It has been a tremendous start to the New Year here in the Rogue Valley. We started our campus term with two Bible Talks (a first for us), a NEW Teen Bible Talk (another first), a Kid's Kingdom program (you guessed it...another first) and we are eagerly planning for the 2010 Northwest Leadership Retreat that we will be hosting for ...the first time!
As we set out in this new year I have been impacted by the first century Churche and their emphasis on sound doctrine. The books of 2 Peter, 1-3 John and Jude deal specifically with the challenges of false doctrin and false teachers. It is encouraging to know our brothers and sisters of the first church faced many of the same challenges to combat worldly teachings. Yet it challenges me to not be tempted to soften the Gospel, play favorites for certain people or to round the edges off the Word of God!
Paul's letter to Titus also deals with the need to "teach what is in accord with sound doctrine" (Titus2:1). The chapter goes on to encourage Titus to teach men and woman to be godly and not tempted to change their roles into that of the world.
We are always hearing two sermons a week. One is about 30 minutes long (I try!) on Sunday mornings. The other is one that is repeated 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year! It is a sermon of "Unsound Doctrine." Little teachings that tell older men it is okay to be a little "un self controlled" (2:2) and tells women they do not need to be submitted in love to their husbands and children (2:4) but hard workers who gain worldly prosperity. The world's sermon tells us to just slide by at work and that our employer owes us a good salary, benefits and a 401K instead of teaching us to let our work preach God's glory (2:10).
I hope this week you too can take up the fight for sound doctrine. Not tempted by weakened and flashy religous jargon, nor captivated by the world's preaching. As Paul tells Titus: "It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age..." Titus 2:12
As we set out in this new year I have been impacted by the first century Churche and their emphasis on sound doctrine. The books of 2 Peter, 1-3 John and Jude deal specifically with the challenges of false doctrin and false teachers. It is encouraging to know our brothers and sisters of the first church faced many of the same challenges to combat worldly teachings. Yet it challenges me to not be tempted to soften the Gospel, play favorites for certain people or to round the edges off the Word of God!
Paul's letter to Titus also deals with the need to "teach what is in accord with sound doctrine" (Titus2:1). The chapter goes on to encourage Titus to teach men and woman to be godly and not tempted to change their roles into that of the world.
We are always hearing two sermons a week. One is about 30 minutes long (I try!) on Sunday mornings. The other is one that is repeated 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year! It is a sermon of "Unsound Doctrine." Little teachings that tell older men it is okay to be a little "un self controlled" (2:2) and tells women they do not need to be submitted in love to their husbands and children (2:4) but hard workers who gain worldly prosperity. The world's sermon tells us to just slide by at work and that our employer owes us a good salary, benefits and a 401K instead of teaching us to let our work preach God's glory (2:10).
I hope this week you too can take up the fight for sound doctrine. Not tempted by weakened and flashy religous jargon, nor captivated by the world's preaching. As Paul tells Titus: "It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age..." Titus 2:12
