Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Taking Your Toilet for Granted
I recently read a book review of a book entitled "The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters." The review is well worth reading as it does a good job of summarizing the main issues raised within the book. There are of course many needs in the world that need to be addressed, but I find myself continually drawn to the ones that seem most overlooked. In my opinion, the lack of proper sanitation facilities should be very near to the top of the list of overlooked and regularly unaddressed needs in the developing world.
Monday, December 22, 2008
"Silly Foolish Religion" Colossains 2:16-23
Do you consider yourself to be religious? I think the question is a bit of a loaded one, given how many different conceptions there are today about what "religion" is. But, for the most part, I would suggest that religion for many people means following different rules and practices in order to get everything out of life that we think we should get. Religion is a way to make sure that our life will ultimately "measure up." It's in this sense that I would say then that most people are religious. We may be formal or informal about it, we may have lots of rules or very few rules that we follow, but the main motivation for many of us is to somehow find some path through life that will help us be fulfilled or enlightened or reach our full potential. And we will follow such paths with passionate, legalistic vigor if we think that our efforts will bring us success.
In Colossians 2:16-23 however, we see religion thoroughly debunked. Being "religious" will not help you measure up. In fact, God sent Jesus to save us from trying to justify our lives by being religious! Jesus came to save people who are trying to save themselves through a legalistic pursuit of religion.
The new teaching in Colossae was calling for people to become more religious. It involved keeping a lot of different Jewish rituals along with following ascetic practices and seeking visionary mystical experiences. Paul in confronting this teaching makes clear that this new teaching is really false teaching. Religious legalism never produces the kind of people it claims to produce. It creates people who become "puffed up without reason" (Col 2:18). Instead of making kind, humble, confident people, it creates joyless, harsh, insecure, judgmental, prideful people. This is because religious legalism cuts people off from Christ. Christ is the only means by which people find real fulfillment. From Christ comes a humble confidence about life. From Christ comes the kind of growth that will last and matter because it's a growth that comes from God (Col 2:19).
Paul concludes his assessment of the false teaching in v.20-23 by highlighting the fiction of legalistic religion and the truth of Christ. The fiction of religious legalism is that it suggests that the key to life will come by following self-made, human based rules. But such rules can never cultivate eternal qualities in people. More religion can not actually change people's lives. It can only bring "an appearance of wisdom." It can't do anything substantial to truly stop sin within the human life and within our world. At best it can bury sin under the cover of keeping lots of rules. At worst, it makes people sin more because it encourages them to look down with pride on other people who aren't as religious as they are.
The truth of Christ, however, is that the Christian has died with Christ to "the elemental spirits of the world" (Col 2:20). This means that they are no longer under their power. They no longer belong to their realm, which is the realm within which our world still resides. This realm is characterized by pride and competition, where you must always compare yourself with other people and must always make sure you are doing well enough in comparion to others in order to validate your existence and your importance in the world. Instead, the Christian belongs to a heavenly kingdom that's governed by love and grace, where there's no need to compare oneself with other people because everyone has been equally loved by God and saved by his grace. The Christian has a life that is already validated. It already measures up! And it has been given every resource available to stand strong and assured and grow to full maturity.
The song "A New Law" by Derek Webb captures well many of the themes in Colossians 2:16-23. As Derek writes, we don't want to know about moderation and liberty, we "prefer a shot of grape juice." We don't want to know about loving our enemeis or listening to the Spirit, we just want "a new law." However, there is one voice that cuts across all our religious striving - it's the voice of Jesus, and it's his voice that expresses the final words of the song, "Do not be afraid." In Matthew 14 we are told about a time when the disciples were caught in the midst of a rough sea and they saw Jesus walking towards them. They think it's a ghost and they become afraid. But then Jesus tells them, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
So also, we face many rough seas as we navigate through life. This incites great fear in us. Isn't this why then we often look to religion and legalism as a way to gain more control and direction over our lives? Rather, we must heed the voice of Jesus, who still tells his people to not be afraid. Jesus has overcome all things, including things that religion can never overcome. And because the Christian's life is linked with Jesus, the Christian can and will overcome all things.
In what ways do people today still look to legalism or religion or "spirituality" in order to validate their lives? Why is legalism so pathetically lacking in comparison to the true substance and growth that we only gain from God in Christ?
In Colossians 2:16-23 however, we see religion thoroughly debunked. Being "religious" will not help you measure up. In fact, God sent Jesus to save us from trying to justify our lives by being religious! Jesus came to save people who are trying to save themselves through a legalistic pursuit of religion.
The new teaching in Colossae was calling for people to become more religious. It involved keeping a lot of different Jewish rituals along with following ascetic practices and seeking visionary mystical experiences. Paul in confronting this teaching makes clear that this new teaching is really false teaching. Religious legalism never produces the kind of people it claims to produce. It creates people who become "puffed up without reason" (Col 2:18). Instead of making kind, humble, confident people, it creates joyless, harsh, insecure, judgmental, prideful people. This is because religious legalism cuts people off from Christ. Christ is the only means by which people find real fulfillment. From Christ comes a humble confidence about life. From Christ comes the kind of growth that will last and matter because it's a growth that comes from God (Col 2:19).
Paul concludes his assessment of the false teaching in v.20-23 by highlighting the fiction of legalistic religion and the truth of Christ. The fiction of religious legalism is that it suggests that the key to life will come by following self-made, human based rules. But such rules can never cultivate eternal qualities in people. More religion can not actually change people's lives. It can only bring "an appearance of wisdom." It can't do anything substantial to truly stop sin within the human life and within our world. At best it can bury sin under the cover of keeping lots of rules. At worst, it makes people sin more because it encourages them to look down with pride on other people who aren't as religious as they are.
The truth of Christ, however, is that the Christian has died with Christ to "the elemental spirits of the world" (Col 2:20). This means that they are no longer under their power. They no longer belong to their realm, which is the realm within which our world still resides. This realm is characterized by pride and competition, where you must always compare yourself with other people and must always make sure you are doing well enough in comparion to others in order to validate your existence and your importance in the world. Instead, the Christian belongs to a heavenly kingdom that's governed by love and grace, where there's no need to compare oneself with other people because everyone has been equally loved by God and saved by his grace. The Christian has a life that is already validated. It already measures up! And it has been given every resource available to stand strong and assured and grow to full maturity.
The song "A New Law" by Derek Webb captures well many of the themes in Colossians 2:16-23. As Derek writes, we don't want to know about moderation and liberty, we "prefer a shot of grape juice." We don't want to know about loving our enemeis or listening to the Spirit, we just want "a new law." However, there is one voice that cuts across all our religious striving - it's the voice of Jesus, and it's his voice that expresses the final words of the song, "Do not be afraid." In Matthew 14 we are told about a time when the disciples were caught in the midst of a rough sea and they saw Jesus walking towards them. They think it's a ghost and they become afraid. But then Jesus tells them, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
So also, we face many rough seas as we navigate through life. This incites great fear in us. Isn't this why then we often look to religion and legalism as a way to gain more control and direction over our lives? Rather, we must heed the voice of Jesus, who still tells his people to not be afraid. Jesus has overcome all things, including things that religion can never overcome. And because the Christian's life is linked with Jesus, the Christian can and will overcome all things.
In what ways do people today still look to legalism or religion or "spirituality" in order to validate their lives? Why is legalism so pathetically lacking in comparison to the true substance and growth that we only gain from God in Christ?
"God's Great Triumph in the Cross of Christ" Colossians 2:8-15
Yep, I've gotten a bit behind in these sermon recap blog posts so hopefully I can play a bit of catchup this week. This blog post sums up what we considered during the sermon at Roosevelt back on December 7th.
You'll remember that we began our time talking about the power of fear. We fear because we do not have control over many aspects of life. To deal with our fear we search for ways to get control. We look to religion or drugs and alcohol or sex or technology to get control over life and gain a measure of fulfillment and validation for ourselves.
When we turn to God however we gain a confidence like no other, one that will push back even our worst fears coming from the worst conditions spurred on by the worst enemies of humanity. This is because God has achieved a great triumph in Jesus Christ. When we believe in Jesus, God's triumph becomes our triumph. This means we don't need to be ruled by fear. We don't need fulfillment or validation from anything or anyone. In Christ, the Christian believer has everything!
This truth would have had particular resonance for the Colossian church. The Colossian Christians were being lured by a new teaching that suggested that Jesus was not enough if they really wanted security and control over their lives. They needed to get involved with the things this teaching was advocating (see Col 2:16-23 for more details) if they really wanted to save themselves.
Paul makes clear however that this new teaching was really "empty deceit" and ultimately demonic in origin (Col 2:8). To counteract the claims of this teaching Paul elaborates on what it means for someone to be in Christ (Col 2:9-12) and then draws out the full implications of God's "powerful working" for those in Christ (Col 2:13-15).
So what does it mean to be "in Christ"? When you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you become "in Christ." And being "in Christ" means being in God, since the whole fullness of God dwells bodily in Christ (Col 1:9). In Christ you gain all of God's power over every hostile spiritual power that would play to your fears and uncertainties. You gain this power because of the spiritual circumcision that happens when you believe in Jesus. Sin and its power to enslave is "put off" (Col 1:11) and the believer then gets raised by God with Jesus into a new life that is free from the enslaving power of sin.
What are the full implications of this work of God in the Christian's life? All our sins are forgiven (Col 1:13). The debt we owe to God, because of our sins against him (which are in effect treasonous acts against our rightful King) has been fully canceled (Col 1:14). Indeed, our full debt was effectively paid and wiped out at the cross of Christ. At first glance the cross looks like a total defeat. Instead, the cross is God's signal to all the cosmos that there is life and victory to be had in Jesus Christ.
Satan and his demons seek to constantly remind people of their failures and to encourage them to live in fear and guilt and shame. These are all abject lies. The real story is that Satan and his demons have been fully disarmed (Col 1:15). They have been stripped of all their power and accusations and claims. They are in effect prisoners shuffling behind in chains behind the victorious general Jesus Christ. The cross allows each Christian believer to look past the lies and deception and realize that all the demonic enemies of human existence have been exposed as frauds. They have been disarmed, humiliated, and defeated. That means there is now no power in the cosmos that can rule you by fear and doubt, that can enslave you under sin, that can accuse you before God, or that can prevent you from experiencing all of God in every area of life. The Christian is a person who has been empowered by God in Christ Jesus. This truth is the battle cry that every Christian should use to reclaim any part of their life that has been ceded over to defeated enemies.
Take some time to look over Colossians 2:8-15, and in particular v.15. What will it look out for us to more fully lay hold of the "disarming power" of God in the cross of Christ within our community and within our own lives?
You'll remember that we began our time talking about the power of fear. We fear because we do not have control over many aspects of life. To deal with our fear we search for ways to get control. We look to religion or drugs and alcohol or sex or technology to get control over life and gain a measure of fulfillment and validation for ourselves.
When we turn to God however we gain a confidence like no other, one that will push back even our worst fears coming from the worst conditions spurred on by the worst enemies of humanity. This is because God has achieved a great triumph in Jesus Christ. When we believe in Jesus, God's triumph becomes our triumph. This means we don't need to be ruled by fear. We don't need fulfillment or validation from anything or anyone. In Christ, the Christian believer has everything!
This truth would have had particular resonance for the Colossian church. The Colossian Christians were being lured by a new teaching that suggested that Jesus was not enough if they really wanted security and control over their lives. They needed to get involved with the things this teaching was advocating (see Col 2:16-23 for more details) if they really wanted to save themselves.
Paul makes clear however that this new teaching was really "empty deceit" and ultimately demonic in origin (Col 2:8). To counteract the claims of this teaching Paul elaborates on what it means for someone to be in Christ (Col 2:9-12) and then draws out the full implications of God's "powerful working" for those in Christ (Col 2:13-15).
So what does it mean to be "in Christ"? When you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you become "in Christ." And being "in Christ" means being in God, since the whole fullness of God dwells bodily in Christ (Col 1:9). In Christ you gain all of God's power over every hostile spiritual power that would play to your fears and uncertainties. You gain this power because of the spiritual circumcision that happens when you believe in Jesus. Sin and its power to enslave is "put off" (Col 1:11) and the believer then gets raised by God with Jesus into a new life that is free from the enslaving power of sin.
What are the full implications of this work of God in the Christian's life? All our sins are forgiven (Col 1:13). The debt we owe to God, because of our sins against him (which are in effect treasonous acts against our rightful King) has been fully canceled (Col 1:14). Indeed, our full debt was effectively paid and wiped out at the cross of Christ. At first glance the cross looks like a total defeat. Instead, the cross is God's signal to all the cosmos that there is life and victory to be had in Jesus Christ.
Satan and his demons seek to constantly remind people of their failures and to encourage them to live in fear and guilt and shame. These are all abject lies. The real story is that Satan and his demons have been fully disarmed (Col 1:15). They have been stripped of all their power and accusations and claims. They are in effect prisoners shuffling behind in chains behind the victorious general Jesus Christ. The cross allows each Christian believer to look past the lies and deception and realize that all the demonic enemies of human existence have been exposed as frauds. They have been disarmed, humiliated, and defeated. That means there is now no power in the cosmos that can rule you by fear and doubt, that can enslave you under sin, that can accuse you before God, or that can prevent you from experiencing all of God in every area of life. The Christian is a person who has been empowered by God in Christ Jesus. This truth is the battle cry that every Christian should use to reclaim any part of their life that has been ceded over to defeated enemies.
Take some time to look over Colossians 2:8-15, and in particular v.15. What will it look out for us to more fully lay hold of the "disarming power" of God in the cross of Christ within our community and within our own lives?
Friday, December 5, 2008
What We Should Do with Our Money - A Recent Sermon by Mike Bullmore
Mike Bullmore was one of my preaching professors while I was attending Trinity and is currently the senior pastor of Crossway Community Church. He recently preached a sermon on 1 Corinthians 16 entitled “What We Should Do with Our Money” that I think is right on. Mike certainly did a better job than I did when I preached on this chapter back in September!
Andy Naselli took notes, and also listed helpful articles and books on the subject of biblical giving. Here is the summary of the main points and application points from the sermon:
Main Points:
Andy Naselli took notes, and also listed helpful articles and books on the subject of biblical giving. Here is the summary of the main points and application points from the sermon:
Main Points:
- Give to relieve the suffering of others, especially of fellow Christians (1 Cor 16:1–4). This “collection” was a special offering in addition to regular giving.
- Give to support the work of the gospel (1 Cor 16:5–11).
- Our giving should be a planned priority.
- Our giving should be proportional to our income. Give obediently, generously, and sacrificially. Cf. C. S. Lewis: “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusement, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our giving does not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say it is too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot because our commitment to giving excludes them.”
- Our giving should be marked by prudence. It should be transparent, above board, and marked by integrity. For example, a church’s giving should have public accountability.
- Our giving and our teaching about giving should be simple and straightforward. No pressure, no gimmicks, no excessive emotion. Simply put: don’t waste your money; rather, use it for God’s purposes and for his glory.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
"Get in Christ" Colossians 2:1-8
Paul writes to the Colossian church to warn them away from a trend that he saw as a great threat to their faith. In essence, this trend was to follow certain teaching that was "not according to Christ" (Col 2:8). Dangerous trends similar to this still exist today and sadly they have become firmly entrenched within much of the current church culture. As Michael Horton points out in his recent book, "Christless Christianity," the modern-day church has become largely Christless. Christ has become a nice supplement to faith and community instead of being the instrumental cornerstone of faith and community. This happens as Christians become taken in by "plausible arguments" (Col 1:4) that suggest that we should define our lives by peripheral matters (which tend to be the kind of topics that play towards our emotions, our personalities, and our comfort level) as opposed to central matters like the gospel.
How do we deal with these threats? Paul's strong advice to the Colossians was, in effect, to get in Christ and stay in Christ. In Christ we find everything we need to know about how to live life wisely (Col 2:2-3).
Nothing then is more important than receiving Christ Jesus as the Lord over your life and then basing the rest of your life on this truth (Col 2:6-7). As Proverbs 1:7 tells us, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. So it makes sense that the first step towards living life wisely will mean a continual conscious respect of Christ as Lord over every step you take in life.
How will this look like within the context of the church? First it means the church should promote straightforward, clear, communal thnking about Christ Jesus the Lord. We need to always make sure that we are thinking rightly about Jesus and in particular rightly of him as Christ and Lord. Second, the church should promote active, accountable, communal practice of Christ Jesus as Lord. It is the responsibility of each Christian within the church to help one another work out all the consequences and implications of the fact that we have received Christ Jesus the Lord into our lives. This will mean intentionality and will mean digging past the superficial to get towards the kind of relationships where we are deeply known and we deeply know others.
Take some time to meditate on Colossians 2:6-7. What are some specific areas in the modern day church and the modern day Christian life that need to be confronted with the truths of this verse? (ex. money, time, family, career, dating relationships) How would our priorities and decisions in these areas change if people began to truly get in Christ Jesus the Lord and stay in Christ Jesus the Lord?
How do we deal with these threats? Paul's strong advice to the Colossians was, in effect, to get in Christ and stay in Christ. In Christ we find everything we need to know about how to live life wisely (Col 2:2-3).
Nothing then is more important than receiving Christ Jesus as the Lord over your life and then basing the rest of your life on this truth (Col 2:6-7). As Proverbs 1:7 tells us, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. So it makes sense that the first step towards living life wisely will mean a continual conscious respect of Christ as Lord over every step you take in life.
How will this look like within the context of the church? First it means the church should promote straightforward, clear, communal thnking about Christ Jesus the Lord. We need to always make sure that we are thinking rightly about Jesus and in particular rightly of him as Christ and Lord. Second, the church should promote active, accountable, communal practice of Christ Jesus as Lord. It is the responsibility of each Christian within the church to help one another work out all the consequences and implications of the fact that we have received Christ Jesus the Lord into our lives. This will mean intentionality and will mean digging past the superficial to get towards the kind of relationships where we are deeply known and we deeply know others.
Take some time to meditate on Colossians 2:6-7. What are some specific areas in the modern day church and the modern day Christian life that need to be confronted with the truths of this verse? (ex. money, time, family, career, dating relationships) How would our priorities and decisions in these areas change if people began to truly get in Christ Jesus the Lord and stay in Christ Jesus the Lord?
"Why Paul Does What He Does" Colossians 1:24-29
Ministry is tiring. It takes a lot of energy and effort. It's often overwhelming. So why keep doing it? What can motivate us to keep doing it? Paul's answer is to make sure that his ministry was about proclaiming Christ, which meant admonishing people and teaching people (Col 1:28). He did this in order to achieve a very specific goal - people becoming "mature in Christ." This is what ultimately drove Paul and his associates, to be in people's lives in such a way so that they become fully developed Christians.
A healthy church then is one that will warn and teach people so that they don't stay as little bitty baby Christians but become fully grown, mature Christians. This is what Christian ministry must always be about. If ministry is just us doing stuff for the sake of doing stuff, our efforts will eventually be overrun by our tiredness or our frustrations or our laziness,or our selfishness.
However, if our ministry is about this message - "Christ in you" - and this goal - "complete in Christ" - we will find the kind of ministry that is worth struggling for and even dying for. And we can be assured that we won't be struggling alone; God himself gives his energy and power to anyone who is involved in this kind of work (Col 1:29).
So what are your thoughts about this passage? Can you say that you became more mature in Christ over this past year? What evidence have you seen of this in your life? How are you encouraging others you know to become mature in Christ?
A healthy church then is one that will warn and teach people so that they don't stay as little bitty baby Christians but become fully grown, mature Christians. This is what Christian ministry must always be about. If ministry is just us doing stuff for the sake of doing stuff, our efforts will eventually be overrun by our tiredness or our frustrations or our laziness,or our selfishness.
However, if our ministry is about this message - "Christ in you" - and this goal - "complete in Christ" - we will find the kind of ministry that is worth struggling for and even dying for. And we can be assured that we won't be struggling alone; God himself gives his energy and power to anyone who is involved in this kind of work (Col 1:29).
So what are your thoughts about this passage? Can you say that you became more mature in Christ over this past year? What evidence have you seen of this in your life? How are you encouraging others you know to become mature in Christ?
Friday, November 14, 2008
Jets Beat Patriots!
As the game recap mentions, this is the first time my New York Jets have been alone atop the division since 2001. That is way too long for the evil empire otherwise known as the New England Patriots to be in control. The revolution has begun and it is being televised!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
"The Gospel of Reconciliation" Colossians 1:21-23
In Col 1:21-23 Paul applies more specifically the themes of Col 1:15-23, in particularly the theme of reconciliation between God and man. He starts off emphasizing the great separation between humanity is from God. All of us start off as enemies of God. In our mindset, choices, and actions we show ourselves to be alienated from God and hostile towards him (Col 1:21). We were originally created to be closely connected to God, to live in his presence. But today, humanity is disconnected from God, living life outside of his presence and making a mess of things.
However in Jesus a different possibility emerges. God sent Jesus so that people could be restored to a relationship with him. Jesus brings reconciliation between man and God. When we put Jesus at the center of our lives we find ourselves able to be back in God's presence because in Jesus we are made "holy and blameless and above reproach" (Col 1:22).
All of this was made possible through the death of Jesus. It took a bloody death on a cross to bridge the chasm that existed between us and God. You could say that Jesus' death on the cross was like someone jumping into a burning building in order to save someone else, and in the process of saving this person the rescuer willingly gives up his or her life. This is pretty much what Jesus did for us, and it's all the more amazing when we consider the fact that the "fire" he rescues us from was started by us and was continuing to devour everything around us because we kept providing fuel for the fire.
Thus, our reconciliation to God is something 100% initiated by God and 100% carried out by Jesus. It is not something we helped out in or earned in any way. We can only humbly receive it by faith. However, our reconciled status is not something we should take for granted. Being reconciled to God is a status that the Christian must now actively maintain.
God by his grace protects and preserves every true believing Christian. But at the same time every true believing Christian should heed Paul's warning and see themselves as responsible to "continue in the faith" by being grounded in the gospel (Col 1:23). The gospel is the solid foundation that we now build our lives upon. For anyone who builds their life upon the "rock" of the gospel will always stand firm, no matter what (cf Matt 7:24-27). The gospel is the only message that leads us to be reconciled to God and gives us the hope and confidence that in the end of time we will be accepted by God.
Can you say that you have staked your life on the gospel? Have you put the full weight of your life upon it? Can you give examples of some choices or decisions that were made because you are established on "the hope of the gospel" (Col 1:23)?
If your life is staked on the gospel you will be able to continue in the faith, to even take "risks" of faith for the sake of Christ - although can we even consider anything to be a "risk" for us if we are established on the solid rock of the gospel? What kind of "risks" of faith do you think we should be taking in light of our being established on the gospel?
However in Jesus a different possibility emerges. God sent Jesus so that people could be restored to a relationship with him. Jesus brings reconciliation between man and God. When we put Jesus at the center of our lives we find ourselves able to be back in God's presence because in Jesus we are made "holy and blameless and above reproach" (Col 1:22).
All of this was made possible through the death of Jesus. It took a bloody death on a cross to bridge the chasm that existed between us and God. You could say that Jesus' death on the cross was like someone jumping into a burning building in order to save someone else, and in the process of saving this person the rescuer willingly gives up his or her life. This is pretty much what Jesus did for us, and it's all the more amazing when we consider the fact that the "fire" he rescues us from was started by us and was continuing to devour everything around us because we kept providing fuel for the fire.
Thus, our reconciliation to God is something 100% initiated by God and 100% carried out by Jesus. It is not something we helped out in or earned in any way. We can only humbly receive it by faith. However, our reconciled status is not something we should take for granted. Being reconciled to God is a status that the Christian must now actively maintain.
God by his grace protects and preserves every true believing Christian. But at the same time every true believing Christian should heed Paul's warning and see themselves as responsible to "continue in the faith" by being grounded in the gospel (Col 1:23). The gospel is the solid foundation that we now build our lives upon. For anyone who builds their life upon the "rock" of the gospel will always stand firm, no matter what (cf Matt 7:24-27). The gospel is the only message that leads us to be reconciled to God and gives us the hope and confidence that in the end of time we will be accepted by God.
Can you say that you have staked your life on the gospel? Have you put the full weight of your life upon it? Can you give examples of some choices or decisions that were made because you are established on "the hope of the gospel" (Col 1:23)?
If your life is staked on the gospel you will be able to continue in the faith, to even take "risks" of faith for the sake of Christ - although can we even consider anything to be a "risk" for us if we are established on the solid rock of the gospel? What kind of "risks" of faith do you think we should be taking in light of our being established on the gospel?
Thursday, November 6, 2008
"Jesus Christ Superstar" Colossians 1:15-20
In this possibly early Christian hymn we are told unequivocally that Jesus is supreme over all things. First of all, Jesus is the superstar of creation (Col 1:15-17). He is the 100% visible expression of the invisible God and the one by and through whom all things were created. Creation only continues to be viable because Jesus sustains it. All things began with Jesus and all things are ultimately meant to glorify Jesus.
Secondly, Jesus is the superstar of the new creation (Col 1:18-20). Creation has become horribly flawed because of man's sin. But through Christ God has effected a new creation. Christ died on the cross and then rose from the dead, which opened the door to a new era whereby creation could be freed from sin and its consequences. The church is the first expression of this new creation. She is a community of people who once were apart from God but now have been reconciled back to him. And eventually, all things will be reconciled back to God. All things will be at peace with God. And all of this will happen because of "the blood of the cross" (Col 1:20).
Jesus is coming back one day, riding on a warhorse with an iron rod in his hand and a tattoo on his leg that says "King of Kings and Lord of Lords," and he will once and for all bring all things under submission to its rightful Lord and God.
What are some things that strike you as you read this passage? If Christ is truly supreme over all things, how will this impact what our church does, how we carry out our jobs, how our city should look like, how our time and money should be spent?
Secondly, Jesus is the superstar of the new creation (Col 1:18-20). Creation has become horribly flawed because of man's sin. But through Christ God has effected a new creation. Christ died on the cross and then rose from the dead, which opened the door to a new era whereby creation could be freed from sin and its consequences. The church is the first expression of this new creation. She is a community of people who once were apart from God but now have been reconciled back to him. And eventually, all things will be reconciled back to God. All things will be at peace with God. And all of this will happen because of "the blood of the cross" (Col 1:20).
Jesus is coming back one day, riding on a warhorse with an iron rod in his hand and a tattoo on his leg that says "King of Kings and Lord of Lords," and he will once and for all bring all things under submission to its rightful Lord and God.
What are some things that strike you as you read this passage? If Christ is truly supreme over all things, how will this impact what our church does, how we carry out our jobs, how our city should look like, how our time and money should be spent?
Monday, October 27, 2008
"A Full-Bodied Prayer" Colossians 1:9-14
Paul regularly prays what I've called a "full-bodied" prayer for the Colossian Christians. The basic outline of the prayer is: two requests, followed by four characteristics that will develop if those requests are met, ending with a final statement about God and the redemption he accomplished in Jesus that should encourage to see that God can and will answer prayers like this.
The prayer begins first with a request that these Christians would know God's will. How will this happen? Through God growing them in wisdom and understanding. Of course, the way in which God does this is through his Word. Thus, regular reading and meditation upon the word of God is the means by which we can expect God to impart the knowledge of his will to us.
Following from this is a request that their knowledge of God's will will lead to them living out God's will. Or, as Paul puts it, that they would live a life worthy of Jesus, fully pleasing to him (Colossians 1:10). Such a life will have the following characteristics (Colossians 1:10-12):
1. Do lots of good and 2. Know God more and more
Note that these are tied together. As we do good, we will know God more. And knowing God more must lead to doing more good.
3. Be empowered by God
God empowers the life that is worthy of Jesus with ALL his power, so that the Christian can have endurance and patience in facing every type of situation.
4. Be joyfully thankful
A life worthy of Jesus is always joyfully thankful to God the Father. And what sparks this joy and thankfulness is the fact that God has accomplished everything that's needed so that people from all over can share together in an eternal inheritance.
The prayer ends in v.13-14 with the final reminder and encouragement that God has rescued believers out of their dominion of darkness and transferred them to the kingdom of Jesus, in whom we are forgiven and thus set free from the power of sin and evil.
I love meditating on prayers like this because I find them to be a great guide to me in how I should pray and what I should pray for. What parts of this "full-bodied" prayer especially stick out to you? How are you trying to develop the things mentioned in this prayer in your own life (even as you pray that God would help you develop them)?
The prayer begins first with a request that these Christians would know God's will. How will this happen? Through God growing them in wisdom and understanding. Of course, the way in which God does this is through his Word. Thus, regular reading and meditation upon the word of God is the means by which we can expect God to impart the knowledge of his will to us.
Following from this is a request that their knowledge of God's will will lead to them living out God's will. Or, as Paul puts it, that they would live a life worthy of Jesus, fully pleasing to him (Colossians 1:10). Such a life will have the following characteristics (Colossians 1:10-12):
1. Do lots of good and 2. Know God more and more
Note that these are tied together. As we do good, we will know God more. And knowing God more must lead to doing more good.
3. Be empowered by God
God empowers the life that is worthy of Jesus with ALL his power, so that the Christian can have endurance and patience in facing every type of situation.
4. Be joyfully thankful
A life worthy of Jesus is always joyfully thankful to God the Father. And what sparks this joy and thankfulness is the fact that God has accomplished everything that's needed so that people from all over can share together in an eternal inheritance.
The prayer ends in v.13-14 with the final reminder and encouragement that God has rescued believers out of their dominion of darkness and transferred them to the kingdom of Jesus, in whom we are forgiven and thus set free from the power of sin and evil.
I love meditating on prayers like this because I find them to be a great guide to me in how I should pray and what I should pray for. What parts of this "full-bodied" prayer especially stick out to you? How are you trying to develop the things mentioned in this prayer in your own life (even as you pray that God would help you develop them)?
"The Gospel at Work" Colossians 1:3-8
The new teaching that had come into the Colossian church was causing some of the Colossian Christians to stray away from the gospel. And so, right from the start of his letter Paul takes time to remind the Colossians about the gospel message they've received and in which they've believed.
This gospel message is essentially "the grace of God in truth" (Colossians 1:6). It is the good news of how God in his grace commits himself to sinful human beings by sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for their sins. When the gospel is heard and understood, it produces a community full of faith, hope and love (Colossians 1:4-5). In fact, wherever the gospel is truly planted, it will naturally produce growth (Colossians 1:5-6). Thus, it is vitally crucial for Christians today to rightly and fully teach the gospel to others so that they might rightly hear and fully understand the gospel, which will result in these people now going out and teaching the gospel to still more people!
I think many people today really don't believe in the gospel. Many have very wrong ideas about what the gospel actually is. Others have a very superficial understanding of the gospel (in contrast to the Colossian Christians, who we are told "understood" the gospel, which means that they became thoroughly competent in it). Others don't think the gospel is quite enough to change lives and so they look to other sources or engage in other initiatives to do "ministry", with the proclamation of the gospel message being an optional add-on.
What do you think are the major obstacles to people really hearing and understanding the gospel? What are you doing to promote the true planting and authentic transformational growth of the gospel within our community?
This gospel message is essentially "the grace of God in truth" (Colossians 1:6). It is the good news of how God in his grace commits himself to sinful human beings by sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for their sins. When the gospel is heard and understood, it produces a community full of faith, hope and love (Colossians 1:4-5). In fact, wherever the gospel is truly planted, it will naturally produce growth (Colossians 1:5-6). Thus, it is vitally crucial for Christians today to rightly and fully teach the gospel to others so that they might rightly hear and fully understand the gospel, which will result in these people now going out and teaching the gospel to still more people!
I think many people today really don't believe in the gospel. Many have very wrong ideas about what the gospel actually is. Others have a very superficial understanding of the gospel (in contrast to the Colossian Christians, who we are told "understood" the gospel, which means that they became thoroughly competent in it). Others don't think the gospel is quite enough to change lives and so they look to other sources or engage in other initiatives to do "ministry", with the proclamation of the gospel message being an optional add-on.
What do you think are the major obstacles to people really hearing and understanding the gospel? What are you doing to promote the true planting and authentic transformational growth of the gospel within our community?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
ESV Study Bible's Finally Out!
Check out these beautiful pictures:
http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/2008/10/15/esv-study-bible-2/
I have to admit, I've bought into some of the hype. I can't wait to have this as a resource. I think it will be a great help, especially to people overseas who can't afford to buy a lot of commentaries or reference books.
http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/2008/10/15/esv-study-bible-2/
I have to admit, I've bought into some of the hype. I can't wait to have this as a resource. I think it will be a great help, especially to people overseas who can't afford to buy a lot of commentaries or reference books.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
"Christ Rules: An Introduction to Paul's Letter to the Church at Colossae" Col 1:1-2
Paul writes this letter to the church at Colossae, a church which started off of the ministry of Epaphras and a church that he had never personally visited. Nevertheless, Paul had a great love for Colossian church. He was also very concerned about this church because some people within the church were being drawn away into a "new" teaching. This teaching seems to have been a blend of local folk beliefs and Jewish practices. We could describe this teaching as "Jesus plus." Sure, the Colossian Christians had Jesus, but what this new teaching suggested was that they needed to do a little bit extra, in the form of following special religious rules or appeasing certain supernatural spirits, if they really wanted to have a "full" life.
It's not entirely surprising that this kind of teaching was attractive. All of us battle fear, anxiety, and insecurity. We search for meaning in the face of great, merciless forces - things like unexpected illness, loss of a job, or outright evil powers. We cope and try to find control over all these things in lot of different ways. Some do it through filling their life with lots of religion. Others do it by trying to strip their life of any religion. Many do it through the pursuit of money, or through sex, or through drugs or alcohol.
So what's the answer to all this? It comes through affirming one indisuputable face - that Jesus Christ rules. This fact is at the heart of this letter to the Colossian church. At various point in this letter Paul describes Jesus as the image of the invisible God, the creator of all things, the head of the church, the firstborn from the dead, the reconciler of all the things, the Savior through his death on the cross, the source of all wisdom and knowledge, the conqueror of sin and Satan. In short, Christ rules! And because he rules, everything is under his power and control.
This has significant implications for us. It means that the person who is under the rule of Christ doesn't need to fear anything. Every evil and demonic spirit has fallen falt on their faces before King Jesus. The Christian believer then has real power over every demonic enemy they face.
In adddition, the person who is under the rule of Jesus has everything they need in order to live a true, authentic, full life. For in Christ, the believer possess the fullness of God (Colossians 2:9-10). This means then that we don't have to be ruled by so many useless, frustrating, dehumanizing "earthly" things. We don't have to be ruled by sex, by evil desires, by anger, by that addiction, by that chronic illness, by that relationship, by that bank account, by those legalistic religion rules. Instead, we can be ruled by things like compassion, kindness, humility, love, and peace(Colossians 3:12-15).
All of this is possible because through the death and resurrection of Jesus God put the sleeper hold on every sin and every evil and dark power in our world. He pinned them down and has forced them to submit to him in total defeat, so that now, in Christ, we also can claim victory over all sin and evil (Colossians 2:13-15).
Christ rules, and this has direct practical relevance for every Christian life. The rule of Christ is the answer to every basic spiritual need or want. It's the ultimate answer to every social ill and problem. It's the rallying cry that conquers every demon that torments the human soul.
So, what does the rule of Christ mean to you? What are things that you've seen rule people's lives, or may even rule your life, and how might the rule of Christ help free you from these things?
It's not entirely surprising that this kind of teaching was attractive. All of us battle fear, anxiety, and insecurity. We search for meaning in the face of great, merciless forces - things like unexpected illness, loss of a job, or outright evil powers. We cope and try to find control over all these things in lot of different ways. Some do it through filling their life with lots of religion. Others do it by trying to strip their life of any religion. Many do it through the pursuit of money, or through sex, or through drugs or alcohol.
So what's the answer to all this? It comes through affirming one indisuputable face - that Jesus Christ rules. This fact is at the heart of this letter to the Colossian church. At various point in this letter Paul describes Jesus as the image of the invisible God, the creator of all things, the head of the church, the firstborn from the dead, the reconciler of all the things, the Savior through his death on the cross, the source of all wisdom and knowledge, the conqueror of sin and Satan. In short, Christ rules! And because he rules, everything is under his power and control.
This has significant implications for us. It means that the person who is under the rule of Christ doesn't need to fear anything. Every evil and demonic spirit has fallen falt on their faces before King Jesus. The Christian believer then has real power over every demonic enemy they face.
In adddition, the person who is under the rule of Jesus has everything they need in order to live a true, authentic, full life. For in Christ, the believer possess the fullness of God (Colossians 2:9-10). This means then that we don't have to be ruled by so many useless, frustrating, dehumanizing "earthly" things. We don't have to be ruled by sex, by evil desires, by anger, by that addiction, by that chronic illness, by that relationship, by that bank account, by those legalistic religion rules. Instead, we can be ruled by things like compassion, kindness, humility, love, and peace(Colossians 3:12-15).
All of this is possible because through the death and resurrection of Jesus God put the sleeper hold on every sin and every evil and dark power in our world. He pinned them down and has forced them to submit to him in total defeat, so that now, in Christ, we also can claim victory over all sin and evil (Colossians 2:13-15).
Christ rules, and this has direct practical relevance for every Christian life. The rule of Christ is the answer to every basic spiritual need or want. It's the ultimate answer to every social ill and problem. It's the rallying cry that conquers every demon that torments the human soul.
So, what does the rule of Christ mean to you? What are things that you've seen rule people's lives, or may even rule your life, and how might the rule of Christ help free you from these things?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
"Repentance and Restoration" Hosea 14:1-9
In this last chapter of Hosea the people of God are once again encouraged to repent. They must admit the full reality of their sin so that God might fully cleanse and restore them into a right relationship with him. How can Israel be sure that God will do this? It's because God is a God of mercy (Hosea 14:3). Israel does not deserve any mercy from God. But God freely chooses to show mercy and love towards them (Hosea 14:4). He will be like a tree constantly giving them refreshing, life sustaining fruit.
We find similar themes and wording in the New Testament. Peter describes how through the death of Jesus our sins are taken away, we are healed, and we are restored to God (1 Peter 2:24-25). So we see that God is in the business of not just restoring sinful Israel but a sinful world. He sent Jesus to die on the cross so that this might be possible. Anyone who repents from their sin and turns to God by believing in Jesus will be fully restored and renewed.
Repentance and restoration. What do those words mean to you? How has Jesus and his death on the cross brought about both repentance and restoration in your own life? And what are your final thoughts on the book of Hosea?
We find similar themes and wording in the New Testament. Peter describes how through the death of Jesus our sins are taken away, we are healed, and we are restored to God (1 Peter 2:24-25). So we see that God is in the business of not just restoring sinful Israel but a sinful world. He sent Jesus to die on the cross so that this might be possible. Anyone who repents from their sin and turns to God by believing in Jesus will be fully restored and renewed.
Repentance and restoration. What do those words mean to you? How has Jesus and his death on the cross brought about both repentance and restoration in your own life? And what are your final thoughts on the book of Hosea?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
"A History of Rebellion and the Pain of Future Judgment" Hosea 11:12-13:16
Sorry, I've gotten a bit behind updating this blog. I'll start first with recapping this past Sunday and hopefully later this week I'll recap the previous Sunday.
In our passage this Sunday we reviewed again the details of Israel's rebellion, were confronted with the harsh reality of God's judgment as an inevitable consequence because of Israel's rebellion, and then found hope in the form of some questions and reminders.
Israel was a people who constantly "strove with God" (Hosea 12:3). God had been been extremely generous and gracious to them throughout their history. They however became complacent, taking for granted God's blessings (cf Hosea 13:4-6). This complacency led to pride, which led to them forgetting about God and worshiping idols.
Israel's rejection of God would bring on them devastating consequences. This section of Hosea contains some of the harshest descriptions of what God's judgment on Israel will entail. God says that he will be like a wild predator against them (Hosea 13:7-9). The nation will become as nothing, they will disappear (Hosea 13:3). Their sin will have a disastrous effect on their society, affecting the most vulnerable people in their community (Hosea 13:16).
In the midst of all this however we get the questions posed in Hosea 13:14, which seems to suggest that perhaps God will save his people from the death that awaits them. How will this happen? By way of Hosea 12:6. There we are reminded how we can get right with God. We must return to God, something that is only possible by God's help. We must maintain steadfast love and justice in our lives and in our community. And we must wait continually, with eager anticipation, for God, which doesn't mean being passive but coming near to God, "leaning forward" towards God. Fortunately, we do these things knowing already how God will respond. He has responded to us with Christ. In Christ the questions of Hosea 13:14 become definitive answers. In Christ God has saved us from the power of death and the judgment we all deserve for our sin against him (cf 1 Cor 15:54-56).
How do the truths contained in this passage resonate with you? Was it difficult for any of you to read this passage, especially the severe and harsh descriptions of what will happen to Israel? (Note: God's judgment did eventually come on Israel; you can read the account of it in 2 Kings 16-17.) How can we avoid become "full" prideful Christians who forget God(cf Hosea 13:5-6) and instead be Christians who are always thankful to God for Christ, "leaning forward" towards him?
In our passage this Sunday we reviewed again the details of Israel's rebellion, were confronted with the harsh reality of God's judgment as an inevitable consequence because of Israel's rebellion, and then found hope in the form of some questions and reminders.
Israel was a people who constantly "strove with God" (Hosea 12:3). God had been been extremely generous and gracious to them throughout their history. They however became complacent, taking for granted God's blessings (cf Hosea 13:4-6). This complacency led to pride, which led to them forgetting about God and worshiping idols.
Israel's rejection of God would bring on them devastating consequences. This section of Hosea contains some of the harshest descriptions of what God's judgment on Israel will entail. God says that he will be like a wild predator against them (Hosea 13:7-9). The nation will become as nothing, they will disappear (Hosea 13:3). Their sin will have a disastrous effect on their society, affecting the most vulnerable people in their community (Hosea 13:16).
In the midst of all this however we get the questions posed in Hosea 13:14, which seems to suggest that perhaps God will save his people from the death that awaits them. How will this happen? By way of Hosea 12:6. There we are reminded how we can get right with God. We must return to God, something that is only possible by God's help. We must maintain steadfast love and justice in our lives and in our community. And we must wait continually, with eager anticipation, for God, which doesn't mean being passive but coming near to God, "leaning forward" towards God. Fortunately, we do these things knowing already how God will respond. He has responded to us with Christ. In Christ the questions of Hosea 13:14 become definitive answers. In Christ God has saved us from the power of death and the judgment we all deserve for our sin against him (cf 1 Cor 15:54-56).
How do the truths contained in this passage resonate with you? Was it difficult for any of you to read this passage, especially the severe and harsh descriptions of what will happen to Israel? (Note: God's judgment did eventually come on Israel; you can read the account of it in 2 Kings 16-17.) How can we avoid become "full" prideful Christians who forget God(cf Hosea 13:5-6) and instead be Christians who are always thankful to God for Christ, "leaning forward" towards him?
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
"An Uncommon Love" Hosea 11:1-11
Hosea 11 starts off telling us how God first loved the nation of Israel. He called Israel out of Egypt and adopted Israel as his son. He then loved him in the way a good parent - he fed him, protected him, guided him. Israel responded by rejecting God. They become the stereotypical punk kid - completely ungrateful to their Father and self-absorbed.
Rightfully Israel should face the full consequences of their rebellion and be completely wiped out. But God decides that he won't do this, for his heart still burns with compassion for his wayward kid (Hosea 11:8). How could this be possible? It's because God is "God and not a man" (Hosea 11:9). He is the "Holy One" (v.9). This means that God alone is God. There is no other like him. He is separate, unique, distinct, above us and beyond us, infinite, perfect, pure.
God chooses to show holy love towards Israel as opposed to the holy wrath they should have gotten from him. He does this not because of anything they have done; he does this entirely based on who he is - a holy God who can do as he wants so that ultimately he gets the praise and glory.
How then will the sin of Israel be dealt with so that God, the Holy One, can still be who is and yet also be in relationship with such a sinful people. We find out several centuries later, in person of the one true Son of God, Jesus. Unlike the adopted son Israel, Jesus remains perfectly faithful and obedient to God. He obeys the Father to the point of giving up his life on the cross. And it is on the cross that sin is dealt with and holy wrath and justice are satisfied. It is now through Jesus that the way is opened up so that all sinners can be brought into relationship with the Father.
For really, all humanity is like Israel in that we all have acted like punks towards God. We depend on our religious spirituality (acting like the punk kid who says to his dad, "I can make it on my own I don't need you"). Or we depend on excuses for why we sin or why our sin really isn't sin (acting like the punk kid who always says, "I'm a victim, it's not my fault").
The audacity of the gospel is that God still graciously chooses to love us in spite of "punkish" ourselves (Eph 1:4-6). Because of God's love towards us in Jesus, we can now, through faith in Jesus, experience God's grace and compassion. We are forgiven of our sins, made new, and adopted as full sons and daughters of God. We now live in this love, which God calls us to display to the rest of our world so that others might also believe in Jesus and know God's love in their lives (cf 1 Thess 3:11-13).
Let's think further about this holy uncommon love of God. What does it mean to you personally that God is a holy God, and then that he graciously choose to show love towards you in Jesus Christ? What are some practical ways each of us in the coming weeks can display this holy uncommon love to those around us who have yet to personally experience it? What are some practical ways we as a church community can display this holy uncommon love to our city?
Rightfully Israel should face the full consequences of their rebellion and be completely wiped out. But God decides that he won't do this, for his heart still burns with compassion for his wayward kid (Hosea 11:8). How could this be possible? It's because God is "God and not a man" (Hosea 11:9). He is the "Holy One" (v.9). This means that God alone is God. There is no other like him. He is separate, unique, distinct, above us and beyond us, infinite, perfect, pure.
God chooses to show holy love towards Israel as opposed to the holy wrath they should have gotten from him. He does this not because of anything they have done; he does this entirely based on who he is - a holy God who can do as he wants so that ultimately he gets the praise and glory.
How then will the sin of Israel be dealt with so that God, the Holy One, can still be who is and yet also be in relationship with such a sinful people. We find out several centuries later, in person of the one true Son of God, Jesus. Unlike the adopted son Israel, Jesus remains perfectly faithful and obedient to God. He obeys the Father to the point of giving up his life on the cross. And it is on the cross that sin is dealt with and holy wrath and justice are satisfied. It is now through Jesus that the way is opened up so that all sinners can be brought into relationship with the Father.
For really, all humanity is like Israel in that we all have acted like punks towards God. We depend on our religious spirituality (acting like the punk kid who says to his dad, "I can make it on my own I don't need you"). Or we depend on excuses for why we sin or why our sin really isn't sin (acting like the punk kid who always says, "I'm a victim, it's not my fault").
The audacity of the gospel is that God still graciously chooses to love us in spite of "punkish" ourselves (Eph 1:4-6). Because of God's love towards us in Jesus, we can now, through faith in Jesus, experience God's grace and compassion. We are forgiven of our sins, made new, and adopted as full sons and daughters of God. We now live in this love, which God calls us to display to the rest of our world so that others might also believe in Jesus and know God's love in their lives (cf 1 Thess 3:11-13).
Let's think further about this holy uncommon love of God. What does it mean to you personally that God is a holy God, and then that he graciously choose to show love towards you in Jesus Christ? What are some practical ways each of us in the coming weeks can display this holy uncommon love to those around us who have yet to personally experience it? What are some practical ways we as a church community can display this holy uncommon love to our city?
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
"Plant the Right Crop" Hosea 10:1-15
Hosea 10 shows us an Israel enjoying its wealth and luxury. The people don't serve God; instead they add more altars in order to further worship idols. In the soon to come future however, they will be put to shame. God will break down their altars and they will bear their guilt for their rejection of him. (10:2).
The "fruit" that comes out of the Israelite community is rotten. Sin is so rooted within them it has produced a community characterized by injustice, lies, deception, and hypocrisy (10:2, 13). They are a people who "trust in their own way" (10:13) instead of seeking to follow God's way.
What then is God's way? Hosea 10:12 lays it out for us. God's way means "planting" righteousness. That is to say, we shape and guide our life according to what God says is good and right. We see God not as someone who gives us good tips about how we can get what we want out of life. Rather we see God as Lord over ALL our life; that every decision, every thought, every action needs to be submitted to him. As a church lives righteously, the "fruit" that comes out of that church will be steadfast love. The church will be a community that is loyal and committed to God and to one another.
None of this is easy. For this to happen we must break up "fallow ground." This means addressing the parts of lives that aren't submitted to God and aren't being sown with righteousness. This will involving seeking the Lord. For when we seek him he will come and bring righteousness into our lives. Thus the key to developing righteous lives and maturing in steadfast love is God. He is the one who brings about our growth in righteousness.
This happens today through Jesus. Apart from Jesus we produce nothing of any lasting eternal value but in Jesus we can bear "much fruit" (John 13:3-5). As we see more of Jesus in our church and in each life in our church, we can know for sure that God's righteousness is indeed raining down on us and that we will produce much good fruit that will bless our church and our city. (cf Gal 5:22-23)
Here's a few questions to consider in light of v.12:
1. What parts of lives tend to be "fallow" ground? That is to say, what areas of our lives do we tend to not seek God or be very passive about placing them under God's righteousness standards? What will it take to break up this ground so that we are living righteously in a more wholistic way?
2. What will it look like, practically speaking, to seek the Lord more? How does the gospel of Jesus Christ play into this?
The "fruit" that comes out of the Israelite community is rotten. Sin is so rooted within them it has produced a community characterized by injustice, lies, deception, and hypocrisy (10:2, 13). They are a people who "trust in their own way" (10:13) instead of seeking to follow God's way.
What then is God's way? Hosea 10:12 lays it out for us. God's way means "planting" righteousness. That is to say, we shape and guide our life according to what God says is good and right. We see God not as someone who gives us good tips about how we can get what we want out of life. Rather we see God as Lord over ALL our life; that every decision, every thought, every action needs to be submitted to him. As a church lives righteously, the "fruit" that comes out of that church will be steadfast love. The church will be a community that is loyal and committed to God and to one another.
None of this is easy. For this to happen we must break up "fallow ground." This means addressing the parts of lives that aren't submitted to God and aren't being sown with righteousness. This will involving seeking the Lord. For when we seek him he will come and bring righteousness into our lives. Thus the key to developing righteous lives and maturing in steadfast love is God. He is the one who brings about our growth in righteousness.
This happens today through Jesus. Apart from Jesus we produce nothing of any lasting eternal value but in Jesus we can bear "much fruit" (John 13:3-5). As we see more of Jesus in our church and in each life in our church, we can know for sure that God's righteousness is indeed raining down on us and that we will produce much good fruit that will bless our church and our city. (cf Gal 5:22-23)
Here's a few questions to consider in light of v.12:
1. What parts of lives tend to be "fallow" ground? That is to say, what areas of our lives do we tend to not seek God or be very passive about placing them under God's righteousness standards? What will it take to break up this ground so that we are living righteously in a more wholistic way?
2. What will it look like, practically speaking, to seek the Lord more? How does the gospel of Jesus Christ play into this?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
A Church That's All About You!
This was pretty funny. But honestly (and sadly) not too far off from how many people approach church and from how many churches think they should do church.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
"God Promises to Punish" Hosea 8:1-9:17
Hosea 9:17 neatly captures the point of the message this past Sunday - "My God will reject them because they have not listened to him." Israel has stopped listening to God. They reject his guidance when it comes to picking leaders. They reject true worship of God and instead worship idols. They reject his help by choosing to form alliances with pagan nations. Because Israel has rejected God, God rejects Israel. God intends to severely punish his people. They are no longer his people but rebels who will be cast out from the land and become "wanderers among the nations" (Hosea 9:17). This is the natural consequence from their continued blatant rejection of God.
It's fairly easy to fall into a pattern of life where you don't even realize you are apart from God. This happens when, like the ancient Israelites, Christians begin to adopt the rhythms and patterns of a culture devoid of God. As this happens, secular practices and values will soon be seen as legitimately Christian practices and values. What the Bible says is good and right will be called strange and repressive. What the Bible says is wrong and self-destructive will become acceptable and normal.
Sadly we see much evidence of this very thing happening today in the modern church. Success is judged not by knowledge of God but by high budget and attendance numbers. Being part of a local church is seen not as the non-negotiable center of the Christian life but as an optional choice. Biblical confrontation and sacrificial giving are disciplines to avoid, not evidence of genuine Christian community.
What do you believe will be the long-term effects on the church if it persists in listening more to the surrounding culture instead of listening to God? How do you think we can build lives that are able to clearly identify God's voice, listen to it, and obey it?
It's fairly easy to fall into a pattern of life where you don't even realize you are apart from God. This happens when, like the ancient Israelites, Christians begin to adopt the rhythms and patterns of a culture devoid of God. As this happens, secular practices and values will soon be seen as legitimately Christian practices and values. What the Bible says is good and right will be called strange and repressive. What the Bible says is wrong and self-destructive will become acceptable and normal.
Sadly we see much evidence of this very thing happening today in the modern church. Success is judged not by knowledge of God but by high budget and attendance numbers. Being part of a local church is seen not as the non-negotiable center of the Christian life but as an optional choice. Biblical confrontation and sacrificial giving are disciplines to avoid, not evidence of genuine Christian community.
What do you believe will be the long-term effects on the church if it persists in listening more to the surrounding culture instead of listening to God? How do you think we can build lives that are able to clearly identify God's voice, listen to it, and obey it?
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
"True Repentance (vs Pragmatic, Phony Repentance)" Hosea 5:8-7:16
This past Sunday we explored a couple of different topics, the key one being the topic of repentance. Repentance involves us returning to the Lord. Hosea 5:15 describes well what this will mean: 1. Acknowledging our guilt, 2. Earnestly seeking God. These steps are hard for us to do. We like to validate what we do as opposed to admit our guilt! Soon we are going down paths we never thought we would go down, all as a way to continue justifying our lives and avoiding our sin.
Repentance though is not something to be avoided. It should be something we wholeheartedly embrace! We should see repentance as the means by which we again experience the healing, restoring, reconciling power of the gospel of Jesus. Through repentance we can maintain a close relationship with God and thus be a people who know God and love with steadfast love as opposed to being a people who are religious hypocrites, full of religious practice but empty of true devotion to God (see Hosea 6:6).
What specific practices and attitudes get in the way of true repentance? In what ways does the gospel encourage us to want to repent? How do you think we can encourage a spirit of repentance within our community (and continue to fight against the spirit of spiritual whoredom)?
Repentance though is not something to be avoided. It should be something we wholeheartedly embrace! We should see repentance as the means by which we again experience the healing, restoring, reconciling power of the gospel of Jesus. Through repentance we can maintain a close relationship with God and thus be a people who know God and love with steadfast love as opposed to being a people who are religious hypocrites, full of religious practice but empty of true devotion to God (see Hosea 6:6).
What specific practices and attitudes get in the way of true repentance? In what ways does the gospel encourage us to want to repent? How do you think we can encourage a spirit of repentance within our community (and continue to fight against the spirit of spiritual whoredom)?
Monday, July 28, 2008
"Spiritual Prostitution - Its Effects and Symptoms" Hosea 4:1-5:7
This past Sunday we further explored the concept of spiritual prostitution, specifically thinking through what causes spiritual prostitution to take root within a community, what it looks like when the spirit of spiritual prostitution becomes firmly planted within the community, and the divine consequences of spiritual prostitution for a community.
Here are some further questions and additional thoughts.
1. One of my seminary professors, Willem VanGemeren, spoke to our class about how spiritual prostitution is people no longer seeking the truth but accepting a lie. People begin the pursue the lie as if it was the truth.
This fits well with the description in 4:12-13. The Israelites began to act as if inanimate wood was divine and prophetic. They left the true revelation of God and instead embraced revelation that led them to indulge in their sexual lusts and to take advantage of their neighbor.
Romans 1 tells us that mankind tends to exchange "the truth about God for a lie." Spiritual prostitution then is a very natural human instinct!
Why is it that we are so naturally drawn to lies? How can you begin to clearly identify the lies in your life and entangle yourself from them and replace them with the truth about God?
2. Jesus was faithful and exclusively committed to God, to the point of dying on the cross in order to accomplish God's will and enable us to be in relationship with God. In Christ then, the Christian believer will be able to truly know God and be faithful to God. Note how Scripture speaks of how Christians are faithful "in Christ" (Ephesians 1:1, 6:21, Colossians 1:2). What is the significance of this truth for helping us develop a relationship with God based on Christ and his strength as opposed to us and our strength?
Here are some further questions and additional thoughts.
1. One of my seminary professors, Willem VanGemeren, spoke to our class about how spiritual prostitution is people no longer seeking the truth but accepting a lie. People begin the pursue the lie as if it was the truth.
This fits well with the description in 4:12-13. The Israelites began to act as if inanimate wood was divine and prophetic. They left the true revelation of God and instead embraced revelation that led them to indulge in their sexual lusts and to take advantage of their neighbor.
Romans 1 tells us that mankind tends to exchange "the truth about God for a lie." Spiritual prostitution then is a very natural human instinct!
Why is it that we are so naturally drawn to lies? How can you begin to clearly identify the lies in your life and entangle yourself from them and replace them with the truth about God?
2. Jesus was faithful and exclusively committed to God, to the point of dying on the cross in order to accomplish God's will and enable us to be in relationship with God. In Christ then, the Christian believer will be able to truly know God and be faithful to God. Note how Scripture speaks of how Christians are faithful "in Christ" (Ephesians 1:1, 6:21, Colossians 1:2). What is the significance of this truth for helping us develop a relationship with God based on Christ and his strength as opposed to us and our strength?
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
"The Story of Hosea: Love, Betrayal and Redemption" Hosea 1:1-3:5
This past Sunday our church community began a new sermon series in the book of Hosea. This blog is an attempt to bring more thoughtful meditation on the Hosea passages we study together on Sunday and more intentional application of these passages. My hope is that this will further encourage and help our community to run the race the Lord Jesus has set before us hard and well (hence the name of this blog!)
I'm pretty new at this blog thing so I'm not sure if this will all work but I figure it's worth a try to see how it goes.
So, here are some further questions and additional thoughts from this past Sunday's sermon, titled "The Story of Hosea: Love, Betrayal and Redemption," based off of Hosea 1:1-3:5.
1. The theme of love is at the heart of the book of Hosea. How would you define love? Based off the passage, how would you describe how God loves his people?
2. See 2 Kings 17:7-18 for a detailed description of how Israel abandoned God. We could say that they actually become more religious, but in the sense that they began serving many different "gods" instead of the one true God.
In what ways do we today give love and service to other "gods" (ex. the god of consumerism, the god of individualism, the god of religious legalism, the god of pride)? How does our worship of these gods enslave us rather than free us?
3. Consider this quote by Ray Ortlund Jr from his book, "God's Unfaithful Wife": "The gospel reveals that, as we look into the universe, ultimate reality is not cold, dark, blank space; ultimate reality is romance. There is a God above with love in his eyes for us and infinite joy to offer us, and he has set himself upon winning our hearts for himself alone."
What's the significance of knowing that ultimate reality is a story of God's "romancing" of his people as opposed to thinking that ultimate reality is just "cold, dark, blank space"? How can we better embrace and embody this divine love in our community?
I'm pretty new at this blog thing so I'm not sure if this will all work but I figure it's worth a try to see how it goes.
So, here are some further questions and additional thoughts from this past Sunday's sermon, titled "The Story of Hosea: Love, Betrayal and Redemption," based off of Hosea 1:1-3:5.
1. The theme of love is at the heart of the book of Hosea. How would you define love? Based off the passage, how would you describe how God loves his people?
2. See 2 Kings 17:7-18 for a detailed description of how Israel abandoned God. We could say that they actually become more religious, but in the sense that they began serving many different "gods" instead of the one true God.
In what ways do we today give love and service to other "gods" (ex. the god of consumerism, the god of individualism, the god of religious legalism, the god of pride)? How does our worship of these gods enslave us rather than free us?
3. Consider this quote by Ray Ortlund Jr from his book, "God's Unfaithful Wife": "The gospel reveals that, as we look into the universe, ultimate reality is not cold, dark, blank space; ultimate reality is romance. There is a God above with love in his eyes for us and infinite joy to offer us, and he has set himself upon winning our hearts for himself alone."
What's the significance of knowing that ultimate reality is a story of God's "romancing" of his people as opposed to thinking that ultimate reality is just "cold, dark, blank space"? How can we better embrace and embody this divine love in our community?
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