I would encourage you to read <a href="http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=2715">America Has Chosen a President<br /></a><br />Dr. Mohler provides some great insights into this historic election and how we can pray for our elected leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-4).John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-4154048760501847472008-10-30T14:31:00.000-07:002008-10-30T14:41:16.508-07:00The Baptism of the Holy SpiritThis Sunday I will be preaching through Acts 1:4-5, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is an important doctrine for us to understand, but one of the most controversial. Some of the confusion lies in a failure to understand the uniqueness of Pentecost. <br /><br />We could easily spend weeks studying what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit. Is He a force or a Person? Is He God or a creation of God? What is the difference between baptism, indwelling, filling, sealing, and gifts of the Holy Spirit? <br /><br />I am going to attempt to answer these questions (and others) in one sermon on Sunday. So please pray for me. Thanks!John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-1116575856944482362008-10-30T14:16:00.000-07:002008-10-30T14:29:19.610-07:004 Reasons Why the Book of Acts is So ImportantOne can hardly overstate the importance of the Book of Acts or its contribution to the canon of Scripture. Let me mention just a few of the reasons why Acts - and thus our study of this book -is so important.<br /><br />First, Acts (combined with the Gospel of Luke) makes up over one-fourth of the entire New Testament. Luke/Acts is really one work in two volumes (remember that only so much could be put on one scroll, just as only so much can be recorded on a cassette). If this one work makes up over one-fourth of the content of the New Testament, the principle of proportion alone tells us that it must be very important material.<br /><br />Second, the Book of Acts provides us with a vivid account of the radical change which took place in the attitudes and actions of the disciples, who were passive and almost invisible after our Lord’s death, as described in the Gospels. The Peter who would deny his Lord in the courtyard of the high priest, who would hide behind locked doors after Jesus’ death, and who would “go fishing” after His resurrection, is a very different man in Acts 2, where he boldly proclaims Jesus to be the Christ and announces to his audience that they were guilty of His death and were facing divine judgment. The transformation of the Lord’s disciples is evident in the Book of Acts.<br /><br />Third, Acts is a crucial book because it is the only book in the New Testament which fills in the gap between the Gospels and the Epistles. The Gospels end in Jerusalem with no church, a few Jewish believers in Jesus, and a group of disciples who are still living, as it were, in the past. The Epistles, on the other hand, depict a growing number of churches made up of mainly Gentile believers and a group of disciples who are boldly proclaiming Christ as Israel’s Messiah, and as the Savior of the Gentiles as well. Only Acts fills in the gaps, to explain how these changes took place. We would not understand the Epistles apart from the Book of Acts.<br /><br />Fourth, Acts provides us with an inspired account of the transition of the gospel from a largely Jewish context to a gospel which is universal, not only embracing the Gentiles but becoming, for a season, a largely Gentile phenomenon. We begin in Jerusalem with a handful of Jewish followers of Jesus. The Book of Acts ends in Rome, with a number of Gentile churches having been founded, and a predominantly Gentile Christian community. The Book of Acts describes this transition: geographically, from Jerusalem to Rome; theologically, from Israel to the church; and racially, from Jews to Gentiles.John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-4025312837457166662008-10-16T13:52:00.000-07:002008-10-16T14:02:52.150-07:00A Christian Perspective on Political Involvement<div align="justify">After concluding a sermon series on evangelism and a series on finances I was asked by a friend, "Where do we see in the Bible examples of people who were bold in sharing the gospel and good stewards of the money and possessions God entrusted to them?" The answer is clear: The book of Acts. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I was planning on starting a new sermon series on the book of Acts this Sunday. However, after talking with the elders and the men at our leadership study this morning it became clear that a sermon on the issues that we face in this election is much needed. Specifically I hope to help people discover and/or affirm what the Bible says about marriage and the life of the unborn child.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I have listed books (on the lower right of this page) that I believe will help us discern our responsibility as Christians in the political world. Of course, I hope my sermon this Sunday is also helpful! Please pray for me. Thanks!</div>John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-55764109821775147862008-10-07T11:49:00.000-07:002008-10-07T11:59:03.496-07:00Why Sermon Based Community Groups?A number of years ago Harvard University conducted a study for the military that uncovered three ways to maximize the benefit of any training experience. The first was maintaining a high sense of expectation. The study showed that if people went into a training experience with high expectations, they generally learned and retained a lot more.<br /><br />But here's the second ingredient. The Harvard researchers also discovered that if people took good notes during the training experience, the educational impact and the life-change upon returning home would accelerate measurably.<br /><br />The third key had to do with discussing the material with others. If they got together and discussed the notes—and the broader training experience as a whole—their education impact and subsequent life-change was significantly increased. .<br /><br />Those last two things (taking sermon notes and getting together and discussing the impact of the Bible text) are exactly why we are having sermon-based community groups - to change lives for God's glory and our good.John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-12343802852868239932008-10-07T11:38:00.000-07:002008-10-08T11:31:36.220-07:00Five New Community GroupsThere are five Cornerstone community groups now meeting: Paso Robles, Templeton, East Atascadero, West Atascadero, and South Atascadero. Great discussion, fellowship, and prayer taking place each week! I am excited about the potential for the "one anothers" of the New Testament (there are 30 "one anothers" in the NT!) to be practiced in these groups.John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737177486496593974.post-82122934498909763772008-10-07T10:50:00.000-07:002008-10-07T10:56:24.462-07:00Recommended BooksI am still relatively new to the blogosphere and just added a new "widget" from shelfari. You can see books that I have read recently and recommend for reading. I have started with the books that have been helpful in my current sermon series on finances. Let me know if you find it helpful and if you have any other "widget" recommendations!John Marc Wiemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18331528057060728572noreply@blogger.com1