Sam Ford – Page 11

Basic questions you might not have biblical answers to

2021-07-04T17:59:24+00:00By Sam Ford|Random Thoughts, Theology 101|

A small group of men and I are going through a basic discipleship class (@6am on Friday mornings!). In the past, I have might have viewed much of the content in the book we've chosen as too basic, too simple, or too elementary. That is until I read verses like Colossians 2.6-8 and realize that it's these basic principles, the ones that we first learn as "newly planted" believers, that help us grow: 6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. The study we are going through does what I have often failed to do as [...]

Friday Fresh WORD…

2012-02-17T09:30:48+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Random Thoughts|

http://youtu.be/6NYp_il0Qzc

Searching for Community not Fellowship

2021-07-04T17:59:41+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Note to Self...and Others, Theology 101|

http://vimeo.com/30891621

I enjoy listening to Francis Chan's heart. His words challenge me to be more concerned about moving on mission and less concerned about standing in community. I appreciate how he, and men like David Platt, approach the Word of God with simplicity. They just want to do what it actually says and not complicate it with what we (or others) think it says.

Literal Jesus

2021-07-04T18:00:14+00:00By Sam Ford|Culture and Christ, Theology 101|

I love the disciples of Jesus. The gospel narratives (unlike much of church history) never give us a picture of a group spiritual giants faithfully following Jesus and taking in every word without question, On contrary, they give us a picture of men who are regularly confused, even disturbed, by many of the "strange" things that Jesus said. More than that, they are often trying to find ways to interpret what Jesus meant--because taking it literally would just be downright nuts. A good example is when Peter, James, and John are coming down the mountain after experiencing the transfiguration of Christ in Mark 9.9-10: And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. I [...]

Are pastors making it too easy?

2012-02-14T16:41:56+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Random Thoughts|

A word to pastors... As I am reading through the gospel of Mark, I am struck by many of the things that Jesus says. Without fail, a careful reading of Jesus' words will blow every predictable stereotype or expectation we might have for what a "good pastor" should or should not say. There are many times when I think to myself, "Wow, that wouldn't go over well" or, "I don't think I could say that...at least not that way" We are much more willing to overlook what we'd consider "verbal slips" by Jesus' ( being God incarnate), but seems that we wait like doctrinal-mercenaries to pounce on any pastor who might try the same thing. For example, consider what Jesus says in his encounter with the "Rich Young Man" as well as the words to his disciples following the conversation (See Mark 10.17-24). After this young man tells Jesus how [...]

Paul &_______ (Monday Morning Pastor…on Tuesday)

2012-02-14T10:33:28+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Random Thoughts, Re:Sermon|

For the month of February, we are preaching a series entitled PAUL &. It is an important sermon series designed to remind our church of its "family traits" or core values: Gospel Truth, Gospel Community, and Gospel Living. Instead of three sermons with those titles, we've decided to examine four different relationships Paul had over the course of his ministry. The first Sunday in our series we preached about Paul & Barnabas. This text emphasized gospel-encouragement. Although we'd love to be known as a church full of good people who say good things to make you feel good, we believe the Bible. And the Bible says that we are a church full of bad people who put their faith in the goodness of Jesus who helps us, by grace, encourage others. In other words, if we are not encouraging by, for, and to Jesus, then we are not encouraging the [...]

Some Christmas Perspective

2021-07-04T18:00:31+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Re:Sermon|

"From the Christian point of view there is no special about Christmas in a prison cell. For many people in this building it will probably be more sincere and genuine occasion than in places where nothing but a name is kept. That misery, suffering, poverty, loneliness, helplessness, and guilt mean something quite different in they eyes of God from what they mean in the judgment of humans, that God will approach where men and women turn away, that Christ was born in a stable because there was no room for him in the inn--these are things that a prisoner can understand better than other people; for him they really are glad tidings, and that faith gives him a part in the communion of saints, a Christian fellowship breaking the bounds of time and space and reducing the months of confinement here to insignificance." - D.Bonhoeffer from Letters and Papers from [...]

You’re No Superman

2021-07-04T18:00:41+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Note to Self...and Others, Random Thoughts|

Sin is sinister. Our trials come in many different shapes, sizes, colors and shades. But when the trial overwhelms us, when the temptation overcomes us, it seems that we are led in one of two directions--pride or despair. Both pride and despair comes from a rejection of the savior. Both pride and despair is rooted in the conviction (however momentary) that Jesus is not quite enough. Sometimes we despair. That means we start to believe that Jesus is not powerful (or loving) enough to remove my guilt, heal my brokenness, or to free me from some plaguing sin. Sometimes we become prideful. That means we that, though we may say we believe all those things about Jesus, secretly we slip on the messiah-cape do our own work to fix the problem, restore "it" to health, or otherwise save the world from sin (including ourselves). It is difficult to remain Christ-centered when you believe [...]

A Return to “Dumb”

2011-12-13T17:01:29+00:00By Sam Ford|Note to Self...and Others, Random Thoughts|

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. (1 Co 6:12). I've finally done it. I have deactivated my "smartphone" phone, at least for a while. So this is goodbye games, goodbye navigator, goodbye news flashes, goodbye Google Sky, goodbye in store price-checks, goodbye Facebook updates, goodbye Twitter notifications, goodbye email, goodbye calendar, goodbye weather reports, goodbye verse of the days, goodbye YouTube on the toilet, goodbye location check-in, goodbye lightsaber-phone, goodbye blinking light, goodbye obnoxious chime. I won't miss you, I am going back to "dumb". Why would I do that? Frankly, I think I was becoming enslaved to technology. And though there are perhaps a thousand arguments as to why people might "need" their phone, I think we all might be a bit delusional. We've been fished in, hooked on, and otherwise persuaded to believe we need a bunch of APP crap that [...]

Five Ways to Help Your Husband Lead

2011-11-29T09:19:21+00:00By Sam Ford|Random Thoughts, Re:Sermon|

More times than I dare to count, I have heard wives (and reports from their despairing husbands) express a desire for their husband to lead more, better, or at all. These requests, which come at different times in response to different trials, are usually rooted in a broken order within the marriage. For one reason or another, a husband has abandoned or abused his responsibility as "head" of the home and left a huge void. The understandably insecure, or too self-assured, wife feels compelled to fill it. And for a while she does a fine job until the job becomes too irritating or burdensome. It is not that women cannot lead. I know many women (I am married to one) who are wise, capable, and strong leaders. But, in a marriage relationship, it's that the wife is not supposed to lead, they are not designed fill this role like a husband is. [...]

About Sam Ford