Never see it the same again (2 of 3)

From FLAT to FULL

This is week two in a mini-blog series on life changing Biblical insights.  Last week I wrote about one concept then showed a litany of places in the Scripture that speak about it.

This week’s focus is on one passage and one VERY powerful truth.

Many of us grew up with a “flat” understanding of God.  It was presented as knowledge that should be internalized, memorized and regurgitated on command.  We learned facts and principles that looked good on paper but seemed to have little impact on our lives.  The truth was there.  The word was there.  But we had a flat understanding of God.

The same was true of the Pharisees whom Jesus is talking with in John 5:39-40.

³⁹ “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! ⁴⁰ Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.

These are men who could recite entire books of the Bible from memory.  Yet, Jesus says to them, “You don’t know anything if you don’t know me.” In fact, multiple times in the New Testament Jesus tells the religious leaders of the day, these VERY well learned men, that they don’t know their Scriptures.  The words are nothing if not for Him.  The words are empty if not seen as being about him.  They have no power and only flat truth.

When seen through him. When he begins to leap off of the page.  When the truth of him is NOT merely seen as something to be learned but rather as C.S. Lewis says, a truth by which we see everything else.  Then it moves from being flat to full.  When you see him at the center of it all you begin to notice that through him you see everything else anew.

He is the treasure.  He is the fullness.  He is the fulfillment.  He is the way, the truth and the life.

I know many of us know “about” him.  But, let me ask you, are you beginning to see Him for the fullness that he is?

Awesome lessons in Biblical Greek (3 of 3)

Today’s Greek word: “Ekklesia”  church

When we read the word “church” in the Bible we often think of it as the building, or the 501c3 organization on the corner.  That is NOT what is being referred to by the use of the word ekklesia in the Greek.

The word ekklesia could best be translated as “a gathering of people around a purpose”.   It was commonly used of political gatherings at the time and was used to describe the gathering of God’s people around their common savior Jesus.

Jesus didn’t die, rise from the dead and then entreat his disciples to go and franchise churches in His name.  Rather, he said, “Go and make disciples.”  Go, gather, proclaim and invite others into this gathering of people around this eternal and awesome purpose.  I’m not saying that the organized church is inherently a bad thing.  But I do think that this should challenge any organized church to remember what purpose it is gathering around and whom it serves.  This begs the question, what does it mean to be a part of Jesus’ ekklesia today?

Awesome lessons in Biblical Greek (1 of 3)

For the next few weeks I’m going to focus on one Greek word in the Bible that when looked at adds some awesome depth and spiritual understanding.

Tetelestai: It is finished.

The first one comes from the man, Jesus himself.  Found in John 19:30 this is commonly known as Jesus 6th word from the cross.

Tetelestai is a derivative of the verb teleo which means, “to bring to an end, complete, accomplish.”  It wasn’t a word that simply meant, no longer doing, but a word that signified the successful accomplishment.  It’s the word one would shout after climbing mount Everest, or receiving a college diploma, or completing a project of great magnitude.  It means fully, completely and successfully done.  The word can also carry with it the idea of “paid in full.”  Papyri receipts for taxes have been recovered with the word tetelestai written across them meaning “paid in full.”

When Jesus says it he has completed his earthly ministry, he has been brutally beaten, nailed to a tree and is in the midst of willingly giving up his life as a sacrifice.  Hebrews tells us that he willingly suffered on the cross for the “joy” set before him.  2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that Jesus suffered the penalty of God’s justice which sin deserved.  In other words, Jesus paid the price of our sin.  Or as Isaiah says it, he “became a curse” for us.  Note also that this word doesn’t say, “I am finished” but clearly states that “IT is finished.”

And here’s a very cool part.  The Greek word tetelestai is in the perfect tense.  The perfect tense speaks of an action that was completed in the past but which has results that continue into the present.  Therefore, as a college prof of mine taught, you could translate this word from Jesus as, “It was finished, it is finished and it will be finished.”  Hebrews says that Jesus sacrifice was once and for ALL mankind.

Tetelestai: It is finished

Know your place?

Five reasons to ditch the church face

church face: (n.) the false persona one puts on while in the presence of a church or a clergy who serves said church.

5 reasons to ditch the church face:

1) The only one you’re fooling is yourself.  Do you really think  that when you tell the pastor what a great message he spoke that he didn’t notice you sleeping through it.  Or that the God who made everything doesn’t know the real you?

2) If church face is part of your church’s expected dress code, then it’s time to get a new church.

3) Church should be the place where we are the most honest not the most guarded.

4) The very thing that you are hiding is likely the very reason that you most need other people to walk with you.

5) Our best witness to the world is not a pretense that we’re perfect but an honest confession that we’re not.

Worship Song: Our God

While we have moved on from Romans 8 a couple weeks ago I find myself constantly going back to those passages.  If God is for us (and he is since we know that he works towards the good for all who love him) then who can be against us?  I ask again; WHO?  Nobody!  Is that not the most amazing piece of news you’ve received today?  Should that not be the way we start out each and everyday, with the hope and promise of know that my God is already at work for me before I wake up and start my day….even though He knows and I know that I’ll start sinning as soon as I open my eyes.

³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[o] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This weekend our new song is ‘Our God’.  It’s a great tune that speaks to some of the miracles that Jesus performed while on earth and emphasizing the point that if God is for us, who can be against us.  And the answer….NOBODY.

Enjoy this snippet from a tutorial performed by Chris Tomlin & Matt Redman (co authors)

[ Via worshiptogether.com ]

Key Metaphors (2of3)

Metaphor 2.  Attractional vs. Incarnational

In church world attractional indicates a church that is focused on inviting people into it’s walls.  The image is a of a church that is a desired destination and people out there will bring people into here.

Incarnational is a word that’s meaning comes from the idea of being in the flesh.  This usually indicates a church whose focus is on what people do outside of the church walls.  People taking the message out.  There is no specific epicenter for mission it is everywhere.

We believe that as followers of Jesus we should not be one or the other but rather both.  If the church is doing it’s job it should be a place where others are invited to.  If the church is doing it’s job it should also be equipping people and encouraging people to be sent out.  Or as we typically say it, to “take it to the streets.”

Snippets

Often some of the best teaching inspiration comes when a pen and paper are not handy.  Thanks to my phone I’ll often record a 10-30 second recording of an observation, question or thought on the fly.  (most of which are done in the car if you can’t tell by the background noise.)

Here are a few from the last couple of weeks.  Click to listen.

Every other religion says…

Do you really want to continue…

I want to be a mouthwash man…

Don’t hammer yet…

The wild life…

Wounded permission…

Prevailing Life and Actively Dying

No elaboration today.  Just a couple of questions out of last week’s Romans 8 message.

Is the sin in my life actively dying?

Is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5) daily prevailing?

Step 10: Trudging the Road of Sanctification

On a practical level the 10th step is really a way to measure our day as we go through our day. Here are some things I have found through working the steps to be helpful. We watch how we are thinking and acting towards others on a daily basis. Are we being selfish, inconsiderate, dishonest, resentful or fearful? When we are not if we are we should go into a time of prayer right there and ask God to remove this thought, attitude, or behavior from us. Sometimes it is helpful to discuss this with a sponsor, mentor, or friend. If we have harmed anyone we then go about making it right. At this stage of the game a simple apology will probably suffice provided we are cleaning up our mess on a daily basis. Then we once again would be Wise to turn to God again in prayer and ask whom we could help. This simple process is adapted from the original direction for the 12 steps and goes something like this.

Watch yourself move towards Sin.

Ask God to remove this thought, attitude, or behavior from us.

Discuss it with someone we trust (focusing on where we are at fault)

Make amends if we have harmed anyone

Ask God to direct us towards whom we can help.

The 10th step is not something we do at the end of the day as is popular in some 12 step groups. The 10th step is really just a new way of thinking about, and reacting to life. If we begin to operate in this way we will begin to do it naturally.

Finally, I think that it is important to note that most of us do not fall back into our sin addictions over the big catastrophes in life. When someone dies, or we get sick, or lose a job most of us turn to the Lord even more so. What leads most of us into our addiction is the continual ignoring of small issues. When I lie to you I don’t clean it up I just sweep it under the rug. When I don’t do what I am supposed to; when I cover things up. When I have made a commitment and I am supposed to be there and I’m not. I make an excuse rather than confess I was wrong. These things pile up and the continual rejection of the reality of our wickedness lulls us into a sleep of complacency which inevitably leads to a relapse in behavior. If we want to get free of our self will we will continually need to seek his Face and lean into life continually making mistakes, and admitting to them when we harm others. That is what the 10th step is about

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