Gateway Fellowship: Recent Episodes
Gateway Fellowship
Gateway is a little tribe who gathers in Bridgeville, DE to worship God, pray, share, and be formed as a family gathered around Jesus.
At the core of our faith is forgiveness, with a view to restoring true heart to heart intimacy with God.
In a disposable world where we discard and replace, the gospel brings us a Father who is willing to put in the work to restore us because of our value.
So what's the measure of your worth? The cross. You are worth the blood of Jesus.
Sometimes anger is the first response when hope is rebooting to come back online.
This is about 2 Kings chapter 4.
"God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom." (1 Corinthians 1:21)
When we pray God does something he wouldn't have done if we hadn't prayed.
In Amos 7 we see that the prophet changed God's mind.
What do we need to get started?
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A time
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A place
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Words
We ended the talk with a great story of an unlikely answer to prayer.
There's something so special about the fact that God has chosen to pour out His Spirit upon his people, and loves to give more of Himself when we ask (Luke 11).
That was the agenda tonight.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
My friend Wayne once told me that most of us live our whole Christian life in the wilderness after we're rescued out of Egypt. We don't cross over the Jordan and enter in to the promised land.
This sermon is about crossing over and entering in.
Is faith certainty or is it more like walking a path of surrender in response to the call of the beckoning mystery encoded into life itself?
The kingdom of death has no rightful claim on the kingdom of life. Yet much of the time we live from the wrong story - the facts of our life instead of the Truth.
Jesus said he's the vine and we're the branches and that apart from him we can do nothing, but if we remain in him we will bear much fruit.
That's in John 15
We are to love and to be loved. We need love, desperately.
This is not a flaw. This is God's design.
Receiving healthy love gives healthy identity. Not receiving healthy love damages identity, creating so many issues that drive us in life.
When we say "Christ died to save sinners," what do we mean?
What are we saved for?
What are we saved from?
How does his death save us?
This message is mostly about God's love.
When we know whose we are, then we know who we are, and why we are. Then we finally have a stable place to stand.
Who am I? I am God's dearly beloved son, who brings him great pleasure.
- I can't stand those kinds of people
- Everyone's got problems
- There but for the grace of God go I
- There go I
This chat is about God accessing more of our true heart through the storms. It's really a chat about intimacy with God.
1 From the depths of despair, O Lord,
I call for your help.
2 Hear my cry, O Lord.
Pay attention to my prayer.
3 Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,
who, O Lord, could ever survive?
4 But you offer forgiveness,
that we might learn to fear you.
5 I am counting on the Lord;
yes, I am counting on him.
I have put my hope in his word.
6 I long for the Lord
more than sentries long for the dawn,
yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord;
for with the Lord there is unfailing love.
His redemption overflows.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from every kind of sin.
Psalm 91
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3
For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4
He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
God, according to Deuteronomy 4:24, is "a devouring fire," yet he invites us to draw near.
Let's explore this theme!
When we don't press in to know the Lord, we starve inside. We need to get in touch with our hunger and thirst for God...
"I have food to eat that you don't know about...My food is to do the will of Him who sent me." (John 4:32, 34)
The theme is growth and building our lives on Jesus so that when the storms of life come, we are rooted and grounded in Christ.
This chat was really about surrender and relationship with Jesus.
- Jeremiah 2:13 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."
- Colossians 2:3 "Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
- Acts 4:13 "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."
This Wednesday Whiteboard is about a voice crying in the wilderness: John the Baptist. But it's also about us. It's about how we are likewise called to come away and find ourselves in God.
"And now, by God's grace, I shall become myself." (Kierkegaard)
Vague and generic isn't very powerful. But when we start to get specific and deal with the nitty gritty, that's when we make headway. Why? Because God is in the details!
A short thought on Genesis 41:52, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."
This very story-driven autobiographical chat is about the reality of God being better than I dared hope. It's based on Psalm 37:4 which invites us to delight in the Lord and he will give us our heart's desires.
I don't think we'll fall in love with God unless we relate to Him through the lens of grace.
We call in God in times of trouble, but we need to remember to give Him his praise in good times too.
This is a chat from the first half of Ephesians 4 about what God is up to in the church. Where we're headed, and how we will get there.
Are supernatural encounters with God few, far between, and inexplicable? Or is God more available, and do we play a part in the equation?
This talk is about a concept Paul expresses repeatedly in 2 Corinthians chapter 10, namely, that of a metron.
Did you know you have a metron? Do you know what it is? Are you being faithful in it? How would you discover it? Does it change throughout your life?
In this one, we open up some thorny questions about various causes of illness found in the Bible...
We want to avoid all-or-nothing thinking such as thinking ALL sickness, "must be God teaching me a lesson," or "the devil messing with me." While both of those CAN occur, there are many causes of illness in a fallen world.
My main takeaway is that Jesus viewed brokenness in the world not as an opportunity to assign blame, but as an opportunity to bring the Father's goodness to bear.
Main Scriptures: 1 Sam 5:6, Rev 2:20-23, John 9:1-7, Acts 10:38
- Linda - What scripture are you standing on?
- Carolyn - Just a tiny bit of faith is enough.
- Kim - God gives us keys, learn to use them.
- Cheryl - Tell the whole story, not just the wins.
- Marc - Know your identity in Christ.
- Carl - God is about healing the whole person.
- Stan - No matter what, God is good and I'm all in.
This is a chill conversation with Jacob, who leads the worship band. He's really open and we're a bit random.
"Hey, pastor! When are we gonna get to do the stuff?"
"What stuff?"
"The stuff Jesus did."
"Oh, no we don't do the stuff. He did it. We just study it."
"Well that doesn't seem right."
It ain't.
- Do we forget?
- How is forgiveness different from excusing?
- Is it all at once or as needed?
- How does forgiveness relate to grief process? AND MORE...
This was last night's "Wednesday Whiteboard" time.
I included the prayers so that people might go back and listen again if that's helpful, but I removed anything I felt was not for public consumption.
"Surely if the cross can make it like we've never sinned, it can make it as if we've never been sinned against." (Dan Mohler)
This continues last week's message from John 15:15 where Jesus said he no longer calls us servants, but friends.
- What are we saved from?
- What are we saved for?
- What does God get?
"I no longer call you servants...I call you friends." (Jn 15:15)
This is a conversation we had about a theme Stan identified in his current relationship with God.
Since Bob Muncy talked about this verse the other night, I've been thinking about it more. I had a question about interpreting a verse written 2,500 years ago and got a little help from a pastor who wrote about five hundred years ago.
- We have no greater joy than our children walk in truth (v4)
- Knowing God leads to holiness (v11)
- Modes of communication matter (v13-14)
Here are my full written thoughts.
"God leaned in and a scroll of remembrance was written regarding the conversation they had."
"If I could just have _____, then I'd be happy," is a common trap. God is calling us to cultivate gratitude and contentment.
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. (1 Cor 3:1-3a)
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. (Phil 1:1-2 NLT)
- We miss home
- Appetizers and Entrees
- Manna vs. Matrix
- Aim Low
- Trophies Ruin Art
- Enjoy the Pain/Feel the Burn
- It ain't easy
- The difference that makes the difference
- Construction Worker Jesus (Mark 6:3)
- Psalm 32
- Sin and misery, happiness and holiness
- God actually loves me, deeply, more than I ever dared hope.
- I’m completely forgiven because of Jesus’ cross.
- God is with me and he’s never leaving.
- God is for me and not against me.
- I’m under grace, not law, so I can relax and admit the truth about myself — no matter how scary or shameful — without fear of rejection.
- God loves to hear what’s on my mind and wants to chat with me about what’s on his.
You can go to Denny's. Wear a hat. Whatever you want.
But seriously, this chat is about the wonder of life and the importance of staying awake, aware, and grateful to God for daily existence.
We also tell a crazy shipwreck story in this one.
Scriptures: Romans 1:21, Deuteronomy 8, Proverbs 30:7-9, Matthew 6:11, Hosea 13:6
Eggs, small dogs, monkeys, a heart attack, jumping out of planes, gross food, miracles, and other topics.
Our source isn't visible, from below. Our Source is invisible, from above. The temptation is to return to slavery for security, instead of staying with freedom which involves so much trusting God with the unknown.
Matthew 6:9-13
Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil."
What we think we know keeps us from learning what we need to know.
This chat is about the man born blind in John chapter 9.
In John chapter 3 Nicodemus told Jesus that the evidence supports that He's really from God. Jesus, instead of congratulating Nick on his astute observation, he tells him, "You must be born again."
Only God reveals God.
Since its Pentecost, lets have a conversation is about being filled with the Holy Spirit.
What would you expect my answer to be? Did my answer surprise you? Does your experience confirm this, or do you have a better idea?
The apostles claim that they had rational evidence based first person experience as warrant for their claims about Jesus and the Father (1 John 1:1-4). What do you believe and why? How do you know what you think you know? And how do we engage people who don't believe what we do?
Some thoughts about God's incredibly beautiful design of masculine and feminine and our calling to responsibly reign in life with God.
Genesis 1:26 and following was the primary bible passage.
Acts 9 is where the story happens. Here are some observations.
- Being sincere doesn’t make us right, and that’s the hardest kind of blindness to discern.
- God can reach the “unreachable.”
- Encountering Jesus is the single most transformative reality on planet earth.
- Jesus is alive and active (independent of our involvement or knowledge).
- Jesus wants to involve us in what he’s doing.
- Jesus usually communicates the next step, not the whole plan.
- Jesus calls people by name.
- Jesus is interested in conversation.
- Jesus is humble and willing to respond to our questions, doubts, and concerns.
- Jesus factors our history, personality, strengths, and weaknesses into His equation.
- Jesus really listens to our prayers.
- Jesus sees people’s value when others don't.
- Jesus has a plan for your life. Not just the generic, “love God and people,” but the specific who, what, when, where and how.
- Jesus wants to guide us into His plan. Our part is to seek him daily so that He can easily guide us into it, step by step.
God's intention is that we become the sort of people He can grant our heart's desires.
That requires a transforming process!
This chat is about the story in Acts 5 where Ananias and Saphira lied to the Holy Spirit and then fell down dead.
God's infinite power is incomprehensibly great, but what we need is not so much a display of brute force, but rather the synaptic connections in our minds to be upgraded so that we think, believe, experience, and understand what we otherwise cannot.
This chat is from the great prayer of Ephesians 3.
God won't force this on us, but neither can we do it without Him. Thankfully, I'm never without Him, He's always within me.
What we listen to and say matters more than what we might currently understand. When we tune into and broadcast what God is saying we align with and co-create with God. The sober and contrasting truth is that when we align with and broadcast carnal things we often accidentally destroy! It's so important to saturate ourselves with God's words until they penetrate deeply into our very being.
Something about the doubt of the disciples after Jesus' resurrection really grabbed my heart this year. It's so easy to be hard on oneself for doubts, but even they did -- with Jesus standing right in front of them! And why? I guess because life's taught us that things fall apart, and if it seems too good to be true, it's probably some sort of scam.
But that's how good the good news really is. It just seems too good to be true.
(But it is.)
Tragedy? Certainly. Gruesome? Oh yes. Difficult to face? For me, definitely. The greatest single sin in all human history? I believe so. But on God's side of the decision it was also on purpose. Jesus walked into Jerusalem, knowing what would happen if He did. What's more, the Father asked him to. The question is, "Why?"
People have -- and need -- some sense of a significant future, even if they have to "live on" through their children, the species, or just the universe itself.
Our expectations of the future order our present.
I woke up this morning with Isaiah 50:4 on my heart. "The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary."
These need to be kept together but we often think of them separately or even worse, at odds.
Words create worlds.
This chat was sparked by Galatians 3 where Paul says that all who rely on works of the law to find life are under a curse, but those who live by faith are under the blessing given to Abraham.
Ever wonder why people who are in love with God one year aren't several years later?Top of the triangle - God's Spirit working (essential and also out of our control)
Left Bottom - Trials (right understanding of our life's story in view of God's love and faithfulness)
Right Bottom - The disciplines (we only mentioned the foundational ones: solitude and silence, study and worship)
But most of us don't really believe what we claim to believe.
This chat was sparked by 1 Peter 1:21, which says, "Through Christ we have come to trust in God."
Whenever we set ourselves to do God's will we immediately attract two opposite spiritual forces to our position.
Heaven draws near to assist, and hell attempts to resist.
This chat is about that, based on Nehemiah 4.
1The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 4Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.
How do you excellent work? You take good work and keep working at it. How do you do good work? You take crappy work, and you hone it. How do you do crappy work? You show up every day and start.
So how do you do excellent work? Oddly enough, you discipline yourself to do crappy work every day.
This chat is based on Nehemiah chapter 3 wherein we read the names and exact parts of the wall that various people built. The little inconvenient things we do for God and his church are so significant that they get recorded for all time...
This is part 1 of what I expect will be a series from the book of Nehemiah.
- Just because it's not my fault doesn't mean it's not my responsibility.
- Before the problem can be fixed somebody has to own the problem.
- "God I'm not qualified for this, but I'm willing."
Mark serves as our congregation's overseer. Nowadays he lives life, "with a light spirit" because of Jesus.
- Revelation - What did God SHOW me/tell me?
- Interpretation - What does that MEAN?
- Application - What do we DO with that?
When they heard God they...
- Talked to each other about what God said
- Took immediate action
- Checked for themselves
- Made known what they experienced
- Remembered to glorify and praise God
The five points are in Luke 2:15-20
"If you lost it, get your zeal back."
This talk is about the logic of the New Testament, and especially Jesus. It goes something like this, "You are an eternal being with a destiny in God's great kingdom. Therefore, arrange your life now to maximize your joy then."
"No one has ever seen God. God's only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, has made him known." (John 1.18)
Just a little thought about fish, birds, and us inheriting knowledge we didn't directly learn...
Here we consider Exodus 33 and Genesis 15, Moses' and Abraham's friendship with God. Specifically how they seem to influence God's actions in the world. In other words, the God Scripture presents is emotionally responsive and interactive. He's open to His work in the world being influenced by His children, His friends.
That's kind of staggering. But there it is. And there are numerous examples. Abraham, Moses, Amos, and even Mary the mother of Jesus, are the few examples I gave in the talk, but I'm sure there are many more.
Does God sit up in heaven with a plan that is often terrifying and painful, while He remains emotionally unaffected by the things that happen to us on earth?
Or does He feel deeply for his children who live in a world that is largely NOT the way He intended, even though He is working all things together for our good?
Jesus is what God has to say. And what He says is, "I love you, I love you, I love you!"
Additionally - congratulations M'Niyah, on your baptism!
Romans 7:20 "it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me."
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."
This chat was given as we commissioned Carl and Stan as assistant pastors. Two of the main passages mentioned were Acts 20 and Romans 5:4.
The Lord prioritized going to synagogue regularly. Miracles, healings, exorcisms, and anointed Scripture explanation flowed through Him in each town, usually centering around the Synagogue.
- Some say, "It's harder to see the supernatural in church than in the world."
- Some say, "Christians are harder to reach than the unreached."
- I say, "That's letting experience speak louder than Scripture."
I think we need to shake the dust of our experience off and gain fresh faith to see God's people whole, like Jesus did, and still does. When Jesus comes to church, it shakes things up.
Nearly every day we encounter spiritual climates that resist God's kingdom inside of us. How do we recognize and navigate such things?
Run, John, run, the law commands
but gives me neither feet nor hands
Far better news the gospel brings
It bids me fly and gives me wings
(Bunyon)
What was Jesus' gospel?
What is eternal life?
How do we relate to God and people apart from the standard methods of manipulation and control using judgment and condemnation?
How do we pray as God's beloved children?
I recently texted to ask Brian about what fascinates him lately. I liked his answer so much I invited him to do a podcast interview. The main theme of his response was that Jesus is intent on delivering people from the wounds, lies, and effects of rejection. We also discussed 80's music, Texas barbeque, and my idea for an app that shocks people who say the illegal phrase.
Each of us is pursuing what we treasure. There is no person who has no "treasures." In Matthew 6:1-18 Jesus helps provide us with a few simple tools meant to free our hearts from a common snare -- living for the approval of our peers. He does this so that we can enjoy the true happiness of really knowing God in life.
Jesus said unless our righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees we cannot see the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:20). What does that mean?
This chat was like a bunch of mini donuts. Since each of them are so small, might as well eat the entire bag.
What if those two goals aren't mutually exclusive? What if God is the true Source and Fountain of all joy and the further we get from Him, the less happy we become? What if glorifying God is impossible unless we ENJOY God? And what if holiness and happiness run together as surely as sin and misery?
Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." He's still breathing on his disciples!
Teaching on 9 of the gifts of the Holy Spirit from 1 Corinthians 12...
And the prayer time at the end.
Where is this realm where God lives?
Is it far?
If so, how relevant to our here and now can it be?
From that time Jesus began to announce, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." (Matthew 4:17)
Reflection Questions
- How was God's kingdom experienced back in Eden?
- What happened when we fell?
- What will the kingdom be like at the resurrection in the new earth?
- What does Jesus intend God's kingdom to find expression in our daily lives presently?
- Scripture
- Scriptural Autographs
- Textual Criticism
- Canon of Scripture
- Apostolic Succession
- Apostolic Doctrine
- Jesus AS Revelation
- Inerrancy of Scripture
- Infallibility of Scripture
- Inspiration of Scripture
- Organic Inspiration of Scripture
- Necessity of Scripture
- Perspicuity of Scripture
- General Revelation
- Special Revelation
- Sufficiency of Scripture
2 Tim 4:7-8 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. (2 Tim 4:6)
At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength... (2 Tim 4:16-17)
3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2 Tim 4:3-4)
- Be vulnerable, don't attack.
- Don't use allness language.
- Return to shared joy.
*Correction - The concept of unconditional positive regard was developed in the 1950's in the context of client-centered therapy by Carl Rogers, not the brilliant Carl Jung.
"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." (2 Tim 4:2)
"having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people." (2 Tim 3:5)
"the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim 3:15)
If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where “‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ (Mark 9:43-48)
2 Tim 2:14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.
- Stir up the gift (2 Tim 1:6)
- A Worker Approved by God (2 Tim 2:15ff)
- Run Away, Run After (2 Tim 2:22-23)
This wide-ranging talk about the Bible and money, marriage and money, compulsive spending, saving, being poor, being rich, how money affects happiness, how money beliefs affect our sense of status, and lots of other stuff. We ended by taking a quiz together to see where we may be out of balance in our attitudes about money.
- The story of your life and the truth of who you are.
- Identity and meaning come from the narrative we believe.
- The question is, what script are we inhabiting?
- What if faith is a lot like method acting?
We often think of the cross and our forgiveness as the end of the gospel story, but it's just the beginning. Resurrection power at work in and through us ...
- Existence is a giant love story.
- Love rescues and redeems.
- Jesus is the hero of the story.
(Most of the other points I made are built on these three.)
Several youth share, pastor Tim shared a crafted prayer, Linda and the prayer team do their thing.
Yeast.
Light.
Salt.
And we also think about some lessons from the 1904-5 Welsh revival.
A highly condensed conversation about a few historical revivals. Also, we pray for revival at the end.
Americans tend to think in terms of individualism, but the biblical God makes covenant with families. Let's talk about that.
3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
(2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
- When were you born again?
- How did your life change?
- When were you filled with the Spirit?
- How did your life change?
- When have you neglected the gift of God?
- When have you fanned that gift into flame?
- Luke 11 and the children's cry
- How do prayer and fasting relate to this topic?
- What's the difference between quenching and grieving the Spirit?
- How did Jesus keep in step with the Spirit?
- Let's talk about impartation (laying on of hands).
Joy is the steady state emotion of the mature believer because joyful love is the countenance of the eternal God.
"Are you ready to be set free right now?"
- The Lie
- The Wound
- Where Was God
- The Exchange
- Repent/Forgive
- The Truth
- Learners - "I haven't arrived."
- Doers - "This isn't theory."
- Servants - "I'm here to do God's will."
- Friends - "He knows my name."
We will each stand before the judgment seat of Christ and the truth of our life will be revealed. Let's live for the "well done."
You see these #'s. Here's what they mean to me.
11:11 Wake Up, Church
11:22 Ask me!
11:44 Strip off the grave clothes and let him go free
Questions based on the talk
- What is a disciple?
- How is discipleship different from Western education?
- What is a rabbi, and why would anyone need one?
- What is a "yoke," and how did that term apply to disciples and their rabbi?
- What is the 10,000-hour rule and who popularized that expression?
- Why do you think Jesus tells us to "count the cost" before we sign up to be his disciple?
- What might it mean to be "inoculated against Jesus?"
- Who explored Antarctica, and why did his bleak and severe newspaper ad draw so many would-be adventurers?
- Whose idea was it for you to go with Jesus? Who chose who, really?
- We usually come to God for a few areas of our lives to be fixed, but His goal is...
- Why do we need to unlearn and relearn how we think and live all over from the beginning?
- What three enemies do we each battle?
- Where is the primary battlefield?
- What are the three levels of apprenticeship?
A faith worth having would...
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Help us find life's deeper meaning
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Make better people
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Stick close to Jesus
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Open our eyes to God's glory in creation
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Arm us with courage to embrace life
- Rewards and Punishments vs Enjoyment
- Practice Guitar vs Play Guitar
- Needs vs Overflow
- Want to avoid a bad outcome vs enjoyment of the activity
- Meaningful sacrifice vs “It’s no sacrifice, it’s a joy!”
- Threatens holistic life balance vs promotes holistic life balance
- Draining vs Replenishing
- Adrenaline fueled vs Calm Resilience
- Push vs Pull
- Love for the outcome vs Love for the process, presence, and outcome
- Need vs Overflow
- Extrinsic helps LEAD TO a right heart vs Intrinsic IS a right heart
- Rewards from God vs God AS the reward
- Promise of Heaven threat of hell vs “as for me, it is good to be near God”
- Shotgun weddings to Jesus vs “One thing I ask — see your beauty, dwell in your temple”
- In my formative years I experienced extrinsic threats and it provoked a very adverse reaction to Christianity!
- You can’t force someone to fall in love. But you can give em’ a little push in the right direction.
- Leading a horse to water doesn’t guarantee they’ll drink but it sure gives them a better chance to drink than leading them to the desert!
- Both extrinsic and intrinsic motivations are biblical. Both are valid. Wise parents and teachers use both selectively.
- Extrinsic motivators are helpful when passion is lacking.
- Extrinsic motivators are unhelpful when they turn the joy into obligation.
- At the heart of true biblical faith is ENJOYING GOD!!!
Christian hope isn't escapism. It's the orientation of hope that aligns us to truly live in the present. This is an advent chat.
Demonic goals
- Cut you off from Christ eternally.
- Make you ineffective and unfruitful in your calling.
Demonic Strategy
- Pride
- Unforgiveness
- Lusts
- Unbelief
Divine Goals
- Unite you to Christ eternally.
- Make you effective and fruitful in your calling.
Divine Strategy
- Humility
- Forgiveness
- Holiness
- Faith
- Run from, Run After
- Priesthood of Believers
- Prayer and Fasting
- Fall in love with Jesus
This chat explores the significance of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. I consider this truth one of the most important biblical truths I have learned.
Some of us just want God to tell us what to do. But he's not interested in that sort of relationship.
We can easily forget that we always represent Jesus in all we say and do. This chat is a reminder to remember the mystery that what we're doing is impossible -- therefore pray! And to remember the mission. We are here for the kingdom.
The text of the day is Colossians 4:3-6.
3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Everything in your spiritual life will either thrive by prayer or wither without it.
This talk is rooted in Colossians 4:2. "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful and thankful."
Tim's sister, son, daughter, and pastor share poems, memories, and some meditations as a tribute.
The centerpiece of Christian spirituality is a surrender to love. We cannot rise above our level of faith in God's love for us. It doesn't happen.
We MUST learn to spend time listening to Jesus, and allowing his perspective to wash ours, changing us at the deepest level.
It's time to get fed up. It's time to dig our own well.
We were made for more. We were made to be the beloved of God.
The issue of slavery is important and challenging!
It would be so easy to read the New Testament anachronistically, through our modern lenses. It would be easy to take the instructions to slaves and masters in Colossians 3:22-4:1 out of context and thus miss how the gospel moves the ball forward.
Placing these instructions in their time and place, and understanding our time and place, may enable us to see their true spirit.
"Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged." (Colossians 3:20-21)
In this talk about marriage and the Bible's instructions for husbands and wives (based on Col 3:18-19) we talk about a lot!
-Methods of biblical interpretation
-Roman Patriarchal Culture at the time of the New Testament
-17th century New England Puritan Patriarchal culture
-Four major views on gender relationships
-some of my own personal experiences
What is sacred? What is secular? Is the world evil? Is the world good? What counts as spiritual?
This chat is based on Colossians 3:17.
Finally we describe Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Col 3:16) in more detail.
Here's the quiz from the end:
1.) T/F The Psalms were originally chanted in unison a capella by priests.
2.) This biblical King is credited with bringing about Israel’s “golden age” of musical worship…
a. King Josiah
b. King Louie from Disney’s The Jungle Book
c. B.B. King
d. King David
3.) What local grassroots organization has helped produce more singers than anyone else?
4.) T/F A hymn is an old song with four verses, and the fourth one is usually about heaven.
5.) Your friend says: “It’s too bad that no early church hymns survived. It would’ve been cool to see what the very first Christians sang.” Respond.
6.) T/F When king Saul was tormented in spirit, David would pour oil on his head and shout loudly in order to scare away the devils.
7.) Finish this quote from St. Augustine, “The person who has sung well has _______ ______.”
Why is music so contentious, how did we get here, and what are some better ways forward?
- God's people sing, always have, always will.
- Our songs express the unity of the faith.
- Our songs are active worship, not passive consumer goods.
- Our songs are for God.
- Our songs glorify God AND edify the church.
- Our songs both express and form our faith.
- Our songs give us borrowed words.
- Our songs are our travelling songs.
I asked Carl some questions, like, "How did you come to see God the Father as so loving and gracious?"
So many issues in life trigger inward identity conversations. Knowing our identity and value and belovedness deeply in our gut is critical to living out the beautiful gospel love envisioned in Colossians 3:12.
Sometimes we feel like things are getting worse and worse and always will. That's actually not the case. Some generations do better than others. But each generation poses challenges to God's servants.
Jesus made numerous references to "this generation," which are insightful for us as well...
It's important for us to stick close to Jesus each and every day so that people can see Jesus in us, not just hear us talk about him while misrepresenting Him with our lives.
When the disciples are over-awed at Jesus walking on the water, Mark 6:52 makes a fascinating observation...
God's kingdom doesn't evaluate or organize like the rest of human civilization.
This talk is based on Colossians 3:11
Often Jesus chooses specific people for specific tasks instead of others.
It's important not to get offended when that happens.
It's also important to learn how to make decisions the way he did, led by God's voice more than by our worry over what people we love may feel.
Mark runs a nursing home, pastors, and travels the world supporting the cause of the gospel. I asked him the following questions...
- Are you organized or disorganized?
- What are we saved FOR?
- What job other than yours would you like/hate?
- What advice would you give to parents?
- What do you that annoys your wife?
- Why do you encourage people to give 20 percent?
- What did you love doing as a kid?
- What advice would you give to a friend struggling in sin?
- What smells bring back great memories?
- Why do you so enjoy introducing people to Jesus?
- Do you have a favorite meal?
- Why do you want to "speed the Lord's return?"
- How do you want to be remembered?
- What sound do you love/hate?
- Trust & Surrender. Why do you love these two words so much?
- How do I become a Christian?
Today's jokes were very dad-jokey. "How do you find Will Smith in the snow...?"
This chat is based on Colossians 3:9-10 and the positive role of knowledge in the Christ life.
Yeah, this one starts with a bunch of light bulb jokes.
This time we covered Colossians 3:7, 8, and 9. Three whole verses!
- What are reasons not to forgive?
- What are the costs and benefits of unforgiveness?
- Can you think of notable examples of unforgiveness?
- What are some reasons to forgive?
- What are the costs and benefits of forgiveness?
- Can you think of any notable examples of forgiveness?
- What is forgiveness?
- What are some relevant Scriptures on forgiveness?
- How do we forgive?
Here are my full notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CJ-kMbqhk7ujadDv75JEzcCnCEXm8CdOuB__kt8AfeU/edit?usp=sharing
- Differences between a poverty mindset, a prosperity gospel mindset, and a kingdom abundance mindset
- If money ain't the point, what is?
- Trusting God as Savior, Healer, and Provider
- You can't build a skyscraper on an outhouse foundation
- If all wealth were redistributed equally now, what would the world look like in 15 years?
- Seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and he'll take care of the rest...
- The parable of the three rivers...
The key to understanding God's wrath is this: He actually cares about people.
(This message is from Colossians 3:6)
Why was the census wrong? Why is Jeff Goldblum right? Is Elon Musk right about a.i.? Why was the Tower of Babel wrong? When was it undone? And why does the fire only fall on sacrifice?
Sometimes we get stuck. Here's a basic checklist...
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Conversion - Are we really a Christian?
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Disciplines - Have we rearranged our life for training, not just trying?
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Strongholds - Is there some area where I require healing and truth to set me free?
The Learning Cycle
- Unconscious Incompetence (ignorant)
- Conscious Incompetence (beginner)
- Conscious Competence (intermediate)
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Unconscious Competence (mastery)
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Patterns of behavior eventually live in our body.
- The Super Mario Principle: failure ain't the point. saving princess and enjoying the journey is!
5 for Fighting
- Sexual Immorality (pornea)
- Impurity (akatharsea)
- Cravings (pathos)
- Evil Desires (epithumean kakein) “their god is their stomach” phl 3:19
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Covetousness (pleonexian)
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God's love is the real key to lasting change!
This one is about God and our finances via an encouraging little conversation and a few sweet testimonies.
He touched the ark and died. David's first reaction?
- He was angry.
- He was afraid of God.
- He was unwilling to host the ark.
Herein are my observations, thoughts, and some related biblical connections.
What's your favorite Easter scene? Why don't people recognize Jesus after he's raised? Is there good evidence for Christianity? Do Christians believe in the immortal soul or the resurrection of the dead? What if the highest ethical ideals could merge with the realm of events and things? If Christ were truly raised, what would that require of us? Does C.S. Lewis' idea about liar, lunatic, Lord resonate with you?
We end by looking at some gospel logic from 1 Corinthians 15...
God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21)
In which we talk about how important it is to go after the means of grace with diligence and discipline...
Brian shared what he felt God put on his heart for our congregation as a timely message.
Hannah weeping at Shiloh is the catalyst for Samuel's birth and his unique calling and devotion...
Q #1 - If I already died with Christ, then do I still need to die to anything else?
Q #2 - If the law and asceticism doesn't work, but grace does, then what is the role of self-discipline in the Jesus-life?
This Sunday chat sort of happened. I left my notes behind almost immediately and went after a big picture view...
The religious self-salvation projects humanity is so addicted to have a demonic aspect. And not only that, but they are also completely ineffective at killing sin or making us right with God.
In Christ, we died to these "stoicheia," the lowly evil powers that drive empty religious earning. Instead we receive God's love and forgiveness and life as a gift and now live FROM the high ground of union with God toward the challenges of life.
This talk is on Colossians 2:20-23.
Sometimes we make too much of personal spiritual experiences in a way that puffs us up and doesn't help others really know God better, but instead leaves them feeling disqualified. Jesus, on the other hand, transforms, beautifies, and grows us up into the image of love.
Jesus should be the focus of our mountaintop experiences with God.
Don't let anyone condemn you over shadows when you have the substance who is Christ.
This little talk is from Col 2:16-17.
A sermon on Colossians 2:13-15
- You were dead (in actions and nature)
- God made you alive (with Christ)
We needed resurrection, not education; a new nature, not improvement of an old one!
Through the cross of Jesus, God...
1.) Forgave all our trespasses
2.) Erased the record of our wrongs
3.) Set aside the law, nailing it to the cross
4.) Disarmed the rulers and authorities
5.) Made a public spectacle of them
6.) Triumphed over them, putting them to open shame
We all see the world through lenses - for good or ill. This talk is about some of the unhelpful lenses that Rusty and Linda have worn over the years that God has helped them remove, and what a difference it makes.
Jesus is Lord, not "minister of afterlife affairs." To follow him means not following the way of Barabbas, the way of the sword, the way of "power over" instead of the way of the cross. His kingdom isn't "of this world," but it is meant to manifest here, and when it does it looks and feels and smells and talks and acts and loves EXACTLY. LIKE. JESUS.
Our "politic" is the way of servanthood and influence, not the "politic" of power over and control. We may face hardship, but because Jesus has overcome, we can overcome. We can love in the face of sin so that sin against us doesn't create sin in us.
If our allegiance is to Him, then our agenda must be surrendered. Let's switch our thinking so we live here as missionaries.
"We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken..." (Hebrews 12:28)
What is self-control?
How does it form?
How is it a fruit of the Spirit?
Why can't I change?
Every year we do this...and I think that's great!
Plus I talk about the one that I think should be at the top of all our lists for 2021.
When those who taught us the faith end up being revealed to have been living in secret sin, it can be devastating.
This is a talk all about that, hypocrisy, how our conduct reflects on God, the nature of sin, and some guidance in grace.
The image of peace is not a serene setting where all is in place. No. A peace dependent upon circumstances is a fragile peace indeed. The peace of God is more like being hidden in the cleft of a rock overlooking a mighty storm. When we allow God to deal with the biggest issues of our life, our past and our future, then the smaller issues can be in the mystery box. When we come to know God, we come to trust God, and when we trust God, surrender can bring peace.
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
(Isaiah 40:11)
9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2)
George and Tim discuss faithfulness, dietary myths, martial arts, biblical languages, God's calculator, and a few other things.
Wowsers. It's pretty awkward to talk about divinely required foreskin modification at church. But we did (though I nearly died of embarrassment) because that's what Colossians 2:11 is all about!
1.) Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus! 2.) Don’t get distracted by diversionary tactics. 3.) Arrange your day around your life’s mission. How you spend your day is how you will have spent your life. 4.) Don’t get fooled by false evil reports. 5.) Don’t shoot the POW’s, shoot the bad guys. 6.) Don’t fight using worldly weapons. 7.) Fight the fight you’re actually in. 8.) CRUCIFY victim self-talk. 9.) Get a bigger perspective. 10.) Be an encouragement to others. 11. Rise to meet the challenges. 12.) Go on offense, not defense.
SINCE demons tremble at Jesus' presence, and we believers are IN HIM, WHY do we still let the spiritual powers intimidate us?
Colossians 2:10 "So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority."
In this message:
- jokes by Steven Wright
- everything's amazing and nobody's happy
- pilgrims survive the winter
- a country song
- Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp discuss what's Johnny Ringo's problem?
- we spill water on the floor
- we take a moment to practice gratitude
Here's the powerpoint
Here's Tim's notes
Three fruits of the Spirit are covered in this talk...
1) Kindness - a gracious attitude toward others whether they deserve it or not.
2) Goodness - benevolent activity for others, promoting their wellbeing in tangible and practical ways.
3) Gentleness - a strength that accommodates to other's weakness, showing consideration, friendliness, and meekness.
Here's the powerpoint
Here's my notes
"What good is all that God stuff if boys don't even like me?"
Our problem seems to be dual. We don't want what we need and we don't know what we have!
In Colossians 2:9-10 Paul says two sorta shocking things: 1.) All the fullness of God dwells in Jesus, bodily. ALL that God is, somehow lives in him.
2.) All that fullness? Yeah. It's yours IN HIM.
That's more than most of us dare to take in...so instead we often go back to our familiar prisons instead of brave the unfamiliar freedom He has won for us.
Wherever you find goodness, beauty, or truth, give God the credit and give thanks. This mindset frees us from the insecurity of having to defend against God's blessings scattered throughout the world outside of our little world. The culture war is a form of tribalism, and the gospel frees us to be calm and incarnate love across the boundaries we have set for ourselves, but God did not set.
We had church outdoors today! It was a beautiful, low 70's day, with clear blue skies. We sat next to a ripe, brown soybean field, under the shade of that beautiful old oak tree by the basketball court, and sang. Stan brought this word "in season" which was what God began to stir in his heart over the course of the last several weeks.
Be at peace, my friends. Jesus is king. Happy listening.
Bob shared from his heart about patience, what hinders it, what forms it, and the critical importance of growing to maturity in Christ, which is a process and takes time. An emphasis of his talk was on the importance of deeply ingesting God's Scriptures.
There is a demonic element to what often passes for wisdom within culture, the church, and personally. How do we unmask deception and stay free now that Jesus has set us free?
"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8)
A conversational teaching on Luke 11:1-11 where the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray...
--On our part: tenacious, bold persistence.
--On God's part: gracious and generous love.
And Jesus also gives us a clue as to not just HOW to pray, but WHAT our goal in prayer is to be...
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6-7 NRSV)
Here's the video if you prefer: https://youtu.be/bpM_glxCQHQ
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What is joy?
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What are some examples of pure joy?
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How is joy a byproduct of living by the Spirit? (Gal 5:22)
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Neh 8:9-10 says that “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” What is the opposite of that truth?
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Does the phrase, “the joy of the Lord,” mean:
a.)It is the Lord’s own joy
b.) The joy that comes from the Lord
c.) Both?
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True or False: “God is the most joyful Person of all.”
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How do we receive the joy of the Lord?
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1 Thess 5:16 says to “be joyful always.” To live that, should we...
a.) Feel joyful always
b.) Act joyful always (regardless of feelings)
c.) Look at the verse’s context for clues
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What does it mean to “rejoice?” And what would it then mean to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil 4:4-8)
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If you were a demon, what would be your go-to strategy to steal a christian’s joy?
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If you were someone’s spiritual coach, what would be your go-to strategy to help them cultivate joy?
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D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones drew a strong connection between joy and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Do you agree? Why?
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Agape (love), and kara (joy) were secular words when the apostles used them, but now we think of them as exclusively sacred words. Is this helpful or harmful?
14 “Joy” is an emotional state, but “rejoicing” is an action.
a.) How can God command feelings?
b.) What’s the relationship between joy and rejoicing?
c.) Which comes first, chicken, or egg?
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Who is someone you know personally who exudes joy?
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Is the devil ever joyful? Are people ever joyful about the pleasures of sin?
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Since the kingdom of God consists of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), why do people often think of godliness as dreary, boring, joyless, and dutiful?
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The root word for joy (chara) is connected with gift (charisma), grace (chari), and gratitude/giving thanks (euchariste). Therefore:
a.) Thanksgiving and gratitude sow seeds that produce joy.
b.) Negativity, fault-finding, nit-picking, grumbling, and complaining choke out joy.
Tell people about the kingdom, and heal the sick. That's what Jesus sent his disciples to do (Luke 9:1-2).
What does that have to do with US?
Regret, shame, guilt, low self-esteem, despair, condemnation, and accusation. These are the primary work of "the accuser of the brethren," satan. What are we to do?
We use this expression to mean we support somebody. Paul used it literally.
Some thoughts on Col 2:5
Paul worked his tail off for folk he never even met face to face. Why? And how was he gripped with such intensity and purpose?
Am I? Am I working to succeed in the actual fight I'm in, or am I caught up in loser thinking, wasting valuable time and prioritizing my ease and comfort at the expense of my purpose?
Just something to think about...
There is a dynamic of shame, regret, condemnation, and mental anguish that is a direct result of satan's activities in the hearts and minds of people everywhere. The short word to describe this ministry is "accusation."
What do we do? Where do we turn? What are our resources for help?
The Advocate (1 Jn 2:1).
Assorted thoughts and stories on the subject of tongues in the New Testament and today...
The good news about Jesus is both beautiful and a secret and plot twist of divine history. What we have available right now in Christ, the saints of old LONGED to see, and the angels have been peering from heaven with surprise and wonder like, "Are you serious, right now???"
"Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God." (Matthew 22:29)
- Don't know the Book of God? You blow up.
- Don't know the God of the Book? You dry up.
- Know both? You grow up.
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (Colossians 1:24)
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
(Psalm 1, ESV)
"Prayer doesn't fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work." Oswald Chambers
You can work harder or you can work smarter.
In this little chat, we looked at Exodus 18 and Acts 6 together, seeing the origins of the New Testament way of organizing church leadership into Elders and Deacons...
Our culture is shifting...here are some off the cuff thoughts about how to be faithful in the current climate...
- 1234 Treasure Principle (Luke 12:34). Heart follows actions
- Ben Franklin’s insight. It wasn’t me being nice to him that made him stop hating me. It was him doing me a kindness.
- Dostoevsky’s insight. “He’s never done me any wrong. I did him a bad turn, and I’ve hated him ever since.”
- Catharsis is a lie. In the 70’s psychologists thought expressing the rage would diminish it. The studies reveal the opposite. Grievances expressed deepened into resentments when mulled over.
- Mean Interviewer Experiment. He insulted their mom. The control sample wasn’t given an opportunity to complain to his manager and harm his career. The test sample was. The blood pressure, the resentment, and the view of the interviewer all shifted for the worst with those who acted on their offense. The offense of those who didn’t air their grievances diminished.
- “Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.” Prov 29:11
- The mind justifies what the heart has chosen. (How can you believe when you seek the praise of each other instead of the praise of God? John 5:44)
- Our fragile view of self must be protected. Our identities are core to our emotional well-being...and we hate the inner stress and tension — dissonance...
- Cognitive Dissonance. Two notes that played together sound horrible and we cannot abide it. That’s the thing with cognitive dissonance. Two beliefs that contradict. “I am an honest person — I just told a lie.” or “I am a loving man — I did not care that I hurt so and so.”
- Little Steps
- How resentment grows by little steps...
- How pain held onto rewrites our story…until our view of the past bears no resemblance to reality...
- How self-justification grows the more committed we are to maintaining our self-image…
- Self-Justified or Justified w God? Luke 18 - two men at prayer…
- Some cures?
- A more humble (realistic) view of self - I have strengths and weaknesses. I have blind spots.
- A better grasp of grace and Christ’s righteousness
- Doing Jesus’ Sayings (Jesus, Genius)
- Love your enemies
- Do good to those who hurt you
- Give to those who need or try to take advantage
- Turn your other cheek to a slap
- Repay insults with kindness
- Pray kind things over those who wish you evil
- You have enemies. “Love your enemies” sounds dramatic. But everyone has enemies they need to love and forgive. Even if it’s your friends and family.
- Who hurt me? That’s who I need to forgive.
- Everybody serves somebody. If we don’t forgive, then the person who hurt us becomes a kind of lord or master who shapes and forms us.
- “Forgiveness is hard.” No. Bitterness and resentment and hatred are hard. Forgiveness makes life so much easier.
- Stop drinking poison. Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting your enemy to die.
The Discipleship Training School has been doing a semester on listening prayer and friendship with God so we thought it would be good to share some things God's been saying with the rest of the church. :)
In this audio, pastor Tim, Carolyn, Tim Freed, Stan, and Katie share...
Who is God? What are humans? What is the original intent of God for humanity? In this talk Darren Peachey goes after painting an answer to those sorts of questions.
What a curious expression Paul uses to refer to himself at the end of Colossians 1:23. A servant or slave of the gospel. How can a person be servant to a particular message? And does this have any applications for us? Maybe. Let's talk about it.
"if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard" (Colossians 1:23)
All of us construct a story about our lives from which we derive meaning. We think of that story as "truth" but in actuality it is a script thrown together the best we can. The gospel is a different script that God has authored for us which, to be believed, must be exchanged for the script we authored...
Stan talks about how the same blood (of Jesus' cross) that was shed for our forgiveness was also for our healing and wholeness in every way.
He has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. (Col 1:22)
If Jesus wasn't the first person raised from the dead, how come he's called the firstborn from the dead? That and some thoughts on living as citizens of heaven...
How did you meet Jesus? What was the value of an English degree and a Counselling degree if now you're a bearded Harley driving weight lifting shouting revivalist prophet? How did you meet Nicole? What happened to your little youth group after you were baptized in the Holy Spirit...and other such questions.
We're getting back to the heart of worshiping Jesus. Knowing Jesus. Serving Jesus. Learning the attitudes of Jesus. Giving away Jesus. Savoring Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
It really matters if we keep our hearts close to Jesus. It really matters if we keep our ears tuned to Jesus. It really matters if we live intimately with Jesus. He WILL direct and guide us if we give him our full and abiding attention...
The truth of Jesus as Creator has a lot of practical importance! What practical importance, you ask? Well, for starters, that sense of awe and wonder and joy you feel at the creation? Yeah, that's a totally correct intuition. And that sense you have that beauty, goodness, and truth matter? Same. And that sense that the whole universe is full of mystery and wonderment? Yep.
And that sense that something is wrong with windowless churches whose theology can be summarized as, "If it feels good, STOP IT,"? Yeah, that's heretical, in fact, demonic...
The life of Jesus in eternity past is deeply significant in understanding the nature of the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And the relationship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is deeply significant for understanding the nature of the gospel. Much of the time we have been presented with a vision of the gospel that seems to make salvation a matter of "where you go after you die," but doesn't necessarily offer an entirely different way of being while you are alive.
The way Jesus lived in the Father, and the Father in him, in eternity past...is how he continued to live on earth as a normal human. He was in constant, unbroken communion with the Father, and lived each moment aware of the Father's presence and voice. Jesus said that he was not capable of doing anything of kingdom significance except by his union with the Father.
My argument is this: The way Jesus was connected to the Father before the cross is the way WE are connected to the Father THROUGH HIM after the cross. The eternal relationship of the Trinity is a gospel of overflowing love and joy issuing in creation. We have been invited into that co-indwelling, us in Christ, Christ in us, and we have been invited into a life of abiding in ceaseless, unbroken communion with Jesus, where it is possible to live in a perpetual encounter with God. This is not the property of a few elite mystical monks and nuns in a corner. This is the very nature of the normal Christian life, because Jesus is the original "Christian," and he's the norm, the standard.
Sometimes we can lose sight of Reality and get so focused on threats and problems that we live in fear or self-directed projects (spiritual or otherwise) designed to stave off fear. Colossians 1:15ff are actually lyrics to a very early Christian worship song, entirely about Jesus. Jesus existing before everything. Jesus being the agent of creation. Jesus holding all things together. Jesus being the Head of the Church. Jesus being the first person to rise from the dead and live in the New Creation beyond the reach of decay. Jesus as the One who, through the cross, re-aligned the entire universe with God the Father. That's a pretty big Jesus!
Puts things in perspective, doesn't it? Sounds like pretty good news if our Savior is absurdly bigger than any of our problems. Well, it does IF we actually get in on what He has with the Father...
In this talk Mark Yoder shares stories on the theme of friendship and closeness with God. There's a lot in his words that hints at the mystery and miracle of grace. There are some warnings as well that if we aren't careful our hearts can get very deceived by life and we can lose our way. But Jesus. But Jesus.
Here are a few of my paraphrases of things Mark shared that impacted me:
"A lot of my friends thought when we were young that they had to choose between Jesus and fun, and they chose fun, and they're still wondering when the fun is going to begin. I chose Jesus, and can tell you that serving him has been an incredibly fun adventure."
"When I experienced God's grace I thought I'd never have a bad day again. But after that I've had bad years. We sometimes go through some things as a Christian!"
"Jesus asked the Father three times, 'If there's any other way, let this cup pass from me.' But then he got up and drank the cup, knowing it was the way. Can I just plead with you today, if you're there right now. Can you get up and drink the cup?"
There is a story about God in the world that is so common that many of us don't realize just how profoundly untrue it is. It asks a lot of questions like, "Where is God? Is he there? Where was he when that happened? Is he involved? Does he care?" In relationship to God, it tends to play the victim, making life more about putting God on trial with our hearts as the judge. It is a sneaky story, even creeping into the church, causing doubt and unbelief to be treated with dignity and even viewing faith as an act of heroism. Ultimately this worldview is built on sand and rooted in lies. The main question it asks is, "What will I get out of life?"
The Bible, on the other hand, takes for granted that God is present, involved, close, full of love, faithful, completely good, trustworthy, very very talkative, easy to love, and easy to trust. It completely assumes that everyone can know God, even without a Bible, a missionary, or a church. And the questions the Bible asks are different. They are questions like, "Is humanity real? Are we present? Are we listening? Are we willing to really live while we're alive?" Faith, in the biblical parlance, is not doing God a favor, as though he's set this life up to be so incredibly broken, but "Bless that little saint's heart, look at him, he's still over there praying, poor thing." No! Faith is the only reasonable response to a God of beauty, goodness, and love like the One this universe has. The main question the Biblical perspective is asking isn't "What will I get out of life, but rather, "What will life get out of me?"*
Enter Jesus. Jesus comes onto the scene and reveals exactly what God is like. He reveals a God who looks nothing like the lies we have believed. And he reveals a God who didn't make us for a secular/sacred split, but for a life of embodied communion with a God who is indwells our very beings so that we know, and are fully known by love.
Homework: "God, you are easy to love, and easy to trust. Do I truly believe that? If not, why not? Let's talk about that..."
*thanks to Jason Upton for the kernel of this insight
Sometimes people have thought about redemption as God paying off the devil, like a good man who, in mercy, pays off the evil gang of thugs who have taken over the neighborhood. "Here you take my son, and you give me back these folk. Do we have a deal?" But is that what the cross is about? Paying off the devil?
Around the year 1,100, others realized, "Hey, that can't be right," so they decided that redemption must be a blood payment made to the Father instead. So, wait, Jesus is saving us from the Father? Is that really the way the New Testament speaks? What in the world?
Then there's the classical Christian gospel, which says that God the Father saved us from sin and death (and the devil along with them) by becoming weak, being rejected and crucified, but ultimately rising, victorious, over them: Christus Victor. The victory of self-giving love.
In this little chat, I talk about this and a whole lot more...
Joy and happiness are often described by believers are being entirely different realities, but sometimes I think we are simply trying to avoid admitting that we lack true joy. True joy will be a fruit of the Holy Spirit, not a rule to keep, but a byproduct of a life lived abiding in Christ.
The word sometimes rendered "qualified" here is used by Paul in 1 Cor 3:6 where Paul said that God is the one who enabled him to proclaim and live out the new covenant in a manner worthy of the Lord. Our competence, our faithfulness, this whole walk, is done through God's empowering grace.
The word, "inheritance," is so rich that it deserves its own prolonged study. For our purposes here I will say that an inheritance cuts against the grain of earning, and we protestants are prone to see that. But what I think is less clear to us is the idea that it is a family word. Inheritance is about belonging to a people, and receiving something from that family that marks our lives, gives us identity, shapes our destiny and our walk in the world.
The phrase used is "share in the inheritance," which is a call back to the portions of the promised land that were given to each of the 12 tribes of Israel as their place of dwelling. The inheritance isn't just heaven when we die. It is a land we're meant to inhabit NOW!
Light. Throughout Scripture we find the contrast of light and darkness signifying, righteousness vs sin, God's rule vs the demonic...We may fall alone, but we will only rise together. To walk in the light is a corporate reality. The saints in light.
It's been too long since I got to preach! Back at it again, this time we spent some time in Col 1:11, and talked about the difference between endurance, which is our capacity or stamina to keep going, and patience, which is the inner attitude that is willing to pay the pain price and doesn't give way to entitlement, anger, self-pity, and complaints during the trial...
As usual, God's interest is on the "inside job," Christ being formed in us and expressed through us, not in making sure life goes our way.
God is good, my friends! His way of thinking and living (yoke) is easy and his burden is light (Matt 11)! Those who keep on seeking and trusting in God will renew their strength (Is 40), and the best advice God gave me for how to heal is to forget what's behind and press on toward the goal of knowing Jesus and discovering life in him, precisely through pain, not in spite of it (Phil 3).
Bees don't presume to know their larger purpose and impact. All they know is that they like nectar. They don't know, or need to know, that God has them pollinating the flowers and fruit trees and benefiting the entire ecosystem. They have no idea. All they know is nectar is good. So what brings the nectar in your life? What activity, when you do it, brings the Spirit of God down? Do that, and be content, and happy. Let God worry about your larger impact on the world. When we worry too much about our "ministry" we give birth to Ishmael's and become embittered Martha's, making sandwiches Jesus didn't order, while mistreating the ones doing exactly what he wants. Become a Mary! Acquire a spirit of peace, and a thousand souls around you will be saved.
grace and peace
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All … Continue reading "Pray for what’s working"
You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you. (Colossians 1:7-8 NLT)
This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. (Colossians 1:6)
3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever … Continue reading "We Always Pray (Colossians #2)"
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. May God our Father give you grace and peace. (Colossians 1:1-2)
Matthew 7:11 ” So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. “
11 Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. 12 The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants … Continue reading "Seeds"
The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. (1 Tim 1:5)
2 Tim 1:9 – God saved us and called us to a holy life… What is holiness? What is a holy life? Why would anyone want a holy life? How would a person get a holy life? 1. What is holiness? Ontological – only God is holy Consecration – set apart for sacred use Moral … Continue reading "What in the world is holiness?"
God is always calling us in two directions, away from others to become the distinct person we’re created to be, and toward others to serve them in love. We’re always being separated from and sent to. Individuated, and connected. This is a communion mystery of being broken and given…The goal of this breaking is wholeness, … Continue reading "Called In Two Directions (Individuation and Connection)"
Curiosity is better than duty. Sometimes I emphasize the importance of vocation, the importance of calling. Calling is deeply significant. And there are times when the thing we’re called to do becomes difficult and requires persistence. But there are levels of faithfulness. Paul said of his preaching assignment, If I preach voluntarily, I have a … Continue reading "Stay Curious (Soul of the Artist #9)"
‘…The overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God. It chases me down, fights till I’m found, leaves the 99.” “Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me… It overwhelms and satisfies my soul Higher than the mountains that I face stronger than the power of the grave constant through trial and the … Continue reading "The Father’s Scandalous Love"
mp3 Chris Traeger and Ben Wyatt. In Parks and Rec, Chris Traeger is enthusiastic and positive and loves every idea and every person. So the state of Indiana hired him because he’s an encouraging even when he disagrees. But they partnered him with Ben Wyatt, who is a numbers cruncher and shoots down any idea … Continue reading "Life, Edited (Soul of the artist #8)"
mp3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was … Continue reading "Showing Up (Soul of the Artist #7)"
mp3 I have a friend who gets up every morning at 4:30am and writes. He’s a hip hop artist and he did it originally as an experiment to see what would happen if he wrote one song per day for a year. I asked him what he’s learned, and he said, “I’ve learned that writer’s … Continue reading "Rest and Recovery (Soul of the Artist #6)"
mp3 video The reason I’m talking about this, the reason I care about this topic, is because I see people go into hiding, taking their God-given contribution, and covering it up because it isn’t good enough. Like Gideon hiding in a winepress, or Gideon making a statue to himself, both are from insecurity…When you know … Continue reading "Finding Your Voice (Soul of the Artist #5)"
mp3 Who is the work for? Of course the work is ultimately for others. But it’s maker must first believe in it, and it must be an expression of the maker’s journey, the maker’s heart, the maker’s own best sense of what the work wants to be. In order for it to be worth giving away to … Continue reading "Who is the work for? (Soul of the Artist #4)"
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Powerpoint Last time I said that we’re creative because we’re made in the image of the Creator. I said that we’re each here to bring order out of chaos. This time I want to add two more layers. The first is this: As we fulfill our calling to bring order to the disorder of the … Continue reading "Renewed by the Work (Soul of the Artist #2)"
A Crisis of Purpose Sometimes people think faith is about answering the question, “Is there life after death?” I came to faith because I was wrestling with a different question, the one that drives the biblical book of Ecclesiastes: “Is there life before death?” There has got to be more to life than the futility … Continue reading "Meaningful Work (Soul of the Artist # 1)"
I Corinthians 1:18-31 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20 Where is the wise … Continue reading "The Ugly Beauty of the Real Gospel"
Theresa Jones shared about hearing God in the small things. Jane Duncan shared about how nice it is to be back.
Good grief is distinct from the negative patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior we exhibit when old wounds are in play. Absent grief – is when we suppress our grief so that we don’t feel it. Delayed grief – is when we’ve got too much happening to cope so we allow ourselves to grieve later. Prolonged … Continue reading "Good Grief and Old Wounds"
7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could … Continue reading "Anchored in Hope"
Tim’s Notes Joy is a third of the kingdom from Romans 14. The kingdom is advancing and we are on offense, not defense. We face forward and upward not backward and downward. And joy is a choice. Many things in the kingdom are choices, not things we passively experience but that we actively lay hold … Continue reading "Joy! (Bryan and Jen)"
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http://www.bedisciples.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/3-19-2017-Tim-Miller-Manifesto.mp3 mp3 Gen 1:28 Gen 12:1-3 Isaiah 6:3 Hab 2:14 Ex 19:4-6 Matt 5:14-16 John 3:17 1 Cor 5:12 Rom 12:2 Dan 1:20 Gen 40:8 Jer 29:7
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http://www.bedisciples.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2-5-2017-Lazarus-Raised.mp3 mp3 notes 1. Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus 2. Raised out of death, not protected from it 3. Tears of sympathy 4. Human expectations did not direct Jesus 5. The forgotten beatitude 6. Freedom I’m indebted to Frank Viola’s book, “God’s Favorite Place on Earth,” for many of the insights contained in this … Continue reading "Love, friendship, and resurrection at Bethany"
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