Gospel

Reason for Faith

/ Craig / Leave a comment

IMG_8318

1When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” Matthew 11:1-6

John, the one we call John The Baptist, was not a new believer when he raised the question of Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. John was the prophet who prepared the way for Jesus; he pointed to Jesus as the “lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world;” he baptized Jesus and heard the voice from Heaven declare that Jesus was his beloved Son. John’s zeal for God and determination to speak of all people’s need for the righteousness of God landed him in prison when he criticized the lifestyle and choices of the governing ruler.

Yet in the dark and loneliness of prison, John had to grapple with his reasons for faith in Jesus as the Christ. I love what happened next! John made his questions known to Jesus and Jesus answered. “Go and tell John what you hear and see…”

When the events of life challenge our faith that’s the time to activate it by considering again the life, person, character, preaching and activity of Jesus. This is the time to read the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John slowly and persistently. We will see again how He fulfills the promise of God and brings us into His Kingdom. Jesus Himself is our reason for faith.

 

We Hate Helpless

/ Craig / Leave a comment

IMG_5767

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”  Matthew 9:35-38

When we persistently approach life from a position of strength it won’t be long till we hate the helpless. Our denial of weakness demands contempt for both ourselves and others who fail. We will gravitate toward the “wisdom” of self-help gurus who support our moral superiority and remove our need for God.

The Gospel of Jesus confronts our view of God, people and ourselves. Simultaneously from God’s point of view, we see the extraordinary worth of people and the devastating incapacitation of their lostness. Jesus recognized the lostness of people and he had compassion for them. He knew they could not help themselves out of their spiritual alienation from God. People require grace.

I fear our response is so different. We really hate the helpless. We don’t want to believe they are helpless or harassed, like sheep without a shepherd. Why? Perhaps because we still have a sneaky faint-hope clause  buried in our mind, holding out for a self-created salvation and validation. If that’s true we deny grace and we refuse to enter fully into the salvation given us by Jesus. And for sure, we will excuse ourselves from the Lord’s harvest field. Our motto will be “Let them save themselves.”

Yet, its true, I cannot save myself or enter fully into relationship with God by my own design. While I may appear to be the captain of “this ship” through life, I lack what is required to enter into life with God. I need a Saviour. I need a Shepherd. I need Jesus. So I am giving thanks today for the One who loves me and gave Himself for me that I may live loved. I’m  thankful He did not hate helpless.

Obedience and Christian Leaders

/ Craig / Leave a comment

IMG_2998

1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, Romans 1:1-6

A healthy church is not out to control you. But it has received grace and calling from Jesus to bring about

“the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations.”

Obedience is a response to Jesus Christ, our resurrected Lord. Obedience flows from faith. Obedience flows from the dynamic relationship you have with Jesus. The most life-giving call to obedience flows from the experience of grace.

The church is at its best when it remains a voluntary association of people graced by Jesus Christ and following Him together with an agreed upon vision of the constraints and freedoms of His holiness.

Christian leadership under the grace of Jesus is not about getting people to do what the leader imagines for his or her benefit. Christian leadership is creates the environment where people get to know Jesus, understand what Jesus wants, and gain the courage to make adjustments to be obedient to Him. That’s the obedience of faith.

Generosity Ripples

/ Craig / Leave a comment

IMG00231-20101105-1736

11You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!  2 Corinthians 9:11-15 

Throw a pebble on a pond and watch the ripples spread. Grasped between the fingers and flung to the middle, that single stone reached its target and sank, but the affect went to the edges. Like a pebble on a pond, money given may meet a temporary need but the generosity makes lasting  waves. Generosity ripples.

Paul inspires the church in Corinth by showing them the multifaceted impact of their financial gifts. When we take the stuff of earth and leverage it for the work of the Gospel and the life of the church we make waves.

  • God makes our generosity possible… over and over.
  • Our generosity produces worship and thanksgiving toward God from the immediate beneficiaries and from the people who benefit from the life of the church and her servants in Great Commission labour.
  • Our generosity is a ministry serving God and the church.
  • Our generosity flows from and drives us deeper into the Gospel of Jesus.
  • Our generosity produces affection, prayer, and appreciation of God’s grace.
  • Financial giving is only a small ripple of the awe produced by God’s most awesome gift for us — Jesus Christ.

What a privilege! Generosity ripples into eternity! Let’s make waves.

The Power of Words

/ Craig / Leave a comment

 

DSC06679

29Let 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.  Ephesians 4:29

The hardhearted person diminishes the impact of his or her words. But those of us touched by Christ Jesus, know words pack a punch.  The renewing work of the Holy Spirit softens our heart and we cannot stand the thought of our words echoing in the minds of others as the shadow and stench of death.

The Gospel creates hope for humanity. And when I am operating in the fullness of the Holy Spirit my words will cooperate with the Gospel’s hope. Paul urges us to speak words of life fitting for the occasion so that people are built up and given grace.

What vision of people shapes the words pouring from your mouth?

Your words have power to shape people.