Luke 1.67-80
An angel tells Zechariah that his white haired wife is going to have a baby. His response was "Yea, right." God responds to his lack of faith by hitting the mute button on his voice. For several months Zechariah could not speak.
Imagine the scenario: His wife gets pregnant and he cannot speak. His wife delivers a baby boy and he still cannot speak. The young infant is circumcized and still no speaking occurs. It's not until he has written the baby's name on a writing tablet that his lips are unzipped.
What would Zechariah say after months of silence?
His first words were a song of praise. Praise be to the God of Israel. And this praise is the result of at least five things he realized were going to happen.
1. God will be paying a visit
2. God will redeem his people
3. God will save his people
4. God will keep his promises
5. God will change darkness into light.
Notice that these five things are going to happen in the future.
We can praise God for what he done in the past, what he's doing in the present, but also for what he will do in the future.
What might God do in your life in the coming years? Praise Him for it!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Mary's Praise
Luke 1.39-56
Mary had an experience that was unusual. An angel showed up and told her that she would have a baby, the baby would be great, and would be a king whose kingdom would never end. She clearly understood this to be the announcement of the long awaited messiah, and she was blown away by the honor and majesty of it all. Her heart was full of worship.
Her praise to God in response to this is called the Magnificat. In it we can find four hints for making worship what it should be for us:
1. It is important to see God's big size in comparison to our small size. (Our humble state)
2. It is important that we enlarge God (glorify-megalune) and keep Him proper sized in our minds.
3. It is important that we regularly recount who God is. (Lord, Savior, Mighty One, Holy One)
4. It is important to regularly recount what God has done for us.
Additional scriptures: 1 Samuel 2.1-10, Matthew 26.64, Psalm 77.12-13.
Mary had an experience that was unusual. An angel showed up and told her that she would have a baby, the baby would be great, and would be a king whose kingdom would never end. She clearly understood this to be the announcement of the long awaited messiah, and she was blown away by the honor and majesty of it all. Her heart was full of worship.
Her praise to God in response to this is called the Magnificat. In it we can find four hints for making worship what it should be for us:
1. It is important to see God's big size in comparison to our small size. (Our humble state)
2. It is important that we enlarge God (glorify-megalune) and keep Him proper sized in our minds.
3. It is important that we regularly recount who God is. (Lord, Savior, Mighty One, Holy One)
4. It is important to regularly recount what God has done for us.
Additional scriptures: 1 Samuel 2.1-10, Matthew 26.64, Psalm 77.12-13.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Our Big God
Luke 1.5-38
In 1952 JB Phillips published the classic Christian book, Your God is Too Small. Phillips was a genius. He hit the nail on the head. Most of us greatly underestimate the size and majesty of the God of the universe. And this meager conception impoverishes our worship. After all, it is hard to bow down in awe of a being who is only slightly more glorious than oneself.
Zechariah and Mary didn't have this problem at all. They each had an experience of the Holy that left them with open mouths, awed spirits, and bowed knees.
The first chapter of Luke gives us the story of two worshippers who had an experience of a God who was huge in at least five ways; a God who:
1. Communicates with human beings
2. Performs miracles
3. Has a plan for every human being
4. Has a plan of salvation for the whole world
5. Has a son who is called a King
I hope that your concept of God is not too small. I hope that it greatly expands during this Advent season.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Flee!
1 Corinthians 6.12-20
The ancient city of Corinth was well known for it's sexual looseness and promiscuity. There was a temple in town that employed 1000 ritual prostitutes. Wine, women, and song were the main objectives of many of the residents. The Corinthian battlecry seemed to be "Get as much sex as you can as quick as you can."
Ancient Corinth and 21st century America seem to be on the same page. Our culture is sexually saturated.
Paul's battle cry was "flee sexual immorality." Don't run towards it. Run away from it. The verb he used means "keep running away from it." This will be a constant battle. This will be a constant temptation. So keep your running shoes on. Flee!
What are we supposed to run away from? The word Paul uses is porneia. It is the ancient word that our modern term pornography is derived from. It means any kind of sexual activity outside of marriage.
How do we flee? Let me make three suggestions:
1. Acknowledge your own proneness to sin
2. Make firm commitments before you get in tempting situations
3. Create some personal guardrails, some lines you will not cross
What would those guardrails be for you?
My hope is that we will be committed to the kind of personal purity that the Bible teaches, and that our sexual ethics will not be "Corinthian."
Related passages: Romans 13.13-14, Ephesians 5.3, Colossians 3.5, 1 Thessalonians 4.3-4, Matthew 15.19
The ancient city of Corinth was well known for it's sexual looseness and promiscuity. There was a temple in town that employed 1000 ritual prostitutes. Wine, women, and song were the main objectives of many of the residents. The Corinthian battlecry seemed to be "Get as much sex as you can as quick as you can."
Ancient Corinth and 21st century America seem to be on the same page. Our culture is sexually saturated.
Paul's battle cry was "flee sexual immorality." Don't run towards it. Run away from it. The verb he used means "keep running away from it." This will be a constant battle. This will be a constant temptation. So keep your running shoes on. Flee!
What are we supposed to run away from? The word Paul uses is porneia. It is the ancient word that our modern term pornography is derived from. It means any kind of sexual activity outside of marriage.
How do we flee? Let me make three suggestions:
1. Acknowledge your own proneness to sin
2. Make firm commitments before you get in tempting situations
3. Create some personal guardrails, some lines you will not cross
What would those guardrails be for you?
My hope is that we will be committed to the kind of personal purity that the Bible teaches, and that our sexual ethics will not be "Corinthian."
Related passages: Romans 13.13-14, Ephesians 5.3, Colossians 3.5, 1 Thessalonians 4.3-4, Matthew 15.19
Monday, November 15, 2010
Internal Affairs
1 Corinthians 6.1-11
In this passage Paul lists 10 vices that Christians should avoid. Included in that list are greed and swindling. Of the two, greed is the bigger category. It can lead to swindling. But greed can also lead to other things like cheating, stealing, extorting, lying, hoarding, etc. Greed is a big issue in materialistic cultures like ours.
Greed had caused a dispute to break out in the Corinthian church. We're not sure what the dispute was, but it involved property. It might have been a loan that wasn't paid back, or a chariot accident with at-fault issues, or a tree planted on the wrong side of a property line, or something like this. The people involved got angry, let a small thing fester and grow, and ultimately one Corinthians was suing the other Corinthian in a public court.
Paul says this is acting like greedy, swindling pagans, and that they were looking like knuckleheads in front of the whole world.
There are three lessons we can learn from this passage:
1. We should deal with conflict when it is still small.
2. We should be aware that money can make us crazy
3. We should remember that our behavior is being onserved by the world we are trying to reach.
Additional scriptures: Galatians 5.19-21, Colossians 3.5-10, 1 Timothy 1.9-10, 2 Timothy 3.1-9.
In this passage Paul lists 10 vices that Christians should avoid. Included in that list are greed and swindling. Of the two, greed is the bigger category. It can lead to swindling. But greed can also lead to other things like cheating, stealing, extorting, lying, hoarding, etc. Greed is a big issue in materialistic cultures like ours.
Greed had caused a dispute to break out in the Corinthian church. We're not sure what the dispute was, but it involved property. It might have been a loan that wasn't paid back, or a chariot accident with at-fault issues, or a tree planted on the wrong side of a property line, or something like this. The people involved got angry, let a small thing fester and grow, and ultimately one Corinthians was suing the other Corinthian in a public court.
Paul says this is acting like greedy, swindling pagans, and that they were looking like knuckleheads in front of the whole world.
There are three lessons we can learn from this passage:
1. We should deal with conflict when it is still small.
2. We should be aware that money can make us crazy
3. We should remember that our behavior is being onserved by the world we are trying to reach.
Additional scriptures: Galatians 5.19-21, Colossians 3.5-10, 1 Timothy 1.9-10, 2 Timothy 3.1-9.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Kick Them Out
1 Corinthians 5.1-13
1 Corinthians 5 tells the unsavory story of a guy in the Corinthian Church who was having sex with his stepmother. Now you'd think this would cause quite an uproar among church folks, but this overly tolerant congregation was sitting on their hands and doing nothing about it.
When Paul got wind of this he had a cow. It didn't take him long to reach his bottom line: kick the guy out of the church! The implication for today is that sometimes in extreme cases it might be necessary to do the bad job of asking someone to leave.
I have never had occasion to do this. Nor do want to. It's messy... very messy.
Paul's concern was that a little yeast can spread through the whole lump of dough. Translated: Sin can be contagious if not dealt with. The moral character of any group needs to be protected and preserved.
How we act in a group influences the group: both for good and for evil. There is no solitary sin. Sin always influences the social and public sphere. We would be wise to hold each other accountable, to help our church family build character and integrity. We are all connected to each other.
It seems to me that there are two poles in this regard: extreme tolerance on the one hand and witch hunting on the other. We need to avoid both extremes.
How involved in other people's lives are you willing to be?
Additional scriptures: Matthew 7.1-5, James 4.11-12, 1 Timothy 1.20. Matthew 18.15-17, Titus 3.10, 2 Corinthians 2.5-7.
1 Corinthians 5 tells the unsavory story of a guy in the Corinthian Church who was having sex with his stepmother. Now you'd think this would cause quite an uproar among church folks, but this overly tolerant congregation was sitting on their hands and doing nothing about it.
When Paul got wind of this he had a cow. It didn't take him long to reach his bottom line: kick the guy out of the church! The implication for today is that sometimes in extreme cases it might be necessary to do the bad job of asking someone to leave.
I have never had occasion to do this. Nor do want to. It's messy... very messy.
Paul's concern was that a little yeast can spread through the whole lump of dough. Translated: Sin can be contagious if not dealt with. The moral character of any group needs to be protected and preserved.
How we act in a group influences the group: both for good and for evil. There is no solitary sin. Sin always influences the social and public sphere. We would be wise to hold each other accountable, to help our church family build character and integrity. We are all connected to each other.
It seems to me that there are two poles in this regard: extreme tolerance on the one hand and witch hunting on the other. We need to avoid both extremes.
How involved in other people's lives are you willing to be?
Additional scriptures: Matthew 7.1-5, James 4.11-12, 1 Timothy 1.20. Matthew 18.15-17, Titus 3.10, 2 Corinthians 2.5-7.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The Big Head
1 Corinthians 4
Nobody likes arrogant people. Yet, the world is filled with them. And ancient Corinth was no exception. There were people in the Corinthian church who thought they were smarter, better, and more spiritual than the others. They counted their riches as evidence that they were a cut above. They bragged about their education. They did not acknowledge anyone's help in their success, but attributed their high status to an innate superiority. In short, they had big heads.
Paul had even more reasons to feel superior. He was highly educated, a recognized church leader, traveled the world, and was a Roman citizen. His accomplishments dwarfed those of the Corinthian churchgoers. Yet, he remained humble. He compared himself to a rower in the hull of a ship, to a steward who manages the master's affairs, and a soldier being led away to the lions in the arena.
Paul's overall self-assessment: I'm just doing the job that God assigned me. Fanfare and glory is unnecessary.
How do we become more like Paul? I would make these five suggestions as a place to start this week:
1. Determine to take one day and never talk about yourself.
2. Befriend someone who nobody else befriends
3. Repeat this expression before every meal: I am just a rower in God's boat
4. Repeat this expression before every meal: I am only a manager of God's stuff.
5. Do something kind this week and tell no one.
I hope you will attempt one of these suggestions.
Nobody likes arrogant people. Yet, the world is filled with them. And ancient Corinth was no exception. There were people in the Corinthian church who thought they were smarter, better, and more spiritual than the others. They counted their riches as evidence that they were a cut above. They bragged about their education. They did not acknowledge anyone's help in their success, but attributed their high status to an innate superiority. In short, they had big heads.
Paul had even more reasons to feel superior. He was highly educated, a recognized church leader, traveled the world, and was a Roman citizen. His accomplishments dwarfed those of the Corinthian churchgoers. Yet, he remained humble. He compared himself to a rower in the hull of a ship, to a steward who manages the master's affairs, and a soldier being led away to the lions in the arena.
Paul's overall self-assessment: I'm just doing the job that God assigned me. Fanfare and glory is unnecessary.
How do we become more like Paul? I would make these five suggestions as a place to start this week:
1. Determine to take one day and never talk about yourself.
2. Befriend someone who nobody else befriends
3. Repeat this expression before every meal: I am just a rower in God's boat
4. Repeat this expression before every meal: I am only a manager of God's stuff.
5. Do something kind this week and tell no one.
I hope you will attempt one of these suggestions.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Infantile Behavior
1 Corinthians 3.1-23
Nobody likes being called a baby, but that's exactly the description Paul gives to the Corinthians in chapter three. Paul was appalled their quarreling and fighting, and had no patience for the hostile groups that had formed in the church. He laments that he now has to address them as diaper wetting milk drinkers, rather than the mature meat-eaters they should have become.
A person of faith should be making progress toward maturity, growing in character and holiness, and becoming more like Jesus. Does that describe you? Are you becoming an adult in the faith? Or are you still being spoon fed baby food?
Paul recommends two things. First, make a commitment to cooperation in the church. Realize that you have a role to play, and then humbly play it. We are all servants, no more, no less. So, be humble and don't think you are hot stuff.
The second thing he recommends is to realize that it is Jesus who is the hot stuff. He is the foundation we build on. He gets all the glory.
There is no place for arrogance and self-centeredness in the church. To engage in either is to act like a Gerber baby.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Wisdom of this Age
1 Corinthians 2.6-16
In the passage today Paul tells us that a large percentage of people go through life blinded to the spiritual world. They cannot understand the things of God. For them the world of the Spirit is a hidden wisdom, a secret wisdom, an unknowable wisdom. God is a big mystery.
The cause of this, according to Paul, is that like a fish swimming in the ocean, we swim in a sea he calls "the wisdom of this age." This wisdom keeps us dulled to all that the spiritual world can offer.
What is this "wisdom of this age?" Well, it involves things like consumerism, self-centeredness, hyper-competitiveness, status seeking, power-mongering, insecurity, etc. But at heart the "wisdom of this age" involves two main tenets.
1. This world is all there is. Some people believe there is no God. We call them atheists. Others are not sure and live as if there is no God. We call them agnostics. Far greater people affirm there is a God, but live each day without prayer, without guidance, without any reference to the God they say they believe in. We call them functional atheists.
If you believe that this world is all there is, then you will not to be open to the world of the Spirit. It will be hidden to you.
2. Therefore, its all about me. We all must worship something, and many worship self. If your world is totally self-focused, then there will be no room for God. God will essentially be crowded out. In our narcissistic culture this attitude runs rampant.
So, what do we do? According to Paul, there is only one way to move away from an orientation that follows the wisdom of this world. And that involves the Spirit of God chipping away at your worldview.
Everything good that happens to us involves the initiative of God towards us. The Methodists call this prevenient grace.
Would you be open to the Spirit of God changing the way you think? He might just open up a whole new world for you.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Uncool
1 Corinthians 1.18-2.5
Everyone wants to be cool. Cool is normally thought to be good. But cool is bad when it leads to style over substance, compromise of moral principles to be like the group, arrogance, self-centeredness, groupspeak, etc.
Paul started a church in a town called Corinth. They were big into cool. This led to divisions, hostilities, and lots of people thinking they were wiser, better, and cooler than the others.
Sounds like high school. Sounds like work. Sounds like family.
Paul didn't think cool was all that important. In fact, he debunked this whole way of thinking by reminding the Corinthians of three things.
1. They themselves were not cool (1 Corinthians 1.26-31) There were not many rich, powerful, influential people in the Corinthian church. There's not many in your church either.
2. He was not cool (1 Corinthians 2.1-5) Paul was not a world class orator like some of the public speaking superstars of his time. He was a simple preacher who relied on the Spirit's empowerment.
3. The message he was preaching was not cool (1 Corinthinas 1.18-25) The cross was a hard concept for Jewish people to embrace. And the Greek world considered the idea of the cross total foolishness.
The world will never understand a savior who dies a humiliating death. The world is all about self-enhancement and getting to the top. The message of the cross is radically uncool.
It is also the most powerful message the world has ever heard.
Related scriptures: Galatians 6.14, Ephesians 5.15-16, James 3.13-18, 1 Corinthinas 3.18-25
Everyone wants to be cool. Cool is normally thought to be good. But cool is bad when it leads to style over substance, compromise of moral principles to be like the group, arrogance, self-centeredness, groupspeak, etc.
Paul started a church in a town called Corinth. They were big into cool. This led to divisions, hostilities, and lots of people thinking they were wiser, better, and cooler than the others.
Sounds like high school. Sounds like work. Sounds like family.
Paul didn't think cool was all that important. In fact, he debunked this whole way of thinking by reminding the Corinthians of three things.
1. They themselves were not cool (1 Corinthians 1.26-31) There were not many rich, powerful, influential people in the Corinthian church. There's not many in your church either.
2. He was not cool (1 Corinthians 2.1-5) Paul was not a world class orator like some of the public speaking superstars of his time. He was a simple preacher who relied on the Spirit's empowerment.
3. The message he was preaching was not cool (1 Corinthinas 1.18-25) The cross was a hard concept for Jewish people to embrace. And the Greek world considered the idea of the cross total foolishness.
The world will never understand a savior who dies a humiliating death. The world is all about self-enhancement and getting to the top. The message of the cross is radically uncool.
It is also the most powerful message the world has ever heard.
Related scriptures: Galatians 6.14, Ephesians 5.15-16, James 3.13-18, 1 Corinthinas 3.18-25
Monday, September 27, 2010
Agreeing
I Corinthians 1.10-17
I tore a sweatshirt into several pieces on Sunday. Its was fun, but it left the sweatshirt totally useless.
When a church is divided, when it is torn in pieces, it is rendered useless and unable to accomplish the grand plan God has for it.
Back in the first century the church in Corinth had been torn into four rival factions. There was a group that followed Paul, another that followed Peter, another that followed Apollos, and another that claimed to only follow Christ. These groups bickered and argued and fought and were hostile with each other. It was ugly. Paul was not happy.
Today we are a bit torn as well. We have parts of the church that follow Calvin (Presbyterians), others who follow Luther (Lutherans), others who follow the local leader (Baptists), and others who follow Wesley (Methodists).
Is this bad or wrong or evil?
Not necessarily. We all have preferences of style and culture. We all have different tastes in music. We all have different leadership styles that appeal to us. I may think one leader is cool. You may think another leader is cool.
It's OK to prefer one denomination over another. It's OK to worship in different ways. It's OK to have different heroes and leaders. But it's not OK to bicker and fight and be hostile. And there are many, many things that we all need to work together on: things like local mission, caring for the poor, and community development.
Paul's word to us is to agree as much and as often as possible. So agree!
Here are some addition passages to check out: I Corinthians 12.25-26, Romans 16.17-18, and Philippians 4.2-3.
I tore a sweatshirt into several pieces on Sunday. Its was fun, but it left the sweatshirt totally useless.
When a church is divided, when it is torn in pieces, it is rendered useless and unable to accomplish the grand plan God has for it.
Back in the first century the church in Corinth had been torn into four rival factions. There was a group that followed Paul, another that followed Peter, another that followed Apollos, and another that claimed to only follow Christ. These groups bickered and argued and fought and were hostile with each other. It was ugly. Paul was not happy.
Today we are a bit torn as well. We have parts of the church that follow Calvin (Presbyterians), others who follow Luther (Lutherans), others who follow the local leader (Baptists), and others who follow Wesley (Methodists).
Is this bad or wrong or evil?
Not necessarily. We all have preferences of style and culture. We all have different tastes in music. We all have different leadership styles that appeal to us. I may think one leader is cool. You may think another leader is cool.
It's OK to prefer one denomination over another. It's OK to worship in different ways. It's OK to have different heroes and leaders. But it's not OK to bicker and fight and be hostile. And there are many, many things that we all need to work together on: things like local mission, caring for the poor, and community development.
Paul's word to us is to agree as much and as often as possible. So agree!
Here are some addition passages to check out: I Corinthians 12.25-26, Romans 16.17-18, and Philippians 4.2-3.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Building Faith in a Modern Day Corinth
1 Corinthians 1.1-9
It was around the year 50AD that the Apostle Paul started a new church in the city of Corinth. He preached the good news of Jesus, led a few people to Christ, and organized a congregation. Most of his converts knew very little about living a God-honoring lifestyle. They had grown up immersed in a culture full of materialism, sexual confusion, and self-centeredness. In short, it was a world much like most of us grew up in.
So, when these new converts came into the church, they brought with them some of the questionable lifestyle practices they had always known. This created big problems in the church. Bad stuff began to appear. An incident of incest occurred. A few church members continued to frequent houses of ill repute. Factions formed between rival groups in the congregation. The rich among them did not choose to be very generous. Arguing and bickering broke out, fueled by pride and self-promotion.
It was a huge mess. The people was messing up big time. So Paul wrote the book of 1 Corinthians to correct the abuses and straighten things out.
But how should one start such a letter? Paul chose to begin very graciously. He affirms the church people and notes the things they were doing well. He references their good beginning in the faith. And he declares his confidence that they will keep the faith till the end. His confidence comes from his belief that God will keep them strong and blameless.
We too are people who mess up. We sin. We fight. We get carried away. We are sexually confused. We're too connected to our stuff. We don't share. We think we're the best. We are mess-ups.
But God believes in us and wants us to have a glorious future. He has plans for us beyond our wildest imagination.
If God believes in the wild and crazy Corinthians, then he surely believes in you.
Check out these supporting scriptures:
Acts 18.1-17
Romans 7.7-25
Matthew 16.17-19
It was around the year 50AD that the Apostle Paul started a new church in the city of Corinth. He preached the good news of Jesus, led a few people to Christ, and organized a congregation. Most of his converts knew very little about living a God-honoring lifestyle. They had grown up immersed in a culture full of materialism, sexual confusion, and self-centeredness. In short, it was a world much like most of us grew up in.
So, when these new converts came into the church, they brought with them some of the questionable lifestyle practices they had always known. This created big problems in the church. Bad stuff began to appear. An incident of incest occurred. A few church members continued to frequent houses of ill repute. Factions formed between rival groups in the congregation. The rich among them did not choose to be very generous. Arguing and bickering broke out, fueled by pride and self-promotion.
It was a huge mess. The people was messing up big time. So Paul wrote the book of 1 Corinthians to correct the abuses and straighten things out.
But how should one start such a letter? Paul chose to begin very graciously. He affirms the church people and notes the things they were doing well. He references their good beginning in the faith. And he declares his confidence that they will keep the faith till the end. His confidence comes from his belief that God will keep them strong and blameless.
We too are people who mess up. We sin. We fight. We get carried away. We are sexually confused. We're too connected to our stuff. We don't share. We think we're the best. We are mess-ups.
But God believes in us and wants us to have a glorious future. He has plans for us beyond our wildest imagination.
If God believes in the wild and crazy Corinthians, then he surely believes in you.
Check out these supporting scriptures:
Acts 18.1-17
Romans 7.7-25
Matthew 16.17-19
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Holy Spirit
Joey Chestnut is a world class competitive eater. Last summer he set a new world's record when he ate 68 hot dogs in one sitting.
Thats too much for me to digest.
There are 235 references in the New Testament to the Holy Spirit. That is way too much to digest. So, here is my two hotdog, hit the high spots, summary of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is a who, not a what. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity.
The word for Spirit in both the Greek and the Hebrew is the word for wind or breath. Wind is a source of power and is unpredictable. The Holy Spirit is likewise both powerful and unpredictable.
The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, and now all Christians have access to Him. Here are six things we know about him.
1. The Holy Spirit is our advocate. He is the one we call in when we are overwhelmed or powerless.
2. The Holy Spirit is our advocate in residence. He lives with us and in us, all the time.
3. The Holy Spirit is the creator of spiritual fruit in our lives. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are the outworking of the Spirit living in us.
4. The Holy Spirit is the giver of spiritual gifts. We all have talents and abilities that our used by God to build the Kingdom. These talents are given by the Holy Spirit.
5. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. In order to build character the Holy Spirit must shine a light on our character flaws.
6. The Holy Spirit guides us. We can be led by the Spirit if we pray and listen for His promptings.
Jed Clampett was sitting on a treeasure and didn't know it. Perhaps you are sitting on a vast treasure of Holy Spirit blessings. Now you know it. Live and walk in the Spirit.
Thats too much for me to digest.
There are 235 references in the New Testament to the Holy Spirit. That is way too much to digest. So, here is my two hotdog, hit the high spots, summary of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is a who, not a what. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity.
The word for Spirit in both the Greek and the Hebrew is the word for wind or breath. Wind is a source of power and is unpredictable. The Holy Spirit is likewise both powerful and unpredictable.
The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, and now all Christians have access to Him. Here are six things we know about him.
1. The Holy Spirit is our advocate. He is the one we call in when we are overwhelmed or powerless.
2. The Holy Spirit is our advocate in residence. He lives with us and in us, all the time.
3. The Holy Spirit is the creator of spiritual fruit in our lives. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are the outworking of the Spirit living in us.
4. The Holy Spirit is the giver of spiritual gifts. We all have talents and abilities that our used by God to build the Kingdom. These talents are given by the Holy Spirit.
5. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. In order to build character the Holy Spirit must shine a light on our character flaws.
6. The Holy Spirit guides us. We can be led by the Spirit if we pray and listen for His promptings.
Jed Clampett was sitting on a treeasure and didn't know it. Perhaps you are sitting on a vast treasure of Holy Spirit blessings. Now you know it. Live and walk in the Spirit.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sitting at God's Right Hand
The Apostle's Creed summarizes the most important aspects of Jesus' life. It tells us that he was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and was buried, and that on the 3rd day he rose from the dead. This was his earthly ministry.
Then he ascended to heaven.
One wonders what Jesus is doing now.
The Creed tells us he currently sits at God's right hand. This is royal language harkening back to an era when Kings were absolute rulers and could choose an honored person to sit at the most favorable spot: next to him on his right. Anyone privileged enough to be seated in this special place was highly honored and had the King's ear.
Ephesians 1. 19-23 tells us that Jesus is seated in this honored place and now has authority far above any ruler, dominion, power, etc. Basically Jesus has been enthroned next to the King and given unlimited authority over the lesser authorities of this world.
And Jesus, having the ear of the King, is regularly talking to the King on your behalf.
Any problem we have in this life must be seen in light of the absolute authority of the one we serve, and the active intercession that is going on for us.
This powerful Jesus is chatting with the Father about your challenges. This is truly good news. What might those challenges be?
Then he ascended to heaven.
One wonders what Jesus is doing now.
The Creed tells us he currently sits at God's right hand. This is royal language harkening back to an era when Kings were absolute rulers and could choose an honored person to sit at the most favorable spot: next to him on his right. Anyone privileged enough to be seated in this special place was highly honored and had the King's ear.
Ephesians 1. 19-23 tells us that Jesus is seated in this honored place and now has authority far above any ruler, dominion, power, etc. Basically Jesus has been enthroned next to the King and given unlimited authority over the lesser authorities of this world.
And Jesus, having the ear of the King, is regularly talking to the King on your behalf.
Any problem we have in this life must be seen in light of the absolute authority of the one we serve, and the active intercession that is going on for us.
This powerful Jesus is chatting with the Father about your challenges. This is truly good news. What might those challenges be?
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Ascended into Heaven
About 50 days after the resurrection Jesus went back to heaven (ascended). People have pictured this in a variety of ways. The renaissance painters had him waving goodbye from a cloud. Others pictured the Ascension as a kind of disappearing act. The book of Acts says that he was taken up into the sky and hidden by a cloud.
In any event, Jesus was gone, leaving the disciples to fend for themselves without their leader. This must have felt like utter desertion, especially when they learned that they had been given the assignment of carrying on their leader's mission in his absense. Now it was their job to preach the good news, give sight to the blind, release the captives, and set the prisoners free.
Tough job: who can possibly do it?
The power came on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came. Now men and women who were previously wimpy for God were now given boldness and fruitful ministry. Great things began to happen: thousands were converted, miracles happened, and the church spread like wildfire. And the ones doing the most for God were common men and women like you and me.
We need to remember that we were put on this earth to carry on the mission of Jesus. We are not here to accumulate trinkets or experience thrills or seek pleasure or have our owies kissed. We are here to do the work of Jesus now that he has ascended into heaven.
What do you feel passionate about that needs to be changed in the world? What part of Jesus' mission lights your fire?
In any event, Jesus was gone, leaving the disciples to fend for themselves without their leader. This must have felt like utter desertion, especially when they learned that they had been given the assignment of carrying on their leader's mission in his absense. Now it was their job to preach the good news, give sight to the blind, release the captives, and set the prisoners free.
Tough job: who can possibly do it?
The power came on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came. Now men and women who were previously wimpy for God were now given boldness and fruitful ministry. Great things began to happen: thousands were converted, miracles happened, and the church spread like wildfire. And the ones doing the most for God were common men and women like you and me.
We need to remember that we were put on this earth to carry on the mission of Jesus. We are not here to accumulate trinkets or experience thrills or seek pleasure or have our owies kissed. We are here to do the work of Jesus now that he has ascended into heaven.
What do you feel passionate about that needs to be changed in the world? What part of Jesus' mission lights your fire?
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
On the Third Day He Rose From the Dead
- There once was a man whose mission in life was to accomplish five things:
1. Make the world a good place for the poor
2. Set prisoners free
3. Make the blind see
4. Release the oppressed
5. Announce that God's Kingdom is now here on earth (Luke 4.18-19)
That man was Jesus. His mission was HUGE. His mission was virtually impossible. His mission was the Biggest Hairiest Most Audacious Goal of all time. And he was pulling it off. Until he got crucified.
His followers were devastated. Their dream was over. Their leader was dead. It was a long depressing Friday; followed by a long, depressing Saturday.
But then came Sunday and he rose from the dead.
Turns out that "Mission Impossible" had became "Mission Accomplished" over the weekend. On the cross Jesus set us free, gave us sight, and paid the price for our release.
Imprisoned by lonliness? Because of Easter, you are set free.
In bondage to bad habits and behaviors? The power is broken. You can be free.
Guilty over past bad choices? You are forgiven and set free.
Involved in sexual and relational ruts that debilitate you? The door is unlocked. You can be free.
Consumed by money and stuff and things that don't satisify? You are empowered to be free.
Spinning your wheels in pursuit of a thrill? Get off the tredmill. You are now free.
Easter is the most glorious of all holidays. It celebrates the power of God to make you new and set you free. The jail door is open. Come out of your cell. Be free!
What are the things in your life that hold you back and keep you in bondage? What things do you need to walk away from?
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Suffered, Crucified, Dead, Buried
This is Holy Week: the climax of the Christian year. During Holy Week we walk with Jesus from the day he entered Jerusalem until the morning he rises from the dead. In the process we experience Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
This seven day journey gets quite a detailed description in the Bible. John spends 45% of his account of Jesus' life on just these seven days. Mark devotes 38% of his Gospel to these final events. Holy Week is very important to the Gospel writers. It is clearly the main event of the Jesus story.
Holy Week begins with Jesus riding into the city on Palm Sunday as a hero. Five days later those same crowds are screaming for his death.
We hamans are fickle. We turn on our heroes. We often behave badly.
The Bible teaches that human beings were created in the image of God, but soon became flawed and sinful. We humans have great capacity for good, but equally great capacity for evil. We sometimes operate at our best, but often lapse into behavior that represents our worst.
David was a great man of God who also committed adultery and murder. Peter was the leader of the Jerusalem Church but also denied Jesus three times. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, but foolishly followed false gods. The people we read about in the Bible were amazingly schizophrenic. They had good days and bad days. They sometimes got it right, and often got it wrong.
And you have the same problem. Your tongue praises God one moment and gossips the next. Your mind thinks inspiring thoughts one day, but is closed and bigoted the next. Your hands may be helpful and generous in some contexts and greedy in others. This is the human condition.
One of the tasks of Holy Week is to ponder these things. So, here are some questions to think about in the days leading up to Easter:
1. In what ways am I hypocritical and deviate from my personal beliefs?
2. In what ways do I betray my God?
3. In what areas of life am I sinning?
4. Where am I wandering from the path?
5. How am I out of control?
Share one area of spiritual inconsistency in your life.
This seven day journey gets quite a detailed description in the Bible. John spends 45% of his account of Jesus' life on just these seven days. Mark devotes 38% of his Gospel to these final events. Holy Week is very important to the Gospel writers. It is clearly the main event of the Jesus story.
Holy Week begins with Jesus riding into the city on Palm Sunday as a hero. Five days later those same crowds are screaming for his death.
We hamans are fickle. We turn on our heroes. We often behave badly.
The Bible teaches that human beings were created in the image of God, but soon became flawed and sinful. We humans have great capacity for good, but equally great capacity for evil. We sometimes operate at our best, but often lapse into behavior that represents our worst.
David was a great man of God who also committed adultery and murder. Peter was the leader of the Jerusalem Church but also denied Jesus three times. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, but foolishly followed false gods. The people we read about in the Bible were amazingly schizophrenic. They had good days and bad days. They sometimes got it right, and often got it wrong.
And you have the same problem. Your tongue praises God one moment and gossips the next. Your mind thinks inspiring thoughts one day, but is closed and bigoted the next. Your hands may be helpful and generous in some contexts and greedy in others. This is the human condition.
One of the tasks of Holy Week is to ponder these things. So, here are some questions to think about in the days leading up to Easter:
1. In what ways am I hypocritical and deviate from my personal beliefs?
2. In what ways do I betray my God?
3. In what areas of life am I sinning?
4. Where am I wandering from the path?
5. How am I out of control?
Share one area of spiritual inconsistency in your life.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary
On Palm Sunday 2008 a fistfight broke out in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem pitting a group of Armenian Orthodox clergy against a band of Greek Orthodox monks. It got violent quickly, and eventually it required Israeli police to break up the brawl. One group had lingered too long at the tomb of Jesus, the other group got pushy, punches began to fly, and then chaos ensued.
Conflict can break out anywhere, even at the burial site of the Prince of Peace. Conflicts are inevitable in life, even among the godly.
Some conflicts are so bad that they require 3rd party assistance. Sometimes a mediator is brought in when two parties get so far apart that they need help reconciling their differences. Mediators help settle squabbles. The best mediators are people who can relate to the needs and concerns of both parties.
One of the central beliefs of the Christian faith is that Jesus was both human and divine. He was the Son of God, but also the son of Mary. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, but born of a common woman. He is both God and Man. Hebrews Chapter 4 tells us that he was the Son of God, but that on earth he was tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus knows what its like to be God, and also knows what its like to be human. This makes Jesus the ideal mediator between a perfect God and imperfect humans like you and me. (See I Timothy 2.5) Jesus our mediator paid the price for our sins, and can reconcile us to the Father.
At what point in your life did you feel most distanced from God? What were the circumstances when Jesus bridged the gap and brought you back in fellowship with God the Father?
Conflict can break out anywhere, even at the burial site of the Prince of Peace. Conflicts are inevitable in life, even among the godly.
Some conflicts are so bad that they require 3rd party assistance. Sometimes a mediator is brought in when two parties get so far apart that they need help reconciling their differences. Mediators help settle squabbles. The best mediators are people who can relate to the needs and concerns of both parties.
One of the central beliefs of the Christian faith is that Jesus was both human and divine. He was the Son of God, but also the son of Mary. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, but born of a common woman. He is both God and Man. Hebrews Chapter 4 tells us that he was the Son of God, but that on earth he was tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus knows what its like to be God, and also knows what its like to be human. This makes Jesus the ideal mediator between a perfect God and imperfect humans like you and me. (See I Timothy 2.5) Jesus our mediator paid the price for our sins, and can reconcile us to the Father.
At what point in your life did you feel most distanced from God? What were the circumstances when Jesus bridged the gap and brought you back in fellowship with God the Father?
Monday, March 15, 2010
Jesus Christ His only son our Lord
We believe in Jesus Christ His Only Son our Lord. Every word in this sentence is meaningful.
His name was Jesus. This was a common name in the first century, like Bill or Fred or Jeff today. There were at least ten prominent contemporaries of Jesus who shared his name. We Christians believe in a real person named Jesus who walked the roads of Galilee and Judea, who sailed in ships, and who lived and worked and slept and ate like any other man.
He was the Christ. He was the annointed one, the Messiah. For centuries the Jewish people had waited for a special deliverer to come upon the scene. Jesus was the answer to all their prayers.
He was God's only son. Jesus enjoyed a special relationship with God the Father. And what is remarkable is that God the Father sent his only son Jesus into the world to give his life so that we could be forgiven of sin and experience a life beyond our wildest imagination.
He is our Lord. Back in those days all Roman citizens were required to come before the magistrates annually and declare that "Caesar is Lord." Faithful Christians refused and risked their lives because of their commitment that only "Jesus is Lord."
Is Jesus the ultimate authority in your life? Is he your Lord? What are the competing Lords for you? The Government? Your boss? Popular opinion? The culture? Your friends? The almighty dollar? Your spouse? Oprah? Some teacher or mentor?
What would it look like if Jesus was truly Lord of your life?
Check out Romans 10.9 and John 3.16.
His name was Jesus. This was a common name in the first century, like Bill or Fred or Jeff today. There were at least ten prominent contemporaries of Jesus who shared his name. We Christians believe in a real person named Jesus who walked the roads of Galilee and Judea, who sailed in ships, and who lived and worked and slept and ate like any other man.
He was the Christ. He was the annointed one, the Messiah. For centuries the Jewish people had waited for a special deliverer to come upon the scene. Jesus was the answer to all their prayers.
He was God's only son. Jesus enjoyed a special relationship with God the Father. And what is remarkable is that God the Father sent his only son Jesus into the world to give his life so that we could be forgiven of sin and experience a life beyond our wildest imagination.
He is our Lord. Back in those days all Roman citizens were required to come before the magistrates annually and declare that "Caesar is Lord." Faithful Christians refused and risked their lives because of their commitment that only "Jesus is Lord."
Is Jesus the ultimate authority in your life? Is he your Lord? What are the competing Lords for you? The Government? Your boss? Popular opinion? The culture? Your friends? The almighty dollar? Your spouse? Oprah? Some teacher or mentor?
What would it look like if Jesus was truly Lord of your life?
Check out Romans 10.9 and John 3.16.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Apostle's Creed: Maker of Heaven and Earth
You are a speck on a hair of a pimple of the universe.
So much for healthy self-esteem. But really: you are not very significant in the context of a vast, beautiful, magnificent universe with planets and stars and mountains and seas and creatures that fly and fish that swim.
Here's the memo: You are not the center of the universe. You are not even close. The world does not revolve around you.
So why do you act like it does?
In Psalm 8 God knocks us off our perch of self-centeredness and exaggerated self-esteem. He compares us to the solar system and we are found seriously lacking. This is a needed reality check. But soon God suggests a proper perspective for us to re-envision ourselves. He tells us that we are lower than the angels, but at the top of the created order. Our God-given role is to manage and preserve the awesome creation he has entrusted to our care.
We are to be good stewards of creation: tending to God's garden and honoring the maker by our treatment of his masterpiece. This is a much needed reminder in a culture that consumes and discards and destroys in ways that are unprecedented in human history. It is a slap in the face of a good creator to ruin, pollute, and abuse that which the Master Artist has painted.
How in-tune are you with this concept of creation stewardship? Are you far down the road, or just getting started? What practices have you adopted to care for God's world? What practices do you need to get started on?
So much for healthy self-esteem. But really: you are not very significant in the context of a vast, beautiful, magnificent universe with planets and stars and mountains and seas and creatures that fly and fish that swim.
Here's the memo: You are not the center of the universe. You are not even close. The world does not revolve around you.
So why do you act like it does?
In Psalm 8 God knocks us off our perch of self-centeredness and exaggerated self-esteem. He compares us to the solar system and we are found seriously lacking. This is a needed reality check. But soon God suggests a proper perspective for us to re-envision ourselves. He tells us that we are lower than the angels, but at the top of the created order. Our God-given role is to manage and preserve the awesome creation he has entrusted to our care.
We are to be good stewards of creation: tending to God's garden and honoring the maker by our treatment of his masterpiece. This is a much needed reminder in a culture that consumes and discards and destroys in ways that are unprecedented in human history. It is a slap in the face of a good creator to ruin, pollute, and abuse that which the Master Artist has painted.
How in-tune are you with this concept of creation stewardship? Are you far down the road, or just getting started? What practices have you adopted to care for God's world? What practices do you need to get started on?
Monday, March 1, 2010
The Apostles Creed: God the Father Almighty
For 1700 years Christians have declared that we believe in God the Father Almighty.
Let's break this down. Christians believe in God. This is nothing to get worked up about. It's really pretty common. 91% of all Americans believe in God, and 97% of people worldwide believe in a supreme deity. Believing in God is nothing special.
What is distinctive is that we believe in a God who is both almighty and fatherly.
Most of us have a sense that God is big, majestic, awesome, powerful, holy, glorious, and eternal. We know that God is way beyond us. God is big and we are little. God is wholly other, infinite, and omni-everything. God is almighty.
But God is also personal. In Romans 8 we are told that we can call God "Abba." Abba is not a disco group from Sweden. It is an Aramaic expression translated "daddy." We are to call God daddy. He is the loving, caring, "run to him when you get home" parent you can learn from, be friends with, lean on, etc. He loves you deeply, like a perfect father would love a child.
So God is both almighty and personal.
If you forget that God is almighty, then your relationship to Him can become overly sentimental and not very challenging. If you forget that God is a father, you can live your life at an arm's length from him.
How do you view God? When your relationship to God gets out of balance which way do you lean?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
As you Wish 2
I've been in Florida for a week, so blog posting didn't get done. I took my laptop with me and convinced myself that I would keep up with it, but that turned out to be a pipe dream. I didn't do church work on vacation. Novel idea, right?
I want to followup on two ideas shared in your comments last week: how busyness effects servanthood, and how we tend to get enslaved to various things in life.
First, I think that its easy to put off being a servant of Jesus until a better, less stressful and hectic time in our life. We say: I'll get serious when the kids are older, when my job gets less demanding, when I reach a certain stage in life or status in my career. My observation is that this moment never comes. Every stage of life is filled with its own preoccupying challenges. Pace of life issues seem to be imbedded in our DNA for the full 80 plus years of our existence. We've drunk the koolaid that "busier is better," and "more activity means a fuller life." We have been striken with a virtually incurable syndrome: CMI. (Cram More In)
Somehow we need to learn to be servants NOW. Somehow we need to find peace and rest and sanity NOW. And as some of you suggested that often means saying NO. You can't have it all.
By trying to not miss out on anything we might miss out on the most important things. Perhaps in the spiritual realm less is more.
Secondly, there are many things in life that enslave us: career ambitions, visions of being the perfect parent, our imagined lifesyle goals, fun on the weekend, thrills and excitement, having a healthy body, the need to appear successful, the winning of someone's approval, etc. Obviously not all these things are completely bad, but slavery to them crowds out other things including God.
Bob Dylan wrote a song, "You've gotta serve someone." God seems a better choice to me.
What is it that you serve that you wish you could break free of?
What would you like to say"no" to in order to gain extra time and space?
I want to followup on two ideas shared in your comments last week: how busyness effects servanthood, and how we tend to get enslaved to various things in life.
First, I think that its easy to put off being a servant of Jesus until a better, less stressful and hectic time in our life. We say: I'll get serious when the kids are older, when my job gets less demanding, when I reach a certain stage in life or status in my career. My observation is that this moment never comes. Every stage of life is filled with its own preoccupying challenges. Pace of life issues seem to be imbedded in our DNA for the full 80 plus years of our existence. We've drunk the koolaid that "busier is better," and "more activity means a fuller life." We have been striken with a virtually incurable syndrome: CMI. (Cram More In)
Somehow we need to learn to be servants NOW. Somehow we need to find peace and rest and sanity NOW. And as some of you suggested that often means saying NO. You can't have it all.
By trying to not miss out on anything we might miss out on the most important things. Perhaps in the spiritual realm less is more.
Secondly, there are many things in life that enslave us: career ambitions, visions of being the perfect parent, our imagined lifesyle goals, fun on the weekend, thrills and excitement, having a healthy body, the need to appear successful, the winning of someone's approval, etc. Obviously not all these things are completely bad, but slavery to them crowds out other things including God.
Bob Dylan wrote a song, "You've gotta serve someone." God seems a better choice to me.
What is it that you serve that you wish you could break free of?
What would you like to say"no" to in order to gain extra time and space?
Monday, February 15, 2010
As You Wish
This week I was fascinated by the number of people in the New Testament whose primary self-understanding was that they were servants of Jesus. All the writers of New Testament books called themselves servants, as did several other people like Tychicus, Epaphras, and Phoebe. "Servant" was a very common title for believers in the early church, maybe the most common title.
This seems odd to me. Who would really want to be a servant? In the first century servants were basically slaves. They did the bidding of the master. When the master said "jump," they said "how high?" A servant would dutifully clean the house, cook the meals, and care for the master's property. A servant was not free to do whatever he/she wanted. The servant was owned and controlled by the Master. Sounds pretty horrible to me.
Yet, first century Christians were honored to be considered servants of Jesus. They proudly wore that label, and saw it as a badge of distinction.
This week I'd like you to imagine that you have a new nametag that you will wear all week. The nametag will say "Honored Slave of Jesus."
How would this self-perception change the way you live and operate this week? How would it effect your prayer time and Bible reading? How would it effect the way you relate to your family, co-workers, and neighbors? How differently would you manage your time? What would change?
"As you wish" was Wesley's constant response to every request Buttercup made to him in the Princess Bride. What would change if that was your response to everything God asked of you this week?
This seems odd to me. Who would really want to be a servant? In the first century servants were basically slaves. They did the bidding of the master. When the master said "jump," they said "how high?" A servant would dutifully clean the house, cook the meals, and care for the master's property. A servant was not free to do whatever he/she wanted. The servant was owned and controlled by the Master. Sounds pretty horrible to me.
Yet, first century Christians were honored to be considered servants of Jesus. They proudly wore that label, and saw it as a badge of distinction.
This week I'd like you to imagine that you have a new nametag that you will wear all week. The nametag will say "Honored Slave of Jesus."
How would this self-perception change the way you live and operate this week? How would it effect your prayer time and Bible reading? How would it effect the way you relate to your family, co-workers, and neighbors? How differently would you manage your time? What would change?
"As you wish" was Wesley's constant response to every request Buttercup made to him in the Princess Bride. What would change if that was your response to everything God asked of you this week?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Servant Husbands 2
One of the interesting aspects of the Ephesians 5 passage is the instruction that wives are to respect their husbands, while husbands are to love their wives. It has been suggested that respect (men) and love (women) are the deepest needs of the respective genders, and to receive these from a spouse creates the optimal environment for a relationship to flourish..
The failure to nurture your spouse's deep need can produce a negative spiral. A wife who does not receive love from her husband will often respond back to him in ways that are disrespectful. This hurt will then cause the husband to withdraw even more of his love/nurture, and the death spiral can spin worse and worse.
The solution is for one or both partners to start giving/trying in the husband-love and wife-respect way of operating. Then a positive upward spiral can occur. It all goes back to putting your spouse first, and getting eyes off self.
Does this concept seem valid for your relationship? Have you experienced the downward spiral? What are the conditions that bring it on for you? What helps you break the cycle?
The failure to nurture your spouse's deep need can produce a negative spiral. A wife who does not receive love from her husband will often respond back to him in ways that are disrespectful. This hurt will then cause the husband to withdraw even more of his love/nurture, and the death spiral can spin worse and worse.
The solution is for one or both partners to start giving/trying in the husband-love and wife-respect way of operating. Then a positive upward spiral can occur. It all goes back to putting your spouse first, and getting eyes off self.
Does this concept seem valid for your relationship? Have you experienced the downward spiral? What are the conditions that bring it on for you? What helps you break the cycle?
Monday, February 8, 2010
Servant Husbands
In Ephesians 5 Paul says three things that were radical in the male dominated, hierarchical culture he lived in. He says:
1. Submit to one another
2. Love your wife
3. Love your wife as your own body
This way of honoring your spouse was foreign to most first century marriages, but it reflected a consistent New Testament emphasis that required Christians to "serve one another in love." In marriage this means that husbands are to serve their wives, look after her interests, support her, care for her, spend time with her, listen to her, show her affection, honor her, speak highly of her, sacrifice for her, etc.
And, in the short term, it probably means to not forget Valentine's Day! (Next Sunday!)
Husbands, in what ways have you successfully served your wife in the past? What are your successes in this area?
Wives, what are the things that your husband does that make you feel special and served?
1. Submit to one another
2. Love your wife
3. Love your wife as your own body
This way of honoring your spouse was foreign to most first century marriages, but it reflected a consistent New Testament emphasis that required Christians to "serve one another in love." In marriage this means that husbands are to serve their wives, look after her interests, support her, care for her, spend time with her, listen to her, show her affection, honor her, speak highly of her, sacrifice for her, etc.
And, in the short term, it probably means to not forget Valentine's Day! (Next Sunday!)
Husbands, in what ways have you successfully served your wife in the past? What are your successes in this area?
Wives, what are the things that your husband does that make you feel special and served?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Links in the Chain 2
We have finished the sermon series on Faith Everyday. We have said that we would be wise to build a home environment that makes Jesus central and actively teaches the faith and spiritual values. Some of us have done this in a big way, and others may have arrived late in the game and therefore not really made much of an emphasis on this. So, I'm going to ask you...
1. What faith practices in your home have proved effective in teaching spiritual values to your kids? Have you done anything different or unique?
2. Were there faith practices that you tried, but didn't work out with your family?
3. What faith practice would you like to try, or wish you had tried in your parenting?
1. What faith practices in your home have proved effective in teaching spiritual values to your kids? Have you done anything different or unique?
2. Were there faith practices that you tried, but didn't work out with your family?
3. What faith practice would you like to try, or wish you had tried in your parenting?
Monday, February 1, 2010
Links in the chain
Timothy and Esther Edwards were a common colonial couple living in Massachusetts in the early 1700s. They were ordinary in many ways. But one thing about them was unique: they were passionate about raising their eleven children for Christ. So, just like Deuteronomy 6 challenges us to do, they "impressed the faith upon their children," and talked about it "when they were sitting at home and walking along the road, when they laid down and when they got up."
With this kind of spiritual nurture, the Edwards family left an amazing legacy. Their son, Jonathan Edwards, grew up to become the most notable preacher of his generation. And then over the next five generations descendants of Timothy and Esther Edwards included 14 college presidents, 100 college professors, several judges, dozens of preachers, 60 physicians, 60 authors, and over 100 lawyers.
Timothy and Esther were the initial link in a chain that extended a massive spiritual influence far into the future.
A similar thing could happen to you.
Psalm 78 tells us that we are to tell our children the stories of the saints who have come before us. We are to tell our children about Abraham, Moses, David, Esther, the prophets, Jesus, Paul, Wesley, ML King, Billy Graham, Mother Theresa, etc. These are the spiritual giants who have gone before us. We are to pass on their stories of faith, and become a link in a historical chain of faith. And we are to live in such a way that our children's children will be telling our story of faith someday as well.
Who are the spiritual heroes in your past? Perhaps a devoted Christian grandparent or parent or an aunt or uncle?
Who in the Bible has been a hero to you?
Who in church history has inspired you?
And finally, what about your life will your children be telling their children? What spiritual influence do you hope to have?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Bending Down
It takes a village to raise a child. Thats not Hillary Clinton. That's an old African proverb.
Said less creatively: children are influenced by multiple adults models. That was my experience growing up. I was influenced by my parents, my grandparents, a Sunday School teacher, a football coach, an employer, and a few other scattered adult role models. Some of these people influenced me generally for good, and some of them influenced me for Christ. I am a product of their influences.
It takes a village (a church) to raise a child for Christ. It takes parents, and youth leaders, and pastors, and cookie table ladies, and other assorted people who are living out their faith in ways that our children see and absorb. Our collective witness can be powerful.
This whole process requires at least two things: a genuine faith and points of contact. Having a genuine faith means you have something spiritual and exemplory to pass on. Having points of contact means that you interact with the kids, and they get the message that you care about them.
Most of us adults interact with other adults in a zone that is 5-6 feet off the ground. I call this the adult zone. Meanwhile, the kids live and move in a zone that is significantly lower, about 2-4 feet off the ground. (Teens are somewhat higher!)
After our kids leave the home, most of us forget that the kid zone even exists. We are vaguely aware that alot of noise and activity is happening down there somewhere, but we are too busy talking in the adult zone to even see it.
In order to influence the younger generation you must bend down and talk to the kids.
If you do so, and you have a genuine faith, you can change the world of a child.
Bend down!
Here are some practical considerations:
1. Pray for the kids you see in church
2. Model reading the Bible for them
3. Share your faith story with them
4. Encourage them when they sing, serve, and use their talents for God
5. Be a passionate advocate of faith, and be fun and warm at the same time.
Said less creatively: children are influenced by multiple adults models. That was my experience growing up. I was influenced by my parents, my grandparents, a Sunday School teacher, a football coach, an employer, and a few other scattered adult role models. Some of these people influenced me generally for good, and some of them influenced me for Christ. I am a product of their influences.
It takes a village (a church) to raise a child for Christ. It takes parents, and youth leaders, and pastors, and cookie table ladies, and other assorted people who are living out their faith in ways that our children see and absorb. Our collective witness can be powerful.
This whole process requires at least two things: a genuine faith and points of contact. Having a genuine faith means you have something spiritual and exemplory to pass on. Having points of contact means that you interact with the kids, and they get the message that you care about them.
Most of us adults interact with other adults in a zone that is 5-6 feet off the ground. I call this the adult zone. Meanwhile, the kids live and move in a zone that is significantly lower, about 2-4 feet off the ground. (Teens are somewhat higher!)
After our kids leave the home, most of us forget that the kid zone even exists. We are vaguely aware that alot of noise and activity is happening down there somewhere, but we are too busy talking in the adult zone to even see it.
In order to influence the younger generation you must bend down and talk to the kids.
If you do so, and you have a genuine faith, you can change the world of a child.
Bend down!
Here are some practical considerations:
1. Pray for the kids you see in church
2. Model reading the Bible for them
3. Share your faith story with them
4. Encourage them when they sing, serve, and use their talents for God
5. Be a passionate advocate of faith, and be fun and warm at the same time.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Challenges
We would all like to establish a spiritual home for our family. But doing so is not easy. Many things work against us. Our schools don't reinforce many of our spiritual values. TV, the internet, the movies, and the media often communicate the wrong things. The pace of life we live does not help with spiritual practices like prayer, reflection, quietness, community, or service. Our culture is too often at odds with what we are trying to impress upon our children. Its a huge challenge.
Sometimes it feels like we are paddling upstream.
In addition to all these common challenges, your family may also have unique circumstances that make establishing a Christian home even more difficult. For example:
Here are two things everyone can do no matter what their circumstances:
Sometimes it feels like we are paddling upstream.
In addition to all these common challenges, your family may also have unique circumstances that make establishing a Christian home even more difficult. For example:
- Some of you did not grow up in a Christian home and don't know what one looks like.
- Some of you came to faith late to the game, getting serious about God when your kids were older and less adaptable
- Some of you are single parents, are juggling lots of balls and are worn out
- Some of you have an unbelieving spouse, and therefore no united front
- Some of you have kids who are particularly challenging
- Some of you can't have kids at all
- Some of you have kids who are already grown, and you have regrets about things you wished you had done
Here are two things everyone can do no matter what their circumstances:
- You can pray for your kids.
- You can set a good spiritual example for your kids.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Shema
If you want your children to grow up with strong spiritual values and a personal relationship with Christ, then a good place to start is in Deuteronomy 6.4-9.
This passage of scripture is known in the Jewish community as the Shema. Orthodox Jews recite these six verses twice a day every day of their lives.
So, today read this important passage slowly and thoughtfully:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Ponder these questions:
Do your children see a deeply imbedded faith in your life? Is the faith "on your heart?"
Is "impressing the faith on them" a top level priority for your parenting?
Do you talk about the faith throughout the day with your kids? Sitting at home? On the road?
Are there reminders everywhere that your home is a place of faith?
If not, today is a good day to start.
We have asked our church people to recite these verses twice a day and memorize them. It will be a life changing experience for us. Join us!
This passage of scripture is known in the Jewish community as the Shema. Orthodox Jews recite these six verses twice a day every day of their lives.
So, today read this important passage slowly and thoughtfully:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Ponder these questions:
Do your children see a deeply imbedded faith in your life? Is the faith "on your heart?"
Is "impressing the faith on them" a top level priority for your parenting?
Do you talk about the faith throughout the day with your kids? Sitting at home? On the road?
Are there reminders everywhere that your home is a place of faith?
If not, today is a good day to start.
We have asked our church people to recite these verses twice a day and memorize them. It will be a life changing experience for us. Join us!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Home Makeover
Yesterday was so much fun. I got to demolish a house made out of graham crackers during my message. It was great. I used a big hammer and whacked away at it, resulting in hundreds of random bits of cracker flying everywhere. What a rush! I wish I could do it every Sunday! Now I know how Gallagher felt when he wailed on watermelons with the sledge-o-matic.
The house I destroyed represents a way of doing family life that is woefully inadequate and deserves to be demolished. In these poorly constructed homes Christ is not central. Prayers are not said and the bible is not read. The kids look at mom and dad and do not see a passionate love of Jesus. Academics and sports and moving up the corporate ladder are the big issues in the family, and spiritual values are not talked about, modeled, or seen as crucial. Parents rely on the church to teach spiritual values. They drop off the kids at church and hope the spiritual experts can Christianize their kids.
This does not work. Homes built like this need an extreme makeover.
Studies show that parents are 2-3 times more important in their children's spiritual development than anything the church tries to do. And the Bible places the responsibility of spiritual nurture squarely on the shoulders of parents. Parents are given the responsibility to teach, train, model, and impress the things of God upon their children.
It can be done And you can do it.
Joshua said "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Will you?
Take a look at Deuteronomy 6.4-9 this week.
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