We’re at JOSHUA 6:1ff today.
Let’s go!
Author: Scott Heitshusen (Page 4 of 96)
Men, we’re starting a new study for our time together, starting on AUGUST 12 — the Book of AMOS!
FORGE series on Amos: God’s Mechanic
August – September
When something goes wrong with a car, the owner sends in a mechanic to get it running smooth again. The prophets are God’s mechanics for Israel, God’s people. God sends them when Israel is not functioning and living as they should or could. These Spiritual Mechanics diagnose the problem and attempt repairs. They speak God’s word…
- When Israel has bad fuel – when they put deceptions, lies, or false values into their tank. The mechanic brings the highest octane – God’s truth.
- When Israel has yielded the wheel to idols or when other nations or false gods are steering them. The prophet puts God back into the driver’s seat.
- When Israel is off the road or heading in the wrong direction. God sends the prophet with a road map to redemption.
- When the tires need to be rotated, the oil changed, new filters installed to block that which is harmful, and when just going-through-the-motions in worship does not provide for their necessary or regular maintenance – the mechanic calls them to worship in Spirit and in truth to clean and maintain their system.
- The mechanic makes sure there are no warning lights flashing so that Israel stays within the guidelines of the owner’s manual, which is the Covenant. The prophet looks at all the gauges – most of which measure the way they treat each other, even foreigners: Is there justice? Care for the poor? Stewardship? Prayer and devoutness? All of these are indicators of how well they are running.
- Sometimes the mechanic allows them to stay broken down or stuck in the mud until they are ready to be responsible again.
- And though the mechanic may be partial to Fords (or Chevys, or whatever you want me to say) – he knows the specs and guidelines of all makes and models – not just Israel, but for all nations.
FORGE meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the Month. The book of Amos is only 9 chapters and we we essentially hit the major tenets of the Prophet in four weeks, starting with historical context. What God says through Amos to Israel (who are God’s people called to live Holy/whole-ly unto God), God says to us. We may skip one week to do whatever service project or good work is needed of us in the moment, or to focus on a good ribeye… (we are men, after all), but we will just pick it up the next time.
So grab your Bible, your fork, and your friend, and we will see you at FORGE.
There’s a lot in our passage today about sin; about being tempted; about helping others in their burdens and temptations; in keeping oneself pure amidst our own temptations; about bearing our own burdens; about sharing good things that we’ve been taught back with our teacher; about reaping what we sow – whether from the flesh or spiritual nature; about taking up opportunities for doing good – especially to fellow believers.
But the focus for us today is on boasting not in ourselves or in others but in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ because that’s what matters; that’s the basis for all of the other things happening, all the other points in our message, all the other teachings in our lesson. If we boasted ourselves – in what we do and how we’re living – and how good we’re doing, and how we’re avoiding bad and evil, and how we’re helping others out; how we’re avoiding temptation; how we’re living the good life — if that is our focus instead of the cross of Jesus, we can get arrogant in our minds and in our actions. We can see in our actions reasons to get puffed up. We can see in ourselves and what we do or don’t do and hold them up with hubris rather than seeing God’s son Jesus who was held up in humility.
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Galatians 6:14
All of these items in our lesson are good great even to be commended; to be followed; to be emulated – but not to be boasted in. We boast in the cross of Christ because it is only in and through Him that any of the other things that we do or don’t do, not only matter but are possible through faith in Jesus. In Jesus are all things possible.
Good is to be sought and desired and followed only when we see that it is through the highest cost of the cross that our sin is forgiven; that we find a true heart motivation for avoiding temptation and that which separates us from God.
Works don’t get us to heaven; the cross does and because the cross has our desire for works is inevitable. A true understanding and belief in what Jesus did on the cross and through the empty tomb will invariably drive us at our very core to avoiding sin and zealously pursuing good.
Thanks be to God for the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, because of Him the world has been crucified to us and us to the world, so that we are free to love and serve the world for God.
“Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son our Lord, Jesus, to us. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for enduring the cross, scorning its shame, for us and our salvation. Our boast is in You alone; always and only for Your glory and for the good of the world. We love you. Amen.”
Scriptures
- Galatians 6:1-10
- Galatians 6:14-18
- Psalm 66:1-4
We’re at JOSHUA 4:1ff today.
Let’s go!
The book of Colossians is a book from St. Paul where he addresses an important issue at a congregation where he wasn’t the founding missionary (a man named Epaphras was). He likely wrote this book around 60 AD when he was in Ephesus. Epaphras was troubled by what was happening in his congregation and shared it with Paul. This letter is Paul writing to address the situation.
Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.
Colossians 2:8 (CSB)
It was extremely vital because some were questioning the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus. They were also “adding” a blend of Jewish practices and Gnostic ideas (which emphasized a “secret knowledge”) and asceticism to the Gospel of Jesus. This “philosophy and empty deceit” (Colossians 2:8) is completely contrary to the all-sufficient Gospel of Jesus and needed to be addressed and countered! This false teaching is called “The Colossian Heresy.”
Paul iterates the identity of Jesus as “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) in Whom “the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Colossians 1:19). He also reminds them that you can’t (and mustn’t!) add to what Jesus already. Our salvation is in Jesus, not by what we do.
Paul writes his letter first with some preaching to the Colossians and then teaching them about Christian living.
It’s all about Jesus, God incarnate, who saved us! Nothing more is needed; ever! Join us for our series of this wonderful book!
Most people like a party. Surprisingly, even a pity party.
For some reason there are times that we like to feel miserable, alone, even abandoned. Playing the victim carries some status, I guess. Of course there are times when we’re not playing the victim but actually are. Times when we don’t just feel alone but are. When we’re in the moment it’s difficult if not impossible to tell the difference between what we feel and reality. Our perception, in the pain, often defines our reality. Our head may know truth but our heart make counter.
Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.
1 Kings 19:18
In our text today Elijah has just been God’s servant in an amazing show of God’s power and might. God has used him to display His greatness to the leaders and people of the land in an explicit and undeniable way. Yet right after this he is threatened and runs away scared. When he talks to God he bemoans that he is the only one left who is faithful to Him. Elijah may well have felt that was true, even though it is likely there was evidence to the contrary.
And God showed him that what Elijah felt was indeed not at all true. Elijah was not alone. He was not abandoned. He was not the only one left who was faithful to God. God tells Elijah that He has preserved for Himself “seven thousand in Israel” (1 Kings 19:18) who have remained faithful to Him.
That’s not to say that Elijah didn’t feel alone. It’s God telling him he wasn’t alone. God’s reality is what matters no matter how we feel.
That doesn’t minimize our feelings or are hurts or pains. But it is a stark reminder that those things, though our reality, are often or seldom not true reality.
There are times that we may feel distant from God, abandoned by God, all alone. There are times when we feel our sins have pushed us so far from Him that He couldn’t possibly still be present with us, still forgive us ,still love us. That we are all alone.
But that’s not reality.
Through faith in Jesus Christ the reality is that He has preserved us for Himself forever. He is with us and we are not alone. Ever. We are not abandoned because Jesus was for us. Even in our pain He has given us the Victory.
- When God displays His power and salvation, don’t run away.
- You may feel alone, but you never are. He is with you.
- It’s not about you. God preserves.
That is reality. That is what matters.
Through faith in Jesus we are preserved. By God. For Himself.
Remember this in your suffering and pain. Remember Jesus’ words that, “Lo, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
“Thank you, Lord God, for checking our feelings with Your reality. With Your care. With Your love. Help us to always remember that so that our feelings don’t trump Your Truth. Remind us that through faith in Jesus alone You have preserved us for Yourself forever. In Jesus name, amen.”
Scriptures
- Galatians 3:23-4:7
We’re at JOSHUA 3:1ff today.
Let’s go!
Ladies, let’s play some BUNCO!
| DATE: | Saturday, August 23, 2025 |
| TIME: | 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM |
| LOCATION: | LifeBridge Café |
Help some kids get ready for school!
Some clients of the Sealy Pregnancy Resource Center need help with school supplies for some of their kids.
You can help!
There is a display at the back of the sanctuary. There you will find some names of some of these children, along with the school they are attending.
The process is simple:
- Pick a Name
- Buy a Backpack
- Fill with Supplies from School List
- Attach Name & Return by July 20 (or before)
That’s it!
If you have any questions, contact Jennifer at (713) 299-4578.
Thank you for being a positive influence and help for those who need it!
I often think we don’t fully appreciate our status as Christians. As children of God. The fact that we are heirs of God. We occupy a special, selected, privileged position not enjoyed by those who do not have faith in Jesus. We can talk to God our father in a way that those without faith can’t – won’t. As children of God through faith we are free from all that binds and holds us back.
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring according to promise.
Galatians 3:29
Unfortunately I think that some Christians view this status as license to treat our Father like a genie; their to just grant whatever we want whenever we want. They see accumulation in this life as the goal instead of our adoption and eternal life as the goal; as the gift.
It’s a focus on self and this world instead of on God and the next.
And when we truly understand our place, our privileged place as God’s heirs – and that the new creation is already ours, that should change our motivation and heart. Not to gain this world, but to serve it. To serve others. To share the faith so that others may also receive that same gift commit that same inheritance of eternal life. So that others may become our eternal brothers and sisters and all of us together can cry, “Abba! Father!”
Being full heirs through faith in Jesus means recognizing the fact that God’s full inheritance is already ours. We have nothing to strive for. Nothing to fear. Nothing to worry about. We have it all. Now.
What an awesome blessing! What an awesome privilege! What an awesome status!
“Thank you, Abba, Father, for freeing us from the slavery of sin and making us Your full heirs and inheritors of freedom and everlasting life through faith in Jesus. Grant us wisdom and joy to share this Gift in word and deed. In Jesus’ name, amen!”
Scriptures
- Galatians 3:23-4:7
We’re at JOSHUA 1:10ff today.
Let’s go!
No “BELONG” special ministry class for the month of July, 2025.
