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I will never forget the spring I truly learned about the profound importance of biblical context. It started with a woman who came to see me for counsel. She was terribly depressed because her children were sick and she truly believed it was her fault. It turns out that she thought she didn’t have enough faith! When I tried to clarify, she impatiently said, “You know ‘By His stripes you are healed.’ 1 Peter 2:24.”

So, we looked at the passage, and yes, that was the exact wording. But 1 Peter is not about health at all, it is all about persevering.

That’s when I realized, more than ever, that to understand God’s word you had to understand the context from which it came!

The only way to understand context is by digging deep into God’s word and truly seeking to understand.

You see, there is terrible pain from misapplying and misunderstanding Scripture—

• A person believes that God does not love them because He has not made them wealthy. He has been falsely taught that his prosperity is tied to his faith and is crushed under the burden of trying desperately to have the right amount of faith. He does not know the Lord’s economy (Luke 6:20-23).

• Marriages have been destroyed because a spouse blames the devil instead of acknowledging that it is his or her own sin that is tearing at the fabric of tenderness. This leads to a lack of repentance, confession, reconciliation and restoration.

• A mother blames herself for her child’s sickness because she thinks her faith is not strong enough to heal him, instead of seeking what the Lord may have for the family through the trial (John 9:1-3).

• The most tragic is the one who believes in a nebulous deity, but refuses to worship the real God. He does not know the joy of a saving faith, but simply has the faith of a demon (James 2:19).

A group bible study can be a great place to start seeking to understand! It is my prayer that each of us are in Bible study with one another; that we would persevere and seek to learn His Word and link arms with other believers and to “do” His Word.

If you are someone who desires to read and study the Word, but are not sure how to begin; or if you are someone who is seeking a group to study God’s Word with; we invite you to consider one of MCC’s bible studies or Community Groups. Check out MCC’s Men’s and Women’s ministry pages to see where you might join in! If you or someone else needs or is interested in Biblical Counseling let us know, you are not meant to walk through life alone.

Please persevere in your study of God’s word; for this is the ministry of God’s Word in us -- it is on-going; we are challenged; we are shaped; we are encouraged as we dive into its depths; and we are simultaneously satisfied and yet crave more of Him.

How do you build a bridge?  One piece of steel at a time...
God is truly building a bridge between us, His church, and our community through our Shine partnership with A. Montoya. 

I'd like to present a unique opportunity to add some steel to our bridge by bringing encouragement to our teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week.
What's it like to be a teacher at an APS Title 1 school?

You've got a classroom of around 30 kids...which makes for quite a bit of adventure, quite a bit of laughter, and quite a bit of chaos each day! You've got a few kids that are quite respectful and attentive, as well as a few who have never been in a classroom setting and are still learning how to exist in that environment.  You've got the daily challenge of not only educating your class, but also of finding out whether they're safe at home, have access to breakfast and lunch, and have proper clothing for each day's weather.  Though you take interest in each child's family and greatly value parental involvement, you don't always get much response from them.  The majority of your students' parents will probably not attend parent-teacher conferences.

As A. Montoya's Shine partner, we have a great opportunity to communicate to our teachers that they are seen, heard, and loved.  They need to know that they're not alone in their desire to bring transformation to their community, and that their tireless efforts are not unnoticed. 

To acknowledge one's struggle, to enter into it, and to bring relief...well that sounds a lot like Jesus, doesn't it?

Would you please join us in an effort to encourage our teachers at A. Montoya during the week of May 1st - 5th?  Please stop by the school anytime between 7:45a.m. and 2:15p.m. any day that week to drop off goodies, flowers, cards...anything that you think would bring some joy.

Each and every time we walk through the doors of the school, we add to the bridge God is building between us, His church, and the community! I can't think of a more wonderful construction project!

Click here to learn more about the Shine Initiative.

Years ago, when MCC was supporting the Nij family in Guatemala, I had the opportunity to visit the Morning Glory Christian Academy in San Raymundo, Guatemala. While I was there, they took me to Antigua, which was once the Spanish colonial capital of Central America.  The city has beautiful cathedrals and palaces and is located between three large volcanic peaks.  

I had the added benefit of visiting around the time of Easter. During this time they have a huge celebration involving processions that move through town commemorating Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem, His march up Calvary, and His resurrection. Prior to each of the processions, community members decorate the streets with ornate murals made of sand, colored sawdust, grains, flowers, and leaves.

These amazing creations take hours to prepare and then the procession tramples the murals underfoot and destroy them.

One questions why they would spend so much time just to have the mural destroyed—the artists view this as a simple act of sacrifice and worship.

What simple act of sacrifice might you make on this Easter: invite a friend or family to worship; a word of encouragement; serving one in need; visit a shut in; pray for the lost; bring a heart to worship that is truly centered on our Lord?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. ~ Romans 12:1

What if you were told that you had just a few days to live?  What would you do with your time?  Would you go wild, and indulge yourself in every pleasure imaginable?  Would you find a handful of those closest to you, and savor every moment with them?  Or maybe you or I would just curl up into a ball, and never even get out of bed.

Jesus of Nazareth knew that He had only a few more days to live. 

He came into Jerusalem, greeted by a throng of public admirers; but in the background, there lurked a host of seething enemies, plotting His demise.

He knew that He was going to give His life.  It would happen before the week was out, in fact.

So, what did He do with Himself?

“And every day he was teaching in the temple; and every night he went out, and lodged in the mount that is called Olivet. And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.”  Lk. 21:37-38

Jesus spent His last days giving Himself to the same task that had prompted His coming from Heaven; the same task that had occupied His purpose since He began His public ministry.  Every day, He spent His day serving people, and teaching them why He was here.  He was here to free them from their sin.

And the people streamed to Him.  He did not shrink back, but He invested His final hours proclaiming to them that eternal hope captured in 1 Timothy 1:15: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

Before the week was over, His enemies would have Him killed.

And before the next week began, He had risen again, to go before all of those who would believe in Him.

Seven months ago, as new arrivals to New Mexico, and to MCC, my wife Jodi and I attended the Foundations Class. At first, six weeks of doctrine and dogma in a new church seemed daunting, onerous, and, on the surface, somewhat self-servin. What church needs six weeks to indoctrinate newcomers? 

My preconceived notions, however, soon fell away and I found that we had stumbled onto something much more than just an extended newcomers' brief. The Foundations Class is actually exactly what the name says it is, but, rather than focusing exclusively on MCC, the class is rooted in theological principles and provides a detailed overview of the Christian Church: organization, history, doctrinal disagreements, etc.

Each Sunday morning addresses a new topic and is taught rotationally by the Pastor and Elders of MCC. So, every week you are presented with a new face and a unique perspective. The six sessions that make up the Foundations Class are titled: The Nature of God; the Revelation of God - Scripture; the Power of God - The Gospel; the People of God - the Church; Where We Fit - the Distinctives of MCC; Where Do You Fit? - Fellowship Covenant. 

One of the most pleasant surprises we found in Foundations was the opportunity to get to know others in the class while learning and listening, discussing and exploring with one another. Whether you are new to the faith, new to MCC, or just have not yet taken advantage of the opportunity, I encourage you to come to the Foundations Class at MCC.