“Is Peace Possible?” – 2 Corinthians 13:11

2 Corinthians 13:11

“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 
When we look at our current political climate and the immense chasm of ideology between the opposing parties, it’s a wonder we ever accomplish anything. This season will be a test case for years to come of the clash of those trying to build a legacy and make an impact. It’s interesting how “the perfect system” can look so completely different according to who you ask. 
Today marks a changing of the guard and there are strong feelings on both sides. We see the full spectrum from hope to despair when we consider our future, and one of the great things about our country is the freedom to have our own thoughts and ideas on the matter. It’s something I hope and pray we are able to maintain. 
And while we are free to enjoy our opinions and rights as citizens of this country, we need to be reminded of Paul’s final word to the church of Corinth, and to those of us who are also citizens of the Kingdom of God. “Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, and live in peace.” Paul was speaking to the body of believers and how they were to treat each other, but this attitude of peace, restoration, and comfort is also a part of our mission to a lost world. How we treat our fellow believers is to spill over into our everyday lives with our neighbors, co-workers, and family members, even if they voted for the other guy. It’s one of the ways we’re assured that the God of love and peace will be with us.  
While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions: 
  • How do you prioritize your dual citizenship (national and eternal) when there seems to be some competition between the two? 
  • In what ways do you find it difficult to strive for peace and restoration for those you disagree with? 

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

Photo by Al Soot on Unsplash


“Is Peace Possible?” – 2 Corinthians 13:11 Read More »

“Making a Name for Yourself” – Genesis 11:9

Genesis 11:9

“Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.”

Many people seek to be famous in their own world, but when we start out on our own or “grow up” we barely have a name. We can’t borrow money because we have little credit in our name. Our resume might consist of a few summer jobs, a diploma, and three references. So, how can we ever make a name for ourselves to build a better future, and what do we want that name to say to others? What I am getting at is that our name is our reputation. It is what we are known for, so we must seek a good name right from the start.

This text reveals people who wanted to make a name for themselves. They wanted a name that was popular and powerful, but God did not want them to have that name. He did not want that name because they would build that name without Him. Building a name without God doesn’t seem bad until you look back at Adam, Cain, and the Flood. These men and events proved that the earth could not sustain life without God.

So, this time, instead of sending another flood, God confused their languages. He essentially made it impossible for the entire earth to be united around one human agenda. As a matter of fact, the only complete unity that will ever happen is when Christ unites us in heaven.

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:  
  • What are some ways that people try to make a name for themselves? 
  • Where do you think the balance is between “making a name” and making sure His is the name above all names in your life? 

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
Photo by Austin Kirk on Unsplash

“Making a Name for Yourself” – Genesis 11:9 Read More »

“Babel” – Genesis 11:1-9

Genesis 11:1-9
“Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.”
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? 

“Babel” – Genesis 11:1-9 Read More »

“One Small Step to Blow Up Your Life”

When we think about the subject of sin, our minds might initially go to the biggies – murder, adultery, stealing. In fact, when I was in middle school, my Sunday school teacher would use the biggies as his examples – “let’s say you’re doing drugs, or you murder someone.” I could detach myself from the illustration and therefore the lesson because I didn’t take drugs or commit murder. The message I told myself was, “I’m not that bad. I’m just a normal kid. In fact, I’m better behaved than most. Sure I do things I’m not proud of, I say things I shouldn’t, or entertain thoughts that aren’t wholesome. 

 
But when we look at Genesis 3 we’re reminded, it’s not just about the biggies. It starts small. It’s about creep. For goodness sake, the first sin wasn’t murder, it was eating a piece of fruit! But at its core (sorry), it was about disobedience. Eve rationalized that the fruit was pretty, it looked delicious and had seemingly healthy benefits. Surely she misunderstood what God said. Didn’t He want them to be happy? Sure, the serpent was suggesting that God was holding out, but Eve and then Adam through his accompanying actions filled in the blanks on their own. 
 
And we tend to rationalize our sin in a similar fashion. We take a step or two off the path and before we realize it, a step or two becomes a full off-road excursion. It’s not unusual to hear someone who has torpedoed their marriage or been caught embezzling, or sure, even taken drugs or murdered, say “how did I get here?” We don’t suddenly choose to blow up our lives. It starts with a first step, something seemingly innocuous. We take a bite of forbidden fruit. 
  • Is there something you’re entertaining that you tell yourself is no big deal but you know is disobedience to God? 
  • What is creeping into your life that you need to stop right now? 
  • Is there a sin you have given space to in your life that started off small but has grown into something that now threatens to devour you? If so, what is your next step? 
We are fortunate to serve a God that calls to us when we wander. He has not only set a path for us but He has forged an immediate onramp back to Him through His Son, Jesus. And God has blessed us with His church, a group of imperfect but forgiven people dedicated to love, encourage and lift up fellow believers as we walk this path together. If we can help you in any way, Belmont is here. 
 
Jon Price, Associate Pastor
jon@mybelmont.org
 
Photo by Elijah Hiett on Unsplash

 

 

“One Small Step to Blow Up Your Life” Read More »

“Our Judge and Father” – Genesis 3:14-24

In the final portion of chapter 3, we see the resulting consequences from the actions of Adam and Eve. Although God hands out judgment through curses and consequences, He also exhibits love and mercy throughout. Read the passage in light of the questions at the end and explore this initial example of God as a righteous Judge and loving Father.

Genesis 3:14-24

The Lord God said to the serpent,
 
“Because you have done this,
    cursed are you above all livestock
    and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go,
    and dust you shall eat
    all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
    and you shall bruise his heel.”
 
To the woman he said,
 
“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
    in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be contrary to your husband,
    but he shall rule over you.”
 
And to Adam he said,
 
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
    and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
    ‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
    in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
    and you shall eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your face
    you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
    for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust,
    and to dust you shall return.”
 
The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
 
Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
 
While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
  • Who did God address in this passage?
  • Who or what did He curse? What other consequences were there?
  • How did God provide for Adam and Eve even after their sin?
  • What in this passage do we see the results of even today? (good and bad)

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
 
Photo by Mohan Moolepetlu on Unsplash
 
 

“Our Judge and Father” – Genesis 3:14-24 Read More »

“The Seed” – James 1:15

James 1:15
 
“Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
 
Life is hard for everyone, whether they’re a believer or not. People will always struggle with different desires in different moments and seasons of their lives. The only element that is different for a believer and an unbeliever is where their desires come from. A believer that allows Jesus to help guide their desires will move towards righteousness. But an unbeliever allows their fleshly desires to lead them into wickedness.
 
James points out that a simple sinful desire that seems small in the moment can lead to death before a person sees it coming. Imagine a small redwood seed dropped into a crack in the foundation of a beautiful billion dollar mansion. In the moment, the seed doesn’t seem to have any effect at all, so it’s ignored. But as time passes, the seed turns into an enormous redwood tree. Now we have a beautiful mansion that is destroyed by an enormous beautiful giant redwood tree. The house and tree are both beautiful, but the tree was planted in the wrong place, which brought destruction. This is exactly what James is talking about. Sin might seem small in the moment, but when it grows it will destroy a person and all that they’ve built up. It may take their very life.
 
Believers can be encouraged that God gives His people abundant wisdom every time they seek His will. God desires to help His children pursue righteousness no matter what their desires might be in the moment. At moments, we might need forgiveness, which He is faithful to give. At moments, we might need wisdom, which He is faithful to give. Ask God and He will speak.
 

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:

  • Have you ever experienced a seemingly inconsequential sin grow into something destructive in your life?
  • What are some ways that you can guard against complacency towards sin and it’s effects in your life?
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?
Macon Jones, Student and Young Adult Pastor

“The Seed” – James 1:15 Read More »