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Sunday 03/09/25

Title: Don’t be a Nearsighted & Forgetful Christian

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Don’t be a Nearsighted & Forgetful Christian

Jesus, when teaching about the kingdom of God after being challenged by the Chief priests and elders, He gave them the parable of the vineyard tenants.

This was the parable where upon harvest the hired servants of the vineyard, killed those who came to gather the harvest for the master, which in the end included the Master’s Son. So the Master came to deal with them Himself.

Jesus then asked the chief priests and elders,

“what do you think the Master will do in response upon coming to His vineyard.”

They said, “He will utterly destroy those wicked men”.

To which Jesus replied,

“Have you never read in the scriptures:

‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone . This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

(43) For this reason I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. (44) The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.” – Matthew 21:33-43 (not deny its power)

So the kingdom, upon settling in a heart, will break than heart and so bring it into a state of humility before God.

On the other hand, those who reject the kingdom, will be ground to powder.

The clear intimation here being that if there is NO FRUIT there is NO rule of God and if there is no rule of God there is no eternal life!

Furthermore that this fruit will be produced under persecution in our pursuit to live out Jesus’ lordship is made clear,

“ALL THOSE WHO WANT TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS WILL BE PERSECUTED.” – 2 Timothy 3:12

And

Acts 14:21-22, “(21) After Paul and Barnabus had proclaimed the good news in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch. (22) They strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “We must enter the kingdom of God through many persecutions.”

This passage illustrates the need to not just evangelize but MAKE DISCIPLES and ENCOURAGE other believers which falls under the section of the “Spirit upon”.

But as I said, it also points out that it will require diligence and tenacity to live out the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Like the parable of the sower and the seed (or the Parable of the Heart Soils), “other things” will seek to enter the heart and challenge Jesus’ lordship in our lives, vying to take His place. To these things we must not surrender even for a moment!

Even as Paul testified regarding the rule of Christ and our being HIS servants alone being challenged by the Old Covenant requirement of circumcision. Paul said,

“(3) Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek.

(4) Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, to make us slaves.

(5) But we did not surrender to them even for a moment, in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.” – Galatians 2:3-5

Also Paul encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of the saints in Thessalonica to “walk worthy of God, Who calls them into His Own kingdom and glory.” – 1 Thess. 2:12

And Peter said that God has by His Own power given to us

“everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the One Who called us by His Own glory and excellence.

(4) Through these things He has bestowed on us His precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire.

(5) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; (6) to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; (7) to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love.

(8) For if these things are really yours and are CONTINUALLY INCREASING, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive (or unfruitful) in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately.

(9) But concerning the one who lacks such things – he is blind. That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins.  (10) THEREFORE, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin. (11) For thus AN ENTRANCE INTO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, WILL BE RICHLY PROVIDED FOR YOU!”

Blessings!

Tri

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!