Bird Flight Automaton
3 years ago
9.19.2009
Preaching: A Lost Art?
Although I am not "Reformed" in my theology, I do believe that the church is in need of reformation. This is not a bold statement for many have thought so before me. In truth, as long as the church is made up of Saints who are already saved yet being saved there will always be a need for reform.
One of the most astonishing areas in which the church needs reformation is in its proclamation of the word of God. That there is a lack of spiritual/doctrinal knowledge among the body of Christ can not be denied. It is amazing how often even older Christians can not explain why they believe in baptism, what type of baptism it should be, or articulate even the basics of salvation or soteriology.
There is a lack of discipleship. And it is a lack of discipleship in the Word of God. We live in an age where more resources are available to the people of God than ever before. Yet fewer unbelievers are being brought under the Lordship of Christ, and even fewer believers can share what that means. We have at our disposal commentaries, lexicons, dictionaries, journals, and popular books. There is no lack of media in our churches with moving backgrounds, still backgrounds, power points, and movies.
With the click of a mouse you can hear your favorite speaker or pastor's latest mp3 or read his sermons.
Yet men are no longer leaders of their homes or churches. Wives and children, as well as others in our churches no longer know their roles according to God's Word. I wonder if we have homes and churches made up of a bunch Christians instead of Christian homes and churches.
What would happen if in our churches on Sunday mornings, all pastors preached through the basic doctrines of the faith? What if our pastors preached through the Bible verse by verse? And what would happen if we expected those in our churches to know the Word and live it? What would happen if we cut fellowship with them if they were unwilling to receive the truths of Scripture?
Christ commands such things in His Word. And he was not unwilling to cut ties with those who would endanger the rest of the body. He commanded Paul to do such things. And Paul did them because he was more concerned about the Body of Christ than about the psyche of a few people, or about his own comfort among his people
What we need today are leader's in our churches who take people verse by verse through the Word of God. They must take their people through books, and share God's ideas instead of their own ideas. We need expository preaching not simply because it is Biblical, but to combat our own ignorance.
And we need better men of God, courageous men of God to speak His truth. How can we bring persons to the God, whom we do not know ourselves?
NIV 1 Corinthians 9:16 "Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"
One of the most astonishing areas in which the church needs reformation is in its proclamation of the word of God. That there is a lack of spiritual/doctrinal knowledge among the body of Christ can not be denied. It is amazing how often even older Christians can not explain why they believe in baptism, what type of baptism it should be, or articulate even the basics of salvation or soteriology.
There is a lack of discipleship. And it is a lack of discipleship in the Word of God. We live in an age where more resources are available to the people of God than ever before. Yet fewer unbelievers are being brought under the Lordship of Christ, and even fewer believers can share what that means. We have at our disposal commentaries, lexicons, dictionaries, journals, and popular books. There is no lack of media in our churches with moving backgrounds, still backgrounds, power points, and movies.
With the click of a mouse you can hear your favorite speaker or pastor's latest mp3 or read his sermons.
Yet men are no longer leaders of their homes or churches. Wives and children, as well as others in our churches no longer know their roles according to God's Word. I wonder if we have homes and churches made up of a bunch Christians instead of Christian homes and churches.
What would happen if in our churches on Sunday mornings, all pastors preached through the basic doctrines of the faith? What if our pastors preached through the Bible verse by verse? And what would happen if we expected those in our churches to know the Word and live it? What would happen if we cut fellowship with them if they were unwilling to receive the truths of Scripture?
Christ commands such things in His Word. And he was not unwilling to cut ties with those who would endanger the rest of the body. He commanded Paul to do such things. And Paul did them because he was more concerned about the Body of Christ than about the psyche of a few people, or about his own comfort among his people
What we need today are leader's in our churches who take people verse by verse through the Word of God. They must take their people through books, and share God's ideas instead of their own ideas. We need expository preaching not simply because it is Biblical, but to combat our own ignorance.
And we need better men of God, courageous men of God to speak His truth. How can we bring persons to the God, whom we do not know ourselves?
NIV 1 Corinthians 9:16 "Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"
9.17.2009
A Hard Saying of Jesus
On Wednesday nights, I have been taking students through The Hard Sayings of Jesus by F. F. Bruce.
Last night, we focused upon Christ's words in Mark 2:17, "Those who are well do not need a doctor, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."
I introduced the topic by showing the video "Skin (Sarah Beth)" by Rascal Flatts. This video tells of a fear or an experience that we have all had, that of sickness.
As a minister, and I suppose just as a result of growing older, I have come to despise cancer. I have watched persons struggle with the disease. And I have watched them die. If I could do anything to cure cancer, I would. I am sure that all of us would.
Now, what of the disease of sin? The result of sin for us all is death (Rom. 6:23), but there are those of us who have been raised with Jesus who have no fear of the first or second death, hell (Rev. 2:11, 20:14).
We do not fear, because we have been to the doctor. He has both healed us and given us a prescription to take before we will be healed fully. We are saved and are being saved.
Now, will we not offer the cure to others?
Imagine if Jesus had simply sat in the synagogue, waiting for sinners to come inside? It is interesting that this is often our plan, but when God was incarnate it was not his.
When Jesus associated with sinners, he did so in a very real way. He sat down and ate with them. He talked with them, shared food, laughed, and enjoyed their company. It was only those who were religious who criticized him. Matthew adds to Mark's saying by giving us Jesus' quote from Hosea 6:6. "Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.'".
Now not all of the religious persons were evil men. Pharisees and their followers get a bad wrap. Some of them no doubt truly had a heart for God and desired to please him. But they had no heart for sinners.
I believe these words tell us today, "If you attend church every Sunday, if you lead in worship, if you are on a committee, if you are a deacon, or a minister, and you lose you heart for those in sin, then all of your other efforts are trivial."
I was glad at the end of our time together when our youth decided to break into their own groups and repent of their selfishness. Only the Holy Spirit could lead them to take that action.
Do you want to grow the body of Christ for the sake of Christ? Then tell others about your favorite doctor. The only One who brings true healing.
"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither."- C. S. Lewis
Last night, we focused upon Christ's words in Mark 2:17, "Those who are well do not need a doctor, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."
I introduced the topic by showing the video "Skin (Sarah Beth)" by Rascal Flatts. This video tells of a fear or an experience that we have all had, that of sickness.
As a minister, and I suppose just as a result of growing older, I have come to despise cancer. I have watched persons struggle with the disease. And I have watched them die. If I could do anything to cure cancer, I would. I am sure that all of us would.
Now, what of the disease of sin? The result of sin for us all is death (Rom. 6:23), but there are those of us who have been raised with Jesus who have no fear of the first or second death, hell (Rev. 2:11, 20:14).
We do not fear, because we have been to the doctor. He has both healed us and given us a prescription to take before we will be healed fully. We are saved and are being saved.
Now, will we not offer the cure to others?
Imagine if Jesus had simply sat in the synagogue, waiting for sinners to come inside? It is interesting that this is often our plan, but when God was incarnate it was not his.
When Jesus associated with sinners, he did so in a very real way. He sat down and ate with them. He talked with them, shared food, laughed, and enjoyed their company. It was only those who were religious who criticized him. Matthew adds to Mark's saying by giving us Jesus' quote from Hosea 6:6. "Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.'".
Now not all of the religious persons were evil men. Pharisees and their followers get a bad wrap. Some of them no doubt truly had a heart for God and desired to please him. But they had no heart for sinners.
I believe these words tell us today, "If you attend church every Sunday, if you lead in worship, if you are on a committee, if you are a deacon, or a minister, and you lose you heart for those in sin, then all of your other efforts are trivial."
I was glad at the end of our time together when our youth decided to break into their own groups and repent of their selfishness. Only the Holy Spirit could lead them to take that action.
Do you want to grow the body of Christ for the sake of Christ? Then tell others about your favorite doctor. The only One who brings true healing.
"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither."- C. S. Lewis
9.16.2009
Polkinghorne on Science and God.......
I am not a scientist. But most scientists are not theologians, either. Fortunately, in John Polkinghorne God has provided His kingdom with both!
In his book Quarks, Chaos, & Christianity Polkinghorne discusses the relationship between God and science. Of course, from his perspective they are intricately interwoven.
Polkinghorne states that "The need to mix fact and interpretation, to survey the world from a chosen point of view, makes science more daring, and more precarious, than people often realize."
Later on he writes that he believes science "never succeeds in telling us the whole truth about the physical world - there are some new things to find out - but, surely, it tells us some of the truth."
To illustrate this Polkinghorne uses the example of a road map. Scientifically, the map is merely a collection of atoms and molecules that make ink and paper. But a map is more than than merely molecules and atoms.
In the same way, science can tell us that our bodies are made of quarks and gluons, but it can not tell us more than our physical properties or how they arrived.
Some modern atheists such as Dawkins, Hitchens, and others say that evolution has disproved God entirely. These arguments should not even cause a moment's hesitation for the Christian. Not only because evolution might not be the best possible explanation found by scientists in the future, but because this claim can not be postulated by science at all.
The claim that "God does not exist" must be made on the basis of one's interpretation of the facts of science. And this interpretation is subject to the criticisms of philosophy, theology, sociology, and other methods of knowing.
One can not look at a cake and say, "Ha, I have discovered the ingredients and formula for mixing the ingredients, therefore a baker never existed!" You can not observe your cake, and lay theological claim to it as well.
In his book Quarks, Chaos, & Christianity Polkinghorne discusses the relationship between God and science. Of course, from his perspective they are intricately interwoven.
Polkinghorne states that "The need to mix fact and interpretation, to survey the world from a chosen point of view, makes science more daring, and more precarious, than people often realize."
Later on he writes that he believes science "never succeeds in telling us the whole truth about the physical world - there are some new things to find out - but, surely, it tells us some of the truth."
To illustrate this Polkinghorne uses the example of a road map. Scientifically, the map is merely a collection of atoms and molecules that make ink and paper. But a map is more than than merely molecules and atoms.
In the same way, science can tell us that our bodies are made of quarks and gluons, but it can not tell us more than our physical properties or how they arrived.
Some modern atheists such as Dawkins, Hitchens, and others say that evolution has disproved God entirely. These arguments should not even cause a moment's hesitation for the Christian. Not only because evolution might not be the best possible explanation found by scientists in the future, but because this claim can not be postulated by science at all.
The claim that "God does not exist" must be made on the basis of one's interpretation of the facts of science. And this interpretation is subject to the criticisms of philosophy, theology, sociology, and other methods of knowing.
One can not look at a cake and say, "Ha, I have discovered the ingredients and formula for mixing the ingredients, therefore a baker never existed!" You can not observe your cake, and lay theological claim to it as well.
9.14.2009
Forgiveness: Is It About Us?
Everybody desires forgiveness. Forgiveness is necessary for maintaining relationships. Even those who do not know or desire the forgiveness of God through Christ view forgiveness as necessary in their friendships, dating relationships, family relationships, and other areas of life.
But were we made to forgive or were we made to be forgiven? If one holds that God is the Creator of the individual, then it seems that God creates the individual for his purposes. And if God's greatest purpose in creating the individual is that the individual might know Him, then we must have been created to experience forgiveness.
In the Old Testament we find that the Psalmist asks to be forgiven not for the sake of his self, but "for your name's sake", or for the sake of the Lord (Ps. 25.2; 79,9). This theme is repeated in the prophets.
You see, when we follow the commands for Christ it is not out of a vain pursuit for our own holiness but for His. It is love for Christ that motivates the believer to right living. He says, "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (Jn. 14.15).
That is how we know those who are in Christ. They show love for Him and so they follow his desires and not their own for again, "No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either known him or seen him" (1 Jn. 3.6).
If our motivation for not failing Christ is out of love for Christ or Christ Himself, then is our motivation for forgiveness the same? Do we ask forgiveness to appease our conscience or to ease or guilt, or in order that God might be glorified? True forgiveness is for "his name's sake."
Jonathan
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."
--C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
But were we made to forgive or were we made to be forgiven? If one holds that God is the Creator of the individual, then it seems that God creates the individual for his purposes. And if God's greatest purpose in creating the individual is that the individual might know Him, then we must have been created to experience forgiveness.
In the Old Testament we find that the Psalmist asks to be forgiven not for the sake of his self, but "for your name's sake", or for the sake of the Lord (Ps. 25.2; 79,9). This theme is repeated in the prophets.
You see, when we follow the commands for Christ it is not out of a vain pursuit for our own holiness but for His. It is love for Christ that motivates the believer to right living. He says, "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (Jn. 14.15).
That is how we know those who are in Christ. They show love for Him and so they follow his desires and not their own for again, "No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either known him or seen him" (1 Jn. 3.6).
If our motivation for not failing Christ is out of love for Christ or Christ Himself, then is our motivation for forgiveness the same? Do we ask forgiveness to appease our conscience or to ease or guilt, or in order that God might be glorified? True forgiveness is for "his name's sake."
Jonathan
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."
--C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
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