November 6, 2018 - Suggested Reading Genesis 11 for Nov 11th’ s message on 1 Corinthians 14 in our worship service at 9:00 am

“Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

Genesis 11:7 (NIV) 

There are all sorts of languages in the world and God is behind them all. 

He confused our language so that in an instant -
people who used to understand each other couldn’t anymore. 

The ones who could still understand each other, grouped together, and separated from the ones they couldn’t understand and so people scattered over the face of the earth.

Then the Day of Pentecost came- and the Holy Spirit gave the Christians in that room the ability to speak the gospel in all of the languages of the people around them in Jerusalem.

God scattered humans by different languages because of the pride in their hearts.

God brings humans together in Christ from all of the languages of the world, as they hear the good news of the love of God for them in Christ Jesus His Son, and humble their hearts, before their Lord calling on Him to be saved.

The grace of God turns a curse into a blessing through Christ Jesus our Lord, and through the gift of the promised Holy Spirit.

This day lets give thanks to God for His Spirit and pray for those like Parkdale's missionaries Rick and Muriel Oickle who toil at bringing the good news of Jesus to language groups all over the world.

November 3, 2018 - Suggested Reading Matthew 18 for Nov 4th s message on Matthew 7:1-12 in our worship service at 10:45am

“In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little
ones should perish.”

Matthew 18:14 (NIV) 

What a wonderful image of Christians gathered in community!

We are a group of ‘little ones’ – toddlers if you will.

- in order to become a Christian we must become a little child

- the greatest in Christ’s kingdom is the one who takes this lowly position of child

- we are to welcome each one who believes in Christ as a fellow little child

- we are not to despise little ones

- our Father in heaven is not willing to lose any of His little ones

And our Father wants our help – so each of us little ones is to look after the other little ones by showing them their sin, privately.

Many of us see Matthew 18:15-20 as instructions to church leaders and yet a simple reading through Matthew 18 shows us that we all bear responsibility before our Father in heaven to do what we can to keep the little ones in our community/ our church/ our assembly and not only that but to forgive from our heart any little one who has sinned against us.

This is a Heavenly Father’s instruction to His little children about how to treat one another while here on earth, still engaged in a struggle against sin.

The best part of all- is our Lord’s promise to be with us even if there are only 2 or 3 of us little ones gathered together. That He would promise His Presence among so few, reveals the humble heart of our Lord and His great love for each of us.

Would church leaders spend this time with 2 or 3?

May we have His humble heart and His great love for each one of us at Parkdale.

November 3, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1 John 4 for Nov 4th’ s message on 1 Corinthians 13 in our worship service at 9:00 am

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

1 John 4:8 (NIV) 

What English word describes God the best?

LOVE does (agape in the Greek)

We describe Him as majestic (King over all kings)

We describe Him as omnipotent (unlimited power)

We describe Him as omniscient (unlimited knowledge)

God is all those things- yet LOVE governs every aspect of His infinite being.

It was LOVE that brought creation into being.

It was LOVE that preserved humans through the flood.

It was LOVE that sought Abram out.

It was LOVE that brought Abram's descendants out of slavery.

It was LOVE that gave Israel the Law and the land.

It was LOVE that preserved Israel.

It was LOVE that brought His Son to earth as Israel’s Messiah.

It was LOVE that put His Son on the cross.

It was LOVE that brought the Good News of Jesus to our ears.

It was LOVE that saved our souls.

It is LOVE that will preserve us til He comes.

What English word describes us the best?

If we are God’s- the word LOVE should describe us.

Does it?

Does LOVE govern every aspect of my being?

Does LOVE govern every aspect of Parkdale’s being?

November 2, 2018- Suggested Reading Galatians 6 for Nov 4th s message on Matthew 7:1-12 in our worship service at 10:45am

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”

Galatians 6:1 (NIV) 

Paul instructs us to carry each other’s burdens in verse 2 and then instructs us in verse 5 to carry our own load. There is no contradiction nor dichotomy in these 2 statements for a deeper look into these first 6 verses of Galatians 6 will reveal the tension involved in helping a brother or sister who is caught in sin.

Living in the Spirit is required - don’t attempt to help anyone with sin if the fruits of the Spirit described a few verses earlier are not present in our lives, and be absolutely sure that we are being led by the Spirit, and in step with the Spirit.

Realize that when we seek to involve ourselves into someone else’s spiritual life, we are fulfilling the law of Christ - which is to love one another- this is an act of love, and the qualities of love described in 1 Cor 13 should guide our approach.

Self examination is a required perquisite – not in a comparative form - us against them - but soberly consider ourselves against ourselves- as our Lord told us in Matthew 7 – take the plank out of your eye first!

Instruction in the Word is what rebuke and restoration is supposed to be all about - it should end with the person learning and loving the person who instructed them.

It always amazes me how consistent the bible is from cover to cover about things like loving one another by keeping one another accountable to our Lord through His Word.

Oh, that what is described in Galatians 6:1-6 would be evident in all of us at Parkdale.

November 2, 2018 - Suggested Reading John 15 for Nov 4th’ s message on 1 Corinthians 13 in our worship service at 9:00 am

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

John 15:12 (NIV) 

“I love the Lord but I can’t stand Christians.”

“Do I have to go to Youth Group? I don’t like anyone there!”

These words, or those like it have been uttered by countless numbers of Christians and will continue to be uttered by Christians until the Lord comes back in power and glory.

It is our natural state- our natural inclination to dislike those the Lord loves.

But we are called to love Christians as the Lord loves them.

We are to love our neighbours (all those we meet) as we love ourselves.

But we are to love Christians as Christ loves us.

This is a big order for Christ gave everything up for Christians.

He gave up heaven for earth.

He gave up being served to become a servant of all.

He entered time so that we could live forever.

He took our punishment so we could be pardoned.

He gave up His life so that we could live.

He went into the grave so that we could escape the grave.

He does the hard work so we could get rest.

You have to wonder about people who tell you they love Jesus but they have no love whatsoever for those whom He gave His life up for. It seems to me that if I love Jesus I will love the ones
that he loves.

Can you imagine what Parkdale would be like if each one of us loved each other as Christ loves us?

Our Lord connects remaining in His love and being filled with joy to this command.

Let’s choose the Way of love.

November 1, 2018 - Suggested Reading Proverbs 9 for Nov 4th s message on Matthew 7:1-12 in our worship service at 10:45am

“Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.”

Proverbs 9:8 (NIV) 

Do we believe this verse?

Do we think it is wisdom or foolishness?

If we believe it then we can learn from it.

If I hate people who rebuke me - I am a mocker.

Mocker is a specific type of fool in the book of Proverbs, a search by name comes up with 16 separate verses that refer to mockers. Proverbs 21:24 defines a mocker as a proud and arrogant person who behaves with insolent fury.

If I hate the people who rebuke me - I am a mocker.

But if I love the people who rebuke me - I am wise.

Cast your mind back over your life, and identify a person who rebuked you.

Do you hate them, or love them?

Are you a mocker or a wise person?

You don’t understand the situation John- that’s true that I don’t understand the situation, nor do I know the circumstances. 

But the Word of God stands firm - and God understands only too well the circumstances and the situation. 

He knows that He sent a human into your life to rebuke you, for your good, for your correction, for your salvation.

Do I love that person or do I hate them?

November 1, 2018 - Suggested Reading Mark 8 for Nov 4th’ s message on 1 Corinthians 13 in our worship service at 9:00 am

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Mark 8:34 (NIV) 

If the narrow way did not require us to deny ourselves, we would gladly walk upon it.

But our Lord tells us that the good way requires us to deny ourselves, so we hesitate.

Love requires that we deny ourselves.

Our Lord explains what He means by denying yourself - He calls it losing your life. He knows that we naturally want to save our life, more than that we want to gain the whole world.

Well not the whole world we mutter - just the part that is due me.

But friend see what that thought reveals - see that these thoughts stop us from following our Lord on the way that leads to life.

Our natural state is to cling to life, to preserve our life over all other lives.

Our Christian calling is to lose your life so others can live.

Is this true of our life in any practical sense?

Can we think of a single thing that we set aside for the benefit of others in our church?

Will I do without so that others can have?

Will I take more blame that is due, so that others can be praised?

Am I willing to be consumed by the local church I am in?

What is the difference between being chewed up and spit out by a local church and pouring my life out in a local church as an offering onto the Lord?

Seems like the same result for I am used up - but wait a minute

the 1st happens against your will but the 2nd happens because of your will

You willing chose to give up your life for Christ's church!

You took up your cross and followed your Lord on the Way.