Comments for Grace is Flowing http://graceisflowing.com Daily Life as a Shepherd and Servant Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:43:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on Legalism and Pendulums by jblaha http://graceisflowing.com/2012/01/30/legalism-and-pendulums/#comment-89 Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:43:20 +0000 http://graceisflowing.com/?p=414#comment-89 I think that in my life, the legalism that I grew up with has taught me to not trust teachers. The pendulum has swung so far that I almost dismiss everything a preacher says unless it is Scripture. The type of lifestyle that you mentioned, “that anything that looks like discipline and self-control or pursuing holiness and actually seeking to live out the righteousness of Christ is seen as legalism”, is something that I could be accused of. However, I have come to realize that the Bible does set a standard for followers of Christ. I’m learning what that looks like. Although, it is hard to read the Bible freshly without thoughts of faulty sermons and erroneous teachings flooding my head. I guess that is just the path that God has led me on to see Him in a pure light.

I would definitely agree with you that we are to abstain from the “pattern” of the world, but the pattern that is mentioned in the Bible is very different from the pattern set by legalistic teachings.

]]> Comment on Pastors’ Huddle at Heritage Bible Church by Doug http://graceisflowing.com/2012/02/11/pastors-huddle-at-heritage-bible-church/#comment-88 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:10:26 +0000 http://graceisflowing.com/?p=441#comment-88 I just contacted Heritage and they said that the conference is by invitation only.

]]> Comment on Pastors’ Huddle at Heritage Bible Church by Pastor’s Fellowship, Bible Conference at Heritage Bible Church « My Two Cents http://graceisflowing.com/2012/02/11/pastors-huddle-at-heritage-bible-church/#comment-87 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:33:28 +0000 http://graceisflowing.com/?p=441#comment-87 [...] have the privilege of attending a Pastor’s Huddle hosted by Heritage Bible Church in Greer, SC next week. I’ll also be preaching in evening [...]

]]> Comment on Legalism and Pendulums by graceisflowing http://graceisflowing.com/2012/01/30/legalism-and-pendulums/#comment-71 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:42:06 +0000 http://graceisflowing.com/?p=414#comment-71 Very true, Andy. However, just as the pendulum bug bytes those concerned about legalism, the bug bites in those who are always fearful of “not being separated.” Scripture has so much more to say about the unity of believers and the importance of honoring brothers–esteeming them greater than yourself. Christ says we are to be known by our love for the brethren (John 13:35) not by our separation from the brethren. One’s tendency to bite and devour people not only undermines gospel effectiveness, but it ultimately undermines one’s personal integrity (See Gal 5:13-15). The reason we are to live life in the world yet not a part of the world is simply for God’s great glory to be seen. Worldliness is always seen in Scripture as matters of the heart — lusts, desires, pride, because these all attempt to steal from God’s great glory. The more profoundly we are affected and governed by the Spirit of God the more spiritual we become. Our lives mimic the Spirit. Those things are seen in as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in our lives. How wildly the pendulum swings sometimes.

]]> Comment on Legalism and Pendulums by Andy http://graceisflowing.com/2012/01/30/legalism-and-pendulums/#comment-67 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:48:54 +0000 http://graceisflowing.com/?p=414#comment-67 Great post, Pastor. Like you said, it certainly is not legalistic to live a life of pursuing holiness out of desire to be more like Christ as a result of our salvation. I’m reminded of Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”. That word “conformed” is the greek word “συσχηματίζω” (soos-khay-mat-id’-zo). It’s where we get our word for “schematic”, and it means a pattern. Literally, we are not to pattern ourselves after this age.
It is all a part of living a life different from this world, set apart, sanctified, transformed into the image of Christ.

]]> Comment on Stop Studying Your Bible! by Westerville Free Will Baptist Church - Stop Studying Your Bible? http://graceisflowing.com/2012/01/17/stop-studying-your-bible/#comment-54 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:02:19 +0000 http://graceisflowing.com/?p=392#comment-54 [...] http://graceisflowing.com/2012/01/17/stop-studying-your-bible/ Share this:Share [...]

]]> Comment on Shepherding – It’s messy work! by graceisflowing http://graceisflowing.com/2012/01/05/shepherding-its-messy-work-2/#comment-46 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:58:35 +0000 http://graceisflowing.wordpress.com/?p=201#comment-46 Good thought, Simon. Trust you are doing well. Good to hear from you! Grace to you!

]]> Comment on Shepherding – It’s messy work! by Simon March http://graceisflowing.com/2012/01/05/shepherding-its-messy-work-2/#comment-45 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:32:05 +0000 http://graceisflowing.wordpress.com/?p=201#comment-45 This is very true. Another pastoral friend of our church often quotes from Proverbs 14:4 “Where no oxen are, the crib is clean…” A very descriptive, pithy verse that tells it the way it is, where people and therefore sinners are, there is mess..

]]> Comment on How Much Do You Actually Talk about Christ? by Michael Whitcomb http://graceisflowing.com/2012/01/12/how-much-do-you-actually-talk-about-christ/#comment-44 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:31:33 +0000 http://graceisflowing.com/?p=368#comment-44 I’m with you Eric! Praying for a generation of “Christ-speakers”, and not just rules-followers.

]]> Comment on Bearing One Another’s Burdens by Jennifer Whitehead http://graceisflowing.com/2012/01/09/bearing-one-anothers-burdens/#comment-42 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:16:44 +0000 http://graceisflowing.wordpress.com/?p=357#comment-42 Good to see you’re blogging again!

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