the community on canvas...

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:15-21

Isn't it amazing how often we use elegant and flowing language to talk about spiritual realities... and isn't it amazing how hard it is sometimes to give feet to those same inspiring words? We love to sing about and read about people who were under the Spirit's influence in the book of Acts- the disciples in the upper room (ch 2), Peter before the Jewish authorities (ch 4), Paul with a defiant sorcerer (ch 13)... we love it- we're inspired. We want to follow their examples, to walk in their footsteps... until we turn to Ephesians chapter 5.

Here, Paul has the audacity to suggest that those filled with the Spirit will live differently, not in bold public ways, but in the private and mundane moments of life... in marriage (5:22-33), in the home (6:1-4), and even at work (6:5-9). That's a challenge, because I'm not sure I want to live under the Spirit's influence in those settings... but as Sinclair Ferguson has said, "Mundane life, not mountaintop experience, is the sphere in which Satan appears."

So if we're going to resist Satan's influence in our church, let's back up and understand the passage above again. In short, Paul tells Christians who are serious about how they live, who "look carefully then how they walk" v 15-18...

• not to be unwise but wise (make sure they're eager to apply what they learn)
• not to be foolish but to understand God's will (be sure to live with an awareness of God's presence and desires)
• not to be drunk but to be filled with the Spirit (live not in self-indulgence of every desire but under the influence of the Spirit)

Now it's not always hard to identify people who are Spirit-filled because Paul gives three ways of noticing the Spirit's activity. Spirit-filled believers are people who are...

• worshipful (v19- using Scriptural beauty in conversation and in songs of worship)
• thankful (v 20- making sure that everything always leads us back to expressions of gratitude)
• deferential (v 21- lining up under the structures God placed within the community)

Here's where it gets tough: we like the idea of singing songs of worship and expressing gratitude for God's work. But what about those times when I don't like something... am I still supposed to be grateful? And what about those times when I disagree with somebody... am I still supposed to be submissive? How we answer those questions reveals our eagerness to be filled with the Spirit.

So here are a few questions to help us ascertain our eagerness for the Spirit's activity in our lives:

• Husbands- are you eager to love your wives like Jesus: sacrificially, gently, redemptively, personally... the way you'd care for your own body? It's what Jesus did and He wants us to put His love on display with the way you love your wife.
• Wives- are you eager to lean towards your husband's ideas and leadership: submissively, respectfully? Do those words describe the tone of your speech, the expression of your face, the attitude of your relationship? It's the privilege given you... not to mindlessly defer but to actively portray the way we are to respond to Jesus' loving care for us.
• Fathers- are you looking forward to the moments you have to train and bring up your children: for their maturity and success, not for their daily list of ways they've disappointed you and fallen short? Is the fruit of your parenting children who are moving towards mature obedience and honor or children who are more frequently provoked towards anger. The privilege of parenting is representing the authority of a loving Father and then transferring our children from living obediently under our authority to living obediently under His.
• Children- are you actively looking for ways to honor your parents and to obey your parent's authority? Although this changes as we move out from under our parents' provision, we're always called to honor them in the Lord. (As an aside but related: one of the greatest privileges I've had recently is to watch a generation of young adults make the transition from being kids and teens at SGC to young men and women who still lean towards their parents' wisdom and authority while seeking to obey God independently. This is fruit that grows steadily and surely during the teen years and ripens into a wonderful example for the next round of kids who have been watching how you live now. Thank you for your examples!)
• Workers- are you looking to obey your authorities at work? It's easy to do this for show or for promotion... but Paul's not content with that. Spirit-filled submission for the "slaves" of the 21st century involves heart-level deference to authority and Godward obedience ultimately toward God. Does that dominate your tone and conversation around the "water-coolers" of your workplace?
• Bosses- simply put, does your authority recognize the dignity and impartiality present within the kingdom of God? We're called to represent the authority that serves the good of the company without portraying our own personal superiority over others. Humility that's gospel-centered is the only lasting conviction that can motivate this type of attitude at work.

These contexts represent the mundane moments of life in which the Spirit of God fills us and enables us to represent Him and advance His kindgom. But we're opposed in this... more on that in the next post.

the community in communication...

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)

Ever noticed how frequently the mandate for forgiveness is played up but the motivation for forgiveness is missed? We all know how critical and beneficial it is to overlook offenses, we all know how dangerous it is to remain bitter, but we often don't know how to do it. Paul won't let that happen in his letter to the Ephesians, which is why he wrote plently about what motivates a lifestyle of kind speech and an attitude of forgiveness in verses 17-24. There he talks about who we were and who we now are before he discusses what we're called to be...

Who we were (Eph 4:17-19)
Paul's basic point in these verses is that we were people whose ignorance and hardness of heart had led to lifestyles of addiction to various sins. Because we didn't understand the nature of God's glory and the danger of ignoring his worth, we lived our lives in ways that displayed our mixed up appetites: "given up to sensuality and greedy to practice every kind of impurity." That's who we were before Christ... and it's good not to forget that.

Who we are (Eph 4:20-24)
Paul continues by saying "but that is not the way you learned Christ." Simply put, the ignorance is gone... God interrupted our lives and convinced us of a new priority and value system in life. God is the only Glorious One, God is the only Worthy One, and we are only right when we understand that truth primarily. Convinced of that, we put off our old selves with our corrupted desires... our minds were renewed and we put on our new selves created in pattern with God's character and righteousness. Simply put, in Christ we took off the clothing of our sinful identity and put on the uniform of Christ's righteousness. That uniform now marks our identity as part of something bigger and grander than us- we are part of His body.

Who we're called to be (Eph 4:25-32)
We have now been given a uniform that marks our new life and new citizenship in Christ's body. And our conduct needs to match the uniform we've been given. So Paul directs the Ephesians to lives marked by that uniform. His directions are relational, they're set in terms of contrasts, and they're given theological basis. Consider what he puts forward:

• Since we've given up the big lie that God is inferior to the world, there's no need to lie to each other. Why would we? We're members together in His Body- why should we need to impress each other with made up half-truths? (v 25)
• Since we're passionate for God's glory but also suspicious about our tendency to anger, there's no need to hold grudges or nurse our anger. Why would we? That only gives the devil and opportunity to breed disunity within the Body of Christ- why would we hold onto anger that could divide us? (v 26-27)
• Since we're eager to care for each other and want to be productively helpful, there's no need to steal any longer. Why would we? God's called us to meet the needs present in the Body- if He's called us to that, He'll provide honest ways for us to earn and share money. (v 28)
• Since we're fellow members of the Body of Christ and want to build each other up, there's no need to speak in a way that corrupts others. Why would we? We love each other and want to spread grace and not decay within the Body we're joined to. (v 29-30)

All this gets summarized in verses 31-32: "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." This kind of communication is what the Body of Christ has been called to- speaking and relating with an awareness of the uniform and identity we've put off and the new identity and unifrom we've put on in Christ. What a joy when we see that living this way will help us to avoid "grieving the Spirit of God, by whom we were sealed for the day of redemption."

As you meet this week and discuss last week's message, here's ONE QUESTION that may be helpful from yesterday's sermon: Given all that Paul mentions as being true in the community He created in the church, what prevents you from extending forgiveness to those who have hurt you in the past? In light of what we've been saved from and forgiven of, mercy is the privilege of the Christian community- what joy we share as we extend the grace available in forgiveness to each other!

Have a great week,

Darren

the community in collaboration...

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift... And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:7,11-16)

Have you ever felt as if your role in the body of Christ was unimportant... like the tonsils or gall bladder? You're a part of the body, but your removal wouldn't really make a big difference? After Paul addressed the importance of unity in the body, he went on to stress that unity doesn't mean uniformity. Instead, every member of the body is essential so that the body of Christ can grow.

Every church needs to be characterized by the belief that its members are gifted and are called to the growth and health of that church. Sadly, too many times, we define a church's "growth" by the number of folks who attend meetings. But Paul draws our attention away from what happens at one meeting on one day to what happens within the body during the week. "Growth" according to this passage is defined by how deeply and strongly the church is marked by certain core beliefs... and for our church to grow, we must understand the three implications of this passage for us:

First, SGC should be marked by maturity. We are to be a growing community... a church marked by an increasing confidence that what we believe about God matters when life gets rough. Paul describes an immature church by referencing a tiny boat tossed in the water- tossed by waves, blown around by winds. Verse 14 makes it clear that the storm is some hip, new, but false doctrine. Instead, our church is to be marked by a mature, settled confidence in the basics of our faith: the love of a sovereign God motivated His provision of His Son who claims lordship over the world He died to redeem... a move that began a new relationship between God and people that's marked by the activity of the Spirit inside of His people on earth. We want these truths to mark our community... that's what it means to grow. QUESTIONS: In what ways have you been grateful for the maturity you've noticed at SGC? In what ways do you think we are prone to immaturity in our thinking?

Second, SGC should be marked by responsibility. We are a gifted community... a church marked by a variety of abilities, talents, and potential for serving each other. Christ (the exalted Savior) has shared the spoils of His victory with us- spoils that make us rich for service, spoils that also create a responsibility within a local church to make the church grow (v 16). The variety of gifts we've been given should create 2 burdens within us: first, none of us in insignificant; second, none of us is independent. All of us need the help and encouragement that can only be provided by someone else who knows and sees me- I need them to speak truth to me and they need me to speak truth to them. QUESTIONS: In what ways do you think God has gifted you for service at SGC? Are there weaknesses in our church where you think you could be helpful? What prevents you from getting involved?

Third, SGC should be marked by ministry. We are to be an "equipped" community... a church marked by a relationship between the leaders and the membership where we expect that pastors don't do the work but equip others to do the work. If that's true, it prevents us from the "bus" mentality (he'll drive and I'll just ride along) to a "body" mentality (where everyone has a vital and living connection to Christ that strengthens us for the service He calls us to). Pastors, according to Eph 4, are to teach truth in a way that encourages the local church to do certain things that ultimately help the body grow. QUESTIONS: When you consider the possibilities of having a church building or adding another pastor to our "staff", are you excited about the ways this will multiply ministry through SGC? What types of ministries come to mind? How do you envision the pastors helping you in this? (send them an e-mail to get the ball rolling)

As I look ahead, the potential for growth at SGC is exciting. I know we didn't have CG this week, but I wanted to give you a few ways to think about our last message anyway. Thanks for your enthusiastic and sacrificial participation in the growth of SGC- can't wait to keep walking with you in the future!

Darren

the community in conflict...

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph 4:1-6)

As a prisoner, Paul was writing his friends in Ephesus to encourage them to live out the reality of chapters 1-3: that God had lavished them with such grace that they were now at peace with each other, at peace with God, and permanent citizens of a heavenly kingdom. This grace also created unity within the broad Body of Christ that was to be reflected in their lives together. The same thing is true for us within SGC- the unity God created between us is more powerful than anything that happens among us. We can see this burden carried forth in verses 1-6 in three ways:

First, God created our community. “The calling to which you have been called” (v 1) refers to their corporate calling to a life of hope, power, and future together (reference 1:18…) This amazing reality is the foundation of our church and makes it different than a sports league, political party, or country club. God is doing amazing and eternal things within our church and calls us to a wonderful future together. QUESTION: How have you experienced the grace of God in the past through your relationships in this church? How have you sought to cultivate amazement for what God has done?

Second, sin will threaten our community. “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” refers to Paul’s concern that we can live instead as proud, harsh, impatience people bent on bearing grudges rather than bearing with others. Both the Ephesians then and we now know that it’s easy to be offended by other’s mistakes, habits, and sins against us. But we need to be aware of the sinful tendency to respond in kind to others. Darren mentioned that he was offended and tempted to sin when he received an e-mail this past week. He confessed the sins of critical judgment and anger against the person who sent it to him. QUESTION: When you enter into conflict, what sins are you often tempted to commit (judgments, silent bitterness, angry slander, etc)? Is there any area of bitterness in your life over something that happened in the past?

Third, we will maintain this community. “Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” is Paul’s way of saying that we are called to keep and guard the unity that God has created. We are to watch over it as the guard in Acts was called to watch over Paul and Silas. When we do, we declare to all those watching that our “rights” are not as important as God’s glory displayed in our community. QUESTION: Do you find yourself “eager” to maintain community when a conflict arises? Why or why not? How does this category affect the way you’ve handled conflicts that arise… even at home with your parents, siblings, or spouse? When you have reconciled a conflict, how has that affected your relationship with them and with the Lord?

I pray these thoughts are helpful as you serve one another this week,
Darren

Can I call myself grateful?

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17)

Gratitude is a tricky thing to define these days. Too often, we link it to the way a child opens a birthday present or the way we appreciate a favor from a friend. In other words, thankfulness is seen to be the appropriate response when we get what we want in life. But when you read the passage above (which references thankfulness three times in v 15, 16, and 17), it seems that gratitude goes hand in hand with a life in which we don't always get what we want. Consider the following list:

• v 12 calls us to be compassionate, kind, meek, humble, and patient
• v 13 calls us to bear with one another and to forgive one another
• v 14 calls us to pursue love in order to create a relational harmony
• v 15 calls us to enjoy our salvation as a reminder of our unity
  

Do these sound like people who were getting everything they wanted? I don't think so. Apparently, thankfulness had a different function: it wasn't for people who had every relational whim satisfied but for people in conflict and disappointment who needed a reminder of what they'd truly received. Now how were they to do this? How were they to stir up a life of gratitude. By focusing on the gospel ("the word of Christ" is the message about who Jesus was and what He did)... it was to dwell in them and create the following activities among them:

• it was to inform their advice and teaching together (v 16)
• it was to shape their worship in singing together (v 16)
• it was to center everything they said and did around Jesus' name (v 17)

So what's the take-home point? From what I'm seeing above, it seems that I'm not simply invited to be thankful when life's going my way. Instead, it seems that thankfulness is an attitude I'm called to cultivate as an overflow of my delight in the gospel. Gratitude (in this sense) guards me from the pitfalls of self-pity and self-righteousness that conflict often leads me towards. What a gift the good news is to us- shaping our thoughts, songs, words, and actions... especially at those times when our friends and family seem most disappointing. So... how are you cultivating gratitude this week?

Transformed by the Resurrection...

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Have you ever found yourself living between the two realities above? "In the world" there are troubles; "In Christ" there is peace. These are two truths we looked at in the passage this past Sunday (John 16:16-33). It's hard to believe that Christ really has overcome the sorrows, anxieties, and opposition we face in this life. It's easy to believe that conflicts with friends, fears about illness or the economy, or resistance to Jesus' Kingdom will somehow win out in the end. Instead, Jesus calls us to remember that we who follow Jesus can by transformed by remembering one thing: Jesus is risen. So this week in community group, let's look for evidence that the Resurrection really does matter in our daily lives.

Pt 1- The gospel transforms sorrowful disciples. (16:20-22) Jesus told his disciples that His departure (the Cross) would cause them to weep and mourn... that the anguish could be compared to a woman in labor. Despite how little they could understand exactly what He meant, Jesus also told them that they could know joy because they would see Him "a little while later." Apparently, the Resurrection would transform the disciples... so here's a question for us: "How does Jesus' resurrection from the dead transform the way you handle sorrow in life?" Be practical- look for verses together that remind you that Jesus' triumph over death can provide you with joy "that no one can take away from you."

Pt 2- The gospel transforms anxious disciples (16:23-27) According to Jesus, the fact that He would come back again would bring about a new day. "In that day" He said, "you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf..." (v 26) Jesus was inviting the disciples into direct access with the Father- all because of the Resurrection. So here's a second question- How does that work out in your life? When you're anxious and want to live out verses like Matthew 6:25 or Phil 4:6, how does Jesus' resurrection build your confidence in prayer? Again, be specific... do any examples of this come to mind?

Pt 3- The gospel transforms fearful disciples (16:28-33) Jesus was very clear that we are not supposed to be surprised by or afraid of the world's opposition (see chapters 14&15). But here, Jesus reminds the disciples by contradicting their pledge to be faithful. Jesus tells them that they will all be scattered... that they will all be faithless... that they will all be fearful when the Cross comes. But the good news is that although the world is scary and full of difficulty, Christ has overcome the world... and that reality is seen in the full picture of the Cross: one in which Christ declares "It is finished." The job He was given was fulfilled. And the Father stamped that verdict with the resurrection of Christ. Third question- In what way are you facing tribulation in the world right now? How does Christ's victory over sin, death, and the world's rebellion give you confidence to live for Him tomorrow?

I hope these questions and discussion helps you to have confidence as you are being transformed into Christ's image from one degree of glory to another. Enjoy meeting together this week!

Speaking with the confidence of a forgiven convict...

"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world..." (John 16:7-8)


Over these last two weeks, we've tried to answer a very difficult question: "How is it possibly best that Jesus is not here on the earth in physical form?" I mean seriously, which one of us wouldn't rather have Jesus preaching the Sunday sermon and then have that transmitted all over the world to hear? He could do all the conferences and clarify our struggles in a series of Q&A's... what could be better than that? Apparently (according to John 14 to 16) it's better the way God's arranged it now: the Son (glorified in heaven) making intercession for us in His Father's direct presence; the Spirit (active on earth) comforting the church and convicting the world. The challenge (as we've seen recently in John) is to live out that reality- all this has been to our advantage... and it's been great to be reminded of that with you recently. As you come to community groups this week, let's build each other's faith for the active work of the Spirit in the church and in our neighbors:

By way of review: the HELPER- pt 1 (John 15:26-27)
Jesus builds our expectation of the Spirit's role by reminding us that the Helper has come to comfort the church.

Pt 1- The Holy Spirit comes after Jesus. Jesus pointed the disciples to the "Helper" (other versions: "Comforter" or "Counselor"... all of which are tied to a NT word used mainly in this passage) and wanted them to anticipate His arrival. He told them that His glory was going to shine brightest once He has returned to the Father... but they wouldn't be alone. Instead, His followers would have the advantage of Another Helper who could reside in them... that promise became a massive reality at Pentecost. Question: as a Christian looking back on Calvary and Pentecost, do you live aware that the Holy Spirit lives in you? What could you do to increase your awareness of His comfort for you?

Pt 2- The Holy Spirit comes from Jesus. Jesus promised that He would send the Spirit in 15:26. He had also mentioned that the Father would send the Spirit in chapter 14 (v 16 and 26). The disciples had the confidence that the Helper's arrival was with the full authority of the Father and the personal request of the Son. Therefore, the comfort we receive from the Spirit and the confidence He gives come with the full weight of God's will. This should evoke a sense of humble anticipation for the Spirit's work. Question: Does it humble you to consider the holiness of God's Spirit who has come to dwell in you? How would you describe your current level of anticipation at meeting with God's Spirit who has come to dwell in you? What are you doing to grow in both humility and eagerness to meet with God?

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By way of review: the HELPER- pt 2 (John 16:1-11)
Jesus builds our confidence of the Spirit's assistance by reminding us that the Helper has come to convict the world.

Pt 1- The DILEMMA- The world is deceived (v 1-4). Jesus reminded the disciples that the world (those who live under the lie that God's glory is not supremely valuable) is deceived. It lives with a false sense of values- much like the Emperor valued his new "clothes". The result of this deception is that the world can (and will) persecute those who live for God's glory today. We are in danger of forgetting this opposition... in danger of living according to the world's priorities... in danger of falling away when we're opposed. Question: Have you been surprised lately at any ways in which you've been persecuted? (Why or why not?)

Pt 2- The HERO- The Helper has come (v 4-7). Jesus encouraged the disciples that they could live with confidence in the midst of this deception and persecution because they weren't alone. Jesus hadn't abandoned them (14:27-28). Instead, the had gained considerably because of the presence of the Spirit. Question: As Darren read the e-mails of those who had shared the gospel over this past week, what people came to mind in your life that you've wanted to witness to? How would a stronger belief in the Spirit's presence give you confidence to speak up in the "God moments" that He is arranging for you?

Pt 3- The RESCUE- the Helper is speaking (v 8-11). Jesus told the disciples that the Spirit is actively at work convicting the world of three things: (1) Conviction about the sin of unbelief in who Jesus is - v 9. Jesus died in order to bear God's wrath against sin. The world must "trample the Son of God" in order to reject God's glory. (2) Conviction about their lack of innate righteousness - v 10. Just like Jesus diverted the Jews eyes from the Temple and the Sabbath to Himself, the Spirit diverts our eyes from our attempts at being good enough. Instead, the Helper points to the righteousness available in Christ alone. (3) Conviction about the judgment Satan will endure - v 11. The Enemy was judged at the Cross because of the Savior's victory over sin. All those who live according to Satan's deception in the world will suffer the same judgment for their rebellion. Questions: If we believed that the Helper was actively working to convict sin, how that affect whether we would do the following things?

• How might we parent our children if we knew He was at work?
• How might we confidently share the gospel if we knew He was at work?
• How might we bear with our sibling's, friend's, or spouse's failures if we knew He was at work?

a forgiven convict,
Darren