by Wade Crews | Nov 9, 2016
In the first blog from this series on our A.I.M. (being Authentic, Intention and Missional), we looked at what it meant to be authentic and why it was important. As you would expect, it is time to glance at what it means to be intentional. One thing we all need to realize is that the difference between a secular worldview and a Christian worldview is a secular worldview never includes Christ. That raises the question for Christians, “What part of my life should reflect a secular worldview?” Umm… how about none?
Let’s look at just a couple of places where the Bible talks about being intentional. Col. 3:17 says, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” One, I would challenge you to read and apply all of Colossians 3 to your daily life; but two, how much wiggle room does “whatever you do in word or deed” give you when it comes to the way we live? This requires intentional living. How dare we blend in with the world when we go about our daily business? Holiness is not reserved for a couple of hours on Sundays.
But what am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to accomplish this life of intentionality?
Rom. 12:1-3 says, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” You see, we are called to be different, not conformed to the world. It is actually God’s will for us (His children) to be and look obviously different.
Why are we to be intentional? Because God is intentional. Christ did not accidently die on the cross for our sins and was not accidently resurrected on the third day to defeat death and hell. No one ever came up to me all excited and said “Hey, guess what? I accidently led someone to the Lord. They got saved because I accidently mentioned something and let it slip out during a conversation that they needed Jesus.”
Here is what it might look like. Your church buys 50 tickets to Affair of the Heart or a gun show and sends out its men or women to have a great time and wonderful fellowship with a purpose. Go – enjoy – have a great time – buy stuff, but everyone intentionally talks to someone about Jesus while they are at the event. “We serve at this church… How can we pray for you? … God blessed me by meeting you today…” It’s not hard, but it does require a paradigm shift from looking and sounding like everyone else (the world) to being a living sacrifice and intentionally introducing people to your Savior. Anybody can look like everyone else. It is the intentional person who looks like Christ.
by Caleb Moore | Oct 24, 2016
In Philippians, Paul writes,
“…make my joy complete by being of one mind, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.”
As I was reading this, I found it strange that he believed that his joy would not be complete unless there was unity among the believers. Was his joy not complete and found only in Christ? Surely he didn’t need other people to make him happy.
Paul of all people should know that only God can meet our deepest needs. So why then did he use his own joy as a motivation for them to be united? I think an experience I recently had can shed some light on this.
Opening day of deer hunting season was a few weeks ago. This is a day I have been looking forward to with great enthusiasm. I decided this year I would go camping the day before and spend the time by myself out in the woods. The weather was perfect. I had my tent set up deep in the woods, a warm fire to cook my food and the blissful silence you only find when you go off the grid. I woke up early and climbed my favorite tree. As the sun rises, you get to be a silent witness to all of nature coming alive. The birds and squirrels scurry about their busy day as I keep my ears open for the sounds of rustling leaves and the hopes of spotting the white tail of a deer. Although I never saw a deer, as any hunter will tell you, there is enough satisfaction in the hunt that we will return to try again another day.
As much as I enjoyed my day alone hunting and camping, something was missing. It was like I planned a great dinner party but forgot to invite my friends. I had everything needed for a great time, but it was missing something because I had gone alone. Joy is something that needs to be shared in order to be complete. It was a good day, but it could have been a great day if I had brought some friends along to share the experience with.
Paul had joy, but his joy was only complete when he discipled others to share in the joy he had in Christ. We are to invite people to the party that God has stirred within our hearts. Take the time to invite other people to the banquet of God’s grace, and you will find your own joy being more complete.
by Caleb Gordon | Oct 20, 2016
Yesterday I had a mini melt down. I felt like a big steamy pile of mess – both physically and mentally.
Everything about my day was really a struggle and a trial. I laid on my couch and tossed and turned and had a pity party, which is just insane because I just got done teaching a large group of guys on how good God is to us.
Many people seem to think because I travel around the country and preach and teach on the message of salvation and the power of Jesus that I never struggle. That’s a lie. I struggle.
There are days I feel like I’m too big of a mess for anyone (including Jesus) to actually love me. Instead of rushing to my knees to find God to be my sufficiency, I started looking at the circumstances around me, and I get worried, and I get fearful – even though I have no reason to be either of those I default to those positions.
How crafty is the enemy. When we get tired and sick, our focus turns to the wrong things, and that’s when all you-know-what breaks loose in our lives.
I did not want to go to mid-week prayer service and Bible study at my church. I wanted to just stay on the couch. But I said to myself, “This is more than likely when you need to be there.” So I made myself go, and what a blessing I received.
Being with church family was just what I needed. I needed to hear about other people’s struggles and successes. I heard about the goodness of God, even in our struggles. Other godly men came around and prayed for me, even though I was being somewhat of a baby. How good is that?!
Being in a community of other believes who are FOR YOU really is the answer! Being in a community of Christ follower who are all looking to Jesus TOGETHER really does change the perspective on everything.
When I stopped and allowed God to move, things started to change. I woke up different today. The day was fresh. The day was new.
Were some of my same struggles and trials there? You bet, but guess what? I know the ONE who overcomes those trials was right beside me, and HE’s making sure I can take my next step.
So if you’re struggling, KEEP GOING! KEEP PRESSING ON! KEEP LOOKING TO JESUS!
He’s BETTER
by Angela Sanders | Oct 19, 2016
“Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds…”
“Consider it pure joy…”
“Consider it pure joy…”
I’m chewing on this phrase today because my heart hurts, and no amount of cajoling or mental trickery has managed to snap it out of its funk. It hurts for a reason, a real reason that’s not going away any time soon, and try as I might, I can’t seem to break these words down into something digestible. Instead, they swell, choking me, demanding my attention, a sure sign God has something to say to my heart.
“Consider it pure joy…”
Not “feel,” but “consider.” In other words, decide that it is and respond accordingly. A matter of choice rather than involuntary response. That’s good because my ‘want to’ and gumption are in short supply.
But why consider it pure joy?
“…Because the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”
Okay. Perseverance is good, but this hurts. I’d rather the hurt disappear.
“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).
Again, maturity is great, but I’d rather the hurt go away!
Until I remember what’s at stake.
A born-again child of God, I represent the Father. I show and tell others what He is like. As His ambassador, I have the distinct privilege of directing others’ attention to His divine perfection so they might be saved and so He might be worshipped for being the holy, sovereign, merciful, gracious and kind God He is, that He’s proven Himself to be in my life.
I do that best when I am most like Him, when I am mature and complete, lacking nothing, something this passage says comes through our trials.
So, there it is.
I want the hurt to go away, but I want to serve Him more.
Given the choice, I’d rather endure trial and pain knowing that God will use it for His glory than live a life free of it, knowing I could’ve served Him better if only I’d been willing to suffer.
My heart is far from happy this morning, but that’s okay. My happiness isn’t the ultimate goal.
Regardless of how I feel in this moment, I will obey the Father.
Heart burning, eyes stinging, stomach rolling, I will consider this trial a joy—a blessing, really, for the opportunity it affords—and respond accordingly, surrendering my will to His in prayer, accepting the peace He provides when I do so, and placing my faith in the only One able to work all things together for my good and His glory (Rom. 8:28, Eph. 1:11).
He’s worth it!
by Ryan Smith | Oct 18, 2016
What is a church? Is the local church even necessary anymore? With access to numerous teachings, events, resources, and other tools, hasn’t the idea of church membership, church discipline, and other church-isms gone the way of the organ, potlucks and business meetings?
In my previous two blogs on the subject of the local church, I have aimed not simply to supply an apologetic for the local church, but to give a personal account for why I have stayed with the local church while many seem to walk away. Those articles are available here (Older Believers) and here (The Church Prioritized).
While the merits of older believers and prioritizing the church are relatively agreeable, and even transferable to a variety of contexts, my third and final (blog-wise) reason for staying with the church may be a bit more controversial.
I have stayed with the local church because of Church Authority.
Now I know, when we hear the word “authority,” we immediately bristle – particularly in regard to the church. In a world where the title of “most quoted Bible verse” has gone from John 3:16 to Matthew 7:1 (“Judge not, lest you be judged”), it is difficult to gain a hearing on not only the merits of church authority, but also its humble beauty.
So why would a loving God, whom I am in personal relationship with, subject me to such a cold organized structure and bureaucracy? Doesn’t that sound more worldly than godly?
Yes and no.
Certainly the idea of church authority has been abused to the furthest extent of human depravity and has given a black eye not only to the bride of Christ, but to the idea of the church itself.
But we must ask: is God mainly a God of individuality and personal relationship or does he lead through organization and structure? Would He do this to His people – the church?
Consider this: right out of the gate in Genesis, we are introduced to our Creator God. And what is the first thing we see this amazing Creator God doing? Setting boundaries (sky from water, water from land), separating (day from night, plants and trees according to their kind), defining and structuring (land animals, flying animals, human beings). And as he creates mankind in His image, he establishes something: structure, roles and authority.
When God calls out a people as His own and leads them as a chosen nation, He first establishes structure, roles, and authority.
From the family structure to the Hebraic law, God shows the need for accountable authority. Jesus affirmed these structures and authority. He then established, created and died for the church. The Spirit-inspired Scriptures tell of God’s leadership in creating pastors, elders, deacons and other structured responsibilities not to rule the church, but to lead the church as under-shepherds of the true Shepherd.
The Word is clear that the Christian faith does not end at walking an aisle, praying a prayer or raising a hand. It does not end at an inspiring message or amazing worship music. There is much more to the reality of following Christ.
In passages like 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, God gives the highly accountable role of overseer (pastor/elder) not simply to run a well-oiled service, but to pastor a people. There is a front door of believer’s baptism to the identified church where one is known and knows others. The ordinance of Communion is a continual identification with the body of Christ and time of relational examination. The church is also called to examine professing believers and ensure they are truly brothers and sisters in Christ lest wolves enter the fold.
In essence, pastors are to humbly lead a people while submitting to the authority and Word of God. They are to feed them with true doctrine and beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are to protect them from false doctrine.
This accountability doesn’t end with pastors, however. The body of the church is to care for spiritual widows, orphans and others. We are to hold together like a body – not just busy with programming – but united in the upward call of building each other up to the form and image of Christ in the world by the power of the Spirit.
So lets talk nuts and bolts – what does this mean for you and me?
The final and main reason I have stayed with the local church is I don’t trust myself, and I need help. God has given this help ultimately in the Spirit, but has given me over to oversight in the context of a local church. I am identifiable, committed and accountable.
I need to know that if I am tempted by sin and begin to wander from the path of righteousness, a brother in Christ will confront me. I need to know that if I cling harder to this sin and deny that brother, that he and another will come again to hold me accountable to the Gospel and my professed Lordship of Christ.
If I ignore even the Gospel, the authority of God’s Word and the Lordship of Christ, I need a church body to pray for me, confront me with the Gospel, and if necessary, even tell me the hard truths of the faith that if no fruit is coming from my life, my profession of faith may be nothing more than a lie.
Our great God has structured and ordered the church to work in this way because we live in a fallen world with temptations and snares at every step. Jesus is clear that there are many who will taste of the things of Christianity and the church, yet ultimately walk away from Jesus while still calling him “Lord” (Matt. 7:13-23, Luke 8:4-8).
I firmly believe in the power and seal of the Holy Spirit. I believe once we are in Christ, we can never be snatched from His hand. But I also believe the Bible when it says to test myself and be tested. I believe it when it says there are prowling lions, disguised wolves, and supposed angels of light seeking to distract and dissuade me at every turn. I believe it when it says I need pastors to preach the Word continually to me. I believe I need the Gospel and other believers in community every day.
I believe the Bible when it says we should not cease meeting together. I believe it when it says I need to hear believers sing the truths of the faith, and I need to sing it to others. I believe the church is not just about me, but about the unity of the Spirit displayed through believers.
I believe the call of Paul to walk in a manner worthy of the calling of Christ in Ephesians 4 not just individually, but in a committed manner,
“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us.
‘There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope at your calling – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all…and (Jesus) personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
“Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head – Christ. From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.”
I believe the church is not about me, it is about we. We belong to Christ and to each other. May God be glorified in the body of His church together.
by Anna Clement | Oct 5, 2016
A full day went by, and my prayer had gone unanswered. It was an important prayer too. I knew for sure, that since I had expressed to God how dire our situation was, since I had cried out to Him in all sincerity, practically begged, I KNEW He was obligated to answer my prayer. This prayer, He had to answer it. Still, a full day went by, and His only response was silence.
No miracle.
No dramatic change in our situation.
No sign from God, just silence.
Life was still going on, and I couldn’t hide from it, so I dragged myself out of the house to take care of responsibilities. My drive time is usually when I converse with God. It feels like He takes advantage of the time when I’m strapped to a seat, eyes straight ahead, to get my attention. That’s when He talks and I listen.
I had to slow down to let a car into the lane in front of me. It was a banged up green Toyota with barely enough room to slip into my lane. I eased on the gas and tapped my breaks, and that’s when I noticed his custom license plate. It read, “HVFAITH.”
On this day that my prayers had gone unanswered, in this moment where I’m being driven more out of worry and fear than faith, God seems to be sending me a clear message.
HVFAITH
Could it be? After all the time on my knees, that God is sending a trashed out, however clever, green Toyota to send me a message that if I’ll just “keep on keeping on” everything is going to be okay?
In that moment, with just me and God in the car, I thanked Him out loud. I thanked Him because my hope and the source of my strength is not anchored to the tailgate of a green Toyota. It is anchored in the person of Jesus Christ, His death burial and resurrection. His Word has the final authority on all things in my life, and in His Word He has promised good to me. Even when I can’t see a sign, I am to trust Him completely.
Recently, I read a spiritual blog where a mother wrote about how she explained to her son her interpretation of Biblical instruction concerning sexual immorality. She said she explained to her adolescent son that while the Bible is a great book and full of truth, it’s also old and has been tampered with by interpreters who had political intentions. This is why, she explained, that in their household they would not allow the Word of God to have authority on the matters of sexual purity or the role of women in culture and society.
And in what other areas will we pick and choose to obey Scripture? What guide will her son use, then, as instruction for life? How will he have any assurance as he strives to walk by faith? What text then would you suggest to him as he grows spiritually? Surely you wouldn’t instruct your son to ignore the psalmist who wrote, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments” (Psalm 119:9-10).
If we choose to uproot the authority of Scripture from our lives, then we are left chasing bumper stickers. Along with all its Divine instruction, the Word of God offers to us hope. Hope that there is more to this life. It leads us to the source of eternal life and transforms our minds with Godly wisdom. Without it, we are only as inspired as our Instagram feed and growing roots too shallow to sustain fruitful spiritual growth.
By the time I had arrived at my destination, I realized that, though my prayer had gone unanswered, I still have reason to rejoice. I thanked Him because He is still worthy of praise despite my circumstance. He is still good when I’m having a bad day, and He is giving me the greatest gift we can obtain from Him on this earth, wisdom and understanding.
“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Col. 2:6).