Oh Brother
Pastor Jim Kilby • April 25, 2025
Jesus breaks down walls! When I was younger, I would never have considered hanging out with people who didn't have a lot in common with me. Today, I find I have a lot in common with people who are nothing like me because we're brothers and sisters in Christ. Whether the boundaries are racial, socioeconomic or just plain generational, Jesus can break down all of them if we let them. If you're irritated by the random boundaries people throw up to separate themselves from people who "aren't like them," you'll find the right church can be a real breath of fresh air in that area. This type of earth-shattering love has been taking place since the moment Jesus rose from the grave. The earliest Christians even allowed their #1 enemy to join their ranks once the Lord convicted him of his sin.
"Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, BROTHER SAUL, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts 9:17 (Emphasis added)
Pastor Jim Kilby
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"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' In tithes and offerings." Malachi 3:8 I have a young Christian friend who has nearly 20 pairs of very expensive basketball shoes. While I certainly have nothing against a great pair of shoes, I found it a little weird that he buys a pair of shoes almost every payday. Since he makes little more than minimum wage, it has to take a huge chunk of his check. Since I've been a mentor of his for years, I found the opportunity to ask him how he could afford such an expensive treat each month. It wasn't long before I understood quite clearly. He doesn't save any money, and he doesn't give anything to the Lord. Now that I think about it, maybe I do have something against a good pair of basketball shoes--but only if they're stolen, of course. "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income" 1 Corinthians 16:2a Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Jesus preached almost non-stop for three years straight, giving us a wonderful view into the Father's heart, and into what we should be striving for in this life. He broke down the walls between His Father and us by the most amazing of ways--dying in our place! As I read through Jesus' words, I find it interesting that he spoke against our indifference so often and so strongly. Apathy is a killer to any faith, and especially to one where it becomes so commonplace as to be expected. George Barna, the Christian pollster writes that his polls show that a full 66% of churchgoers are nothing more than observers, and we all know that of the 34% remaining, few are sold-old to Christ. And thus it is no doubt the genesis for our Lord's many attempts to encourage us to keep the faith. Satan works non-stop to keep us caring less. And we often play right into his hands. "I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God." Jesus of Nazareth (Revelation 2:1b-2) Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Have you ever heard the saying, "Preachers only work one day a week"? Although most people would never believe such a thing, many probably do think that the average construction worker, regular 9 to 5 employee, or even a fast food employee work harder than their pastor. While I'm sure there are some who are slacking, the pastors I know are among the hardest workers I've ever met, and what's more, they carry the burdens of more people than you can imagine. My suspicion is that your pastor (or priest) is serving you in ways you haven't even thought of yet. Have you done anything to help with the ministry at your church lately? Have you shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with anyone lately? Have you invited someone to church in the last month or so? If not, today is the day! There has never been a day in the life of my ministry where we've had enough money or enough servants--I'd bet the same is true of your church, too. "He told them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'" Luke 10:2 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
"Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, 'Hail, king of the Jews!' And they struck him in the face." John 19:1-3 As you celebrate Easter (or Resurrection Sunday) this weekend, please remember that before Easter's incredible message of salvation and rebirth comes the dark and dreadful death of God's only Son. Easter Sunday means nothing without Christ paying our penalty on the Friday before it. Why would He undergo such torment and ridicule... the Holy Scriptures say He did it just for YOU! "So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others--one on each side and Jesus in the middle." John 19:16b-18 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4 So maybe your dad's not perfect at this (none ever are), but if he knows the Lord, hopefully he's trying. So exactly what does this mean he's supposed to do? The Greek work "paideia", which means "training" really means three things together; instruction, discipline, and personal guidance. Dad's all go about this differently, but no matter how they do it, they are supposed to conduct themselves in such a way that their children don't get a negative attitude. If they do, that attitude can keep them from learning anything. Since I'm writing to teens, please don't go throw this verse in your father's face if he's making mistakes here. To do so would be to go against the commandment to honor your father (and mother). Instead, work on your attitude and you might just learn something even if his methods need work. And remember, Daniel served under a pagan king and still honored God every day of his life. I bet your dad's not as bad as King Nebuchadnezzar! Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
People make all kinds of incorrect assertions about the Bible--a book which the vast majority of people have never read. Just like any assumption based on an educated (or uneducated) guess, most of them are badly mistaken. One I've heard often is that Jesus never told anyone He was God. In fact, the Bible quotes Jesus saying just that many times in many different ways. Below is one of my favorite. Make it a habit to check out anything anyone tells you about the Bible before you commit it to memory. I even check the Scriptures my pastor uses, not that I don't trust Him, but just to be sure. It helps me guard against believing lies--it may help you too. Again the high priest asked him [Jesus], "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Mark14:61b Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
I ran across some pretty shocking statistics about where people are going for advice and counsel these days. It seems that horoscope readings are at an all time high--some people buying the entire newspaper just to get the horoscope. I noticed that the larger mobile phone providers even offer to send your horoscope to you via text message each day. It also seems that many people (Christians included) are opting to forego time with pastors and licensed counselors to instead get counsel from spiritists, palm readers and the like. No doubt holistic medicine is on the rise, much of which has roots in ancient Pagan religions. And if that's not bad enough, the numbers of people who read the Bible, attend church, or even receive a daily devotional like this one are at an all time low. So, if people are more interested in listening to things taught by demons than those taught by God, how do they continue to surmise that they are "OK" with their heavenly Father? "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." 1 Timothy 4:1 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
I get a good amount of mail from teens who feel like their Christianity is getting in the way of their friendships. Their friends don't want much to do with them any more since they've decided to be "down with the God thing!" It makes them want to change their standards or at least hide them from people in order to keep their friends. On the other end of the spectrum, I talk to many parents, leaders, and teachers who feel like the Christian standards they set make kids angry and even wind up making some of them run away from God. My take on the problem is the same in both instances and I attack it with a couple of simple questions. 1. Would God offer to become less holy because we don't like Him that way? 2. Does Truth change to fit the circumstances of the moment? The standards are where God put them, and that's what Christ followers try to achieve. If others don't like it, then we love them enough to tell them we won't change our standards for them. We make it obvious to everyone that our relationship with God is preeminent in our lives. You might find, as I have, that the same people who complained so much and ran away might come running to you for answers when things go bad in their lives. "LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart." Psalm 15:1-2 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
