Archive for category: GAMEtime Sharing

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Philemon 1:8-16.  Let’s go!

Philemon 1:8-11 (NIV) 
8  Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,
9  yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul–an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus–

On verses 8-9:  Paul had a special role in Philemon’s life.  For one, Paul was the one whom God used to lead Philemon to Christ (v19).  In this way Paul was like a spiritual father to Philemon.  Not only that, Paul’s disciple Epaphras was the one who started the church in Colosse that met in Philemon’s home and so, like a spiritual grandfather to the Colossian Christians, Paul’s words carried special weight.  Yet instead of throwing his weight around and using his rights and authority to order Philemon to do what he should do (v8), Paul appeals to Philemon gently and meekly “on the basis of love” (v9) – not as an authoritarian apostle, but as “an old man” and as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus” (v9).   From this I learn an important lesson:

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 29:21-30.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 29:22 (NIV) 
22  They ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the LORD that day. Then they acknowledged Solomon son of David as king a second time, anointing him before the LORD to be ruler and Zadok to be priest.
 
On verses 21-22:  It touches my heart deeply to think that David’s last act as king of Israel, before he handed the reigns of his kingdom to his son Solomon, was to lead his people in worshiping the Lord, both through giving the most generous offering they could muster together (v1-9) and giving God praise through prayer and song (v10-20).  And now, one day later, the people are at it again, giving God worship through generous sacrifices and offerings (v21).  They eat and drink together with great joy before recognizing and anointing Solomon as their king and ruler (v22).  What can we learn from this? The most important thing you can do with the power God has given you is lead others to know and worship the Lord.  Like David, may you do it until you don’t have the power to do it anymore.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 29:1-9.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 29:3 (NIV) 
3  Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple…

On verses 1-9:  After commissioning his son Solomon to build the temple and encouraging his top leaders in chapter 28, here in chapter 29 David addresses the whole assembly of Israelites.  He tells them of the great vision ahead of them to build a temple for the Lord.  He also tells them of the great challenges that are before them as they pursue this vision (v1).  Then David announces that he has already donated a tremendous amount toward this cause from all his own personal resources, which probably consisted of spoils that he had acquired over time as king (v2).  Now David says he is about to make an even greater personal donation (v3-5a).  This greater personal donation – which in the Hebrew means “my most personal treasure” – consisted of 3,000 talents of gold from Ophir (the most coveted gold in the region at that time) as well as 7,000 talents of refined silver.   Then he asks the entire assembly “Who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?” (v5b), meaning “Who will give of themselves personally toward building the temple?” (In fact, the word “consecrate” in Hebrew literally means to “fill the hand”.) 

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 28:1-10. Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 28:4-6 (NIV) 
4  “Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel. 
5  Of all my sons–and the LORD has given me many–he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. 
6  He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
 
On verses 1-6:  In these verses, David addresses the leaders of Israel (political officials, tribal leaders, military commanders, warriors and others).  First, David recounts how he originally had it in his heart to build a temple for the Lord where the ark of God could rest (v2), but that God told him that he was not the one to build the temple due to his having shed other people’s blood in battle (v3).

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 26:1-32.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 26:1 (NIV) 
1  The divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph. 

On verses 1-3:  Here the Chronicler begins to list the men who served as gatekeepers at the temple.  Their role was to welcome those who entered the temple and also prevent dangerous or unclean things from entering.  They were part greeter team, part usher, part security, and 100% the first impression people received when people came to worship at the temple.  The fact that the Chronicler lists in detail who served as gatekeepers shows how important the gatekeeper ministry was, and continues to be today.  If you are part of a greeter team, ushering team or security team at the church, thank you!  Your role is a crucial one.  You are the front door of the church and the first impression people receive when they come.  In fact, for people who have never been to church before, you are their first impression of your church and of Jesus.  So never underestimate your role as a greeter, usher, or security person.  When you serve as a greeter, usher or security, know that your attitude, your demeanor and how proactive, observant and loving you are make a huge difference in people’s experience at church.