Bible Study January 22, 2025

1 Timothy 2:1–4 “2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Romans 13:1 “13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.’

Philippians 4:6,

Proverbs 21:1,

Colossians 1:16–17.

Two days ago the forty-seventh president in America was inaugurated. There is a vast division in the United States based on politics, race, gender, transgender, abortion rights (or wrongs) to name a few.

We are blessed and fortunate to be able to vote in free elections without regard for armed guards at the polling places as we see in some countries. Our constitution gives us the right to vote as we choose. We should exercise that right as Christians.

You may or may not agree with the views of the leadership in the country. However we are called upon to pray for them. I will admit there have been some presidents I did not agree with and if I live long enough there may be more. The converse is true there have been those I agree with. They are the easy ones to pray for.

But praying for those we disagree with becomes a greater challenge but yet we are called to do so. I referenced five passages about praying for those in leadership. Paul in the New Testament references is very clear on this. Leadership in any capacity needs prayer. Leaders cannot do everything they need support and one form of support is prayer from the people they serve.

Can you pray for those you disagree with that God will lead them? After all He should be the guide we all follow and He is the one who said we pray for our enemies.

Let me encourage you to daily simply ask God to give leadership to President Trump, VP J. D. Vance, the Congress, and the House of Representatives for guidance, wisdom, and most of all that God changes their hearts to seek and follow Him. It is only at that point when citizens and those in leadership hearts are changed that America will truly flourish.

God Bless you as you pray.

Bible Study January 21, 2025

I read an interesting article that prompted my thoughts today.

1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by a man’s face or height, for this is not the one. I don’t make decisions the way you do! Men judge by outward appearance, but I look at a man’s thoughts and intentions.” (NLT).

The article had a title “What Does the Bible Say About Wearing Jeans in Church?” I was reminded as I read it that in a previous pastorate I was asked when was I going to wear a suit. My dress then was Dockers and a golf shirt.

Since coming to Asbury Chapel I wear jeans, in fact one time I wore Dockers and I was asked where are my jeans?” So is important what we wear to church? I grew up in an age where men wore suits to church the minister was always dressed in a suit even on weekdays outside the pulpit. It was called your “Sunday best.”

But we are in 2025 and jeans are becoming more common. If we have a question concerning anything we should go the scriptures for our answer.

My first question would be what is worship? Is it determined by what we wear or by what is in our heart? What does God see? Our heart. The verse from 1 Samuel says more about the inside than the outside.

John 4:24 – 24 says, “Jesus replied, “The time is coming, ma’am, when we will no longer be concerned about whether to worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. For it’s not where we worship that counts, but how we worship—is our worship spiritual and real? Do we have the Holy Spirit’s help?” (NLT).

A suit, a dress, jeans, or shorts is not the most important factor it is the condition of our heart. We could be wearing the clothing of Jesus day which would be tunic and sandals. I am not in favor of tunics.  Jesus wore the clothing of His day.

Then we should consider modesty as we look at what Paul wrote to Timothy. “And the women should be the same way, quiet and sensible in manner and clothing. Christian women should be noticed for being kind and good, not for the way they fix their hair or because of their jewels or fancy clothes.”  (NLT). He is writing this about women but it affects men also.

The scriptures teach a great deal about not dressing like the other sex. Before you cast a stone in my direction “Yes, there are jeans designed for women.” If jeans were worn in Biblical days Jesus may well have been one wearing them.

Modesty is about avoiding attention being drawn away from worship.

No one should feel uncomfortable being in church for worship. I was reminded of this “how would we deal with a homeless person in worship who had no means for a shower or clean clothes? Acceptance is part of worship.

Does a suit seem unapproachable where jeans may seem more approachable. Jesus invited everyone the weary, the brokenhearted, the rich, the poor He had no conditions for meeting people.

Wear what you want and allow others to do the same. Worship is more important than a necktie around your neck on Sunday. Clothing is secondary to our heart for worship.

God Bless.

Bible Study January 20, 2025

I have a book by R. T. Kendall called a “God of Second Chances.” He says, “the older I get, the faster time files; the older I get, the more I cry out to God “let me finish well.”

I referenced his work in a message a couple of weeks ago. Then I thought about something that is occurring in youth sports these days where children are given “participation trophies.”

How do I want to finish? Paul wrote in reference to this in Galatians 6:9 “And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up..” And in Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.”

Luke in Acts 20:24 wrote, “But life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God’s mighty kindness and love.” (All references were from TLB).

These verses tell us to persevere and when we do God will complete a good work in you using your life to finish the work He has assigned you to do.

Are sending the wrong message when we give “participation trophies” out when the goal is to finish well? Is participation acceptable in life?

Simply participating in church by attending, singing, closing our eyes during prayer, and giving of our means both in service and finances is participating. Both believers and non-believers can be participants.

Is our goal to participate or finish well? Finishing well is doing the will of God in our everyday lives. I realize not everyone has the ability to be a Billy Graham but what can I do to help others see Christ? Where do I fit in the work of the kingdom?

We can build great buildings and call it the “church.”  We can have to latest and greatest in technology, flashing lights, praise bands and miss the mark. These contribute to worship but they are not worship. The church is not a building it is the believers worshipping in that building.

Worship means to express deep a deep reverence and praise to God by devoting time daily in prayer, reading scripture, and living a life that honors Him all with a sincere heart.

Everyone has a place in the Body of Christ no matter who you are. Christian life is active, ongoing, alive with enthusiasm for the hope that He has placed inside us.

How will I finish?

God Bless.

Bible Study January 17, 2025

Galatians 5:22 – 26

22 “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control; and here there is no conflict with Jewish laws. 24 Those who belong to Christ have nailed their natural evil desires to his cross and crucified them there. 25 If we are living now by the Holy Spirit’s power, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Then we won’t need to look for honors and popularity, which lead to jealousy and hard feelings.”

Proverbs 11:3 “A good man is guided by his honesty; the evil man is destroyed by his dishonesty.”

I’m old enough to have watched Mickey Mantle and Stan Musial both play major league baseball. Both were extremely talented. Yet both took a different path to living their lives.

I watched an interview by Bob Costas about Mickey Mantle. Mantle was invited to St. Louis by Costas for a charity event and stayed with the Costas family. Costas related that Mantle was a great baseball player but had regrets and demons. They were having dinner at Costas’ home when he invited Stan Musial and his wife over.

After dinner and everyone was gone or in bed Costas related he and Mantle were having a late night talk. Mantle said to him “You know I should have been as good a player as Stan I had more power and no one could run faster than me but Stan was a better player than me because he was a better man than me. He got everything out of what God had given him.

Mantle died at sixty-three while Musial lived into his early nineties. Costas relates that Musial got on a plane and unannounced went to the funeral of Mantle. Costas, who was doing the eulogy, looks out and sees Musial in the audience sitting alone.

He tells the story of an Allstar game in the fifties when the black baseball greats like Mays, Aaron, Banks and others were gathered in the corner of the clubhouse playing cards no white players were there. Musial walks over to the group and simply says “deal me in.” That was his way of letting those players know they were welcome. That was who Musial was a man of integrity.

In 1994, a year before his death from alcohol-induced cirrhosis, hepatitis C and inoperable liver cancer, Mickey Mantle gave a remorseful interview to Sports Illustrated. The New York Yankees superstar center fielder and first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee recounted his life as an alcoholic with brutal candor.

He goes on to say that the death of Musial was not a tragedy as the death of Mantle was.

His whole point in the interview concerning these events was decency. What is a decent man? Paul tells us in Galatians five.

Have a blessed day.

Bible Study January 16, 2025

Colossians 1:15 – 19

15 Christ is the exact likeness of the unseen God. He existed before God made anything at all, and, in fact, 16 Christ himself is the Creator who made everything in heaven and earth, the things we can see and the things we can’t; the spirit world with its kings and kingdoms, its rulers and authorities; all were made by Christ for his own use and glory. 17 He was before all else began and it is his power that holds everything together. 18 He is the Head of the body made up of his people—that is, his Church—which he began; and he is the Leader of all those who arise from the dead, so that he is first in everything; 19 for God wanted all of himself to be in his Son.

I am not the most dedicated NASCAR fan in the world. I am the first one to admit it. If I turn a race I fall asleep. After all whoever leads the last lap wins so I am good with the condensed version.

I say this because I read an article from a NASCAR driver who had been approved to enter the Daytona 500 then he was told they did not approve him. My initial thought is what poor leadership in a sport that is dying in America. It’s the same in other sports also. My mind went to the concept of leadership in the church for our study today.

The scripture teaches Jesus is the head of the church. I referenced the above passage but you can also find other references in Ephesians 1:22 and 5:23. He (Jesus) places people into leadership of the local church.

Ephesians 1:11 – 12 says, “11 Some of us have been given special ability as apostles; to others he has given the gift of being able to preach well; some have special ability in winning people to Christ, helping them to trust him as their Savior; still others have a gift for caring for God’s people as a shepherd does his sheep, leading and teaching them in the ways of God. 12 Why is it that he gives us these special abilities to do certain things best? It is that God’s people will be equipped to do better work for him, building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity.” The key word here is “He.”

What is happening in the church today is that the church has become a building (not a people, the church is the people within the building) that has moved far away from the biblical standard set for it. Man has intervened and now interprets scripture as he sees fit not what God ordained. There are examples but that is not the direction I am going today.

We have recently seen some several new couples and families visit our church and one couple has joined our Bible study. As a church we believe the scriptures should be interpreted as written. The Bible has not changed but man is attempting to make it say what He wants when the source is God’s Word.

Let us all pray that the Church of Jesus Christ does not follow the path of NASCAR and arbitrarily change its rules or make promises then retract them. Stay faithful in what you believe. If your church does not follow the scriptures that were inspired by God find one that does there are many who will not deviate from His Word.

God Bless.

Bible Study January 15, 1015

I am tweaking my devotional from our Council meeting last evening which I shared about “Serving.”

Here are some Bible verses about serving others:

Galatians 5:13

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love”.

Mark 10:45

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”.

John 12:26

“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him”.

There are so many times we want to jump ahead of God and do something when in fact He is looking for us to the simple things such as serving one another.

We have a celebration of Life service coming later in the month and some discussions have taken place within the church about serving this family.

I met three family members to discuss the service including the dad, a son, and a daughter. The lady had passed away within a couple of days of her 75th birthday which was Christmas Eve. They had asked if I would do her service, which I immediately said I would. When I met with the family we had a wonderful discussion about her life which revolved around serving and helping others.

Serving sometimes is like the least likely thing we want to do it gives little glory in the immediate realm but long term dividends in the spiritual realm.

I asked our church secretary to check to see if we could do a meal for them. During our visit they discussed a meal possibly catering something then they decided they could do preparing of food.

Thanks you for stepping up and serving.

I received this from ___________ on Monday – “Hi Larry,

I will be at the church service on the 19th, my meeting doesn’t start until 12pm so it works out well. I am overwhelmed with gratitude from the support you and the church are giving my family!

As we are wait and expect God to move in the church and I am confident He will direct our path as He has in the past but in the meantime while we do what we can think about this simple line “ If you’re waiting on God, do what waiters do: serve. “

God Bless.

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Bible Study January 14, 2025

Genesis 12:10 – 13

10 “Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.”

Genesis 20:1 – 5

“From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” 4 Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 5 Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.”

There are two instances in the book of Genesis that tell us of Abraham lying about Sarah his wife when he said she was his sister. You can read the full account in Genesis 12:10 -12 and Genesis 20:1 – 18.

We discussed these verses last evening in our Bible study. Is it alright to lie?

I shared a question that arose in a Christian Theology class when in college when this question was asked. “If you are hungry is it okay to steal bread?” What if your family is hungry is it acceptable to steal bread?” They brought about various opinions.

Before answering the question “is it okay to lie” do not miss this verse seven. “Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” God was speaking to a non-believing king Abimelech.

Abraham was a prophet in the eyes of God yet he lied. Now you may say she is indeed his sister (which is truth) but she is indeed his wife (which is also truth).

How do you answer the question in your heart? Think about it I will add additional thoughts tomorrow.

God  Blees you in your thoughts.

Bible Study January 13, 2025

James 5:13 – 17

The Prayer of Inspiring Faith Daily

13 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

Do you pray, do you believe what you ask for will be granted? Do you pray in the will of God? (By the way the will of God is found in the scriptures). I have talked to many people over the years about these questions. They end their prayer “If it’s God’s will”, but He has stated His will in His Word. If it is in His Word, it is His will. Let me share some thoughts I have.

First, when we read this verse the first question asked is “are you suffering?” What is the answer to that question? It is found in the next three words “let him pray.” Is prayer the first thing we do or the last thing? Suffering can take many forms from illness, to hunger, to broken relationships, the answer is prayer. I know many people will believe that is a simple answer but it is truth.

Second, If you are sick James says we should call the elders of the church to pray over the one who is sick, anointing them with oil, then pray. There are a coupe of keys to this verse. One we acknowledge we need prayer. The second is the prayer of faith.

Whose faith is it? I believe it can be the faith of the one who is sick or it can be the faith of those praying. Why do I say that? Yesterday we had a report of a man who had cancer that had been healed. The man sharing the story said, “we had been praying for this man with cancer.” I am certain knowing the man who shared it that he had prayed and most likely told the sick man he was praying for him.

Third, what happens when we pray for the sick? The answer is found in verse fifteen. “15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.”

Fourth, exercise your faith that others will be healed and delivered from their infirmities. You may be the key to their healing, exercise your faith, believe in what you pray, then give the praise for healing to One who delivered the healing- our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We all should be about our Father’s business.