02.26.08

First Report From Belarus

Posted in Uncategorized at 11:41 am by Tom Gilson

Visit the GAiN Blog Entry Here

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02.24.08

Christ’s Authority to Interpret the Law - The Subjects of the Kingdom (Matt 5:1-2; Luke 6:17-19)

Posted in Bible Study, Bryan Dunn at 5:06 pm by Bryan Dunn

Christ’s Authority to Interpret the Law
The Subjects of the Kingdom (Matt 5:1-2; Luke 6:17-19)

Currently Jesus is enjoying great popularity in His ministry.  As He comes down from the mountain where He had appointed the twelve, He again faces a great crowd.  These folks came from Jew and Gentile areas to hear His word and to see His works.  Matthew seems to indicate He withdrew from crowds to appoint the twelve, Luke makes it clear that Jesus found a level place to address the great multitude of disciples.  So, there were more than the appointed twelve, multitudes were there.

The message had been substantiated by the miracles performed.  These folks wanted to see and hear for themselves what others had told them about Christ.  Many in this crowd were ‘outside’ the kingdom and were looking in – to catch a glimpse of what could be.  As we look towards getting into the teaching Christ gave (’Sermon on the Mount’), He will warn them against trusting in the teachings of the Pharisees (sand) and urge them to build on His word (rock).  John the Baptist demanded righteousness as a prerequisite for entrance into the kingdom (the same demands the OT had made).  Christ – in offering Himself as King, made the same demands.  He said only the righteous could enter Messiah’s kingdom.  The concept was never challenged by the Pharisees, the Sadducees, or by the people themselves.

The question that did come up was – what kind of righteousness was necessary for entrance into Messiah’s kingdom?  Because of Christ’s preaching, the nation faced two different concepts of righteousness.

1. Righteousness of organized Judaism.  This taught that a man was righteous if he attended the feasts, observed the rituals of sacrifice, and observed the traditions of the Pharisees.
2. Christ preached righteousness that came as a result of faith in His person.  This could not be earned by the people, instead it had to be received as a gift from God.

Here’s the start of another in the line of conflicts between Christ and the Pharisees.  Folks coming to hear the teaching of Jesus didn’t need to be told that righteousness was necessary for entrance into the kingdom – they would readily acknowledge that.  The question was turned into ‘what is righteousness’.  So Jesus spoke to these concerns to the curious who were debating the issue of His person.

The theme of this discourse is found in Matthew 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Christ will be repudiating the Pharisaic righteousness as a basis for acceptance by the Messiah.  Christ will offer Himself as the only basis for righteousness that admits one to into His kingdom.

And us – is that argument still being fought internally?  Is it hard to accept that we don’t have this huge check list of do’s and don’ts that we must follow?  Or is it harder to accept the grace and mercy from Christ who gave His all for my sin, and all I need to do is accept His offer?

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02.18.08

Commissioning of the Twelve (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16)

Posted in Bible Study, Bryan Dunn at 7:09 am by Bryan Dunn

Commissioning of the Twelve (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16)

Here we see 2 responses to His presentation of Himself as Messiah.

1. Opposition and rejection
2. Faith – not only in Israel, but also by others in the surrounding nations.

This was the setting that Jesus chose His disciples from – and he had many folks to choose from. But why now to organize? There certainly were good reasons. His enemies had been organizing forces to oppose His ministry for some time. For this antagonism there certainly was a need to organize. Perhaps a larger reason was that the demands of ministry were growing, and this demanded a more complete organization of those working to do a better (more complete) work. I’m certain training had a part in organizing as well (perhaps this is a good example of train the trainer). And – there was a need to set apart the once that had ‘authority’ or ‘backing’ of Jesus to go forth on His behalf in the work.

This appointment was not made on a whim, nor was it the culmination of weeks / days / months of campaigning. Instead, Jesus spent the night in prayer – utter dependence on God to guide His decision – to ensure that these were the correct choices.

What is a disciple anyway? What does the word disciple mean? What connotations does it carry with it? Disciple is a learner. One who is willing to listen to a teacher. It doesn’t mean the person accepts the word of a teacher, it only means they will listen. From those that had been listening, Jesus chose the Twelve. They were called apostles. So what does that word mean?

Apostle means a sent one. The idea of authority is not in the word disciple, however it is essential to concept of apostle. These men were appointed as Christ’s representatives. The authority He possessed was conveyed to them.

Of interest is a comparison of the 4 lists of Jesus’ chosen apostles as given.

The first 4 names in Matt/Mark/Luke/Acts begin with Simon Peter and include the same people, but not always in the same order. Likewise, the second 4 names begin with Philip and include the same people, but not always in the same order. Lastly the last 4 names follow suit in beginning with James s/o Alphaeus and end with Judas Iscariot (except for Acts).

NO LITTLE PEOPLE

The list of Jesus’ twelve disciples does not give us many details — probably because there were not many impressive details to tell.

Jesus selected ordinary men with a mixture of backgrounds and personalities to be his disciples. Jesus did not choose these twelve to be his disciples because of their faith — it often faltered. He didn’t choose them because of their talent and ability — no one stood out with unusual ability. The disciples represented a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences, and apparently they may have had no more leadership potential than those who were not chosen. The one characteristic they all shared was their willingness to obey Jesus.

Today, God calls ordinary people together to build his church, teach salvation’s message, and serve others out of love. Individual Christians may feel unqualified to serve Christ effectively, but with other believers, they make up a group strong enough to serve God in any way. Remember that it is the oneness that believers have in Jesus that holds them together. Without that, all the congregations would break apart. Ask for patience to accept the diversity of people in your church, and for wisdom to see their gifts and abilities. Build on the variety of strengths represented in your group.

Jesus called people from all backgrounds and occupations — fishermen, religious activists, tax collectors. He called common people and uncommon leaders; rich and poor; educated and uneducated. Today, many people think only certain people can follow Christ, but this was not the attitude of the Master himself. God can use anyone, no matter how insignificant he or she appears. When you feel small and useless, remember that God uses ordinary people to do his extraordinary work.

(from The Life Application Commentary Series copyright (C) 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 by the Livingstone Corporation. Produced with permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.)

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02.03.08

Christ’s Authority to Heal (Matt 12:15-21; Mark 3:7-12)

Posted in Bible Study, Bryan Dunn at 10:19 pm by Bryan Dunn

The things Jesus said and did evoked such hostility that He left Jerusalem and returned to Galilee. Mark notes (vs. 7) that He sought a refuge from the time of conflict by withdrawing with His disciples to the lake. However, crowds of people followed them. Looking at verse 8, they came from all over, which geographically indicates that not only the nation of Israel - but all the border nations came to hear His message and seek His help.

What was Christ’s response? To teach the people, heal the sick, deliver those who were demon-possessed. In verse 9 we see it was probable that Jesus had to retreat to a boat to address the crowds because they were in a constant state of flux (some wanting to hear His words of truth and others coming for healing).

Matthew notes that this throng of people who had come from all the lands outside of Israel was a fulfillment of Isaiah 42:1-4. This prophecy portrayed a Messiah who would be empowered by Holy Spirit and would proclaim the message to Gentiles. He came to minister gently to the people, not to be quarrelsome or vengeful. He would be a catalyst for justice to triumph. It’s like Matthew, who was in the crowd listening, could not help but be awed with the realization that this One was God’s approved messiah in whom God delighted and was doing God’s work as God Himself would do it.

But there was a downside to all this. Jesus was in demand. The crowds were non stop. There were lots of reasons Jesus withdrew. And us?

Mark records several instances where Jesus set aside his work in order to spend time teaching the disciples, to pray, to escape his enemies, or simply to rest. For example:

• 1:12 — Jesus went into the wilderness alone to be tempted by Satan.
• 2:13 — Jesus went out to the seaside after the Pharisees considered him guilty of blasphemy because he claimed to forgive sins.
• 3:7 — Jesus went out to the seaside after confronting the Pharisees regarding his healing on the Sabbath.
• 3:13 — Jesus went up on the mountain and called to him those who would be his twelve disciples.
• 6:31 — Jesus took his disciples away for a time of rest.
• 6:46 — Jesus went up on a mountainside to pray.
• 7:24 — Jesus and the disciples left Galilee and went into the pagan territory of Tyre after confronting the religious leaders with their hypocrisy.
• 9:2 — Jesus took Peter, James, and John onto a high mountain to see his transfiguration.
• 14:32, 35 — Jesus went apart from his disciples to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus withdrew to replenish his relationship with God the Father through prayer, and to build strong bonds with selected followers through long talks away from normal distractions.

Do you want to be a strong disciple today? It will require time, openness to a deepening relationship, and growing ties with God’s people. Do you want to develop Christian disciples today? Jesus’ methods work best.

(from The Life Application Commentary Series copyright (C) 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 by the Livingstone Corporation. Produced with permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.)

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February 2008

Posted in Audio & Podcasts (Sermons) 2008, Media at 10:12 pm by Bryan Dunn

February 24, 2008 - Unleashing the Power of Prayer - Part 1 - Aaron West
February 17, 2008 - Leadership Confusion - Gene Cornett
February 10, 2008 - What Are Your Intentions? / The Primary Ingredient - Gene Cornett
February 3, 2008 - What Are Your Intentions? / Why Are We Here? - Gene Cornett

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The Resurrection Principle

Posted in Tom Gilson at 3:49 pm by Tom Gilson

Christians often pray, “God, let us see you work in power.” We may not understand what it is we ask. God’s best work is resurrection. He does His best work when we need it most–like when a pastor leaves a church. Actually we don’t need God any more now than before, since we’re always entirely dependent on Him, but we are certainly more aware of that need now.

I approach this Resurrection Principle very cautiously, for though there is something important to say here, there is a danger of trivializing it. I spent several hours this week with a very good friend whose mother passed away a few weeks ago. Her passing was very difficult. The pain of my own mother’s death, almost a year and a half ago, is still very real, though not as fresh and strong as my friend’s grief is today. Death is not what God originally intended. It means something is wrong with the world. It is an enemy. In Christ’s resurrection, death was dealt a mortal blow; but it still kicks in its final throes. It is the last enemy yet to be defeated, at the end of the age.

Imagine being one of Christ’s followers in the day when He was taken to trial, to torture, and then to execution. He had told them often in advance that this had to happen. They did not understand; they fought the idea. Nothing, not even His frequent warnings, could prepare them for the loss, the injustice, the massive dashing of their hopes and dreams. Peter denied Him, others deserted Him. The women, more than the men, stayed with Him to the end; yet even for them, what a horrific end it seemed to be. This man had brought them unparalleled hope, healing, and love. He was the one who had words of eternal life. He had proved his supernatural power through repeated miracles. Then He was gone. I don’t know if any other death in history could have produced so much shock and grief.

We experience the grief of loved ones dying. We each face our own end. Further, we all experience loss and disappointment: being turned down by someone we love, being rejected by family members, losing jobs or opportunities, suffering injury or disease. We face change in our church, the loss of the familiar and the departure of leaders we love. These are lesser deaths.

Yet just as Christ’s death brought unparalleled pain, surely His rising brought His followers unparalleled joy! What could compare to Mary’s elation when she saw Him alive that Sunday morning, or the other disciples’ relief and happiness when He appeared among them? How often and with what unrestrainable smiles do you suppose they spoke of that among themselves, the rest of their lives? What could have been a happier moment than seeing Him alive? And what could have been a greater display of God’s power?

We pray for God to work in power, not always remembering that this is when we see Him most at work: when we most need Him. God does His best work following a death, even if it’s of a death of the lesser, figurative sort.

In 2001 my wife and I realized we ought to leave our positions at the headquarters of Campus Crusade for Christ. I was getting what I call “headquarters disease.” I was a Human Resources director, with national responsibilities, but I was getting disconnected from the field and from the reason I was doing what I was doing. When someone called me on the phone, it felt like an interruption, a bother to me. That was obviously wrong, and we decided the cure had to include leaving headquarters and going back to front-line ministry work.

We ended up in southeast Virginia–and it didn’t turn out to be what we had expected. We experienced some very deep disappointments, unfulfilled expectations, and very difficult conflict (this was with persons who are not now part of the ministry). I was certainly part of the problem; some real changes were needed in my own heart.

For a while it was, well, really awful. We had uprooted our family from one city, and now we were seriously wondering whether we were going to stay in this new one for long. We were living in an apartment at Grafton Station, which we had rented as a base for living while we hunted for a home to buy. It would have been easy, in one sense, just to leave. It would have been terribly wrenching in another sense.

Sara was feeling it as badly as I was. One day she went for a drive down Hudgins Farm Drive, a street that we had visited more than once before, which we thought would be a particularly nice place to live. There were only a few houses on the cul-de-sac at the end of the street. None of them, unfortunately, were for sale. She prayed that day in a kind of desperation for answers and for hope “God, we don’t know if we’re supposed to be here. If you want us to stay, would you please, please, please open up a house here, suitable for us to live in!”

Two days later I was with several co-workers driving north toward a conference in Gettysburg. We hadn’t even reached the Coleman Bridge when my cell phone rang. My wife said, “The real estate agent has a house for us to look at.” I said, “Come on, you know I can’t look at any houses until after the conference!” She said, “It’s on Hudgins Farm, Tom.” I said, “Oh!” (Brilliant, no?) “I guess you’d better go look at it!”

She checked it out that same morning. It was listed for well below market price, and it fit our desired description almost exactly. The seller accepted our bid with a contingency clause, such that we could pull out of it if I disagreed when I came home. That house is where we’re living now. God was starting to do some of his best work, giving us hope and direction in the midst of what seemed like a deathly situation.

Relationships at work did not improve just then; in fact, for a while the situation continued to get worse. It became clear that I was not going to thrive in that position, and that we would have to make a change. We had no clue what that could mean. We had bought the house, we were not interested in moving (nor did we believe God wanted us to move), and yet there was no other position on the horizon for us locally. Around that time we also took a very severe financial loss, and my father-in-law died a very difficult death. Things were not getting easier.

And then another job in Campus Crusade for Christ opened up, virtually out of nowhere, based in Williamsburg. It was going to be what I would have considered to be my dream job, working with some of my favorite people in the organization. (And the office was walking distance from Starbucks!) It started out looking great, but even that dream died, too, when for reasons too complicated to explain, there just wasn’t a lot of work to do. The income was there, but the projects weren’t. Another dream seemed to have been spiked.

But God was doing some of his best work still. I was starting to recognize what I had learned from the rough relationships I had just been in–some extremely important personal leadership and character lessons. I can’t go into them here without sharing more openly than I should about the whole situation. Suffice it to say that I couldn’t be doing what I am now without having been through all of that. I am stronger than I was; and I am unreservedly grateful to God for it all.

Now let me back up a moment to another dream. I had always wanted to write–I just never had a clue how to get published. Now I was in a situation that afforded me time to think, study, and write–and now, too, there was blogging. That was the beginning of this whole adventure; and the dream has borne fruit in a blog and in some published articles. I can’t imagine how this door would have opened without being in a situation that seemed like a dream that died.

And since then, the job projects and opportunities have opened up as well, just as I had thought and hoped they would two years earlier. (The story on that transition is as amazing as others I’ve told here, but to go into it all would make this long post really long.) I believe this new set of responsibilities and opportunities was in the plan all along–but that God also had a plan to fulfill a lifelong dream and vision (writing) along the way.

This has been bought the short version of a long story. I could tell much more about this and other things like it, and so could any follower of Christ. The Bible is full of such tales–Joseph, Moses, and many more. We all have dreams, hopes, plans, relationships; and some of those dreams, hopes, plans, and relationships die.

I look back over the past few years and I see both deaths and resurrections. The resurrections are where God’s hand is most clearly visible. They are where God has been most glorified. They wouldn’t have happened–couldn’t have happened–without the deaths. These experiences are miniatures of his final work yet to come, when both death and resurrection (for His followers) are not metaphorical but very real. Christ was first. He opened the door, so that any who are willing to follow may walk through after Him.

For a follower of Christ, no death, whether figurative or literal, is final. It’s God’s preparation for His best work.

Part of a Series at ThinkingChristian.net:

• Part 1: Our Roots In God’s Plan

Related: How To Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions. This post elicited a short question, to which I’m writing a very long answer in the form of this series.

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