As we start this series on the Relationship Recovery I thought that it would be the best to make sure we start with the guys. We have decided to take the stance that Relationship Recovery is not about “therapy” but being like a medic or a firefighter that comes in to recover the injured. We are looking to really get in there and save some relationships through the example that Jesus has set for us. Now I want every guy to realize that whether you are single, married, or just thinking girls are OK. This is an opportunity for each of us where ever we are at in life to realize there is a standard for how to care for the women in our lives.
Ephes. 5:25-30 (NLT) And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up his life for her [26] to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God’s word. [27] He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. [28] In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife. [29] No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it, just as Christ cares for his body, which is the church. [30] And we are his body.
We need to make sure that we see the importance of something that come from these verses. First we need to make sure that we are ready and able to sacrifice everything for the relationship, especially if we are married. Jesus set the pace in this area. Second every man needs to know that her well being should be the utmost importance. That means in many different ways. Financially, relationally, sexually (MARRIED ONLY), and in the house. What are you doing to make her feel secure in the relationship? You need to think that through. Then third and finally,He should care for her as he cares for his own body. Now that means for some of us we need to start taking way better care of her, have you looked in the mirror (joke). The point is that you are never going to let yourself die so why would you let her? (Some women really feel that they are dying inside because of the way the men in their lives are treating them.)
Take the time this week to really evaluate the way your are setting the pace in your relationships with the women in your life. What do you need to change? Ladies what would you like to see in the men of Elevation? Or what would you hope would change in your life because of the men in your life?
August 10, 2010 | Categories: Family, relationships | Tags: body, Christ, Christian, church, Elevation, Ephesians, Jesus, men, recovery, relationships, sacrifice, therapy, women | 1 Comment »
I hear people all the time say that they don’t need to be a part of a church to be able to be a follower of Jesus. But there is a problem with that. All of the one another’s that Jesus talks about in the New Testament. Now I have to honest there are some people that think sitting in a booth at a restaurant is going to church. It is not going to church it is hanging out. We all need to be involved in a church body because the church body needs each of us.
Hebrews 10:25 (NLT) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.
I think that unfortunately most people that say they don’t need to be a part of a church is because they were hurt. They were not what the verse says above “ENCOURAGED”. What are the things that we can be doing to encourage people? What are ways that people can see the church as something special, something as a place to be encouraged not discouraged?
February 18, 2010 | Categories: Leadership Development | Tags: body, church, encouraged, follower, Jesus, meeting together, New Testament, people, restaurant | Leave A Comment »
Did you ever have that moment in your life where someone told you that you were acting so grown up? It sometimes happened when you did a chore that your mom had wanted you to do for a long time. She sees you do it and she says “Wow that is so grown up for you.” I always remember my grandmother saying “Scott you are being such a grown up.” That comment was usually right after I had done something that showed some concern for someone other then myself. I heard a pastor this summer share that one of the major problems with the churches today is that they are full of spiritual BRATS. That to many of the so-called spiritual leaders of the church body are still just infants.
Hebrews 5:12-13 (NLT) You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. [13] And a person who is living on milk isn’t very far along in the Christian life and doesn’t know much about doing what is right.
Yes we are to start out like a baby but we are not to stay there in spiritual growth. We need to keep the awe and wonderment of a child, but we are to develop our attitudes about knowledge about Jesus to see more then ourselves. As we continue to gather biblical knowledge it does not on itself lead to spiritual growth. It is when we use that knowledge in our lives especially when it comes to our relationships. Notice it finishes the verses up by saying “Doing what is right.” As I read more and more of how Jesus developed His disciples it was by through giving them knowledge but then enabling them to experience it through life.
Are you a spiritual brat? Are you a person that has a lot of knowledge but never lives it out? Maybe what you need to do is get involved with others and start actually applying what is in your head and hopefully your heart. We will take a look at that even more tomorrow.
February 17, 2010 | Categories: Leadership Development, Uncategorized | Tags: baby, biblical, body, brats, church, disciples, grandma, grown up, infants, Jesus, knowledge, mom, relationships, spiritual leaders, teaching | Leave A Comment »
