The Well Church OKC: Recent Episodes
The Well Church OKC
The Word of God is our True North. It allows us to see all things in light of the design of God. Without this grounding standard, we would simply wander through life, unwilling and unable to avoid destruction. We would never be able to truly thrive in the lives our God has given us. We would never really know the answers to life’s questions. We would not have the motivation to move in the right direction. We would not be able to seek purpose and meaning. We would not know how to direct our children or support our community. CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
So, it seems simple to see that Jesus affirmed that Children of God are those who seek peace. We are not only called to desire peace, but to work to see it come on earth. This is the desire of our God. Our enemy desires conflict, sin, brokenness, war and sadness.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Contrived fears are one thing. Real fear is something altogether different. It isn’t enjoyable for anyone at all. It seeps in or leaps in. It takes over. When you get the news about the diagnosis. When your boss schedules a meeting at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon. When you get the phone call from one of your kids or family members late at night. When the tornado sirens go off at 1:30 AM…CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Communication is key. How many times have you heard this said? It is often pointed out when it has broken down between parties. In the workplace and in the home, many times. Between nations who are in conflict and in business dealings. The nature and effectiveness of communication are absolutely essential to human interactions. Until and unless we become able to actually read each other’s minds (and this thought horrifies me a bit,) communication is critical to interaction with all kinds of people in all places.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Lucas Lunsford encourages us to maintain vigilance as we listen for God and obey.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
So many times we consider the Word of God as we would any other piece of mail, electronic or otherwise. I wonder why we do this. Perhaps because we ultimately treat it as if it was from another human, like us. Flawed, selfishly motivated, no more or less than what we could offer ourselves. We see it as something that should be evaluated, contemplated, discussed and reviewed. Then, perhaps, we might choose some portion of it to consider if it adds value to our lives. Most of it, perhaps, ends up in the trashcan.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Last week, I previewed a bit of what the final chapter of Nehemiah would hold for us. Another accounting of the Jewish nation drifting from their focus on the God who had redeemed them from exile, given them purpose and resources, and seen them through the rebuilding process of the wall, the city of Jerusalem, and the nation of Israel. We often look at the book of Nehemiah only in the narrative of the wall being built, but in its entirety, it is a much more honest look at the nature of the nation of Israel, and truly, our own lives.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
We are God’s chosen people, selected before we were even created! This is hard to understand on many levels, and yet its truth is true! So, as we look at the concluding chapters in Nehemiah, we would do well to identify this book as a reminder of God’s faithfulness even more than it is a reminder of our infidelity.
Unity within the body of Christ is a calling worth living for because it points to Christ crucified and promotes spiritual growth.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
What’s in a name? It is a common phrase but one I want to explore a bit this morning. A name is a powerful and meaningful word. It communicates a significant amount and is often overlooked in our day to day lives. Why? Because it is common perhaps. All of us have one it seems. Some of us actually have several. We have the name or names we were given at birth. We have names that our friends call us. We have nicknames and names that fit in certain contexts, etc. Names from before we were married, and names after. Work names and house names. The fact that our God truly, deeply and fully knows us by name should be one of the most comforting things in our lives.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
We are, or were, all lost. None of us has chosen to remain true to our Creator. At some point, or at many points in our lives, we have taken paths that lead to our destruction. We are prone to wander, prone to leave the God who loves us. We give our affections to the things of the world. To violence, to lust, to attention, to power, to easy money, to anger, to fear. Even to things that seem good by the world’s standards. To building a business, to pursuing a degree, to buildings family. But these things, devoid of the aim to pursue God, are a placebo that keeps us from desiring the Kingdom - a snare that pulls us away from our true purpose. When we do these things, we are willingly walking into the trap of sin slavery. We are in exile. We eventually wake up to our condition, but we are never able to rescue ourselves. This is the endless hopeless cycle that all humanity traps itself into.
Matt Cancio takes us through some of the ways our enemy Satan tries to distract us from doing God’s will for our lives, and how we should respond.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Those who are most fragile are the ones most quickly and profoundly affected by stress and economic challenge. They simply have no buffer, no margin to absorb the hard times. They are not only more quickly impacted, but the proportionate harm is much greater. The systems of support, the resources and the networks needed to make it through challenge are simply much less for the less affluent.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Sometimes you have to fight for what you know to be true. This is simply reality. It has always been so, apparently. When you stand for something that is in opposition to what others gain from, you will find yourself in their crosshairs. Let’s pick up our story where we left off.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
We are actually not moving toward the inevitable complete destruction of the world and its people, but toward the perfect restoration of all creation! We should act like it. The ultimate story of the Gospel is embodied in this idea. Our lives, intended for a perfect and perfectly fulfilling relationship with our Creator, can only return to the original condition when the redemptive work of Jesus is fully completed in our spirits. Nehemiah had awakened to his work in his world and was working to awaken it in God’s people. They were inspired to act and act they did.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
The people of Jerusalem had grown accustomed to seeing their walls broken down, heaped in piles. They walked around the rubble. They did not care that the gates of the city, actual and symbolic for the power and protection of a people, were destroyed. They were making due, simply accepting what was, not seeing what could or should be. Nehemiah was in a pretty good place. His life was good, in fact. Elevated to a high position, his life was made. He was personally in no need of a mission or work like what he was taking on. However, he was willing to move on it once God revealed what needed to be done.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Guest speaker Dr. Henry Chan teaches the importance of preserving unity in the church.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Visiting Pastor Lucas Lunsford takes us through life and times of the unwilling prophet, Jonah.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
The book of Nehemiah could be read as a sequel to the book of Ezra, and some scholars believe the two were originally one work. It is possible that Ezra compiled Nehemiah’s original accounts with other material to create the book of Nehemiah. However, most scholars believe the book was written by Nehemiah.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Some people think that we become fully perfected autonomous driving vehicles when we are saved. That we are simply on spiritual autopilot and now we can sit back and just cruise through life. As if we now have a way of avoiding sin, destruction and all other aspects of our carnal nature. Wow. Wouldn’t that be something.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Last week we talked about our tendency to want to return to the things that we were once practicing as unbelievers. Paul balances the very clear contention against works as required for salvation with the equally clear expectation that once saved, we will act like we are saved.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
We are prone to wander, inclined to return to our mess from which our God has saved us. We are weird like that, given to a gradual slide back into the lives and tendencies we once had. We once wore a groove of sin in our lives. We got up every day and chased sinful goals, sought sinful experiences. Associated with other sinful people. We worked to become experts in sinning through repetition and practice. It was our whole way of living. It was a path willingly chosen that was leading to complete destruction of both our own eternal lives and often, those around us. We were so good at living in anti-God ways that sinning was as easy as breathing. In fact, it didn’t even seem that bad to most of us. It just was the way we moved through life.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
I picture Paul a bit like the following when he is dealing with the churches in Galatia who are falling prey to the Judaizers. He was, however addressing a very common misconception in the Church, even today. We are so prone to message and believe that our works are what is required to make us acceptable to God. Even in our most earnest moments, with our best effort, this is still not true. In fact, it is a dangerous tendency and a terminal belief. This is why Paul was so passionate about correcting it in the churches.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
There is simply not a better understanding of God’s love, our sin and Jesus grace and sacrifice than the Gospel. No other God, no other Savior. No other way than Jesus. There is no other Good News No other means by which we can be saved. No other attempt by any God to save us. No other opportunity by which we can save ourselves. CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
What is your story of redemption? How were you brought to an awareness of who God is and your position before God? When did you know how dire your condition was and when did you deeply desire to be His child?CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Last week we spoke of what happens after folks have encountered the living God. After the resurrection, after the ascension, after one has been saved. What takes place after someone has had a genuine experience with God is worth thinking about. We simply cannot remain the same. After we have been changed by God, our life is not the same any more.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
What do we do now? What do we do next? What do we do after? This must have been the question asked by Jesus followers on a number of occasions.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Pastor Phil Brewster shows us the results of Biblical characters who made excuses instead of responding to God in obedience.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Pastor Lucas Lunsford encourages us to become a living scrifice.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
One of the most beautiful things about being a Christian is that we, after having received the best gift, can be a part of giving this same gift to others. It is an incredible part of being a Christ follower. One of the very best parts in fact. We can give the gift of love because He has given it first to us!CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
The power of God is expressed through the Church. The work of the Kingdom is done through the Church. The message of Jesus is shared through the church. It seems clear that the thing all believers should be doing is found in the understanding and participation in the Church. Again today we will work to better understand the expectation and obligation of being active members of our church.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
As I have been thinking about the Church, the ideas of it being similar to a team sport have continued to come to mind. So many aspects of it are parallel to what a sport brings to us, what we need to do to be successful at either, etc. However, when we talk about the Church, we are not talking about a game. We are not talking about a made-up pastime or diversion. We are talking about one of the fundamental callings of mankind, woven into the deepest purpose of each of our lives.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
When we have truly made a decision to join a group, a family, a team or even a culture, there is generally a time when that decision has become official. You make your marriage vows public. You go to (and proceed from) tryouts or an audition. You may even, in the case of citizenship, have an official legal ceremony. In the military, you enlist and then you begin to follow orders. In marriage, you fall in love, and then you follow orders…CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
In the first century, we see the church forming as the Gospel spreads both geographically and through diversity. While the initial followers of Jesus were, as he was, Jews - from Pentecost on, the work of the Spirit flows over all types of people. The unity of the believers is clear, and comes from the belief in Jesus as the Messiah.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Today, we will be thinking about the Church. Not so much the action of “going to church,” but what the actual meaning of the word. Many of us probably have thoughts about the church without even thinking about how these thoughts have been formed. As with most things in our lives, we develop our understanding of a concept or thing through the combination of education and experience.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
I have been talking about the idea that our lives are intended to prosper by the God that designed us. I often tinker with machines that aren’t working. My dad and brother are much better at this than I am, but I enjoy taking things that are not functioning as well as they should, and getting them to work as they were intended to. It is a little odd, given that we could usually just get something that works.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Victory is found in daily, monthly, yearly effort. Consistency and a focus on repeatedly doing what is right yields outcomes that others often have trouble understanding. Success breeds success and so does failure. Hard work gets results and so does lack of effort. Careful attention to detail and consistency will optimize an athlete and sloppy preparation and spotty effort will affect not only the individual, but the team as a whole.
To learn is how we are designed. We are capable of thinking, reasoning and problem solving. We can take complex ideas and use them to help make sense of our world and to create solutions to difficult situations. We are amazing computers. But, like the Apple iMac I purchased several years ago, if we don’t use the incredible capabilities we have, we waste the power at hand. I would hate to think I am going obsolete without having utilized my God-given potential.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
I heard an interesting message from a young preacher last weekend. A young man, Sawyer, whom we have seen grown up from a little guy, spoke at a small country church on Sunday evening. He did a good job. He spoke of a spiritual, holy GPS - the guide of our lives. He talked about what happens to so many who either never finish the journey, and many who never even get on the right path.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
The catholic church, and many of similar liturgical traditions, celebrate the arrival of the Magi, or wisemen, with the observation of Epiphany. It is generally observed on January 6th, or as it is called by many in our community as dia de los Reyes Magos or Los Tres Reyes. We see the Biblical account of this in Matthew 2. Let’s take some time to think and learn a bit about this important passage.
Paul gave his life to the spread of the Gospel. I mean that he was not only prepared to die for Jesus, but he was fully prepared to live for Jesus. This was truly without regard to the cost, discomfort or suffering that this would bring.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
What would our world look like if each of us were as faithful to the work of the Gospel as Paul was? I know that everyone encounters God and each has the opportunity to choose to seek and follow him, but I also know that we have the divinely given opportunity and obligation to take the Gospel to everyone and to teach everyone how to obey the commands given by Christ.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Thankfulness requires looking back. It requires a conscious decision to consider what we have been given and what is provided for us. A pause in the incessant drive to get and receive that is our nature as time-bound humans. True thankfulness almost always leads to praise. These two practices are of God and are closely related and stem from a position of humility. It is difficult to imagine how they are not intertwined. The Bible abounds with admonition to give thanks. It is full of direction to praise. We should really think about how to get this right.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Lucas Lunsford shows us a scriptual basis for spiritual rest.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
If we stand for our Savior, we will be seen as against the world. This is historically and presently true. If we truly follow Jesus, our lives will be lived in ways that sometimes align with the whims of society, but often they will not. Our views on personal conduct, family, government, money, sex, power, etc., will remain consistent if borne out of our study and application of Scripture, but the world will vary based on the winds of change in popular culture, philosophy, etc.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Our lives in Christ Jesus must be based on a firm foundation. Our prayer today is that you would allow God to rebuild your foundation.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Someday, we will have peace. And, not peace as in a momentary lull between conflict, but peace that is enduring, strong and perfect. It is not a coincidental or inevitable peace that comes from some type of natural process. Quite the opposite, in fact. It is the peace that comes from our God, the source of perfection and restoration. It cannot be attained and maintained by human efforts. It is the result of the work of Jesus. In Isaiah, we see the people of Israel yearning for this day that will come, with both hope and hunger.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
What to do. What to do.This is the real question we face in life. Knowing what we know, and understanding the options in front of us, we work to decide what to do.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
To remain steadfast in our pursuit of God amidst trouble is the hallmark of real followers. In times of stress and struggle, we should be driven deeper into our faith, not further from it.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
How many of us would do what God directs us to do in the face of uncertain outcomes and certain loss and pain. Paul was a powerful example of maintaining course despite the fact that the road ahead would result in very difficult circumstances. CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
We are given the opportunity to choose whom we will follow. As we become aware of the stark differences between following self/the world and following Christ, we no longer have an excuse. Once we are in, we are in. This isn’t a casual thing. We are all in. We are in for life, and for after our life! We weren’t given this opportunity easily - it came through the work of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection - and we should take it as such. This is not easy come, easy go.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Our own Matt Cancio speaks from the Bible, and his heart, on the subject of the Christian response to mental issues.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Paul understood that both sincere people and fakes/charlatans alike will use the application of religion to move ahead in life. One with genuine motivation to find God, the other with deceptive/selfish motivation. Both end up at the same destination, however. The litmus test real salvation is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
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So many play at things. Children pretend to be things that they aren’t all the time. This is innocent, even productive play. When adults do this, however, it is another thing entirely. As grown people, we either are, or we aren’t something. We occasionally see folks who pretend to be something they aren’t getting into all kinds of trouble.
Sometimes people perpetrate fraud in their own salvation. They pretend to be followers of God, even saying all kinds of religious things about Jesus. They dress, talk, and even act like Christians, but they are not. How do you know that folks are really saved? How do you know if it is just a hollow, ultimately empty religion, or the real thing. Salvation is found in Christ alone. Hold to this truth and be aware and thinking about your soul.
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When you get the right folks around you, you know it. They are the kind of people you can fully depend on. They have your backs day or night. The actually desire to sacrifice for you and yours. They want to support you in your wins and comfort you in your loses. Above all, they are focused on the same goals and are willing to ‘ride or die’ next to you to make sure the goals are pursued. The work of the Kingdom is the life work of the Christian.
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I have often thought about Academia/Higher Education as the ultimate place to find God. Contrary to what many fear, that they or their children will fall from God if they go to study in college and fill their heads with all kinds of thoughts, that they will fall from God, I have a different perspective. I will readily acknowledge that if folks are weak or immature in their faith that being surrounded by brilliant and experienced atheists, agnostics and humanists will be a serious challenge to a person’s belief systems.
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Last week we spoke about our story and how our “testimony” is a powerful tool for sharing the Gospel. I hope you have had the opportunity to share your faith with others. Today, in addition to the power of your own story of redemption, we will see the power of logic and reason in the presentation of the Gospel. We are to prepare both our mind and our heart for the spread of the Good News.
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The power of testimony cannot be understated. It is the vehicle by which the power and nature of God is most often revealed. The love of God is shared in the stories of how he has loved us. The faithfulness of God is embedded in the lives of others when we give account of what he has done to bring us through times of trouble.
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Our own missionary Joe Brewster, currently serving in Bogota Collumbia, explains Acts 15 and the dangers of majoring in minor issues.
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Why is it difficult to remain strong and true to the faith? This is an age-old challenge. We have to stay attentive to this area as we do all other areas of our health. Physical, emotional, financial, mental, etc. We need to pay attention to our first love, remaining diligent to nourish our love to the one who saved us.
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There is no stopping the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who have been set apart by Him.
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We fear when we are hurt, when we are uncertain, when we are not in control. We doubt when we don’t understand, when something seems amiss, when things don’t go as we hope or expect. We fear and sometimes we despair. Sometimes we get angry when we don’t see the why, only the pain. Those in the early church were no different than us. They had all the emotions we do. All of the challenges, and probably more, that we do. We can learn a lot from their situation and from the way God worked in their midst.
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One of the coolest things I get to experience is observing truly changed lives. Watching folks pivot 180 degrees from lives of devastation, loss and sin, into the arms of Jesus! What a beautiful thing to get to experience.
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The Word of God is replete with examples of God’s divine intervention into the lives of people. In fact, the entire Bible is thus. We should read these narratives as fully accurate, perfect and illuminating. We should ask, “What are the things we can learn from this story? How can they be applied to my life?”
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Have you ever wondered why we are so prone to do things the hard way? You know, we continue down a path that we know is leading to an unpleasant or even tragic end, and we just won’t heed the warning signs?CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
In the last half of Acts chapter 8, Philip shows us an example of how faith in Christ, and obedience to the call of Christ should work.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Those who oppose God will radically oppose those who follow Him. Even today. Make no mistake, the enemies of Christ see us as enemies as well. The war against God will never be successful, but it will not keep those who oppose the Father from attacking. We can expect no less.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Stephen was a man chosen to serve because he was full of the Spirit and exercised wisdom. He was clear thinking and logical. He was grown and mature. His choice was not careless or impetuous. It serves as a clear example for all of us.When given the chance to act in safety or speak boldly, he chose the latter. When offered the choice to confront evil or retreat to life to fight again another day, he seized the opportunity.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
In Acts 6 the faithful band of new believers encounter their first major resistance since the crucifiction of Jesus. And it will cost the life of a disciple named Stephen, while ushering in the conversion of a man named Saul.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
God is the pure, white hot light of truth. He is the flame that burns away imperfection. He is fully holy, and fully just. No sin remains in his presence. His grace does not snuff out his justice. In fact, God is perfectly balanced in his delivery of hope and his revelation of guilt. His infinite restoration and in his all-consuming fire are both fully visible in his character and completely consistent from time immortal.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Jesus is a disruptive force. He brings truth into lives and communities where it has been obscured or tainted. His clarity and light cause us to be able to see the imperfections in our lives and in society. Not only that, but the Spirit gives us power and guidance to address these areas. Now you are talking about a true life-altering situation. Now you are speaking about real change in our world.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Lucas Lunsford continues our study through The Acts of The Apostles, Chapter 3.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
After the ascension of Christ, we know the disciples were instructed to return to Jerusalem and wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit. They did as they were told. The dedicated themselves to gathering, encouraging and prayer. In fact, we see this stated explicitly in 1:14 and in chapter 2. Prayer proceeded the actions of the Spirit. Interesting…If we desire to be a church like the one described in the final verses of Acts 2, prayer, gathering and encouraging are the essential elements necessary for this to occur.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
When you know, you know. While the intellectual knowing of God through His word is one thing, the knowing God personally is another. Knowing the facts about God, and even knowing theology, that is the sense-making of all things centered in the acknowledgement of God, is simply that, the knowing. To choose to accept the gift of God of salvation through Jesus is a genuine choice that all humans have to make at some point in our lives.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Matt Cancio gives us a historical view of the world as it existed when Jesus began His ministry.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
In preparation for our upcoming study on the book of Acts, I would like to revisit the final chapter of Luke. I would encourage you to make/take notes so that the full picture emerges more clearly.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Guest preacher Lucas Lunsford brings us God's word from Matthew 23:1-35.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
All week long I have been wanting to give you something. I have anticipated this since early in the week when it came into my heart. If I could give my church family something today, it is joy. There is so much of the opposite in the world and in our lives sometimes. What I want to leave with you today is a better understanding of joy and how we can have it in abundance.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Salvation is instant, and is completed work immediately. As soon as we accept this cure for our imminent death, we are perfectly and utterly restored to Him. Sanctification is not completed as long as we remain in our physical bodies. Holiness, that is, the progression toward being like God, is a messy, halting and unending journey for those whose hearts are set on Him.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Our most important consideration, far above all else, is being able to recognize our position before a perfect, holy God, as sinners, lost and utterly unable to save ourselves. Our God, in perfect love, created a path back to him through his Son. Our only action, our singular choice, is whether or not we will believe in Jesus, accepting his perfect salvation. If we do not put our full faith in Him, we are fully responsible for our sin and will have to do the work of restoring our souls on our own.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
We spoke of this last week - that the most important position that anyone can improve is the one between us and our Creator. This is infinitely more valuable than anything we could accomplish in our lives. The fact that we can actually do nothing to accomplish this is what drives us to consider the gift of grace. We should thank God every day for this.Once our position before God is secured through the saving grace and efforts of Jesus, our attention should immediately and naturally be drawn to correcting and developing relationships with others.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
I sometimes reflect on the traits that make us different than other animals in the universe. The idea of the future, of our position in it and our ability to conceptualize being in a better place than we are now are uniquely human, at least as far as I can tell. God has placed this within our hearts and minds. To know where we are, and to desire to be in a better way. In fact, when we see this loss of desire in folks, we generally see it accompanied by a decline in many ways, and this is even a precursor to the loss of the will to live.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
We are people who are limited by time, resources and by talent. We cannot, or should not, waste our finite lives living ineffectively. Because of this, we should desire to live not in just any way, but in the best way possible.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
What type of savior are you looking for? One who will deliver you from sickness, poverty or provide physical comfort? Are you looking for a political savior or one who will correct society? Jesus came as our Savior over sin and death. We should look to him for who he is, not for what we might want him to be.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064l
Last Sunday, our Pastor, Chris, shared a message regarding Mary the mother of Jesus and the Divine Conception that forms the basis for our belief in the virgin birth. During that message, he implored us to dig deeper into the Old Testament scriptures that predicted that birth, alongside the many other verses that can be found throughout the Pentateuch, the historical books, the poetic books, and the messages of the prophets, that speak of a coming Messiah.CCLI Copyright License 11107056CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064
We believe outrageous things as Christians. We need to not only admit this, but double-down in our belief that our God, his actions and his relationship with us are beyond what the world can accept.
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What will heaven be like and who will be there?
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Many of the things that we as Christians believe, run counter to what the culture propagates as “truth.” It is not because we have recently come up with some counter-narrative to what the world professes - quite the contrary. The remarkable consistency of the beliefs founded in the Word of God, have remained as the bedrock of our understanding of all things for centuries.
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To be a Christian means you are exclusive in many ways. It is not a religion that can tolerate other “truths.” It is not a religion that can allow for other “saviors”. It is not a religion that has room for other belief systems. In this way, Christianity is indeed, as our critics would often point out, a very intolerant way of believing.
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Have you ever found out that something you believed to be true was, in fact, not true? How did you react when confronted with truth?
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The trick of living as a Christian is, of course, having a consistent manner by which we solve the problem of living in Him, in His will, for His end. As carnal beings, we are unable to do so on our own. We are fully reliant on His definition, direction and drive to be more like Him each day. Without this commitment to follow, we will stumble, fall and become miserable creatures.
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At the end of Colossians, Paul shows his genuine love and affection for a number of people he held dear. He also reinforced the lives and behaviors of the genuine Christ followers that he named. These are the folks that meant a great deal to him and who had been significantly engaged in the work to build the Kingdom, and follow the King. Would our names have been on this list?
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Sometimes the rules of Scripture make us get our backs up a bit. We like to do things our own way, modifying rules and routes to our own desires. The problem is, of course, that this is how we get disqualified! I want the prize.
Let’s look at a few more of the guidelines in the Word that sometimes get folks in a tizzy.
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We should all be so excited about adoption that we can hardly stand it! Let’s consider it for a bit. That we would be adopted by God and sustained with all we need so that we can truly thrive in this life. What a crazy, beautiful thing!
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I see so many people pursuing the ideal of “living my best life now” but so many have no idea what this is or what they are missing on by not having this right. Real living is freedom, after all.
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The Word never changes. The One revealed within its pages is eternal, consistent, fully complete and infinitely discoverable to us, the created ones. We cannot know all there is to know of our universe, our solar system, our world, our country, our community, our own home or even our own self…
And yet, God, in the perfect expression of pure love, chooses us.
Our God deigns to acknowledge us, to notice us, to know us.
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We work and we strain toward many things. The word contend is used in the Bible to depict how we work to live in this world. It is defined more concisely as, “to strive or vie in contest or rivalry or against difficulties: struggle.”
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The Bible outlines in detail how Christians should behave, and how we should interact with the lost and each other.
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The Colossians are called to not only refine and cleanse their understanding of the person of Jesus, but to put the reality of their salvation to work in the way they interacted with others. The practical work of the Gospel is the work of the Church, then and now. Display God and bring him glory through the work of the kingdom and the activities of his bride, the Church.
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Hebrews begins with foundational statements about the person, power and priority of Jesus Christ. The end of the letter affirms the same. The body the letter shows the transition from the old but meaningful religious practices of the Jews’ past to the new and evolved means of convening with God and in the expression of religion. Jesus changed everything, and yet he changed nothing. This message of both disruption and comfort was what was communicated at this time to the followers of God, who recognized and accepted Jesus as the Messiah.
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Rightly ordered lives are challenging to maintain, but perhaps even more difficult for us to conceive. We often live in such a misaligned world, among such misaligned people, within our own misaligned hearts, that we lose sight of the things that give us a right understanding of our own place and progress.
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Discipline, correction and repentance are part of the lives of believers. We should not mourn this. We should celebrate that we have a Father who loves us enough to guide us, correct us, and to give us the signs and direction we need to navigate our lives successfully.
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We talked last week about how true faith is literally the engine of our lives. Let’s look a bit further into the lives of those whose lives are given as an example of this type of faithful obedience.
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If Christianity were a crime, would there be enough evidence of it in your life for a conviction?
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Our awareness of our position as fully saved people before God should energize us to do the work of our lives. We are now completely relieved of the burden and yoke of sin, and are now truly free to live our lives!
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We cling to what we know, and we continue doing what we have been doing, with a remarkable tenacity sometimes. In some ways, this is good, but in other ways, simple good sense should prevail.
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We need that perfect Priest. We need Jesus.
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We will be getting back to Hebrews 8 and the beauty of the new covenant in the weeks to come, but today, I wanted to pause to allow us to get a bit of footing established as we may be reeling from the new that Roe v. Wade, the law of the land for nearly fifty years, may be overturned. Wow. What this really means will become more clear as the days, months, years and decades go by, but make no mistake, this is one of the most important events that we will see in our lifetime.
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Guest speaker Rev. Phil Brewster.
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What we need is not just love, it is perfect love. We need the love that will save us from our selfishness and sin. The love that is infinitely powerful so that it can redeem us when we have no hope of saving ourselves. CCLI Copyright License 11107056 CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064
Are the mysteries of God beyond our grasp? They are Should we strain toward understanding the depth of God all of our days? We should Will it cost me to pursue holiness in Christ? It will Is it worth it to follow Jesus? It is.
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Many people have determined that they are able to handle their own salvation. They believe that they are good enough to handle it. They believe that they have the inherent goodness to accomplish the task of personal redemption. We do not possess this ability. Period. We must recognize the need we have for our Savior.
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Resting is not the doing of nothing. It is the reaping of the rewards for the labor that preceded it.
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The book of Hebrews is meat and potatoes, though. It is a full-course meal, full of nutrition, healthy calories and just the right blend of vitamins and minerals. Like a good meal, it will sustain us longer make us stronger and satisfy us more fully.
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The opening sentence in Hebrews 2 reminds us that we have to habitually return to the truths of the Gospel by which we were saved. We are to constantly tune our hearts to God. Like any stringed instrument, we will lose our tuning as a natural course of our lives. We must consistently return to the standard, message and person of our Christ.
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The early church encountered virtually all of the challenges we face today. Nothing new under the sun, after all. One of the essential questions asked by all Christians from the first century until now is, “Is it worth it to follow Jesus?” This question is asked in direct and indirect ways. It is similar, in some ways, to the question that people ask when they consider changing careers, or to start or end a marriage, or moving to a new community, or have children, etc. Is it worth it.
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We take as simply for granted, the incredible provision and opportunity we have been afforded. This is especially true as an American believer. We have wealth, opportunity and security. We have healthcare and freedom. We have infrastructure and safety. We have freedoms to worship and speak without fear of retribution.
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The issues of inequity and racism have been a part of many of my waking moments for many years. As I came back to the US from living in the Philippines, this was a surprising reality of the land I was returning to as an adult. In particular, seeing the evidence of this in churches and denominations has been something I have struggle with.
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Be nice. This is one of the essential messages of parenting and one of the most important traits of an adult. Seems like it ought not be so difficult for humans to be kind to one another. And yet, after thousands of years of co-existence, we are still miserable at this simple skill.
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Let’s be explicit from the outset. There should be no doubt or debate. We are not here to consume resources for a time and then return to dust. We are not here to serve self. We are not here to “succeed” by the world’s standards. We are created for purpose, meaning and for impact. All of our time is to be spent being about the work of the Father. Jesus was absolutely consistent in this teaching.
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It is an undeniable truth that much of how we choose to treat others stems from how we perceive our own value and position in this world. Much of the work that needs to be done to improve race relations should begin with deep, honest introspection. If we are unwilling to look into our own hearts, we will be unable to move our world into a better place for all people.
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One of the issues that has become a current hot-button is what we will teach our children about race and its sordid history in our country. A convenient talking point is centered around the academic discipline of Critical Race Theory. This is a forty year old academic and legal framework used to explain the ongoing occurrence of racism and racially negative outcomes in society, in particular, the U.S. society.
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What does it mean to determine to make a change? Why is this so difficult? For reasons that God only likely fully understands, we are creatures who establish pathways we habitually walk down again and again. We move and think and act in ways that are often just the way we do things.
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Make no mistake, to believe as we say we believe is an outlandish and unreasonable act. To believe in the factual coming of a Messiah, sent by a God, to save humans from our sin requires a foundation built almost completely on faith.
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Today, we think about joy. I wonder how often it is really experienced in our lives and in the lives of those around us. I wonder why it is so elusive when it is actually available to anyone.
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Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
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Materialism, greed, selfishness, a lack of contentment - all are signs of a heart that is aligned with our world. For the most part, we have what we need and far more so in most cases. Contentment, generosity, gratitude - these are a sign we are aligned with the heart of Christ. This has been a very good reminder for me to spend an extended time thinking about and practicing this work.
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Gratitude is the will of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus was thankful. He gave thanks publicly, and it is certain that he did so privately as well. Why would the Son of God have to give thanks? After all, He was responsible for every good thing. As with much that he did, it was to set the example for His followers. It was the right thing to do. If for no other reason than the fact that Jesus did it, we should practice gratitude. Let’s consider the specific ways that are present in Scripture that show us the example of Christ in giving thanks.
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We have been practicing the discipline of gratitude for the past few weeks. Sometimes, we are painfully aware that we have not exercised these muscles. We struggle a little bit to come up with things we are truly grateful for. Isn’t that amazing. Some of the most blessed people on the planet and we have to work hard to truly be grateful. It is a spiritual discipline, however, and the more often we practice it, the more these muscles grow.
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When we are truly grateful, it means that we are working from a place of honesty and vulnerability. True gratitude is the opposite of self, recognizing something or someone for blessings in our lives. These good things are due to no effort on our part for which we can take credit or feel a sense of self-accomplishment. They have been done on our behalf by another. This is humbling.
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We’ve been speaking, for some weeks, about the rules of the game. This has been the consideration of God’s law an its essential nature in our lives if we wish to live to the fullest. Our world has largely swallowed the lure of living according to one’s own heart, rather than aligning to the heart of the One who made us. This has, and will always, create chaos and situations which lead inevitably to destruction of the beautiful things He has given.
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I am never really sure if things are truly getting worse, or if I am just growing in my awareness of the situations mankind are prone to put ourselves into. I am uncertain as to whether or not we are declining as a society or if we are in the very typical cycles of sin and depravity we have been in since the beginning. The opinions of this are probably typically divided among the young and older, and probably have been for ever…
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Marriage is the voluntary sexual and public social union of one man and one woman, from different families. This union is patterned upon the union of God with his people who are his bride, Christ with his church. Intrinsic to this union is God’s calling to lifelong exclusive sexual faithfulness.
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As we have been exploring for a number of weeks, now, our God has established very clear rules to how we are to conduct our human lives. These have been in place since the beginning, unwavering and consistent. These guide-rails have kept humanity from going completely out of control, maintaining the lives, families and cultures of mankind.
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When we break the rules, there are consequences. This is a very clear cause and effect relationship. If, then. It is clear that we can apply this to understanding how our God has arranged and ordered the world we are to live within. Our lives have been given us to live within clear boundaries, with clear expectations for how we are to choose to live.
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I have often found myself drawn into the discussion, debates and battles around what our society has determined, at least at this moment in time, to call right and good. It is hard to keep up with, to be honest. What we declared right and good just a few years ago is now out of fashion. It is dizzying to even try to keep up with the pace at which the world defiles itself. What was literally inconceivable a short time ago is lauded as right and evidence of the evolution of the human mind and heart. Past sensibilities are scoffed at, with society perpetually pushing at whatever boundaries still remain. If secular man has anything to say, the assault will never end until no restrictions exist. Until each man can truly, and freely, live according to their own truth.
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The Well Church & Western Hills Church Evening Cabin Devotional
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The Well Church & Western Hills Church Evening Cabin Devotional
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Pastor Chris, The Praise Team, and members of The Well Church OKC joined with Dale Baptist Church in a community wide night of praise for the community of Dale Oklahoma. The Praise Team begins singing about 1:05.
Have you ever had the experience of playing a familiar game, one you have played for many years, and found that once you reference the rules, you find that you have been playing incorrectly, or that there are different rules than you were aware of?
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Dr. Chan teaches of the unexpected effects of a prideful heart.
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As followers of God, and as people saved by Christ, we are tasked with living our lives on this earth, in the time, in particular ways, for particular ends. We are not living in a random, unpredictable, chaotic manner. We are not without the hope that comes through direction. We are able to thrive, not in spite of, but because of, the guidance of the Scripture and with the impulse of the Spirit in our lives.
We are free do as we like. But we should never use this freedom to return to the chains of sin.
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Those seeking God, post-salvation, would have wanted, and needed the practical guidance and encouragement Paul offers here. He delivers the marching orders to us in a clear way that is always something we need to hear.
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We spent the month of July considering freedom and I have enjoyed this a great deal. We have considered the great cost of freedom that many have fought for in our country. We have faced the fact that many still do not have freedom in our society due to circumstances and treatment that have diminished their humanity. We have continued to remind ourselves that we are made free to remain free, not to return to bondage in sin, but to act in the freedom we now have.
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Real freedom is about the ability for the individual to choose. This is what we crave and it is essential to human thriving. It is even more than making right choices. It is the opportunity to do so.
In fact, the highest form of self-actualization would be a human who has the freedom to choose to do the right thing, and does so.
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We have been considering the idea of freedom this month. We have spoken about the fact that God created us for freedom, and not for bondage. That He has not only created us for freedom, but has given us a pathway to freedom.
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July the 4th is a fun day for many. It is a holiday and it is known for family, fireworks, travel, picnics, and swimming. It is a time we look forward to resting, relaxing and in spending time with friends and family. But it is a holiday that we would do well to consider for a moment. Our Father God has blessed us incredibly. For those of us who have been in countries where personal freedoms are not so regularly protected, living the United States of America can quickly become under-appreciated.
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When I was a child, I only knew my earthly father through a very limited set of understandings. I knew he kept me safe and I knew he loved me. As I grew, I grew to know more about him. He was consistent, he was strong. I grew to understand that he loved me enough to discipline me and to lead me to make good decisions. As I grew older, I grew to appreciate his mind, skills, talents and ability to lead.
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God is our good Father. It is difficult for us to understand this fully, to be sure. As with anything, we have only our personal life experience to make sense of things we try to understand. God is largely unknowable to us, especially in our current reality. We have only existed for a blink of time. We have only experienced a wisp of all there is to experience. We have only a minuscule fraction of knowledge compared to all there is to know. We have such limited capacity to understand all there is to understand.
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Words are used to build peace and to cause destruction. They are the primary way we communicate all of our emotions. They convey culture and control government. They bind together and they rip apart. They guide and they lead astray.
“Follow me.” Probably the most concise, simple and understandable messages we could get from God. What makes this such a seemingly difficult concept for us to accomplish then? Today, in our next look at Response, we will revisit the calling and the responses of some of those who were specifically called by Christ.
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If our kids would just learn, truly, to just hear carefully and then obey completely, their lives would be so much better, so much faster. I am quite certain that this sentiment is exactly what our spiritual Father believes as well. Why we would ever, as thinking beings, think that ignoring the voice of our God is a good thing to do, should be beyond us.
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We have been speaking of foolishness and of wisdom for the past month or so. In some cases, we may have been able to see areas where we, personally, are foolish. In this case, we would hopefully address these areas and correct them through the guidance of the Spirit. Often, however, as a fool is prone, we may see these areas, and then turn away, or back, to the things that were illuminated by our the light of the Word and influence of the Spirit.
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Solomon asked, expected to receive, and did receive, wisdom. One of the things that occurred was that much of his collected wisdom was recorded in Proverbs. These are truly powerful, concise sayings that distill essential elements of wisdom. These are bite-sized statements which distill incredibly important truths.
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Dr. Chan encourages us to remain focused on the mission of building the kingdom of God.
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How often do we realize that our own sins are not just our own? That our own shortcomings don’t just affect us? That our own poor decisions cause pain, suffering and loss to others?
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The Word seems to be about as full of information and direction about how to identify, deal with and avoid foolishness as about any other subject. It is clearly central to the writings of Solomon. This is particularly evident in Proverbs, of course.
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Today, I want to begin teaching on the concepts of wisdom and foolishness as taught by the Word of God. It seems that so much of my life is affected by these two contrasting ideas. This came to me as I was reconsidering the words of Paul to the Corinthians recently. It is the natural progression of the proclamation of the Gospel, in fact.
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Over the course of the past month, we have been studying the book of Ruth and have considered the concept and reality of hope. As a reminder, as Christ followers, we do not use the word hope as others might. In most cases, it is a wish, and perhaps one that is pursued under one’s own power. Our Hope is different than this.
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We spent the month of February thinking and studying the ideas of justice, love and unity in relation to the realities of racism and bigotry in our world. We know that the only real answers to these evils comes from the heart of of God. Just as we are inherently evil, unable individually and corporately to build a perfect life, family, society or world because of our flawed natures - our God is the source of perfect love and redemption. All work to see our relationships with one another must begin with a right relationship with God. This relationship is initiated and completed by the Father, through the Son.
Hope in Jesus is the only path we can follow forward. Our hope if found in nothing less than Jesus’ blood and in His righteousness. We dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.
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Today guest speaker Rick Baker why our only hope for happiness is to maintain an essential connection with God through the power of the Holy Spirit, a committed relationship with Jesus Christ.
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Hope is the path we follow forward. It is the wheel by which we steer along this path. It is the engine that moves us and that propels us. Without hope, we cannot move, and cannot move in the right way.
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Guest Speaker Dr. Henry Chan delivers a scriptural warning against injustice.
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From the very outset, let’s establish that racism is injustice. Period. In fact, it is one of the most bluntly clear examples of injustice that exists.
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Last week I suggested that the Christian Community is the ultimate enemy of racism. I believe this to be so. Not because of the institution itself or because of some type of political power it may wield. Not because of its raw theology or teaching. Not because of its impact on architecture or the arts. Not because of any other of a host of possible reasons, but because of the power and motivation behind, beneath and before the Church of Jesus. The true power of Christianity comes only from the Love of Christ. When we get this right, we can fulfill the work of both the Body of Christ and our own personal work within the greater movement of the Kingdom.
On this day of Love, let’s be once more reminded of what our God teaches us about what true love should be.
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There is no Scriptural basis for racism. The idea that someone who has been given less skin pigmentation has more value than someone else is simply absurd and it is frankly amazing that any sentient, thinking being could tolerate this idea any longer than it takes to understand it. The fact that there are people who claim to follow Christ who promote either passive or direct racism, is still an amazing and horrifying thing for us to be aware of and for us to forcefully confront.
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Pastor Chris begins a series discussing the problems with racism from a Biblical point of view.
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We have been speaking of promises. We have considered the covenantal pledges of God to Abram and we have looked at the assurance of the love of God to His people. We have also been clear on the consequential promises of what awaits those who defy God and his commands. Today, we will think through one of the most foundational expectations we have as followers of God, that we are truth-telling, promise keepers.
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It is hard to get a handle on all that we are and can be in Jesus, but let’s at least spend some time thinking through the meaning of His words in this aspect. He spent a great deal of time speaking His promises to His disciples and His words comfort us today as they did their when He walked with them.
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The Word is very clear on the consequences of how we live our lives. It speaks of the results of these choices occurring both within our lifetimes and after we have died and receive the judgement of God. Because our God is perfectly just, our judgment is perfectly deserved. The promise of this perfect consistency and justice is terrifying, to be quite honest. There will be no escaping the day of our judgement. There will be no challenge to the evidence presented. All will be perfectly laid bare for the Lord to judge, and we will be given the perfect judgement we deserve.
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Aren’t you glad our God is not us and His promises aren’t as ours? The Word of God is full of promises. In fact, so full that it is difficult to calculate how many there are. Victor Knowles, in a 1998 submission to the Religion at Pepperdine Digital Commons writes:
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Paul reminds us that there are much bigger issues at stake here. We are to be people of peace, and purpose. Not those who spend our energies in petty conflicts, divisive discussions or quibbling over things that are ultimately not that significant.
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Let us be known as a distinctive people of love who support and obey those in authority, unless and until it defies our God’s standard, and then we will diligently adhere to the Truth.
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The words of chapter 12 are stunning in their simplicity, profound in their accessibility and encouraging in their consistency with the standards woven throughout the Word.
Here are some of the Beautiful Basics
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Mysteries abound. Our entire lives are spent trying to understand complex mysteries. Our hearts yearn for the justification of right over wrong, and for fairness to reign. In a world where we don’t, or don’t yet, see what we desire, it is hard for us to settle that some things just aren’t comprehendible for us. The 11th chapter of Romans is certainly one of those situations for me. It is full of mystery, but not the kind that wraps up neatly by chapter 12. It isn’t as easy to digest as the Hardy Boys’…
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For the Jew and for all others. God still tarries. He still holds open the gates to salvation, even as the course of time hastens to its completion. Every second moves us precisely one second closer to the end of time. It is finite and it will end. We are infinite and we, in our true spiritual selves, will not end. Where and how we remain forever is the gift of salvation or the judgement we deserve for our sins.
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And now on to a pressing issue which is at hand. The election of our president in the year of our Lord 2020. Note, I did not say this is the most pressing issue, but it is certainly an important one. Also note that I said it was the year of our Lord, not the year of democrats or republicans, or even Americans, for that matter.
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Why does God remain with us? Why does He persist in His steadfast love? Why does He not simply destroy us, or walk away and leave us to fully destroy ourselves? We deserve nothing less, of course.
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One of the most profoundly painful feelings occurs when you have given sincerely to someone, truly invested in them, and this effort is rejected. You have poured into as a teacher, parent, friend, coach and the one you are giving to into has decided to turn from what you are offering, and go the wrong direction.
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We win. Well, more accurately, the One who has saved us and preserved us for Himself wins and He will restore all who are His to Himself.
We overcome. Again, more accurately, the Overcomer will triumph on our behalf. Because of His work, we will be successful in conquering death and hell.
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Romans is a tough book. It is rich in foundational theology, steeped in essential doctrine, unflinching in its presentation of the complexities of faith and grace, and it calls us to confront our condition before the Almighty, perfectly Holy Creator.
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Return to a pet sin. Picking up again what you thought you had laid down for the last time. Slinking back to that nasty mess, right where you left it the last time. Rolling around in the death and having the stench linger.
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Voluntary servitude. Intentional slavery - the law of choices and their consequences. Sowing and reaping. Choosing what’s behind door number two. Picking the red pill or the blue pill. The road more, (or less), traveled by. Chapter six is a rich and beautifully organized essay on the struggle that all Christ-followers encounter as they work to sort their lives out, post-acceptance of Jesus as Savior.
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Taking a pause in the study of Paul’s writing to the Romans for this week. In the past days, weeks and months, the truth is that my people have been (and are,) hurting. In some cases it seems that that lives of relative peace and thriving have gradually been replaced by existences that move from one hurt to another, from one crisis to another. While lives all and always have ups, downs and everything in between, it seems that things are more consistently painful and challenging than not for several in our community. I want to speak into that suffering a bit today, hopefully offering some perspective, some understanding and, ultimately, real hope.
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The law should make us run, as hard as we can, from the horror of our sin and into the grace and love of Jesus.