January 11th, 2024
by John Kelley
by John Kelley
In the fall of 1992, I made my way onto the campus of Kentucky Christian College (now University) and started my journey toward becoming a youth minister. I was excited to get into my dorm room, get my books purchased, and get my classes started. More than that, though, I was ready to meet other students. For the first time in my life, I was going to be around other young adults who were passionate about Christ and were heading in a similar direction. I got plugged into anything I could. I even scored a role as the male lead in the school’s fall play. Having Christ in common with so many others was something I’d never experienced, and I was beyond excited to take advantage of that.
The only sad part about that paragraph is that I’d been in the Church my whole life and never experienced that kind of connectedness in the Church. Even though we all claimed to believe the same thing, there was an obvious divide somewhere that didn’t match up with what I thought the Church was supposed to be. What I learned was that many people ATTEND church on Sundays, but a rare few ARE the Church when they go about their daily lives.
On my graduation Sunday, the entire group of seniors that were presented before the church (of which I was one) had hangovers from graduation parties the night before. I learned all kinds of terrible behavior from older students throughout the years that I looked up to, but were terrible role models. I desperately needed a place OUTSIDE the church to really find Jesus and get my life right. Am I the only one who finds that odd? The Church should always be the place where we find the most devoted of people.
According to a Gallup poll, only 58% of Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Only 58%? That’s Christians. According to the Pew Research Center, only 45% of Christians claim to read the Bible at least once a week. This is an issue. We hear all the time about infighting and quarrels within the Church. This shouldn’t be all that surprising when our people aren’t even spending time in, or believing in, the Holy Word of God.
As Jesus was with His disciples in what we know as the Last Supper, Jesus prayed a very intense prayer, where He shared just how important God’s Word is.
“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
John 17:14–17.
God’s Word separates us from the world. It even causes the world to hate us. Genuine truth can be a hard pill to swallow for many, especially in today’s world. This actually brings us together. When we are one with the Word, we are one with each other. Later in Jesus’ prayer, he says,
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”
Jn 17:20–23.
Christ’s intention for us is to be one. Unity is the goal, and the means to that is through God’s Word. He has given us the wisdom and insight. He’s shared with us the mysteries of His will.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Ephesians 1:7–10
There is no greater common bond than the bond between true believers of Christ. We know who we are and whose we are. We understand the temporary nature of this world and the eternal nature of God. We live with hope. We live by faith. We walk in God’s grace. Our connection is deeper than a common love for a hobby or sports team. Our connection is through the Holy Spirit at work within each of us, drawing us closer to each other and Christ. The early Church understood this.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42–47.
There were two main focuses in the early Church, the apostle’s teaching and fellowship. These two things can’t be separated. When we are devoted to God’s Word, we become devoted to each other. It’s impossible to go deep into God’s Word and not fall more deeply in love with God’s people. If we want to see unity in the Church, we can’t wing it. We can’t just manufacture it. It has to come from a deep love for each other and a deep love for God’s Word.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! With my lips, I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies, I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Psalm 119:9–16
Let’s flip the script. Let’s change the statistics. Let’s be a people who are devoted to, and daily in God’s Word. Let’s be the Church that Jesus Himself prayed for.
The only sad part about that paragraph is that I’d been in the Church my whole life and never experienced that kind of connectedness in the Church. Even though we all claimed to believe the same thing, there was an obvious divide somewhere that didn’t match up with what I thought the Church was supposed to be. What I learned was that many people ATTEND church on Sundays, but a rare few ARE the Church when they go about their daily lives.
On my graduation Sunday, the entire group of seniors that were presented before the church (of which I was one) had hangovers from graduation parties the night before. I learned all kinds of terrible behavior from older students throughout the years that I looked up to, but were terrible role models. I desperately needed a place OUTSIDE the church to really find Jesus and get my life right. Am I the only one who finds that odd? The Church should always be the place where we find the most devoted of people.
According to a Gallup poll, only 58% of Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Only 58%? That’s Christians. According to the Pew Research Center, only 45% of Christians claim to read the Bible at least once a week. This is an issue. We hear all the time about infighting and quarrels within the Church. This shouldn’t be all that surprising when our people aren’t even spending time in, or believing in, the Holy Word of God.
As Jesus was with His disciples in what we know as the Last Supper, Jesus prayed a very intense prayer, where He shared just how important God’s Word is.
“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
John 17:14–17.
God’s Word separates us from the world. It even causes the world to hate us. Genuine truth can be a hard pill to swallow for many, especially in today’s world. This actually brings us together. When we are one with the Word, we are one with each other. Later in Jesus’ prayer, he says,
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”
Jn 17:20–23.
Christ’s intention for us is to be one. Unity is the goal, and the means to that is through God’s Word. He has given us the wisdom and insight. He’s shared with us the mysteries of His will.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Ephesians 1:7–10
There is no greater common bond than the bond between true believers of Christ. We know who we are and whose we are. We understand the temporary nature of this world and the eternal nature of God. We live with hope. We live by faith. We walk in God’s grace. Our connection is deeper than a common love for a hobby or sports team. Our connection is through the Holy Spirit at work within each of us, drawing us closer to each other and Christ. The early Church understood this.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42–47.
There were two main focuses in the early Church, the apostle’s teaching and fellowship. These two things can’t be separated. When we are devoted to God’s Word, we become devoted to each other. It’s impossible to go deep into God’s Word and not fall more deeply in love with God’s people. If we want to see unity in the Church, we can’t wing it. We can’t just manufacture it. It has to come from a deep love for each other and a deep love for God’s Word.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! With my lips, I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies, I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Psalm 119:9–16
Let’s flip the script. Let’s change the statistics. Let’s be a people who are devoted to, and daily in God’s Word. Let’s be the Church that Jesus Himself prayed for.
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2024
January
What Is Prayer?AdorationConfessionThanksgivingSupplicationScripture Is The Word Of GodGod’s Word Guides UsGod’s Word Convicts UsGod’s Word Connects UsGod’s Word Encourages UsWhat Is Worship?Worship In Our WorkWorship In Our FamilySunday WorshipWorship Even When You Don't Want ToWhat is Fasting All About?Giving God Our Meal TimesEmptied of Ourselves and Filled with ChristFasting Develops FocusFood Is OverratedGod Is NOT In The FireJesus Sneaks OffWe Make Our Own Noise
February
We All Need SpaceGod Is Not Santa ClausWith Great Blessing Comes Great ResponsibilityCan Stewardship Be Scary?Filling the Need When We See ItIt's All His AnywayTime Is NOT On My SideWe Need Each OtherDevoted To The WordBreaking Bread TogetherGroup Conversations With GodFour Hands Are Better Than TwoLet’s Keep It SimpleOnly Take What You NeedSlow DownThe Great PurgeA Simple MessageGod’s Word Is A WeaponDo You Have A Game Plan?What You Remember Most Matters MostStart With the Basics
March
April
Sin Is RealDistraction Leads to Cover-UpWandering In DisobediencePride Comes Before the FallI Do What I HateThe Beauty of RedemptionRedemption Has A PriceWe Need To Claim Our PrizeYou Gotta Have FaithEven When You Look Like a Fool….God Will ProvideTrust the ProcessI Forgive YouGrace Is Free, But It Isn't CheapI Was Wrong, You Were RightThe Mob
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