Life@Eaglebrook ----------- ------------ February 23rd, 2021

Love-Shaped.
As Pastor Steve shared with us this past Sunday, as fallen human beings, we all have the natural inclination to want our own way, and to voice our own opinion, rather than listening to the views of others. And so, James encourages us to be quick to listen, to be slow to speak, and to be slow in becoming angry with others.
 
The goal is not simply behavior modification.
 
However, as followers of Jesus, we are not simply called to conform our behavior, or to try harder to act a certain way. While restraining our behavior might have its place, as followers of Jesus, our real calling is to become a different kind of person. As we are won over by the love of God, instead of being the kind of person who only wants their own way and their own say… in love, we are to become the kind of person who willingly seeks to understand the views of others.
 
Jesus shows us what God is like.
 
While we were yet sinners, Jesus willingly died for us. When we were still His enemies, God brought reconciliation. God did not wait for us to come to Him… He came to us. He built a bridge rather than a wall. And in the same way, when it comes to how we are to respond to others, Jesus does not merely instruct us to suppress our outbursts or to hold our tongue… Jesus calls us to love our enemies. And, at the very least, loving our enemies would certainly include being willing to listen to their views, as we try to understand their perspective. 
 
Suppressing our anger versus displacing our anger.
 
Religion tells us that we should control our anger. But while we can certainly try to control our anger by gritting our teeth and bottling up our true feelings, as I am sure we have all experienced, these attempts at restraint are always temporary at best, and they often only lead to an even bigger explosion down the line. Jesus shows us another way. As followers of Jesus, we are not being called to restrain ourselves and to act as if we are not angry. We are called to have our anger displaced with genuine love for others, as we experience the love of God. 
 
Love shapes who we are.
 
As we are set free by God’s love for us, we begin the shift from being inward-focused to outward-focused, from seeking only our own desires, to seeking after the interests of others. And as this happens, anger becomes less and less an issue. What used to make me angry in my selfishness, no longer seems to bother me as much. As my focus is truly on the concerns of others, I no longer need to force myself to listen instead of speak… because, it begins to become my natural response.
 
So, may we see that as followers of Jesus, that we are to become the kind of people who lift others up, who put others first, and who are willing to give ourselves away, and who lay our own rights down… not merely because we are supposed to, but because we want to. This is how God has loved us, and so this becomes the way that we start to love others.

May we walk in the Image of God this week!
Arnie
Listen More
True Faith... Not Useless Religion
James 1:19-21

Sunday Services - Indoors and Online!

We are continuing to provide our have our Sunday Worship Services both online and inside the building!  

For those who choose to come and worship in-person with us on Sunday Mornings, these indoor services will be very similar to the services we were having outdoors over the summer:   

  •  We will be encouraging safe social-distancing.
  •  We are asking you to bring your own chairs.
  •  We will be requiring the use of face-masks.
  •  We will be encouraging the use of hand-sanitizer.
  •  There will be no Nursery or Children's Ministries.

However, indoor bathrooms will now be available for use. The building will be professionally cleaned each week, giving you the peace of mind that our space is as safe as it can possibly be during this time.
If you are comfortable with gathering at this time, 
please come out and join us!

Otherwise, check us out online!
Eaglebrook Church
null
 
Location:
1025 Margaret Street, Woodruff, WI 54568 

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 144 
Woodruff, WI 54568
 
Phone:
715-356-3313
Want to give to Eaglebrook Church?

You can do so online!
Facebook Live Event This Week
If you are not comfortable meeting indoors at this time, then please join us this coming Sunday at 10:00am for our next Facebook Live Event... 

Sunday Worship
Facebook Live at 10:00am

There will also be a pre-recorded teaching video posted on Sunday Morning, which can be viewed using the links below.
Next Elder Board Meeting
The next Elder Meeting is scheduled for:

Monday, March 8th at 6:30pm

If you have any issues or concerns that you would like the Elder Board to discuss at the next meeting, please talk to any of the Elders.
Why So Serious?
If you come across an item that you would like to see featured in
future segments of "Why So Serious?", please email your
submission to arnie@eaglebrookminocqua.org
Scripture of the Week
Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV) -- Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.


A different way to live... which includes listening well... listening more... and becoming angry less.

James is so practical. But this also applies to our relationship with God.

Because listening to Him... His word... is supposed to translate into a way that we are to live. We are to actually put into practice the very gospel that has transformed us. That is where James goes in our text next Sunday!

Hope to see you there whether you are in-person or online!

I love being your pastor!
Steve
Eaglebrook Church --------- www.eaglebrookminocqua.org ---------- 715-356-3313