He is Risen, He has Ascended, He has Sent the Holy Spirit, Now What?

The "Easter Season" has passed. Easter hats are put away, family traditions are over till next year, the Sunrise Service has set, what do we do now as individuals and as a church in response to the truth we just celebrated?

Wait, we can't think about that too much yet, we have Homecoming Sunday, Mother's Day Sunday, Father's Day Sunday, then we will want to recognize the graduates one Sunday and we need to come up with some summer programs. Those things will keep us very busy, but we could probably get serious about applying the Easter message sometime around July. Oops, I forgot about taking a Sunday to celebrate our country and maybe we need to do something for Labor Day? After that we need to consider if we should celebrate Halloween (call it a "Fall Festival" of course). That seems like the perfect time to get busy with our response to the Easter message, but Thanksgiving is at hand and then we will glide right into Christmas. Of course New Years Day and Valentines Day will keep us plenty busy until we get back to Easter!

Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (NKJV)

Acts 1:6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (NKJV)

It is not necessarily bad to recognize people's accomplishments and other Holidays at church, but maybe a bit of focus is needed? Jesus should always be the focus!

What is a Pastor who Loves Jesus Supposed to Do?

John 21:17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. (NKJV)

Talk is cheap and distractions from the important things are everywhere. Jesus wanted more from Peter than mere words. He wanted Peter to understand that true love for Him was to be shown by feeding His sheep/church with His word. How is Peter or a present day Pastor/Elder expected to care for the children of God? Not that the job descriptions listed below are bad things in themselves, but to what extent do they become the main thing expected of Pastor/Elders or keep the focus off the main thing?

If you love Me be an Activities Director for my sheep?

If you love Me be a Home Health Worker for my sheep?

If you love Me be a Facilities Manager for my sheep?

If you love Me be a Master of Ceremonies for my sheep?

If you love Me be a Public Relations Coordinator for my sheep?

If you love Me be a Customer Service Specialist for my sheep?

If you love Me be an Evangelist for my sheep?

Are any of these things unreasonable for a Pastor/Elder to have some involvement in? No! There is even some aspect of the Pastor/Elders' role that may look like any of these things at times, but lets not forget that the main job of the Pastor/Elder is to teach and apply the word of God in the church. The main job of the individual believer in the church as it relates to the Pastor/Elder is to learn and submit to the teaching of scripture.

I think many churches have an unspoken agreement between the Pastor and the congregation that goes something like this: We are already saved (we think) and we don't want to learn (never liked school) so please focus on these other areas. On Sunday mornings or at events you (Pastor) can be our evangelist so those unsaved people who show up can get saved, while we (the allegedly saved) can tune out.

I don’t want to paint with too broad a brush, but if the things Jesus said to emphasize aren't purposefully emphasized, then the easy, natural and more flesh pleasing things will win the day and the church will remain undernourished, immature and will not be obeying the directions of our Lord.

Worshiping the Created Things Day? Oh the Tragic Irony!!

Today we celebrate the most important event in the Christian life - Jesus' death on the cross for our sin. I don't want to minimize the resurrection or the sending of the Holy Spirit, but without Jesus paying the price for our sin the resurrection would not save us and we could never receive the Holy Spirit. As we celebrate Good Friday and Jesus' death to provide forgiveness for our sins it is wise to remember exactly what we need saving from.

Consider the fact that the unbelieving world is celebrating Earth Day today in light of the verses below - 

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Good Friday, the day Jesus died to redeem His people from their idolatrous worship of the created things over the creator and what does the world do? Create a holiday on the same day to celebrate the creation at the exclusion of the creator! Ironic, sad and a real life example of the truthfulness of God's word. Also, a clear demonstration of our need for the death of Jesus to save us from the wrath our sins deserve.

"Jesus Wept" - John 11:35

It is easy, natural and correct for Christians to remind each other that God is in control, remind them of all the promises we have in Jesus, remind them that in Him all our needs are met and we are never alone! We can remind them that even the hard things will be used for some redemptive, Christ glorifying purpose. But, will we allow them to weep?

2 Cor. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

If we deny trouble is real or think pain is only a problem for the spiritually weak, then where is the need for the comfort of Christ and why would we need to comfort one another?

Evidently it is OK for Christians to cry!

I don't usually deal with politics on this blog, but this is shocking!

Don't think persecution is coming?

SALVATION REQUIRES LOOKING UPON HIM WHOM WE PIERCED!

Zachariah 12:8 In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the LORD before them. 9 It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. (NKJV)

Good Theology in Christian Rap - YES!

WHY AM I NOT PREACHING A PALM SUNDAY SERMON ON PALM SUNDAY?

Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem is both a high and low point in His earthly ministry. One moment they are crying - "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' Hosanna in the highest" (Matt. 21:9) and within a few short days we hear - "Pilate said to them, 'What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?' They all said to him, 'let Him be crucified!'" (Matt. 27:22). The triumphal entry is an important fulfillment of prophecy as it quotes from Zach. 9:9 predicting the king coming "lowly and riding on a donkey" (Matt. 21:5). The prophetic fulfillment is a fact, but so is the failure of the people to understand Jesus' message and mission. The more Jesus' mission unfolds the more the people's misunderstanding and sin will become evident.

The cross becomes even more significant when the failure of the people to truly embrace the King is understood. They think they need a political/military king to free them from the Romans and corrupt Jewish leadership, but Jesus knows what they need is a savior from sin - the cross! How does one who worshipped Him one day and cried crucify Him several days later find hope and forgiveness? The Cross! This is why I choose to spend one of the few times many people come to church in the year (Palm Sunday) to focus on Jesus' crucifixion rather than His triumphal entry. It is the crucifixion where God's wrath is satisfied and the glory of God's grace in Jesus is on display. This is the centerpiece of all creation and can't be over emphasized!

If we understand and accept what the cross is about, we will be on Jesus' side when He comes to reign. If we only hear about the triumphal entry and the resurrection without embracing and celebrating the cross and Jesus' payment for our sin, we will find ourselves among the conquered when Jesus returns to reign.

One solution would be to have the week between Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday serve as a week of revival. By spending a week on the events leading up to the crucifixion the whole story could be covered in chronological order without missing the most important thing - Jesus' sacrifice for sin on the cross. Of course the Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday only attendees would probably not attend many midweek services anyway. As usual, my plans are less then perfect.

Thanks be to God for His perfect plan that culminated on the cross!

Martin Luther Movie Clip

I have mentioned this movie several times while teaching. Here is a short clip!

ESCAPE HELL OR CHERISH JESUS

As we enter the time of year when we focus even more on the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it seems wise to ask if our response to His sacrifice is appropriate. If our eternal life (after death/glorification) will look anything like what we read in Revelation 20-22 then the main attraction will be God and the main activity will be worship. What place does He have in our lives now?