For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17)
How are we to respond to God's promises of blessing? Such promises are not automatically at work in every life that hears them. Some people respond correctly, while others respond improperly. Some enjoy the benefits of God's promises, whereas others do not. In these two verses, we are given the necessary response to all that pertains to the gospel of grace. That response is faith. This would certainly include living by the promises of God.
Paul was unashamed of the gospel because he knew its effective character. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation." The good news about Jesus Christ is essentially the grace of God proclaimed to man: "the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24). This grace is God's power poured out unto the saving of souls. This power is experienced by all who place their faith in the gospel, whether Jew or Gentile: "for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." The gospel is effective, because it holds forth God's righteousness to sinful man, if he is willing to trust in the Lord. "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith."
The gospel is referred to in the Scriptures as a promise. "And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life" (1 John 2:25). The gospel is often stated in the form of promises: "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved… whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 15:11 and Romans 10:13). These gospel promises are partaken of by faith. "The just shall live by faith."
In addition to initial salvation, the good news of God's grace includes many other promises from God. "I will build My church…You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth" (Matthew 16:18; John 8:32; and 16:13). All of these promises are experienced by faith as well, because "the just shall live by faith"—continually, as well as initially.
O Lord God, I want to respond to Your promises properly. How gracious that You only ask me to trust in what You have promised to do. I do not want to ignore Your promises or doubt them. I want to live by relying upon every promise You have ever made. In Your faithful name I pray, Amen.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Reflecting on Balance and Rest in the Ministry
There has been much discussion about the ministry and the toll it takes on leaders and families. Christianity Today has a helpful article reflecting on John Piper's recently announced leave of absence. Collin Hansen wrote:
Pastors, even if they do not aspire to Piper's level of influence, easily fall into exhausting patterns of study, counseling, meetings, and visitation that jeopardize time alone with God and with their families...
But local church ministry is hardly the only vocation prone to overwork. Teachers, farmers, doctors, lawyers, small business owners, and middle managers alike feel the strains of labor that threaten family and spiritual life. Still, the threat becomes that much more dangerous when we work unto the Lord in taxing jobs where the cause seemingly justifies the means. Who has time to read the Bible, pray, listen to our friends, and care for our children when there's kingdom work to be done?...
Even during the busyness of this Lenten season, though, we might follow Piper's example and pause to examine the toll of our toiling and the state of our souls. Does our work truly point others to the power of Christ? If not, it may draw attention to the one who plants and waters, not the God who gives the growth (1 Cor. 3:7).
Rick Warren (in this week's Toolbox) asks "Are you working harder than God intended?":
My experience is pastors tend to overwork when they assume extra hours make them more effective in ministry. That's simply not true, and this misguided notion can actually keep others in your church from developing into mature Christian leaders.
I know how it is, when you get frustrated with the way things are going, you tend to want to control everything. It is human nature but it isn't the way God wants us to operate. It turns your ministry into one of those "whack-a-mole" games. The moment you whack down one problem, another one pops up. It's never ending.
Both the Rick Warren article and the the CT story quote some of our LifeWay Research data that I cited in an earlier post. I'll summarize some of that content...
A new study coming out of Lifeway Research shows that "Protestant pastors in America are working long hours, sometimes at the expense of relationships with church members, prospects, family and even the Lord." You can read the whole article here in Facts & Trends.
Here are some of the numbers. See the article for the full story. Feel free to download and use the graphics in your blogs and publications to help people understand what pastoral work and leadership often looks like. My hope is that it will help more pastors (and churches) achieve better balance.
by Ed Stetzer
Pastors, even if they do not aspire to Piper's level of influence, easily fall into exhausting patterns of study, counseling, meetings, and visitation that jeopardize time alone with God and with their families...
But local church ministry is hardly the only vocation prone to overwork. Teachers, farmers, doctors, lawyers, small business owners, and middle managers alike feel the strains of labor that threaten family and spiritual life. Still, the threat becomes that much more dangerous when we work unto the Lord in taxing jobs where the cause seemingly justifies the means. Who has time to read the Bible, pray, listen to our friends, and care for our children when there's kingdom work to be done?...
Even during the busyness of this Lenten season, though, we might follow Piper's example and pause to examine the toll of our toiling and the state of our souls. Does our work truly point others to the power of Christ? If not, it may draw attention to the one who plants and waters, not the God who gives the growth (1 Cor. 3:7).
Rick Warren (in this week's Toolbox) asks "Are you working harder than God intended?":
My experience is pastors tend to overwork when they assume extra hours make them more effective in ministry. That's simply not true, and this misguided notion can actually keep others in your church from developing into mature Christian leaders.
I know how it is, when you get frustrated with the way things are going, you tend to want to control everything. It is human nature but it isn't the way God wants us to operate. It turns your ministry into one of those "whack-a-mole" games. The moment you whack down one problem, another one pops up. It's never ending.
Both the Rick Warren article and the the CT story quote some of our LifeWay Research data that I cited in an earlier post. I'll summarize some of that content...
A new study coming out of Lifeway Research shows that "Protestant pastors in America are working long hours, sometimes at the expense of relationships with church members, prospects, family and even the Lord." You can read the whole article here in Facts & Trends.
Here are some of the numbers. See the article for the full story. Feel free to download and use the graphics in your blogs and publications to help people understand what pastoral work and leadership often looks like. My hope is that it will help more pastors (and churches) achieve better balance.
by Ed Stetzer
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Ten Questions to Explore and Understand a Church
1. Is this church where God’s Word is faithfully taught? (2 Tim. 3:16)
2. Is this a church where sound doctrine matters? (Acts 2:42; 2 Tim 4:3-4)
3. Is this a church in which the gospel is cherished and clearly proclaimed?
4. Is this a church committed to reaching non-Christians with the gospel? (Matt. 28:18-20)
5. Is this a church whose leaders are characterized by humility and integrity?
(1 Tim. 3)
6. Is this a church where people strive to live by God’s Word? (James 1:22)
7. Is this a church where I can find and cultivate godly relationships?
8. Is this a church where members are challenged to serve? (Eph. 4:12)
9. Is this a church that is willing to kick me out? (1 Cor. 5; 2 Cor. 2)
10. Is this a church I’m willing to join “as is” with enthusiasm and faith in God?
2. Is this a church where sound doctrine matters? (Acts 2:42; 2 Tim 4:3-4)
3. Is this a church in which the gospel is cherished and clearly proclaimed?
4. Is this a church committed to reaching non-Christians with the gospel? (Matt. 28:18-20)
5. Is this a church whose leaders are characterized by humility and integrity?
(1 Tim. 3)
6. Is this a church where people strive to live by God’s Word? (James 1:22)
7. Is this a church where I can find and cultivate godly relationships?
8. Is this a church where members are challenged to serve? (Eph. 4:12)
9. Is this a church that is willing to kick me out? (1 Cor. 5; 2 Cor. 2)
10. Is this a church I’m willing to join “as is” with enthusiasm and faith in God?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wish List For Durham Crisis Center
I dare you to buy an item on this wish list, Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill!
We need your help!
Just get these items. Ask your family to buy something. Ask your church to buy 10 or 100 of these items! Ask your boss to buy an item!
We can do this!!!!!
Wish List:
Household Supplies
Paper Towels
Non-perishable food items
Laundry Detergent
Fabric Softener
Ziploc Bags
Dishwasher Detergent
Thermometer
Laundry Baskets
Cleaning Supplies
Aluminum Foil
Trash Bags (39 gal)
Batteries (all sizes)
Toilet Paper
Soap and Sponges
Hampers
Personal Needs
Tampons
Sanitary Napkins
Deodorant
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Girls Underwear
Lotion
Pantyhose (Variety of colors and sizes)
Women’s knee-hi’s and socks
Women’s underwear
Boys underwear (for ages 12 and under
Other Needs
DATA (adult) Bus Passes
Towels
Gift Certificates (Grocery, Department and Video Stores)
Sweat Shirts (all sizes)
Sweat Pants (all sizes)
Blank Journals
Date Books/Appointment Calendars
Adult and Children Craft Items
Professional skills (Gardening, Painting, Plumbing, Electrician)
We need your help!
Just get these items. Ask your family to buy something. Ask your church to buy 10 or 100 of these items! Ask your boss to buy an item!
We can do this!!!!!
Wish List:
Household Supplies
Paper Towels
Non-perishable food items
Laundry Detergent
Fabric Softener
Ziploc Bags
Dishwasher Detergent
Thermometer
Laundry Baskets
Cleaning Supplies
Aluminum Foil
Trash Bags (39 gal)
Batteries (all sizes)
Toilet Paper
Soap and Sponges
Hampers
Personal Needs
Tampons
Sanitary Napkins
Deodorant
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Girls Underwear
Lotion
Pantyhose (Variety of colors and sizes)
Women’s knee-hi’s and socks
Women’s underwear
Boys underwear (for ages 12 and under
Other Needs
DATA (adult) Bus Passes
Towels
Gift Certificates (Grocery, Department and Video Stores)
Sweat Shirts (all sizes)
Sweat Pants (all sizes)
Blank Journals
Date Books/Appointment Calendars
Adult and Children Craft Items
Professional skills (Gardening, Painting, Plumbing, Electrician)
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Becoming God's True Woman
Over the last several decades, women have been encouraged to “have it their way.” I’m so thankful that we are now seeing a deep hunger in the lives of thousands of women to “have it God’s way”—to look to the Word of God for the definition of what it means to be a “true woman.” These women, by God’s grace, seek to live God-centered lives, to trust Him, and to say “Yes, Lord.”
A “true woman” lives a God-centered life.
In a self-centered world, she lives for God’s glory and pleasure, not her own. She understands that life’s not about her—it’s all about Him!
Instead of saying, “What will make me happy?” she asks, “What will please You, Lord? What will further Your Kingdom and display Your glory?” She recognizes her life is not her own, and joyfully lives for the glory of God.
•She embraces her created purpose: to join every created thing in heaven and earth in worshiping and glorifying Him eternally.
•She “turns her eyes upon Jesus” in the midst of her problems and sees these challenges in the context of His greatness.
•She lives a life of repentance, holiness, and service; but above all, she is enthralled with Christ!
A “true woman” trusts God.
•She doesn’t give in to fear because she knows that God can be trusted. He understands everything about her situation, and His good and loving plan will not be thwarted.
•She leans on Him and depends on Him in times of joy, pain, hardship, uncertainty, and confusion.
•She trusts God in circumstances she cannot understand or would not have chosen.
•She resists the temptation to worry and manipulate, because she has relinquished control to Him.
A “true woman” says “Yes, Lord.”
•She believes that God’s purposes for creating male and female are good and wise.
•She considers it a privilege and a delight to serve Him as a woman, and gratefully embraces His design and roles for her life.
•The Word of God is her compass and motivates her to live intentionally and counter-culturally.
•She makes personal sacrifices with her time and resources for the Kingdom of God.
by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
A “true woman” lives a God-centered life.
In a self-centered world, she lives for God’s glory and pleasure, not her own. She understands that life’s not about her—it’s all about Him!
Instead of saying, “What will make me happy?” she asks, “What will please You, Lord? What will further Your Kingdom and display Your glory?” She recognizes her life is not her own, and joyfully lives for the glory of God.
•She embraces her created purpose: to join every created thing in heaven and earth in worshiping and glorifying Him eternally.
•She “turns her eyes upon Jesus” in the midst of her problems and sees these challenges in the context of His greatness.
•She lives a life of repentance, holiness, and service; but above all, she is enthralled with Christ!
A “true woman” trusts God.
•She doesn’t give in to fear because she knows that God can be trusted. He understands everything about her situation, and His good and loving plan will not be thwarted.
•She leans on Him and depends on Him in times of joy, pain, hardship, uncertainty, and confusion.
•She trusts God in circumstances she cannot understand or would not have chosen.
•She resists the temptation to worry and manipulate, because she has relinquished control to Him.
A “true woman” says “Yes, Lord.”
•She believes that God’s purposes for creating male and female are good and wise.
•She considers it a privilege and a delight to serve Him as a woman, and gratefully embraces His design and roles for her life.
•The Word of God is her compass and motivates her to live intentionally and counter-culturally.
•She makes personal sacrifices with her time and resources for the Kingdom of God.
by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Friday, May 14, 2010
Prayer Partners
No partner is more important than prayer partners. Planting a church is a big deal. Satan does not want you to succeed. Surrounding yourself and your team with prayer partners is the single best thing you can do to ensure success.
Many church planters underestimate the amount of spiritual warfare they will face over the six to twelve months leading up to opening day. Prayer must be a priority for the church planter. In addition to personal prayer, the Church Planter should solicit a growing prayer team.
As a top priority, the Church Planter should form an initial prayer team with at least 10 people praying regularly for him. The Church Planter should especially approach those individuals who are known to be consistent prayer warriors.
To recruit the first 10 prayer team members, consider the following:
• Brainstorm at least 10 people who would be committed to praying for you and the new church
• Contact them about being on your prayer team
• Initiate some form of weekly communication with them with specific prayer requests.
Suggested initial prayer requests:
• You - You need God's wisdom, patience and strength
• Your family - specifically balance and health in your marriage and family
• Protection - Satan will attack you, your family, and anyone who wants to join you
• Vision - that God would guide your planning and give you a clear vision for the new church
• Launch Team - that God would provide the right people to form the core of the new church
• Finances - only God can provide
Many church planters underestimate the amount of spiritual warfare they will face over the six to twelve months leading up to opening day. Prayer must be a priority for the church planter. In addition to personal prayer, the Church Planter should solicit a growing prayer team.
As a top priority, the Church Planter should form an initial prayer team with at least 10 people praying regularly for him. The Church Planter should especially approach those individuals who are known to be consistent prayer warriors.
To recruit the first 10 prayer team members, consider the following:
• Brainstorm at least 10 people who would be committed to praying for you and the new church
• Contact them about being on your prayer team
• Initiate some form of weekly communication with them with specific prayer requests.
Suggested initial prayer requests:
• You - You need God's wisdom, patience and strength
• Your family - specifically balance and health in your marriage and family
• Protection - Satan will attack you, your family, and anyone who wants to join you
• Vision - that God would guide your planning and give you a clear vision for the new church
• Launch Team - that God would provide the right people to form the core of the new church
• Finances - only God can provide
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
1. Don’t apologize for preaching God’s Word about money.
You don’t apologize when you preach on prayer or grace or marriage. The only reason we preach on any of this is to help people.
Preach it with confidence!
Luke 16: 9-15
Jesus mentions “mammon” three times here.
If we don’t teach about money, who will?
Mammon is the spirit that rests on money. It promises what only God can give: security, peace, joy. All money has a spirit on it; either mammon or the spirit of God. The way we get the spirit of God is to redeem it by giving the first 10% to God.
It’s either cursed or consecrated. We need to teach our people there are consequences for disobedience to God.
2. Don’t apologize for preaching God’s Word about tithing.
I’m amazed when people say they’re not sure this is biblical. If I get mad at you, I can shoot you. I’m a Christian, and “thou shalt not kill” was under the law, so I don’t have to follow it.
NO!
The righteousness of grace always exceeds the righteousness of the law. Law says don’t kill, grace says don’t even be angry.
And tithing was around 2500 years before the law. It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden (you can have all the trees except that one).
Its about your heart. Exodus 23:19, Proverbs 3:9-10, Exodus 13:1-13
Jesus was both firstborn and first fruits. He is the clean animal for our uncleanness, sent to redeem us. Jesus is God’s tithe. He gave Jesus in faith that we would believe. Tithing is all about giving in faith.
Galatians 4:3-5: Cain didn’t bring first fruits.
God is not legalistic and neither am I. It’s about your heart.
3. Don’t apologize for preaching God’s Word about giving.
Tithing is not giving, it’s returning. You can’t give a tithe because it doesn’t belong to you.
(By the way it goes to the church where you’re being fed. And you can’t designate it, because it’s not yours.)
Tithing is returning to God what’s already his–it’s the training wheels of giving.
Matthew 7: the main topic is judging, not money “for with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:37-38: the main topic is judging; the word money isn’t here, either. But when people preach on this it’s on money. Can it apply to money? Secondarily. Primarily it’s about the attitude of your heart.
My pet peeve is not that we don’t know Greek, it’s that we don’t know English!
If you judge, you’ll get judgment back….pressed down and running over.
Luke 6:38 is not the motive for giving: we don’t give so we’ll get. It’s the reward for giving with the right heart.
Jesus is the noun of the Bible. Giving is the verb.
John 3:16…….you’re here today because Jesus gave his life for you. You’re here today because you gave your life to Jesus.
Exodus 13: giving your firstborn. When your son questions this, you remind him we weren’t always ranchers; we used to be slaves. But God delivered us, so we gladly give God the first of everything.
You don’t apologize when you preach on prayer or grace or marriage. The only reason we preach on any of this is to help people.
Preach it with confidence!
Luke 16: 9-15
Jesus mentions “mammon” three times here.
If we don’t teach about money, who will?
Mammon is the spirit that rests on money. It promises what only God can give: security, peace, joy. All money has a spirit on it; either mammon or the spirit of God. The way we get the spirit of God is to redeem it by giving the first 10% to God.
It’s either cursed or consecrated. We need to teach our people there are consequences for disobedience to God.
2. Don’t apologize for preaching God’s Word about tithing.
I’m amazed when people say they’re not sure this is biblical. If I get mad at you, I can shoot you. I’m a Christian, and “thou shalt not kill” was under the law, so I don’t have to follow it.
NO!
The righteousness of grace always exceeds the righteousness of the law. Law says don’t kill, grace says don’t even be angry.
And tithing was around 2500 years before the law. It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden (you can have all the trees except that one).
Its about your heart. Exodus 23:19, Proverbs 3:9-10, Exodus 13:1-13
Jesus was both firstborn and first fruits. He is the clean animal for our uncleanness, sent to redeem us. Jesus is God’s tithe. He gave Jesus in faith that we would believe. Tithing is all about giving in faith.
Galatians 4:3-5: Cain didn’t bring first fruits.
God is not legalistic and neither am I. It’s about your heart.
3. Don’t apologize for preaching God’s Word about giving.
Tithing is not giving, it’s returning. You can’t give a tithe because it doesn’t belong to you.
(By the way it goes to the church where you’re being fed. And you can’t designate it, because it’s not yours.)
Tithing is returning to God what’s already his–it’s the training wheels of giving.
Matthew 7: the main topic is judging, not money “for with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:37-38: the main topic is judging; the word money isn’t here, either. But when people preach on this it’s on money. Can it apply to money? Secondarily. Primarily it’s about the attitude of your heart.
My pet peeve is not that we don’t know Greek, it’s that we don’t know English!
If you judge, you’ll get judgment back….pressed down and running over.
Luke 6:38 is not the motive for giving: we don’t give so we’ll get. It’s the reward for giving with the right heart.
Jesus is the noun of the Bible. Giving is the verb.
John 3:16…….you’re here today because Jesus gave his life for you. You’re here today because you gave your life to Jesus.
Exodus 13: giving your firstborn. When your son questions this, you remind him we weren’t always ranchers; we used to be slaves. But God delivered us, so we gladly give God the first of everything.
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