God has called you to be on a mission on this planet. There is no getting around that fact. And Jesus is our model of a life that was always on undistracted mission.
People were always coming to Jesus saying and doing things that could have distracted him from his mission. But he was always about that mission. Jesus said that he came to earth to seek and save the lost. Giving his life away meant that on a daily basis he would consider others more important that himself (Phil 2) and on the ultimate level when he died on the cross.
This instance of Jesus serving others comes from the Gospel of John and is just prior to his death. Knowing what was in front of him it may have been easy to have been distracted from his mission, but Jesus was not.
From John 13::
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered him, What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand. 8 Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. 9 Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head! 10 Jesus said to him, The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you. 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, Not all of you are clean. 12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
God has a mission for your life. You are God's missionary in the exact time and place where you are. Your school, job, family, friends, neighborhood and city are all places that God has put you to be on mission. Ask God to show you what it is and give you the strength to rise to it.
Missionary Part I
If Christ is in you, then you are missionary and you are told to be on a mission. There is no getting around this.
"In John's gospel alone, Jesus told us no less than 39 times that he was a missionary from heaven who came to minister incarnationally to an earthly culture. Further more, Jesus has called us to be missionaries in culture as he was. (John 20:21'as the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.') The Father sent Jesus into a specific time and culture as our example."
- Mark Driscoll from "The Church and the Supremacy of Christ
A few of those 39 times are:
John 4:34 Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
John 5:23 Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
John 5:30 can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
These are just three of the times in the gospel of John where Jesus talks about being sent by God. Know this, God has placed in you the time and the place where you currently find yourself for a purpose. That purpose is to live a life sent by God. That is what being a missionary is, one who is sent on a mission. God has sent you on a mission and Jesus is your model.
"In John's gospel alone, Jesus told us no less than 39 times that he was a missionary from heaven who came to minister incarnationally to an earthly culture. Further more, Jesus has called us to be missionaries in culture as he was. (John 20:21'as the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.') The Father sent Jesus into a specific time and culture as our example."
- Mark Driscoll from "The Church and the Supremacy of Christ
A few of those 39 times are:
John 4:34 Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
John 5:23 Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
John 5:30 can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
These are just three of the times in the gospel of John where Jesus talks about being sent by God. Know this, God has placed in you the time and the place where you currently find yourself for a purpose. That purpose is to live a life sent by God. That is what being a missionary is, one who is sent on a mission. God has sent you on a mission and Jesus is your model.
Thought Provoking Christmas Quotes
God himself shows up, the hope, reality, liberty of God is breaking into the world. In the middle of day to day living, God is breaking in, He is coming near. That is the baby in the stall, that is Christmas, the infinite one who could not be contained by a thousand galaxies, born in a feeding trough.
-Jonathan MacIntosh
Bring your peace into our violence
-Chris Rice
With the poetry of the season you can think yourself to silence.
-Alister Beig
Son of God, love's oure light
Radiant beams from Thy Holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord at Thy birth, Jesus Lord at Thy birth.
-Joseph Mohr
-Jonathan MacIntosh
Bring your peace into our violence
-Chris Rice
With the poetry of the season you can think yourself to silence.
-Alister Beig
Son of God, love's oure light
Radiant beams from Thy Holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord at Thy birth, Jesus Lord at Thy birth.
-Joseph Mohr
Gospel centered ministry
I found this on line from a friend and it is really good stuff.
Gospel centered ministry is characterized by...
Empowered corporate worship. The gospel changes our relationship with God from one of hostility or slavish compliance to one of intimacy and joy. The core dynamic of gospel-centered ministry is therefore worship and fervent prayer. In corporate worship God’s people receive a special life-transforming sight of the worth and beauty of God, and then give back to God suitable expressions of his worth. At the heart of corporate worship is the ministry of the Word. Preaching should be expository (explaining the text of Scripture) and Christ-centered (expounding all biblical themes as climaxing in Christ and his work of salvation). Its ultimate goal, however, is not simply to teach but to lead the hearers to worship, individual and corporate, that strengthens their inner being to do the will of God.
From www.gospelcoalition.org
Gospel centered ministry is characterized by...
Empowered corporate worship. The gospel changes our relationship with God from one of hostility or slavish compliance to one of intimacy and joy. The core dynamic of gospel-centered ministry is therefore worship and fervent prayer. In corporate worship God’s people receive a special life-transforming sight of the worth and beauty of God, and then give back to God suitable expressions of his worth. At the heart of corporate worship is the ministry of the Word. Preaching should be expository (explaining the text of Scripture) and Christ-centered (expounding all biblical themes as climaxing in Christ and his work of salvation). Its ultimate goal, however, is not simply to teach but to lead the hearers to worship, individual and corporate, that strengthens their inner being to do the will of God.
From www.gospelcoalition.org
Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts was a pastor and theologian from England. He was born in 1674. He was known as a desenter, which means he rebelled against the church of England in favor of establishment independant congregation that was free from government regulations on church. He spoke Latin at age 4 and Greek by 9. There was a divide among churches of the day about singing. One group that followed John Calvin said that only the Psalms could be sung. Another was led by Martin Luther and he encouraged personally written hymns. Most of the people of the day aligned themselves with Calvin. Watts and his father, who was a pastor argued this point. Watts' father challenged him to write a song for their church and he did. In 1707 he finished his first book of hymns, which spread all over the world and created a large debate. He was accussed of compromising the truth of scripture in favor of creativity and art.
"If one could pray spontaneously to God, why would it be any different to sing so?" In 1712 he broke mentally and physically and tried to step down, but his congregation gave him some time off to think through the issue.
We still sing some of his songs today. Among them are When I Survey the Wonderous Cross and Joy to the World. The singing to God from the heart that is present in many churches today are done so thanks in large part to the work of Isaac Watts.
The following song is a lesser known song of His that has captured my mind this week. Here is a link you can use to see other Isaac Watts hymns http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/isaac_watts/
I sing th' almighty power of God,
That made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
And built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God's command,
And all the stars obey.
2. I sing the goodness of the Lord,
Who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word,
And then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed,
Wherever I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread,
Or gaze upon the sky.
3. There's not a plant or flower below,
But makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
By order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee
Is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be,
Thou, God art present there.
"If one could pray spontaneously to God, why would it be any different to sing so?" In 1712 he broke mentally and physically and tried to step down, but his congregation gave him some time off to think through the issue.
We still sing some of his songs today. Among them are When I Survey the Wonderous Cross and Joy to the World. The singing to God from the heart that is present in many churches today are done so thanks in large part to the work of Isaac Watts.
The following song is a lesser known song of His that has captured my mind this week. Here is a link you can use to see other Isaac Watts hymns http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/isaac_watts/
I sing th' almighty power of God,
That made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
And built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God's command,
And all the stars obey.
2. I sing the goodness of the Lord,
Who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word,
And then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed,
Wherever I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread,
Or gaze upon the sky.
3. There's not a plant or flower below,
But makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
By order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee
Is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be,
Thou, God art present there.
Merimnao
I preached from Matthew 6:25-33 yesterday and this word merimnao appears in this passage 6 times. As I wrestled with that text last week in preperation for the message, I realized that is the lens through which we must see this segment of teaching.
The word actually means to be anxious or troubled with cares or to scan minutely. That last addition came from a webstie that I just found. It is http://regreek.com/ and I suggest checking it out. Think on that thought for a while, what does it mean to scan something minutely. Think about it in the context of this verse where the same word appears::
Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Be not troubled today.
The word actually means to be anxious or troubled with cares or to scan minutely. That last addition came from a webstie that I just found. It is http://regreek.com/ and I suggest checking it out. Think on that thought for a while, what does it mean to scan something minutely. Think about it in the context of this verse where the same word appears::
Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Be not troubled today.
the unending wrestling match
Romans 7:14-8:2
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Life in the Spirit
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 . Standard Bible Society: Wheaton
I had a conversation with a friend yesterday over lunch. I am not sure of his thoughts on God. He is old high school friend and I have just recently began to reconnect with him. He is open to discussion about lots of topics so I asked him about his thoughts on religion and Jesus. He said that he wants to do what is right, but sometimes he fails. That got me to thinking about the scripture that is above.
In recent days I had been thinking about this passage, because of personal reasons. I am struggling with surrednering my selfishness and being consumed with God. But I fail and snap back into pleasing myself. I have been given courage by this hero Paul and his continual struggle with the enemy that is within him called the flesh.
There is not a solution that I have come up with for this deal, no neat ending for me to post here on this blog. There is only courage to be taken that all wrestle with the war of the flesh and the spirit. Paul, me, my friend from high school and you. No matter where you are in your relationship with God, you will fight this fight.
Whatever!
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Life in the Spirit
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 . Standard Bible Society: Wheaton
I had a conversation with a friend yesterday over lunch. I am not sure of his thoughts on God. He is old high school friend and I have just recently began to reconnect with him. He is open to discussion about lots of topics so I asked him about his thoughts on religion and Jesus. He said that he wants to do what is right, but sometimes he fails. That got me to thinking about the scripture that is above.
In recent days I had been thinking about this passage, because of personal reasons. I am struggling with surrednering my selfishness and being consumed with God. But I fail and snap back into pleasing myself. I have been given courage by this hero Paul and his continual struggle with the enemy that is within him called the flesh.
There is not a solution that I have come up with for this deal, no neat ending for me to post here on this blog. There is only courage to be taken that all wrestle with the war of the flesh and the spirit. Paul, me, my friend from high school and you. No matter where you are in your relationship with God, you will fight this fight.
Whatever!
Keller Quote
I quoted Tim keller yesterday to wrap up the message. It came as the passage I used ended with "you cannot serve both God and money." The whole of the passage is having an eternal focus and what you allow to attract you and it uses the eye of the mind metaphor.
It seems to be a good idea to put that quote here:: "Of all the masters, Jesus is the only one who fulfills and if you fail Him, He dies for you."
Freedom is such a misunderstood thing. We are in a time where freedom is paramount and religion is shunned because it takes away our freedom. But none of us our truly free. We are all slaves to something. Jesus is the only master that will never change or leave you in want or abandon you when you fail.
It seems to be a good idea to put that quote here:: "Of all the masters, Jesus is the only one who fulfills and if you fail Him, He dies for you."
Freedom is such a misunderstood thing. We are in a time where freedom is paramount and religion is shunned because it takes away our freedom. But none of us our truly free. We are all slaves to something. Jesus is the only master that will never change or leave you in want or abandon you when you fail.
Ticks me off
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them.
If my people who are called my name would humble themselves and pray, then will I hear from heaven and I will heal their land.
These two verses are quoted all the time and completely out of context. I heard the first one yesterday in a prayer twice. I even heard it from a high ranking person in the Missouri Baptist Convention at the annual meeting. It made me think poorly of this person, it even caused me to stumble. And we know all about abstinence from things that cause people to stumble.
We say, "God you have promised that whereve two or three are gathered you will be with us, so God we ask you to be here with us." It is like when I am alone and want to pray or hang out with God I can't. Do I need to go and find a friend? If I am with three other people do I need to tell one of them go home so that we can have two or three?
Ridiculous! The context is Matthew 18 and conflict resolution and bringing two people to try to bring a friend out of sin. It has nothing to do with prayer or a worship service.
The "heal their land verse" is quoted alot when american churches climb up on the patriotism mountain. It happens alot over the fourth of July and Veterans Day holidays and during election times. It is is also ridiculous and out of context. The statement is made by God and he talking to Jews in Israel. He is not talking to the USA.
This one is not as bad, because from a conceptual standpoint it is a good idea to humble yourself and pray to God. But, this is not a promise by God to the USA. In fact, there are no promises by God to the USA in all of scripture. Gasp!
So stop praying these things. Please.
If my people who are called my name would humble themselves and pray, then will I hear from heaven and I will heal their land.
These two verses are quoted all the time and completely out of context. I heard the first one yesterday in a prayer twice. I even heard it from a high ranking person in the Missouri Baptist Convention at the annual meeting. It made me think poorly of this person, it even caused me to stumble. And we know all about abstinence from things that cause people to stumble.
We say, "God you have promised that whereve two or three are gathered you will be with us, so God we ask you to be here with us." It is like when I am alone and want to pray or hang out with God I can't. Do I need to go and find a friend? If I am with three other people do I need to tell one of them go home so that we can have two or three?
Ridiculous! The context is Matthew 18 and conflict resolution and bringing two people to try to bring a friend out of sin. It has nothing to do with prayer or a worship service.
The "heal their land verse" is quoted alot when american churches climb up on the patriotism mountain. It happens alot over the fourth of July and Veterans Day holidays and during election times. It is is also ridiculous and out of context. The statement is made by God and he talking to Jews in Israel. He is not talking to the USA.
This one is not as bad, because from a conceptual standpoint it is a good idea to humble yourself and pray to God. But, this is not a promise by God to the USA. In fact, there are no promises by God to the USA in all of scripture. Gasp!
So stop praying these things. Please.
Hello Friends. Since Rik does not have a secretary and he is a bit on the unorganized side, we are going to do a sign up here to avoid hundreds of emails back and forth. These are the items that we will need to sign up for. Turkey and Gravy will be provided. Please feel free to sign up for more than one. Also remember, when signing up - there are several single men out there that we may ALL like to bring paper products if you know what I mean! We need food for about 45-50 people.
Dressing - Tonya
Dressing - Kuntz
Mashed Potatoes - Wagners of the Travis & Megan type
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes - Rachel Wright
Corn - Steph
Green Beans - Kuntz
Cranberry Sauce - Tonya
Dinner Rolls - Brian Howdeshell
Dinner Rolls - Walton
Butter - Mama Sue
Pumpkin Pie/Cool Whip - Megan
Peach Cobbler - Rachel Wright
Dessert - Apple Pie - Wagners of the Ryan & Jamie type
Dessert - Walton
Heavy Duty Plastic Plates
Utencils
Plastic Cups
Ice
Napkins - Mama Sue
Iced Tea - Papa Baker
Iced Tea - Papa Baker
Lemonade - Mama Sue
Lemonade - Mama Sue
Never mind the diet coke - it is TEA that Charlie needs - my bad.
Dressing - Tonya
Dressing - Kuntz
Mashed Potatoes - Wagners of the Travis & Megan type
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes - Rachel Wright
Corn - Steph
Green Beans - Kuntz
Cranberry Sauce - Tonya
Dinner Rolls - Brian Howdeshell
Dinner Rolls - Walton
Butter - Mama Sue
Pumpkin Pie/Cool Whip - Megan
Peach Cobbler - Rachel Wright
Dessert - Apple Pie - Wagners of the Ryan & Jamie type
Dessert - Walton
Heavy Duty Plastic Plates
Utencils
Plastic Cups
Ice
Napkins - Mama Sue
Iced Tea - Papa Baker
Iced Tea - Papa Baker
Lemonade - Mama Sue
Lemonade - Mama Sue
Never mind the diet coke - it is TEA that Charlie needs - my bad.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I got a book from the library Called the Cost of Moral Leadership, the Spirituality of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, all quotes come from this book. In the first chapter I found these gems from his last days before his execution in the Nazi extermination camp called Flossenburg, that have captured my thoughts since I read them:
On his execution day Bonhoeffer was asked to conduct a prayer service. "On April 8, 1945, Bonhoeffer, pastor to the end, meditated briefly on two...texts for the day, Isaiah 53:5 ("By His wounds we are healed") and I Peter 1:3 ("Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead")
A person in the room that day would later recall this "Bonhoeffer reached the hearts of all, finding just the right words to express the spirit of our imprisonment, and the thoughts and resolutions which it had brought. The calm that ensued was interupted by the arrival of two evil looking Gestapo agents take Bonhoeffer away to his court martial and execution."
"The only account of Bonhoeffer's death was given by the prison doctor, who wrote that, after the sentences had been read out to the condemned men, he saw 'Pasor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer.' he added, 'at the place of execution he again said a short prayer and then climbed the steps to the gallows, brave and composed...in the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man so entirely submissive to the will of God.'"
Thirteen years prior to Bonhoeffer's execution he offered this in a sermon, "we must not be surprised if once again times return for our Church when the blood of martyrs will be required. But even if we have the courage and faith to spill it, this blood will not be as innocent or as clear of that of the first martyrs."
On his execution day Bonhoeffer was asked to conduct a prayer service. "On April 8, 1945, Bonhoeffer, pastor to the end, meditated briefly on two...texts for the day, Isaiah 53:5 ("By His wounds we are healed") and I Peter 1:3 ("Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead")
A person in the room that day would later recall this "Bonhoeffer reached the hearts of all, finding just the right words to express the spirit of our imprisonment, and the thoughts and resolutions which it had brought. The calm that ensued was interupted by the arrival of two evil looking Gestapo agents take Bonhoeffer away to his court martial and execution."
"The only account of Bonhoeffer's death was given by the prison doctor, who wrote that, after the sentences had been read out to the condemned men, he saw 'Pasor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer.' he added, 'at the place of execution he again said a short prayer and then climbed the steps to the gallows, brave and composed...in the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man so entirely submissive to the will of God.'"
Thirteen years prior to Bonhoeffer's execution he offered this in a sermon, "we must not be surprised if once again times return for our Church when the blood of martyrs will be required. But even if we have the courage and faith to spill it, this blood will not be as innocent or as clear of that of the first martyrs."
North Church Has a New Home
This is a big time in the life of our church. We have secured a new home that we expect to be our home for a while.
We have entered into an agreement with Florissant Valley Baptist Church to use their building on Sunday evenings at 6:00 with the possibility to transition into Sunday Mornings. Florissant Valley Baptist Church is located at 1025 North Hwy 67 at the entrance to St. Ferdinand Park.
We will be meeting there this Sunday morning to share with their church body about who we are and our vision to reach North County and participate in a prayer service with them. The following week (November 18) we will begin in our new home.
There are some plusses and some minuses about meeting on Sunday evenings. We would like to invite you come and give North Church and Sunday evenings a look.
We have entered into an agreement with Florissant Valley Baptist Church to use their building on Sunday evenings at 6:00 with the possibility to transition into Sunday Mornings. Florissant Valley Baptist Church is located at 1025 North Hwy 67 at the entrance to St. Ferdinand Park.
We will be meeting there this Sunday morning to share with their church body about who we are and our vision to reach North County and participate in a prayer service with them. The following week (November 18) we will begin in our new home.
There are some plusses and some minuses about meeting on Sunday evenings. We would like to invite you come and give North Church and Sunday evenings a look.
Some thoughts
I am away at a conference this week. It has so far proven beneficial for me to be alone for a time and just sit with God. Here are a few bullets that I have come up with during a bit of that time:
• May we live out the mission that God has called us to in the place where He has called to live it and allow for everyone else to do that same, all the while understanding that there are people who will screw up and there are people who will never get it and there will be people that differ from us that do get it. God is more important that our way of thinking. The gospel is more important than our way of thinking.
God would you turn us into a group of people who are continually looking for the next thing to repent of? Expose my sin and expose our sin and as you do remind us of your adoption of us and your love for us.
• “God is a sender, He sent you to where you are. How are you doing with your mission?” Stetzer
• God may I be consumed with you and may I be convicted by you and may I be loving of all, not just those who agree with me. God I want to learn about you. Will you cause me to be only happy with the things of you? I read in this book that “the primary mark of a spirit filled believer is a kind and loving spirit. The primary mark of a carnal believer is a critical, angry attitude. A sure sign of carnality is a loud pushy attitude that demands its own way.”
• You have got things under control Oh God. This world has been doing fine dating back before February 6, 1971 (my birthday). I am unneeded by you. I rest in what you are doing and so now I wait on what you would have me do and ask you for courage and wisdom and strength to run after that hard hard hard. I love you oh Lord and worship you. You are glory and you are power and you are in control. Rest in that now. Whatever happens God is in control. What ever happens he is and he was and is to come.
• Psalm 29:1-2
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
Here is a quote from an article written by Tim Keller called "All of Life Is Repentance". It has to do with what I am talking about and sort of supports it::
"But in the gospel the purpose of repentance is to repeatedly tap into the joy of our union with Jesus Christ in order to weaken our need to anything contrary to God's heart."
• May we live out the mission that God has called us to in the place where He has called to live it and allow for everyone else to do that same, all the while understanding that there are people who will screw up and there are people who will never get it and there will be people that differ from us that do get it. God is more important that our way of thinking. The gospel is more important than our way of thinking.
God would you turn us into a group of people who are continually looking for the next thing to repent of? Expose my sin and expose our sin and as you do remind us of your adoption of us and your love for us.
• “God is a sender, He sent you to where you are. How are you doing with your mission?” Stetzer
• God may I be consumed with you and may I be convicted by you and may I be loving of all, not just those who agree with me. God I want to learn about you. Will you cause me to be only happy with the things of you? I read in this book that “the primary mark of a spirit filled believer is a kind and loving spirit. The primary mark of a carnal believer is a critical, angry attitude. A sure sign of carnality is a loud pushy attitude that demands its own way.”
• You have got things under control Oh God. This world has been doing fine dating back before February 6, 1971 (my birthday). I am unneeded by you. I rest in what you are doing and so now I wait on what you would have me do and ask you for courage and wisdom and strength to run after that hard hard hard. I love you oh Lord and worship you. You are glory and you are power and you are in control. Rest in that now. Whatever happens God is in control. What ever happens he is and he was and is to come.
• Psalm 29:1-2
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
Here is a quote from an article written by Tim Keller called "All of Life Is Repentance". It has to do with what I am talking about and sort of supports it::
"But in the gospel the purpose of repentance is to repeatedly tap into the joy of our union with Jesus Christ in order to weaken our need to anything contrary to God's heart."
Attitude and Giving
I am reading a book called Returning to Holiness. The chapter that I am on is about sins of attitude. There is a statement in the chapter that says, "the very root of sin is love and worship of self over God."
I have been pondering this notion and being convicted of it in last few weeks and especially the last few days. I was having a conversation with a friendabout how I am concerned with myself and providing for my own wants and needs. I do things for my wife so that she will do them for me. I want to turn on the tv for the kids and get them in bed early so that I can have some time to myself. Time that I will use to browse the net for the latest on baseball or football. I am giving up others to serve myself.
Phil 2:3-9
In humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.
God would you rid my heart of the filthiness of selfishness and pride and laziness. Would you cause me to give away myself and give into the needs of others. May I give up myself and give of myself for your purposes. Consume my heart with thoughts of eternal things.
I have been pondering this notion and being convicted of it in last few weeks and especially the last few days. I was having a conversation with a friendabout how I am concerned with myself and providing for my own wants and needs. I do things for my wife so that she will do them for me. I want to turn on the tv for the kids and get them in bed early so that I can have some time to myself. Time that I will use to browse the net for the latest on baseball or football. I am giving up others to serve myself.
Phil 2:3-9
In humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.
God would you rid my heart of the filthiness of selfishness and pride and laziness. Would you cause me to give away myself and give into the needs of others. May I give up myself and give of myself for your purposes. Consume my heart with thoughts of eternal things.
Does Christianity have an image problem?
I would like to know what people think about this article that apperared in Time and how it does and or should impact what we are doing at North Church.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1667639,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1667639,00.html
Romans 5:8
This weeks studying has brought me to my favorite verse in all of scripture.
But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 ESV)
That word that is translated "shows" is a beautiful word that we must think deeply about to begin to grasp the beauty of it. Some translations use demonstrates, proves, evidences. But the whole of the word is not found in any English translation. The whole of the word has that connotation of proving or showing or demonstrating or giving evidence, but another piece on top of that. That piece is that His love has been placed within our reach.
God has placed within our reach His love. It has been taken from a far and placed with our grasp. This week I am talking about the law and our inability to measure up to it and our subsequent failure to commune with God. But God has sent His son so that His joy giving and ultimately fulfilling love might be within our reach. Take time to bask in that notion.
But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 ESV)
That word that is translated "shows" is a beautiful word that we must think deeply about to begin to grasp the beauty of it. Some translations use demonstrates, proves, evidences. But the whole of the word is not found in any English translation. The whole of the word has that connotation of proving or showing or demonstrating or giving evidence, but another piece on top of that. That piece is that His love has been placed within our reach.
God has placed within our reach His love. It has been taken from a far and placed with our grasp. This week I am talking about the law and our inability to measure up to it and our subsequent failure to commune with God. But God has sent His son so that His joy giving and ultimately fulfilling love might be within our reach. Take time to bask in that notion.
The Law as a School Master
Galatians 3:24 (ESV)
So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
The following is commentary from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible:: "The sense of the passage is, that the law performed this office of a schoolmaster(translated in the ESV as guardian) until the coming of Christ; which shows that till that time the church was in its minority, that the Jews were but children in knowledge and understanding, and therefore stood in need, and were under the care of a schoolmaster, the law."
The law's purpose was to educate the Jews on their need for a saviour and to eventually show them the beauty and freedom that is found in grace and the Son of God, who came and fulfilled the law and offered us His own righteousness by faith.
This is a wonderfully poetic truth and brings my sin soaked heart to adoration of Jesus.
So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
The following is commentary from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible:: "The sense of the passage is, that the law performed this office of a schoolmaster(translated in the ESV as guardian) until the coming of Christ; which shows that till that time the church was in its minority, that the Jews were but children in knowledge and understanding, and therefore stood in need, and were under the care of a schoolmaster, the law."
The law's purpose was to educate the Jews on their need for a saviour and to eventually show them the beauty and freedom that is found in grace and the Son of God, who came and fulfilled the law and offered us His own righteousness by faith.
This is a wonderfully poetic truth and brings my sin soaked heart to adoration of Jesus.
An eternal and relational God
I used that phrase in the message this week and as I thought about the implications of the God that I get to talk about on Sundays being relational, I was overcome by the depth of that simple statement.
I am reading Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller. He talks alot about God being a relational God. He talks about needing to be valued in relationship. Meaning he needed someone to value what he brought to the table. After failing at soccer and tennis and guitar he tried to memorize poetry and it worked. People called him smart because of this new depth that seemed to have because he could recite poetry. Here is a quote from the book:: "It seemed that every human being had this need for something outside himself to tell him who he was...It explains why I wanted to be seen as smart, why religious people needed to be seen as right, why Shirley MacLaine wanted to be God, and just about eveything else a human did."
There is briliance in this idea. We go around this earth with a need for people to tell things that prove we have worth or that they value us. This is generally how we choose our friends. It is a good way to make friends. We are wired to crave relationships. We are wired to crave relationships in which we can be real, we can show our flaws and still be not just accepted, but valued.
If you know me you know that I love my wife deeply. There are many reasons for this and I won't bore you with them all. But one of the reasons that is near the top of the list is that she values me and loves me back despite my failures to protect her in important times (which by the way makes me a hypocrit), despite my laziness, despite falling in love with me when I was on track to make a six figure salary by age 30 only to cash that in for a career in the fish bowl of ministry making less than a six figure salary. She values who I am and that is very attractive to me.
We all have this need to be valued, it is in the core of who are. Some Christian leaders would charge you to rid yourself of your need to be valued. I say embrace it, run toward it, seek it out with all that you are. I say this because the eternal and relational God that I talked about on Sunday values you. The one who breathed and all the stars were born values you. Isn't there something greater about being valued when the one who values you is of great value. In this case the one who values you is of supreme value.
When I was in high school I was on the golf team and our best player was a guy named Neal. Neal worked at a golf course and one day on our way to practice Neal talked about this guy who was at his course the night before. I forget who the guy was, but he was someone of acclaim in the golf world. He was talking to Neal and found out that Neal was a pretty good high school player and so they went out on the driving range at the course and he had Neal hit some balls and was going to give him some pointers. After they did this for a bit and were walking back inside the guy told Neal that Neal had the quickest hands that he had ever seen for a kid his age (quick hands are really important for a golf swing). As Neal was telling us this story he was beaming. This guy of much acclaim had given him great value. He said it in such a way that Neal knew he was not just blowing smoke. Neal felt very valued because this man of acclaim had told him how fast his hands were.
The creator of this world could have chosen any way he wanted to spread the word about who He is and what He has done. But He has chosen people to be the way He does that. He believes in you, He values you. Go and value someone today. Go.
I am reading Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller. He talks alot about God being a relational God. He talks about needing to be valued in relationship. Meaning he needed someone to value what he brought to the table. After failing at soccer and tennis and guitar he tried to memorize poetry and it worked. People called him smart because of this new depth that seemed to have because he could recite poetry. Here is a quote from the book:: "It seemed that every human being had this need for something outside himself to tell him who he was...It explains why I wanted to be seen as smart, why religious people needed to be seen as right, why Shirley MacLaine wanted to be God, and just about eveything else a human did."
There is briliance in this idea. We go around this earth with a need for people to tell things that prove we have worth or that they value us. This is generally how we choose our friends. It is a good way to make friends. We are wired to crave relationships. We are wired to crave relationships in which we can be real, we can show our flaws and still be not just accepted, but valued.
If you know me you know that I love my wife deeply. There are many reasons for this and I won't bore you with them all. But one of the reasons that is near the top of the list is that she values me and loves me back despite my failures to protect her in important times (which by the way makes me a hypocrit), despite my laziness, despite falling in love with me when I was on track to make a six figure salary by age 30 only to cash that in for a career in the fish bowl of ministry making less than a six figure salary. She values who I am and that is very attractive to me.
We all have this need to be valued, it is in the core of who are. Some Christian leaders would charge you to rid yourself of your need to be valued. I say embrace it, run toward it, seek it out with all that you are. I say this because the eternal and relational God that I talked about on Sunday values you. The one who breathed and all the stars were born values you. Isn't there something greater about being valued when the one who values you is of great value. In this case the one who values you is of supreme value.
When I was in high school I was on the golf team and our best player was a guy named Neal. Neal worked at a golf course and one day on our way to practice Neal talked about this guy who was at his course the night before. I forget who the guy was, but he was someone of acclaim in the golf world. He was talking to Neal and found out that Neal was a pretty good high school player and so they went out on the driving range at the course and he had Neal hit some balls and was going to give him some pointers. After they did this for a bit and were walking back inside the guy told Neal that Neal had the quickest hands that he had ever seen for a kid his age (quick hands are really important for a golf swing). As Neal was telling us this story he was beaming. This guy of much acclaim had given him great value. He said it in such a way that Neal knew he was not just blowing smoke. Neal felt very valued because this man of acclaim had told him how fast his hands were.
The creator of this world could have chosen any way he wanted to spread the word about who He is and what He has done. But He has chosen people to be the way He does that. He believes in you, He values you. Go and value someone today. Go.
A portion of this week's message
This is the end of this week's message that I thought to be crucial for us as we continue in this thing that God is calling us to. Read through this and pray through it as well, I would love to have your thoughts and feedback.
Here it is::
We talk so much about this missional thing, this church plant and we are very eager to go along with it. But this is not just a cool church that you can wear jeans or shorts or flip flops to. It is not just a place to connect socially. It is not simply the antithesis of your parents church or a rebellion against established church.
It is more than that it is bigger than that, it is bigger than me and you and all of us combined. Perfect creator God is stirring a work here in this area and it is us that he has chosen and called and equipped to do this thing. God is changing the eternities of human souls. Your neighbors, your work friends, the guy you used to drink with, the guy you still drink with, you, the kids you used to go to high school with, you dad, your brother, the girl that serves you coffee, the girl that gives you your donuts every Thursday night.
There is a world full of people who do not know what to do with the doctors report they just got or their husband who just left them or how to pay for school. Life is not about you and having a good time tonight or the next big fun thing on your calendar. This church is not about you and giving you some wisdom or a hip place to go to church and feel connected with God because you went to church this week. There is an eternal and relational God that is the motivator of this church. He has called this church to a mission; which means He has called those who call this place their home to a mission. That mission is to live out a life that screams there is nothing better in this world than Jesus.
Here it is::
We talk so much about this missional thing, this church plant and we are very eager to go along with it. But this is not just a cool church that you can wear jeans or shorts or flip flops to. It is not just a place to connect socially. It is not simply the antithesis of your parents church or a rebellion against established church.
It is more than that it is bigger than that, it is bigger than me and you and all of us combined. Perfect creator God is stirring a work here in this area and it is us that he has chosen and called and equipped to do this thing. God is changing the eternities of human souls. Your neighbors, your work friends, the guy you used to drink with, the guy you still drink with, you, the kids you used to go to high school with, you dad, your brother, the girl that serves you coffee, the girl that gives you your donuts every Thursday night.
There is a world full of people who do not know what to do with the doctors report they just got or their husband who just left them or how to pay for school. Life is not about you and having a good time tonight or the next big fun thing on your calendar. This church is not about you and giving you some wisdom or a hip place to go to church and feel connected with God because you went to church this week. There is an eternal and relational God that is the motivator of this church. He has called this church to a mission; which means He has called those who call this place their home to a mission. That mission is to live out a life that screams there is nothing better in this world than Jesus.
Community Groups
We will be launching community groups next week.
There will be two and they will both meet on Wednesday nights at 7:00.
Their purpose is to live out the values of North Church. The values are truth, people, GOD. In the groups we will pursure the truth about God and each other, share live with people and seek to know and love God better.
Stay tuned here or to our website for more details.
There will be two and they will both meet on Wednesday nights at 7:00.
Their purpose is to live out the values of North Church. The values are truth, people, GOD. In the groups we will pursure the truth about God and each other, share live with people and seek to know and love God better.
Stay tuned here or to our website for more details.
Intimacy
For those of you who read this and know me well, I hope that you are aware that the first priority of my is to love, honor and lay down my life for my bride. That is also the major thrust of my purpose and vision for my life; I want to lead young men to to godly husbands and fathers.
I have recently plunged a new depth in loving my bride. If our marriage is a remote island, I have explored and found a never before seen lagoon with a water fall and crystal blue waters. I share intimacy with her like never before. I am not talking about a sexual intimacy, but a can't get close enough to her and can't hold her tight enough and can't express to her with enough vigor, my love for her.
As I hold her and read scripture to her while she and I fade into sleep I am engulfed in a passionate intimacy with her. As we fight and one of does something stupid and gets angry, I can't wait to hold her. As we watch our children grow and laugh and smile and cry, I am ever more thankful for her. When I bury my nose in the back of her and breath her scent in deep the intimacy grows.
This is intimacy with my wife. Well, this is a tiny portion of it and my weak attempt to take an intangible truthful feeling of intimacy and put it into words. That is to say it is something that is better experienced than explained.
God has shown himself to be a great weaver of life and teller of His story. God has given us sensations in this world to explore with our senses in these bodies in order that we might experience Him rather than have someone attempt to explain Him to us. One day, I was asked to explain intimacy with God. I failed in my attempt on that day. But the last few weeks as I have discovered this new lagoon in my love and intimacy with my bride, I have found an ability to say, "that is intimacy with God"
I have recently plunged a new depth in loving my bride. If our marriage is a remote island, I have explored and found a never before seen lagoon with a water fall and crystal blue waters. I share intimacy with her like never before. I am not talking about a sexual intimacy, but a can't get close enough to her and can't hold her tight enough and can't express to her with enough vigor, my love for her.
As I hold her and read scripture to her while she and I fade into sleep I am engulfed in a passionate intimacy with her. As we fight and one of does something stupid and gets angry, I can't wait to hold her. As we watch our children grow and laugh and smile and cry, I am ever more thankful for her. When I bury my nose in the back of her and breath her scent in deep the intimacy grows.
This is intimacy with my wife. Well, this is a tiny portion of it and my weak attempt to take an intangible truthful feeling of intimacy and put it into words. That is to say it is something that is better experienced than explained.
God has shown himself to be a great weaver of life and teller of His story. God has given us sensations in this world to explore with our senses in these bodies in order that we might experience Him rather than have someone attempt to explain Him to us. One day, I was asked to explain intimacy with God. I failed in my attempt on that day. But the last few weeks as I have discovered this new lagoon in my love and intimacy with my bride, I have found an ability to say, "that is intimacy with God"
Giving away
I was thinking today about school starting and not seeing my kids as much as I get to in the summer time. That led me to thinking about the time that I get to spend with them, playing hide and go seek, playing monsters on my bed with them, riding to school with Brii as she drives and watching them sleep. These are simple things that I get to enjoy as a parent.
Time and energy are two things that I get to choose how to spend. They are things that I have been thinking a lot about as the summer has ended. What mark am I making on this earth and in eternity? The answer to that question has very much to do with how I am spending my time and my energy.
I get to decide how to give away my time and my energy. So do you. Does how you are giving it away reflect the fact that your time and your energy are gifts from God? Does it leave a mark on this earth and in eternity? These are questions I have been asking myself and I thought that I would ask those who read this thing.
Time and energy are two things that I get to choose how to spend. They are things that I have been thinking a lot about as the summer has ended. What mark am I making on this earth and in eternity? The answer to that question has very much to do with how I am spending my time and my energy.
I get to decide how to give away my time and my energy. So do you. Does how you are giving it away reflect the fact that your time and your energy are gifts from God? Does it leave a mark on this earth and in eternity? These are questions I have been asking myself and I thought that I would ask those who read this thing.
UMSL move in day
It was a great time and it was too hot either. Thanks to all those who came and helped. Drop us a message here if you were there at the UMSL day and have any questions for us.
It really was a pleasure to get to serve today.
It really was a pleasure to get to serve today.
What is a missional church?
I have always answered that question with this answer:: A missional church is a church that realizes that it has and is on a mission.
I bumped into the essay that is linked here. Click on the What is a missional church title and you will be directed to the article. Read it and let me know what you think.
I bumped into the essay that is linked here. Click on the What is a missional church title and you will be directed to the article. Read it and let me know what you think.
Crucified
I have been crucified with Christ it is no longer I that live but Christ that lives through me.
God will you grant humility? Will you burn a passion for you in my soul? May I know and proclaim the truth of Psalm 34...I sought the Lord and he answered me he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
God will you teach me the truth of all that and allow me to own it, to embody it, to experience the truth of being encamped around and tasting and seeing the goodness of you. God I long to seek you with this degree of intensity. Make me intense for the good things that are found in you. Place in me hunger for you.
You show me poverty yet you give me yourself. You show me who I am and yet comfort me, you place in me a hunger and fill it with that satisfying you. You have changed me with your gospel. Wretched I am and accepted I am. Geez! Can I see that always and have that keep me full of humiliation and boastfulness that the God of all creation has taken me from the filth of my heart and seated me before him. God has reminded me of the fact that while I was still as the stench of an open grave full of disease and slop, his son died in that moment and willingly humiliated himself and accepted the sentence of death and aloneness and pain and mockery and separation from you. He was crucified.
I am reminded of a simple song written by some students that grew up in the ministry I led at First Baptist Ferguson. It has a simple statement in the bridge that says, "My life is not my own." It is not my own it has been given away and a life has been given back to me that causes my face to be radiant and intense contentment and surreal and tangible euphoria to simmer in my heart and brain and life. God is good, I rest and bask in my crucifixion.
This life I lead is bigger than me, this marriage I enjoy is bigger than me, this father hood is bigger than me, the church I lead is bigger than me. I am thankful that it is. Because I am humiliated by who I am and in need of Jesus, who is faithful to meet my lackings.
God will you grant humility? Will you burn a passion for you in my soul? May I know and proclaim the truth of Psalm 34...I sought the Lord and he answered me he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
God will you teach me the truth of all that and allow me to own it, to embody it, to experience the truth of being encamped around and tasting and seeing the goodness of you. God I long to seek you with this degree of intensity. Make me intense for the good things that are found in you. Place in me hunger for you.
You show me poverty yet you give me yourself. You show me who I am and yet comfort me, you place in me a hunger and fill it with that satisfying you. You have changed me with your gospel. Wretched I am and accepted I am. Geez! Can I see that always and have that keep me full of humiliation and boastfulness that the God of all creation has taken me from the filth of my heart and seated me before him. God has reminded me of the fact that while I was still as the stench of an open grave full of disease and slop, his son died in that moment and willingly humiliated himself and accepted the sentence of death and aloneness and pain and mockery and separation from you. He was crucified.
I am reminded of a simple song written by some students that grew up in the ministry I led at First Baptist Ferguson. It has a simple statement in the bridge that says, "My life is not my own." It is not my own it has been given away and a life has been given back to me that causes my face to be radiant and intense contentment and surreal and tangible euphoria to simmer in my heart and brain and life. God is good, I rest and bask in my crucifixion.
This life I lead is bigger than me, this marriage I enjoy is bigger than me, this father hood is bigger than me, the church I lead is bigger than me. I am thankful that it is. Because I am humiliated by who I am and in need of Jesus, who is faithful to meet my lackings.
Your worship pastor is a celebrity and came in a dead heat with a short skirted hottie who hocchied it up for the camera. But Jeff came through and brought honor to North Church with his dancing to Sexy Back.
From Taste and See
John Piper has a book out called "Taste and See, Savoring the Supremacy of God." The book is a collection of meditations. I have been using the book lately to begin my day and think about a facet of the beauty of God. The other day I read one that was brilliant. The entry was a list of resolutions that a professor of Piper's shared with his students a long time ago. Here is a sample from the list that struck me::
I shall not fall into the falsehood that this day, or any day, is merely another ambigous and plodding 24 hours, but rather a unique event, filled, if I so wish, with worthy potentialties. I shall not be fool enough to suppose that trouble and pain are wholly evil parentheses in my existence, but just as likely ladders to be climbed toward moral and spiritual manhood.
In light of talking about spiritual warfare and the battle that is raging I thought this was entirely appropriate. Let me know what you think
I shall not fall into the falsehood that this day, or any day, is merely another ambigous and plodding 24 hours, but rather a unique event, filled, if I so wish, with worthy potentialties. I shall not be fool enough to suppose that trouble and pain are wholly evil parentheses in my existence, but just as likely ladders to be climbed toward moral and spiritual manhood.
In light of talking about spiritual warfare and the battle that is raging I thought this was entirely appropriate. Let me know what you think
The gospel vs Religion
I have been talking alot, both in conversation and while preaching about the gospel versus religion. I bumped into what appears below on the subject that was written by Mark Driscoll. Do me a favor and read it and enjoy it and do your best to have conversations about what the gospel is and what it isn't and about how Jesus was not a fan of religion or religious people.
The Difference between Religion and the Gospel
By Pastor Mark Driscoll
Religion says, if I obey, God will love me. Gospel says, because God loves me, I can obey.
Religion has good people & bad people. Gospel has only repentant and unrepentant people.
Religion values a birth family. Gospel values a new birth.
Religion depends on what I do. Gospel depends on what Jesus has done.
Religion claims that sanctification justifies me. Gospel claims that justification enables sanctification.
Religion has the goal to get from God. Gospel has the goal to get God.
Religion sees hardships as punishment for sin. Gospel sees hardship as sanctified affliction.
Religion is about me. Gospel is about Jesus.
Religion believes appearing as a good person is the key. Gospel believes that being honest is the key.
Religion has an uncertainty of standing before God. Gospel has certainty based upon Jesus' work.
Religion sees Jesus as the means. Gospel sees Jesus as the end.
Religion ends in pride or despair. Gospel ends in humble joy.
The Difference between Religion and the Gospel
By Pastor Mark Driscoll
Religion says, if I obey, God will love me. Gospel says, because God loves me, I can obey.
Religion has good people & bad people. Gospel has only repentant and unrepentant people.
Religion values a birth family. Gospel values a new birth.
Religion depends on what I do. Gospel depends on what Jesus has done.
Religion claims that sanctification justifies me. Gospel claims that justification enables sanctification.
Religion has the goal to get from God. Gospel has the goal to get God.
Religion sees hardships as punishment for sin. Gospel sees hardship as sanctified affliction.
Religion is about me. Gospel is about Jesus.
Religion believes appearing as a good person is the key. Gospel believes that being honest is the key.
Religion has an uncertainty of standing before God. Gospel has certainty based upon Jesus' work.
Religion sees Jesus as the means. Gospel sees Jesus as the end.
Religion ends in pride or despair. Gospel ends in humble joy.
Faithfulness
A man sits alone in a loft apartment in a familiar city. His jacket is in a pile next to him and his shirt collar is wrinkled and worn. His head is in his hands and he lets out a deep sigh that signifies his resolve to do the hardest thing that he will ever do.
The last few hours have been spent in that corner of the apartment wrestling with his thoughts. He arrived in that corner after a long day at work and opening the door to his loft to find evidence of a cheating wife. He has been aware of the affair for some time now, but now her unfaithfulness is certain. The affair is not the only thing that he has been wrestling with.
Just a few days ago while out with other couples his wife had spoken words to him that broke him. The words of the young wife have since faded and are now vague, but the wounds that they left remain. That was the final night that she could even look him in the eye.
The man rises now from his corner of torment and looks around the room and his eyes land on a spot where they had once told each other how much they love each other and how there would never be a time when their love could not overcome anything this world could throw at them. That day and that spot are only faded memories now.
As he leaves the loft with his jacket still slumped in the corner the man steps onto the pavement and the cold wind takes his breath away, but it does not weaken his resolve to do what must be done.
He drives to the home where he knows his wife and lover are. He opens the car door and strides to the door with his head down. About half way up the sidewalk he hears the door begin to open. His wife straightens her collar as she steps out of the door. As she lifts her eyes they meet his. Fear and shame paint her face and tears instantly overcome them both.
But his resolve is strong and the emotion of the moment is not strong enough to break that resolve. He removes his hands from his pockets and his hand reaches her and in a perfect motion he brings her close and embraces her and whispers “I love you, I forgive you.”
The last few hours have been spent in that corner of the apartment wrestling with his thoughts. He arrived in that corner after a long day at work and opening the door to his loft to find evidence of a cheating wife. He has been aware of the affair for some time now, but now her unfaithfulness is certain. The affair is not the only thing that he has been wrestling with.
Just a few days ago while out with other couples his wife had spoken words to him that broke him. The words of the young wife have since faded and are now vague, but the wounds that they left remain. That was the final night that she could even look him in the eye.
The man rises now from his corner of torment and looks around the room and his eyes land on a spot where they had once told each other how much they love each other and how there would never be a time when their love could not overcome anything this world could throw at them. That day and that spot are only faded memories now.
As he leaves the loft with his jacket still slumped in the corner the man steps onto the pavement and the cold wind takes his breath away, but it does not weaken his resolve to do what must be done.
He drives to the home where he knows his wife and lover are. He opens the car door and strides to the door with his head down. About half way up the sidewalk he hears the door begin to open. His wife straightens her collar as she steps out of the door. As she lifts her eyes they meet his. Fear and shame paint her face and tears instantly overcome them both.
But his resolve is strong and the emotion of the moment is not strong enough to break that resolve. He removes his hands from his pockets and his hand reaches her and in a perfect motion he brings her close and embraces her and whispers “I love you, I forgive you.”
Prayer
As we approach our deadline to be out of our building I am reminded of God's provision for out lives. This week I preached about how God is the one who provides for us. We are in error and in sin when we attempt to provide for ourselves. God has given us all that we need to enjoy life, to have relationship with him and others. We need only to rest in who He is what He has provided.
We had two leads for a new place that seemed to be promising. Both of those leads fell through Monday. I told myself (my wife told me too) about God being the provision for our lives and for North Church. I think that I finally owned that concept when I woke up just after midnight and could not go back to sleep. I tried to give a half hearted prayer about to God about I trust you and then my mind wandered off into something else. I do that easily when I am trying to go to sleep. I then sat up in bed and went into my prayer closet and simply and quickly asked God to grant me the ability to trust Him.
I have said many times to many students who are wondering about God's will for their lives that is not really about the when or where or what of our lives as much as it is about going there with God. I am convinced of the truth of that more than ever. I am convinced that God is shaking us to our knees in prayer. He doing so to me. I have been a failure in pleading for God to provide for us.
If you are reading this, stop right now and pray. Pray that God would convince you of your desperate need for Him. Ask Him to show you the folly of attempting to provide for yourself. Ask Him to shake your mind from the muddy slum that in which you play and draw your attention to holiday at sea that He has planned for you.
My prayer is as follows. "God, I trust you. You are my provider. You offer me more than I can ask or imagine. You offer me more than my hands can hold. I trust you God. I trust you."
Now Go read Psalm 23. Apply it to your life and to North Church. Then thank God for who He is as the provider of life for your life.
We had two leads for a new place that seemed to be promising. Both of those leads fell through Monday. I told myself (my wife told me too) about God being the provision for our lives and for North Church. I think that I finally owned that concept when I woke up just after midnight and could not go back to sleep. I tried to give a half hearted prayer about to God about I trust you and then my mind wandered off into something else. I do that easily when I am trying to go to sleep. I then sat up in bed and went into my prayer closet and simply and quickly asked God to grant me the ability to trust Him.
I have said many times to many students who are wondering about God's will for their lives that is not really about the when or where or what of our lives as much as it is about going there with God. I am convinced of the truth of that more than ever. I am convinced that God is shaking us to our knees in prayer. He doing so to me. I have been a failure in pleading for God to provide for us.
If you are reading this, stop right now and pray. Pray that God would convince you of your desperate need for Him. Ask Him to show you the folly of attempting to provide for yourself. Ask Him to shake your mind from the muddy slum that in which you play and draw your attention to holiday at sea that He has planned for you.
My prayer is as follows. "God, I trust you. You are my provider. You offer me more than I can ask or imagine. You offer me more than my hands can hold. I trust you God. I trust you."
Now Go read Psalm 23. Apply it to your life and to North Church. Then thank God for who He is as the provider of life for your life.
A new building
We are indeed having to leave our building. June 17 will be our last Sunday, barring any last minute changes. We are currenltly looking for some place to call our second home.
God is bigger than a building and we all remain convinced of God's call to be in North County. The thing to do now is pray and look around and keep our eyes open for what God has planned for us to do next.
God is bigger than a building and we all remain convinced of God's call to be in North County. The thing to do now is pray and look around and keep our eyes open for what God has planned for us to do next.
