JERRYGILLIS

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a mans gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it si serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Romans 12:7-8 For someone to talk about leadership lessons that they have learned in their life, I would have a natural expectation that…

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All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under Gods mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:5b-7 I guess there is a reason that pride has been around from before the creation of humanity - it just never seems to go away. At just about every turn in my life personally, there it is - in all its ugliness - staring me down and singing the sirens songthat…

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What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:24-25 Unchecked competence can be fatal. For those that are competent in what they do, that competence is the default position when faced with any circumstance. Truth be told, that is not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself. We need the competencies that we have to do what we do. God gives us gifts, abilities, and resources to accomplish many things - and our desire to amp up our competency level in what we do…

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The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, Here I am; you called me. Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening. 1 Samuel 3:8-9 I am a stinky counselor. Ive tried to do it. Really I have. I just stink at it. I cant come up with the Four tiered process to find hope in grief or Six irreducible minimums for breaking addictive behaviors or anything even remotely close. Usually my counsel is…

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And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47b Its just crazy to think about what happened to the early church. They had insane numbers of people coming to faith in Jesus on day one of their existence. Why? Because the power of the Spirit of God had invaded time, space, and the human soul, and now the dwelling place of God (or temple if you will) was not a stationary place in Jerusalem only, but a mobile, living, active dwelling in the soul of every believer and follower of Jesus. In fact, in the early stages…

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This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:6 It seems that if someone is in ministry that is in my generation or younger (lets just call it the 20 and 30 something generation), there is this propensity to feel as if they need to start the whole church experiment over - to start brand new. I hear it all the time, and read about it in all the new printed pieces that get distributed - This is church like you have never experienced or You…

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All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. Luke 4:28-29 It seems that Jesus ministry life was so full of ups and downs that it almost makes me nauseous to read it. He sees theseridiculously coolvictories in the lives of people, yet he has so many that want to kick him to the curb. Doesnt sound like the life of a rock-star so much. Sounds more like your life. And mine. What gets…

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When Peter saw him (John), he asked, Lord, what about him? Jesus answered, If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me. John 21:21-22 Following Jesus is easy.................from a distance. Once Jesus gets all in your grill and starts asking YOU to follow Him, that is a completely different ball game. Following Jesus is easier at a distance, or in a crowd, because it doesnt call for us to lay down our agendas, ambitions, and, yes, even our lives. Its discipleship-lite. What I am saying is that we want…

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You are a king, then! said Pilate. Jesus answered, You are right in saying that I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. John 18:37 Unless you are from Switzerland, you probably take a side in most matters (no offense to Switzerland by the way...love the place...been there...they just stay neutral on just about everything in world affairs it seems). Everyone takes a political side - whether that is Republican, Democratic, or…

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Dont you know that you yourselves are Gods temple and that Gods Spirit lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 I have had some interesting conversations with pastors recently, and I have heard the same theme - People associate the church with a structure more than they do with themselves. That kind of mindset is hard to overcome, and is the mindset most people in the West have of the church - it really is the church institutional rather than the church missional. So, it is no wonder that the church in the West is experiencing a dramatic decline. I…

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