30 Sept 2017 - Someone Worth Losing Everything For (pt 3)

Radical ch 1 - Someone Worth Losing Everything For (pp. 12-21)

"[W]e are starting to redefine Christianity. We are giving in to the dangerous temptation to take the Jesus of the Bible and twist Him into a version of Jesus we are more comfortable with. A nice, middle-class, American Jesus." - p. 13

"We are molding Jesus into our image. He is beginning to look a lot like us, because, after all, that is whom we are most comfortable with." - p. 13 

Some things that are just too long to quote touched on the value of the exchange, the promise of Christ that surrendering everything to Him yields benefit in eternity. For example, in the parable of the field with the treasure, the man sells everything he owns for what appears to be an empty, barren field, but the man knows that in that field lies a greater reward than the value of everything he just sold. That needs to be our approach to Christ. In His demand of sacrifice and His promise of reward, we need to keep the perspective that the eternal reward of Christ is far greater than the sum of all our lifetime possessions and assets.

2 Timothy 4:1-8

"For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves, because they have an itch to hear something new." - v. 3

"But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship , do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." - v. 5

28 Sept 2017 - Someone Worth Losing Everything For (pt 2)

Radical ch 1 - Someone Worth Losing Everything For (pp. 4-12)

"Become homeless. Let someone else bury your dad. Don't even say good-bye to your family. Is it surprising that, from all we can tell in Luke 9, Jesus was successful in persuading these men not to follow him?" - p. 8

"Give up everything you have, carry a cross, and hate your family. This sounds a lot different from 'Admit, believe, confess, and pray a prayer after me.'" - pp. 10-11 

"[T]he kind of abandonment Jesus asked of the rich young man is at the core of Jesus' invitation throughout the Gospels. Even his simple call in Matthew 4 to his disciples - 'Follow me' - contained radical implications for their lives. Jesus was calling them to abandon their comforts, all that was familiar to them and natural for them. He was calling them to abandon their careers. ... Jesus was calling them to abandon their possessions. ... Jesus was calling them to abandon their family and their friends. ... Ultimately, Jesus was calling them to abandon themselves." - pp. 11-12

 "In a world that prizes promoting oneself, they were following a teacher who told them to crucify themselves. And history tells us the result. Almost all of them would lose their lives because they responded to his invitation." - p. 12

 I guess the big question echoes the chapter title. Is Jesus someone worth losing everything for? Is He worth losing my wife and/or unborn child for? Is He worth losing my schooling and future job for? Is He worth losing my home and possessions for? Is He worth losing my abilities and faculties for?

With my head, I know the answer is yes, but in my heart, I'm trying to intellectualise it so I don't feel the weight of these questions. My heart is in denial somewhat that the cost of following Christ could be this big.

God, please help me to let go. Please help me to put you in a place of higher honour and esteem in my heart, that my affections would not be fixated on these worldly treasures - relationships, people, jobs, income, senses - but on you. Teach me to be poor in spirit, holding the gifts and blessings you have given with an open hand, content in you, such that, should you take them, my joy and satisfaction would still be full. Oh Lord, allow me to sing to you the hymn: "Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart. Naught be all else to me save that thou art. Thou my best thought by day or by night. Waking or sleeping thy presence my light." Amen

27 Sept 2017 - Someone Worth Losing Everyone For (pt 1)

Radical ch 1 - Someone Worth Losing Everyone For (pp. 1-3)

"I am convince that we, as Christ followers in American churches, have embraced values and ideas that are not only unbiblical, but that actually contradict the Gospel we claim to believe." - p. 3

2 Timothy 3:10-17

"But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all. In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." - vv. 10-13

26 Sept 2017 - What Is My First Step?

A Practicing Christian ch 23 - What Is My First Step?

Questions

1. Look at Acts 2:21-27 and describe some of the healthy characteristics of a local congregation.
1. I'm not sure this is the right passage. Perhaps 41-47?
2. They devoted themselves to meeting, to teaching/learning, to community, remembrance of Christ, and to prayer. They performed miracles. They donated their possessions to the poor. They were joyful in praising God.
2. There is a problem developing in the Jerusalem church in Acts 6:1. What is the problem?
1. The widows of Greek Christians were being overlooked in fvour of Jewish Christians
3. How was the problem addressed in Acts 6:2-7? What was the positive outcome?
1. They appointed specific, trustworthy individuals to oversee that ministry
2. The church continued to grow

2 Timothy 3:1-9

25 Sept 2017 - Do You Let Your Emotions Get the Best of You?

A Practicing Christian ch 22 - Do You Let Your Emotions Get the Best of You?

"I knew I held on to some bitterness against someone, but there was no way I was going to admit I was wrong and ask for forgiveness. I thought the other person should be the one at my doorstep."

Questions

1. How does Philippians 4:8 relate to a Christian having healthy emotions?
1. Paul gives here a list of qualities to use as a checklist or standard of comparison for the things we dwell on. I think this can be particularly useful when addressing "stewing" emotions, like anger, bitterness, frustration, irritation, shame, guilt - all these negative, unpleasant emotions that we feel we can't actually express and so, end up in the emotion pot, being stewed, ruminated on, and dwelt on.
2. Explain what we are to do with bitterness in light of Ephesians 4:21.
1. "Assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, because the truth is in Jesus." I don't think this is the scripture intended. Verse 31, maybe? "All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice."
2. It's pretty straightforward, if this is the verse intended. We are to rid ourselves of bitterness.
3. What does the author of Hebrews mean by "root of bitterness" in Hebrews 12:15?
1. I would guess he means any source of bitterness, though the imagery of a root is very appropriate, making me think of a dandelion's tap root - it is extremely long and difficult to remove and, if it is not removed in its entirety, will result in a new dandelion growing back in its place.
   Bitterness is like that. The long root worms itself delicately into deeper corners of our hearts with small filament strands that are difficult to pull up without disturbing the soil, without bringing the contents of one's heart to light, sometimes painfully.

2 Timothy 2:14-26

"The Lord's slave must not quarrel..." - v. 24

But, God... Don't you see the foolishness of this people? The injustice? The idolatry?

"But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. The Lord's slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth" - vv. 23-25

So, God, what you're saying is we need to leave the heart work to you? Just take our time teaching gently and leave the conviction all in your hands? That's hard to do sometimes...

24 Sept 2017 - What's on Your Plate?

A Practicing Christian ch 21 - What's on Your Plate?

Questions

1. How does Philippians 4:4 relate to enjoying and utilizing all the opportunities God sets before you?
1. "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say rejoice." If we're going to rejoice in something, we celebrate it in its entirety. If we are going to be rejoicing in God, then we are praising him for the fullness of Himself, the blessings He's poured out, the work He has accomplished, and for the blessings and work he will complete in the future.
2. Why do some Christians not move forward when they know God is calling them?
1. Fear and doubt.
1. They fear the response and negative consequences that may come from being a bold witness
2. They doubt the sufficiency and will of God to see His work through and to provide what is needed. So, they say "I can't", because, in their doubt, they see no way it can be accomplished
3. Give an example where you have responded in faith to an opportunity God has given you.
1. Honestly, I'm not sure. For a very long time, I've been a fear and doubt Christian, not one walking in faith, trust, and courage.

2 Timothy 2:1-13

"Keep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the dead and descended from David. This is according to my Gospel. I suffer for it to the point of being bound like a criminal, but God's message is not bound. This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." - vv. 8-10 (emphasis added)