Pastor Rick Hudgens | Great
Expectations!
Sunday/Aug/2008 15:32
In the next few months, we as a body of believers at
North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene will be
participating in an extensive and prayerful process of
seeking God’s direction for our church, and
defining the unique ministry purpose to which he has
called us in this place and at this time.
As part of that process, members of the congregation will
be encouraged to invest time in Focused Living Retreats
(FLR). These two-session weekend retreats (Friday night
and Saturday to mid-day) will give participants an
opportunity to examine their own lives to clarify their
personal values, purpose and calling.
Read more about the
Focused Living Retreats
Podcast
Pastor Rick Hudgens | Get
Serious
Sunday/Aug/2008 13:30
The question James asked over 1900 years ago is still
being asked today at every level of society: "What is the
source of all the fights and conflicts among us?" James
answered that question with another question: “Do
you think they just happen?” Although James
specifically had in mind the conflict that leads to
battered congregations and split churches, I believe his
message is for each of us today. James is telling us to
get serious about our relationship with God and with
others. Here is an example from history:
At the beginning of the 20th century, Argentina and Chile
were coming close to armed conflict over an ongoing
dispute over the location of the border. The bishop of
Cuyo, monsignor Marcelino del Carmen Benavente, promised
to erect a statue of Christ the Redeemer to remind the
parties of Christ's message of peace. A large statue of
Christ was erected high in the Andes on the border
between Argentina and Chile. Called "Christ of the
Andes," the statue symbolizes a pledge between the two
countries that as long as the statue stands, there will
be peace between Chile and Argentina. Shortly after the
statue was erected, the Chileans began to protest that
they had been slighted -- the statue had its back turned
to Chile. Just when tempers were at their highest in
Chile, a Chilean newspaperman saved the day. In an
editorial that not only satisfied the people but made
them laugh, he simply said, "The people of Argentina need
more watching over than the Chileans.”
Today we study a passage from James where he calls us
“spoiled children” and tells us to get
serious, really serious. He says “Get down on your
knees before the Master; it’s the only way
you’ll get on your feet.”
Listen
Pastor Rick Hudgens | Tame
Your Tongue
Sunday/Jul/2008 13:19
There's a marvelous story about a young man in a Highland
village of Scotland who because of envy and hatred passed
on a very depreciating, destroying story about another
man in the village. As a result, the rumor spread until
the man's reputation was absolutely destroyed. He used
his tongue to commit character assassination. He
destroyed the man.
And then through a discovery of the real fact he realized
that he had passed on a story which was untrue. And so,
he went to the local pastor of the village hoping that he
could be absolved for this. And the pastor said, "Tell
me. What is it that you said?" And he told him. And he
said, "Now can I be forgiven?" He said, "Oh no, not that
quickly." He said, "I want you to do something for me.
Take a whole bag of feathers. I want you to go all around
the village and put one feather in every dooryard."
The
man thought that was a very unusual instruction from a
clergyman. But wanting to be forgiven, he obeyed. And so
he went all over the village and out around the outskirts
of the town and put one feather in every dooryard. Then
he came back, and said to the local pastor "Now, may I be
forgiven?"
And
the minister said, "Oh no, not yet. I want you to take
that same bag and go and pick up all those feathers." He
said, "Why, that's absurd, Pastor. I can't do that. The
wind has carried them away." And, indeed, that's what
happens when we have not tamed our tongue.
Listen
Pastor Rick Hudgens | Faith:
The Real Thing
Sunday/Jul/2008 14:02
Biblical Christianity demands the highest levels of
commitment. Jesus Himself expressed that He expected His
disciples to be willing to sacrifice their very lives to
bring people to salvation or they could not even consider
themselves His disciples.
Gary
Collins, in his book “Beyond Easy Believism”
(Word) says: “Cheap grace sounds a lot like easy
believism. It is a Christianity without cost or
commitment. It sees religion as a personal hobby or an
‘extra’ experience which does little more
than add zest and interest to life. . . The heroes of
Hebrews 11 would have buckled under if their faith had
involved nothing more than a casual commitment to easy
believism. The thousands of believers who suffer today in
Iron-Curtain prison camps do not maintain their stability
and convictions because they have only a cheap
grace” (page 35).
"Easy
Believism" is the idea that having a mental belief in
Jesus Christ is the same as obtaining salvation. In other
words, people only need to believe correct doctrines
about Jesus and salvation, rather than to actually trust
Jesus Christ Himself for salvation. The Bible notes that
the "devils also believe and tremble". (James 2:19 KJV)
We are going to look at the passage in James 2:14-26 and
see the importance of the balance of faith and works.
This is the most controversial and misunderstood passage
in the book of James. In this
passage
James talks about the difference between real and
counterfeit Christians, authentic believers and fake
believers. He talks about how you can have a real faith.
Listen