27Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.
39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." ESV
… Once [the woman at the well] had been born again, instead of being ashamed of what she had done, she blurted out that Jesus knew all about it. This is one of the most important signs that people have truly come to faith in Christ; instead of covering their sin and resenting the subject, true Christians publicly admit their sin—in fact, they delight to do so—in order to show that Jesus is the Savior of sinners. This is how the new birth changes us into witnesses for Christ, and it is because people notice this change that they listen and come. In this way the new birth both causes and empowers our witness to Christ …
Jesus applied this as a general principle: “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (John 4:34). These two priorities consumed His mind and heart: He was committed to acting in conformity with God’s will and to completing the task God had given Him to do. This commitment on Jesus’ part sets an agenda for how we, too, can lead fulfilling lives despite hardships or trials—by committing ourselves to godly living and faithful service to God.
The divergence between Jesus’ focus and our own explains the unhappiness and lack of fulfillment many of us experience, even as Christians. Do you realize that the more self-centered we are, the more unhappy and unfulfilled we are? Are you trying to feast on an unwholesome diet of worldly amusements, earthly success, or sinful pleasure? You will never be satisfied that way! Too many Christians can recite details of all the sit-coms on television but do not know what to say to lead a sinner to Christ. Many others feed richly on God’s Word, but because they do not serve—and especially because they do not witness—they find themselves strangely unfulfilled.
The way to lead a joyful, meaningful life is not to pursue your own pleasure but to do everything to the glory of God. …It means delighting to do God’s will and to serve His kingdom. Above all else, as Jesus shows us, our chief delight should be playing a role in the salvation of other people … What Jesus said should be true of us as well: “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” (Phillips, 158-161)
We have come to the end of this study of Jesus the Evangelist. Rick Phillips leaves us with a powerful description of Christ as the Savior of the world. He is not just your Savior or my Savior. He is the Savior of all who will come to know God and inhabit heaven. The Samaritans in John 4 make a stunning connection. They understood that this man standing before them, dressed like them, covered with dust like them, was the Savior of the world. They understood this not because he spoke about grand political theory, nor how bad the Romans were, nor how he was going to bring more water to their village. They understood this because he spoke about the unquenchable thirst of their souls. Jesus talked about the sins of the woman at the well (just as the villagers themselves often did), but he spoke with compassion and offered reconciliation. The Samaritans became convinced that this common man who had walked into their village could do something no human could do. He could heal the human heart! He was the Savior of the world.
Phillips then proceeds to challenge us. Do we have the same clear perception of Christ that these ordinary Samaritans did? Is Christ the Savior of the world or is he merely our “get of jail free” card? What is more important to you than telling others about the Savior of the world? Do you fit into one of the two categories that Phillips lists above? Are you preoccupied with the pleasures of this world, especially those that are not sins in and of themselves? Or are you content to know God’s Word yourself, without telling it to your family and to others whom you know?
When there are economic concerns, as there are now, the first instinct is for self-preservation. But on balance that can be a deadly concern. Notice what Jesus says in John 12:24-26:
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
Men, do you love this life and its pleasures? If you do, you will lose. To be an effective leader for Christ in your family, you cannot view your commitment to Christ as one of several things you must prioritize. You cannot fit serving Christ into a schedule of sports, the outdoors, business, etc., and still be committed to him. You cannot love this life more than you love Christ. Your life is your most effective evangelistic statement to others, especially to your family. Consider the challenge Rick Phillips makes to you on Jesus’ behalf: what is your “food”?
May your discussions in your groups this week bear much fruit for the gospel of Christ.
We will be on break until January. Merry Christmas!
Redeemer Logo2
Monday, December 8, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
John 4:16-19, 27-30 Confession of Sin, Confession of Faith
16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." 17 The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true." 19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.
27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him. ESV
Confession of Sin
Why should Christians dwell on sin? James Montgomery Boice answers: “It is simply because Christians are realists. They recognize that sin is an everyday experience and the number one problem of mankind. What is more, they recognize that the Bible everywhere insists upon this.” …
There can be little doubt that many of us experience difficulties because of our sins. That is true not merely because of the natural consequences of sin, but because God chastens us, so that many of our hardships are sent by God in direct response to our sins. Hebrews 12:6 says, “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” So even those whose sins have been forgiven through the blood of Christ nonetheless suffer in this life because of their sins. If we want God’s kindness toward us to have a free reign, we will not present God with sins that require Him to discipline us. The path of obedience is ever the path of blessing …
Jesus confronted [the woman at the well] with her sin because He loved her, because He knew her sin, and because her sin stood between her and God. How fitting it is that Jesus spoke to her about her sin, and that He was the One to set this example for us, because Jesus came into the world to deal with the problem of our sin …
If sin was so important to God that He sent His only beloved Son into the world to deal specifically with it; if sin is so great a barrier between God and man that only the precious blood of Christ could remove it; and if Jesus was so committed to the salvation of sinners that He was willing to go to this horrific length to achieve it, how dare we cover up the topic of sin as some embarrassment to us or an impediment to the success of Christ’s church! Do you see why we must be willing to ask people to confess their sins in worship that is offered up in Christ’s name? Do you see why we must preach a gospel not just of cheery sentimentality but of the true and bad news of sin for which Christ paid so great a cost? …
It is unreasonable for us to expect to match Jesus’ skill, since we lack His perfect knowledge and grace. But His example shows us that we should exercise care in bringing people to conviction of sin—as Nathan did when he confronted King David for his sin with Bathsheba—and that we should seek the Holy Spirit’s help through prayer both for our own conduct and for the response of the one whom we hope to bring to conviction of sin and faith in Christ.
Confession of Faith
When a doctor delivers a baby, the first thing he wants to hear is the baby’s cry. This tells him that air has entered the baby’s lungs and that the child has started to breathe. So it is with the spiritual rebirth. When the Spirit enters the heart, the new life He brings causes the spiritual infant to cry out, confessing his or her faith in Jesus Christ. This is the first clear sign that true salvation has occurred …
… the woman at the well, having beheld Jesus’ deity when He revealed Himself as the Messiah, responded with a public confession of faith that clearly showed her new birth. John 4:28-29 tells us, “The woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?’” From her subsequent conduct, it is evident that she was saying, “I have found the Messiah,” and her public confession to her neighbors demonstrated her rebirth. (Phillips, 132, 135, 140, 147-148)
Rick Phillips talks freely about confession of sin. Yet, we would rather talk about politics, weather, sports or our least favorite restaurant than to talk about sin. Or if we must talk about sin, let's talk about the sin of other people. But Phillips shows us from John 4 that Jesus wants us to be interested in our own sins. Failure to discuss our own sin is a failure to discuss the obvious. If you have a rip in your pants that you are blissfully unaware of it doesn’t mean that the rip is not obvious to others. The same is true of our sins. Despite all of our attempts to rationalize our own sins, these sins are still painfully obvious to others around us.
Men, let’s stop pretending that our sins are trivial. They are not. Our flesh is deceptive. It has been skillfully trained by a deceptive heart to cover up the most obvious of realities--our own sin! You would be grateful to a friend for mentioning the embarrassing rip in your pants. You must also learn to value the observations of your family and friends who would point out the even more embarrassing sins that you unthinkingly display. Brothers, it is time to act like men who are serious about loving God.
Go to your wife and ask her to tell you the five most obvious sins that you are oblivious to. Do the same with some close friends. Don’t fight back or offer reasonable explanations about why their observations are wrong. Rather, be thankful that you can begin to address the most obvious things that others notice about you. Like the woman at the well, our sins are all too obvious. By God’s grace, let’s get to work. This is how we can lead our families to take their own sins more seriously.
27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him. ESV
Confession of Sin
Why should Christians dwell on sin? James Montgomery Boice answers: “It is simply because Christians are realists. They recognize that sin is an everyday experience and the number one problem of mankind. What is more, they recognize that the Bible everywhere insists upon this.” …
There can be little doubt that many of us experience difficulties because of our sins. That is true not merely because of the natural consequences of sin, but because God chastens us, so that many of our hardships are sent by God in direct response to our sins. Hebrews 12:6 says, “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” So even those whose sins have been forgiven through the blood of Christ nonetheless suffer in this life because of their sins. If we want God’s kindness toward us to have a free reign, we will not present God with sins that require Him to discipline us. The path of obedience is ever the path of blessing …
Jesus confronted [the woman at the well] with her sin because He loved her, because He knew her sin, and because her sin stood between her and God. How fitting it is that Jesus spoke to her about her sin, and that He was the One to set this example for us, because Jesus came into the world to deal with the problem of our sin …
If sin was so important to God that He sent His only beloved Son into the world to deal specifically with it; if sin is so great a barrier between God and man that only the precious blood of Christ could remove it; and if Jesus was so committed to the salvation of sinners that He was willing to go to this horrific length to achieve it, how dare we cover up the topic of sin as some embarrassment to us or an impediment to the success of Christ’s church! Do you see why we must be willing to ask people to confess their sins in worship that is offered up in Christ’s name? Do you see why we must preach a gospel not just of cheery sentimentality but of the true and bad news of sin for which Christ paid so great a cost? …
It is unreasonable for us to expect to match Jesus’ skill, since we lack His perfect knowledge and grace. But His example shows us that we should exercise care in bringing people to conviction of sin—as Nathan did when he confronted King David for his sin with Bathsheba—and that we should seek the Holy Spirit’s help through prayer both for our own conduct and for the response of the one whom we hope to bring to conviction of sin and faith in Christ.
Confession of Faith
When a doctor delivers a baby, the first thing he wants to hear is the baby’s cry. This tells him that air has entered the baby’s lungs and that the child has started to breathe. So it is with the spiritual rebirth. When the Spirit enters the heart, the new life He brings causes the spiritual infant to cry out, confessing his or her faith in Jesus Christ. This is the first clear sign that true salvation has occurred …
… the woman at the well, having beheld Jesus’ deity when He revealed Himself as the Messiah, responded with a public confession of faith that clearly showed her new birth. John 4:28-29 tells us, “The woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?’” From her subsequent conduct, it is evident that she was saying, “I have found the Messiah,” and her public confession to her neighbors demonstrated her rebirth. (Phillips, 132, 135, 140, 147-148)
Rick Phillips talks freely about confession of sin. Yet, we would rather talk about politics, weather, sports or our least favorite restaurant than to talk about sin. Or if we must talk about sin, let's talk about the sin of other people. But Phillips shows us from John 4 that Jesus wants us to be interested in our own sins. Failure to discuss our own sin is a failure to discuss the obvious. If you have a rip in your pants that you are blissfully unaware of it doesn’t mean that the rip is not obvious to others. The same is true of our sins. Despite all of our attempts to rationalize our own sins, these sins are still painfully obvious to others around us.
Men, let’s stop pretending that our sins are trivial. They are not. Our flesh is deceptive. It has been skillfully trained by a deceptive heart to cover up the most obvious of realities--our own sin! You would be grateful to a friend for mentioning the embarrassing rip in your pants. You must also learn to value the observations of your family and friends who would point out the even more embarrassing sins that you unthinkingly display. Brothers, it is time to act like men who are serious about loving God.
Go to your wife and ask her to tell you the five most obvious sins that you are oblivious to. Do the same with some close friends. Don’t fight back or offer reasonable explanations about why their observations are wrong. Rather, be thankful that you can begin to address the most obvious things that others notice about you. Like the woman at the well, our sins are all too obvious. By God’s grace, let’s get to work. This is how we can lead our families to take their own sins more seriously.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
John 4:10-15 Living Water
10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." 11 The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock." 13 Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water." ESV
This week Rick Phillips has some challenging thoughts for us as men about why our witness is often ineffective. Chapter 10 of Jesus the Evangelist pivots on Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well. The Samaritan woman was captivated by the idea of living water that would forever quench her thirst. Jesus was offering something that commanded her attention. Here are excerpts from the chapter.
"The souls of men and women are thirsty for God, whether they know it or not. Nothing except God can satisfy the soul made by God for Himself. St. Augustine wrote at the beginning of his Confessions: “You have made us for yourself and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Psalm 42:1 speaks for us all: “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”
This was true for the Samaritan woman and it is true for you. You may have all this world can offer—riches, rank, place, and power—yet be utterly unfulfilled. Isn’t this the story of our time? Amidst gaudy affluence and every-ready entertainment, ours is a generation aching with thirst …
This was Jesus’ message to the woman at the well. He told her that as long as she continued drinking from worldly troughs, she would always thirst again. But, He added, “whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him well become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14) …
…Jesus spoke of a change that would result … new life from the Holy Spirit. To be born again is to have a spiritual fountain welling up within you, as God Himself lives and moves in your heart.
The results of this change … are faith, godliness, and unfailing spiritual joy … If you are a Christian, are you experiencing this?… Tragically, far too many Christians have found the true fountain of eternal, spiritual life but know little of its blessings of righteousness, peace, and joy. This is one reason our witness is often ineffective.
There are a number of explanations for this. Some Christians live close to the world and fill their hearts with worldly things. Are you like that? … If so, wean your heart from earthly pleasures and start serving Jesus at home, in your work, and in your play. Stop craving for worldly success, stop drinking from worldly troughs, and renew your commitment to Christ, and you will find refreshing waters flowing freely once again. Other Christians have stopped up the spring of the Holy Spirit with sinful habits or attitudes. If you are truly a Christian, you can never ultimately block God’s Spirit, but how much better for you to repent or forgive as needed and to walk in the light, cleansed by Christ’s blood and refreshed by His fellowship." (Phillips, 125-129)
Perhaps the reason that your witness for Christ is not compelling to others is that it is not compelling to you. Do you stand out in relief from the world around you? What is it that makes you different from those with whom you hang out? Jesus offered something more than just a list of “don'ts.” Jesus offered this woman what she didn't have– something that would forever quench the thirst for satisfaction. You can share common interests with others, but do you represent something beyond that commonality? For example, you can share being a fan of a particular team with friends, but is your mood dominated by that team’s performance? If your common bond with these fans is “wait till next year,” you offer nothing more than what they already have. You offer water that will soon leave them thirsty again. Perhaps you share a love of the outdoors and hunting with others. If your common interests focus on the beauty of the woods and the stillness of the early morning as you wait for a buck, you offer only water that satisfies for the moment, but lacks true satisfaction. Or perhaps your area of commonality with others centers on financial stability. But do those others see you as someone whose true stability has nothing to do with the ups and downs of the economy?
As men we are called to be leaders. Where are we leading our families and friends? To be men who have something truly valuable to offer, we must be finding our own satisfaction in the living water. When we are, we will want to offer it to others.
Take some time to consider why your witness for Christ is not as effective as it should be. Do you live so close to the world that your friends think you drink from the same water that they do? Think carefully about how you can offer living water to those around you. Make this a matter of prayer. Talk about this in your ministry group.
Dr. Gore’s Notes
Here is the link to R.J. Gore’s notes from our retreat. Why not take a moment and drop Dr. Gore an email of appreciation for his time with us.
rgore@erskine.edu
This week Rick Phillips has some challenging thoughts for us as men about why our witness is often ineffective. Chapter 10 of Jesus the Evangelist pivots on Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well. The Samaritan woman was captivated by the idea of living water that would forever quench her thirst. Jesus was offering something that commanded her attention. Here are excerpts from the chapter.
"The souls of men and women are thirsty for God, whether they know it or not. Nothing except God can satisfy the soul made by God for Himself. St. Augustine wrote at the beginning of his Confessions: “You have made us for yourself and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Psalm 42:1 speaks for us all: “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”
This was true for the Samaritan woman and it is true for you. You may have all this world can offer—riches, rank, place, and power—yet be utterly unfulfilled. Isn’t this the story of our time? Amidst gaudy affluence and every-ready entertainment, ours is a generation aching with thirst …
This was Jesus’ message to the woman at the well. He told her that as long as she continued drinking from worldly troughs, she would always thirst again. But, He added, “whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him well become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14) …
…Jesus spoke of a change that would result … new life from the Holy Spirit. To be born again is to have a spiritual fountain welling up within you, as God Himself lives and moves in your heart.
The results of this change … are faith, godliness, and unfailing spiritual joy … If you are a Christian, are you experiencing this?… Tragically, far too many Christians have found the true fountain of eternal, spiritual life but know little of its blessings of righteousness, peace, and joy. This is one reason our witness is often ineffective.
There are a number of explanations for this. Some Christians live close to the world and fill their hearts with worldly things. Are you like that? … If so, wean your heart from earthly pleasures and start serving Jesus at home, in your work, and in your play. Stop craving for worldly success, stop drinking from worldly troughs, and renew your commitment to Christ, and you will find refreshing waters flowing freely once again. Other Christians have stopped up the spring of the Holy Spirit with sinful habits or attitudes. If you are truly a Christian, you can never ultimately block God’s Spirit, but how much better for you to repent or forgive as needed and to walk in the light, cleansed by Christ’s blood and refreshed by His fellowship." (Phillips, 125-129)
Perhaps the reason that your witness for Christ is not compelling to others is that it is not compelling to you. Do you stand out in relief from the world around you? What is it that makes you different from those with whom you hang out? Jesus offered something more than just a list of “don'ts.” Jesus offered this woman what she didn't have– something that would forever quench the thirst for satisfaction. You can share common interests with others, but do you represent something beyond that commonality? For example, you can share being a fan of a particular team with friends, but is your mood dominated by that team’s performance? If your common bond with these fans is “wait till next year,” you offer nothing more than what they already have. You offer water that will soon leave them thirsty again. Perhaps you share a love of the outdoors and hunting with others. If your common interests focus on the beauty of the woods and the stillness of the early morning as you wait for a buck, you offer only water that satisfies for the moment, but lacks true satisfaction. Or perhaps your area of commonality with others centers on financial stability. But do those others see you as someone whose true stability has nothing to do with the ups and downs of the economy?
As men we are called to be leaders. Where are we leading our families and friends? To be men who have something truly valuable to offer, we must be finding our own satisfaction in the living water. When we are, we will want to offer it to others.
Take some time to consider why your witness for Christ is not as effective as it should be. Do you live so close to the world that your friends think you drink from the same water that they do? Think carefully about how you can offer living water to those around you. Make this a matter of prayer. Talk about this in your ministry group.
Dr. Gore’s Notes
Here is the link to R.J. Gore’s notes from our retreat. Why not take a moment and drop Dr. Gore an email of appreciation for his time with us.
rgore@erskine.edu
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Witness to Ordinary People - Week 9
John 4:1-10
1Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" ( For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." (ESV)
The following paragraphs are excerpted from Jesus the Evangelist – Chapter 9
What approach characterized Jesus’ witness to ordinary people? What was His attitude to sinful people in need of the gospel? What logic did Jesus employ in seeking a hearing for His message of God’s grace? Jesus’ witness to the Samaritan woman is a gold mine in our search for an evangelistic method, for here our Lord Himself sets us an example of speaking the truth in love …
Many of us are ineffective evangelists simply because we are too lazy and self-centered. We are not willing to cross the street to meet people. We do not care enough for the eternal destiny of friends, family members, and co-workers to risk the social hazard of talking about the Lord. Our lives are focused on our own needs and those of our children, so we have no time to participate in outreach ministries. For many of us, the first step in doing evangelism is simply to care enough for the lost to become weary in the gospel. Those who do tire themselves in gospel outreach have sweet fellowship with the Savior who rested at the well…
Evangelism requires a caring motivation. But as Jesus’ example shows, the next step in sharing the gospel is crossing the boundaries that separate people from God. This Samaritan woman never would have come to Jerusalem, where Jesus had been preaching and working miracles; she knew she would not fit in among the Jews. So Jesus crossed the boundaries and went to her …
Jesus crossed three barriers. The first was that which separated Samaritans from Jews … [the second was that] this Samaritan was also a woman. It may not seem scandalous to us for a man to sit at a well with a woman, but it certainly was in Jesus’ day … Third, Jesus overcame a social and religious taboo by asking for a drink. Jews did not share utensils with Samaritans; doing so risked separation from the fellowship and worship of God’s people under the temple rules …
Why did Jesus cross these barriers? Because He cared for the woman’s soul. We, too, have to cross barriers to reach people for Christ … Many people are kept from God simply because they think they don’t belong at church. They assume that believers will look down on them. Moreover, they feel uncomfortable in religious surroundings, the way a Samaritan would have felt in Jerusalem. For all these reasons, they are not likely to come to us, so we have to take the gospel to them. (Phillips, 109-114)
In this chapter Rick Phillips reminds of the evangelistic opportunities that occur in ordinary life with ordinary people. Pursuing ordinary people may not seem particularly motivating. But that is exactly with Jesus did with the woman at the well. You see, ordinary people who are spiritually lost are headed for an eternity of excruciating pain and agony—just like famous lost people. Finding ways to have conversations about Jesus Christ and how he runs his world will take forethought and planning. It may even mean crossing uncomfortable barriers. But it will also mean giving the most important message on earth to ordinary people. These people are your friends, your neighbors, and your coworkers. These are the people in the checkout lane at where you shop. These are guys that you hunt, fish, and watch football with. These are ordinary people who do not know Christ. They may be exasperating at times, but like you, they need to know Christ.
Why not make a list of the ordinary people in your life? Then, after each person on the list, jot down a way to begin a conversation that will lead to talking about Christ. For example, if the person at the checkout seems down, you could say something to encourage him or her. Always make it a point to show appreciation for their help, especially when it seems like they are having a tough day. Then, as the relationship begins to grow, you can find opportunities to mention how Christ is an encouragement to you. Do this same exercise which each of the ordinary people on your list. Ordinary people need to know your extraordinary God!
1Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" ( For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." (ESV)
The following paragraphs are excerpted from Jesus the Evangelist – Chapter 9
What approach characterized Jesus’ witness to ordinary people? What was His attitude to sinful people in need of the gospel? What logic did Jesus employ in seeking a hearing for His message of God’s grace? Jesus’ witness to the Samaritan woman is a gold mine in our search for an evangelistic method, for here our Lord Himself sets us an example of speaking the truth in love …
Many of us are ineffective evangelists simply because we are too lazy and self-centered. We are not willing to cross the street to meet people. We do not care enough for the eternal destiny of friends, family members, and co-workers to risk the social hazard of talking about the Lord. Our lives are focused on our own needs and those of our children, so we have no time to participate in outreach ministries. For many of us, the first step in doing evangelism is simply to care enough for the lost to become weary in the gospel. Those who do tire themselves in gospel outreach have sweet fellowship with the Savior who rested at the well…
Evangelism requires a caring motivation. But as Jesus’ example shows, the next step in sharing the gospel is crossing the boundaries that separate people from God. This Samaritan woman never would have come to Jerusalem, where Jesus had been preaching and working miracles; she knew she would not fit in among the Jews. So Jesus crossed the boundaries and went to her …
Jesus crossed three barriers. The first was that which separated Samaritans from Jews … [the second was that] this Samaritan was also a woman. It may not seem scandalous to us for a man to sit at a well with a woman, but it certainly was in Jesus’ day … Third, Jesus overcame a social and religious taboo by asking for a drink. Jews did not share utensils with Samaritans; doing so risked separation from the fellowship and worship of God’s people under the temple rules …
Why did Jesus cross these barriers? Because He cared for the woman’s soul. We, too, have to cross barriers to reach people for Christ … Many people are kept from God simply because they think they don’t belong at church. They assume that believers will look down on them. Moreover, they feel uncomfortable in religious surroundings, the way a Samaritan would have felt in Jerusalem. For all these reasons, they are not likely to come to us, so we have to take the gospel to them. (Phillips, 109-114)
In this chapter Rick Phillips reminds of the evangelistic opportunities that occur in ordinary life with ordinary people. Pursuing ordinary people may not seem particularly motivating. But that is exactly with Jesus did with the woman at the well. You see, ordinary people who are spiritually lost are headed for an eternity of excruciating pain and agony—just like famous lost people. Finding ways to have conversations about Jesus Christ and how he runs his world will take forethought and planning. It may even mean crossing uncomfortable barriers. But it will also mean giving the most important message on earth to ordinary people. These people are your friends, your neighbors, and your coworkers. These are the people in the checkout lane at where you shop. These are guys that you hunt, fish, and watch football with. These are ordinary people who do not know Christ. They may be exasperating at times, but like you, they need to know Christ.
Why not make a list of the ordinary people in your life? Then, after each person on the list, jot down a way to begin a conversation that will lead to talking about Christ. For example, if the person at the checkout seems down, you could say something to encourage him or her. Always make it a point to show appreciation for their help, especially when it seems like they are having a tough day. Then, as the relationship begins to grow, you can find opportunities to mention how Christ is an encouragement to you. Do this same exercise which each of the ordinary people on your list. Ordinary people need to know your extraordinary God!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Week 8 - Who’s Listening?
I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. John 5:24a
Romans 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (ESV)
This week’s blog is condensed from pages 51-55 of Ken Priddy’s book, The Silent Church. Priddy’s work makes a good counterpoint to Rick Phillips’ book, Jesus the Evangelist. Phillips does an excellent job of laying out the content of the gospel message. Priddy, on the other hand, discusses the effectiveness of how that gospel is presented. This is, in some ways, the classic issue that committed Christians have faced down through church history—first, getting the gospel message right and then, getting the gospel message out. Notice how Priddy addressed this in working with the leadership of a national church. The same issues apply to us at Redeemer.
“With over 80% of American Protestant churches in plateau or decline, every regional and national church entity needs to provide resources to return the majority of its churches to health and growth. This was the intent when I presented our ministry to a particular national board. I emphasized that our approach to church revitalization is built on two platforms, spiritual renewal and strategic initiative. I explained that most churches tend to emphasize one or the other. Those that emphasize only spiritual renewal experience a “spiritual pep rally.” Interest and excitement flare up for a short season, but without backing the spiritual with the strategic, the fire dies out and ministry returns to status quo. Those that emphasize only strategic initiative chase the new methodology of the moment. This creates some energy and short-term gains, but without spiritual renewal the church’s ministry will soon return to status quo.
Later, I sat with the board’s revitalization committee. I soon discovered that this group resonated strongly with spiritual renewal, but wasn’t really appreciating the value of strategic initiative. I was asked: “I know there’s a place for strategy, but isn’t it really all about the power of the proclaimed Word of God?” Well, it’s hard to argue against the power of God’s Word proclaimed, yet I needed to defend strategic initiative. I knew they would respect a thoughtful, biblical and theological response, but it was time to break for dinner. So I asked, “Do most of the pastors in your denomination proclaim the Word of God?” They answered, “Yes.” I continued, “Then if it’s all about the power of the proclaimed Word of God, why are most of the churches in your denomination in plateau or decline?” Point – Game – Match!
That night I couldn’t sleep. I felt that I had made my point, but had hardly rallied these leaders to embrace strategic initiative. I prayed into the early hours of the morning, reading here and there in Scripture. Suddenly it hit me. It’s not just the power of the proclaimed Word of God—it’s the power of that proclamation when it falls on the ears of the unbeliever. Strategic initiative is the commitment of a church to put unbelieving ears within reach of Gospel proclamation.
The next morning this new insight was very well received. The riddle asks, “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” The answer is, “Yes.” Sound, by definition, is vibration and as the tree falls, vibration occurs whether anyone hears it or not. However, if a Gospel proclamation is made and there are no unbelieving ears to hear it, has the Gospel truly been proclaimed? No. Webster defines the word proclaim as, “to announce or declare in an open or ostentatious way, to indicate or make known publicly or openly, to extol or praise publicly,” and defines the word proclamation as, “something that is proclaimed; a public and official announcement.” A strategic initiative will put an unbelieving public within range of the proclaimed Word.
Churches that choose to preach and teach the Word of God without employing strategies to penetrate their communities will continue to talk only to themselves. The strategic question is not, “What’s being proclaimed?” The strategic question is, “Who’s listening?””
Priddy is assuming that the content of the message must be clear and biblically orthodox. But once this is in place, who is going to hear the message? The truth of the gospel can be affirmed by those who already know it, but it can only be proclaimed to those who don’t know it. Thus, Jesus told his followers to go and proclaim this message among the nations to those who do not know it. Few of us have the opportunity to travel the globe proclaiming the gospel message. However, there are those in our daily lives who need to hear this proclamation. God has sovereignly placed you on this planet to proclaim the wonder of the gospel to those whom you know. There are men with whom you come in contact who are enslaved to Internet pornography; who are flirting with drunkenness; who are looking for excitement outside of their marriages; and, who are more committed to their sports team than they are to their families. You will meet others whose lives are tied to the value of their 401k or who are embittered by the nation’s political climate. These people need to hear the gospel proclamation. Yes, invite them to church, but also tell them why: proclaim Christ to them.
Romans 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (ESV)
This week’s blog is condensed from pages 51-55 of Ken Priddy’s book, The Silent Church. Priddy’s work makes a good counterpoint to Rick Phillips’ book, Jesus the Evangelist. Phillips does an excellent job of laying out the content of the gospel message. Priddy, on the other hand, discusses the effectiveness of how that gospel is presented. This is, in some ways, the classic issue that committed Christians have faced down through church history—first, getting the gospel message right and then, getting the gospel message out. Notice how Priddy addressed this in working with the leadership of a national church. The same issues apply to us at Redeemer.
“With over 80% of American Protestant churches in plateau or decline, every regional and national church entity needs to provide resources to return the majority of its churches to health and growth. This was the intent when I presented our ministry to a particular national board. I emphasized that our approach to church revitalization is built on two platforms, spiritual renewal and strategic initiative. I explained that most churches tend to emphasize one or the other. Those that emphasize only spiritual renewal experience a “spiritual pep rally.” Interest and excitement flare up for a short season, but without backing the spiritual with the strategic, the fire dies out and ministry returns to status quo. Those that emphasize only strategic initiative chase the new methodology of the moment. This creates some energy and short-term gains, but without spiritual renewal the church’s ministry will soon return to status quo.
Later, I sat with the board’s revitalization committee. I soon discovered that this group resonated strongly with spiritual renewal, but wasn’t really appreciating the value of strategic initiative. I was asked: “I know there’s a place for strategy, but isn’t it really all about the power of the proclaimed Word of God?” Well, it’s hard to argue against the power of God’s Word proclaimed, yet I needed to defend strategic initiative. I knew they would respect a thoughtful, biblical and theological response, but it was time to break for dinner. So I asked, “Do most of the pastors in your denomination proclaim the Word of God?” They answered, “Yes.” I continued, “Then if it’s all about the power of the proclaimed Word of God, why are most of the churches in your denomination in plateau or decline?” Point – Game – Match!
That night I couldn’t sleep. I felt that I had made my point, but had hardly rallied these leaders to embrace strategic initiative. I prayed into the early hours of the morning, reading here and there in Scripture. Suddenly it hit me. It’s not just the power of the proclaimed Word of God—it’s the power of that proclamation when it falls on the ears of the unbeliever. Strategic initiative is the commitment of a church to put unbelieving ears within reach of Gospel proclamation.
The next morning this new insight was very well received. The riddle asks, “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” The answer is, “Yes.” Sound, by definition, is vibration and as the tree falls, vibration occurs whether anyone hears it or not. However, if a Gospel proclamation is made and there are no unbelieving ears to hear it, has the Gospel truly been proclaimed? No. Webster defines the word proclaim as, “to announce or declare in an open or ostentatious way, to indicate or make known publicly or openly, to extol or praise publicly,” and defines the word proclamation as, “something that is proclaimed; a public and official announcement.” A strategic initiative will put an unbelieving public within range of the proclaimed Word.
Churches that choose to preach and teach the Word of God without employing strategies to penetrate their communities will continue to talk only to themselves. The strategic question is not, “What’s being proclaimed?” The strategic question is, “Who’s listening?””
Priddy is assuming that the content of the message must be clear and biblically orthodox. But once this is in place, who is going to hear the message? The truth of the gospel can be affirmed by those who already know it, but it can only be proclaimed to those who don’t know it. Thus, Jesus told his followers to go and proclaim this message among the nations to those who do not know it. Few of us have the opportunity to travel the globe proclaiming the gospel message. However, there are those in our daily lives who need to hear this proclamation. God has sovereignly placed you on this planet to proclaim the wonder of the gospel to those whom you know. There are men with whom you come in contact who are enslaved to Internet pornography; who are flirting with drunkenness; who are looking for excitement outside of their marriages; and, who are more committed to their sports team than they are to their families. You will meet others whose lives are tied to the value of their 401k or who are embittered by the nation’s political climate. These people need to hear the gospel proclamation. Yes, invite them to church, but also tell them why: proclaim Christ to them.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
John 3:16-18 The Gospel of Love & Faith
16"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ESV
Notice these important comments from Rick Phillips in Chapter 7 of Jesus the Evangelist. Love and Faith are two of the most used words in our culture. For this reason it is important to understand the meaning of these words as God intended. Phillips provides this help in this chapter.
"John 3:16 is a verse beloved by evangelists because it answers an essential question, namely, “What is the gospel?” This is not a trivial matter. The fact is that the witness of many Christians is greatly hampered by confusion over the content of the Christian gospel. To some, the gospel is simply an invitation for a person to allow God to come into his or her heart. But what does this mean? Is this what God offers the world? Given this kind of confusion, it is essential for those who witness the gospel to know what the gospel is.…
John 3:16 presents us with the Bible’s greatest theme: God’s love for us through Jesus Christ. This is a message that the world needs to hear and that our witness must proclaim. …What can Christians say about God’s love?
· The apostle Paul writes that God’s love is great … (Eph. 2:4-5a) …
· Paul elsewhere describes God’s love as unfathomable (Eph. 3:18-19a) …
· Moreover, as God is sovereign, so is His love … This was God’s explanation to the Israelites for the love He showed them in the exodus: “It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you” (Deut. 7:7-8a). …
· The greatness of God’s love for the world is seen most clearly in the gift that He gave: “his only Son.” …
If God loved us by giving us His son, we ought to love Him with all that we have in return … And we should express that devotion by loving others with the same kind of love God has shown to us. We are to show a love the world does not know—a love not based on getting, but a love that says, “God has given to me, so I want to love Him by giving to others.” This giving love should beautify our marriages, enliven our friendships, glorify God in the church, and inspire in us a loving fervor in evangelism. This was John’s own application in his first epistle, having spoken first of God’s love for us in the giving of His Son”: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).
John 3:16 … is also very instructive about this greatest of all possessions—faith. The Christian witness is an appeal for faith, both in the loving God who gave His Son and in Jesus Christ, the Savior who gives eternal life. Because of this, Christians need to be able to explain just what faith is. This is an important question that is bound to come up in conversations about the gospel. What, then, is saving faith? …
Until we are born again, we cannot and do not believe, because our sinful nature is opposed to faith. Therefore, to realize that you believe in Christ—that you accept what the Bible teaches, trust it as saving truth, and have personally committed yourself to Jesus—is to receive wonderfully good news. It means that you have been born again, since Jesus says that without the new birth you cannot even see, much less enter, God’s kingdom." (Phillips, 83-98)
Faith and love are words you hear your unsaved friends, co-workers and family use constantly. Use Phillips’ definition of these terms to consider the differences between how others use these terms and how God uses them. Plan now how to engage these folks with whom you are close when they use these words. You could say something like – “I really agree with you that we need faith more than ever these days. But the object of our faith is what really matters. I would really enjoy talking about it over a cup of coffee.” Ask God to help you use common, everyday words to bring the gospel to those around you.
Notice these important comments from Rick Phillips in Chapter 7 of Jesus the Evangelist. Love and Faith are two of the most used words in our culture. For this reason it is important to understand the meaning of these words as God intended. Phillips provides this help in this chapter.
"John 3:16 is a verse beloved by evangelists because it answers an essential question, namely, “What is the gospel?” This is not a trivial matter. The fact is that the witness of many Christians is greatly hampered by confusion over the content of the Christian gospel. To some, the gospel is simply an invitation for a person to allow God to come into his or her heart. But what does this mean? Is this what God offers the world? Given this kind of confusion, it is essential for those who witness the gospel to know what the gospel is.…
John 3:16 presents us with the Bible’s greatest theme: God’s love for us through Jesus Christ. This is a message that the world needs to hear and that our witness must proclaim. …What can Christians say about God’s love?
· The apostle Paul writes that God’s love is great … (Eph. 2:4-5a) …
· Paul elsewhere describes God’s love as unfathomable (Eph. 3:18-19a) …
· Moreover, as God is sovereign, so is His love … This was God’s explanation to the Israelites for the love He showed them in the exodus: “It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you” (Deut. 7:7-8a). …
· The greatness of God’s love for the world is seen most clearly in the gift that He gave: “his only Son.” …
If God loved us by giving us His son, we ought to love Him with all that we have in return … And we should express that devotion by loving others with the same kind of love God has shown to us. We are to show a love the world does not know—a love not based on getting, but a love that says, “God has given to me, so I want to love Him by giving to others.” This giving love should beautify our marriages, enliven our friendships, glorify God in the church, and inspire in us a loving fervor in evangelism. This was John’s own application in his first epistle, having spoken first of God’s love for us in the giving of His Son”: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).
John 3:16 … is also very instructive about this greatest of all possessions—faith. The Christian witness is an appeal for faith, both in the loving God who gave His Son and in Jesus Christ, the Savior who gives eternal life. Because of this, Christians need to be able to explain just what faith is. This is an important question that is bound to come up in conversations about the gospel. What, then, is saving faith? …
Until we are born again, we cannot and do not believe, because our sinful nature is opposed to faith. Therefore, to realize that you believe in Christ—that you accept what the Bible teaches, trust it as saving truth, and have personally committed yourself to Jesus—is to receive wonderfully good news. It means that you have been born again, since Jesus says that without the new birth you cannot even see, much less enter, God’s kingdom." (Phillips, 83-98)
Faith and love are words you hear your unsaved friends, co-workers and family use constantly. Use Phillips’ definition of these terms to consider the differences between how others use these terms and how God uses them. Plan now how to engage these folks with whom you are close when they use these words. You could say something like – “I really agree with you that we need faith more than ever these days. But the object of our faith is what really matters. I would really enjoy talking about it over a cup of coffee.” Ask God to help you use common, everyday words to bring the gospel to those around you.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
John 3:9-10, 14-21 The Answer
9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?
14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." ESV
Nicodemus was not born again and therefore was not able to understand. But his questions were sincere and, starting in verse 14, Jesus gave him a series of glorious answers. These answers should be included in our witness to unbelievers.
How can one be born again? Jesus’ first answer was that the new birth is possible because of the sacrifice of the Son of Man. This is the cause of the new birth … Because Jesus died for us, the Holy Spirit comes to make us born again. Through faith in the Son of Man lifted up, sinners gain eternal life.
Jesus’ next answer to Nicodemus comes in John 3:16. Having named the Son’s sacrifice as the cause of the new birth, Jesus gave the love of the Father as the reason for the new birth: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” How simple, profound, and wonderful this is. The reason we can be born again, receiving eternal life, is that God loves the world …
Jesus’ first answer to Nicodemus was the sacrifice of the son and His second was the love of the father, so we would expect His third answer to deal with the Holy Spirit. This is right …How is it that you can be born again? Because the light of Christ is shining today through the illuminating work of God’s Spirit. This is the means of the new birth; this is how people are born again today …
Nicodemus was right that Jesus’ teaching on the new birth was stupendous. He asked, “How can this be?” It was a very good question. Jesus answered with very good news. There is life through His death, there is love from the heart of God, and there is light shining in God’s Word through the Holy Spirit. This is why we can be born again. (Phillips, 75-79)
Phillips identifies three answers from John 3 in Jesus’ response to Nicodemus’ question. Since John was written that people would come to believe, these answers are significant! There must be a satisfying response to the evil of men. Despite all of man’s attempts to dodge responsibility for sin and shift blame to others, people know deep in their hearts that there must be an accounting for the wrongs they have done. As Christians, we can address that deep reality – Jesus made that accounting right on the cross. Jesus sacrificed himself for others. He made this sacrifice because of the love of his Father and thus made his Father’s love effective for those for whom he died. The Holy Spirit completes the mission by bringing illumination to those who have been given this sacrificial gift of divine love.
Brothers, this is Phillips’ point: You have the answers that those around you who are lost so desperately need! What then will you do with these precious answers? Here are three suggestions:
First, pray earnestly for those you know who are lost. Make a specific list of people with whom you have regular contact. Pray for them by name. Pray that God would give the opportunity to give these answers to the questions they secretly ask themselves.
Second, plan your conversations with these folks so that you could 1) address the seeming hopelessness of the shallow answers of this world, and 2) speak of the love of God where there is no hope.
Third, believe that God’s Spirit will provide you with opportunities to provide these answers. Ask God for an attitude of optimism and eagerness to give these powerful answers to others.
· Tell your group about this list of folks.
· Pray for them as a group.
You have the answers!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Week 5 Acts 4:29 Religiously Correct
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness. esv
Here is another excerpt from Ken Priddy’s book, The Silent Church. It fits well with the emphasis that Richard Phillips makes regarding being born again. Our culture is accepting of a politically correct Jesus. This Jesus is the one that shows up around Christmas and Easter and hides out the rest of the year. This Jesus doesn’t offend anyone. This Jesus is a product of what Priddy says is the religiously correct, or RC. Listen to what Ken has to say about this:
Twenty-first century USA has greeted the American church with numerous point-counterpoint realities that might be summarized as, “I’ve got some good news and some bad news.” Let’s start with the bad news. Christianity has been marginalized by current culture, losing much of its mainstream influence. Out with prayer in schools. Out with displays of the Ten Commandments in public places. Out with creationism in the classroom. The current culture’s concept of “tolerance” on steroids means no morals, no rules, no restraints, no limits, no boundaries, no authority and no absolute truth. And to think it wasn’t all that long ago that planned parenthood meant that if you’re planning to have sex, you’d better plan on being a parent.
So what’s the good news? The good news is that pushing Christianity to the margins has made our faith counter-cultural. The once prevalent Cultural Christianity is on the wane, with its replacement becoming potentially more intense, more real and more authentic.
Here’s another scenario, starting with the good news. The good news is that twenty-first century USA is more spiritually minded than its predecessor. The emerging generation having seen the bankruptcy of external achievement and egocentricity, is turning more and more toward the mystical, the invisible, and the spiritual. In this renewed interest in things spiritual there is opportunity for the American church.
However, the bad news is that the draw toward the spiritual has not necessarily been a draw toward Christ. There are many spiritual options to be pursued these days that don’t lead to truth, don’t lead to repentance, and don’t lead to eternal life.
So what is the church to do? It seems to me that we have the advantage. For starters, we have the truth, the real thing. Every other faith, worldview or belief system is standing on a faulty foundation and is sure to fall eventually. We have the Holy Spirit going before us as He wills to regenerate those who will receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We have the promise of God that He will build His church. We have the biblical and historical record of the New Testament that compels us to share our faith and that gives us examples such as the Apostle Paul who becomes all things to all men that he might save some.
Yet, despite all these advantages, the Christian church in many cases remains strangely silent. Why? In several instances the answer that has surfaced when this question was asked is something akin to political correctness. Our P.C. culture has found resonance in the church with what might be called R.C., Religious Correctness. Many Christian churches, surrounded by communities embracing spiritual diversity, are afraid to press the Christian faith because it might appear prideful or it might offend someone of another faith. It’s not the “loving” thing to do. We must be accepting of other faiths or we appear arrogant and exclusive.
So, apparently, the loving, accepting and humble thing to do, in some Christian circles, is to allow our neighbors of other spiritual persuasions to go to hell without a fight. Though they might be eternally damned, we will be religiously correct as we keep the Good News to ourselves.
Excerpted from The Silent Church: 39 Reasons We Keep the Good News to Ourselves, by Kenneth E. Priddy (unpublished manuscript, 2007) 39. Used by permission.
Here are some challenging questions to consider and discuss:
· Which Jesus do your family, friends and coworkers think that you love – the biblical Jesus or the RC Jesus?
· Do you have family, friends and coworkers who are a part of the RC establishment? Are you:
a. Glad that they at least acknowledge something is spiritual in life?
b. Concerned that they may be misguided but not concerned enough to warn them of hell?
c. Glad that they are not offended that you go to church?
d. Worried that you will be viewed as judgmental, backwards, or a Bible thumper if you present the biblical Jesus to them?
e. Committed to bring the biblical Jesus to them even though they may think less of you?
· Concerning this same group of people, consider the following questions, especially in light of this Scripture verse: And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness. Acts 4:29 esv
a. Are you praying that they will know the biblical Jesus?
b. What specific plans could you make to help them see the dangers of believing in the RC Jesus?
c. How could you get to know their areas of personal struggle? What difference could it make to them if you could explain how the biblical Jesus differs from the RC Jesus?
d. Are you bothered that their belief in the RC Jesus will lead them to hell itself?
Here is another excerpt from Ken Priddy’s book, The Silent Church. It fits well with the emphasis that Richard Phillips makes regarding being born again. Our culture is accepting of a politically correct Jesus. This Jesus is the one that shows up around Christmas and Easter and hides out the rest of the year. This Jesus doesn’t offend anyone. This Jesus is a product of what Priddy says is the religiously correct, or RC. Listen to what Ken has to say about this:
Twenty-first century USA has greeted the American church with numerous point-counterpoint realities that might be summarized as, “I’ve got some good news and some bad news.” Let’s start with the bad news. Christianity has been marginalized by current culture, losing much of its mainstream influence. Out with prayer in schools. Out with displays of the Ten Commandments in public places. Out with creationism in the classroom. The current culture’s concept of “tolerance” on steroids means no morals, no rules, no restraints, no limits, no boundaries, no authority and no absolute truth. And to think it wasn’t all that long ago that planned parenthood meant that if you’re planning to have sex, you’d better plan on being a parent.
So what’s the good news? The good news is that pushing Christianity to the margins has made our faith counter-cultural. The once prevalent Cultural Christianity is on the wane, with its replacement becoming potentially more intense, more real and more authentic.
Here’s another scenario, starting with the good news. The good news is that twenty-first century USA is more spiritually minded than its predecessor. The emerging generation having seen the bankruptcy of external achievement and egocentricity, is turning more and more toward the mystical, the invisible, and the spiritual. In this renewed interest in things spiritual there is opportunity for the American church.
However, the bad news is that the draw toward the spiritual has not necessarily been a draw toward Christ. There are many spiritual options to be pursued these days that don’t lead to truth, don’t lead to repentance, and don’t lead to eternal life.
So what is the church to do? It seems to me that we have the advantage. For starters, we have the truth, the real thing. Every other faith, worldview or belief system is standing on a faulty foundation and is sure to fall eventually. We have the Holy Spirit going before us as He wills to regenerate those who will receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We have the promise of God that He will build His church. We have the biblical and historical record of the New Testament that compels us to share our faith and that gives us examples such as the Apostle Paul who becomes all things to all men that he might save some.
Yet, despite all these advantages, the Christian church in many cases remains strangely silent. Why? In several instances the answer that has surfaced when this question was asked is something akin to political correctness. Our P.C. culture has found resonance in the church with what might be called R.C., Religious Correctness. Many Christian churches, surrounded by communities embracing spiritual diversity, are afraid to press the Christian faith because it might appear prideful or it might offend someone of another faith. It’s not the “loving” thing to do. We must be accepting of other faiths or we appear arrogant and exclusive.
So, apparently, the loving, accepting and humble thing to do, in some Christian circles, is to allow our neighbors of other spiritual persuasions to go to hell without a fight. Though they might be eternally damned, we will be religiously correct as we keep the Good News to ourselves.
Excerpted from The Silent Church: 39 Reasons We Keep the Good News to Ourselves, by Kenneth E. Priddy (unpublished manuscript, 2007) 39. Used by permission.
Here are some challenging questions to consider and discuss:
· Which Jesus do your family, friends and coworkers think that you love – the biblical Jesus or the RC Jesus?
· Do you have family, friends and coworkers who are a part of the RC establishment? Are you:
a. Glad that they at least acknowledge something is spiritual in life?
b. Concerned that they may be misguided but not concerned enough to warn them of hell?
c. Glad that they are not offended that you go to church?
d. Worried that you will be viewed as judgmental, backwards, or a Bible thumper if you present the biblical Jesus to them?
e. Committed to bring the biblical Jesus to them even though they may think less of you?
· Concerning this same group of people, consider the following questions, especially in light of this Scripture verse: And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness. Acts 4:29 esv
a. Are you praying that they will know the biblical Jesus?
b. What specific plans could you make to help them see the dangers of believing in the RC Jesus?
c. How could you get to know their areas of personal struggle? What difference could it make to them if you could explain how the biblical Jesus differs from the RC Jesus?
d. Are you bothered that their belief in the RC Jesus will lead them to hell itself?
Monday, October 6, 2008
Week 4 John 3:1-3 Born Again
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." 3Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." ESV
…Nicodemus may have come to Jesus with good will, but his approach was that of an equal or a patronizer, not that of a believer in his Savior or a worshiper before his God
It is significant that Jesus did not welcome Nicodemus’s advance. Had Jesus been a mere teacher, a mere man, these words would have been music to His ears. He was being recognized, accorded access, and promised support! But Jesus bluntly stated that Nicodemus did not know what he was talking about. Indeed, he could not know. “Truly, truly, I say to you,” Jesus replied, “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
A comparison of others’ encounters with Jesus helps us to see this as the reproof it was. To the rich young ruler, so devoted to his money, Jesus commanded, “Sell what you possess and give to the poor” (Matt. 19:21). To the woman at the well, He offered “living water” (John 4:10). Jesus always directs us away from our worldly sources of confidence to the spiritual realities of heaven. So to the confident Pharisee, who was so proud of his lineage, He said, “You must be born again” (John 3:7). Leon Morris observes, “In one sentence he sweeps away all that Nicodemus stood for, and demands that he be remade by the power of God.” We can learn from this reproof to think about what false sources of confidence people we know are relying upon. These are pressure points where we should prayerfully apply the challenges of God’s Word. (Phillips, 61)
Consider where your confidence lies.
To illustrate – if your favorite football team is leading its conference or is in the top 10 in the polls, is there an extra spring in your step? Do you feel just a little superior to others around you? Then what happens when the wins turn into losses? You get the point. If your confidence is rooted in the wrong place, then even as a Christian, your confidence is uncertain and shaky.
Here are some questions that may help to identify misplaced confidence:
· When things don’t go well at home or at work or with your team, are you less confident?
· Are you anxious about the outcome of the presidential election?
· How much confidence does being born again bring to your everyday life?
What about the unbeliever? As a Christian, you know that the unbeliever has a false source of confidence. Only Christ provides true and genuine confidence.
· How might you use this insight in talking to an unbelieving friend?
…Nicodemus may have come to Jesus with good will, but his approach was that of an equal or a patronizer, not that of a believer in his Savior or a worshiper before his God
It is significant that Jesus did not welcome Nicodemus’s advance. Had Jesus been a mere teacher, a mere man, these words would have been music to His ears. He was being recognized, accorded access, and promised support! But Jesus bluntly stated that Nicodemus did not know what he was talking about. Indeed, he could not know. “Truly, truly, I say to you,” Jesus replied, “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
A comparison of others’ encounters with Jesus helps us to see this as the reproof it was. To the rich young ruler, so devoted to his money, Jesus commanded, “Sell what you possess and give to the poor” (Matt. 19:21). To the woman at the well, He offered “living water” (John 4:10). Jesus always directs us away from our worldly sources of confidence to the spiritual realities of heaven. So to the confident Pharisee, who was so proud of his lineage, He said, “You must be born again” (John 3:7). Leon Morris observes, “In one sentence he sweeps away all that Nicodemus stood for, and demands that he be remade by the power of God.” We can learn from this reproof to think about what false sources of confidence people we know are relying upon. These are pressure points where we should prayerfully apply the challenges of God’s Word. (Phillips, 61)
Consider where your confidence lies.
To illustrate – if your favorite football team is leading its conference or is in the top 10 in the polls, is there an extra spring in your step? Do you feel just a little superior to others around you? Then what happens when the wins turn into losses? You get the point. If your confidence is rooted in the wrong place, then even as a Christian, your confidence is uncertain and shaky.
Here are some questions that may help to identify misplaced confidence:
· When things don’t go well at home or at work or with your team, are you less confident?
· Are you anxious about the outcome of the presidential election?
· How much confidence does being born again bring to your everyday life?
What about the unbeliever? As a Christian, you know that the unbeliever has a false source of confidence. Only Christ provides true and genuine confidence.
· How might you use this insight in talking to an unbelieving friend?
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Week 3 - Behold, the Lamb of God
John 1:29-34
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." ESV
A Christian witness is first and foremost about Christ.
We tell people what the early church enshrined in the Apostles’ Creed: that Jesus is God’s only Son and our Lord; that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary; that He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; that He experienced death for three days and then rose from the grave; that He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and that from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. …
[The message of John the Baptist] was not about his experiences or what he felt about God, but about Jesus. When he saw Jesus, he declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” We, too, must testify that Jesus is the One who came to do God’s will by God’s power. John the Baptist said, “I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34), and we must, too … (Phillips, 12-13; also, see chapter 3)
In chapter 3, Phillips points out the powerful connection between Jesus, the Lamb of God, and the Passover lamb of Exodus 12. He says, “So calling Jesus the Lamb of God was John’s way of saying that his blood causes God’s wrath to pass over all those who trust in him.” The imagery of the Lamb of God wonderfully unites the typical symbol (the Old Testament sacrifice of lambs) to the ultimate reality, Jesus. Just like the Passover lamb, the blood of Jesus protects fully all of those for whom he died. What an encouragement to know that your sins—past, present and future—are covered by the blood sacrifice of Jesus.
What does this mean in daily life? It means that you don’t have to live a life of constant excuse-making for your sins, because Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away your sin. It means that you can extend kindness and mercy to friends and coworkers who mistreat you because the Lamb of God takes away your sin. You have a message of hope to give to others, that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of all those who ask in faith. It means that you can face each day with joy and peace because the Lamb of God has paid the price for your sin. It means you are not like the unbelievers around you because the Lamb of God has been slain in your place.
What does it mean to you that Jesus is the Lamb of God?
· For each day this week think of a particular way that you are blessed because Jesus is the Lamb of God.
· Thank God in prayer for this reality.
· Tell your wife about this blessing from the Lamb of God. Tell a friend or a co-worker. Start with some ideas from the paragraph above and then add your own life experiences to the mix.
· Finish your week by praising God in prayer for a particular way in which the Lamb of God has brought comfort to your life because you no longer bear the guilt of your sins. Ask God to make this personal application grow in importance to you. You have been blessed by Jesus the Evangelist.
Think where you would be if the Lamb of God had not taken the punishment for your anger, your greed, your lust, your selfishness. Praise God that he did. Because of that personal sacrifice you don’t have to live under a cloud of guilt and defensiveness. The Lamb of God has taken away your sin.
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." ESV
A Christian witness is first and foremost about Christ.
We tell people what the early church enshrined in the Apostles’ Creed: that Jesus is God’s only Son and our Lord; that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary; that He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; that He experienced death for three days and then rose from the grave; that He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and that from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. …
[The message of John the Baptist] was not about his experiences or what he felt about God, but about Jesus. When he saw Jesus, he declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” We, too, must testify that Jesus is the One who came to do God’s will by God’s power. John the Baptist said, “I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34), and we must, too … (Phillips, 12-13; also, see chapter 3)
In chapter 3, Phillips points out the powerful connection between Jesus, the Lamb of God, and the Passover lamb of Exodus 12. He says, “So calling Jesus the Lamb of God was John’s way of saying that his blood causes God’s wrath to pass over all those who trust in him.” The imagery of the Lamb of God wonderfully unites the typical symbol (the Old Testament sacrifice of lambs) to the ultimate reality, Jesus. Just like the Passover lamb, the blood of Jesus protects fully all of those for whom he died. What an encouragement to know that your sins—past, present and future—are covered by the blood sacrifice of Jesus.
What does this mean in daily life? It means that you don’t have to live a life of constant excuse-making for your sins, because Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away your sin. It means that you can extend kindness and mercy to friends and coworkers who mistreat you because the Lamb of God takes away your sin. You have a message of hope to give to others, that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of all those who ask in faith. It means that you can face each day with joy and peace because the Lamb of God has paid the price for your sin. It means you are not like the unbelievers around you because the Lamb of God has been slain in your place.
What does it mean to you that Jesus is the Lamb of God?
· For each day this week think of a particular way that you are blessed because Jesus is the Lamb of God.
· Thank God in prayer for this reality.
· Tell your wife about this blessing from the Lamb of God. Tell a friend or a co-worker. Start with some ideas from the paragraph above and then add your own life experiences to the mix.
· Finish your week by praising God in prayer for a particular way in which the Lamb of God has brought comfort to your life because you no longer bear the guilt of your sins. Ask God to make this personal application grow in importance to you. You have been blessed by Jesus the Evangelist.
Think where you would be if the Lamb of God had not taken the punishment for your anger, your greed, your lust, your selfishness. Praise God that he did. Because of that personal sacrifice you don’t have to live under a cloud of guilt and defensiveness. The Lamb of God has taken away your sin.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Facing the Challenge of Evangelism
Week 2 2 Timothy 4:5, 17-18
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardships,
do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. —2 Timothy 4:5, 17-18 ESV
The following article, “Evangephobia,” is excerpted and adapted from an unpublished manuscript written by Ken Priddy, Director of Church Renewal for Outreach North America, the home missions agency of our denomination.
Evangephobia
But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardships, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. —2 Timothy 4:5
A phobia is a fear and we all have fears; fear of heights, fear of public speaking, fear of failure, to name a few. In observing the American church, I have discovered a fear that is running at epidemic proportions, the fear of evangelizing, or as I have come to call it, evangephobia. This fear has paralyzed the American church, making it one of the least effective at evangelizing of all the national churches in the world.
I find this both tragic and embarrassing. Every second of every day God is building His invisible, eternal church as He brings the world’s lost men, women and children to Himself. The Christian church in many countries of the world is exploding with growth, and yet the American church, with the world’s best-educated clergy, the world’s most resources, and the world’s most political freedom, declines. Why? The American church seems afraid to share its faith, caught in a sweeping outbreak of evangephobia.
When questioned about their evangephobia, American Christians list many causes, but several are cited with great frequency:
• They lack the spiritual gift of evangelism.
• They don’t want to offend people.
• They fear rejection.
• They don’t know what to say.
It seems odd that so many Christians can easily communicate their personal experiences at having read a great book, seen a great movie, dined at a great restaurant, or received great service from an auto mechanic. Recommendations and testimonies flow freely in regard to these everyday occurrences, yet when it comes to sharing our personal experiences with our great Savior, we suddenly lose all ability to communicate.
Sharing the faith, or witnessing, is born in personal testimony. Recommending a book, movie, restaurant or auto mechanic begins with our giving testimony to our personal experiences. We say that we found the book to be entertaining, educational or full of meaning. We report that the movie was hilarious or dramatic and know that others would love it as well. The food was delicious and well presented and so we rave about the dining experience. The mechanic did a great job in a timely manner at a reasonable price. We have benefited through these personal experiences so we urge others to benefit as well.
Why is it that we give such effective testimony about so many things in our lives but go mute when it comes to giving testimony to the most important thing? Perhaps another reason is that our faith is more intellectual than experiential, so that we really don’t have much of a testimony to share. What if we never read the book, never saw the movie, never ate the meal or never took the car in for service? What kind of testimony could we give? Regardless of the causes, evangephobia continues to spread through the American church, and we continue to keep the Good News to ourselves.
• In what ways have I succumbed to the widespread spiritual disease of evangephobia?
• What is my testimony, my personal eyewitness account of who Jesus is and what He means to me?
Redeemer men, think about the charge Paul gives in 2 Timothy 4:5. Timothy seems to have been somewhat timid, and Paul urges him to work hard at the task of evangelism. Meditate also on the verses at the end of the same chapter (vv. 17-18), where Paul reflects on his own experience. Evangelism did not come easily to Timothy, or even to Paul. Be encouraged! The same strength they received for their task is available to you also. You have the same God!
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardships,
do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. —2 Timothy 4:5, 17-18 ESV
The following article, “Evangephobia,” is excerpted and adapted from an unpublished manuscript written by Ken Priddy, Director of Church Renewal for Outreach North America, the home missions agency of our denomination.
Evangephobia
But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardships, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. —2 Timothy 4:5
A phobia is a fear and we all have fears; fear of heights, fear of public speaking, fear of failure, to name a few. In observing the American church, I have discovered a fear that is running at epidemic proportions, the fear of evangelizing, or as I have come to call it, evangephobia. This fear has paralyzed the American church, making it one of the least effective at evangelizing of all the national churches in the world.
I find this both tragic and embarrassing. Every second of every day God is building His invisible, eternal church as He brings the world’s lost men, women and children to Himself. The Christian church in many countries of the world is exploding with growth, and yet the American church, with the world’s best-educated clergy, the world’s most resources, and the world’s most political freedom, declines. Why? The American church seems afraid to share its faith, caught in a sweeping outbreak of evangephobia.
When questioned about their evangephobia, American Christians list many causes, but several are cited with great frequency:
• They lack the spiritual gift of evangelism.
• They don’t want to offend people.
• They fear rejection.
• They don’t know what to say.
It seems odd that so many Christians can easily communicate their personal experiences at having read a great book, seen a great movie, dined at a great restaurant, or received great service from an auto mechanic. Recommendations and testimonies flow freely in regard to these everyday occurrences, yet when it comes to sharing our personal experiences with our great Savior, we suddenly lose all ability to communicate.
Sharing the faith, or witnessing, is born in personal testimony. Recommending a book, movie, restaurant or auto mechanic begins with our giving testimony to our personal experiences. We say that we found the book to be entertaining, educational or full of meaning. We report that the movie was hilarious or dramatic and know that others would love it as well. The food was delicious and well presented and so we rave about the dining experience. The mechanic did a great job in a timely manner at a reasonable price. We have benefited through these personal experiences so we urge others to benefit as well.
Why is it that we give such effective testimony about so many things in our lives but go mute when it comes to giving testimony to the most important thing? Perhaps another reason is that our faith is more intellectual than experiential, so that we really don’t have much of a testimony to share. What if we never read the book, never saw the movie, never ate the meal or never took the car in for service? What kind of testimony could we give? Regardless of the causes, evangephobia continues to spread through the American church, and we continue to keep the Good News to ourselves.
• In what ways have I succumbed to the widespread spiritual disease of evangephobia?
• What is my testimony, my personal eyewitness account of who Jesus is and what He means to me?
Redeemer men, think about the charge Paul gives in 2 Timothy 4:5. Timothy seems to have been somewhat timid, and Paul urges him to work hard at the task of evangelism. Meditate also on the verses at the end of the same chapter (vv. 17-18), where Paul reflects on his own experience. Evangelism did not come easily to Timothy, or even to Paul. Be encouraged! The same strength they received for their task is available to you also. You have the same God!
Friday, September 12, 2008
John 1:6-14 A Witness to the Light
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. — John 1:6-14 ESV
As John introduces the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, it is clear what he considers to be the great need of our world: belief in Jesus Christ. John wrote his Gospel to show that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).
As human beings, we are alienated from God because of our sin. God is holy, and the guilt of our sin has placed us under His just condemnation. Meanwhile, the power of sin works evil in and through our lives, so that John could say in his first epistle that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (I John 5:19). If these are our great problems—God’s condemning judgment and the insidious effects of sin—the answer is the Savior whom God sent as a light to this dark world … the true answer to the world’s true problems is Jesus Christ, an answer we receive through belief in Him [emphasis added].
Richard Phillips, in Jesus the Evangelist, goes on to discuss how necessary it is to have witnesses to establish the truth, and how many different witnesses are presented in the Gospel of John. He further concludes that, just as Jesus sent out the disciples to be witnesses, now we are to carry on the work of witnessing to the world.
Christians understand the problems of the world as no one else can. Those who are spiritually dead cannot comprehend the truth. How many people do you know who live in darkness? How many people do you know who have the light … but keep it hidden?
Men, your role as a leader—in your home, at church, at work, and in your community—includes this most important task: to lead in evangelism. You must lead your family in witnessing; you must be a witness at work; you must shine the light of the gospel in the community; and you must work together with the rest of the church to spread the good news of the gospel.
• What is the content of your witness for Christ in evangelism? (What are the facts that people must hear?)
• How do you need to grow in your practice of witnessing?
• What will you do to equip yourself to be a better witness?
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. — John 1:6-14 ESV
As John introduces the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, it is clear what he considers to be the great need of our world: belief in Jesus Christ. John wrote his Gospel to show that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).
As human beings, we are alienated from God because of our sin. God is holy, and the guilt of our sin has placed us under His just condemnation. Meanwhile, the power of sin works evil in and through our lives, so that John could say in his first epistle that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (I John 5:19). If these are our great problems—God’s condemning judgment and the insidious effects of sin—the answer is the Savior whom God sent as a light to this dark world … the true answer to the world’s true problems is Jesus Christ, an answer we receive through belief in Him [emphasis added].
Richard Phillips, in Jesus the Evangelist, goes on to discuss how necessary it is to have witnesses to establish the truth, and how many different witnesses are presented in the Gospel of John. He further concludes that, just as Jesus sent out the disciples to be witnesses, now we are to carry on the work of witnessing to the world.
Christians understand the problems of the world as no one else can. Those who are spiritually dead cannot comprehend the truth. How many people do you know who live in darkness? How many people do you know who have the light … but keep it hidden?
Men, your role as a leader—in your home, at church, at work, and in your community—includes this most important task: to lead in evangelism. You must lead your family in witnessing; you must be a witness at work; you must shine the light of the gospel in the community; and you must work together with the rest of the church to spread the good news of the gospel.
• What is the content of your witness for Christ in evangelism? (What are the facts that people must hear?)
• How do you need to grow in your practice of witnessing?
• What will you do to equip yourself to be a better witness?
Monday, May 12, 2008
Gas Prices & Leadership
The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Psalm 119:72
Leadership that honors God must be consistent with what God says about himself in Scripture. As you grow in your Christian walk, your appreciation and awe for God and his Son must increase, not decrease. In any relationship, if you begin to take someone for granted the strength of that relationship begins to decrease. Taking God for granted, as in not having growing love for him, will lead to inconsistency in the things you say and the things you do. Children show particular expertise in detecting inconsistencies in parents. If you talk to you children about a God who is wonderful, about a Savior who means everything to you, but then you are down and discouraged about some event that didn’t go your way, you are being inconsistent. Your testimony about the wonder of God is diminished your children’s eyes.
For example, you may speak glowingly about the sovereignty of God but then be quickly discouraged by rising gas prices. This discouragement may spill over into worry and short tempers as the price of gas marches upward. Complaints begin about the price of food going up because of high gas prices. Trips to the gas station become an exercise in anxiety as you peek to see how high the gas price has risen since yesterday. You may hear yourself saying things like, No children we can’t go to the park today. It is too expensive to drive there and I don’t want to hear any whining about it. Then when you speak to a friend or coworker you say, “I just can’t believe the price of gas! This is outrageous. I can’t even go to the store without having to take out a loan to pay for gas!”
What difference does the sovereignty of God make to you? God is no less gracious to you now than when gas was selling for $1.95 per gallon. However, your children might think otherwise. Do they hear constant complaints and worry—or short, irritated responses?
To be sure, the rising price of gas presents significant budget challenges to your family. But Colossians 1:15-20 says that Jesus Christ has authority even over the price of gas. Romans 8:28 teaches that all things work together for the good of those who love him. If you teach your children that the control of God is a good thing, then you must also come to terms with rising gas prices. This does not mean that you must pray for the price of gas to go higher! But it does mean that even in this difficult situation and the financial hardships that may come, God is still the wonderful Lord of Creation. He is bringing these events about so that you will look more to him and less to yourself. It is important to teach your children to adjust to the lifestyle changes that may come with rising fuel costs in a way that honors God. God is still a good God even if gas prices continue to rise.
It may well be that rising gas prices are the result of poor governmental planning, trouble in the Middle East, and an over dependence on foreign oil. But none of these factors detracts one bit from the glory of God and the priceless gift of salvation found in Jesus Christ. Psalm 119:72 says:
The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
Every trial is an opportunity to live out this reality in front of your children, your wives and the community around you. Rising gas prices will no doubt have a significant financial impact for many, perhaps your family. As Psalm 46 says, you can take comfort and refuge in the knowledge that the God of Jacob is for us. The Bible does not ignore hard times. It tells us to expect them. The difference between the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7 is not that one faced storms and the other one did not. Storms came to the lives of both men. The difference was the foundation upon which their lives were built. May God grant grace to us as parents, and the ability to present God as faithful in both pleasant times and difficult times. The world can easily complain about high gas prices and fall into despair. God calls you to be different from the world. Use this opportunity to offer praise to the Lord of heaven and earth, and yes, have confidence in God even in the face of gas prices.
Have you reacted to the rising price of gas with irritation or anxiety? Remember, just last week we talked about the sufficiency of Scripture, and our commitment to growing in reliance on the Bible in areas of our lives where we fall short. As you grow in reliance on the Bible, you will respond to trials—such as the gas prices—with more wisdom and consistency.
Summer is almost here; vacations will begin. Don’t take a summer vacation from your leadership responsibilities. Plan some goals now for this summer.
- Do you have specific, measurable goals for growing in your knowledge of the Bible? If you don’t, why not discuss this with your group, and set at least one specific goal for yourself for the summer months?
- Remember to include what, when, and how. Your plan should have specific steps to do at least weekly.
Monday, May 5, 2008
The Bible, Leadership & You
-
I run in the path of your commands,
for you have set my heart free. —Psalm 119:32
Certainly one thing that can be said about the teaching at Redeemer is that the Bible is central to all that we do in life. This belief is the cornerstone of our counseling program. The challenge for us as men is to extend this reliance upon the Scriptures to all areas of our lives. On the basis 2 Peter 1:3-4 and other passages, summarized in our confessional standards, we affirm that the Bible is the only perfect or infallible rule for faith and life.
It is important for us to examine how consistent we are in applying this truth to our lives. With the time pressures and many responsibilities of everyday life it is easy for us to unwittingly add to the standard of the Bible as our only infallible rule for faith and life. For example, do our wives and children see us consistently appealing to the Bible as the basis for our day to day decisions? Or do they see us relying on some homemade combination of dad's conventional wisdom and common sense?
We must not let the Bible be crowded out by day to day pressures. Our world is so full of competing philosophies and perspectives that we have to make an intentional effort to start with Scripture. While it is often easier to do things the way we've always done them, or the way friends at work say to do them, or whatever the popular conventional wisdom says, God wants us to do the hard work using his word as our source of wisdom. Although challenging, this approach provides great freedom.
Let's explore this theme for a moment. The goal is not to quote Scripture locations with every sentence that we speak. Rather, our goal should be to have the principles of Scripture be so familiar to us that they flow freely and naturally out of our mouths. As John says in his first epistle, the commands of God are not burdensome. Psalm 119:32 puts it this way:
I run in the path of your commands,
for you have set my heart free.
This verse accurately reflects the mindset of someone who believes that the Bible really is our only perfect rule of faith and life. Here, intimate knowledge of the word of God produces a genuine heartfelt freedom. This verse does not describe someone struggling with a heavy burden, but someone who moves with eagerness and freedom along the path of life. This is what the Bible is designed to do for the people of God. Psalm 19 says that the word of God revives the soul, makes the simple wise, gives joy to the heart, gives light to the eyes and is much more valuable than precious gold.
Men, if this is what the word of God is to you, then your attitude and behavior will encourage those around you. You will find yourself being excited about discovering new ways to apply the Scriptures to your life.
Since last fall, we have covered a lot of ground in our discussions about leadership. In the next couple of weeks, as we approach the summer break, let's specifically thank God for the sufficiency of his precious word. Let's pray that God would produce in us the reality of having our hearts set free, as we run in the path of his commands.
Remember, if we think the word of God is restrictive, our children will think the word of God is restrictive. If we act as if obedience to Christ is a heavy burden, then we will not be the encouragement to our wives that God calls us to be. If following Christ is drudgery to us, then others will have no desire to serve the God that we serve. Men, does your life reflect the joy of Psalm 119:32?
- List some areas in which you do not rely sufficiently on Scripture for wisdom.
- List at least two areas in which you commit to grow in your reliance on Scripture.
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- What will you do to accomplish this? Include what, when, and how. To whom will you be accountable?
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Why?
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these… Galatians 5:19-21
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Ephesians 2:1-3
Fathers, let’s consider one basic question regarding the issue of protecting our children from the entrapment of the world: Why? As in Why do they want to sin? Why can’t they see that it is more blessed to give than to receive? Why can’t they see that they don’t always have to be first? Why can’t teenagers see that sexual sin is wrong, always wrong? Why can’t they see that parents must be obeyed? The answer, of course, should not really be a mystery.
How did children begin their lives? Many would have us think that our children begin life neutrally with regard to obedience. It is easy to think that if I, as a parent, would be more patient and kind my children would respond more quickly to my instructions. While it is true that parents should be patient and kind, that by itself will not help children to be more obedient. The problem goes much deeper than that. The two passages quoted at the top of this post state the problem powerfully.
These two passages describe both the actions and the motivation of children. Children sin because it is what they deeply desire from birth. It takes faith to look at an infant and then believe that Galatians 5 describes the things that he wants to do naturally. It takes trust in God’s word to believe that your child’s natural motivation is to indulge his fleshly passions and follow the ways of the Evil One. Yet this is precisely what these two passages teach. No amount of kindness, gentleness and evenness on the part of parents will dislodge the natural passion in children to live for themselves and gratify their flesh. Only a new heart can make that difference.
Tim Challies has a helpful and insightful post on his thoughts about his children’s sin. He rightly compares his own battle with sin to his children’s:
But I’m like a kid. I like that sin and I hate the authority that places itself over me and tells me to let that sin go. I roll my eyes, I grind my teeth, and I feel my heart rebel. In my heart I tell God that I’d rather sin than obey Him; I effectively tell Him that right now I’d rather have my sin than have Him. This sin is more important to me than my relationship with the Creator of the universe. Oh, I love that sin so much.
Tim’s honest assessment of his own affection for sin puts the cards on the table. I believe that he provides an accurate picture of what goes into a child’s thinking when he refuses to obey. I am humbled by Tim’s honesty and transparency. I am also grateful because I believe his words give you a glimpse into the heart of children struggling with obedience and wanting what they want.
You see, being even and kind to a child dominated by these thoughts will not make a dent in the real issue. That is why your focus in parenting must be directed at the heart. As a Christian parent trying to lead your child to Christ you are, in effect, interrupting a love affair between a child and his natural passions. Children are by nature focused on what they want. What they naturally want is not pretty! Look at Galatians 5:19-21 again. When you tell your child he should share his toys, you are challenging a deep, passionate desire for self-gratification. As parents we think, it is just a toy truck, what’s the big deal? The big deal is that your child is naturally controlled by the desire to please himself. That toy truck is his connection with happiness and you want to take it from him! No wonder there is such a negative reaction when you tell him to give it up.
This is why only the gospel and the word of Christ can help your children. The word of God must be deeply valued by our children. Tim’s comments provide some background to the truth of Proverbs 6:20-24 that we have been examining in the last several posts. Tim also demonstrates a parent’s biblical response to his child’s natural love for sin when he recognizes the similarity between himself and his child:
So I guess I’m not too different from my children. The remedy they need is the same one I need. Like me, they need to see that authority is given to us as a gracious gift from God. They need to learn to honor authority and to see it as something given to restrain us rather than annoy us. And they need to honor that authority and to obey it joyfully, willingly, immediately and with a joyful heart. This is what I need to do with my sin—I need to hear and heed God’s Word. And this is what they need to do with their sin—hear and heed my words as I seek to teach them what God would have them do.
This is the point of Proverbs 6:22 when it speaks of how the word of God is to live within us.
When you walk, they will guide you;
When you sleep, they will watch over you;
When you awake, they will speak to you.
You and your children have the same issues. The answers to those issues are the same for each of you. Hearts must be directed to Christ and his word. Sin needs to be seen for what it is. The next time you wonder why your children don’t respond well to your direction, think about what is really going on inside. Consider the battles of the heart. Consider the hope that Christ alone offers. Urge your children, as Solomon did, to bind the words of Christ upon their hearts forever.
· What behaviors and attitudes do you see in your children (or yourself) when they can’t have what they want? (Anger and defiance? Self-pity and sulking? Obedience?)
· How do you usually respond to their behavior? (Do you label their behavior/attitude biblically, or do you try to “manage” it or appease them?)
· What changes do you need to make in the way you confront sin in your children?
If you don’t have children at home (or even if you do) what changes do you need to make in the way you confront sin in yourself?
Monday, April 21, 2008
Be Strong and Courageous
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." — Joshua 1:9
Here are some recent headlines from newspapers & Internet sources:
Oil nears $118 per barrel – could top $125 soon!
Gas at all time high
Dollar continues slide against Euro
Economic Recession already here
After-shocks continue from mid-west quake
More troops killed in car-bomb in
Housing crisis deepens
These headlines are typical of the news these days. While these headlines are nothing new, they represent constant themes that are before the American public. Taken as a whole these headlines present an attitude of concern and worry. They indicate an undercurrent that is increasing in our culture – gloom and doom. These themes work their way into the lives of our families. While they don’t represent imminent danger, they contribute to a general mood of discouragement.
God’s words to Joshua are the only true source of hope and courage in this world. Without trusting in God’s sovereign control the barrage of worrisome headlines does provide reasons for discouragement. This is important for us to communicate to those around us. The reason things will not fall apart is that God is in control—not because we have the good sense to recognize media sensationalism.
Strength and courage come from God. The world is intimidating. It is important to take time to encourage your family with the truth of Joshua 1:9. We can be strong and courageous because God is with us. Make a point to take a headline from the news and examine it with your family in light of God’s providence and control. Help your families be encouraged by the truth of Scripture.
Also, examine your own heart in light of this changing world and culture. Some of you, perhaps, are facing downsizing at your job. Some are concerned about rising housing and fuel prices. Food prices are going up. In these situations, fear can show itself by increasing irritation and shortness with others. You may find yourself doing the finances over and over again in your mind. Perhaps the headlines are beginning to take their toll, now that you have thought about it. The answer is still the same. Be strong and courageous for I am with you!
- What type of issues concern you most for the future? Economic? Morality? Terrorism?
- What issues tempt you to worry and anxiety?
- What will you do to replace fear with courage and strength?
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Why do you work?
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. Ephesians 6:5-9
Why do you work? A number of answers seem obvious: to pay the bills, to get out of debt, to build the 401-K, to buy a house, to use personal abilities, to advance professionally, and other reasons. For many in American culture, work is a means to an end. In other words, some people endure work, but what they really live for is some activity outside of work. Few think of work as a religious activity unless one happens to be in some sort of full time religious service.
Take a few moments to consider what you think about work and why you work. Since work often occupies the single largest block of dedicated time in life, having a clear idea of why you do what you do is good important.
This passage in Ephesians 6, plus the parallel passage in Colossians 3, makes a very personal claim upon the lives of Christians. Christians are told to work to do the will of God. You are even told to obey your supervisor or boss just as you would obey Christ. It might seem that it would be easy to obey Christ if he were your boss at work. He would always be fair, his criticisms would be just and helpful, and he would always be looking out for your best interests. What’s not to like about this situation? However, verse five says that you should obey earthly supervisors as if they are the Lord. Here is the rub: human supervisors are not always fair, their criticisms are at times unjust, and often they are more concerned with their own interests than with yours. Yet Paul says to obey these earthly authorities as if they were Christ, himself. Why? For the answer, take a look at verse 16 in Colossians 1:
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
Notice the relationship between this verse and verse five above. Your supervisor, with all of his or her faults, was still handpicked by Christ for the job. Jesus Christ determined who your supervisor would be and made you accountable to him. This accountability is not based upon how well your boss performs, but upon the placement of that individual in your life by the Lord of the Universe. All authorities were created at his pleasure.
Work – it is an opportunity to bring honor to the name of God. Do your families see you thinking this way about your work? Your work provides a powerful leadership opportunity to live out true reality in front of those whom you are to lead!
· What things does your boss or supervisor do to make it difficult to obey him as if he were the Lord?
· If you have employees under your authority, what do you do that might make it more difficult for them to obey you?
· What changes do you need to make at work in these areas?
· How can the other men in your group help hold you accountable to be a better leader at work?
Monday, April 7, 2008
But the one who does the will of God lives forever…
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. —1 John 2:15-17
Certainly none of us wants to see our families pursue the futile desires of this world. We don’t want to see our children say, in the words of Proverbs 5:14, that they have come to the brink of ruin. But are we prepared to lead by example as well as by word and intent? All of the good things we have learned in the men’s ministry will come to naught if our affections are set on the world and things in that world. John is clear: do not love the world. He then identifies three things that distinguish the love of the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life.
John is telling us that the things we crave for human satisfaction—things that our eyes are attracted to, worldly things that we long for, and finally, accomplishments that only the world will recognize—take us away from doing the will of the Father. These things cause us to be poor examples to our wives and children. Men, do you have things in one of these three categories that you will not give up? Perhaps they are secret things that you believe only you know about. If there are such things that you will not give up, you are not only heading in the wrong direction yourself, but you are also setting a bad example for your children. Ephesians 4:17-19 teaches that this pursuit will never satisfy, but only lead to lusts that can never be satisfied. The opposite pursuit is to do the will of the Father, which leads to eternal life.
This week as you look at our passage, ask God to help you see where you have a love for the world. God offers us a rich reward for turning from the world. If we pursue his will, revealed in Scripture, we will live forever. No, this is not something we earn. Living forever is the gift of God. However, we can choose not to live for this world, but instead, pursue with courage the will of God. Men, this is a great gift to give to your children, to your grandchildren, to your wife, and to all those whom you love most dearly.
- What activities in your life reveal a love for the world?
- What can you do today to turn away (repent) from this and do the will of God instead?
Monday, March 31, 2008
Authority for building up
He who answers before listening—
that is his folly and his shame. Proverbs 18:13
Men, God has charged us with leading our families. The biblical basis for our leadership is found in such passages as Eph. 5:25-33 and Eph. 6:4. This leadership is an awesome responsibility. We are to represent Christ to our wives and children. In 2 Cor. 13:10 we learn that biblical leadership is to have the focus of building others up and not tearing them down. Paul says in Ephesians 4:29 that our words are rotten if they don’t build others up. Each of us can think of examples of leadership that are not especially building or encouraging. Perhaps our fathers appeared to tear us down more than they built us up. Perhaps you have had a supervisor who led by intimidation. God, however, has called us to be different than that. Our leadership is to build up those under our care. We are to lead with understanding and compassion. Thankfully, God has given us specific directions in his word to help us be leaders who build others up. In this post we will look at one of these directives – not to answer without listening.
One common temptation is to think that we know exactly how to solve a problem before we even hear what the problem is. For example, you hear two of your children fussing over a favorite toy. You walk in and dispense judgment based upon previous disputes over this toy. You just assume that the cause of the upset this time is the same as the last time. Or, perhaps you believe you know the reason for your wife’s apparent discouragement as soon as you walk in the house after work. You look at your wife and you are sure you have seen that look on her face before. You believe you know what the problem is, so you tell your wife that she needs to have a better attitude and not be so easily discouraged. Thinking you have been especially observant, you are not even aware that your wife is miffed at your “encouragement.” These are two examples of answering before listening.
These two examples illustrate a severe problem. Pride leads us to think that we can solve problems by making educated guesses about the reason for problem. But Proverbs 18:13 makes the rather startling statement that answering before listening is a foolish and shameful thing. When we answer before we listen we act as though we don’t need input from others to make a wise judgment. Over time this attitude can lead to bitterness and resentment from those we lead. This is one sin whose bitter fruit may take years to mature. Little children seldom have either the ability or the opportunity to address the damage you cause by answering before listening.
“Josh, I see that you still have not learned to share your toy with Ryan.”
“But, daddy, this time I didn’t….“
Now Josh, you know that you must respect daddy and not talk back to me.”
“But, daddy.…”
“Josh, I said no back talking! It is not right before God to be disrespectful to daddy. Not another word!”
What Josh was trying to say was that Ryan was not upset with Josh about sharing the toy. Ryan was actually fussing because he rolled the toy over his finger. Even though Josh had been guilty of not sharing in the past, this time he was actually sharing with Ryan when Ryan hurt his finger.
Josh knew that if he said any more in his defense he would be disciplined, so he just went along with the Dad’s faulty assessment. Over the years Josh said less and less when Dad answered before listening. By the time Josh reached his teen years he wasn’t really interested in hearing what Dad had to say about anything. For his part, Dad wondered what happened to his relationship with Josh. Why was Josh “suddenly” distant and non-responsive? Dad is unaware that the withdrawal started years ago because Dad had become an expert at answering before listening. To be sure, Josh is not an innocent bystander; he had done much to provoke his father. But dad had lost the opportunity to find out what Josh really thought, because he answered before he listened.
This is why this sin is shameful. It can rob you of the relationships you hold most dear. Why not take some time now to examine your habitual responses to your children and to your wife? Ask your wife if you answer before you listen. It is not too late to reclaim the ground you may have lost. God is a gracious God. However, if you persist in answering before listening, you will only push away those closest to you.
- Do you build up or tear down with your words?
- Do you answer before you listen?
God can help you change. Your family needs you to be a listener who really hears them out. Think carefully about this issue.
- What are some ways you can find out if you answer before listening?
- If you have been answering before listening, how does God want you to solve the problem?
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