Can We Have It All?

Posted by David on February 15, 2007 under Bulletin Articles

I increasingly notice a concept that promises a lot but causes pain. The concept: “We can have it all!” It promises we can have everything without making choices. We can have “it all,” and no one will suffer. Values will not be diluted. Priorities will not be altered. Relationships will be blessed. Individuals will flourish. Families will remain intact. Everyone will be “happy”-whatever that is.

“Having it all” requires adjustments, but the exchanges are okay. Thus, we exchange spiritual existence for a “going to church” habit. We exchange family time for couple of weekly meals together. We exchange “My word is my bond!” for “Can I legally contest that contract?” We exchange “it is needful” for “it is pushing.” We exchange relationships for lifestyle. We redefine success: success is what you possess instead of who you are as a person.

What results from seeking it all? Parents try to prove love by giving instead of being. Lonely, suffering children turn to anything that offers escape from loneliness. Divorce is expected. Religious habits replace spiritual development. Few are trusted [even in families!]; motives are doubted [what are they up to?] Boats dry rot in garages. Credit cards are over extended. We live today on what we hope to earn next year. We work too hard to enjoy each other. The gap between poverty and the middle class increases. Those with much seek more in the fear of not having. The definition of “rich” constantly changes. Remember when rich was having a few thousand dollars?

As the transition continues, two things are striking. (1) How easy it is to become selfish is striking. The question seems to be, “Am I happy?” The answer seems to be, “No, but I will be when I get …” (2) The confidence “we can have it all” without having to make choices is striking. According to today’s reasoning, responsibility destroys happiness!

Choices are inescapable! We cannot have it all! One huge self-deceit of evil is, “We should never have to exclude anything.” Perhaps we exclude God! If so, that is sad beyond description! Following God is about unselfish choices-always! It is unselfish choices that define God’s concept of righteousness.

God Is

Posted by Chris on February 11, 2007 under Sermons

1. How do you explain God?

   1. A nine-year-old perspective
   2. Yet some would say that God is just a myth for little children
   3. And the Psalmist says that those are the words of a fool – Psalm 14:1
   4. Anselm: An 11th Century monk, wrote a book called the Proslogium [Ontological Argument]
      1. “Even the fool is convinced that something exists, in the understanding at least, than which nothing greater can be conceived.”
      2. “That, than which nothing greater can be conceived, cannot exist in the understanding alone. For … then it can be conceived to exist in reality; which is greater.”
      3. In the late 20th century, there seems to be a growing interest in the existence of God, in the understanding at least …
   5. Aquinas: Cosmological argument
      1. Unmoved mover
      2. Uncaused casuse

2. Signs of the Times:
   1. An increasing interest in religion and faith
      1. Many claim belief in God
      2. Our nation still holds on to its Judeo-Christian traditions
   2. A declining importance in God
      1. But that belief seems to make no difference
      2. God has become inconsequential
         1. This is not to say that God is inconsequential.

   3. Aren’t these two trends contradictory?

3. The Weightlessness of God:

   1. “Those who assure the pollsters of their belief in God’s existence may nonetheless consider him less interesting than television, …
   2. … his commands less authoritative than their appetites for affluence and influence, his judgment no more awe-inspiring than the evening news, …
   3. … and his truth less compelling than the advertisers’ sweet fog of flattery and lies. That is weightlessness.” — David Wells, God in the Wasteland
   4. We live in Athens:
      1. “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. – Acts 17:22-23
   5. Our Pantheon of Gods
      1. Not of gods, but God-perspectives
      2. The Atheist God – the God who isn’t (faith is still involved here)
      3. Generic God – All-purpose, inoffensive
      4. God of Convenience – There when needed, not there when not needed
      5. Rational God – Predictable and manageable. Complicated, but understandable with study.
      6. The Personal God (yet this is all of the above), and all are idolatry — which is self-centeredness)
   6. It can get confusing and overlapping when you have a pantheon

4. `Eyeh asher `Eyeh
   1. Exodus 3:
      1. Moses investigates the burning bush and is caught up into the will of God.
      2. Moses wants to know more about God
      3. God gives him a name that reveals, but also demonstrates the mystery of God
         1. He cannot be defined by any mere name or concept
   2. The Name of God:
      1. YHWH – An awesome name (unlike nouns, Lord or God, etc.)
         1. Likely derived from the verb meaning “to be”
         2. Not spoken by readers of Torah (Instead they read “adonai”)
         3. Written with a fresh pen by Scribes
   3. The Names of God:
      1. Adonai = My Lord
      2. El or Elohim = God
      3. Jehovah is not a Hebrew Word (Not known until 1520. The result of reading YHWH with Adonai vowels)
   4. What the name means
      1. I am who I will be/I will be who I am
      2. When God speaks his name (I am YHWH) it is assurance of his
         1. Power: God is above all else, under no authority, unique
         2. Promises: God can be trusted. He is the God of A, I, and J.
      3. Yet no name is sufficient
         1. No one names God
         2. He is not rendered by a mathematical formula or title
      4. If the name is awesome, then how much more the God!

5. God Is …
   1. High:
      1. Sovereign, Holy, Transcendent, Above all else
   2. Near:
      1. Compassionate, Moved with concern for his creation, Love (initiates relationship)
   3. One:
      1. Unique, Almighty, Worthy (nothing else, no one else is like God)

6. God is High
   1. Exodus 3: Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
      1. What Moses was curious to investigate now strikes him with awe.
   2. Isaiah 6: I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs … and they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”
      1. Because the Lord is so high and holy, those who encounter him are struck with awe and fear.
      2. God is transcendent, yet he graciously approaches us …

7. God is Near
   1. Exodus 3: The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians.”
      1. The Lord is moved by concern for his people.
   2. Genesis 28: He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
      1. The stairway: God has stepped in to our world to do business. He cares about what happens.
      2. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
      3. “God is in it with us.”

8. God is One
   1. Exodus 3: 20 – So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them.
      1. The Lord is moved by concern for his people. So he does the impossible …
      2. He is always doing the impossible!
   2. Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, `Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.”
   3. Exodus 20: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an idol.
      1. Because of his power and one-ness, he is worthy of obedience.
      2. Yet God’s people have always wavered between obedience to God and the idols.
   4. 1 Kings 18: Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.

9. Who Am I?
   1. Exodus 3:11 – But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
   2. In God’s Presence we cannot remain unaffected
      1. Moses was changed in appearance – his face shone!
      2. Moses’ life was also changed.
      3. We too are transformed by encountering the Living God!
         1. We remain unchanged because we withdraw.
   3. When we encounter God we respond with:
      1. reverence
      2. awe
      3. humility
      4. worship
      5. and love
   4. The Greatest Commandment

      1. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
      2. It begins with a word about God, a call to know God!

         2. Hear, O Israel, The LORD is our God, The Lord is One!
         3. I learned about the presence of God when I changed the focus from me to God. When I considered those words: “The “I AM” is our God. The “I AM” is one.
      3. This is what Christianity is ultimately all about!
         1. not the church
         2. not evangelism
         3. not salvation
         4. not even Christ!
         5. but ultimately it is about GOD! (This is the pre-requisite for all else)

Singing

Posted by Chris on under Sermons

“Lord, I Lift Your Name On High”
“Great Are You Lord”
#238 – “You Are the Song That I Sing”

Psalm 95 – Responsive Reading

Children’s Song and Devotional
(All children to the front for time of singing and devotional thought)
Sing – “I’ve got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart!”
#474 – “Thank You, Lord”

#587 – “Sing and Be Happy” (vs. 1, 2, 3)
#121 – “Come Let Us All Unite To Sing” (vs. 1, 2, 3)
#258 – “The New Song” (vs. 1, 2, 3)

Song for Responses#674 – “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus” (vs. 1, 2, 3, 4)

#781 – “Thank You, Lord!”

Communion
Offering#458 – “Redeemed” (vs. 1, 3)

#608 – “He Gave Me A Song” (vs. 1, 2, 3)

Sending Out Prayer by an elder

How Do You Get Ahead?

Posted by David on February 8, 2007 under Bulletin Articles

Fortunately my week began typically. I got my half cup of coffee, sat at my computer, and read my e-mail messages. As usual, Monday’s messages were over 75% spam. Most of them wanted one thing-money. The authors of the messages frequently promised me (whom they do not know) incredible sums of money if I give them information that allows them access to my money. Or, they promise me great monetary success if I will buy a product. Or, they challenge me to generosity that benefits them.

In most of my spam messages, people are confident that if they can stimulate my greed nerve, they can soothe (for a moment) their greed nerve.

Though I have witnessed it many times, I never cease to be amazed at the people who are convinced that money is the answer–the answer to problems; the answer to indebtedness; the answer to a desire for pleasure; the answer to significance; the answer to security; etc. Name the need, and someone thinks money is the answer [even in spiritual matters!].

Too little do we realize that money brings new problems–new forms of indebtedness that dig new, deeper holes [he or she who cannot manage little cannot manage much]; common substitutions of indulgence for pleasure that create enslaving addictions; a frequent introduction to despair.

This is not intended to be a slam on wealth! Some early Christians had wealth! Paul said to them (1 Timothy 6:17-19)–Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

He or she who can escape greed while having money is wise. He or she who defines self by relationship with God is wise. He or she who understands how to use wealth for God’s purposes rather than allowing wealth to use him or her for its purposes is wise. He or she who lets God’s values determine how wealth is used rather than allowing wealth determine how he or she is used is wise. He or she who refuses to measure self by “what I have” is wise.

May this be our ambition: “Who I am is determined by God. What I have is determined by God. How I use what I have is determined by God. Only God’s will measures me.”

Careful: Money does not offer us everything. To many, money gives only an internal emptiness and coldness. To the unwise, money costs rather than gives. “God, deliver us from the deceit of our own greed. Help us listen to You instead of deceiving ourselves.”

The War and Me (part 2)

Posted by David on February 6, 2007 under Sermons

Failed expectations are the graveyard of personal faith. When Christians look for the reasons [there are more than one!] that the conversion rate is lower than it was fifty years ago or the church is not growing as it did fifty years ago, they tend to blame everything but themselves. They see evil ghosts lurking behind every bush. They blame a society that no longer favors expressions of Christian faith. They blame changes in social views. They blame the justice system. They blame globalization. They blame radical conservatives. They blame radical liberals. They long for the past and seek to revive it.

They fear the future and the additional changes it will bring. As they cry about change and blame everything that frightens them, the one thing they never blame is themselves.

In the past Christians counted on their children becoming "the next congregation of Christians." No more.

Why? Again, the are many contributing reasons. Those reasons include: the destabilization of marriage so some parents inconsistently behave one way in private and another way in public; the disassociation of the family unit–the family rarely spends time together as they learn to enjoy each other [everyone is busy doing "my own thing"]; the desire to follow a path that produces what "I" define to be pleasure; the surrender to material ambitions; the conviction that the most powerful influence in life is money; the tendency to regard Christianity as a religion of habits rather then a life; the substitution of faith in Jesus or God for faith in a movement; the death of faith.

There are many reasons for this enormous generational transition. Those just mentioned are some of the more obvious factors. May I focus you on a cause that I regard to be in my top five reasons for so many children rebelling against the convictions of their parents. That reason is failed expectations.

Faith in God does not produce the results that Christians often say it will. When something wonderful happens, we quickly call it a miracle and cite the happening as proof of divine intervention. When something terrible happens, we often ask, "Why? Why did God refuse to act on my behalf?" We go into shock when bad things happen to people we regard as good people.

1. May we begin with Jesus at the end of his earthly life.
   
   1. Matthew 26:36-46 gives an account of Jesus’ Gethsemane prayers he prayed just before his arrest.
      
      1. Basically, he prayed the same request three times–persistence.
         
      2. His request was simple: "If there is a way to achieve Your will without my having to die, please go the other way; but your will be done."
         
      3. Please understand this is a request made by an obedient son to his Father.
         
         1. This is a request made by a son who always did as his Father requested (see John 5:19; 6:38; 8:28; 12:49, 50; 14:10; etc.).
            
         2. This is a son who also prayed a lot (see Mark 13:5; Matthew 9:18, 28 14:23; Luke 5:16; 6:12).
      4. I doubt that anyone of us would think that his or her faith in God even compared to Jesus’ faith in God.
   2. God can answer our prayers in at least one of three ways.
      
      1. He can grant our request.
         
         1. This is our preference.
            
         2. We typically regard our desire as "the best way to go" when we urgently pray about a matter.
      2. He can give us the strength to cope with the situation.
         
         1. When we cope, our lives continue as if the problem did not exist.
            
         2. We feel the irritation and inconvenience of having the problem, but our lives do not reflect the problem.
      3. He can give us the strength to endure the problem.
         
         1. When we endure the problem, the problem generates situations that change our lives.
            
         2. He gave Jesus the strength to endure his arrest and death.
            
         3. He gave Paul the strength to endure his thorn though this miracle worker asked three times for the thorn to be removed (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
      4. Commonly, we are not wise enough to know what is in the best interest of our eternal salvation.
         
         1. Many American Christians are prone to see only the immediate rather than the future.
            
         2. Many of us react to the inconvenience of the moment thinking only of the material rather than the spiritual.
            
         3. God took the horrors of Jesus’ crucifixion and sealed the defeat of evil plus guaranteed all blessings found in Jesus–God took a crucifixion and made an eternal Savior.
            
         4. Are you not grateful for all God does through Paul’s writings?
            
         5. God did not respond as they requested, but He responded.
            
         6. Their ultimate best interest resulted from His response.
2. The irony to me is this:
   
   1. Christianity is founded upon suffering from its very beginning.
      
      1. Jesus predicted that faith in him would result in unthinkable suffering and rejection in Matthew 10:34-39.
         
         1. While Christ extends internal peace to those who struggle inwardly (Matthew 11:28-30), accepting his peace may result in external hardships!
            
         2. It certainly did among the first century Jews!
            
         3. It also created stern reactions from first century idol worshippers! (see Acts 19:23-28)
            
         4. The peace is real and internal, but the suffering took the forms of rejection, persecution, injustice, and hostility [including martyrdom] (see Hebrews 10:32-35).
      2. Death was often the price of faith.
         
         1. Christianity is founded on the death and resurrection of Jesus!
            
         2. Stephen was martyred (Acts 7:58-60).
            
         3. James was executed with the sword (Acts 12:2).
            
         4. Historical records indicate all the apostles but John died violent deaths.
            
         5. Paul certainly anticipated execution (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
      3. Have you read 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 lately?
         
      4. Revelation indicates the Christians in Asia Minor questioned the survival of Christianity because opposition was so severe.
         
      5. The irony: how can American Christians expect Christianity to be a religion that does not experience struggle when it began and spread by Christians’ reaction to struggle?
   2. Are we more concerned about our physical desires than about our eternal salvation?
      
      1. Do we want God to yield to our material desires if it would cost us our eternity with Him?
         
      2. Do we not realize how determined Satan is to cause us physical hurt because we choose to reject him and find hope in Jesus?
         
      3. Satan is no amateur!
         
         1. None of us are a match for him if we seek to oppose him alone!
            
         2. It seems he is continually confronting us and asking, "Do you trust Jesus this much?"
      4. Though Satan opposes us, God will always be there for us.
         
         1. 1 John 4:4 (in context)
            You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
            
         2. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (in context)
            No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
            
         3. Romans 8:28-39 (in context)
            And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
            
            1. God can use anything Satan does to us for our eternal salvation!
               
            2. We are God’s property–He will take care of us eternally!
               
            3. Satan cannot accuse us as He did Job!
               
            4. Justification!
               
            5. Intercession!
               
            6. We cannot, without our consent, be taken from God’s love!
         4. 1 John 1:9 (in context)
            If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
      5. Our salvation is not without opposition, but it is ours by God’s promise if we keep our faith in Jesus Christ.
3. The how do I prepare for opposition from Satan?
   
   1. I grow in awareness of where the opposition can originate.
      
      1. Ephesians 6:12
         For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
         
      2. I do not expect life to be easy if I place it in Jesus Christ!
   2. I prepare for the onslaughts of Satan.
      
      1. Ephesians 6:13
         Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
         
      2. I expect Satan to attack me, cause me pain, and test my commitment to Jesus Christ.
   3. I am personally serious about my devotion to Christ.
      
      1. Ephesians 6:18
         With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
         
      2. I am not in this battle alone! The rest of the family also faces opposition!
         
      3. Never is there any question of where my loyalty lies.

Expect Satan to be angry with your faith in Jesus Christ. Never blame God for the work of Satan. Never expect God to do for you what He never promised. Always know God will never abandon you. Try to constantly see God at work, and when you do not see it, never doubt that He is at work.

Back To The Bible

Posted by Chris on February 4, 2007 under Sermons

Prayer

Posted by Chris on under Sermons

Call to Worship

Jesus encourages us to pray. If we can be known for anything, then let us be known as a people who pray without ceasing. Let us pray not only for ourselves, but also for one another and for the sake of the world.

Jesus teaches us to pray. [Read Luke 11:1-4.] We call this the “model prayer” and yet how often do we conform to the model? This morning, we are modeling our worship on the model prayer. Our movements in worship are based on the petitions of Jesus’ prayer lesson. So let’s follow the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ who encourages us to ask, seek, knock, and to pray. The prayer is given to us in plural form – notice how often it says “our and us.” Let us pray this prayer together by reading it now, and let this be our entry into our service of worship …

Congregational Reading of Luke 11:1-4

#2 – “We Praise Thee, O God” (vs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
#15 – “Step By Step”

Prayer
#797 – “Lord We Come Before Thee Now” (vs. 1, 2, 3, 4)
#704 – “Bind Us Together”

Prayer
#525 – “He Knows Just What I Need” (vs. 1, 2, 3)

#357 – “Bethlehem?Galilee?Gethsemane”

All around the Lord’s Supper the humanity of Jesus Christ is obvious. His love and concern for his disciples. His anxiety over the impending crucifixion. His forgiveness and compassion even for those who mistreated him. Our Lord displays his humanity through his prayers. Jesus prays often during the gospel event. He gives thanks for the bread and cup. He prays in the garden and asks for another way, yet he submits himself to God’s way. He encourages his disciples to pray with him and for him and for themselves. He prays on the cross and intercedes for those who are caught up in the frenzy of accusation and judgment. Jesus prays. If you will read John 17 you will find that he even prayed for you and me!

Perhaps this should teach us that we are very much like Christ when we pray. Perhaps this should teach us that we are most human when we pray. We come to the Lord’s Supper as anxious souls hungry for the bread of life. We pray, “Give us today our daily bread.” And our Father, who knows what we need, gives to us even Himself and His own Spirit.

Prayer at the Lord’s Table
Communion

Prayer for Offering & Ministry
Offering

#660 – “People Need The Lord” (repeat)
#800 – “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” (vs. 1, 2, 3) [Dismiss to Children’s Worship]

#810 – “Listen To Our Hearts” (vs. 1, 2)

Prayer

#413 – “Lord Be There”
#390 – “Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah” (vs. 1, 2, 3)

Invitation to Prayer and Baptism

A simple man once said that “Life without adversity would be … well, it might be kind of nice.” True. But adversity seems to be a part of life. Every one of us has known some form of it.

When we pray to God “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We acknowledge that we do not live in a perfect world. We live in a broken world – sure there is still much that is good in this world, but it is not what God intends for it to be. So we live in a world where there is adversity.

Adversity is no indicator of how much or how little God loves us, even though it can seem that way. Adversity is no indicator of how righteous we are, even though our own actions can bring adversity into our lives – and yet if we are trying to find fault and blame we can get into a never-ending spiral of cause and event that would take us back to the Garden of Eden.

Rather, it is our response to adversity that ought to concern us: This week I have had many occasions to reflect on just how the Evil One works. Do you know what Satan’s name means? It comes from the Hebrew word for “accuser.” The evil one seeks to accuse us – especially in our adversity. As he tried to do with Christ in the desert, the evil one comes to us in our time of trial and aims to convict us without hope and draw out our worst and most sinful nature.

Watch out for his schemes! What shall we do with our anxiety and anger? What shall we do with our fear and sorrow? Rather than deny that we are human, let us turn to Our Father in heaven in prayer. Let us ask for wisdom. Let us ask, seek, and knock and trust that the love of our Father in heaven is greater than the accusation of the evil one.

Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Every Sunday we offer an invitation. It is an invitation to be delivered from the evil one. Christ invites us to the waters of baptism so that we might be delivered from evil. Baptism and repentance are entwined seamlessly – if you have been baptized then understand that your baptism is a death to sin but you are alive to God in Jesus Christ (Rom. 6). If you are considering being baptized then repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins.
The invitation is also an invitation to prayer. Are any of you in trouble? Are any of you sick? Then pray and the Lord will lift you up (James 5).

#791 – “On Bended Knee” (vs. 1, 2)
[During this hymn you may meet with elders in Room 100 for prayer or come to the front and share your request for prayer or baptism]

#539 – “Higher Ground” (vs. 1, 2, 4)

Sending Out Prayer by an elder

There Is A War Going On (part 1)

Posted by David on February 3, 2007 under Sermons

In my opinion, Christians are constantly amazed at the escalating attack on Christian values and Christian views in this country. Many things that were appreciated and revered by those who did not even pretend to be Christians in the middle 20th century are under deliberate attack in the early 21st century. That which was regarded to be a part of this nation’s strength is now often considered a part of this nation’s weakness.

This process gives no evidence of coming to an end. By the year, the attacks are becoming bolder and more open.

As I begin, I want to be as clear as possible. I do not wish to make a political statement in this lesson. The concern expressed transcends politics. This is a statement that concerns the values that compose the moral fabric of a people.

I do not wish to suggest that all concerns that declare themselves Christian are in fact Christian. There are many issues that masquerade as a Christian concern that are fundamentally, in basic nature, economic or personal perspectives or group agendas.

Nor do I wish to suggest that all Christians act or express themselves wisely in the spirit of Jesus Christ. Too often those who so despise being victims of control wish to victimize others through their control. It is too rarely a concern for forgiveness and too often a desire for revenge.

If (1) our model is Jesus Christ and (2) he sought no revenge for horrible injustice, (3) how do we conclude we further his objectives through vengeance and forcible control?

The things I share with you today are a personal view. I do not ask you to adopt my view. I merely seek to stimulate you to think. My hope is that by your thinking you will reflect seriously on the basic nature of Christianity. What you consider to be an appropriate expression of Christianity will affect in a basic way what you consider to be Christian values.

All I ask you to do today is think rather than react.

1. There is a continuous war going on that is a very old war, that has gone on for centuries.
   
   1. Basically that war has been and is the conflict between the source of good and the source of evil.
      
      1. The Christian understands this to be a war between God and Satan.
         
      2. The war is over in regard to which will be the victorious "side" (that was determined in Jesus’ death and resurrection), but it is not over in the sense that it has ended.
         
      3. Could God end it? Yes!
         
         1. The question is not could God end the war.
            
         2. The issue is this: is God willing to endure the cost of ending the war now?
            
         3. Thus far the answer has been, "No!"
            
         4. God is fighting the war because He wishes to rescue and regain people.
   2. Consider:
      But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
      (2 Peter 3:8-10)
      
      1. Peter affirms these facts:
         
         1. The Lord is not concerned with time as He wages this war.
            
         2. Repentance of people is more important to the Lord than time.
            
         3. It is not the Lord’s desire for any to perish, therefore the patient Lord is providing people maximum opportunity.
            
         4. However, "the day of the Lord" will happen!
      2. Judgment (sentencing, not trial) will happen.
         
         1. However, the patient Lord will maximize opportunity for human repentance prior to ending the war.
            
         2. The Lord does not wish to destroy people!
            
         3. The Lord wants people to escape the consequences of evil by repenting.
            
         4. The primary reason for this war as far as humans are concerned is repentance.
            
         5. Had He wanted to, God could have "cut His losses" when the first human rebellion occurred in Genesis 3.
   3. The primary theme of the Bible is about divine recovery from human rebellion, not divine punishment of human rebellion.
      
      1. Surely those who willingly yield themselves to evil will endure the consequences of their choices.
         
      2. However, that is not what God wishes!
         
      3. He does not wish for human rebellion against Him to be subjected to punishment.
   4. Consider a statement Paul made about Jesus Christ and God in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.
      But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.
      
      1. For humans, there was a time when God the Father was "the all in all."
         
         1. For us that would have been the period following creation when all things were in subjection to God.
            
         2. God reigned over this creation, including people.
            
         3. For a period nothing opposed His rule.
      2. Jesus potentially rectified all that humans perverted and made rebellious when they through rebellion perverted creation in Genesis 3.
         
         1. Jesus was the first to be permanently resurrected in the conquest of death.
            
         2. Our hope of resurrection is vested in what God did in raising Jesus from the dead.
            
         3. All who find life in Jesus will be resurrected to life just as Jesus was.
      3. Jesus Christ reigns right now, and will continue to reign until he returns.
         
         1. The objective of his reign is to defeat all the forces that oppose God.
            
         2. Through the current reign of Jesus Christ everything that opposes God being (again) the "all in all" will be defeated.
            
         3. That which Jesus seeks to defeat includes rules (reigns), authority, power, and death.
            
            1. None of these rebellious forces advance the original objectives of God.
               
            2. They result from influences of evil and its deception, not from God’s intent.
               
            3. God’s desire was not for humans to be rebellious.
               
            4. The choice of our ancient ancestors made rebellion a part of human nature.
      4. When Jesus defeats the last of the forces that oppose God being the "all in all" [the last force being death itself], he will submit everything [including himself] to God so He will be restored to the position of the "all in all."
2. Please consider two things regarding this war that opposes surrender to God.
   
   1. First, I ask you to consider this graphic.
      1. When we were created, God was the "all in all."
         
      2. Rebellion, produced by evil’s deception, perverted creation, and it began with the beings God made in His own image and likeness.
         
      3. With rebellion against God came a desent into complete evil in humans–a total rebellion against God.
         
      4. In only the first 6 chapters of Genesis people go from God’s pronouncement of "very good" (Genesis 1:31) to His disgust of rejection (Genesis 6:5-7).
         
      5. Yet, God whose character includes patience and grace, refused to give up on humans even when He was sorry He made people (Genesis 6:8).
         
      6. God’s journey to (a) the recovery of His status of the "all in all" and (b) the salvation of people involved a lot of patience and a lot of time.
         
         1. First, He found a man who would trust Him enough to allow God to work through this man–that was Abraham.
            
         2. Second, He worked through Abraham to produce a nation of people who were supposed to be God’s people in this evil, rebellious world (consider Deuteronomy 7:6-11; 9:4,5).
            
         3. Through that nation God brought the Christ.
            
            1. The nation of Israel was merely God’s vehicle, not God’s destination (consider Isaiah 42:6; 56:6, 7 as an expression of God’s interest in all people).
               
            2. The Bible is not a record of all God’s acts, but a record of how God brought the Christ [His solution to human rebellion] through His work through Israel.
         4. Jesus was sent by God (Philippians 2:5-8) to serve as the world’s guide back to God (John 3:16-21; 8:19, 28, 29; 14:6, 10; 10:14-18; etc.,)
            
         5. With the judgment, God will again be acknowledged by everyone as the "all in all."
   2. Second, I ask you to focus on Paul’s admonition to the Ephesian Christians in Ephesians 6:10-13.
      Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
      
      1. We on our own are no match for Satan and the deceptions of evil.
         
         1. We must draw strength from God.
            
         2. We must wear God’s protection.
      2. Opposition to God then took and now takes many forms.
         
         1. Rulers
            
         2. Powers
            
         3. World forces of darkness
            
         4. Spiritual forces of wickedness
      3. We are not to be deceived into believing that spirituality in Christ only involves opposition physically to evil things in this world.
         
      4. There is much more involved in conquering evil than our salvation and our desires.
         
         1. It is terribly easy for us to make this struggle a very selfish consideration.
            
         2. It is terribly easy for us to focus this struggle only on us and our blessings.
            
         3. Our salvation does parallel the restoration of God to His rightful position.
            
            1. However, the primary consideration is the restoration of God’s rule as the "all in all."
               
            2. The wonderful blessings of our salvation are only in a support role in the marvelous restoration of God’s rule over everything.

The question is more than: "Do you see your need as one who has been deceived by evil?" That is important, but it is only the beginning. The essential question is this: "Have you spiritually matured enough to see the right and the glory of properly restoring God to position of the ‘all in all’?"

‘Why Would Anyone Want To Lead Me?’

Posted by David on February 1, 2007 under Bulletin Articles

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17)

I suspect every flock had some contrary individual sheep. This one tended to wander off and get lost. This one tended to fall into trouble regardless of how hard the shepherd sought to produce a safe environment. This one looked at the shepherd as an enemy, no matter how hard the shepherd tried to befriend it. This one never understood a dangerous situation. It constantly was in life-threatening situations.

Congregations are no different. This member consistently wanders off and gets lost. This member forever gets himself/herself into trouble. This member always sees any leader as an enemy. This member never sees danger.

A hard question: Does a man willing to be an elder, be a congregational shepherd, do so in spite of you, or because of you? Though never an elder, I spent a segment of my life in elders’ meetings. Once when asked to speak to a gathering of elders, I started by noting that I likely had attended more elders’ meetings than most of them had.

With that exposure, I have seen a bit of everything. A tragedy I witnessed [more than once] involved caring elders seeking to address trying members without all the facts. Congregational leaders are at a disadvantage when they know confidential things they cannot reveal. Nothing is ever as simple as it looks on the outside!

I once knew a group of men who were to be new elders. They were certain they could make needed changes in 6 months. When they became elders, they became aware of conditions they did not know. The only answer for their changes was to slaughter some sheep. Is it the role of the shepherd to destroy the flock? Thankfully, the chief Shepherd seeks to save, not destroy!

Selecting additional elders is a time for personal reflection as well as evaluating lives. It is too easy to expect others to do and be what we never intend to do or be! It is too easy to criticize and hard to be encouraging! It is too easy to discourage and hard to be a source of the joy!

We do not need to decide we, personally, will make leadership more difficult! Satan will take care of that! We need to be part of the joy! Only we can take care of that.

Searching For Shepherds

Posted by Chris on January 28, 2007 under Sermons

Read Acts 1:15-26. There was a need in the church. They were only 120 strong, but they were filled with new hope and expectation. However, when Eleven of Jesus’ apostles gathered together to teach and serve the others there was that empty seat reminding them of Judas’ betrayal. It was Peter who broke the tension and named what could have gone unspoken. Quoting Scripture he said, “May another take his place of leadership.”
And God allowed this group of prayerful and trusting leaders to make a choice with his involvement. Notice how they were blessed: Instead of an empty chair or a memory of betrayal, they discovered that there were two men among them capable of leading as apostles. There were two among them who could witness to the works and teaching of Jesus Christ. And they are blessed because through their prayers and their process of casting lots they become God’s instrument to call out leaders for the needs of the church.
Nothing more is specifically said of either one of these men. I don’t know why not, but maybe this should show us that even though Matthias is chosen, Justus is also affirmed. The way Luke describes that time in the church’s life I think it is safe to assume that both of them served as Christ-like leaders in the way the church needed them to do.

Read Acts 6:1-7 – There was a need in the growing church. The church had become more diverse and they were meeting the needs of more people. The Twelve were responsible for the distribution of food, but they were also especially responsible for the ministry of the Word and prayer. Instead of holding all that authority, they shared it. And once again the church, even this diverse church that was made up of different cultures, attitudes, and troubled with a little bit of conflict – even this church became the instrument that God used to call out leaders for the needs of the church. And the church was blessed again: The proposal to add seven new leaders to serve in the distribution of food pleased the whole group. Conflict gave way to agreement in the Holy Spirit. Notice the conclusion of the episode: “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” The word of God spread because leadership was shared.

Principles for Searching Out Shepherds:

• The church is the instrument that God uses to call leaders for the needs of the church. God does not have to use the church, but his spirit works through the community of faith in a graciously cooperative way to meet the needs of the people, not only by providing them leaders but by providing them the opportunity to call out and recognize those leaders. In this way all the church, not just those named leaders, become keenly aware of how God has gifted and equipped the church to participate in life together and in his mission.

• Leadership is from above and below
  1. Above – Leadership is a gift from God (Ephesians 4:8-11; 1 Timothy 4:14). God is involved in the calling out of leaders. The church is not so arrogant or dull to assume that this is nothing more than an administrative task. They believe that the activity of God and the Spirit of Christ is directing the choice.
  2. Below – The whole body has a sort of “oversight” when it comes to “scoping out” overseers. When the Twelve tell the church to “seek out” seven leaders, the word for “seek out/choose” is taken from the same root word that gives us the word for overseers/bishops. To “scope out” means to concern oneself with something. It means watching out for something. In this case, the church is watching out for those who can “lead for the need.” Leadership responds to the needs of God’s people for guidance and service. The choosing of leaders is not an effort to give some a place of prominence. It is an effort to provide leaders who can serve the needs of the church and steward the church’s mission. Acts 1 and Acts 6 describe the recognition of different types of leaders, and Titus 1 and 1 Timothy 3 also respond to the selection of different types of leaders. But one thing is common: all of these leaders are not merely filling a slot; they serve a function in the life of the Christian community. They serve the needs of the church so that the church may grow in Christ and go forward in the mission.
• Leadership in the church is functional, not official
  • Leadership arises from the community’s quite mundane but utterly necessary needs. The function of elders is to teach us how to live. They are models of the Christian life. They are in a way not totally unlike the Apostles, witnesses to the risen Christ.
  • Serving as an elder is not filling an office. It isn’t a seat on a board of directors. The elder has an important function in the life of the church. In Acts 1 and Acts 6, the need for an additional apostle and for seven to share in the work of service is so that the church may continue its Christ-directed mission. In 1 Timothy 3, Paul describes the work of overseeing and a noble work. It is work that is good for the church.
• Leadership in the body of Christ is shared
  • Church leaders are empowered by the Spirit. Notice that one of the criteria for choosing the seven in Acts 6 is to find men who full of the Holy Spirit. This phrase acknowledges that God’s Spirit is what leads and empowers the church to participate faithfully in the mission of God. Leaders who are not saturated with the Spirit will have their own agenda, or they may worry that the burden of leadership is all on their shoulders. But a leader filled with the Holy Spirit understands that Christ is the Chief Shepherd and the burden of leadership is shared with other leaders in harmony with the spirit of Christ.

How all of these principles shape our current process …

1. We are confident that the West-Ark congregation is capable of being the instrument that God uses to identify and recognize men of Christ-like character and filled with a godly spirit. As sheep, we recognize our shepherds.
2. So, the initial phase of this process (Jan 28 to Feb 4) involves every baptized member of this congregation. We want each of you to take a form and write on that form the names of the men whom you regard to be shepherds.
3. This is neither a popular vote nor a simple nomination for office. If there is a man that many of you regard as a shepherd, that does indicate something that our current elders will certainly consider. What we are actually asking you to do is to name those men whom you consider a shepherd and whom you would recommend to the rest of the congregation as shepherds. Don’t worry whether anyone else names the same men you do. Don’t think you shouldn’t name someone if someone else has already named them. Don’t think you shouldn’t name someone if no one else names them. We ask you to reflect your own convictions after prayer and study.
4. Since we are convinced that God’s spirit is working through this entire process, we ask you to give this serious consideration. You really need more to go on than just choosing someone because he will be “your man in office” or because you think he’s neat or you want to balance power because you know who your friend is nominating and you think you know how that will effect the church. Those are trivial and faithless approaches to searching out shepherds. We can do better than that. God’s in control and let’s open ourselves to his will.
5. After February 4th when all the forms are submitted, the current elders will shepherd the nominees. They will approach them and discuss their interest in serving as elders. (Of course that doesn’t prevent you from encouraging the men you want to name, you may do so.) Now, as the current elders work with these men who’ve been named they will be equipped by the “response” you have given them. Remember, the current elders are also God’s instrument in this process. They are working cooperatively with the flock.
6. So, your first task is to pray, study, and recommend those you recognize as good shepherds. Fill out the form, sign it, and get it into the drop box before Feb. 4. This is our opportunity to be a part of what God is doing to provide leadership for his people. This is how we ought to live our lives and our life together – as though God is always working through us. …

Chris Benjamin

West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Morning Sermon, 28 January 2007