What Have We Learned?

When our children were younger, they used to watch Veggie Tales regularly. For those that might be unfamiliar, Veggie Tales are animated shows hosted by Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber. They tell stories about morals and character that parallel Bible stories. Each character in the story is portrayed by a different animated vegetable. I know it sounds like a crazy idea, but it is actually quite effective in teaching Bible stories to kids. Near the end of each episode, they ask the question, “What have we learned today?”
 
As we reach the end of another Wednesday night summer series, I would like you to consider the same question. The one another passages in scripture teach us a lot about God, what is important to Him and how He designed us to interact. So what have we learned this summer?
 
  • Do not pass judgment on one another. (Romans 14:13) This statement of Paul is a reminder that although God sees motives and the heart, we are limited in that ability.
  • Live in harmony with one another. (Romans 12:16) I like the song, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” but I especially like it when it is sung starting with only sopranos and adding another voice part on each verse. By the fourth verse, the full harmony completes the song. When we live in harmony, it is just as beautiful as good music.
  • Encourage one another; do good toward one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:11,15) In a section labeled “final instructions” in modern Bible translations, Paul integrates our attitudes and actions toward God and others. All of these are characteristics of the Christian life.
  • Have the same care for one another. (1 Corinthians 12:25) Here God’s care for every Christian is given as an example of how we should care for one another.
  • Great one another with a holy kiss. (Romans 16:16) The holy kiss was the early church’s way of expressing something that we express in other ways today: brothers and sisters in Christ are of great value to us.
  • Serve one another; don’t bite and devour one another. (Galatians 5:13-16) Before Paul writes about the fruit of the Spirit later in the chapter, he reaffirms the counter cultural teachings of Jesus to serve rather than use people.
  • Wait for one another. (1 Corinthians 11:33) In a hurried, impatient world, followers of Jesus should notice those who may be falling behind.
  • Love one another. (Romans 12:10) If Christians are to be known for our love, there is no place that is more noticeable than how we love fellow Christians.
  • Wash one another’s feet. (John 13) In a world where washing the feet of others is not a regular practice, there are still many opportunities to humble ourselves and put the needs of others about our own.
  • Bear with one another. (Ephesians 4) This may be the most obvious area where the treatment we desire from others is something we struggle to give back. Let’s give each other the same benefit of the doubt that we hope to receive.
  • Do not speak evil against one another. (James 4:11) Like so many commands of scripture, the command against gossip should begin with other followers of Christ.
  • Address and admonish one another. (Ephesians 5:19) We need to be willing to warn brothers and sisters who are not living as Christians should, just as we should be willing to graciously receive the same warning.
 
Brian


You Have Heard That It Was Said

This week is another one of those times where our Sunday and Wednesday studies collide. During our summer series this year, our speakers have been talking about “one another” passages in scripture. We will only look at twelve to fifteen of them during the summer, but there are over fifty in the New Testament alone. God truly cares about our actions toward one another. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches that the way we treat one another begins before any action takes place. Our thoughts and attitudes set those actions in motion.
 
In Matthew 5:21, Jesus begins a section of the sermon where He reminds everyone of rules of familiar rules that His audience knows and likely follows. The weakness of living that way is that breaking those rules is not a giant leap from a neutral place. It is a series of steps in thoughts and attitudes that leads to the action that breaks the rules. Jesus does not want His followers to live one step short of breaking the rules. He wants our hearts to change long before we would ever reach that point.
 
The way those listening to the Sermon on the Mount thought of these rules is likely similar to the rich young man in Matthew 20 who was confident in all the commandments that he had kept all his life. Then he asked Jesus what he still lacked and got an answer he was not expecting. Those listening to Jesus in Matthew 5 get a similar answer without even asking the question. Jesus has a way of cutting through the legalistic side of the law to get to the purpose God had in mind.
In his book, Living Jesus: Doing What Jesus Says in the Sermon on the Mount, Randy Harris describes what Jesus does in this series of teachings. “Throughout the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is going to talk about these ever escalating cycles of violence and retribution. Over and over again he talks about how things roll and roll and roll and how you have to cut it off at the beginning. The way you prevent murder, the way you prevent war, the way you prevent violence is cutting it out at the root. Congratulations on not killing anybody. How you doing with your anger?”
 
God loves us as wants us to love one another in the same way He loves us. That love will obviously show itself in the one another actions we have been studying on Wednesdays, but it does not begin there. It begins with having the attitude of Jesus. Beginning with His attitude and the Spirit’s guidance, we can live these teachings.
 

Brian

 

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:1-3



The Sermon on the Mount

“The Sermon on the Mount is not a statement to be treated in a cavalier fashion — by saying that this or that isn’t right or that here we find an inconsistency. Its validity depends on its being obeyed. This is not a statement that we can freely choose to take or leave. It is a compelling, lordly statement.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
 
This week we will begin a sermon series about the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5-7 is probably the part of the teachings of Jesus that has been most referenced, both within the church and by non-Christians. The truths in the sermon range from practical to things that seem almost impossible to live out. In his commentary on the sermon, Scot McKnight describes it as being either “instruction or indictment” for people who follow Jesus. That is the way the sermon is generally interpreted. It is a guide for how to apply the ethics of Jesus. After all, the sermon ends with a short parable about the importance of not just hearing the words but also doing them.
 
In his book, Living the Sermon on the Mount: A Practical Hope for Grace and Deliverance, Glen Stassen acknowledges the ethical instruction in the sermon but sees some other things many might miss on their first reading. Matthew 5-7 comes in the greater context of God’s action in His world and through His Son. “The Sermon on the Mount is not first of all about what we should do. It is first of all about what God is already doing. It is about God’s presence, the breakthrough of God’s kingdom in Jesus. It is about God’s grace, God’s loving deliverance from various kinds of bondage in the vicious cycles that we get stuck in, and deliverance into community with God and others.” Throughout scripture we see God’s presence and His deliverance. Those themes begin again in the Gospel of Matthew as God is present through Jesus who is sent to deliver His people. It is in that context where we find Jesus “up on the mountain” as He begins to teach in Matthew 5. The sermon is not just about a better way to live. It is the way to be in the presence of God.
 
The life principles in the sermon and what they say about the nature and work of God cannot be disconnected. This year our family has been reading Mike Ireland’s daily devotional book, From Morning to Evening: Every Day with Jesus. As the Sermon on the Mount begins, Mike describes it like this. “From the Beatitudes that opened the sermon to the story that closed it, Jesus was telling us who God is. The blessedness promised by Jesus is nothing less than the life of God Himself! The only people who will experience the blessedness are those who partake of the divine. This is more than a collection of wise sayings or practical rules for living. This is the Lord’s portrait of life as it is meant to be lived. This is His word.”
 
Let’s learn more about God, living in His presence, experiencing His deliverance and what He desires for us as we study the greatest sermon together.
 

– Brian

“Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them.” – Matthew 5:1-2



Membership Has Its Privileges

If you were around during the late 80’s and early 90’s the phrase, “Membership has its privileges” is probably familiar to you. It was a time when credit cards were really taking root in our society, and American Express was trying to set itself apart from the others. They did not want their customers to think of themselves as simply cardholders, but as members of a club. In each ad, that tagline about membership was mentioned. They showed how membership came with status and rewards, but they did not usually mention that it also came with a bill at the end of the month. It was a memorable ad campaign.
 
Too many Christians treat church membership the same way. Don’t get me wrong, church membership has privileges that go far beyond anything American Express could offer. Most of the good things in my life are directly connected to the church. The church has been there for me in good times and difficult times. The church helps me live as God desires. And best of all, the bill has already been paid. That being said, being a church member comes with responsibilities. It is more than showing up each week.
 
In his book, I Am a Church Member, Thom Rainer says that many treat church membership like membership in a country club. People pay the dues and expect the privileges that come with it. He does not believe that God intended it to work that way, and I agree with that. In the book, Rainer lists six things that a church member should do that are less about privilege and more about responsibility. There are more we could mention, but his six are a good start.
  1. I will be a functioning church member. There is work to be done and a world to be reached. It is up to all of us to do it.
  2. I will be a unifying church member. Jesus prayed for our unity. He knew the church would be at its best when we are one.
  3. I will not let church be about my desires and preferences. This may be the toughest one on the list, but it is every bit as important as the others. Paul spent a lot of time writing about this problem in the New Testament. We have to consider others above ourselves. We have to make things about God’s desires and preferences.
  4. I will pray for my church leaders. This book was written long before any of us heard about COVID-19 or all the adjustments congregations would have to make. Church leaders needed prayer then, and they definitely need it now.
  5. I will lead my family to be healthy church members. Be the example of all these things to those who are closest to you. The church today and tomorrow need that example.
  6. I will treasure church membership as a gift. I love the fact that God does not only care about how we interact with Him, but He also wants us to love one another. He provided the church so that we could live in that loving community. Jesus is an amazing gift. Eternal life with Him will be an amazing gift. The church is a gift too. We should always think of it that way.
 
Membership does have its privileges, but being a member of the church is so much more. Let’s always be the church members that God intended us to be. Let’s never take His church for granted.
 
– Brian

“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” – 1 Corinthians 12:27



Let Freedom Ring

I have always enjoyed the 4th of July. Since I was a kid, I l have loved watching fireworks shows. As a trumpet player, I enjoy the patriotic songs and Sousa marches. Since moving to Ada, I appreciate turning onto Main Street and seeing all the flags out. I have always felt blessed to live in the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” We celebrate that independence every year, but it is not the greatest freedom we can have as Christians.
 
We can learn a lot about how God views freedom in the New Testament. Freedom as He describes it has nothing to do with which earthly government is in charge, and its source is not a document from 1776. Even the Declaration of Independence acknowledges that our freedom (the right to liberty) is given by our Creator. So what does God teach us about freedom?
 
  • Jesus gives freedom. Jesus understands better than anyone what the lack of freedom does. He was there in the beginning and knew what happened when people took the freedom of others or lost their own. For the people of His time, He brought freedom from the old covenant and hope in the new one. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Galatians 5:1)
  • The presence of the Spirit gives freedom. When our lives show clear evidence of the fruit of the Spirit, we are freed from a myriad of problems. With His guidance, we can be freed from even more. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)
  • Following Jesus gives freedom. People convince themselves that sin brings pleasure, fun and no limits. Instead it actually binds and enslaves. Living as disciples frees us. “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’” (John 8:34-36)
  • Freedom is not free. We have seen that phrase on t-shirts and bumper stickers, but it is clearly taught in scripture. Jesus gives us freedom, but it is not without a price. It was paid for with His sacrifice. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” (Galatians 3:13-14)
  • The gospel still gives freedom. We must tell the story of Jesus, so that others can enjoy the same freedom we do. Ironically the book of Acts ends with Paul freely teaching others how to receive the liberty the gospel provides, while he was imprisoned. The Greek word that describes how he taught means to speak freely and boldly. “He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!” (Acts 28:31)
 
As we celebrate our freedom this weekend, let’s give thanks to the One who gives us the greatest freedom. Let’s take that message of freedom to the world around us.
 
– Brian


Why Are We Here?

We can say many things about story of Jesus, but one thing is clear. Coming into contact with the gospel demands a reaction. It is not something that many can be neutral about. The people of Ephesus learn that through the uproar that happens in Acts 19.
 
There were some who were obstinate and refused to believe or change their ways. There were others whose lives were completely changed by the message. Some who had practiced sorcery destroyed their valuable scrolls, because they knew they would no longer need them. The people of the town gathered, and verse 32 describes the gathering this way: “The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.” When one of the Jews tried to explain what was going on, the people shouted in unison so he could not be heard.
 
It all happened nearly 2000 years ago, but it sounds a lot like the culture we live in. There is usually so much noise around us, it can be difficult to get the message through. Too often we find ourselves discouraged and silent as a result. At those times, we need to remember the sorcerers destroying their scrolls. Through the noise, discouragement and stubbornness, the gospel still reaches the hearts of people who might not even realize why they are here.
 
Throughout scripture, God brings order out of chaos. He does it during creation and keeps doing it to help His people. Currently in our world the upending of schedules and habits due to COVID-19 has brought chaos again. It is another time where God provides the answers that people are searching for. His church can help others come to know Him. Through Jesus they can have the life He intended. Sharing that good news with them is the reason we are here.
 
Brian
 


Catalyst

Several terms have been added to our conversational vocabulary since March: social distancing, unprecedented, the new normal, COVID-19. I would like to add another one: catalyst. It is a word usually used to describe part of a chemical reaction, but it has another meaning. According to Webster’s Dictionary, a catalyst is an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action. Usually in traditional church circles we do not have positive thoughts when we see the words change and agent in the same sentence, but some of the changes brought on over the last few months could be positive if we allow them to take root.
 
Someone shared an article with me this week from Vox entitled, “Quarantine Has Changed Us — and It’s Not All Bad.” The article lists several good changes that have come during the pandemic. The author may not have realized it, but many of the things he mentioned are ideas straight from the Bible. I have added scriptures related to his points.
 
  1. Reducing consumerism (Matthew 6:24) – We think of this more in terms of materialism. When everything shuts down, it is a little harder to go shopping. Although this has created challenges for small business owners, it has also forced people dealing with debt to reassess how they spend. No one can serve two masters.
  2. Slowing down and putting less pressure on ourselves (Matthew 6:25-34) – Many of the things that we pressuring us in February had to be put on hold. The pace of life for most of us changed drastically. That slow down can help us notice others and see God more clearly.
  3. Prioritizing family and friends (John 13:34-35) – Finances are not the only place we have been forced to assess what is really important. We have realized how important our relationships are, and we have spent a lot of time with those people who live in our homes.
  4. Eating meals together (Ephesians 5:22-6:4) – Sitting at the table and sharing a meal together was not a regular practice in many families before COVID-19. People are busy. Even if they were in the same house, they might eat at different times in different rooms. Slowing down has also brought the opportunity to sit a table together. There is a great benefit from that.
  5. Spending time in nature (Psalm 19, Psalm 95) – When things shut down, one of the few places we could go was outside. We had the opportunity again to enjoy the feeling of the sun on our faces and to hear the sounds of nature around us. We serve a powerful God who made all of this.
 
Consider this week what has changed for you over the last few months. Let it be the catalyst for a life more in tune with our God and one another.
 
– Brian


One Another

On Wednesdays this summer, we are having our usual summer guest speaker series in an unusual way. Each Wednesday you can find our guest speaker’s video lesson on our Facebook and YouTube pages. David Dirrim and I had already begun planning for our theme and speakers before our routines and meetings changed. We had chosen the theme, “One Another” for this summer. Since March, it has become very clear to all of us just how important those “one another” relationships are in our lives. As we have faced social distancing and racial tensions in our nation, we know that having the kind of relationships that God desires will take some effort on our part.
 
The Bible has a lot to say about how we should treat one another. Although there are many places we could look, I would like you to think about what Paul told the Ephesian church about their relationships and what we can learn from them.
 
  • Their love for other Christians was a blessing (Ephesians 1:16). One of the things Paul was thankful for was that love. It not only helped their interaction, but it served as an example for others.
  • The blood of Jesus has the power to reconcile groups that were once separate (Ephesians 2:11-18). The church at Ephesus may have struggled because they came from different backgrounds, but those who once felt apart were now welcome. In the midst of our national racial struggles, this is a powerful message. God intends to bring a peaceful whole out of splintered groups.
  • They are fellow citizens of God’s kingdom (Ephesians 2:19-22). People who might otherwise have nothing in common now had a reason to be unified. Being part of God’s family supersedes all our other affiliations.
  • Their love for one another would help them know Christ better (Ephesians 3:14-19). Following Jesus was always intended to be a team event. Although there is a personal side to that relationship, it is never fully what it could be without the community of believers.
  • They needed to continue striving for unity (Ephesians 4:1-6). Paul told them to live a life “worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” Usually when we talk about something like that, we tend to talk about behaviors and avoiding sin. Paul talks about unity, humility and patience. Living a life that honors God always includes treating one another well.
  • They had to watch their words, not just their actions (Ephesians 4:25-32). Our words can easily build up or tear down. We must choose them well, keep them honest and make them positive.
  • How they treated one another began at home (Ephesians 5:1-6:9). We cannot forget those who are closest to us when we want to treat one another in a way that honors God. He wants that same love, kindness and respect to be the foundation of our family interaction.
  • Praying for each other is essential (Ephesians 6:18-20). We pray for each other when struggles and loss come into our lives, but let’s not forget to pray for one another regularly. Paul begins the letter talking about his regular prayer for them and ends it by reminding them to do the same.
 
It is an undeniable, scriptural truth that how we treat one another matters to God. I pray this summer will be a reminder and encouragement for us as we love one another.
 
Brian


Faith for Exiles

With all the talk lately about the similarities between the exile and our recent pandemic, I almost forgot that there were many similarities between exile and the life of a Christian before the pandemic began. Sometimes we feel as if we are exiled to a different place as the culture shifts around us, even though we have not left our homeland.
 
This week I read Faith for Exiles: 5 Ways for a New Generation to Follow Jesus in Digital Babylon by David Kinnaman and Mark Matlock. It introduced me (and I am now introducing you) to a term I had never heard or considered: digital Babylon. The authors from Barna Research describe digital Babylon as “our accelerated, complex culture that’s marked by unlimited access, profound alienation and a crisis of authority.” They found in their research that each year the typical 15 to 23 year old takes in 2767 hours of screen media but only 153 hours of spiritual content. We would hope that churchgoing 15 to 23 year olds would be different, but even in that group it is only 291 hours per year. No one came in and hauled us off to another land. We stood in lines to bring the exile into our lives.
 
If you are expecting me to condemn screens and technology, that is not my point. Screens are here to stay and can be used for good as we have experienced with our online worship services and Bible studies for the past several weeks. But like the children of Israel, we have to learn how to be people of faith in Exile. The authors of the book found a group in their research that they called resilient disciples. These are the people living out their faith. They are Christians who trust the authority of scripture, affirm the resurrection of Jesus and want to help others learn about Him. The greatest common traits in that group are their connection with the church and the deep, intergenerational relationships they have there.
 
As a result of their research, the authors explain five practices that will help Christians living in the exile of digital Babylon. Since our current COVID-19 crisis and social distancing have a lot of similarities to exile, I believe they could apply here as well.
  1. Resilient disciples have a close relationship with Jesus. Through good times and bad our connection to the vine will help us to grow and provide what our faith needs.
  2. Resilient disciples consistently discern the good and bad in culture. We have to engage our culture at some level. Rather than run away like Jonah, we can learn and teach within it like the apostles.
  3. Resilient disciples have good intergenerational relationships. Scripture often emphasizes the importance of the relationships between younger and older followers of God. Those teachings still hold true.
  4. Resilient disciples are disciples within the workplace and other parts of life. It has never been clearer than it is now that our Christianity extends far beyond 505 West 17th Street. We must make Jesus a part of our jobs, homes, schools, neighborhoods and friendships.
  5. Resilient disciples are countercultural by being selfless. According to Philippians 2, this is the way Jesus approached His incarnation. It is what He taught in the Sermon on the Mount. It is how we can help the world around us see Him more clearly.
 
All of these things are biblical teachings, and they are all identifiers of resilient disciples. Resilient disciples are people who live in hope. Our exile ends in life with Him. Let’s live for Him until then.
 
Brian
 
 
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4


Structure

I was curious this week what I had written about for this space the week before COVID-19 changed things. The March 15 bulletin had an introduction for our missionary in Scotland who spoke that evening, so I had to go back another week to March 8. That article was about Paul’s shipwreck in Acts 27 and how he relied on faith in God in a time of crisis. I tried to challenge you with these thoughts in the closing: “When the winds and waves in our lives try to overtake us, let’s recognize that as a chance to show our trust in God. Let’s be an example to others how God can still work through the storms. Let’s remember that He still does exactly what He says.” I had no idea how much those words would apply over these two months.

 

One of the many challenges in the midst of this pandemic has been the change in or lack of structure. For parents whose kids were in school, they have been at home. Many have begun to work from home. Some have used grocery pick up for the first time. We’ve worried for the first time in our lives about if we could find toilet paper at the store. People are working from home. Even those whose job schedules have not changed have become more familiar with masks and six foot separation. We have learned about live streaming and Zoom and sang hymns along with videos. We haven’t been able to visit each other in person. Our regular times together at the church building went away for a while and are now anything but regular. The change in routine is one of our storms. I did not realize that two months earlier God was providing a tool to help me weather the storm.

 

In January, I started working on a rule of life. I have found that the structure of that rule has been invaluable in an unstructured time. Tod Bolsinger describes a rule of life this way: “Rules of life are made up of intentional spiritual practices and commitments that serve as a trellis supporting the branches that are connected to the vine, Jesus (John 15), in order to have a fruitful life of discipleship. It is not a set of regulations that followers of Jesus must adhere to in order to be saved or experience grace but rather a support system that enables one disciple to respond faithfully to the grace of the Spirit in ways that further growth and effectiveness in a life of following Jesus.” To simplify, a rule of life is a list of practices that help us to grow in our relationship with God and live the abundant life Jesus calls us to live (John 10). Writing these practices down and making times and places for them has been especially helpful for me.

 

So what should be in your rule of life? That’s up to you. It might include some of the disciplines we talked about on Sunday evenings earlier this year like prayer, study or fasting. It might include better awareness of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. It might include more intentional time with family. Being at home forced that on many of us anyway, but how are we using that time? It might include efforts to be more positive or encouraging. It might include being a better listener, being more careful with words or being fully present with people around you. It could even include taking better care of yourself physically with nutrition, exercise or sleep. It could be a list or a couple paragraphs. It has the flexibility to be adapted as needed. If like me you’ve never done anything like this before, try it anyway. You might be surprised.

 

Instead of being intent on getting back to normal, let’s all make use of the reset this pandemic has provided. Let’s make our new normal better than what we had before.

 

– Brian

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17