“A Name on a List” – 1 Kings 19:19-21

1 Kings 19:19-21

“So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.”

I have been blessed in my ministry to be mentored by some wonderful people. As I think back, names rise to the surface – men who encouraged me, gave me counsel, and gave me a chance to serve and to lead. Each name I recall carries with it memories of impactful discussions, godliness modeled, and a gentle nudge to step out into new roles and opportunities for growth. Part of being a disciple of Christ is not just in the life that we live, but the people that we tap on the shoulder and bring along with us. We are commissioned not only to be disciples but to make disciples. On our own, there is only so much that can be accomplished, but when we throw our cloak around another and lead them in growth and grace, the impact on God’s kingdom is multiplied. 
I hope that one day as young men and women think back on those who invested in and impacted them in their faith, my name will be on their list. 
While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions: 
  • Do you have a list of men and women that threw their cloak around you? Take some time this week, whether by email, letter or phone call to reach out to one of them and thank them. 
  • Is there someone in your life that you can throw your cloak around? Let them know that you see potential in them and are willing to invest in them.
  • Elisha sacrificed his oxen, not only as a sacrifice to God, but also as a goodbye to his old life. In what ways are you willing to sacrifice as others invest in you? 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 

Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Jon Price, Associate Pastor

“A Name on a List” – 1 Kings 19:19-21 Read More »

“Do you hear what I hear?” – 1 Kings 19:9-13

1 Kings 19:9-13

“There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Recently, Treva and I were on the road and listening to a music playlist I had put together for our trip. In the middle of an artist singing a song about New Orleans, I said the clarinet player on the recording sounded like Pete Fountain. Through the magic of the internet, Treva searched, and “boom!” I was correct. How did I know that? I am familiar with the nuances of his playing style, phrasing, grace notes, and tone. I have listened to his recordings and even got a chance to play with him when I was a teen.

We can recognize the voice of God by reading His recordings (Bible), speaking with Him through prayer, and hearing from His messengers in worship. Learning His character, nuances, truth, and nature by cultivating a personal relationship. God will use dramatic means to get your attention when necessary, but His goal is for you to be so closely connected to Him that you’ll pay attention whenever He speaks to you. 
God not only wants you to hear His Word, He wants us to obey His Word. The more you get to know the real thing, the more you can spot an imposter. Be intentional in looking for the wonderful treasures in scripture through name and place, translations, chronological events, and the culture of the period. You may be amazed how His Word comes alive on the page and in you.
There are many voices out there; who you gonna listen to?


While using the HEAR method with today’s passage, take some time to listen to what God might be saying to you. 
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Jim Sellers, Minister of Music and YAH Director

“Do you hear what I hear?” – 1 Kings 19:9-13 Read More »

“Come Away and Rest” – Mark 6:31

Mark 6:31

“And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”

What a recommendation, and by Jesus no less! If you are like me, you find yourself often thinking, “if I don’t keep this up then it’s going to fall, so I have to keep moving.”  We put so much pressure on ourselves to hold our worlds together. If I don’t pick a profession or find a college, I will be a failure. If I don’t have these friends, I will be lonely. If I don’t work extra hard on this project, my job will be in jeopardy. If I don’t keep control over this ministry, people will judge me.
Eventually, we will burn out and fail anyway. While life still has to move forward, take time to rest. Put it in your calendar. If you are lazy, get up and go to work. If you are stressed because of sin, repent. But, if you are exhausted from constant mental, emotional and physical labor, find time to rest.

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions: 
  • How are you at taking time to rest? 
  • What are some things you do that help you rest and distress? 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 

Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Pastor Stephen Williams

“Come Away and Rest” – Mark 6:31 Read More »

“In My Feelings” – 1 Kings 19:1-8

1 Kings 19:1-8

“Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.”

Elijah was exhausted, hungry and scared, so he kind of got in his feelings and expressed them to God. In grace, God didn’t get mad at Elijah, he provided for Him. He even gave Elijah the strength to keep going to the next project. 

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions: 
  • Have you ever felt like Elijah? Exhausted, afraid, depressed, and in your feelings?
  • What has God used to strengthen you? (ie. His Word, people, rest, …)
  • Do you have more work to do for God’s Kingdom? 
  • Do you believe God will give you strength for the task?

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 

Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Pastor Stephen Williams

“In My Feelings” – 1 Kings 19:1-8 Read More »

“Does God have a Required Headcount?” Matthew 18:20

Matthew 18:20

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

We usually reference this passage to help define what qualifies as “church.” Whether it’s a large congregation or small, or even a cozy get-together with a few other believers, we can say that we’re “doing church” as long as we have at least two or three. (As if God can’t be bothered with an audience of one.) I don’t think that’s the significance of what’s being said here. 

If you look at the chapter that it’s nested in, the surrounding topics also have to do with the church, but specifically with handling the negative things that can pop up from time to time. Look at some of the other  items covered in the verses just before and after: 
  • an argument among the disciples over who will be the greatest of them once they get to heaven (vv1-5)
  • the seriousness of guiding and protecting the faith of young children (vv5-6 “whoever causes one of these little ones to sin…”)
  • the lengths we should go to in avoiding sin (vv7-9 “if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out”)
  • God’s tender spot for the lost (vv10-14 leaving the 99 to find one lost sheep)
  • how to handle a grievance with another believer (vv15-20 “If he doesn’t listen, take one or two others with you”)
  • the appropriateness of forgiving those who wrong us (vv21-35 the parable of the unforgiving servant)
This short verse is more than a required headcount before God will grace us with His presence (which is bad theology anyways). It’s part of a chapter focused on one of the biggest reasons that God created the church for us in the first place – to learn how to grow and love in community. 
People are a mess. They’re jerks. They’re selfish. They’re opinionated and overly sensitive. I ought to know. I are one! Groucho Marx famously said, “I refuse to join any club that would have me for a member.” Scripture is not naive about how difficult and messy community can get, it addresses the ugly we’ve all seen at one point or another. Believers in community should strive to bring up our children in God’s truth and protect them from that which would pull them off the path. It should be an environment where we live purely, and lovingly reach out to the lost. It should be a place of honesty, accountability, humility, and forgiveness. 
It would be soooo much easier at times to just stay at home, mind our own business and philosophize on love and theology without actually getting into the challenges that relationships can bring. But when we participate with a family of faith and learn to look out for each other, forgive each other, encourage each other and hold each other accountable – that’s when we have the right to call what we do “church.” And that’s where you’ll find God, right in the middle of it. 
 
While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions: 
  • How does seeing this passage in light of the surrounding topics change the way you understand it?
  • Of the challenges of church mentioned in Matthew 18. which is the most difficult for you? 
  • Are you an active part of a local group of believers? If not, Belmont would love to be your church!
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Jon Price, Associate Pastor

“Does God have a Required Headcount?” Matthew 18:20 Read More »

“All That Church Can Be” – Acts 2:42-47

Acts 2:42-47

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

I will always remember my 8th through 10th grade years as having some of the most profoundly impacting experiences in my life. During this time, I had my first experience going on mission with my youth group to Pennsylvania. We performed concerts as a choir, held backyard Bible clubs in local parks and went door to door sharing our faith. It was the first time I led someone to the Lord and the trips each year were an incredibly fruitful endeavor. Our group got very close as we stepped out in faith and saw God do amazing things. In these years I had a passion for God’s Word, reading it through and memorizing scores and scores of verses. I was part of a small group of guys that met at 7am every Tuesday morning to pray, memorize scripture and talk about how God was working in our lives. I wanted to spend as much time as I could at church because of the Christian friendships I had and the way we spurred each other on in our faith. Our group grew in number as other students wanted to see what was going on. And those experiences had long lasting consequences. Over a half dozen of us were called into full time ministry  and many more continue to live out their faith with their families and in their varying professions. 
I would love to report that year after year followed the same trajectory, but that was not the case. Dark and trying days followed as heroes fell to poor choices, church business meetings spiraled into heated and personal attacks, and dissention stretched beyond meetings as gossip poisoned the fellowship and competing agendas took president over Kingdom work. 
The combination of my experiences with the church – the halcion days followed by the difficult days taught me the potential of the church on both sides of the spectrum. When God’s Spirit is moving and embraced by His people, the church can be a mighty force, bringing life and love and excitement unrivaled. It can be a glimpse of what we will experience in eternity. It is like the man who finds a diamond in a field and sells all he has to procure it. 
But because the church is made up of sinful and broken people, when we fall to our worst nature, the church can be a place of abuse, manipulation and dissention. Many of our friends and family members have stories where a church experience has repelled them from any thoughts of God or Christian community. And part of the problem may lie in the expectations that we place on the church. 
Many times we read the passage above and wonder why our church doesn’t follow a similar pattern. There was no begging for the believers to give or take part in the ministry. They were looking for ways to be involved in what God was doing. And the church grew and grew as more came to the faith. But don’t forget that much of the New Testament is made up of letters to the churches giving counsel and rebuke for the shameful and inappropriate things that were taking place. 
We are flawed and unfortunately have a tendency to drag our junk along with us. But we are loved by a glorious Father who invites us in, not only to be His children, but also to learn how to be a family with other believers in order to reach those who are far from Him. May we meditate on the passage above, praying to walk in faith and obedience (and love and patience with each other) so that we can experience the best that “church” can be. 
While using the HEAR method (see below) take time to think on the following things: 
  • Write down the different activities that the early church did during this time (ie. they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship). 
  • Write down the results seen because of their actions. 
  • Is this passage simply descriptive (of what took place then), or is it also prescriptive (what we are to do in order to see God work and move in our fellowship)? 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 

Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Jon Price, Associate Pastor

“All That Church Can Be” – Acts 2:42-47 Read More »