The Church in The World Not of The World pt. 24

Love: The Goal of Our Discipleship

If you have been to more than one wedding and paid attention you have heard this passage read as part of the ceremony…

This passage isn’t about marriage…it’s about church community, The Body of Christ!

We are to love all kinds of people in the ways that are described in this part of Paul’s letter to the Church of Corinth. NOT JUST SPOUSES!

Loving others is our lives work as followers of Jesus Christ

If we are Jesus’ disciples, we prove it by how we love people.

This is the goal of our discipleship: To love others more like Jesus Christ loves us

John 13:34&35

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

So let’s learn about love, from the creator of love: The Triune God!

1st Corinthians 13

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

  • This feat would be a pinnacle: intellectually & spiritually, but without love…
  • When I don’t live from love, all anyone hears is the noise of my lack of love
  • I can accomplish SO much in this world, but without truly loving others: NOISE

If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.

  • To be given insight into all that God is and wills…heady stuff
  • To believe in the fullness of who God is so fully that you have boundless faith…
  • Without love you would not have total Godly insight or the fullness of faith…
  • We cannot know & relate to God well without actively practicing loving others

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

  • Giving away your stuff, putting yourself in harms way… makes you look good
  • But true gain is only found in relationships that grow in God’s way of love
  • All the sacrifice in the world without the right heart = Zilch!

Obviously love is pretty important in God’s economy…

To be a Disciple of Christ is literally to learn to grow in love by His power.

So what is ‘God’s Way of Love’? What are the actions and attitudes of real love?

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

  • Series of descriptions of actions & motives that are both positive & negative
  • Opposites help us understand because we see our current condition
  • We can see how we should be and how we shouldn’t be

It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

  • This is about how much we value ‘God Defined Justice’
  • How do we know the Truth? What defines truth? The Media or The Scriptures?
  • Because love is all about others & is motivated by unselfish concerns it
  • NEVER Gives Up or Loses faith!
  • ALWAYS Is Hopeful & Endures!

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

  • This is another expression of the primacy of love to God’s eternal plan
  • Other gifts are helpful now

Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.

  • The time of perfection: Eternity with God (AKA Heaven)
  • We will have no use for earthly spiritual gifts while living in the heavenly realm

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

  • Back to the idea of ‘Spiritual Maturity’ being the natural course of Christian life
  • You are meant to be immature at some point, but from there you should grow

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

  • What we understand by God’s grace, is not very clear (God has His reasons)
  • In Eternity we will understand everything God wants us to know perfectly
  • God knows what we understand, and that is what we are accountable for
  • We do well to keep growing in things we know God values…back to LOVE

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

  • Let us ‘Store up Treasures in Heaven’ that will last forever!
  • By storing them I mean let’s purpose to grow in them: Faith & Hope
  • But even more than Faith & Hope, might we purpose to grow in LOVE?

How shall we do this? Let us begin @ The Cross

Christ’s sacrifice was the ultimate expression of God’s Love !

It does not demand it’s own way…

Mark 14: 35&36

He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. “Abba, Father,” He cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Application Questions:

In what ways do you have potential to be ‘unloving’ while trying to serve the Lord?

How self aware are you of how you treat people?

Based on this criteria, how well do you love?

How might you intentionally plan to love people based on God’s standards?

What is your motivation, your WHY for growing in love?

God’s kind of Love is Found in:

Patience

Humility

Flexibility

Forgiveness

Truth

Empathy

Endurance

All of these lead to: Spiritual Maturity…The Goal of our discipleship

Growing Spiritually means growing in love!

/by

The Church in The World Not of The World Pt.23

Harmony & Care For Each Other As Christ’s Body

This message is so key for us, especially crucial as we build a Biblical culture here

God has placed each of us into a Body / Church

We are together to optimize the declaration of God’s Glory

The church is God’s plan A to bring about the redemption of all creation

So we learn to need how to be good stewards of that

1st Cor. 12:12-31

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

  • Different part may be from very different backgrounds
  • The ‘Whole’ is more than just the sum of the parts, they make a new thing
  • What makes us an ‘Attached’ and ‘Connected’ part of Christ’s Body is The Spirit
  • The Holy Spirit indwells all believers the same, we have been ‘immersed’!

Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body?

  • You don’t have to be any part but the one God has made you to be
  • All parts count, every member of the body is important and useful
  • Being confused about the role you play is ok, as long as you don’t stay that way!

If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.

  • Some roles get more attention, but every role is needed at some point and time
  • Learning to trust God is part of maturing, letting God have His way with you
  • We are created to operate in harmony, God has put us together in His wisdom

How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

  • As Jesus’ church we embrace our differences, but lay them down to be united
  • We must realize our need for each other; and give as well as receive blessings
  • The reality is that we need each other to grow to bless as much as possible

In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care.

  • God’s economy is opposite the rest of the world (first is last, last is first)
  • When we look at each other through God’s eyes we see everyone’s value
  • We are to live in consideration of those who need more care
  • Everyone needs encouragement, some more than others

So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

  • God’s formula for community is extra honor & care for those that need it
  • It is harder to care for some people than others, but we do it for Christ’s sake!
  • Harmony comes from everyone being interrelated and intertwined
  • Real Deal ‘Doing Life’ together is hard and wonderful

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles,second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.

  • This goes for Midtown just like it does for the church at Corinth
  • List of roles God gives to people (He has appointed them FOR the church)
  • Apostles: Entrepreneurs for the Gospel / Moving the church forward
  • Prophets: Speaking from a God given perspective into the church
  • Teachers: Instruction in the Scriptures, the Gospel and Discipleship

Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

  • Obviously not everyone can play every role
  • We should all ask: What does the church need and how can I serve?
  • Spiritual Gifts are important but they are not the end all be all of following Christ
  • A way of life is what drives you and is entwined throughout everything you do

Application Questions:

What does it mean to you to be ‘Baptized into One Body by One Spirit’?

What part of the body are you? Are you trying to be a part you are not?

How can you show that you are good with the way God has arraigned OUR body?

What does it look like for you to live a life of interdependence with this church body?

What can you do to promote harmony and care for others in this church body?

Spiritual Gifts Helpful Hint: Discover YOUR gifts by doing stuff & see how God blesses!

/by

1st Corinthians: The Church in The World Not of The World Pt. 22

Spiritual Gifts For Each Other

Understanding the term ‘Spiritual Gifts’… ‘Grace-Gifts’…Gifts of Grace

They are given to us & we are to be ‘Stewards’ of these gifts, using them for others

They are to be understood and used in a ‘body’ mentality (the greater good)

12:1-11

Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this.You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.

  • The language has a big picture connotation ‘Spiritual Matters’ in general
  • Gifts are part of the ‘Spiritual Matters’ but not the most important…Ch.13
  • The Spiritual aspects of our faith are important & should be based on Scripture
  • Remember we have been wrong in the past; so let’s stay humble & teachable

So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.

  • Whatever or whoever speaks in opposition to the Biblical Christ is not of God
  • God’s Spirit is the source of anyone declaring Christ as Lord
  • There is no ‘Spiritual Neutrality’…
  • Declaring ‘Jesus Lord’

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

  • ‘Source’ is term Paul used to describe ‘Authority’ or ‘Headship’
  • The Holy Spirit always Glorifies Jesus Christ & God The Father
  • Language implies they are ‘Grace-Gifts’ and as such serve the purposes of Christ

God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

  • These Grace Gifts from God are part of the ‘Sanctification Process’
  • God gives us these ‘abilities’ for the good of others
  • Help each other what? Help each other grow in closeness to Christ

LIST OF SOME OF THE ‘BIBLICAL’ SPIRITUAL GIFTS

  • We understand the Grace Gifts based on Scripture, not feelings
  • They are to be focused on other people’s benefit & God’s Glory

To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.

  • Advise, guidance and decision making ability corresponding to God’s will
  • In depth understanding of spiritual issues and situations
  • These two gifts work together, often among Elders

The same Spirit gives ‘great faith’ to another, and to someone else the ONE Spirit gives the gift of healing.

  • Ability to trust God and help others trust God no matter the circumstances
  • The ability to be a vehicle of God’s healing power in supernatural ways

He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit.

  • Ability to display God’s power through signs and wonders
  • Ability to determine the spiritual source & influence of messages, events and acts
  • These two are crucial to have in tandem because evil can counterfeit signs

Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.

  • ‘Tongues’ is translation of greek ‘glossia’ which means known language
  • There is a different word for ‘utterances’ (non language verbal sounds)
  • Staying ‘biblical’ speaking in tongues is using an actual language you don’t know
  • It is spoken to someone who knows that language and imparts revelation of God
  • Revelation by hearing a language you don’t know but supernaturally understand

It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

  • Further clarification of the singular nature of God’s Spirit
  • The Holy Spirit has absolute authority in the assignment of Grace Gifts
  • Repetition in Scripture is always to gives weight to something.

The idea of personal, action oriented application of God’s Word…

  • It is unproductive to think and speak in ‘We Should’…
  • Approach it from an ‘I can choose to…’ ‘I want to focus on’ basis
  • Let questions yield other more specific & deeper questions that you ask & answer
  • Small changes that build more obedience

Application Questions:

Why should YOU discover and develop YOUR Spiritual Gifts?

How do YOUR Spiritual gifts clearly declare ‘Jesus is Lord’?

Spiritual Gifts are given to help each other, how well are YOU doing that with YOURS?

How content are YOU with YOUR Spiritual Gifts & how do YOU celebrate other’s gifts?

/by

The Importance Of Communion

The Vision of Midtown: John 13:34&35

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

We get there by Intentional Discipleship / Biblical Theology / Active Participation

At the Center of it all and what motivates it all is The Cross of Christ

1st Corinthians 11:17-34

But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!

  • The purpose of church meetings: Glorifying God & building us to do more of that
  • Necessary divisions of people in the church for Godly / Ordained reasons

When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper. For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk.

  • The focus of the gathering is not on Christ but on themselves
  • This is displayed in the behavior of self-indulgence
  • There is a lack of unity and a lack of consideration for others

What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this!

  • If you want to be self focused you can do that at home, not in Jesus’ church
  • There is a place to party and there is a place to Worship: an important difference
  • We are to negatively reinforce ‘UnBiblical Behavior’ (Building Biblical Culture)

For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

  • Since Paul was not there Christ must have directly instructed him regarding this
  • We are to intentionally experience ‘Remembrance’ of the ‘Ultimate Sacrifice’
  • This experience should effect they way we treat each other; uniting us in love
  • The problem the Corinthians were having was ‘Taking Christ for Granted’

In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

  • The Cross was the ultimate fulfillment of all of God’s promises: New Covenant
  • The power of the New Covenant (salvation in Christ) is based on Christ’s blood
  • Blood is symbolic of the life force of any being: God’s ‘Life Force’ saves us!
  • What is more powerful than the life force of the Creator of EVERTYTHING?
  • This Observance / Sacrament celebrates salvation in Christ until His return
  • Because what Communion represents is SO IMPORTANT we must do it properly

So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.

  • Sinning against Jesus’ Body: The Church / Jesus Blood: The Gospel
  • The basic definitions of unworthy are: ‘Unrepentant’ / ‘Unsurrendered’
  • We examine ourself to be sure we are not harboring such attitudes BEFORE
  • This Worship (Communion) is to be entered into AFTER repentance & surrender

For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.

  • Taking Communion with an attitude that dishonors Jesus Church is dangerous
  • Knowing the Truth and taking it for granted is ‘Not Healthy’

But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

  • Self examination / transparency with God
  • Embracing attitude of Repentance; asking God to show you how you have sinned
  • If we honestly examine ourselves before God, He teaches us as His children
  • Weak…Sick…Dead…condemned along with the world… SERIOUS BUSINESS

So, my dear brothers and sisters, when you gather for the Lord’s Supper, wait for each other. If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won’t bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together. I’ll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive.

  • It is important that we are united and considerate of ‘This Body’
  • Prioritize worship when we gather as ‘Christ’s Body’
  • Focus on the ‘Good of The Body’ (going to church for others)
  • Paul is going to come…for the good of others…

Application Questions:

What would be some examples of ‘Biblical’ divisions in a church?

How might we stay ‘Interested’ in the Lord’s Supper?

Why is it important we are careful to earnestly announce Christ’s death?

How might you take ownership of your discipleship during communion each week?

/by

The Church in The World Not of The World ~ Pt. 20

HONORING GOD’S CREATION ORDER

1 Cor. 10:31-33 & 11:1

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

  • The ‘Big Picture’ attitude God is calling us to is consideration born of love
  • Sacrificing our pleasure & comfort we live for others; their good and salvation
  • Let us live out the privilege we have to honor God while we are considerate of all
  • THIS glorifies God, Paul is being used to show us how to follow Christ

This passage is about applying the principal of Honoring God’s ordained gender roles in a worship setting specifically, and in marriage relationships; demonstrating love born of surrender.

1 Cor 11:2-17

I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you. But there is one thing I want you to know: The source of every man is Christ, the source of woman is man, and the source of Christ is God.

  • This 1st sentence is either sarcasm or graceful optimism (can work both ways)
  • The importance of knowing & following the original Gospel (source matters)
  • This is a crucial thing that God wants his church to focus on to create Godly order

  • Creation Order is the foundation for all human relationships

  • Based on Scripture; God is orderly, He intentionally set things up ‘His Way’

  • Most translations use the word ‘head’, denoting ‘headship’ (Body Metaphor)

  • ‘Source’ ties to creation and denotes authority in Biblical worldview

  • Based on ‘biblical theology’, under authority doesn’t always mean unequal

  • Under Christ there is total equality, but we are created to play different roles

  • Woman is the apex of all God’s creation (last thing He made)
  • Eve’s role was not to lead and call the shots. She usurped Adam’s role, HE let her
  • Women can choose to play men’s roles or they can follow Christ’s example of honoring the authority they have been placed under
  • Under authority does not mean inferior, Christ is equal to the Father; different role

A man dishonors Christ if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. But a woman dishonors her husband if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head.

  • 4 Men: idea is complete exposure / openness before God as ‘His Image Bearer’
  • 4 Women: head covering demonstrates the honoring of the authority one is under
  • Current cultural demonstrations of reflecting glory & being under authority
  • Our structuring gender roles based on creation order is sound Biblical Theology

Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering.

  • The refusal to follow God’s created order expressed in gender roles is rebellion
  • The only basis for a relationship with God is surrender, not rebellion
  • Gender roles: Foundational; how are we surrendered to Christ without obeying?
  • Christ’s submission to the Father in the Garden: “Not my will, but Yours be done!”
  • In that culture the only reason a woman would have a shaved head is disgrace

A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is made in God’s image and reflects God’s glory. And woman reflects man’s glory.

  • Adam was meant to represent mankind as Prophet, Priest and King
  • Eve was meant to empower and support that ‘headship’ role, not compete for it
  • By reflecting man’s glory, woman plays the same role as Christ to the Father

For the first man didn’t come from woman, but the first woman came from man. And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man. For this reason, and because the angels are watching, a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority.

  • The roles of men & women were laid out by God before the fall
  • The fall does not create these roles and the fall does not change them either
  • When the body of Christ gathers to worship God’s messengers are present
  • Key principal: Honoring God by following gender roles HE established
    • Not out of a need to control but from love for the other role in the partnership
  • Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. ~ Ephesians 5:22-25

But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. For although the first woman came from man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God.

  • Relational interdependence, within an authority structure God has created
    • Quote “Even after he has stressed the subordination of women, Paul goes on to stress even more directly the essential partnership of man and woman. Neither can live without the other. If there is subordination, it is in order that the partnership may be more fruitful and lovely for both.” (Barclay)

Judge for yourselves. Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head? Isn’t it obvious that it’s disgraceful for a man to have long hair? And isn’t long hair a woman’s pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering.

  • Christ calls each of us to observe the authority we have been placed under
  • We are all to be under some authority, as Christ Himself was while incarnated
  • The cultural expressions of this role structure were: Women: vails Men: short hair
  • W: Intention of placing the veil / M: Not having a head that can be fully uncovered

But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.

  • The Apostolic church was united
  • These customs were part of the current cultural norms
  • It was a ritual that served to remind them of God’s order concerning gender roles
  • The ‘Spirit Led’ follower of Christ seeks to consider others & do what’s best for all
  • It’s not about our preferences, it’s about God’s Word and Others!

Application Questions:

How do we apply the principal of doing all things for the glory of God when it comes to observing God’s creation order?

Why do you think the understanding of how God has structured mankind is the ONE thing Paul wants us to know?

Is there a part of this passage that rubs you the wrong way? If so how might you resolve the conflict?

Why should we recognize the differences in Genders as a basis for complementary existence?

Is our unity as Christ’s body based on our preferences or on the scriptures prescription?

/by

The Church in The World Not of The World Pt. 19

Limiting Your freedom For Christ’s Sake

Paul is our example of a Surrendered Servant, empowered by God’s Spirit to do whatever it takes to help propagate the Gospel and seriously training for the task!

Our unity is around Christ, our worship is for Christ only and our freedom is constrained for Christ’s sake…

1st Corinthians 10:19-33

What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons.

  • Jesus said in Matthew 12:30: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
  • If something does not glorify God it is against God
  • We give demonic forces power when we participate in ‘worship’ of them

You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too.

  • Mixing other worship w/ the worship of Christ it is no longer worship of Christ
  • There is NO spiritual neutrality

What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?

  • God will execute HIS justice
  • We act like we think we are stronger than he is.

You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.

  • The confusion between freedom TO obey and freedom TO disobey
  • The exercise of your freedom to the detriment of others is not of Christ
  • The way of Christ is to place our freedom under HIS control (surrendered life)
  • The Way of Christ is to put other’s first

So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” (Psalm 24:1)

  • Sacrificing to demons has no direct effect unless you knowing participate
  • God is sovereign over all

If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience.

  • We have to intentionally get out of our ‘Christian Bubble’
  • Take a shot, accept the invitation, just be ready to stand for what you believe
  • This is how we are in the World but not of it
  • We must prepare for dealing with the offer to participate in worship of demons

At the end of chapter 9, Paul equates discipleship with ‘Training’ / ‘Preparing’

(But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.)

  • Once you know about it you should abstain to ‘not cause a brother to stumble’
  • Romans 12:19-21: Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?

  • 1st question: Why? For Christ Sake!
  • 2nd question: If there is no one else who will be hurt, totally!

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

  • Are we willing to seek God’s glory whether we have full freedom or constrain it?
  • We are called to be mindful of other, following the example of Christ

Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

  • Become more self aware so that you don’t offend anyone if you can help it
  • Thinking about others more than yourself…our Savior did it to show us how
  • Philippians 2:3-5: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus

Application Questions:

How does participation in ‘Un-Godly Things’ influence your relationship with Christ?

Does willing participation in demonic activities exclude you from Biblical salvation?

How might it be possible for something to be ‘Spiritually Neutral’?

What specific things to you think should constrain your freedom in Christ?

How much of your daily focus is on your needs verses the good of others?

What influences you and enables you to actually do things for the glory of Christ?

/by

The Church in The World Not of The World Pt. 18

Unity in The Spirit Not ‘Religion’ (Just because you are in a garage doesn’t mean you are a car)

Those of you who have been studying the book of Hebrews will see some parallels

Today’s passage is a warning against ‘meaningless ritual’ and ‘Social Club Christianity’

Following Christ should never be a ‘Casual Association’

Jesus Said: “Give up your life for Me and the Good News” Anything but casual

At the end of chapter 9 we hear how Paul approaches following Christ (Serious Biz)

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

MIGHT WE APPROACH EVERY ASPECT OF OUR FAITH AS ‘DISCIPLES IN TRAINING

1 Cor. 10:1-17

I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground.

  • ‘Our’ Ancestors…not like hebrews, this was written to Greeks / Gentiles
  • As a group they were set free and cared for by God in miraculous ways

In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. All of them ate the same spiritual food, and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.

  • Baptized = made one with / in the midst of / fully a part of
  • As with Christianity the act of ‘baptism’ does nothing (can be meaningless ritual)
  • People can do all the same things, be exposed to the same things…

Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did.

  • This demonstrates how foolish and pridefully independent we all can be
  • The basic evil things they craved were their control, their pleasure
  • Replace God in any way and you have made an idol

As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.” And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.

  • The Pagan Revelry is referring to Drunken Orgies (Exodus 32:6)
  • Numbers 25 (sexual immorality with Moab)

Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

  • Various examples of the Israelites being disobedient during the Exodus
  • The Scripture were given for them (Corinthians) and now at the 2nd level for us
  • The Corinthians are doing:
    • Idol Worship / Sexual Immorality / Testing God / Grumbling / Gossip

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

  • People are people…The Israelite, The Corinthians, The Atlantans
  • God is the same for all, He is on our side against temptation

So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true.

  • Physically remove yourself from the influences
  • Don’t take anyone’s word for it, you have to make willful choices

When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.

  • There are distinctive values and belief we unite around (not unity for unity’s sake)
  • We share in Christ by making it real with him, not by going through the motions
  • God is calling all of us to be a true part of HIS body…you can make it real today

The Lord’s Table: Why we do it every week @ Midtown

Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?

  • They should have been united but thy were not…

Application Questions:

What associations do you have that are based on place and activity but not values?

How well are you aware of the ‘Evil Things YOU Crave’? What do you make an Idol?

In what areas of you life do you ‘Think’ you’re standing strong but need to be careful in?

What “Careful Reordering of Priorities’ might help limit and get you out of temptations?

What are the things that Spiritually Unify us as Disciples of Jesus Christ?

/by

The Church in The World Not of The World Pt.17

Training for What Matters Most

Paul is in the middle of addressing an attitude of church members who view and treat hired Clergy as people who have an obligation to ‘feed’ or ‘disciple’ them in the particular way they believe they should be fed and discipled….

God’s called Leaders / Clergy do not have any such obligation…They have an obligation to the Lord and to the Church Body.

The world evaluates their leaders from a consumeristic, self-focused point of view.  Are we not to be the opposite? The last is first, first is last goes for all of us!

God says thru Paul’s life: Here is how you do it.

God’s example: Paul’s others-focused life, to show the Corinthians & Us how it’s done.

Paul gives us an example of commitment, attitude, action and Motivation.

Last Week: 1 Corinthian 9:13-14

Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

1st Corinthians 9:15-27

But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.

  • Paul is not interested in his career or his position in the leadership (politics)
  • His integrity is his reward

For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.

  • He humbly admits it’s not about him…he didn’t choose it, it chose him…
  • If supported his preaching the Gospel is is good if unsupported, better

What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel. Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

  • The offer is made without creating an ‘Obligation’…it should elicit a ‘Response’
  • No one will have the ability to manipulate him because he give to all the same

To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.

  • Paul no longer sees himself as a Jew… He had to become like them
  • ‘Walk a mile n a man’s moccasins’

To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.

  • Gentiles were basically all non Jews
  • The principal of being under God’s Sovereignty by willful decision still holds
  • Again the point is to relate and join God as HE works in people
  • ‘The Weak’: marginalized people… We cannot just be available to those we like

I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

  • Whatever it takes, no matter who it is, the standard is to do what you can!
  • The motivation is the message, the message is the motivation
  • The blessings of Christ are fully found in the things done FOR OTHERS!

How did Paul prepare for such work? It took some time…He trained for it like a sport

Approximately 8 years from the Damascus Road to him beginning missionary work

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

  • If you sign up to race you run…but how should you prepare to win?
  • People train at crazy levels to win things that are worthless
  • We can train to get things that are eternal

Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

  • Because there is so much at stake we should focus
  • This is serious biz and we need to sacrifice like Paul
  • You can do your best so

Application Questions:

Should YOU be training for the chance to do professional ministry, why or why not?

What’s a current situation where YOU could ‘become like’ someone and share Christ?

Is YOUR approach to growth focused on you or on others?

How can you begin training for ministry like YOU have trained for other things?

Describe in detail your motivation, YOUR ‘Why’ to be a disciple who makes disciples.

/by

The Church in The World Not of The World Pt. 16

Supporting ‘WORK IN THE LORD’

The support of Servant Leaders by those they serve is God’s design!

A healthy Body supports their leaders at a level where they are not poor, but also not at a level where they are not required to depend on God.

1st Corinthians 9:1-14

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

  • Paul is establishing his ‘Bonafides’…Leaders should have a track record
  • The community should be able to see God working through leaders
  • The recognition that we all have benefited from someone’s ‘Work in The Lord’

This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. Don’t we have the right to food and drink? Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

  • There appears to have been a group complaining about supporting them
  • His peers are supported but he and Barnabas are held to a different standard

Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?

  • Anyone works for the benefit of others should share in the benefits as well
  • Not only is this common sense, it is God’s way (God of Justice)

For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.

  • The principal is illustrated by the Ox example, but applies to us
  • God designed us to work based on our directly sharing in ‘The fruit of our labor’
  • This is why Socialism doesn’t work: work is detached from result of it
  • The book of Proverbs is where God fully explains his ‘Work Ethic’

If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

  • Exchange of ‘Spiritual Seed’ for ‘Material Harvest’…is this mutually beneficial?
  • It is a good thing to support ‘Missionaries & Para Churches’…
  • As long as you fulfill your immediate commitments as a member of a ‘Body’
  • Leaders must not leverage power for support… trust God & ‘Work in The Lord’
  • We aspire to lead not for the support, but because we are called to it…

Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

  • O.T. TheTemple was place of worship, those who facilitated were supported
  • Those who made the sacrifices were material supported by the community
  • The preaching of the Gospel equates to making sacrifices
  • Command of Scripture: The Body must materially support it’s Servant Leaders

Application Questions:

Who’s ‘Work in The Lord’ has benefited you? How might you support them?

How should christian professionals be compensated compared to their peers?

How might you intentionally act to better support leaders in Jesus’ Church?

When you consider vocational ministry, do the economics of it discourage you?

/by

The Church in The World Not of The World Pt. 15

Being Loving Rather Than Being Right

1st Corinthians 8:1-13

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God.

  • Previously on ‘The Corinthians’…
  • Knowledge: It has value, we all have it…is it useful?
  • Puffs up = Self Focus / Feeling Important…is this the Culture we want?
  • Builds up = Edifies / Strengthens / Grows…is this the Culture we want?
  • Believing you have something figured out proves that you do not.
  • Knowledge without humility is always incomplete
  • I love God when I trust & live the truth of the Gospel…and I’m known by God!!
  • What is the Gospel? How do I trust and live out the Gospel? Known by God?

So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”)

  • ‘We know’ Sound Scripture Based Theology
  • One and only God, everything else is demonic
  • They appear as ‘gods’ or ‘lord’ because of the power people unwittingly give
  • What is your spiritual reality?
  • Do you give idols power in your life because your theology is unsettled?

Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

  • ‘For Us’…The Bond of The Gospel of Jesus Christ
  • This Spiritual Reality is ours, not for being right, but for being loving
  • He not only is everything, as disciples we live from that everything… ‘Lifestyle’

But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

  • Levels of this knowledge as God reveals Himself to us
  • Even as we try to follow Christ we default to our old way of thinking (Rom 12:2)
  • If you don’t have conviction of your surrender to Christ you can be legalistic

Jesus @ Mark 7:16-21:

“It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart… Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” And then he added,“It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts…”

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?

  • As disciples we’ve the right to not care about silly superstitions & false gods…
  • We have to be careful to not unduly influence others at different growth stages
  • Following Christ, as His disciples, we must become aware of others situations!
  • We are called to get into each other’s lives enough to know our weak spots
  • Don’t be a part of enabling someone do do what they don’t think they should

So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

  • Knowledge is not our goal as disciples of Christ, Love is
  • Christ’s way is to care enough to know what causes your bother to stumble
  • Christ’s way is to do your best to not be a stumbling block
  • The Spirit Filled example is to do whatever I have to

Application Questions:

When and why do you rely on your knowledge instead of Your trust in God’s Love?

What influences in your life contribute to less ‘puffing up’ and more ‘building up’?

Why are the statements about the Father & Jesus important to our relationships?

How can you become more aware of things you do that discourage other believers?

How might you care for your Bothers & Sisters sacrificially, guarding them from sin?

/by