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

Abiding in the One the world hates...

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."

Over the past two weeks, we've meditated on passages where Jesus has made very bold statements about what it means to be disconnected from Him. "Apart from me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5), "If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father." (John 15:24). Amazingly, however, Jesus didn't leave us like this... disconnected from Him, in rebellion against Him, lifeless without Him.

Instead, Jesus chose us to be his friends. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit... you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world." (John 15:16) We're His friends- not just servants- but trusted allies to whom He reveals His plans! And in doing so, He invites us to draw our strength from Him by being deeply rooted in Him. The only way for us to bear fruit for Him is for us to abide in Christ's love for us. As we gather this week for community groups, let's look to encourage each other in practical ways we can abide in Christ's love and grow in compassion for our friends who are still in lifeless rebellion against God.

By way of review: the VINE (John 15:1-17)
Jesus gave us the analogy of a vine to describe the invitation to be rooted in His love for us.

Pt 1- JESUS is the true vine. Where Israel failed as the root of blessing for all nations, Jesus shows Himself as the fulfillment of Gods' promises and the source of spiritual life. And Jesus is to be contrasted from false vines we can create today: church attendance, spiritual background, family connections. Question: What are you tempted to look to for your identity as a person?

Pt 2- WE are the branches. The gospel doesn't simply end with forgiveness... it invites us into relationship with God. Jesus describes that relationship by pointing to the relationship between a branch and a trunk. In the same way, we are in an organic, dependent, vibrant relationship with God that makes us fruitful. Three ways we can abide in Christ come from the text:

• We must acknowledge that we can do nothing apart from Him (v 4-5)... we are called to depend on God.
  
• We must have His word abide in us (v 7)... we are invited to welcome God's Word in our lives... "to let it rearrange our furniture."
  
• We must obey God's commands (v 10)... we are invited to continue our fellowship with God through our obedience to God (like William playing with Eric.)
  

Pt 3- THE FATHER is the vinedresser. Pruning is the removal of dead branches. Instead, pruning cuts away stems that are alive that the branch bears more fruit. Pruning is a sign of God's active love for His people (see Isa 5 and Heb 12). This can occur in our lives when God takes away things we thought were critical for our success and happiness. Question: are you receiving the pruning hand of your Father or accusing Him of unkindness towards you?

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By way of review: the WORLD (John 15:18-25)
Jesus reminds us that His choice in our lives to pardon us provides us with courage in the midst of the world. As we understand the world's rebellion we grow in gratitude and courage.

Pt 1- We understand our rebellion through the lens of GUILT. Too often, we are prone to think of our guilt as something that we did or didn't do. But Jesus reminds us that guilt is chiefly the rejection of God's glory as worthless... nowhere is this more evident than in the rejection of Jesus and the gospel (His life and work). Ultimately the most important thing about us is how we treat Son of God.
Pt 2- We understand our rebellion through the lens of HATRED. Jesus describes the antagonism between Him and His opponents in stark terms (hatred, persecution). No football rivalries could ever match the description of this animosity... the world simply put hates God and His claims over all that He has made. Instead, the world seeks to assert its independence from God. This leaves us with a choice. Don Carson wrote, "Former rebels who have been won back (by the grace of God) to loving allegiance to their King are not likely to prove popular with those who persist in rebellion."

Application: Understanding our rebellion through these lenses gives us a clearer view of grace.

• As you reconsidered your participation in a world that rejected God, how were you freshly grateful for God's choice to redeem you from this world?
• As you reconsidered the state of our culture today as rebels towards God, were there any areas in which you've been living with a desire to fit into and be popular in our world?
• As you reconsidered the state of your unsaved friends, how can we pray for you to have courage to speak with those who might respond to the message of salvation? (John 15:20).

Have a great time applying God's Word to your lives in community!

The sincerest form of flattery?

We've heard it all before... imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The fact that I'm trying to reproduce somebody's musical style or artistic talent is my deepest way of paying homage to them. Strange then, that Jesus responded the way He did to Peter in John 14.

This past Sunday we started our new series from the "Farewell Discourse" in John. Jesus has only one night left with his closest group of friends... and in John 13 we see him stooped down in a dirty towel scrubbing filth from their feet (v 1-17). He endures the betrayal of Judas (v 18-30) and then calls those that remain to love each other in unthinkable ways (v 31-35). This chain of events left Peter indignant and self-confident: "Lord... I will lay down my life for you."

How often we're just like Peter... we think we know what we're supposed to do and we know that we can do it so we pipe up, "I'm in! God, YOU can count on ME." Unaware of our weakness and unwilling to consider an alternative, we figure that all God wants is for us to imitate Him... yet somehow- Jesus isn't flattered.

Instead, Jesus corrects Peter (correcting us in the process). The way to love others like God isn't to try and flex our muscles of imitation. We'll fail (like Peter) and deny our love for God (like Peter)... and ultimately receive the same promise as Peter: "I am going to prepare a place for you."

Peter wasn't qualified for heaven because of his strength but because of his willingness to be washed by the One at his feet. Only Jesus is the Way that Christians can love like God. We're not called to imitate Him; instead, we love others only when we depend on Him. In many ways, that's what this series is going to declare for us: what will it mean to depend on Christ as the Only Way to God? And answering that question is critical for us to bring glory to God... because we don't glorify God simply by our imitation but by our dependence on Him. Here are some questions that might help... you could discuss a few of them this week in Community Group:

• How are you currently serving and loving others in God's Kingdom?
• Do you see ways that God has given you gifts and abilities to do this?
• What came to mind as we unpacked the "new commandment" to love like God?
• Why is Jesus' statement in 14:6 offensive to people today?
  
• Have you ever struggled with the idea that Jesus is the ONLY way to know God?
• In what ways do you think you try to follow Jesus' example without depending on Him for strength? (be specific)
  
• As you think about Jesus' promise in verses 12, how does it seem possible that we could do "greater works than these"? How does that encourage you about God's plans for you?
• As you consider Jesus' promise in verses 13-14, how could you pray differently about what God is doing in your life right now?
  

Wisdom and Folly...

Back to School season... the commercials always seem to start up every summer a little earlier than they did the year before. Trapper-Keepers, clothing sales, and that little phone commercial about the dad doing his twitter update about sitting on the porch all seem to mark this time of the deep breath before the plunge back into the classroom. How kind that the Preacher has given us something to think about once again!

In Ecclesiastes 1:13-18 we read that wisdom as a pursuit doesn't bring much meaning to life. The reason it comes up empty is that although we grow in our ability to diagnose things about life, we don't have the ability to make things different (v 15 - what is crooked can't be made straight). As a result we wind up "vexed" and sad (v 18). So what's the point of going to school again?

First, wisdom that comes from God reveals the need our world has for a Savior. The Preacher saw things and turned into a cynic... sorrowful and bitter about the problems he saw in the world. This danger is real for all of us. Increasing in knowledge always brings about a proportional risk of growing in arrogance and disdain. But none of us wants to be a "food critic" regarding life. We want to savor and enjoy grace wherever we can find it. So how can we humble ourselves enough to do this?

Second, we have to remember that wisdom that comes from God is revealed by behavior. James 3 tells us that those who truly possess wisdom from above are marked by good conduct. Their wisdom could be described as "meek." In short, according to God- wisdom is as wisdom does (apologies to Forrest). James says that folks who are truly wise will be people who are "pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, merciful, impartial, and sincere." They will be people who are marked by "good fruit." This makes us ask ourselves, "What happens to me when I learn something new (something new about life, the world, or about others)? Do I become critical and arrogant in my observations? Or am I marked more by this list in James?" If you're not sure... I'll be there are some folks you know who could help you answer this question. But what if we see something kind of ugly about ourselves in the process?

Lastly, we must remember that the ultimate display of wisdom is seen at Calvary. Paul dealt with a church that was enamored by people who lived morally and spoke eloquently. They thought that those who were "wise" were respected and ultimately worthy of favor from God. But Paul reminded them in 1 Cor 1 that the Cross was ultimately God's greatest reminder that man's strength and wisdom were useless before God. "At the cross God shattered all human pretensions to strength and wisdom" (Carson). At the end of the day, nothing humbles us more than focusing on the Cross. And there is our hope: although it's tempting to grow in pride as we gain knowledge, living in the shadow of the Cross is a more powerful antidote to pride. Not only are we humbled by God's wisest display of what the world calls waste, we're included in God's display of this "folly!" God chose us (who aren't wise, noble, or worthy) so that people would ultimately have their eyes drawn to the One who is the wisdom of God.

Enjoy reveling in our weakness that we might boast in the Lord! (1 Cor 1:13-31)

Rethinking wealthiness...

This last week, we looked at the Preacher's take on riches in Ecclesiastes 5. We're all so tempted to look to our bank accounts as indicators of whether we can feel good about ourselves and have confidence for the future. But through that passage, God reminded us that wealth on the earth isn't all it's made out to be. Money always disappoints us in the moment and never comes through for us in the end. That's just part of the way God's ordained things: only He satisfies us fully in Christ... and He's not about to be replaced.

In order to help my family think this through, I'm considering a little book I've just run across. It's by Greg Dutcher, a seasoned pastor who recently started a church in Maryland. The book is called You are the Treasure that I Seek... but there's a lot of cool stuff out there, Lord. Interesting title... I hope the book will be a help to me as I try to subdue Here's a little blurb about it:

With honesty, humor, and compassion, author Greg Dutcher addresses a contemporary problem that most Christians aren’t even aware of: idolatry. He reminds his readers that there is a battle to be fought, and what is at stake is our lives, the lives of others, and, most importantly, the reputation of Christ Himself. With winsome anecdotes, references to modern culture, biblical references, and nods to respected theologians such as Charles Spurgeon, John Piper, and C. S. Lewis, Dutcher makes us aware of the problem, helps us isolate it, and then gives us the weapons to contain it. Study questions at the end of each chapter make this a great individual or group Bible study.

Anyway, I thought I'd list a few closing points from the sermon on Sunday:

How are we to fight materialism and gain treasure that lasts for eternity?
1. Kill those things that threaten your contentment in Christ.
2. Beware of a growing anxiety about your stuff.
3. Beware of a growing greed about other's stuff.
4. Give generously to God's work and others in need.
5. Be grateful (with your words) about your current lot.
6. Most importantly, strengthen your satisfaction in Christ alone.

Praying it helps us to use our wealth as a foundation for our futures,
Darren