Showing posts with label relationships. Show all posts
Showing posts with label relationships. Show all posts

Cell June 26 - Love, Schmove
Tuesday, June 30, 2009


At our Friday night cell meetings, our 10-12 year-old group has been going through the Gospel of John, as part of a challenge I gave them several months ago. Last week, we talked about Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. This week, started looking at some of His last teachings before His death on the Cross.

Chapters 13-16 in John narrate Jesus' last words of teaching to his disciples. There is an almost hurried tone to these words. It's as if the Lord is giving a last-minute pep talk. I'm reminded of a scene from the movie Any Given Sunday. Coach D'Amato is walking down the tunnel onto the field with his young, inexperienced quarterback, Willie Beaman. D'Amato just keeps firing advice and instructions at Willie, who just keeps replying "Yeah." For the disciples, like Willie, it was a lot of information to absorb in very little time.

One of the first things that Jesus told the disciples was that He was giving them a new commandment. This must have been confusing to them. First, He reduces the Ten Commandments down to two. Now, He's giving them a new one. And like the other two (Love God above all, love your neighbor as yourself), His new commandment is born of love: "...as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34, NKJV)

This opened the discussion on what "love" really means in the New Testament, especially when Jesus is speaking of it. John's Greek translation of Jesus' instructions uses the word agapeo ( αγαπη ) for "love." This is one of two words used in the NT for "love," the other being phileo. ( φιλεϖ )

Without getting too technical, there is a very important difference. Phileo is used to reference an emotional, heart-centered love. Phileo love is an easy love, an immediate love. Not that there cannot be intensity to it, but it is love that does not generally have a cost to it.

Agapeo, or agape love is much different. Beyond a simple feeling of the heart, agapeo requires an act of the will. It is a love of the mind, a sacrificial love, a love that requires risk. This is a love that places the one loved above self.

This is the kind of love that Jesus calls us all to. Not an easy, painless, "like" kind of love; He desires us to love one another with a risky, sometimes painful, willful love. It's easy to love someone when they are nice to you. But loving someone who just smacked you in the face - that's agapeo.


Reminder!!! Due to the Fourth of July Weekend, there will be no cell group on July 3rd!!

Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 5:30 AM 0 comments  

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GLCCKidz Celebrates Father's Day!!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009


This week was Father's Day in the U.S., and our children's cells get in on the act. This week, Sister Anita's 4-9 year old cell group was highlighted at our Sunday service. They made a special presentation for all the father's in attendance, giving them a gift of The Bible Promise Book. The pastors also received special Father's Day cards.


The kids then led the congregation in some worship, singing the Desparation Band's "Counting on God.

Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 7:16 AM 0 comments  

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Cell June 12 - What a Waste!
Monday, June 15, 2009


This week continues our look at the Gospel of John. Last week, we looked at the story of Lazarus, Jesus' last and greatest miracle before the Resurrection. John continues to tell us the story of the family of Lazarus, and his sisters, Mary and Martha.

Mary - who has shown her devotion to the Lord before - instead of helping Martha with the meal, takes a large flask of expensive oil, and annoints Jesus, wiping His feet with her long hair. While history might debate the identity of this woman, one thing is clear: she uses a tremendously expensive amount of oil on this gesture. Judas states that the oil was worth 300 denarii, or a man's wages for a year.


There are a couple of things to take away. One is that Judas didn't really care about the poor, as he states in the text. Judas was the groups treasurer, and John reports that he was skimming from the cashbox. He wanted more money to cover his stealing.


Also, this is a very symbolic moment, as this annointing was usually done for the dead. This is a foreshadowing of what is going to happen to Jesus.


More important, though, is what Jesus says in verse 8: "For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”


He was telling us to spend time with God before it's too late. While God is always present, our days are numbered. Tomorrow is never promised, so don't delay in spending time with Jesus.

Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 12:17 PM 0 comments  

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Cell May 8 - O Brother!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009

This week we had a talk about sibling rivalry. Specifically, we talked about Joseph and the relationship he had with his brothers.

After reading about Joseph in Genesis, we were amused to find he was (in the words of the kids) a rat. A snitch. He dropped dime on his brothers when they goofed off.

His dad liked him best. A little Daddy's boy!

And apparently God liked him better, too. After all, God gave him dreams.

So Joseph's brothers did what any self-respecting older siblings would do. They slapped little Joseph around, threw him in a well, and sold him into slavery.

Years later, when Joseph was a powerful man and his brother's were in need, he had the chance to repay them. Did he? Of course not. Joseph showed his brother's love after what they had done. Does time really heal all wounds? Or does God?

What do you think?

Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 1:46 PM 0 comments  

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Cell March 20 - Come and See
Tuesday, March 24, 2009

This week we talked about an interesting subject - namely who we are as Christians, and how the world looks at us. Or more importantly, what the direction our "outward" ministry should take.

There are a lot of examples in the Bible about reaching out to people. For the most part, the early church didn't have to go very far to reach people. While it's true that people like Peter and Paul travelled far and wide to plant churches, they often were most effective at taking advantage of whatever situation God had placed them in. In other words, they tried to be an example of Christ's love wherever they were.

The Greek word "oikas" refers to the people we encounter in everyday life, people we already have relationships with. We don't need to go to the ends of the Earth - our mission field is right here in our backyard.

In John chapter 1, when John the Baptist saw Jesus for who he was, he didn't pack his belongings and go on a mission trip to Africa. He simply told those who were his disciples. He pointed and said "Behold the Lamb." One of those two was Andrew, brother of Peter. Andrew and another asked Jesus "Where are you staying?" Jesus answered "Come and see." It was simple - an invitation to just come and witness who Christ was and what he was doing.

Andrew didn't pack his bags and go to Africa, either. He simply went and found his brother, Simon. He simply told someone who he already had a relationship. I'm sure he offered to show Simon.

When Jesus met Phillip, and Phillip saw him for who He was, Phillip didn't pack either. He simply went to his friend and said "Come and see."

Who have you shown Christ today?

Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 5:13 AM 0 comments  

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