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: Salt and Light
Text: Matthew 5:13-16
Some Thoughts:
---The past two weeks we have been focusing on a section of the sermon entitled "The Beatitudes" which are a collection of promises made to those who choose to pursue God's way of living.
---In this lesson we will be wrestling with one of the most famous sections in this sermon and quite possibly one of the most recognizable things Jesus says about us. He is going to teach that the character produced by living the Beatitudes will have an effect in the influence and responsibility we have with others.
v.13
---The main use for salt in Jesus' day was as a preserver to keep meat from going bad as quickly.
---To better understand our role as salt we must be honest with ourselves when it comes to the world around us. As much as it may pain us to say it, this world is decaying because of sin. (see Ephesians 2:1-3)
---Jesus says, YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH, meaning that you (as salt) are to arrest or at least hinder the process of the decay going on around you. For this to happen we have to be active in this world. As one commentator puts it, "We have no business hiding in the salt cellars of the church."
---I find it interesting when society does go bad, we Christians tend to throw up our hands in disgust and complain about the world for acting like the world; but shouldn't we more accurately complain about ourselves for not doing what we have been created to do? One can hardly blame unsalted meat for going bad. That is what it is designed to do. It can't do anything else without a miracle. The real question is: where is the salt?
---Salt is a very stable compound but it's effectiveness is conditional, meaning it can become tasteless when it is contaminated by dirt, sand and other impurities.
Two common errors we make in regards to salt:
1. We think the world can eventually become good and maybe even perfect if it will just act more Christian.
---The world doesn't need Christian morals. The world needs Jesus. Our mission is to ferociously reflect Jesus in hopes others would find the hope that is only available in Him.
2. Because the world is rotten, Christians should disassociate from it.
---The salt never did any good when it was sitting on one shelf and the meat on another. To be effective, the salt has to be rubbed into the meat. In a similar way, Christian must allow God to rub them into the world.
v14-15
---The first clear implication is that that the world is in darkness where spiritual things are concerned. The tragedy of this is that scripture says that men actually prefer the darkness.
---I think men choose the darkness mainly because they know how the darkness works. I have heard it illustrated like choosing to play in mud pits when you could have an incredible vacation at sea. Or choosing to eat mud pies when you could have fajitas.
---It saddens me when I think about how dark it is in this world when so many of us Christians do little more than shine our lights for each other. We use our light as a perimeter and not a beacon keeping people out because they "mess up the group picture".
---Some ways we hid our light (from LIFE APPLICATION Study Bible)
1. Being quiet when we should speak
2. Going along with the crowd
3. Denying the light
4. Letting sin dim our light
5. Not explaining our light to others
6. Ignoring the needs of others
v.16
---Where we have a hard time doing this is because we like the idea that our good deeds will be noticed. We just prefer that it stopped there. We want the credit.
Some Light Observations:
1. We are not light generating, we are light reflecting.
***2 Corinthians 3:18
2. Our light should be visible to others.
3. Our light should be helpful to others.
4. The best place for a light is in a dark place.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Maybe My New Favorite Song Of All Time (Or At Least Today)...
There is a song we have been singing the past few weeks at Merge that is by no means new and by no means have I never heard it before. One of the groups I listen to (Shane and Shane) did a rendition of it on an album of theirs and I always liked it.
But over these past two weeks I have been able to engage with these words in worship. There is power in being able to read words on a screen as you sing them to your Creator. At times seeing the words can be refreshing, challenging, convicting, or in this case liberating.
It is an old hymn "Before the Throne Of God Above" written in 1863 by Charitie L. Bancroft. You should slow down and read the promise of these lyrics:
But over these past two weeks I have been able to engage with these words in worship. There is power in being able to read words on a screen as you sing them to your Creator. At times seeing the words can be refreshing, challenging, convicting, or in this case liberating.
It is an old hymn "Before the Throne Of God Above" written in 1863 by Charitie L. Bancroft. You should slow down and read the promise of these lyrics:
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me
Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I am,
The King of glory and of grace!
One in himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me
Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I am,
The King of glory and of grace!
One in himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Sunday Morning 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: The Beatitudes (Part Two)
Text: Matthew 5:7-12
Some Thoughts:
---Jesus tells us, "You want to see a revolution in your life, let me show you how to live!!!"
---There is an interesting balance in these Beatitudes. The first four deal with how we relate to God then the last four will address how we are to relate with each other in this world. But we don't see two separate lists, or a pick your favorite and ignore the ones you don't like. Instead these beatitudes support one another and build on one another as we get to see a snapshot of living Holy Lives because of Jesus.
---If the promises of the first four beatitudes are true then it is safe to assume that our relationship with God WILL have an effect on how we relate to one another.
v.7
---Jesus is very serious about our need to live in relational forgiveness with one another through mercy. To the point that He says when we refuse to forgive, it is an if we never understood the great forgiveness of our Heavenly Father to the point that we may not even have it.
---Essentially, when we act in mercy we are acting in love. Anytime we act out in love...we reflect Christ. Anytime we reflect Christ...we draw closer to God. Which make us even more loving people.
v.8
---"the pure in heart are the single-minded, who are free from the tyranny of a divided self" R.V.G. Tasker
---It is not possible to live as the pure in heart and continue to compartmentalize your life. Jesus isn't just Lord on Sunday and when you are around church people. There should be no "work" you and "home" you and "church" you.
v.9
---There is a way to promote peace without looking wimpy or spineless.
v.10-11
---Jesus is very clear about the blessing that comes in persecution for the right reasons. There is no blessing for those who are simply the creepy, judgmental, condescending Christian that no one wants to have anything to do with.
---We must have an accurate view of what persecution is. You are not being persecuted because one of your co-workers asks you to turn down your KLTY. You are not being persecuted is the greeter at Wal-Mart wishes you Happy Holiday's instead of Merry Christmas. You are not being persecuted if your school district won't mandate prayer time in the school.
---What does it mean to be persecuted for "righteousness" sake? Simply put, it means to be persecuted for being like Jesus Christ Himself.
---Could it be true that our Christianity in this country does more blending than shining? Could that be the reason we don't experience persecution like they do in other parts of the world? Has the world become tolerant of us because they can't see the difference that lives in us?
---IS THE REASON I DON'T FACE MORE PERSECUTION IN MY LIFE BECAUSE JESUS ISN'T RECOGNIZABLE ENOUGH IN HOW I LIVE????
---Our role in God's story is to (in love) help people see not how ill-advised sin is but how deadly it is and how Jesus has come to take the punishment of that sin on our behalf. We have been shown love and we have been scarred by it.
---People are still literally putting their lives on the line for the Gospel; but I fear our greatest obstacle is that we prefer comfort more than the revolution. We only want to speak half truths about Jesus (not enough to ruffle feathers, but enough to appease our guilt).
v.12
---2 Reasons we can rejoice and be glad in the mix of persecution:
1. Persecution because of righteousness is evidence that we are united to Jesus.
2. If we are perescuted because of righteousness, we can be certain that the Holy Spirit has been at work in our hearts, turning us from our sin towards Jesus' way.
---John Stott writes:
"The beatitudes paint a comprehensive portrait of a Christian disciple. We see Him first alone on his knees before God, acknowledging his spiritual poverty and mourning over it. This makes him meek or gentle in all his relationships, since honesty compels him to allow others to think of him what before God he confesses himself to be. Yet he is far from giving in to his sinfulness, for he hungers and thirsts after righteousness, longing to grow in grace and goodness.
We see him next with other, out in human community. His relationship with God does not cause him to withdraw from society, for he is not insulated from the world's pain. On the contrary, he is in the thick of it, showing mercy to those battered by adversity and sin. He is transparently sincere in all his dealings and seek to pray a constructive role as a peacemaker. Yet he is not thanked for his efforts, but rather opposed, slandered, insulted and persecuted on account of the righteousness for which he stands and the Christ with whom he is identified.
Such is the man of woman who is "blessed", that is, who has the approval of God and finds fulfillment as a human being."
Series: You Say You Want A Revolution
Lesson: The Beatitudes (Part Two)
Text: Matthew 5:7-12
Some Thoughts:
---Jesus tells us, "You want to see a revolution in your life, let me show you how to live!!!"
---There is an interesting balance in these Beatitudes. The first four deal with how we relate to God then the last four will address how we are to relate with each other in this world. But we don't see two separate lists, or a pick your favorite and ignore the ones you don't like. Instead these beatitudes support one another and build on one another as we get to see a snapshot of living Holy Lives because of Jesus.
---If the promises of the first four beatitudes are true then it is safe to assume that our relationship with God WILL have an effect on how we relate to one another.
v.7
---Jesus is very serious about our need to live in relational forgiveness with one another through mercy. To the point that He says when we refuse to forgive, it is an if we never understood the great forgiveness of our Heavenly Father to the point that we may not even have it.
---Essentially, when we act in mercy we are acting in love. Anytime we act out in love...we reflect Christ. Anytime we reflect Christ...we draw closer to God. Which make us even more loving people.
v.8
---"the pure in heart are the single-minded, who are free from the tyranny of a divided self" R.V.G. Tasker
---It is not possible to live as the pure in heart and continue to compartmentalize your life. Jesus isn't just Lord on Sunday and when you are around church people. There should be no "work" you and "home" you and "church" you.
v.9
---There is a way to promote peace without looking wimpy or spineless.
v.10-11
---Jesus is very clear about the blessing that comes in persecution for the right reasons. There is no blessing for those who are simply the creepy, judgmental, condescending Christian that no one wants to have anything to do with.
---We must have an accurate view of what persecution is. You are not being persecuted because one of your co-workers asks you to turn down your KLTY. You are not being persecuted is the greeter at Wal-Mart wishes you Happy Holiday's instead of Merry Christmas. You are not being persecuted if your school district won't mandate prayer time in the school.
---What does it mean to be persecuted for "righteousness" sake? Simply put, it means to be persecuted for being like Jesus Christ Himself.
---Could it be true that our Christianity in this country does more blending than shining? Could that be the reason we don't experience persecution like they do in other parts of the world? Has the world become tolerant of us because they can't see the difference that lives in us?
---IS THE REASON I DON'T FACE MORE PERSECUTION IN MY LIFE BECAUSE JESUS ISN'T RECOGNIZABLE ENOUGH IN HOW I LIVE????
---Our role in God's story is to (in love) help people see not how ill-advised sin is but how deadly it is and how Jesus has come to take the punishment of that sin on our behalf. We have been shown love and we have been scarred by it.
---People are still literally putting their lives on the line for the Gospel; but I fear our greatest obstacle is that we prefer comfort more than the revolution. We only want to speak half truths about Jesus (not enough to ruffle feathers, but enough to appease our guilt).
v.12
---2 Reasons we can rejoice and be glad in the mix of persecution:
1. Persecution because of righteousness is evidence that we are united to Jesus.
2. If we are perescuted because of righteousness, we can be certain that the Holy Spirit has been at work in our hearts, turning us from our sin towards Jesus' way.
---John Stott writes:
"The beatitudes paint a comprehensive portrait of a Christian disciple. We see Him first alone on his knees before God, acknowledging his spiritual poverty and mourning over it. This makes him meek or gentle in all his relationships, since honesty compels him to allow others to think of him what before God he confesses himself to be. Yet he is far from giving in to his sinfulness, for he hungers and thirsts after righteousness, longing to grow in grace and goodness.
We see him next with other, out in human community. His relationship with God does not cause him to withdraw from society, for he is not insulated from the world's pain. On the contrary, he is in the thick of it, showing mercy to those battered by adversity and sin. He is transparently sincere in all his dealings and seek to pray a constructive role as a peacemaker. Yet he is not thanked for his efforts, but rather opposed, slandered, insulted and persecuted on account of the righteousness for which he stands and the Christ with whom he is identified.
Such is the man of woman who is "blessed", that is, who has the approval of God and finds fulfillment as a human being."
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Sunday Recap On 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: The Beatitudes (Part One)
Text: Matthew 5:1-6
Some Thoughts:
---One of the greatest misunderstandings people had about Jesus was in how He was bringing the Kingdom of God to Earth. They looked at Him as if He were a conquering King (which He is) but they thought the revolution He would lead to break free from Roman rule would come as an invading army with great force.
---People were crying out for a revolution and Jesus multiple times would say, "You want a revolution in your family? In your city? In your nation? Let me show you how to live!!!"
---If we want to see a different world, we have to stand up and be different people! In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gives us specific instruction in how to live differently on purpose.
***Matthew 5:1-6
---Jesus will continually through these words, step into our lives and raise the bar in how we are to do life His way. Jesus will not offer feel-good theology here.
---"Most critics who are offended at the things Jesus says are offended precisely because He does not utter safe platitudes." G.K. Chesterson
v.3
---Poor in Spirit are those who realize they are spiritually bankrupt in the presence of Holy God. They have nothing of merit to barter with the King Eternal.
---It is interesting that the first principle for understanding the Sermon on the Mount is that we cannot fulfill the standards of the Sermon by ourselves.
v.4
--- Once we realize we are spiritually bankrupt, we better see why that is (our sin being the issue). So we mourn over sin and despise it. We see sin the way God sees it and seek to treat it the way He does.
v.5
---The church of today has taken this thought of meekness and stripped it of all testosterone resulting in a lot of wimpy looking and living Christians. If we are modeling after Jesus I dare you to find a place in scripture where He comes off wimpy or lacking a backbone. Surely, our definition of meekness is wrong!!!
---"The meek are 'the gentle', those who do not assert themselves over others in order to further their own agendas in their own strength, but who will nonetheless inherit the earth because they trust in God to direct the outcome of events." ESV Study Bible Notes
---"If you are serious about walking by faith...try gentleness. Allow your Lord room to be just that--- the Sovereign Lord in full control, capable of fighting for you and conquering whatever territory you need to inherit." Charles Swindoll
v.6
---Verse 6 reflects true spiritual passion, and insatiable hunger to know God intimately, to model His ways personally.
Wrapping it up...
"The beatitudes paint a comprehensive portrait of a Christian disciple. We see him first alone on his knees before God, acknowledging his spiritual poverty and mourning over it. This makes him meek or gentle in all his relationships, since honesty compels him to allow others to think of him what before God he confesses himself to be. Yet he is far from giving in to his sinfulness, for he hungers and thirsts after righteousness, longing to grow in grace and in goodness." John Stott
---Bottom line: The first four beatitudes should most definitely bring us to a bigger view of who God is.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
Series: You Say You Want A Revolution
Lesson: The Beatitudes (Part One)
Text: Matthew 5:1-6
Some Thoughts:
---One of the greatest misunderstandings people had about Jesus was in how He was bringing the Kingdom of God to Earth. They looked at Him as if He were a conquering King (which He is) but they thought the revolution He would lead to break free from Roman rule would come as an invading army with great force.
---People were crying out for a revolution and Jesus multiple times would say, "You want a revolution in your family? In your city? In your nation? Let me show you how to live!!!"
---If we want to see a different world, we have to stand up and be different people! In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gives us specific instruction in how to live differently on purpose.
***Matthew 5:1-6
---Jesus will continually through these words, step into our lives and raise the bar in how we are to do life His way. Jesus will not offer feel-good theology here.
---"Most critics who are offended at the things Jesus says are offended precisely because He does not utter safe platitudes." G.K. Chesterson
v.3
---Poor in Spirit are those who realize they are spiritually bankrupt in the presence of Holy God. They have nothing of merit to barter with the King Eternal.
---It is interesting that the first principle for understanding the Sermon on the Mount is that we cannot fulfill the standards of the Sermon by ourselves.
v.4
--- Once we realize we are spiritually bankrupt, we better see why that is (our sin being the issue). So we mourn over sin and despise it. We see sin the way God sees it and seek to treat it the way He does.
v.5
---The church of today has taken this thought of meekness and stripped it of all testosterone resulting in a lot of wimpy looking and living Christians. If we are modeling after Jesus I dare you to find a place in scripture where He comes off wimpy or lacking a backbone. Surely, our definition of meekness is wrong!!!
---"The meek are 'the gentle', those who do not assert themselves over others in order to further their own agendas in their own strength, but who will nonetheless inherit the earth because they trust in God to direct the outcome of events." ESV Study Bible Notes
---"If you are serious about walking by faith...try gentleness. Allow your Lord room to be just that--- the Sovereign Lord in full control, capable of fighting for you and conquering whatever territory you need to inherit." Charles Swindoll
v.6
---Verse 6 reflects true spiritual passion, and insatiable hunger to know God intimately, to model His ways personally.
Wrapping it up...
"The beatitudes paint a comprehensive portrait of a Christian disciple. We see him first alone on his knees before God, acknowledging his spiritual poverty and mourning over it. This makes him meek or gentle in all his relationships, since honesty compels him to allow others to think of him what before God he confesses himself to be. Yet he is far from giving in to his sinfulness, for he hungers and thirsts after righteousness, longing to grow in grace and in goodness." John Stott
---Bottom line: The first four beatitudes should most definitely bring us to a bigger view of who God is.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Words To Chew On...
"Our commitment to Jesus can stand on no other foundation than a recognition that He is te one who knows the truth about our lives and out universe. It is not possible to trust Jesus, or anyone else, in matters we do not believe Him to be confident."
--- Dallas Willard
--- Dallas Willard
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