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A Family of believers making disciples who influence the world by becoming daily followers of Christ.
Episodes
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Shaken & Sent to the Nations
Lessons on Diversity & Ministry for the 21st Century Church
“Pentecost- The Spirit Given to the Nations” (Act 2:1-12)
The Church was born multi-ethnic from its first day! This is God’s will and His intentional grace. The Church is a witness to the unlimiting grace of God still being poured out by the Spirit upon the Nations through the preaching and living of the good news about Jesus. What lessons can we learn from the early church on diversity & ministry for our church today?
Pentecost is... a celebration of the Theophany & Law given @ Mt. Sinai.
(Gk. “50”) 1st Fruits- Feast of the Harvest (God’s provision)-2nd of 3.
“It’s a day God got the world’s attention” (Steve Ger)!
The known world of the time was gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost,
50 days after Easter. The Spirit, as Jesus promised from the Father
(Jn.16:7-15), was observed, heard, and experienced that
providential day by the nations (Joel 2:28-32/Acts 2:16-21)!
See the Miracle beyond the Miracle: Sure the languages, but they only
serve God’s people getting God’s message (The Gospel) to the people!
Luke geographically lists 15 ethnic groups represented as receiving the
Spirit that grace-filled day (2:9-11).
These tongues were distinct languages, enabling people groups to hear
the gospel in their heart language (2:6-7).
Macro Lessons on Diversity & Ministry:
Humility- Acknowledge the wisdom of God in giving us His Spirit.
Unity- Be unified around the gospel (heard in people’s heart languages).
Diversity- Embrace appreciation of diversity as God’s design in ministry.
Micro Lessons on Diversity & Ministry:
Humility- Life finds purpose in ministry together for the Gospel.
Unity- Clarity around a clear Gospel focus, presence, and power.
Diversity- The Lord chooses different over same to embody the Gospel.
Let us embrace being diverse & diversely gifted to serve God’s
grandeur purpose, so people receive the gospel of Jesus!
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Playing Favorites
“Following Jesus’ Way”
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘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 mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.” (-Jesus, Mk.12:29-31)
This passage is famously known as “the great love command”, and as “The Jesus Creed” (S. McKnight). Jesus says these two foundational commands are greater (weightier) than any others. Following Jesus’ way means our obedience to these two love commands are everyday priorities.
Jesus summarizes His Way quoting the OT: (Dt.6:4-5; Lev.19:18)
Shema (Heb. “hear”) quoted 2x/day- summary/cornerstone of the Law
(Dt.6:4-9: 11:13-21; Num.15:37-41). Jesus wisely responds from
Scripture He’s known His whole life! A concise statement of faith.
Jesus orients all of life around two relationships:
Vertical- with “the Lord our God”- “Godward”;unity-common profession
A singular devotion, whole-hearted pathos (undivided commitment).
Horizontal- with other people (“your neighbor”)- “manward”; diversity of
expression: commitment to love one God diversely expressed in love
for others (J. Brooks).
Jesus commands that we are to be known by our “love” (Jn.13:34-35):
*Love God with the entirety of your life- w/ the “super-totality”
(Kernaghan) of your being: an integrity (wholeness of life)- heart,
mind, soul, strength: “with every fiber of our being” (G. Osborne);
“a matter of will and action” (Wm. Lane).
*Love your neighbor as yourself- no love for God w/o love for neighbor!
(cf. 1Jn.4:20; Gal.6:10; James 3:9-10, et al) Jesus defines neighbor
as anyone we encounter, who needs our help (cf. Lk.10:30-37).
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Playing Favorites
“For God so loved the world...”
"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn.3:16, CSB)
This is the most well known verse in all the Bible. This beloved verse teaches us so much about our great God, the Gospel message, and the ministry of the Lord Jesus. May we know it so well we can be encouraged by it, and share it’s truth widely and gladly!
What God’s Love Is Like
God’s love is unconditional and universal- “For God so loved the world”
God’s love is based on His unchanging character and is available to all.
God’s love is generous and sacrificial- “He gave His One/Only Son...”
(cf. Gen.22:2)
God’s love is purposeful and accessible- “so that everyone who believes
in Him...”- the “whosoever” invitation is a response to God’s love.
Believe= trust, put confidence in, give allegiance to Jesus.
God’s love is just and gracious- “will not perish but have eternal life.”
The just penalty of death is waived to whoever believes in Jesus!
Our response to God’s love gives life!
The merciful gift of life eternal is given to those who believe in Jesus.
What to We Do with the Truths of This Verse?
Thank God for the simplicity and profundity of the truths in this verse.
No wonder we love Him for all He is and has done for us in Christ!
No wonder we worship, serve, and give our lives bc we love the Lord!
Trust God’s intentional love. Place your confidence in God’s heart for us.
Believe in Jesus! “Confess with your mouth... and believe in you heart...”
(Rom.10:9-10).
Go share the truth of God’s love for us in Jesus. Trust God’s word/work.
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Playing Favorites
“God works for the good...”
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28, NIV)
On Pentecost Sunday, we do well to remind ourselves of God’s on-going work in our lives by His Spirit even in these days. Many believers hold this verse as their favorite promise passage because of the comfort and hope it brings.
What this verse does not teach: 1) We know all things.
2) All things are good.
3) This promise is for all people.
What this verse does teach:
An Affirmation- “and we know...” (perfect: point in the past action
continuing into the very present, onward). Our faith teaches a
certainty of the knowledge of salvation and it’s impact on our lives.
A Promise- “...that in all things God works for the good...”
Divine initiative as source of a confident hope. (J.Dunn)
“The work of a loving God on behalf of His people.” (Dr. Corley)
God directing (&/or allowing) life’s events to serve His purposes.
We can have confidence in God’s sovereign oversight/intervention.
A Relationship- “...of those who love him,” (“ the God lovers” -M. Bird)
“who have been called according to his purpose.”
Note our personal response of God’s out-working: we love Him!
“Coercive love is not love.” (-Dunn); “vital on-going love” (Mounce)
How do we live today within the comfort and hope of these truths?
1) We live by faith - knowing our faith in God is secure, and not in vain.
We live like God can be trusted “in all things...for the good....”
2) We live in the light of the promise of God’s beneficial work on our
behalf- despite the circumstances of our lives- He can make it
“turn out for the best” (G. Osborne; e.g., Joseph in Gen. 50:20).
3) We love the Lord for all the good He has already done for us in Christ
(cf. 8:29-30)! We respond & give the Lord our love and allegiance.
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Playing Favorites
“For by Grace...”
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:8-10, NIV)
Welcome to worship! We’ve come to celebrate together the gift of God’s grace to us in Christ! God’s grace saves us. God’s grace strengthens us. God’s grace sustains us, especially in these days!
Grace is... “(God’s) favor shown to the utterly undeserving.” (-Dr. Vaughan)
Grace is “getting what you do not deserve and cannot earn.”
“grace” is used ~150x in NT, ~100x by Paul.
Grace is God’s rescue plan for us in Christ (2:8)!
Grace is the heart of the gospel. (Get grace, you get the gospel.)
Grace “saves” us (then, now, forever)- rescues, delivers.
Grace grabs us and rescues us from sin, self, Satan, and certain death.
Grace creates relationship (Creator-created). Grace connects us to God.
Grace comes through faith (2:8-9).
Faith is... “living like God can be trusted”- faith is our response to God’s
grace when we are awakened to believe the gospel.
Faith is “the hand that receives the gift” (-Dr. Vaughan)- “appropriating
means” (instrument) of receiving God’s grace.
All of salvation is God’s gift to us: it is not of ourselves, nor of works, so
no one can boast (glory), as if we did something to deserve it!
Grace gives us purpose (2:10). We are made for this Grace-life!
We are are God’s poiema- “handiwork” (NASB), “masterpiece” (NLT),
“workmanship” (ESV/KJV/NIV), “work of art” (NJB), “creation” (CSB).
We are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works”- we are not saved
by works, but we are saved to do good works (Get this straight!).
God has work “prepared in advance for us to do.” (Be about it!)
Grace sets us free to live on display for God’s glory (Mt.5:16)!
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Friday Aug 07, 2020
The World is Different, Jesus is the Same
“Who Can I Trust in an Ever-Changing World?”
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).
The world is different; it has changed! “The New Normal” (Ed Young, Jr.)
The world is obviously different! “Get used to different” (The Chosen)
“Where else can we find something to believe in?” (ESPN commercial)
Following Jesus in changing times looks like (Heb. 13:1-7):
*Keep on loving one another (13:1) *Practice hospitality (13:2)
*Remember persecuted friends (13:3) *Honor marriage (13:4)
*Be content and freed from money love (13:5)
*Be confident of God’s presence and help (13:6)
*Remember your leaders and imitate their faith (13:7)
Who can you trust in this ever-changing world? Jesus Christ! (13:8)
v.8 gives a gnomic truth, a truth that doesn’t change, an everlasting
truth; a truth you can depend on today and tomorrow.
“Jesus Christ”- the why/how you can go through these days is based
on the Who: “Jesus Christ”- affirmation of His divine Person/Role.
(Mt.1:18-21)
“... is the same”- w/o variation; constant, unchanging (immutable).
“yesterday”- days before, even before yours; pre-existent days or days
in His flesh, or reference to both? Yes.
“today”- this day, right now, this moment (their crisis then, ours now).
“and forever”- through all the ages (eternity), time without end! The
revelation of Jesus is “final, never to be superseded or supplemented.”
What does “Jesus is the same” mean for us living in pandemic days?
Jesus is constant in a world of change. He is unchanging/immutable.
Jesus is with us in our now moment of crisis. He is Immanuel. (Mt.1:23)
Jesus is supremely trustworthy. He will see us through the ages! (Mt.28:20)
Thursday Aug 06, 2020
Thursday Aug 06, 2020
Faith in Days Like These
“Wash Your Hands, You Sinners: What Does God Want from Us?”
(James 4:7-10; Prov. 3:34)
In these pandemic days, what does God want from us? In 4 brief verses, James answers this question with 10 urgent, staccato commands, and 3 connected promises. James teaches us our faith involves actively pursuing our relationship with God because of His grace.
Submit yourselves to God (4:7)- order your life under God’s authority.
Notice the “therefore”, which ties God’s grace to the command (v.6).
We wholeheartedly submit ourselves (reflexive) to His lordship over us.
Whoever you follow (submit/yield to) is who’s leading/guiding your life.
We seek to obey/submit to God, rather than friendship with the world.
Resist the devil (4:7)- stand against (oppose) the enemy, the slanderer.
We no longer give any allegiance to the adversary.
Our allegiance is now exclusively given to God!
This is an active command: be aware, take evasive & direct action.
Promise #1- “and he will flee from you.” (“When...Then” connection.)
Draw near to God (4:8-9)- movement towards God’s gracious invitation.
Single-minded pursuit of God! Move ever closer to Him, step by step.
Promise #2- “and he will draw near to you.” Seek, you will find (Mt.7:7)!
Practical responses of both devotion and action are necessary.
Both external & internal steps signify our priority of relationship w/ God.
External sign - “Cleanse (wash) your hands, sinners”(forgiveness pic)
Internal signs - “purify your hearts, double-minded ones” (clarity pic)
“Be miserable, mourn, and weep...” (repentance pic)
“Let your laughter be turned to sadness...” (godly
“...and your joy into gloominess...” sorrow)
Humble yourselves before the Lord (4:10)- God graces the humble!
God graces those who submit to Him, resist the adversary, and draw
ever nearer to Him. This is a good picture of humility (contra pride).
This is not works-based salvation. It is response to grace salvation!
Promise #3- “and he will lift you up.” God recognizes/helps the humble!
How will you respond to what God wants from you? (Humble yourself.)