What I've Learned: Idolatry

Since moving to South Africa in January, I have had plenty of opportunity to learn what things I really depend on. I believe, like many of us, I thought that I didn't have any idols in my life. I can honestly say that Suzanne and I don't bow down before any graven images and worship.

But what happens when things get stirred up a bit? What happens when things don't go according to plan?

Suzanne and I took our first trip to Cape Town in July of 2011 to see if it would be a good place for us and to see if the Lord had work here that He would want us to do. I can honestly say, ever since taking that step of faith our lives have never been the same. After spending 10 days here, we returned to Uganda to nothing but turmoil from our staff and a whirlwind of various strange things happening out of the ordinary.

What have I learned from that point until now? I found that I trust myself more than I trust God. I've learned that when something is amiss, I turn to my own talents or knowledge and try to figure things out. Though God has endowed us with a certain amount of wisdom, He is still the one that we must look to for all things. I am slowly making the transition from depending on me when I can't do it to depending on God...period. Not only when I can't do something, but all the time. God wants all of our lives, not just the stuff that we can't do.

Though church planting teaches one many, many things...none is more important than a total and complete reliance on God. It sounds so easy at times "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" Matt. 6:25. So don't worry...yeah right! There is such a tendency to look around at our situations and measure them up to our standards and make out plans to get through them. If you are looking to anything but God...it is idolatry! The next logical question is, then what...what are we supposed to do?

First of all, rest and know that God is in complete control. There are no surprises to God. Do you believe that He is sovereign? Do you believe that He has nothing the but the best in store for you? He does! God does not sit around looking for opportunities to smite the very same people He sent His Son to die for.

Second, what are you seeking after? This sounds so basic, but the question is so searching. Are you seeking after the things of the Kingdom or the things of the world? This will tell you where your heart is. Jesus commands us in Matthew 6:33-34 to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. That is all!

We can rest knowing that God promised that He will take care of us if we are seeking after Him. I know it is easier to say than to do, but God just wants all of us...every bit.

The gospel doesn't end with salvation...this is where it only begins!

Grace and Peace,

Bob Scott

Know and Grow

As a baby needs milk to grow, so we too as believers need God's Word to mature. The Bible makes several claims that those who call themselves Christians should be attentive to. One such claim is that a clear mark of a saved (Christian) individual is the fact they are growing in knowledge of God, and such things.

Peter talks about this in his second epistle. In verse 5 he says "...giving all diligence, add to your faith..." then in verse 8 he says "For if these things are you and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The exhortation is clear, give all diligence (persistence, attention) to add to your faith. If you are a believer, you should be adding to your faith. Not in a legalistic way hoping to earn something in return, but in response to the love and grace that God, through Jesus, has shown you. You should be growing in your walk with the Lord.

He then goes on to say that if we are diligent to know these things, we will not be barren nor unfruitful in our knowledge of the Lord. God wants us to know as much about Him as we can! God wants us to be fruitful in the works that He has planned for us. We will only know the works He has for us by learning more and more about Him.

I encourage you to take a quick look and see where you were 5 or 10 years ago with the Lord. Have you grown? Did you make some foolish mistakes back then that you are not making today? That is actually good...that means that you are growing! We start with the milk of the Word and then God moves us onto the meat. He has such wonderful things for us that He has already planned out and waits for us to walk in them.

Pray...Read your bible...Fellowship with other believers...

Grace and Peace,

Bob, Suzanne and Bobby Scott

You Are Not Alone

Have you ever been in a season of life where you thought that God was not there? You were not necessarily being disciplined for any wrong doing, but you just had a hard time finding the presence of God. You pray, read your Bible...still nothing.

There is a tendency to think that you are the only one who has or is going through this. You put on a good show for all around, but inside there is nothing alive. It is not your salvation you are worried about, but you wonder when you will hear from God again. You look around and everyone seems to have it all together. They have everything figured out. You can't possibly talk to them, they would have no idea what you are talking about and they probably would think you are eccentric.

I want to encourage you that you are not alone. Every believer goes through these times when they are just unsettled, not knowing where or when their next step is. We have to believe, not in our emotions but in the fact that God is always there, even if we don't feel Him. Psalm 73:25-26 "Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." God is there and will be forever. Lean on His strength knowing that He has given us great and precious promises of an eternal life spent with Him.

When David was in despair he cried out "Give ear to my prayer, O God, and do not hide yourself  from my supplication. Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily." Psalm 55:1-2 The Lord was always David's strength. If he was running for his life from Saul or surrounded by enemies before the battle, David constantly drew upon the strength that God had.

I just want to encourage you that as times get tough turn to God for your strength. The God of old is the same God today, ready and willing to come to the aid of all who call upon His name. Try not to rely on your own understanding or advice, seek the face of the Lord. Though at times He may seem silent, I promise He is always working.

Grace and Peace,

Bob Scott

What does church mean to you?

St.Vitus Cathedral Prague, Czech Republic

There is much talk today about the purpose of the church. Does the church exist to feed the poor, help the helpless, give shelter to the homeless; or, is it there to give the gospel message of salvation through Jesus to a lost and wayward world? Some believe that the church only helps those that are within her doors. If you are not a regular member, giving offerings and tithes, then there really is no help for you. I am not a person of extremes so I believe that the church should be somewhere in the middle of all that. 

I have had the privilege of teaching through the book of Ephesians for our Sunday night REVIVE Bible study meetings at our house. Ephesians 4 is most often quoted when people talk about "doing" church. 

Let's first look at Ephesians 4:11-12. Paul is saying that Jesus gave some of us the gifts to be leaders in a church. Their offices were apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor-teacher.

Why? Verse 12 gives us the reasons "for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." These people that Jesus chose for these positions were there to serve the people that Jesus had given to the church. David Guzik said "The purpose of these gifts of leadership is also clear. It is that saints (God’s people) might be equipped for the work of ministry (service), so that the body of Christ would be built up (expanded and strengthened)." 

Are you being built up at church? Is your pastor-teacher feeding you the whole counsel of God? There is a large responsibility that falls upon the leadership of the church, but the saints must also be responsible. They must come to church with open minds, hearts and Bibles ready to learn all that God has for them. Chuck Smith said about these verses “The primary purpose of the Church isn’t to convert sinners to Christianity, but to perfect (complete and mature) the saints for the ministry and edification of the Body.”

Why is it important to be built up in the Word of God at church? Paul tells us in verse 16 that only when the whole church is functioning together will we see true growth, both spiritually and numerically. It is when each person in the body of Christ comes together and uses the spiritual gifts that God has given them. Paul says "by which every part does its share." Are you doing your share? Are you serving at the church that you attend? Do you know what your spiritual gifts are that God has given you?

By doing all these things in the church, it will naturally flow over into our everyday life. Being a servant within the walls of the church will motivate you to be a servant in your own community. Jesus said that He did not come to be served but to serve others. Jesus is our example of ministry, being a servant. 

So, I believe that the church leaders are there to equip those in the body for service. Those in the body (and the church leadership) are to be serving those outside the church, the poor and destitute among the fallen world. But, their first concern is for their spiritual well-being and then for their physical needs. We are to be beacons of light to this fallen generation. We are to do good works so that when people see them they praise God in heaven. 

My hope is that whatever church you are attending, you are being taught the Word of God first and foremost. The Bible is God speaking to us, period. My hope is also that by learning about God and His love towards us, you will then be motivated by that love to good works for others. 

We must remember to keep the main thing - the main thing...Jesus. 

Grace and Peace, 

Bob, Suzanne and Bobby Scott

REVIVE - Pray for our new Bible Study

"Revive me according to Your Word" Psalm 119:25

So the day has come that we are starting our Bible study here in the Table View area. We are studying the book of Ephesians, we are worshiping the Lord through music and prayer...and of course there is food!

You can check out what we are doing here. 

We would appreciate any and all prayer for the study. Especially that Jesus would be magnified in all that we do and all that we say to one another. Pray that each person coming would have a deeper understanding of the Word of God and their relationship with Him. 

Above all we pray that the Lord would revive our hearts towards Him and His Word. As New Testament Christians we want to be Christ-like in all that we do (1 Thessalonians 1:6). We want to have a heart for those who are lost to this world and have compassion on those who are walking against God. Just as Jesus has compassion on those who are lost and going astray (Hebrews 5:2). 

We covet your prayers (James 5:16). 

Grace and Peace, 

Bob - Suzanne - Bobby 

What does God see?

We had a great time at Tamboerskloof Primary School yesterday. The teaching was on the human eye and how we are made in the image of God. We were explaining to them that God actually sees everything they do!

This was a wonderful message of encouragement for the kids to know that God watches over them. Though, some of the kids were a bit ashamed to know that God saw all they did.

That fact led us to be able to share the Gospel with the group. They were encouraged to know that if they accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior that God only saw Jesus when He looked at them. This brought joy to the kids, to know that Jesus took the penalty of their sin upon the cross for them...just because He loves them.

We are consistently ministering to over 100 kids on a weekly basis at this primary school. God's hand is at work as we see more and more of these kids wanting to know more about Jesus. Please continue to pray that the Lord would draw many more kids to hear the weekly message. Also, that the Lord would soften the hearts of the kids so they can receive His message for them.

Grace and Peace,

Bob, Suzanne and Bobby

The Church is Only One Generation Away...

A great Christian leader said "The church is only one generation away from being extinct." What does this mean? Are we taking the time to teach our children about the Bible, God, Sin, Man, Jesus, etc? Are we simply entertaining them so we can get through the day?

The Bible speaks of a time like this, in Judges 2:8-10 "And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel." Then in verse 11 the climax hits...the children served other Gods and did evil in the sight of the Lord.

In South Africa 38% of the population is under the age of 18 so we feel it is prudent to receive much training regarding ministry to kids.

One of the largest children's ministry organizations in the world is Child Evangelism Fellowship. They have operations all over Africa, including South Africa. When I inquired about a need in the area that we lived in, they told us that there was nobody doing work there. This was a surprise to us as they have so many operations all over South Africa. They said that were we live is a heavy English speaking area and they have really only trained Afrikaans's speaking people. This was a joy to hear!

I went to the training on a Saturday, it was all day from 8am to 6pm about 30-45 minutes away from where we live. I was the only non-Afrikaans speaking person in the class of about 50, so they had to do the whole thing in English! I apologized but they were more than happy to accommodate when I tried to recite Acts 1:8 in Afrikaans, needless to say I still need some work!

The training consisted of everything someone would need to know when training children. There were people there who were training 1000's of kids using this program. It is really amazing and I would encourage anyone looking for a great Bible based curriculum to take a look. I was blessed that I made the trip to meet and talk with such wonderful people.

This training will set in motion several outreaches we have been praying about in our area and will also give us a strong kid's ministry when we plant our church. Please pray for the kids, wherever you are. Pray that Godly men and women will take the time to teach them about God so they don't do evil in His sight.

Grace and Peace,

Bob, Suzanne and Bobby Scott