Sunday Recap On A Tuesday...

On Tuesday's I hope to post some thoughts from the lesson that was previously taught at Merge the Sunday before...

Series: You Say You Want A Revolution
Lesson: "But I Tell You"
Text: Matthew 5:21-48

Some Thoughts:
---We are traveling through Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount.  Last week Jesus introduced Himself in how He relates to the Law of God.  This gives us context for where we are heading so let's to a quick recap:


1.  The Law is the STANDARD that must be kept to have ETERNAL LIFE with God.
2.  Because it is IMPOSSIBLE for us to fully keep THE LAW; Jesus came to FULFILL it.  
3.  When it comes to The Law, it is the deep ATTITUDES of the heart that need to be dealt with...not just the VISIBLE BEHAVIORS.  
***The Pharisees and Scribes were creating a system of treating the symptoms of sin without ever going to the heart of the matter.  They were trying to cure cancer with Tylenol thinking that because their head ache was gone, then all should be all right.  Here is what we know:  if you treat the symptoms you will find temporarily relief.  But if you treat the issue,you will find transformation and health. ***
4.  Jesus isn't REDEFINING the Law; He is CLARIFYING it.


---"We believe only as much of the Bible as we put into practice"  Warren Weirsbe


---As we wrestle with these words we must realize that "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).  Meaning the sins we are carrying from our past and the ones we are currently wrestling with should be nailed to the Cross.  This should bring us both great hope and motivation to doing life God's way.


v. 21-48 (Jesus teaches about Anger and Lust)
---The Pharisees read this law and, not having literally murdered anyone, felt righteous.  Yet it would be their anger with Jesus that would soon plot His death, though they would not do the dirty work themselves Jesus is exposing the deeper of Murder...Anger.


1.  If you don't manage your ANGER it will control you.  
2.  Anger MANAGEMENT and relationship reconciliation are a high priority than WORSHIP.


---Anger and strife conflict with our greatest commandment to live lives of love.  We are hypocrites if we claim to love God while we hate others.  Our attitudes toward others reflect our relationship with God.


vs. 27-30 (Jesus teaches about Adultery and Lust)
---Lust is always a major factor in peoples decision to commit adultery.


1.  Lust is a problem that must be dealt with in the HEAD, not just the BED.


---Think we don't have a lust problem in our nation:
17+billions dollars is made in the porn industry every year (that is more than NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL combined).
11,000 adult movies are made a year (20 times Hollywood's production rate)
55% of all movies rented in hotels are pornography (average length viewed...12 minutes)
1 in 5 Blackberry and IPHONE users have viewed porn on their screens.


---Need a little more??? Let's talk about kids and porn:
Average age of first internet exposure to pornography...11
Percentage of 15-17 year olds having multiple hard-core exposures...80%
Percentage of 8-16 years olds having viewed porn online...90%


---if you think this issue has escaped the church you are sadly mistaken.  Jesus is saying that this is a serious issue that must be dealt with in drastic measures.  He is saying that it is better to experience the pain of the removal of the sin than to bring judgment and condemnation and self-destruction into your life.


2.  Be willing to take DRASTIC ACTION to deal with your WEAKNESS.


vs. 31-32 (Jesus teaches on Divorce)
---The greatest attack on the sanctity of marriage in my opinion is not the Homosexual Marriage debate going on in our nation today.  The greatest attack on the sanctity of marriage is that far to many Christians are making commitments between them, God and their spouse; then walking away from that commitment for reasons other than what God gives permission for.  


1.  Instead of looking for a way to JUSTIFY your SEPARATION, look for a way to STRENGTHEN your relationship.  


vs.  33-37 (Jesus teaches about Vows)
1.  Don't let your WORD be so WEAK that it needs to be PROPPED UP.


vs. 38-42 (Jesus teaches about Retaliation)
---Jesus steps right up and clarifies our role when it comes to out very real desire to seek revenge.  We don't really like this and it's apparent because so few of us actually live this out.  But if we are going to be serious about doing life in a way that is more God-glorifying and less Self-gratifying we desperately need to carry the essence of this law into every area of our lives.  


1.  Go out of your way to defuse CONFLICT, avoid RETALIATION and go the EXTRA MILE to do a good thing.


vs. 43-48 (Jesus teaches about Loving Enemies)
1.  Avoid the desire to take matters of REVENGE into your own hands.


2.  When wronged, let your actions and reactions make it OBVIOUS that you are GOD'S CHILD.  


WRAPPING IT UP...
---What if we because less concerned with patting ourselves on the back for not punching that person in the face and more concerned with understanding what is going on to lead us to those feelings in the first place.  


---I believe if this were the case we would look more like Jesus to people who desperately need to see more of Him and we will experience a greater fulfillment than what this world can offer.  


Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Friday Thoughts

It's Friday and I find myself in a rare occasion having my lesson for Sunday typed, the talk notes printed and am now in study mode.  I love the church I get to lead.  God is doing some really special things at Merge and I believe we are still just scratching the surface of what this will end up looking like.  I don't have much to complain about...I get to work with one of my best friends, my wife is my greatest counselor and the Elder's I work for believe the best in me.  

It is an interesting adventure to be on when God calls you to start something from nothing.  What I am learning is although there may be many "How To" books on the subject, rarely will you find Cookie-Cutter Church Planting.  

I am thankful that Mr. Mclaine, Mr. Young and Mrs. Smith at M.J. Miller Elementary School are willing to let us be a small church trying to make a big difference in their school.  I can't wait to see what is in store for us there over these coming years.

Sunday is going to be incredible.  I am excited and challenged b the text we will be wrestling with.  If you don't have a place to go, you should consider swinging by.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Sunday Reacap On A Tuesday...

On Tuesday's I hope to post some thoughts from the lesson that was previously taught at Merge the Sunday before...

Series: You Say You Want A Revolution
Lesson: Jesus, The Law and You
Text: Matthew 5:17-20

Some Thoughts:
---In verses 3-16 Jesus has spoken of a Christian's character, and of the influence he will have in the world if he exhibits this character.  He is now going to further define His love in the development of our lives in terms of a righteousness that only He can provide.  


v.17
---Jesus has just addressed His relationship in regards to the Law of God.  He tells them that He has no desire to defeat the Law, rather He is going to fulfill all of them.  


Truths about The Law:

1.  The Law is the STANDARD that must be kept to earn ETERNAL LIFE with the Heavenly Father.


---One of our major issues when it comes to the Law and a right standing with God is that we somehow started to think that good should be good enough.  


2.  It is impossible for any human to COMPLETELY KEEP The Law.
---Romans 5:12

---So Jesus says don't think that I have come to destroy the Law because that wouldn't save you.  Rather, He says that He has come to fulfill it and in so doing brings us hope.


v.18
---Jesus wanted to reveal the full depth of the meaning the law was intended to hold in our lives.  


---"The Old Testament is the Gospel in the bud, the New Testament is the Gospel in full flower."  ---Bishop Ryle


v.19
Jesus wanted people to understand their COMPLETE INABILITY to keep the law. (this idea is so important I wanted us to engage it twice.)


---Because we can't do this life in perfection we need a worthy sacrifice.  In the system God gives us to deal with sin, from the very beginning we see a process of Law and Sacrifice.  When the law was given, the lamb was also given.  When Moses was chosen as a lawgiver, God also set apart Aaron as a high priest.  


---Old Testament sacrifices were signpost that pointed to Jesus.  


v.20
---The condition the Pharisees developed was that they were concerned greatly about having clean hands but their hearts were filthy.  The issue with this is that clean hands is more behavioral modification and less authentic living.


---What we need most from Jesus isn't a new robe, it's a new heart.  


2 Observations about the religious leaders of the first century:
1.  The religious leaders of the first century REDEFINED and ADJUSTED the Law to JUDGE others and JUSTIFY  themselves.  


---The were prided on their ability to keep the law but in a closer look they would make some law's demands less demanding and some law's permissions more permissive resulting in a very dangerous spirituality.  


2.  The religious leaders of the first century valued their own INTERPRETATIONS of the law more than God HIMSELF.


---Matt. 15:1-9


--- The spirituality that was created is a very dangerous on we call Human Righteousness


4 issues created from Human Righteousness:
1.  Human Righteousness is more concerned with the clean hands and ignores the heart.  
---While we tend to evaluate on the externals, it is God's nature to look at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7)

2.  Human Righteousness will water down the STANDARDS of the Law.
---Tell me if you have never tried this one.  You know where the line is in regards to sin (sexually, professionally, relationally) and instead of fleeing from it you creep closer and closer to the line claiming that you have done nothing wrong...yet.

---The essence of the Law is not to see how close you can get to it without breaking it.  Jesus wants to show us how far from the standard we fall while realizing that He has fulfilled the obligation the law held over us.

3.  Human righteousness is always SELF-GRATIFYING instead of GOD-GLORIFYING.  
---If you want people to be impressed by you then by all means live as a Pharisee.  If you want to see people who are far from God find the life that is available in Christ then you must concerned yourself with both clean hands and a pure heart.  

4.  Human righteousness is not the kind of righteousness God REQUIRES.
---You can pile human goodness upon human goodness; you can refine and perfect it, and polish it, but no matter how hard you try you fall short of God's standard because human righteousness is qualitatively different from the righteousness of God.  

---Romans 3:21-26

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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