WEDNESDAY'S WORD - COUNTER-CULTURAL - 062817 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"If we aren't prepared to be counter-cultural, we aren't ready to be Christians." -Kevin DeYoung

I've always been fascinated by Salmon swimming upstream. They go against the current in a way that to the untrained eye looks downright crazy. They return upstream to the place of their birth to lay eggs. In the life of Salmon, COUNTER-CULTURE is the pathway to future fruitfulness, and ensures that the next generation will live. A COUNTER-CULTURE is a sub-culture whose values and norms of behavior differ substantially from those of 'mainstream' society. In Christianity, it's engaging and being relevant to societal contexts while at the same time remaining faithful to the Gospel.

We are admonished in Scripture NOT to be conformed to the world's standards, but to be transformed by renewing our minds in order to prove God's good, acceptable and perfect will. The willingness to continually put our lives on the altar of sacrifice is our spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1-2) Worship is more than singing songs. We must be armed and ready to believe and speak differently as Christ followers, and to act on those beliefs...even to our hurt, to save future generations in the Kingdom.

Last weekend, two days after the mistrial in the shooting of Samuel Dubose by UC Police Officer Ray Tensing, Sherman had an assignment to preach on Race at an almost all-Caucasian church. We've done decades of counter-cultural racial, class and gender reconciliation work in this region and beyond. (Gal 3:28)  We've also started a racially reconciled church as African-American leaders, which is very difficult when 86.7% of US churches are mono-ethnic. Everyone wants to stay in their comfort zones. Few are willing to pay the price to be counter-cultural. It's difficult to go upstream when everyone else is going down, but it qualifies you for crucial moments like these. Do we feel mixed emotions (anger, frustration, fear, sadness) since African-American's lives are in danger, and we don't know how we'll be treated from moment to moment? Definitely. Does the love of Christ constrain our responses? Absolutely. Is it possible we might be misunderstood or even hurt? Unquestionably. Will we continue to do the work to bring about the Unity of One New Humanity described in Ephesians 2 and John 17? By all means.
  

Last week I talked about our need for Scriptural conviction.  If we allowed the love of Christ to compel us; if we would no longer live for ourselves but for Christ who suffered, died and was raised for us (2 Cor 5:14-15); if we had the mind of Christ to serve and esteem others greater than ourselves (Phil 1-3); how much different would the Church be?  If we were actually Christ-like and counter-cultural, most US churches would not look as they do. The division and strife we exhibit demonstrates we're still carnal, living just like the world with it's sinful nature. (1 Cor. 3:3)  Isn't it time we went against the mainstream current on race and started the grueling trek upstream for the preservation of Christ's legacy? Jesus was counter-cultural. He used the vehicle of His death to bring life to us. (Romans 5:10) He loved not just his neighbors and friends, but His enemies. (Matt. 5:43-48) He called those from every tribe, language, people and nation His family (Rev. 5:9)...and He wants us to do the same. Ask the LORD how you can be counter-cultural. 

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - CONVICTION - Sadell Bradley -062117 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

""Conviction is worthless unless it is converted into conduct ."- Thomas Carlyle HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED? We find this question on job applications. Future employers want to know your criminal background, and many do not hire ex-convicts. CONVICTION is a formal declaration that someone is guilty of a criminal offense, made by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law.  This week the African-American community is reeling over the lack of conviction in the case of Philando Castile (left) of Minneapolis. A disproportionate number of black men have been killed by police officers with very few convictions. Castile was a beloved school food service worker, was not committing a crime, had his girlfriend and child in the car and was licensed to carry a gun. In Cincinnati, tensions are rising as we await the verdict of the Tensing trial to see if there will be a conviction in the shooting of Sam Dubose. There's a lot of talk about convictions these days: CONVICTION is also a firmly held belief or opinion, or the quality of showing that one is firmly convinced of what one believes or says. The idea that black men are dangerous is a conviction for some, as is the notion that police officers are mainly good and should be supported, but some of them are corrupt. We tend to hold to our convictions.    Today, I want to talk about conviction from a Biblical perspective. I believe if Christ followers prayed for more Scriptural conviction, there would be less discussion about natural convictions in our world. Jesus preparing His disciples for His death, burial and ascension, taught them about His replacement as their teacher, comforter and advocate on the earth, the Holy Spirit: But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9The world's sin is that it refuses to believe in me. (John 16:7-9, NLT) CONVICT elegxo Greek - means to convince with solid, compelling evidence, especially to expose, prove wrong/guilty, rebuke or discipline. Jesus said it was the Holy Spirit's role to prove the world to be in the wrong about it's sinful state and it's refusal to accept Christ as King and adapt the ways of His Kingdom.  Because there is little conviction, our world runs rampant on its own whims that are filled with wicked lusts and pride, (1 John 2:16) and appetite for violence. (Proverbs  13:2)  The King James Version of that last verse says that transgressors will EAT violence. The Holy Spirit was sent to show us we are in the wrong, and to convince and persuade us of righteous behavior. His purpose is not just to make us feel sorry for what we've done or for what we should have done but did not do: but to bring us to repentance - turning from evil. Wouldn't it be something if Believers, in addition to posting our opinions and marching, actually petitioned the Spirit of TRUTH to do a convicting work everywhere we see wickedness or injustice in this world.

SUNDAY Worship 11:00 AM Worship The Great Room Sunday Class 9:30 AM Youth Room Basement at Wyoming Presbyterian 225 Wyoming Ave., 45215 For information 513-212-1131

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - PEARL - 07/14/17 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

""As coal pressured into pearls by our weighty existence. Beauty that arose out of pain."- Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire A PEARL is a hard, lustrous spherical mass, typically formed within the shell of an oyster or other bivalve mollusk and highly prized as a gem; figuratively - a precious thing; the finest example of something. In figures like Jackie Kennedy, a string of pearls represented the highest class.  In basketball player Earl "The Pearl" Monroe - the greatest in athletic achievement. Pearls are formed inside the protective shell of a mollusk as a defense mechanism against a potentially threatening irritant like a parasite inside the shell or an attack from outside the shell. The mollusk creates a pearl sac to seal off the irritation. Pearls are actually the mollusk's immune system, created through pressure and irritation.       In Matthew 13:45-46, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl of great price. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Jesus emphasizes that the Kingdom of Heaven is so valuable that it should be our most treasured possession and our highest aim. The righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17) that He has died to give us is most precious. In going to the Cross and suffering the greatest pressure and irritation, Jesus has acted as our immune system: protecting us and exempting us from the penalty of sin and death. We now hold something that has more worth than can be found in this world, and we are to cherish it. Pearls are also associated with wisdom and the sacred. Jesus also admonishes us to view what is prudent and holy in this way in Matthew 7:6. "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." Valuable things, both tangible and intangible, are often given to people who don't appreciate and care for them.  In the case of the mysteries of God, and even sometimes about our wisdom and experience, we must be circumspect about not opening those treasures up for just anyone at any time.  Some audiences are not ready to consume the value of what you have to dispense.  So be aware not only that you have pearls, but what they cost.

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - COMFORT - 060717 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always" - Hippocrates COMFORT has been getting a bad rap. Who doesn't want a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraints; well being; prosperity and the pleasant life-style secured by it? It seems the only way comfort is used nowadays is, 'the comfort zone,' - a place or situation where one feels safe or at ease and without stress. Society has determined that staying in your comfort zone is a bad thing...maybe. Comfort, as it's mostly used in Scripture, is the easing or alleviating of a person's feelings of grief or distress; improving their mood and restoring a sense of well being. It means to strengthen, to give support, and to console the disappointed. This comfort is what we're missing. Paul speaks eloquently of it in 2 Corinthians 1 (NLT):    3All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. Just reading that passage is soothing like a warm blanket. I recall the MANY times the LORD has comforted me. Even now, after an extended time of trial; I've asked to live in an even longer period of God's comfort. We associate comfort with mourning after the loss of a loved one. The need for comfort extends beyond that to many other troubles and disappointments. We not only want God to be there with us, we also need brothers and sisters in Christ to come along side with the comfort they've received. This is a significant ministry to which we've been called. Do you, or someone you know need comfort? The LORD through the prophet Isaiah spoke comfort over His people . "Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God. "Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the LORD'S hand Double for all her sins." (Isaiah 40:1-2) What a relief to know that the season has changed and the war is over! Whether it's announcing the cessation of the enemy's attack, or coming to the realization that you've been fully forgiven and released from punishment, or entering into a period of restoration and getting double for your trouble...to be comforted, to be listened to, to hear kind words, to know God cares for you, is crucial. To feel a warm embrace, whether in His presence or through His saints is sometimes all we need.

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131