WEDNESDAY'S WORD - ADMONITION - Sadell Bradley - 07/28/2021

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD ADMONITION 7/28/2021 “To admonish is better than to reproach for admonition is mild and friendly, but reproach is harsh and insulting; and admonition corrects those who are doing wrong, but reproach only convicts them.” - Epictetus SEE YOU SUNDAY! Washington Park 1230 Elm Street Cincinnati OH, 45202 SUNDAY, August 1st 12:00 - 3:00 PM @warehouseOTR Admonition is an act of admonishing (firmly warning, reprimanding, advising, or urging someone). In this day and age, I'm not sure how welcome admonition is, but it was a tool of wisdom used in Scripture. In Colossians 3:16, admonition is one purpose behind the music we sing in gatherings, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." The Apostle Paul used admontion as a tool of correction to address people who were idle, irresponsible, undisciplined busybodies who did not contribute to the community, "And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." (2 Thes. 3:15) I wonder how that tactic would go over these days. Paul admonished the congregations under his apostleship not to shame them, but to warn them as his beloved children. (1 Cor. 4:14) He also encouraged the church in Rome that they were mature enough to admonish one another (Romans 15:14) Admonishment is not just reserved for leaders in churches. The most well-known use of admonishment in Scripture is found in the address to fathers in Ephesians 6:4, "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Contrary to what we see in popular culture, in Scripture the nurture: responsibility for caring, encouraging and helping the growth and development of children AND admonition: warning, advising , reprimanding and teaching them God's commands, rests with the father. Paul told the church at Corinth, "though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." 1 Corinthians 4:15 Teachers might not care enough to admonish these days and it's super risky to do so even in church. Not many parents and leaders are willing to employ admonition even for the sake of the growth of those they lead— but this practice is sorely needed to see transformation in our families and churches.  WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY KILLING TIME TONIGHT 7:00 pm EST @warehouseOTR on Facebook or YouTube thewarehousechurch.org

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - REPOSE - Sadell Bradley - 7/21/2021

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD REPOSE 7/21/2021 "Woe to the man who is always busy—hurried in a turmoil of engagements, from occupation to occupation, and with no seasons interposed of recollection, contemplation and repose! Such a man must inevitably be gross and vulgar, and hard and indelicate—the sort of man with whom no generous spirit would desire to hold intercourse." - William Godwin - English Writer SAVE THE DATE! Washington Park 1230 Elm Street Cincinnati OH, 45202 SUNDAY, August 1st 12:00 - 3:00 PM @warehouseOTR REPOSE is a state of rest, sleep, or tranquility; composure. As a verb it means to lie down in rest, to be situated or kept in a particular place. The Latin re (expressing intensive force) + pausere (to pause). It's interesting that a word that means to rest is associated with force. As someone who, after a grueling several months of activity, was forced to take a short vacation when my body said, "One of us is going to stop...and right now!" —I get it. Repose is part of a holy lifestyle. Even God rested from His work in creation on the 7th day. He instituted the Sabbath as a law for Israel, “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work..." (Exodus 20:8-10) When we went to Jerusalem, we saw the entire City shut down.This proves that Sabbath keeping is choosing to rest each week, not because you're tired...but because God said so...and you've chosen to worship and obey Him. There is more to repose than physical rest. It is also a state of tranquility, and freedom from disturbance. Repose is bringing our souls: our minds, wills, emotions, and choices into calm. This kind of internal serenity is found in close fellowship with Jesus. My favorite hymn is How Firm a Foundation. It is chock full of Scriptural encouragement. The last stanza is a comforting promise from God the Father, "The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to His foes. That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake!" Someone needs physical, mental, emotional and spiritual repose today—I hope you will take a break, rest in Christ, and find yourself completely renewed!  WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY TIME IS MONEY TONIGHT, 7:00 pm EST @warehouseOTR on Facebook or YouTube thewarehousechurch.org

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - COMMUNITY - Sadell Bradley -07/07/2021

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD COMMUNITY 7/7/2021 "Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing." - Dr. Rollo May     THIS SUNDAY 12-3 Washington Park 1230 Elm Street Cincinnati OH 45202 A COMMUNITY is defined as a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. It is a group of people considered collectively, especially in the context of social values and responsibilities; a society. Finally, community describes a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals. It is the composite of two powerful words—common and unity. This Sunday, The Warehouse Church, OTR is bringing together folks in the community of Cincinnati in Washington Park for fellowship, conversation, worship, and fun. The theme for the day is "Love One Another." We're going to eat. We're going to sing. We're going to share. We're going to dance...and we're going to love and be loved by God and each other. If the weather is inclement, we'll do it inside The Warehouse Church, which is right across the street from the park. Why are we doing this? In Matthew 22:37-40, when Jesus was asked, which are the two greatest commandments, he replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Love God with all you've got and love your neighbor as you love yourself. It's so simple, but it's not easy, especially as we grow to understand the intricacies and variety of expressions of how God's love is displayed, like speaking truth in love, or whom the Lord loves He disciplines and deals with like sons... Still, we get the basics. God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son Jesus to save and not condemn us. (John 3:16-17) God is still sending His sons and daughters into the world for the same purpose—to see all rescued by the power of Christ's love. Jesus' love is the reason we're free. Love is what caused us to change. Love is the only thing that will unify us and keep us unified, even when we disagree. The Apostle Peter instructed us, "Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins." Even though sin is present, it doesn't have to divide or destroy us if we can learn to love. Love is the identifying mark of Christians, "By this everyone will know that you are My disciples if you love one another." (John 13:35) Community is the place where God's love in our hearts is displayed for the benefit of all. We hope to see you this Sunday! stop by if you can.  WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY NO TIME TO WASTE TONIGHT, 7:00 pm EST @warehouseOTR on Facebook or YouTube thewarehousechurch.org

WEDNESDAY'S WORD- CONTROL - Sadell Bradley 6/30/21

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD CONTROL 6/30/2021 "I don't get upset about things I can control, because if I can control them there's no sense in getting upset. And I don't get upset about things I can't control, because if I can't control them there's no sense in getting upset." - Mickey Rivers - American Baseball Player If you grew up in the 1980s, you probably know this album cover—Janet Jackson's Control. You may also be familiar with her coming-of-age story, out from under the shadow of her famous siblings and her manager father. Janet told the LA Times, "It was all about stepping out, taking control of your life... a certain point in your life when you ask yourself who you are and what you want to do." CONTROL in this sense is the power to influence, hold authority over, or direct one's own behavior or the course of events. Most of us desire a semblance of control over our lives. I'm not talking about the self-control that is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, which is also crucial. (Gal.5:22) I'm talking about personal autonomy and independence found in the song's lyrics, "I want to make my own decisions. When it has to do with my life, I wanna be the one in control..." Ever felt that way? Some of us bristle when we feel we're being controlled, losing control, or being required to relinquish control...even to God, but..how much control do we really have? not as much as we think. Especially as Christ-followers. Gospel songwriter Carol Antrom in the '80s wrote a very different song about control— "My Times." It's based on Psalm 31:15. The lyrics are vulnerable, "If I were in control of my life, I think that I would have worked things out differently. There would be no disappointments, no hurt, no pain, of these things my life would be Scott-free. But that just goes to show how little I really know about leading, about controlling my own life. For you see all these things have worked together to make the best of me. And I'm glad that God controls my life. My times are in His hands. I'm learning each and every day to trust Him, come what may." In Psalm 31, David is calling on the Lord for protection. He asks God to be his fortress and refuge. He's older and frailer now. His soul is in anguish because his enemy is his son Absalom, who is coming to Jerusalem to kill him. Even in this horrific situation, David turns to God in worship, "My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life. But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly." (vs. 13-16, NLT) Sometimes it seems as if our sense of control has been lost, and we are helplessly at the mercy of others. David knew, despite evidence and emotions to the contrary, that God was ultimately in control of his life and even of his death. He could let go of the control he really never had and trust God to make decisions about his future. My times and yours are in God's hands. The 'control' we think we have is not control at all, because God has the final say.  WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY TIME HEALS ALL WOUNDS TONIGHT, 7:00 pm EST @warehouseOTR on Facebook or YouTube thewarehousechurch.org

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - STRIVE - Sadell Bradley - 6/23/21

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD STRIVE 6/23/2021 "When everything is moving and shifting. the only way to counteract chaos is stillness. When things feel extraordinary, strive for ordinary. When the surface is wavy, dive deeper for quieter waters." - Kristin Armstrong - Athlete "I cannot make my days longer so I strive to make them better" - Paul Theroux What a great thought and an excellent aim. To STRIVE in this sense means to make great efforts to achieve or gain something. We strive for virtues of character, independence, growth, and success. We strive for goals and hope to accomplish them. Antonyms for this type of striving are: to surrender, succumb, yield, or withdraw. God places vision inside us. Opposition and difficulties cause us to retreat. The LORD calls us to strive toward His dream and persevere. To STRIVE also means to struggle or fight vigorously. The psalmist Korah assures us in Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength is a very present help in the time of trouble." The Lord brings calm to both our fears and the struggle within. He commands, "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The writer of Hebrews admonishes us to endure the Lord's chastening as sons and not to lose heart when He corrects us, "You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." Believers are in constant contention with the forces of darkness. Galatians 5:17 reminds us of the continual struggle for God's Spirit inside us to defeat our fleshly, carnal, impulses. Scripture is clear that we are to do good, to seek and pursue peace with others and not strive with them. (1 Peter 3:11) Galatians 5:22 reveals that one fruit of God's Spirit— gentleness or meekness, includes giving up our rights of retaliation. Our human tendency is to fight and seek revenge. This type of striving is something we have to relinquish and put to death. "Do not strive with a man without cause if he has done you no harm. (Proverbs 3;30) "If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men." (Romans 12:18). Paul admonished his protege Timothy, "But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes knowing that they generate strife. (angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict) And a servant of the LORD must not strive (quarrel) but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God will perhaps grant them repentance, so they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil having been taken captive by him to do his will." (2 Timothy 2:24-26) These days it seems like everyone wants to fight and gain power. Some fights belong to God. He's more than able to win them. Put your dukes down, the verbal ones too. Stop striving, and let Him fight for you.  WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY THE TIME IS NOW! TONIGHT, 7:00 pm EST @warehouseOTR on Facebook or YouTube thewarehousechurch.org