:: Tattoo Pastor ::

Update

2011-01-06T17:53:00.003-07:00

Tons of stuff happening since I last blogged in. First, God opened up an opportunity to teach Religion/Theology part time at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. I am currently adjunct teaching Christian World View via online studies. Second, about two weeks into teaching this class, I was offered a Full Time position at Grand Canyon, teaching the same class in the same format. Grand Canyon is exploding and the online learning environment has just been growing like crazy. So, I'll be Full Time starting this Monday, January 11th. Third, I had the opportunity to preach this past Sunday at Verde Baptist Church in Cottonwood. The message went great, so if you'd like to listen to it you can log into iTunes and search for: Tattoo Pastor | Sermon Audio. You can also listen by clicking the message board on this blog. The message is entitled, "Don't Be Disappointed." Finally, I'm getting ready to speak at a Younglife Camp this weekend. 300-400 Jr. High students are having their yearly Winter Camp, and I'm the featured speaker. I'll do four main sessions (Fri. Night, Sat. Morning & Evening, Sun. Morning) and then a Breakout Session on Saturday after lunch. Should be an awesome time, and I feel so honored just to be invited to participate in such a cool event. I've forgotten how much I enjoy preaching, so it's neat how God has brought that back into my life...regardless of how long I get opportunities. I'm thankful for what He has given me and hope and pray that I'll get more opportunities. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and support over these last few months. God is good and He always has our best interest in mind...may we never forget how much He loves us!

Sermon Player

2010-08-01T21:46:00.004-07:00

Job Hunting

2010-05-20T09:55:00.003-07:00

Well, I finished my Master's degree at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary last week, and graduated on Saturday. Feel's great to be finished with this leg of the journey and I'm really excited about what God has next. No idea what that is, but excited none the less. I would like to ask you be to in prayer for my next step in life and ministry. Resumes are flying out to churches that look promising, I'm filling out applications at several online universities in which I hope to teach Bible, Theology, and Christian Philosophy in an adjunct role, the hand is healing slowly, and God has been really working on my contentment. I'm reading through the book of Ruth for my devotions, and I'm seeing an amazing picture of how Jesus is the ultimate redeemer of all things. Life is really good right now, summer is on it's way, and it's all good. Please keep me in your prayers as you go about your life the next few weeks, and thanks to all who follow the teaching/preaching on iTunes. If you happen to hear of any churches looking to hire, or have any suggestions for college/universities I could apply to, please shoot me an email. God bless!

Resurrection Week

2010-04-02T00:20:00.000-07:00

This Sunday is Easter, the time we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The 28th chapter in the book of Matthew gives us an amazing account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection confirms His identity as the only true Savior and that, His accomplishment at the cross was accepted by God the Father.

Matthew doesn’t give us the explicit way in which Jesus rose from the tomb, but what he does make clear is that Jesus had risen. As the women approach the tomb (v.1), we see an angel descending from heaven, with an appearance like lightning and clothes that were as white as snow, touching down on the ground with a great earthquake, rolling back the stone and then sitting on top of it (vv.2-3)–not so Jesus could get out of the tomb–but so the women, the guards, the disciples, and the entire world could go in and see for themselves that the tomb was indeed empty.

The angel becomes the first messenger to proclaim the news that Jesus had in-fact risen from death (vv.4-7). As I look at this account, I think about how cool it must have been for the angel to get this call. I’m sure there are many cool jobs that angels could do, but this one had to be the mother of all assignments. Imagine that God calls you and says, “You have the task of announcing the Resurrection of my Son, Jesus Christ.” How awesome would that be? Yet, for those who God regenerates and saves, He also gives this same assignment of proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus. Sometimes we can get wrapped up in the “supernatural accounts” found in the Scriptures of other great heroes (angels, disciples, etc.) but we need to remember that while those accounts are cool, God has given us the same call to be witnesses of the greatest event in human history…the resurrection of Jesus.

After hearing the testimony from the angel about Jesus’ resurrection, the women take off to tell and proclaim the great news to the disciples (vv.7-8). Jesus then meets them on their way to prove the testimony of His resurrection. The women are so overcome with joy that they physically fall down in worship, grabbing hold of His feet. They experienced the physical, resurrected body of Jesus. They didn’t just see Him, but they touched Him as well. Jesus accepts their worship, acknowledging that He was in-fact deity, receiving worship as God. He allows the women to put Him in the place of ultimate in their lives, something only God would allow, further signifying that He truly is the God-man, the Savior, the Messiah, the One.

Notice also that the angel doesn’t point to himself as the one they should want to see, but Jesus. It’s not the miracles of healing in our lives, the appearance of angels, the testimonies of witnesses that we should focus on, it’s Jesus. He is the one we should be chasing after, the one we should desire to see, the one we should desire to follow and serve. Every human heart has a natural hunger for something more than this world and life. Even if we don’t understand what that desire is or realize the impact it has in our life, it’s still there. Only Jesus can fill this hunger. The reason Jesus died was so that we might live, and the reason He rose again was so that we might serve a risen, victorious Savior.

This Easter, I hope that you can see the truth found in Scripture about Jesus. I want to experience what the women and disciples experienced! I want to know that Jesus has risen, that He is available, that He wants to show Himself to me. Do you want to see Him, to touch and experience Him? The great news is that the tomb is empty, the testimony has gone out, and Jesus has revealed Himself to the world. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to meet Him and become a witness to the most amazing miracle–the miracle that out miracles every other miracle in human history. Happy Resurrection Week!

The Journey to Jesus

2010-03-15T09:37:00.007-07:00

Life...from start to finish it’s the most important game any of us will ever play. But what are the rules? How do we win? Do we get any “do-overs”? The answers to these questions may surprise you! No matter where you are across the board, as Christians we need to know how to navigate the ups, downs, twists, turns, and learn how to win the Game of Life!

I believe the answer is Jesus! Jesus Christ is the only person in history who completely reveals salvation to us. He provides the way to forgiveness of sin, reconciliation to a Holy, Sovereign God, and gives us unlimited do-overs in this game of life.

The question I would like to ask you today is, “What kind of Journey have you been on?”

Go ahead and turn in your Bibles to Jeremiah 17. Here is a little recap of Jeremiah- The people of Judah at this time had been turning to false gods and foreign alliances for protection. Instead of trusting God, they chose to turn to worldly, selfish things. They were not on a Journey to Jesus! So, Jeremiah contrasts the way of the wicked with the way of the righteous.

Jeremiah 17:5-8- Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,in an uninhabited salt land. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream,and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

The essential truth God wants us to take hold of if we are going to be on The Journey to Jesus is:

We cannot trust in both God and…(Luke 16:13)
If we turn to anything (a person, spouse, child, etc.), we intentionally turn away from God. We all must make a choice of who or what we will serve.

So how do we stay focused on this Journey called life? I believe the Bible explains what we must do if we want to stay on mission and finish well. We must realize:

1) It All Begins With Jesus (Colossians 1:15-20).

2) Focusing On Ourselves Will Never Reveal God’s Will
(Romans 12:1-3).

3) We Were Made By God And For God (Ephesians 4:17-24).
Until we understand this, life will never make sense.

Result- Jesus is not just the starting point of our lives; He is the source of life. To discover our purpose in this life we must turn to God’s Word (the Bible), because it is the instruction manual, given to us by God, on how to have purpose in our lives. Scripture gives us three insights into our purpose:

1) We find our identity through a relationship with Jesus
(Ephesians 1:11-12).

2) God called to us long before we ever called to Him
(Romans 8:29-30).

3) Without Jesus, there is no forgiveness of sin
(Romans 5:8-11 & Acts 4:10-12).

Closing- The person who accepts Jesus is blessed because his trust and confidence is in Christ. The person who trusts Jesus will be given the gift of faith, they will find their purpose, their lives will be full of strength, grace, and mercy, we know this because the Bible clearly states in Jeremiah 29:11- “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” If you haven’t put your Full trust in Jesus Christ today, would you make Him your priority this morning? If you do- He will show you the purpose of your life, He will help you better enjoy this Journey we call life, and He will guide and direct you to the greatest, game-winning finish you could ever possibly imagine.

When a Church Cares

2010-03-15T09:21:00.005-07:00

Over the last two weeks, we’ve talked about why we as a church worship and why we need to pray. With those questions answered, it’s important to see that another of the characteristics of a true church that represents Jesus is that it really does care.

The church in Philippi really cared for Paul. This church was the first church Paul planted in Europe. They cared so much about him that they sent him money while he was in prison in Rome. He had probably already thanked them for the gift, but in our Scripture today, we see that he ends his personal letter to the church with a reference to their care for him and what it had meant to him.

Philippians 4:10-20- I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last you have renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me, but lacked the opportunity to show it. I don't say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. Still, you did well by sharing with me in my hardship. And you, Philippians, know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that is increasing to your account. But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided—a fragrant offering, a welcome sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

From their example as a church, let’s look at what happens when a church cares.

When a Church Cares
1) It Gives Expression to Concern (Philippians 4:10a).
It is easy to say that we are concerned. We can make the proper facial expressions, use the right tone of voice, and even say the right words. But what the world is looking for is an expression of that concern.

Paul knew this church was concerned for him because they expressed it tangibly by sending him money.

How can we as a church express our concern for others?
When a mother is sick- care for the kids, do the laundry. When a person suffers loss- take them some groceries, deliver a meal. When a person doesn’t know Jesus- Share Jesus with them.
*Concern must be expressed tangibly!

When a Church Cares
2) It Seizes the Opportunity to Act (Philippians 4:10b).
The church always cared for Paul, they just had not had the opportunity to act before. When we really care, we will take the opportunity when it comes. We cannot always schedule when other people might need our help. It is not a matter of doing what is expected of us- anyone can do that. It’s about doing the unexpected because it is what is need at that time.

When a Church Cares
3) It Shares in the Lives of Others (4:11-16).
Paul praises the church for sharing in all that he had done and accomplished for Jesus. They became a part of the life and ministry of Paul by helping him financially. In the same way, we become a part of the lives and ministries of those we help.

When a Church Cares
A) It Receives a Blessing Itself (Acts 4:17-20).
B) Caring Blesses the one who gives as well as the one who receives.
C) Caring Causes us to shift our attention from ourselves to others.

Closing– When a church cares, that care is expressed in actions. We know the world is not going to care, so it’s up to us. Imagine what would happen in our community if all of us began to act out the kind of care that the church at Philippi did, the kind of care Jesus modeled. I believe it would energize and empower people to see and experience the Grace and Forgiveness of Jesus Christ. And I believe that it would radically change the time and season in which we live. We need to be people who care- because if we don’t, who will?

When a Church Prays

2010-03-10T10:19:00.001-07:00

Have you ever longed to break through the barriers and limitations in life in order to experience a life transformed by God? I know I have. According to Scripture, the earliest followers of Jesus asked Him to teach them to pray. Prayer is the tool we have that can help us break through every barrier, every limitation in our life. Probably one of our greatest weaknesses as a church is our weakness in prayer, our reluctance to pray. I know for me, prayer is one of the elements I neglect and struggle with in my daily life, something I don’t spend enough time being part of. Would you say that this is true in your life?

Prayer is (and needs to be) a priority in our lives. Prayer is one of the significant ministries of the church. This morning we will look at what happens when a church prays and hopefully we will be encouraged and empowered to be a church that prays.

Acts 4:23-31- When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’ for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

1) Prayer is a Response to God’s Grace (Acts 4:23-28).
When Peter and John were released from prison, they joined the other Christians in Jerusalem. When they were set free, they didn’t hold a conference, try to find a way to keep from getting arrested again, or plan a retaliation- No, they prayed. Prayer is the natural response of the Believer to God’s Grace.

2) Prayer Is A Request (Acts 4:29).
Notice that the early Church’s request centers on obedience to God and to the task of witnessing for God. They didn’t pray, “keep us free, safe, and don’t let us get caught again.” Instead they prayed- The Bobble- “Lord, help us keep the main thing, the main thing. Help us stay on task and get on with the Job of proclaiming the Gospel”. We need to constantly be praying for boldness in proclaiming the Gospel. Because, the good news of Jesus is the only way our city is going to experience hope, joy, peace, purpose and change!

3) Prayer Is A Resource (Acts 4:30).
The early church prayed with expectancy. They expected God to do something amazing. They knew that there was an adequate and powerful resource, and they claimed it. They claimed the power of God in Jesus- this same power is available to all Believers. All of God’s resources are available to us through prayer.

4) Prayer Produces Results (Acts 4:31).
The early church had prayed in v.29 for boldness in speaking the Word of God. In v.31 we are told that they spoke the Word of God with Boldness.

Conclusion- What Results from Prayer?
A) We Experience the Presence of God.
B) We Experience the Power of God.
C) We Receive Boldness for Ministry.

Closing- When a church prays, that church can Experience boldness in ministry. A major ministry of the church is prayer. As we’ve seen through Scripture today, when a church prays…it has power.

When A Church Worships

2010-03-10T09:41:00.009-07:00

Have you ever wondered why we do what we do as a church? What does this church really consist of? This month we will be looking at what the Bible says church could and should be about. We will examine how if we as ordinary people simply follow God’s blueprint and put into practice what the Bible teaches, will experience an environment and community that fulfills people’s needs, as well as God’s desire for His church.

This morning we will look at how the very first church in Acts wasn’t caught up in the things that are prevalent in “church” today. There were no fancy programs or paraphernalia; instead we see them busy doing what Jesus called and commissioned them to do. Today we will look why the church worships.

Acts 2:42-47- "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

1) There’s a Designated Time for Worship (Acts 2:46-47).
Worship is all about Jesus. The first church dedicated a time to praise and worship Jesus. We start with a time of praise & worship at the beginning of our weekly service. Praise and Worship are parts of our service, not killing time before the preaching.
*We all need to designate time for worship daily!

2) There is a Purpose for Worship (John 20:19-20).
Notice that the disciples were glad to see Jesus. We, too, want to see Jesus when we worship. There is a time when we need to move aside all of the other things in life that crowd out Jesus. We worship at the beginning of our service to prepare our hearts to respond to all God has done in our lives, in thanksgiving, and expectation of the message He has prepared to speak to us.

3) Jesus is the Center of Worship (Matthew 18:20).
Jesus’ presence as our focus is what sets worship apart from any other gathering.

4) The Product of Worship (John 20:21-22).
A) We Receive Comfort & Peace from Jesus.
B) We Receive a Commission to Serve Jesus.
C) We Receive the Spirit of Power from Jesus.

The Holy Spirit gives us the power to receive the forgiveness of our sins through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection; and empowers us to be the witnesses for Jesus, to share with others the forgiveness we’ve personally experienced and accepted.

Closing- Worship is the stating point of a Church’s Ministry (that’s why we begin and end our service with Worship). When a church worships Jesus, wonderful things happen: people find forgiveness, friends, community, support, purpose & encouragement. When a church worships, lives are transformed, destinies are changed, needs are met and Jesus is glorified.

Things You Never Expected To See In Church

2010-01-11T23:10:00.006-07:00

I never expected to see a guy get hit in the head with an offering plate. Luckily it was actually an offering bag (thanks Baptists') and the guy who got hit was actually me. Total accident, and the lady that scrambled my eggs was so sorry. As I reflected on the hilarious event (tuning out the pastors sermon completely), I wondered if God wanted me to give more? I've heard that sometimes God has to knock you around to get your attention, but this was ridiculous! I think I did get the picture though, so next Sunday I'll be putting in 2 checks! Thanks for the reminder God...no further lesson is required!

Check out this Tim Hawkins Christmas Carol

2009-12-29T21:04:00.001-07:00

Encountering the Mysteries of God (Part 12)

2009-12-01T21:40:00.007-07:00

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Paul seems to want to focus on three big ideas in these concluding verses:
1) We can be strong because we are empowered by God's strength (v.10).
2) We can stand against the enemy because we stand under God's power (v.11-23).
3) Grace comes to all who love Jesus (v.24).

Everything we do in this life is done by the power of God. Our coming to Him is by His effectual call when we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, our acceptance is by His irresistible Grace, and our perseverance is continued by the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul makes this clear as he points everything back to the all sufficient, sovereign will and power of God.

In verses 10-20, Paul gives us the practical or "what now" ways that we prepare for the spiritual battle that each of us faces in this life. The certainty of this battle is clear, and Paul makes the point that everyone (whether in Christ or not) will fight in this battle. The question is, "do we want to fight on our own or do we want the King to fight for us?" Those who put their faith and trust in Jesus, who have been called by the Father, have the certain victory. Those who reject the saving Grace that Jesus brings, choose to fight an enemy they can't possible beat. The reality for believers is that we fight this battle in and through the power of God. He gives us the strength to do these things, and the responsibility of doing them with the intent of growing us deeper and closer to Himself in relationship. The natural outcome of the work He does in us is worship, to glorify Himself. The heart of God is for us to know Him deeper, to trust Him fully with every part of our lives, thus showing that He is ultimate for us; that we constantly desire Him and His Glory. Our glory does not enter into the equation, it's all about Him.

The question that this brings up in my heart is, "what or who do I worship?" "Is it Jesus? Is it someone or something other than God?" Answering this question will be key in our spiritual development. We must realize that God wants to know us deeper, He wants to love and provide for us. Why don't we want to know Him more? Do situations and circumstances dictate our relationship with God? These are the questions I have been asking for the past few months, and honestly some of the answer have been disappointing and sad. I'm learning what I hold as ultimate in my life, and often (I'm sad to say) it's not God. Coming to this realization and revelation breaks my heart, but perhaps that's what God is doing to bring about my regeneration and sanctification. I pray as Paul did, that I might draw closer to Jesus in everything I do, and that the Gospel will be evident in my life, for the Glorification of God and the reconciling of others to Him!

Encountering the Mysteries of God (Part 11)

2009-11-25T12:28:00.002-07:00

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

The issue here in Ephesians 6:1-9, is submission. Paul has just laid out the orders for husbands and wives; and now turns to children to parents; slaves to masters; masters to slaves; and how parents should deal with their children.

God doesn’t judge on the basis of if you are a slave, child, parent, master, etc. He judges and rewards every faithful person equally. The issue is to be Biblical in everything we do, as if whatever it is (honoring our parents, or raising our kids), is done to and for God Himself and His Glorification. That’s what Paul wants us to get here– that everything we do should be done because we get to serve God, represent Him, and that ultimately our actions will bring Glory to God. I like to think of it by way of challenge: Look at everything God has put me over (family, parents, church, job) as if it were His not mine (because all of it is His, we are just stewards) and look for ways to glorify God in everything I do.

Paul is speaking in regards to the 4th commandment. God uses the 4th Commandment to show us how we fall short of God’s plan and how we cannot always do what is required of us from Scripture. If we examine our lives we must all admit that we have broken the 4th Commandment more times and in more ways than we can imagine. That’s why we need Jesus! Jesus is our Savior! Jesus has come to give us the long life that we can’t earn for ourselves. Notice that Jesus kept the 4th Commandment perfectly for us. Not only did Jesus honor his earthly parents perfectly. Even more, Jesus honored His heavenly Father perfectly.

Jesus obeyed His Father and went to the cross to suffer and die for all our sins – including our failure to keep the 4th Commandment. If you struggle with guilt because of times you did not honor your parents; if you are burdened with guilt because you have not been the perfect mother or father, you can come to Jesus and know that you are forgiven and holy before God.

This same Jesus who forgives you and covers you with His own perfection, this same Jesus will give you a new heart that longs to keep the 4th Commandment. In fact, that’s what Paul means when he tells children to obey their parents “in the Lord.” Paul knows that we can’t obey the 4th Commandment no matter how hard we try. Only Jesus who forgives us and loves us can help us to begin to obey this Commandment. So, confess your sins to God and know that He forgives you. Jesus will help you to honor your parents.

As God’s mercy and love moves us to obey the 4th Commandment, we will have peace in our homes and, in turn, we will be a blessing to our communities. But even more, we can look forward to a long, eternal life with our True Father in heaven who serves us now through the authorities He has placed over us.

Encountering the Mysteries of God (Part 10)

2009-11-17T11:28:00.003-07:00

"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

The apostle Paul takes nine verses to speak about the husbands duty as protector, provider, and pastor for the wife; and only three verses to talk about the wife's responsibility to her husband. Husbands are to love their wives in a self-sacrificing way. To give ourselves up for our wives. The reality is that I (we as husbands and men) need to come to this kind of understanding if I want my marriage to not only work, but be spectacular!

I need to put my wife's needs above my own and I need to love her. It's important that I meditate on what it means to lay my life down for my wife. It all begins with my understanding of the love and self-sacrifice that God has made by sending Jesus to be my substitute. When I'm able to wrap my mind and heart around the ultimate sacrifice that was made for my salvation, for God's plan of reconciliation to affect me, then and only then will I know how to love my wife. When I experience what the cross meant to the Father and to the Son, then giving up my life for the one I love most on this planet isn't actually that impossible. I know that because I'm in a constant state of Sanctification, though not perfect yet, God has equipped me to sacrifice what is most important to my flesh for my wife. I know I will not always do this perfectly, but thanks to the work of the Holy Spirit, I'm actually getting better (by God's grace and my wife's willingness to push through the difficult things).

If (and that's the big word), if I can love my wife and sacrifice my fleshly wants for material things, physical/sexual desires, and emotional needs, then I have taken the first step in leading her as pastor, protector and provider. Paul's point is that Biblical Submission becomes less of "I have to do this" and more of "I get to do this." Paul seems to lay this out as cause and effect. Submission to the husbands lead will flow out of the wife's love for Jesus, Scripture, and her husband.

My encouragement this week is to take some time and meditate on what it means to love and sacrifice myself for my wife. Ask God to reveal what this kind of love looks like in the life of the Christians husband. How do I love my wife?

"Called to Mission" Luke 4:42-44

2009-11-09T08:29:00.006-07:00

This week I had the opportunity to preach at River Community Fellowship, and I wanted to share my notes from the message. We will be back in Ephesians next week, but I thought it would be important for all of us to see what Jesus was up to in Luke 4, and hopefully be encouraged and challenged to strive to be a part of God's mission. Hopefully this will stir up your passion to reach out to your community in tangible ways.

Introduction– Isn’t it true that the more a Christian believer comes to comprehend all he/she has in Jesus Christ, the more eager he/she is to share Jesus with others? I’ve come to realize that there must be three non-negotiable factors for my life as a Christ follower. The first, is continually making sure that the Gospel is the content for everything I do as an individual. I must remain Gospel-centered. The second, is to strive to be missionally intentional (i.e. always on mission) because as the Gospel is truth, it must be proclaimed in real, tangible ways. The third factor I’ve found is to love my community in context, which practically means that I share my life as a Believer in Jesus with unbelievers in the places they belong, while building trust to create an environment or place where they can explore and examine the Gospel of Christ safely. These three factors must be the foundations for everything I do.

I realize that living these truths is intentional and requires a lot of time and effort, a lot of boundary bouncing, but it is so rewarding and so Biblical that it must be entwined into the DNA of our lives personally and the life of the universal church.

Contextual Overview
In Luke chapter 4, we learn of the good news of God’s kingdom. Jesus has been on an incredible journey: first, (v.1-13) He spends 40 days in the desert being tempted by the devil, but Jesus overcomes the temptations and never sins; then (v.14-30) Jesus returns to His home town and begins to preach and teach in the synagog, but the people get angry at Him and drive Him out of the city. Then (v.31-41) Jesus goes to Capernaum, a city in northern Galilee, and just blows up, He begins preaching the gospel; teaching about the sovereignty, majesty, goodness, and kingdom of God; heals the sick; and drives out demons. The people of the city, at this point, are glad Jesus is there, they’re excited about the work Jesus is doing, and they’re anticipating what Jesus will do next.

Luke 4:42-44– “And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, ‘I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.’ And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.”

We see three distinct things about God’s Mission in our passage today, but in order to understand these truths, we must have a working definition of the Gospel.

What is the Gospel?
The Gospel is God's plan to save his people from their sins and to bring his people fully and finally to himself (Ephesians 2:1-10). The great theologian J.I. Packer simply says, “God Saves Sinners.” Through the person and work of Jesus Christ, God fully accomplishes salvation for us by the Holy Spirits regeneration, rescuing us from judgment for sin, into fellowship with him, and then restores the creation in which we can enjoy new life together with him.

THREE DISTINCT THINGS ABOUT GOD’S MISSION

1) Our Natural Tendency Is Not to God’s Mission (v.42)
The next morning, Jesus heads for a solitary place to spend some time alone with the Father (Mark 1:35-38). The people find out that He’s getting ready to leave. So they go to Him and say, “Don’t leave! We need you! We need your power in our lives! We need your presence in our lives. We need your preaching in our lives! Please stay with us!”

2) The Gospel Connects People to God’s Mission (v.43)
Jesus says in verse 43, “It’s not that I don’t love you. It’s not that I don’t want to be with you. But my mission in life is to share the good news with as many people as I can! God’s kingdom is here right now, and I want the rest of the world to know about it!” The good news needs to be shared so that the people of the world can be reconciled back to God (See Romans 10:14). Notice that there is a need for Gospel proclamation. In verse 43, Jesus says to the people of Capernaum, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God!” Jesus was ready and willing to live out the mission of God in front of and in the midst of lost people.

3) The Gospel Sends People on God’s Mission (v.44)
In verse 44, Jesus “continued preaching in the synagogues of Judea.” In other words, he was doing everything He could to make the gospel as accessible as possible. Luke is trying to teach us that the good news of God’s love is accessible to everyone! (See 1 John 5:11-12)

For us, our Judea is right here in the Verde Valley. There are people right here in Cottonwood who don’t know that God loves them, that don’t know that God wants to do something beautiful and lasting in their lives, to bring reconciliation! There are people out there who have no idea about who Jesus is and what He has done specifically for them. No idea that they can be forgiven, restored, reconciled to God, all because of the substitutionary life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. People need to know that God has extended His grace to them, through the cross of Christ, and that because of Jesus, we now have access to the amazing majesty of the creator and sustainer of everything.

Those of us who have heard the Gospel and have been transformed by it are called to God’s mission. The question is, “will we graciously open up our hearts, our homes, and our lives for others to join us in experiencing the Gospel?”

CLOSING
The beauty of the Gospel is that it illustrates God’s missional heart very tangibly in the person and work of Jesus Christ. God sends his son to live in the world of the lost, to live amongst them, and bring the Kingdom to his people.

We are all sinners in need of a Savior. The reason why Jesus came to earth preaching the good news is because we ALL need the help of God! We ALL need salvation! Jesus was looking for lost people and had to leave His comfort zone in order to reach them. He had to be sent to us, we were not naturally going to go to Him. In this same way, we must intentionally go after people with the Gospel because they are lost.

CHALLENGE
Answer these questions, (please close your eyes): Imagine if Jesus were to walk into this room right now and say, “Come on, get up, and come with me.” Where do you picture him taking you first? Maybe it’s someplace you’ve never been. Where? Why would he take you there?

This week I’d like to challenge you to practice being “called to mission” by crossing two barriers of your normal life:
1) Cross Your Fence – Do something to bless or simply converse with one neighbor on your street.

2) Cross Your Street – Do something to connect with someone who is close to your home, but with whom you haven’t built a relationship yet.

STUDY QUESTIONS
Personal – Jesus was well known for his love for people, which brought his people great joy. Jesus was actively involved in ministering to other people in a way that had profoundly encouraged them. Who are you encouraging, and how is your life impacting others?

Spiritual – We must react to the Gospel. We live in a fallen world where believer’s need to be refreshed, and unbelievers need to experience what it means to be refreshed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What are we doing to actively seek the deeper things of Jesus?

Missional – Experiencing God’s mission must be an intentional part of our lives. What specifically are you doing to further the mission of God in the lost world? What about your life will compel people in the Verde Valley to want to know more about Jesus?

Preaching this Sunday at RCF in Cottonwood

2009-11-04T22:49:00.007-07:00

This week I have the great honor of preaching at River Community Fellowship in Cottonwood, Arizona. The text we'll be working from is Luke 4:42-44, on a message I've entitled, "Called to Mission." Should be a really cool time and I want to invite all of you in the Verde Valley area to join us at 10 a.m. this Sunday, November 8th for a time of worship, fellowship, pray and preaching/teaching.

It would be great to see as many of you and any friends/family you could bring out to support the work of this solid ministry. River meets at Tavasci Elementary School. Check out the church website for more information or directions to the school at: www.rivercommunityfellowship.org

Hope to see you there!

Bob Greene

Encountering the Mysteries of God (Part 9)

2009-11-04T22:25:00.006-07:00

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."

Paul, in this section of Scripture, makes the point that because Jesus has regenerated us (through the power of the Holy Spirit's work) we now have the ability and opportunity to model our lives after Jesus and act like Him. It's important to stop acting/behaving like we did before regeneration (habitual/willfully sinning) and start being "imitators of God." We partner with Jesus in living lives of submission, repentance, and faith. We now can put the old/past sins away (because of the cross) and live lives that are pleasing and honoring to God.

Also, be careful with words, thoughts, and actions. Paul says not to be "foolish" (v.17), but to live in such a way as to honor God, not disrespect Him. Jesus has made it possible for us to be in a right relationship with God emotionally, physically, spiritually, and the Holy Spirit is empowering us to live that spirituality out everyday. We are God's Ambassadors and we represent Him to this world. We need to walk, talk, and look as much like Jesus as possible, so that we can direct others to Him for their salvation and God's Glorification!

Final Thoughts– Be thankful to God for all He has given to us, not covetous for what we see others have that we want and wish we had. When you do get down, look at all the blessings God has given you/me (because they are many), and rest in the sovereignty of God's will. Trust in His character to make all things right and just in His perfect time.

Encountering the Mysteries of God (Part 8)

2009-10-06T10:51:00.007-07:00

"Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Because God has regenerated our hearts, we get to be continually transformed and can put off the old life, nature, self, because the Holy Spirit replaces those old things with new, glorified, redeemed ones. We now (because of Jesus) have been created after the likeness of God and therefore have the ability (through the working of the Holy Spirit) to live a new and transformed life of faith. This is all part of the regenerated work that the Holy Spirit is doing in us, while progressive sanctification is continuing to take place.

We must remember that our struggles and sins no longer have control over us. When they do creep up on us, we need to take them to God through prayer, while continuing to search the Scriptures, remembering that Jesus died to conquer all sin, separation from God, and all death (which is what sin ultimately leads to). We must remember that Jesus has accomplished our salvation and has reconciled us back to God, Jesus is our continual advocate to the Father, and the Holy Spirit is continually working out our salvation and sanctification, so that we can be new creations that worship God and Glorify Him with our redeemed lives.

The encouragement today is to believe that we are new creations in Christ. Start to practice the truths found in the Scriptures, and live as though these truths are actually TRUE. Forget the past, forget what we used to be (before Jesus), and remember that God sees us washed by the blood of Jesus. While we often fail and don't see ourselves whole, God sees us in the light of Jesus, completely spotless and sin free. Live in the moment and truth that God is working everything out through the power of His Glory and Grace. Believe that you are changed and new, and let that truth be lived out in radical submission to the mortification of sin and the Glorification of God.

Encountering the Mysteries of God (Part 7)

2009-09-27T14:48:00.004-07:00

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, 'When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men. 'In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Paul now speaks on the unity that is found in the body of Christ (the church). Paul continually talks about love being the motivation behind everything we do as believers. Understanding that God has made grace available to us as a gift through the subsequent life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (v.7) will help us realize who truly is in control. Because of Jesus' great love for us and His great sacrifice of Himself, we can now experience a truly wonderfully, grace filled, Holy Spirit led existence.

If love is the driving factor in the church, then everything we say and do should be clothed in love...especially where issues of methodology and practice are seen differently. We are all called to be witness of God's grace and message of reconciliation, but the ways we go about doing that may be different, actually should be different. The issue is not the message, but how we proclaim it. We are all created with different gifts and talents, and we are all called to reach different people, in different contexts, with differing ways of communicating the Gospel. Understanding our diversity within the body of Christ will help us to keep love the focus, and most likely help us realize how God wants to use us in the culture He has placed us in.

Final Thought– May we build on the essential things we agree on, in love, to build the church up (v.16), and be gracious to others when secondary matters are discussed.

Encountering the Mysteries of God (Part 6)

2009-09-15T10:25:00.006-07:00

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Paul's prayer is that since God has Sovereign control over everything, we should look to Jesus because He is the fullness of God, essentially the fullness of God Dwelling in human form/flesh. We look to Jesus for strength to understand the vast love, grace, mercy and Sovereignty of God. Not only is Jesus the example we look to, but the very source of who and what we are looking to. Paul's desire is that we all would be filled with the fullness of God, receiving it because we have experienced the love of Jesus that surpasses all human knowledge.

This work is clearly done by God, through Jesus, imparted to us by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we realize that we have no part in the "doing" or "work" it frees us up to focus on God as ultimate. He will do the work through us as vessels when He's ready, and how He desires. Our responsibility is to continually look to Jesus for everything, realizing that God works through Jesus to impart what he has for us.

Paul's encouragement is for us to be strengthened with God's power (by keeping Him Ultimate in our lives) so that three things can happen in our lives:

1) So that Jesus will Dwell in our hearts through Faith.
Jesus wants to take up residence in our lives, and Paul prays that we would desire to have Jesus dwell in us. The motivation is for loving relationship, the outcome is a deeper relationship and understanding of who Jesus is and what faith in Jesus looks like in our lives.

2) So that we can comprehend the love of Jesus.
Again, the driving factor is love. When Jesus begins to dwell in us, we begin to experience the amazing depths of God's essence. When we realize how much God loves us, how much He sacrificed when Jesus had to die for me and my sins, so that I could be reconciled back to God, I have a deeper love for others. No sacrifice is greater than Jesus' sacrifice and therefore (because I have personally experienced His love) I should desire to love others regardless of what they have done to me. Through the working of the Spirit, we are enabled and empowered to love in this sacrificial way, which draws us into partnership with God in His mission of reconciling the world.

3) So that we may be filled up to all the Fullness of God.
When we experience the fullness of God, it leads to a greater understanding of God and his works. Experiencing the fullness of God brings us to a realization of who we are, who Jesus is, what God has done for us through Jesus, and how we are empowered by the Spirit to live out the reality of God being ultimate in our lives. God wants to give us understanding of spiritual matters, He wants us to know Him deeper and fuller, and He desires to equip us for mission. Some people believe that God doesn't want us to know things, yet Paul makes it very clear that God desires to teach us and for us to learn more about Him. This brings God great glory and honor, and makes Godliness a reachable goal.

Final Thought– Try to understand and experience how powerful God truly is. Rest in His Sovereignty, knowing that His will will be done, and that it will be perfect. Truly purse and desire God's glory, and you will find yourself filled with the Fullness of God.

Encountering the Mysteries of God (Part 5)

2009-09-08T09:42:00.007-07:00

"For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory."

God's Sovereign will is realized and experienced through Jesus revealing the mystery of God's grace. God chose this specific time to send Jesus and the full revelation of God's sovereign plan. It's interesting to me how Paul explains that the fullness of Jesus hadn't been previously revealed, but was now (in Paul's time). It must have been hard for God's people before Jesus showed up, to understand and have complete revelation of God's plan. Like Paul, I'm so thankful that He sent Jesus when He did and gave life to me when He did.

It's great to know that everyone (both Jew & Gentile) are accepted by God on the basis of God's sovereign election through the work of Jesus! I'm so thankful for Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross, and for God choosing to make me an heir for eternity! Do you have the same appreciation for God's timing and call for your life?

Final Thought– Continue to walk close with Jesus in this season of joy that we're in. Stay as close as you can to Him and accept that God's plan is perfect and designed to draw us closer to Him. Regardless of what our circumstances and situations look like today, we must remember that they are ordained by God to work for His glory and praise. God's redemptive plan has been revealed in and through Jesus, so rest in Him and take refuge in the truth that God has provided us a way to be reconciled to Him.

Encountering the Mysteries of God (Part 4)

2009-08-31T21:25:00.008-07:00

"Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."

I noticed that Paul four times talks about Peace in this section
(v.14, v.15 & v.17). He explains that their is peace in the believers life through and because of Jesus. So, not only do we now have peace with God, but we can also experience peace here on earth, in our daily lives. Because Jesus is the cornerstone, we can experience peace even when times are tough, situations and circumstances seem completely un-peaceful, and especially when God is silently stretching our faith and teaching us new and needed lessons (of which I am continually experiencing).

I've noticed in my life, I always want peace when I can't hear God's voice. I don't hear Him audibly or anything like that, but I know when God is speaking and when He is remaining silent. Usually it involves some major decision or life crisis, and when I try to move without hearing from Him it always goes bad. But the weird thing is, that I almost only want to hear from Him when a decision needs to be made or I have some problem that I need Him to fix. I don't find myself seeking His peace when things are going good, only when things are messy. It's hard to have peace when I feel all alone, yet it's not something I desire when I have it. Do you get what I'm saying?

What Paul seems to be getting at in these few verses is that with Jesus, peace is continually available. We have peace with God because of Jesus sacrificial life, death, burial and resurrection. Jesus has reconciled us back to God and now our lives are intertwined with God because Jesus presents us to the Father completely sinless, washed by the blood of Jesus. We have a new citizenship and acceptance because of Jesus, so why don't we have peace? What can separate us from God's love?...nothing! Why do we often worry about our future, finances, and past failures? Is it because we truly have not experienced the peace that Jesus offers? I think most of us never experience peace because we never truly experience who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. I mean we know the right Scriptures (and often use them in times of crisis), we speak "Christianese" and know what we are supposed to say (especially when we are "in church" or talking to the "pastor"), heck we even drive around with ridiculous bumper stickers like "Real Men Love Jesus," without the slightest awareness of what it truly means to love and know Him. Now I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, and I'm certainly not saying that if you do any of the things you're not a believer, I'm just thinking about all the years that I said I was a Christian, and had no idea what that even meant (beyond I'm saved from my sin so I get to go to heaven).

This was supposed to be a quick post for the week, but I guess there's some stuff bottled up inside me that just needs to come out. So here are the final thoughts. Have you experienced the peace that Paul talks about here in Ephesians 2? Do you know who Jesus is and what your relationship with Him looks like? Maybe it's time to get real with God. Maybe it's time to cry out, "Jesus I'm begging You to mediate to the Father for me! I need to know what You want for my life and family. Would you please send me your peace today!" If you're in this spot, be encouraged. It has taken me a long time to understand my position in Christ (and I still am just at the beginning), but I think that getting to this point is a great place to start. Look, listen, and wait for the peace that only Jesus brings, because if you truly seek Him, He will reveal Himself to you.

Encountering the Mysteries of God (Part 3)

2009-08-24T07:50:00.005-07:00

Paul begins Chapter two by outlining a contrast between the hopeless condition of the nonbeliever compared to the new glorified position believers have because God pours out his grace on Christians through his saving initiative. The Christians hope is in God's free gift of salvation through the working out of God's grace. Paul explains,

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

1) God Fervently Pursues Messed Up People!
Paul emphasizes in this section how God helps the helpless! Even more, He helps His enemies who have transgressed his holy law. He pursues the ones who hate Him and offers His enemies the gift of reconciliation. Bottom line, God fervently pursues messed up people! Thankfully we all fall into this category, so we all have the opportunity to experience a relentless love that isn't based on our goodness or faithfulness, but on His relentless, unmerited, unearned, undeserved Grace.

2) We All Were Once Lost.
Paul says we walked like the rest of mankind– following the course of the world. Here it seems like we were just going with the flow, not interested in a better path or way of life, just following whatever and whoever was leading– almost like blindly just being...dead.

3) God Does All The Work.
But then he makes it clear (v.4) that because of God's mercy, love, and grace– instead of being dead in those things, we are actually made alive in Jesus. We are saved by God's grace through the gift of faith– to believe in Jesus as Savior. All this is God's doing, God's working, and God's gift of grace.
This text has nothing to do with our works– it all begins and ends by God's providence to offer salvation based on His election, plan, and purpose. It seems very disrespectful to believe that we have anything to do with salvation, because Paul here clearly explains that it's all about God and through God.

Final Thoughts– Continue to trust God for everything, through the gift of faith. Don't try to do or accomplish anything except what God leads you to do, say, and accomplish– let Him be Lord! He gives us the faith to believe, offers us grace through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and sends the Holy Spirit to work in and through us sanctification. It's all about God, has been and will be, be sure we don't ever lose that truth, because the minute we do, we make it about us and what we are going to do for Him.

Encountering the Mysteries of God (Part 2)

2009-08-16T09:57:00.009-07:00

In this final section in Chapter one of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul moves into a hopeful prayer for the church that they will be able to gain deeper insight into the powerful workings of God in every circumstance and situation, as well as the rich gifts that are to be found in Jesus. Picking up in verse 15 of chapter 1, Paul prays,

"For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all."

1) God desires to give us a spirit of wisdom, revelation, and a deep knowledge of Himself. The central issue here is the magnitude of the glory of God. Notice that the reason God gives us these insights and gifts is so we will be able to know Him more, which naturally draws us to worship Him as Ultimate in our lives, which naturally brings Him glory. While He is not obligated to give us anything, He gives us everything, so that we will in turn give everything we have to Him. He is the one who does the work and our worship for Him as ultimate is the goal, again the core issue is God's glory.

2) God wants us to understand His immeasurable greatness, power, and might combined with an ultimate authority over everything on earth and in heaven. I believe if we truly understand God's greatness, it will cause us to be more reliant on Him. It might even make us question Him less when things go bad, although I'm not completely convinced that this truly can ever happen (at least in this life), but maybe as we purpose to glorify and worship Him, life becomes easier to turn over to Him every situation/ circumstance (both good and difficult/hard).

3) Jesus is the Senior Pastor of the Church. It is super important to recognize this truth. Understanding that Jesus leads His church in position #1 is the starting place for any church. Men are not perfect, and even the most educated, gifted leaders can make mistakes. I'm convinced at this point in my life that Jesus absolutely needs to be the Senior Pastor of the church that He has called me to under-shepherd, and that anything we do must be because He leads us to it. Any move we make, every step our churches take must be because of Jesus' direction and calling.

Final Thoughts– As Paul closes the first chapter with prayer, I thought it would be wise to do the same here. My prayer is, "Help me Lord to see you for who you truly are and help me to see how great and powerful your might is. Help me with my reliance upon you for everything, and please help me keep you the focus of everything, giving you glory and honor in everything from leading and loving my family, church, friends, family and the lost, to having faith when things do not go the way I had hoped. Please help me to see your Son in the light of your glory and help me to continually be looking to glorify you in everything I do."

Encountering the Mysteries of God (Part 1)

2009-08-09T10:26:00.023-07:00

Started reading Ephesians for my quiet time today, and want to start sharing my thoughts here. Hopefully this will turn into some kind of sermon series down the line, but for now I'd just like to share what God is highlighting to me from the Scriptures. We begin in verse one of chapter one:

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

The Apostle Paul begins this letter with the truth that God has initiated and accomplished reconciliation and redemption for the praise of his glory, through the person and work of Jesus. It's important to start with this truth, because it's about who God is and what He has done, not about what we've done. The work is done by God because of and for His glory. We receive the gift of salvation by His grace, not our works or merit, and He offers us His grace because it is the essence of His glory.

We see four things from this section of Scripture that testify to the above statements:

1) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing because of Jesus. Usually the first thing we want to do is find out what our "spiritual blessing is?" But those blessings are nothing without Jesus. While they are important for the Christian life and ministry, what's more important is to know Jesus personally. It all begins and ends with Jesus.

2) God has chosen and predestined us to be His, He has adopted us as sons and daughters by His will. Again, it's not about us living our best life now, it's about God's sovereign election of His sons and daughters. To know that God has chosen me makes life all the more easier to live, because when I fail, I know that God will always forgive me and take me back because He has chosen me to be His. Jesus secured this election when He gave His life for me on the cross, so that now I can be called God's sons.

3) God has given us an inheritance because He desired to give it to us, and we receive this gift because Jesus died for our sin and has fulfilled God's predetermined plan. With all the economic hard times we each have, it is so comforting to know that our eternity is secure. This life is going to be difficult and will at times seem almost unbearable, but if we keep our eyes focused on Jesus and His reconciling work of redemption, we will be able to see more clearly what is waiting for us in heaven, and then this life actually get's a little easier to handle because our focus changes from me, me, me, into pursuing a relationship with Jesus.

Final Thoughts. Faith is a funny thing, I have always seen faith as a series of steps. When we first come to Jesus for salvation, we believe He can save us and reconcile us to God. This is a huge step when we begin to understand our total depravity and the magnitude of our sinful actions and desires. Then, we begin to trust Jesus more and more as we grow in our understanding of the grace that has been given to us. It seems that the natural progression then is to continue to trust Christ with more and more, until we just find total dependence upon Him a non-negotiable for life. Once that sanctification begins to manifest itself in our lives, we begin to trust that God has us in the place He has already predetermined, and if He wants us to move, He will open the door and guide us to and threw it. Our desire should be His the glory of His purpose and plan, not our own glory, our own plan. Honestly, this kind of faith isn't going to happen overnight, but over time, through God's sanctifying work in us, I believe we will get to that place where the spiritual blessings He has bestowed on us will work themselves out in tangible ways that we can hold on to for strength when times are tough.

Where's Our Focus?

2009-05-14T09:44:00.007-07:00

For the last few days I've been thinking about life. In our lives, there are many things we can and often do focus on. For example, when we want a good picture to capture the moment we are in (a trip to Disneyland, marriage ceremony, our kids birthday, etc.) we focus our camera. When we’re testing for something significant (Driver’s License, the yearly eye exam/vision test, that promotion at work, exam at school) we focus our attention to the particular object or task. Our focus remains constant and we don't want any distraction to take us away from what our sole focus is.

But the hard question I've been asking myself this week (the question that I want to pose to you is), how often do we focus on Jesus when life gets tough? Do we look to other things like our spouse, kids, financial investments, or job security before we look to Jesus? Is He our first or last resort?

Well today I'd like to share what the Bible says about how we can restore our focus, get back on track, and keep our focus on Jesus in all our situations and circumstances.

The Apostle Paul’s continual focus on Jesus allowed him to stare anything (even death) right in the face without any fear, knowing that whether he lived or died, he could not lose. I find his thoughts on this subject both profound and very encouraging. Check out what Paul says in Philippians 1:19-26- "For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

If we want to stay focused on Jesus, when things are good and especially in the hard times of life, we need to know:

1) Deliverance Is Coming (v.19)
In the face of any adversity or affliction, God has given us the assurance that He will deliver us (Romans 8:28- “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”).

2) Losing Is Not An Option (v.20-24)
What can you do to someone who doesn’t fear death? How do you punish them? Paul’s main purpose in living was to glorify Jesus, because Christ was the essence of his life. His concern was not what would happen to him but what testimony would be left for His Lord. Release from prison would allow him to continue to preach about Jesus, death would result in him being with Jesus for eternity. Christians have nothing to lose because losing is not an option.

3) God Has A Plan And Purpose (v.25-26)
Paul trusted that if God allowed him to live, God would not only deliver him, but also use him to reach others with the Gospel. Paul knew God would bless his work and continue to use him as a witness just as He had done in the past.

When we place every situation (the good, the bad & the ugly), every circumstance (difficult or easy) in God’s hands, we realize and experience His good, perfect, and pleasing will. God created us, and Jesus calls us, to be spiritually contagious to a lost and separated world. When we give God the reigns of our lives, He works faith into our lives and gives us the opportunity to influence and impact our world with the goodness, grace, mercy, and forgiveness that only Jesus offers. Are you ready to be contagious for Jesus?

Driscoll at The Gospel Coalition Conference

2009-04-26T00:43:00.013-07:00

Wanted to post this video that Mark Driscoll (pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle & President of the Acts 29 Network) preached last week at The Gospel Coalition Conference. It was another good one. Click the link to the right for the video.

Back from Disneyland

2009-04-07T12:24:00.006-07:00

What a great trip we had! It was soooo nice in SoCal. The weather was perfect, Disneyland was pretty much empty until the evening, and we got to just relax and have fun. Didn't get to see everyone we wanted, but we did get to enjoy the break. The Marriott in Anaheim is still awesome (it's the only place we stay when in Anaheim) and it was just about a perfect stay. I'd recommend this Hotel (which is more like a resort) to anyone who finds themselves in Orange County.

Now it's back to the task of searching for God's will for us in ministry.

This is an exciting time for us, packed with all kinds of change and opportunity. We ultimately want to glorify God in everything we do and we know that following Him isn't always easy, but what else would we want or desire to do? Fulfilling God's mission by bringing the message of the Gospel is a great responsibility, an amazing calling, and I can honestly say there is really nothing like it. As we continue to seek the direction of God, we could use your prayers for clear direction and calling. Thanks for checking in. I'll keep the updates coming.

Off To Disneyland

2009-03-25T22:59:00.004-07:00

Tomorrow we are heading to Disneyland for a couple of days of fun in So Cal...I'm so stoked! This will be Micah Man's first time to the promise land, and Justices' second. We had so much fun when we took Justice a couple of years ago, and I think this time she will actually be able to keep up with me on the rides.

We will be getting to hang out with my dad, my bro Kevin, some of Sandi's family, and some other friends who wish to remain anonymous, it's going to be killer, not to mention getting a break from Seminary and Arizona. The trip's gonna be off the hook and I hope to have pictures and video of the trip when we get back next week.

Thanks also to everyone for the encouragements about the Podcast. Sandi and I are putting things in place for our next church plant, and getting the word out has been awesome. If you haven't checked it out, go to: bobgreene.podomatic.com. You can also access the link from my website: www.crosstheroad.org. Check it out, tell your friends, even post a comment. If you want to hook up in Anaheim this weekend, give me a ring, ring. Later on.

"Humility: True Greatness"

2009-03-10T10:15:00.004-07:00

I Just finished a great book by C.J. Mahaney that I want to encourage every Christian to read. The book is called, "Humility: True Greatness."

God clearly states that He is drawn to the Humble. He’s also clear that He opposes the proud. These two, humility and pride, cannot coexist. Where one is fostered, the other is defeated.

C.J. Mahaney paints a striking picture of the daily battle quietly raging within every Christian and asks whether you will passively accommodate the enemy of your soul, pride, or actively cultivate your best friend, humility. When you acknowledge the deception of pride and intentionally humble your self, you become free to savor abundant mercies and unlikely graces. You will find a new life–a life God richly favors. A God~glorifying life you don’t want to miss.

Redefining Success

2009-01-19T23:47:00.006-07:00

One of the interesting conversations I’m having with people right now (especially church planters), is the question of success. How we measure success, what it looks like when we succeed, and how we can tell if we’re not succeeding?

Success, by definition is, “The achieving of objectives or personal fulfillment.” In order to answer theses questions, I’d like to start out with four True or False questions:

Question #1- True or False- The real test for success is my family’s well-being and happiness.
In other words, my ultimate goal in life, the way I really can be successful, is to provide for my family and make them happy.

Question #2- True or False- Having nice things is a good indication of whether a person is truly successful.
If I own a house, at least one car, and have a few nice things, then I am successful. This doesn’t mean that I am filthy rich; I just have some nice stuff.

Question #3- True or False- Receiving a promotion always demonstrates a person is successful.
In other words, if I move up in my career towards better things and more influence then I must be a successful person.

Question #4- True or False- Having time to do the things I love is the ultimate measure of success.
Let me put it this way, if I retire with a little nest egg and good health and my wife and I have time to pursue our hobbies then, we have succeeded at life.

What are your answers? In a way I feel like I may have tricked you, because the answer to all of these questions is False. We all want to be successful in whatever we do, but neither family, nor possessions, nor career, nor pleasure, nor church attendance have anything to do with true success. For believers, success depends on the faithfulness of God. The danger in success is that it can lead us to dependence on our own strength, instead of upon God.

The trouble is that we don’t usually even realize it’s a problem for us. Most of us don’t see success as a problem because we often picture success as a yuppie in a suit, holding a briefcase in some metropolitan area, sipping a Grande, decaf, triple-shot, non-fat, café Latte.

That is why I want to look at the Biblical View of Success, to show that it is not wrong to want to succeed, but also to offer a good way to measure true success.

Let’s begin with the Biblical Views of Success:

1) God Created Success (Genesis 1:31).
Success is talked about and pictured throughout the Bible. Based on this truth, I think there are some things we need to understand about success.

We Need To See The:
The Evidences of Human Success:
1) Wealth (Ecclesiastes 2:4-9 & 1 Kings 10:23-26).
2) Power (Genesis 41:41-43).
3) Knowledge (1 Kings 4:32-34).

The Limitations of Human Success:
Success Can Lead Us To:
1) Pride (Deuteronomy 8:17-18 & Isaiah 10:12-15).
2) False Security (1 Timothy 6:17).
3) Success Does Not Lead Us To Justification (Galatians 2:15-16 &
Romans 3:23-25).

The Evidences of God’s Success:
1) God Always Accomplishes His Purposes (Isaiah 46:9-11 & 55:10-11).
2) Lives Reflect God’s Grace (Joseph in Genesis 39:1-3 &
David in 1 Samuel 18:14).
3) Jesus Is God’s Gift Of Salvation (John 17:4, Acts 4:12 &
1 Timothy 2:3-6).

Human beings can achieve many things, but any success, which disregards God, is futile. God always achieves what He intends. Anything of eternal value needs God-given resources. True success is not measured by the happiness of our family, our influence, our position at work, the attendance in our church, or our possessions. True success is measured by our faith in Christ and our level of obedience to Him. If we obey Jesus, that’s enough…everything else will follow because of God’s unmerited Favor, Sovereign Grace and Unexplainable Mercy.