City Church Tulsa: Recent Episodes
City Church Tulsa
LITURGY FOR THE MOMENTA liturgy for those consumed by noise Father, we are surrounded by a constant stream of content,an overwhelming amount of input.We find ourselves hypnotized by glowing screensand the escape that is found in our loud world.We repent for times of mindless scrolling.We repent for seeking other voices above yoursWe repent for numbing, and hiding our full selves from your healing embrace.Good Shepherd, we believe You speak daily,and we know Your voice.Quiet our minds.Still our hearts.So we can hear You in every moment. All the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own room. – Blaise Pascal Contemplative Prayer: The practice of being in God’s presence through quiet and deep inward focus, moving beyond words, thoughts, and feelings to simply rest in the awareness of God. Whatever you feed, you will develop a hunger for.Whatever you starve will eventually wither and die. If we are going to walk in the fruit of the Spirit and be agents of transformation in this world, we MUST develop a new paradigm for living in this world. 1) Know your identity as God’s beloved Matthew 3:16-1716 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 17:5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 2) Develop rhythms of engagement and disengagement 3) Surround yourself with intentional community
Pure Religion SundayLiturgy for the MomentA liturgy for the lonelyGod who sees us and knows us,Although crowds of people surround us,We feel unseen, unheard, and disconnected.We carry with us a deep longing to be known,An aching inside to be unconditionally loved.Holy Spirit, would you meet us in these empty spaces?God who places the lonely in families,Awaken your church to love one another.To create a place of communion with others,So that every person is seen, known, and loved.Heavenly Father, move us past our places of comfort,That we might reflect the unity and intimacy of the Triune God. Psalm 68:6God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. · God has incredible concern for the isolated· One of God’s great gifts for us is to be in community· God has a redemptive plan for each of our lives James 1:2722Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.26Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Step into your scene Hebrews 11:23By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. It doesn’t take long It doesn’t take much It doesn’t get fixed It never gets wasted One Anothers· Greet One Another – Romans 16:16· Welcome One Another – Romans 15:7· Show hospitality to one another – 1 Peter 4:9· Have fellowship with one another – 1 John 1:7· Be kind to one another – Ephesians 4:32· Bear one another’s burdens – Galatians 6:2· Comfort one another – 2 Corinthians 13:11· Care for one another – 1 Corinthians 12:25· Encourage one another – 1 Thessalonians 4:18· Build one another up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11· Do good to one another – 1 Thessalonians 5:15· Serve one another – 1 Peter 4:10
In Week 2 of "Longing for More," Rachel explored how spiritual practices create space for transformation by the Holy Spirit, focusing particularly on prayer and contemplative prayer. Emphasizing that to experience the life of Jesus we must adopt His lifestyle—including practices like solitude, silence, and prayer—she discussed how these disciplines help us access God's power beyond our own efforts. Rachel highlighted the impact of consumer culture on our prayer lives, often reducing prayer to a transactional act, and encouraged shifting towards genuine communion with God—being with Him without agenda. By engaging in contemplative prayer, which involves intentional quiet time to be present with God, we open ourselves to His transformative love, becoming more like Jesus in the process.
In Week 2 of The Book of Genesis, Pastor Matt Nelson guided us through Genesis 2–5, highlighting themes foundational to understanding God’s character and humanity’s purpose. Moving from Genesis 1’s poetic creation account to the more narrative style of Genesis 2, Pastor Matt explored the significance of humanity’s unique creation in God’s image, the gift of Sabbath, and Eden as a place of divine communion. He emphasized Adam as a prototype for Israel, illustrating how obedience leads to life and disobedience results in exile and death—a theme mirrored in Israel’s own story. The class also covered the fall in Genesis 3, where humanity’s choice to disobey introduced sin’s unraveling effects, including shame, suffering, and separation from God. This discussion underscored Genesis as not just Israel's story, but as a powerful framework for understanding God’s covenant and humanity’s call to faithfulness.
In week one of The Book of Genesis, Pastor Matt Nelson guided us through the foundations of this powerful text, emphasizing its role in answering life’s biggest questions. We began by exploring Genesis as Israel’s story of identity, written to counter competing cultural narratives and to clarify who God is and who we are. Rather than seeing humanity as an afterthought or servant to distant gods, Genesis reveals a God who creates intentionally and relationally. Through open dialogue, Pastor Matt invited us to approach Genesis with curiosity and respect, seeing it as both a historical and spiritual foundation that invites us to understand God’s mission in the world and our place within it.
In this first week of Intentional Parenting, Families Pastor Michael Letney and Lindsay Nelson introduce foundational principles to help parents guide their families with purpose and grace. They emphasize that while there’s no perfect formula, building a strong family culture starts with establishing core values and priorities that shape daily decisions. Through lighthearted insights, they encourage parents to assess their current season, whether just "surviving" or moving toward "intentional," and to use practical tools like weekly check-ins to stay connected with their kids. This City University class is about creating a healthy, resilient family environment rooted in love, faith, and authenticity, equipping parents to navigate the journey together.
In this first session, Rachel invites us into her journey of spiritual formation, sharing her story of encountering God's presence from an early age and her discovery of spiritual disciplines as an adult. Exploring the life of Jesus as both fully human and fully divine, Rachel unpacks how Jesus lived in constant dependence on the Father and was empowered by the Holy Spirit. Together, we'll examine how the practices and presence that shaped Jesus' life can also transform our own. This week’s focus: understanding Jesus as our model for a life filled with presence and practical disciplines.
"Using your current position for kingdom impact" - If you’re a marketplace leader, this class is just for you. You’ll learn how God wants to use you right now in your current role and be equipped to engage in faith conversations that will foster community and lead to transformation. This class will help you discover Gods vision for your workplace and provide you skills to lead, develop and care for your coworkers or the team you lead. God in the marketplace will challenge you and help you grow to be a better disciple maker at work.
A Liturgy for Those Struggling in SecretFather, I confess that I’ve been struggling.With nowhere else to turn, I come to You.My wounds have festered deep within the dark—They’re veiled in shadows, covered by façades.Yahweh El Roi, You are the God who sees me.Only You know the missteps I have hidden.Only You see the sins I keep secret. Will You make a way where I see no way out?Compassionate and merciful Jesus,I know my shame was nailed upon the cross.Hold my hand as I step fully into light,And grant me courage to walk in Your ways. SAMSON - THE WEAKEST MAN IN THE WORLD Resurrection out of the Chains of Sexual LustJudges 13:5For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazrite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”Judges 16:1-31One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. 2 The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn we’ll kill him.”3 But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.4 Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. 5 The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels[a] of silver.”6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”7 Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”8 Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. 9 With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me; you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.”11 He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”12 So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them. Then, with men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads.13 Delilah then said to Samson, “All this time you have been making a fool of me and lying to me. Tell me how you can be tied.”He replied, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom and tighten it with the pin, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” So while he was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabric 14 and tightened it with the pin.Again she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin and the loom, with the fabric.15 Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.” 16 With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.17 So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”18 When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. 19 After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him.20 Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.21 Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison. 22 But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.The Death of Samson23 Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.”24 When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying,“Our god has delivered our enemy into our hands, the one who laid waste our land and multiplied our slain.”25 While they were in high spirits, they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them.When they stood him among the pillars, 26 Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. 28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, 30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.31 Then his brothers and his father’s whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led Israel twenty years.HOW WE SEE PEOPLE IS IMPORTANT TO GOD.“To look upon a woman lustfully is to separate her body from her soul, and thus to bring about death. The death which is summoned is a spiritual one, but it comes to him who would attempt to bring about such a divorce of body and soul.“OUR DESTINATION DECISIONS ARE CRITICALLUST MAKES SMART PEOPLE STUPIDHERE WAS THE UNDOING OF SAMSON: HE WAS STRONG ON THE OUTSIDE AND WEAK ON THE INSIDESEXUAL SIN BLINDS US TO CONSEQUENCEGOD’S GRACE COMES BEFORE WE EVEN SEE ITTHE CROSS IS THE GATEWAY TO RESURRECTIONMatthew 16:24-2624 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?
LITURGY FOR THE MOMENTA liturgy for a politically divided nation10.27.24A liturgy for a politically divided nationFather, in the midst of this political season, we turn our eyes to you.Though hatred and discord seem to surround us,Help us to be instruments of your love and vessels of your grace.We declare our primary allegiance to you and your kingdom.and ask for your wisdom as we navigate these complex decisions.As we face agreement and disagreement with others,May we never cease to honor the image of God in every person.We are grateful for the privilege to vote and practice religious freedom,And yet we align ourselves with the countercultural way of Jesus.We renounce the intoxicating allure of power and its false promises.and choose the way of the cross and sacrificial love.Let your kingdom come and your will be done,On earth, and in our country, as it is in heaven. Matthew 5:1-12Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.He said:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Why is the church struggling to navigate this cultural moment?1) Politics and political leaders are discipling our nation how to think and how to treat people2) Many Christians and churches are peddling a false gospel that attempts to conflate our political affiliation with our kingdom allegiance 3) Many Christians have disengaged from trusted voices of the church and are being easily misled and deceived 4) Many Christians have abandoned the ways of Jesus and the “way of the lamb” for the way of power and dominance5) Many Christians have lost their missional calling to embody the gospel and have resorted to defending or legislating the kingdom of God Mark 12:13-1713Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You arenʼt swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? 15Should we pay or shouldnʼt we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”16They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesarʼs,” they replied. 17Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesarʼs and to God what is Godʼs.” And they were amazed at him. We are to be involved in political matters but they are not our hope or identity because we are called to a great purpose. 1. I will pray for you and honor your position2. I will support you where I can3. I will defy you where I must The church is called to be a prophetic witness to the world regarding the ways of Jesus and the kingdom of God. The church must renew our commitment to our mission and calling:We must primarily identity as citizens of the kingdom of heavenWe must fiercely hold to the life and teachings of JesusWe must stand above politics in order to be a prophetic voice of truth
LITURGY FOR THE MOMENTA liturgy for those longing for more in their marriage10.20.24 Genesis 2:23-2523 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. Genesis 3:7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. · God’s Design: Oneness· Effects of Sin: Division· Through the Spirit: Unity Emotional disconnection creates distance. Distance creates space for the Enemy to plant seeds. When a couple shares a deep, emotional connection?· Teammates not just roommates· There is so much more grace you give one another…· Your spiritual and sexual intimacy are intensified When a couple loses their emotional connection?· Distance creates misunderstanding and misalignment· There is little grace for one another…· Your spiritual and sexual intimacy seems transactional at best We must exercise the power of vulnerability and honesty in our marriages to destroy the work of the Enemy and create a place of love and security. “Erotic love can be depicted as two people looking at one another, friendship can be depicted as two people standing side by side looking at the same object and begin stirred and entranced by it together.” – C.S. Lewis It's not if you drop the ball, but when, and if you choose to pick it back up again. QUESTIONS:· Am I willing to do whatever it takes to regain what has been lost? · Am I creating a safe space for my spouse to be open and honest about what is broken?· Is there something I need to own or ask for forgiveness in order for an emotional connection to be reestablished?
LITURGY FOR THE MOMENTA liturgy for those disillusioned with their faith10.13.24A Liturgy for those disillusioned with their faithWe come with heavy hearts and broken dreams,Wrestling with our faith and struggling with uncertainty.We are weary, tired, and disillusioned,Wrapped in a dark night of the soul.Would you walk with us on our road to Emmaus?Would you meet us, O God, in our brokenness?Though our eyes are dimmed, our hearts still burn.Help us recognize you walking beside us. Disillusionment: a feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be. Luke 24:13-2113 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Misguided hopes always lead to disillusionment. Luke 24:25-2725 And he (Jesus) said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Disappointment and disillusionment are the inevitable results of anything we pursue that doesn’t have Christ at the center. Luke 24:28-3528 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. Jesus walks with us in our disappointment, disillusionment, and despair. In his grace, Jesus redirects our hearts and misguided hopes back to Him. A resurrected Jesus changes everything. You will end up on the road to Emmaus full of disappointment and disillusionment if…· You overemphasize the rules and underemphasize love· Your faith becomes a religious obligation or duty · You are more concerned with theological accuracy than intimacy with the Father· Your hope is in politics, power, or the systems of this world· Your faith is focused on a cause or justice issue more than fellowship with Christ· You are more focused on what you are against than what you are for· You feed on the things of this world more than the bread of life Romans 8:15-16The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[c] the throne of the Lord,[d] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.” We battle together:Committed to CommunityForged in ProximityEmpowered in HIS Victory Deuteronomy 25:17-1817 Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt.18 When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. Committed to Community 9 Moses said to Joshua,“Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. Forged in Proximity 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. Empowered in His Victory 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.”15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. Colossians 2:9-159 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In 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 byChrist, 12 having 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.13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
THE UNSEENKnowing your enemy9-22-24WORLD: systems and ideologies that are opposed to the ways of God FLESH: our sinful desiresDEVIL: the dark emanating force of evil in the cosmos who’s aim is our destructionJohn 8:39-47They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”John 10:7-117 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheepKNOW HIS: NATURESTRATEGIES"Deceptive ideas, that play to disordered desires, that are normalized in a sinful society…" John Mark ComerULTIMATE DEFEATDeath is swallowed up in victory.”55 “O death, where is your victory?O death, where is your sting?”56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
THE UNSEENWeapons & Strategies of Warfare9.15.24 We cannot passively resist the Enemy and expect to walk in freedom and victory. Ephesians 2:1-7And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. The world is an organized system that is opposed to God 1 John 2:15-17Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life —is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. How do we fight the world:· We immerse ourselves in Scripture, the story of God, and the life of Christ· We use discernment that comes through Spirit of God and trusted voices of the church The flesh is an internal struggle waging war within us and against us Galatians 5:16-24But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. How do we fight the flesh:· We learn to run. We are disciplined in our mind and body. · We renew our minds. We implement rhythms and practices where we say “yes” to the Spirit. The Devil is an adversary or enemy who is intent on destroying us 1 Peter 5:8-9Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. · Morally, Satan desires to make sin look normal or even the way to true life· Theologically, Satan desires to pervert and distort what is true and life-giving· Socially, Satan desires to provoke hatred, chaos, and division· Politically, Satan desires to turn our allegiances to political systems and lead us to misplace our hope · Economically, Satan desires to produce injustice and oppression against the poor, weak, and marginalized· Spiritually, he wants to blind the hearts and minds of unbelievers so they do not believe and the hearts and minds of believers to they do not walk in victory How do we fight the Devil:· We are aware of him and actively resist him· We battle and are transformed in prayer· We give ourselves to one another 2 Corinthians 10:3-5For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We 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. Weapons of Warfare:· Worship· Fasting· The armor of God· The name of Jesus· The power of the Holy Spirit· The church/biblical community · The gifts of the Spirit· Personal prayer language
THE UNSEENDeliverance9-8-24 What is demon possession and does this really still happen today? "Possession is always positional and sometimes in presence."Jon Thompson Ephesians 2:1-5 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Can a Christian be demon possessed?Upstairs Theology - How God views youDownstairs Theology - How we try to work it out in everyday life. Ephesians 1:3-73 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace... Ephesians 4:25-2725 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. How does the medical field, counseling, & mental illness play into this conversation?What should I do if I feel like I may have a demonic influence on my life? 3 movements in deliverance prayer:AllegianceTruthPower In spiritual warfare, our approach should not be... "Speak the word of command in Jesus name and it is done" which usually leads to frustration and disillusionment. Our approach should be, "Speak the word of command in Jesus name UNTIL it is done."Sam Storms
THE UNSEENIdentity & Authority9.1.24 One of the enemy’s primary tactics in your life is for you to forget or fail to know your true identity in Christ. In the moment we take on a false identity, we immediately forfeit the victory and power that has been given to us. Luke 9:1-2When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 10:17-1917 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Where does our authority come from? · It comes from the finished work of Christ · It comes as we align ourselves with His will Acts 19:11-1611 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. Matthew 28:18-2018 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”1. We must walk in our identity 2. We must operate in our authority 3. We must exercise our power
THE UNSEENSigns & Wonders8.25.24 Where you may find yourself this morning…1. Belief2. Skepticism3. Denial or Hostile Skepticism Matthew 11:2-6When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Circumstances can often tempt us to doubt or question what we know to be true about God. We live in a world where we will witness both the miraculous and brokenness. Matthew 14:13When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Life is a mixture of the miraculous, learning to live with pain, and understanding the way God shapes us and forms us through suffering. In order to be a church who experiences signs & wonders:1. A biblical community who is regularly gathered together in prayer and desperate and hungry for a move of God’s Spirit2. A community that teaches about signs and wonders and the gifts of the Spirit and is regularly creating space for God to move 3. A community with the audacity to believe and pray bold prayers of faithA community that rejects the values of our culture but instead embodies a countercultural community that believes God is waiting to break into every area of our lives with His power and presence
THE UNSEENArmor of God8.18.24Ephesians 6:13-18 (NLT)13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Your real enemy is UNSEEN, he’s hoping you don’t realize he’s even there. Ephesians 6:13Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Put on every piece. Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, Belt = TRUTH Ephesians 6:14with the breastplate of righteousness in place, Breastplate = RIGHTEOUSNESS Ephesians 6:15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Shoes = GOOD NEWS OF PEACE Ephesians 6:16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Shield = FAITH Ephesians 6:17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.Helmet = SALVATIONSword = WORD OF GOD Ephesians 6:18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Righteousness is right side up livingUnrighteousness is upside down behavior Am I creating an environment that welcomes the enemy into my life or am I creating an environment that welcomes God’s favor into my life? You can't live free, fully, and abundantly when you have too much weight on you. The way to fight Satan is not to focus on Satan, but to cover your life with the gospel! Daily Practice:Am I covered in the Armor of God?
THE UNSEENKingdoms in Conflict8.11.24 There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. - C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters The two most common responses to spiritual warfare and the spiritual realm:1. Obsessive preoccupation2. Complacent indifference Reasons why Christians are tragically ignorant of and dangerously ill-prepared for spiritual warfare:1. Ignorance of the Bible Ephesians 6:12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 2. Irrelevance of the Bible 3. Victory of the cross 4. The fear of imbalance Many Christians have become so accustomed to operating with no demonstrations of spiritual power that they are bothered by any demonstration of it. – Timothy Warner 5. Insulated life-styles & a western worldview The reason we don’t often see overt demonic manifestations like someone’s eyes roll in the back of their head or foam at the mouth is because any sort of supernatural occurrence would at the very least get you to believe in the supernatural. A smarter, more subtle strategy of Satan is to move stealthily behind the scenes – distorting truth – bring division – selling lies – making church goers church shoppers, turning kingdom people into political people – keeping the church in a state of apathy. - Dr. Karl Payne 2 Corinthians 11:14For Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. There is a kingdom of God and there is a kingdom of Satan and the two are in conflict. God/the Trinity are pre-existent and all-powerful from beginning and they create out of who they are and what they desireGod creates an unseen world with spiritual beings (Job 38, Psalm 82)God creates a physical world with human beings (Genesis 1:26-28) Ephesians 6:10-1210 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:19-21That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. As followers of Jesus, we must be committed to rediscovering a biblical imagination for the spiritual world, our authority in Christ, and the weapons of warfare God has given us to overcome the powers of the Enemy. Imagining the world that Scripture imagines, you will recall, means focusing less on the world that created the Bible and more on the world that the Bible creates. - Luke Timothy Johnson, Miracles Will we have “ears to hear and eyes to see” what God is doing all around us in both the physical and the spiritual realms? Will the church be a place shaped by a secular culture that rejects the mysterious or the miraculous or will we embody a community drenched with the possibilities of the supernatural?
Missional ShiftStephen KuertLuke 10:1-11, 17-21 ESVAfter this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”"It's not so much that God has a mission for His church in the world, but that God has a church for His mission in the world" - Dr. Christopher WrightThe whole purpose of the whole church is to take the whole gospel to the whole world.Shift 1: Sow: From passivity to participation"Now the Greek is much more forcible, it is that he would push them forward, and thrust them out; it is the same word which is used for the expulsion of a devil from a man possessed. It takes great power to drive a devil out, it will need equal power from God to drive a Christian out to his work" - SpurgeonShift 2: Go: From experience to obedienceShift 3: Show: From presentation to demonstration2 Cor. 2:4-5 NKJV"And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." Shift 4: Know: From apathy to authorityShift 5: Grow: From joy to joy"So where the gospel is preached with divine power, Satan comes down from his throne, in human hearts and minds, as rapidly as the lighting-flash falls from heaven; and when we see his kingdom shaken, then, like Jesus, we rejoice in spirit"- Spurgeon
TALK 1Grief: Friend or Foe?Tim WatkinsMatthew 14:10-12He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus. 13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself.Grief is the primarily emotional process of reacting to lossWe live in a grief avoidant societyIt is impossible to numb just one emotionMatthew 14:23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there aloneTALK 2Live ReadyCarolyn UdallMatthew 24:37-39, 42-44 (NLT)37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters:“The Christians describe the Enemy [God] as one ’without whom Nothing is strong’. And Nothing is very strong: strong enough to steal away a man’s best years not in sweet sins but in a dreary flickering of the mind over it knows not what and knows not why, in the gratification of curiosities so feeble that the man is only half aware of them, in drumming of fingers and kicking of heels, in whistling tunes that he does not like, or in the long, dim labyrinth of reveries that have not even lust or ambition to give them a relish, but which, once chance association has started them, the creature is too weak and fuddled to shake off.You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy [God]. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing.”TALK 3Awe & WonderCody JensenColossians 1:15-17[Christ] The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created.Job 12:7-10But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the [Ruah, spirit,] breath of all mankind.Genesis 1:1-3In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light.John 1:1-5In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.1 John 4:8 (NIV)Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.Mark 4:39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
Genesis 37:28So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. 1. The Test of Brokenness Genesis 39:1-5Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. Genesis 39:6-8Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” 8 But he refused. 2. The Test of Character Genesis 39:20-2320 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. What if God establishes you and gives you favor in a place you despise or don’t want to be? Genesis 40:2323 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. 3. Test of Faithfulness We are often so focused on the destination, we forget that God is more concerned with our heart and obedience to Him. Genesis 45:4-8Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. 4. Test of Forgiveness
The Secret PlaceLuke 5:15-1615 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.The unseen will always proceed, fuel & sustain the seen. Jeremiah 175 This is what the Lord says:“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes.They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Psalm 11 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wickedor stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in seasonand whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Identity Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. "we remain victims of our society and continue to be entangled in the illusions of the false self. Jesus himself entered into this furnace. There he was tempted with the three compulsions of the world: to be relevant (turn stones to bread), to be spectacular (throw yourself down), to be powerful (i will give you all these kingdoms). There he affirmed God as the only source of his identity. The wilderness thus detoxes us from our addiction of approval."- Henri Nouwen Renewal Our body, mind, & soul are longing for continual rhythms of rest & renewal, but we tend to settle for continual times of escape & numbing. Psalm 51:11-12Create in me a pure heart, O God,and renew a steadfast spirit within me.11 Do not cast me from your presenceor take your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of your salvationand grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 91:1 AMP1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty, whose power no foe can withstand."We should commit ourselves unceasingly to this one goal: that everything we do be little acts of communion with God."- Brother Lawrence - The Practice of the Presence of God Realignment Matthew 26:36-3936 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” The intimacy & security found in the secret place will lead us into realignment to the will of the Father, even when that means we must drink the cup of suffering.Power
Luke 22: 39-44 (ESV)39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
What keeps us from being people of extravagant generosity?We are being shaped and formed by cultural valuesWe have a management and stewardship problemWe don't start with the heart
THE FIGHT6.23.242 Timothy 4:6-86For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now 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.1 Timothy 6:11-16But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.It’s time to fightThe secret to fighting is abidingYou cannot journey alone.
Awakening to Evil6.16.24 Paul looks to the ultimate future of Christ’s victorious return to give the church in Thessalonica hope for their present struggles. 2 Timothy 3:1-5But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. Man of Lawlessness: a lawless individual doing the deceptive work of Satan, who not only opposes God but actually seeks to push God aside and exalt himself in God’s place. 2 Timothy 4:3-4For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Evil is inherently and fundamentally deceptive. The effectiveness of evil has much to do with how it presents itself: not so much as the polar opposite of something good, but as a clever counterfeit of it. - Michael W. Holmes The most destructive evil is subtle, not overt. The most destructive evil gives the appearance of being good. The most destructive evil comes as an angel of light. Is it the spirit of Christ or spirit of Antichrist? · When we celebrate war and the destruction of human life to justify our own desire for power. · When we justify the killing of an unborn child because we believe the rights of a woman or a person's personal privacy supersedes the life of an unborn child. · When our love for country or politics leads us to replace or confuse our kingdom identity with our national identity · When our love for our second amendment rights becomes equal or greater than the second greatest commandment to love our neighbor as yourself · When we use Christian jargon to legitimize unjust and oppressive practices of the poor, marginalized, immigrant, or refugee. · When our business practices or our desire to accumulate wealth leads us to use people or take advantage of others for our own personal profit The spirit of antichrist wants to normalize evil in our lives and in our culture until we are either numb or blinded from the truth.
Awaken: Endurance“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 ESV“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 set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV1. You can endure knowing God will use your suffering. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”James 1:2-4 ESV2. You can endure knowing God will reveal himself to you in your suffering. “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”James 5:7-11 ESV3. You can endure knowing God will receive you in your suffering. “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.”Job 1:20-22 ESVJob endured his suffering by tearing his clothes, sitting in the dust, even asking God many questions—and Scripture is clear that he did not sin. As you endure trials, bring your cries and cares to the Man of Sorrows who knows and understands, since he endured the most horrible suffering in your place. Lament isn’t wrong. Even Jesus wept, and he will receive you in your tears.4. You can endure knowing God will end your suffering. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”James 1:12 ESV “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV
AWAKENAwakening to the Hour6.2.24 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Matthew 24:36“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Matthew 24:42-44“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Paul directs the attention of his readers away from “when” Christ will return to a matter of “how” they should conduct themselves in light of his coming.· Speculation brings ridicule on the gospel and hurts our witness as the church · Speculation breeds a crisis mentality where we are always living in panic and fear · Speculation is a distraction that wastes our time, energy, and resources Three major positions on the return of Christ…AmillennialismPremillennialismClassical Premillennialism (post-tribulation)Dispensational Premillennialism (pre-tribulation)Postmillennialism What does Paul teach us about the coming of Christ?1) No human knows the time of the Lord’s coming2) To unbelievers, the Day of the Lord will be a surprise but not to those who in Christ and ready3) Believers have a deep security in Christ and their future salvation that is greater than whatever they may face in this world4) For believers, the coming of Christ will mean life in full communion and fellowship with Him5) In the meantime, we are to live fully alert and disciplined as we build one another up in faith, hope, and love Matthew 25:1-13At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. To live without preparation (without oil) is to live in a way in the present where you do not care or think about the future.
Awakening to Hope1 Thessalonians 4:13-18May 26th 1 Corinthians 15:1-31Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 2It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.3I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 1 Peter 1:3-7The Hope of Eternal Life3All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.6So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.8You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. Our hope:· You have been born again· You get to live with great expectation· You have a priceless inheritance· There is wonderful joy ahead· The trails you face show your faith is genuine· Strong faith through many trails will bring much praise, glory, & honor on the day Jesus is revealed to the world How do we encourage one another?· God’s protection is over your life through your faith· God himself will come down from heaven· Your trials here on earth will bring much praise, glory, & honor· You will be with the Lord forever John 14:1-31 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.” Our task is to live as resurrection people 1 Peter 1:13So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. The promise of the bible is that we get Jesus and he will be more than enough, no matter what we’re going through. Philippians 4:8And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 1 Corinthians 15:58So, my dear brothers, and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. Paul’s charge:Encourage One Another
PENTECOST5.19.24 Acts 1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” How many of us are attempting to do in our own ability what is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit? It’s not that the Spirit of God is not moving, it’s that we aren’t positioning ourselves to receive. Acts 2:1-4When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Results of Pentecost: 1. Pentecost launched the church; a new family of believers committed to Christ and one another. Acts 2:42-47They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 2. Pentecost shattered the boundaries and barriers that kept people from experiencing His presence. 3. Pentecost is not a one-time event but is continuously poured out on those who desire more of Him. Acts 4:31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 4. Pentecost transforms ordinary disciples into powerful witnesses of the gospel. · The Spirit of God transcends human abilities and transforms human inabilities.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. 1 Thess 4:1-2 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. Our obedience to Jesus is an expression of our love to him not a forced obligation to a set of rules. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-83 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable,5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. God’s saving grace, revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and received by us through faith, is the source from which all holiness flows. BEHOLDING Isaiah 6:1-5 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” BELIEVING It is only through true belief in who God is that we can fully surrender to His lordship over our lives. BECOMING 2 Corinthians 3:1818 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
AWAKENAwakening to Love4.28.24For Paul, a primary indicator of the church being awake was their love for one another. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. In order to overflow with love for others we must be increasing in the love of God. Our inner life always shapes our outer attitudes and actions. JOY - Be joyful always. PRAYER - Pray continually. It is not possible for us to spend all our time with the words of prayer on our lips, but it is possible for us to be all our days in the spirit of prayer, realizing our dependence on God for all we have and are, being conscious of his presence with us wherever we may be, and yielding ourselves continually to him to do his will. Such an inward state will of course find expression from time to time in verbal prayer – Leon Morris GRATITUDE - Give thanks in all circumstances.
AWAKENAwakening to Authentic Ministry 4.21.24 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you.Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. Paul reminds us that the essence of healthy Christian leadership is not about power or position or influence, but relationships. When Narcissism Comes to Church by Chuck Degroat The church can wound and the church can heal. So, how do we bring about this reform needed in the church today? 1. We fight against the temptation to sit on the sideline and become a critic2. We choose to embody healthy, genuine leadership with pure motives3. We choose not to feed into the narcissistic culture of church and leadership4. We embody an Ephesians 4 vision of the church with shared gifts and leadership5. We continually center our lives on Jesus, the Word of God, and a commitment to discipleship and spiritual formation. Henri NouwenThe long painful history of the Church is the history of people ever and again tempted to choose power over love, control over the cross, being a leader over being led. Those who resisted this temptation to the end and thereby give us hope are the true saints. One thing is clear to me: the temptation of power is greatest when intimacy is a threat. Much Christian leadership is exercised by people who do not know how to develop healthy, intimate relationships and have opted for power and control instead. Many Christian empire-builders have been people unable to give and receive love.
Awakened to the Gospel1 Thessalonians 1:1-10April 14, 2024 Acts 17:1-31When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.” Whenever the gospel is preached1. Some people will get angry2. Some people will elevate that anger to the level of persecution3. Some people will embrace the message and give their lives to Jesus Acts 17:5-95But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” 8When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go. The Gospel Cycle:· Good News Brought to You · We modeled it· Good News Received By You · You Modeled It· Good News Went Out From YouGenuine conversion changes our directionGenuine conversion changes our affection Bonhoeffer – DiscipleshipGod honors some with great suffering and grants them the grace of martyrdom, while others are not tempted beyond their strength. But in every case it is one cross. It is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering that everyone has to experience is the call which summons us away from our attachments to this world. It is the death of the old self in the encounter with Jesus Christ. Those who enter into discipleship enter into Jesus’ death. They turn their living into dying… Whenever Christ calls us, his call leads us to death. · Transforms idols (Repentance)· Turn to God (Faith)· Turn our lives over to God (Service) Genuine conversion changes our reflection Is the Good News ringing out from my life?Have I turned from my idols?Am I speaking about and looking forward to Jesus’s return?
Anchored in a Drifting Culture4.7.24 Colossians 2:1-8I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. I can’t help but recognize how many believers are adrift in our current culture because they are not anchored in the gospel, the word of God, or the body of Christ. WHY WE DRIFT:1. We’re not anchored to the gospel above all other things.2. We’re not anchored to consistent communityWe cannot live anchored in the gospel with superficial relationships. 3. We’re not anchored to any spiritual authority4. We’re not anchored to the daily practices of transformation
THE CROWDSResurrection Tour3.31.24 John 20:19-2019 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Jesus comes for those who love Him and desire to follow Him but struggle with fear and lack of courage. John 20:24-28Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus comes for those whose faith will fail, who have doubts, and who need to see before they believe. John 21:15-19When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” Jesus comes for those who have failed in every possible way and think they’ve missed their opportunity and their calling. Jesus meets us where we are.Jesus never stops pursuing us.Jesus resurrects the dead things in us.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
The CrowdsPalm Sunday3-24-24 “And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem…Luke 9:51 ESV And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.”Luke 9:52-53 ESV What they knew• The messiah will come• He will be triumphant • His rule, reign and dominion will be over all the earth Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. (Zechariah 9:9, 10) What they thought• Rome would be defeated in battle• Power structures would shift and they would become the conquering people of God • It’s happening now What this led to• disillusionment• disappointment• The crowds walking away What Jesus knew• Their deepest need• Their lack of sight• This Triumphal entry leads to death And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”Luke 19:41-44 ESV And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.”Luke 19:47-48 ESV "He knows that the same people who are so impressed with him one day so as to want to make him king need very little altering of circumstance to begin the chant: Crucify Him! Amazement lies at the root of hype, ideology, groupthink, mob mentality, gang rapes, and crucifixions. Crowds do not think; they act out of a blind energy, and that carries immense dangers. Indeed, scripture scholars tell us that in the Gospels, most every time the word crowd is used, one could supply the word mindless."Ronald Rolheiser
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
The CrowdsThe Crowds Arrest Jesus & ScatterMarch 17thWhat is the response or reaction of the crowd?How are we often like the crowds?How does Jesus call the crowds to a radical level of discipleship? Will we take up our cross or reject it? Will we stay with Jesus or desert him? C.J. Mahaney – Living the Cross Centered LifeI identify most with the angry mob screaming, “Crucify Him!” That’s who we should all identify with. Because apart from God’s grace, this is where we would all be standing, and we’re only flattering ourselves to think otherwise. Unless you see yourself standing there with the shrieking crowd, full of hostility and hatred for the holy and innocent Lamb of God, you don’t really understand the nature and depth of your sin. Jesus Arrested - Matthew 2647 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.Lessons from the life of Judas and the Crowds:1. Proximity to Jesus doesn’t equal transformation2. Willing to give Jesus something, but not everything3. Looked at worship as a waste4. They knew about Jesus, but they didn’t know himMatthew 2655 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.God values the process as much as the outcome. In some ways, the journey is as important as the destination. God is not merely interested in taking you somewhere, He intends to make you someone in the process. The twists, and turns, the tempests and trials… In our bottom-line oriented society, it’s vitally important to remember: How we get to the end is every bit as important as that we get there, because how we get there-the choices we make and the way we live between now and then – will determine who we are when we arrive. Kenneth Boa & John Alan TurnerDo I have a rebellious spirit?Am I Judas?
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
THE CROWDSThe Cost of Discipleship3.10.24Luke 14:25-26Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his mother and father, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even their own life – such a person cannot be my disciple.”Part of the radical call to discipleship is reordering our priorities and commitments. Luke 14:27And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.Philippians 3:10-11I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.Luke 14:33In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
THE CROWDSThe Narrow Door3.3.24Luke 13:22-3022 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”Living the Giving Liturgy:• Guiding Questions…o Am I fully trusting God with my finances and everything I own?o Am I actively practicing generosity in my life, church, and relationships? o Am I being a wise steward of what God has entrusted to me? Question for the crowds: Will they stay with Jesus and become His disciples or will they turn away and desert Him?"Characteristics of the crowd in scripture:• The crowds are fickle and easily swayed by popular opinion• The crowds have a consumer mentality focused on personal gain• The crowds misunderstand the kingdom of God and seek power instead• The crowds reject suffering or the way of the cross for comfort and convenience Matthew 7:13-1413 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.1 Peter 1:13-16Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”1. You have a choice. 2. Your time to choose is limited.3. Beware of familiarity.4. Your life and choices have eternal implications.5. The Kingdom of God inverts the kingdom of this world.Three Consistent Pictures of Hell:1. Punishment2. Destruction3. Banishment“It is true that the cost of discipleship is steep, but it is also true that the cost of non-discipleship is even higher." – Dietrich Bonhoeffer“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” – Jim EliotIn what area of your life is the Spirit of God calling you through the narrow door?
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
THE CROWDSThe Rich Fool2-25-24Luke 12: 13-21 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”True life is not found in what you own"Prosperity knits a man to the world. He feels that he is finding his place in it, while really it is finding it's place in him."CS Lewis - The Screwtape LettersMatthew 6:19-2119 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.Luke 16:10-1510 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? 13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” True life is not self-centered"The distinctive thing that money allows us- it's most seductive promise - abundance without dependence."Andy Crouch - The Life We're Looking ForRadical generosity is the overflow of a heart that recognizes the extravagant love of God towards me.This life is not forever“You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’The way we handle our money is a central practice, not a casual addition to our spiritual formation.3 Guiding Questions• Am I fully trusting God with my finances and everything I own? • Am I actively practicing generosity in my life, church, and relationships? • Am I being a wise steward of what God has entrusted to me?
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
THE CROWDDon’t Look Back2.18.24Luke 9:51As his time drew near, Jesus resolutely set his face towards Jerusalem.The question for the crowd: Will they stay with Jesus and become His disciples or will they turn away and desert Him?1. Curious2. Outraged3. Excited4. SelfishThe social psychology behind mob mentality: • Deindividuation – when people are a part of a group, they experience a loss of self-awareness• Identity – when people are part of a group, they can lose their sense of individual identity and adopt a group identity• Emotions – being a part of a group can lead to heightened emotional states: excitement, anger, hostility, etc.• Acceptability – behaviors that are often seen as unacceptable become acceptable when others in a group are seen carrying them out• Anonymity – people feel anonymous within a large group, which reduces their sense of responsibility and accountability Crowds have the power to make the timid brave, the good better or the bad devastating. - Greg MorseLuke 9:57-6257 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”• Jesus addresses the gods of comfort and clarity• Jesus addresses the god of misdirected priorities • Jesus addresses the gods of convenience and partial surrenderWhat we must consider if we choose to take up our cross and walk the road of discipleship with Jesus:• Jesus demands unqualified commitment• Jesus clarifies our relationship with the world• Jesus urges us to count the cost of discipleship
TEACH US TO PRAYLead us Not Into TemptationFeb. 11thOur Father in heavenhallowed be your nameyour kingdom come; your will be doneon earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation;but deliver us from evil.For yours is the kingdom, power & glory forever & ever.Amen.Ephesians 6:1111 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.Satan laughs at our toiling, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray. -Samuel Chadwich (The Path of Prayer)Luke 4:11 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wildernessScheme #1Satan packages a good thing as a God thingScheme #2Satan tempts us to choose painless over the processWe are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us: we are wondering how painful the best will be. God always wants what is best for us, but often times his best for us is on the other side of something hard or something painful. - C.S. Lewis Scheme # 3Satan tempts us to test God rather than to trust God
TEACH US TO PRAYForgive Us2.4.24 There is nothing more transformative than loving your enemy and offering forgiveness to the undeserving. Our Father in heavenhallowed be your nameyour kingdom come; your will be doneon earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.For yours is the kingdom, power & glory forever & ever. Amen. And forgive us our trespasses.· Do we comprehend the gravity of our sin, our need for redemption, and God’s unconditional love towards us? As we forgive those who trespass against us.· Will we freely give the forgiveness to others that we have received in Christ? Matthew 18:23-3521 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Unforgiveness is often a sign we have failed to understand the gravity of our sin and the finished work of the cross. Forgiveness does not mean...· What the other person did is okay.· You have to forget (or overlook) what they did.· You have to go on like nothing ever happened.· They shouldn’t receive any consequences for their actions.· You never feel pain, anger, or sadness about the situation.· You should allow the offender to continually mistreat you. The potential warning signs of unforgiveness: · Lingering anger or resentment· You relive the offense over and over· Avoidance· You seek revenge· You repeatedly bring up the past· You lack empathy· You hold grudges· It negatively impacts all your relationships· You carry it like a weight in your soul Forgiveness is both a decision and a process · Will you receive forgiveness?· Will you release unforgiveness?
Teach Us To Pray Daily Bread1-28-24 Our Father in heavenhallowed be your nameyour kingdom come; your will be doneon earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.For yours is the kingdom, power & glory forever & ever. Amen "All of Jesus' teaching on prayer in the Gospels can be summarized with one word: ask."Paul Miller - A Praying Life1. Asking challenges our need for control Exodus 16:11–1811 And the LORD said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’”13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 14 And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them,“It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. 16 This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’” 17 And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. 18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. Daily bread prayers war against our tendency to find security in the the provision over the Provider.2. Asking requires relationship & vulnerability Luke 11:5-9 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 3. Asking invites us to participate "God's response to our prayers is not a charade. He does not pretend he is answering our prayer when he is only doing what he was going to do anyway. Our requests really do make a difference in what God does or does not do."Dallas Willard - The Divine Conspiracy"Gratitude is the God-given reward for those who can stomach praying for small things."Tyler Staton - Praying Like Monks Living Like Fools
TEACH US TO PRAYOur Father in heaven1.14.24Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Matthew 6:1“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. Matthew 6:5-9“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray:Prayer is less about informing God of things we need or trying to get him to do what we want and more about shaping our own hearts and lives. Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name;thy kingdom come;thy will be done;on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation;but deliver us from the evil one.For thine is the kingdom,the power and the glory,for ever and ever. Amen.The Lord’s Prayer becomes a template for prayer and a model for guiding us on how and what to pray.Go find a quiet place where you can relax, Jesus seems to say. Unclench your fists. Breathe deeply. Let your heart rate decrease. Know that you're already bathed in the Father's love and ask simply for what you need, in the assurance that the One to whom you're speaking is already cupping His ear in your direction. That's what prayer should be. - The Lord’s Prayer by Wesley Hill Whether our human fathers loved us deeply or abandoned us entirely, or whether our fathers died or were simply absentee, we are not orphans. We are not orphans because our Father loves us and has adopted us into His family.- Pope FrancisWhat would change about our prayer life if we truly lived with an accurate picture of the Father’s love and goodness towards us?
TEACH US TO PRAYOur Father in heaven1.14.24Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Matthew 6:1“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. Matthew 6:5-9“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray:Prayer is less about informing God of things we need or trying to get him to do what we want and more about shaping our own hearts and lives. Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name;thy kingdom come;thy will be done;on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation;but deliver us from the evil one.For thine is the kingdom,the power and the glory,for ever and ever. Amen.The Lord’s Prayer becomes a template for prayer and a model for guiding us on how and what to pray.Go find a quiet place where you can relax, Jesus seems to say. Unclench your fists. Breathe deeply. Let your heart rate decrease. Know that you're already bathed in the Father's love and ask simply for what you need, in the assurance that the One to whom you're speaking is already cupping His ear in your direction. That's what prayer should be. - The Lord’s Prayer by Wesley Hill Whether our human fathers loved us deeply or abandoned us entirely, or whether our fathers died or were simply absentee, we are not orphans. We are not orphans because our Father loves us and has adopted us into His family.- Pope FrancisWhat would change about our prayer life if we truly lived with an accurate picture of the Father’s love and goodness towards us?
RESET SUNDAY1.7.24RESET SUNDAY is a time to prayerfully enter the new year with expectation and intentionality. Two declarations as we enter this new year:We are expectant that God wants to do something new in usIsaiah 43:16-24This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters,17 who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together,and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.20 The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls,because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland,to give drink to my people, my chosen,21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.22 “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves forme, Israel.23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices.I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense.24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices.But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.We choose to intentionally seek Him above all other thingsWe naturally develop an appetite for what we choose to feed on.Some of us lack a hunger for more of God because we are feeding on everything else but Him.What would your weekly rhythms and routines look like if your hunger for more of God was your greatest desire? Matthew 5:6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.Matthew 6:3333 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Matthew 7:7-87 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.Two declarations:We are expectant that God wants to do something new in usWe choose to intentionally seek Him above all other things
Making Room for JoyAdvent 202312.17.23What you’re waiting FOR determines HOW you wait.When power is our objective, we will always respond in fear.Matthew 2:9-10After they (Magi) had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. When the hope of Christ is our aim, we will always respond with joy and worship.For Matthew, joy is the appropriate response to the kingdom of God.What can we learn from the Magi?They came seeking the MessiahThey held onto hopeThey responded with joyThey acted in obedienceThey gave extravagantly How can I cultivate joy in this present moment?Philippians 4:4-94 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Sunday, Dec. 10thJim MossMake Room for Peace (Luke 2:8-14)OrdinaryTrue peace, biblical peace is disruptive peaceWe have become so accustomed to the idea of divine love and of God's coming at Christmas that we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God's coming should arouse in us. We are indifferent to the message, taking only the pleasant and agreeable out of it and forgetting the serious aspect, that the God of the world draws near to the people of our little earth and lays claim to us.Dietrich BonhoefferIndeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one— the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts…C.S. LewisI was dumbfounded. At the heart of the Christmas story in Matthew’s gospel is a baby who poses such a threat to the most powerful man around that he kills a whole village full of other babies in order to try to get rid of him. At the heart of the Christmas story in Luke, too, is a baby who, if only the Roman emperor knew it, will be the Lord of the whole world…Within a generation his followers will be persecuted by the empire as a danger to good order. Whatever else you say about Jesus, from his birth onwards, people certainly found him a threat. He upset their power-games, and suffered the usual fate of people who do that. N.T. WrightSooner or later, if we follow Christ we have to risk everything in order to gain everything. We have to gamble on the invisible and risk all that we see and taste and feel. But we know the risk is worth it, because there is nothing more insecure than this transient world. Thomas MertonListen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness; touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace. Frederick BuechnerTrue peace comes through costly obedience Christ never promises peace in the sense of no more struggle and suffering. Instead, he helps us to struggle and suffer as he did, in love, for one another. Christ does not give us security in the sense of something in this world, some cause, some principle, some value, which is forever. Instead, he tells us that there is nothing in this world that is forever, all flesh is grass…He does not promise us unlonely lives. His own life speaks loud of how, in a world where there is little love, love is always lonely. Instead of all these, the answer that he gives, I think, is himself. If we go to him for anything else, he may send us away empty or he may not. But if we go to him for himself, I believe that we go away always with the deepest of all our hungers filledFrederick BuechnerIt Is well with my soul…I welcome your peace in my lifeHelp me to daily rest in your peaceHelp me to walk in your peaceHelp me to live in your peaceHelp me to bring peace with me everywhere I go
Make Room for Hope12.3.23Isaiah 9:1-51Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.3You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.4For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.5Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.Hope as we see in scripture is the confident expectation of coming good based on the person and promises of God, and it's strength is in HIS faithfulness to see it through to the end.Eugene PetersonHope is not about the future, hope is about the present. It obviously has to do with the future, but it is a virtue which is cultivated in the present. It fills the present with energy, it connects the two comings of Jesus so that we are now a participant in them. We are not just remembering the one and believing in the other, we are participating in the continuity of the comings.Isaiah 9:6-76For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.Jesus initiated His love as Emmanuel, God with us. (Past)Jesus will come again & make all things new (Future)Revelation 21Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”Flemming Rutledge"Religious systems that ignore the dark side of life are fundamentally dishonest. In Advent, we don't pretend, as I once thought, that we are in the darkness before the birth of Christ. Rather, we take a good hard look at the darkness we are now facing and define it honestly so that we will understand with utmost clarity that our great and only hope is in Jesus final and victorious coming."The hope that doesn't look over the horizon and into the future to come isn't Christian hope at all. Jesus will bring forth good from the Kingdom to come into the mess of this world. (Present)
Simplicity: Making Room in Our Hearts 11.26.23"Spiritual disciplines facilitate a process that is out of one's control, but it does not have the capacity to determine an outcome. A gardener for example, does not actually grow plants. The gardener practices finely honed skills, such as cultivating soil, watering, feeding, weeding, pruning. But there is nothing the gardener can do to make the plants grow. However, if the gardener does not do what a gardener is supposed to do, the plants are not as likely to flourish. In fact, they may not grow at all. Gardening involves skills of receptivity. The skills are necessary but by themselves insufficient."-Martin LairdSimplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward lifestyle- Richard Foster22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.Luke 12:22-34“We Christians must simplify our lives or lose untold treasures on earth and in eternity.” -A.W. Tozer 1. Diminishes Distraction2. Increases Time "In frantic fidelity we try to meet at least the necessary minimum of calls upon us. But we're weary and breathless. And we know and regret that our life is slipping away, with our having tasted so little of the peace and joy and serenity we are persuaded it should yield to a soul of wide caliber. The times for the deeps of the silences of the heart seem so few. And in guilty regret we must postpone till next week that deeper life of unshaken composure in the holy presence, where we sincerely know our true home is, for this week is much too full." - Thomas Kelley3. Exposes Idols of the Heart Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.Proverbs 4:23What are the things in my life that distract me from His Kingdom?What are the things in my life that are stealing too much time?Are there any idols in my heart that need to be exposed?
Streams In The DesertHungerWe lack trust“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1““Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”Matthew 7:7-11 ESVWe settle“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”Genesis 3:1-6 ESV“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”Psalm 34:8-10 ESV
STREAMS IN THE DESERTSlowing11.12.23Genesis 1:31-2:331 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.God establishes a creation rhythm for life. If creation is the INHALE then rest is the EXHALE.Exodus 5:17-1817 Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.”Pharaoh’s system:System of restlessness and anxietySystem of acquisition and pursuit of moreSystem that abuses others for gainSystem that is never satisfied or content Yahweh’s system:System of work and SabbathSystem of trust and faithSystem that elevates love to the highest qualitySystem that brings true peaceSabbath is countercultural.Sabbath marks our identity as God’s people. Sabbath is an act of resistance. Have no other God’s before meDo not make any images or idolsDon’t misuse the name of the Lord Remember the Sabbath and keep it holySabbath is intentionally slowing our lives in order to give our attention to Christ and allow the Spirit to transform us and renew us.Mark 2:27-2827 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”The Sabbath is a gift that God has given you, not to limit you, but to give you life and freedom.How do implement slowing and Sabbath rhythms into our lives?Sabbath moments every day.Sabbath day/time every week.Sabbath withdrawal every year.
Overflow10/29/23What does it mean that God is our Shepherd and how does that lead to overflow? God is our all-sufficient Shepherd"For many of us the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives instead of actually living them."-Jon OrtbergIf we are starting with an inaccurate or incomplete picture of God, then we can never fully surrender to Him as our provider, our Shepherd. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture."The gospel that Jesus himself proclaimed, manifested, and taught was about more than his death for the forgiveness of our sins, as important as that is. It was about the kingdom of God - God's immediate availability, his with-us-ness that makes a life without lack possible. There is so much more to our relationship with God than just his dealing with our guilt and sin. Once we have ben forgiven, we are meant to live in the fullness of the life that Jesus came to give us."-Dallas WillardWe are His SheepIf dependence is the objective, weakness is an advantage "I am convinced that the Voice that whispered us into being still whispers within us and all creation. I am dead certain of it sometimes, terrified of it at other times, and longing for it at all times. The silence that so ofter seems to overcome me is more likely a matter of my not trusting my own ears than it is a matter of the Voice having gone suddenly inexplicably silent."-Robert Benson"To partner with God as He brings renewal in the world, in the systems and organizations where we live and lead, we must learn to detect His voice before moving forward; this is a countercultural act in an anxious system, which demands action, quick fixes, and fast acting remedies for pain. Waiting on the Lord, seeking His voice is an act of revolutionary stillness."-Mark SayersHis promise is fullness to the point of overflow "There is absolutely nothing that God lacks. We must understand this, because the overflowing sufficiency that we will experience when Yahweh is our Shepherd lies in the all-sufficiency of the Shepherd himself. If we do not understand the all-sufficiency of the Shepherd, we will never experience that sufficiency in relationship to him. What we need, God has - in infinite supply."-Dallas WillardPhilippians 4:10-1310 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.Burnout happens when our doing exceeds our being.
Streams in the DesertMundane10-22-23One of the greatest lies of the enemy is trying to get you to believe that your ordinary, everyday faithfulness and obedience are not enough to bring about significant Kingdom impact. Matthew Blake NelsonJeremiah 6:16This is what the Lord says: Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, No, that’s not the road we want.We tend to want a Christian life with the dull bits cut out. Genesis 1:26-28Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”27So God created mankind in his own image,in the image of God he created them;male and female he created them.28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”This is the great challenge: to maintain passion for the everyday routine and the endlessly repeated act, to derive deep gratification from the mundane. ~ Thomas KellerQuietnessRepetitivenessMonotony Mundane is the wayAnnie DillardHow we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What is the mundane so hard to embrace?What does God want to teach me through the mundane?How do I embrace the daily grind of the mundane?Psalm 73:28But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do. Rod DreherEverdayness is my problem. It’s easy to think about what you would do in wartime, or if a hurricane blows through, or if you spent a month in Paris, or if your guy wins the election, or if you won the lottery or bought that thing you really wanted. It’s a lot more difficult to figure out how you’re going to get through today without despair. Psalm 17:13-15Arise, O Lord! Stand against them, and bring them to their knees! Rescue me from the wicked with your sword! By the power of your hand, O Lord, destroy those who look to this world for their reward. But satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones. May their children have plenty, leaving an inheritance for their descendants. Because I am righteous, I will see you. When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied. The PathAcceptance – this is my life (It’s O.K.)Commitment to celebrate the ordinary (Everyday struggle)Invite others into the mundane
STREAMS IN THE DESERTWonder10.15.23Wonder: To live in wonder is to live with a sense of awe in the face of the divine and to appreciate the beauty and goodness of God’s design all around us. Mark 10:13-1613 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.Wonder is not an escape from the real world but a way to be radically present to it.Turn around and believe that the good news that we are loved is better than we ever dared hope, and that to believe in that good news, to live out of it and toward it, to be in love with that good news, is of all glad things in this world the gladdest thing of all. – Frederich BuechnerHow do we rediscover wonder, mystery, and the beauty of the world we live in? Fight against busynessWe slow down and learn to be present in a busy and distracting worldFight against controlWe remind ourselves of the goodness and sovereignty of our heavenly FatherFight against cynicismWe teach our souls to recognize the beauty all around usFight against agendasWe create space for joy and play and the freedom to be like a child“Maybe the burning bush was burning all the time and Moses didn’t notice. Maybe the miracle is when you stop and pay attention.” - Francine ProseA Liturgy of WonderBy Dalmo Mendonca Creator God, Giver of Joy,In a world that rushes and roars, we pause in your presence.We silence our hearts, our minds, and our mouths, just to behold You.Amid the clamor and clutter, we choose to marvel in Your majesty. We remember You, the sculptor of stars, the painter of sunsets. We remember You, the composer of dawn, the architect of the seasons. Amid the hustle and hurry, we choose to witness Your wonder. Jesus, the Image of the Invisible God,Rekindle in us the flame of fascination,Foster in us a heart of holiness, a spirit of sanctity,As we observe Your creativity in creation.
STREAMS IN THE DESERTThirst10.1.23Good Father,We confess we are burdened, weary, and dry.We have searched for life in the systems of death.We carry weights we were not created to carry. We run further into the desert. We are thirsty.Today, we step into your invitation to rest.We join the flowers and birds who do not worry or toil.We choose to live from your overflowing well of grace.We seek first your kingdom.As we draw near to you, would you draw near to us?As we step out of what is comfortable, will you meet us?Would you meet us in our community?Would you meet us in the spaces created for you?Jesus, wellspring of life,Overflow into our dry and weary souls.Saturate us with your peace and presence,As we plant ourselves by the streams of living water.The woman had buckets of water in front of her and yet her soul was a desolate wasteland.Jesus was thirsty from his long journey and yet he was an endless well of living water. John 4:13-14Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”John 6:35Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.John 7:37-39On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.Matthew 5:6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.Could it be that we don’t hunger and thirst for Jesus because we’re drinking from the wrong wells?What are the wells I’m drinking from when I’m lonely, angry, bored, tired, or stressed? How to access living water:Come to JesusBelieve in JesusAbide in Jesus
GOD & SEXUALITYBrokenness9.24.23Secularism disciples a man to learn to live without God1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.Romans 1:21-2321 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.When we reject who God is, we inevitably create a god that looks like us.Romans 1:24-2824 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.John Mark ComerDeceptive ideas (the devil) -- that play to disordered desires (the flesh) - that are normalized in a sinful society (the world)When a generation turns away from God and His design, it is the next generation's responsibility to restore it.We must be willing to stand in the face of cultural secularism with a vision of God’s design for our sexualityWe must be God’s holy people; living in God’s design for our sexuality. We must continue to love well with both grace and truth; leading people into freedom and life in Christ. Love is a rugged commitment to someone, which involves presence, advocacy, and companionship over time as we walk toward the kingdom of God - which means growing in holiness, love, and righteousness together. – Scot McKnight
GOD & SEXUALITYPart I: Beauty9.17.23Major shifts in sexuality over the last fifty years:Sex has been disconnected from child-bearing and the familySex has been disconnected from marriageSex has been disconnected from male/female relationshipsSex has been disconnected from love, emotion, and relational commitment of any kindSecularism – the language of our current culture which disciples a person to learn to live without GodOur identity is what gives us meaning, self-worth, and purpose. It drives us and often defines the community we belong to.Our culture has normalized the lie that both identity and sexuality are one and the same. The American Psychology Association defines sexual orientation as “referring to a person's sense of identity, based on those attractions, related behaviors, and membership in a community of others who share those attractions."If you are a follower of Jesus, your primary identity is found in Christ. This is central to the Christian faith. 3 MAIN STORIES ABOUT SEXUALITY IN OUR WORLD:Secular StoryExplorationIdentityRightsPleasureShame StoryRepressLegalism/MoralismHypocrisySecrecyFearSacred StoryFormationGraceTransformationBelongingDesignHow do we live in God’s beautiful design for sexuality?We see sex and sexuality as a part of God's good creationOur sexuality is not just about saying “No!” It is saying “Yes” to God’s beautiful design for us.2. We realize how sin disconnected us from God and others and our desire for connection3. We recognize God’s design and framework for our sexuality require surrender4. We acknowledge that our sexuality and desire for connection are pointing us to something far superior We eventually realize that, here in this life, all symphonies remain unfinished. – Karl RahnerLuke 20:27, 34-3627 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. Own your pain and the incompleteness of living in this in-betweenGive up false messianic expectations of love, marriage, and sexualityGo inward and learn the deep soul work of solitude, contentment, and self-controlEmbrace the restfulness and restlessness of your sexuality
Book of JamesPrayer of FaithSept. 10thJames 4:1-31What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.Why is it so hard to ask for things from God?James 5:13Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray.Prayer needs to be plannedAdopt practical ways to impede mental driftIn different times and in different seasons, seek out people to pray withGet around people who prayDevelop a system for your prayer listsMix praise, confession, and intercession and tie as much of it as you can back to the Scriptures. Pray until you prayJames 5:16Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.Psalm 32:3-4When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy upon me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.David EaglemanYou have competing populations in your brain – one part that wants to tell something and one part that doesn’t. There is a real physiological battle going on in the brain. So keeping certain behaviors secret, especially behaviors that is seen or understood to be “wrong” means continual struggle with yourself. The internal dissonance and lack of sense of personal integrity is draining. The struggle involved in keeping a secret is stressful. This means that your brain will register the fact that there are increased levels of stress hormones going through your bloodstream as a result of this struggle to keep your secret. Your brain does not enjoy this stress. Those living duplicitous lives live with the stress of keeping a whole section of their life secret from the people they see every day and care about. The fact that their brains are marinated in stress hormones due to keeping the secret, over and above the effects of the wrongdoing themselves, can cause an impairment in the person’s ability to stay healthy and function well. The only way to kill darkness is to drag it into the light. You will not win on your own. Francis PosadaWhat do I do to you in prayer? Do I not listen to you? Do I not give you delight? Do I not give you light? Do I not give you tenderness? Do I not forgive you? Do I not stir your wills to fervour? Do I not delight your minds? Do I not give sweetness to your souls? Do I not purify your consciousness? Why, then, do you flee? Why do you not stay in my presence? Yes, stay in my presence, for I am like the flower which gives out more fragrance, the more it is touched and handled. If you want to breathe my perfumes, stay in my presence, do not let go of my hand, and you will see how you will walk in the odour of these perfumes, as spouses do… Pray, for if you are sinful, I will make you good; if lukewarm, I will make you fervent; if you are imperfect, you will find perfection. Pray and you will come to know what I am for you.
THE BOOK OF JAMESPatience in Suffering9.3.23We don’t mind waiting as long as we believe we are in control of the timing and the outcomes.Outline for James 5:5-12Be patient; the Lord is coming.Be patient; God is accomplishing something in you. Be patient with each other. Be patient; God's promises are true. Be patient; the Lord is coming.Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.Be patient; God is accomplishing something in you.See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Be patient with each other.Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!Be patient; God's promises are true. Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering…you have heard of Job’s perseverance.Patience is a hard discipline. It is not just waiting until something happens over which we have no control: the arrival of the bus, the end of the rain, the return of a friend, the resolution of a conflict. Patience is not a waiting passivity until someone else does something. Patience asks us to live the moment to the fullest, to be completely present to the moment, to taste the here and now, to be where we are. When we are impatient we try to get away from where we are. We behave as if the real thing will happen tomorrow, later and somewhere else. Let’s be patient and trust that the treasure we look for is hidden in the ground on which we stand.Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey
BOOK OF JAMES The Fruit of Wisdom & Humility 8.27.23
Wisdom requires understanding Understanding requires demonstration Demonstration requires humility
Two ways to live your life: HUMILITY: serving others for the glory of God PRIDE: elevating yourself for your own self-glory
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
How is the fruit of humility grown? A revelation of our sin Understanding what God has accomplished for us through Jesus Through the work of the Spirit in us
James 4:1-10 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Using Wisdom in Conflict: Ask for the Spirit to help you before addressing conflict Establish rules and boundaries for how you will deal with conflict before you get into conflict Don’t respond when emotions are high Be willing to be honest and have the necessary conversations in love Own your part of the conflict Use language and a heart that moves you toward peace and reconciliation Honor the other person as “made in the image of God” even in your disagreement
The Power of Words 8-20-23
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many. But fools die for lack of sense. Prov. 10:20–21
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse. Prov. 10:31–32
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. Proverbs 18:21
Words Require Reverence
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. James 3:1-2
- Words Require Restraint
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:7-8
- Words Reveal Our Heart
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45
The fruit we produce will correspond with our nature, therefore our words and our worship should line up as being produced from the same source.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:1-4
BOOK OF JAMES Evidence of Obedience 8.13.23
Romans 4:1-3 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
James 2:21-24 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
The teachings of Jesus are filled with God’s overwhelming, amazing grace and a radical call to obedience and discipleship.
James’ Call to Obedience: The Motivation for Obedience
James 1:25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
- The Freedom of Obedience
According to scripture, freedom is not the absence of constraint, but rather, the right constraints that enable us to flourish as God designed.
- The Evidence of Obedience
A life of obedience always moves God’s people toward the margins of society. Our works should move us toward the defenseless, vulnerable, and powerless.
James 2:14-17 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Book of James The Road to Maturity 8.6.23
The book of James is composed of short wisdom speeches designed to teach the church how to be wise by living according to Jesus’ summary of the Torah: to love God and to love your neighbors.
TESTING - PERSEVERANCE - MATURITY - LACKING NOTHING
Philippians 4:10-13 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Romans 5:3-4 Not only so, but wealso glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Christians are not exempt from the storms and trials of life. Christians are exempt from storms and trials with no purpose.
How can we have joy in the trials of life?
Your mindset and your theology must be prepared for the trials of life
You must be able to see what God is doing in and through the trial
Your goal must be spiritual maturity and Christlikeness, not the things of this world
You must develop an eschatological vision of the future and not just hope for the present
The person who lacks nothing is not the person who has everything, but the person who needs nothing.
I have discovered that all the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own room.” – Blaise Pascal
Is there currently a trial or testing in your life where God wants to shift your thinking and perspective?
Is there something you are pursuing to find contentment outside of your relationship with Christ?
Summer Sundays WHO WE ARE NOT
Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” John 1:19-23 (NKJV)
SOMEBODY ELSE’S EXPECTATION WE ESTEEM TRANQUILITY OVER INTEGRITY WE PUT MONEY OVER MORALITY WHO YOU USED TO BE Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Matthew 16:13-20 NIV
YOUR OWN
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25
Summer Sunday Schemes and Strategies 7.16.23
Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
There is a tactical shrewdness the enemy uses. The devil seldom attacks openly but transforms himself into an “angel of light” where we are caught unsuspecting. He is a dangerous wolf that enters Christ’s flock as a sheep. Sometimes he roars like a lion, but prefers to be more subtle like a serpent. – John Stott
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
2 Samuel 11:1-3 In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. 2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her.
If you were your own enemy, what strategies, tactics and schemes would you use against you?
Discernment: the ability to distinguish and understand between right and wrong, truth and falsehood, and good and evil. It involves perceiving and comprehending spiritual truths, making sound judgments, and making choices that align with God’s will
In order to walk in discernment: Rooted in scripture Tested by the church and community of faith Consistent with the character of God and the person of Jesus Sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit Clothed in humility
We have power and authority over Satan through the finished work of Jesus
We must use wisdom and discernment to continually be aware of the tactics and strategies of the enemy in our lives
Ephesians 6:13-20 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
THREE COMMANDS: Be strong in the Lord Put on the full armor of God Stand firm
If you were your own enemy, what strategies, tactics, and schemes would you use against you?
2 Kings 5:1-12 (ESV) 5 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.” 8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.
Are you willing to receive whatever God gives with a grateful heart, or must it be on your terms?
2 Kings 5:13-19 (ESV) 13 But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.” 16 But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord. 18 In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.” 19 He said to him, “Go in peace.” The idea of shalom means so much more than just tranquility or “without trouble.” It means “completeness, soundness, welfare, and peace with God, especially in a covenantal relationship.”
“We are not to consider this answer as implying that service of God and service of Rimmon might be combined without any incongruity. The prophet appears rather to be willing to leave the good seed already sown to bear fruit in due season. Being sown of God it must multiply, and peace would be the result of its further development.” -Cambridge Bible Commentary
JOHN 16:7 (ESV) 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. What do we see throughout all scripture from the Garden to the Tabernacle to the Temple to the birth of Christ to the giving of the Holy Spirit? God wants to BE WITH His people.
Our teaching team dives deeper into our current series to answer your questions about Becoming Family.
Summer Sundays 7-2-23
Both sin and busyness have the exact same effect - they cut off your connection to God, to other people, and even to your own soul. -John Mark Comer
"Hurry is not just a disordered schedule. Hurry is a disordered heart." -Jon Ortberg
Am I becoming who I want to become?
Matthew 11:25-28 25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. 27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
"In this truth lies the secret of the easy yoke: the secret involves living as Jesus lived in the entirety of his life - adopting his overall lifestyle... Our mistake is to think that following Jesus consists in loving our enemies, going the "second mile", turning the other cheek, suffering patiently and hopefully - while living the rest of our lives just as everyone else around us does... It's a strategy bound to fail.” -Dallas Willard
"A yoke is a work instrument. Thus when Jesus offers a yoke he offers what we might think tired workers need least. They need a mattress or a vacation, not a yoke. But Jesus realizes that the most restful gift he can give the tired is a new way to carry life, a fresh way to bear responsibilities... Realism sees that life is a succession of burdens; we cannot get away from them; thus instead of offering escape, Jesus offers equipment. Jesus means that obedience to his Sermon on the Mount (his yoke) will develop in us a balance and a "way"of carrying life that will give more rest than the way we have been living.” -Fredrick Dale Bruner
“A good christian is often someone defined by what they don’t do and how nice they are. But someone who is good at being a Christian is not someone pretending to be Jesus (by stuffing down their emotions) nor are they performing for Jesus’s approval. Rather, they are training to become like HIm. Like Peter, they make mistakes, but they fall forward. A person who is training to be like Jesus steps out of boats, turns over tables, hangs out with sexual minorities, blesses their enemies, and eventually learns to say the right thing at the right time. This was the story of Jesus’s disciples who through training learned to eventually cast out demons, feed the hungry, heal the sick and have the same heart as Jesus for the whole world.” -Jon Tyson
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:13-18 NIV
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:9-21 ESV
- We lift up and encourage one another...
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV
- We intercede for one another...
Richard foster writes…
If we truly love people, we will desire for them far more than it is within our power to give them, and his will lead us to prayer. Intercession is a way of loving others… intercessory prayer is selfless prayer, even self giving prayer. In the ongoing work of the kingdom of God, nothing is more important than intercessory prayer! Richard Foster
““Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”” Luke 22:31-33 NIV
“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” Acts 12:5 NIV
- We remind ourselves and others we are in this together...
“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”” John 21:15-19 ESV
Becoming FamilyChurch Hurt06-04-23Ephesians 4:17-3217 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.Idealism Disillusionment Messy Commitment Ephesians 4:25-3225 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.Our pursuit of reflecting the image and likeness of God can only be fully formed within community. Matthew 18:15-1715 “If your brother or sister[b] sins,[c] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[d] 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.Matthew Matthew 18:18-2018 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be[e] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[f] loosed in heaven.19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”The fruit of fought for unity within the church is Power and Presence. Holding Our Hurt — Healing Our Hurt Move away from bitterness & towards connection "We are wounded in community and we are healed in community. No way around it. Healing might not come from the community where the wounding took place, but community is needed nonetheless."Rich Villodas 2. Move away from cynicism & towards surrender "The cynic is never fooled, so he is never delighted" Paul Miller"Cynicism looks in the wrong direction. It looks for the cracks in Christianity instead of looking for the presence of Jesus. It is an orientation of the heart." Paul Miller3. Move away from transmission & towards transformation
BECOMING FAMILYPentecost5.28.23Acts 2:1-21When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’We cannot underestimate the potential of believers gathering in unity to wait upon the Lord.Overslept, So tired. If late, Get fired. Why bother? Why the pain?Just go home.Do it again. The personal presence of Jesus with the disciples will now become the personal power of Jesus in the disciples.Acts is not describing a golden age when everything was perfect; rather, it was describing how those early Christians, drenched as they were with the Holy Spirit and feeling the glow of their new lives at work, learned to live with one another in fellowship. All they wanted was for the We to be bigger than the Me. – Scot McKnight1. POWER2. PRACTICEThe power of Pentecost moved the church into shared practices.There is no formation without repetition.
Becoming FamilyParalyzed by OptionsMay 21st – Jim Moss"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." Romans 12:10“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Then he pointed to the disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” Covenant Community says:I’m with youI’m for youI love you no matter what…Bob Sorge – The Secret of the Secret PlaceWhat if I told you there was place that anytime you were discouraged you could find hope, anytime you wanted the presence of God you could get it would you be interested?Colossians 3:12-1512Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.The primary task of our life is abiding in love.
Our teaching team came together to answer your questions and go deeper into our current series, Becoming Family.
BECOMING FAMILYA Community of Vulnerability5.14.23Humans are wired for social connection but we are becoming increasingly isolated.Community deepens when we are honest about our brokenness and willing to practice vulnerability with one another. As the Family of God, we were created to practice vulnerability in the right places with the right people. ISOLATION to FRIENDSHIP to COMMUNITY to DISCIPLESHIP2 Corinthians 12:1-10I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.In what ways is God calling you to move towards vulnerability with the right people?In what ways is God using your weakness to draw you to His heart and to His strength?
Only when the gospel of Jesus Christ becomes our primary identity is both unity and diversity possible. Adiaphora – non-essential matters that are deemed scripturally neutralRomans 14:1-91Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.5One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. The goal of the church is unity, not uniformity. It is gospel unity that is proof of the deep work of Jesus to change our lives and how we interact with one another. Romans 14:10-1510You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11It is written: “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ ”12So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. 13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Romans 14:19-2019Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.How can we be a radically united church in a radically divided culture?Find our identity in the gospel of Jesus ChristPractice humility and empathyEmbrace diversityActively listenPursue reconciliationPray for unity
Jesus' Blueprint: Intimacy, Community, & Ministry"Let him who cannot be alone beware of community.He will only do harm to himself and to the community. Alone you stood before God when he called you; alone you had to answer that call; alone you had to struggle and pray;and alone you will die and give an account to God. You cannot escape from yourself, for God has singled you out. If you refuse to be alone you are rejecting Christ's call to you, and you can have no part in the community of those who are called....Let him who is not in community beware of being alone.Into the community you were called, the call was not meant for you alone; in the community of the called you bear your cross, you struggle, you pray. You are not alone, even in death, and on the Last Day you will be only one member of the great congregation of Jesus Christ. If you scorn the fellowship of the brethren, you reject the call of Jesus Christ, and thus your solitude can only be hurtful to you." - BonhoefferIntimacy: connection with the FatherLuke 3:21-22 ESV21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;[a] with you I am well pleased.”3 Essentials of Intimacy:Identity, Affection, & Affirmation3 Questions: Who do you say that you are?Who do others say that you are?Who does God say that you are?Community: connection with othersDiversity, Accountability & the Danger of Religious ActivityMinistry: Intimacy + Community Overflow
In an individualistic, preference-based, and consumer-driven world, God calls his people to be a family; a radically different covenant community united to one another through the work of gospel. Becoming the family of God requires a commitment to Christ and a commitment to one another. It requires sacrifice and a laying down of our lives in order to love our brothers and sisters like Christ. In this series, we will identify the major killers of community and the sacrifices necessary to become the family of God.
EASTERLiving the Resurrection4.9.23Resurrection does not have to do exclusively with what happens after we are buried or cremated. It does have to do with that, but first of all, it has to do with the way we live right now. But as Karl Barth, reminds us: “Only where graves are is there resurrection.” We practice our death by giving up our will to live on our own terms. Only in that relinquishment or renunciation are we able to practice resurrection. – Eugene PetersonMatthew 28:1-10After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”Holy week gives us a pattern for our lives:Palm Sunday – hope, expectation, excitementGood Friday – death, suffering, disappointmentSaturday – doubts, disillusionment, unmet expectationsSunday – resurrection, joy, hopeTwo key questions about the resurrection:Do I believe in the resurrection of Christ from the dead and his victory over sin and death?Will I live in the power of the resurrected Christ? Every time we experience death we can stay in the grave or we can experience resurrection and an empty tomb.May we leave behind us a string of empty tombsRomans 8:18-25I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.Living the Resurrection (a reflection on Romans 8:18-25)Does an empty tomb change our reality?To the mom in Syria mourning the death of her 4-year-old son.To the 19-year-old girl in St. Petersburg working the streets just to survive. To the couple living in a suburb of Chicago who just discovered they are unable to have children. To the hungry 8-year-old boy in Congo running through traffic trying to sell what he could find.Does an empty tomb change his reality? To the 78-year-old man in Japan waiting out his days after a terminal cancer report. To the young man in the bustling streets of Mumbai whose mother passed away the night before. To the mentally diseased woman who sits on a Los Angeles street corner asking for money.What does an empty tomb mean for them?Does it change their reality? Does it speak to their time and place? Does it redeem their brokenness, their life, and their situation?All of creation looks up and turns its head in eager anticipation. Creation is on its tiptoes. Waiting. Leaning in. All of creation; the entire cosmos, longing for redemption.Does my life matter? Does my suffering have meaning?Does anyone see me? Will anyone remember me? We wait. We groan. We hope.All of us. All of creation. Everywhere. Father, make it right. Make it new.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
NEVERTHELESSSurrender My Shame3.19.23 Genesis 3:1-13Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”Our enemy uses shame to move us into isolation and hiding.Guilt: a result of something I have done that negatively affects someone else (I have done something bad)Shame: a feeling that is deeply associated with a person’s sense of self (I am bad)Shame seeks to rupture our relational connection with God and others.All sin, idolatry, and coping strategies in which I indulge are ways for me to satisfy my hunger for relationships. If we are to live in freedom from the power of shame:We must believe the right story about God, ourselves, and othersWe must courageously move into honest vulnerability with others Shame positions itself in such a way so as to keep borders tightly closed and vulnerability at a minimum. It teaches us not to reveal weakness, fearing that to do so will lead to our being shamed – the very antithesis of what we need for human flourishing. We have in Jesus one who was willing to put his naked vulnerability on full display, opening himself to all that evil’s employ could throw at him. – Curt ThompsonWe must release the hold of shame on our lives through the cross and the work of Jesus Hebrews 12:1-3Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
Nevertheless: Surrender My Comfort3/12/23“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.””Mark 10:17-21 NIV Luke 22:39-4439 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. We don’t have to be anti-comfort but we should be:1. Anti-complacency 2. Anti-dependency EagernessCertainty LackDisappointment “Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.””Mark 10:28-31 NIV
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
NEVERTHELESSSurrender my flesh2.26.23 Matthew 3:13-4:1113 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. The garden and the temptation stories are both about surrender and whether or not Jesus will choose a way other than the cross.First, there is a Spirit baptism and then a spiritual battleFirst, there is a voice from heaven and then a voice from hellFirst, there is comfort and then there is conflictFirst, there is strength and then there is weaknessFirst, there is water and then there is desertFirst, there is refreshment and then there is dryness The pattern in Matthew 3:13-4:11:Jesus’ identity is affirmed at this baptismSatan feeds Jesus a lie about his identityJesus responds to each lie with his true identity Satan’s Tactics:Satan will always claim to know more about God than God himself has revealedSatan will claim to have special insight into God’s motivesSatan will propose an alternative to the cross that avoids discomfort, discipline, or the way of sacrificeSatan will sow seeds of doubt or confusion regarding God’s goodness, truth, etc. Satan will exploit our pride and seek to elevate our personal desires to the highest value The pattern in Matthew 3:13-4:11:Jesus’ identity is affirmed at this baptismSatan feeds Jesus a lie about his identityJesus responds to each lie with his true identityIn the wilderness, Jesus confirms the way of the cross and sacrificial love as the way of His Kingdom.In the wilderness, Jesus becomes an example of how to be led by the Spirit and not our flesh or desires. In the wilderness, Jesus lives in His true identity and not the lies or false identities of the enemy. Lenten Prayer by Henri NouwenThe Lenten season begins. It is a time to be with you, Lord, in a special way, a time to pray, to fast, and thus to follow you on your way to Jerusalem, to Golgotha, and to the final victory over death. I am still so divided. I truly want to follow you, but I also want to follow my own desires and lend an ear to the voices that speak about prestige, success, pleasure, power, and influence. Help me to become deaf to these voices and more attentive to your voice, which calls me to choose the narrow road to life. I know that Lent is going to be a very hard time for me. The choice for your way has to be made every moment of my life. I have to choose thoughts that are your thoughts, words that are your words, and actions that are your actions. There are not times or places without choices. And I know how deeply I resist choosing you. Please, Lord, be with me at every moment and in every place. Give me the strength and the courage to live this season faithfully, so that, when Easter comes, I will be able to taste with joy the new life that you have prepared for me. Amen.
From the City Families leadership team, we bring you our very first episode of 50/50 Recap! 50/50 is a quarterly class offered at City Church Tulsa, designed for parents, and based upon Pastor Matt Nelson's book "50/50." Youth & Teaching Pastor Bodie Sanders, City Church Co-Founder Lindsay Nelson, and Families Director Mandy Damon discuss individual and family identities; why they matter, simple first steps to form them, and what's next for our family ministry at City Church.Special thanks to:Cody Jensen, City Arts Director, for his hard work editing our messy first episode.And to our City Families team for their wisdom and contributions:Matt & Leah BayneBill & Leslie KeenanAndy & Natalee EspositoCheck out cc.guide for upcoming events like Family Camp 2023, City Families 101, 50/50 classes, and more! And follow us on IG/FB @cityfamiliestulsa.
NEVERTHELESSThe Garden2.19.23Luke 22:39-4639 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”In order to live in real courage, we must die before we die. - Mary Jo LeddyWe cannot simply walk from self-pampering to self-sacrifice, from living in fear to acting in courage, and from cringing before the unknown to taking a leap of faith, without first, like Jesus in Gethsemane, readying ourselves through a certain agonia, without undergoing a painful sweat that comes from facing what will be asked of us if we continue to live the truth. – Ronald RolheiserJesus was simultaneously living as a dead man and living in the future resurrection.John 19:9-119 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Jesus tells us the secret or the mystery to all of life is the way of the cross.If we want to experience the fullness of life in the Kingdom of God at its deepest and most flourishing then we must learn to die daily. How will we respond to our Gethsemane moment? Will we be gracious or bitter?Will we be forgiving or vengeful?Will we be loving or hate-filled?Will we be trusting or paranoid?Will we be cynical or hopeful?
SCANDALOUS GRACEPeter’s Undoing2.12.23Mark 1:16-17As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.John 21:15-19When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” The most significant moments of growth and discipleship in our lives are often surrounded by brokenness and sifting.Peter’s undoing would become the catalyst for his future calling and ministry.
Scandalous Grace - The Woman at The WellJohn 4:1-30Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.John 4:39-4239 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”1. InvitationThere is no cultural barrier or distance too far for God to find you and invite you into true life. John 7:37-3937 On the last and greatest day of the festival,Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.2. RevelationSo often we tangle up and reorder our desires in such a way that Jesus has to confront the false wells in order to expose our need for living water. It's not about where you are coming from or what you have done on the road to get you there. The only thing that matters is your response when you come face to face with Jesus. 3. ProclamationThe scandalous grace of Jesus and unexpected inclusion of one woman was the spark that lit the flame of revival in a whole town.
SCANDALOUS GRACEHOW TO SCANDAL FAITHFULLY Ephesians 5:11-16Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! WE ARE ALL SCANDALOUS Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.”6 “Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”Genesis 16:1-8 “Where have you been? “WE CANNOT SCANDAL OUR WAY OUT OF A SCANDAL Luke 4:16-217. 16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:8. 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed MeTo preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captivesAnd recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;9. 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” “Where are you going?” SCANDAL CAN BECOME STORY THROUGH A RADICAL PURSUIT OF JESUS
SCANDALOUS GRACEMarry a Whore1.22.23Hosea 1:2-32 When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” 3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.Hosea 3:1-5The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. 3 Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.”4 For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods.5 Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.Hosea's scandalous, shameless, one-way love for his promiscuous wife is a mere snapshot of God's grace toward us. While we were still whores, Christ eagerly climbed up on the cross to redeem us from the slave market. True grace always meets us where we are and invites us into the way of life only found in Christ.Luke 10:38-4238 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 15:1-2Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:11-3211 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” What does a world of ungrace look like?Love has limitationsAcceptance is conditional Grace only extends so farForgiveness is only possible up to a certain pointRewards are determined by behavior or performance God’s grace is lavish. It’s over the top. It defies what we can comprehend or what we deserve. You can escape God in several different ways:Breaking every rule – rebellionKeeping every rule – religion, performance, & pride Chair #1 – Younger SonSelf-discovery/IndependenceSin: open rebellionRepresents: Sinners & tax collectors Chair #2 – Older BrotherMoral conformitySin: hidden superiority; prideRepresents: Pharisees & religious leaders The Older Brother’s problem: There is a radical insecurity that comes from basing your identity on achievement and performance rather than the love of the Father.
The Imago Dei (Image Bearer of God)Jan 1, 2023Genesis 1:26-28Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”27So God created mankind in his own image,in the image of God he created them;male and female he created them.28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”Psalm 17:15As for me,” he wrote, “I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.”Colossians 1:13-16For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.The Supremacy of the Son of God15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Imago Dei:God calls humans into a relationship with HimGod calls us to be His representatives of God to the rest of creation in His nameGod has us be His stewards and care-takers of creation
LONGINGLonging for love in the midst of hatred12.18.22Tweet screenshot1 Corinthians 13:1-8If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.Current interpretation:If I am knowledgeable of political insights and current affairs, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal. If I have the ability to eloquently articulate complex issues, have educated opinions, believe myself to be right, or if I am passionate about a certain subject, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I have influence or a platform to voice my opinion but do not have love, I gain nothing. If my belief systems are in order and I check all the boxes of a “Christian,” but do not have love… Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love does not seek to destroy. Love does not dehumanize people made in the image of God. Love does not seek to create enemies. Love is not judgmental and doesn’t use truth as a weapon. Love is humble. Love is self-sacrificing. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.Love should be the single greatest distinguishing characteristic of the people of God. 1 John 4:19-2119 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.Cultural disciplesPolitical disciplesSocial media disciplesMatthew 5:38-4538 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. Practical ways to love well in a culture of hatred and division:Look to be a bridge builder and a peacemakerDisagree while honoring the image of God in every personDiscern truth from untruth with a heart of humilityDon’t allow opinions or disagreements to become greater than the mission A spiritually formed life must drive and shape our views, opinions, and actions. Matthew 2:13-1813 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning,Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”Jeremiah and Matthew use Rachel’s agony in the birth of Benjamin as a picture of the painful waiting for the Messiah to come.Jeremiah and Matthew use Rachel’s difficult story to describe how the Messiah will turn all our suffering into rejoicing.Jeremiah 31:33 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
Advent: Joy “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”John 15:11 ESVJoy is not a requirement of Christian discipleship, it is a consequence. It is not what we have to acquire in order to experience life in Christ; it is what comes to us when we are walking in the way of faith and obedience.Eugene Peterson“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,”1 Peter 1:3-8 ESV“The joy that Jesus came to bring is from outside this world. It is the very joy that Jesus himself has in God the Father—which he has had from all eternity and will have forever… This is “Great Joy” and it cannot be taken away. It is indestructible.Ah, but it can go to sleep...”John Piper: The Dawning of Indestructible Joy Great Joy goes to…Great HeightsGreat Lengths Great Depths
LONGING – ADVENTLonging for Peace in the Midst of Chaos12.4.22N.T. WrightIf we remove Advent, that is attentively waiting for Jesus' birth, from the Bible, we lose half the OT and most of the NT, including the stories of Jesus' ancestors, the words of the prophets, and the mystery of the incarnation.The restlessness in our souls is a continual reminder we are not home yet. Trevor HudsonThere is a part of us that is forever restless, dissatisfied, frustrated, and aching. There is an unquenchable fire, a restlessness, a longing, a disquiet, a hunger, a loneliness, a gnawing nostalgia, a wildness that cannot be contained, an ache that lies at the center of human experience.Isaiah 9:2-7The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shatteredthe yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in bloodwill be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of Jesus. Peace is rooted in the belief that what is in your future is greater than what is in your past or present.
What is Advent?Formed from a Latin word meaning “coming” or “arrival”. Advent is the traditional celebration of the first advent of Jesus (the Christmas story) and the anxious awaiting of His second advent in glory. “The year opens with Advent, the season that teaches us to wait for what is beyond the obvious. It trains us to see what is behind the apparent. Advent makes us look for God in all those places we have, until now, ignored.”Joan ChittisterHope as we see in scripture is the confident expectation of coming good based on the person and promises of God, and it's strength is in HIS faithfulness to see it through to the end. "Hope is not about the future, hope is about the present. It obviously has to do with the future, but it is a virtue which is cultivated in the present. It fills the present with energy, it connects the two comings of Jesus so that we are now a participant in them. We are not just remembering the one and believing in the other, we are participating in the continuity of the comings.”Eugene PetersonAdvent Trajectory: A Celebration in Three DimensionsThe Past - God's initiative toward the world in ChristThe Future: God's coming victory in Christ The present: a cruciform (cross-shaped) life of love for the world in the present time Flemming Rutledge Our hope is that Jesus initiated His love as Emmanuel, God with us. (Past)Jesus will come again & make all things new (Future)Revelation 21Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”"Religious systems that ignore the dark side of life are fundamentally dishonest. In Advent, we don't pretend, as I once thought, that we are in the darkness before the birth of Christ. Rather, we take a good hard look at the darkness we are now facing and define it honestly so that we will understand with utmost clarity that our great and only hope is in Jesus final and victorious coming."Flemming RutledgeThe hope that doesn't look over the horizon and into the future to come isn't Christian hope at all. Jesus will bring forth good from the Kingdom to come into the mess of this world. (Present)Psalm 56:8You keep track of all my sorrows, You have collected all my tears in your bottle, you keep track of each one in your book.
Breakthrough Sunday 11.20.22
There is a precedent in the life of Jesus of the miraculous and supernatural following a bold step of faith.
Luke 8:42-48 As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
In Luke 8, a desperate situation and a bold act of faith collide with Jesus.
There is a mystery around how and when God chooses to move.
A hunger for God A boldness to step out and ask
Orphan Sunday Nov. 6th, 2022 Jim Moss
Exodus 22:22 “You must not exploit a widow or an orphan.
Deuteronomy 10:17-18 “For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. 18He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.
Psalm 68:5-6 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy. 6God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.
James 1:27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
Ruth 1:16-17 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”
Ruth 2:19-20 “Where did you gather all this grain today?” Naomi asked. “Where did you work? May the Lord bless the one who helped you!” So Ruth told her mother-in-law about the man in whose field she had worked. She said, “The man I worked with today is named Boaz.” 20“May the Lord bless him!” Naomi told her daughter-in-law. “He is showing his kindness to us as well as to your dead husband. That man is one of our closest relatives, one of our family redeemers.” The Gospel expressed through the local church family is the answer for the cultural dilemma of caring for widows and orphans
As the local church of Jesus Christ: We have the right to redeem We have the resources to redeem God will give us the resolve to redeem
City Church’s Involvement: 2011 – 111Project launches in Tulsa County through City Church 2011 – First 111Project conference in Tulsa Count (8046) 2014 – Hire Chris Campbell as Executive Director for 111Project 2015 – OKDHS & 111Project launch Oklahoma Fosters Campaign with Oklahoma Governor 2015 – Pauline Myer children’s shelter closes in Oklahoma City 2016 – CarePortal launches in Oklahoma/Tulsa County 2018 – Laura Dester children’s shelter closes in Tulsa 2019 – Oklahoma recognized as top 5 state for decrease of kids in care and increase in foster families 2021 – 26th county opens for CarePortal officially serving 1/3 of the states counties 2021 – Oklahoma child welfare numbers drop below 7200 for first time in 15+ years 2022 – Oklahoma child welfare numbers drop below 6800
Talk Notes Sacredness of the Mundane
One of the greatest lies of the enemy is trying to get you to believe that your ordinary, everyday faithfulness and obedience are not enough to bring about significant kingdom impact.
"It is pure invention that the Pope, bishops, priests, and monks are called the "spiritual estate" while princes, lords, artisans, and farmers are called the "temporal estate". This is indeed a piece of deceit and hypocrisy. Yet no one need be intimidated by it, and that for this reason: all Christians are truly of the spiritual estate, and there is no difference among them except that of office... We are all consecrated priest by baptisms as St Peter says: "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood.” Martin Luther
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
"We are to be gardeners who take an active stance toward their charge. They do not leave the land as it is. They rearrange it in order to make it most fruitful, to draw the potentialities for growth and development out of the soil. They dig up the ground and rearrange it with a goal in mind: to rearrange the raw material of the garden so that it produces food, flowers, and beauty. And that is the pattern for all work. It is creative and assertive. It is rearranging the raw material of God's creation in such a way that it helps the world in general, and people in particular, thrive and flourish.” Tim Keller
Work: Rearranging the raw material of God's creation in such a way that it helps the world in general, and people in particular, thrive and flourish.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul says… “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: take your everyday, ordinary life- your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life and place it before God as an offering. The Message
“We live in a world with no compartments. For those who are spiritual - who are filled with the active, dynamic Spirit of God himself - the line between heaven and earth is thin at best. The sacred is never far away. And your job, your career, or whatever it is you do all day long, isn’t something outside of Jesus’ calling on your life - it’s right at the center of it.” John Mark Comer
One of the greatest lies of the enemy is trying to get you to believe that your ordinary, everyday faithfulness and obedience are not enough to bring about significant kingdom impact.
"Everyone wants to be successful rather than forgotten, and everyone wants to make a difference in life. But that is beyond the control of any of us. If this life is all there is, then everything will eventually burn up in the death of the sun and no one will even be around to remember anything that has happened. Everyone will be forgotten, nothing we do will make any difference, and all good endeavors, even the best, will come to naught. Unless there is a God. If the God of the Bible exists, and there is a True Reality beneath and behind this one, and this life is not the only life, then every good endeavor, even the simplest ones, pursued in response to God's calling, can matter forever." Tim Keller
A BETTER STORY Kingdom Multiplication 10.23.22
Our Story: God has redeemed us, and all of creation, to bring Him glory and to bring His Kingdom to earth.
One of the greatest lies of the enemy is trying to get you to believe that your ordinary, everyday faithfulness and obedience are not enough to bring about significant kingdom impact.
Matthew 13:8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
Matthew 13:23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
Matthew 13:31-33 31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
One act of kindness One sacrifice One gift given One disciple made One church planted One word spoken One car ride One visit One phone call or text One baby – child – teenager discipled One act of generosity One step of obedience
Do you want to be “known” or do you want to make a kingdom impact?
Do you want to make a “splash” or are you willing to faithfully persevere?
Will you persevere in obedience even if you never see the harvest or if someone else reaps the harvest?
Are you waiting on something big or are you willing to use what is in your hand?
Do you believe that small acts of obedience can bring God’s kingdom to reality on earth?
It Takes a Village - Bodie Sanders 10-16-22
Recognition is the primary task of infancy. Feeding, crying, and even sleeping are just the support system for this most essential work of figuring out who we are, and where we are, by making contact with people, seeing them seeing us, gradually beginning to build our sense of self through their eyes! The Life We Long For: Andy Crouch
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James 1:22-25 ESV
“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:26-27 ESV
“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone… Genesis 2:18 ESV
““This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 15:12-14 ESV
A creative minority is a Christian community in a web of stubbornly loyal relationships, knotted together in a living network of persons who are committed to practicing the way of Jesus together for the renewal of the world. JON TYSON
What kind of community should we be? - Community that will risk for one another - Community that will refresh one another - Community that will encourage one another - Community that will fight for one another - Community that will tell the truth to one another
A Comeback Story 10-9-22
Acts 7:23-29 23“One day when Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his relatives, the people of Israel. 24He saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite. So Moses came to the man’s defense and avenged him, killing the Egyptian. 25Moses assumed his fellow Israelites would realize that God had sent him to rescue them, but they didn’t. 26“The next day he visited them again and saw two men of Israel fighting. He tried to be a peacemaker. ‘Men,’ he said, ‘you are brothers. Why are you fighting each other?’ 27“But the man in the wrong pushed Moses aside. ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?’ he asked. 28‘Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?’ 29When Moses heard that, he fled the country and lived as a foreigner in the land of Midian. There his two sons were born.
Acts 7:30 30“Forty years later, in the desert near Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush.
Exodus 3:1-2 1One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up.
In the midst of the routine, when you least expect it, you are surprised by God’s invitation.
Exodus 3:4-5 4When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. 5“Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. The first thing that Moses hears from this bush is his own name.
Moses Questions: Who Am I?
Exodus 3:11-12 11But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” 12God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”
God’s Answer: I will be with you
2 Corinthians 3:5 5It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.
Moses Questions: Who Am I? Who are you?
Exodus 3:13-14 13But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” 14God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.”
God’s Answer: I AM
I AM your provision (Jehovah - Jireh) I AM your victory (Jehovah - Nissi) I AM your peace (Jehovah – Shalom) I AM there (Jehovah – Shammah)
Moses Questions: Who Am I? Who are you? What about them?
Exodus 4:1-2 1But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” 2Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied.
God’s Answer: What’s in Your Hand?
Exodus 4:3-4 3“Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back. 4Then the Lord told him, “Reach out and grab its tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd’s staff in his hand.
A BETTER STORY The Stewardship Principle 10.2.22
Money can buy a house............but not a home Money can buy a bed..............but not sleep Money can buy a clock............but not time Money can buy you a book.........but not knowledge Money can buy you medicine.......but not health Money can buy you sex............but not love Money can buy a vacation…..but not rest Money gives us the illusion that more is better
Generosity: When you are fully aware of what you have been freely given so you choose to freely give Extravagant Generosity: When you become so overcome by the grace and undeserved love of the Father that you lavishly reorient your life around giving and Kingdom impact
Stewardship: An understanding that God is the owner, we are the managers, and we are accountable to the owner.
Luke 16:1-7 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ 3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’ 5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 “‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’ 7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’’
Luke 16:8-15 8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? 13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” 14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.
Jesus uses this parable to teach several truths:
Jesus encourages believers to act as prudently with divine things as unbelievers do with earthly things
Jesus directs believers to conduct their lives in light of the coming of Christ and the future judgment
You are responsible for stewarding what you have been given
You cannot claim the lordship of Jesus and yet choose to make mammon your god
Matthew 19:23-24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Does Mammon have a foothold or stronghold in my life?
What are the practices I need to implement so that Mammon will not become my god?
What does a step of obedience look like regarding generosity?
A BETTER STORY Gospel-Centered Parenting 9.19.22
Mark 7:1-8 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.) 5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” 6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” Mark 7:20-23 20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them.21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
Our goal is not to raise good, morally conforming children but children where right behavior flows out of the goodness in their hearts.
How do we practice gospel-centered parenting and fight for the hearts of our children?
We must give them a story worth living for
We must reflect the unconditional love of the Father
If we are not receiving our identity completely and fully in Christ, we will struggle to create a space where our children are unconditionally loved.
We must align our lives and our values
It must be in you before it will be in them.
Matthew 23:27-28 27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
As our children get older, our journey with them moves from control to influence.
We must discipline for their heart, not just their behavior
We must never place secondary issues over primary issues
We must intentionally disciple our children
We must develop a passion for prayer and the presence of God
We can teach it to our kids. We can model it to our kids. We can create environments for our kids. But we cannot transform the hearts of our children. Only Christ can transform!
A BETTER STORY Gospel-Centered Parenting 9.19.22
Mark 7:1-8 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.) 5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” 6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” Mark 7:20-23 20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them.21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
Our goal is not to raise good, morally conforming children but children where right behavior flows out of the goodness in their hearts.
How do we practice gospel-centered parenting and fight for the hearts of our children?
We must give them a story worth living for
We must reflect the unconditional love of the Father
If we are not receiving our identity completely and fully in Christ, we will struggle to create a space where our children are unconditionally loved.
We must align our lives and our values
It must be in you before it will be in them.
Matthew 23:27-28 27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
As our children get older, our journey with them moves from control to influence.
We must discipline for their heart, not just their behavior
We must never place secondary issues over primary issues
We must intentionally disciple our children
We must develop a passion for prayer and the presence of God
We can teach it to our kids. We can model it to our kids. We can create environments for our kids. But we cannot transform the hearts of our children. Only Christ can transform!
The Slow Work of God
Mark 1:14-15 14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
“This impotence of “systems” is a main reason why Jesus did not send his students out to start governments or even churches as we know them today, which always strongly convey some elements of a human system. They were, instead, to establish beachheads of his person, word, and power in the midst of a failing and futile humanity. They were to bring the presence of the kingdom and its King into every corner of human life simply by fully living in the kingdom with him.” Dallas Willard
31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” 33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[b] of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Matthew 13:31-33
"Jesus made clear The Kingdom of God is organic and not organizational, it grows like a seed and it words like leaven: secretly, invisibly, surprisingly, & irresistibly." Os Guinness
"Until a generation ago, not only was impact never used as a verb, but it was used almost entirely in negative contexts. Impact denotes concentrated force over a short amount of time, and the laws of physics dictate that most impacts are unpleasant. " Andy Crouch
Influence = Investing intelligently & intentionally.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
The Slow Work of God
Mark 1:14-15 14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
“This impotence of “systems” is a main reason why Jesus did not send his students out to start governments or even churches as we know them today, which always strongly convey some elements of a human system. They were, instead, to establish beachheads of his person, word, and power in the midst of a failing and futile humanity. They were to bring the presence of the kingdom and its King into every corner of human life simply by fully living in the kingdom with him.” Dallas Willard
31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” 33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[b] of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Matthew 13:31-33
"Jesus made clear The Kingdom of God is organic and not organizational, it grows like a seed and it words like leaven: secretly, invisibly, surprisingly, & irresistibly." Os Guinness
"Until a generation ago, not only was impact never used as a verb, but it was used almost entirely in negative contexts. Impact denotes concentrated force over a short amount of time, and the laws of physics dictate that most impacts are unpleasant. " Andy Crouch
Influence = Investing intelligently & intentionally.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
A BETTER STORY Living a Better Story 9.11.22
Alisdair MacIntyre Before we can answer the question, “Who am I and what am I to do” we must first ask the question, “What story or stories am I a part of?”
James Bryan Smith We need a story that makes us quiver, not with fear but with delight. We need a story so big that we will never be able to grasp it, so vast that it can handle the darkness of evil and suffering, so immense that it can make sense of cancer and terrorism and death.
To live a life of kingdom impact, we need a story that is bigger than ourselves. We need a story that is so good and big and full of hope that it answers every fear and reconciles every problem. We need a story that is motivated by love, not shame or regret.
The story you believe will determine how you live.
Matthew 16:13-15 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Matthew 16:16 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:17-19 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Your story – You were created for fellowship with the Father and you are loved beyond your wildest imaginations.
Your mission – To join God on his mission of bringing the kingdom of God to earth through his church.
Your future – God will recreate, renew, redeem, and restore everything that has been broken by sin into a life of unending joy and fellowship with Him.
A BETTER STORY Living a Better Story 9.11.22
Alisdair MacIntyre Before we can answer the question, “Who am I and what am I to do” we must first ask the question, “What story or stories am I a part of?”
James Bryan Smith We need a story that makes us quiver, not with fear but with delight. We need a story so big that we will never be able to grasp it, so vast that it can handle the darkness of evil and suffering, so immense that it can make sense of cancer and terrorism and death.
To live a life of kingdom impact, we need a story that is bigger than ourselves. We need a story that is so good and big and full of hope that it answers every fear and reconciles every problem. We need a story that is motivated by love, not shame or regret.
The story you believe will determine how you live.
Matthew 16:13-15 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Matthew 16:16 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:17-19 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Your story – You were created for fellowship with the Father and you are loved beyond your wildest imaginations.
Your mission – To join God on his mission of bringing the kingdom of God to earth through his church.
Your future – God will recreate, renew, redeem, and restore everything that has been broken by sin into a life of unending joy and fellowship with Him.
Colossians 3:12-17 (ESV)
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
1.) Am I compassionate and kind?
“It is the most often needed, for the sea of sorrow stretches so widely that nothing less than a universal compassion can arch it over as with the blue of heaven. Every man would seem in some respect deserving of and needing sympathy, if his whole heart and history could be laid bare. Such compassion is difficult to achieve, for its healing streams are dammed back by many obstructions of inattention and occupation, and dried up by the fierce heat of selfishness.”
2.) Am I humble and meek?
Matthew 11: 28-30 (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
2 Timothy 2:24-25
“24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.”
Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”
“Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.
If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realise that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.” -C.S. Lewis
3.) Am I patient and forgiving?
1 Timothy 1:12-16 (ESV)
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
4.) Is love over all that I do?
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV)
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
“Let love come into the heart and knit a man to the poor creature whom he had only pitied before, or to the enemy whom he had at the most been able with an effort to forgive, and it lifts these other emotions into a nobler life. He who pities may not love, but he who loves cannot but pity; and that compassion will flow with a deeper current and be of a purer quality than the shrunken stream which does not rise from that higher source.”
5.) Does the peace of Christ rule in your heart?
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Colossians 3:12-17 (ESV)
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
1.) Am I compassionate and kind?
“It is the most often needed, for the sea of sorrow stretches so widely that nothing less than a universal compassion can arch it over as with the blue of heaven. Every man would seem in some respect deserving of and needing sympathy, if his whole heart and history could be laid bare. Such compassion is difficult to achieve, for its healing streams are dammed back by many obstructions of inattention and occupation, and dried up by the fierce heat of selfishness.”
2.) Am I humble and meek?
Matthew 11: 28-30 (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
2 Timothy 2:24-25
“24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.”
Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”
“Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.
If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realise that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.” -C.S. Lewis
3.) Am I patient and forgiving?
1 Timothy 1:12-16 (ESV)
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
4.) Is love over all that I do?
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV)
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
“Let love come into the heart and knit a man to the poor creature whom he had only pitied before, or to the enemy whom he had at the most been able with an effort to forgive, and it lifts these other emotions into a nobler life. He who pities may not love, but he who loves cannot but pity; and that compassion will flow with a deeper current and be of a purer quality than the shrunken stream which does not rise from that higher source.”
5.) Does the peace of Christ rule in your heart?
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
COLOSSIANS Reimagining a resurrected life 8.28.22
Colossians 3:1-4 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Christ has already defeated the powers of darkness, but his reconciling rule has not yet been fully established in history
N.T. Wright There is a perfect balance here (in Colossians 3) between the ‘already’ and the ‘not yet’ that are so characteristic of Paul’s teaching on the Christian life. The new age has dawned, and Christians already belong to it. The old age, however, is not yet wound up, and until they die (or until the Lord ‘appears’ again in his second coming) their new life will be a secret truth, ‘hidden’ from view.
The church is called to believe and embody the kingdom of heaven (things above) by faith, even before they are visible to everyone or seen in their fullness.
Dallas Willard For us to live strongly and creatively in the kingdom of heaven, we need to have firmly fixed in our minds what our future is to be like.
Colossians 3:5-11 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
What occupies your mind will largely govern what you do.
TRIANGLE OF TRANSFORMATION Think Practices People Work of the Holy Spirit
Dallas Willard Spiritual disciplines are any activity within our power that we engage in to enable us to do what we cannot do by direct effort.
In the letter to the Colossians, Paul is trying to shape this community in such a way that the story of Jesus becomes the story that determines how they live.
COLOSSIANS Re-imagining a faithful life 8.21.22
The Colossian heresy seemed to blend modern-day mysticism, local Judaism, and Christianity.
Colossians 2:1-7 I want you to know how hard I (Paul) am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:8 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
The Colossian heresy seemed to be characterized by exclusion and disqualification, while the gospel of Jesus always redeems, restores, and breaks down barriers.
If your gospel is more concerned with who it is keeping out than who it is inviting in, it is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.
How can a church keep from sliding into man-made traditions? We regularly reflect on the gospel of Jesus Christ We refuse to get distracted from the gospel by secondary issues We maintain healthy checks and balances within church leadership We continually contend for the gospel against false gospels that exist
Colossians 2:9-10 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
Colossians 2:11-23 In 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,12 having 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. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Paul retells the story of God because this “philosophy,” like all idolatrous worldviews, would take the church captive only through a process of amnesia.
We must continually contend for the gospel in our lives and in our church We must continually remember that the fullness of life can only be found in Christ
Colossians 1:24-29 Reimagining a Sacrificial Life August 14th
Colossians 1:24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church.
Colossians 1:25-29 25I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
2 Corinthians 11 23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
Prayer of St. Philaret of Moscow (1782-1867) (from Francois de Fenelon, 1651-1715)
O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace. Help me in all things to rely upon Your holy will. In every hour of the day, reveal Your will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of soul and the firm conviction that Your will governs all. In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by You. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring. Direct my will; teach me to pray; pray You Yourself in me. Amen.
Critical Journey Diagram
3 reasons we fail to move on:
People get discouraged Get distracted Disobedient
Ephesians 2:1-3 1Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature.
St John of the Cross - Process of maturity (bring up one at a time)
You have to study the life of Christ Pursue the motives in which He did it Welcome spiritual resistance Reject being the center Embrace mystery
Matthew 28 - The great commission Go and make disciples of all nations Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit Teach these new disciples to obey the commands I’ve given you Be sure of this, I am with you always…
COLOSSIANS Reimagining a Jesus-Saturated World 8.7.22
In a city dominated by the Roman empire, false teachings and a blending of beliefs, Paul writes a subversive letter to the church at Colossae calling them to a different way of life. In this letter, Paul invites the church to reshape their imagination around a world saturated with Christ, to stand faithful against the bombardment of false gospels, and to set their hearts, minds, and lives on the reality of the resurrection of Christ.
Paul is reshaping the imagination of the church in Colossae in light of the cosmic scope of Christ’s work.
Colossians 1:15-20 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
The Son (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God…
He is the Firstborn over all creation…
For in Him all things were created…
Things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities: all things have been created through him or for him…
Wherever you look or whatever realities you imagine, even if they do not acknowledge Christ, they owe their existence to Christ. They are his handiwork.
One of the primary responsibilities of the church is gospel proclamation. To empower the church to reimagine the world as if Christ, and not the powers, were sovereign.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together…
COLOSSIANS Reimagining Spiritual Maturity 7.31.22
In a city dominated by the Roman empire, false teachers, and a blending of beliefs, Paul writes a subversive letter to the church at Colossae calling them to a different way of life. In this letter, Paul invites the church to reshape their imagination around a world saturated with Christ, to stand faithful against the bombardment of false gospels, and to set their hearts, minds, and lives on the reality of the resurrection of Christ.
Paul & Timothy Epaphras Tychicus
Two main cultural factors to understand in Colossae: Roman Empire Syncretism
Paul is writing a letter inviting the Colossians to reimagine all of life through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
Colossians 3:1-5 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel6 that has come to you.
What does a good spiritual father/mother do?
Spiritual fathers/mothers connect. The counterfeit to connection is manipulation.
Spiritual fathers/mothers affirm. The counterfeit to affirmation is flattery.
Spiritual fathers/mothers guide. The counterfeit to guiding is controlling.
Spiritual fathers/mothers provide. The counterfeit to providing is spoiling.
Colossians 1:6-8 In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
Colossians 1:9-14 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
What does it look like for us to GROW UP into Christ? What does spiritual maturity look like?
To be filled with the knowledge of God and his will
Paul prays that they will attain a deep, abiding revelation of Christ and his divine plan to redeem all of creation.
To gain a life that reflects Christ
As you grow in your knowledge and understanding of God, your conduct will change and you will produce the fruit of the Spirit.
To gain the power and strength to persevere
The hope of heavenly glory in the future requires patience and endurance in the present.
To gain joy through the work of the gospel
Your joy is not rooted in circumstances or pleasures or the things of this world but in the reality of Christ’s saving work in your life that moved you from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.
Our Father 7-24-22
11 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” 2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us this day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, As forgive those who have sinned against us And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”
If we want the life of Jesus, we must adopt the lifestyle of Jesus. John Mark Comer
"Every time you listen with great attentiveness to the voice that calls you the Beloved, you will discover within yourself a desire to hear that voice longer and more deeply. It is like discovering a well in the desert. Once you have touched wet ground, you want to dig deeper." Henri Nouwen
"If I'm not in touch with my own belovedness, then I cannot touch the sacredness of others" Brennan Manning
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 sins, As forgive those who have sinned against us And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
Disruptive Discipleship - Part II 7.17.22
Two reasons we experience pain, disruptions, and disappointments: Because of the brokenness of the world we live in Because of our commitment to Christ, to being healthy, to living on mission
2 Corinthians 11:21-30 Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
If comfort is our idol then we will reject anything that hinders our pursuit of pleasure.
Your DELAY is now the space where your faith is tested and becomes genuine Your PAIN is now the space where God can meet you in your weakness Your DISCOMFORT is now the space where God can reorder the desires of your heart Your DISRUPTION is now the space where you learn contentment
Practices that break the cycles that I get stuck in: Fasting - breaks the cycle of my desires Serving - breaks the cycle of self-centeredness Prayer - breaks the cycle of self-reliance Retreat - breaks the cycle of routine and normalcy Sabbath - breaks the cycle of productivity Community - breaks the cycle of isolation Faith - breaks the cycle of comfort
“Christians are not immune to the problem of being mundane and seeing it as a problem. We have breathed in the same fumes as the rest. Our hearts burn for our deeds to be noticed and celebrated. We want to do something big and have it thrust into cyberspace for all to experience. Those who follow the Man of no reputation pine for one, resumes at the ready…We think the small, mundane, ordinary things we do each and every day are worth nothing before God because they are worth nothing before the gods of this world.”
1.) Whose example are we following?
Philippians 2:1-11 (NIV)
2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Matthew 27:11-14 (NIV)
11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
2.) What story are we believing?
“The story of what God has done has been replaced by the story of us, a tragicomedy featuring all of what we have done and have not done. We look at our own story and see nothing spectacular…
Maybe Adam and Eve got a little bored with gardening and animal husbandry. Maybe they looked at God as they were walking in the cool of the day with Him and liked the eternality and authority in HIs story better. Maybe they wanted more than the ordinary existence they had been given.
Regardless, they wanted to be like God. THey did not want to be found in God’s story so much as write a better one. So they fell headlong into the abyss of unbelief and hate and explicit, conscious rebellion. Worse, they pulled us in by the heel.”
Colossians 1: 15-20 (ESV)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by[f] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
3.) What are we willing to be?
Matthew 10:38-39 (NIV)
38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”
“Are you willing to be numbered among the nameless believers in history who lived in obscurity? Do you have the courage to be forgotten by everyone but God and the heavenly host? Are you willing to be found only by God as faithful, right where you are? Are you willing to have no one write a book about you and what you did in the name of Christ? Are you willing to live and believe - in stark contrast to the world around you - that there is a God of the mundane?”
Generations… July 3rd
“Now the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” As soon as the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim. And they sacrificed there to the Lord. When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land. And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years. And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger.” Judges 2:1-12 ESV
Fan faith into flame
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:5-7 ESV
The next generations needs you
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”” Romans 10:14-15 NIV
LOVE LIES I am what I feel or desire 6.26.22
Two Questions: How did we get here? How do we live faithfully in our current place?
Genesis 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Could Eve trust that although the fruit looked pleasing to her, God’s laws weren’t just arbitrary or restrictive but actually for her flourishing?
1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Romans 1:21-28 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.
John Mark Comer, Live No Lies: How do we come to normalize the lies of the devil in our culture? Deceptive ideas (the devil) that play to disordered desires (the flesh) that are normalized in a sinful society (the world)
Immanuel Kant: We do not live in a world structured by God but by human consciousness. Our minds are the highest forms of authority and to truly be free we must throw off all restraints.
Friedrich Nietzsche: Facts do not exist, only interpretations. There is no God – no transcendent or objective foundation that determines human nature or human destiny.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau: The one who is truly free is the one who is free to be himself. It is following that inner voice that makes one truly free, truly authentic.
Sigmund Freud: Sexual restraint may be necessary for civilization but it is harmful and unhealthy for the individual. Humans are machines and satisfaction is our mission. This satisfaction is found primarily through sexual pleasure.
Wilhelm Reich: A 1960's psychologist who coined the phrase "sexual revolution" and preached a gospel of redemption through complete immersion in one’s sexual instincts. The core happiness in life is sexual happiness.
Michael Foucault: A French postmodernist and author on the history of sexuality who argues that in the space of a few centuries sex went from being just one activity of life to being our core identity. Sex is treated as the master key to knowing who we are....sex is the explanation for everything and is more important than the soul.
Margaret Sanger: The founder of Planned Parenthood, she describes history as a struggle to free our bodies and minds from the constraints of morality, "the cruel morality of self-denial and sin." In her view, sexual liberation was "the only method" by which a person could find "inner peace and security and beauty."
THE CULTURAL LIES: Subjective OVER Objective Desire OVER Design Mind OVER Body Autonomous self OVER Physical Body Personal freedom OVER Biblical Order License OVER Authorities
How do we live faithfully in our current place?
The church must move beyond Sunday services and a network of loose friendships to a thriving, counter-cultural movement committed to living the way of Jesus
We must find our core identity in Christ and pursue a life of obedience and holiness, which leads to freedom, not bondage.
We must live incarnationally in the tension of grace and truth, known for our love and a willingness to live a radically counter-cultural life.
LOVE LIES Sex is Just Physical/Shameful 6.12.22
License – everything is permissible
License leads us to the lie that sex is just physical
Legalism – nothing is permissible
Legalism leads us to the lie that sex is shameful
What is one of the primary tactics of the enemy? To distort what God has created as good and beautiful. Because of sin, our passions and desires for sex are often distorted. Instead of seeing sex as a giving of oneself to someone else, our sinful hearts want to use sex for selfishness, not self-giving.
Genesis 1:26-28 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.
Genesis 1:31 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
Developing a theology of sexuality:
Scripture describes sex as a gift from God with specific purposes
Scripture takes a high view of the physical body
Scripture clearly defines and celebrates the differentiation of sex or gender as the foundation for sexual union
Scripture teaches us that marriage between a man and woman is a holy mystery in which the two become one flesh
Scripture teaches us that sex is God’s appointed way for two people to give all of themselves to each other spiritually, emotionally, and physically
Cultural Worldview (Personhood Theory):
PERSONAL
BODY
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
A biblical – Christian - God-honoring worldview holds that body and soul are united. Human beings are embodied souls.
Genesis 2:25 Adam and Eve were both naked and felt no shame.
Pentecost Sunday 2022 6-5-22
Acts 2 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them. … Peter Addresses the Crowd 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Holy Spirit comes to:
- Baptize
"If Luke had his way, we'd all be 'Pentecostal' in some form or another. Darrell Bock wishes that Luke 3:16 was just as well known as John 3:16. In luke 3:16 Jesus is the spirit anointed and spirit dispensing Messiah, who comes to drench his people in the holy spirit, to plunge them into the fiery and holy breath of God, bestowing God's kingly power and kingdom-presence upon them. Prophets like Ezekial & Joel looked forward to a day when YHWH would pour out his spirit in a new and unexpected way; Peter's pentacost sermon announces that the day has come at last..." NT Wright
"The Christian life is not meant to be lived dryly or wearily, but to be a life of overflowing water and rushing wind, filled with the presence of God." Jon Tyson & Suzy Silk
Holy Spirit comes to: 2. Empower
"God's Spirit continues to hover over the chaos of the world's evil and our sin and shapes a new creation and new creatures. Pentecost means that God is not a spectator, in turn amused and alarmed at world history; rather, he is a participant. Pentecost means that the invisible is more important the the visible, at any single moment and at any single event we choose to examine. Pentecost means that everything, especially everything that looks to us like wreckage, is material God is using to make a praising life." Eugene Peterson
Holy Spirit comes to: 3. Incarnate
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 1 Cor 6:19
"Many Jews longed for a new event in which the divine glory would fill Israels's Temple once more... The wind and fire of Pentecost answers to this expectation, indicating that now the Temple is a community, not a building. The church, as the spirit filled Temple of God, goes into the world with the fresh wind and fire, living out it's vocation to be a light to the nations, burning ever more brightly. " NT Wright
"If I were to define what for me makes up the core Pentecostal identity it is the lived conviction that everything, absolutely everything, in the scriptures is livable. Not just true, but livable. Not just an idea or a cause, but livable in real life. Everything that is revealed in Jesus and the scriptures, the gospel, is there to be lived by ordinary Christians in ordinary times. " Eugene Peterson
Dating: 1. Don’t make it too difficult on the other. 2. Realize you’re own inadequacy.
Marriage: 1. Don’t buy the lie
"Destructive to marriage is the self-fulfillment ethic that assumes marriage and the family are primarily institutions of personal fulfillment, necessary for us to become "whole" and happy. The assumptions is that there is someone just right for us to marry and that if we look closely enough we will find the right person. The moral assumption overlooks a crucial aspect to marriage. It fails to appreciate the fact that we always marry the wrong person. We never know whom we marry; we just think we do. O even if we first marry the right person, just give it a while and he or she will change. For marriage, being the enormous things it is means we are not the same person after we have entered it. The primary problem is learning how to love and care for the stranger to whom we are married." Stanley Hauerwas
- Lean into the truth
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it. John 1: 1-5
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17
"In theology this is called "eschatological realism", which is a way of saying you are in the process of becoming who you really are. You are holy, and you are in the process of becoming holy. You are pure and you are in the process of becoming pure. You are blameless and you are in the process of becoming blameless." John Mark Comer
"If we let Him... He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, a dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot not imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less." CS Lewis
Love Lies - God Wants Me to Be Happy Sunday, May 22nd
James 1:2-5 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 24A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 26To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:11 I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless.
The Pleasure Hunt – the attempt to find happiness and satisfaction in physical or sensual gratification.
Ecclesiastes 2:2 Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?
Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine…
Ecclesiastes 2:3 After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.
Ecclesiastes 2:10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.
Psalms 37:4 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Measure Hunt: When we measure happiness and satisfaction in terms of accomplishment or success.
Ecclesiastes 2:4-7 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
The Treasure Hunt The attempt to find happiness and satisfaction in material possessions.
Ecclesiastes 2:8-9 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment.”
Ecclesiastes 2:25 For without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
Psalms 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him
LOVE LIES Marriage is Greater than Singleness 5.15.22
Paul’s theological perspective in 1 Corinthians 7: Imminent Eschatology The purpose of marriage is to help each other reflect Christ In regards to singleness, Christianity is a revolutionary movement. The Christian gospel and the hope of the future kingdom de-idolized marriage.
1 Corinthians 7:7-9 7 I wish that all of you were as I am (single). But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. 8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
1 Corinthians 7:17 17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
Singleness is a gift
Singleness has its advantages
1 Corinthians 7:32-35 32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord.33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
Singleness can be difficult
Singleness requires relational intimacy
Singleness is a testimony to the full sufficiency of Christ
Single Christians communicate that a truer marriage is coming and that they are willing to bet their life on it. They communicate that the church really is family and capable of providing the intimacy of relationships necessary for a person to thrive. – Rachel Gilson
Spiritual Awakening 4.24.22
Revelation 2:4-5 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Romans 12:9-11 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
How do we experience a spiritual awakening or renewal?
Through the regular practice of repentance and surrender
We must continually realign our hearts to scripture and the life of Jesus
We pursue holiness.
Through daily following the leading of the Holy Spirit and walking in obedience
Learn how to navigate the DIPS
Develop regular rhythms and practices that sustain your passion
We must regularly gather together expecting a move of the Spirit and a willingness to wait upon the Lord in prayer
Easter 2022 Thomas
John 20:24-25 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
Cliff of Skepticism – Chasm of Doubt – Cliff of Belief
John 20:26-29 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
For Thomas – seeing is believing
For Jesus – believing is seeing
John 20:30-31 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
Palm Sunday 2022 04/10/2022
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Matthew 21:1-11
"When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem." Luke 9:51
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. (Zechariah 9:9, 10)
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,”he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[e] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’[f]” 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’[g]?” 17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night. Matthew 21:12-17
It's easy to render Jesus useless when we are only willing to see him on our terms.
Expectations tied solely to a pre-determined end, will lead to a disillusioned faith.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
Matthew 27:45-56 45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” 55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
The 10 Stages of Christ’s Suffering in Matthew 1: Jesus’s agony in Gethsemane 6: Jesus led away to crucifixion 2: Jesus’s betrayal and arrest 7: Jesus crucified 3: Jesus turned over to Pilate. 8: Jesus insulted and mocked 4: Jesus is flogged 9: Jesus’s cry of abandonment 5: Jesus’s robe and crown of thorns. 10: Jesus dies
The solar eclipse “In the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad, there was a great eclipse of the sun, greater than had ever been known before, for at the 6th hour the day was changed into night and the stars were seen in the heavens. An earthquake occured in Bithynia and overthrew a great part of the city of Nicea.” –Phlegon Roman historian
The context: Utter darkness sometime between July of 32 to June of 33.
The cry: Eli Eli lama sabachthani (My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?)
The linguistic lens: the multi-lingual suffering Savior
The communicative lens: the danger of presuppositions
2 Cor. 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” NIV
The death of Christ: the surrounding events 1. An earthquake and resurrection 2. The Temple curtain torn
‘If His sacrificial death has the immediate power to resurrect a few nearby tombs, what does the full expression of his sacrificial resurrection envision for humanity?’
The Closing Snapshot: Society’s most unlikely 1. The Romans. 2. The Women
The Jewish Prayer: God I thank you that I am not a Gentile, a slave or a woman
“It is not a slight rent through which we may see a little; but it is rent from the top to the bottom. There is an entrance made for the greatest of sinners. If there had been only a small hole cut through it, the lesser offenders might have crept through; but what an act of abounding mercy is this, that the veil is rent in the midst, and rent from top to bottom, so that the chief of sinners may find ample passage!” –Spurgeon
Communion: Direct access to God.
Hebrews 10:19-20 NIV
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
SHADOW OF THE CROSS Between Two Thieves 3.27.22
Luke 23:32-43 32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Two themes in Luke’s crucifixion narrative:
The people mock Jesus
Jesus forgives them
Luke 23:42-43 “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The religious outsider gives more clarity into the character of Jesus than the trained religious professional.
Luke 14:12-14 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Romans 8:22-23 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
“Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus,” John 19:1-16 ESV
“But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.” Matthew 12:14 ESV
“but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]” John 8:1-11 ESV
“He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away… Isaiah 53:7-8 NLT
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 ESV
Set free to…
Love Serve
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
SHADOW OF THE CROSS The Garden 3.6.22
Mark 14:32-42 32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
In this season of Lent, we recognize that the knowledge of our sin is not something to reject but a wonderful gift.
The cross is a matter of the heart before it is a matter of the hand, a matter of the will before it is an empirical reality. – James Edwards
Intimacy Faith Honesty Surrender
Jesus’ obedience to the will of the Father becomes our example of discipleship.
And yet, even when the disciples fail to live up to the standard of discipleship, Jesus is still faithful on our behalf.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional for the Lent journey on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
Talk Notes The Way of Prayer Feb. 27th – Jim Moss
Matthew 7:7-11 7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11So 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.
God Knows God Cares God is Willing God is Able
Prayer is saying something to God.
Learning to pray doesn’t offer us a less busy life, it offers us a less busy heart.
Matthew 18:1-4 1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Matthew 11:28-30 28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Come overwhelmed with life Come with your wandering mind Come messy
2 Chronicles 7:14 14Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
Matthew 6:9-13 Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need, 12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
Romans 8:26-27 26And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
Welcome, welcome, welcome. I welcome everything that comes to me today because I know it's for my healing. I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons, situations, and conditions. I let go of my desire for power and control. I let go of my desire for affection, esteem, approval and pleasure. I let go of my desire for survival and security. I let go of my desire to change any situation, condition, person or myself. I open myself to the love and presence of God and God's action within. Amen.
THE WAY OF THE SPIRIT 2.20.22
John 14:16-20 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
John 16:12-13 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
TRAIN #1: A church or people who neglect, diminish, or disregard the role and activity of the Holy Spirit
THE RESULT: a powerless church
TRAIN #2: A church or people who overemphasize the work of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, or the demonstrations of the Spirit’s power.
THE RESULT: a misaligned church that fails to reach a broken world
TRAIN #3: A church or people who pursue genuine encounters and fillings of the Holy Spirit, which leads to the fruit of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, and the gospel being proclaimed to the world.
THE RESULT: a church walking in the power of the Holy Spirit and taking the gospel to the world
You cannot simultaneously be walking in step with the Holy Spirit and be bored in your Christian faith.
THE WAY OF SACRIFICE 2.13.22
Commitments of community: In a time of self-centeredness, we choose the sacrificial path of missional living.
THE PARADOX OF SACRIFICE: Sacrifice deepens our love for one another Sacrifice brings joy Sacrifice brings our greatest legacy
2 Timothy 4:1-5 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 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.
2 Timothy 4:9-18 9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Paul: I love Jesus I’m living for an eternal home so I will gladly walk the road of sacrifice in front of me.
Demas: I love this world I’m living for this world so I will reject the path of sacrifice for the pleasures and comforts this world can offer me.
THE PARADOX OF SACRIFICE: Sacrifice deepens our love for one another Sacrifice brings joy Sacrifice brings our greatest legacy
The Way of Vulnerability
Webster defines vulnerability as… easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally
“The definition of vulnerability is uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. But vulnerability is not weakness; it's our most accurate measure of courage. Brene Brown
"Vulnerability is Exposure to meaningful risk" Andy Crouch
Obstacles to vulnerability
Fear
The narrative of fear is "IF" statements... "If you share that, then they will leave" "If you act this way, they will never understand" "If you share your faith journey, you will be outcast"
“By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:17-18 ESV
- Shame
The narrative of shame is "YOU ARE” statements… “You are wrong” “You are bad” “You are broken beyond repair”
“The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”” Genesis 3:6-10 NLT
- Pride
The narrative of pride is "I AM" statements... "I am fine, I don't need anyone else" "I am not nearly as messed up as they are" "I am a leader and so I can't show weakness"
Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it safe up in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless- it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, unpenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell." C.S. Lewis
Five Commitments of community: In a time of isolation, we choose to be fully known by others. In a time of deception, we need the accountability that comes with community. In a time of division, we declare our unity around the gospel of Jesus Christ. In a time of self-centeredness, we choose the sacrificial path of missional living. In a time of shallow commitment, we give ourselves to covenant community.
Two ways to make a commitment: Place your commitment card in a Giving Box Forourcity.fund (QR code or cc.guide)
Genesis 1:26-28 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
God creates a diverse, yet unified humanity that reflects His glory and acts as His representatives on earth.
In order for our relationship with one another to be restored our relationship with God must first be restored.
The cross, the work of Jesus, will begin the great reversal of sin and its effects on our relationships. The cross will begin to restore what was lost in the garden.
Galatians 3:26-29 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Ephesians 2:13-18 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
In a divided time, we need a radically unified church.
We must regain a vision of God’s design
We must continually humble ourselves before the cross
We must be aware of sinful patterns that destroy community
We must embrace the diversity of God’s people
We must allow our shared mission to drive our unity
The Way of Covenant 1-16-22
"The sermon on the mount is not a code for individual behavior. It is given to the church, and the church has to take the lead in living it in community. People who try it on their own quickly burn out. It is made to crush the individual but give life to the church. One person cannot live the life of the Trinity. The church is the Trinity on earth, and all the gifts and body parts are crucial to sustaining the way of the cross." Douglas M. Jones
The Way of Individualism
The Way of Preference
"Today, in a world where we can find whole communities of people who think like us, share our values, and have common likes, we are trading in our ethical relationships for peg relationships. The result is troubling: We do not really need to love anybody who is different if we do not feel like it. We can cower in the corner with all the people we agree with." AJ Swoboda
The Way of Covenant
17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. Hebrews 6:17-18
"When you and I enter into a covenant with God, we're are now also in a committed forever relationship with God's people. His body, His bride, the Church. We do not live the Christian life alone, nor are we allowed to pick and choose who we want to be our brothers and sisters in this new family. We are called into a people as 1 Peter 2:10 says, "once you were not a people, but now you are a people." Or if we were to paraphrase this, "you used to be an assortment of individuals, each living your own lives, but now God has made you into a unified, interconnected people." Jon Tyson & Suzy Silk
Consumerism says I want minimal commitment with maximum return. Covenant says I will give maximum commitment even with minimal return Consumerism says I will leave as soon as my expectations stop being met Covenant says I will remain faithful in the midst of trial and heartache Consumerism asks What can I gain? Covenant asks What can I give?
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
Acts 2:42-47 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
"The most eloquent testimony to the reality of the resurrection is not an empty tomb or a well-orchestrated pageant on Easter Sunday but rather a group of people who life together is so radically different, so completely changed from the way the world builds community, that there can be no explanation other than that something decisive has happened in history." Will Willimon
Reset / Celebration of Joy Sunday, Jan. 2nd
Psalm 118 This is the day the Lord has made we will rejoice and be glad in it
Living Waiting to live
“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown up people are not strong enough to exalt in monotony but perhaps God is strong enough to exalt in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun, and every evening, “do it again to the moon.” It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike, it may be that God makes every daisy separately but he has never gotten tired of making them. It may be that he has the eternal appetite for infancy. It may be that we have sinned and grown old and our father is younger than we.” GK Chesterton
Joy is Gods basic character Joy is His eternal destiny
John 15:11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy, Yes, your joy will overflow!
To miss out on joy is to miss out on the reason for your existence.
“Joy is the serious business of heaven” C.S. Lewis
It’s often people closest to suffering who have the most powerful joy.
ADVENT Waiting with Joy 12.12.21
Advent is like a prison cell in which one waits, hopes and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Happiness tries to mask your circumstances and joy sustains you through your circumstances.
The deep roots of joy: Contentment Gratitude Simplicity Suffering Hope
Psalm 137:1-4 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. 2 There on the poplars we hung our harps, 3 for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?
Faith doesn’t wait until the story is resolved. Faith sings in the waiting.
Luke 1:46-55 46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
Have you hung up your harp on the poplars or will you sing?
ADVENT Waiting with Peace 12.5.21
QUESTION: What is one thing you are waiting on right now that is causing some level of fear or anxiety in your life?
Waiting is one of God’s greatest instruments of transformation.
Waiting can be simultaneously agonizing and beautiful.
What we must remind ourselves in the waiting:
God’s grace is fully sufficient for every situation
God is doing His best work in the waiting
God’s love and goodness for you supersedes your wildest imaginations
God’s future for us is so good - so incredible - so magnificent - that all our present struggles are worth it
John 16:20-24 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
John 14:25-27 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Peace is not the absence of conflict but the absence of fear and the presence of Jesus.
Psalm 33:16-22 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.
Advent is something we celebrate and anticipate. Christ has burst into our world and ushered in His kingdom through His incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. And yet, we also wait in eager expectation for Christ to return once again and make all things new. Join us this Advent season as we focus the themes of celebration and anticipation - hope, peace, joy, and love.
STREAMS IN THE DESERT Counter-Cultural 11.21.21
We must gain a vision for Christlikeness We must be aware of how we’ve been de-formed We must implement the rhythms and practices of Jesus formation
John 6:26-27 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
John 6:35-36 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.
John 6:53-58 53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
Half-hearted discipleship to Jesus is not discipleship at all and leads to spiritual death. Jesus knew that maximum kingdom impact would not happen through the multitudes but through the few who were true disciples of Jesus.
John 6:60-61 60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?
John 6:66 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
The crowd will rarely lead us to true discipleship to Jesus.
Timeline: 2011 - 111Project launches in Tulsa County through City Church 2011 - We host our first conference in Tulsa County to resource the local church (8046 Conference) 2014 - Hire Chris Campbell as 111Project Executive Director 2015 – OKDHS & 111Project launch Oklahoma Fosters campaign with Governor Fallin resulting in Oklahoma reaching annual family recruitment goal 2015 - Closing of Pauline Myer state ran children’s shelter in Oklahoma City 2016 - Launch of CarePortal in Oklahoma/Tulsa County 2018 – Closing of Laura Dester state ran children’s shelter in Tulsa 2019 – Oklahoma recognized as one of only 5 states in country that has seen a decrease in kids in care and an increase in foster families 2021 – 111Project opens 26th County in Oklahoma on CarePortal officially serving 1/3 of state’s counties (over 4,000+ children being served annually through the CarePortal) 2021 - In October, Oklahoma child welfare numbers drop below 7200 children in care, which is the lowest this number has been in 15+ years.
For the Orphan: There is no welfare system in place For the Widow: There are few opportunities for a woman to make money For the Outsider/Immigrant/homeless: There were limited resources for someone without friends, connections, or family.
Isaiah 1:16-17 Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.
Isaiah 58:10-12 Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble.Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.
James 1:22-27 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. 26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
How do we accomplish this task?
We need a good offense & defense: Offense: to continue to recruit foster parents/families to step into this space so that no Oklahoma child is without a family Defense: to continue to provide resources through the CarePortal for our biological & foster families Fans: people who will come alongside and provide encouragement and support
As we seek to be formed into the image of Jesus, we commit to obedience in these two areas: 1) Finding a discipling relationship and/or community 2) Implementing an intentional plan for spiritual formation
“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” Psalms 1:1-3
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God… Psalms 42:1-5
WHY WE THIRST:
We See More
- We Run To The Wrong Wells *points on separate slides
Anytime we value or we desire the gift over the giver of the gifts then what we have are misplaced desires.
The devil’s primary stratagem to drive the soul and society into ruin is DECEPTIVE IDEAS that play to DISORDERED DESIRES which are normalized in a SINFUL SOCIETY. John Mark Comer - Live No Lies
“This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”” Jeremiah 17:5-8
“Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”” John 4:4-18
Good Father,
We confess we are burdened, weary, and dry. We have searched for life in the systems of death. We carry weights we were not created to carry. We run further into the desert. We are thirsty.
Today, we step into your invitation to rest. We join the flowers and birds who do not worry or toil. We choose to live from your overflowing well of grace. We seek first your kingdom.
As we draw near to you, would you draw near to us? As we step out of what is comfortable, will you meet us? Would you meet us in our community? Would you meet us in the spaces created for you?
Jesus, wellspring of life, Overflow into our dry and weary souls. Saturate us with your peace and presence,
As we plant ourselves by the streams of living water.
STREAMS IN THE DESERT Contemplative Prayer 10.24.21
Weekly Liturgy:
Good Father,
We confess we are burdened, weary, and dry. We have searched for life in the systems of death. We carry weights we were not created to carry. We run further into the desert. We are thirsty.
Today, we step into your invitation to rest. We join the flowers and birds who do not worry or toil. We choose to live from your overflowing well of grace. We seek first your kingdom.
As we draw near to you, would you draw near to us? As we step out of what is comfortable, will you meet us? Would you meet us in our community? Would you meet us in the spaces created for you?
Jesus, wellspring of life, Overflow into our dry and weary souls. Saturate us with your peace and presence,
As we plant ourselves by the streams of living water.
As we seek to be formed into the image of Jesus, we commit to obedience in these two areas: Finding a discipling relationship and/or community Implementing an intentional plan for spiritual formation
Knowing God as Abba
Galatians 4:4-7 (ESV) 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Becoming like a child and realizing my helplessness
Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:1-4 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
A praying life isn't simply a morning prayer time; it is about slipping into prayer at odd hours of the day, not because we are disciplined but because we are in touch with our own poverty of spirit, realizing that we can't even walk through a mall or our neighborhood without the help of the Spirit of Jesus. – Paul Miller
Moving beyond communication to communion
Prayer is like love. Words pour at first. Then we are more silent and can communicate in monosyllables. In difficulties a gesture is enough, a word, or nothing at all - love is enough. Thus, the time comes when words are superfluous...The soul converses with God with a single loving glance, although this may often be accompanied by dryness and suffering. - Carlo Carretto
How can we possibly expect anyone to find real nurture, comfort and consolation from a prayer life that taxes the mind beyond its limits and adds one more exhausting activity to the many already scheduled ones? – Henri Nouwen
First Mansion: You’re starting a new life in Christ and pulling away from the world into a life in Christ New community – baptism – faith instruction Deception from the enemy is great
Second Mansion: Discovery that God’s way is the best way The pull of the world is still strong and there is strong spiritual warfare in this mansion God is calling this person deeper into his love/prayer
Third Mansion: This person is now living a life of discipleship to Jesus Church attendance – biblical community – service to others – spiritual disciplines are evidences of spiritual growth and maturity Prayer is mostly the believer asking God for certain things or thanking him for his gifts Fourth Mansion: God begins to reveal his presence/love through Our attention shifts more from gifts to the Giver God’s love begins to transform our hearts where we long for intimacy with Christ
Fifth Mansion: God calls us into complete union with Him and contemplation/silence become a regular routine of the believer The believer becomes more aware of their wounds, insecurities, and sinfulness and a longing to experience freedom
Sixth Mansion: The believer enters into a “falling in love” phase with a desire to live continually in God’s love and presence, continually aware of Him The individual also experiences dark nights of the soul where there are intense seasons of dryness
Seventh Mansion: Complete integration of mind, body, and spirit with the life of Christ We learn to live every day and every moment aware of Christ’s activity and presence
STREAM IN THE DESERT Sabbath 10.17.21
Weekly Liturgy:
Good Father, We confess we are burdened, weary, and dry. We have searched for life in the systems of death. We carry weights we were not created to carry. We run further into the desert. We are thirsty.
Today, we step into your invitation to rest. We join the flowers and birds who do not worry or toil. We choose to live from your overflowing well of grace. We seek first your kingdom.
As we draw near to you, would you draw near to us? As we step out of what is comfortable, will you meet us? Would you meet us in our community? Would you meet us in the spaces created for you?
Jesus, wellspring of life, Overflow into our dry and weary souls. Saturate us with your peace and presence,
As we plant ourselves by the streams of living water.
As we seek to be formed into the image of Jesus, we commit to obedience in these two areas: Finding a discipling relationship and/or community Implementing an intentional plan for spiritual formation
"Hurry is not just a disordered schedule. Hurry is a disordered heart." Jon Ortberg
The word Sabbath comes to us from the Hebrew Shabbat. The word literally means “to stop” or "to cease"
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 2:1-3
2 things we can note from the creation story when it comes to the seventh day or Sabbath... God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.
"One of the most distinguished words in the Bible is the word qadosh, holy; a word which more than any other is representative of the mystery and majesty of the divine. Now what was the first holy object in the history of the world? Was it a mountain? Was it an altar? It is, indeed a unique occasion at which the distinguished word qadosh is used for the first time. How extremely significant is the fact that it is applied to time. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. The mythical mind would expect that, after heaven and earth have been established, God would create a holy place - a holy mountain or holy spring- whereupon a sanctuary is to be established. Yet it seems as if to the Bible it is holiness in time, the Sabbath, which comes first. “ Abraham Joshua Heschel
"The Sabbath has largely been forgotten by the church which has uncritically mimicked the rhythms of the industrial and success-obsessed West. The result? Our road-weary, exhausted churches have largely failed to integrate Sabbath into their lives as vital elements of Christian discipleship. It is not as though we do not love God - we love God deeply. We just do not know how to sit with God anymore. We have become perhaps the most emotionally exhausted, psychologically overworked, spiritually malnourished people in history." AJ Swoboda
Command One: Sabbath as rest
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. " Exodus 20:8-10
"For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. " Exodus 20:11
Command Two: Sabbath as resistance
"Yahweh is a Sabbath-keeping God, which ensures that restfulness and not restlessness is at the center of life. Yahweh is a Sabbath-giving God and a Sabbath-commanding God. Israel, for this reason, is always again to re-choose between life and death, between Yahweh and the gods of your ancestors, between Yahweh and Baal, between the way of the Torah and the way of sinners. Sabbath becomes a decisive, concrete, visible way of opting for and aligning with the God of rest." Walter Brueggermann
"The sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. " Mark 2:27
“People who keep sabbath live all seven days differently” Walter Brueggermann
- Plan
- Prepare
- Prioritize
STREAM IN THE DESERT Spiritual Warfare 10.3.21
Weekly Liturgy:
Good Father,
We confess we are burdened, weary, and dry. We have searched for life in the systems of death. We carry weights we were not created to carry. We run further into the desert. We are thirsty.
Today, we step into your invitation to rest. We join the flowers and birds who do not worry or toil. We choose to live from your overflowing well of grace. We seek first your kingdom.
As we draw near to you, would you draw near to us? As we step out of what is comfortable, will you meet us? Would you meet us in our community? Would you meet us in the spaces created for you?
Jesus, wellspring of life, Overflow into our dry and weary souls. Saturate us with your peace and presence,
As we plant ourselves by the streams of living water.
As we seek to be formed into the image of Jesus, we commit to obedience in these two areas: Finding a discipling relationship and/or community Implementing an intentional plan for spiritual formation
Sam Storms: People often respond to the call to spiritual warfare in one of two ways: either with obsessive preoccupation or with complacent indifference.
Why many Christians are not prepared for spiritual warfare?
We don’t have a biblical worldview of the spiritual realm
Ignorance of the Bible
Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Irrelevance of the Bible
Screwtape Letters: “I do not think you will have much difficulty in keeping the patient in the dark. The fact that ‘devils’ are predominantly comic figures in the modern imagination will help you. If any faith suspicion of your existence begins to arise in his mind, suggest to him a picture of something in red tights, and persuade him that since he cannot believe in that…he therefore cannot believe in you.”
Insulated Lifestyles
The Fear of Imbalance
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The greatest tactic of the enemy is deception. The only power the enemy has over you is the power you give him.
Satan is looking for an opening, a small window where the seeds of deception and destruction can find fertile soil.
1 Peter 5:8 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
How do we overcome?
We preach the centrality of Jesus and the power of the gospel and we confront any and all false gospels We understand our authority and victory in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in us We protect the unity of the believers from the division of the enemy We are prepared for the schemes of the enemy and daily putting on the armor of God We live a holy and righteous life We are a praying people We live in biblical community and practice honesty and confession
Good Father, We confess we are burdened, weary, and dry. We have searched for life in the systems of death. We carry weights we were not created to carry. We run further into the desert. We are thirsty. Today, we step into your invitation to rest. We join the flowers and birds who do not worry or toil. We choose to live from your overflowing well of grace. We seek first your kingdom. As we draw near to you, would you draw near to us? As we step out of what is comfortable, will you meet us? Would you meet us in our community? Would you meet us in the spaces created for you? Jesus, wellspring of life, Overflow into our dry and weary souls. Saturate us with your peace and presence, As we plant ourselves by the streams of living water. As we seek to be formed into the image of Jesus, we commit to obedience in these two areas: Finding a discipling relationship and/or community Implementing an intentional plan for spiritual formation
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
John 15:5-9 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Without an intentional plan for spiritual formation we live… Scattered: Our schedule is full but doesn’t reflect our purpose and priorities. Hurried: We’re busier than we want to be, but don’t know what to change or how to simplify. Reactive: It seems like we’re never in charge, always responding to demands. Exhausted: We end each day weary and discouraged, unsure if we’ve spent it well.
Rich Villodas (The Deeply Formed Life): We need contemplative rhythms for an exhausted life We need racial reconciliation for a divided world We need interior examination for a world living on the surface We need missional presence for a distracted and disengaged people
A Rule of Life is a way of living, an intentional plan to keep God at the center of everything we do. It is a life-giving structure for freedom, growth, and joy.
A Rule of Life is a mixture of spiritual, relational, and vocational practices and rhythms that help create space in our busy lives to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and fulfill the mission of Jesus.
A Rule of Life is a means to an end, not the end itself. It is designed to help us experience the love of God and transforming work of the Spirit.
Spiritual Formation: Scripture reading Prayer/fasting Worship Silence, solitude, contemplation, reflection, retreat
Emotional/Physical Health: Sabbath – renewing practices Sleep Diet and exercise Hobbies
Relationships: Spouse/Children/Family Friends/Neighbors/Co-workers Church family/discipling community
Church: Community Participation Corporate Worship Mission/Generosity
Vocation/Money: Calling/vocation Current position & responsibilities Personal development and growth Stewardship
How do I get started? Listen and discern what God is speaking about your Rule of Life Talk about this in your discipling relationship/community Begin to write down some realistic practices/rhythms that will make up your Rule of Life
John receives a vision of the ultimate future in order to better understand how to faithfully live in the present.
Revelation 21:1-7 21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children
Isaiah 65:17-23 “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They will not labor in vain
2 Peter 3:10-11 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Joel 2:31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
"Genesis & Revelation constitute the Bible's two bookends, comprising the canon's own alpha and omega. The grand narrative that began with creation now ends in new creation, as promised by the prophets along the way. The original garden that became a source of curse and death because of human disobedience is now an urban garden, the place where millennia of human civilization come to fulfillment and nations finally live in peace, where blessing and life replace the original curse and death. Hallelujah! is the only appropriate response" Michael Gorman
"In the beginning God had planted a garden for humanity to live in. In the end he will give them a city. In the New Jerusalem the blessings of paradise will be restored, but the New Jerusalem is more than paradise regained. As a city it fulfills humanity's desire to build out of nature a human place of human culture and community." Richard Bauckham
The possibilities that now rise before us boggle the mind. Will there be ‘better Beethovens’ on the new earth? . . . better Rembrandts, better Raphaels? Shall we read better poetry, better drama, and better prose? Will scientists continue to advance in technological achievement, will geologists continue to dig out the treasures of the earth, and will architects continue to build imposing and attractive structures? Will there be exciting new adventures in space travel? . . . Our culture will glorify God in ways that surpass our most fantastic dreams.
—Anthony Hoekema, “Heaven: Not Just an Eternal Day Off”
Revelation 22:17 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
Our eschatology shapes our ethics -John Mark Comer
"What you do in the present- by painting, preaching, singing, sewing, praying, teaching, building hospitals, digging wells, campaigning for justice, writing poems, caring for the needy, loving your neighbor as yourself - will last into God's future. These activities are not simply ways of making the present life a little less beastly, a little more bearable, until the day when we leave it behind altogether (as the hymn so mistakenly puts it). They are part of what we may call building for God's Kingdom." NT Wright
Judgement that Brings Life 8.29.21
The Revelation Drama: The Prologue: The story of God from Genesis - Revelation Act One: Satan is on the move (chapter 13) Act Two: The Prophet speaks (chapters 1-3) Act Three: God judges (chapters 6-20) Act Four: God renews (chapters 21-22)
Picture #1
Picture #2
Setting the record straight about JUDGEMENT:
The overarching mission of God is always salvation, never judgement. God’s judgement is always intended to bring repentance, not destruction.
Judgement becomes a necessary means of redemption when humanity fails to repent or persists in rebellion to God.
The judgements in Revelation chapters 6-20 are aimed at destroying the systems (political, economic, religious) which oppose God and the ways of the Lamb.
The God of Revelation is the same God of the Beatitudes. The same Jesus who invites us into His kingdom in Matthew 5 is calling the nations to repentance and the way of the Lamb in Revelation.
For us to be freed from sin and death God cannot be indifferent to sin. It is out of God’s love for us that he persists against sin and the destruction of whatever keeps us from experiencing life.
God brings judgement out of his love for us and his desire to restore us into uninterrupted fellowship with Him.
Seven seals (6:1-8:1) Seven angels with trumpets (8:2-11:19) Seven angels with bowls (15:1-16:21)
Picture # 3
White Horse: conquest and power
Red Horse: bloodshed and violence
Black Horse: economic injustice
Pale (Green) Horse: sickness and death
Revelation 8:1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
Revelation 10:9-11 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’” 10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”
Revelation 16:15-19 15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” 16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. 17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!”18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.
God’s wrath is not unbridled anger or rage, it is His relentless love for us and His desire to overthrow the powers of evil that seek to destroy His creation.
REVELATION: LAMB VS. BEAST Out of Empire 8.22.21
To a persecuted church, John receives a revelation of the ultimate future in order to encourage the church to live faithfully in the present.
In the book of Revelation, God is upending our understanding of power and calling the church out of empire and the way of the beast and into the way of the lamb.
Revelation 12:7-12 7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”
Until Christ’s return, we must implement the victory that has been given to us through Christ by faith.
The spirit of Antichrist uses deception to lead people (even the people of God) away from the way of the lamb and into the way of the beast.
The Antichrist uses propaganda and misinformation to… Make evil look good Make the demonic seem divine Make violence seem like the way of peacemaking Make tyranny and oppression like liberation Make leaders seem like our only hope for the future Make political systems our source of salvation
Jamin Goggin and Kyle Strobel, The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb We are called as his people to participate in Christ’s triumph over these powers by submitting to the way of the cross. We are called to be a cruciform people—to live according to the cross-shaped way of Jesus.
The strategy of the Enemy – the Devil – Satan – the Deceiver – the Beast – is to keep us from taking up our cross and following the lamb in sacrificial love of the world and instead calls us to take up our sword or the systems/politics of the world.
American Nationalism is an idolatrous and heretical conflation of Christian faith with American patriotism.
When Nationalism becomes equal or greater than our allegiance to the Kingdom of God: We confuse America with the Kingdom of God We hold the Bill of Rights as sacred as the Beatitudes We believe the second amendment to be equal to the second greatest commandment (to love your neighbor as yourself) We replace our baptismal identity with our national identity and right-wing politics We value being in positions of power over demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit
Revelation 14:1-5 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
Licensed family therapist Leslie Keenan and our Families Director, Mandy Damon, discuss what it looks like to talk with our children about their fears and anxiety and offering practical tools we can employ to help our families hold the unknown.
The Book of Revelation Lamb vs Beast 8.15.21
To a persecuted church, John receives a revelation of the ultimate future in order to encourage the church to live faithfully in the present.
The Book of Revelation is resistance literature. It’s God’s way of challenging the idolatry of nationalism It’s God’s way of establishing who is really in power and in control It’s God’s way of calling the church to a new vision for life, the future, and seeing power
Revelation 4:1-6 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
Revelation 5:1-8 Then I (John) saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
Major themes in Revelation: Throne Worship Scrolls/Seals Lamb
Worship is a political act and through worship one declares their allegiance. What you worship is what you will serve.
In a complete reversal of expectations, it is not a ferocious lion that is worthy to open the seal, but a slaughtered lamb. God overcomes the world not through a show of force but through the suffering and death of Jesus, the faithful witness.
To the church in Revelation: Continue to follow the lamb in a community of… Faithful resistance Liturgical worship Missional hope
Revelation 5:9-14 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Warnings to the Church 8.8.21
Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
When the church comes into conflict with the culture around them they can respond in two ways: They can endure opposition faithfully They can accommodate to the culture
Church in Ephesus
Revelation 2:2-5 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Doctrine, theology, and orthodox beliefs are important, but it’s only important insomuch as it fuels our love for Jesus and love for others.
To Ephesus - To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Church in Smyrna
Revelation 2:9-11 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
To Smyrna: The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Church in Pergamum
Revelation 2:13-16 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
To Pergamum: To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
Church in Thyatira
Revelation 2:19-20 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
To Thyatira: To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations
Church in Sardis
Revelation 3::1-3 I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.
The Christian life is cruciform life where at numerous points in our journey we will be required to pick up our cross and carry it.
To Sardis: Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.
Church in Philadelphia
Revelation 3:8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
To Philadelphia: I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.
Church in Laodicea
Revelation 3:15-17 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Lukewarm, in the book of Revelation, means so prosperous and supposedly self-sufficient as to be completely out of fellowship with Jesus.
To Laodicea: To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.
The Book of Revelation Reimagining
Books for further study: Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship & Witness by Michael Gorman The Theology of the Book of Revelation by Richard Bauckham The NIV Application Commentary: Revelation by Craig Keener See the Strange: The Gospel According to Revelation by Brett Davis & Richard Bauckham
WHAT THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS NOT? A detailed account of the end of all things A message of doom and gloom A book primarily rooted in our current time or the near future
WHAT IS THE BOOK OF REVELATION? It’s apocalyptic language that uses symbols & imagery that are bizarre and other-worldly at times It’s a pastoral-prophecy letter sent to the church It’s resistance literature It’s hopeful and empowering to a weary church
Revelation 1:1-3 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
WHY REVELATION WAS WRITTEN? To a persecuted church, John receives a revelation of the ultimate future in order to encourage the church to live faithfully in the present.
Revelation 1:4-8 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
John’s description of Jesus in Revelation 1: Jesus is the faithful witness Jesus is the firstborn from the dead Jesus is the ruler of kings on earth
Revelation 1:9-20 9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Will you, the church, remain faithful and steadfast amidst all of the challenges, heresies, false gospels, cultural trends, relational pressure, and persecution that will come your way?
If you don’t have a picture of God’s future you will not remain faithful in the present
The book of Revelation will paint such an incredible, awe-inspiring picture of God’s ultimate future that the church will willingly endure the hardship of the present.
SUMMER OF SOUL 7.25.21 PHILIPPIANS 3:3-8 (ESV) 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh – 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.
PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7 (ESV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guards your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
“And perishing they were additionally made into sports: they were killed by dogs by having the hides of beasts attached to them, or they were nailed to crosses or set aflame, and, when the daylight passed away, they were used as nighttime lamps.” -Tacitus
“The question is not whether we are good at theology, or ‘balanced’ (horrible, self-conscious word!) in our approach to problems of Christian living. The question is, can we say, simply, honestly, not because we feel that as evangelicals we ought to, but because it is a plain matter of fact, that we have known God, and that because we have known God the unpleasantness we have had, or the pleasantness we have not had, through being Christians does not matter to us? If we really knew God, this is what we would be saying, and if we are not saying it, that is a sign that we need to face ourselves more sharply with the difference between knowing God and merely knowing about him.” -J.I. Packer
PHILIPPIANS 3:7-8 (ESV) 7But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.
“When Paul says he counts the things he lost rubbish, or dung (KJV), he means not merely that he does not think of them as having any value, but also that he does not live with them constantly in his mind: what normal person spends his time nostalgically dreaming of manure? Yet this, in effect, is what many of us do. It shows how little we have in the way of true knowledge of God.” -J.I. Packer
1.) Those who know God have great energy for God. 2.) Those who know God have great thoughts of God. 3.) Those who know God show great boldness for God.
DANIEL 3:16-18 (ESV) 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” 4.) Those who know God have great contentment in God.
PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13 (ESV) 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
How should we respond? 1.) Recognize how much we lack knowledge of God. 2.) Seek the Savior.
Breakthrough is often found on the other side of our discomfort.
Mark 5:21-34 21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
Living a life of freedom and breakthrough: 1) We make obedience, not comfort, the ultimate pursuit of our lives. 2) We continually give ourselves to people who champion our freedom and obedience.
Summer of Soul God’s Grace in Limits
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Limits are a door: 1. Humility 2. Communion with Jesus 3. Revelation of Jesus 4. Direction 5. Mission
How do you see limits in your life? What are you going to do?
We live in a culture of power and winning, a culture of power, and a culture of knowledge. (The result) We very often leave behind those who are weaker. The cry for help that springs up from the heart of a fragile person give him or her a secret power that can open many a closed heart. – Jean Vanier
There is no place I would rather be There is nothing I would rather do There is no one I would rather be with This I remember well – Albert Portman
A God Who Enjoys You 6.27.21
Our idea of God tells us more about ourselves than about Him. –Thomas Merton
OUR PRAYER: God, would you rid us of who we imagine you to be and reveal to us the truth of who you are.
TRAPS TO DEVELOPING A FAITHFUL UNDERSTANDING OF GOD: • We believe God’s scales of approval are tipped against us • We are bound up by deeply-grained misconceptions and opinions about who God is
2 Corinthians 4:7-12 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
• We attempt to explain the unexplainable or fit God into our limited understanding • We choose fear instead of trusting in God’s perfect love
Luke 15:1-2 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Luke 15:5-6 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
Luke 15:9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘ Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’
Luke 15:20 But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
God is always ever greater. – Edith Stein
If we are to think faithfully about God: • We must learn to think faithfully about God by continually renewing our minds with truth • We must allow contemplation and abiding prayer to reshape our heart and affections
DISRUPTIVE DISCIPLESHIP 6.15.21
One of the key factors of spiritual growth and formation in your life will be pain and disruption. Each step of growth and formation will require a new level of surrender.
3 Chairs of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation: CHAIR #1: SEEKER
Mark 1:16-17 16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Peter and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”18 At once they left their nets and followed him. 3 Chairs of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation:
3 Chairs of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation: CHAIR #2: BELOVED
Matthew 16:13-16 13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
3 Chairs of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation: CHAIR #3: PURPOSE
Often, your greatest purpose in life will be found on the other side of your greatest pain and your greatest struggle.
Luke 22:31-33 31 “Peter, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
John 21:15-17 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
John 21:17-19 17 Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Malachi
It is the rhythm of God’s people to cry out in desperation during crisis and then grow complacent and apathetic towards the redeeming power of God as they move into seasons of less conflict.
A prophecy: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi. “I have loved you,” says the Lord “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, 3 but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.” 4 Edom may say, “Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins.” But this is what the Lord Almighty says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the Lord. 5 You will see it with your own eyes and say, ‘Great is the Lord—even beyond the borders of Israel! ’ Malachi 1:1-5
If there’s no sacrifice in your sacrifice, it’s not a sacrifice.
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years. Malachi 3:1-4
This passage is not a warning of destruction but a promise of purification.
The Refiner’s Fire Will: Expose the idols of my heart Expose my powerlessness Expose my need & desperation for God Expose that ultimately He is enough
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
Hebrews 12:11 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evil-doer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. 3 Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty. 4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” Malachi 4:1-6
HABAKKUK The Questioning Prophet 6.6.21
Misunderstandings about the Bible: • The Bible doesn’t answer all of our questions. • The Bible doesn’t guarantee success or prosperity in every area of life. • The Bible invites us into dialogue, mystery, and faith, not just certitudes. • The Bible doesn’t “record” history objectively but interprets it through real people in real-time and places.
Habakkuk 1:2-4 2 How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? 3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. 4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
Habakkuk’s problem with God: 1. Indifference: God, you don’t seem to care. 2. Inactivity: God, you aren’t doing very much even though you could. 3. Unfair: God, what you are doing doesn’t seem fair.
Habakkuk 1:5-11 5 “Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. 6 I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own. 7 They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor. 8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. They fly like an eagle swooping to devour; 9 they all come intent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand. 10 They mock kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; by building earthen ramps they capture them. 11 Then they sweep past like the wind and go on—guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”
Habakkuk 1:12 12 Lord, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die. You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.
Habakkuk 2:1 1 I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. Definition of Waiting on God: watching expectantly for God without giving into bitterness or fatigue.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 2 Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. 3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2:4 4 “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness Habakkuk 3:16-19 Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.
UNITY FAITH DAY Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial 5.30.21
Destroyed: • 12 churches •5 hotels •31 restaurants • 4 drug stores •8 doctor’s offices • 24 grocery stores •1 public library • Hundreds-Thousands of homes burned • As many as 300 people dead
PATHWAY FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION: 1) GOSPEL – Developing a wholistic gospel that is not limited to personal justification but moves into repentance, wholeness, love for our brothers and sisters, and freedom for the oppressed and marginalized.
“Race is a gospel issue.” “Aren’t we past this issue?” “What do you mean, gospel issue? Isn’t this a social issue?” “What can the church even do about it?” “Talking about it seems to divide the church so maybe we should just focus on other things.” “Why can’t we just leave politics out of the church?”
D. A. Carson Certainly the majority of Christians in America today would happily state that good race relations are a gospel issue. They might point out that God’s saving purpose is to draw to himself, through the cross, men and women from every tongue and tribe and people and nation; that the church is one new humanity, made up of Jew and Gentile; that Paul tells Philemon to treat his slave Onesimus as his brother, as the apostle himself; that this trajectory starts at creation, with all men and women being made in the image of God, and finds its anticipation in the promise to Abraham that in his seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Moreover, the salvation secured by Christ in the gospel is more comprehensive than justification alone: it brings repentance, wholeness, love for brothers and sisters in the Christian community. But the sad fact remains that not all Christians have always viewed race relations within the church as a gospel issue.
Through the work of the gospel, God is reconciling all of humanity back to Him and each other.
Ephesians 2:11-22 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
2) REPENTANCE – A willingness to examine our own hearts to identify the racism, discrimination, and prejudices that exist in all of us and allow it to move us towards honesty, confession, change, and action.
3) LISTEN – In humility, we become slow to speak and quick to listen so that we can learn, educate ourselves, and be properly informed. During this time, we seek out the right voices, build bridges/relationships with people different than us, and reform our false beliefs and misunderstandings.
4) LOVE • Listen to someone’s story • Identify and tear down systematic racism and inequalities • Seek justice and take a stand when needed • Practice hospitality, bridge-building, and peacemaking • Look for opportunities to bring social/political reform
PENTECOST SUNDAY The Spirit of Disruption 5.23.21
PENTECOST is THE revolutionary moment that transcended ethnic and racial barriers. At Pentecost, the Spirit of God is dismantling the boundary lines that had been created between Jew and Gentile, slave and master, man and women, rich and poor, the have and the have nots.
Three places in the book of Acts where the Spirit of God broke down barriers and disrupted the norm: 1) ROOM
Acts 2:1-12 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
Baptism becomes a symbol of identity with Christ and entrance into the new family of God.
Questions to these disciples: What if the Spirit is leading you somewhere beyond what you want, beyond what you can control, and into the lives of people you have previously considered to be an outsider? How will you respond to Spirit-inspired disruption? What if your understanding is shaken?
Three places in the book of Acts where the Spirit of God broke down barriers and disrupted the norm: 2) ROAD
Acts 8:1-3 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Acts 8:34-38 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
Question to these disciples: Will we allow the Spirit of God to turn our world upside down or are we holding on tightly to our ways?
Three places in the book of Acts where the Spirit of God broke down barriers and disrupted the norm: 3) ROOF
Acts 10:13-16 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. Questions to the disciples: What will Peter do? Will he allow his vision of God’s love and faithfulness to expand beyond Israel and what he knows to the entire world? Will he allow the Spirit to disrupt his way of thinking and seeing the world?
Acts 10:34 34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
Acts 10:44-48 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. The winds of Holy Spirit disruption are still blowing today.
Wherever the Spirit is moving, the walls and boundaries that divide or segregate are being torn down.
As the people of God, will we move with the winds of the Spirit or reject what God is doing?
Minor Prophets Micah
WHAT WAS WRONG – Idolatry was rampant (1:7; 5:12-14) – Seizure of property (2:2,9) – Failure at every point of civil, religious, and prophetic leadership (3:1-11) – The belief that personal sacrifice satisfies divine justice (6:6-7) – Corruption in business practices (6:10-12)
Micah 6:1-8 “Listen to what the Lord says: “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. “Hear, you mountains, the Lord’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.” With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. ”
- ACT JUSTLY/SEEK JUSTICE
“Western views of justice are primarily focused on how things should be done— laws, rules, and what should happen when laws are broken. In Hebrew thought, justice is focused on what life should be like. Justice in the Hebrew world was concerned not just with laws, but with enhancing all human life, especially the social world. ” – Jessica Nicholas
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LOVE MERCY
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WALK HUMBLY
Matthew 25:31-46 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘ Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘ Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘ Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. ’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘ Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Obadiah May 2, 2021
Here’s what we know about Obadiah: •Nothing is known about him •Where he was born, where he lived, who his parents were… •Name means – servant of Yahweh
Obadiah v. 1-9 We have heard a message from the LORD that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say, “Get ready, everyone! Let’s assemble our armies and attack Edom!” 2 The LORD says to Edom, “I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised. 3 You have been deceived by your own pride because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. ‘Who can ever reach us way up here?’ you ask boastfully. 4 But even if you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you crashing down,” says the LORD. 5 “If thieves came at night and robbed you (what a disaster awaits you!), they would not take everything. Those who harvest grapes always leave a few for the poor. But your enemies will wipe you out completely! 6 Every nook and cranny of Edom will be searched and looted. Every treasure will be found and taken. 7 “All your allies will turn against you. They will help to chase you from your land. They will promise you peace while plotting to deceive and destroy you. Your trusted friends will set traps for you, and you won’t even know about it. 8 At that time not a single wise person will be left in the whole land of Edom,” says the LORD. “For on the mountains of Edom I will destroy everyone who has understanding. 9 The mightiest warriors of Teman will be terrified, and everyone on the mountains of Edom will be cut down in the slaughter. Pride and treachery earn the reward of destruction, but humility and loyalty to God gain the Lords blessing.
- We must not violate the primary reason we have power: to protect the powerless
- Pride clouds our perspective and causes us to act illogically
- One can gain power in 3 ways: intimidation, exchange, or honor.
- God judges us when we abuse our power
God’s indictment against the Edomites: 1. Refused to help a brother in need 2. They rejoiced over the Israelites misfortune 3. The resorted to selfish behavior and took advantage of the Israelites when they were down.
Our response: • Come to the aid of those in need • Don’t cheer from the sidelines of someone else’s misfortune • Don’t resort to selfish behavior and take advantage of someone who is down
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
THEMES IN MARK: The Suffering Servant and the centrality of the cross The shortcomings of the twelve disciples
Our response to discipleship As the narrative of Mark unfolds, the audience around Jesus splits into followers (disciples) and opponents.
All of Mark is building towards the question presented to his disciples in Mark 8:29 -“BUT WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM.”
Mark 11:1-11 1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’” 4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River [Euphrates] to the ends of the earth.
Luke 19:41-42 41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
A daily devotional on scripture, a liturgy, a poem, or the life of a saint to ground you in God and His peace.
Living in the Current of the Spirit 2.7.21
Acts 16:1-15 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. 6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
MAIN THOUGHT: When you are living in the current of the Holy Spirit, God shows up in the ordinary and every day. Your small step of obedience may look small in the moment but could have significant ripple effects for the Kingdom of God.
•The inevitable result of holding on tightly to our plans will be disappointment and anxiety.
• The inevitable result of holding our plans loosely will be joy, peace, and the adventure of following the leading of the Holy Spirit. When we are living in the current of the Holy Spirit and we make obedience our definition of success, God takes our ordinary and makes it extraordinary.
What keeps us from living in the current of the Holy Spirit? •We see the Holy Spirit as an impersonal force •We are cynical •We are hurried •We choose the flesh over the Spirit
Matthew 7:9-11 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
Radical Kingdom Allegiance 1.31.21
True discipleship to Jesus means the gospel will offend you at some point. Genesis 3:1 He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. If the gospel is not regularly offending you or challenging you then you have probably grown content with your idols and half-hearted discipleship to Jesus.
1 Peter 2:9-12 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
In light of our current cultural situation, here are nine reminders of what a radical commitment to Kingdom living will look like:
EXILES •Reject: the temptation to put our hope in the systems and structures of this world •Affirm: our primary allegiance as Kingdom citizens and belief that only Christ can renew and restore all things
DISCERNMENT •Reject: the tendency to see life, faith, politics, and truth through the lens of the world, my own experience, or someone’s else opinion •Affirm: the Holy Spirit gives us discernment as we filter ALL things through the gospel, scripture, and the historical traditions of the church
FOCUS •Reject: the temptation to get pulled into every problem, make every issue THE issue, or allow ourselves to get distracted from the bigger mission •Affirm: our gospel-centered, missional focus and our commitment to hold the essentials tightly and the non-essentials loosely
FAITHFUL •Reject: the temptation to allow false idols, false gospels, secularism, and postmodern ideologies to inform my faith •Affirm: our willingness to contend for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Lordship of Jesus over our entire lives
COVENANT •Reject: the tendency to value our individualism, our preferences, and our feelings above all other things in our relationships and community •Affirm: the life, power, beauty, and depth that emerges from covenant community with others based upon commitment
PRAYER •Reject: the temptation to believe that it is somehow our work, our effort, or our strategies that bring God’s kingdom to reality on earth •Affirm: to live completely dependent on our Father in prayer and realize it is only in Him and through Him that His kingdom will come
JUSTICE •Reject: the temptation to turn our eyes away from racial injustice, to act like it doesn’t exist, or to only see through the lens of our own experiences •Affirm: biblical justice is a gospel issue and we must commit to repentance, listening, expanding our circle, and moving towards action
TRANSFORMATION •Reject: the tendency to believe that societal change and transformation is dependent on my opinions or actions •Affirm: real sustaining transformation always starts in our hearts and takes place through our obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit
MISSION •Reject: the temptation to simply exist, to get distracted by our own struggles, or to pursue some version of the American dream •Affirm: our calling to a greater purpose of joining God on his redemptive mission: a life marked by surrender, sacrifice, and obedience KINGDOM PEOPLE WHO SHAPE THE CULTURE: 1) How well you love 2) What you believe 3) How you live
New Creations The Transforming Power of Practice 01.24.21
Colossians 3:1-11 NIV “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” “We have it really difficult here because everyone thinks of changing the world, but where oh where are those who think of changing themselves. People may genuinely want to be good, but seldom are they prepared to do what it takes to produce the inward life of goodness that can form the soul. Personal formation into the life of Christ is arduous and lifelong!” -Richard Foster 1. Pursue a Kingdom perspective 2. Put to death the old 3. Put on the new 4. Produce the fruit of renewal Disengagement Practices: – Solitude – Silence – Fasting – Frugality – Chastity – Secrecy – Listening – Sabbath Engagement Practices: – Worship – Celebration – Service – Prayer – Fellowship – Confession -Submission -Generosity Philippians 3:12-14 NIV “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
NEW CREATIONS The Transforming Power of Loss 1.17.212 Cor
5:17 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,the new creationhas come:The old has gone, the new is here!There is no life without death. There is no resurrection without crucifixion. Justification (salvation) is a gift we are given through faith by the work of Jesus but a life of transformation is something we must choose to walk in through the help and power of the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 3:4-11 If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:5circumcisedon the eighth day, of the people of Israel,of the tribe of Benjamin,a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;6asfor zeal,persecuting the church;as for righteousness based on the law,faultless.7But whatever were gains to me I now consider lossfor the sake of Christ.8What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassingworth of knowingChrist Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. Iconsider them garbage, that I may gain Christ9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,but that which isthrough faith in[a]Christ—the righteousnessthat comes from God on the basisof faith.10I want to knowChrist—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,becoming like him in his death,11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrectionfrom the dead.
We know two things about suffering and loss: 1) God will make all things right 2) God will use this pain & struggle to reveal more of Himself to us
Galatians 2:20 20I have been crucified with Christand I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
Romans 6:4 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into deathin order that, just as Christ was raised from the deadthrough the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Romans 8:17 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferingsin order that we may also share in his glory.