My last two weeks were spent as a guest preacher at different church plants. At the first, I knew the passage I wanted to share, and the second requested a particular passage for their current series. Both were passages I had preached on before.
But I didn't reuse those previous sermons.
There wasn't anything wrong with them, but after I write and deliver a message it simply turns into a speech. Sermons must be more than words. The first person who must come under conviction of the message is the preacher. Conviction shapes not only the study of God's Word, but the delivery.
So if I simply re-preach a message, there is little struggle for me. Some pastors may do a better job of reengaging with their previous sermon, but I know myself. If the sermon is written, I'm going to spend time doing something else. It's important that each sermon, bible study, or Sunday School lesson be tailored for that individual audience for that individual day. It's the reason no one would ever buy one of my sermons to use as their own: I work too hard to personalize it to my spiritual journey and to the audience God has placed me in front of.
What's the lesson for those of you who aren't preachers? Don't presume you can live off your previous spiritual work, like the person who doesn't re-read the gospels because they already know the story.
They're wrong.
Keep on wrestling with the truth of God's Word. It will hurt at times, but the purpose is always to make you stronger. You are never strong enough!
Monday, February 29, 2016
Monday, February 22, 2016
How Great I Aren't
I am not the Michael Jordan of pastors.
No one has tried to assure me that I am, except myself a few times. It's not proven by personal statements of my own greatness, but revealed when I worry about the church falling apart in my absence.
It's so easy to overestimate our value in life. We imagine how our team, our employer, or even our church would ever get along without us. The reality is, probably just fine. (OK, the Jordan-less Bulls were the exception).
This fear arose in me even as God does exciting things in the life of our church. We are seeing growth in the membership, people responding to the gospel, and a renewal of personal discipleship. It didn't come because I worked harder as a pastor. If anything, it's come as my church and I have relinquished these areas to greater prayer instead of greater self-effort.
So when I was offered the opportunity to preach at two church plants this month, my joy quickly turned to worry.
Will my absence kill our momentum?
Am I being selfish to accept these exciting opportunities at the expense of my own church?
Yes...I pray against my pride and ego often.
Long story short, I left town and my church didn't fall down. I prayed diligently for the message of our guest preacher, and have already received encouraging messages from the membership on how his challenge to slow down and listen to Jesus connected with them.
God doesn't need me. God doesn't need you. And yet, He has equipped you and wants you to be a diligent servant for Him. It's our responsibility to remember How Great I Aren't. Anything good I do or have done is a result of fully utilizing the gifts and abilities God has placed within me. So pray for the humility in your life to be like Jesus who "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant." (Philippians 2:7)
No one has tried to assure me that I am, except myself a few times. It's not proven by personal statements of my own greatness, but revealed when I worry about the church falling apart in my absence.
It's so easy to overestimate our value in life. We imagine how our team, our employer, or even our church would ever get along without us. The reality is, probably just fine. (OK, the Jordan-less Bulls were the exception).
This fear arose in me even as God does exciting things in the life of our church. We are seeing growth in the membership, people responding to the gospel, and a renewal of personal discipleship. It didn't come because I worked harder as a pastor. If anything, it's come as my church and I have relinquished these areas to greater prayer instead of greater self-effort.
So when I was offered the opportunity to preach at two church plants this month, my joy quickly turned to worry.
Will my absence kill our momentum?
Am I being selfish to accept these exciting opportunities at the expense of my own church?
Yes...I pray against my pride and ego often.
Long story short, I left town and my church didn't fall down. I prayed diligently for the message of our guest preacher, and have already received encouraging messages from the membership on how his challenge to slow down and listen to Jesus connected with them.
God doesn't need me. God doesn't need you. And yet, He has equipped you and wants you to be a diligent servant for Him. It's our responsibility to remember How Great I Aren't. Anything good I do or have done is a result of fully utilizing the gifts and abilities God has placed within me. So pray for the humility in your life to be like Jesus who "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant." (Philippians 2:7)
Monday, February 15, 2016
Don't be a Christian Chameleon
"If you're President or about to be President, you would act differently." -Donald Trump
Before becoming a Christian at the age of 12, Christians weren't high on my list. They were just as quick to make fun of me for having the wrong kind of clothes as anyone else in my school. At times I heard compliments about these great Christian kids from the people in their church.
But I saw who they really were.
In the book of Galatians, we read that Paul and Peter had a theological rumble over this very issue.
"When [Peter] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned." Galatians 2:11
Peter was acting differently around different people. He would disassociate with Gentile believers when his Jewish friends came to town that were prejudiced towards Gentiles. But once those Jews left town, Peter returned to the old gang as if nothing had happened. These new believers were left hurt and confused.
If you wouldn't say something or do something around your Christian friends, what makes it ok around your non-Christian friends? Or your unbelieving co-workers? If we are seen as willing to set the convictions of our faith aside, we devalue the purpose Jesus' salvation for all mankind.
Then it doesn't look like faith at all...it just looks like an act.
So don't be a Christian chameleon, allowing your environment to hide your faith. Allow your relationship with Jesus to affect the way you speak, think, and act towards those around you. Recognize your witness can draw people closer to Jesus just as easily as it can also push them away.
Before becoming a Christian at the age of 12, Christians weren't high on my list. They were just as quick to make fun of me for having the wrong kind of clothes as anyone else in my school. At times I heard compliments about these great Christian kids from the people in their church.
But I saw who they really were.
In the book of Galatians, we read that Paul and Peter had a theological rumble over this very issue.
"When [Peter] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned." Galatians 2:11
Peter was acting differently around different people. He would disassociate with Gentile believers when his Jewish friends came to town that were prejudiced towards Gentiles. But once those Jews left town, Peter returned to the old gang as if nothing had happened. These new believers were left hurt and confused.
If you wouldn't say something or do something around your Christian friends, what makes it ok around your non-Christian friends? Or your unbelieving co-workers? If we are seen as willing to set the convictions of our faith aside, we devalue the purpose Jesus' salvation for all mankind.
Then it doesn't look like faith at all...it just looks like an act.
So don't be a Christian chameleon, allowing your environment to hide your faith. Allow your relationship with Jesus to affect the way you speak, think, and act towards those around you. Recognize your witness can draw people closer to Jesus just as easily as it can also push them away.
Monday, February 8, 2016
The Man Upstairs
I've had upstairs neighbors.
My wife and I lived in a newlywed apartment (aka: a dump) during the opening years of our marriage. It was actually a house where the stairs were torn out and the owners had filled in the hole. In spite of our attempts, we never had a great relationship with the people upstairs.
There are a lot of celebrities today who talk about "the man upstairs" as a reference to God. Christians usually take one of two extremes when this happens:
Extreme #1: "He said, 'The man upstairs.' He must be a Christian!"
Extreme #2: "He said, 'The man upstairs.' Burn him!"
Obviously, if someone were truly attempting to give credit to the One True God, I would hope they know His name, and not just His address.
"His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him--though he is not far from any one of us." (Acts 17:27 NLT)
Perhaps the athlete who credits "the man upstairs" genuinely feels their athleticism is a God-given gift, but has failed to fully understand the relationship between the Creator and His Creation. We must be careful not to presume we know anything about these people, and instead pray for them. Pray either for greater boldness if they know Christ, or pray someone would give them an introduction to an intensely personal God who is not far from each of us.
My wife and I lived in a newlywed apartment (aka: a dump) during the opening years of our marriage. It was actually a house where the stairs were torn out and the owners had filled in the hole. In spite of our attempts, we never had a great relationship with the people upstairs.
There are a lot of celebrities today who talk about "the man upstairs" as a reference to God. Christians usually take one of two extremes when this happens:
Extreme #1: "He said, 'The man upstairs.' He must be a Christian!"
Extreme #2: "He said, 'The man upstairs.' Burn him!"
Obviously, if someone were truly attempting to give credit to the One True God, I would hope they know His name, and not just His address.
"His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him--though he is not far from any one of us." (Acts 17:27 NLT)
Perhaps the athlete who credits "the man upstairs" genuinely feels their athleticism is a God-given gift, but has failed to fully understand the relationship between the Creator and His Creation. We must be careful not to presume we know anything about these people, and instead pray for them. Pray either for greater boldness if they know Christ, or pray someone would give them an introduction to an intensely personal God who is not far from each of us.
Monday, February 1, 2016
And this...is American Christian Idol.
I've prayed for Tim Tebow on many occasions.
My prayers were not for Tim to find success in the NFL. Instead, my attention was turned towards his personal life. Tim has never hesitated to be vocal about his Christian faith, and to make clear the choices that faith has led him to. The most notable has been his commitment to reserve sex for marriage.
And so I prayed. I prayed for Tim to continue in humility and to keep his commitment, for both himself and his testimony. One mistake could quickly bring both the scorn of disappointed Christians and the calls of hypocrisy from unbelievers.
I prayed because Tim had become an idol.
Not to himself, but to Christians.
He was a regular sermon illustration, speaker, author, and overall ambassador for all Christians. That's a lot to ask of a young man in his 20's, who by all accounts, has maintained his testimony.
Christians are much too quick to make idols out of those who live out their faith in the public eye. While the "celebrity" testimony can be very impactful, we must pray for those believers to stand against temptation and to be people of integrity.
And this bring us to the story of Naghmeh and Saeed Abedini.
Today's Washington Post story on the subject begins:
"Naghmeh Abedini rapidly rose to religious freedom superstardom in Christian circles in recent years."
The post is right, and the fault doesn't lie with Naghmeh or Saeed. It lies with American Christianity. We allowed ourselves, me included, to elevate this couple while knowing almost nothing about them. Now after years of awards and speaking engagements, what should have been a happy ending has become a PR nightmare for those who fought the hardest for Saeed.
We should now be as diligent to pray for the Abedinis as we ever were during Saeed's imprisonment. We should pray that they will both seek to grow closer to the Lord and to one another, without using the court of public opinion to sway people to one side or the other.
Saeed and Naghmeh don't owe us a thing. We took flawed, sinful people and turned them into idols. That's our sin, not theirs.
My prayers were not for Tim to find success in the NFL. Instead, my attention was turned towards his personal life. Tim has never hesitated to be vocal about his Christian faith, and to make clear the choices that faith has led him to. The most notable has been his commitment to reserve sex for marriage.
And so I prayed. I prayed for Tim to continue in humility and to keep his commitment, for both himself and his testimony. One mistake could quickly bring both the scorn of disappointed Christians and the calls of hypocrisy from unbelievers.
I prayed because Tim had become an idol.
Not to himself, but to Christians.
He was a regular sermon illustration, speaker, author, and overall ambassador for all Christians. That's a lot to ask of a young man in his 20's, who by all accounts, has maintained his testimony.
Christians are much too quick to make idols out of those who live out their faith in the public eye. While the "celebrity" testimony can be very impactful, we must pray for those believers to stand against temptation and to be people of integrity.
And this bring us to the story of Naghmeh and Saeed Abedini.
Today's Washington Post story on the subject begins:
"Naghmeh Abedini rapidly rose to religious freedom superstardom in Christian circles in recent years."
The post is right, and the fault doesn't lie with Naghmeh or Saeed. It lies with American Christianity. We allowed ourselves, me included, to elevate this couple while knowing almost nothing about them. Now after years of awards and speaking engagements, what should have been a happy ending has become a PR nightmare for those who fought the hardest for Saeed.
We should now be as diligent to pray for the Abedinis as we ever were during Saeed's imprisonment. We should pray that they will both seek to grow closer to the Lord and to one another, without using the court of public opinion to sway people to one side or the other.
Saeed and Naghmeh don't owe us a thing. We took flawed, sinful people and turned them into idols. That's our sin, not theirs.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Your Dad Went to Hell
This is a true story.
The pastor had been witnessing to John for years. John's wife and young son were faithful church attenders, but this husband and father had never joined them. The pastor pleaded with John to repent of his sins and come to Christ, but he refused to believe that he needed God to save him.
Finally John died, and his wife asked the pastor to preach the funeral. This pastor was genuinely upset to know John had died in his sins, and he wanted to be sure that no one left the church without understanding their soul might be on the line.
So during the funeral message, the pastor looked at John's young boy and said, "Son, your daddy went to Hell. Be sure to choose Jesus so you don't go there too."
The next day, the pastor saw this at the parsonage
So how should we respond at the funeral of a lost person? Let me share 3 brief thoughts from a pastor's perspective.
1. Provide comfort.
After the death of His friend Lazarus, Jesus shared the truth of the resurrection, but he also just cried with the family (John 11:35-36). Those who saw it were touched by the depth of Jesus' love for them.
2. Share the truth.
I have seen people saved, or at least spiritually engaged, at funerals. But how do we talk about the gospel at the funeral of someone who's life didn't display it? An older pastor once told me when he's in that situation he says, "If John could come back and say one thing to you right now, he would tell you that death is not the end." And certainly no matter where John is, that's likely what he'd say. In Luke 16:27-28, a lost man pleaded that someone go back to his brothers who were still living. Not to say their deceased brother loved them, but to say that Heaven and Hell are real.
3. Never presume.
I have no problem speaking of someone who had a strong testimony and faith in Christ as residing in Heaven. But, I have had my thinking changed about presuming upon the destination of a "lost" person. I recall a Max Lucado devotional from long ago where he stated, "How do we know the lost person was eternally lost? Perhaps in their final moments, they did call out to the Lord in repentance and faith." Lucado is right. Perhaps that person's faith wouldn't be as well-known or obvious as the thief on the cross who accepted on his "deathbed", but faith is faith.
So whether you're officiating or simply attending, remember that funerals aren't for the dead. Look for your opportunity to be an example of the gospel among the living.
The pastor had been witnessing to John for years. John's wife and young son were faithful church attenders, but this husband and father had never joined them. The pastor pleaded with John to repent of his sins and come to Christ, but he refused to believe that he needed God to save him.
Finally John died, and his wife asked the pastor to preach the funeral. This pastor was genuinely upset to know John had died in his sins, and he wanted to be sure that no one left the church without understanding their soul might be on the line.
So during the funeral message, the pastor looked at John's young boy and said, "Son, your daddy went to Hell. Be sure to choose Jesus so you don't go there too."
The next day, the pastor saw this at the parsonage
So how should we respond at the funeral of a lost person? Let me share 3 brief thoughts from a pastor's perspective.
1. Provide comfort.
After the death of His friend Lazarus, Jesus shared the truth of the resurrection, but he also just cried with the family (John 11:35-36). Those who saw it were touched by the depth of Jesus' love for them.
2. Share the truth.
I have seen people saved, or at least spiritually engaged, at funerals. But how do we talk about the gospel at the funeral of someone who's life didn't display it? An older pastor once told me when he's in that situation he says, "If John could come back and say one thing to you right now, he would tell you that death is not the end." And certainly no matter where John is, that's likely what he'd say. In Luke 16:27-28, a lost man pleaded that someone go back to his brothers who were still living. Not to say their deceased brother loved them, but to say that Heaven and Hell are real.
3. Never presume.
I have no problem speaking of someone who had a strong testimony and faith in Christ as residing in Heaven. But, I have had my thinking changed about presuming upon the destination of a "lost" person. I recall a Max Lucado devotional from long ago where he stated, "How do we know the lost person was eternally lost? Perhaps in their final moments, they did call out to the Lord in repentance and faith." Lucado is right. Perhaps that person's faith wouldn't be as well-known or obvious as the thief on the cross who accepted on his "deathbed", but faith is faith.
So whether you're officiating or simply attending, remember that funerals aren't for the dead. Look for your opportunity to be an example of the gospel among the living.
Monday, January 18, 2016
God Doesn't Need Instant Replay
Nobody knows what a catch is anymore.
When I played football with my friends in the backyard, a catch was rarely debated. We knew what it looked like. But then, adults got involved. And as an adult myself now, I can tell you we ruin everything.
The NFL has instant replay, tons of rules, and unending debate about what qualifies as a catch.
Is this catch?
(Dude on the left, and the refs, both agreed it was!)
In spite of several rule clarifications and even HD instant replay, there are still many instances where the catch is debatable.
And in an a world of ambiguity, I'm thankful God is very clear when it comes to sin.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
God makes it clear that everyone is a sinner. And then He leaves no confusion as to what sin is.
When I played football with my friends in the backyard, a catch was rarely debated. We knew what it looked like. But then, adults got involved. And as an adult myself now, I can tell you we ruin everything.
The NFL has instant replay, tons of rules, and unending debate about what qualifies as a catch.
Is this catch?
(Dude on the left, and the refs, both agreed it was!)
In spite of several rule clarifications and even HD instant replay, there are still many instances where the catch is debatable.
And in an a world of ambiguity, I'm thankful God is very clear when it comes to sin.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
God makes it clear that everyone is a sinner. And then He leaves no confusion as to what sin is.
The greek word for sin, hamartia, literally means "to miss the mark." Sin is every time we miss the mark of God's holiness.
Are you falling short of God's holiness in some area of your life? You can argue that the rules are unclear or unfair, but the reality is you want to live your life your own way. That's something we all struggle with!
So don't pretend God isn't fair or doesn't care. He has set a standard of holiness to bless our lives! And if you're missing the mark in any area, simply repent and plan with God in prayer for how you will work to avoid those shortcomings when temptation comes around again.
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