Posted by hisstoryteacher on March 25, 2008
We are starting a new adult class on “Love” on Sunday Mornings. It will run about seven weeks. I will be teaching the lessons for this summer’s camp at Lujo. Please come even if you are not going to camp. The discussion helps us be more prepared for camp, and it is a worthy study for anyone wanting to understand “God is Love” more clearly.
Agape–or at least the best I can do,
Chris
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Posted by hisstoryteacher on March 15, 2008
We looked at this Wednesday night. Ultimately, our life will be where our death is–alive in Christ, or dead in sin. For those of us who are saved, its up to us to live like it.
“Pressing On”
Part II: “Putting Your Life Where Your Death Is”
Review from last week: “What do you really want?”
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
And now this week: “How could anyone tell?”
All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
I. It still starts with what we want.
II. It is obvious whether we are hostile to the Cross.
A. Wrong destiny
B. Wrong god
C. Wrong glory
III. “Living up to what has already been obtained”
A. God provides the gift.
WE MUST RESPOND!
B. God provides the mindset.
WE MUST SUBMIT!
C. God provides the footing.
WE MUST STAND FIRM!
“Putting your life where your death is” ensures that both life and death bring godly fulfillment. It is impossible to have one covered without the other being transformed as well.
Agape–or at least the best I can do,
Chris
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Posted by hisstoryteacher on March 13, 2008
There are some dogs which simply can’t be trusted with a regular leash and collar. They fight, pull, twist, and jerk against the collar until they break loose. Animal rights activists may not like it; but for some dogs I have had, the safest collar for them was a “choke chain”. For those of you who don’t know how those work-it is a simple concept. The harder the dog pulls, the tighter the collar. It doesn’t take too long for even the dullest dog to figure out the system and submit to the master’s will. I have felt the discipline of God at work before. I don’t mean as punishment-that’s not always the same. I have seen God at work in my life teaching me submission, empathy, compassion, and-to some degree-stewardship. I feel love toward Samantha’s birth parents in ways I never could have were it not for having multiple adoptions fall through (one was 24 hours after placement). I submit to my wife in ways I never would have imagined before fifteen years of marriage. And yet, I have far more examples I could share of discipline I lack.
I am not a very sharp dog (Sharkdog is much brighter).
So, what is the discipline of God like? I am sure it is different for everyone; but I can’t help wondering how the harsh concept so commonly held meshes with what we are told about the yoke of Christ.
Matthew 11:28-30 says:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
How is it that his yoke can be easy, but we are told to expect struggle? In Hebrews 12:4-11, the writer addresses it this way:
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
”My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
I do not like discipline. It chokes me. I have my own ideas, my own plans, and my own strategies for dealing with the world. Tonight, though, I began thinking of it a different way. His yoke is easy. The struggles are often not between me and the world; they are between me and my God. The issue is my submission. The problem is the jerk at the end of God’s chain. I realize that God has taken hold of me, and it is my job to embrace my life of righteousness. Disciplined, righteous living is “that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me”.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I know that I can’t be trusted with a simple leash and collar. But I’m still young. I may develop into a housetrained lapdog yet.
Agape-or at least the best I can do,
Chris
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Posted by hisstoryteacher on March 6, 2008
We are in between lesson series on Wednesday Nights; as I am preparing for a major study in Revelation. So, in the mean time, I am going to put the lessons out as posts each week. Hopefully they will be helpful to anyone that wants a guide through this brief passage in Philippians. We will be focussing on Phillipians 3:10- 4:1.
“Pressing On”
Part I: “I Want to Know Christ”
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I. What do you want?
II. What is involved in “knowing Christ”?
A. Seeking the power of his resurrection.
B. Sharing in his suffering
C. Becoming like him, even in his death.
III. What is our attitude?
A. Humility and Security
B. Resting and Striving
C. Vision and Endurance
IV. What do you really, really want?
Agape–or at least the best I can do,
Chris
Posted in Discipleship, General | 3 Comments »
