Set Your Mind on Christ Challenge – Day 1

It’s an exciting start to the “Set Your Mind on Christ” Challenge, where we’re exposing ourselves to who Jesus is and what he’s done (via the gospel of Luke) so that we can set our minds on him and be changed through the process. Below you’ll find some of my observations on Luke 1-3 and how God is working on me through this. We’d love to have some good interaction over this, so be sure to leave your comments and questions.

UPDATE: Here are a couple of helpful online commentaries on Luke: J.C. Ryle, IVP New Testament Commentary

Observations

• Our understanding of who Jesus is comes from a detailed historical account, designed to help us know what we believe with certainty (1:1-4).
• God can do impossible things, like allow senior citizens and virgins to get pregnant (1:24-38).
• Jesus is a Savior (1:47, 2:11).
• Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham and the Old Testament prophets (1:55, 69-75).
• Though he was disciplined by the Lord for his unbelief, Zechariah was filled with joy at the “tender mercy” of God (1:78).
• Jesus was born in poverty and humiliating circumstances. He was born in humility (2:7, 24).
• Jesus was first revealed to insignificant shepherds. There is hope for us ordinary people (2:8-20).
• Jesus would be a light for revelation to the Gentiles — he is a Savior for the whole world (2:32).
• Jesus, fully human, grew in strength and wisdom (2:40, 52).
• Jesus submissively obeyed his parents (2:51).
• True repentance bears fruit — it leads to real life change (3:8).
• One of the marks of repentance is how we deal with our money and possessions. Do we become generous or stingy? (3:10-14)
• The Trinity is present in affirming Jesus’ ministry (3:22).
• Jesus spent 30 years in relative obscurity before he began his ministry. Again, lots of humility (3:23).
• As a descendant of Adam, Jesus is the Savior for the whole world — anyone affected by Adam’s sin [which is everyone] (3:38).

How would I be different if this truth were explosively alive in my innermost being?

• There are a lot of possible things to focus on here. The thing that struck me the most was the humility surrounding all of these people and circumstances. If Jesus, who is fully deserving of all fame and honor and glory and power, was born and raised in obscurity and humility, then how much more appropriate would it be for me–a lowly sinner–to be humble? Life is about God, who does the impossible. It’s not about me. Even John, who Jesus calls the greatest man who ever lived (Luke 7:28), said that he wasn’t worthy to do something as low as untying Jesus’ sandals. How much more should I delight in humbly serving Jesus?
• If this truth were explosively alive in me, I would not care about people’s opinions of me. I would not care who gets credit for good things. I would willingly accept responsibility for my failures, sins and shortcomings. I would be increasingly dependent on Jesus, expressed through prayer.  All of that would be very sweet.

What about you? How is God using this passage in your life? Questions or comments?

Take the Set Your Mind on Christ Challenge

The “Set Your Mind on Christ” Challenge is a 6-day exposure to the person and work of Jesus Christ, based on the challenge in Colossians 3:1 to “seek the things that are above, where Christ is.” Want to take the challenge?

1. Read the following passages over the next 6 days:

• Monday, 10/12 — Luke 1-3
• Tuesday, 10/13 — Luke 4-7
• Wednesday, 10/14 — Luke 8-11
• Thursday, 10/15 — Luke 12-16
• Friday, 10/16 — Luke 17-21
• Saturday, 10/17 — Luke 22-24

2. As you read, ask yourself these questions:

• What does this tell me about Jesus? Are there examples to follow or avoid, commands to obey, or promises to claim?
• How would I be different if this truth were explosively alive in my innermost being?

3. Come back to www.secondmilechurch.wordpress.com to read some devotional thoughts and comment on what you’re learning.

Help in the Chaos

These last few weeks have been trying on the Simmons family. It seems that for almost 4 weeks straight, at least somebody in our four person home has been sick. Not uncommon. It happens to everybody, doesn’t it?

But along the way, we’ve had some moments where we felt like we were hanging by a thread. We weren’t feeling well and the girls weren’t feeling well, as evidenced by their crying/screaming/whining/etc.

As we’ve dealt with this, I’ve been encouraged by these lyrics to the song “None But Jesus” (video below):

In the chaos, in confusion
I know You’re sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness,
You give me grace to do Your will

When we are weak, struggling, haggled, or confused, God remains on the throne and he is still giving grace. This means that we don’t have to respond sinfully to the challenges we face — we can hold fast to Jesus because he gives us the grace even when it’s tough. So no matter what you’re facing, there is grace to endure. That’s good news!

10 Lies Christians Believe

Yesterday at Second Mile, we studied the majority of Colossians 2, where the apostle Paul challenges his readers to cling to Christ. In Colossians 2:8, he warns: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” With that in mind, we took a look at 10 Lies Christians Believe. These are things that make common sense to lots of people, but just don’t square with Scripture.

1. “God wouldn’t want you to be unhappy.”
Many horrible decisions are made with this rationale. The truth is that God would rather us be obediently suffering than disobediently happy. One of the worst things I’ve heard that flows out of this thinking is, “Our kids will be better off if we just get divorced. It wouldn’t be good for them to be around all this fighting. We just want what’s best for them.” What’s best for us is to obey God, because he loves us and tells us what is best.

2. “Just follow your heart.”
The Bible says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9). This means that, even if we’re made new in Christ, our hearts are notoriously untrustworthy. Rather, we should say, “Just follow the Bible.”

3. “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere.”
It’s possible to be sincerely wrong. It doesn’t matter if I sincerely believe I can fly like Peter Pan — I can’t. Nobody was more sincere than the 9/11 terrorists and nobody sensible would congratulate them.

4. “If somebody hurts you, you deserve to get even.”
The gospel frees us to be forgiving to those who have really hurt us deeply. As unnatural as it feels, forgiveness is the right thing. I’m reading a great book on this right now by Ray Pritchard, The Healing Power of Forgiveness.

5. “You have to take care of yourself or nobody else will.”
This is a sensitive one because many people have been genuinely hurt in deep ways by those who were supposed to provide and protect them. But remember that God is the provider and protector. Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” God will take care of you. Trust him.

6. “It doesn’t hurt anybody, so it isn’t a problem.”
This is just flat out wrong. All sin hurts. Even things that don’t hurt other hurt ourselves, like injecting your heart with poison.

7. “Nothing is more important than your family.”
Family is important. God is more important. Many are willing to sacrifice their relationship with God in order to provide money or experiences for their families. Tragic.

8. “Education is the key to happiness and success.”
Education is also important. But it’s not the key to happiness. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” God is the key to happiness.

9. “You can’t help it—it’s just how you were raised (it’s just how you are).”
Though we should be true to our personalities, we must remember that we are often warped and sinful. We don’t get a pass on sinful behavior because it’s how we were raised or because it’s part of our personalities. We are responsible and God will hold us accountable.

10. “God must be punishing you for something you did (or didn’t do).”
Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This means that God doesn’t punish us if we are in Christ. If Jesus has wiped away our sins (Col. 2:13-14), then we are forgiven. He chooses not to remember our sins or hold them against us. We must believe the gospel and get free!

What else? What are some other lies that we tend to believe?

Keller Introduction to Counterfeit Gods

The introduction is now online for Tim Keller’s next book, Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters. It will be published in October 2009.

This introduction is absolutely worth reading. Like his most recent book, The Prodigal God, this one should be very helpful.

HT: Justin Taylor

Ray Ortlund on Loving Your Church

Ray Ortlund is a seasoned pastor and church planter, and is a fellow member of the Acts29 Network. He just wrote a great post on the value of loving your church. Here’s what he wrote:

“My passion isn’t to build up my church. My passion is for God’s Kingdom.”

Ever heard someone say that? I have. It sounds large-hearted, but it’s wrong. It can even be destructive.

Suppose I said, “My passion isn’t to build up my marriage. My passion is for Marriage. I want the institution of Marriage to be revered again. I’ll work for that. I’ll pray for that. I’ll sacrifice for that. But don’t expect me to hunker down in the humble daily realities of building a great marriage with my wife Jani. I’m aiming at something grander.”

If I said that, would you think, “Wow, Ray is so committed”? Or would you wonder if I had lost my mind?

If you care about the Kingdom, be the kind of person who can be counted on in your own church. Join your church, pray for your church, tithe to your church, participate in your church every Sunday with wholehearted passion.

We build great churches the same way we build great marriages — real commitment that makes a positive difference every day.

1 Corinthians 13 for Moms

The Bible tells us to be doers of the word, not just hearers (James 1:22). This means that we should be constantly thinking of how to apply God’s unchanging word to our ever-changing lives and situations. A great example of this is Kristie Braselton’s recent post applying 1 Corinthians 13 (the love chapter) to motherhood.

If I have obedient, well-behaved children and everyone tells us what good parents we are, but we have not love, it is emptiness and means nothing.

If I get everywhere on time and no children bother me while I’m checking my email, and if I have a clean house and serve great meals and get lots and lots done in a day, but I do not love my kids, then none of it matters, and I am nothing.

If I have a vast ministry that impacts many and I accomplish great things in my lifetime, but I did not love my children, then I missed my first importance and I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not wish its kids were like someone else’s when they are embarrassing or take credit for how wonderful they are when they are charming and sweet. It is not condescending and it is courteous, even to small children who won’t call you out on it. It does not hold the schedule or the to do list above the people they were meant to serve. It does not walk around like a grumpy martyr for all the things it has to give up for these people. It does not discipline in anger or feel a sense of retribution for itself, but rejoices when the truth is expounded to its children and God is honored and revered. Love holds up under the constant pestering, it gives its children the benefit of the doubt, it hopes great things for them and works to that end, and it withstands every offense. In every moment choose to love, and it will never let you down.

Kingdom-Centered Prayer

This past Sunday, the Schmersahls shared about their summer Community Group and some of what they learned about Kingdom-Centered Prayer. Below is an excerpt from the study guide that they used (just a $5.00 download), written by Tim Keller.

KINGDOM-CENTERED PRAYER

Biblically and historically, the one non-negotiable, universal ingredient in times of spiritual renewal is corporate, prevailing, intensive, kingdom-centered prayer. What is that?

It is focused on God’s presence and kingdom. In Outgrowing the Ingrown Church, Jack Miller talks about the difference between “maintenance prayer” and “frontline” prayer meetings. Maintenance prayer meetings are short, mechanical, and totally focused on physical needs inside the church. But frontline prayer has three basic traits:

1) A request for grace to confess sins and humble ourselves;
2) a compassion and zeal for the flourishing of the church; and
3) a yearning to know God, to see his face, to see his glory.

It is quite clear whether these traits are present when listening to a prayer meeting. Most interesting is to study biblical prayers for revival, such as in Acts 4, or Exodus 33, or Nehemiah 1, where these three elements are easy to see. Notice in Acts 4, for example, that the disciples, whose lives had been threatened, did not ask for protection for themselves and their families, but only boldness to keep preaching!

It is bold and specific. The history of revivals shows one or a few or many who take the lead in praying fervently for renewal. Their pattern is Moses (Exodus 33), who pitched a tabernacle outside Israel’s camp where he and others prayed for God’s presence and to see his glory. Such prayer need not (indeed, usually does not) begin as an organized church program. Rather it is a  private field of strong exertion and even agony for the leaders. The characteristics of this kind of prayer include:

a) Pacesetters in prayer who spend time in self-examination. Without a strong understanding of grace, this can be morbid and depressing. But in the context of the gospel, it is purifying and strengthening. They “take off their ornaments” (Ex. 33:1-6). They examine their hearts for idols and set them aside.

b) They then begin to make the big request — a sight of the glory of God. That includes asking:

1) for a personal experience of the glory and presence of God (“that I may know you” [Ex. 33:13]),
2) for the people’s experience of the glory of God (v.15), and
3) that the world might see the glory of God through his people (v.16). Moses asks that God’s presence would be obvious to all: “What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

This is a prayer that the world would be awed and amazed by a show of God’s power and radiance in the church; that it would truly become the new humanity that is a sign of the future kingdom.

It is prevailing and corporate. By this we mean simply that prayer should be constant, not sporadic and brief. Why? Are we to think that God wants to see us grovel? Why do we not simply put in our request in and wait? But sporadic, brief prayer shows a lack of dependence, a self-sufficiency; and thus we have not built an altar that God can honor with his fire. We must pray without ceasing, pray long, pray hard. We will find that the very process is bringing about that which we are asking for — to have our hard hearts melted, to tear down barriers, to have the glory of God break through.

A Quote on Doing Life Together

As we begin Community Groups this week, I can’t help but think of a great quote by  Randy Frazee from his book, The Connecting Church, about our longing for community.

“For most of the last decade of the twentieth century, two television shows, Seinfeld and Friends, consistently received the top awards from the People’s Choice Awards…What both shows have in common is a small group of friends that go in and out of each other’s lives and apartments spontaneously more times in a half hour than most ‘real’ Americans experience in a year. Seinfeld even promoted itself as a show ‘about nothing.’ Why would busy Americans watch a show about nothing? Because it wasn’t about nothing—it was about a group of great friends spending lots of spontaneous time together, talking about everyday stuff and loving every minute of it.”

I can’t promise that being involved in a Community Group guarantees this level of interaction, but it’s at least a step in the right direction.

Not in a group yet? It’s not too late. Click here to get signed up.

9/11 Memorial Prayer

I was honored to be asked to pray a memorial prayer at this morning’s Patriot Day celebration for the town of Queen Creek, at 9am at the Queen Creek Library. Here’s what I’ll be praying:

Father God, on this day when we remember our fellow Americans who died in the tragedy of September 11th, we thank you that your word tells us that you are the “God of all comfort” and that you are close to the brokenhearted. We pray that the families and friends of those who were killed would experience your comfort today as they remember their loved ones.

We thank you for the courageous service of the firemen and police officers who sacrificed their lives attempting to rescue others, and we thank you for providing our town with brave men and women who protect and serve us.

We thank you for the men and women of the armed forces who have valiantly served us in fighting to protect our safety and freedom. We pray that you would grant them protection and success as they continue to fight and that they would be able to return home victoriously very soon.

Jesus taught that we should “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us,” so we pray today for those around the world who hate America and our way of life. We pray that you would soften their hearts, as only you can, so that they would stop planning and doing destructive acts of violence.

Father, as we remember the courage of our firemen, police officers, military personnel, and even our fellow citizens from Flight 93 who willingly gave their lives to save and protect others, it reminds us of the sacrificial love of your Son, Jesus, who went to the cross and gave his life so that all who treasure him might have eternal freedom, joy, and peace. We look forward to the day when he will return to wipe away every tear from our eyes and put an end to suffering and death forever.

In His Name we pray, Amen.