http://www.littletonchristian.com/index.cfm?i=14093&mid=25&blogid=6602 The title of the blog is Mike's Musings... so... this is the place where Mike.... muses. Radiant WebTools Sadly, we had a glitch in our recording technology which ruined the recording of the sermon this last Sunday. In this passage (Matthew 10:1-15), we discovered 4 important elements in Jesus' sending of the 12, which carry over time and space to us today: 1. Jesus chose UNLIKELY candidates. We know of 4 fisherman, a tax collector, and a zealot (a militia-member)! This isn't exactly a collection of the spiritually elite. They didn't know everything about Jesus, they surely didn't understand all his teaching... and yet BAM! He sent them out. It's time for Christians to let go of the concept that 'I can't go until I'm ready.' Preparation is VERY important, and God will make room for it - but don't disqualify yourself! 2. These guys are to be REPRESENTATIVES, not merely heralds. A herald conveys news ('extra! extra!'); a representative embodies the news. Jesus gave them his authority over malicious spiritual beings, over disease, and told them to bring the power of the Kingdom in their being. What if you started thinking of yourself in this way: 'because I'm here, the kingdom of God is here'??? 3. They are to go in WEAKNESS, not power. What are those instructions? Don't pack the essentials? Don't bring or acquire extra clothes? Be dependent on others? And yet, modern (American) Christians try to look powerful. Big, expensive buildings. Well run ministry. We bring all the supplies we need, wherever we go. But Jesus seems to want to emphasize God's power, not these 12 guys' power. 4. They are UNCONCERNED with rejection. Because they represent Jesus, and Jesus represents God, it's HIS deal if they get rejected. They are to walk away from those towns the same way Jews walked away from pagan villages: wipe the dust off your feet. And after all that, here's the amazing thing: Jesus would wind up being rejected by all 12 men. But instead of wiping the dust off his feet, he would BECOME the dust, take the weight of the Father's wrath, far worse than Sodom and Gommorah, onto himself. It's HIS deal. Praise the LORD. Sadly, we had a glitch in our recording technology which ruined the recording of the sermon this last Sunday. In this passage (Matthew 10:1-15), we discovered 4 important elements in Jesus' sending of the 12, which carry over time and space to us today: 1. Jesus chose UNLIKELY candidates. We know of 4 fisherman, a tax collector, and a zealot (a militia-member)! This isn't exactly a collection of the spiritually elite. They didn't know everything about Jesus, they surely didn't understand all his teaching... and yet BAM! He sent them out. It's time for Christians to let go of the concept that 'I can't go until I'm ready.' Preparation is VERY important, and God will make room for it - but don't disqualify yourself! 2. These guys are to be REPRESENTATIVES, not merely heralds. A herald conveys news ('extra! extra!'); a representative embodies the news. Jesus gave them his authority over malicious spiritual beings, over disease, and told them to bring the power of the Kingdom in their being. What if you started thinking of yourself in this way: 'because I'm here, the kingdom of God is here'??? 3. They are to go in WEAKNESS, not power. What are those instructions? Don't pack the essentials? Don't bring or acquire extra clothes? Be dependent on others? And yet, modern (American) Christians try to look powerful. Big, expensive buildings. Well run ministry. We bring all the supplies we need, wherever we go. But Jesus seems to want to emphasize God's power, not these 12 guys' power. 4. They are UNCONCERNED with rejection. Because they represent Jesus, and Jesus represents God, it's HIS deal if they get rejected. They are to walk away from those towns the same way Jews walked away from pagan villages: wipe the dust off your feet. And after all that, here's the amazing thing: Jesus would wind up being rejected by all 12 men. But instead of wiping the dust off his feet, he would BECOME the dust, take the weight of the Father's wrath, far worse than Sodom and Gommorah, onto himself. It's HIS deal. Praise the LORD. http://www.littletonchristian.com/index.cfm?i=14093&mid=25&blogid=6602&comments=37315 37315 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 18:16:00 +0000 In the last week, and really in the last year, and really in the last 5 years, opportunities for us (the community of people called Littleton Christian Church) to be engaged in the city of Littleton have opened up. We have a voice in the city of Littleton through The Greater Littleton Youth Initiative. We have a voice in the immigrant-population through North Littleton Promise. We have opportunities to impact the teen mom population through Young Lives. We are involved in the broad church through a monthly pastor's prayer gathering. We are discovering the Muslim world in our back yard through Encountering the World of Islam. And that's just the beginning. Now, we are on the verge of opportunities to engage our community on levels I've not dreamed before. But a huge piece of it starts with this question: People of Littleton Christian, if you had a chance to shape, impact, bless, and change Littleton for the better, what would you do? I'm excited to hear responses. In the last week, and really in the last year, and really in the last 5 years, opportunities for us (the community of people called Littleton Christian Church) to be engaged in the city of Littleton have opened up. We have a voice in the city of Littleton through The Greater Littleton Youth Initiative. We have a voice in the immigrant-population through North Littleton Promise. We have opportunities to impact the teen mom population through Young Lives. We are involved in the broad church through a monthly pastor's prayer gathering. We are discovering the Muslim world in our back yard through Encountering the World of Islam. And that's just the beginning. Now, we are on the verge of opportunities to engage our community on levels I've not dreamed before. But a huge piece of it starts with this question: People of Littleton Christian, if you had a chance to shape, impact, bless, and change Littleton for the better, what would you do? I'm excited to hear responses. http://www.littletonchristian.com/index.cfm?i=14093&mid=25&blogid=6602&comments=37161 37161 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 17:47:00 +0000 Last week, the thought hit me that life would be much more focused, much more realistic, much more purposeful, if I started every thought I spoke or wrote - whether from a pulpit or in common conversation - with the phrase: 'Jesus is coming back soon, so....' and then continued my thought. Romans 13:11 says 'And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.' What hits me in the week since is that I don't really understand 'the present time.' I've spent so much energy convincing myself and others around me that 'we don't know the day or the hour' without ever switching my behavior around the truth Jesus was trying to convey with his warning of the unknown return: Because we don't know the day, live as if it's today. After all, it might be! Ask yourself honestly: what would today be like if you really believed Jesus might return this afternoon? The day before me is a good example in two ways: My family and I are flying to Oklahoma tonight for a family Thanksgiving, and to say goodbye to a beloved uncle who stopped by his house two weeks ago for a quick rest. He relaxed into his chair, dozed off, and never woke up. On the one hand, my wife and I will spend the day preparing ourselves to fly. With a 11-week-old, there's a lot to think about. But the imminence and relative assurance of our flight (we've already checked in!) will affect all our decisions today. And if I'm honest, I'm living today as if it's much more certain that I'll fly to Oklahoma than that I'll see Jesus descending on the clouds with fire. On the other hand, my dear uncle George is now, as I write, living in the reality of the risen Jesus. If he were given just 10 minutes right this moment to make a public speech, what would he say? What would be his encouragement to those of us who are still waiting to see clearly (for we now see through a glass, dimly)? Jesus is coming back soon, so... how will you live today? What will you worship? Who's needs will you meet? What will you buy? What will you dream? Last week, the thought hit me that life would be much more focused, much more realistic, much more purposeful, if I started every thought I spoke or wrote - whether from a pulpit or in common conversation - with the phrase: 'Jesus is coming back soon, so....' and then continued my thought. Romans 13:11 says 'And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.' What hits me in the week since is that I don't really understand 'the present time.' I've spent so much energy convincing myself and others around me that 'we don't know the day or the hour' without ever switching my behavior around the truth Jesus was trying to convey with his warning of the unknown return: Because we don't know the day, live as if it's today. After all, it might be! Ask yourself honestly: what would today be like if you really believed Jesus might return this afternoon? The day before me is a good example in two ways: My family and I are flying to Oklahoma tonight for a family Thanksgiving, and to say goodbye to a beloved uncle who stopped by his house two weeks ago for a quick rest. He relaxed into his chair, dozed off, and never woke up. On the one hand, my wife and I will spend the day preparing ourselves to fly. With a 11-week-old, there's a lot to think about. But the imminence and relative assurance of our flight (we've already checked in!) will affect all our decisions today. And if I'm honest, I'm living today as if it's much more certain that I'll fly to Oklahoma than that I'll see Jesus descending on the clouds with fire. On the other hand, my dear uncle George is now, as I write, living in the reality of the risen Jesus. If he were given just 10 minutes right this moment to make a public speech, what would he say? What would be his encouragement to those of us who are still waiting to see clearly (for we now see through a glass, dimly)? Jesus is coming back soon, so... how will you live today? What will you worship? Who's needs will you meet? What will you buy? What will you dream? http://www.littletonchristian.com/index.cfm?i=14093&mid=25&blogid=6602&comments=29520 29520 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:23:00 +0000 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. -Psalms 57:8 and 108:2. These lines of these two Psalms express an idea shared throughout the Bible that the early morning is a great time to pray. And that if you life in the palace you can find a good place to play your instruments while it's still dark... if you're the king, no one can say 'WILL YOU KNOCK IT OFF?' I don't play harp or lyre, and I'm thinking my wife and everyone else of Pennsylvania Street is grateful that I'm not applying this to my trumpet. That would be true even when they're all awake. I'll be honest: I have typically had trouble with these 'awaken the dawn' lines. People ask me 'does that mean you're a night person?' No, not really. 'Oh, so you're a morning person?' Well, as you can see, generally not. I'm a sleep person. I love sleep. While my wife was pregnant, I didn't feel anxiety about raising a daughter, about teaching her to speak or about protecting her. I was worried about what life would be like when I couldn't sleep as much as I wanted to. [Newsflash: it's been fine.] The problem with 'waking the dawn' is, if we're being literal, getting up while it's still dark. My experience has been that every time I actually peel myself away from my bed, get that first cup o joe into my system, and get with the Lord, I can't figure out why I don't do this every day. But then, the next time I'm in my bed... it's soooo nice.... and unlike other forms of idolatry, you can't smash the idol of sleep. God designed our bodies to need to rest for a portion of every day (and for a day of every week, a thought for another time). What happens for me when I DON'T wake that darn dawn, when the dawn wakes me, is that generally my soul doesn't wake up with my body. I don't tune in to the rhythms of the Lord. I just wake up and start doing what I need to do to get ready for my first meeting. Maybe you're reading this and the dawn woke you today. Maybe you were up long before the sun rose, but your soul is still asleep. Whether it's 10am, 4pm, 11pm or somwhere in between, it's a good time to stop, take a deep breath, and wake up your soul. Just pray the words of these psalms: 'Awake, my soul!' What does that mean? The best example I can think of comes from the first couple months of marriage. I still feel this way, but in those early months it was overwhelming every time I thought about the fact that this amazing woman had married me. That was most pronounced on those mornings when we could wake up at about the same time. I was shocked, astounded, and overjoyed to be laying there next to her. It didn't matter what we talked about... just that I could lay there and say to the human being I loved beyond my capacity for love: 'good morning' was the best wake up of all. To lay there in the quiet of morning and look into her eyes, to love and be loved, that's how the soul was made to wake up. The only thing better than what I've just described is doing that with Jesus. Wake your soul (no matter the time), and say hello to the one who loves you beyond any human capacity for love. Good morning, Jesus. Thanks for loving me. What do you want to do with me today? Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. -Psalms 57:8 and 108:2. These lines of these two Psalms express an idea shared throughout the Bible that the early morning is a great time to pray. And that if you life in the palace you can find a good place to play your instruments while it's still dark... if you're the king, no one can say 'WILL YOU KNOCK IT OFF?' I don't play harp or lyre, and I'm thinking my wife and everyone else of Pennsylvania Street is grateful that I'm not applying this to my trumpet. That would be true even when they're all awake. I'll be honest: I have typically had trouble with these 'awaken the dawn' lines. People ask me 'does that mean you're a night person?' No, not really. 'Oh, so you're a morning person?' Well, as you can see, generally not. I'm a sleep person. I love sleep. While my wife was pregnant, I didn't feel anxiety about raising a daughter, about teaching her to speak or about protecting her. I was worried about what life would be like when I couldn't sleep as much as I wanted to. [Newsflash: it's been fine.] The problem with 'waking the dawn' is, if we're being literal, getting up while it's still dark. My experience has been that every time I actually peel myself away from my bed, get that first cup o joe into my system, and get with the Lord, I can't figure out why I don't do this every day. But then, the next time I'm in my bed... it's soooo nice.... and unlike other forms of idolatry, you can't smash the idol of sleep. God designed our bodies to need to rest for a portion of every day (and for a day of every week, a thought for another time). What happens for me when I DON'T wake that darn dawn, when the dawn wakes me, is that generally my soul doesn't wake up with my body. I don't tune in to the rhythms of the Lord. I just wake up and start doing what I need to do to get ready for my first meeting. Maybe you're reading this and the dawn woke you today. Maybe you were up long before the sun rose, but your soul is still asleep. Whether it's 10am, 4pm, 11pm or somwhere in between, it's a good time to stop, take a deep breath, and wake up your soul. Just pray the words of these psalms: 'Awake, my soul!' What does that mean? The best example I can think of comes from the first couple months of marriage. I still feel this way, but in those early months it was overwhelming every time I thought about the fact that this amazing woman had married me. That was most pronounced on those mornings when we could wake up at about the same time. I was shocked, astounded, and overjoyed to be laying there next to her. It didn't matter what we talked about... just that I could lay there and say to the human being I loved beyond my capacity for love: 'good morning' was the best wake up of all. To lay there in the quiet of morning and look into her eyes, to love and be loved, that's how the soul was made to wake up. The only thing better than what I've just described is doing that with Jesus. Wake your soul (no matter the time), and say hello to the one who loves you beyond any human capacity for love. Good morning, Jesus. Thanks for loving me. What do you want to do with me today? http://www.littletonchristian.com/index.cfm?i=14093&mid=25&blogid=6602&comments=28811 28811 Tue, 1 Nov 2011 06:26:00 +0000 Paul teaches in 1 Thess 5:17 to 'Pray without Ceasing.' Have you ever realistically attempted this? What about praying for 30 minutes? Most people begin prayers with great fervor, and then fall strangely quiet or oddly repetitive and 'cliche-full' because they don't feel they have anything more to pray, or their prayers just aren't 'doing it' for them. Jesus seemed to think that when we prayed, we should expect tangible results. There is much to learn about prayer. Last week, we began a new series entitled 'Lord, Teach Us To Pray.' This, of course, is the request made by one of the disciples to Jesus in Luke 11. Jesus responds by teaching them the Lord's prayer and adds some significant promises and principles regarding prayer. So, what exactly will we be studying as we make the same request of 'Lord, Teach Us to Pray?' In this study, we will look at a selection of the great prayers of the Bible and ask, with each one, what it teaches us about how to pray now. Have you ever thought of these passages in that way? Or, if I may ask that same question in a different way: have you ever felt you didn't know what to pray? Perhaps you didn't have the right words, or you weren't sure what was the right request. Perhaps your prayers have fallen into a routine that was originally life-giving, but now is so ingrained that you only pray for the items in the routine. Perhaps you're a part of this culture at this church which says to one another all the time: 'I'll pray for you,' and you do that, but you rarely follow through. Over all of it, let me be clear about our purpose: When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, the request was driven by observation. Whenever Jesus prayed, it was obviously powerful. He would go to pray and come back noticeably filled with the Holy Spirit, and power – in the words of Luke – would 'come out of him' in such a way that the sick got healed, the demonized got delivered, he knew people's thoughts, he knew his identity and his purpose, and he had the ability to face difficult challenges and painful experiences. Unless I'm blind, I'm convinced that the vast majority of us are not experiencing that sort of power when we pray. It's time we observe Jesus and ask with trembling: 'Lord, teach us to pray.' Jesus taught his disciples by giving them a model prayer. His model prayer was built on the many model prayers throughout scripture. The purpose of that prayer, and of all the prayers that are recorded, is that the people of God would know how to pray. Therefore, let me repeat once again our method: We will examine – one at a time – several of the great prayers in the Bible specifically seeking to be apprenticed in our prayer lives as individuals and as a body. Lord, teach us to pray! Over the next several weeks, we will learn from the great prayers of the Bible. There are hundreds of them (Psalms provides 150 alone), so we won't look at all of them. However, the prayers we study on Sundays is just an appetizer! The absolute best way to learn to pray from these prayers is (drumroll......) to pray them. If you can't relate to the words, I assure you, there are believers in the world right now who can. Learn to expand your faith, your emotions, and your love with the prayers of the Bible... you'll find that praying 'without ceasing' is easier and easier. Paul teaches in 1 Thess 5:17 to 'Pray without Ceasing.' Have you ever realistically attempted this? What about praying for 30 minutes? Most people begin prayers with great fervor, and then fall strangely quiet or oddly repetitive and 'cliche-full' because they don't feel they have anything more to pray, or their prayers just aren't 'doing it' for them. Jesus seemed to think that when we prayed, we should expect tangible results. There is much to learn about prayer. Last week, we began a new series entitled 'Lord, Teach Us To Pray.' This, of course, is the request made by one of the disciples to Jesus in Luke 11. Jesus responds by teaching them the Lord's prayer and adds some significant promises and principles regarding prayer. So, what exactly will we be studying as we make the same request of 'Lord, Teach Us to Pray?' In this study, we will look at a selection of the great prayers of the Bible and ask, with each one, what it teaches us about how to pray now. Have you ever thought of these passages in that way? Or, if I may ask that same question in a different way: have you ever felt you didn't know what to pray? Perhaps you didn't have the right words, or you weren't sure what was the right request. Perhaps your prayers have fallen into a routine that was originally life-giving, but now is so ingrained that you only pray for the items in the routine. Perhaps you're a part of this culture at this church which says to one another all the time: 'I'll pray for you,' and you do that, but you rarely follow through. Over all of it, let me be clear about our purpose: When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, the request was driven by observation. Whenever Jesus prayed, it was obviously powerful. He would go to pray and come back noticeably filled with the Holy Spirit, and power – in the words of Luke – would 'come out of him' in such a way that the sick got healed, the demonized got delivered, he knew people's thoughts, he knew his identity and his purpose, and he had the ability to face difficult challenges and painful experiences. Unless I'm blind, I'm convinced that the vast majority of us are not experiencing that sort of power when we pray. It's time we observe Jesus and ask with trembling: 'Lord, teach us to pray.' Jesus taught his disciples by giving them a model prayer. His model prayer was built on the many model prayers throughout scripture. The purpose of that prayer, and of all the prayers that are recorded, is that the people of God would know how to pray. Therefore, let me repeat once again our method: We will examine – one at a time – several of the great prayers in the Bible specifically seeking to be apprenticed in our prayer lives as individuals and as a body. Lord, teach us to pray! Over the next several weeks, we will learn from the great prayers of the Bible. There are hundreds of them (Psalms provides 150 alone), so we won't look at all of them. However, the prayers we study on Sundays is just an appetizer! The absolute best way to learn to pray from these prayers is (drumroll......) to pray them. If you can't relate to the words, I assure you, there are believers in the world right now who can. Learn to expand your faith, your emotions, and your love with the prayers of the Bible... you'll find that praying 'without ceasing' is easier and easier. http://www.littletonchristian.com/index.cfm?i=14093&mid=25&blogid=6602&comments=28107 28107 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:38:00 +0000 1 Peter calls believers to be driven by hope, to have minds ready for action, and to always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within us. The phrase 'minds ready for action' actually comes from the Greek phrase: 'gird the loins of your minds.' That means we must pull away anything that slows or encumbers our minds. This is a call to a way of life that includes: Resisting and removing distractions, time-wasters, and thought-killers. Delete 'Angry Birds' and open your Bible! Check facebook once or twice a week, not 5 times an hour. Turn off your television. Redesign your living room around good places to talk and read, and remove the TV altogether. Regular, deep study of the Scriptures. Do you know what the Bible says? Are you growing in your ability to connect books and passages together? When's the last time you memorized a verse? A passage? Engaging and activating the hope that is within us through passionate prayer. Our Sunday night gatherings, called 'Sentinel Prayer,' are a great way to begin. 5-6pm at the Event Center, starting September 4th. Reading and engaging books. On Sunday, August 21st, I shared about a book that recently came out called Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith, by Douglas Groothuis. I would gladly read through that book alongside anyone who so desires in this body. Understanding how Christianity is different than the other worldviews people in your life hold. What do Mormons, Buddhists, or Agnostics believe? And what do YOU believe? A good way to start is with these questions: How did the Earth/Universe come into existense? Is there anything wrong with it? If there is, what is the solution? Who is Jesus and what does it matter? There's way more, but this is a good start. Happy girding! 1 Peter calls believers to be driven by hope, to have minds ready for action, and to always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within us. The phrase 'minds ready for action' actually comes from the Greek phrase: 'gird the loins of your minds.' That means we must pull away anything that slows or encumbers our minds. This is a call to a way of life that includes: Resisting and removing distractions, time-wasters, and thought-killers. Delete 'Angry Birds' and open your Bible! Check facebook once or twice a week, not 5 times an hour. Turn off your television. Redesign your living room around good places to talk and read, and remove the TV altogether. Regular, deep study of the Scriptures. Do you know what the Bible says? Are you growing in your ability to connect books and passages together? When's the last time you memorized a verse? A passage? Engaging and activating the hope that is within us through passionate prayer. Our Sunday night gatherings, called 'Sentinel Prayer,' are a great way to begin. 5-6pm at the Event Center, starting September 4th. Reading and engaging books. On Sunday, August 21st, I shared about a book that recently came out called Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith, by Douglas Groothuis. I would gladly read through that book alongside anyone who so desires in this body. Understanding how Christianity is different than the other worldviews people in your life hold. What do Mormons, Buddhists, or Agnostics believe? And what do YOU believe? A good way to start is with these questions: How did the Earth/Universe come into existense? Is there anything wrong with it? If there is, what is the solution? Who is Jesus and what does it matter? There's way more, but this is a good start. Happy girding! http://www.littletonchristian.com/index.cfm?i=14093&mid=25&blogid=6602&comments=26146 26146 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 06:14:00 +0000 There is some significant debate over whether or not it was actually Peter who wrote this letter or someone writing in his name, tapping into his tradition. I believe there is enough evidence to support Petrine authorship and that it is far more helpful to read and interpret the book as though he wrote it. So, who is this man? His birth name is Simon (or Simeon). He is a Galilean fisherman from the town of Bethsaida, and he is the brother of Andrew. His brother introduced him to Jesus of Nazareth when they were young adults. A survey of Peter's life yields six key 'chapters.' If you'd rather listen to a message on this, click here.Chapter 1: Young, Passionate, Over-Zealous Faith.This chapter covers basically the entire ministry of Jesus and his disciples before Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Simon quickly becomes a very close friend to Jesus, and it is clear that along with James and John he is in Jesus' 'inner circle.' Jesus gives him the name 'Cephas,' which means 'Rock.' The Greek word for rock is Petros; thus, he is commonly known as Peter. He is also the most vocal and passionate of the disciples - he clearly wears his heart on his sleeve. Luke shows him falling at Jesus' feet when they first met, crying 'Depart from me, Lord! For I am a sinful man.' Peter witnesses many miracles first hand. He is the disciple who recognizes Jesus' true identity first, saying he is the Christ (that is, the 'anointed one'), and the 'son of the living God.' Peter walks on water with Jesus (for a moment). He is there at the transfiguration. Notably, Peter repeatedly and loudly states his overwhelming commitment to Jesus, and to the victory of Jesus. He rebukes Jesus for his passion predictions (that's no way for a king to act!), and promises that he will never leave or deny Jesus. After all, as Peter is quick to remind us, he has 'left everything to follow' Jesus. His faith is fueled by the miraculous, full of passion and fervor, and believes that, by virtue of Jesus, he'll be part of the new government of Israel when the Anointed One seizes his rightful throne. He always treats Jesus like a king, including refusing (initially) to have feet washed by the Christ.Chapter Two: Disappointment, Denial, and ShameThis is a short chapter in Peter's life, but a very dark one. When Jesus is arrested and shows no signs of struggle (he even stops Peter from defending him), Peter's expectations of being a General in Jesus' army are quickly dashed. It seems he had daydreamed this victory so many times that he lost sight of who Jesus really was - he never understood a passion prediction. So, following at a distance, Peter is confronted three times regarding his connection to Jesus. He vehemently denies it - and, while it was lie, perhaps his heart and mind really felt as though he had never really known Jesus. The Jesus he knew was the one he created in his his daydreams: a victorious king, reigning in Jerusalem, freeing the Jews from the hand of Rome. All of Peter's young, passionate, over-zealous faith comes crashing down. Chapter Three: RestorationThe final chapter of the Gospel of John recounts a scene after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, where Jesus approaches Peter on the shore and asks 'Do you love me?' Three times in three ways (the English does not reflect the variety of Jesus question). Peter responds with a passionate 'yes' each time - the relationship is being rebuilt. In this moment, Jesus places this man who turned his back on him in a moment of doubt in the place of leadership and purpose for his followers. It is restoration at it's best: the grace of Christ makes Petermore than what he was before. Chapter Four: Power and AuthorityPeter then naturally becomes the leader of the fledgling group of Jesus' followers. And, after Jesus ascends to heaven, they follow his instruction to wait. In an amazing moment, the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples, and they are filled with power and boldness not their own. Peter is the shining example of this: he delivers an impromptu speech to the crowd and 3000 become believers in Jesus and set themselves aside through baptism. Peter seems to be walking in the Spirit's power the most fully of the disciples, as Acts shows him undaunted by imprisonment; his shadow has healing power, he raises a girl from the dead, he heals a paralyzed man. Peter is quick to say this power is not his own, that it is the authority of Jesus. This humility is easily connected to the life experience of over-zealous faith, shameful failure, and merciful restoration.Chapter Five: Mistakes and LessonsHaving been restored and filled with the Spirit does not mean Peter is now infallible. The key example of this is his confusion and wavering regarding the inclusion of the Gentiles into the Jesus-following community. He receives a vision which seems to indicate they should be included by virtue of faith and grace; and yet within a couple years it's clear he's re-considered. Paul recounts the necessity of rebuking Peter face to face for his inconsistency and lack of clarity on this key issue - the heart of Jesus' purpose in the world is at stake. Peter must learn. Based on the words of his first letter, it seems he has. All Christians must continue to learn as he did - even if the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit is directly present in your life!Chapter Six: MartyrdomIt is said that Peter was executed by Nero in the year 64, and that his request to be crucified upside down was granted. Peter's last act was his greatest: he shows a full understanding that his Lord's kingdom is 'not of this world,' and that true victory comes not in the brandishing of the sword (as Peter did in Gethsamene so many years beforehand), but by total sacrifice. May it be that followers of Christ today would see their own growth in chapters similar to these. We start with passionate faith, we experience loss or frustration paired with failure and shame (and essentially walking away from Jesus), we are granted restoration, we receive true power because now we're not trying to do it 'on our own,' but look to God for everything, we continue to grow and learn, and finally we live a totally surrendered life. There is some significant debate over whether or not it was actually Peter who wrote this letter or someone writing in his name, tapping into his tradition. I believe there is enough evidence to support Petrine authorship and that it is far more helpful to read and interpret the book as though he wrote it. So, who is this man? His birth name is Simon (or Simeon). He is a Galilean fisherman from the town of Bethsaida, and he is the brother of Andrew. His brother introduced him to Jesus of Nazareth when they were young adults. A survey of Peter's life yields six key 'chapters.' If you'd rather listen to a message on this, click here.Chapter 1: Young, Passionate, Over-Zealous Faith.This chapter covers basically the entire ministry of Jesus and his disciples before Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Simon quickly becomes a very close friend to Jesus, and it is clear that along with James and John he is in Jesus' 'inner circle.' Jesus gives him the name 'Cephas,' which means 'Rock.' The Greek word for rock is Petros; thus, he is commonly known as Peter. He is also the most vocal and passionate of the disciples - he clearly wears his heart on his sleeve. Luke shows him falling at Jesus' feet when they first met, crying 'Depart from me, Lord! For I am a sinful man.' Peter witnesses many miracles first hand. He is the disciple who recognizes Jesus' true identity first, saying he is the Christ (that is, the 'anointed one'), and the 'son of the living God.' Peter walks on water with Jesus (for a moment). He is there at the transfiguration. Notably, Peter repeatedly and loudly states his overwhelming commitment to Jesus, and to the victory of Jesus. He rebukes Jesus for his passion predictions (that's no way for a king to act!), and promises that he will never leave or deny Jesus. After all, as Peter is quick to remind us, he has 'left everything to follow' Jesus. His faith is fueled by the miraculous, full of passion and fervor, and believes that, by virtue of Jesus, he'll be part of the new government of Israel when the Anointed One seizes his rightful throne. He always treats Jesus like a king, including refusing (initially) to have feet washed by the Christ.Chapter Two: Disappointment, Denial, and ShameThis is a short chapter in Peter's life, but a very dark one. When Jesus is arrested and shows no signs of struggle (he even stops Peter from defending him), Peter's expectations of being a General in Jesus' army are quickly dashed. It seems he had daydreamed this victory so many times that he lost sight of who Jesus really was - he never understood a passion prediction. So, following at a distance, Peter is confronted three times regarding his connection to Jesus. He vehemently denies it - and, while it was lie, perhaps his heart and mind really felt as though he had never really known Jesus. The Jesus he knew was the one he created in his his daydreams: a victorious king, reigning in Jerusalem, freeing the Jews from the hand of Rome. All of Peter's young, passionate, over-zealous faith comes crashing down. Chapter Three: RestorationThe final chapter of the Gospel of John recounts a scene after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, where Jesus approaches Peter on the shore and asks 'Do you love me?' Three times in three ways (the English does not reflect the variety of Jesus question). Peter responds with a passionate 'yes' each time - the relationship is being rebuilt. In this moment, Jesus places this man who turned his back on him in a moment of doubt in the place of leadership and purpose for his followers. It is restoration at it's best: the grace of Christ makes Petermore than what he was before. Chapter Four: Power and AuthorityPeter then naturally becomes the leader of the fledgling group of Jesus' followers. And, after Jesus ascends to heaven, they follow his instruction to wait. In an amazing moment, the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples, and they are filled with power and boldness not their own. Peter is the shining example of this: he delivers an impromptu speech to the crowd and 3000 become believers in Jesus and set themselves aside through baptism. Peter seems to be walking in the Spirit's power the most fully of the disciples, as Acts shows him undaunted by imprisonment; his shadow has healing power, he raises a girl from the dead, he heals a paralyzed man. Peter is quick to say this power is not his own, that it is the authority of Jesus. This humility is easily connected to the life experience of over-zealous faith, shameful failure, and merciful restoration.Chapter Five: Mistakes and LessonsHaving been restored and filled with the Spirit does not mean Peter is now infallible. The key example of this is his confusion and wavering regarding the inclusion of the Gentiles into the Jesus-following community. He receives a vision which seems to indicate they should be included by virtue of faith and grace; and yet within a couple years it's clear he's re-considered. Paul recounts the necessity of rebuking Peter face to face for his inconsistency and lack of clarity on this key issue - the heart of Jesus' purpose in the world is at stake. Peter must learn. Based on the words of his first letter, it seems he has. All Christians must continue to learn as he did - even if the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit is directly present in your life!Chapter Six: MartyrdomIt is said that Peter was executed by Nero in the year 64, and that his request to be crucified upside down was granted. Peter's last act was his greatest: he shows a full understanding that his Lord's kingdom is 'not of this world,' and that true victory comes not in the brandishing of the sword (as Peter did in Gethsamene so many years beforehand), but by total sacrifice. May it be that followers of Christ today would see their own growth in chapters similar to these. We start with passionate faith, we experience loss or frustration paired with failure and shame (and essentially walking away from Jesus), we are granted restoration, we receive true power because now we're not trying to do it 'on our own,' but look to God for everything, we continue to grow and learn, and finally we live a totally surrendered life. http://www.littletonchristian.com/index.cfm?i=14093&mid=25&blogid=6602&comments=24010 24010 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:42:00 +0000 Last Sunday, I preached on the topic of honoring the LORD with our stuff - particularly our 'first fruits' and our 'substance' (which is connected to the tithe). The Old Testament indicates in several places that by virtue of God's salvation (the exodus for Israel, the crucifixion for all), he has laid claim to the first and the best of what we produce or earn in this world. Because God spared the first-born sons of Israel by virtue of a lamb's blood, and because God spared the remainder of his elect by virtue of his Son's blood, he has required that we imitate and honor his sacrifice by giving our first and our best. In the OT, God indicated that he because he had spared the first-born sons, they were all to be dedicated to his service. Eventually, he allowed the entire tribe of the Levites to replace the first-born sons, but the other 11 tribes were called upon to provide the provision and substance the Levites required in order to maintain the Tabernacle (and later, the temple), and in order to meet their own needs. The Levites, then, were called upon to tithe out of what had been given to them from the rest of the people's tithes. In other words, no one is exempt. This is the source of the concept in which churches use a portion (sometimes a large portion, if it's a smaller church) to provide for their Pastors. Paul's instructions to Timothy in 1 Tim 5 suggest that the church is to take special care of those elders tasked with teaching the gospel and the scriptures. In light of this whole topic, I would like to share some observations, and a special note to the body of LCC: Last weekend was one of three annual meetings of the Presbytery of the West, which the regional community made of up the EPC pastors and elders. On the first day of gathering, we approved the change in call for one pastor who was joining the official staff at a church as an associate pastor. Because that church was in difficult times financially, and because her husband made an adequate income for she and her family, she and the church had agreed – and were proposing to the presbytery, who is responsible for the wellbeing of the pastors – that she would not receive a salary for her role there. This warranted significant debate. There are many pastors, myself included, who have voiced dreams that one day we could serve the bodies to which we are called for free; much of this is inspired by Rick Warren, who, because his book The Purpose Driven Lifesold so many copies, not only leads his church without a salary, but rumor has it that he recompensated Saddleback all the money they had paid him before the book came out. Dreamy. Nonetheless, this had me thinking about all that. The reality is that the vast majority of pastors are not able to do that and will never be able to do anything like that. Instead, here we are, this community of people who teaches, prays, leads, and counsels – and we are compensated out of a percentage (sometimes very high, when there's not a lot coming in) of the money people give as an act of worship and obedience. We all have to grapple with the issue that so much of scripture is instructing the believing community to support the needs of the poor, the orphan, the widow. I hope this makes more pastors than just me uncomfortable. And yet, there are a couple places in the NT that expressly instruct the body of believers to support their elders, especially those who are among them teaching (1 Tim 5:17-22). That night (Friday), we had a small worship service, in which one a candidate for ordination, Matt Hartman, delivered the message. He simply walked us through Psalm 90, a prayer of Moses, and explained why that Psalm has been encouraging and instrumental to he and his wife, as they currently prepare to move their family to the Czech Republic, obeying a call of the Lord to go on the mission field (bunny trail: Matt 'had it made,' in terms of ministry. He was the youth pastor for 10 years at CHCC, and could have stayed there forever – and yet, fear would have robbed him the fullness of Christ if he had let that keep him from obeying the call). As I sat there and listened to him share about Psalm 90, it struck me: the reality is, this kind of depth in the word is only possible through extensive time and study, and through the strange humility of people to listen to one person speak for an extended period of time on it. Conversations are powerful. But there is something about preaching that is supernatural: The Spirit of God allows us to reach depths through that practice that are simply not available otherwise. Every word of the Bible can be explored like a tropical forest – you may see a lot of trees, but when you stop, you find yourself surrounded by thousands of plants and animals – each tree an ecosystem in itself, supporting literally billions of living organisms, each square foot of soil providing enough data to occupy the whole of a scientists' life. That is scripture. And that is why it is essential that the body of Christ carefully choose and allow certain people to explore it. I am one of those people who has been allowed, by the body of Christ, to search the scriptures and explore their depths through the medium of preaching. In the midst of this conversation on giving, I would be utterly remiss if I did not stop and tell the body at Littleton Christian how overwhelmingly grateful I am that you have allowed me to be among you as one who spends the better part of my time searching and studying the scriptures, praying, learning, and attempting to bring that before this body for the edification of us all. When it happens, it is an act of the Lord, and it is because you have freed me to do it. Thank you. I don't take your radical generosity for granted. May the Lord be honored in all of our behavior with what he has given us, including myself. Last Sunday, I preached on the topic of honoring the LORD with our stuff - particularly our 'first fruits' and our 'substance' (which is connected to the tithe). The Old Testament indicates in several places that by virtue of God's salvation (the exodus for Israel, the crucifixion for all), he has laid claim to the first and the best of what we produce or earn in this world. Because God spared the first-born sons of Israel by virtue of a lamb's blood, and because God spared the remainder of his elect by virtue of his Son's blood, he has required that we imitate and honor his sacrifice by giving our first and our best. In the OT, God indicated that he because he had spared the first-born sons, they were all to be dedicated to his service. Eventually, he allowed the entire tribe of the Levites to replace the first-born sons, but the other 11 tribes were called upon to provide the provision and substance the Levites required in order to maintain the Tabernacle (and later, the temple), and in order to meet their own needs. The Levites, then, were called upon to tithe out of what had been given to them from the rest of the people's tithes. In other words, no one is exempt. This is the source of the concept in which churches use a portion (sometimes a large portion, if it's a smaller church) to provide for their Pastors. Paul's instructions to Timothy in 1 Tim 5 suggest that the church is to take special care of those elders tasked with teaching the gospel and the scriptures. In light of this whole topic, I would like to share some observations, and a special note to the body of LCC: Last weekend was one of three annual meetings of the Presbytery of the West, which the regional community made of up the EPC pastors and elders. On the first day of gathering, we approved the change in call for one pastor who was joining the official staff at a church as an associate pastor. Because that church was in difficult times financially, and because her husband made an adequate income for she and her family, she and the church had agreed – and were proposing to the presbytery, who is responsible for the wellbeing of the pastors – that she would not receive a salary for her role there. This warranted significant debate. There are many pastors, myself included, who have voiced dreams that one day we could serve the bodies to which we are called for free; much of this is inspired by Rick Warren, who, because his book The Purpose Driven Lifesold so many copies, not only leads his church without a salary, but rumor has it that he recompensated Saddleback all the money they had paid him before the book came out. Dreamy. Nonetheless, this had me thinking about all that. The reality is that the vast majority of pastors are not able to do that and will never be able to do anything like that. Instead, here we are, this community of people who teaches, prays, leads, and counsels – and we are compensated out of a percentage (sometimes very high, when there's not a lot coming in) of the money people give as an act of worship and obedience. We all have to grapple with the issue that so much of scripture is instructing the believing community to support the needs of the poor, the orphan, the widow. I hope this makes more pastors than just me uncomfortable. And yet, there are a couple places in the NT that expressly instruct the body of believers to support their elders, especially those who are among them teaching (1 Tim 5:17-22). That night (Friday), we had a small worship service, in which one a candidate for ordination, Matt Hartman, delivered the message. He simply walked us through Psalm 90, a prayer of Moses, and explained why that Psalm has been encouraging and instrumental to he and his wife, as they currently prepare to move their family to the Czech Republic, obeying a call of the Lord to go on the mission field (bunny trail: Matt 'had it made,' in terms of ministry. He was the youth pastor for 10 years at CHCC, and could have stayed there forever – and yet, fear would have robbed him the fullness of Christ if he had let that keep him from obeying the call). As I sat there and listened to him share about Psalm 90, it struck me: the reality is, this kind of depth in the word is only possible through extensive time and study, and through the strange humility of people to listen to one person speak for an extended period of time on it. Conversations are powerful. But there is something about preaching that is supernatural: The Spirit of God allows us to reach depths through that practice that are simply not available otherwise. Every word of the Bible can be explored like a tropical forest – you may see a lot of trees, but when you stop, you find yourself surrounded by thousands of plants and animals – each tree an ecosystem in itself, supporting literally billions of living organisms, each square foot of soil providing enough data to occupy the whole of a scientists' life. That is scripture. And that is why it is essential that the body of Christ carefully choose and allow certain people to explore it. I am one of those people who has been allowed, by the body of Christ, to search the scriptures and explore their depths through the medium of preaching. In the midst of this conversation on giving, I would be utterly remiss if I did not stop and tell the body at Littleton Christian how overwhelmingly grateful I am that you have allowed me to be among you as one who spends the better part of my time searching and studying the scriptures, praying, learning, and attempting to bring that before this body for the edification of us all. When it happens, it is an act of the Lord, and it is because you have freed me to do it. Thank you. I don't take your radical generosity for granted. May the Lord be honored in all of our behavior with what he has given us, including myself. http://www.littletonchristian.com/index.cfm?i=14093&mid=25&blogid=6602&comments=23152 23152 Thu, 12 May 2011 19:19:00 +0000