Sunday Recap 7-31-11

Morning: The sermon, "Narrowing the Focus," explored 1 Timothy 2:1-7. In this passage, Paul reminds Timothy of to things necessary to success: prayer and proclaiming the gospel.

Paul expresses the importance of prayer. We need to offer requests, prayers, intercession, and thanks giving. We need to pray for everyone, especially those in leadership (government). We pray for them to have wisdom and to come to know Christ because this helps us to lead quiet lives and it pleases God.

Paul expresses the importance of Christ. There is only one God, and only one who can bring peace between God and man, that is Jesus Christ. Christ makes peace on our behalf by paying the ransom for our freedom. He did this to bear testimony to God's faithfulness, his justice, and his love.

Finally, Paul expresses the importance of bearing the message. In 1 Timothy 2:7, Paul emphasizes the truthfulness of his calling. He does this, I believe, to remind Timothy of his own calling. Timothy knew Paul better than most other people.

For a church to succeed it needs to pray and proclaim the gospel. They are the only weapons we have in the war against sin, the world, and the devil. But thankfully, they are all we need.

Evening: We looked at Mark 2:23-28. In this passage Jesus speaks about the Sabbath. Jesus reminds us that Sabbath is governed by the law of mercy. Sabbath was made for man, not man for Sabbath.

Thursday Humor: "Lunch with the Governor" by Jonathan Perry

Here is some more Cajun comedy. I hope it brightens your day. If it doesn't make you laugh, it should at least make you smile.

Answer the Call

I often wonder what the disciples must have felt when they met Jesus. Reading about the calling of the first disciples in Mark 1:16-20 has me wondering anew. How did they know it was the right thing to do? They were being asked to leave everything they knew, to follow a carpenter turned rabbi. (Yes, we know he was much more, but did they?)

In Mark 1:14-15, Jesus offers people keys to the kingdom. He tells them to "repent and believe the good news." Freedom had drawn near to man, he need only to take it as it was offered. Jesus was calling folks to come near.

With Peter, Andrew, James, and John it was different. He called them to come follow him. He offered to make them fishers of men. Did they understand the significance of that? Surely, they must have understood it (at least in part) because they followed him.

His call was a call to follow whatever the cost. They left behind nearly everything they knew. James and John even left their father on the boat.

I can't imagine what they were thinking. I have tried, but with no success. All I know is what it was like when I heard the call of Jesus. I didn't see him, nor did I hear him. But I heard that call to repent-to change my mind. It was a call to abandon my hatred for God, and my disbelief. It was a call to change directions in my life. And in an unbelieving heart, faith sprang to life in an instant. I heard the call, and I had to answer it.

Maybe I know a little bit about what it was like for the disciples. When the Lord captures your heart, you don't think about all the unimportant stuff. You just think about the grace that has overflowed to you. He calls and you go-just to be near him.

Jesus is calling us all to follow him. Have you answered the call?

Spiritual Songs: "The Reckoning" by Andrew Peterson

Do you ever find yourself yearning for the coming of Christ? I think every believer has that yearning deep down inside of them. It is natural. Andrew Peterson's song, "The Reckoning," captures that yearning beautifully. I hope you enjoy this video.



Here is a video of the story behind the song  complete with a live performance.

FAQs Mondays: "What Are the Last Three Requests of the Lord's Prayer?"

Last week, we answered the question, "What are the first requests of the Lord's Prayer?" You can read that post here. This week, we are going to look at the last three requests.

What is the fourth request?

Give us today our daily bread.

What do we pray for in the fourth request?

That God will give us everything we need for our bodies.

What is the fifth request?

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

What do we pray for in the fifth request?

That God will pardon our sins and enable us to forgive us those who have sinned against us.

What is the sixth request?

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

What do we pray for in the sixth request?

That God will keep us from sin.

What does prayer teach us?

Our complete dependence upon God.

The Lord's Prayer, like all prayer, teaches us that we need God. Prayer is the expression of the dependence. When we pray we are asking for the help that we need. Our heavenly Father is willing to help us. Next week, we turn our attention to part five of the catechism.

Sunday Recap 7-24-11

Morning: The sermon, "Don't Shipwreck Your Faith," explored 1 Timothy 1:18-20. Paul reminds us in this passage that if we abandon our faith, we wreck our lives.

If we want to stay afloat, we need to remember what God has said about us. Timothy had a prophetic word to fall back on. Most of us do not, so what do we do. We turn to Scripture. God has many things to say about his children, here are three to consider: you've been crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20), you've been forgiven (Col. 2:13-14); and you are God's people (1 Pet. 2:9-10).

Remembering what God has said about us gives us the strength to fight the good fight. Paul is urging Timothy to wage war like a good soldier. Like Timothy, we have to hold to faith and a good conscience if we are to fight the good fight. There are at least three implication to holding the faith: we keep our personal commitment to Christ, we trust the gospel message, and we receive the larger biblical witness.

What does Paul mean by "good conscience"? The conscience is the right/wrong detector within a person. It can be corrupted so that it confuses good and bad. A good conscience is one that recognizes what God calls good as good, and what he calls evil as evil. To have a good conscience, we must be biblically informed. How can we truly know good without God teaching us? We need to live morally. Once we know God's standards, we should seek to live them. We need to live transparently. We all fall short of the moral standards of God, but we can find forgiveness and cleanse through confession and repentance. Finally, we need to rest in Christ trusting that his work on the cross is sufficient to cover our sins (see 1 Cor. 4:3-4).

Finally, we need to love those who live as enemies of the cross enough to discipline them. Paul handed Hymenaeus and Alexander over to Satan in hopes that they would learn not to blaspheme. The expression "handed over to Satan" may mean more than we know, but it most likely includes putting someone out of the church. It means taking away the rights and privileges of membership until such a time they display the fruit of repentance. Paul didn't call them unbelievers. He didn't just hand them over to Satan. No, he handed them over that they might learn not to blaspheme. He wanted them back on the right track, but there was no other way to get their attention.

In the end, we have to contend for the faith. We must labor to build up our most holy faith. We stand guard like good soldiers knowing that the war wages around us. We stand upon the Bible because we are confident that God cannot lie.

Evening: Tonight was movie night.

Thursday Humor: "You Know" by Jonathan Perry

I thought this was funny. I hope you like it.

The Beloved Son

I find Mark's abbreviated version of the baptism and temptation of Christ fascinating. He writes with such economy, but has so much to say. In Mark 1:9-13, we see God's favor resting on Jesus. In fact, Mark allows us to see the Trinity in communion as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit appear together following baptism of Christ. We see the love the Trinity shares as we look at this brief passage. We see the Son entering the water to please his Father, the Spirit descending on the Son to empower him for his mission, and the Father proclaiming his love to the Son.

In the Father's statement, we see his approval of the Son. Jesus is the "Beloved" Son. The Father is "well pleased" with him. We are told that Jesus witnesses the rending of the heavens as the Father came to confirm his sonship. Jesus was given the tools to succeed in the face of his upcoming temptation. His sonship would by questioned by Satan, but not by the Father. No, the Father was pleased with his Son.

Although Jesus was tested in the wilderness, he did not succumb. He remained faithful to his Father, just as his Father knew he would. In spite of the dangers he faced, he would not entrust himself to another. Jesus lived only to do the Father's will. His faithfulness was reward by a time of refreshing through the care of angels.

In Jesus, we stand before the Father as children who please him. As his children, he strengthens us against the temptations we face. But even when we fall to temptation, Christ's obedience never falters. He holds us in his perfection. He is the sole source of our righteousness. We should hear the Father's praise of Jesus, and we should rejoice. The Father's has never been (nor will never be) displeased with the Son.

Hymns: Draw Me Nearer

This hymn is also known by the title, "I Am Thine O Lord." It was written by Fanny Crosby. It captures the longing of the believer to grow in their affection toward Christ. May you be encouraged.

FAQs Mondays: What are the first three requests of the Lord's Prayer?

Last week, we began answering the question, "What is Prayer?". You can read that post here. Today we are going to answer the question, "What are the first three requests of the Lord's Prayer?"

How many requests are there in the Lord's Prayer?

Six.

What is the first request?

Hallowed by your name.

What do we pray for in the first request?

That God's name may be honored by us and all people.

What is the second request?

Your kingdom come.

What do we pray for in the second request?

That the gospel may be preached in all the world, and believed and obeyed by us and all people.

What is the third request?

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What do we pray for in the third request?

That people on earth may serve God as the angels do in heaven.

We learn, through these questions, that the first three request revolve around the will of God. In this model prayer, Jesus is teaching his followers to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. We are to learn to pray for God's will to become our will. Genuine prayer helps to conform the person praying to the will of God. Next week, we will answer the question, "What are the last three requests of the Lord's Prayer?". Feel free to leave a comment.

Sunday Recap 7-17-11

Morning: The sermon, "Hallelujah! What a Savior," focused on 1 Timothy 1:12-17. In this passage, Paul encourages young Timothy to keep his eyes on Jesus and to seek to bring him glory and honor. He reminds Timothy that Jesus looks beyond what we have done to who he wants us to become. He also reminds him that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Finally, Paul gets caught up in praise reminding Timothy that Jesus is the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God. The sermon closed with these four principles:

1. You don't have to be worthy to get God to touch you, God's touch makes you worthy.
2. Thank God you're not me. You're better than that.
3. God saves sinners like me (and you) to demonstrate his unending patience.
4. A heart awakened to grace delights in worship.

Evening: We got to hear a stirring recounting of a recent mission trip to Haiti by Roger and Debbie Burns (my Dad and Mom), and Bro. Jon Calloway. It was a blessing to hear how God is working through his people. Let's continue to pray for the ongoing work in Haiti.

Thursday Humor: "Granny Games" by Julian Smith

I thought this was a funny clip. Kids be kind to your granny.

Some Good News

Good news is hard to come by these days. In a 30 minute report, there seems to be a lifetime of bad news. We all yearn for good news. Throughout human history, humanity longs for good news. Mark tells us some good news in his Gospel. It's good news that centers on Jesus. In Mark 1:1-8, we see several reasons that message of Jesus is truly good news.

1. Jesus is the subject of the gospel (literally "good news"). The message is about Jesus. The narrative focuses on his person and work.

2. Jesus is God's Anointed. The term "Christ" or "Messiah" means anointed. In the Old Testament, there were three offices to which people were anointed: prophet, priest, and king. Until Jesus, no one had been all three. Jesus is Prophet, Priest, and King. As Prophet he reveals God to his people, as Priest he sacrificed himself to redeem God's people, and as King he reigns over God's kingdom.

3. His is the Son of God. This term stresses the unique relationship Jesus has to the Father. It demonstrates his divinity.

4. He is the subject of prophecy. Most scholars point out two prophecies in Mark 1:2-3, they are Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3. The Scriptures that Mark quotes are of the Lord speaking of himself, but as Mark quotes them they are the Father speaking to the Son. These, too, point to Jesus' divinity.

5. Jesus brings the offer of forgiveness to the repentant. If the message of Jesus' forerunner, John, was a call to repentance with a promise of forgiveness, it is logical to conclude that Jesus provides that forgiveness to those who turn to him.

6. Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. John's baptism was important, but not eternal. John couldn't change a person's heart with water. However, Jesus can and does change a person's heart through the indwelling of the Spirit.

The message of Christ is life changing. It has the power to transform anyone who receives it in faith. I hope this good news is transforming your life, too.

Hymns: "Whate'er My God Ordains Is Right"

This song, "Whate'er My God Ordains Is Right," has helped me through some very difficult times. I discovered this wonderful, haunting song on the Indelible Grace CD. The words were written by Samuel Rodigast (1649-1708). It was translated into English from German by Catherine Winkworth (and others) in 1863.

The words stand as a testament to God's gracious provision. This song is rich with theological truth. They are as beautiful as they are powerful.  Here are the words:

Whate'er my God ordains is right, Holy His will abideth;

I will be still whate'er he does, and follow where he guideth

He is my God, Though dark my road

He holds me that I shall not fall,

Wherefore to Him I leave it all.

Whate're my God ordains is right, He will never deceive me,

He leads me by the proper path, I know he will not leave me.

I take content, what He hath sent,

His had can turn my griefs away,

And patiently I wait His day.

Whate'er my God ordains is right, Here shall my stand by taken.

Though sorrow, need, or death by mine, Yet I am not forsaken.

My God is true, each morn anew.

Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,

And pain and sorrow shall depart.

I hope you enjoy the video.

FAQs Mondays: What is Prayer

Last week, we finished our look at part three of A Catechism for Boy and Girls. You can read that article here. Part four deals with prayer, and we will spend a few weeks looking at that subject. We will start with the basic question, "What is Prayer?".

What is prayer?

Prayer is talking to God.

In whose name should we pray?

Only in the name of the Lord Jesus.

What has Christ given to teach us how to pray?

The Lord's Prayer.

Can you repeat the Lord's Prayer?

Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen. Note: Most modern translations read differently than this one. You may want to use the translation with which you feel most comfortable.

Prayer is is the act of talking to God. We need to pray in the name of Jesus which means we pray by his authority and in accordance to his character. We learn how to pray as we pray through the Lord's Prayer. This prayer is a model for us to follow as we develop the skill of prayer. Next week, we'll ask, "What are the first three requests of the Lord's Prayer?".

Sunday Recap 7-10-11

Morning: The sermon, "The Glorious Fight," explored 1 Timothy 1:1-11. In this passage, Paul explains to Timothy the task (promote God's plan), explains the goal (love), and he explains the dangers (people drift off into error). Like Timothy, we are to be good stewards of the plan of God--as expressed in his glorious gospel. We are to fight the glorious fight for the faith. We do this because we love God, we love the truth, and we love people. If we don't fight the good fight of faith, many will drift into error, and be lost forever.

Evening: Business meeting.

Thursday Humor: "I Wanted to be a Muppet" by Taylor Mason

Here is a funny clip. I hope it makes you laugh.

I Can Call on You

Psalm 77 is a beautiful picture of a heart moved from despair to renewed faith through the power of meditation. Don Whitney defines meditation as "deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture for the purposes of understanding, application, and prayer."

The Psalmist paints a picture of utter desolation in the Psalm 77:1-9. He feels abandoned by God, distressed, and inconsolable. He is groaning under the burden of unanswered prayer; he is left without words.

Yet in verse 10, we see a transition take place. He appears to awaken from his myopic self-focus, and shift his gaze toward God. As he does, his spirits begin to rise. Hope returns as his faith is renewed. He offers us a threefold path to follow: remember, meditate, and consider. The terms are closely related, but help us to see the progression of thought. It begins with igniting the memory, then moves on to deep thought about the subject, and concludes with applying those thoughts in reasonable ways.

Asaph focuses his attention on three things: the holy nature of God, God's power, and God's role as Redeemer. Psalm 77:16-19, describes the world under the scrutiny of Asaph' God. God's awesome presence makes earth and sea quake in fear, yet he tenderly leads his people like a shepherd with his flock.

Psalm 77:19 offers us a gentle reminder, "Your path led through the sea, you way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen." In other words, God guides his people through difficult passages, even when they don't realize it. Asaph leaves us with a simple but profound truth, we can keep trusting in God's continued faithfulness.

Spiritual Songs: "Family Man" by Andrew Peterson

We all get thousands of opportunities to reexamine our lives from time to time. We just have to seize the moments as they come. Each headline that seizes our hearts, stirs our anger, offends our sensibilities, or otherwise moves us beyond a mere mild fascination or morbid curiosity is an opportunities to search our souls. We have to examine our priorities, question our motives, and attempt to weigh both sides.


If we take the chance given to us, we can search our hearts, and when necessary make course corrections. In light of a couple of stories I heard today, I just want to reaffirm my commitment to my family. How do we honor the lives of children who have been abused? First, we become better parents. Then, we fight to make the world a better place. The gospel is the only weapon we have, but it is a mighty weapon. Live it.  Share it.

This song captures my feeling about my family. I have always wanted a wife and lots of kids. Sometimes, I forget that. God forgive me. I hope you enjoy this video.

FAQs Mondays: What Does Christ Do for His People

Last week, we answered the question, "How did God's people get saved before Jesus came?" You can read that post here. Now we turn our attention to answering the question, "What does Christ do for his people?"

What does Christ do for his people?

He does the work of a prophet, a priest, and a king.

How is Christ our Prophet?

He teaches us the will of God.

Why do you need Christ as a Prophet?

Because I am ignorant.

How is Christ our Priest?

He died for our sins and prays to God for us.

Why do you need Christ as a Priest?

Because I am guilty.

How is Christ our King?

He rules over us and defends us.

Why do you need Christ as a King?

Because I am weak and helpless.

From this set of questions, we learn the Jesus functions as our Prophet, Priest, and King. He is our Prophet because he teaches us about the God we were ignorant of. He is our Priest because he sacrificed himself to remove our guilt. He is our King because he rules over us. There are so many things that Christ does for his people, but they are summed up well under these headings.

Next week, we will move on to part four of the catechism which deals with prayer.

Video: "Too Late to Apologize: a Declaration"

Here is a video in honor of the upcoming holiday. I especially love the part where Ben Franklin rocks out on electric guitar.