The Hidden Gift

2 Corinthians 4:3 – “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.”

Christmas morning has never come quickly enough for me.  As a kid, it was my personal goal to find out what my presents were as soon as possible.  My mom would come up with very unique ways of keeping me from finding my presents before Christmas, including a few very creative hiding places.  I still remember the first time my sister and I opened and re-wrapped our gifts to see what they were… and I still remember my mom threatening to take them back when she found out.

Jesus Christ is God’s gift to the world.

Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The difference with this gift is that God is not interested in hiding it.

Do you know the main difference between my childhood curiosity and the world’s desperate searching?  I knew what I was looking for.  The world may know something is missing, but most people have no idea what they’re looking for.  They are “lost” just as Paul described them in 2 Corinthians.

Are you hiding God’s gift to the world?

Thinking Inside the Book

So you’re thinking outside the box.  Now what?

The danger in thinking outside the box is always that you’ll go too far.  When you finally break out of your intellectual routine, there is always a tendency to test the limits of your creativity.  Some people are so afraid of going too far that they don’t even attempt to think creatively, but as a Christian, we have God’s Word to guide our creativity.  The Holy Spirit will use the Word of God to give discernment for these difficult decisions.

No creative concept should go outside of God’s truth, no matter how innovative.  Truth should always be at the center of creativity and glorifying God should always be at the end.

Thinking Outside the Box

Creativity is a wonderful characteristic of our God.  The Psalmist reminds us that even a casual glance at the world around us will lead us to the knowledge of a Creator.  “The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament showeth his handiwork.  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not hear.” (Psalm 19:1-3)

We are created in the image of God, and as His highest creation, we should be reflecting the characteristics of a perfect God – His holiness, His love, His sacrifice.  Lost in the middle of these powerful attributes, we sometimes miss the characteristic of creativity.  We serve a very creative God, and he has given us the ability to creatively approach life, family, and ministry.

Creativity is desperately needed in ministry.  No tradition or preference should come between the church and God’s mission for it.  One of my professors in college used to say, “We have the most wonderful message in the world, but we often package it like it doesn’t matter.”  If there were ever a pursuit that deserved our utmost effort, it is the work of the Lord.  Our philosophies and programs need to be constantly evaluated as our world is constantly changing.

Soulwinning Illustration: Our Sin Debt

At the beginning of 2009, America’s credit card debt reached over 972 billion dollars, and the average American family had over $10,000 in credit card debt.  In our current economic situation, almost everyone can relate to the pressure of debt.

These circumstances in our country create a perfect opportunity for us to use the physical to relate to the spiritual.  Carrying a credit card in your wallet or purse will give you a simple, yet powerful object lesson for the gospel.

Your credit card has your name on it.  The bank issued that card and gave you the ability to use it however you want.  If you want to swipe that card at a gas station, they won’t stop you.  If you want to swipe that card to purchase an over-priced coat, they won’t try to talk you out of it.  Why?  Because they’re keeping track of every transaction, and one day, they’re going to require that the debt be paid.

In Earthen Vessels

2 Corinthians 4:7 - “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

In earthen vessels, God has placed the treasure of His Word.
In finite minds, the timeless truth of God has been transferred.
Into the fragile hearts of men, the truth God does entrust,
And reminds us that the power is of Him, and not of us.

Not Everyone Wears a Nametag

Has anyone ever walked up to you and asked, “Hey, do you remember me?”

“Of course I do…”  You don’t want them to know that you’re drawing a blank on their name, so you spend the next few minutes in awkward conversation, wishing they were wearing a name tag.

The memory section of the brain is called the cerebrum, and mine is defective.  I can remember random facts that I heard years ago, but I can’t remember names I heard an hour ago.  The problem with that scenario is that names are important to remember.  Random facts… not so much.

Remembering someone’s name goes much deeper than just avoiding embarrassment.  It is a key to communicating genuine care and interest.

Dale Carnegie said, “A person’s name, to that person, is the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”

Here are a few tips to help you avoid those awkward conversations and communicate genuine care and interest for the people you meet.

By Grace, I Am

1 Corinthians 15:9-11
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

He that is down need not fear falling
He that is low need not fear pride
He that is humble in his calling
Will in the Saviour’s Grace abide

He that will see himself but clearly
He that will give God all the praise
He that will love the Lord so dearly
Will find fulfillment in his days

Think Biblically

Acts 17:10-12

10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

How do you respond to the preaching of God’s Word?

The goal of preaching is not to brainwash the listeners.  A godly pastor, writer, and preacher will always point you to the Bible, and if you follow their direction, you’ll be studying the pages of a God who doesn’t fear your inspection.  The process of thinking Biblically goes beyond just accepting the truth.  When you think Biblically, you know what you believe and you know why you believe it.

10 Keys to Keeping your Decisions

If you attend church on a regular basis, you will hear approximately 150 messages by the end of the year, and hopefully you will walk the aisle many times to make decisions after hearing the Word of God preached.

Often, it’s easy to make a decision.  The hard part is leaving church and living out that decision in your daily life.  Here are some keys to keeping the decisions that you’ve made for the Lord.

Memories and Jamba Juice

Two years ago, I met my wife.  I still remember it like it was yesterday…

I remember waiting very nervously for 9 1/2 minutes outside her next class, waiting for her to show up.

I remember asking her if she wanted to get some “coffee or something” after she got off work.

I remember her answer – “Sure.”