Sermon, sharing, life

What to do with what we have been given. (as a side note, unlike the past two entries this one, wasn't written down, I've just known the subject I was going to be writting about. The rest is off the top of my head, so it probably won't be as good as the other two). We as Christians have been given the keys to heaven. Some keep it to themselves while others share it. What should we do with it? We should certainly share it!

Matthew 25:14-30

from: biblegateway http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A14-30&version=NIV

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
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19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’"

What does this mean? The servent who didn't bring back anything extra was punished! while the servants who gained more were rewarded! God wants us to take what he gives us, and bring back more! He wants us not to bury ourselves, but risk ourselves and bring in more. He wants us to share it!

In light of this let's visit another one. using the above conclusion

Matthew 14:13-21

(13) When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. (14) When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
(15) As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food"
(16) Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
(17) "We have only five loaves if bread and two fish," they answered.
(18) "Bring them here to me," he said.
(19) And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. (20) They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. (21) The number of those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

A little goes a long way. It's kinda of like our faith, we don't think we can make a differance, but by sharing it to others, who then in turn share it to someone else we can end up "feeding" a lot more people then we could have ever done alone. Only by God can this happen. All this could result from sharing instead of telling them to go find their own way, but if we share you could change their lives, and in turn you could be affecting more then you imagine. Amazing, absolutely amazing.

also Rich Nathan did a great sermon on "Women can't serve as senior pastors, can they?" which the answer is a resounding yes they can serve as senior pastors. The background to the verse in question, really clears it up (1 Timothy 2:9-15). It's refering to the woman of the time, who where challenging the teachers, while they were teaching. Paul's merely telling them that they shouldn't be doing this, instead they should be respectful. 2 Timothy 2:14 is telling the women to not be like Eve and decieve people by spreading falsehood. 2 Timothy 2:15 is telling the women not to abort but rather to stick with their pregnancies. (gee sounds like a problem today!)... I can see how some people misinterpreted this, but yet I can't. It seems ridiculous once you learn about it's background.

Phoenix still lives for now. Ideal, and Munch molted, which makes them both Level 2 mantids. I don't see anything wrong with them either. Today I also got 6 neon tetras, 2 albino bronze corys, 2 Argentine Swords (plant), and one water wysteria (plant). All of which are now in the 55 gallon tank. I love neon tetras, they look so neat.