Notes from last week's Impact - March 24, 2010.
Luke 5:17-26
Friends Bring Friends to Christ
Tonight we are looking at an incredible part of Luke’s Gospel that shows us the story of four friends bringing another friend to Jesus. This story continues the themes we have seen throughout Luke’s Gospel: faith, purpose, the Deity of Christ, and following God’s call on our lives. We also see something else in this passage: we may have problems on the outside, but the biggest problem lies in our soul.
1.Real Friends Bring People to Christ, Even When It’s Not Easy (vv.17-19) – Jesus is continuing His ministry, and He is in a house with a large crowd. The crowd is so large that four men who are trying to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus cannot make it into the house. What do they do instead? Well everyone knows if you can get in through the front door, then you go through the roof. They then lower their friend right down to Jesus. Now this is no simple task. These men had to first get the paralyzed man on the roof, then they had to make a hole, then they had to lower him down without killing him. Question: What led these four men to do this for their friend? These guys knew that Jesus could heal their friend, and they cared for him so much that they would whatever was necessary. They did whatever they could to bring this guy to Jesus. Question: How much do we care? Do we care enough for people to do whatever it takes? If we care enough, the excuses we so often see about sharing the Gospel will not matter. If we want to help save someone’s life, we will do what is necessary. Look what Paul says wanting to see his fellow Jews come to know Christ in Romans 9:1-5. He wanted so badly for his people to know Christ that he was willing to give up his own salvation. John urges us in 1 John 3:16-18 to follow the greatest example that Christ set in loving others. If we are really followers of Christ, then we should bring people to Him. If we claim to be a real friend to our friends, then we should do whatever it takes to share the Gospel with them.
2.Sin Is Our Real Problem (vs. 20-24) – Notice what Jesus first does when He meets the paralyzed man. Question: Why would Jesus first heal the man’s sins and not His paralysis? Jesus knows the physical infirmities are terrible; but, even more terrible is the fact that this man is a sinner. Now, I am not saying here or using this passage as a theology that sin directly causes things like paralysis. That is not the issue here. The issue is that this man is in need of a Savior first. We tend to get caught up in the things that only matter right now. Salvation from sin matters for all eternity. Jesus emphasizes this in Matthew 16:24-26. We get caught up in making money, healing from sickness, or anything else that is not eternal. We also need to remember that helping those in our lives with physical needs is important, but we should never neglect the truth that those people need the Gospel just like we did.
3.Jesus Heals Us Completely (vs.25-26) – Jesus forgave the paralyzed man’s sins, and He also healed the paralysis as well. One of the main reasons He does this is to demonstrate His authority as the Son of God. We have no guarantee that because we become a Christian we will be healed of our sickness, but we have true spiritual healing as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17. Tonight if you are here and you have never asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins, then you have a spiritual problem only Christ can solve. He can heal you, and He will heal you completely. If you are here tonight and Christ has healed you, what is keeping you from having the faith of these men who would do anything to bring their friend to Jesus? It’s time for us to help save the world.
Discussion/Application Questions
1. Do you really know God and the love He has for you?
2. Are you living in the purpose that God has for your life? Are you even looking for it?
3. What is the most important thing in your life?
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Missionaries First, Everything Else Second
Luke 5:1-11
Missionaries First; Everything Else Second
Our College, High School, and Jr. High ministries just returned from an amazing week working with Mission Arlington in Arlington, Texas. We worked alongside over 1700 volunteers from all over the country. We spent the week working with apartment complexes all around the city, sharing the Gospel in many different ways. For most of the week, our group was divided in two teams working with two different complexes. In the mornings, we would have a Vacation Bible School called “Rainbow Express,” and in the afternoons we would work around the complex, helping the managers with whatever they needed. Throughout the day, these things would provide us with opportunities to share the Gospel. Our group got to see five children pray to receive Christ, and over 200 people became Christians across all the groups working with the mission. What really impacted my life personally was seeing the lives of our students being changed because God was using them to change the world. The strategy of what we did is very simple and is one that we see in the lives of the apostles in the early church. This past week, we were missionaries first, and everything else second. From this perspective, EVERYTHING relates to the Kingdom of God and Its work. This is how Peter, Paul, and the apostles lived as well. Jesus called them to a bigger plan, and He is calling us to the same thing. We do not have to travel across state lines or oceans to be missionaries.
1. Jesus Calls Us To Be Missionaries First (Luke 5:1-11) – Jesus’ encounter with Peter, James, and John shows us the call of God. These men were established in a career and lives, but Jesus calls them to a greater purpose – spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Even more important than catching fish for a living was “catching” men for God. Our call may not be exactly like these men. For most of us, Christ is not calling us to leave our career behind but rather put it in the proper perspective. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:25-34 that we do need things to live, but when we run after the Kingdom first, those things will be taken care of by Him. When we visited the apartment complexes, we did many different things, but they were all secondary objectives to sharing the Gospel. That was our first priority. As students in school, we go to get an education, but that is simply a way for us to gain opportunities to interact with other students and professors and share the Gospel. Everything else is still important but secondary. The same is true with careers. We work to provide for ourselves and family yes, but what we do is a way to share the Gospel as well. If we view our job as a mission field first and a place to work second, then our decision on where to work and our work ethic will be drastically different (Colossians 3:23-24).
2. What We Are Doing Gives Us Mission Opportunities, If We Are Intentional (Acts 18:1-4) – Paul used his skills as tentmaker to provide opportunities to share the Gospel in Corinth. He was looking for ways to intentionally spread the Gospel, and making tents was just one of those ways. On one of the afternoons we were working last week, our task was just to go play with the kids at the apartment complex. When we arrived, no one was outside, and we just showed up with some nerf balls. We knew and prayed before that we would play with the children, but as we did this we would tell them about Jesus. Well, sure enough, as we showed up, kids started showing up and we played with them. We did not have a service, a lesson, or anything. Through that time, two young girls prayed with two of our students to become Christians. When we go looking for an opportunity to share the Gospel, God gives it to us! Too often it seems we get so wrapped up in the rigors of everyday life. When this happens, we do not become intentional for the Gospel, and opportunities pass us by.
3. Jesus Calls Us Here and There (Acts 1:8) – Jesus called the Church to reach Jerusalem first, and then to Judea and Samaria, and then the rest of the world. Eventually, the believers went out from Jerusalem and went out, but the believers were everywhere. God is calling some of us to go out into somewhere different, but many of us He is just calling us to go across the yard in our neighborhoods. Missions are all over the world, and that includes our city as well. We go on trips like these to take the Gospel out, but short-term missions inspires with ways to reach the lost back home as well. As we come back, will you join the call God has given us to reach our city? My encouragement is that you will help fan the flame that God has placed in the hearts of these missionaries, and that you would see that really we all are missionaries first, everything else second.
Missionaries First; Everything Else Second
Our College, High School, and Jr. High ministries just returned from an amazing week working with Mission Arlington in Arlington, Texas. We worked alongside over 1700 volunteers from all over the country. We spent the week working with apartment complexes all around the city, sharing the Gospel in many different ways. For most of the week, our group was divided in two teams working with two different complexes. In the mornings, we would have a Vacation Bible School called “Rainbow Express,” and in the afternoons we would work around the complex, helping the managers with whatever they needed. Throughout the day, these things would provide us with opportunities to share the Gospel. Our group got to see five children pray to receive Christ, and over 200 people became Christians across all the groups working with the mission. What really impacted my life personally was seeing the lives of our students being changed because God was using them to change the world. The strategy of what we did is very simple and is one that we see in the lives of the apostles in the early church. This past week, we were missionaries first, and everything else second. From this perspective, EVERYTHING relates to the Kingdom of God and Its work. This is how Peter, Paul, and the apostles lived as well. Jesus called them to a bigger plan, and He is calling us to the same thing. We do not have to travel across state lines or oceans to be missionaries.
1. Jesus Calls Us To Be Missionaries First (Luke 5:1-11) – Jesus’ encounter with Peter, James, and John shows us the call of God. These men were established in a career and lives, but Jesus calls them to a greater purpose – spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Even more important than catching fish for a living was “catching” men for God. Our call may not be exactly like these men. For most of us, Christ is not calling us to leave our career behind but rather put it in the proper perspective. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:25-34 that we do need things to live, but when we run after the Kingdom first, those things will be taken care of by Him. When we visited the apartment complexes, we did many different things, but they were all secondary objectives to sharing the Gospel. That was our first priority. As students in school, we go to get an education, but that is simply a way for us to gain opportunities to interact with other students and professors and share the Gospel. Everything else is still important but secondary. The same is true with careers. We work to provide for ourselves and family yes, but what we do is a way to share the Gospel as well. If we view our job as a mission field first and a place to work second, then our decision on where to work and our work ethic will be drastically different (Colossians 3:23-24).
2. What We Are Doing Gives Us Mission Opportunities, If We Are Intentional (Acts 18:1-4) – Paul used his skills as tentmaker to provide opportunities to share the Gospel in Corinth. He was looking for ways to intentionally spread the Gospel, and making tents was just one of those ways. On one of the afternoons we were working last week, our task was just to go play with the kids at the apartment complex. When we arrived, no one was outside, and we just showed up with some nerf balls. We knew and prayed before that we would play with the children, but as we did this we would tell them about Jesus. Well, sure enough, as we showed up, kids started showing up and we played with them. We did not have a service, a lesson, or anything. Through that time, two young girls prayed with two of our students to become Christians. When we go looking for an opportunity to share the Gospel, God gives it to us! Too often it seems we get so wrapped up in the rigors of everyday life. When this happens, we do not become intentional for the Gospel, and opportunities pass us by.
3. Jesus Calls Us Here and There (Acts 1:8) – Jesus called the Church to reach Jerusalem first, and then to Judea and Samaria, and then the rest of the world. Eventually, the believers went out from Jerusalem and went out, but the believers were everywhere. God is calling some of us to go out into somewhere different, but many of us He is just calling us to go across the yard in our neighborhoods. Missions are all over the world, and that includes our city as well. We go on trips like these to take the Gospel out, but short-term missions inspires with ways to reach the lost back home as well. As we come back, will you join the call God has given us to reach our city? My encouragement is that you will help fan the flame that God has placed in the hearts of these missionaries, and that you would see that really we all are missionaries first, everything else second.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Leaving Everything but Gaining Everything
Notes from Impact last night (March 10, 2010)
Luke 5:1-11
Following Christ – Leaving Everything but Gaining Everything
Throughout our study of Luke, we have seen many common themes in the text: faith, purpose, and the Kingdom of God are a few. Tonight we are going to look at a passage that really encompasses all three. The story of the disciples being called by Jesus is not really an unfamiliar one, even to those outside of the Church. However, we are going to really look at what these men were called to and what Jesus is calling us to as well.
1. Jesus Shows that He is the Real Deal (vv.1-9) – Jesus demonstrates that He is the real deal to the disciples in the boat. From the outside looking in, this might appear as an accidental meeting. Jesus is teaching by this shoreline, and the crowds become too large so He moves into some nearby boats to address the crowd. Actually this area of the shore is naturally an amphitheater, so it works out really well. Anyway, this was not a chance meeting. Jesus knew what He was doing. He knew Peter, James, and John would be here in their boats, and they spent the entire time listening to what Jesus had to say. They have tried all night to catch fish (the best time to catch fish for this area), and then Jesus asks them to try and catch some in the daytime. After they are extremely successful, these men know that Jesus is more than ordinary. Question: What is our response when we first know that God is real? Jesus is showing these guys that they will not follow just another person; He is the Son of God.
2. Jesus Calls to a Bigger Purpose (vs. 10) – Jesus calls the three men to something bigger than what they were currently doing. Instead, He calls them to be a part of the Kingdom of God – to help be a part of God’s plan to save the world. They did not fully grasp what it was they were committing to, but they knew it was worth it. Question: Do you know God is calling us to the same thing? God is calling us to be a part of saving the world. Maybe we do not know every detail or understand every part right now, but we are being called. Question: What did the disciples do when Jesus called them? They left everything they were doing and followed Him, and they really did leave their lives behind. Now they did not totally leave their families (Peter did not leave his wife), but they put the job of following Jesus above the job they currently had. The same was true for every disciple (not all of them were fisherman). Christ is calling us to follow Him as well, but He did not always specifically ask us to leave our lives behind such as jobs or school. For some, that may be true, but many times Christ is calling us to put everything we think is important behind the Kingdom of God. These men were followers of Christ first and everything second. For us, we are disciples first, and students second or something like that. When we put Christ at the forefront of everything we do, everything we do becomes ministry in the Kingdom of God! Then going to school is about reaching people with the Gospel that you go to school with, and having a job is about reaching your coworkers for the Kingdom and your money supporting the ministry of the church and your family. Paul uses his skills as a tentmaker in Acts 18:1-4 as a way to stay in the town of Corinth and reach people there. This changes our whole perspective on life!
3. Leaving Everything is Gaining Everything (vs.11) – Even though these men left everything to follow Christ, they gained everything. Having a life found in Christ is worth more than anything in this entire world. What we are giving up is nothing comparing to Who we are gaining. Today, will you answer that call God is placing in your life? Have you ever started your journey following Christ? Is God calling you to something bigger than you have in your life right now? Following Christ will change your life and the lives of others as well. Let’s save the world.
Discussion/Application Questions
1. Do you really know God and the love He has for you?
2. Are you living in the purpose that God has for your life? Are you even looking for it?
3. What is the most important thing in your life?
Luke 5:1-11
Following Christ – Leaving Everything but Gaining Everything
Throughout our study of Luke, we have seen many common themes in the text: faith, purpose, and the Kingdom of God are a few. Tonight we are going to look at a passage that really encompasses all three. The story of the disciples being called by Jesus is not really an unfamiliar one, even to those outside of the Church. However, we are going to really look at what these men were called to and what Jesus is calling us to as well.
1. Jesus Shows that He is the Real Deal (vv.1-9) – Jesus demonstrates that He is the real deal to the disciples in the boat. From the outside looking in, this might appear as an accidental meeting. Jesus is teaching by this shoreline, and the crowds become too large so He moves into some nearby boats to address the crowd. Actually this area of the shore is naturally an amphitheater, so it works out really well. Anyway, this was not a chance meeting. Jesus knew what He was doing. He knew Peter, James, and John would be here in their boats, and they spent the entire time listening to what Jesus had to say. They have tried all night to catch fish (the best time to catch fish for this area), and then Jesus asks them to try and catch some in the daytime. After they are extremely successful, these men know that Jesus is more than ordinary. Question: What is our response when we first know that God is real? Jesus is showing these guys that they will not follow just another person; He is the Son of God.
2. Jesus Calls to a Bigger Purpose (vs. 10) – Jesus calls the three men to something bigger than what they were currently doing. Instead, He calls them to be a part of the Kingdom of God – to help be a part of God’s plan to save the world. They did not fully grasp what it was they were committing to, but they knew it was worth it. Question: Do you know God is calling us to the same thing? God is calling us to be a part of saving the world. Maybe we do not know every detail or understand every part right now, but we are being called. Question: What did the disciples do when Jesus called them? They left everything they were doing and followed Him, and they really did leave their lives behind. Now they did not totally leave their families (Peter did not leave his wife), but they put the job of following Jesus above the job they currently had. The same was true for every disciple (not all of them were fisherman). Christ is calling us to follow Him as well, but He did not always specifically ask us to leave our lives behind such as jobs or school. For some, that may be true, but many times Christ is calling us to put everything we think is important behind the Kingdom of God. These men were followers of Christ first and everything second. For us, we are disciples first, and students second or something like that. When we put Christ at the forefront of everything we do, everything we do becomes ministry in the Kingdom of God! Then going to school is about reaching people with the Gospel that you go to school with, and having a job is about reaching your coworkers for the Kingdom and your money supporting the ministry of the church and your family. Paul uses his skills as a tentmaker in Acts 18:1-4 as a way to stay in the town of Corinth and reach people there. This changes our whole perspective on life!
3. Leaving Everything is Gaining Everything (vs.11) – Even though these men left everything to follow Christ, they gained everything. Having a life found in Christ is worth more than anything in this entire world. What we are giving up is nothing comparing to Who we are gaining. Today, will you answer that call God is placing in your life? Have you ever started your journey following Christ? Is God calling you to something bigger than you have in your life right now? Following Christ will change your life and the lives of others as well. Let’s save the world.
Discussion/Application Questions
1. Do you really know God and the love He has for you?
2. Are you living in the purpose that God has for your life? Are you even looking for it?
3. What is the most important thing in your life?
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Get to Know Jesus More
These are the notes from last week's Impact (March 3, 2010).
Tonight we are going to take a look at some Scripture that shows us some aspects of who Jesus is and why He came. This is a very important task for us in reading the Scripture. Sometimes we read the Bible just to know God more. These verses show us some of that. Also, we are going to look at the importance of reading the Scripture for our lives. Not only does it reveal who God is to us, but it also guides our lives in the paths we should go.
1. Jesus Has Real Power and Real Authority (vv.31-39) – Jesus did many miraculous things during His ministry on earth, and people took notice. We see here the early recordings of that ministry. This is actually the first time Luke records Jesus encountering a demon-possessed person. Some might play this off as not someone possessed by a demon, but rather it is some sort of mental illness. If you have ever been around or know someone who has been around something like this, there is a distinct difference in the two. Jesus is teaching in the synagogue and a demon-possessed man comes up to Him. The demons even know who Jesus is and call Him by name. Jesus then heals this person and expels the demon. Question: What was Jesus’ process for getting read of the demon? Jesus simply told the demon to go, and it went! There was no conjuring or hours of yelling or any kind of physical method that was used. Witch doctors, shamans, even some ministers use different tricks and potions and the like to dispel such demonic activity. They do this now, and they have done it forever. Notice, however, the power and authority of Christ. He merely commands the demon to leave, and it’s gone. The same thing happens with Peter’s mother-in-law and her sickness. This shows us that the power and authority of Jesus is real. When people saw it they new it was real too, and that’s what amazed them. Question: How does knowing the power and authority of Jesus is real affect our lives? When we know that Christ is the ultimate power and authority, our faith in Him should increase. It should also lead to us following Him more faithfully, knowing He is who He says He is. Also, if we know Christ’s power is real, then we can depend more on His power in our lives rather than our strength (John 15:4-7).
2. Jesus Has Real Compassion (vv. 40-44) – Question: Why do we do what we do as believers? Why do we go to church? Why are we here? As a believer, sometimes I get caught up in doing what I do because it is my job or I feel like I need to do it to make others think more of me. Jesus ministered to people because He loved them and had compassion for them (Matthew 9:35-37). He has this compassion and love for us too. This shows us a couple of things. First, if you have ever longed for a true love in your life, Jesus is the place to look for perfect love. Even husbands, wives, parents, and best friends let us down, but Christ will never fall short. Secondly, if we are to maintain a walk with Christ that is about serving people like He did, our motivation must be compassion and love. Otherwise, we will burn out regret and resentment (1 John 3:16-18).
3. Jesus Has Real Time With the Father (vs.42/Psalm 19) – Even in the midst of all Jesus did, He still made time to spend with His Father. Question: Why did Jesus spend time with the Father? Even though Jesus is God the Son, He was still human. He loved to spend time with the Father (Mark 1:35). If Jesus made time to spend time with God, should not we do the same? Psalm 19 shows us about how God can guide us through His Spirit and through His Word. God speaks to us through His creation, but He also speaks to us through the Bible as well. Through these things we get to know God more, just like we have done with Luke chapter four tonight. The Bible is essential to our lives being the best they can be – for the sake of the Kingdom of God and for our sakes. David writes that God’s law and hearing from God is more desirable than gold. Question: How much do we desire to hear from God? What is it worth to us? If something is worth more than gold to us, we will do anything to have it.
Discussion/Application Questions
1. How does knowing more about God affect your life?
2. Do you really know God and the love He has for you?
3. Are you living in the purpose that God has for your life? Are you even looking for it?
4. What is the most important thing in your life?
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Who Is Leading You?
John 10
Parable of the Good Shepherd
1"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.
2"But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.
3"To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4"When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5"A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."
6This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.
7So Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8"All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9"I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
11"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
In a world like today where all kinds of voices are screaming at us from different directions, it is vitally important that we know the right one to follow. Last week a very peculiar event happened in Vancouver at the Winter Olympics. Sven Kramer of the Netherlands was competing in the Men’s 10,000 meter speed skate and was on pace to win the gold. With eight laps left to go in the race, Kramer’s coach, Gerard Kemkers, instructed Kramer to move to the inside lane; however, this was an incorrect move. It was a simple mistake by the coach, but it cost Kramer the gold medal and even money from endorsers.
This current day story can teach us many things that Jesus taught in John chapter 10. Jesus teaches us the importance of knowing the Shepherd’s voice so that He can lead us in the right direction. The question is, how do we know Jesus’ voice? Despite the mistake between the two, Kramer and Kemkers show us the answer. How could Kramer, skating in front of thousands of loud people, distinguish his coach’s voice apart from all the others? Kramer had spent time with his coach. He knew his coach, and he had trained with his coach. Kramer knew what his coach’s voice sounded like.
The same is true with God and us. If we never spend any time with Him, then we will never know His voice. How do we spend time with Him? As “Sunday School answerish” as it may sound, reading the Bible, prayer, going to church, fellowshipping with believers, and things like this are ways we can spend time with God. The more time we spend with Him, the clearer His voice becomes.
What’s amazing about all of this is that while Kramer’s coach led him astray, Jesus will never lead us down the wrong path. In fact, we will be led in quite the opposite direction. Verse 10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Following Christ is not about “following the rules” or having a “boring life.” Jesus wants to lead us to an amazing life that fulfills every longing we have ever had. So many people are looking for meaning today, and a life following Christ gives us that.
He is the Good Shepherd. He lays down His life for His sheep. Doesn’t that sound like someone you would want to spend time with? If you do not know His voice very well, spend some time listening.
You can read the story of Kramer and his coach here.
Parable of the Good Shepherd
1"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.
2"But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.
3"To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4"When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5"A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."
6This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.
7So Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8"All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9"I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
11"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
In a world like today where all kinds of voices are screaming at us from different directions, it is vitally important that we know the right one to follow. Last week a very peculiar event happened in Vancouver at the Winter Olympics. Sven Kramer of the Netherlands was competing in the Men’s 10,000 meter speed skate and was on pace to win the gold. With eight laps left to go in the race, Kramer’s coach, Gerard Kemkers, instructed Kramer to move to the inside lane; however, this was an incorrect move. It was a simple mistake by the coach, but it cost Kramer the gold medal and even money from endorsers.
This current day story can teach us many things that Jesus taught in John chapter 10. Jesus teaches us the importance of knowing the Shepherd’s voice so that He can lead us in the right direction. The question is, how do we know Jesus’ voice? Despite the mistake between the two, Kramer and Kemkers show us the answer. How could Kramer, skating in front of thousands of loud people, distinguish his coach’s voice apart from all the others? Kramer had spent time with his coach. He knew his coach, and he had trained with his coach. Kramer knew what his coach’s voice sounded like.
The same is true with God and us. If we never spend any time with Him, then we will never know His voice. How do we spend time with Him? As “Sunday School answerish” as it may sound, reading the Bible, prayer, going to church, fellowshipping with believers, and things like this are ways we can spend time with God. The more time we spend with Him, the clearer His voice becomes.
What’s amazing about all of this is that while Kramer’s coach led him astray, Jesus will never lead us down the wrong path. In fact, we will be led in quite the opposite direction. Verse 10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Following Christ is not about “following the rules” or having a “boring life.” Jesus wants to lead us to an amazing life that fulfills every longing we have ever had. So many people are looking for meaning today, and a life following Christ gives us that.
He is the Good Shepherd. He lays down His life for His sheep. Doesn’t that sound like someone you would want to spend time with? If you do not know His voice very well, spend some time listening.
You can read the story of Kramer and his coach here.
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