the before and after of Timothy's journey...

These last two weeks, we've learned a lot from Paul's example. Two weeks ago, we saw in chapters 2-3 what it looks like to love others. This last week, we saw in 3:6-10 what it means to have eyes and ears for the grace of God in others. While Paul is so very different from us in terms of his capacity to explain the gospel and his role in the kingdom of God, we still have the ability to follow him and others who model these same characteristics.

1 Thess 2:13 - 3:5... Joy

Paul's commitment to the kingdom of God was expressed in his love for others. Acts 16-17 tells us that Paul left Thessalonica abruptly and wasn't able to return. This could have left the church confused as to why Paul couldn't or wouldn't come have to visit them. However, in chapters 2-3 we get an insider's perspective on what motivated Paul during his departure from the church he loved and what he did in return. Although he wanted to be with them, he sent Timothy away- leaving Paul alone- to check on their well-being. All this was driven by a concern that the churhc would buckle under the afflictions they were suffering. In all this, we saw four evidences of Paul's love for this church: he made time for them (2:7-18), he took joy in them (2:19-20), he made sacrifices for them (3:1-2), and he showed concern for them (3:3-5).

• As you consider these examples of loving well, what stood out to you as ways you've been loved by others in this church? What about in your community group? (Take time to commend those who've shown you this kind of love.) In what ways did Paul's desire for the Thessalonians stir up your desire to meet regularly with others "face to face"? How can your group grow in strengthening those meetings? Paul sacrificed his partner in the ministry for the sake of helping others. What promises from God help you to have faith to make similar sacrifices for the good of others?

1 Thess 3:6-10... Affection

This last week, Jonathan did a wonderful job of highlighting Paul's role as a spiritual "birder"- one whose eyes and ears had been trained to notice and appreciate the active grace of God in others. We want to grow in a similar way- learning to drown out the background cluttering noises of sin and weakness while tuning our ears for the good news in others. In verse 6, we read that Paul received the good news from Timothy- the church was thriving! Thriving in their affection for Paul and in their dedication to Jesus... a dedication summed up by their "faith and love". This good news produced three things in Paul- (1) comfort in his afflictions, (2) thankfulness towards God, (3) joy in other's growth. Paul had to wait a while to receive news from Timothy- about a month. When it came, Paul was comforted and protected from self-pity about his circumstances. Paul was thankful to God and protected from self-congratulations. Paul was joyful and protected from a self-righteous criticism. What wonderful fruit... fruit we'd all like to enjoy in our lives as well.

• When we consider the fruit evident in Paul's life, it's easy to forget that Paul isn't saying he worked hard to be comforted, thankful, and joyful. Instead, Paul focused his ears on enjoying God's work in others and then God did this work in him! Jonathan asked us some good questions along these lines: Are we tuned in like Paul- listening for good news about others? Are we patient like Paul- willing to wait for good news? Are we humble like Paul- remembering that "Paul only plants, but God causes growth" (1 Cor 3)? Are we intentional like Paul- eager to direct our gratitude to God? Ultimately, are comfort, gratitude, and joy my experience in the midst of my family/church/marriage/job/etc? If not, what's preventing you from taking the next step in noticing God's grace in others?
• Jonathan ended with three suggestions: (1) embrace biblical expectations for others... simultaneously saints and sinners, (2) abandon unbiblical "litmus tests" of success and godliness... look for fruit of the Spirit and gifts of the Spirit, (3) remember that your "discernment" often masks your underlying pride. What is one way you'd like to grow in applying one of those suggestions?

Whew, that's a lot to ponder, but informed by a glorious reality- God is active in us because of Christ's work for us. So enjoy discussing how to apply God's Word. Hopefully, some of those thoughts above can serve you this week!

What it takes to really help others...

Have you ever been criticized for the role you played in somebody's life when all you were trying to do was be helpful? It's amazing how quickly something that seemed noble can be twisted around into an attack on your character. Of course, we never want to negate legitimate observations about our sinful motives or obvious weaknesses. However, it's a fairly common experience that the messenger can often get shot at. Paul experienced this in Thessalonica, especially after his departure. In our last two sermons, we examined Paul's defense of his ministry and Paul's gratitude for the church's receptivity.

1 Thess 2:9-12... Courage

The gospel motivated Paul, Silas, and Timothy to lives of authentic ministry. Their lives were marked by care for others and care for the truth (v 1-8). In this passage, we saw two other marks of authentic ministry: hard work in ministry and a witness accompanying ministry. Paul and his companions chose to forego the perks of being an apostle (getting financial support) in favor of working with their hands. In addition, they lived in purity and holiness before them and the Lord. This allowed them to bring God's Word to the believers in a manner that was sometimes encouraging and sometimes challenging... like fathers among their children.

• When you consider these four marks of authentic ministry that Paul demonstrated in Thessalonica, in which ways do you see these characteristics in your friends? Take time to encourage them and point out the ways God has used these in your life. In what ways would you like to grow? How can the group pray for you in this?

1 Thess 2:13-16... Listening

Paul returns to the goal of thanking God for the church. In verse 13 he centered his gratitude around the fact that the church welcomed the gospel as the very words of God... not simply as Paul's words. This mark of a maturing church reminds us that Scripture is God's very words. As we realize this, we will grow in attending God's Word (placing it before our eyes regularly and finding ways to "take receipt" of it), in accepting God's Word (welcoming it into our lives because of God's authority to speak to us), and in applying God's Word (particularly in the context of v 14-16 presents us- suffering). Ultimately, this is fruitful because Scripture points us to the hope we have in Christ who has rescued us and delivered us (not to a future of wrath- v 16) to a glorious hope in Christ (see 1 Th 1:10). When you consider these three categories, how would you rank your receptivity to God's word in the following areas:

• Attending God's Word: Do you have a plan for reading His Word? How are you doing at keeping to that plan regularly?
• Accepting God's Word: How are you actively seeking to listen to sermons at SGC? Since these are the main ways we study God's Word together, how are you seeking to revisit and apply the Word of God that we've looked at together?
• Applying God's Word: In what ways are God's promises currently preparing you for future suffering or sustaining you in the midst of your current suffering? How can this group pray for you now in regards to this?

Have a great meeting this week as you seek to apply the word of God together!

a Church in Waiting...

Over the last three weeks, we've been opening up the book of 1 Thessalonians in our series called, "A Church in Waiting." Acts 16-17 helps us understand the background of how Paul, Silas, and Timothy travelled into the region of Thessalonica and faced an intense opposition. By the time they arrived in Thessalonica, they had preached the gospel and established churches in at least 8 cities... that's quite an impressive record of faithfulness in spreading the gospel and fulfilling Jesus's call to his disciples in Acts 1:8! After staying in with the Thessalonians for only a few months, they were forced once again to leave because of the threats to their safety. Once they arrived at the southern city of Corinth, they received news that the church was doing well. So the men decided to write to their friends... hence the letter of 1 Thessalonians, a letter describing the marks of a maturing church.

1 Thess 1:1-3... Gratitude

Despite Paul, Silas, and Timothy's growing reputation and significance in the spread of the gospel, these first three verses are marked by gratitude for three things (their work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope). Paul sees that this young but godly church was growing because they believed God's Word, loved God's people, and anticipated Christ's return. What marks that ought to be typical of an growing church- faith, hope, and love.

• This invites a couple questions for us: Are these aspects of maturity evident in our lives and our church as well? Since Paul could find evidence of these things in such a young church, wouldn't it make sense that our gratitude should abound as well after a decade of enjoying this in our midst? What can you do to stir a similar gratitude for those you get to encourage?

1 Thess 1:4-10... Example

When Paul looks at the church in Thessalonica, he makes the following statement: "You were imitators of me, and you became an example to the region"(v 6-7). What an amazing concept- Paul highlights that the collective force of the Christians (plural) in Thessalonica seved as an example (singular) to the region. As we looked at that concept, we saw that nothing authenticates the gospel like a community transformed by the gospel. This ground of Christians served as a singular example in a few ways: they received the gospel, they rejected their idols, and they responded to Christ. This young church heard the word in a way that helped them to dethrone all competing allegiances to other gods so that they could serve Christ while they waited for His return.

• If our church were to serve as a similar example of a community transformed, we would want to ask some questions as well: How do we receive the word as a church? Are we eager to hear others remind us of God's word when it encourages us? when it challenges us? when it convicts us? when it comforts us? Secondly, what "competing allegiances" are present in our lives? How are we regularly seeking to examine ourselves at the level of what motivates us? Lastly, do service and expectation for Christ's return mark our new life in Christ? Where is there evidence of that in those around you?

1 Thess 2:1-8... Comfort

Paul, Silas, and Timothy turn the attention in chapter 2 to a defense of their ministry while in Thessalonica. Unlike the philosopher-conmen that populated the 1st century, the gospel motivated Paul to a life of authentic ministry. Verses 1-2 showed us that Paul and his friends boldly proclaimed the gospel despit the shameful treatment they received as a result. What could sustain that boldness? We have Paul's example to remind us of 4 characteristics of gospel-propelled care for others. We looked at 2 in verses 1-8 last week as we saw that the gospel calls us to care about people and to care about truth. Paul said that he was gentle with them because of his affection for them (v 7-8), but that he wasn't seeking their money, approval, or applause. Instead, Paul wanted to please God.

• When you think of comfort, is this the kind of life that comes to mind? Too often, we imagine comforting others as being little more than joining them in their pain. But Paul's example beckons us to ask ourselves: Do I demonstrate a real love for my friends by being this kind of friend? A friend who is genuinely affectionate for others? A friend who refuses to flatter or win others with empty words? A friend who will unswervingly share not just words of comfort... but also our own lives?

As you gather this week, take time to point out areas of grace in others. Let Paul's example of affectionate encouragement and genuinely motivated comfort motivate you to find ways to express your gratitude for God's work in others. If you feel comfortable, ask others how you can grow in one of the categories we've seen so far.

Have a great week!

Resting in Christ...

Although we started our series from 1 Thessalonians this past Sunday, it seems wise to spend some time continuing our discussion on rest from the two weeks prior... so stay tuned for more on "a Church in Waiting". This week, let's find time to consider rest:

Two weeks ago, Eric preached an outstanding message from Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." In his message, Eric unpacked three common misunderstandings about this text:

1. It doesn't address the tired; instead, Jesus invites the weary. Tiredness is an exhaustion of the body, but weariness is a state of the soul coming from a reliance upon our own performance. But legalism never provides relief for our weariness.

2. It doesn't promise strength; instead, Jesus calls us to dependence. We're not rechargeable batteries- coming back to God for strength so we can go function on our own. Instead, Jesus invites us to serve plugged into His Spirit as we depend on Him. One of Eric's most functional metaphors for us was that of being "load-bearing walls" or "dividing walls". We quickly become weary when we choose to carry loads (friends' concerns, daily responsibilities, or our kids salvation) rather than casting them on the Lord.

3. It doesn't offer escape; instead, Jesus invites us to rest. We're called to restful activity not escapist passivity. 1 John 5:13 tells us that we can expect to be busy for God but not wearied in the process because ultimately, "His commands are not burdensome."


Last week, we looked at Hebrew 4:11-16 where God calls us to fight the unbelief that causes weariness within us. After looking at the OT concept of rest as a fruitfulness springing from the fulfillment of God's blessing on us, we saw that rest in the NT is centered not around land but around Christ. This passage in particular showed us that the restful soul tirelessly clings to Christ. Rest, then, is found in two places:

1. Rest is found in the promises of Christ (v 11-13). One quote was particularly helpful in reminding us of the dangers of unbelief:

"It is faith that enlivens our work with perpetual cheerfulness. It commits every part of it to God, in the hope, that even our mistakes shall be overruled for his glory; and thus relieves us from an oppressive anxiety, that is often attendant upon a deep sense of our responsibility. The shortest way to peace will be found in casting ourselves upon God for daily pardon of deficiencies and supplies of grace, without looking too eagerly for present fruit. Hence our clear course of effort is unvarying, but more tranquil; It is peace, not slumber, and rest in the work-not from it. Faith also supports us under the trials… Unbelief looks at the difficulty. Faith regards the promise."

2. Rest is found in the priesthood of Christ (v 14-16). Another quote was helpful in reminding us to find our rest in the intercession of Jesus:

“We will never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings or feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. Keep your eye simply on Him; let His death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when you wake in the morning look to Him; when you lie down at night look to Him. Oh! let not your hopes or fears come between you and Jesus; follow hard after Him, and He will never fail you.”

As you meet this week, take time to pray for those who are weary in your group. Remember specific promises of Christ and the priesthood of Christ as you unpack the dangers of unbelief and the fruitlessness of living as load-bearing walls.

A Guaranteed Inheritance

Jonathan here. It’s a drizzly Monday in North Olmsted and chilly too, at least it feels that way after the record-breaking heat we’ve had in the last week. Though the air is cool, my heart is not. It’s been a wonderful weekend of fellowship with Phil and Sandy Dufrin, friends from the ten months Megan and I spent at the Pastor’s College. Darren has asked me to share a few thoughts on the message Phil gave on Sunday morning. I’m grateful for the chance to reflect back on the preaching of God’s Word. Phil’s message from I Peter 1 was strong and offered a clear challenge to abandon the false hopes and deceptive guarantees of the world and to put all of our trust in the “living hope...an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading...”

Phil made three great points from the text. First, we have assurance of a living hope. This is not a hope that is still alive, as in, I’m hoping I will pass the test, or, I’m hoping my kids will turn out okay, or, I’m hoping that my car won’t break down. This is not hope in a situation, but hope in a person--and this person is alive. Peter writes: “He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...” Our hope is living because Jesus is alive. And since he has already overcome death in his resurrection, this is the one hope that can never die (even if every earthly hope does). I can’t help but ask myself, am I placing my hope in the right place? Where am I seeking “peace of mind?” Is it in the approval of other people? (Their opinions of me will change) Is it in my abilities? (There’s always someone more gifted). Is it in financial security? (the recession taught us all can be lost in an instant). I think we all hope in something, the question is, what are we hoping in? For youth it may be going off to college? For others it may be getting a better job or retirement or a ring on the finger? But all these hopes will ultimately die (at least when we do), but there is one hope that never will. Where are you placing your hope? Where are you seeking peace of mind? Or, perhaps a little easier, what is stealing your peace of mind? If it is taking, it’s probably because you were looking for it there. As we place our hope in the right place, our “peace” will be harder and harder to steal.

Secondly, Phil noted that we have assurance of a perfect inheritance. He illustrated this with a story from his own life. Without digging into the details, essentially he was going to receive an inheritance from his grandfather, but never did. It was taken by an individual who wasn’t even listed in the will. The contrast was obvious. Unlike Phil’s experience with an earthly inheritance, our inheritance in heaven is being “kept.” It is not going anywhere. No one can take it, not even the finest lawyers. We cannot lose it like we lose an object. It is “kept in heaven” for us. With my record of losing things around the house, I’m so grateful for this. Not only do I lose my keys, wallet and cell phone, but I often lose my way. I’m so thankful those who are saved cannot lose this inheritance that is kept for them. Do you take comfort in this? Does this bring a smile to your face and lighten the load on your shoulders? It should. Especially when we realize that not only is this inheritance kept safe for us, it is preserved for us. Imagine having a package placed in the world’s best safe. It wouldn’t matter how incredible the safe was if the content of the package was perishable. This inheritance is not the deli meat that spoils after a few days. It is not the sunlight that fades at the end of the day. It is “imperishable…and unfading.” It will be as glorious then as it is today. Earthly circumstances will always change like the rising and setting sun, but Christian’s can find hope in something unchanging. What difference does this make in your life during times of suffering and hardship? How does this change your perspective? Perhaps joy in the midst of the daily-grind is more possible than you thought.

Third, Phil noted that our inheritance is guarded through faith. Peter writes that this inheritance is kept for those who “by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Not only is this inheritance guarded for us, but WE are being guarded by God for this inheritance, and we are being guarded through faith. It is faith that God uses to keep us until we see him face to face. What a reminder to resist the natural drift into unbelief. It is an invitation to trust God and to utilize the means that he has given us to preserve and strengthen our faith— Christian fellowship and his word (among many others). One of the best tools to strengthen faith is meditating on God’s word. It’s there that we see God’s character. Bible story after Bible story recounts his faithfulness to men and women throughout history—he’s trustworthy! He always fulfills his promises! With so many accounts of his character, it’s no wonder “faith comes by hearing” and, dare I say, reading as well. So, we need his Word to fuel our faith. How’s your faith doing these days? Are you trusting in yourself or in God, the one who guards you? Are you taking time to fuel your trust in him? I’m reminded of my frequent trips to Shell to fill up my gas tank? My soul needs fuel too and its not even $2.81 a gallon. I’m so grateful that I can go to God’s word each day and allow the Lord to “guard” me with faith fueled by his word. Don’t run from your Shepherd; allow him to guard you with his Word. I hope Phil’s message from I Peter did just that…

the Promises of Christ in the church...

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has they key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. I know your works... I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name... Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world.'" (portions of Revelation 3:7-13)

The church in Philadelphia wasn't the most dynamic group of believers in the region. They lived in a city plagued by earthquakes, one of which had leveled their city so severly that they'd been forced to completely rebuild. Sadly aftershocks and tremors continued to damage the walls of the town so heavily that their commercial prospects were limited to the fertility of their surrounding fields- where most of the inhabitants actually lived. Economically challenged, the church also lived under the assaults of the local Jewish rulers. Officially, the Christians were seen as outcasts from the people of God- the doors of God's kingdom officially closed to them at the synagogues.

But Jesus sees this struggling church with "little power" and has much to commend- in particular, their "patient endurance" under trials. What encouragement this is! Trials and suffering are difficult to endure, but the church in Philadelphia is set forth as a model for us. From them we learn to walk the long road of continued obedience- looking to Jesus. From Jesus' words to them, we learn that Christians can press on for Christ as we trust in the promises of Christ. We often wonder why we started down this road or how we'll make it to the end, but Christ reminds us of four things:

1. He is Lord over His Kingdom. Jesus reminds the believers in verses 8 and 9 that, although the official doors to the synagogue have been closed to them, He holds the keys to the kingdom of God. Jesus' words are the ones that matter, He is the One who drew them, and He is the One who continues to make the way of salvation open to us and those we know today. How encouraging these words were to those who lived in a city whose crumbled walls provided little protection. Their unstable home was a drastic contrast to the permanence of an eternal dwelling... but one they could only enter through the Door (John 10:9).

• How comforting it is to know that nothing of our "little power" prevents our entrance into God's kingdom as well! Our shady background, our financial weakness, our limited gifting, our lack of biblical proficiency haunts us- making us wonder if we've got what it takes to really matter in God's plan. Only Jesus' invitation to us through the door He opened up with His blood mattters. Perhaps a good question to ask ourselves is "What is one thing you've been doing lately to remind yourself that God saved you- not because of your strength, but because of His grace?"

2. He is sovereign over our enemies. Jesus knew that the church in Philadelphia was living under the constant oppression of their Jewish opponents. Quoting the Old Testament passages that seemed to indicate that God could only include folks into His kingdom if they belonged to "His country," they traced God's favor back through their parents' ancestry and their personal obedience. But Jesus had come to break down the barriers between Jew and Gentile and to create a new identity of people whose only "work" was to believe in the Son of God. (John 6:29). Faith, not family, forms the new people of God. And now that the church had placed their faith in Jesus, He reminds them that this faith will be vindicated: "I will make them come and bow down at your feet and they will see that I have loved you" (v 9). Amazing!

• Often we are discouraged and tired, especially when others seem to remind us of our failures or to challenge the basis of our faith in Christ. But consider Christ's promise to us that helps us endure: Jesus will one day vindicate your claims that Jesus is God, that we owe our lives and allegiance to Him that we are saved because of His sacrifice, and that we will only persevere because of His grace that sustains us. One day, whether in this life or the next, we will see Jesus' glory acknowledged by everyone... even those who may mock you today. How does this encourage you to share your faith? Who can your community group pray for that you've had a burden to share the gospel with? Remember, Jesus promises that some of the opponents the gospel in Philadelphia (and Cleveland) would be "given as a gift" to that very church!

3. He is faithful in our trials. Jesus promises to keep His church from the "hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world." For a church that had endured both financial instability and the mockery of an established religious community, this promise is especially meaningful. Jesus wasn't claiming that His people wouldn't suffer- their history already refuted that interpretation and John's experience on Patmos nullified any doubt to the contrary. The common experience of the believer is defined by John's description of himself in chapter 1 (echoed in 3:10)- we are partners in the "patient endurance" that is in Christ.

• Trials tempt us all to want to opt out of the race, to stop and take a break from a "long obedience in the same direction." But Jesus doesn't pledge to keep us from suffering but to sustain us in suffering. How can we endure? By remembering what John remembered: there was only One who has truly endured the suffering we all deserve. John had written Jesus' own words on the earth: "It was for 'this hour' (the Cross of shame and suffering) that I came to the earth." He endured God's wrath for us that we might know God's love. How does the knowledge that Christ suffered once for all help you to endure our "light and momentary" sufferings? Is there anyone in your group struggling that you can pray for tonight as they trust in Christ's promise to hold them in their trials?

4. He is establishing us for eternity. Jesus' final promise comes in a series of statements. He will make the church pillars in His temple, setting His name on them forever. In a town rebuilt time and again (renamed twice for their benefactors), the church in Philadelphia was promised a place of permanence in the presence of God, living under the name and identity God creates for them. What a goal that creates for the weary soul.

• One of the greatest challenges to endurance is the fear that nothing will ever change... that our role will always be one of unrewarded and unnoticed. But Jesus sustains us with the promise that He is not only ruling over His kingdom, our enemies, and our trials... He also has plans for our eternal destiny. We will one day be established in His presence, our endurance ended in the security and peace of God's household. We're heading home... what peace that brings to the soul! What passages of Scripture sustain you and remind you of heaven when you are weary? How does focusing on heaven help you to endure in your current trial?

When we remember that Jesus' promises are faithful and true, we are given strength to endure. Enjoy encouraging each other on the journey this week in community group!

the Life of Christ in the church...

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'The words of Him who has the seven spirits and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die... Remember, then what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.'" (portions of Revelation 3:1-6)

Imagine strolling along a beach and coming across a body lying in the surf. Unsure if they're alive or dead, you'd immediately begin the process of searching for vital signs: you'd look at their eyes, you'd listen for breath, you'd feel for a heartbeat. In the same way, Jesus examines the church in Sardis to find out if there's life left in the church. Sardis was a church overrun by inoffensiveness... ignored by the Romans, they were (in the words of one commentator) "too harmless to be worth persecuting." Their witness was ineffective because they had forgotten one thing: when we share in Christ's life, we reflect Christ's glory. Jesus calls the church to "wake up" from their slumbering... and he does so by examining three vital signs of the church:

1. Breath: the Spirit revives the Church. Jesus tells the folks in Sardis that He alone holds the church (the seven stars). He holds them and sees their weaknesses. Like a guard asleep at his post, the Christians of Sardis needed to remember that Jesus not only held them, He held the Spirit (the "seven spirits of God"- representing the fullness of God's presence.) Echoing the New Testament's theme that only the Spirit of God gives life (John 6:63, Romans 8:2, Galatians 6:8), Jesus calls us to a desperation for the activity of the Spirit in our lives.

• As a church we need to remember that the Spirit revives our Church... are we daily looking to the Spirit for our vitality as a church? We've implemented two indispensable aspects to our church calendar: our "20-40 meeting" on Sundays before our service (9:20-9:40) and our "Worship and Prayer Night" on Fridays- first one's coming up on the 24th at SGC. In addition, let's make sure that our CG's are defined and highlighted by a desperation for God's Spirit to meet with us corporately.

2. Heartbeat: the Gospel revives the Church. Jesus tells the church in verse 3 that they are to "remember what they received." Sardis had forgotten the message they received from Paul and others in this region- the good news that Christ had redeemed them from sin and rescued them for His kingdom. Like messengers for a liberating army, we're called to remember one main message: the decisive victory against our enemy is over.

• The most important thing we can hope in isn't what we have to do but what the King has done for us! As a church, we're called to love God by celebrating, proclaiming, and living out the message of the gospel. All over the country, the gospel is being watered down, marginalized, and forgotten. Do you have confidence when you share the gospel that others need to hear and be encouraged by this one truth? If not, what do you need to do in order to restore your confidence so that you can witness more freely?

3. Blindness: Our hope revives the Church. Jesus looked into the eyes of the church and saw that their gaze had drifted from their eternal hope. So He reminded them that (despite the way others may regard them) those who conquer will have a new name redeemed for them in heaven. Jesus will one day rescue our name and reputation by forever uniting it with His grace!

• Our sins will be atoned for, our failings will be made up for, our final destiny is to have our names written in the book of life (which Revelation 13 and 20 link to the Lamb who was slain). When you struggle with your sins or shortcomings, it revives us to remember that Christ's blood will forever cover everything. How can you fix your gaze on our eternal hope- the final work of the gospel?
  

When he was closing our meeting, Jonathan encouraged us to do three things each week:

• Take a morning to cry out to the Spirit for life.
• Take a morning to review and remember the gospel.
• Take a morning to fix your eyes on eternity.

Enjoying the gospel with you,
Darren

The Passion of Christ in the Church...

"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'The words of the Son of God who has eyes like flames of fire and feet like burnished bronze. I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel... But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come." (portions of Revelation 2:18-25)

Thyatira was a blue-collar city made up of a number of different local workers unions. This dynamic created job security for many within the town- chief among them being a thriving metal and fabric dying trade guilds. Obviously, there were a number of advantages that came with this kind of structure, and most people viewed membership in the union as essential for their well-being in the city. The one downside for Christians in Thyatira is that joining up with a local union meant that you needed to participate in the religious feasts for each local "union idol"... meals which often wandered down the path of sexual immorality.

So what was a Christian to do? How could you remain a part of Thyatira's community (and job market) while remaining true to your identity in Christ? Enter "Jezebel" a woman in the church whose status as a prophetess gave her the respect to voice her opinion. She seemed to have advocated a view that salvation was more concerned with the spiritual than with the body- enabling a believer to act however he wanted at these feasts. It was a popular and convenient teaching... likely connected to what what Jesus had associated with the Nicolaitans and Balaam in other towns. Regardless, Jesus opposes her, her followers, and her teaching... instead wanting the church to remember that the church will shine like Christ when it defends what Christ values. In order to shine, we have to remember the gaze of Christ on His church in three ways:

1. The Son of God searches His people: Jesus is described in chapter 1 as having eyes like flames of fire. The "eyes of the Lord" is the phrase from the Old Testament that most accurately portrays the measuring stick by which a person's righteous living was evaluated. David, Noah, and various kings found favor or did right in "the eyes of the Lord." Many kings did not do what was right by this standard. Peter in particular would have seen these eyes after denying Jesus three times; Luke describes it this way: "While he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And Jesus turned and looked at Peter." (22:60-61) The gaze of Christ can be troubling, but it can also be reassuring... as we see in Matthew 6 where Jesus reminds us that God "sees in secret" and will reward our acts of giving, devotion, and self-denial when they're unnoticed. How does the fact that Christ searches our church encourage you? Are there some who have forgotten that Christ sees your small acts of service that you feel others don't notice? Are there some who have forgotten that Christ is aware of our acts of rebellion, even when we don't think that others notice what we've said or seen or done?

2. The Son of God sees the failings of the church. Jesus has little regard for "Jezebel" or her followers (her "children") or for the fact that the church in Thyatira has allowed her sin and influence to continue unchecked within the church. He critiques them for tolerating her effects on the believers who are listening to her, and He warns them that her punishment is coming. Notice three aspects of Jesus' rebuke:

• Jesus' concern is first Godward... He critiques her for her rejection of God, and her embrace of a satanic mentality within the church.
• Jesus' concern is for the effects on the church... He warns her that her doctrine is spreading: she is teaching and seducing others in the church towards idolatry and immorality.
• Jesus' concern is targeted towards repentance... Despite her awful treatment of grace and the effects of her lies about what God values, He waited in executing judgment and He offered to withhold judgment if they would repent.

This makes me wonder why we are so hesitant to bring correction to others when God may want to use us to help others. We're called to be like Jesus: we should be concerned when we see our friends making mistakes about who God is and what He values, particularly when they're influencing others in the same direction. However, this is to be driven by a desire for restoration. In all that, we're not God... we don't see accurately or perceive perfectly. Therefore, we must be humble and cautious. Bring observations about what you're seeing, not conclusions about what drives it. Remember, God may want to bring grace to others through you, and nothing can kill that like a dose of self-righteous arrogance.

3. The Son of God sees the presence of His grace. For a church so tolerant of sin, Thyatira is not without their strengths... and Jesus is not so concerned with sin that He is blind to their godliness. This is a church whose real care for God and others, whose confidence in God's promises, whose desire to meet others' needs, whose endurance to stand with Christ no matter what are all stronger now than they were early in the church. What a great statement to make! It's easy to be a flash in the pan, but the fruit in this church was maturing. Jesus even makes a strong distinction within the church over those who were resisting Jezebel's influence. How encouraging this is for us who can be so aware of our weaknesses, sins, failings, and feeble faith. We can too easily dismiss others when they say, "I see how God is at work in your life." Be encouraged that Jesus doesn't look at our sins to the negation of our strengths. Take some time before you close to remind each other of the ways you've seen Christ at work in each other. If you're having trouble knowing what to look for, start with the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5) and the gifts of the Spirit (Rom 12, 1 Cor 12, Eph 4). You'll find how encouraging it is for all of us to remember that Christ sees and commends the gifts and strengths He has worked into His people.

Have a great week!

The purity of Christ in the Church...

"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write... 'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name and you do not deny my faith... But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam... so also you have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore, repent... To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna.'" (portions of Revelation 2:12-17)

Somewhere around 1400 BC an unstoppable force of rebel slaves made their way across the desert toward a group of semi-nomadic kings. Their reputation preceded them: they were an unbeatable military power with a mythical capacity for supernatural conquest... crossing natural land barriers with ease and raining down curses from the sky on their enemies. Many kings fell at their hand, but one succeeded in stopping this army. His adviser recognized that the power of the slave-nation came from their god; so his counsel was simple. Convince them to stop relying on and trusting in their god- then, they'd be as good as conquered.

Sadly, the strategy worked. Balaam (the counselor to the king) knew that if he could seduce the Israelites away from God, then God's people would be unplugged from God's presence and power. (You can read more in Numbers 25.) This same strategy of distract and divert is used over and over by God's enemy against God's people... and we encounter it in the church today. Satan uses the distractions of the world as attacks against purity of the church... dulling us and preventing us from shining forth with the glory of Christ. What we saw on Sunday from this passage was that the glory of Christ is reflected in the purity of the Church. And Christ's passion for our purity was reflected in three ways in this passage:

1. Christ knows our temptations. Jesus told the Christians in Pergamum that their situation was close to His heart. He knew where they lived: Satan's backyard. In the realm of his influence, breathing the air of a culture he had created. And Jesus relates this intimate knowledge in present tense language: "I know where you live." What comfort there is in this. Jesus knows our present struggles. He doesn't simply equip us to fight and promise to meet us on the other end. He walks with us and comforts us in the midst of the daily battles for purity we all face. How this knowledge helps me to read Hebrews 4... "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. Instead, Jesus was tempted like us... yet without sin." Christ knows our temptations today because He walked them with us and for us on the earth! His sinlessness doesn't distance Him from us... instead, it qualifies Him to both relate to us and to intercede for us today.

2. Christ opposes our tolerance. Jesus had some harsh words for this church. Despite the encouragement that He could relate to their struggles, Jesus opposed their passivity to a worldliness that was infiltrating the church. Jesus wasn't simply concerned- He promised to come and fight against those who were implementing a worldliness within the church. Like a king welcoming his enemy right into his palace, the folks in Pergamum were allowing Satan access to the church in a way that could lead to their destruction. And Jesus told them that if they wouldn't do something about this, He would. Our church isn't facing an onslaught of teaching that promotes tolerance towards worldliness. To date, we've been handed a great deal of wonderful teaching. What we need is to make sure we're putting it into practice. So on Sunday I suggested that we re-start a conversation about worldliness in our own lives. I suggested that we make it easy for others to ask us questions about the following things:

• Materialism: What are you buying?
• Media: What are you watching?
• Music: What are you listening to?
• Modesty: What are you wearing?
• Mission: What are you pursuing?

3. Christ offers the treatment. The good news in this passage is that Jesus doesn't simply diagnose our problem and call for change, He offers the cure to our problem. Our appetite for the world's value system isn't easily combated unless there's a stronger pull on our hearts. And Jesus offers the strongest of all: being with Him. "To Him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna." Jesus in John 6 tells us clearly that He is the fulfillment of an Old Testament picture of provision. God sent bread from heaven for His people in the wilderness, but only Christ truly satisfies. He is the true bread from heaven. Only this message helps me fight for an enduring purity. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for their shall see God." I want to overcome and triumph in this fight with the present and future blessing of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

So, I think I'll get a bit more acquainted with the questions above... cause I'm gonna need some help from my friends. And when we all pour ourselves into this, we'll shine forth with the glory of Christ because the glory of Christ is reflected in the purity of the Church.

The faithfulness of Christ in the Church...

"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer... be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.'" (Revelation 2:8-10)

Like the long time friend of a newly crowned celebrity, Smyrna was a faithful friend to the city of Rome. When Rome took power as an empire, Smyrna came along as part of the gang. One of the perks of being a favored city was that Smyrna was among the first to popularize emperor worship... even to the point of giving out certificates for burning incense at Caesar's temple. Trouble is, Christians wouldn't do that... they couldn't recognize Caesar's lordship or deity. So Smyrna became a dangerous place for Christians. Sadly, persecution was the norm- especially defined by financial and physical suffering. And to them Jesus brings the encouragement that the church will shine like Christ when it suffers like Christ. This encourages us as we see three things in the passage:

1. Christ sees His suffering church. The One who is the first and the last saw the mess sin had made of His creation and entered in to creation to save it. But the Savior suffered the loss of comfort, of popularity, even of His life in order to save us. But Jesus isn't just the One who died... He is the One who died AND came back to life (v 8). Jesus' resurrection changes everything! It means suffering isn't eternal, it means Jesus didn't suffer in vain, and it means that we don't suffer in vain. But suffering tempts us to believe that God has forgotten us, and we must remember that Christ sees us in our suffering. He knows our tribulation. In what ways are you tempted to believe that God has forgotten you in the midst of your latest trial?

2. Christ redefines the impoverished church. In a day when it was legal to steal Christian's property because of their faithfulness to Christ, poverty takes on a new definition. The believers in Smyrna weren't lacking luxuries, they were lacking everything. Food was scarce, businesses were ruined, the future looked bleak. And the believers were tempted to believe that their wealth was tied up in their current circumstances. But Jesus reminds them and us that "it is not poverty to be poor." Instead, our status as those forgiven our offenses against God and destined for the riches of an eternal kingdom trumps everything. Whether rich or poor in earthly standards, the only lasting assessment is the richness of our soul. When we remember this, we don't have to fear the loss of anything on earth. Each trial or loss reminds us to fix our eyes on things that are unseen and declare, "we are rich." How have you been reminded lately that your wealth is not bound up in what you possess on earth? What specific things have you done lately that remind you of the richness of the gospel?

3. Christ rewards the faithful church. When you read verse 10, it's amazing to see the two realities Jesus addresses: 1. the church doesn't need to fear AND 2. the church will suffer. Jesus says, "Do not fear WHAT you are about to suffer." Suffering for them meant the devil would bring about the imprisonment of some of the church leading to their death. But Jesus says, "Be faithful..." which makes me wonder, "What does faithfulness look like?" But faithfulness unto death is only possible if we love Jesus more than life. Otherwise, I'll be faithful to preserving my life instead of faithful to preserving my testimony. This was simple in Smyrna: don't bow to the emperor. This is more complex in the US- but I think there are still some simple questions:

• Do I love Jesus more than I love my comfort?
• Do I love Jesus more than I love my reputation?
• Do I love Jesus more than I love my money?
• Do I love Jesus more than I love my life?

Christ may one day bring suffering to the US like the believers in Smyrna knew. But today, the answer to those four questions sets me on a trajectory that will lead to future faithfulness as well. How we address suffering that challenges my comfort, reputation, financial peace of mind, fashion sense, choice of friends... all of those answer whether I love Jesus more than I love my life. And when I do love Him in the face of suffering, when we all do, our church will shine with Christ's glory. So encourage each other to be faithful in the midst of the suffering we face.

Have a great time in CG!

the Love of Christ in the Church...

"But this I have against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent." (Rev 2:4-5)

On Sunday, we turned in Revelation 2 to Jesus words to the church in Ephesus- the first church (the "lampstands" that surrounded Jesus in chapter 1). The Ephesians were an important church in an important region. They had an amazing church history: After three years of hearing Paul preach, watching him perform miracles, many of the people in the church had been so amazed by the gospel that they gave up everything to follow Jesus. Their love for Jesus was so compelling that the entire region around them was radically affected by the good news... the word of God was spreading!

But over the next thirty years, that young church had to fight some real battles over what could be taught in the church. Paul had warned them that after he left, men from their church would teach "twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them." As the church fought those battles, two things happened: 1) the church was well cared for and grew into a safe haven for helpful doctrine, and 2) the church drifted towards knowing about God more than really knowing Him. So as Jesus addressed this church in Revelation 2:1-7, God addressed us this Sunday as we saw ourselves in this church. We saw three things together:

1. We are commended for guarding the Truth. Jesus turns His attention to the Ephesians in v 2-3 and said, "I know your works..." The One who sees clearly with eyes of fire saw this church and was pleased with their "toil and endurance." He knew about the growing list of men with untested ideas who cared more about getting a following than serving the church. And Jesus knew that the Ephesian leaders had guarded the church well from teachers whose ideas looked helpful but were ultimately poisonous to the flock. And Jesus said, "Well done."

In a similar way, it's helpful to look back on our history and remember that God is pleased with our church as we have grown in a fuller understanding of who God is and what He values. God has seen the hard work of all those over this past decade how have served well: our Sunday School teachers (who've raised a decade of kids on the truth), our youth-parent leaders (who have sought to help our teens think biblically that they could have faith for an uncertain future), our community group leaders and worship leaders (who have found creative ways of helping us to celebrate and apply the gospel)... Jesus has seen our desire to grow in the Truth and we are commended for guarding the Truth.

2. But we are critiqued for failing to love. The danger Ephesus faced was that they'd become more excited about studying God and what He values than loving God and what He values. Their early years were marked by a passion to know God... and doctrinal precision was the overflow of that love. Sadly, they'd fallen from those heights- warm towards truth and cold towards God. Pursuing truth is supposed to be the means to knowing God... knowing the One who created, loved, redeemed, and saved us. When we study what God values without loving those He values, we're in danger of losing our mission as a church. This danger was expressed by Jesus with the words, "Repent and do the works (the expressions of real love) you did at first. If not, I will come to you and will remove your lampstand from its place."

What a threat! If we guard the truth and have a carefully worded missions statement but fail to love God and others, our church might not last the next decade. If we can speak like angels, prophecy with power, explain the toughest riddles, believe the hardest promises, give til it hurts, and endure til the end... but we forget to love- our church is nothing (see 1 Cor 13). And Jesus won't allow a group like that to represent Him in this region. Because the light of Christ is reflected in the love of the Church. So the question we have to ask ourselves is, "Are we still marked by love?" Do we love God or love knowing about Him? Do we love people or just tolerate them? If we're like Ephesus in this, we might want to keep reading because...

3. We're called to remember and repent. Jesus prescribes two cures for the Ephesian church. In light of His victory over sin (to the extent that He will even allow us back in the "garden" again at the Tree of Life... Rev 22), Jesus enables us to do two things: remember what it was like in the early days of knowing God and repent. We need to be reminded of our early life with Christ... to remember both through our memory and our shared memories with those who remember better than we do. We need to be reminded by sharing the gospel and seeing the blessing of new believers in the church whose passion for God is shining brightly. And when we remember, we need to dream up both old ways and new ways to show God and others our love.

And when we do- God (whom nobody can see) will become visible in the church. (1 John 4:12). What a joy and privilege both to stand up for God and to showcase His love in our midst!

Looking forwards to decades together,

Darren

"Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man." (Revelation 1:12-13)

This past Sunday, we had the opportunity to "see" Jesus as He is through the words John recorded in Revelation chapter 1. John was writing from a barren stretch of rock to encourage a group of churches who were suffering under Roman oppression. It wasn't an easy time for any of them... but more than anything else, they needed to see Jesus' glory because the beauty of the church comes from beholding the glory of the Son.

As we looked and saw Jesus with John yesterday, we noticed three things:

1. Jesus is glorious! Using Old Testament imagery, John described Jesus' splendor with words that felt inadequate but were attempts at portraying Christ's value in pictured form. Jesus is more valuable and worthy than anything and this was evident from his feet (shining like "burnished bronze" to his hair "white like wool and snow.") Even his face shone brightly as if you'd look straight at the sun in its unfiltered glory! John had seen Jesus' glory when He was transfigured, but most of the time Jesus appeared like an average guy to John. He hid His glory in the tent of a human covering. Familiarity with Jesus kept him from seeing Jesus' true honor, and the same can be true of us. Has familiarity with Jesus kept you from being amazed by His glory? How can this affect the way we approach our devotions or our times of coming to worship God on Sundays?
2. Jesus is victorious! In Revelation 1:13, John calls Jesus the "Son of Man"... a title that comes from Daniel 7 where God strips authority from other nations and gives it exclusively to the Son. John shows us Jesus' victory over sin as our victorious High Priest and his authority to speak His Word decisively and with authority... see verses 14, 15, 16. All these things reveal not what Jesus "looks like" but what He "is like". How encouraging this way to John as he was in exile and to the churches as they faced persecution! But why did Jesus only show Himself to John rather than the churches? Because they were to "see" Jesus in John's words... and so are we. So, is this the way you read your Bible? Do you long to wake up and "see" Jesus in His Word? Can you share some ways you've learned to do this well that would encourage others? How can others help you in your struggle to see Jesus?
3. Lastly, Jesus is among us! Not only do we see Jesus in His glory and triumph, Jesus is standing "in the midst of the lampstands!" He isn't distant and far-off... He's present with us, like the OT priests- maintaining and trimming and re-supplying the churches with what they need. He sees us with perfect vision (v 14) and supplies all we need. Though we would fall at his feet along with John as though dead (v 17), the good news is that Jesus' words "Fear not" apply to us as much as to John. Jesus is the One who has triumphed over death and hell... He died for us and lives for us. In Him, we have all we need to endure struggles, to fan into flame the gifts He's given, and to be a church that shines for Him like a lamp in the dark and a star in the night. So, in what ways do you need to remember that Jesus is "among us" and stands in our midst as a church? How can we pray for you as you go?

Have a great community group this week!

Starting up the old blog again...

Every Spring, I wonder what will happen when I dig the mower out of its state of hibernation, change out the old oil, and pull the cord for the first time. Smoke? Fire? Nothing? Well, now that we've finished out DVD series (Prodigal God by Tim Keller) that went along with our "parable" series from Luke, it's time we pull the blog out of its resting state and see what happens. Hopefully, we'll be able to get it running again.

As you might remember, here's the way things worked: each Monday morning, I'll post a follow-up to the sermon- either for clarity, ideas for application, or with some questions that can help your Community Groups discuss the text that week. Please feel free to let me know if there are ways I can improve what we're doing.

In addition to the blog, you'll see some new things happening at the site... and by "new" I mean, "not the old highlights from February. (We aim high around here.) So- thanks for your patience... let's see what this thing can do again!

the greatest word of all...

Well the countdown is complete... and our final word is here: Celebration- choosing to rejoice when the outcome is certain. And there's no greater day for celebration than Easter Sunday- the day that sealed our new lives in Christ... our substitute, our redemption, our sacrifice, our protitiation.

As I write this Saturday night, the semi-finals of the Final Four are over. Butler beat out Michigan State (my dad's favorite) in a game that came down to the final seconds; currently, Duke is on top of West Virginia by 15 with about 5 minutes left. My guess is that (if Duke stays ahead) the celebrating will start up on the bench with somewhere around 3 minutes remaining. That didn't describe the Butler victory... everyone was tense, focused, nervous. The celebration couldn't be enjoyed until the clock ticked down and the outcome was certain.

For the disciples, there was no rest after Good Friday. Jesus' cry "It is finished!" was lost on them... and especially on Thomas. There was no finality to the Cross except in the defeat of his Master- the end had come for Jesus. So when we meet him locked in a room one week later, it's not surprising to hear that he doubts the reports that Jesus is alive. Let the ten disciples spout on, let Mary talk about her visit with Jesus, let the 2 on the road to Emmaus make their claims- Thomas wouldn't believe. But what a privilege to see ourselves in Thomas- to read about Thomas' transition in John 20.

Thomas was a skeptic: John 20:25 "The other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.'" Thomas had seen Jesus betrayed and arrested; Thomas later received news that he had been killed. Thomas had hoped for nothing and Thomas would never be taken for the fool again.

• It's easy for us to have the same attitude sometimes. We had hopes and dreams for what God would do in us and through us. We were passionate about God, but something happened... or maybe it's what didn't happen. Have you ever felt this way about God and His plans for you? What tempts you to think that God isn't going to be faithful to His promises?

Thomas was a believer: John 20:27, "Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!'" Can you imagine what the eight days between verse 25 and 27 must have been like? Thomas might have been remembering Jesus' statements about the Cross: buried for 3 days like Jonah, raising up the "Temple" in 3 days. Perhaps these prepared him for Jesus' arrival. But it seems like it would have to be more... because Thomas does more than acknowledge Jesus' life, he acknowledges Jesus' identity: "My Lord and my God!" But how can we follow THAT example?

Thomas was our example: John 20:29, "Jesus said to him... 'Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'" It's not just that Thomas doubts that unites us to him... it's how Thomas comes to faith- Thomas remembered Jesus' words. He remembered that Jesus had claimed to be God, that Jesus had done work like God, that Jesus had forgiven sins like only God can. And when he claimed hold of God's word, suddenly Thomas "saw" as well. Thomas saw Jesus rightly. Others saw Jesus' body; he saw Jesus' deity. Everything Jesus said to be true was true- and the Resurrection proved it. It proved Jesus was right about the Cross, right about forgiven sin, right about who He said He was. John started his book by saying, "The Word was God", but Thomas got to close the book saying, "Jesus is MY God."

• When money runs out, when relationships get rocky, when sickness arrives... it's easy to shake our fist and claim "I will never believe." But although life brings trouble and doubt, Thomas reminds us that our only hope (our only blessing) is in believing in God's word... And it's God's word that reminds us that Jesus is our justification (Rom 4), that Jesus is our redemption from sin (Rom 6), that Jesus is our sympathetic high priest (Rom 8). And everyone of those promises is linked directly to the Resurrection.

In fact, because Jesus is alive, our best days are truly ahead of us: God's Son is ours, God's grace is ours, God's smile is ours- because when God raised His Son, God guaranteed His promises. Have a great day- the Lord is Risen!

Our fourth word...

PROPITIATION: HOW DO WE DEAL WITH ANGER?

"The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD and died, and the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place..." Lev 16:1-3

What a horrible moment Leviticus 10 must have been for Aaron. His sons were both set in as priests in chapter 9, and then they were both killed by God for their disregard for His holiness! The shift in tone between those chapters is palpable... it's hard to imagine what must have been going through his mind. Nadab and Abihu improvised with their roles in God's presence by choosing to change the way they offered incense in the Tabernacle. Not a big deal, right? Wrong... and they were struck down by God as a result. What a terrible moment- not just of grief... but also of trying to answer the question: what can be done to avoid God's wrath again? What we saw yesterday is that God directed Aaron to the one place where God's anger towards sin could be taken care of: the mercy seat... the "place of propiation." And Aaron was to go there only one day per year- the Day of Atonement. Three things come to light as we studied a bit more about that day...

First, God's holiness is foreign to the earthly: God told Israel to make the Tabernacle so that earthly people could interact with a holy God. The patterns weren't just based on random proportions... instead, they were to mirror the reality of heaven. Hebrews 9:1-5 was clear that all the regulations from the Old Testament were pointing to other realities... to other places. And at the heart of the Tabernacle was the Ark of the Covenant- covered by the mercy seat- the place of propitiation. So on the Day of Atonement, after great sacrifice to atone for his and Israel's sin, Aaron brought blood into the Most Holy Place, behind the curtain and sprinkled blood on the mercy seat. Why? Because the Ark represented the heavenly throne of God. And you don't just waltz up to the Throne.

Second, God's anger is justified against the guilty: God didn't need to apologize, therefore, about his treatment of Aaron's sons. In fact, God was merciful by helping Aaron to understand how to prevent his OWN death. Remember, on the Day of Atonement, Aaron walked into the courtyard (past the altar and basin), into the Tabernacle (past the table of bread and the lampstand), he would pause at the altar before going beyond the curtain. He would take coals on a censer and place it in the Most Holy Place, then return to get incense to throw on that fire. What must that have been like? This was how his sons died... they offered incense that was common and profane before a God who was uncommon and holy. Hebrews 9:6-10 reminds us that deep down, Aaron knew the system wasn't fully operational yet. His conscience wasn't fully cleansed... even after a year of sacrifice, even after the Day of Atonement. Aaron was still sinful, and all the blood of bulls and goats could never remove his sin.

Sadly, I think too many of us as Christians start here... and never leave. We know that God was at least satisfied by Christ's death to forgive our sins. But we live as though God is bearing a grudge against us because of the lack of perfection that defines our lives now. We have bad habits, give into old sins, forget to exercise self-control, and go weeks without reading the Bible. These things are serious, but not in the way we feel them... our consciences are never fully purified... and we wonder if they ever could be. We avoid God's presence because we're afraid of His anger. Enter propitiation- the process by which God's wrath is removed from His people... because...

Third, God's sacrifice is sufficient for our purity: Hebrews 9:11 begins "When Christ appeared"- what glorious truth... Christ appeared to deal with God's wrath (not in some earthly copy of heaven) but in heaven itself! Christ's blood pleads for His people at the Throne, and Christ is seated at the Father's side as our propitiation. The Cross has now become our mercy seat- the "place of propitiation" for us... all pictured in the two goats of the Day of Atonement. One goat slaughtered with its blood sprinkled on the Ark, the other one banished from the people of Israel as a representation that the guilt from their sins was removed from the nation. As our scapegoat, Jesus has removed our sins from us... and as our propitiation, "the blood of Christ purifies our conscience from dead works to serve the living God." Heb 9:13-14

The wonderful upshot of it all is that God is not angry with His people. What would be different if we really believed this... if the threat of God's anger didn't hang over the shoulders of God's church today?

• I think we'd be calm in the Father's presence, remembering that Christ came to be made like us, to become a priest for us to make propitiation for the sins of the people. He suffered like us so that He can help us. Don't believe me? Read Hebrews 2:17-18... it's right there.
• I also think we'd be quicker to love others rather than to get angry at them. Love doesn't find its source in our capacity to love. Instead, it's defined by the fact that our Father loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. God was not content to let His wrath dwell on us, and so we ought to make sure that we are committed to the same mindset with others. That's from 1 John 4:10.

Have a great week!

Our third word...

Over the last two Sundays, we've taken a look at two pretty important days in the Old Testament: Passover and the Day of Atonement. As we saw Sunday, they functioned differently from each other... each with its own focus and ceremonies.

• Passover started the calendar year,
• while the Day of Atonement started the religious year.
• Passover marked Israel's redemption,
• while the D of A marked Israel's atonement.
• Passover looked back to the Exodus,
• while the D of A looked back to Israel's past year.
• Passover was a time of feasting together,
• while the D of A was marked by fasting.

As we prepare for Good Friday and Easter this week, it's good to remember that God planned out Christ's substitutionary, redemptive work in a way that built around SACRIFICE and PROPITIATION (our two new words). Although we don't have community groups this week, I trust these reviews of Christ as our propitiatory sacrifice will help you to remember Christ's death and to celebrate Christ's resurrection. The messages basically answered two simple questions: "How do we deal with the reality of vengeance?" and "How do we deal with the reality of anger?"

FIRST- SACRIFICE: HOW DO WE DEAL WITH VENGEANCE?

"For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt." Ex 12:12-13

All of us instincively have a desire to see justice executed. Like Inigo Montoya who was dominated by the quest to see his father's death avenged, we can all have an internal cry for justice when we're wronged: "There will be blood tonight." But we know that God calls for forgiveness from us and extends mercy to us... so how does this square up? Sin should result in blood, but God calls us to defer instead for patience and kindness towards those who sin... but where does justice fit in all this? Exodus 12 reminds us that sin requires a sacrifice that only God can provide. We see this in two parts in these verses:

1. Sin results in death: God had exacted 9 judgments against the gods of Egypt- plagues that had humbled Egypt and shattered their view of God as a weakling slave deity. But God had one more plague in mind... one that resulted in great blood. And it's easy to dismiss this view of God until we remember sin for what it is: "an act of treason again our cosmis authority... an insult to God's holiness" (RC Sproul). When we remember that our internal idolatry and love affair with this world is a direct insult to God's holiness as we thumb our noses at Him, it seems right to remember that sin results in death... not simply as a natural consequence. God often brought death on those who offended Him, like Uzzah or Ananias and Sapphira. And this causes us to stop and consider whether we're trivializing the vestiges of our rebellion against God. Isn't it treasonous...

• when we fawn over people we admire?
• dream about the stuff we could purchase?
• work like dogs to advance our careers?

It's not simply the forbidden that gets us off track, it's the fact that the secondary pursuits of life overtake God in our lives... suddenly, the first commandment to love God without rival seems fairly difficult. We must start by remembering the way God dealt with this is Egypt... sin results in death.

2. But blood atones for sin: What an amazing phrase hits us in verse 13- "when I see the blood." The truth is that Passover... that sacrifice... is a bloody pasttime. In fact, given the way that sacrificial language dominates Scripture, the Bible is a pretty bloody book. What amazes me is the way God responds to blood! Some of us have different responses when we see blood (mine are fairly shameful)... but when God sees the blood of His sacrifice, He responds with mercy. Only God could provide the kind of sacrifice that could evoke this type of response. So God hid a glorious reality in a dying system. From the beginning, blood was shed to cover Adam and Eve, to atone for Noah's condition, to cover up Israel's sin... but ultimately to point to the One that John called "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." You see, when Christ appeared, he did so "once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." (Heb 9:26). What an atonement He provides: He builds a sense of blood-justice into us, He exposes our need that deeds can't undo, and He provides a sacrifice who would bleed on our behalf:

• One who bled from the fists at the courtyard
• One who bled from the thorns in His forehead
• One who bled from the nails in His wrists
• One who bled from the spear in His side...

...but One who bled was bleeding before they even touched Him. As He pled in prayer over the cup of wrath He would drink, His blood began flowing then- in preparation for the "sacrifice of Himself." If this is true, and it is, then our need for vengeance against others in satisfied... as believers, the blood we want from others is either paid by Christ or one day will be exacted by Him. (Vengeance is not ours.) In the same way, we don't need to offer up some way of atoning for our sins... that work in finished as well. As the song says, "His blood has forever ransomed me!"

more to come in the next post...

Our first two words...

A brief note before I begin: the recent delay in sending these out hasn't been due to a computer glitch, website troubles, or a system error of any kind. Instead, the problem has technically been diagnosed as a PICNIC error- which, as I learned yesterday, stands for "Problem In Chair, Not In Computer." So, yup... it's me... just haven't been able to get these out. However, the quality of the messages we heard during February mandates some follow-up. So, later this week, I'll be blogging about how we can continue to apply the series on purity. OK, note over. On to this week...

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Over the last two Sundays, we began our series entitled "5 Big Words"- our study of Old Testament concepts that help to inform how we understand the atonement (what Christ did for us on the Cross). None of them are "new" words to most Christians; but many of them can be words that are easily glossed over due to familiarity. I hope that our look at "substitution" and "redemption" over these past two weeks has served you. Here's a brief review:

On Sunday the 7th, we opened up to Genesis 22 where we read about Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah. We saw that (like the "stunt man" from my 8th grade talent show) substitution is when one person or thing acts or serves in the place of another. While it's easy to view their story sentimentally, the reality is that Abraham and Isaac's dilemma portrays for us our real struggle to trust God with the ways in which sin affects our lives each day.

• Consider the Drama: God had created people to bear His image and represent His nature on the earth- but they didn't... they rebelled and rejected God's significance as the Creator. They wanted to displace Him in the garden, they murdered and killed each other outside the garden, and even after God started over with Noah after the flood- they still lived their lives in an attempt to demonstrate their own permanence and power. But God was merciful and chose to restore His people to Himself through one man... a man whose family would produce a nation... a man whom God would use to bless the entire earth... a man whose only son represented the fulfillment of all God's promises... the man who was walking up Mount Moriah to kill that very son. It would have been easy for Abraham to despair that God was going to be faithful to His promises... just like it's easy for us to be so marred by sin (ours and others) that we wonder if God can keep His promises to us. Have you ever been so low in life that you've wondered if sin will have the final say in your life? What tempts you to think that right now?


• Consider the Trama: Abraham and Isaac approach mountain... alone... and Isaac turns to his dad and asks, "Where is the sacrifice? Fire- check, wood- check, sacrifice- uhh..." Isaac seems to understand that sin requires sacrifice... that our general condition as fallen folks and our specific contributions to that condition require a sacrifice that will stave off the wrath of God towards us. But where will that sacrifice come from? This moment has been called "one of the most dramatic and theologically significant episodes in Genesis." And I think these moments in our lives are the most theologically significant as well. We're all affected by sin- sometimes from others who've ruined our lives and sometimes because of the ways we've sinfully and selfishly treated God and others. We're often so aware that things are botched up financially, relationally, spiritually and we know that someone has to pay! There must be some way to atone for this mess we've made, but how can it be done? These are traumatic, theological moments because they say so much about what we believe. And the only true way to respond is the way Abraham responds: "God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So consider: how easy is it for you to respond the same way? Are you quick to remember Christ as the substitute when someone sins against you (or your friends or your kids)? Are you quick to remember Christ as the substitute when you fail or blatantly sin against others? Why or why not? What else do you turn to?


• Consider the Triumph: What a great moment it is, then, when God intervenes, when Isaac is spared, and when the substitute is revealed. God provided for Himself the sacrifice. Just like He did for Adam and Eve who were covered in leaves- God provided the lamb. Just like He did for you and for me who so often cover ourselves in our own ways of patching things up and making things right- God provided the Lamb. This is how the horrors of sin can be explained, how our past can be redeemed, how the guilty can find sleep at night, how the innocent victims can endure... there is a Substitute who comes and stands in our place. If we really believed this and lived it, it could change the way we live, react, rejoice, suffer, and stand against evil. Because the point of the passage appears to be: We can trust God's promises to us because He sent His Substitute for us. If you really caught that and believed it to be true, what promises from God might make a real difference in your life this week?

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On Sunday the 14th, we opened to Exodus 6 where we read about God's promise to "redeem" His people... the descendents of Abraham. We saw that "redemption is when one person pays the price to free another from slavery." Although redemption language seems like some coupon-clipping kind of life, it's actually language that was much more familiar to those in Old and New Testament times. It came from an living in a reality where slaves really could purchase their freedom and where captives of war really might need to be purchased from their bondage to the conquering nation. Consider the way that comes through in Exodus 6:6-8...
"Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’”

God promises to redeem His people and we see three things about redemption here:

• Redemption looks to the past: Consider the history that Israel knew as a "slave nation." Their past was marred by bondage to Egyptians, by misery, by an inability to ever imagine life different than it was at the moment. So consider how tempting it might have been to hear Moses declare that God would redeem His people: "Moses, what do you know about us? You were raised in privilege, we were raised in the mud. No, my friend, bondage is all we've ever known and all we ever will." It's easy for all of us to feel like slaves to sin... especially for those who really are. Jesus, Paul, and Peter all declared that our natural condition apart from grace is in slavery to sin... we have no options- our master exerts its will over us and we are incapable of living in a manner that pleases God. (see John 8:34, Romans 6, and 2 Peter 2:19). But praise God that when He looks to the past, He not only remembers our suffering and sees us (Exodus 2:23-25), He also remembers His promises to redeem and change those He's called to Himself. Redemption looks to the past and sees sin but it also sees God's promises to save! Do you have hope that when God looks to your past, He sees both your suffering under sin and His commitment to redeem you from your sin? What tempts you to lose hope?
• Redemption looks to the cost: Looking back at Exodus 6, it's interesting to see how God describes the redemption He will bring to Israel. He won't simply redeem them (He could do it immediately and effortlessly); instead, God promises to do with by stretching out His arm- He's flexing and demonstrating His strength! God's plan to redeem Israel would come through the 10 plagues- violence targeting the very gods of Egypt... who not only captivated the Egyptians, they had become a stumbling block to Israel as well. In fact, Israel's history proved this out: even after they were free (see Mt. Sinai) and after they had kings in place in their land (see Jeroboam), they continued to worship Egypt's deity of the Golden Calves. Israel needed to be redeemed not simply from the Egyptians but also from the Egyptian's gods. In a similar manner, you and I can create false sources of hope and refuge and delight that might be enjoyable but were never meant to displace God. This idol worship throughout history has brought God's righteous response- often boldly communicating His great displeasure towards this sin. God's wrath is a terrible thing to the idolater and it's justly deserved. But praise God that He redeemed us from this curse- how? Galatians 2 says that "he became a curse for us", Titus 3 says that "he gave himself to redeem us from all unlawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are his own possession." Redemption has looked to the cost and provided a Savior in Jesus Christ who took upon Himself the cost. If we truly believed this, I think we could enjoy the reality of Exodus 6:7-8... that we can be God's own people... because-
• Redemption redefines the future: Our God (the LORD) personally and intimately offers to redeem us not simply out of slavery but to Himself that we might be His people and that He might be our God! How this redefines our future! We won't remain captive to sin, we don't have to wonder about the reign of sin, we can even have hope as we remember that the domain of sin over humanity has been broken! God is a Redeemer, and we know that our Redeemer lives! He has triumphed over sin as Colossians 1:13-14 says, "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." What if we claimed that verse as our own, memorized it and had it on the tips of our tongues? Wouldn't it change the way we helped each other when we struggled? Wouldn't it help us to re-imagine what life could be like for those who struggle? Wouldn't it help us to fight sin when tempted or to instruct our children with hope? Couldn't it infuse our church with hope that our best days truly are ahead of us... that Christ really has defeated sin... that the cost for sinfulness has been paid? If the answers "yes", then get busy encouraging each other with this wonderful truth: We know that OUR REDEEMER LIVES!
  

Have a great week at Community Group!