From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 5:59 AM

Subject: 11-18-21 THOUGHTS

11-18-21 THOUGHTS  

We are not wise to always avoid those passages in the bible that make us uncomfortable.  That God intends for us to do more than warm a pew is abundantly clear in His word.  Disciples who make other disciples is the cry of  Matt 28:19    "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,”.  Also Mark 1:17-18 says so simply  “And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."  18  Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”   And Heb 12:1-2 adds, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”   FRUIT CHURCH, FRUIT!

Luke 13:6-9    And He began telling this parable: "A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7  "And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8  "And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9  and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’"
We find the parable of the talents in Matt 25:19-30   we begin at verse 28    ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ 29  "For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an aundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30  "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
John 15:1-8      "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2  "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3  "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  4  "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5  "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6  "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7  "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8  "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

John 12:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

My Prayer:
Lord make us instruments of your peace.  May we see in every face, an eternal soul.  Help us to tell the story of Jesus with the excitement that saved us.  Teach us that believing means bearing fruit. Help us as the body of Christ, to powerfully lift each other up in love and good works.  As a family, may we make family.  As disciples, may we make disciples. May we please you O God.       In Jesus' precious name,         Amen.