The eNews Week of February 8, 2004
If you would like to contribute to the YAM eNews, send an email to tfbyam1@hotmail.com.
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IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
COMING UP
LIFE TOGETHER: The Day Alone
TFB: Our Values
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REGULAR HAPPENINGS
WORSHIP @ 8:45 am—Main Worship Center
EAT, 4th Sunday @ 11:45 am
Next EAT is February 22
Meet in the TFB patio
SUNDAY GATHERING @ 10 am on Sundays—TFB College Room
February 15: Worship Leader: Daniel Pribble
BIBLE STUDY @ 8:00-9:00 pm on Tuesdays— TFB College Room
Current Study: True Spirituality? Learning Jesus in the Gospel According to Mark
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COMING UP
THE PASSION, date TBA
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LIFE TOGETHER: The Day Alone
“Let him who cannot be alone beware of community. He will only do harm to himself and to the community… But the reverse is also true: Let him who is not in community beware of being alone.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, pg. 77
What exactly is “the day alone”?
Agree or Disagree?
1. It is important that I spend time alone with God.
2. The Bible teaches that I should spend some time every day in Bible study and prayer.
3. God expects me to spend time every day in Bible study and prayer.
What do you think?
The truth is spending time with God is important, BUT the Bible neither teaches nor commands a daily time of Bible study and prayer.
Fact one: Bible study can be a sin. Check out John 5:39-40. The Pharisees were great students of the Bible, but look what Jesus says to them. Does this mean that studying, reading, and memorizing the Bible are not important? NO! But Bible study is not some magic pill to holiness either.
Fact two: Prayer can be a sin. Look at Luke 18:9-14. What do you think of the Pharisee’s prayer? Good or a sin? Does this mean prayer is not important? Again, NO! But like Bible study, prayer is not a magic pill to holiness either.
So, what does the Bible say?
Fact three: The Bible teaches CONTINUAL meditation on the Bible. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, to meditate is “To reflect on; contemplate.” Read Psalm 1:2-3 and Joshua 1:8. Both of these passages teach that God-followers are to meditate on his Word day and night. We’re supposed to ponder, think about, contemplate, and ruminate on the Bible ALL THE TIME. First, this is way more than 15 to 30 minute quiet time—it means 24/7/365. Second, in order to think about the Bible all the time, we actually need to know what it says. That means really listening when the Bible is taught and—yes—reading it for ourselves.
Fact four: The Bible teaches CONTINUAL prayer. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and Philippians 4:6-7. These passages teach that we should pray ALL THE TIME for EVERYTHING. Again, this is way more than 15 to 30 minute quiet time—it means 24/7/365.
NEVERTHELESS, spending an intentional time alone with God is important; it’s needed for the relationship. In fact, that is our purpose: to glorify and enjoy God forever by loving him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Read Mark 12:28-34. When a Jewish leader asked Jesus about the greatest commandment, he said it is to Love God and Love our Neighbor. Here’s the bottom line:
God does not NEED us. At first this may sound like bad news, but it’s not. God does not need us, but he does WANT us. Did you get that? He wants US. Not our stuff, not our duty—US!
The other side of that coin, though, is that even if we don’t WANT God, we NEED him. We don’t need the warm fuzzies we get during that favorite worship song. We don’t need the sense of accomplishment of in-depth bible study. What we need—desperately need—is HIM.
So what? Take a look at Psalm 42:1-2
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I come and stand before him?
Do you long for God that way? Are you desperate for him? If not, that is the most important thing to pray: ‘God help me want you; I want to want you.’
“One who returns to the Christian family fellowship after fighting the battle of the day brings with him the blessing of his aloneness, but he himself receives anew the blessing of the fellowship. Blessed is he who is alone in the strength of the fellowship and blessed is he who keeps the fellowship in the strength of aloneness.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, pg. 89
The discussion continues…
WAYS TO RESPOND
- Join the Discussion Blog; send an email to: tfbyam1@hotmail.com to receive the sign-up instructions.
- Make a phone call.
- Send an email.
- Go out to lunch.
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TFB: Our Values
Principles of Priority Importance in How We Fulfill Our Mission
Pastor Charlie
We value CONNECTION with God.
We stay in close relationship with Jesus. John 15:4, 5
We apply God’s word to our lives. James 1:25; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17
We choose a God-honoring lifestyle. Philippians 1:27
We faithfully serve our Lord. Galatians 6:9, 10; Ephesians 2:10
We value COMMUNITY with fellow believers.
We demonstrate a servant’s heart. Philippians 2:4-8
We work together. Romans 12:5,6
We act in love toward others. 1 Peter 1:22
We speak in ways that build people up. Ephesians 4:29
We meet regularly together to encourage one another. Hebrews 10:25
We pray for one another. Ephesians 6:18
We support and follow our leaders as they follow Christ. Hebrews 13:17
We give financial support for the ministry. 2 Corinthians 8:7, 8
We value CREATIVITY in worship and ministry
We express our praise of God with enthusiasm and variety. Psalm 150:3-5
We are adaptable in our methods in order to reach people. 1 Corinthians 9:19-24
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