Ministries:
Adult | Teens | Children

Pastor's Pen's:
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

Sermon Series:
Following Jesus
Earthly Cross
His Name Is
Apostles Creed
Dealing with Feelings
Jonah
Get Real
Promised Land Living

Grace Church
257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105

(262) 763-3021

Email:
Pastor Scott Carson

Secretary Patti Hall

PASTOR'S PENS 2005

Grace Church of Burlington August 14, 2005 "Every child comes with a message that God is not yet discouraged of man.”  Rabindranath Tagore This past week our old building was filled with children; laughing, crying, yelling, eating, praying, and singing. VBS is always an exciting time. It takes a lot of work, dedication, preparation, money, praying and sacrifice. During this past week we sought to teach the kids that God brought to us Biblical truth. But Jesus said that children also have valuable messages for us, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Luke 18:17). That’s because Jesus saw something in children that we often in our pseudo-adult sophistication need to be reminded of. While others saw the weakness and the littleness of children, and saw this as something that made them insignificant and not worthy of attention, Jesus saw this as the redeeming value drawing Him to them. Children have much to teach us...about being little, being needy, being dependent, and being teachable.             We are not nearly as strong or as wise as we like to think. We attempt to hide our neediness and our inabilities. We, like children, are weak and needy and God loves to use weak people! Did you know that? Or did you think He was only looking for spiritual giants to do His great work? While God does use our  strengths, He also wants to use our weaknesses for His glory (1 Cor. 1:27). So what can children teach us?             A) Admit your weaknesses. This is so difficult for many adults. Sometimes it’s difficult because we’ve been raised being made to feel incredibly small and even stupid, and we hate that feeling. Sometimes we have an inflated sense of our own importance. But we must stop pretending that we have it all together  and be honest. Don’t put on a front.  Paul knew that he was just a human being, not someone to be idolized. If you want God to use you, you must know who God is and also know who you are. Many Christians forget that second truth...that we’re only human. Sometimes God uses a crisis to bring us to this point because He loves us and knows that to use us we must be childlike.             B) Be content with your weaknesses. Did you know that contentment is an expression of faith in the goodness of God? It says that we believe God loves us and knows what’s best for us. Paul gives us several reasons to be content with our inborn weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:9-10). First, they cause us to depend on God. Also, our weaknesses prevent our arrogance. They keep us humble. God is more than able to give us a weakness to balance any strengths we have in order to keep our egos in check. Then, our weaknesses encourage fellowship between believers. If we were only strong, we might believe we didn’t need anyone else, and could get all independent. Our limitations reveal how much we need each other. Someone said, “Christians, like snowflakes, are frail, but when they stick together they can stop traffic.” Finally, our weaknesses increase our capacity for compassion and ministry. We are more likely to be empathetic and considerate of the weaknesses of others when we’re clearly aware of our own weaknesses.  God wants you to represent Jesus in your world. You’re more likely to do that when you understand your own neediness, than if you simply focus on your strengths. Moses weakness was anger which led him to kill an Egyptian and to break the tablets of the Ten Commandments. Yet God transformed him into the humblest of all men. Abraham was dishonest and fearful...how else do you explain telling people that your wife is your sister? But he was transformed by God into the father of the faithful. God loves to take our weaknesses, transform them and use them for His glory.             C) Share your weaknesses. Real ministry begins with vulnerability. The more you let down your guard and share your struggles, the more God is able to use you. Too often adults have a foolish idea that they are to have all the answers or be experts on every subject. They’re not. Our Heavenly Father does not expect us to be omni-competent or omni-knowledgeable. But vulnerability is risky. It’s scary to lower your defenses and open up your life to others. When you reveal your failures, feelings, frustrations, and fears, you risk rejection. But the benefits are worth the risk. Being vulnerable means being relieved of the stress that trying to put on a front requires. And it’s a great step toward freedom.             D) Glory in your weaknesses. This is a final step in spiritual maturity that too few of us reach (2 Cor. 12:5). Instead of posing as self-confident and invincible, see yourself as a trophy of God’s grace, and glory in that! Jesus understands every one of our weaknesses. There’s nothing to hide from Him. And He loves to use them for His eternal glory!! But are you willing to go forward with a limp in your life? If you want God’s blessings and for Him to use you greatly, you must be willing to, because God loves and uses weak people!