This video offers a prophetic, pointed, purposeful, and no doubt painful, for some, word to pastors and men in the church. Like the song of old, Rise Up, O Men of God, men “the church for you doth wait…rise up and make her great.” Praise God for men, past and present, who cherish the bride of Christ and “have done with lesser things” in order to “give heart and mind and soul and strength to serve the King of kings.”
"Lift high the cross of Christ! Tread where His feet have trod; As brothers of the Son of man, Rise Up, O men of God!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
I Am A Great Baseball Player:Luke 3:1-18
In a similar vein, just because a family member of mine has a right standing with God does not mean that I automatically have a right standing with Him because of my family connection. No, I must choose on my own (as a result of His drawing) to come to God with a genuine heart of repentance and brokenness over my own personal sin, placing my complete trust in Him for forgiveness of sins and thus receiving the gift of salvation and right standing—made possible by His grace and mercy through the person and work of Jesus.
Luke records an example of this false notion that a person's faith can be based on someone else’s faith in Luke 3:1-18. Here we read John the Baptist confronting this counterfeit religion with the truth. No one can be made right with God outside of a personal and genuine “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” John applied this to the Jews who falsely presumed they had a right standing with God based on Abraham’s right standing with God--simply because of their family connection. They were banking on his faith (Gen 15:6), not in an investment of their own. This was wrong; this left the Jews under the wrath of God (v.9, 17).
Here is my concern, how many people today believe they are in a right standing with God based on someone else or some other thing other than Jesus? How many people place their hope in church membership, a childhood baptism, a good family name, a prestigious education, a successful career, an honorable reputation within the community, decent morals—at least compared to most, and/or their deeds in the community and local church? This is wrong; this leaves people under the wrath of God.
Here is my concern, how many people today believe they are in a right standing with God based on someone else or some other thing other than Jesus?
On behalf of God (v.2), John the Baptist made it clear—“do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’” In other words, remove any false notion that you can have a relationship with God other than through personal repentance. We are sinful by choice and by nature and we need to repent, come clean before God, immerse ourselves into His death, die to our sin, and quit clinging to or trusting in anything for salvation other than faith alone (Solus Fide) in Christ alone (Solus Christus) by grace alone (Sola Gratia) for the glory of God alone (Soli Deo Gloria)—as revealed in Scripture alone (Solus Scriptura).
How about you, have you received “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,” or are you trusting in someone or something else? If your answer is the latter, then choose this day to get right with God. Choose this day to respond to His call by repenting of sins and placing your faith in the person and work of His Son--Jesus.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Water's Edge: Bulls, Baseball, Dead to Sin, and a Little Charismatic
As I preached on the Sunday following this great night of fun, I could not help but think that this is the way God wants us to celebrate Him and the great realities of the gospel. When Paul calls the church to action in Rom 6:11, he does not give a list of action steps, he simply calls believers to reckon, count, or consider this truth of ours in Jesus Christ. I think what he is saying, or the action that he is calling for, is that we who have been buried and risen in Christ need to contemplate and CELEBRATE this great doctrinal truth.
I believe worshiping God as we count, reckon, and consider this truth will empower us in the face of its antithesis and our adversary. What is this truth? I will let the Word speak for itself, "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." So the next time you are tempted to sin, be it your own flesh or Satan, stop and reckon that you are dead to it. Stop and count it as a reality that sin no longer has dominion over you. Stop and consider that now you are alive to the King of the universe--forever saved, changed and empowered by the glory of His gospel. That's right, celebrate what you are and whose you are in Jesus. And, if it means getting a little charismatic--like you often do at the ballgame--then go for it, I think God will be pleased (Ps 47:1; 150)!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Saint Augustine's States of Adam: Which State Are You?
Before Adam’s fall, wrote Saint Augustine (AD 354-430), Adam was “able to sin” (1). After the fall, he was “not able to not sin” (2). God says we have all experienced this latter state with Adam (Rom 3:23). We are all powerless to not sin; we are all enslaved to it (Rom 6:17). However, for those who receive their righteousness in Christ, God says they are now able not to sin (3). They are not enslaved to it; they are empowered against it (Rom 6:6, 11).
“We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.”
I used to be in state number two, but now, because of Jesus, I reside in state number three, with the promise of state number four. God’s word reveals that those in Jesus have the promise of glorification (Rom 8:30); yes, someday those in Him will not be able to sin (4). I am grateful that I now live free in state number three—with the future hope of number four—and my prayer is that everyone will find their freedom here as well (Rom 6:6-7). How about you, in which state do you currently live?
“We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.”
I used to be in state number two, but now, because of Jesus, I reside in state number three, with the promise of state number four. God’s word reveals that those in Jesus have the promise of glorification (Rom 8:30); yes, someday those in Him will not be able to sin (4). I am grateful that I now live free in state number three—with the future hope of number four—and my prayer is that everyone will find their freedom here as well (Rom 6:6-7). How about you, in which state do you currently live?
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Preaching and the Emerging Church: Brief Book Review
Although this ebook analyzes four key preachers (Driscoll, Kimball, McLaren, Pagitt) it revealed and clarified my own convictions, persuasions, and speaking conventions that I use. If you are ever sitting down to evaluate your style and sharpen your skills this would be great to have nearby for reference.You can check out his full review here: http://www.brianbarela.com/working-on-your-preaching-style-great-resource-to-help/
Monday, June 28, 2010
Justified By Jesus Alone: Luke 18: 9-14 Sermon Notes
The Pharisee’s hope was in his own righteousness because of who he was and what he had done. The tax collector’s righteousness was in whose He was and what He had done and was going to do. In case you did not catch it, it is a different He—Jesus (Luke 18:9-14).
Our righteousness (right standing before God), just like the tax collector, is in God alone; just like the tax collector, we bring absolutely nothing to the table to offer Him for our justification. That thought is worth repeating. We bring absolutely nothing to the table to offer God for our justification—for who would offer a used menstrual rag or human excrement for righteousness (Is 64:6; Phil 3:8). Rather, God has made it all about His Son—Jesus!
“For our sake God made Jesus to be sin, who knew no sin, so that in Jesus we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor 5:21
Where have you found your righteousness? Is it in yourself, your religion, your position, your good deeds, your moral check list, or your social projects— like the Pharisee? Or, like the tax collector, is your righteousness found in Christ alone?
You Might Be Self-Righteous if (Luke 18:9-14):
1. You come to the house of worship full of pride.
2. Your prayers are more about you than they are about God.
3. Your faith resides in your merits—not His.
4. You despise others whom God has come to save.
5. You can identify the faults in others but you are blind to your own.
6. Your standard for righteousness is yourself compared to others—not God.
7. You refuse to humble yourself in the presence of your Creator.
8. You use His temple as a place for self- aggrandizement—you exalt you, not Him.
9. You reflect no sense of dependence or need of God.
10. Your righteousness is in who you are and what you have done, not in whose you are and what He—Jesus—has done.
You are Righteous in Christ if:
You abandon your religious check list before God and come to Him broken, humble, and repentant over sin knowing that you are helpless and dependent upon His grace alone for salvation and thus you cry out for mercy and forgiveness—with deep felt gratitude for what He has done—placing your complete trust in the person and finished work of His Son—Jesus.
Our righteousness (right standing before God), just like the tax collector, is in God alone; just like the tax collector, we bring absolutely nothing to the table to offer Him for our justification. That thought is worth repeating. We bring absolutely nothing to the table to offer God for our justification—for who would offer a used menstrual rag or human excrement for righteousness (Is 64:6; Phil 3:8). Rather, God has made it all about His Son—Jesus!
“For our sake God made Jesus to be sin, who knew no sin, so that in Jesus we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor 5:21
Where have you found your righteousness? Is it in yourself, your religion, your position, your good deeds, your moral check list, or your social projects— like the Pharisee? Or, like the tax collector, is your righteousness found in Christ alone?
You Might Be Self-Righteous if (Luke 18:9-14):
1. You come to the house of worship full of pride.
2. Your prayers are more about you than they are about God.
3. Your faith resides in your merits—not His.
4. You despise others whom God has come to save.
5. You can identify the faults in others but you are blind to your own.
6. Your standard for righteousness is yourself compared to others—not God.
7. You refuse to humble yourself in the presence of your Creator.
8. You use His temple as a place for self- aggrandizement—you exalt you, not Him.
9. You reflect no sense of dependence or need of God.
10. Your righteousness is in who you are and what you have done, not in whose you are and what He—Jesus—has done.
You are Righteous in Christ if:
You abandon your religious check list before God and come to Him broken, humble, and repentant over sin knowing that you are helpless and dependent upon His grace alone for salvation and thus you cry out for mercy and forgiveness—with deep felt gratitude for what He has done—placing your complete trust in the person and finished work of His Son—Jesus.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Gospel Predictability Part II: We Need More Male Lab Techs
Gospel predictability is about aligning our passions and priorities with God’s call on our lives so that in any given circumstance our actions and words inevitably reflect the grace God at work in us. In other words, what we say and do as believers should be predictable—even when life is not; what we say and do should reflect the gospel. This is not always easy, but it is possible through God’s empowering grace and Spirit.
Unpredictable Circumstances
When the doc said I needed to go to the hospital to get an ultrasound to examine my privates (see part I), my first thought was “Do they have male technicians?” We’ll, you probably have already guessed the answer to that question. NO. So there I was with my wife, the female ultrasound technician, and my towel. I will spare you the details of this experience, but if you knew my wife you would be able to imagine her and the lab tech hitting hit it off with girly camaraderie and laughter as we examined the pics on the screen of the interior parts of my privates (I know, it’s personal, but I warned you in part I). But what I will share with you is what transpired out of this unpredictable event that—by God’s grace—has become more and more predictable in my life and the life of my wife.
With no choice but to go with the flow of the moment, I sought to join in the jovial conversation as we got the scoop on my condition while my wife and I befriended and learned a few things about my helpful and professional technician. What we discovered as we conversed together—with me in my towel—is that she was expecting her second child. This insight eventually led to a great opportunity to pray for her and the baby before we departed the ultrasound room, and after I had more than a towel to wear. In my prayer, I prayed for God, who sovereignly crafts the little ones in the mother’s womb, to bless the growth and delivery of her child and to someday draw the little one unto Himself through His Son Jesus—in addition to asking a blessing upon the mom.
As I have already mentioned, much of the events of this day were nowhere on my radar screen; they were simply unpredictable. However, I do hope that what transpired with the technician was not. I pray it represents a very gospel-centered predictable aspect of my life and the life of my wife—to seek opportunities to develop genuine relationships with people and to be a conduit to plant seeds and/or share with others about the greatness of God and His gospel, Jesus. I also pray I am learning more and more how to be discerning of where and how God is at work around me and how I can participate in His story for His glory. Ultimately, it is never about me; ultimately, it is always about Him.
How about you? Is there gospel predictability in your life—even when life is unpredictable? Do your actions and words reflect the call of God on your life to make great of Him and to make disciples of Jesus in your community? If not, let me close by pointing you to a great model of gospel predictability in Scripture that has been a great encouragement in my life and I pray will be in yours as well.
Gospel Predictability In The Life Of Paul
The Apostle Paul’s life as recorded in Acts reflects a man of gospel predictability. At the close of Luke’s writings in Acts 28 we find Paul imprisoned in Rome after quite an ordeal in getting there—beaten, escaped assassination plots, unjustly imprisoned, survived life threatening court trials, rode out a 14 day hurricane-like sea voyage, ship wrecked, and bitten by a viper (Acts 21-28). Despite all of these unpredictable circumstances, we always find Paul’s actions and words very predictable. In this particular story of his life, Luke shares with us that Paul, once arriving in Rome, gathered his fellow Jewish countrymen and began to testify and preach about the kingdom of God and the person and work of Jesus (v 23). This is not to say that Paul did not converse about all the other events that had been happening in his life. Nor is it to say that Paul would not have taken the time to hear the stories of his fellow countrymen as he sought to build relationships with them. However, it is to say that what Luke wants us to see is that Paul lived his life with his passion and priorities centered on his call from God in Christ Jesus (Acts 9). Or from a meta-narrative perspective of Acts, God was fulfilling in and through the life of Paul just what He promised (Acts 1:8; 9:15; 23:11)!
Now it is important to keep in mind that it was Paul’s Jewish brothers in Jerusalem (and in every other town he visited) that wanted him beaten, stoned, and dead as a result of his message (Acts 14:19; 23:12)). But this predictable messenger, at the risk of stirring his countrymen against him in the context of the ruling Roman government—being chained to one of its soldiers—continuously preached and taught a predictable gospel message. Even after his message was rejected by most and tensions rose, we still find Paul proclaiming the kingdom of God and the person and work of Jesus (v30-31).
“He expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and the Prophets” (Acts 28:23)
Paul was gospel predictable; Paul’s passion and priorities in Christ were clear. He was a sent messenger with a given message to make great of God through proclaiming the salvific work of God the Son, Jesus Christ. Understanding the many challenges that Paul faced in being this called messenger (2 Cor 11:24-28), how did he maintain this gospel predictability? What sustained him?
How to Live a Life of Gospel Predictability
Paul lived this gospel predictability by the empowering grace of God through the person and work of the Holy Spirit in his life. It was God, not Paul, that made the difference (2 Cor 12:9). This is precisely why the book of Acts ends with no final details about Paul’s life. He was not the focus; God was and is the focus. The story of Acts ends as an open narrative because the story is to continue in us. This is our story for our day! We too are called to and can make a difference for the kingdom of God. Like Paul, Father, help us to share and live out the gospel; help us to be gospel predictable by your grace and Spirit for the fame of your Son alone.
Unpredictable Circumstances
When the doc said I needed to go to the hospital to get an ultrasound to examine my privates (see part I), my first thought was “Do they have male technicians?” We’ll, you probably have already guessed the answer to that question. NO. So there I was with my wife, the female ultrasound technician, and my towel. I will spare you the details of this experience, but if you knew my wife you would be able to imagine her and the lab tech hitting hit it off with girly camaraderie and laughter as we examined the pics on the screen of the interior parts of my privates (I know, it’s personal, but I warned you in part I). But what I will share with you is what transpired out of this unpredictable event that—by God’s grace—has become more and more predictable in my life and the life of my wife.
With no choice but to go with the flow of the moment, I sought to join in the jovial conversation as we got the scoop on my condition while my wife and I befriended and learned a few things about my helpful and professional technician. What we discovered as we conversed together—with me in my towel—is that she was expecting her second child. This insight eventually led to a great opportunity to pray for her and the baby before we departed the ultrasound room, and after I had more than a towel to wear. In my prayer, I prayed for God, who sovereignly crafts the little ones in the mother’s womb, to bless the growth and delivery of her child and to someday draw the little one unto Himself through His Son Jesus—in addition to asking a blessing upon the mom.
As I have already mentioned, much of the events of this day were nowhere on my radar screen; they were simply unpredictable. However, I do hope that what transpired with the technician was not. I pray it represents a very gospel-centered predictable aspect of my life and the life of my wife—to seek opportunities to develop genuine relationships with people and to be a conduit to plant seeds and/or share with others about the greatness of God and His gospel, Jesus. I also pray I am learning more and more how to be discerning of where and how God is at work around me and how I can participate in His story for His glory. Ultimately, it is never about me; ultimately, it is always about Him.
How about you? Is there gospel predictability in your life—even when life is unpredictable? Do your actions and words reflect the call of God on your life to make great of Him and to make disciples of Jesus in your community? If not, let me close by pointing you to a great model of gospel predictability in Scripture that has been a great encouragement in my life and I pray will be in yours as well.
Gospel Predictability In The Life Of Paul
The Apostle Paul’s life as recorded in Acts reflects a man of gospel predictability. At the close of Luke’s writings in Acts 28 we find Paul imprisoned in Rome after quite an ordeal in getting there—beaten, escaped assassination plots, unjustly imprisoned, survived life threatening court trials, rode out a 14 day hurricane-like sea voyage, ship wrecked, and bitten by a viper (Acts 21-28). Despite all of these unpredictable circumstances, we always find Paul’s actions and words very predictable. In this particular story of his life, Luke shares with us that Paul, once arriving in Rome, gathered his fellow Jewish countrymen and began to testify and preach about the kingdom of God and the person and work of Jesus (v 23). This is not to say that Paul did not converse about all the other events that had been happening in his life. Nor is it to say that Paul would not have taken the time to hear the stories of his fellow countrymen as he sought to build relationships with them. However, it is to say that what Luke wants us to see is that Paul lived his life with his passion and priorities centered on his call from God in Christ Jesus (Acts 9). Or from a meta-narrative perspective of Acts, God was fulfilling in and through the life of Paul just what He promised (Acts 1:8; 9:15; 23:11)!
Now it is important to keep in mind that it was Paul’s Jewish brothers in Jerusalem (and in every other town he visited) that wanted him beaten, stoned, and dead as a result of his message (Acts 14:19; 23:12)). But this predictable messenger, at the risk of stirring his countrymen against him in the context of the ruling Roman government—being chained to one of its soldiers—continuously preached and taught a predictable gospel message. Even after his message was rejected by most and tensions rose, we still find Paul proclaiming the kingdom of God and the person and work of Jesus (v30-31).
“He expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and the Prophets” (Acts 28:23)
Paul was gospel predictable; Paul’s passion and priorities in Christ were clear. He was a sent messenger with a given message to make great of God through proclaiming the salvific work of God the Son, Jesus Christ. Understanding the many challenges that Paul faced in being this called messenger (2 Cor 11:24-28), how did he maintain this gospel predictability? What sustained him?
How to Live a Life of Gospel Predictability
Paul lived this gospel predictability by the empowering grace of God through the person and work of the Holy Spirit in his life. It was God, not Paul, that made the difference (2 Cor 12:9). This is precisely why the book of Acts ends with no final details about Paul’s life. He was not the focus; God was and is the focus. The story of Acts ends as an open narrative because the story is to continue in us. This is our story for our day! We too are called to and can make a difference for the kingdom of God. Like Paul, Father, help us to share and live out the gospel; help us to be gospel predictable by your grace and Spirit for the fame of your Son alone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)