...from this weekend's teaching on the parable of the generous vineyard owner (Mt. 20:1-16)?
Did God teach you anything new?
Remind you of something you alreday knew?
Raise questions?
Give answers?
Something else?
7 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I walked away with the idea that if we pursue Jesus' way of living, we don't have to compete with each other and that we can celebrate the victories and blessings of others.
Very counterintuitive to my American way of doing things.
Great message this week! It's true that we dress up jealousy by saying things such as "I'm just a really competitive person." The illustration with the 3 volunteers was very effective. Nice job.
It definately hit close to home. I try not to be jealous, but it's really hard to not measure your self by the things you have, since that is usually the way you are measured by the rest of the world. It seems to be even harder when you stay home, people don't have your job to judge you by, so all that's left is what you take out into the world with you.
It hit me that perspective was determined by which direction I looked. If I looked up at those above me, I could become jealous. If I looked at those below me, I could become appreciative.
The message reminded me I still have a long way to go in the journey to be more like Jesus.
I teach the kids regularly that they really don't want things to be "fair", but pointing out where we would be if, overnight, the entire world became "fair" really hit home to just how fortunate I am to have my life. I will remember that the next time I have pangs of jealousy because I don't have the extra money saved yet to spend on something I want.
I have always read this parable as a teaching on 'deathbed confessions'.. i.e. that a person who accepted Christ late in life received the same reward as the one who had served him for their entire life. I had never interpreted it as a teaching on envy in general.
We like to think of our weekend messages as conversations- with a couple of limitations: 1. We've only got 20-30 minutes together. 2. One person does most of the talking while 1000 people listen.
This blog is a spot where we can stretch both those limits. So stop in regularly and contribute your insights and questions.
7 comments:
I walked away with the idea that if we pursue Jesus' way of living, we don't have to compete with each other and that we can celebrate the victories and blessings of others.
Very counterintuitive to my American way of doing things.
Great message this week! It's true that we dress up jealousy by saying things such as "I'm just a really competitive person." The illustration with the 3 volunteers was very effective. Nice job.
It definately hit close to home. I try not to be jealous, but it's really hard to not measure your self by the things you have, since that is usually the way you are measured by the rest of the world. It seems to be even harder when you stay home, people don't have your job to judge you by, so all that's left is what you take out into the world with you.
It hit me that perspective was determined by which direction I looked. If I looked up at those above me, I could become jealous. If I looked at those below me, I could become appreciative.
The message reminded me I still have a long way to go in the journey to be more like Jesus.
I teach the kids regularly that they really don't want things to be "fair", but pointing out where we would be if, overnight, the entire world became "fair" really hit home to just how fortunate I am to have my life. I will remember that the next time I have pangs of jealousy because I don't have the extra money saved yet to spend on something I want.
After this week's message I thought, "Yeah, that's true for me. I can be envious and jealous. I'll work on that."
2 days later, I see the same tendencies manifesting in me again.
Looks like I needed to hear that from God more than I thought.
Thanks for being faithful to share it Missy!
I have always read this parable as a teaching on 'deathbed confessions'.. i.e. that a person who accepted Christ late in life received the same reward as the one who had served him for their entire life. I had never interpreted it as a teaching on envy in general.
Post a Comment