Not Bricks :)

What characterizes a brick versus a stone?

This past Wednesday we touched on the verses that talk about us Believers as living stones being built up together and how that differs from a brick wall . . .

Scripture says we are "living stones" . . . not bricks . . . that all look alike . . .

"And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
For this is contained in Scripture: 'BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.'
This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,' ...But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light..."

~ 1 Peter 2:4-7 & 9

Courage

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. --Anais Nin

It is within my power either to serve God or not to serve Him. Serving Him, I add to my own good and the good of the whole world. Not serving Him, I forfeit my own good and deprive the world of that good, which was in my power to create. ~ Leo Tolstoy

There is the risk you cannot afford to take, (and) there is the risk you cannot afford not to take. ~ Peter Drucker

Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do. --H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity. ~ Keshavan Nair

Man can learn nothing except by going from the known to the unknown. ~ Claude Bernard

Varieties of Gifts but the Same Spirit

If you had to give up one of your five senses or a particular body part, what one would it be?
. . . Disturbing thought, huh?

Then why do we often treat one another as less significant or even view our own gifts as pointless or insignificant??

I Corinthians 12:4,5 &12-17

4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

12For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14For the body is not one member, but many.
15If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
16And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
18But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
19If they were all one member, where would the body be?
20But now there are many members, but one body.
21And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
22On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;
23and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable,
24whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked,
25so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
26And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.


When it comes to church should we as Christians have the same kind of corporate "pyramid" mentality that the business world often seems to have?

". . . whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." ~ Matthew 20:27& 28

One Body

"I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

"For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly; if prophecy, according to the portion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy with cheerfulness."

~ Romans 12:1,4-8

Biblical Examples of Worship

Here are just a few Biblical examples of worship...

"And Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing. And Miriam answered them, "Sing to the Lord, fo He is highly exalted; the horse and the ride He has hurled into the sea." ~ Exodus 15:20 &21

"And David was dancing before the Lord with all his might. . ." ~ II Samuel 6:14

"And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting . . ." Acts 13:2

We can minister to the Lord?!!

"And the for living creatures... day and night do not cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was and who is and who is to come." And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who live forever and ever and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created. " ~Revelation 4:8-11

"Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with harp and lyre.
Praise Him with timbrel and and dancing; praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." ~ Psalm 150: 3-6

Do you notice any key words or phrases in these verses that characterize worship? Like "do not cease" or how the Psalm says "loud" and "resounding" . . . It's not only with reverent somberness but with loud resounding praise that the Lord desires to be worshiped, too!

How amazing is it that the God of creativity desires to be worshiped by each of us in our diversity of personalities and abilities?!

But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
~ John 4:23 & 24