Title: Zealous for Good
Author: Christopher Harbin
Text: Titus 2:11-14
Not everyone in the world is a zealot. Many who are turn to things over which they never should have cared. Paul's life was transformed from a Jewish zealot to a Christian zealot. The character of his life remained focused after his Damascus Road experience, it just shifted from one object of his focus to another, both happening to be attempts to follow and honor God. Jesus called on the rich young ruler to shift his allegiance from material wealth to following him. He talked about God's Reign being worth the full investment of our lives like a pearl of great price, a treasure in a field, or carefully choosing what to value. What are we zealous about? Have we bought into our charge to do good to the point of our being transformed along the way?
A couple of decades ago, Rick Warren's books on living with purpose were all the rage in evangelical churches across the nation. Seminars, books, and campaigns were running throughout the nation and in other parts of the world. Everyone wanted to emulate Rick Warren, following his tremendous success in building a new church into a congregation of 23,000 active members. At the same time, industry was talking about the importance of mission and vision statements. In most cases, there was something lacking in the way people approached these concepts of purpose. Parishioners were OK with church looking a little different and directed toward a specifically defined purpose. They just would not allow it interfere with the living of their lives. There was no zealous buy-in to transform the reality they knew into another.
Paul's ministry was built on zealotry. His life was built on zealotry. Had he not been a zealot from the beginning, he would not likely have put up with much or any of all the attacks and persecution he faced. He may well have turned to Christ, but it would not have been with the zeal for rectifying ...
Author: Christopher Harbin
Text: Titus 2:11-14
Not everyone in the world is a zealot. Many who are turn to things over which they never should have cared. Paul's life was transformed from a Jewish zealot to a Christian zealot. The character of his life remained focused after his Damascus Road experience, it just shifted from one object of his focus to another, both happening to be attempts to follow and honor God. Jesus called on the rich young ruler to shift his allegiance from material wealth to following him. He talked about God's Reign being worth the full investment of our lives like a pearl of great price, a treasure in a field, or carefully choosing what to value. What are we zealous about? Have we bought into our charge to do good to the point of our being transformed along the way?
A couple of decades ago, Rick Warren's books on living with purpose were all the rage in evangelical churches across the nation. Seminars, books, and campaigns were running throughout the nation and in other parts of the world. Everyone wanted to emulate Rick Warren, following his tremendous success in building a new church into a congregation of 23,000 active members. At the same time, industry was talking about the importance of mission and vision statements. In most cases, there was something lacking in the way people approached these concepts of purpose. Parishioners were OK with church looking a little different and directed toward a specifically defined purpose. They just would not allow it interfere with the living of their lives. There was no zealous buy-in to transform the reality they knew into another.
Paul's ministry was built on zealotry. His life was built on zealotry. Had he not been a zealot from the beginning, he would not likely have put up with much or any of all the attacks and persecution he faced. He may well have turned to Christ, but it would not have been with the zeal for rectifying ...
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