This morning, we continue our series on the Ten Commandments with the message, Building a Legacy of Integrity, addressing the commandments, "You shall not steal” and "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:15 and 16, ESV). While these two may not seem to fit together at first glance, I suggest that they do. How? The first commands integrity with other people’s things, and the second commands integrity with other people’s reputations. Violations of either commandment is a violation of the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18; quoted seven times in the New Testament) and the “golden rule” of Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31. Violation of either shows a lack of integrity in our interaction with other people.
Dictionary.com defines integrity as, “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.” Sounds nice, doesn’t it. Unfortunately, we only have to watch the news for a few minutes (or maybe seconds) to hear a story about someone who lacked integrity. Furthermore, we our society seems to see “white lies” as acceptable. Brothers and sisters, there is no such thing as a “white” lie, and they certainly are not acceptable.
In His High-Priestly prayer, Jesus prayed the Father, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth (John 17:16-17 ESV).” We are to be a people who embrace Truth. Accordingly, we must pass on a legacy of integrity. That is part of our mission … and we must accept it!
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Building a Legacy (Part 2)
This week, I would like to begin with something I wrote two weeks ago: “We don’t hear the term, legacy, very often, do we? A legacy is something that is handed down from one person or generation to another. In this case, the legacy is a culture of obedience to God’s Word and recognition of His intentions for our relationships with other people.”
This morning, I invite you to reflect on this thought and consider the question, Who has had a significant impact on your life? Some people have a greater influence on us than others. Sometimes, that influence is for good, other times, that influence is not so positive. As so many people have said, choose your friends carefully. But, this morning, I ask you to think of someone who has influenced you for the good, and what a difference they have made in your life. Chances are, that person has invested their time into your life, and you are grateful for it. In some way, you are carrying on the legacy they passed on to you.
Now, I ask you, how are you passing that legacy on to another generation? How will the people you come into contact with remember you? How are you investing your time into their lives? Whether we like it or not, we are building a legacy that will be passed down in some way, shape, or form. So, let’s be intentional about it. Let’s consider what values we are passing down. Let’s consider how we can share what God has taught us, recognizing that the method(s) may be much different than it was just 15-20 years ago. While our values and message should not change, our culture constantly changes.
This morning, as we consider the 7th Commandment, “You shall not commit adultery,” let’s also consider how we can pass on a legacy of fidelity in a culture where marital faithfulness and sexual purity are becoming less and less common. Let’s remind them of God’s good intention for marriage.
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
This morning, I invite you to reflect on this thought and consider the question, Who has had a significant impact on your life? Some people have a greater influence on us than others. Sometimes, that influence is for good, other times, that influence is not so positive. As so many people have said, choose your friends carefully. But, this morning, I ask you to think of someone who has influenced you for the good, and what a difference they have made in your life. Chances are, that person has invested their time into your life, and you are grateful for it. In some way, you are carrying on the legacy they passed on to you.
Now, I ask you, how are you passing that legacy on to another generation? How will the people you come into contact with remember you? How are you investing your time into their lives? Whether we like it or not, we are building a legacy that will be passed down in some way, shape, or form. So, let’s be intentional about it. Let’s consider what values we are passing down. Let’s consider how we can share what God has taught us, recognizing that the method(s) may be much different than it was just 15-20 years ago. While our values and message should not change, our culture constantly changes.
This morning, as we consider the 7th Commandment, “You shall not commit adultery,” let’s also consider how we can pass on a legacy of fidelity in a culture where marital faithfulness and sexual purity are becoming less and less common. Let’s remind them of God’s good intention for marriage.
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Technology at DCC
Technology … some people love it, some people hate it. Chances are, even those who love it have days when they don’t “feel the love…” But is technology evil in and of itself? Though we may think so when a computer crashes, we can’t figure out what button to push to make it work, or something just stops working for no reason at all, technology is not evil. What can be evil is the way technology is used. This said, technology can also be used for good purposes.
Over the past year, we have taken some steps forward in technology, trying to use it for good purposes. We updated our projection from reel-to-reel and overhead projectors to computer and DVD based projection, but that has been obvious to most of you. Another technology tool that we have been using is our church website, which gives general information about our church and lists some of our coming events. It also has a contact form, which was used by one person (now living in Wisconsin) who used to come to Olympians as a child. In October, I began to blog this section of our bulletin. (A blog is a way of making something available to read and interact with on the internet.) I have received comments on the blog from a past member and one anonymous person. It is nice to have these “touches” with people around the country and world.
Over the past couple of weeks, we have updated the way we record Sunday morning services. This means that we can now make CD’s of the morning services. This has also made it possible to post sermons to the internet. Now, anyone who accesses our church website can listen to, download, and/or get a podcast (an I-pod thing) of our morning messages. If there is a message that you think someone needs to hear, they can now access it on our website. Those who have moved away (or gone to Florida for the winter) can still hear what is going on at DCC. I don’t know how many people will use it, but it is available to people all over the world. I wonder what God will do through DCC’s use of technology… We may be surprised.
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
Over the past year, we have taken some steps forward in technology, trying to use it for good purposes. We updated our projection from reel-to-reel and overhead projectors to computer and DVD based projection, but that has been obvious to most of you. Another technology tool that we have been using is our church website, which gives general information about our church and lists some of our coming events. It also has a contact form, which was used by one person (now living in Wisconsin) who used to come to Olympians as a child. In October, I began to blog this section of our bulletin. (A blog is a way of making something available to read and interact with on the internet.) I have received comments on the blog from a past member and one anonymous person. It is nice to have these “touches” with people around the country and world.
Over the past couple of weeks, we have updated the way we record Sunday morning services. This means that we can now make CD’s of the morning services. This has also made it possible to post sermons to the internet. Now, anyone who accesses our church website can listen to, download, and/or get a podcast (an I-pod thing) of our morning messages. If there is a message that you think someone needs to hear, they can now access it on our website. Those who have moved away (or gone to Florida for the winter) can still hear what is going on at DCC. I don’t know how many people will use it, but it is available to people all over the world. I wonder what God will do through DCC’s use of technology… We may be surprised.
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
Monday, February 2, 2009
10 Commandments and Building a Legacy
Last fall, we started a series on the Ten Commandments, entitled, “Basic Instructions for Life.” We took a break from that study for a few months, and now we are returning to that study.
If you recall (I know, wishful thinking), our break came after the fourth commandment: Honor the Sabbath. The first four commandments deal primarily with our relationship with God. The remaining six commandments deal primarily with our relationship and interaction with other people. Is this division original thinking? Hardly. Answering the Pharisee’s question about the greatest commandment, Jesus said,
And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)
Thus, our break came at a change in emphasis in the commandments. Accordingly, I would like to approach the remaining six commandments from a different angle. The titles of these sermons will begin with, Building a Legacy Of …
We don’t hear the term, Legacy, very often, do we? A legacy is something that is handed down from one person or generation to another. In this case, the legacy is a culture of obedience to God’s Word and recognition of His intentions for our relationships with other people.
This week, we focus on building a legacy of honor, with the commandment, “Honor your father and mother…” (Ex. 20:12 / Deut, 5:16). Building a legacy of honor begins with the relationship of parent and child, and extends outward from there. Let’s consider God’s good intention and how we can build a strong legacy.
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
If you recall (I know, wishful thinking), our break came after the fourth commandment: Honor the Sabbath. The first four commandments deal primarily with our relationship with God. The remaining six commandments deal primarily with our relationship and interaction with other people. Is this division original thinking? Hardly. Answering the Pharisee’s question about the greatest commandment, Jesus said,
And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)
Thus, our break came at a change in emphasis in the commandments. Accordingly, I would like to approach the remaining six commandments from a different angle. The titles of these sermons will begin with, Building a Legacy Of …
We don’t hear the term, Legacy, very often, do we? A legacy is something that is handed down from one person or generation to another. In this case, the legacy is a culture of obedience to God’s Word and recognition of His intentions for our relationships with other people.
This week, we focus on building a legacy of honor, with the commandment, “Honor your father and mother…” (Ex. 20:12 / Deut, 5:16). Building a legacy of honor begins with the relationship of parent and child, and extends outward from there. Let’s consider God’s good intention and how we can build a strong legacy.
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
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