Living with Christian courage

A life of guided by the Great Commission is a life that must be lived with a great amount of courage. For the next three weeks we will look at the source of our courage, the battle that demands it, and the evidence that such courage is present In our daily walk.

Courage; The Evidence

What does it look like when we live with Christian courage? Surely there must be some indicator! We will talk about that this morning. Let’s take a look at the Great Commission and see what our lives should look like.

Courage; the battle

Spiritual war-fare! It is a seemingly constant theme running throughout scripture. It is a nagging reminder that this life we are called to live, the life of a disciple of Christ, is a life lived in a battlefield. Last week we looked at the source of our courage. Today we will look at the battle we are in when it comes to evangelism. We are at war, and if we are going to fight for the Gospel, we can expect Satan will fight back.

Courage on the fringe

I believe we are on the brink of a dramatic cultural shift in the church. The church has been in a position of prominence for some 1600 years. But we are seeing a shift to the margin – to the fringe. Along with that shift comes a whole new set of issues we must deal with. Evangelism in this new climate is going to require a new degree of courage and commitment to the calling we have received.

Say What?!?

There are a number of stories in scripture that make you step back and say, "Say what?!?" There are some interactions that you have to go back and reread just to make sure you read properly. There are others that make sense historically, but the reason for their preservation is a little more abstract. In this series, we will look at some of these stories and see what we can learn about the character of God, the way he interacts with his people, and what he expects of us.

Say What?!?; Legion:

Demons. Uncertainty. Fear. Restoration. That is what we find in the region of the Gerasenes. Jesus finds a man in a terrible state, possessed by Legion. People are afraid of this man. After this encounter, their fear moves to Jesus as they grapple with the power and authority he possesses.

sacrifice

We will follow along the lines of last week’s lesson as we look at Genesis 22 and God’s seemingly crazy request of Abraham. He could not have known the implications of such a request, but his faithfulness in the midst of some difficult conversations give us much to think about and act upon.

ichabod

Chabod is a Hebrew term which literally means “heavy”. However, it was used to describe the magnificent glory of the Lord and his presence with Israel. After the Ark of the Lord was captured, The chabod had departed from Israel. This is a significant moment in Israel’s history and in their relationship with God.

left handed

Tonight we will look at the story of Ehud and King Eglon. At first glance, the seems like just another story in which God uses someone out of left field to accomplish his purposes. This isn’t the first time this has happened and definitely won’t be the last. But I think there is something more we can learn about God.

a talking donkey

The story of Balaam and his enlightened donkey is rather bizarre. How often do you encounter a farm animal that is not only more enlightened spiritually than the man riding on it, but also has the ability to pass on his enlightenment to the human? Here is another seemingly random encounter that will leave you scratching your head saying, “Say what?!?” But there is something we can learn from it.

Bald

Yes the odd stories continue this week as we take a look at an encounter between Elisha and a group of young men. Elisha's ministry has just begun and he faces some jeering. What happens next will leave you saying, "Say what?!?"

Noah's Stupor

Now that we have spent some time looking at the metanarrative of scripture – the story of God’s plan for the redemption of his creation, we will spend a couple of months looking at some of the stories within the story that may make you shake your head and wonder why in the world it was preserved for us to read. We will do our best to make sense of these bizarre scenes beginning with Noah’s drunkenness and Ham’s curse.

next chapter

In 2016, we are looking at a new spiritual discipline every month. There is a corresponding chapter for the spiritual discipline journals under resources. Join us on the journey toward spiritual maturity and greater discipline on our walk with Christ.

simplicity

Honoring the commands

Obedience is an important discipline. I don’t believe anyone would refute this. However, the 10 Commandments often get passed over as a good activity for memorization in our children’s classes as they work through Old Testament stories. But there is much to be gained from observing these commandments as a guide to complete obedience.

creativity

Creativity may not seem like a discipline. Actually, it isn’t a traditional discipline in many respects. However, in our lives of habit and routine, our spiritual practices and even our worship becomes at times routine. Creativity can enable us to connect in ways previously unrealized. Our prayers, our act of service, our relationships, and our witness is energized and invigorated through creativity. It is a part of God’s character that was passed on to us, and we are less than we could be when we neglect it.

celebration

As a culture, we love to celebrate. It seems like we are always looking for a reason to get together and eat. We celebrate every possible milestone in one way or another. However, when it comes to our spiritual lives, there is very little we actually celebrate even though there is so much more cause for it. As Christians, we should look for any excuse possible to celebrate. We should celebrate in our worship. We should celebrate in our relationships. We should celebrate in our work. We should celebrate in our salvation.

fasting

The spiritual discipline of fasting is one that has gone largely abandoned in modern day Christianity. But it is a discipline that has many benefits to the spiritual growth and maturation of the disciple of Christ.

service

This morning we introduce the discipline of service. As we seek to be a more disciplined people, we will see how serving others creates in us a spirit that is more in keeping with God’s will and leads us down a path toward Christ-likeness. We are never more like Christ than when we are serving others.

prayer

Prayer is more than simply a way of communicating with God. It is more than a habit we must get in to. It is a discipline that we must practice. As a part of the year long series on spiritual disciplines, we are going to take more time to dissect the discipline of prayer than the other disciplines throughout the year. During the month of February, we will dissect the discipline of prayer. There are many different aspects of prayer. There is the corporate discipline of prayer that is practiced during our times of worship. There is also the private discipline practiced in our everyday lives. Here is where we will camp for the next 4 weeks. Prayer is often vocal, but it can encompass so much more of our existence if we would allow it. I encourage you to experiment with different kinds of prayer activities and postures in order to deepen your connection with the discipline of prayer.

praise

Praise encompasses many different aspects of our Christian walk. Praise likely brings to mind the corporate worship assembly. However, we will be looking at the personal discipline of praise and how it affects other aspects of our lives. When we become more adept at the discipline of praise, we are less vulnerable to the attacks of the Evil One, because our focus remains on the Victorious One.

philippians

Philippians has traditionally been known as the book of joy. While it is true that Paul speaks repeatedly about joy and rejoicing, It is quickly evident that Paul's joy is completely dependent on the restoration of relationship and the reconciliation of two sisters. Reconciliation is so heavy on Paul's heart, he is willing to postpone heaven in order to rectify this situation. Self-sacrifice in the emulation of the Savior is the resolution.

Philippians 4; Citizenship and Community

As Paul wraps up the book of Philippians, he comes back to the major emphases he has already spent some time discussing. Citizenship and community, fellowship and reconciliation, and a seemingly supernatural joy, and Christ stands at the center of it all.

philippians 3:rubbish

Philippians 3 brings us to an odd shift in Paul’s train of thought, his wording, and his demeanor. As we press forward along this path toward a greater understanding of how reconciliation and strife affect the body, Paul offers a different kind of example to the church in Philippi and by extension to us. He offers a negative behavior exemplar. He wants the Christians reading to confront where this path of selfishness leads if gone unchecked.

philippians 2: Most important

Continuing in Philippians, let’s look deeper into Paul’s teaching about progress and joy with Christ at the center of everything. Restoration of the relationship between Euodia and Synteche is never far from Paul’s mind as he teaches the church in Philippi how to deal with such difficult situations. His instruction is timeless as is the importance of true Christian fellowship and restoration.

philippians 1: joy perfected

Last week, as a part of our study in the discipline of celebration, we began a series in Philippians. You don’t have to read long to understand that joy plays a huge role in the letter, but it really isn’t the main thrust of what Paul is trying to get across to the church in Philippi. Paul drills down into personal relationships in the church and talks about fellowship – true Christian fellowship – which must be cultivated intentionally.

animated

For the next couple of weeks we will consider some aspects in which we should be a little more creative in our way of thinking.

Disguised

Hebrews 13:2 gives a quick reminder about the importance of hospitality. Is it possible to entertain angels unaware still today? The presence of God is often disguised and not as obvious as we may like for it to be. Let’s look at hospitality today and give it the priority that is taught in the New Testament. May we also gain the wisdom and the awareness to treat all those we encounter with the same measure we would if we knew God was present – not simply because he is present, but out of a realization of what he has done.

unveiled

This morning we will be in 2 Corinthians 3. At the close of the chapter Paul draws our attention to the glory that is a part of our being as recreated children of God. But unlike Moses, who noticed the glory of God fading veiled his face, the glory that is within us never fades and remains unveiled. Let's look at what it means to be shaped into the image of God.

epic

The whole of scripture is the story of God's plan to redeem his creation. From beginning to end, it is a carefully crafted historical narrative through which we learn about the Creator and his creation. Let's look at the metanarrative of scripture and observe how we fit within this continuing epic saga.

Homecoming

Our study of the overarching narrative of scripture comes to a close with a vision of the victory that is yet to come in full. In one sense we have already taken hold of the victory, but the perfection of it has yet to be realized. We have a part to play in the continuing story of the Lord’s church as we strive to stake a claim in the New Jerusalem.

The Human Condition III

We have short memories. Scripture is riddled with examples of the short attention span of mankind. The early church was no different. Only a few decades following the establishment of the church, Paul must begin to diffuse tensions, correct error, and generally clean up the messes that were already being made of the Gospel of Jesus. Do we really think we are so different? Maybe we can finally be the people who would learn from the mistakes of the past as opposed to repeating them.

The Renewed Israel

As the book of Acts opens, the Apostles are asking Jesus about the renewal of Israel. Jesus’ answer is expectedly unexpected. In fact, it was time to restore Israel, but it was going to look far different from the anticipated result. God’s plan for his people has come full circle, but with a twist. Those on the fringe are no longer on the fringe. Those who were once looking in from the outside have found themselves squarely in the center of God’s story. And so have you.

The King's Lineage

Israel wants a king – a different king. They have grown tired of God as their king and they just want to be like the nations around them. God warns them of the turmoil that will come with a man on the throne, but they don’t want to hear from God. And so the lineage of Judah’s kings begins in the house of Saul and will ultimately come to a close in a manger in Bethlehem.

The Human Condition II

A few weeks ago, we observed the human condition when we looked at God’s judgment in the flood. The condition of humanity rears its ugly head again here in the people of Israel – God’s chosen people. The judges come and go to God’s people bringing God’s message to Israel hoping to bring them close to the God that led them through Canaan.

Israel on a Mission

Having spent well over a half of a millennium waiting on God to deliver on his promise, Israel is ready to lay siege to the land that was promised to Abraham so many centuries ago. They have spent a wealth of time in preparation, and they are ready to begin their conquest of the Land of Canaan.

Preparing the People

Before God can deliver on his promise to Abram and lead the people into the promised land of Canaan, they must go through a season of preparation. They endured times of blessing, slavery, and wandering through the wilderness. At times the people seem lost and wonder if God is still with them, and they struggle to understand how God is working among them.

The Call of Israel

Some time has passed since Noah and his family came out of the ark. Some lines have been blessed and others have already received a curse because of their ungodly behavior. God approaches a nomadic shepherd named Abraham and delivers a promise that would redefine all of mankind and set the stage for the next scene in this epic saga of humanity.

The Human Condition I

Sin is progressive and has deep fibrous roots that extend far beyond the immediate consequences my perception. The devastating consequences of the actions of Adam and Eve in the garden have grown. The human condition has spiraled into a seemingly incontrollable nose dive. Something must be done to rectify the situation. The flood is coming and it will be the first vessel of redemption for God’s creation.

Exile

Sin enters creation and brings with it death, decay, and various other forms of destruction and perversion. Humanity is forced to live in exile, banished from the perfect paradise of God and coping with the fractured relationships they once had with both God and man while they were in the Garden. The creation rebelled against the creator, and the first exile is under way.

God's Intention

So the story begins. The Garden of Eden was a perfect paradise. God walked freely among his creation. Man and God communed intimately and regularly with one another. This is the way God intended it to be – Creator and creation in perfect harmony. We have glimpses back into this relationship from time to time, but our restoration is not yet complete.

The story of redemption Pt 2

We are a people created with story in our hearts. Narratives resonate with us at our core. We identify with story lines in books and moves because they reflect our own story – our own journey. We will finish looking at God’s epic saga. In acts III and IV of this saga, we see the path to restoration and its achievement.

The story of redemption Pt 1

The Redemption Story – Epic: We are infatuated with stories. It is a part of our makeup. It is how we were created. It should be no surprise that God's Word comes to us in the form of an epic saga. And the narrative is not over yet. We have a part to play in the story of God's redemption of mankind. Tonight we will begin a journey through the story of God's chosen people and seek out ways in which we participate in God's continuing narrative.

that we may be

That we may be... There is something about the way God works. It seems that over and over again, God uses the unlikely - unlikely circumstances, unlikely people, unlikely results. He chooses the weak when the strong is the obvious choice. He humbles the proud and exalts the humble. In order for someone to save his life, he must first sacrifice it. Over the next few weeks, let's take a look at a few of these examples.

humbled that we may be exalted

The spiritual discipline of service is all about humility. Considering others above yourself and seeking out their good before your own. Having received an example of such humility on multiple occasions from the Savior, we would be foolish to refuse to acknowledge the presence it should have in our lives.

emptied that we may be filled

The Father’s greatest desire is that his creation would come to him to be filled with his Spirit. He wants us to take advantage of his offering. A life that is lived in the fullness of the Spirit is the life God intended for us. You are invited to the King’s banquet where you will be filled. But in order to be filled, you must first be emptied. I hope you are hungry. Coming to the table of the Lord in any other way is unacceptable.

Broken that we may be whole

Brokenness is, at least to some degree, a natural state of humanity. However, it is a state that we tirelessly attempt to avoid. It seems that we too often believe that allowing our light to shine means that we must present a picture of semi-perfection. But the light of the Gospel is refracted and reflected brightest through brokenness. Let us kneel broken before the cross and allow the power of the blood of Christ to make us whole.