WEDNESDAY'S WORD - SYCOPHANCY - Sadell Bradley- 1/19/2022

WEDNESDAY'S WORD SYCOPHANCY 1/19/2022 "Sycophancy toward those who hold power is a fact in every regime, and especially in a democracy, where unlike tyranny, there is an accepted principle of legitimacy that breaks the inner will to resist."― Allan Bloom - American Philosopher

 WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY GOOD CHURCH: CULTURE PART 2—NONTOXIC TONIGHT 7:00 pm EST LIVE ON @warehouseOTR on Facebook or YouTube thewarehousechurch.org

Former President Bill Clinton said, "Surrounding yourself with sycophants and bootlickers is the surest route to failure." No matter what you might think about his life or politics, this quote is real. A SYCOPHANT is a person who acts obsequiously (obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree) toward someone important in order to gain an advantage. Hanger-on, suck-up, and minion are synonyms. As a leader, even in the church, you don't want to surround yourself with 'yes' men and women, but some do. You want folks who will be truthful, but kind. One of the main characteristics of sycophants is flattery. In the Despicable Me franchise, though you see the Minions act in submission to their villain masters, they're not talking. Humans, on the other hand, who want to be in the good graces of power, often attempt to manipulate them with words of praise. Scripture tells us to be wary of these people, who are not really friends but enemies, in Proverbs 26:24-28 MSG, "Your enemy shakes hands and greets you like an old friend, all the while plotting against you. When he speaks warmly to you, don’t believe him for a minute; he’s just waiting for the chance to rip you off. No matter how shrewdly he conceals his malice, eventually his evil will be exposed in public. 27 Malice backfires; spite boomerangs. 28 Liars hate their victims; flatterers sabotage trust." If you've been observing Christian circles lately from all sides, you've probably seen some sycophancy—people just going along with the loudest, most dominant leaders in order to share in their power or gain prestige or benefits—whether they agree with them or not. It was going on with the Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus' day too. In Matthew 15:14, He called them "blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." Sycophancy is not a recipe for success.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - CULTURE - Sadell Bradley - 1/12/2022

WEDNESDAY'S WORD CULTURE 1/12/2022 "The culture of a workplace —an organization's values, norms, and practices—has a huge impact on our happiness and success."― Adam Grant, Author  WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY GOOD CHURCH: CULTURE TONIGHT 7:00 pm EST LIVE ON @warehouseOTR on Facebook or YouTube thewarehousechurch.org "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." This famous quote from leadership coach Peter Drucker means that though strategy is important and necessary for any business or organization—CULTURE—the customs, attitudes, spoken and unspoken contracts, achievements. and behavior characteristics of a social group are more important. This is true in secular society, It is also true in the Church. Maybe you haven't noticed, but the Church has been getting a pretty bad rap lately. In a post-Christian society, people say they don't participate in "organized religion" or that they 'like Jesus, but not the Church." In that last few years the bold criticism and sometimes vitriol with which people refer to the Church and its followers is astounding. Nowadays they're not just disagreeing with doctrine/teachings or particular Biblical passages; they're taking a hard look at some Church cultures and saying, "If this is what following Jesus is like, I want no part of it." The political in-fighting, racism. segregation, lack of diversity, disunity, and the rise of star-making celebrity without holy lifestyles and accountability— among other thing—have left a bad taste in the mouths of folks on the outside and on the inside of the Church. People no longer want to "come or go" to our churches. They don't know that PEOPLE who are Believers in Jesus Christ, are the Church, not buildings. Even Christians who have been members for decades now post negative opinions about the Church on social media about people they once loved, and the Christ they vowed to serve. We as a Church won't get anywhere with all our strategies with a bad culture. From the initiation of the New Testament Church, there have been several cultural characteristics by which we are to be identified. Jesus said in John 13:34 AMP "By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.” We lost it right there didn't we. Luke described for us some of the practices that were the DNA of the Church in Acts. "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47) When we look at the Church in this time, is it at all reminiscent of these Scriptures? Sadly, no. I"m not just writing about your local Church, but about the universal Church (that's what the word Catholic means). Because.. as one Body in Christ, if some of us are not there...none of us are.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - RECALCITRANT - Sadell Bradley - 1/5/2022

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD RECALCITRANT 1/5/2022 "There is in the human race some dark spirit of recalcitrance, always pulling us in the direction contrary to which we are reasonably expected to go."  ― Max Beerhbohm - English Essayist

 WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY GOALS TONIGHT 7:00 pm EST LIVE ON @warehouseOTR on Facebook or YouTube thewarehousechurch.org

Tomorrow marks one year since the Riot at our Nation's Capitol. America's great socio-political divide was further exposed that day. Some claimed the uprising was an expression of patriotism, while other believed they were watching a horrifying display of defiance and recalcitrance. RECALCITRANT means having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline. The Latin word means 'kicking out with the heels.' Synonyms are obstinate, ungovernable, insubordinate, headstrong, and bloody-minded. Across the world people watched aghast as the "United States" looked anything but unified. Not only the building, but one of our most sacred governmental institutions—our Congress, was stormed. Our government's leaders and those called to protect and serve them were endangered. Whatever the motive or intent of the rioters or anarchists depending on your viewpoint may have been, five people died and hundreds were injured including 138 police officers. Hearings are still be held to unpack this sad and troubling tragedy that is now history, to find the truth, and dispense justice. Sometimes it takes Divine Intervention to confront our recalcitrance. I can't help but think of Saul, before he was met by Jesus with a blinding light on the Damascus Road. He was zealously persecuting and killing Christ's followers, including Stephen one of the first deacons. You couldn't tell Saul he was wrong. He thought He was doing God a service. In fact, Saul just KNEW he was right and righteous...until he found out he wasn't. Saul was so far into his stubborn, recalcitrant state that he couldn't even recognize the God he was claiming to serve and represent. Acts 9:5 records, "And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." Jesus was saying, you're fighting a losing battle here with the bull-headedness buddy. You can keep resisting, but ultimately I'm going to win. These days it's easy to point fingers at each other and say, "You (insert label here)...you're the problem with this Country, this church, this marriage/family, this workplace." It's harder to allow God to reveal the recalcitrant traits in our own hearts...and there are some in all of us.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - REFLECTION- Sadell Bradley - 12/29/2021

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD REFLECTION 12/29/2021 "The holidays are a time of reflection, and I think it becomes really clear in people's minds around this time of year what they want to get out of life, who they want to spend their life with, and what kind of person they want to be."  ― Chris Sullivan - Actor  WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY SETTLING ACCOUNTS TONIGHT 7:00 pm EST LIVE ON @warehouseOTR on Facebook or YouTube thewarehousechurch.org The holidays are indeed a time of REFLECTION. This word has a lot of meanings—the throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound, without absorbing it; an image seen in a mirror or shiny surface; a thing that is a consequence or arises from something else; or a thing that brings discredit to someone or something. For our end of year purposes...REFLECTION is serious thought or consideration; an idea about something, especially one that is written down or expressed. Many people attempt to start off the year by making resolutions—firm decisions to do or not to do something. A 2018 New York Post article cited a study from the University of Scranton said that only 8% achieve these goals. I wonder if that's because we jump toward new goals without any serious thought about what caused us to need to resolve something in the first place. It's like trying to put on makeup or trim one's beard without looking in a mirror. It's hard to take care of blemishes or make enhancements when you can't see what needs fixing. Psalm 90:12 records the prayer of Moses, "Teach us to number our days (the brevity of life) that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Spiritual wisdom is the application of what we know and understand from Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and the lessons of life. James 1:22-25 reminds us, "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do." Too many of us are afraid to take hard looks in God's mirror, but Paul told the church at Corinth, "Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine...," (2 Cor. 13:5a) Self-examination is an integral part of Christ following.The close of the year, birthdays, anniversaries, conflicts, trials, achievements, and celebrations are all good times for reflection. We have three more days of 2021 to invest in prayer, writing in our journals, looking again at vision boards and prophecies. There's even still time to have that necessary conversation because...if we do not reflect, it's hard to know what we need to correct.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD- SAINT NICHOLAS - Sadell Bradley - 12/22/2021

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD SAINT NICHOLAS 12/22/2021 "I think we've taken the meaning of Christmas out. People don't stop and think of the birth of Jesus. When they think of Christmas, they think of Santa Claus and—for the children, and they think of giving gifts and out-giving the next person...of spending their time thinking of the right thing for somebody who has everything."― Evangelist Billy Graham

 WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS TONIGHT 7:00 pm EST LIVE ON @warehouseOTR on Facebook or YouTube thewarehousechurch.org

The PBS film Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas tells the story of how immigrant Jewish- American songwriters began to write Christmas music. One rationale was economic—the US was only 3% Jewish but was 97% Christian at the time. The other was that they wanted to turn Christmas from a religious to an American Holiday devoid of references to Jesus as Messiah. Many of the familiar songs we hear about silver bells, Rudolph, and Chestnuts roasting on an open fire... were written by Jewish composers. The Christmas Song was penned by Polish Jew Mel Torme. White Christmas was written by Russian Jew Irving Berlin, who also wrote God Bless America, and even a song entitled Get Behind Me Satan. The film Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas is fascinating, but if you don't have time, here's a link to 11 iconic Christmas songs written by Jewish composers. The word holiday in Old English meant Holy Day. The word Christmas is short for Christ's Mass— a worship service where the Eucharist—Holy Communion is served (Eucharist means grateful for grace). Christ's Mass celebrates the Advent, or arrival of Jesus Christ. The name The LORD Jesus Christ, means the King, the One who is anointed or empowered to save the world from sin, offering us forgiveness and eternal life. Another area of opportunity for our learning is that the folkloric character Santa Claus is based on the life and work of a 4th Century Christ-follower, Greek Bishop St. Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of children. St. Nicholas, who lived in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), was born of wealthy parents. When they died he distributed their wealth to the poor. St. Nicholas interceded for miracles, helped to exonerate innocent prisoners, and was known for the now famous custom of secret gift-giving. In one account, St. Nicholas was said to have rescued three daughters of a man who had lost all of his money gambling by secretly dropping bags of gold in their home, giving them dowries to avoid prostitution. When one daughter found him and told their father, he fell to his knees in gratefulness. Nicholas charged him to tell no one. The fame of St. Nicholas spread throughout Europe. The Dutch in Netherlands, called him Sinterklaas. He rides on a white horse. They celebrate on December 5/6. Parents, friends, and neighbors become his helpers— sharing gifts and blessings with the less fortunate. Many folks say, "There is no Santa Claus" Parents tell their children, "Mommy and Daddy are Santa Claus." Wouldn't it be a more effective Christian witness for us to tell our children that originally, St. Nicholas was a pastor who loved Jesus and did good works to represent Him in the earth by distributing to those in need? Even Jews in the film made reference to St. Nicholas as the inspiration for Santa Claus. Jesus once said... "the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." (Luke 16:8)