What is your Sunday School Class/Small Group doing?

Breaking news -  Sunday School class is changing the world!  Click on this link http://www.religiousherald.org/2499.article to read the article or go to the website at www.crosslinkinternational.net    Clearly this is a God thing that happened among that group of people.  Your class and small group is called to a different “God thing.” How are you discovering that?  If we are not careful groups can get stuck looking inward.  Let me challenge you to get a map of the community, state, nation and world out at your next group meeting and discuss how God could use you to make an impact in some place.  Need a little more help/encouragement?  Keith and Kathy Livingston are connected with Crosslink because they were in the Sunday School class that started the ministry.  They now live in our area and have joined Spring Hill.  Maybe you could invite them to share the “first hand” story with your small group.

Fixin to do Something

“I have been part of churches that are always trying to get organized to do something, what we love about Spring Hill is that you all are always doing something and then trying to get organized.”   This comment came to me recently as I was discussing Spring Hill with someone new to the church.  I thought the comment was pretty insightful!!!

We all have plans for our life.  Since our life includes the church we have plans for that as well.  The challenge we face is turning our plans into action.  To go from “fixin to do something” to doing something!  We tend to want to wait for everything to be right and then we will proceed. 

Let me challenge you to read through the book of Acts and witness the Holy Spirit leading the church to action.  Then let the Holy Spirit lead you to do something!

Be Ye Happy? by Bob Munson

I have heard so many sermons stating that happiness is not something the Christians should seek, but rather, they should seek “joy”.  “Joy” is described as feeling good based on some sort of spiritual empowerment that transcends one’s momentary circumstances. “Happiness” is looked upon as feeling good because good things are happening. But maybe both definitions are incomplete. The definition for happiness lays too much strength on the NOW… the moment. Happiness is a pointless rollercoaster ride. The definition for joy seems to be more of a Greek philosophical ideal rather than a Christian virtue. Joy is a disconnected abstract state of being. A lot of people who claim to have Christian joy seem to be pretty unhappy most of the time. 

So it was good that a group that calls itself the “Happiness Foundation” (www.happiness.org) to provide a definition of happiness that appears to bridge the gap.

Happiness: The overall appreciation of one’s life-as-a-whole. In other words, how much one likes the life one lives.

The definition looks at one’s emotional state and well-being over a broad spectrum and time of one’s life. Therefore it does not fail by focusing on the momentary successes and failures that fill any particular day. On the other hand, it still is connected to the life we live. Additionally, it is perceptual. If you feel happy, it is pointless for someone to say “Oh, but deep down you are miserable.” Perhaps deep down you ARE miserable, but happiness describes a state that is recognizable by the individual.

Looking at the definition above, it seems as if one could use this definition for  “CONTENTMENT” or “SATISFACTION” as well.  These terms might be used interchangeably. But an important question lingers:

Is it good to happy? Is it good to be content? Is it good to be satisfied?

1.  First Challenge.  Maybe happiness is self-absorbed… lacking concern for the misery around us. .

We have certainly seen people around us who live their lives looking for the next thrill, the next adrenaline rush. They live their lives in seeming disregard of the concerns of others. But momentary thrill is not happiness/contentedness. Quoting from the happy people at the Happiness Foundation again,

“Most people feel that is good to be happy but many moral philosophers have reservations. One of their qualms is that it that one can only be happy if one disregards the misery in this world, and hence that happiness depends on a distorted rosy outlook. Another misgiving is that happiness spoils and makes us lazy, uncritical and egocentric. Yet again, empirical research shows otherwise. Happy people appear to be more concerned with social problems and to be more apt to do something about that. There is also evidence that happiness activates and that it encourages social involvement.”

2. Second Challenge. Happiness is non-progressive.

Americans believe in progress. It is not surprising that Americans aren’t all that excited about Contentment. That is because many believe that change is fueled by discontent. However, discontent is not a good motivation for positive change. Discontent is more likely to lead to

-Greed                        -Covetousness            -Envy              -Spiritual compromise               -Moral Failure                        -Anger                                                -Quitting

Properly focused contentment leads to progress. Imagine you are a painter or a sculptor. You work on your piece of art until you are happy with it, satisfied, contented. Then you stop, set it aside and begin on a new one. Contentment should motivate one to be pleased enough to start anew. Discontentment/ unhappiness is more likely to cause one never complete a task, or simply give up. 

God is a good example of wise contentment, of wise happiness. In Genesis 1 we see the mind of God. A pattern forms:

                        -God spoke

                        -God created

                        -God was happy (contented/satisfied)

                        -God repeats the pattern

3.  Third Challenge. Happiness (or contentment) is not Christian.

This is a big question. Is it good to be happy? It might be enjoyable, but is it a worthy goal? This is something to be left up to each individual reader. However, here are a few verses to think about:

•        God modeled contentment/happiness        Genesis 1

•        God gives contentment/happiness as a gift      Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, 5:18-6:2

•        Contentment/happiness  is considered to be a virtue             Phil 4:11-13

•        Contentment/happiness It is considered to be beneficial    I Timothy 6:6

The conclusion to this matter is in the theme of Ecclesiastes. Fear God and enjoy the life you live. Or as Paul said in I Timothy 6:6, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

 

 

 

 

Faith in the Family

Most of my family gathered on the Outer Banks the week of August 10.  While we were there I had the privilege of baptizing my niece Kayla.  Kayla had made a commitment to Christ the week before at a camp.  She and her parents, Brian and Robin, decided that the baptism with her family would be a great celebration of her new life in Christ.  We were also joined by a couple of friends from Kayla’s church in northern Virginia.

There are many times in the New Testament where a family member has an encounter with Christ and immediately starts sharing the good news with their family.  That should be the model of the church in 2008.  We have grown a little too dependent on the church to train up our children and to grow us up spiritually.   The home is a central place for spiritual transformation of a person’s life.

Our children’s leadership team has declared their mission statement:  “To partner with parents as we connect and grow on God’s great adventure.”   How can we partner with you on God’s great adventure?

Kayla ready to be baptized (check out my shades!)

Conversations we Need to Have: We really have to do this together

The August 10 message (view it online at www.springhillbaptist.org) focuses on our calling to be the body of Christ.  Anyone who has been around any church can share some of the stories about how a church got sidetracked or relationships broke down or you felt like you were drying up spiritually.  But what about the times we have all been challenged and encouraged by our relationship with the church?  We need to share more of those stories! 

What commitment do you need to make to the Body of Christ?  How do you need to be part of the “together” that makes up Spring Hill?

Feel free to share your comments here or send them directly to Dan (dan@springhillbaptist.org)

Conversations we need to have -Joyful Giving

The August 3 message (view at www.springhillbaptist.org) focuses on being joyful givers.   How does giving bring you joy?  What has been your experience with giving over the years?  When have you been most excited about giving?   The first century church changed the world through realizing that they had the joy of being stewards of all that God had given them.  What will change the attitude of the church in our day so that we might become joyful stewards?

Randy Alcorn’s book The Tresure Principle is a great devotional source for you to explore joyful giving.  Copies are available at the church for $5 or you can contact Dan (dan@springhillbaptist.org)  It is often challenging for preachers and parishoners to talk about financial issues.  Please let me know your reaction to this message (either through the blog or directly at dan@springhillbaptist.org).

Conversations we need to have – Addictions

How are addictions and idolatry similar?  The focus of the July 27 message deals with that question.  You can access the message video by clicking on www.springhillbaptist.org   If we don’t find our meaning and purpose in life from God we will find it somewhere.  Of course there are the obvious addictions of alcohol, drugs and pornography but we are increasingly a society that chases after all kinds of things trying to find purpose and meaning.   How do we help people find their meaning and purpose in God so they are not chasing false idols that end up an addiction? 

If you or a friend need help with an addiction check out the web links below or contact Pastor Dan directly and confidentially at dan@springhillbaptist.org or 434-960-8317. 

http://xxxchurch.com/  is a Christian website with a wide range of resources for people who are dealing with pornography. 

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org has been a great organization for a lot of years.

Conversations we Need to Have – Parents as Faith Shapers

Most believers would say their understanding of God came from what they learned about God in their home.  The July 20th message focuses on the role of parents in shaping the faith of their children.  I believe the greatest joy of a parent is leading their child in a dynamic relationship with Christ.  Yet there is a tendency for the spiritual life of a family to be focused around just the time they are at church.  How do we shape our children spiritually in our home?  How do we have God conversations with our children in our daily life?  What is the role of the church in helping parents be faith shapers?  Watch the message at www.springhillbaptist.org and then share your joys and struggles in being a faith shaper and how your parents have influenced your life spiritually.

Conversations we Need to Have – Depression

Major depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States impacting millions of Americans.  What is the impact of depression on believers and the church?  In our July 13 message (you can view the message at www.springhillbaptist.org) we seek to differentiate between what is a physical/mental health issue and what is a spiritual issue.  I have spent a lot of time with inviduals who wanted to treat their depression as a spiritual issue only or who view taking medicine for depression as a spiritual weakness.   How can we help people understand the difference between the physical reasons and spiritual reasons for depression?  How can we be supportive of those who suffer from depression?  For the millions of Americans who suffer in a never ending cycle of depression – how do we help them find hope in God?

If you need help dealing with depression feel free to contact me directly at dan@springhillbaptist.org or 973-7473.

Conversations we need to have – OUR Words

Our first message in this series is on how we use our words.  In our July 6 message (available at www.springhillbaptist.org if you were unable to attend) we talked about how words have the power to destroy OR heal.   What are some ways that you are using words to heal?  In a world where negative news “sells” how do we share the good news of Jesus Christ?