Monthly Archives: January 2012

Eternal Comfort

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In Matthew 5:4 Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Without a doubt those who are born again in Jesus Christ find comfort in this life. Often we have to endure great trials, but with the Holy Spirit we are always comforted.  We may be in the midst of a deadly tempest and yet the Holy Spirit will give us a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).  Regardless of where we find ourselves in the brief existence we call life, Jesus has promised us eternal comfort with Him in heaven.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”   (Revelation 21:1-4 ESV)

Thriving In Storms of Persecution

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Have you ever had a time in your life when it seems wave after wave of oppression, affliction, and persecution are crashing around you? Have you ever felt as though the relentless waves of torment have drained you of strength? Are you fearful that the next wave may be the one that sweeps you out to sea with no hope of ever finding yourself safe on shore again?

If we do not take the proper precautions as Christians, it is easy to find ourselves floundering in a sea of spiritual uncertainty.  We struggle to stay grounded as the waves hammer against us.

In Acts 5:12-42, we will learn a few lessons on Thriving in Storms of Persecution. Please join us at Living Oaks Baptist Church Sunday, January 15, at 10:45 a.m. as we study to become better equipped to endure the storms of life.

He Can See Me Now!

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As Christians, God expects us to be involved in His work; therefore, we need to make sure we get in the game. I have seen this illustration several times over the years.  It is the story of young man on a High School football team. I have been told it is a true story; however, I have never been able to find the name of the player or the team in question.  Regardless, it is a wonderful story of how we should strive to get in the game knowing that our Father in heaven is watching.

He played on the kickoff team, and was a second string linebacker but hardly ever played unless his team got way ahead. Even though this young man didn’t get to play very much his dad was always in the stands to support him and cheer him on.

When it came time for his last home game, the last game of his senior year he stormed into the coaches’ office with a sense of urgency about him. He said, “Coach, you’ve got to let me start tonight, please coach, please let me start tonight! The coach said, “I know you’re a senior but I can’t make any promises. This is an important game, a game we’ve got to win if we are going to make the playoffs.” But the young man begged and pleaded with the coach until finally right before the game started the coach said, “Okay, I’ll let you play the first series.”

The young man was so excited He couldn’t wait to get out onto the field. When it finally came time for the defensive team to take the field, he was the first one in the huddle.

The first play from scrimmage the opposing quarterback handed the ball off to the fullback, but to everyone’s surprise this second string linebacker who hardly ever played nailed him in the backfield for a 5 yard loss. On the next play from scrimmage the quarterback went back to pass and the same young linebacker blitzed and sacked the quarterback for another 5 yard loss.

The young man played with reckless abandon, like a man on a mission. In fact he played so well, the coach let him play the entire game. He ended up with over 20 tackles and at the end of the game as he was running off the field the coach grabbed him by the helmet and he said, “Son, what in the world got into you tonight? He said that’s one of the greatest games I’ve ever seen a high school linebacker play. I don’t get it. What happened?” He said, “Well, coach, you know my dad has always supported me by coming to all of my games and cheering me on even though he’s blind.” The coach said, “Yeah, I know who your dad is, and I know he’s blind, but what’s that got to do with the way you played tonight.” Then the young man said, “Well, you see coach, my dad died last night and I know that He is in Heaven tonight and that this is the first game he’s ever been able to see me play. That’s why I had to play. I was playing for him and that made all the difference in the world.”

Where Is the Next Billy Graham Right Now?

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John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” This verse makes it clear God loves people. Regardless of who they are or what they have done, God loved them enough to send Jesus to die for them. When we see people who act differently than we do as Christians, we need to remember God’s desire that none perish and then share with them the good news of Jesus Christ.

In Russell Moore’s article “The Next Billy Graham Might Be Drunk Right Now,” we are given a perfect example of why it is important to be about making disciples. You never know what is going to become of the person to whom you are witnessing. Dr. Moore’s blog should also encourage us when we are not seeing a lot of decisions. If we are faithful to plant the seed of the gospel, God will see that it produces fruit.

I think this is the best article I have read in 2012, so I hope you enjoy “The Next Billy Graham Might Be Drunk Right Now.”

Whenever I start to get discouraged about the future of the church, I remember a conversation I had a few years ago with evangelical theologian Carl F. H. Henry on what would turn out to be his last visit to Southern Seminary before his death.

Several of us were lamenting the miserable shape of the church, about so much doctrinal vacuity, vapid preaching, non-existent discipleship. We asked Dr. Henry if he  saw any hope in the coming generation of evangelicals.

And I will never  forget his reply.

“Why, you speak as though Christianity were genetic,” he said. “Of  course, there is hope for the next generation of evangelicals. But the  leaders of the next generation might not be coming from the current  evangelical establishment. They are probably still pagans.”

“Who knew that Saul of Tarsus was to be the great apostle to the  Gentiles?” he asked us. “Who knew that God would raise up a C.S. Lewis, a  Charles Colson? They were unbelievers who, once saved by the grace of  God, were mighty warriors for the faith.”

Of course, the same principle applied to Henry himself. Who  knew that God would raise up a newspaperman from a nominally Lutheran  family to defend the Scriptures for generations of conservative  evangelicals?

The next Jonathan Edwards might be the man driving in front of you with the Darwin Fish bumper decal. The next Charles Wesley might be a misogynist, profanity-spewing hip-hop artist right now. The next Billy Graham might be passed out drunk in a fraternity house right now. The next Charles Spurgeon might be making posters for a Gay Pride March right now. The next Mother Teresa might be managing an abortion clinic right now.

But the Spirit of God can turn all that around. And seems to delight to do so. The new birth doesn’t just transform lives, creating repentance and faith; it also provides new leadership to the church, and fulfills Jesus’ promise to gift his church with everything needed for her onward march through space and time (Eph. 4:8-16).

After all, while Phillip was leading the Ethiopian eunuch to Christ, Saul of Tarsus was still a murderer.

Most of the church in any generation comes along through the slow, patient discipleship of the next generation. But just to keep us from thinking Christianity is evolutionary and “natural” (or, to use Dr. Henry’s term “genetic”), Jesus shocks his church with leadership that seems to come like a Big Bang out of nowhere.

Whenever I’m tempted to despair about the shape of American Christianity, I’m reminded that Jesus never promised the triumph of the American church; he promised the triumph of the church. Most of the church, in heaven and on earth, isn’t American. Maybe the hope of the American church is right now in Nigeria or Laos or Indonesia.

Jesus will be King, and his church will flourish. And he’ll do it in the way he chooses, by exalting the humble and humbling the exalted, and by transforming cowards and thieves and murderers into the cornerstones of his New City.

So relax.

And, be kind to that atheist in front of you on the highway, the one who just shot you an obscene gesture. He might be the one who evangelizes your grandchildren.

Click here to read more by Dr. Russell Moore.

Consumerism’s Affect on Christianity

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“Consumerism’s Affect on Christianity?” What in the world does that even mean?  I know that’s what some of you are thinking.  Merriam-Webster defines consumerism as, “the promotion of the consumer’s interests.” In other words, it is putting out a product that creates a desire within the consumer which in turn leads them to purchase or be drawn to specific merchandise. We see it all the time with commercials or bill boards. Companies are trying to get us to spend our money on their product.  They want us to think that this will make our lives better. “It is all about you!  Have it your way. You deserve the best.  You work hard for your money; do something special for you.”

Consumerism has made its way into every aspect of life.  If you’re not happy in your marriage, don’t worry about your commitment—just get out and find someone better.  If you don’t think you are ready for a baby or that you’re not going to be a very good parent, just have an abortion. We live in a world where it is all about “Me!” Whatever is best for me is what I should pursue.  I deserve to have my best life now, and anything that gets in my way needs to be removed.

Graceway MediaSadly, consumerism has made its way into the church. The church doesn’t have the ministry we like, so instead of helping start the ministry we go to another church where it already exists.  We don’t like the type of music the church sings, so we go find a style we prefer–traditional, contemporary, blended, or even country and western!

Consumerism’s effect on the church has been devastating.  Church, or better yet Christianity, is no longer about being crucified with Christ, sacrificing, or putting others ahead of yourself.  It has become, “If you don’t entertain me and meet my needs then I will find another church.” On any given Sunday there are thousands of people changing churches like stations on the radio because their needs or desires were not being met.

For many, church has become just like going to the movies in that we expect to be entertained. Where did we ever get the idea church is about our entertainment? When a group of Christians gather together it is to be in worship of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When we gather, we have an audience of one—JESUS! It not about making sure the music, the decorations, the pastor, the sermon, the version of the Bible, or anything else is entertaining or making us feel better about ourselves.  It is all about worship.  The Bible study and sermon should equip you to emulate Christ, do the work of ministry, and reveal sin.  Church is not for your entertainment!

In their book “Renovation of the Church” Kent Carlson and Mike Lueken talk about taking a church from being all about entertainment to focusing on making disciples. Here are a couple of quotes from the book:

  • “Every  aspect of the time we spend together in the worshiping Christian community influences the kind of people we are becoming.” In other  words, our worship services will form us into a certain kind of person.   If our worship services are centered on the story of God, we will  be assisted in becoming men and women whose lives are more deeply  rooted in God. If our worship services are centered around our personal tastes, needs and desires, they will become merely another  place that props up our inherent self-absorption.” (Kindle location 1673-75).
  • “The cultivation of consumer spirituality is  the antithesis of a sacrificial, “deny yourself” congregation. A  consumer church is an antichrist church” (Kindle location 755).
  • “When we place our sincerity and wholeheartedness at the center of our worship, the content of our worship will  drift toward how well we are doing with our wholehearted worship.  The danger is that worship will gradually become a performance.  Rather than being centered on the story of God, worship is centered  on the intensity of our sincerity and devotion” (Kindle location 1719).
  • “Christian leaders cannot simply be persons who have well-informed opinions about the burning issues of our time. Their  leadership must be rooted in the permanent, intimate relationship with the incarnate Word, Jesus, and they need to find there the source for their words, advice, and guidance. Through the discipline of contemplative prayer, Christian leaders have to learn to listen again and again to the voice of love and to find there the wisdom and courage to address whatever issue presents itself to them. Dealing with burning issues without being rooted in a deep personal relationship with God easily leads to divisiveness because, before we know it, our sense of self is caught up in our opinion about a given subject. But when we are  securely rooted in personal intimacy with the source of life, it  will be possible to remain flexible without being relativistic, convinced without being rigid, willing to confront without  being offensive, gentle and forgiving without being soft, and true witnesses without being manipulative” (Kindle location 1829).

Clearly this book is not a call to entertainment, but developing a heart that longs to worship God in every aspect of our life. Worship services should be about worshipping God, delivering His message no matter how uncomfortable or unpopular, and to equip the saints to be grounded in truth and do the work of ministry.

I would challenge you to read this book and examine your motives for attending church.