Hey! I’m back on track…whew! After a summer full of kids getting married and other kids moving…I got out of the habit of updating Wonderwhat. But…here I am now…fit and wheezing, ready to post the previews for Sunday’s teaching at Eastgate.
This Sunday we’re continuing our study in 2 Timothy. We’ll be covering 2 Tim 3:1-13
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:1-13, New King James Version) Also in The Message
Paul uses some harsh words here…(with props to Ford who set the stage for this last week in his message “Harsh Words” ) describing some of the bad motives and attitudes and actions that can sometimes characterize a church.
I’ve said many times before, church is a dangerous place. We are most vulnerable when we gather with a community of those who are supposed to be following the teachings of Christ. We want to belong, we want to have a safe place to be open and honest about ourselves…we want to be able to trust that those who lead us do so with our best in mind. Sadly, that’s not always the case, as Paul makes clear. Often, that’s the basis we use for abandoning church altoghether…I know it was my basis for a while. Yet, Paul doesn’t encourage us to be isolated in the midst of these dangers…rather, we are challenged to be aware and alert about them so we can navigate through them safely.
There are some real hazards we must be aware of when it comes to our involvement in the church. What are some of the things you can glean from what Paul says here…what are the hazards? What is the challenge to us…how do we handle them? What does this mean to us in real life application…how do we use this?
Stuff to think on. See ya’ Sunday!
WONDERWHAT 
I have some friends on my facebook that are not going to church right now, but read my posts and send private messages to me about them. I think It would be awesome if Robby could find a way to allow me to post wanderwhat to my facebook. I have a group of people on there that don’t claim christianity, but are very interested in hearing about my church and Rob’s way of teaching the word. May not be possible, but I thought It’s worth a shot.
He-e-ey…great, we’re back here! Thanx Rob.
Michelle, just post a link to here on your FB page.
It doesn’t seem to matter where I live, there are “those churches” that say everything people want to hear. They always have huge followings. They tickle your ears and make you think you are actually following what the Bible teaches! NOT my Bible. It is easy of course to follow that when it makes you “feel good”. Problem is, most of those “pastors” don’t even use a Bible to prepare. Only memorize what Brother —– or ——— has to say and put it in their own words. It has been said if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. This is the case for what “those churches” teach. Being prosperous does NOT mean in dollars!
I think the challenge to us is to read, study, know and follow what the Word says. Be servants, not name it claim it, etc, etc. We are in this world but called to not be of it and store up our treasures in Heaven. Looking forward to your full take on this tomorrow.