A HOUSE IS BUILT BY WISDOM, BUT A HOME IS BUILT BY

A HOUSE IS BUILT BY WISDOM, BUT A HOME IS BUILT BY

All but one of our four children have left home. One of my children owns their own home; another is paying theirs off, and the other describes herself as ‘homeless’ (albeit temporarily). However, whenever they come and stay with us, there is a tendency to refer to it as coming home. 

¶ By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Proverbs 24:3-4

BELONGING

A ‘home’, of course, is distinguished from a house. A house is a building. A home is where you belong. And we all need to belong.

God settles the solitary in a home;He leads out the prisoners to prosperity,but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
Psalm 68:6

GATHERING TOGETHER

Belonging involves being together. This is why the common family space becomes sacred. This is the place where the family meets together, such as the dinner table. It is here that the family prays together, eats together, talks with each other, cooperates with each other, and serves each other. 

¶ “When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be liable for any other public duty. He shall be free at home one year to be happy with his wife whom he has taken.
Deuteronomy 24:5

RELAXING

Pastor F.W. Boreham on the steps of the Hobart Baptist Manse in 1912, with Stella (his wife), and three of his children.

A home is where you can relax. FW Boreham was a pastor and a father of five children, who used to keep his shoes on at the dinner table if he was required to go straight out after dinner to attend to a pastoral duty. Each of his young children used to love finishing their dinner and then migrate into the lounge room with their father and climb up into his lap to enjoy one of his amazing stories. They knew, though, that if Daddy had his shoes on, there could be no lap-time story. But, whenever Pastor Boreham wore his slippers to the dinner table his children had reason to be excited for what would follow after dinner! Not only would their Daddy tell them a thrilling story (later, when they were older, he would read a classic book to them each night), he also gave them his undivided attention. Home is where you can relax.

Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29

RESTING

In one of his “Man Versus Wild” episodes, Bear Grylls stated that a good night’s sleep is more beneficial than a hearty meal. I cannot recall ever having a good night sleep whenever I have been camping, let alone the no-frills camping that Bear Grylls is talking about! If you’ve ever been travelling for an extended time, you’ll know what it feels like to come home and spend that first night in your own bed. Not only is home where you can relax, it is also where you can rest. 

And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
Mark 6:31

MAKING CHRIST OUR HOME

There are some beautiful parallels about what makes a home and becoming a devoted follower of Christ. In John 10, Jesus uses very homely language to describe a relationship with Himself. Being in a relationship with Christ is described as coming through a gate (Jn. 10:3) and entering into the home of the sheep, the ‘sheepfold’ (John 10:1). This can only happen if one enters through the correct ‘door’ — which is Jesus (John 10:7). 

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:9

It is when the ‘sheep’ (the follower of Christ) is placed in the sheepfold, their home, that they are safe from thieves and robbers (Jn. 10:8) and protected from wolves (Jn. 10:12). By implication, the one who comes to Christ experiences Jesus as their wall of protection from enemy forces and their roof of shelter from the elements of spiritual adversity.   

¶ Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
Psalm 84:3

The local church is the body of Christ and therefore, we, too, are to be a home and a family for those lambs and sheep that Christ, the Great Shepherd, places in our sheepfold. As we meet together each Sunday —  like a family coming together for their mealtime — we come to the table to enjoy a feast of God’s Word. This is a home-moment where Christ’s people belong; can relax in God’s presence; find rest in God’s grace; and be strengthened by the love of God through their brothers and sisters. This Sunday, welcome home.

Pastor Andrew Corbett

The Value of The Local Church - Lessons From Capernaum

A Cause Worthy of Your Life...In this latest article we explore the importance of the local church to the Cause of Christ. All too often we undermine the place of the local church. The temptation to take the gifts and talents which God has given us and to consider that the local church is too small of a stage for them may well be a devilish plot which entices us down a deadly pathway to fame, popularity, wealth, power, spirituality, and influence. This article will explore the place of the local church in the Cause of Christ and look at how serving God leads to better honour...

By Dr Andrew Corbett
4th January 2011

What is worth giving your life up for? Your family? Your country? Your sporting team? To give your life for something is to live with purpose. It becomes the reason for sacrifice, the defining element in all your goals, and the reason you work/study/train.

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:24

The Apostle Paul lived for a cause. He gave his life for something. Psychologists tell us that a person will give their life for something if the reward outweighs the cost. The tragedy of this reality is that too many people have fallen for a false Bill of Goods where they have been led to believe that their is a cheaper cost to pay and a greater reward to get if they would give their life for a lie dressed up as attractive truth. This is what Christ faced when He was about to commence His public ministry.

When the Devil tempted Christ he attempted to lure Him with fame, wealth, and power. Do this miracle! I’ll make you famous! I’ll give You the kingdoms of this world! Or, turn these stones to bread (a miracle, or display of 'power'), throw Yourself off the pinnacle of the Temple (fame, or 'popularity'), bow down and worship me (control, or 'influence').

Unlike us, Christ didn’t yield to the Devil’s temptations. We often negotiate with the Devil when he tempts us. We negotiate that if we perform a miracle, people will turn to Christ. We negotiate that if we were to become famous, we would have a greater platform for more people to hear about God. We negotiate that if we made one little compromise we could have more political influence. How many gifted preachers have sold their gift to the highest paying scheme only to end up spiritually divorced from God and His power? How many gifted singers have negotiated their way to stardom only to end up never acknowledging God anymore or using their voice to worship Him? How many aspiring politicians have entered Parliament and negotiated away their way to more power only to end becoming spiritually powerless?

If the Devil offered you a $1,000,000 to never go to church again, would you accept his offer? What if it was a $100,000?

“It’s not surprising that everyone has a price.
What is surprising is how low it is!”Anon.

Christ did not yield to the Devil’s temptations of fame, popularity, or power, in its various forms. He was committed to a greater cause! This greater cause would indeed result in Christ achieving great miracles, popularity, and power. But, He would do it God’s way - not the Devil’s! (Perhaps ironically, the various temptations - miraculously produce food, defy death, and receive kingdoms, would be done by Christ anyway, but for God’s glory not the Devil’s.) [Read the Full Article]