Wierd Theology

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2011-09-15T18:32:00.001-07:00

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Transitions

2011-09-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

" The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. "-Colossians 1:15-20 NIV

A historic day occured at the Sacramento Metro church of Christ on August 31, 2011. The Ministry Staff decided that it was best to step out of the pulpit and into secular life. One is dealing with a rare, but serious autoimmune disesease and needed it rest as he recovers. It is the Spirit's calling to have these valliant people of God step back and allow God to move in this transitional period. I am grateful for the Los Angeles church of Christ for their willingness to offer support as our congregation figures out wht to do next.

Transition happened before in terms of leadership. However, unlike in the past, this congregation is willing to make things happen, rather than wait for things to happen. As disciples of jesus, while the Sacramento Church is in transition, we must remember that the Lord Jesus is the Head of His Church regardelss of the leadership that will be installed. Furthermore, this congregation must step in and shephered His people and continue to obey the Great Commission. With a lot of new faces coming to the congreagation (and a lot more old faces returning to the fold), giving up is not an option.

I pray that God continue to bless the Sacramento Metro church of Christ as a new era begins.

Charles Linzie

Reflectioms from the Southwest Singles Conference.

2011-08-01T18:56:00.000-07:00

From July 28-31, the Los Angeles church of Christ hosted the annual Southwest Singles Conference in Rancho Mirage, CA. The Singles Ministry of the Sacramento Metro church of Christ took it upon themselves through the Spirit's leading to go and learn from this conference to not only share within ourselves the changes we need to make, but to feed of different perspectives within our two congregations.

I arrived from Sacramento to the venue just as the starlight devotional began. People as far away as Toronto shared their visions and dreams about what they see happening within the Lord's Church. The official kickoff was a song devotional based on the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134), hence the theme "Elevate". Later, we went into breakout sections, and I attended a Christian evidences class entitled "Bones, Boxes, and Copper Coins". The speakers not only gave me a new insight on the Bible and the early church, especially the lives of women, but reminded the attendees that the best evidences of Jesus and His Church is found in Scripture.

Later, I attended a cl;ass entitled "Robots, Rambo, and Relationships", which exposed my biggest weakness of relating to the Body of Christ and learned some practicals on how to really build them (One start-be myself). After eating one of several meals from the women in the church, (which not only saved me a ton of money on meals, but blew my mind away), I heard the first keynote speech from AT Arneson of the Chicago church of Christ as he shared candidly about being a cancer survivor and losing his mother to cancer (she knew the Lord when she passed on).

The next two breakout sessions, the first one on worship, is simply about glorifying God and lifting Him up, not about music, lifting holy hands, or even praise. The last, and most challenging was an evangelism class entitled "Jesus and Chewbacca". The Star Wars analogy exposed how unrelatable I am on the mission field and how ineffective I am on winning the lost. Just as within the church, I must be myself to build stronger relationships. The Sunday Sermon by AT Arneson using Acts 27 about spiritual storms as well as the HOPE worldwide offering for the churches in the Ivory Coast and Honduras concluded the conference.

As I traveled home, I knew that the Spirit moved through each of the attendees. Now, it is time to make changes to glorify God. Look for my insights on the breakout classes on my blog in the coming week. To God be the glory!

Charles Linzie

Known by God

2011-07-18T15:50:00.000-07:00

Note: This is a sermon delivered by Josh Petersen of the Los Angeles church of Christ to the Sacramento Church on July 17, 2011.

Matthew 7:21-23
-Not all who acknowlwedges Jesus as Lord will enter Heaven.
-Are you a friend of God or see Him as a means to an end?
-Are you performing a religious duty or being real with God?
(Do you really want to tell jokes to Jesus or just see Him as someone distant?)

Our relationship with God is more than going to His church!

John 14:5-11
-Do you really know Christ?
-Do you pray the kind of prayers that only God can answer (even if it's "no")?
-In prayer, be a pioneer, not a settler!

Believe much=expect much!
Great faith=great prayer; little faith, litte prayer.

Matthew 7:24-27
-Build your relationship with God to code (His Word).
-Putting the Word into practice is a sign of a true relationship with Christ.
-Be a friend to God! He can be trusted!

Comment: This is a culmination of an evangelistic campaign in the Sacramento-area colleges led by the LA Church. I appreciate their zeal and willingness to partner up withn us. In the meantime, it is time for all of who claim to know Christ to build a more intimate relationship with Him. It is the difference of spensing eternity with God or apart from Him. -CL

Food that fufills!

2011-07-14T17:08:00.000-07:00

Note: This is a Bible Talk held during an evangelistic campaign at California State University, Sacramento on July 14, 2011.

Ice Breaker: What food to you frequently buy at a grocery store?

John 6:25-27
-Do you find stuff that will make you hungry or be full?
-What are you looking for in college? Success? Friendship?

John 10:10
-Jesus wants us to have life to the full?

Do you want a full life?

Comment: I would like to thank the Los Angeles church of Christ for assisting in this thought provoking discussion. As disciples of Jesus, we ought to remember that He fulfills us, not just doing waht satisfies us. -CL

Through Hope, They Will Know

2011-04-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

Note: This is the Sunday Sermon at the Sacramento Christian Conference on March 27, 2011. It was delivered by Wes Wright of the Greater Reno church of Christ. I Samuel 30:4-6, Romans 8:18 -Hope has no value until you lost all hope. I Samuel 22:6, 18-19, Colossians 2:20 -False hope will kill you! -Do you place your hope in structure, accountability, and rules above Scripture? I Samuel 23:1-16 -Through hope, they will know. -Rely on God for every decision you make. Comment: legalistic red tape and hopelessness hinders the Spirit's ability to work through us. As the Lord's church, we must always put our hope in Him.

Through Your Faith, They Will Know

2011-04-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

NOTE: This is the second keynote address of the Sacramento Christian Conference from Don Splitt delivered on March 26, 2011. Hebrews 11:1-6 -Faith is the human response to God's faithfulness. -Satan atttacks our faith through circumstanses and emotions. vv.35 -Hard situations out to refine our faith. Hebrews 10:32-39 -Have you shrunk back on your faith? -(Does it affect your evangelism?) Hebrews 11:7-21 -Don't complain about God's will! Hebrews 12:1-5 -Be faithful to the end! -True faith in Christ is remaining faithful to Him to the end. Luke 16:19-27 (Lazarus and the Rich Man) -Do you regret not sharing the gospel to more people? -Example from Schindler's List Comment: This is a sobering message about the subject where I am weak: evangelism. Too often, I use circumstances as an excuse not to share the gospel. I realize is that my weakness in social intereaction due to how I was mistreated in the past hinders my desire to win people to Christ. That is something I need to change now!

Through Your Love, They Will Know

2011-04-01T16:18:00.000-07:00

NOTE: This is the first keynote address at the Sacramento Christian Conference, delivered on March 25, 2011, from Drew Nitchoff. John 13:34-35 -Jesus command that His disciples love one another. John 15:12-13 -You must sacrafice yourself for others -This is the difference between a nominal believer and a true disciple of Jesus. I John 2:6 -You must walk as Jesus did in love. John 13:1 -The full extent of Christ's love-to the end! -The Lord's church is not some social club! I Corinthians 13:1-3 -Love is not optional! (see I John 1:5-10) Matthew 5:14-16 -Let your light shine; it will lead others to Christ. Comment: The way God shown His love for us through the sacrifice of His Son is the exact same way we ought to show the love of Christ through our sacrifices for one another.

Super Faith Sunday

2011-02-06T19:39:00.000-08:00

Note: This a sermon from Don Splitt to the Sacramento Church on February 6, 2011.

Hebrews 5:7-10
-Do you Believe that God has a Beautiful plan for you?
-Do you believe, at one time, you can do great things for Him?

Example: The Masculine Journey; Go beyond the wounded warrior to a sage.

Luke 5:1-11
Because you say so, Jesus...be prepared to go into deep water.

Allow God to help you make things happen rather than watch things happen!

Haggai 2:9
The second house will be bigger than the first house.
(Don passes a post card of our facility once belonging to the Winding Way church of Christ upon its erection in 1972).

DREAM AGAIN! BELIEVE AGAIN!

Comment: On the heels of Phase One of our Special Missions Contribution and the subsequent improvements to our facility, I must dream again. Perhaps, the Sacramento Church will be regarded as a "pillar" church in the Central Valley region. -CL

Go Big or Go Home!

2011-02-06T19:25:00.000-08:00

Note: This is a summary of a sermon from Luke Donatello of the Bakersfield church of Christ to the Sacramento Church on January 30, 2011.

Ephesians 1:18
Do you love a big God or do you pray to the "baby Jesus"( aka Will Ferrel in Taladega Nights)?

Romans 1:1
Do not be blind to God's greatness!

Hebrews 11:1, 6
-God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
-Do you have a conviction that God rewards? Does it change with circumstance or environment?

Matthew 9:27-36
-Are you cynical? That makes you blind to God's love!

Matthew 6:6
God sees us even when we don't see Him.
Pray BIG!
Matthew 13:54-58
Lack of faith=lack of miracles.

Luke 11:1, 5-8.
Be disruptive and shameless in prayer.

Luke 18:7-8
Do you ask God in faith?

GO ALL IN! STOP BEING LAZY AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS YEAR IS A CAREER YEAR!

Comment: this year, I need to dream big not only for my own faith, but for the future of the Sacramento Church. -CL

Baptized Disciples

2010-10-18T13:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a recording of a sermon from Don Splitt to the Sacramento Church. C lick on the link and go to the sermon heading "Baptized Believers in Jesus".

Baptism is a touchy subject, but since it is tied into the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15-16), it is essential to our conversion into a saving relationship with Christ. I urge you to examine the Scripture to see where are you in your own relationship with God and tell others about how to really come to know Him.

Charles Linzie

As promised..

2010-10-05T15:28:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month, I was in San Diego for the Southwest Christian conference. I noted that I was going to post notes from the lessons. Instead, I am going to give you a link to all of the lessons on this site http://www.southwestchristianconference.com.

In the coming weeks, I will post lessons on the theme, The Core Principles of the Christian Church.

Charles Linzie

Back to school coming soon.

2010-08-06T14:54:00.000-07:00

School is starting up again for Sacramento-Area colleges. For next week, I will post several mini devotionals to get all students hearts prepared for the upcoming school year. Stay tuned...

Charles Linzie

Flex Your Faith!

2010-07-28T14:22:00.000-07:00

Note: This is a sermon delivered by Drew Nitchoff to the Sacramento Church on July 25, 2010.

Hebrews 11:1-3
-NOT seeing is believing!
-trust in God isinstant obedience to His Word.

Matthew 14:22-33
-Jesus cares about our faith.
-Do being tested reveal where your faith is?

II Corinthians 11:23ff
-Don't allow hardships to hinder your faith!

James 1:1-3
-Are you insecure about trials and failure?
-Are you willing to learn from them?

Comment: Dealing with failure and harships are the toughest things for me to grasp in my walk with Christ. The more I strive to please Him, the more I feel that I am failing God due to my physical and mental limitations. I have to constantly refer to the cross of Christ and learn to rely on the Spirit, rather than my own efforts, to effectively serve Him. -CL

Through the Eyes of a Father

2010-06-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

Note: This is a Father's Day sermon preached by Drew Nitchoff to the Sacrmaneto Church on June 20, 2010.

Mark 5:21-24a-"You got to get to Jesus!"
-Do you go to Christ whenever there is a crisis?
vv. 24b-34-Storms will pass in God's timing, not ours!
(Jesus performed a healing before attending to another).
vv.35-43
-Are you critical when bad things happen to you (i.e. a loss of loved one)?
-What is your reaction of seiing a miracle from a desperate situation?
Let us remember the Greatest Father of all for giving us His Son!

Comment: This brief Father's Day lesson dealt with the trials that I go though on a daily basis. We all have to remember that God gets us through tough trials rather than sheild us from them. -CL

Living the Resurrection

2010-04-05T12:16:00.000-07:00

Note: This is the Easter sermon delivered by Don Splitt to the Sacramento Metro church of Christ on April 4, 2010.

John 20:1-9
-Do you truly believe Jesus rose from the dead as He promised?
Acts 2:1ff
-Several examples on how the Apostles changed after the resurrection of Christ.
-It is not good enough to acknowledge His resurrection, but we must live it out!
-It is like being kicked out of the nest; are you flying or waiting to build a better nest (i.e. prepared to live for Christ)?
Acts 4:23-31
-The Apostles prayed differently after the Resurrection.
-Every great deed for God is preceded by great prayer.
-How is your prayer life? Do things change as you pray?

"Praying men stop sinning, but sinning men stop praying." -Leonard Ravenhill, Why Revival Tarries?

I Corinthians 1:18
-The message of the cross is powerful for those raised in a new life with Christ!

Comment: This was not your run -of-the-mill Easter message about Christ's resurrection, but rather to call for us, as His disciples, to live for Him! -CEL

Servant Leadership

2010-01-26T17:56:00.000-08:00

Note: This is from the Sacramento Church's Family Group Leaders meeting on January 24, 2010:

I Timothy 3:1
-As leaders in the Lord's church, we respond to a noble task.
-Is our hearts right in this task? What comes along with it?
Jeremiah 45: 4-5
-We cannot seek greatness for ourselves!
Mark 10:41-45
-True greatness requires giving ourselves to others, NOT coaxing others to serve us!

Commnet: Jesus stresses that serving others is a sign of greatness in His Kingdom. If we do not serve others, we cannot be great in God's eyes. As leaders, we are called to give a lot of ourselves to make others around us great as well. -CL.

Reflections of 2009.

2010-01-11T15:28:00.000-08:00

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." -Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV

2009 for me was a time of transition and the move of the Holy Spirit in my life. God not only showed me that I had to take initiative in my own life, but grow in my own walk with Him. It revolves around the call for me to be a leader and a servant and be grateful for the opportunities which appeared in my midst.

First, while I attended Sacramento City College, I was involved in the Honors service club (which coincided with my induction into Phi Theta Kappa on November 6, 2008). There were a lot of vacancies in officer positions due to several people leaving the institution. Since I was already involved with the Honors Program at SCC, I seized the opportunity to be in leadership. However, the only slot open was the Vice President of Fellowship, which involves being an ambassador for the Honors programs. Being that social interaction is difficult for me, I reluctantly took this opportunity. Basically, all it did was put a face to what I did anyway: get involved with this campus. Upon receiving an AS in Graphic Communication this summer, the Lord used this to help me see that I am valuable.

Secondly, I was privileged to attend a Campus Ministry conference sponsored by the Los Angeles church of Christ. I felt the least worthy to attend a huge faith-building event because I am not a "traditional" student (because I turned 30 a month earlier). However, in listening to the speakers, I caught vision on how to grow in my own faith in Christ and how to build the campus Ministry for the Sacramento Church. Among the many people I encountered was Don Splitt. It turned out that he was hired as the new Campus Minister for the Sacramento Church, which was an answer to my prayer for additional leadership for the church. God has totally blessed Sacramento as more students are willing to be trained for ministry.

Lastly, I saw that I still had a lot to learn about taking things higher. I entered CSUS in Fall 2009 and participated in what I thought was a successful evangelistic campaign. However, a tragedy on campus rattled me and began to lose faith. In addition, the 32% rise in tuition and a so-so academic performance led me to question whether I should stay at Sac State or go elsewhere. While I'm still committed to win this campus for Christ, I am praying that God can help me overcome any of my doubts.

This basically sums up what i went through in 2009. I pray that the Spirit moves in 2010.

Evening of Worship

2009-11-25T16:10:00.000-08:00

This is a presentation from Pat Humphreys, the Worship Team leader for the Sacramento Metro church of Christ; it was delivered on November 21, 2009:

Revelation 4:1ff
-Do you see how intense worshipping God is?
-Worship shows our loyalty to Him.
-We must surrender our souls to Him with a humble and contrite heart.
James 4:6-10
-You are responsible for your humility before God.
Habakkuk 3:10
-Do you stand in awe of God's deeds?
Romans 12:1
-Worship is how Christians live!
-True worship demands complete engagement to God.
I Peter 2:9-10
-Are you, as a Christian, living up to your new description?
Acts 17:24-25
-You must worship God to please Him.
James 4:8
-Draw near to God to develop a Christlike character.
Romans 12:2
-You must renew your minds in worship
-Remember, God's people are His treasured possessions.
Colossians 3;16
-Sing songs, hymns, and spiritual songs.
I Timothy 2:1
-Prayer is important to remain engaged with God.
I Corinthians 4:8-13
You can either help or hurt the body of Christ by proper worship.

Comment: If each of us worships God in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23-24), growth occurs. The Worship team is not formed to entertain, but to edify the saints. May God bless this new ministry! -CL

Love your Neighbor

2009-11-06T15:33:00.000-08:00

"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ,Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. " -James 2:8-10

The second part of the Great Commandment is to love our neighbors. Over the past month in the Sacramento Church, we as a congregation went through a month of repentance. As a fellowship, we have sinned greatly in not loving our neighbors, not only nonbelievers, but within the Body of Christ.

One concept that I personally struggle with is giving my heart to people. Often using my past hurts and the mistakes I made affecting others around me as an excuse, I come off a man who just doesn't want to be around humanity. I often have to fight to allow the Spirit to work with me as i interact with people. Yet, sometimes my ego and my fears conquer me. I even go as far as judging people without really getting to know them based on age, status, and even intellect.

James the Elder in the above passage of Scripture warns us that if we do not love, we are lawbreakers. I personally do not want to continue to commit this sin; I want to move forward and learn how to love as Christ loved me. -CL

Filling the Void.

2009-10-02T14:19:00.000-07:00

Note: This is from a Bible Talk at California State University, Sacramento on October 2, 2009:

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
-What would happens if you were given all the pleasures of the world?
-How would you feel ten years from now?

Mark 8:34-38
-What is the one thing you must give up to serve God?
-What does it really cost to gain everything from the world?

The void can only be filled by Jesus Christ, not materials!

Comment: Thank you ,John and Arlene Markowski of the Los Angeles church of Christ , for leading this thought-provoking discussion. These passages of Scripture is a reminder that, while God blesses us with our talents and gifts, the ultimate fulfillment comes from Him alone.

The Battle is God's, Not Ours!

2009-09-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

Note: This is a sermon delivered to the Sacramento Church on September 13, 2009 by Don Splitt:

II Chronicles 20:1-30
-Why is the aspects of singing, praying, and worship important?
-Do you realize that you are in a spiritual battle on a daily basis?
-Are you alarmed by the sin (especially yours)?
-Do you inquire to the Lord (pray)? Fast? Sing?
-Do you seek help from Him?
James 1:1-3
-Do you consider trials a joy?
Matthew 18:15-17
-Do you confront sin or respond to hurt feelings or pet peeves?
-Are you honest in communication?
II Chronicles 20:12, 15-16
-Are you humble enough to allow God to help you?
-Are you willing to step up?
-What are you doing with your faith in Christ?
-Are you in the game or the sidelines?
Philippians 1:6
-Are you participating in the work of God?
-Are you really prepared and focused during worship?
II Chronicles 20:18-21
-Will you stand firm?
Zephaniah 3:17
-God rejoices over singing
Psalm 136:1ff.
-Why do we sing?
-Does it move you to draw near to God?
(Don used the example of singing over his two children, Alicia and Alek and its impact on their lives.)
II Chronicles 20:29-30
-The importance of fasting.
Acts 2;42-47
-God works if you obey Him.

Comment: Worship and drawing near to God is crucial for survival of this spiritual battle. The one thing I took from it is not allowing defeats and the lack of other people's responses to God to hinder my own walk with Him. I also have to realize that worship is not to be taken lightly and I have to come to church with respect and reverence for God. I pray that you read and remember this lesson to allow God to work in your life. -CL

The Enduring Kingdom

2009-08-28T13:40:00.000-07:00

Note: This is a sermon from the Sunday Worship service at the conclusion of the ICMC on August 9, 2009; it was delivered by Tommy Thang, Richard Buckner, and Bruce Williams. These men minister to the Los Angeles church of Christ and serve the Campus Ministries at UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, and Cal State Fullerton, respectively.

I Chronicles 17:16-19
-Gratitude is an enduring attitude.
-Are you grateful?`
-What qualities in you you can help share the message of hope in Christ?
vv 20-22
-Realize as a believer that God is with you and you have to expect victory.
I Samuel 17:34-37
-Do you have the integrity to dig deep in my walk with God?
vv.23-24
-Expect victory!
Psalm 5:3
-If you want to be part of God's enduring Kingdom, I ought to expect more from your ministry(and your fellowship).
Exodus 33:17-18
-Do I want to see god's glory on your institution (or area)?
-Matthew 7:7-11
-Do you settle when God doesn't answer prayer right away? [Note: God always answers prayer, but in His timing, not ours.]

Practicals:
-Save more souls! Set a goal [Lord willing, the SMCC Campus Ministry will double from 12 to 25].
-Get trained in the Word!

Comment: What a way to end the ICMC! Withe the 2009-2010 school year underway, it now time for us, as the Body of Christ, to proclaim the gospel. The Campus Ministry is off to a good evangelistic start with a baptism and we will allow the Spirit to work with us to seek and save the lost.

It's a Small World After All!

2009-08-17T13:37:00.000-07:00

Note: This is the third keynote address delivered at the ICMC on August 7, 2009 by Anthony Galang. Anthony and his wife, Saun, serve the Los Angeles church of Christ and oversee the Campus Ministry at UCLA. They also were anchors in the LA Church's news program, Kingdom News Network (now Disciples Today).

Genesis 2:18
-We are designed by God to be connected.
-Who are three people you are connected to?
-If we stay connected, we'll be protected.
Matthew 6:33
-Seek first His Kingdom
Hebrews 3:12-13
-Call others to take their faith higher!
Hebrews 10:24-25
-Do not forsake meeting together in worship.
-We are ultimately responsible for staying connected.
Exodus 17:8ff
-lift each others arms up!
Ephesians 6:1ff
Global connections takes effort.

Comment: This lesson took place before everyone went to Disneyland that afternoon (Hence the title "It's a Small World"). However, the point to this that, as the body of Christ,we must stay connected in order to grow in our walk with Him. -CEL

The World's Defiance

2009-08-13T14:26:00.000-07:00

Note: This is the second keynote address from the ICMC delivered on August 7. 2009 by John Markowski. John and his wife, Arlene, serve the Los Angeles church of Christ and oversee the Campus Ministries of USC and California State University, Los Angeles.

Revelation 12:15
-Satan is out to attack us!
Psalm 58:3-5
-How do you view Satan-a sly, mischievous character in a red suit and a pitchfork or as a dangerous serpent?
Genesis 3:1ff (the Fall of Man)
-Satan is manipulative and a liar (see also John 8:44).
II Corinthians 11:3
-Have you been led astray by Satan's lies?
-Does worldliness creep into your life (James 4:4)?
-Do you want what the world wants (I Samuel 8:1-8)?
-Are you sucked into the worldliness of the "Christian" world (i.e., if Christianity what you do or being in Christ who you are)? (see Acts 11:26 and I John 2:6).
What about us?
-On average, young people spend 3518 hours on electronic media (TV, Internet, etc)?
-Are you willing to face your fears?
James 4:7, I Peter 5:9-Resist Satan and he will flee!
Numbers 23:9
-Are you, as a Christian, set apart (holy)?

Questions:
-Are you willing to change your view of Satan?
-What specific area in your life makes you vulnerable to Satan's attacks?
-What decisions you must make to remove evil (sin) out of your life?

Comment: After hearing John's address, I had to make the decision to repent of any bitterness and resentment I have in my life and to be part of the solution rather than complain about the problems I have with people. This flaw in my character stemmed from the ordeal and constant teasing from childhood, especially after I was burned in a fire. Now in my thirties, it is now time to stop bitterness and resentment from leading me to Satan's path of destruction. -CEL.

The Battle Lines Are Drawn!

2009-08-11T15:34:00.000-07:00

Note: This is the first keynote address of the International Campus Ministry Conference held in Irvine, CA delivered by Mike Taliaferro on August 6, 2009. Mike is the Evangelist of the Mission Point Christian Church in San Antonio, TX and was a missionary in Brazil and South Africa.

I Samuel 17:1-7
-What battle lines have been drawn?
-Realized that there are at least 600 cities with 600,000+ inhabitants, many of whom haven't heard the gospel.
-Are you going to the battle? Are you dreaming big to reach people in these cities, towns, and colleges in these areas? (The aim is to target these large cities and colleges to facilitate church plantings.)
-Have a vision for the Campus Ministry and your church!
-I Timothy 4:11-12
-Do not let youth be an excuse to do God's work!
I Timothy 6:17-18
-To much is given, there is great responsibility.
-Do not get sucked into materialism and worldliness! Seize the opportunity to help spread Christ's message of redemption!
-Remember, evangelism is a privilege, not a duty. As followers of Christ, we are announcers (angels) of Christ.
-Are you proud to be Christ's ambassador? Would you like this opportunity.
-Continue to seek advice and training from other believers (Proverbs 15:22).
Hebrews 4:16
-Remember the God's grace and remain faithful to the end.

Comment: This was a starting point for me to have a vision to spread the gospel. I also realize that I have to take this direction to help build the Sacramento Church. There is a lot of potential for growth in the Campus Ministry and I must do my part to bring others to Christ. -C.E.L.

Spur One Another On

2009-07-20T14:39:00.000-07:00

Note: This is from a sermon I heard at the Greater Reno church of Christ on July 19, 2009:

Hebrews 10:19-31
-We must continue to spur one another on.
vv.23-25
-In order to draw near to God, we must "clean out our stalls"(using the analogy of a horse stable). In other words, we must open up about our sins and repent.
Hebrews 1:3-6
-Do We have a worldly view of Jesus? Do we view Him as a "Mister Rogers" type or someone who He expects to hold to His teachings (John 8:31-32)
Hebrews 4:15-26
-Jesus was tempted in every way during His earthly ministry, so we aren't immune to sin either.
-What sins are holding you powerless?
Ephesians 2:10
-We were created to be spurned for good works.
-God has to break us (allow the Spirit to control us) in order for Him to lead us (using the analogy of horse training).
Hebrews 10:26-31
-Realize the consequences of deliberate and unrepentant sin.
-We all must seek help and allow God to work through us.

Comment: I would like top thank the Greater Reno Church for putting together a worthwhile and thought provoking service. In the meantime, if I do not get open, sin will mount up and it will cause me to lose my faith.

You Can't; God can; We Will!

2009-07-06T16:20:00.000-07:00

Note: This is a sermon delivered by Don Splitt on July 5, 2009. Don is a potential canidate for a ministry position in the Sacramento Church.

Judges 6:1-6
-Do you tend to drift away from God upon Him giving you a great victory?
-When you ask for God's help, do you cry out to Him?
vv.7-21
-Do you really believe that Go is with you regardless of dire circumstances?
-Do you realize circumstances worsen when you are not close to God?
-Do you use your weaknessws as an excuse to not do God's will or will you allow Him to work with the strength you have?
Bottom Line: Quit waiting for the right circumstances to be great!
Judges 7:1ff
-God gives us challenges to show us that He is the reeason for our victory.

Luke 24:49
-Remember the power of the Holy Spirit in you life.

John 12:23-26
Will you continue to give up your life to produce friut?

I Corinthians 3:5-9
Remember, we are fellow workers with God; everyone must do our part in spreading the Gospel.

Comment: I would like to thank Don and Jennifer Splitt for spending Independence Day Weekend with the Sacramento Church and especially the Campus and Singles Ministries. This lesson is a reminder that we must remain close to God in order to grow and draw people to Him. If it is His will for the Splitts to join our staff, pray that God can use them powerfully to help bring hope in the Sacramento Region through Christ Jesus.

A New Day is Dawning

2009-06-15T17:10:00.000-07:00

Note: This is from a sermon delivered by Drew Nitchoff to the Sacramento Church on June 14, 2009:

I. The Call to Follow Jesus
-Mark 1:16-20-Jesus call us to follow Him (relationship is we are His students [disciples]).
-Hebrews 12:12-We must fix our eyes on Him.
-Luke 9:18-27-Do we really deny ourselves and carry the cross as He expects us to do?
-Matthew 16:21-28-Revival cannot happen unless we're willing to follow Jesus. (Question: Do you follow Jesus?)

II. The Call to Radical Change
-Matthew 6:24-34-Which Master do you love? Hate?
-What do you run after (vv.32)? Happiness? Comfort? Status? Material gain?
-Do you continue to seek the Kingdom (vv. 33-34)?
-James 4:1-4- Worldliness makes us enemies of God!
-James 1:22-2:11-Do you (as believers) have genuine faith in Christ?
-Matthew 18:1-4; It takes humility, faith and action for radical change.
-Isaiah 58:8- We all need revival in our lives.

Comment: This is tough to swallow, but it is Sculptural . In order for me to change, I must make radical decisions based on the Word.

Training is the key

2009-05-28T14:57:00.000-07:00

"You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine." -Titus 2:1 NIV

The Pastoral Letters in the New Testament gives us practiclas on how to be an effective leader in the Lord's church. Titus, a protege of the Apostle Paul and a partner in the gospel, was instructed how tro train and raise up new leaders. The foundation of such training is teaching the correct doctrine, which is to say to not distort the Truth about Christ.

In verses 2 through 11, Paul instructs Titus to teach believers about specific areas in their character. Verses 3 through 5 are especially eye-opening, because Titus is instructed to not only work with the womwn of the church, but in teurn train them to teach other women about specific needs of the home (specifically, how these women can be better wives and mothers). In the past it is interpreted to men that the men in the church lead the women lead the women. However, if you look closely, this passage has nothing to do with leadership, but training and meeting specific needs. While each individual Christian has different area of their character to deal with, the Point to Paul's instruction to titus is to train other believers and facilitate spirtual growth.

Training is the key to growth. It all starts with proper teaching of the Word and our knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Glory Days

2009-05-08T16:56:00.000-07:00

Note: this is an outline of a sermon delivered by Don Split of the San Diego church of Christ to the Sacramento Church on May 3, 2009:

Nehemiah 4: 1-5
-Is the church where you want it to be?
-Are your glory days ahead of you or behind you?
-Are you weeping or rejoicing?

There is NO deadness in God; it is time to build a new wall! It is time to thrive and not merely exist!

John 12:23-34
-Do you want to be one seed or many?
-Are you "sold out" for God?

II Peter 1:5-11
-Progress, NOT perfection! (it is all about spiritual growth).
-Examples: digging deeper in the Word, intimate prayer, sharing the gospel with new people, etc.
-Time to move on from the hurts of the past and make progress!
II Corinthians 4:16
-Focus on the unseen.
-Believe God has a lot in store for you and His church.

Personal thoughts: In the wake of the continual recovery from the hurts of the past, we as believers need to move forward. It is not only for the sake of our own salvation, but to touch people's lives through Jesus Christ. It all starts from reading the Scriptures daily, prayer, and devotion to one another (Acts 2:42-47, Hebrews 10:23-25). Growth starts NOW!

Hearing what you need to hear (not what you want to hear).

2009-04-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

This is an outline of a lesson I gave on March 27, 2009 to the Sacramento church's Campus Ministry:

1. 2 Timothy 4:1-5
-Many will rather hear a lie to make themselves feel good than the truth to make them feel uneasy (and eventually change for the better).

2. Jeremiah 27-28
-God warns His people about trouble ahead (and assures them that He will deliver them).
-There are dire consequences for lying to people in His Name. A distorted report on His truth will actually cause more harm in the long run.

3. John 8:31-32
-The truth will set us free for those who believe it. It may be hard at first, but it will draw us closer to God (and even save our soul).

Simply put it: listen to the truth!

Excuse Making

2009-03-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

This is an outline from a sermon I preached to the Campus Ministry of the Sacramento Church on March 20, 2009:

I. Jeremiah 20:7-18, Ezekiel 33: 1ff
-Do not allow the lack of (positive) response from others be an excuse to challenge poeple to
obey God. Ultimately, if you fail to point out sin, it will be your responsibility as well as the
offenders.
II. Judges 6:1ff (Gideon)
-Do not allow status to be an excuse for not allowing God to work powerfully through you.
-Just as Gideon was called by God to deliver the Isrealites from Midian despite his low staus,
all of us are called to serve Him regardless of ou status (whether high or low).
III. John 5:1-8
-Do not make the excuse of circumstance to disobey God.
-The man at Bethesda was told by Jesus to simply get up!
-Jesus told all of us to get up and follow Him, but why allow ailments and tough
circumstances to prevent us from answering His call?
IV. Anectdotes
- My personal backgound and negative attitude (especially after being burned in a fire)
- Learned how to turn negativity to service to the Lord's Church (i.e. this blog).
Challenge: There is no excuse for all of us as believers to ignore the will of God.

Righteousness by Service

2009-02-27T16:30:00.000-08:00

"This is what the LORD says: 'Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.' " -Isaiah 56:1-2 NIV

What does it mean to do what is right? Is it simply an act of obedience? The above passage tells us that righteousness comes from doing what is right in God's eyes.

This past weekend, some gentlemen from the Greater Philadelphia church of Christ visited us. They were itinerant preachers of sort, simply going around the country strengthening churches and doing community service projects. Over dinner at the Sacramento Church, they shared about how they encountered a group of men recovering from substance abuse answered the call to service. Those men's task were to serve a women's shelter and to help the poor. That group and the trio from Philadelphia all understood that the call to service is an act of righteousness. They also realized that only by the saving grace of Jesus Christ that they are able to perform such vital service.

Earlier, before the Philadelphia Trio arrived, a group of people from the Sacramento Church performed similar projects in downtown Sacramento by serving the homeless and cleaning up our building. After meeting them, both groups were inspired to do more top serve our communities and to continuously spread the gospel.

(For more info about this group, log onto http://www.immanuelbymile.com to see their blog of this journey).

Acts of service is an act of righteousness. Serve someone today so you can continue to share the love of Christ and draw people to Him.

Faith of a mustard seed in spite of what people see

2009-02-09T14:29:00.000-08:00

"[Jesus] replied, 'Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there" and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'"- Matthew 17:20 NIV

Do you lack faith? I certainly fall under this trap, especially when it comes to doing my part to advance the gospel. However, in the last few weeks, I discovered that my lack of faith is due to the lack of trust in my Savior, Jesus Christ.

At a recent devotional, I shared my difficulty moving around in the fellowship. After a decade of being in a saving relationship with Christ, I still find it difficult to take initiative with others in my congregation. Even while serving as an usher, I blew a golden opportunity to share with a seeker who came to my church for the first time. I was so afraid o pouring my heart out and answering awkward theological questions that i was stand offish. ( I pray thbat this lady can come back and visit the church again).

The real issue is that I have difficult time believing thta God can and will use me to bring others to Him. In case you do not know, I suffered severe burns all over my body twenty years ago, and I was teased and often asked annoying questions about my injuries. It has gotten to a p[ont that it would be best for me to shy away. However, if God can send His Son to the cross to die for me, and raise Him from the dead, why should I lack the faith that I can turn a personal tragedy into an evangelistic opportunity? Should I care if the seeker take me seriously as His messenger?

The point to this anecdote is that If a small amount of faith can move mountains, people who believe in Christ in spite of personal tragedies and deformities (such as myself) should have faith that someone will accept the saving grace of Christ fthrough his or her testomony.

Back to business

2009-01-26T13:51:00.000-08:00

For the few who actually read my blog:

The time gap between post is wide due to preparations for Spring Semester at Sacramento City College. I will attempt to recap a recent sermon I heard at my home congregation, the Sacramento Metro Church of Christ.

It opened up with what went right and what went wrong. I came to the conclusion that, despite the positives, legalism and people-focused expectations outweighed that positives of people growing in their faith in Christ.

I will post my full perspective of the sermon at a later time, but I want teach of the readers to meditate on Acts 2:42-47 to get a glimpse of what fellowship and life in Christ should be.

(If you are interested, the sermon is posted on http://www.sacmetrococ.org under the title "Committed Christians.")

The Recap of Last Week's Retreat

2008-12-01T17:25:00.000-08:00

As Promised, here is an excerpt of the lesson learned from the retreat at Zephyr Point. For the sake of time, I am writing it in outline format:

Discipleship and being close to God- Jeremiah 24:14-15
-The choice is mine to serve God.
-It comes from a Christlike heart
Psalm 18:30-35-God will make me great.

Evangelism
Philemon 1:6-In what ways am I sharing my faith in Christ?
Matthew 9:35-Do I have compassion for the lost?

Discipling (relationships within the Lord's church).
Proverbs 12:1-Not accepting correction=stupidity!
Hebrews 10:23-25-Spurring others on
Proverbs 19:20-listening to advice leads to wisdom (see also Proverbs 15:2)
Genesis 4:9-10-Am I my brother's (or sister's) keeper?

Afterward, I came to a conclusion that, without being close to God, the latter two will not be as effective. That is a lot I need to think about even a week later.

Back from haitus

2008-11-24T16:12:00.001-08:00

To those who came by my blog lately, it has been inactive due to several projects for school and maintaining my other Web site (http://www.saccampusoutreach.org), so I apologize for any inconvenience.

However, later this week, I will share about my church's retreat held this past weekend (Nov. 21-23) in Zephyr Point, Nevada. It was definitely a time to build my faith and build memories. The highlight was a class on building my faith, which involves growing close to God, evangelism, and discipling and fellowship.

Stay tuned...

Without Restraint

2008-09-27T12:10:00.000-07:00

"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." -Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 NIV

The above passage was used in a Bible study conducted at UC Davis on Thursday. As my group gathered around, we were asked, "If we had no restrauint, what would we do?" I jokingly replied that I would run up and down the street in traffic and act foolish.

The point of this discussion and what the Scripture refered to was that everything is meaningless apart from God. After all we achieve and the crazy, zany things we do in life, the only thing that matters is that we have a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.

Be on Guard!

2008-09-13T13:56:00.000-07:00

"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." - Luke 12:35-40 NIV

The above passage is a mouthful, but it is thought provoking. Jesus tells His followers to be on guard and be watchful at all times. After all, God expects us to do His work at all times because we never know when He will return.

Recently, at Sacramento City College, I along with other students passed out surveys to generate possible topics for Bible studies. An overwhelming amount of students responded. However, when I added them to an e-mail list, several addresses bounced back! Rather than get discouraged, I had to continue to maintain this list to let everyone else who expressed interest about upcoming events through our Campus Ministry. If I stop the work for the sake of discouragement, it will displease God.

So, be on guard and continue to do God's work and submit to his will.

Parable of the Sower-Which Seed are You?

2008-08-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

"Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." -Mark 4:1-9 NIV

The Parable of the Sower reveals a lot about how people can respond to the gospel. On a recent visit to Sacramento City College, a group of us from the Sacramento Metro Church of Christ went around the campus while the students prepare for the upcoming school year. For those who were interested, we discussed this very passage. One gentleman was a bit quiet, but another individual was curious about what our group is all about. Once I talked to that person, she seemed eager to know more about this passage.

The seeds of the gospel were planted and will continue to be planted at City College. However, there will always be four different reactions: path (distractions), rock (hindrance), Thorns (slow growth), and soil (deep roots). Who knows how those two individuals responded that day, but I can tell you that they will react in one of those four. The last of the four however indicates the real response that Jesus is looking for for those who claim to follow Him.

So, if you read the above passage of Scripture, which seed are you? Do you wish to be the fourth seed that flourishes?

Saved for Works

2008-08-13T15:34:00.000-07:00

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 1For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
-Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV

It is a Bible fact that were are saved by grace, that is through the blood of Jesus Christ. many people look at verses eight and nine and somehow downplay verse ten. While our actions alone is insufficent for salvation, our acceptance of Christ through faith, repentance ,and baptism compells us to do good works to serve Him.

On a recent retreat in Valley Springs, CA, I challenged the participants to not forsake meeting together as a body (Heb. 10:24-25). I set a precedent with ephesians 2:8-10. While seemingly unrelated, our good works such as going to church is an expression of grattitude for what Jesus Christe done for us at the cross. In fact, if we claim to follow Jesus, we must do everything possible to serve Him and immitate Him (I John 2:6).

Grace saves us through the power of the cross. We express our gratitude to him by our good works to serve Him and draw people to Him.

Awkward Circumstances

2008-08-04T17:01:00.000-07:00

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." -I Thessalonians 5:16-18

The above passage of Scripture is what I recited on a recent worship service. I was aked to speak and welcolme my congregation, and I wanted to find an appropriate passage to set the tone. However, I was a bit nervous because I am rarely asked to speak at any major function of the church. Due to challenges in my speech, I wanted to make sure I got my point across and make sure that the congregation feel welcolmed.

The above passage also exposed my insecurities. Many commerntend that I did a good job; I felt that I rambled and stuttered. I assumed that since it was a rare occasion for me to speak, they were only cheering me up (FYI, I do not like people to compliment me for the sake of making me feel better, but rather for doing what is right). However, it is through the power of the Holy Spirit that allowed me to even speak that Sunday morning, for which I am grateful.

Whenever you are in a situation that may seem unconfotable, allow God to work through it. While I didn't see my opening speech it as a total success, the Spirit did work in my life.

Welcolme to my new teaching blog!

2008-08-01T16:13:00.000-07:00

Welcolme to Wierd Theology! Do not let the name fool you. In the past, I have sent e-mails to the Sacramento Metro Church of Christ's Campus Ministry on what I have been learning from the Scriptures. Due to a busy schedule over the last few months, they were sporadic. After much prayer, I decided to convert the e-mails into a blog.

This is much more than a teaching tool. In addition, this will be used as a sermon/devotional recap for thiose who are unable to listen to the messages from my congregation. In a way, it can also be an evangelistic tool for those onlookers who seek the truth from God's Word.

My approach to Scripture draws insight from not only what I learn from church, but what i observe in the world arround me, particularly in popular culture. It is an unusual insight about what I learn from my own faith in Christ.

I hope that you can learn and grow from this site and will be encouraged to examine Scripture in moore depth and for seekers to learn abnout having a relationship with Jesus Christ.