“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 5:10 (NIV) It has been estimated that as many as 160,000 Christians are martyred each year worldwide. Godliness generates hostility. To live for Christ is to live in constant opposition to Satan and his crafty agenda to undermine God’s agenda. You cannot wholeheartedly follow Christ and never anticipate opposition. If you are a threat to Satan, then you can expect to encounter persecution at some level. Christ-centered living involves being persecuted. You may not face martyrdom as a result of your Christianity. But, you may be harassed for your faith in Christ in a culture that is anti-God and anti-Christian. Our culture is not Christ-centered and thus as a child of God, you will never be completely accepted and understood. The level of persecution for you may be that of trying to live out your faith in a home environment that does not honor Christ. Maybe for you it is a work environment that tempts you to compromise your convictions. Persecution may come in the form of an unhealthy relationship that stretches your faith and pushes your patience to the limit. Jesus says that you can be blessed in the midst of the persecution. You can know His abiding peace even in the darkest places and most difficult situations. Jesus promises to give you the ultimate relief from persecution by allowing you to experience the abundant life His gives on earth and eternal life in heaven. It is a win-win situation. Jesus gives us His perspective on persecution. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you”(Matt 5:11-12 NIV). There’s no one who can comfort you more than Jesus. He knows persecution first hand. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Author: Stephen Trammell
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Matt 5:9 (NIV) The Bible opens with peace in the Garden of Eden and was interrupted when man sinned. Jesus made peace a reality again by sacrificing His life upon the cross to destroy the penalty of sin and death. In eternity, peace will be fully restored. As long as there is the presence of sin upon the earth, peace will be challenged. Christ-centered living involves peacemaking. As a follower of Christ, you have the privilege and responsibility to be a peacemaker. Being a peacemaker is the result of a holy life and the willingness to confront the culture with the claims of Christ. Peacemaking is not the art of being passive and tolerating willful disobedience. Peacemaking is not accommodating ungodly behavior. To be a peacemaker is to build bridges to broken and sinful people in order to show them the love of Christ and the way of Christ. God raised up Nathan to confront King David concerning his sinful indulgence with Bathsheba. Nathan announced to David, “You are the man!” As a result, David repented and wrote Psalm 51. Nathan was a peacemaker in that he built a bridge to David in order to help David make peace with God. You have to be willing to get close enough to people to impact their lives. Sometimes that means looking beyond yourself and your circle in order to be used of God to be a peacemaker. Paul reminded the believers in Corinth to be bridge-builders when he wrote, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation”(2 Cor 5:18-19 NIV). You have been given the message. You have everything you need to obey God’s call. Are you at peace with God? Are you at peace with others? Will you help others make peace with God? Will you help others make peace with others? Remember, we are just fellow beggars who have found bread…the Bread of Life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matt 5:8 (NIV) Christ-centered living involves purity. God’s standard of perfection is Christ. The purity of Christ is the bull’s-eye for the believer. To be pure in heart is to be right with God. You cannot have a right relationship with God without having a relationship with others. You cannot have a right relationship with others without having a right relationship with God. Purity is impossible without the righteousness of Christ being imparted. The impartation and imputation of the righteousness of Christ takes place at the moment of conversion. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Eph 1:7-8 (NIV) “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph 2:8-9 (NIV) “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” Romans 6:11-12 (NIV) The righteousness of Christ is a grace gift from God. God is holy and demands His followers to be holy. Live in light of your position in Christ. Pursue holiness in private and in public. Stay in God’s will by staying in God’s Word. “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” 1 Tim 6:11 (NIV) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matt 5:7 (NIV) Christ-centered living involves being merciful. Has the Lord been merciful to you? Capture a snapshot of what shape you would be in right now had you not been a personal recipient of God’s mercy. God is not asking you to do anything He has not already done for you. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved.” Eph 2:4-5 (NIV) “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Heb 4:16 (NIV) You need God’s mercy for salvation and in sanctification. You need God’s mercy day by day in order to live the Christ-centered life. His mercy is both inward and outward. You receive God’s mercy inwardly and express God’s mercy outwardly. Sing with me, “Mercy there was great and grace was free; pardon there was multiplied to me; there my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary.” God, in His mercy, did not give you what you deserved. God placed on Jesus the iniquity of us all. Shouldn’t that transform how you view others? Shouldn’t your treatment of others flow out of the mercy you have received from God? The most merciful act you will ever employ is sharing the Good News of Jesus with others. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matt 5:6 (NIV) Christ-centered living involves holy ambition. There is nothing more appealing to a starving person than food. For the follower of Christ, the spiritual appetite is a craving for righteousness. At salvation, you receive the righteousness of Christ and a resulting passion for righteous living. “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:22-24 (NIV) “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor 5:21 (NIV) “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” Psalms 42:1 (NIV) As you seek the Lord and His righteousness, He satisfies your soul. You cannot pursue worldliness and godliness at the same time. The paths are in opposition. To grow in Christ likeness is to daily pursue Jesus and His agenda for your life. Continual prayer and consistent intake of God’s Word will feed your passion for His righteousness. Remember, whatever you feed grows; whatever you starve dies. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matt 5:5 (NIV) Christ-centered living involves being bridled. Meekness is not weakness; it is power under control. You have the capacity to live a sinful lifestyle that will bring disrepute to Christianity and disdain to the character of Christ. The world, Satan, and your flesh have agendas to disintegrate your Christian witness. You have everything you need to embrace a sinful lifestyle unbridled. You can choose to walk in the flesh right now and commit the most heinous of sinful acts. However, the Christ-centered life is one of decisive restraint. The Christ-centered life is submitting to the full control of Christ in your life. It is consciously choosing to give Jesus the reigns to your life. Instead of trying to live the Christian life in your own strength, you allow Jesus to live His life in you and through you. Your fleshly desires and carnal propensities are brought under the rule and reign of Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20 (NIV) “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Gal 5:16 (NIV) “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV) Be gentle in how you treat others. Surrender to the Spirit’s control in your life. Center your life on Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matt 5:4 (NIV) Are you constantly broken over your sinfulness? Christ-centered living involves brokenness. In the language of the New Testament, there are nine different words used to describe sorrow. The Greek word Jesus uses here is the strongest of the nine. This level of mourning is equated with grieving over the death of a loved one. Mourning over your sin is a prerequisite for receiving comfort. Brokenness over sin leads to confession of sin which leads to forgiveness of sin. Thus, brokenness precedes blessing. One cannot come into the Kingdom of God without being broken over sin. Without true repentance, there is no salvation. Once a person becomes a child of God, he or she must be continually broken over his or her sinfulness. We must love what God loves and hate what God hates. Those who are continually mourning will be continually comforted by God. “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.” Psalms 51:3-4 (NIV) “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Cor 7:10 (NIV) Step 1: Demonstrate godly sorrow for your sin. Step 2: Confess and repent of your sin. Step 3: Receive God’s forgiveness and comfort. Don’t ever get numb towards sin. Allow God to keep you sensitive to sin. Sin should break your heart just like it breaks the heart of God. Now walk in the freedom you have in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 5:3 (NIV) Christ-centered living involves humility. Recognizing your spiritual bankruptcy apart from God is imperative for the follower of Christ. You cannot come into the Kingdom of God without acknowledging your utter hopelessness outside of God’s provision. To be poor in spirit is to identify your true condition of lostness and separation from God apart from His divine initiative of salvation. In other words, don’t ever lose sight of where you would be had God not come to your rescue in Christ. To be poor in spirit is to continually recognize your dependency upon God. It is embracing the attitude opposite of self-sufficiency. Our culture rewards those who come across as independent and self-sufficient. In God’s Kingdom economy, He rewards those who place their sufficiency in Christ. Operating in daily dependency upon God is a true mark of the Christ-centered life. As Rick Warren says, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” The standard that Jesus raises in the Beatitudes is that of being selfless. That attitude does not come naturally. To be selfless is to place the needs of others before your own. Selflessness is a fruit of Christ-centered living. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Eph 4:2 (NIV) “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10 (NIV) Center your life on Christ and embrace His way of living the victorious life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Do something great by relying on Christ’s strength. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Phil 4:13 (NIV) Jesus has saved us to represent Him on the earth. He has instructed us to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, to forgive our debtors, to judge not, to go the extra mile, and to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 (NIV) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28:19-20 (NIV) It is impossible to obey Christ’s instructions without His power. Jesus does not expect us to obey Him without His enablement. The Christian life is a life of total dependency upon Jesus and His provision. How did Paul accomplish so much in the Lord’s service? Paul lived in full surrender to Christ and in total dependency upon Christ’s strength. Are you relying on Christ’s strength? You can do everything Christ calls you to do in the strength He provides. God can accomplish more through your life in six minutes than you can accomplish on your own in sixty years. Will you be found faithful? Rely on the strength Christ provides. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Categories
Something Great (6)
Do something great by praying it through. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6-7 (NIV) What are you anxious about right now? Is there anything keeping you up a night? It sounds like you are in need of the peace of God. How do you get to the place of peace? Pray everything through. Notice the process that Paul establishes. Instead of being anxious, be thankful as you present your requests to God. Replace anxiety with gratitude for what God is going to do in and through your situation. Take every item and pray it through. Before Jesus chose His twelve disciples, He spent the entire night praying it through. Read carefully and discern the process Jesus embraced. “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” Luke 6:12-16 (NIV) Jesus took everything to God in prayer. If Jesus, being God’s Son, valued prayer at that level, what about us? Do something great by praying it through. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Do something great by releasing the past. “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:13-14 (NIV) Don’t allow your past to prevent you from doing something great for God in the future. Everyone has a past. Everybody has pollution at some level in their past. We have made decisions we regret, said hurtful words we regret, and have had impure thoughts. We have caused pain in the lives of others and we have also been the recipient of pain from others. Living in a fallen world becomes evident by looking into the rearview mirror. Paul enjoyed the favor of God. While participating with God in the redemptive process, Paul also encountered the trauma of severe persecution. His rearview mirror included scenes of immense failures and tremendous successes. Paul understood the vital importance of releasing the past and embracing the future. Memory has power. Satan uses memory to immobilize us. God uses memory to remind us of the depth of His love. God wants to do something great through your life in spite of your past. God factored in your sin before you were even born. God made provision for your sin and your success by allowing Jesus to pay your sin debt in full. Find a private place of solitude. Take out a notepad and ask God to reveal un-confessed sin in your life. In the quietness of the moment, begin to write down what God reveals to you. Specifically confess each sin by agreeing with God that you have broken His heart and missed the mark. Now receive God’s cleansing for your sin and release the past. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Categories
Something Great (4)
Do something great by serving others. “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Phil 2:4 (NIV) Analyze your family tree for a moment. Think about those in your family tree who have consistently proven themselves as tender, compassionate, thoughtful, and generous. You may want to pause right now and pray a prayer of thanksgiving for them and their impact in your life. Now think about those in your family tree who have exhibited selfish behavior consistently. They are always looking to see how people can benefit them and satisfy them. Selfishness is our natural propensity. We are by nature selfish and self-centered. Until we allow Jesus to take full control of our lives, we will be self-absorbed. Once we allow Jesus to be Lord of our lives, then His life will be lived in us and through us. Jesus is the ultimate example and model of selflessness. “‘For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.’” Luke 19:10 (NIV) “‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” Mark 10:45 (NIV) “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Phil 2:5-7 (NIV) You are never more like Jesus than when you are serving. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Categories
Something Great (3)
Do something great by keeping an eternal perspective. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Phil 1:21 (NIV) Imagine flying at an altitude of thirty-thousand feet and scanning the colorful blocks of land on the earth’s surface. There is something about the view that gives you such a unique perspective on life. You begin to realize how small you are and how big the earth is. How do you view your life? Are you just breathing oxygen and taking up space or are you living on purpose by keeping an eternal perspective. God’s story is both massive and eternal. His plan includes you. You are an integral part of God’s redemptive story. God saved you, filled you with His Spirit, and gifted you to fulfill His purposes in your lifetime. Paul embraced an eternal perspective. He never lost sight of his win-win situation. If he lived, Christ lived with him. If Paul died, then he would live with Christ. Paul allowed his eternal perspective to fuel his courage and boldness for the Lord. “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Phil 3:20-21 (NIV) Will you choose to live this year with eternity in mind? Remember, there’s more to this life than what you see. There is life beyond the grave! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Categories
Something Great (2)
Do something great by partnering with others. “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:4-6 (NIV) Has God given you a dream that cannot be accomplished without others? As you study the Old Testament and the New Testament, seek to identify the partnerships that God blessed. From the Old Testament, I immediately think of Moses and Aaron, Joshua and Caleb, David and Jonathan, Naomi and Ruth, Elijah and Elisha. From the New Testament, I immediately think of Peter, James, and John, Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Silas, Paul and Titus, and of course, Paul and Timothy. As John Maxwell says, “Teamwork makes the dream work!” Paul understood the power of partnership. Writing from his imprisonment in Rome, Paul affirms his partnership with the church at Philippi. His relationship with the church family brought him great joy. Paul needed them and they needed him. Do you sense the value of being connected to a small group of Christ followers? Consider taking your partnerships to a new level this year by participating in a short term mission trip somewhere to spread the fragrance of Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Categories
Something Great (1)
Do something great by extending God’s grace and peace. “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Phil 1:2 (NIV) You cannot give what you do not have. On this first day of the year, reflect on your salvation event. Remember, salvation is an event followed by a process. Where were you when you responded to God’s offer of salvation? Think about the moment you confessed your sin and invited Jesus to take over your life. You became a recipient of God’s grace. Grace is something you cannot earn nor deserve. Grace is a gift from God based on the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. You received God’s riches at Christ’s expense. In God’s grace, you received the gift of eternal life. Your eternal destination is secure. Yet, there’s more. The result of receiving God’s grace gift is peace. You are now in a right relationship with God in that Jesus took on the full wrath of God for your sin. The righteousness of Christ has been imputed to your account. Peace is the fruit of your love relationship with God made possible by Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Peace is not connected to circumstances. You can be in the midst of a trying situation and yet have the peace of God in your life. You can be facing adversity in your daily living and still have the peace of God. Now that you have the grace and peace of God, are you willing to share that eternal gift with others? Is there anyone in your sphere of influence who is in need of God’s grace and peace? Begin praying for them by name and allow God to use you in the process. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Categories
Doing Life (5)
Doing life involves anticipating the Lord’s return. “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” James 5:7-8 (NIV) In our society of instant coffee, microwavable breakfast, and fast food, we don’t wait well. We want what we want right now. When it comes to the return of Christ, patience is required. Jesus came to the earth, lived, died a sacrificial death, rose from the dead, and ascended to the Father in heaven. Jesus is coming again. In His second coming, Jesus will come like a thief in the night. We tend to get so comfortable in this life that we forget about the reality of the Lord’s return. Just as a farmer waits patiently for the rain and the fruition of his crops, we are to wait patiently for the Lord’s return. That means to live in anticipation of the visible return of the Lord. We are to stand firm by obeying God’s Word with the expectation of the soon coming of Christ. Could Jesus come back today? Are you ready for His return? Turn your eyes upon the Lord and anticipate His return. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Categories
Doing Life (4)
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (NIV) Doing life involves submission and opposition readiness. God is at work and the devil is at work. Anytime you choose to join God in His activity, Satan will oppose. You can walk in victory by submitting to God. Submission is a conscious choice to surrender your agenda to God’s agenda. Moment by moment surrender allows God to have His way in your life. Your usefulness to God will be proportionate to your willful submission to God. It is not enough to submit to God’s agenda; you must also resist the devil. Opposition readiness is not optional for the follower of Christ. If you are going to reign victorious in this life, you must consciously resist the lure of the enemy. Satan is the master of disguise. He seeks to get you to drift into his path and to get you to neglect your devotion to God. Will you submit to God? Will you resist the devil? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Categories
Doing Life (3)
“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:7-8 (NIV) Doing life requires restraint. There are countless temptations used of Satan to entice us to compromise our Christianity. His goal is to get us to drift from our devotion to God. One of Satan’s favorite tools is an unbridled tongue. He knows that our words can do more damage than our actions alone. Have you ever said something you deeply regretted? Have you had one of those moments when you spoke before you had time to really think through and process what you were going to say? Ouch! It is impossible to retrieve words once spoken. If only we could snatch them out of the air before they made contact with the tympanic membrane of someone’s ear. If you have ever allowed words to slip and wound someone, then embrace this great word from God on how to respond. “If you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor!” Prov 6:2-3 (NIV) Has God placed someone on your heart that you have wounded with your words? Are you willing to go to them in humility in order to apologize and ask for their forgiveness? God will honor your obedience to His word. God will make a way for you to experience restoration. Restoration is God’s specialty! Don’t delay. Make things right! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Categories
Doing Life (2)
“Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” James 2:21-22 (NIV) Doing life requires faith. As a follower of Jesus Christ, you are in the minority on this planet. You are doing life on the narrow path in the midst of a fallen world. Your beliefs will be challenged. Living the Christian life will be marked by opposition and resistance. However, your faith in Christ and His provision will be authenticated by your actions. Are you putting feet to your faith? Are you allowing your faith to hit the pavement of real life in the real world? Abraham serves as a wonderful example of trusting in God’s provision no matter the cost. He was willing to sacrifice his only son in order to be obedient to God. As you know, God came to the rescue in the fourth quarter with a few seconds left on the clock. God provided the substitute. Why did God allow Abraham to go through such a trying experience? God was testing Abraham’s faith. Do you fully trust God to do what He says He will do? Do you fully trust God to empower you to do life His way during your short stay upon the earth? God wants to reveal His glory in you and through you as you live out your faith. Allow your faith to be expressed to a watching world by your actions. As you are doing life, your faith will either attract others to Christ or distract them from Christ. Will your actions give evidence to your vibrant faith in God? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Categories
Doing Life (1)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 (NIV) My dad has had a life of trials. His parents were alcoholics and a few years into his marriage to my mom, he became an alcoholic. My mom and dad divorced when I was about seven. My dad spent most of his adult life in and out of prison and combating the ferocious enemy, alcohol. The last few years have been tranquil as he has aged. Today, I took him to visit the nursing home he has picked out for his next place of residence in less than seven days. I met with the administrator and signed the paperwork. It’s hard to believe that at age thirty-eight, I would be helping my dad prepare for this type of transition. I think it has been a day of facing this trial and allowing God to test our faith and develop perseverance. Walking with God for the past twenty-eight years, I have learned that God is serious about spiritual maturity. God uses all kinds of situations and circumstances in our lives to bring us into maturity. He does not want us to lack anything. God also allows us to experience trials in order to reveal His heart of compassion. God cares about you and everything you go through. Doing life requires trusting in God’s provision. Doing life in a fallen world creates opportunities for us to experience joy in the midst of adversity. God’s character does not shift. He is the Rock. Consider your circumstances and then consider it pure joy. God is up to something special in your life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
The Christmas story is rooted in God’s nature and character. “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:20 (NIV) God’s story is the story of redemption. In His grace and mercy, God has come to us in order to rescue us from our sin and our eternal damnation. God’s redemptive activity is an outflow of His holiness and compassion. God became like us so that we could become like Him. The shepherds responded to God’s invitation by going into Bethlehem to see Jesus lying in a manger. They shared their angelic experience with Joseph and Mary to affirm their belief in Jesus as the savior of the world. The shepherds returned with an attitude of praise and adoration for all that God had done in their midst. They identified that their personal experienced lined up with God’s revelation. God keeps His word. When God speaks, you will know that His activity is just as He said. The shepherds anchored their faith in the certainty of God’s revelation. You can trust God to do what He says He will do. There isn’t a fraction of error. God speaks so that we can know Him, serve Him, and make Him known throughout the earth. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Categories
For Christmas (4)
Merry Christmas to you and your family! The day we have been anticipating all year is finally here. We have the wonderful privilege of celebrating the birth that changed our past, present, and future. Jesus is born! “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ –which means, ‘God with us.’” Matt 1:22-23 (NIV) “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (NIV) God is with us. God is for us. God is in us. This day of celebration goes far beyond simply a day of exchanging gifts and seeing our loved ones. This day marks the day when God became like us so that we could become like Him. Have you received the ultimate gift made available to you by God? Have you received God’s gift of eternal life? If so, then say so! “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:20 (NIV) “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” Philem 1:6 (NIV) Are you willing to share the ultimate gift that you have received with others? Jesus came to earth, lived, died, rose from the dead, and ascended back to heaven so that we could have eternal life and share it with others. Now that’s what Christmas is all about! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Categories
For Christmas (3)
“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19 (NIV) Think back to a Christmas experience you had in which you were deeply moved. Do you remember the specifics of the event that made it so touching? With our modern day affinity for technology, you probably captured the experience with a camera or a video recorder. Special moments are worth capturing and worth sharing. Mary’s experience was beyond words. Though cameras were nonexistent at that time, God gave Mary the wonderful capacity to treasure up all the things that the shepherds had shared with her concerning Jesus. She pondered them in her heart. Mary gathered all the information coming her way about Jesus and she embraced God’s activity. Can you imagine how she felt? Mary was chosen by God to bring the Savior into our world. Have you recognized the value God places on you? For Christmas, retrace the spiritual markers in your life. Spend time reflecting on each one. Treasure each one and ponder them in your heart. Consider how God is at work in you, around you, and through you to bring His light and His love into our world of desperation. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
God’s revelation demands a response. “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” Luke 2:15-18 (NIV) God speaks. God reveals Himself so that we may know Him and serve Him. God invites us to join Him in His redemptive activity. He includes us in the redemptive process. Yes! God could accomplish His mission without us. He doesn’t need us. God chooses to use us in communicating His love to a lost and drifting world. The shepherds responded to God’s invitation through instant obedience. They hurried off to find Jesus! There wasn’t a delay to calculate the cost of obedience. They passionately sought the Lord and responded to God’s offer instantly. The shepherds are examples of how God’s revelation demands a response. They could have responded in apathy or in resolve. What has God revealed to you? Have you responded to God’s revelation by obeying instantly? What is keeping you from walking in the light God has given you? Imagine responding to God with a resolute, “Yes, Lord!” For Christmas, consider what God has been speaking into your life. Make a decision to trust God and His perfect timing. Decide to obey Him instantly. Leave the results up to God! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell, Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
God’s activity is perpetual. “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’” Luke 2:8-12 (NIV) God is always at work. He never sleeps and never takes a power nap. God’s activity is redemptive. In His redemptive activity, God chose to announce His good news of great joy to shepherds. Shepherds were considered unclean in their day. They were not honored for their vocational choice. Though despised by people, they were loved by God. God allowed the shepherds to participate in His redemptive activity. Is there anyone you have been praying for lately who is in need of salvation? Have you had moments of doubt? Maybe you have wondered if it is even possible for God to convince them of their need for salvation. You may have felt that they are beyond God’s reach. The good news of great joy is that there is not a person on planet earth beyond God’s reach. For Christmas, be reminded of God’s activity. Ask God to heighten your awareness of His activity. Make yourself available for the redemptive activity of God in the one you have been praying for. God is working! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell, Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
God speaks your love language. “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Acts 2:1-4 (NIV) The joy of Christmas is celebrating the birth of Jesus and giving meaningful gifts to those we love. Jesus came to give us the ultimate gift, eternal life. As we exchange gifts this Christmas, it is an expression of valuing others. As you shop for that perfect gift to bless someone dear to you, you thoughtfully consider what they need and what they like. You consider their tastes, interests, and desires. You focus your gift on their uniqueness. God speaks your love language in that He meets you at your greatest point of need. Salvation has come in the miracle of the manger, Jesus, born to bring life everlasting. On the Day of Pentecost, God demonstrated that the Gospel is for everyone. He broke through the ethnic and language barriers by allowing those present in Jerusalem to hear the Gospel in their own language. As the people groups represented in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost returned to their homeland, the Gospel spread. “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” Acts 2:41 (NIV) God’s love language is universal. The miracle of Christmas is that in Christ God’s glory may be revealed to all nations. Are you available for God’s use? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell, Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
God honors unity. “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Acts 1:14 (NIV) Anticipating Christmas generates major excitement and energy. You can feel it in the air as people saturate their flower beds, yards, and homes with decorative lights. The traffic heightens as shoppers strategically complete their Christmas lists. Travelers prepare to make their rounds among the family traditions. Anticipation of celebrating the birth of Christ brings out the best in us. Following the ascension of Christ, a hundred and twenty believers were gathered in the upper room anticipating the arrival of the Holy Spirit. They were anticipating the fulfillment of the Father’s promise. They all joined together. They continued with one accord in prayer. The Greek word is “homothumadon” which means with one mind, one accord, and one passion. In the language of the New Testament, it means to have the same mind and to rush along in unison. God honored their unity as demonstrated in their continual praying together. God allowed them to express their unity through a ten day prayer meeting of anticipation. Unified prayer was their preparation for the impartation of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Do you pray in anticipation of God’s answer? Have you experienced unified prayer with other believers? What if you brought unified prayer into your Christmas experience? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell, Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
God is a promise keeper. “He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’” Luke 24:46-49 (NIV) Jesus developed His disciples by investing time with them. He modeled what He wanted to multiply in them and through them. Jesus commissioned His followers to preach in His name to all nations. Then Jesus affirmed that He would send them what His Father had promised. He instructed them to stay in Jerusalem until they received the impartation of the promise. God is the promise giver and He is a promise keeper. The promise He gave to the followers of Christ was the Person of the Holy Spirit. The promise He gives to every person who receives the gift of eternal life is the Holy Spirit. “We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 4:13 (NIV) Are you a child of the promise? Have you been born into God’s family? God’s glory lives in you in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Will you live for the global glory of God by sharing His promise with all nations beginning with your neighbors? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell, Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
God’s agenda is global. “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’” Luke 2:13-14 (NIV) You are here to bring glory to God. You have been created by God to fulfill His agenda. God’s agenda is global and your purpose is to live for His global glory. Don’t waste your life. You are too valuable to God. Don’t wade in the pool of apathy. Time is to too short. “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14 (NIV) The brevity of life and certainty of death are realities that should motivate us to passionately bring God glory every moment of each day. What are you doing for the global glory of God? It is impossible to be self-consumed and live for the global glory of God. It is impossible to be self-centered and live for the global glory of God. The angels got it. They demonstrated at Jesus’ birth that their focus was to bring glory to God. God alone is worthy of our adoration. God alone is worthy of a life focused on bringing Him glory. Are you willing to reorient your life around living for the global glory of God? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell, Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Categories
The People God Uses (7)
God uses people who are hospitable. “When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.’ And she persuaded us.” Acts 16:15 (NIV) Have you ever been to someone’s house and you felt right at home? After being there you experienced a special touch of love and encouragement. You left feeling better then when you arrived! Now that’s hospitality. When someone rolls out the red carpet on your behalf, you feel valued. After Lydia became a Christ follower, she extended gracious hospitality to Paul and his traveling companions. Lydia rolled out the red carpet to make them feel right at home. She sought to meet their needs and to provide an atmosphere where they could be refreshed. Her ministry of hospitality did not end there. God blessed Lydia’s hospitality and allowed her home to become the meeting place for the church at Philippi. “After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left.” Acts 16:40 (NIV) During Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, he wrote a beautiful love letter to the church at Philippi. You can read it now by opening the Bible and turning to the book of Philippians. God used Lydia to touch our lives even today through her willingness to be hospitable. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell, Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care