The Small Circle

The Kingdom of God has Come Near

2010-09-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

This week I started reading a book called “The Good and Beautiful Life” by James Bryan Smith. Smith is a college professor and director of the spiritual formation institute at Friends University. He is also a former student of both Richard Foster and Dallas Willard, who, in my mind, are the rock stars of the world of spiritual formation. “The Good and Beautiful Life” is book-two in a three part series dubbed “The Apprentice Series” along with “The Good and Beautiful God” and “The Good and Beautiful Community.” Even though I am not finished with the book, I have been really impressed with Smith’s teaching on “the kingdom of God.”

Jesus talked about the kingdom of God over 100 times that are recorded in Scripture, and He always spoke of it as something that was present and real. A few examples:

From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom off heaven has come near.” (Matt. 4:17)

He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field.” (Matt. 13:24)

He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.” (Matt. 13:31)

And again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” (Luke 13:20-21)

After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)

What’s amazing is that even though Jesus spoke of the kingdom as being at hand, many modern scholars speak of it as something that has yet to come. According to Smith:

“No serious Biblical scholar would deny that Jesus’ proclaimed the kingdom of God. However, many scholars conclude that Jesus was not talking about our present world but rather an epoch in history that has not yet begun. … Because Jesus did not establish a complete reign over all people and governments, [multiple scholars] have concluded that the kingdom of God is “an unconsummated thing of the future.” (Smith, 41)

Smith, however, believes that, while the kingdom of God has not come in its complete fullness, it was the primary message of the teaching of Jesus…and it is very real.

The apostle Paul felt the same way, teaching:

For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)

The understanding here is that Jesus, as the son of God, was an earthly manifestation of the kingdom of God. When Jesus said, “the kingdom of God has come near,” he was ultimately talking about Himself. He tells His disciples, “If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you” (Matthew 12:28). In other words, if I am indeed the Son of God come to earth and I accomplish miracles based on the power of God, you can rest assured that you are witnessing a manifestation of God’s kingdom here and now.

It’s also important to note that Jesus didn’t take the kingdom with Him when He ascended into heaven. Instead, He sent it back in the form of the Holy Spirit who came to indwell the lives of believers and to establish the presence of the kingdom or power of God within you. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? (1 Cor. 3:16). Also notice Romans 14:7 above equating the kingdom with the presence of the Holy Spirit.

So the kingdom of God is here, now. It may not be here in its fullness, but the presence of God is available to you…the kingdom is available to you. In many ways, that’s what Jesus’ death and resurrection were all about. The veil was torn, and you have access to the almighty. You just have to enter it. You just have to say yes. A few verses to ponder this week and we consider what entering the kingdom looks like in our lives.

1. I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)

2. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. (Mark 10:15)

3. Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. (John 3:5)

More on this next time.

Nouwen on Scripture

2010-07-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

I’ve learned that the term “Spiritual Formation” means different things to different people. Some reference it as personal spiritual development; others teach it as something that must be practiced body-wide in order to be truly effective. Further still, some speak of discipleship and spiritual formation as being one in the same…others separate the two into distinct categories. In the end, no matter what classification or nomenclature one chooses, spiritual development/formation/maturing is an unavoidable and essential feature of the true Christian walk.

With all of that in mind, I’m jumping into the recently published book “Spiritual Formation” by Henri Nouwen. Nouwen was a well known pastor, author, college professor and pastoral psychologist who authored over forty books. I say “was” because Nouwen died in 1996. “Spiritual Formation,” however, is a new book that has been compiled from the author’s notes, lectures and articles detailing the subject. It reads not as a compilation, though, with a fluidity which one would determine to have come from a singular author writing within a span of time and not a team of editors sifting through papers and audio tapes.

At the risk of generalizing, there seems to be two camps at work within the sphere of spiritual formation practice. Camp 1 sees s.f. as a process or program through which one must work. This process is built around a framework of practical steps that gives clear guidance for forward motion. Also, the framework is usually centered on Biblical knowledge. Camp 2 sees s.f. as a more mystical endeavor, a practice which finds its core in silence, solitude, meditation and other relevant disciplines. This camp does not throw the Bible out the window, but they do approach it in a different light. Nouwen falls into camp 2.

From “Spiritual Formation:”

“The Bible is primarily a book not of information but of formation, not merely a book to be analyzed, scrutinized, and discussed but a sacred book to nurture us, to unify our hearts and minds, and to serve as a constant source of contemplation. It is important to guard against the temptation to read the Bible programmatically as a book full of good stories and telling illustrations that can help us with instant advice, sermons, lectures, papers, and articles. As long as we deal with the Word of God as an instrument with which we can do many useful things, we don’t really read the Bible. The Bible does not speak to us as long as we want only to use it. But when we are willing to hear from the Word as a word for us, sacred scripture can disclose itself, and its message can penetrate in the center of our hearts” (Nouwen, Henri. Spiritual Formation. Pgs. xxiii-xxiv)

While I certainly see Scripture as the sword in the armor of God and as the Word which we are called to hide in our hearts, is it possible that many approach it incorrectly? Is it possible that the Bible isn’t meant to be read as a text book or a collection of memory verses, but instead approached as a living sacred organism?

This is where the discipline of meditation comes in. Meditation, and its accomplices silence and solitude, allows one the opportunity to not just read the Word of God, but to allow it to be an agent of change and shaping. Reading the Bible through in a year is a wonderful accomplishment, yet it is entirely possible for one to read the entire Word and at the same time not allow oneself to be changed. In our world of busyness, noise and clutter, the idea of retiring to a quiet place to think and meditate may seem absurd, but it may very well be a missing piece in your pursuit of Christ.

I’m challenging myself in the coming weeks/months to approach Scripture not as a source of quick spiritual sound bites, but as the living and inspired Word of God that it is. I challenge you to do the same. Seek out moments of silence and seclusion to reflect on what the Word says…and, more importantly, what it means. Listen also for the prompting of the Holy Spirit as you digest that meaning over time.

Finding Fulfillment in LOST?

2010-05-25T09:59:00.000-07:00

I considered blogging about the LOST finale today just like everyone else. Ultimately, I like our video director Trey’s suggestion that LOST creators should hold a press conference in which they simply answer bulleted questions.

1. What is the island?
2. What is the light?
3. Were they really in purgatory?
4. Where’d the polar bear come from?
5. What’s up with Claire’s hair?

I also considered the fact you probably don’t really care what I think about the finale…or that you don’t even watch LOST. Instead, I thought I would just build off of a tweet posted by @andrewosenga, one of my favorite singer/songwriters. He said:

“If Lost had a better ending, I could keep subconsciously hoping that things like TV might fulfill my incredible need for meaning & purpose.”

Hopefully the sarcasm there is slapping you in the face, but ultimately, Andy is right. We are all on this unconscious search for meaning and purpose, and when we don’t find it in our jobs or our relationships, we immediately turn to TV, internet, movies, books and hobbies to find it. We search fervently for the deeper meaning in literature and art as if there is some mystical nature to it. I’m as guilty of doing that as anyone. The snare is that much of art IS aesthetically fulfilling. For example, I love music, and I can easily be emotionally moved by great music. It elicits a response within me…something that I haven’t orchestrated or planned. It creates feelings of joy or sadness or wonder…..as any good art should. Aesthetic fulfillment, however, is temporal and temporary.

A few years ago I was the pastor of a small church in North Louisiana. This was my first full-time church job. I had felt called into ministry since my mid-teens, but I was still pretty green when it came to the day to day of actually being a pastor. While I felt a confidence and a gifting for standing up and talking…I was scared to death of the pastoral-care side of my job description. At that point, I had never been around much death, grief or loss. Now, all of a sudden, I was the guy people called when something happened. I was the one who was supposed to show up and bring comforting words. I was the one who was supposed to know what to do.

Only a few weeks into my job, I was called to the home of one of the ladies in our church. Her husband, an agnostic, never came to church with her. He was a former military guy, rough and brusque with a serious lack of conversational skills. In addition, he was easily forty years older than me. I was called to the house because he was dying of liver cancer. He had become yellowed and bed-ridden and doctors had only given him a short time to live. I was scared to death. What did I have to offer to this guy? He had far more life experience than I, and had undoubtedly seen things that I never had. What could I say that would comfort or bring about a change of heart?

I remember sitting in my car praying hard that God would use me despite my lack of experience and ability…and then I entered the house. Honestly, the rest of the evening was a bit of blur. I don’t really remember what I said or did, but I know that this formally resistant man, when faced with his own mortality, came to know Christ as his savior. Later we called several of our church members along with close friends and family into his bedroom and we baptized him.

When I got back in my car, I felt something that I had never felt in that way before…..fulfillment. The realization was that I hadn’t done anything, except made myself available to God to be used by Him, and it was the most fulfilling thing I had ever done. It’s this moment of knowing…this is it. This is how God would have me be used by Him.

Now, I confess that I don’t always do a great job of submitting myself to God, but I do know that true fulfillment lies within surrender. If you’ve been searching high and low for something in your life that will complete you …why not give God the opportunity to direct you. It may seem scary or outside your comfort zone, but God will never give you more than you can handle nor anything that He hasn’t equipped you for. When you’re in the moment doing exactly what God has called you to do…there really is nothing that equals it. Certainly not the final episode of a TV show.

The Value of Community

2010-05-11T08:14:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we debuted this new promo video for LifeGroups. The people in the video run the gamut from being Community Leaders to LifeGroup Leaders to just simply LifeGroup members. It was fascinating to talk to them all about what their group means to them and the impact that they see their group having on them personally and the community at large.

One of things that I mention in the video is the fact that we see small groups as a place where we can come together and become more like Jesus. In truth, I see that being a large part of the goal in all areas of church. The small group, however, is one of the most opportune places for individuals to come together and be real with each other, and when that happens, God begins to move in incredible ways.

Maybe you aren’t familiar with small groups. Maybe you come from more of a Sunday School background. Maybe you’ve never spent much time around church and don’t really see the value in meeting with a group of people. The Bible is pretty clear, however. We were created to be in community with each other. We were created with a need to be supported, encouraged, challenged and held accountable by the body of Christ…and it truly is an amazing thing to see our LifeGroups become that to individuals. It’s what Christian community is all about.

In the book “Creating Community,” Andy Stanley and Bill Willits talk about the fact that Americans are more private than ever. In fact, the authors note that many of today’s architects intentionally design homes to promote privacy and seclusion. We value the ability to be alone…which I find bizarre. But, maybe it isn’t so strange. Maybe we think that being alone is easier that maintaining relationships. Maybe we think that it is better than sharing our junk with other people. I don’t think I would totally disagree. It is easier…but, it’s not necessarily better. LifeGroups provide us with an opportunity to meet people who are in the same boat as us…and to grow together with them. Maybe you think there is no one out there feeling what you’re feeling…but, you would be wrong.

So, what are you waiting for? Maybe you don’t go to my church, but I have no doubt that your church has some form of community that you can engage with. Relationships aren’t always pretty…but, they are always worth it! Plus, as you become more like Jesus, you begin to see outside of yourself. No longer is it just about you and your issues. It’s about what you can do to help those you encounter. It’s about who you can influence for the sake of Jesus. Just think…there may be someone out there whose eternity is dependant on you seeking to be in community with them. Don’t miss that opportunity!

Read Any Good Books Lately

2010-05-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

I love to read, and I consider myself to be a fairly fast reader. That is what an undergraduate degree in British literature will do for you. I try to keep up to speed on what is new and worth reading in the Christian book world, but recently I have been bored by a lot of what I’ve found. Apparently our church culture is changing in such a way that every pastor of a church over 2000 people feels as if he has a book in him. This has led to an influx of mediocre and un-revolutionary books on the shelves today. Most of these works have intriguing titles (and equally engaging subtitles) but lack the kind of content that would make one want to read it over and over again. Ultimately, that’s what I’m looking for…something that I can’t even completely digest in the first go round, the kind of book that continues to yield dividends with every reading.

A few works that have fallen into this category for me over the years have included:

“Trilogy” by Francis Shaeffer

“Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster

“Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis

“Contemplative Prayer” by Thomas Merton

“Let The Nations be Glad” by John Piper

Now…I realize that every author is not C.S. Lewis, but there has been some really good stuff to come out in the past year or two that I think is well worth your time and money. Here are a few that come to mind.

1. Anything by Timothy Keller: Pastor Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City is probably the one contemporary author that I am most excited about. In the past few years he has released three books that are equally powerful and potentially life-changing. His first book “The Reason for God” is one of the best works on Christian apologetics I’ve ever read. This is the kind of read that strengthens your faith and gives you a profound confidence to share that faith with others. Also check out “The Prodigal God” and “Counterfeit Gods” which are equally great. One of the things I love about Keller’s writing is the fact that he writes exegetically. In other words, it’s almost as if you are reading one of the best sermons you’ve ever heard.

2. Francis Chan: Chan has gotten a lot of attention as an author, pastor and conference speaker and his book “Crazy Love” has been crazy-popular. While “Crazy Love” is a good book, the one I’d really recommend is called “Forgotten God.” In “Forgotten God,” Chan explores how we’ve neglected the Holy Spirit in our personal lives and in our churches. This book just made me really happy because his words articulated something I had been feeling for a long time but had had a hard time defining.

3. Richard Stearns: Stearns is President of World Vision, a non-profit relief organization. His book “The Hole in Our Gospel” is an eye-opening look at how we neglect the fullness of the gospel of Jesus and in doing so miss the mission that we have been called to. I have not met a person who has read this book and not been greatly challenged. In many ways this book has changed the way we do ministry at Rush Creek.

Yesterday I started a book that I have been looking forward to for some time. “Radical” by David Platt is a look at how we define success in ministry in comparison to how Jesus would have defined success. Platt is Pastor at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, AL. While I haven’t finished “Radical” yet, already I have been challenged by the content. This is the kind of book that scares you…in a good way. It’s scary because recognizing the fullness of the gospel and how far we fall from it can only instigate change in our lives and churches. I pray this is what happens.

With all this said, let us never search for a book to replace Scripture. I know that I have been guilty of that at times. Maybe the Bible isn’t written in a way that engages you on an aesthetic level, but the wealth of its contents goes far beyond anything written by Lewis, Piper or Tozer. If you truly want to grow in Christ and be challenged to live out His call on a daily basis…there is no better source than His actual words. When was the last time you read through the gospels and actually saw for yourself what Jesus had to say? Maybe stop there before you pick up anything mentioned above.

Lose Your Life

2010-04-27T09:13:00.001-07:00

I believe that our current sermon series “Maze” has been one of the most relevant series we’ve put out in a while. Both Russ and Marty have done a fantastic job navigating the issues that get us off track and cause us to loose our way in our daily walk. Denial, Doubt, Discontent, Direction…all issues that most of us have faced or are facing right now. As I shared with our LifeGroup this past Sunday evening, the one that really hits home for me is the issue of Discontent.

Discontent is this overarching feeling of dissatisfaction with where you are in life….where you live…what you drive…how many kids you have…what your spouse does or doesn’t do…how much money you have in the bank……….I think you get the picture.

I have no doubt that discontent is a silent epidemic in today’s society. Who we are and what we have (or don’t have) defines us in most circles. It is for this reason that most of us, whether we realize it or not, are constantly seeking out ways to elevate ourselves to the point where we think we will find contentment. That’s the irony of the situation. If your contentment is found in a job, status or possessions…you will NEVER be content…because there will ALWAYS be something bigger and better.

What we don’t realize is that this response within us is really a sort of self preservation reflex. We think that if we are accepted by the right people or have the ability to buy whatever we want…that ultimately we are enriching our existence…we are achieving real life.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:39, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” What do you make of that? If we are seeking to be Christ followers, which side of that sentence are we supposed to be on? Are we supposed to be finding our life…or losing our life? I think the answer to that question actually comes in the sentence before in verse 38 when Jesus says, “And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” The taking up of one’s cross was reflective of a march towards death. Criminals, and later Jesus, would carry their own death instrument to the site of their ultimate demise. It’s quite poetic.

So, by truly following Jesus…we are taking up the instrument of our own demise…but, in doing so we find life?? What does that mean?

While the answer to that question could probably fill a few volumes of theology books…I think that very simply it means that the true decision to follow Jesus brings with it a complete abandonment of pride, selfishness and self preservation. It comes with a willingness to do anything or go anywhere no matter what potential embarrassment or danger might be lurking around the corner. It is complete abandonment to the will of God…forsaking your own. It may sound stupid…but, it’s actually faith. Faith is willingness to follow Jesus to the ends of the earth (both literally and metaphorically) because you know with complete trust that He is good and that His intentions are supreme. This is the kind of faith that Abraham had…and Scripture tells us that it was this kind of faith that was attributed to him as righteousness (Romans 4:3).

Now, that may not sound like the gospel you’ve heard…but, it is definitely the gospel described in the Bible. It’s radical and dangerous…but, it is what brings us true life. Is this the kind of faith you’re living…or does this sound foreign?

When you consider this Abrahamic faith in comparison to the consumer-focused lives that most of us live daily…the things we find ourselves pursuing seem really petty. In my quiet time this morning, I came across James 4:1-4 which says:

“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people!” (ESV)

This is descriptive of the tension that arises when we claim to be followers of Jesus, but yet we have not surrendered to his will. It’s like adultery. We want the best of all worlds. We want to claim Jesus…but, yet still live for our own pleasure. It doesn’t work. It creates conflict. It breeds discontent.

So, how are you seeking to live this out daily? I have no doubt that I fail miserably in completely availing myself to God’s will, yet I do desire to abandon myself to Him. I’m certain that this is the source of the “freedom” in Christ that the Bible talks about. Remember, though, its not about what you can do…it’s about what He has done. This week, seek to put your life into context. Examine your wants and desires and then compare them to what you believe to be God’s will for your life. Seek to live in such a way that you are open to Him. Align with God through study of His word and communicating through prayer. Seek to cast off all of the selfish pride that is dragging you down and leading you into discontent.

What's Your Mission?

2010-04-06T08:34:00.000-07:00

Easter Sunday was a HUGE day at The Church on Rush Creek. Nearly 4k people were in attendance between the two campuses…which means that a ridiculous number of people got to hear the gospel. If truth be told, to tell the story of the empty tomb without sharing the good news of the salvation it brings is to miss the whole point. Jesus didn’t die so that he could perform some David Blaine-esq magic resurrection trick that would leave people talking for 2000 years. He died so that we might have life in spite of our sin. To put it mildly, this is cause for tremendous eternal celebration.

That’s why it is frustrating to me that for many followers of Jesus…it’s a once a year celebration. It’s an Easter thing. Yet, Jesus is just as risen today, the Tuesday following Easter, as He was two days ago. He hasn’t changed in these two days…salvation hasn’t changed. His call to you to tell His story with your life and your words has not changed either. So, why the loss of enthusiasm? Why the feeling of being glad Easter is over so that things can get back to “normal?” What if the spirit of celebration over the empty tomb was the new normal for you? What if you lived a life that strived for the wonder and awe of Easter everyday?

I hear a lot of Christians talk about being on mission for Jesus, yet, I’m not sure everyone knows what their mission is. If you are in the military, the mission is never vague. It’s well planned…well understood…well executed. Also, every individual is critical to the fulfillment of the mission. That includes you. Do you wake up with a sense of purpose and urgency that you have something to accomplish in this life for the glory of God? Do you know that your mission is?

To be honest, I doubt your mission is all that different from mine or the other people in your small group or any other Christians for that matter. The mission may be accomplished in different ways, at different times or in different places, but it is still the same charge…letting the world know that there is a Savior who died that we might live. So, who are you telling about Jesus, and what are you saying about Him? Remember the adage “actions speak louder than words?”…that totally applies here. Trying to answer the question, “What does my life say about Jesus?” has been revolutionary for me. It’s changed the way I try to present myself to others; it’s changed the amount of thought I put into my words and motives. It’s made me think…how well do I really represent the King I claim to represent?

Out of the 4k people at Rush Creek this past Sunday, many were lost…or extremely far from God. While they can use a great worship service, some inspiring music, a good book or Bible-based preaching…what these people really need is the Church…YOU. They need individuals who can pull up alongside them and actually show them what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus. Someone who will labor in prayer for them and go out of their way to show them love and grace. They need the people whom Jesus has appointed to tell His story in His absence. They need you.

Who are you on mission for? The guy in the cubicle next to you? The lady in your spin class? A family member? Yes, invite them to church, but don’t JUST invite them to church. Be the church. Be the hands and feet of Jesus to them. Set some goals as well. For example, “My goal this week is to have at least one spiritual conversation with Rick in accounting where the name of Jesus comes up.” Now, go make that happen. What are you goals? Who are you on mission for? Remember, even after Jesus came out of the grave, He still had one more thing to say to His followers:

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)

Experiencing Easter

2010-03-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday at both Green Oaks and Mira Lagos campuses we handed out a card I wrote surrounding the remembrance and celebration that is Holy Week. The challenge was for families and individuals to come together and walk through the final week of Jesus' life before His crucifixion and resurrection. For many, this is a story they have heard...but not read for themselves. As I told the crowd at Mira Lagos on Sunday, in order to become more like Jesus, we have to participate in the life of Jesus. That is what this week is all about. Join us as well.

Should Christians Celebrate Passover?

2010-03-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

As followers of Christ near the season of Easter, Jews around the world are preparing for the celebration of Passover. Historically, Passover is the remembrance of the final plague of Egypt (Exodus 11-12). According to Scripture, God tells Moses that this plague, the death of the firstborn, would break the hardened heart of the Egyptian Pharaoh and that, as a result, he would release the Israelite slaves.

For the nation of Israel, this plague could be avoided through the sacrifice of an unblemished lamb. God dispensed clear instructions directing the people to swab the lambs’ blood over the entryways of their homes. Later, when the Spirit of God would pass through the land to claim the lives of the first born, He would recognize the sign of the blood and would “Passover” those homes…sparing their lives.

It’s no coincidence that over one-thousand years later Jesus, a Jew, gathers together with his disciples in the evening before He is arrested to eat not just any meal…but the Passover meal. This “Last Supper” would have included the traditional elements…unleavened bread, bitter herbs, wine. Famously, Jesus broke the bread, calling it His body, and shared it with His followers. Likewise the wine, which symbolized His blood, was passed around in a common cup. Jesus said, “…do this, as often as drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:25) In other words, Passover will never again simply be a celebration of what God did for some estimated four million slaves, but what Jesus has done for the whole of humanity.

With that in mind, it is surprising how few Christians even associate communion with the traditional Passover. For many the connection is unclear, and there are two primary reasons for this:

1. Communion can easily become empty ritual.

For years the debate has raged in Protestant circles about how often The Lord’s Supper should be taken. Every week, every month, every quarter?? I actually lean towards the idea that “as often as” the Jewish disciples would have been celebrating the meal would have been yearly…since it was, after all, the Passover meal. Just imagine what this supper must have been like for the Apostles on the one-year anniversary of Jesus’ arrest. That said, there is no such thing as remembering His sacrifice too often. The meal loses all significance, however, when we receive it unprepared. It becomes empty when there is neither personal reflection on the cross nor an internal examination of the soul.

2. The story of Jesus is often not told in light of the larger story of God.

It has been said that the Bible is really the story of Jesus. In other words, the narrative of Scripture is all about God’s redemption and longsuffering grace through the Messiah. I couldn’t agree more. Think about how the Gospels are written…containing not just the Christ story but also the prophetical evidence. Even though Jesus didn’t show up in human form until the New Testament, the Old Testament contains over three hundred prophecies about Him. The point is that what happened in Egypt thirteen hundred years prior to Jesus, isn’t just a part of the story of the Bible…it is a part of the gospel. Just as the Spirit of God passed over and spared the lives of those who had sacrificed a lamb, so today the blood of Jesus, the true unblemished lamb, covers the hearts of those who choose Him. It is through the sacrifice of the Lamb that all are offered salvation.

In the language of literature, the historic Passover is a harbinger, a sign of things to come. The death and resurrection of Jesus doesn’t void the celebration, instead it contextualizes it. Jesus contextualized everything…sin, the law, righteousness. In reference to the traditional Mosaic Law, Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17) In other words, His life brought context to the law. In the same way, Jesus’ death brought about a full understanding of the meaning and significance of Passover. It was about Him all along.

Followers of Christ do well to do Passover “in remembrance of Him”. You may not be Jewish, but that’s not the point. Jesus died for Jew and Gentile alike. This Easter, pray about making the Passover meal, this Lord’s Supper, a part of your family’s experience. Prepare your hearts and enter into this season ready to look introspectively at your heart and to celebrate the gift of a risen Savior.

Integrity

2009-10-06T14:41:00.001-07:00

Several years ago, when I was pastoring a church in North Louisiana, a worship pastor I knew at another local church was caught with a laptop full of pornography. Apparently the computer, which was church issued, had developed some kind of a technical glitch, and when the worship pastor had turned it over to the church’s I.T. guy for repair, all of this junk had been discovered. Even more disturbing was that the time signatures on some of this material indicated that the guy was looking at it in his office…during the worship service! In other words, he would go out on stage…lead a few hundred people in worship…then go to his office and look at smut while the senior pastor preached. He would then repeat the same process during the second worship service. To say the least, I was shocked! This was a guy who had a wonderful wife and several young children and all the promise in the world. On the outside…things looked perfect.

The leadership of this church responded by offering some grace. They did not embarrass the worship pastor in front of the whole church nor did they inform his family. Instead, he discreetly entered professional counseling and monitoring software was installed on his computer to be checked weekly by the senior pastor. Within a month, however, he had found a way around the monitoring software and was once again looking at porn…at work. This time there was little grace.

It seems to me that integrity is all about who you claim to be…in reference to whom you really are. The word itself derives from the Latin adjective “integer” meaning whole or complete. It’s about the full package and whether the public persona and the private life match up. It’s the perceived vs. the actual. In the case above, the man claimed to be a loving husband/father, dedicated follower of Christ, gifted worship leader…but, in reality, he also had a debilitating addiction that no one else was aware of. His integrity was seriously compromised and, eventually, everything came crashing down.

You should know that it is the enemy’s desire that your integrity be shattered. It is his wish that you create an intricate façade of a life for the purpose of hiding who you really are. Realize, however, that you can hide things from your wife…your friends…your coworkers, but NOTHING is hidden from God. The Apostle Paul writes:

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. Galatians 6:7-9

Who are you for real? Are you what you claim to be or is there a life within a life of which no one except you is aware? Chances are, there are elements of your life that no one else knows about. Chances are, your integrity has some cracks.

One thing that you need to know is that being a follower of Jesus is all about drawing closer to Him. The problem ultimately isn’t the cracks…it’s living as if the cracks don’t exist. Jesus desires to heal our broken places. He desires to move you to a point where your exterior mirrors the interior. Don’t live a life of faux-righteousness where everything looks great on the outside…while your whole world is crumbling on the inside. Let go of your pride and allow Jesus to do a work within you. Only He can truly repair what has been broken.

Here are three elements that will undoubtedly aid you as you seek to live a life of integrity.

1. Daily time with God.
I think it can seem as if this is the generic fix-all for anything that ails you spiritually, but the importance and effect of a dedicated daily time engaging our God can never be underestimated or discounted. It does, however, take discipline and the results of a daily time can be quite convicting and unnerving…something many of us would like to avoid. The truth is, however, that Jesus said that truly following Him would never be easy. Jesus is never going to adjust to your schedule so that you can pencil Him in. You need to MAKE time to pray, study His Word and explore how you can apply that Word to your life. I’d encourage you to Google “Bible Reading Plan” and go from there.

2. Accountability Partner
If you struggle with a hidden sin that would potentially be life-shattering or destructive to your family, you desperately need an individual who can walk along side you in confidence to call you on the carpet and push you towards lifechange. Here at Rush Creek, we literally have dozens of people who can help hold you accountable in being a man of integrity. If you would be interested in talking with someone, feel free to email me at westonb@rushcreek.org.

3. Starve the Habit
The Bible talks about how we often make provision for sin. In other words, we make up our minds that we are going to sin and then we prepare to do it. The idea is simple. If you struggle with alcohol…don’t buy alcohol. If you struggle with what you are looking at online…don’t get on the computer…or get rid of your computer all together. Scripture counsels that if your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. Now, I realize that this is all easier said than done, but the principle is unavoidable. You must physically put distance between you and the particular sin that afflicts you. Your accountability partner can also keep you honest in this area.

Also note that you don’t have to live a life of perfection to live a life of integrity. In Matthew 5, Jesus says:

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:33-37

In other words, recognize that you are in need of a Savior. You don’t have the power to defeat sin on your own. Jesus says, don’t vow to do anything…because ultimately you are powerless to do what you’ve vowed…and you’re just going to embarrass yourself. Instead, rely on the power of God and blessings that He has placed in your life (your family, church, mentors) to move you to be more like Him and to live a life of integrity under His authority.

Do You Tithe?

2009-09-28T20:31:00.001-07:00

Do you tithe?

Seriously...

Do you?

Do you tithe honestly? Regularly? Joyfully?

There was a time in my life when I didn't. I had alot of great reason/excuses for not doing it. A portion of my list ....

1. Not enough money to both tithe and pay all the bills
2. Not enough money to both tithe and not eat ramen for two weeks
3. Forgot
4. My pink envelopes didn't come in
5. Forgot again
6. Had to buy Christmas presents (I mean...it's Jesus' birthday after all)
7. My alternator went out
8. Left my checkbook at home
9. Ran out of checks
10. God doesn't need my money

As I was writing the TransformMe session on Generosity, it was difficult to not focus solely on tithing. In truth, Generosity should permeate all quadrants of our lives, yet I can't help but feel that if we can not even give 10% honestly and regularly to the family of believers to which we belong...how can it be possible for us to be generous in other areas of our life?

In my LifeGroup the other night, we had a great discussion about this topic. Some people admitted that this is an area where they struggle. With so many demands on our time and our finances, it can become very easy to simply not give anything. Yet, God has called us to return a portion of His blessing.

What we are actually talking about here is not a matter of money or time. It is not a matter of have or have not. It is a matter of trust.

Do you trust God to take care of you?

Here's a thought...if the 10% that you would regularly give in a tithe to your church always winds up being spent beforehand...

Are you living above your means?

As a college student, I came to the conclusion that by not tithing, I was in essence calling God a liar. In other words..."God, I do not believe that you will take care of me." Stupid. The fact that I was having an internal battle about whether to give my money to the church or spend it on myself was PROOF that God was already taking care of me. I imagine that that same proof is evident in your life.

I don’t know about you, but I imagine that God is tired of our excuses. How bout this week…this month, you decide to worship God by giving Him back a portion of what he has given to you. If you are married with kids…maybe talk about it and do it as a family.

Don’t just make it a part of your routine. Make it a part of who you are.

Also, don’t give out of what is left over. God doesn’t want your scraps. Make your tithe the very first thing that you give. The very first check you write.

I promise that when you make the decision to surrender your finances to Him, you will encounter a more prevalent sense of dependence and intimacy than you ever have before. Allow His love for you and His provision for your life to create an overflow of love and generosity from you heart. Be a person of faith who follows through with faithfulness.

Surrender

2009-08-11T14:32:00.000-07:00

Whew! Finally taking a breath. To say the least, the past month or so has been BUSY...probably more so than any other time during my (almost) year here at Rush Creek. During the last month we have developed, written and filmed our brand new groups curriculum called "Transform Me"; recruited and trained a team of 10 awesome Community Leaders who will partner with our group leaders; designed and installed a new LifeGroups display in The Commons, preached on LifeGroups and introduced one of them to you on a Sunday morning, recruited several new leaders who will be launching groups this Fall, and had well over 120 new people become a part of our LifeGroups ministry. Based on the number of times that I used the word "groups" in the last sentence...you can tell that they have been primary on my mind and heart and will continue to be so as we move into the Fall.

As great as all of this is, a few unfortunate developments can occur when we become busy with "Kingdom work".

1. We become so engrossed in the minute details of the events, programs, campaigns and functions that we are organizing and developing that we forget about the individual souls that we are ultimately trying to reach or influence.
2. We busy ourselves to the point of losing an intimate connection with our Savior. Normally, prayer, study of the Word of God and meditation are the elements that suffer (at least for me).
3. We begin to rate success based on quantity and not quality...how many people showed up...how many leaders stepped up...how much money came in...how many compliments we got.

I have to continually remind myself of what my purpose is. My purpose is NOT to bring glory to myself or The Church on Rush Creek. My purpose is to glorify God. Is it possible to do the work of the Lord in such a way that it doesn't glorify Him?

I think so...

As I read the teachings of Jesus, I am continually grabbed by the fact that God is not our divine Division Manager. In other words, what happens when you stop thinking of God as your boss...and start honoring Him as your Father? For me, my intentions become completely different. My desire becomes making my Father proud.

Are you making your Father proud?

I think that the answer to that question is not so much a matter of what you have done, but what you are willing to do. It's an issue of surrender. How far are you willing to go for God? How much are you willing to sacrifice? How much of your ego and pride are you willing to voluntarily set aside?

I'm convinced that no action in my life will ever honor God as much as giving Him my life and saying...use me. That said, I'm certain that I haven't done this to the extent that I can. I've trusted in Him for my salvation...but, do I really trust Him to provide for me?

When we take this step of trust the outcome is astounding. We have peace. Not more worry...not crippling fear.....peace. If God is good. If God loves me. If God is...God, then what do I (or you) have to worry about.

CAUTION: If you feel as if you have surrendered to God...yet you are angry when He doesn't answer your prayers in the way you think that He ought to...you may still have some work to do. Realize that God is neither for you nor against you. God is for God. God is for His purpose...not yours. He is asking us...are YOU for Me?

Imitation

2009-05-18T07:53:00.000-07:00

During my time with the Lord this morning, I was thinking about the message series that we have been going through for the past several weeks. “Losing My Religion” has had many people asking the question…“What’s the point?”…and I’m really no different. You see, so much of our faith experience is wrapped up in a church experience, and I am certain that many believers have very little faith experience outside of the church. In other words, for many, coming to church IS the faith experience. There is little time, if any, spent with God in the Word or prayer outside of Sunday. There is no intimacy in worship, and ultimately, the relationship with Jesus is distant. I believe it is exactly this kind of lifestyle that breeds religiosity, and causes many to fall in love with the church and not our Savior. After all, why would you deeply love someone that you don’t really know?

Reading in Ephesians 5 this morning, these words jumped out at me…

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

Here’s a question for you; what are you doing right? So often in life and in the church, we have a tendency to focus only on our failings. We think that repentance is beating ourselves up. We can’t figure out why we can’t beat addictions or why we keep going back to the same old sin. We don’t understand why God won’t help us.

I firmly believe that we are trying way too hard to be good…and not striving nearly hard enough to be God.

Again, what are you doing right? What about your life do you think God would consider to be a “fragrant aroma?” How are you seeking…this day…this hour…this minute…to be more like Him?

Our next message series is called “Flicker” and it is all about joy…true joy. In my life, true joy comes from knowing that even though I was born in sin and have lived a sin-filled life…it’s ok. Even though I royally fail in my quest for goodness…it’s ok. Jesus died so that my own sin would not condemn me. That doesn’t just make me happy, it makes me joyous. You see, in our world, happiness is often temporary, but true joy, life saving joy, doesn’t just go away. My joy at what He has done for me drives me to know Him intimately. My knowledge of Him, leads me to imitate. The imitation brings lifechange.

Here are three questions/thoughts to take into your week.

1.What if life is not about being good? What if it is all about being God? What if the sin problem in your life cannot be fixed by a book or a program? What if it can only be fixed by becoming more like Jesus?
2.Where are your daily energies focused towards knowing God? After all, you can’t become more like someone you don’t know.
3.The pursuit of goodness will always find you lacking. The pursuit of God will always yield eternal returns.
4.Read Ephesians 5:1-21

Have a great week!

-Weston

Be Afraid...Be Very Afraid!

2009-04-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

As I sat on my couch and watched the news last night, I was amazed at how every story was negative. Either someone was dead, going to jail, caught in a flood, running from the cops…etc. I got into work this morning and was bombarded by junk email proclaiming that the government was going to increase our taxes, take control of small businesses, destroy religious freedom as we know it, go to war with someone else…and so on. In other words, it all seems to be bad news.

In recent days I have been struck by the fact that a very large percentage of the information that I take in from our world is negative, violent, loveless and graceless. If you are a glutton for negativity…then saddle up to the buffet. It’s all around us. That said, do you think it is plausible that this is simply a tool of the enemy to take our joy and replace it with worry and fear?? I sure do!

When I sat down to have some time with God today, I opened the Bible to John 14. At this stage in John’s gospel, Jesus has announced some startling facts. He tells his disciples that he will be betrayed by one of his own followers, that he will be going away and that they cannot come, and that Peter, arguably the most passionate, will deny that he even knows Christ. Needless to say…it’s pretty bad news. Everyone is shocked, speechless and confused. But, in the moment, as the disciples begin to sulk, Jesus says, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” …Don’t be troubled?!? Yeah right!

What about you? Are you troubled? Are you afraid? Ever notice how the world tells you that you should be? Our economy is collapsing. You’re going to lose your job, if you aren’t attacked by a terrorist first. Your kids are probably on drugs, and if they aren’t, they are drinking and sleeping around. And if all else fails, you will probably be…in a plane crash…hit by a drunk driver…poisoned by peanuts/spinach/tomatoes…caught in a flood/wildfire/mudslide/earthquake/volcanic eruption/nuclear meltdown. Get the picture? But, are any of these things new? I mean…

Sin is not new.
Death is not new.
War is not new.
Natural disasters aren’t new.

If you read the Bible you find a world in constant turmoil and flux. Corrupt leaders, pagan governments, slavery, rampant war and upheaval, it’s all there. Yet, Jesus says, “let not your heart be troubled”. In Matthew, Jesus also counsels his disciples to not be afraid by wars or rumors of wars saying, “those things must take place”. In other words, this is all a part of the plan. Don’t worry; I’m in control…I’ve got the wheel.

Yet, even after all Jesus’ teaching to his disciples on not worrying, they still didn’t get it. His victory on the cross seemed at first like pure defeat to the them. They fled scared that they would also be arrested and killed. They thought, “It’s over…He’s Gone…We lost.” But, it wasn’t over at all. Much to the contrary, the victory was fresh; the battle had been won.

For us, this message is as timely as they come. During these seasons where it seems as if so much of our world is dark, we cannot lose sight of the light we find in our Savior. Jesus has already won, and instructs us to not worry, just BELIVE. It’s all about faith…always has been. If we believe in Him, we truly have nothing to fear.

Let me encourage you this week to spend time with Him. It could be that you need to reconnect with His peace. Maybe you need to spend some time in prayer or in meditation over His Word. When was the last time you did that? Don’t have the time??....MAKE IT! He’s the creator of the heavens and the earth and you are His creation; He desires your heart and your worship. Don’t allow the negativity and fear we find in our world to overtake you. Instead, simply believe in God, and let not your heart be troubled.

Examen

2009-03-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

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