Seekers and Believers in Fellowship

By: Rev. Robert Vergeson D.D.

Seekers & Believers in Fellowship

What do we look for when entering a place of worship? Many might say we are seeking a relationship with God, and you would be right on one level of our exploration into our spirituality with God. However, God is everywhere, therefore, any relationship we seek with God can be done anywhere we desire to commune with God. So what role does the house of worship play in our lives if we can relate to God regardless where we are. Relationships are a function of social behavior where we gather as individuals into assembly with other individuals sharing a common interest, or in the case of one on one relationships we engage in a social behavior that leads to romantic unions, and ultimately marriage. In a place of worship the social behavior is guided by a common interest in a belief system that dictates how we conduct ourselves in society. The belief system that unites these followers in one faith plays a pivotal role in the individual as well as the assembled group.

Man and women have proven that they can not live alone as isolated individuals for throughout history from the beginning of time, man has sought fellowship with each other as a basic instinct for survival. In numbers did we populate the world and in numbers have we protected ourselves and assured survival. Community has ever been a base instinct ingrained in us since Adam and Eve left the garden of Eden. Alone we perish lost to the ravage of time, but Community has always survived even in archival artifacts and dwellings buried in the sands of time. The Old Testament our historical beginnings have taught us the birth of man, and the rise of the first community though the seeds of Adam. Nations rose from Adams loins, and these very same nations perished by God hand. The lesson history tells us is that divided we fall, united we stand. Those united in God, faithful to God, and obeyed God became communities of believers who set todays social standards for our relationship with God. The New Testament introduced the Christian fellowship or the church of Christ as it was then, and what we strive to maintain today.

1 John 2:22-26
And who is the great liar? The one who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Such people are Antichrists, for they have denied the Father and the Son. [23] Anyone who denies the Son doesn't have the Father either. But anyone who confesses the Son has the Father also. [24] So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will continue to live in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. [25] And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.
[26] I have written these things to you because you need to be aware of those who want to lead you astray.

1 Peter 1:12-16
They were told that these things would not happen during their lifetime, but many years later, during yours. And now this Good News has been announced by those who preached to you in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen. [13] So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ. [14] Obey God because you are his children. Don't slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn't know any better then. [15] But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God—who chose you to be his children—is holy. [16] For he himself has said, "You must be holy because I am holy."

Hebrews 10:23-25
Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. [24] Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. [25] 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.

Personal access to God through Christ does not need an elaborate system. We can grow in faith, overcome doubts, burdens, ask questions, and deepen our relationship with God in fellowship. In fellowship we enjoy encouragement from one another, and we worship together as a family of Christ. All this can be done without formal ceremonies, rituals, religious trappings, and without marble edifices that become pretensive and vain glory.

The First Church

If we were to take note of the first church of Christ followers and the directives given us by Christ for our behavior as a community of believers, we would learn how a believer would be expected to conduct themselves in the presence of God's house of worship, as well as,those appointed to shepherd the believers. There are some very clear passages in the New Testament that inform us on how the Christian community is to conduct itself during worship and after worship. For Christ makes it very clear that hypocrisy in faith and belief is the quickest way to the gates of hell. For He warns us of how the Pharisees.... behave in the temple, and how they behave outside of the temple. And since God is everywhere He knows our heart, mind and soul no matter how we appear to others.

Matthew 5:20-26
"But I warn you—unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all! [21] "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' [22] But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. [23] "So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, [24] leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. [25] Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail. [26] I assure you that you won't be free again until you have paid the last penny.

Matthew 6:1-5
"Take care! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. [2] When you give a gift to someone in need, don't shout about it as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. [3] But when you give to someone, don't tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. [4] Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. [5] "And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get.

Jesus knew the hearts of the Pharisees and religious leaders and knew that their outwardly appearance was false. Though they appeared to be holy and observed the law, inwardly they were corrupt and full of greed. If we live our Christianity as a show for others, the outer appearance, while our inner appearance is unclean, much like just washing the outside of a cup and missing the inside. When we are clean inside, our cleanliness on the outside will not be a sham.

The Seeker

So what happens when a seeker arrives to a place of worship and leaves still a seeker? This brings us back to my first question when I asked “what do we look for when entering a place of worship?” What does a seeker look for? When we can answer these questions, we may have a sound footing to having that seeker leave a new convert, and certainly, keep our Christian community of followers coming back Sunday after Sunday. But are the answer's to these questions easy? If they where, we wouldn't be asking them now would we. So let's attempt to answer the question of “what happens when a seeker arrives to a place of worship and leaves still a seeker?” First of all a seeker is defined as a person looking for answers to questions they have about church and how a church relationship can affect change in their lives. For certainly, a seeker is one looking for change. The seeker is having feelings of loss or disconnected with themselves and the world at large. The seeker may well understand who God is, but fails to connect the dots to a better relationship with God. The seeker is a person who knows something is wrong in their lives and seeks solutions. The seeker in the purest since is a lost soul as defined by Christ when He says, that only through Him, can man receive salvation, for all are born sinners and the reward for sin is death.

John 1:12,13
[12] But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. [13] They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan—this rebirth comes from God.

Matthew 7:7-14
"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. [8] For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks. [9] You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? [10] Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! [11] If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. [12] "Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

[13] "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. [14] But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.

Romans 10:1-15
Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is that the Jewish people might be saved. [2] I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. [3] For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. Instead, they are clinging to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. They won't go along with God's way. [4] For Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the law. All who believe in him are made right with God. [5] For Moses wrote that the law's way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. [6] But the way of getting right with God through faith says, "You don't need to go to heaven" (to find Christ and bring him down to help you). [7] And it says, "You don't need to go to the place of the dead" (to bring Christ back to life again). [8] Salvation that comes from trusting Christ—which is the message we preach—is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, "The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." [9] For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. [11] As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who believes in him will not be disappointed." [12] Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They all have the same Lord, who generously gives his riches to all who ask for them. [13] For "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." [14] But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? [15] And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

The Seeker is searching for a place in the Family of God.

Life comes through acknowledging Christ, through the blood of Christ, and the love of God. The love God gave us through the death of his Son, Jesus Christ. The seeker is searching for the answers to his or hers soul crying out in the wilderness and finding only shadow where there should be light. There are many reason's why a seeker steps through the door of a church for the first time. They may have heard of the great sounds the band plays, or the dynamics of the preachers words during his sermon. A friend may have invited the seeker, or a family member encourages the seeker to attend. Regardless of the reason's, the seeker comes to find something that is missing in their lives.

Now on the average, if using the word average can describe any church, the Sunday program is geared to reaching lost souls, while they minister to the members of the church. Any church that fails to reach lost souls through sermon, Sunday School, and outreach fails to maintain there own flock. For the sermon that reaches out to lost souls must also enrich the flock of believers as well. When a seeker fails to respond to the sermon as they should, it is most likely the seeker sees the affect it has on the body of believers as well. The seeker will leave empty handed as well as the believers. Therefore, any sermon that fails to reach even the seeker, may indeed fail the body of believers. The church that can reach both the seeker and the believer is the church that is more then average. Of course sermons alone are not the total solution, but just a part of a relationship we have with seekers and believers. It takes two to have a relationship, therefore both the seekers and the believers need to relate to each other on a level that encourages the seeker to stick around awhile. At least until the seeker becomes a familiar face in the fellowship.

Another aspect that most seekers look for is how well they are received during there first visit. Now lets remember that there are at best two types of seekers, those who walk from off the street, to those who are invited by a member of the fellowship. Now the “off the street seeker” is entering the building rather blind to what they will see, where to go, and what to expect. The “invited seeker” will have an introduction to the building through the friend who accompanies them to a service. We of course expect that the invited seeker gets a tour, introduced, and made welcomed. They will begin their first time feeling somewhat accepted and at ease. However, the “off the street seeker” will not have this introduction, nor will they feel at ease because they are with someone who knows the fellowship and can guide them. This person comes literally blind into the fellowship, lost in unfamiliar territory, and ignorant of who's who.

Now of course there are greeter's or official hosts who greet everyone who enters the sanctuary. There job is to say hello and welcome to the fellowship. However, saying hello and welcome is doing very little to put the person at ease. More is needed. Lets walk through a scenario of a “off the street seeker” first time entering the church. Let's assume the fellowship is well established, 100 -200 members. This would be a medium size group so the visitor will feel overwhelmed by the numbers coming and going while they settle themselves in the pews. For the sake of simplifying the description of the sanctuary, pews will be interchangeable to chairs, and alter to front of the sanctuary where the pastor delivers his or hers sermon. We will present two scenarios A & B, A is the scenario where the church is managing to greet visitor with a simple hello and welcome, and B is the scenario where the church is going beyond the norm to greet visitor's. I will let you decide which accomplishes the best approach to greeting new visitor's.

Scenario A: From the perspective of the visitor

Once I had decided to actually attend church, after I had done a search in the phone book to find the nearest fellowship that might appeal to me. I nervously enter the front doors of the church, not knowing what I would expect. As I entered the church, I immediately saw a line of people entering the sanctuary. As they passed through the front portals, they were greeted by a person standing at each door. These people simply nodding their heads, spoke a brief hello, spoke a first name or non at all and handed the person a church bulletin. The line moved quickly and soon it was my turn to pass through the portal. Being a stranger, the greeter simply handed me a bulletin and said welcome. I then found my own seat somewhat in the back pews and waited for the services to begin. During the wait a few people passing buy would greet me and welcome me to the church, then find their own seat, which most likely was the same place where they sat each Sunday. The service opened with announcements, and a brief welcome to visitors. Then music, sermon, prayer and the end. As I left the sanctuary, I was briefly thanked for coming, would I like to fill out a visitor's card. Of course I did and then left. Now on the visitor card I indicated I would like a pastor's visit to learn more about the church. A week later no pastor visit or follow up. Three weeks later I am still staying home on Sunday's feeling even more lost then I was.

Scenario B: From the perspective of the visitor

Once I had decided to actually attend church, after I had done a search in the phone book to find the nearest fellowship, I nervously enter the front doors of the church, not knowing what I would expect. As I entered the church, I immediately saw a line of people entering the sanctuary. As they passed through the front portals, they were greeted by a person standing at each door. The greeter's where jovial and very pleasant, asking the welfare of the person passing through the doors. As I stood in line, I was greeted by those in front of me, asking for my name, and giving me theirs. Those behind me would also welcome me, asking if this was my first time, did I know someone here? I would politely say no, this was my first time here. As I approached the greeter at the doors, He would warm heartedly greet me with a firm handshake, then ask my name, and would I take the time to fill out a visitor's card before the service started. The greeter would then cheerfully ask another member near by if they
wouldn't mind taking me in hand and see that I get a good seat and introductions to those along side me in the pews. I was then promised that if I wait after the services a deacon or elder would be present if I had any questions for them. Once the services was started the announcements included a brief welcome to new visitors by name (the card I filled out) and the fellowship was encouraged to say hello shake my hand after the services. I was promised a visitor's package and a gift. After the service, the deacon assigned to new visitor's greeted me, took me aside, and we had a brief talk about what I felt about the services. It was at this time that I expressed my spiritual misgivings, or desire to learn more about God. The deacon assured me that if I wanted too, he with a Elder could visit my home later this week and get to know each other better. I accepted the chance for them to visit me at home (or appointment at the church). Before I left the building, hanger ons greeted me, and asked if I found my experience welcoming. Of course after such warm and considerate welcome, how could I not feel welcomed. With my welcome package in hand, I was prepared to look forward to another Sunday. During the week that followed, I met with the deacon and elders, we had a very deep conversation about God and what their church was all about. Later in the week I got a phone call from a member, who wanted to say hello, and would I like to join their week day bible group which they assured me would be very informal like, so not to worry about being among strangers. By the following Sunday I attended Sunday school having a group to meet with, and my experience in the services was as if I had always been there. The weeks that followed continued with warm and welcoming gestures, someone was always checking in on me, friendly smiles and faces, making sure everything was okay and when I missed a Sunday, I wasn't forgotten, nor was their pressure to attend. I am no longer a first time visitor just off the streets, but a steady church goer with new friends and family in Christ.

Now you have the two scenarios. Which one best describes the fellowship that is going to make a difference in the life of a first time visitor (seeker)? Now in all fairness, scenario A is rather bland in describing the scene being presented, but remember it from the perspective of the visitor. What we see as our best welcoming may well be very bland indeed. All to often we get set in our ways, and without directions on how to push the envelope we may well be the fellowship that fits scenario A. Now the fellowship that fits scenario B, is clearly the group with some directives that goes to achieving just what the visitor was hoping for. These directives mean going outside the norm and stepping into the shoes of the first time visitor. It also means formal instructional classes on how to be better in greeting not just our family in Christ, but those who are seekers. The church that can focus on appointing a deacon for visitor's, and procedures on how to conduct themselves when dealing with seekers is the church that will stand out in the community. The church that involves the fellowship in being vigilant in these procedures, assuring a warm greeting, introductions, and fellow-ups, will gain much in seeing that seekers and believers alike remain a family in Christ.

Now I have spoke of the relationship seekers & believers should have between them. The relationship is fostered by the Elders of the church and the Pastor through his or hers sermon. Without this fostering, the fellowship will not have directives on how to create this relationship. Each and every member of the fellowship owes it to themselves to see that they are being properly fostered in this relationship. The bible and the scriptures clearly speak of how we are to be fostered, and what our duty is to all who seek the word of God. Any failure to bring about this fostering will affect the growth both spirituality and physically of the church. This failure means we have fallen short of Christ teachings.

Honor

1 Thes. 5:10-13
He died for us so that we can live with him forever, whether we are dead or alive at the time of his return. [11] So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
[12] Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. [13] Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work. And remember to live peaceably with each other.

Always be Joyful

1 Thes. 5:14-16
Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
[15] See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else. [16] Always be joyful.

Hold on to what is Good

1 Thes. 5:17-28
Keep on praying. [18] No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. [19] Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. [20] Do not scoff at prophecies, [21] but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. [22] Keep away from every kind of evil. [23] Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. [24] God, who calls you, is faithful; he will do this. [25] Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us. [26] Greet all the brothers and sisters in Christian love. [27] I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters. [28] And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

Endure Suffering

2 Tim. 2:1-5
Timothy, my dear son, be strong with the special favor God gives you in Christ Jesus. [2] You have heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others. [3] Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. [4] And as Christ's soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army. [5] Follow the Lord's rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize.

The Good News

2 Tim. 2:7-12
Think about what I am saying. The Lord will give you understanding in all these things.
[8] Never forget that Jesus Christ was a man born into King David's family and that he was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. [9] And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. [10] I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. [11] This is a true saying: if we die with him, we will also live with him. [12] If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.

Pursue Faith, Love and Peace

2 Tim. 2:13-26
If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.

[14] Remind everyone of these things, and command them in God's name to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them. [15] Work hard so God can approve you. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. [16] Avoid godless, foolish discussions that lead to more and more ungodliness. [17] This kind of talk spreads like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples of this. [18] They have left the path of truth, preaching the lie that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; and they have undermined the faith of some. [19] But God's truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and "Those who claim they belong to the Lord must turn away from all wickedness." [20] In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. [21] If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. [22] Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. [23] Again I say, don't get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. [24] The Lord's servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people. [25] They should gently teach those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will believe the truth. [26] Then they will come to their senses and escape from the Devil's trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

Patiently correct, rebuke and Encourage

2 Tim. 4:1-10
And so I solemnly urge you before God and before Christ Jesus—who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: [2] Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. [3] For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. [4] They will reject the truth and follow strange myths. [5] But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you. [6] As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. [7] I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. [8] And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return. [9] Please come as soon as you can. [10] Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia.

How to Treat Others

1 Tim. 5:1-16
Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as though he were your own father. Talk to the younger men as you would to your own brothers. [2] Treat the older women as you would your mother, and treat the younger women with all purity as your own sisters. [3] The church should care for any widow who has no one else to care for her. [4] But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God very much. [5] But a woman who is a true widow, one who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. Night and day she asks God for help and spends much time in prayer. [6] But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead. [7] Give these instructions to the church so that the widows you support will not be criticized. [8] But those who won't care for their own relatives, especially those living in the same household, have denied what we believe. Such people are worse than unbelievers.
[9] A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband. [10] She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers? Has she served other Christians humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good? [11] The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry. [12] Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge. [13] Besides, they are likely to become lazy and spend their time gossiping from house to house, getting into other people's business and saying things they shouldn't. [14] So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them. [15] For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan. [16] If a Christian woman has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for widows who are truly alone.

Do Your Work well.

1 Tim. 5:17-18
Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. [18] For the Scripture says, "Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain." And in another place, "Those who work deserve their pay!"

Obey Gods Instructions

1 Tim. 5:21-25
I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the holy angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing special favor to anyone.

In the scriptures we have read in this text, we are given much to understand our role in the church as believers and seekers alike. The responsibilities given are clear and precise. When we lose track of these responsibilities we stray away for the purpose we have joined together as a body of believers. Any church that takes the premise that they are only to serve those within the family the nuclear, and directs there spirituality to this selfish state, is the church that falls short of the Glory of God. For God through Christ gave us a greater role to play in the larger community around us and not just the stratus of believers that was the nuclear beginnings of the church locally. If this was so then why are we directed to go out among the nations and bring the lost, the weary, the sick, the helpless, the poor, into the family of Christ. There are so many churches out there that seem to forget that there is more then just the sum of the wealthy, the wisest, the elite, the popular that needs the life giving waters that Christ offers us. These church may be the pinnacle in many communities, but are they in Gods heart.

Luke 9:18-27
One day as Jesus was alone, praying, he came over to his disciples and asked them, "Who do people say I am?" [19] "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead." [20] Then he asked them, "Who do you say I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Messiah sent from God!" [21] Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about this. [22] "For I, the Son of Man, must suffer many terrible things," he said. "I will be rejected by the leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. I will be killed, but three days later I will be raised from the dead." [23] Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. [24] If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. [25] And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose or forfeit your own soul in the process? [26] If a person is ashamed of me and my message, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person when I return in my glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. [27] And I assure you that some of you standing here right now will not die before you see the Kingdom of God."

John 4:12-15
And besides, are you greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his cattle enjoyed?" [13] Jesus replied, "People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. [14] But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life." [15] "Please, sir," the woman said, "give me some of that water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to haul water."

Romans 6:4-7
For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. [5] Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. [6] Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. [7] For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.

Your Brother in Christ.

Rev. Robert D. Vergeson D.D.

Article Source: http://www.religionarticlelibrary.com

Rev. Robert is an associate member of the Universal Life Church since 1979. Visit geocities.com/revdocrobert for his ministry website, or email him at revdocrobert@yahoo.com

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