"Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11)
Back in the summer, while we were on vacation visiting friends, Michael and I journeyed into a bookstore on a date. As I was perusing the books in the Christian section, one caught my eye. It was a new release by an author with whom I was familiar, and I was curious to check out his book.
I picked it up and began doing what I always do--flip it over and read the description on the back cover. I was shocked. I quickly went to find Michael so he could read for himself. Really? Could this man, who appeared in some excellent videos we used in Bible class a number of years ago, and I used at some of the women's retreats at which I spoke, really have written a book based on these beliefs? I was dumbfounded.
This morning, while getting ready for church, I decided to go to the Cornerstone Church website to see if there were any recent sermons by Francis Chan (I love listening to him preach). Since I had watched the short video of him that we would be using in Bible class, I was hungry for more.
I was incredibly intrigued when I saw the title of his most recent sermon: "Erasing Hell." I knew exactly what it was about, since a few months ago I noticed he had written a book by that title. I immediately guessed it was a response to Rob Bell's book, and it was.
Since in our Bible readings right now we are witnessing the early church taking off and growing, as well as the apostles having to confront and refute false teachings among the brethren, I thought this was very timely. It is exactly what we see Paul and Peter doing over and over again.
This is one of our modern-day false teachings, folks. You may have had co-workers, friends, or family members mention this book (Love Wins) and the beliefs it lays out about heaven and hell. Are you prepared to refute false teachings? Do you know how to redirect them to the truth?
With all we are discussing in our Bible class right now, this entire message ties in amazingly perfect. Not only does it discuss this false teaching that many folks are reading and considering, but it also speaks to the other realities of the disciples' lives and how our own lives should look, if God still speaks to people today and tells them what to do for Him, and other topics that we have discussed.
I encourage you to make time to watch this video of Francis Chan and a few other men discussing this false doctrine, and then teaching the beautiful truth of Scripture. It seems God IS talking to us, dear friends!
"Erasing Hell" (you will need to scroll down to the date 6/19/11 in the list of sermon dates and topics, click on it, then click where it says "watch")
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15)
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Follow...Lead
"And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles." (Acts 2:43)
"For the Sake of the Call--re.creation"
Nobody stood and applauded them
So they knew from the start
This road would not lead to fame
All they really knew for sure was Jesus had called to them
He said "Come follow Me" and they came
With reckless abandon they came
Empty nets lying there at the water's edge
Told a story that few could believe
And none could explain
How some crazy fishermen agreed to go where Jesus led
With no thought for what they would gain
For Jesus had called them by name...
...and they answered
CHORUS :
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die for the sake of the call
Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea
There's no turning back for the water cannot help but flow
Once we hear the Savior's call we'll follow wherever He leads
Because of the love He has shown
And because He has called us to go...
...we will answer
CHORUS :
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die for the sake of the call
BRIDGE :
Not for the sake of a creed or a cause
Not for a dream or a promise
Simply because it is Jesus who calls
And if we believe we'll obey
...And we'll answer
CHORUS :
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die for the sake of the call
(this new version of an old hit is absolutely beautiful--it gavethe song new meaning)
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matt. 5:6)
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Hungry
"The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the Word of the Lord." (Acts 13:44)
Do the readings from Acts these past two weeks make you hungry? I am CRAVING what I read!
The work of the early church after Christ's ascension into heaven is full of adventure. It overflows with abundant work of the Holy Spirit in a continually growing body of believers. Their bold faith leads them to proclaim the good news to all who will listen, and "as many as were appointed to eternal life believed." (Acts 13:48)
Astounded by what they witness the Holy Spirit doing in the hearts of their hearers, the church not only rejoices but sends off their best preachers to take the Gospel to other places (Acts 13:2-3). The Holy Spirit takes Philip, Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and others off to various towns so that not only the Jews but the Gentiles can hear and believe as well. What an amazing time that must have been!
It was probably similar to what the Christians in places like Nepal are experiencing, when the Gospel is still new and many are hearing the name of Jesus for the first time. I can hardly wait to hear all of the stories Michael will bring back from this trip.
One thing that really jumped out at me from our readings so far is how often the early church fasted and prayed. In fact, all throughout our readings this year we have seen not only individuals like Daniel, Moses, and even Jesus fast, but whole nations as well. So it has always confused me why such a powerful practice from the Bible is not a more regular part of what we do as a church today.
Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount seems to focus in on three specific directives to His followers: giving, praying, and fasting (Matt. 6:1-18). From His instructions in this portion of Scripture, Jesus tells His disciples, "...when you give...(v. 2)...when you pray (v. 5)...when you fast (v. 16)." How else are we supposed to read this except that Jesus expects us to do all three?
Jesus also tells us to do these acts of worship without announcing it to others, so maybe all of you fast regularly and I just don't know because we never talk about it. I know of friends who fast when there is an intense need for fasting and prayer in a situation or when they long to hear God's voice or see His power at work in their lives. I just think it is strange that we don't talk about it more commonly the way we do prayer and giving. Probably because going without food is so hard. We have to take our stomachs off the throne and let God have that place, and I know that is hard for me.
But as I read the book of Acts, I am HUNGRY for God's power to work the way in which I see Him working among the early church. I also can tell from these readings that many who heard the Good News were hungry for more of the Spirit, too. They CRAVED the only One who could fill and satisfy!
Those in leadership positions took Jesus' teachings from the Sermon on the Mount seriously. They didn't want to miss anything God might have for them or do through them.
"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'" (Acts 13:2) --wisdom for whom to send
"Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off." (Acts 13:3) --anointing to preach
"And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed." (Acts 14:23) --anointing to lead groups of believers
I don't know if these verses jumped out at you in your readings, but I pray the Lord will help us take them to heart. I pray He will show us what He wants to do through us as He did to the apostles and the early church.
Fast to fill.
The upside-down economy of God.
Do the readings from Acts these past two weeks make you hungry? I am CRAVING what I read!
The work of the early church after Christ's ascension into heaven is full of adventure. It overflows with abundant work of the Holy Spirit in a continually growing body of believers. Their bold faith leads them to proclaim the good news to all who will listen, and "as many as were appointed to eternal life believed." (Acts 13:48)
Astounded by what they witness the Holy Spirit doing in the hearts of their hearers, the church not only rejoices but sends off their best preachers to take the Gospel to other places (Acts 13:2-3). The Holy Spirit takes Philip, Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and others off to various towns so that not only the Jews but the Gentiles can hear and believe as well. What an amazing time that must have been!
It was probably similar to what the Christians in places like Nepal are experiencing, when the Gospel is still new and many are hearing the name of Jesus for the first time. I can hardly wait to hear all of the stories Michael will bring back from this trip.
One thing that really jumped out at me from our readings so far is how often the early church fasted and prayed. In fact, all throughout our readings this year we have seen not only individuals like Daniel, Moses, and even Jesus fast, but whole nations as well. So it has always confused me why such a powerful practice from the Bible is not a more regular part of what we do as a church today.
Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount seems to focus in on three specific directives to His followers: giving, praying, and fasting (Matt. 6:1-18). From His instructions in this portion of Scripture, Jesus tells His disciples, "...when you give...(v. 2)...when you pray (v. 5)...when you fast (v. 16)." How else are we supposed to read this except that Jesus expects us to do all three?
Jesus also tells us to do these acts of worship without announcing it to others, so maybe all of you fast regularly and I just don't know because we never talk about it. I know of friends who fast when there is an intense need for fasting and prayer in a situation or when they long to hear God's voice or see His power at work in their lives. I just think it is strange that we don't talk about it more commonly the way we do prayer and giving. Probably because going without food is so hard. We have to take our stomachs off the throne and let God have that place, and I know that is hard for me.
But as I read the book of Acts, I am HUNGRY for God's power to work the way in which I see Him working among the early church. I also can tell from these readings that many who heard the Good News were hungry for more of the Spirit, too. They CRAVED the only One who could fill and satisfy!
Those in leadership positions took Jesus' teachings from the Sermon on the Mount seriously. They didn't want to miss anything God might have for them or do through them.
"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'" (Acts 13:2) --wisdom for whom to send
"Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off." (Acts 13:3) --anointing to preach
"And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed." (Acts 14:23) --anointing to lead groups of believers
I don't know if these verses jumped out at you in your readings, but I pray the Lord will help us take them to heart. I pray He will show us what He wants to do through us as He did to the apostles and the early church.
Fast to fill.
The upside-down economy of God.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Good morning precious friends!
Thank you for all your prayers. We still have not met with Terrance's mom, but the visitation is rescheduled for today after his four-month well-check. Keep praying, and I'll let all of you know how it goes.
I opened Sally Clarkson's blog today, and it began with one of my very favorite poems!
Such a wonderful post, so I have to share with all my mom friends!
I Take Joy
What a privilege to be a mom...and such a great responsibility than I am never up to on my own. Thankfully I have a God who is the perfect parent and fills in all the many gaps I leave as I lean on and trust in Him.
It was amazing to me this morning in early dawn, as I had my time with Jesus, that the verse which was strongly on my heart to pray during our corporate prayer time Sunday morning--that the same power which raised Jesus Christ from the dead is at work within each of us to accomplish whatever God asks of us--was one of the verses for my Jesus Calling devotion today. Then my readings for the week had me on the Resurrection today.
As I take Terrance to meet his mom for the first time, I am so reassured by my Savior that His resurrection Power is with me! Thank you, Jesus! You are so beautiful!
Thank you for all your prayers. We still have not met with Terrance's mom, but the visitation is rescheduled for today after his four-month well-check. Keep praying, and I'll let all of you know how it goes.
I opened Sally Clarkson's blog today, and it began with one of my very favorite poems!
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be –
I had a Mother who read to me.
Richer than I you can never be –
I had a Mother who read to me.
--Strickland Gillian
Thank you, MOM!
Such a wonderful post, so I have to share with all my mom friends!
I Take Joy
What a privilege to be a mom...and such a great responsibility than I am never up to on my own. Thankfully I have a God who is the perfect parent and fills in all the many gaps I leave as I lean on and trust in Him.
It was amazing to me this morning in early dawn, as I had my time with Jesus, that the verse which was strongly on my heart to pray during our corporate prayer time Sunday morning--that the same power which raised Jesus Christ from the dead is at work within each of us to accomplish whatever God asks of us--was one of the verses for my Jesus Calling devotion today. Then my readings for the week had me on the Resurrection today.
As I take Terrance to meet his mom for the first time, I am so reassured by my Savior that His resurrection Power is with me! Thank you, Jesus! You are so beautiful!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
To the Ends of the Earth
As my dear husband leaves for Nepal today, my heart will go with him. I am so proud of him. Helping to train 53 church-planters to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth in rural Nepal is no small mission. It may not catch the eyes of any large church body, but it catches God's heart. It makes mine beat faster out of love, too.
I send him off and will be regularly worshipping our King with the songs from one of my new favorite albumns. For the past two months I have loved listening to these songs by Shaun Groves, an advocate for Compassion International who travels regularly with them. The sales of this albumn support that ministry. What a beautiful work for God!
Third World Symphony by Shaun Groves
Every song is so beautifully crafted. Just as each of us is beautifully crafte for God's glory.
Michael, may the Light of Jesus shine through you to every soul you encounter these next two weeks. I pray for the salvation of souls through the work of these humble church planters, willing to give their lives for the sake of the call to preach the Good News among those who would persecute them. God be praised!
"You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands."
Isaiah 55:12
I send him off and will be regularly worshipping our King with the songs from one of my new favorite albumns. For the past two months I have loved listening to these songs by Shaun Groves, an advocate for Compassion International who travels regularly with them. The sales of this albumn support that ministry. What a beautiful work for God!
Third World Symphony by Shaun Groves
Every song is so beautifully crafted. Just as each of us is beautifully crafte for God's glory.
Michael, may the Light of Jesus shine through you to every soul you encounter these next two weeks. I pray for the salvation of souls through the work of these humble church planters, willing to give their lives for the sake of the call to preach the Good News among those who would persecute them. God be praised!
"You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands."
Isaiah 55:12
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