Posted by David on January 6, 2002 under Bulletin Articles
I personally do not know any believer in the churches of Christ (1) who does not accept the Bible as God’s word; (2) who does not accept the Bible as God’s inspired revelation; and (3) who does not accept the Bible as authority in seeking to do God’s will. I certainly trust the Bible, God’s word, as existing because God through His Spirit revealed His will for all people in the death, resurrection, and Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Do believers in churches of Christ answer some basic questions differently? Yes. Is their basis for their different answers found in a rejection of the Bible as the reliable guide to God’s will? No. Even regarding divisive questions, those disagreeing accept the Bible as an inspired revelation of God’s will. Such disagreements are primarily based on determining and understanding God’s meaning in His message.
Our assumptions create common problems as we struggle to understand God’s meaning and God’s priorities. Our assumptions complicate our surrender to God’s will. Our assumptions make it difficult to distinguish between an old tradition and a biblical principle. Our assumptions make it difficult to base convictions on faith in God instead of emotional attachments. Our assumptions justify judging other believers. Our assumptions encourage confrontation with disagreeing believers rather than understanding, encouragement, and compassion.
Because of assumptions, reactionary consciences assume a divine mandate to control and intimidate. Of course, no believer looks upon his or her assumptions as assumptions. “My” assumptions are always truth. Amazingly, believers frequently allow devotion to the “one on the cross” to produce reactions against disagreeing believers devoted to the same “one on the cross” which oppose the attitudes and behavior of the man who was “the one on the cross.” Does this remind you of the twelve’s arguments about who was the best disciple? Do you remember Jesus rejected both their question and conclusions?
Our assumptions (1) concluded unity was produced through division; (2) made the church a place instead of a people; (3) measured faithfulness by worship practices at that place for a couple of hours a week rather than the believer’s behavior 24 hours a day; and (4) concluded God was more concerned about human devotion to details than He was about believers’ expressing faith in Jesus through devotion to God’s morality.
What is our challenge before God in Christ? To learn to be God’s people 24 hours a day, 7 days a week instead of programmed members of a religious institution. Read Exodus 19:4-6; Deuteronomy 4:20 and 14:2; 1 Peter 2:9,10; and Titus 2:14 and ask yourself this question: “What has God always wanted?”
Posted by John on January 1, 2002 under Articles
Recent information shows that water is on Mars. Since water is a main ingredient of life on earth, it is proof-positive in the minds of many that life is on Mars. And having life on Mars worries many Bible believers because they feel that only the earth is where God put living things. But look at this closer:
- Water is the main stuff of life here. How do we know water has the same importance there on Mars? Alien life may be literally “alien” to the composition of earth-life. The whole “proof-of-life” argument assumes that the recipe for life “out there” is the same as it is for earth and is a sure case of “jumping-to-the-conclusion.”
- What if the water was analyzed and tiny, microscopic life-forms were found? It is possible that those “bugs” could be ours and not be “from Mars.” Recent studies have shown that the earth itself sends out a lot of space dust, etc. Over a span of time, spores, etc., might have reached Mars. In fact, studies on the recently much publicized “meteorites-from-Mars-containing-life” have shown that the life is probably some of “our bugs” returning from a space trip. So, finding microscopic life-forms on Mars could just as well prove that such forms that live on earth can live on Mars. This is not quite what the “Life on Mars!!” statement had in mind.
- Does Genesis really teach that life only exists on earth or does it show us that on earth a being was created that bore the image of God …man? Is the focus of Genesis “out there” or here? Would the finding of true Martian life militate in any way against one message of Genesis that the cosmos was made as a gift and aid to man?
This article was written because (1) some have believed Media hype that it is a proven-fact that life is on Mars, and (2) some are nervous about how this finding affects our confidence in Genesis.
The article was purposely written without documentation or chemistry jargon. A more detailed discussion is available if there are any questions.
Posted by John on under Articles
The common picture given in school biology classes for the origin of life on earth is that a chemical “soup” developed in the ocean. From that mixture, the complex chemicals of the first cell emerged … then the cell … then cellular reproduction.
The issue of origin of life in the ocean is a chemistry problem. Chemistry is the study of how tiny bits of stuff come about and react with each other. One of the primary complex chemicals of any cell is a protein. It is made of tiny units of amino acids strung together like beads. It may take as many as 250 of these amino acids to be useful for a living thing to use in its life. So, how protein comes about and reacts is a number one concern in testing the “soup-to-life” idea.
Fact #1 — Much research has been done in attempting to join amino acids in water to make the very beginning of a protein. Such efforts have taken place over a span of more than 30 years and have failed. This information is easily documented in the chemical literature but is not included in high school textbooks.
Fact #2 — Every amino acid has two versions. There is a “right-handed” and “left-handed” version of the same amino acid. The significance of this is shown below.
Research has shown that atmospheric gases containing ammonia, water vapor and natural gas can form a few amino acids when an electric discharge (like lightning) is passed through a mixture of the gases. A Nobel Prize was awarded for this work. This is how it is explained that the ocean was an amino-acid soup.
All experiments in producing the acids from gases have produced a 50-50 mixture of the right and left versions of each amino-acid. Researchers believe that the ocean, therefore, contained a soup of both kinds of amino acids. All the proteins studied in living systems show that living things use just the “left” kind of amino acid in their protein.
As yet, no one has come up with any non-problematic mechanism for linking-up 250 (or even three) amino acids of just one type from a 50-50 mix of both types.
Fact #3 — Amino acids can easily decompose in water and can react with minerals in the ocean water. This could diminish the availability of any particular amino acid for a given “position” on the protein. The position of the amino acid is critical for a protein to function. For example, sickle-cell anemia is caused by the misplacement of just one amino acid on a protein chain.
CONCLUSIONS FROM THE FACTS
- The naturalistic explanation for the origin of life in the ocean has serious defects and is therefore highly improbable.
- Belief in a Creator has not been challenged or refuted by any proposed “ocean model” but, instead, has been solidified.
Posted by John on under Articles
When data from the New Testament is assembled concerning the gospel and the apostolic preaching of it, there is a clear correspondence between its content and the practice of taking communion on the first day of the week.
Jesus connected His death and resurrection and also the “third day” when he talked to his disciples (Matthew 16:15, 17:23, 20:19, 27:63; Mark 9:31, 10:34; Luke 9:22, 13:32,33, 18:33; John 2:19). This was also the message of the Law and Prophets (Luke 24:25-27, 44-46). Angels spoke of this connection (Luke 24:7). It is also something that stood out as a part of Jesus’ teaching and was CLEARLY remembered by His disciples (Luke 24:19-24). The THIRD DAY is the first day of the week (Luke 24:1,13, 21). A pattern of teaching is evident from this data.
Our justification and forgiveness is based on the death of Christ (Matthew 26:28) and is inseparably tied to the resurrection event (Romans 4:25, 5:10; 1 Corinthians 15:14). Note that His death and resurrection are remembered as a unit. This pattern of thought is also seen in the meaning of baptism (Romans 6: 3ff; 1 Peter 3:21). Peter in his discourse to Cornelius followed this pattern of instruction by connecting all items: death, resurrection, and third day (Acts 10:39,40). It is clear, therefore, that remembering one item makes one remember the other two.
Therefore, Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 summarized the gospel content as “… for I delivered unto you first (some versions say of first importance) of all that which also I received that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that He was buried and that He hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures… .” Notice how these comprise a symbiotic unit of thought.
Jesus gave instruction as to just how He wanted to be remembered. It is the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-29). And not only does this have us remember His death but also His resurrection (verse 26). Hence, the frequency of taking the Lord’s Supper is determined by the essentials of the gospel (see above) because it is reflective of them. What is tied together in reality is logically tied together in memorial. The death of Christ is shown by the bread and cup and the resurrection by the first day of the week. The practice is a symbiotic unit as well as the doctrine. And such was the actual practice of the early church under Apostolic approval (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:20 + churches of Galatia, 1 Corinthians 16:1). Even after the Apostles, it remained to be an identifying practice of post-apostolic Christianity (Ferguson, Early Christians Speak, Sweet Publishing Company).
When the facts of scripture and church history are examined, it should be clearly evident that the practice of taking the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week stands on solid ground. What other practice preserves the unity (death – resurrection – third day) of thought? What other practice can one affirm has “apostolic approval” but this one? If the gospel is central, then why not let our communion practice show it as was done in the early church and for centuries later?
Posted by Daniel on under Articles
God in His providence (through the Spirit) has supplied us with inspired New Covenant documents so we will know what to believe, teach and do. It is inspired information as opposed to a book of laws/commands although it contains them. It is like the Holy Spirit has us on top of a spiritual mountain and pointing-out things that New Covenant people believe and do from the heart.
To trust God is to believe that His wisdom is far superior to ours. This means we should only believe, teach and practice what we have evidence for in those inspired documents. Evidence can be both positive (the resurrected Christ) and negative (e.g., the empty tomb).
The Spirit has pointed out the proper response to the Gospel. He has also shown ways to communicate with God and thank Him through worship and faithful living. It is all practical.
Judgment calls must be made according to PRACTICALITY rather than explicit teaching. For example, the disciples in Acts 20:7 met at night in an upper room. Neither of these items interfered with the design of the Lord’s Supper itself.
The topic of music is addressed by the Spirit in Ephesians 5:19 and other places. Ephesians 5:19 shows singing is accompanied by making melody “in the heart” as opposed to the man-made musical devices of pagans and Jews. That is the design. Here is a judgment call to make: does clapping of hands during the singing match what is being opposed in Ephesians 5:19? That is, is hand-clapping the use of “man-made musical devices” or “mechanical instruments of music”? It doesn’t seem so.
When we are together isn’t singing from the heart all God wants? If someone claps spontaneously without trying to make a scene or a point and it is an expression of thanks, as opposed to trying to “jazz-up” the song, then why can’t understanding prevail among those who do not clap?
What about planning to clap continually during some songs? Since the design of singing is also to speak to one another, would my clapping help or hinder that? What about the idea that I want to and will clap no matter what anyone thinks? And in all honestly, is the clapping for me or God? These are hard questions but must squarely be answered.
What about splitting services … one for clappers and another for non-clappers? Is such a polarization good? In reality, wouldn’t this be just “division in disguise”? Even in asking the question “tags” are assigned to people.
There is a design for New Covenant worship and this can be easily proven. And when we come together as a group, everyone is affected by what is done whether from the heart or not. Some things may not be wrong themselves but merely be out of place. Judgment calls by Elders must be made so that nothing goes against the design of any phase of worship. This requires looking at facts, pro and con, and following the “weight of evidence” toward a specific position … a defensible position.
Posted by John on under Articles
When God speaks His mind on a topic we should hear (1 Samuel 3:9). We should also submit and not rebel (Hebrews 3:15). Neither should we add to or take from His words ( Deuteronomy 4:2; Acts 15:24ff, Revelation 22:18).
When God speaks His mind, He often is very precise or specific about something (Hebrews 8:5, for example). One can build a case for or against something based on the preciseness of God’s word on a topic. (For examples, see Hebrews 7:14; Galatians 3:16ff.)
Has God spoken as to what the gospel really is? Is it “going to church”? Is it baptism? Is it singing? What about taking communion every Sunday? No, the gospel is a triad of facts with eternal significance. It is the death of Christ for our sins … His burial … His resurrection on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). It is what God did for us, not what we do or submit to. To make the gospel personal, one must give an appropriate response directed by the precise Words of God, but the “response” itself is not the gospel.
What was Jesus’ real objective in coming to earth? Was it to teach us how to worship correctly? Was it to setup the best religious organization possible? Was it to teach us to “do good” to all? Has God spoken His mind on this topic? Yes. Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). To make Jesus into a zealot for social reform is to veer away from the clear Word of God as per His mission.
Why was Jesus raised from the grave? It clearly declared He was indeed God’s Son (Romans 1:4). But God is even more specific. He was raised for our justification (Romans 6:25). The truth of the cross depends on the fact of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:17ff). The focus is on justification of sinners and not on miraculous “show.” To neglect to preach the resurrection is to rip significant evidence from establishing the truth of the gospel, because it validates the gospel! Early evangelists continually put the resurrection before the hearers (Book of Acts). When is the last time you have heard the resurrection examined and solidified from a class or pulpit? Is it not time that the resurrection be treated as God has specified instead of just a “great miracle” tacked-on after the cross?
God has spoken His mind on the content of the gospel and the mission of Jesus. Are we going to abide in His specifics or change or subtract from them? Most people (especially those in college) will not be truly converted to the cross without evidence of its truth. Restoring the actual preaching of the gospel could have a great impact on our community.
Posted by David on December 30, 2001 under Sermons
This week I hope you had quality time with those people who are special in your life. Joyce and I have our holiday the Saturday before Christmas. Saturday our children and grandchildren who could visit gathered in our home. Commonly, by Christmas, everyone is gone. Joyce and I spent Christmas together just as a couple.
This year we did something different for us. We rented some movies. Among them was Castaway, which we had not seen. Near the end of that movie, Tom Hanks’ character explained to a friend what it was like to be marooned alone on an island for more than four years. He said, “I was in control of nothing.” He explained that he could not even control his death.
“I was in control of nothing.” Does that sound strange to you? Or does that sound real to you?
The conviction that we are in control is an illusion.
- Once there was a man named Jacob who, it seems to me, was convinced that he controlled his destiny.
- His destiny would be what he made it!
- Though he was the second born of twins, he would gain for himself the coveted birthright [a larger portion of the inheritance; dominance as leader of the family after his father’s death] (Genesis 25:27-34).
- He caught his brother in a moment of need and weakness.
- Esau, his twin brother, came in from hunting weak and extremely hungry.
- He asked Jacob for a portion of beans he saw Jacob cooking.
- Jacob told Esau he would feed him if Esau swore he would give Jacob his birthright.
- Foolishly, Esau sold Jacob his birthright for a meal.
- Later, with the help of his mother, Jacob stole the family blessing from Esau (Genesis 27).
- When his blind father wanted to give Esau the family blessing, Jacob deceived his blind father into blessing him.
- Isaac told Esau he would bless him with the family blessing after Esau killed a deer and fixed Isaac his favorite meal.
- While Esau was hunting, Jacob [with his mother’s encouragement and help] dressed in Esau’s clothing, brought a meal of goat meat, and deceived his father.
- Jacob was so successful in his deceit that his father pronounced the family blessing on Jacob.
- Esau was so angered by Jacob’s deceit that he planned to kill Jacob as soon as Isaac died, but Jacob fled to his mother’s people before that happened.
- While working for Laban, the man who became his father-in-law, Jacob was deceived (Genesis 29:21-30).
- He worked seven years as a herdsman for Laban as a bride price for Rachel.
- Laban promised him that after seven years of work Jacob could marry his youngest daughter.
- Instead, Laban gave Jacob his oldest daughter, Leah, in Rachel’s place.
- Their wedding customs were quite different from ours, and the wedding took place at night.
- Jacob did not discover Laban’s deceit until the next morning.
- A week later, Laban allowed Jacob to marry Rachel with the promise of seven additional years of work (Genesis 29:25-28).
- Marrying sisters, one whom he loved more than the other, began a life of horrible conflict and rivalry filled with intrigue and deception within Jacob’s family.
- Many years and many deceptions later, as an old man, Jacob had an audience with the king of Egypt.
- That Pharaoh inquired about his age, Jacob gave an insightful answer.
- This is what Jacob said:
Genesis 47:9 “The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning.”
In one more day, another year ends, and traditionally it is the appropriate time to do some reflecting.
- The ending of a year has different effects on all of us.
- Some of us look with great anticipation at another year ending.
- Probably most of those with great anticipation are teens and college students.
- What age is it “that you just cannot wait to reach?”
- Have you realized that you will be that age only a short period of time? Your “ideal age” is not permanent!
- Any year you name that you “would love to be” only lasts twelve months.
- Once you pass twenty, you cannot image how fast you will reach thirty–just ask any 30-year-old.
- For some, the passing of a year is a matter of relative indifference.
- For those who are not phased by the passing of another year, you probably feel like you have a lot of years left in your life.
- You are pretty much satisfied with your age and figure you will be there for a while.
- When I was in my twenties, thirties, and early forties I could not understand why retired men did not spend their time hunting and fishing.
- I never hunted or fished as much I wished.
- Retired people had the time and could afford it.
- I did not have the time and could not afford it.
- I also thought 65-year-olds and 70-year-olds physically feel the way 25-year-olds feel.
- I did not have a clue! I do now!
- The time will come when you look back and quietly ask yourself, “Was I ever that age?”
- For some of us the passing of a year is a matter of sober awareness.
- We are aware that “middle age” is history for us.
- We are very much aware that we are foolish for assuming anything about the future.
- It is disconcerting to look ahead or to look behind.
- Using each day well as it comes takes on a whole new meaning to us.
Christians, reflect a little with me just over the past 12 months.
- In the past twelve months, what do you think were the best choices you made? the best things you did? the wisest moments you had?
- In 2001, what was the best decision you made?
- What was the best act of friendship you performed?
- What was the greatest kindness you did that no one but you knows about?
- What was the finest family thing you did? [Name things you did for specific family members if you wish.]
- What was the wisest business decision you made?
- What was the wisest choice you made about your personal life?
- In the past twelve months, what do you think were the worst choices you made? the worst things you did? your dumbest moments?
- Of all the decisions and choices you made in 2001, what was your dumbest, most stupid, most ignorant decision or choice?
- What was the most hurtful thing you did to a meaningful friendship?
- What opportunity for good did you let pass by that you most regret?
- What did you do that brought the greatest hurt to your family?
- What is the dumbest business decision you made?
- What is the most ignorant, ridiculous decision you made about your personal life?
Would you let me meddle in your life, and mess with your mind?
- If I asked you these same questions at the close of 2002, would you give basically the same answers? At the end of 2002, will nothing have changed?
- As time rolls on in your life, will very little change about you as a person?
Let me state what I am not trying to do, and then state my challenge to you.
- This is not what I am trying to do.
- I am not merely trying to get you to abandon some bad habits.
- I am not merely trying to get you to exchange some bad behaviors for some good behaviors or some bad habits for some good habits.
- I am not merely trying to get you to confess to yourself that some things need to change in your life.
- I am certainly not trying to convince you to wear a religious cloak once or twice a week.
I am challenging you to do the same thing Paul challenged Christians at Ephesus to do when he wrote:
Ephesians 4:22-24 “… in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
I am challenging you to do the same thing Paul challenged Christians in Galatia to do when he wrote:
Galatians 6:7,8 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
I am challenging you to do the same thing Paul challenged the Christians at Colossae to do when he wrote:
Colossians 3:8-11 “But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him– a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.”
I am asking all of us, including myself, “Change who you are as a person.”
- “I am who I am!”
- No, you are not!
- God knows you can change as a person; He gave Jesus to make that possible.
- You do not change yourself as a person by being religious.
- You change yourself as a person by being Christian.
- You let God teach you how to think and in that way give you a different mind.
- You let Jesus teach you how to feel and in that way give you a different heart.
As a person, how would you like to be different in 2002? I am not asking you what physical changes would you like to see in your body. I am not asking you what good habits you would like to form or what bad habits you would like to break. I am asking you something more basic. I am asking you do you have the courage to let God change you as a person? That means changing the way you think. That means changing the way you feel.
You cannot control another person–not a best friend, or parents, or a husband, or a wife, or children, or coworkers, or business partners. The only control you have is over the person you are. And you really do not have control over that. You decide who determines who you are as a person: Satan with evil or God with righteousness. If you decide Satan, he will do all he can to move you toward being your worst person possible. If you decide God, He will do all He can to move you toward being the best person your are capable of being.
The issue is this: what kind of person do you want to be? Do you have the courage to allow God to help you be the best person you are capable of being?
Posted by David on December 23, 2001 under Sermons
Life contains many distressing realities. One distressing reality arises when we try to protect someone we care about from danger. When we see a dangerous situation, warn the person, and he or she reacts by (a) seeing no danger and (b) ignoring our concern, we are genuinely distressed. That situation is a recipe for disaster.
Years ago we took a good friend to visit our families. My mother wanted to take us on a long wilderness hike to a unique place called Virgin Falls. Virgin Falls is a waterfall where there is no stream, no river. The water flows out of a huge rock cave at the top of a mountain, falls over a rock ledge, and disappears over a hundred feet below at the base of the ledge.
The only way to get to Virgin Falls was to walk a trail through wilderness woodland for several miles. As we walked the trail, our son Kevin led the way. Suddenly he took a long leap, turned around, and shouted, “Snake!” Stretching across the path was a copperhead, a poisonous snake. Our friend laughed like it was a big joke designed to scare him. Because the snake was the color of the trail, and because our friend was not accustomed to watching for snakes, he could not see it.
It took all our powers of persuasion to convince him not to continue walking and step on the snake. The danger was very real, but, to him, there was no danger.
- The frustration we experience when we try to help someone and have our concern rejected is devastating.
- Without exception, every adult here knows that frustration.
- Sometimes it is a very dear friend who misunderstands and rejects our help.
- Sometimes it is a spouse who misunderstands and rejects our help.
- Sometimes it is our child who misunderstands and rejects our help.
- Sometimes it is our parent who misunderstand and rejects our help.
- Sometimes it is our Christian brother or sister who misunderstands and rejects our help.
- Most of the teens here know that frustration, and you teens who have not yet experienced this frustration will.
- Typically, teens know how to care about a peer’s well being deeply.
- Typically, teens are committed to “being there” for a struggling peer.
- Typically, teens commonly grasp the concept of unconditional love.
- The combination of those awarenesses definitely will produce the experience of seeking to help someone who refuses to be helped.
- God knows that frustration of trying to help those who reject His concern; having helpfulness rejected is far more than a mere human experience.
- God worked for thousands of years to produce the perfect means for us to deal with our most serious problem, the problem that easily destroys us.
- That serious problem that seeks to destroy each of us is the evil within us.
- God worked for thousands of years to provide us a means of escaping evil.
- God even sent Jesus as flesh and blood into our world to show us how to escape evil’s destruction.
- The people Jesus lived among could have and should have understood what he was trying to do, but they did not.
- Basically, they considered Jesus the problem instead of the solution.
- The understandings Jesus shared came directly from God, but those understandings were “too different”–many people could not even think the way Jesus thought.
- Just days before his execution, Jesus voiced his frustration, the frustration of (a) wanting to help people escape destruction, (b) of having the ability to provide that escape, and (c) of the people not seeing the danger.
- See if you can hear his frustration:
Matthew 23:37-39 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Reflect on Jesus’ frustration with us when we ignore his help, when he spreads his wings to cover us, and we refuse to take shelter. Reflect on this by singing. As you sing, focus on the words. First, we will sing a song that should touch the hearts of those who “go through motions.” Second, we will sing a song that should touch tender hearts. Then we will sing our gratitude and awareness. The song leader will lead these songs from the pew. The words of each song will be on the screen.
792 “My Eyes Are Dry”
794 “Unto Thee O Lord”
801 “Where No One Stands Alone”
Jesus used a well known image then that many of today have never known.
- Baby chicks are hatched with several forms of awareness including these two: awareness of the need for protection, and awareness of the meaning of mama’s warning clucks.
- Baby chickens have no awareness of the dangers of a hawk, but hawks love to eat baby chickens.
- Were it merely a contest between baby chickens and hawks, the hawks would win 100% of the time.
- But mama hen knows about hawks.
- Mama hen recognizes a hawk soaring above looking for a meal.
- When mama hen is aware that a hawk is near, she begins clucking.
- Her short feathers stand on end making her appear bigger than she is.
- She moves in a slow strut ruffling her wings and clucking her warning, letting all her chicks run under her for refuge.
- She literally places herself between the soaring hawk and her babies.
Jesus wanted to do the same thing for the people of Israel and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
- He wanted to shelter them from danger.
- He wanted to rescue them, to make their destruction unnecessary.
- He wanted to deliver them from the consequences of Israel’s past faithlessness.
- But faithlessness won; they would not listen to him.
Do you listen to his warnings? Do you keep yourself under his protection?
- Jesus wanted to do the same thing the hen did.
- The hen placed herself between the danger and her chicks.
- Jesus wanted to place himself between the danger and the residents of Jerusalem.
- Jesus wants to place himself between the danger and you.
That is what Jesus did for us when he died on the cross: he placed himself between us and the evil that will destroy us.
- He literally died to give us the opportunity to live.
- Only his blood can rescue us from the destruction of evil.
To me, most people misunderstand God’s joy at Jesus’ birth.
- God knew long before Jesus’ birth the only way evil could be defeated was through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
- When the heavenly hosts declared to the shepherds the night of Jesus’ birth,
(Luke 2:14) “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased,”
what was that about?
- It was about God keeping His promise.
- It was about finding peace in the shelter of the one who would die for us.
When we, in our minds and hearts, see Jesus dying on the cross, we see an disturbing, repelling sight. There is nothing appealing about a dying body on a cross.
But when we see in the dying Jesus our rescue, our shelter from evil, the complete meaning of his dying body on the cross changes.
Jesus knows the danger threatening to destroy you and calls you just as the mother hen calls her chicks when there is danger. Do you hear him calling? How do you react?
Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles
Reminders are incredibly important! At times I place a “sticky note” in a strategic place to “remind” me. I often leave things on our table at home to “remind” me. I must confess that when I sit in my recliner, if I need to do something at a specific time, it is foolish (stupid?) not to set a timer to “remind” me (yes, I unintentionally doze-well!).
December is a “reminder” month. Though no way exists to know the date of Jesus’ birth, for centuries December has been a “reminder” of God’s enormous love for us. It is more than a “reminder” of God’s love. It “reminds” us genuine love joyfully, sacrificially commits. It “reminds” us God’s love modeled the love that must live in us. It “reminds” us that we can sacrificially love others because God loves us. Please do not allow greed or self-centeredness to hide the “reminder.” Use your words, tone of voice, attitudes, emotions, body language, and kindness to let all touched by your life know your love. Love others because God loves you! Jesus proves He does!
Posted by David on December 16, 2001 under Sermons
Among the general population, in the month of December, Americans resent the necessity of choice. “David, what are you talking about?” At least in this nation, December’s events demand that we make choices. Those from the ages of children to the ages of grandparents have to make choices.
“We do not have to make choices in December!” Oh yes we do! When wrapped packages begin to appear in your home, do you openly immediately or does your family wait? The common December question, “What do you want for Christmas?” demands that you make a choice. Do you like surprises, or do you prefer to pick out the gifts you want to receive? Young families, do you face any challenges deciding where you will be December 25th?
Then there are those who are convinced they can bypass the necessity of choice. They attempt to give everyone everything they want, and fail. They attempt to be at every place December 25th, and fail. They attempt to give everyone exactly what they want, but surprise them, and fail.
December is filled with choices. Some choices are enjoyable. Some choices are not liked.
In regard to choices, December is really not that different to life the other eleven months of the year. December just reminds us over and over and over that choices are inescapable and necessary.
- From the very beginning, the person who lived in relationship with God chose to do so.
- Every person whose life was lived in relationship with God made that necessary choice.
- Genesis 3 tells us evil became reality in this world when two things happened.
- Eve chose against relationship with God.
- Adam stood there silently, without saying a word, and let her decide for both of them.
- Genesis 4 explains that Abel chose to honor God while Cain chose to honor himself.
- Genesis 5 says Enoch made such extraordinary choices for relationship with God that God did not permit Enoch to die.
- Genesis 6 says Noah chose for God when the entirety of human population wanted nothing to do with God.
- Genesis 12 through 22 states that Abraham repeatedly chose for relationship with God among people who did not know that God existed.
- Why? Why would these people make such unpopular, uncommon, unacceptable choices?
- Hebrews 11:13-16 explains their choices in this way:
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
- Their choice to live in relationship with God was incredible.
- They had a basic understanding that God would send this world a blessing which would be available to all who lived.
- They had full confidence God would keep His promise.
- But they all died before God sent Jesus who became the Christ, before Jesus died and was resurrected as the Christ.
- They had so much confidence in the fact that God would keep His promise that by faith they could look into the far distance and see God doing what He promised to do.
- They had so much confidence that they lived in ways that proved they did not belong to this world.
- They knew they did not “fit” in this world.
- They were looking to live in a place where they “fit,” a country of their own.
- The result: God was not ashamed to claim those people as His people.
- God was delighted to be known as their God.
- Because they were perfect?
- No, because they chose relationship with Him over relationship with this world.
- God was not only happy to be known as their God, but He Himself also prepared for them a place where they belong.
- In reference to Moses and his choices, the very same chapter makes this statement.
Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.
- As an adult, Moses made some extremely difficult choices.
- He lived in Pharaoh’s palace [the king of Egypt’s palace] when Egypt was the leading nation in the Mediterranean world.
- He had opportunity to chose to be a part of the king’s family.
- He had opportunity to chose a life of pleasure.
- He had opportunity to live his life enjoying the “passing pleasures of sin.”
- But he chose to endure the wrongful treatment of God’s people who were slaves in Egypt.
- He did not know all the details about Jesus, but he understood God had something very special in mind for the people of this world.
- He understood that the reward involved in God’s plans far exceeded the “passing pleasures of sin” even when they were experienced in the palace of a wealthy, powerful king.
- So, by choice, he spent his life leading some ungrateful, liberated slaves through a dessert.
The one thing all the people who chose relationship with God had in common in their choices was faith in God (confidence or trust in God).
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
- To belong to God, a person must have faith in God.
- Faith is a choice.
- If a person does not chose to place his or her trust (confidence) in God, he or she cannot please God.
- God requires two things of those who come to Him.
- They must believe that He exists.
- They must have confidence in the fact that He rewards those who seek Him.
It grieves me that there is so much evidence that we as God’s people have forgotten the necessity of faith.
- Repentance without faith cannot and will not please God.
- Baptism without faith cannot and will not please God.
- Godly acts without faith cannot and will not please God.
- Our fundamental choice is not repentance, or baptism, or godly acts.
- Our fundamental choice is faith in God.
- Faith in God means trusting God as we make our choices.
- Faith in God means confidence in God as we make our choices.
- Faith in God means choosing to live for Him instead of the passing pleasures of sin.
“The floor is now open for nominations for the hardest thing about being a parent.”
- Whether you are married or unmarried, have children or do not have children, have small children or have grown children, you can make a nomination.
- All of us here have been children.
- That means all of us have interacted with a parent.
- That means all of us are qualified to nominate the greatest difficulty of parenthood.
So, in your mind, right now tell yourself your nomination for the hardest thing about parenthood.
I wish I had a list of all your nominations.
- I suspect that our nominations would be influenced significantly by our personal experiences.
- Perhaps the unmarried would nominate an unmet parental expectation rooted in their childhood.
- Perhaps couples who have no children would nominate the loss of freedom and privacy.
- Perhaps couples with infants would nominate the loss of sleep.
- Perhaps families with small children would nominate financial or time stresses.
- Perhaps families with teens would nominate some form of exasperation.
- Perhaps families with grown children would nominate children leaving home permanently.
- May I share my nomination?
- Thus far in my life I would say the hardest thing about being a parent is watching your child become a person who makes choices.
- Our children will do the same thing we adults have done: they will make their own choices; they will decide for themselves.
- And included in those choices is the choice to be a person of faith in God.
If your goal is to get your child to attend church as an adult, or to be baptized, or to live a lifestyle that does godly deeds, your goal is too small.
- None of those things will please God without faith.
- Our goal can be nothing less than helping our children discover and accept faith in God.
- The first thing that is essential for that to happen: your children must see that faith in you.
- The second thing that is essential for that to happen: our children must see that faith in us.
Are we being religious without having faith in God? Or, are we learning to be spiritual people who build life’s foundation on faith in God? What choice do we make?
