The Reliability of the New Testament
Prepared for TH365 "Apologetics Evangelism" at Calvary Chapel Bible College
By Bob Koehler - March 24, 2007
“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’”[1] This is the most critical question we will ever have to answer because our eternal destiny depends on what we believe about Jesus Christ.[2] Most of our information about Jesus comes from the Bible and, more specifically, the New Testament. How do we know that we can trust what we read in the pages of Scripture? How do we know that what we are told about Him in the New Testament is the truth?
The Bible came from God to us through four different processes which are like links in a chain. These are inspiration, canonization, transmission and translation.[3] After God had spoken through the inspired authors, their writings were assembled and recognized. From studying the writings of the early church fathers we know that very early in the history of the church the writings of the apostles were spread throughout the Christian world, collected and preserved. According to scholar and theologian Norman Geisler: “The corroborative quotations of the church Fathers from the first few centuries, totaling over 36,000, include almost every verse of the New Testament.”[4]
“The story of the transmission and translation of the Bible is an exciting one, and confirms our confidence in Scripture.”[5] In this paper we will examine the reliability of the New Testament. Since the original Bible documents were written thousands of years ago, what confidence can we have that these writings have been preserved intact down through the ages? Were the scribes faithful in fulfilling their duties? Did they add to or subtract from the original text? Are the manuscripts we have reliable? Are biblical assertions supported by archaeology, science and history?
The first specific area we will examine is the manuscript evidence for the New Testament. Manuscripts are handwritten documents, in contrast with printed copies. An autograph is the first or original document produced by the author. Norman Geisler states: “There are no known extant original manuscripts of the Bible. However, the abundance of manuscript copies makes it possible to reconstruct the original with complete accuracy.”[6]
Critics frequently attack the New Testament’s reliability. But if they throw out the New Testament then they need to question all other ancient literature such as the writings of Plato, Aristotle and others. This is because there are more that 5,600 Greek manuscripts and more than 19,000 non-Greek manuscripts for a total of more than 24,000 documents supporting the New Testament. In comparison there are only about twenty manuscripts of the writings of Plato’s Tetrologies and five for Aristotle’s works.[7] Concerning the reliability of non-biblical ancient writings, Lee Strobel, in his book “The Case for Christ” states that “there is but the thinnest thread of manuscripts connecting these ancient works to the modern world.”[8]
Another very interesting and important fact is that many of the manuscripts supporting the New Testament are very close in date to the time the original “autographs” were produced. For many years skeptics have contended that the Gospels were not composed until many years after the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry. They claimed that myth and legend had crept in to the historical account. Liberal German theologians have argued that the Gospel of John was not written until the late 2nd century.[9] Their claim was that the manuscript copies were too far removed in date from the originals. The recent discovery of the John Rylands P52 papyrus fragment narrowed the time gap between autograph and manuscript to as little as 25 years.[10]
The next area we will look at is archaeological support for the New Testament. This field of study fascinates me. I am absolutely thrilled beyond belief when I read about discoveries of ancient artifacts from the Bible lands. We know that archaeology “can’t prove whether the New Testament is the word of God”[11] but it can serve to bolster our faith and trust.
One discovery of note is the James Ossuary. This may be the earliest archaeological find related to James and Jesus. In the days of the early church grave sites were at a premium. After a person was placed in a tomb and the flesh had completely decayed, it was common practice for bones to be placed in a special container called an ossuary so that the tomb could be used again. The James Ossuary dates from about 63 AD and bears the Aramaic inscription: “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.”[12]
The Gospels give us accounts of Jesus standing before Pilate and being sentenced to scourging and crucifixion. Many liberal critics discounted this portion of the New Testament due to a lack of any external evidence about the existence of Pilate. In 1961 a team of archaeologists led by Dr. Antonio Frova were digging in an old amphitheatre near Caesarea Maritima. They found a block of limestone with an inscription of dedication to Tiberius Caesar.[13] The Latin lettering on the block showed specifically that the dedication was from: “Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea.” This is the only evidence available outside Scripture that verifies Pilate’s title and name.[14]
A major portion of the New Testament, more than 20 percent, was authored by Luke, a physician and companion of the Apostle Paul. Conservative scholars have long settled on a mid-first century date for Luke’s writing of the book of Acts. Sir William Ramsay, a noted archaeologist, tried to prove that Acts was written at around 150 AD. During his research he changed his mind and “became a firm defender for the mid-first century authorship of Acts.”[15]
Doubters have assailed Luke’s writings as being unreliable because of his usage of certain words and also his mention of specific locations which had not been verified elsewhere. Researcher Colin J. Hemer has written a book entitled “The Book of Acts in the Setting of Hellenistic History.” In this work Hemer defends a 66 AD date for Acts and also Luke’s authorship. He provides extensive evidence from archaeological finds about Luke’s accuracy as a historian. Some examples include: A natural crossing between correctly named ports (Acts 13:4-5); Perga as the proper port for a ship crossing from Cyprus (Acts 13:13): The correct location of Lycaonia (Acts 14:6) and many, many more.[16]
Next we will turn to the area of scientific evidence that supports the New Testament. The Old Testament contains many truthful assertions about our world which are accepted today as fact by the secular scientific community. The New Testament contains declarations by Jesus that the Old Testament writings are inspired. For example in Matthew 12:39 He verifies His belief in the book of Jonah and in Matthew 22:43 He says that David was speaking “in the Spirit”[17] when he wrote the book of Psalms. In an indirect way this shows that the Bible as a whole should be seen as a unified document. The Old Testament looks forward to Jesus through its prophetic statements and Jesus, speaking in the New Testament, agrees with the Old Testament, which includes correctly stated scientific facts.
We have already seen that there is a great body of manuscript and archeological evidence supporting the New Testament. The dates of these manuscripts and archaeological finds have been determined using modern scientific methods. The book of Hebrews speaks correctly about the Second Law of Thermodynamics. In Chapter 1 we read: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment.”[18] Also in Hebrews, long before the discovery of the atom, the New Testament told us that, from man’s observational perspective, everything we see was made from invisible material: “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”[19]
The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus is the central event of Christianity. Many skeptics have attacked the New Testament accounts of these historical happenings. Jesus had to die in order to fulfill God’s righteous requirements as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. If Jesus’ death cannot be verified some might doubt their salvation. But “professional medical opinions are unanimous in concluding that Jesus certainly died as a result of being crucified.”[20]
Now let’s review some of the historical evidence supporting the New Testament. In his book “Vintage Jesus,” Mark Driscoll makes a compelling case for our Christian faith. He states that “Jesus’ death was widely known and reported” among the ancient Romans, Greeks and Jews since they “all agreed” that they “opposed Jesus and wanted him dead.”[21] He then goes on to describe statements in the secular historical writings of Josephus, Suetonius and Pliny the Younger that back up the New Testament accounts.
We know from chapter 27 of the book of Matthew that while Jesus was on the cross “from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.”[22] This is also mentioned by Luke in chapter 23 of his Gospel as well as in Mark chapter 15. In addition we are told: “Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.”[23] Here are two unusual miraculous events associated with Jesus and the New Testament. Of course many liberal theologians deny even the possibility of the miraculous and these accounts have been criticized as being exaggeration, metaphor or myth.
But here is a very interesting account from Phlegon, a Greek historian who wrote an extensive chronology around AD 137: “In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad (i.e., AD 33) there was the greatest eclipse of the sun … it became night in the sixth hour of the day [i.e., noon] so that stars even appeared in the heavens. There was a great earthquake in Bithynia, and many things were overturned in Nicaea.”[24] This event is also spoken of by the ancient historians Africanus and Thallus. We see that manuscripts, archaeology, science and history all help to support the reliability of the New Testament.
The next area we will examine is the development of the modern day English Bible translations. The history of the text of the New Testament is a fascinating story. The King James Version based on the Textus Receptus was widely accepted from its inception in the early 1600’s until the late 1800s.
Since about 1881 there has been a heated debate among scholars and theologians regarding portions of the New Testament text. Rev. Brian Felce describes the controversy: “Until 1880 the Authorised Version (KJV) was used by almost everyone in the English-speaking churches. Since 1881 there has been doubt about 10% of the New Testament in over 5,000 different places, and in effect there have been in existence two different New Testaments … Upon which … are we to rest our souls…?”[25]
Over time different schools of New Testament text developed. Some have classified these in as many as four different types of New Testament text, but others suggest that there are really only two basic sources: The Majority Text or Textus Receptus preserved by churches of true Christian Protestant believers (such as the church at Antioch) and the Minority or Alexandrian text group used primarily in Catholic Bibles.[26]
The first major text to be published which countered the Textus Receptus was the combined work of two scholars from Cambridge: B. F. Westcott and F. J. A. Hort. This was the text primarily used for the New Testament in the Revised Version of 1881.[27] David Brown asserts that “at present there are two basic textual traditions that command serious scholarly followings: the Textus Receptus/Majority Text and the Nestle-Aland text” [28] based on the work of Westcott and Hort.
One primary issue in the textual debate is the question: Which ancient manuscript or type of manuscript should be selected as the most reliable witness to the original text? Westcott and Hort based their work primarily on three or four uncials which are purported to be some of the oldest extant evidence. Their contention is that the age of the manuscript is the most important factor in determining reliability.
Volumes have been written on this debate. The key factor is that proponents of the Westcott and Hort and the Nestle and Arland texts have not always told the complete truth. Dr. Brown sums up the situation nicely: “Finally, I must point out something ironic about these two alleged "oldest and best" manuscripts. They do not agree with each other!”[29] These modern day scholars have chosen age as their primary criteria while ignoring a great body of evidence on the other side of the question.
It appears that Westcott, Hort and their supporters have let their own personal bias color their judgment. Here are two examples of the underlying ideas which may have affected their research. Hort believed that “no such state as 'Eden' (I mean the popular notion) ever existed, and that Adam's fall in no degree differed from the fall of each of his descendants.”[30] This is a direct contradiction of the doctrine of original sin and the basic conservative theological position that everyone descended from Adam and Eve inherited a sin nature not possessed by our “first parents.”
In another example Westcott declared: “I never read an account of a miracle (in Scripture?) but I seem instinctively to feel its improbability, and discover some want of evidence in the account of it.”[31] This is blatant anti-supernaturalism. Can a person doubt miracles (like the resurrection) and still be a Christian?
Here are the words of theologian David Fuller: “Textual criticism cannot be divorced entirely from theology. No matter how great a Greek scholar a man may be, or no matter how great an authority on the textual evidence, his conclusions must always be open to suspicion if he does not accept the Bible as the very Word of God.”[32]
Even though there is debate over the various English translations there is a basic issue that will never be resolved. The problem is that “exact translation is impossible. Meanings of words and grammatical structures in any two languages do not generally correspond.”[33] So where do we go from here? How do we have confidence that we are really reading and studying God’s Word?
Despite the controversies, both of the major Greek texts used for English Bible translations are extremely accurate. Before his death in 1952, British paleographer and scholar Sir Frederick Kenyon stated:
“The interval then between the dates of original composition and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible, and the last foundation for any doubt that the Scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed. Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established.”[34]
The New Testament Greek text, as we have it today, is about 98 to 99.5 percent correct.[35] If a person chooses a widely accepted scholarly English Bible, translation differences or variant readings are not significant enough to call into question major Bible doctrines.[36]
My studies in Apologetics and my reading and research in preparation for this paper have firmly convinced me that the Bible I hold in my hand contains the “vox” (voice or meaning) of God’s Word. I can base my faith, my hope of salvation and my abundant life in Christ on the principles found in Scripture with no doubt that God has spoken to me through its pages.
I will continue praying for God to open up more opportunities for service and especially for teaching his Word and reaching out to others who need to know more about Jesus. In addition I need to pray for humility and be certain that my goal in my studies is not just head knowledge.
I plan to use material from this class whenever possible as I lead Bible studies and teach at my church. I will continue reading and studying Scripture as well as other books on Christianity. My goal is to be faithful to the principles taught by Paul when he told Timothy: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”[37]
I need to be diligent to ask for the Lord’s guidance about priorities so that I am being faithful to my biblical duties as a husband, father and son. My desire in everything is to seek to know Jesus more fully and completely and apply what I learn so that my life will continue each day to be conformed more into His image.
Bibliography:
Beecham, R.: “Which Bible Translation?” http://ourworld.compuserve.com.
Blunt, David: Quotes from Westcott and Hort, www.acts1711.com.
Brown, David L.: The Great Uncials, http://www.deanburgonsociety.org/%20CriticalTexts/uncials.htm.
CARM.org: “Manuscript Evidence for Superior New Testament Reliability,” http://www.carm.org.
Driscoll, Mark & Breshears, Gerry: Vintage Jesus, Wheaton: Crossway, 2007.
Elwell, Walter A.: Comfort, Philip Wesley: Tyndale Bible Dictionary. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001 (Tyndale Reference Library).
Felce, Brian: The Revised Version: The Debate Over the Text of Scripture, http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk.
Geisler, N. L. and Nix, W. E.: A General Introduction to the Bible, Chicago: Moody, 1986.
Hodge, Charles: Systematic Theology. Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, 1997.
Holden, Joe: Apologetic Evangelism Appendices, Murrieta, CA: CCBC, 2005.
Holden, Joe: Apologetic Evangelism Notes, Murrieta, CA: CCBC.
Jaroncyk, Ryan: “Darkness at the Crucifixion: Metaphor or Real History?” http://creationontheweb.com.
Koehler, R.: “Transmission of the Biblical Text,” Research Paper for CCBC, 2007.
Licona, Mike: “Can We Be Certain That Jesus Died On A Cross?” http://www.4truth.net.
McGee, Mark: “Archaeology and the Bible,” http://www.mindspring.com/~mamcgee.
Miller, Betty: “History of the Authority and Infallibility of the Bible,” http://bibleresources.bible.com.
Richards, Lawrence O.: The Bible Readers Companion, electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991; Pub. in electronic form by Logos Research Sys, 1996, S. 13.
Russell, R.: “The Pilate Inscription,” http://www.bible-history.com/empires/pilate.html.
Strobel, Lee: The Case for Christ, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Nashville: Nelson, 1982.
Waite, D. A.: Westcott & Hort's Greek Text and Theory Refuted, http://www.deanburgonsociety.org/.
A good source for Christian Books and Music is BestOfTheWebShopping.Com
Footnotes:
[1] The Holy Bible, The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982, S. Mt 16:13
[2] Hodge, Charles: Systematic Theology. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997, S. 1:498
[3] Geisler, N. L. and Nix, W. E.: A General Introduction to the Bible, Chicago: Moody Press, 1986, p. 321.
[4] Geisler, N. L. and Nix, W. E.: A General Introduction to the Bible. Chicago : Moody Press, 1986, S. 345
[5] Richards, Lawrence O.: The Bible Readers Companion. electronic ed. Wheaton : Victor Books, 1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996, S. 13
[6] Geisler, Norman L. ; Nix, William E.: A General Introduction to the Bible. 1986, S. 386.
[7] Holden, Joe: Apologetic Evangelism Appendices, Murrieta, CA : CCBC, 2005, 18.
[8] Strobel, Lee: The Case for Christ, Grand Rapids, MI : Zondervan, 1998, 77.
[9] Strobel, Lee: The Case for Christ, Grand Rapids, MI : Zondervan, 1998, 80.
[10] Holden, Joe: Apologetic Evangelism Appendices, Murrieta, CA : CCBC, 2005, 17.
[11] Strobel, Lee: The Case for Christ, Grand Rapids, MI : Zondervan, 1998, (quoting John McKay) 127.
[12] Holden, Joe: Apologetic Evangelism Appendices, Murrieta, CA : CCBC, 2005, 26.
[13] Russell, R.: “The Pilate Inscription,” http://www.bible-history.com/empires/pilate.html.
[14] Holden, Joe: Apologetic Evangelism Appendices, Murrieta, CA : CCBC, 2005, 26.
[15] McGee, Mark: “Archaeology and the Bible,” http://www.mindspring.com/~mamcgee.
[16] Holden, Joe: Apologetic Evangelism Notes, Murrieta, CA : CCBC, 60.
[17] The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Nashville: Nelson, 1982, Mat. 22:43.
[18] The Holy Bible, The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982, S. Heb 1:10-11.
[19] The Holy Bible, The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982, S. Heb 11:3.
[20] Licona, Mike: “Can We Be Certain That Jesus Died On A Cross?” http://www.4truth.net.
[21] Driscoll, Mark & Breshears, Gerry: Vintage Jesus – Timeless Answers to Timely Questions, Wheaton : Crossway, 2007, 140-141.
[22] The Holy Bible, The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982, S. Mt 27:45.
[23] The Holy Bible, The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982, S. Mt 27:51.
[24] Jaroncyk, Ryan: “Darkness at the Crucifixion: Metaphor or Real History?” http://creationontheweb.com.
[25]Felce, Brian, The Revised Version: The Debate Over the Text of Scripture, http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk
[26]Brown, David L.: The Great Uncials, http://www.deanburgonsociety.org/CriticalTexts/uncials.htm
[27]Geisler, N. L. and Nix, W. E.: A General Introduction to the Bible, Chicago: Moody Press, 1986, p. 455.
[28]Geisler, N. L. and Nix, W. E.: A General Introduction to the Bible, Chicago : Moody Press, 1986, p. 461.
[29]Brown, David L.: The Great Uncials, http://www.deanburgonsociety.org/CriticalTexts/uncials.htm.
[30]Blunt, David: Quotes from Westcott and Hort, www.acts1711.com.
[31] Blunt, David: Quotes from Westcott and Hort, www.acts1711.com.
[32] Blunt, David: Quotes from Westcott and Hort, www.acts1711.com.
[33] Beecham, R.: “Which Bible Translation?” http://ourworld.compuserve.com.
[34] Geisler, N. L. & Nix, Wm.: A General Introduction to the Bible. Chicago : Moody Press, 1986, S. 405.
[35] CARM.org: “Manuscript Evidence for Superior New Testament Reliability,” http://www.carm.org.
[36] Miller, Betty: “History of the Authority and Infallibility of the Bible,” http://bibleresources.bible.com.
[37] The Holy Bible, The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982, S. 2 Ti 2:15.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
An Excellent Evangelism Tool for the 21st Century
An Excellent Evangelism Tool for the 21st Century
Review of “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel
Prepared by Bob Koehler for TH365 at Calvary Chapel Bible College
May 22, 2008
“The Case for Christ” looks at the evidence about Jesus Christ from the perspective of a skeptical investigative legal reporter searching for the real story. The author, Lee Strobel, is a former law student from Yale who went on to become “an award winning journalist” with the Chicago Tribune. The Tribune link intrigued me as my grandfather, Philip Kinsley, was a reporter there during the 1930’s and 1940’s.
Strobel is extremely well qualified to address the task of examining the evidence for Jesus. In addition to his law degree from Yale he holds a journalism degree from the University of Missouri. He has been a pastor at two mega churches, Willow Creek and Saddleback, and is a prolific author. He describes “The Case for Christ” as his effort to retrace the steps of his own spiritual journey prior to making his personal commitment to follow Jesus many years ago.
This book recalls to my mind a time in the early 1990s when I was searching for answers as the Spirit of God was lifting me out of the deceptive doctrines of Christian Science. At that time I read the two volume series by Josh McDowell, “Evidence That Demands a Verdict.” Like McDowell, Strobel examines evidence but in an entirely different way. Strobel’s book is the account of his travels and interviews with thirteen leading Christian scholars and apologists. He uses his hard hitting, pointed questions and the answers provided by these scholars to build a very convincing argument, similar to a legal brief, in favor of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. He concludes with an appeal to his readers to reach the same verdict.
The first topic Strobel tackles is the reliability of the accounts of the life of Jesus in the New Testament. His interview is with Dr. Craig Blomberg who is “widely considered to be one of the country’s foremost authorities on the biographies of Jesus” (the four Gospels). Initially Blomberg verifies that the Gospels of Mathew, Mark and Luke are almost certainly written by the traditionally accepted authors. He states that there is some debate about which “John” wrote the fourth Gospel. On the subject of common source material which may have been used by the three writers of the synoptic Gospels, Blomberg states that the supposed “Q” document is “nothing more than a hypothesis.” He makes a strong case for early authorship of these accounts of Jesus’ life and also discusses early Christian creeds. In Blomberg’s opinion the “fundamental beliefs in Jesus’ atonement, his resurrection, and his unique association with God” can be traced back to a time “within two to five years of the events themselves.”
The next interview is with Dr. Bruce Metzger who has authored or edited more than fifty books, is a noted theologian, holds numerous degrees and is the chairman of the New Revised Standard Version Bible Committee. The topic of this interview centers on the abundant documentary manuscript evidence supporting the New Testament. In addition the composition of the canon of Scripture is discussed as well as the Nag Hammadi documents. Strobel states that after this interview “no serious doubts lingered” about the reliability of the text of the New Testament.
Third on the list of experts is Dr. Edwin Yamauchi of Miami University in Oxford Ohio. Their discussion centers primarily on evidence for Jesus outside of the Bible itself. After discussing writings of Josephus, Tacitus and others, Professor Yamaucui concludes: “For me, the historical evidence has reinforced my commitment to Jesus Christ as the Son of God …”
The next topic is archaeology and the expert witness is none other than John McRay, Ph.D., the author of “Archaeology and the New Testament” and consultant for the cable TV program “Mysteries of the Bible.” Strobel verifies that Luke’s remarkable accuracy as a historian is verified by archaeology as well as details in Mark and John. McRay shows how the evidence of document 4Q521 from the Dead Sea Scrolls has helped unravel some riddles about Jesus. The McRay interview helps Strobel conclude that archaeology provides “important corroboration” for the reliability of the New Testament.
As the interviews continue expert Gregory Boyd refutes contentions of the Jesus Seminar about the Jesus of history being different from the Jesus of faith. Strobel’s discussion with Dr. Ben Witherington focuses on Jesus’ view of himself and his claims to deity as revealed in Scripture. Next the psychological evidence is reviewed with Dr. Gary Collins. The idea that I found most intriguing from this chapter was Collins’ contention that, to a degree, people find what they are looking for. While discussing the topic of Jesus’ exorcisms he states: “People who deny the existence of the supernatural will find some way … to explain a situation apart from the demonic.”
In the eighth interview Strobel grills Dr. Donald Carson of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School about the incarnation. They also discuss the relationship of Jesus to God the Father and controversy surrounding the word “begotten” used in many English Bible translations. Carson’s scholarly view is that a better translation of “begotten” might be “unique one.” The word does not indicate that Jesus is “ontologically begotten in time.”
The next interview is with Messianic Jewish scholar Louis Lapides. Predictably their discussion focuses on Jesus’ Jewishness and His fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Lapides dismisses the thought that anyone could have orchestrated their life in such a way as to satisfy the many and varied predictions that Jesus did. “Not a chance,” says Lapides. “The odds are so astronomical that they rule that out.”
Medical evidence is reviewed next with forensic pathologist Dr. Robert J. Stein. Then Strobel and Dr. Bill Crane discuss the empty tomb, Joseph of Arimathea and the harmonization of Gospel accounts about Jesus’ death and resurrection. Next the biblical accounts of Jesus after His resurrection are reviewed with author and scholar Gary Habermas who has written seven books on the subject of Jesus rising from the dead. Their conversation includes a look at the debate on the short and long endings of Mark’s Gospel as well as various alternative theories about Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances.
The last interview is with the noted philosopher and theologian Dr. J. P. Moreland. This chapter deals with circumstantial evidence in support of the Christian faith. Topics include the fact that the disciples died for their beliefs, the conversion of hardened skeptics to Christianity (James and Paul), changes in social structure in the first century, the emergence of the church and the ordinances of communion and baptism.
Strobel’s final chapter is a brief review of his thirteen interviews with a summary of each subject. He then presents his “Formula of Faith” which is to believe in Jesus, receive God’s free gift through a step of faith and become a child of God through gradual character changes “with Christ’s help.” The final section invites the reader “as a fair and impartial juror” to reach a verdict in favor of Jesus Christ. The author closes with the classic words spoken by C. S. Lewis about a person who says that Jesus is a “great moral teacher” but who do not accept “His claim to be God.” Lewis states that Jesus “has not left that … (option) … open to us. He did not intend to.”
Throughout the narrative Strobel intersperses stories from his secular journalistic encounters with his current quest for the truth about Jesus. This technique has the effect of making the book read “like a captivating, fast-paced novel. But it’s not fiction.”
The approach seems to work and Strobel does make a thorough examination of many areas where seekers and skeptics might have doubts or concerns. Community reviewer Marlene at chapters.indigo.ca states: “I was not really a sceptic (sic) but found that questions that I haven't even thought of were answered and evidence produced that I didn't know existed. This is an excellent book for those on the edge.” Scott Foutz echoes these views at theologywebsite.com: “Strobel's book … directly addresses the approach my students most commonly take when confronted by the topic of Jesus … The writing style is highly readable and engaging.”
Probably the best feature of the book from my personal perspective is that it serves as a condensed research project with documentation of the views of many well respected Evangelical Christian scholars. “Strobel is to be commended for summarizing the work of so many leading apologists for Evangelical Christianity in such a compact and easy-to-read format.”
Although many reviews are very complimentary there is definitely another side to the coin. Strobel interviews only proponents and supporters of Christianity. He totally ignores actual contact with detractors although he does speak about their views. In addition one reviewer, Gloria Kan, comments that the book is “loaded with logical fallacies, falsehoods and half-truths.” Her assessment seems a little too harsh to me.
Overall I personally preferred the presentation of Josh McDowell in “Evidence That Demands a Verdict.” I thought that Strobel was heavy on quotes and light on detailed references to the actual evidence referred to by the subjects of his interviews. Atheist Kush K. remarks: “Strobel, without doubt, is a dramatic writer. Unfortunately, drama cannot substitute for substance, logic and consistency. Drama is not evidence.”
Although Kush’s comment may be true (at least in part) one must consider the source. As with any issue in Christian apologetics, if a person does not have an open mind they will most assuredly find what they are looking for. Their theological conclusions will reflect the presuppositions of their jaded worldview.
I believe that this book is a great tool for outreach. I have already recommended it to a friend and will continue to do so. My desire to dig deeper and learn even more about Jesus has been increased as a direct result of taking the class on Apologetics Evangelism and reading “The Case for Christ.” I have been teaching an adult Sunday school class on apologetics using the framework of the first five centuries of Christian Church history. I have already woven material from this book into my class.
I am scheduled to preach at our new satellite campus in Seal Beach on a regular basis and will be using material from Lee Strobel whenever it is appropriate to the topic of the week. I plan to continue my research about Jesus and am already halfway through Mark Driscoll’s book “Vintage Jesus – Timeless Answers to Timely Questions.”
As Outreach Base Coach for Cypress Church I have been teaching classes in evangelism and am planning a workshop for our congregation on the subject of personal evangelism. I plan to weave the material from this book into the workshop along with some of the excellent resources made available to me through this class.
I firmly believe that every time I commit my heart to seeking the Lord and learning more about Him that my faith is increased. The more I learn the more I want to learn. As I make myself more available to serve Jesus in ministry, I find new doors opening. As I put into practice what I learn, I find that God is drawing me closer to Him and showing me even more about Himself.
I know that God provides enough time for me to do exactly what He wants me to do each day. However, I still find myself wanting what I know it is impossible to have - more hours in the day for more service in Jesus’ Name.
Bibliography:
“Case for Christ,” http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books;
Foutz, S. D., http://www.theologywebsite.com/books;
http://www.mwillett.org/atheism/strobel.htm;
Lowder, Jeffery J., “The Rest of the Story,” http://www.infidels.org/library;
Kush, K., “Nonsensical “case” for Christ,” http://www.mwillett.org/atheism/strobel.htm;
Strobel, Lee, The Case for Christ, (Grand Rapids, Zondervan), 1998;
“The Case for Christ,” http://www.amazon.com/.
Visit BestOfTheWebShopping.Com as a source for Christian Books & Music.
Review of “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel
Prepared by Bob Koehler for TH365 at Calvary Chapel Bible College
May 22, 2008
“The Case for Christ” looks at the evidence about Jesus Christ from the perspective of a skeptical investigative legal reporter searching for the real story. The author, Lee Strobel, is a former law student from Yale who went on to become “an award winning journalist” with the Chicago Tribune. The Tribune link intrigued me as my grandfather, Philip Kinsley, was a reporter there during the 1930’s and 1940’s.
Strobel is extremely well qualified to address the task of examining the evidence for Jesus. In addition to his law degree from Yale he holds a journalism degree from the University of Missouri. He has been a pastor at two mega churches, Willow Creek and Saddleback, and is a prolific author. He describes “The Case for Christ” as his effort to retrace the steps of his own spiritual journey prior to making his personal commitment to follow Jesus many years ago.
This book recalls to my mind a time in the early 1990s when I was searching for answers as the Spirit of God was lifting me out of the deceptive doctrines of Christian Science. At that time I read the two volume series by Josh McDowell, “Evidence That Demands a Verdict.” Like McDowell, Strobel examines evidence but in an entirely different way. Strobel’s book is the account of his travels and interviews with thirteen leading Christian scholars and apologists. He uses his hard hitting, pointed questions and the answers provided by these scholars to build a very convincing argument, similar to a legal brief, in favor of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. He concludes with an appeal to his readers to reach the same verdict.
The first topic Strobel tackles is the reliability of the accounts of the life of Jesus in the New Testament. His interview is with Dr. Craig Blomberg who is “widely considered to be one of the country’s foremost authorities on the biographies of Jesus” (the four Gospels). Initially Blomberg verifies that the Gospels of Mathew, Mark and Luke are almost certainly written by the traditionally accepted authors. He states that there is some debate about which “John” wrote the fourth Gospel. On the subject of common source material which may have been used by the three writers of the synoptic Gospels, Blomberg states that the supposed “Q” document is “nothing more than a hypothesis.” He makes a strong case for early authorship of these accounts of Jesus’ life and also discusses early Christian creeds. In Blomberg’s opinion the “fundamental beliefs in Jesus’ atonement, his resurrection, and his unique association with God” can be traced back to a time “within two to five years of the events themselves.”
The next interview is with Dr. Bruce Metzger who has authored or edited more than fifty books, is a noted theologian, holds numerous degrees and is the chairman of the New Revised Standard Version Bible Committee. The topic of this interview centers on the abundant documentary manuscript evidence supporting the New Testament. In addition the composition of the canon of Scripture is discussed as well as the Nag Hammadi documents. Strobel states that after this interview “no serious doubts lingered” about the reliability of the text of the New Testament.
Third on the list of experts is Dr. Edwin Yamauchi of Miami University in Oxford Ohio. Their discussion centers primarily on evidence for Jesus outside of the Bible itself. After discussing writings of Josephus, Tacitus and others, Professor Yamaucui concludes: “For me, the historical evidence has reinforced my commitment to Jesus Christ as the Son of God …”
The next topic is archaeology and the expert witness is none other than John McRay, Ph.D., the author of “Archaeology and the New Testament” and consultant for the cable TV program “Mysteries of the Bible.” Strobel verifies that Luke’s remarkable accuracy as a historian is verified by archaeology as well as details in Mark and John. McRay shows how the evidence of document 4Q521 from the Dead Sea Scrolls has helped unravel some riddles about Jesus. The McRay interview helps Strobel conclude that archaeology provides “important corroboration” for the reliability of the New Testament.
As the interviews continue expert Gregory Boyd refutes contentions of the Jesus Seminar about the Jesus of history being different from the Jesus of faith. Strobel’s discussion with Dr. Ben Witherington focuses on Jesus’ view of himself and his claims to deity as revealed in Scripture. Next the psychological evidence is reviewed with Dr. Gary Collins. The idea that I found most intriguing from this chapter was Collins’ contention that, to a degree, people find what they are looking for. While discussing the topic of Jesus’ exorcisms he states: “People who deny the existence of the supernatural will find some way … to explain a situation apart from the demonic.”
In the eighth interview Strobel grills Dr. Donald Carson of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School about the incarnation. They also discuss the relationship of Jesus to God the Father and controversy surrounding the word “begotten” used in many English Bible translations. Carson’s scholarly view is that a better translation of “begotten” might be “unique one.” The word does not indicate that Jesus is “ontologically begotten in time.”
The next interview is with Messianic Jewish scholar Louis Lapides. Predictably their discussion focuses on Jesus’ Jewishness and His fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Lapides dismisses the thought that anyone could have orchestrated their life in such a way as to satisfy the many and varied predictions that Jesus did. “Not a chance,” says Lapides. “The odds are so astronomical that they rule that out.”
Medical evidence is reviewed next with forensic pathologist Dr. Robert J. Stein. Then Strobel and Dr. Bill Crane discuss the empty tomb, Joseph of Arimathea and the harmonization of Gospel accounts about Jesus’ death and resurrection. Next the biblical accounts of Jesus after His resurrection are reviewed with author and scholar Gary Habermas who has written seven books on the subject of Jesus rising from the dead. Their conversation includes a look at the debate on the short and long endings of Mark’s Gospel as well as various alternative theories about Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances.
The last interview is with the noted philosopher and theologian Dr. J. P. Moreland. This chapter deals with circumstantial evidence in support of the Christian faith. Topics include the fact that the disciples died for their beliefs, the conversion of hardened skeptics to Christianity (James and Paul), changes in social structure in the first century, the emergence of the church and the ordinances of communion and baptism.
Strobel’s final chapter is a brief review of his thirteen interviews with a summary of each subject. He then presents his “Formula of Faith” which is to believe in Jesus, receive God’s free gift through a step of faith and become a child of God through gradual character changes “with Christ’s help.” The final section invites the reader “as a fair and impartial juror” to reach a verdict in favor of Jesus Christ. The author closes with the classic words spoken by C. S. Lewis about a person who says that Jesus is a “great moral teacher” but who do not accept “His claim to be God.” Lewis states that Jesus “has not left that … (option) … open to us. He did not intend to.”
Throughout the narrative Strobel intersperses stories from his secular journalistic encounters with his current quest for the truth about Jesus. This technique has the effect of making the book read “like a captivating, fast-paced novel. But it’s not fiction.”
The approach seems to work and Strobel does make a thorough examination of many areas where seekers and skeptics might have doubts or concerns. Community reviewer Marlene at chapters.indigo.ca states: “I was not really a sceptic (sic) but found that questions that I haven't even thought of were answered and evidence produced that I didn't know existed. This is an excellent book for those on the edge.” Scott Foutz echoes these views at theologywebsite.com: “Strobel's book … directly addresses the approach my students most commonly take when confronted by the topic of Jesus … The writing style is highly readable and engaging.”
Probably the best feature of the book from my personal perspective is that it serves as a condensed research project with documentation of the views of many well respected Evangelical Christian scholars. “Strobel is to be commended for summarizing the work of so many leading apologists for Evangelical Christianity in such a compact and easy-to-read format.”
Although many reviews are very complimentary there is definitely another side to the coin. Strobel interviews only proponents and supporters of Christianity. He totally ignores actual contact with detractors although he does speak about their views. In addition one reviewer, Gloria Kan, comments that the book is “loaded with logical fallacies, falsehoods and half-truths.” Her assessment seems a little too harsh to me.
Overall I personally preferred the presentation of Josh McDowell in “Evidence That Demands a Verdict.” I thought that Strobel was heavy on quotes and light on detailed references to the actual evidence referred to by the subjects of his interviews. Atheist Kush K. remarks: “Strobel, without doubt, is a dramatic writer. Unfortunately, drama cannot substitute for substance, logic and consistency. Drama is not evidence.”
Although Kush’s comment may be true (at least in part) one must consider the source. As with any issue in Christian apologetics, if a person does not have an open mind they will most assuredly find what they are looking for. Their theological conclusions will reflect the presuppositions of their jaded worldview.
I believe that this book is a great tool for outreach. I have already recommended it to a friend and will continue to do so. My desire to dig deeper and learn even more about Jesus has been increased as a direct result of taking the class on Apologetics Evangelism and reading “The Case for Christ.” I have been teaching an adult Sunday school class on apologetics using the framework of the first five centuries of Christian Church history. I have already woven material from this book into my class.
I am scheduled to preach at our new satellite campus in Seal Beach on a regular basis and will be using material from Lee Strobel whenever it is appropriate to the topic of the week. I plan to continue my research about Jesus and am already halfway through Mark Driscoll’s book “Vintage Jesus – Timeless Answers to Timely Questions.”
As Outreach Base Coach for Cypress Church I have been teaching classes in evangelism and am planning a workshop for our congregation on the subject of personal evangelism. I plan to weave the material from this book into the workshop along with some of the excellent resources made available to me through this class.
I firmly believe that every time I commit my heart to seeking the Lord and learning more about Him that my faith is increased. The more I learn the more I want to learn. As I make myself more available to serve Jesus in ministry, I find new doors opening. As I put into practice what I learn, I find that God is drawing me closer to Him and showing me even more about Himself.
I know that God provides enough time for me to do exactly what He wants me to do each day. However, I still find myself wanting what I know it is impossible to have - more hours in the day for more service in Jesus’ Name.
Bibliography:
“Case for Christ,” http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books;
Foutz, S. D., http://www.theologywebsite.com/books;
http://www.mwillett.org/atheism/strobel.htm;
Lowder, Jeffery J., “The Rest of the Story,” http://www.infidels.org/library;
Kush, K., “Nonsensical “case” for Christ,” http://www.mwillett.org/atheism/strobel.htm;
Strobel, Lee, The Case for Christ, (Grand Rapids, Zondervan), 1998;
“The Case for Christ,” http://www.amazon.com/.
Visit BestOfTheWebShopping.Com as a source for Christian Books & Music.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
You Were Formed For God's Family
Week Three - I Was Formed For God's Family:
Purpose Driven Life 40 Days Bible Study:
Message Presented by Bob Koehler at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station For the Military Community Christian Community.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Responsive Reading:
“That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:3-7 (NKJV)
*****
Good Morning. Welcome to the Seal Beach Military Christian Community. Today we are continuing in our series on 40 Days of Purpose.
A few years ago a woman named Adelina Dominguez died in San Diego. Now, what made her death noteworthy is that according to the Guinness Book of Records, she was the oldest living American. At 114 years of age, she outlived all of her children and some of her grandchildren. When she was asked the secret of her longevity, Associated Press reported that she gave all the credit to God and to His plan and purpose for her life, quote, "I knew God had a purpose for my life."
Two weeks ago we answered the question “What on Earth am I here for? We discovered that God has many purposes for our life. In this series we are looking at five of those purposes:
First is Worship – we were planned for God’s pleasure;Second, Fellowship – we were formed for God’s family;Third, Discipleship – we were created to become like Christ;Fourth, Ministry – we were shaped for serving God;And fifth, Evangelism – we were made for a mission.
Last week, we looked at God’s first purpose, which is for you to get to know Him and to love Him. The Bible calls that worship. And today, we're going to look at the second purpose, which is that you are formed for God's family. Relating with God and with other Christians is called Fellowship.
God has not ever been lonely, but He wanted a family of men and women. In the first Chapter of the Bible – Genesis 1, Verse 26 we read: “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…”
In the Book of Ephesians Chapter 1, Verse 5 Paul writes that God: “…predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,”
He is telling us that: “His (God’s) unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.”
The Bible is all about Jesus and about God is building His family on Jesus Christ, the Chief Corner stone, using the apostles and the prophets as the foundation and using you and me as the building blocks. The Apostle Peter calls us “living stones” in 1 Peter 2:5. God is building a family for Himself that is going to last not just here on earth, but forever and ever and ever in eternity. It is very important to realize that you were made to last forever.
Now, once you understand and get started on God's first purpose for your life, which we talked about last week, getting to know and to love God … then … God wants you to begin to focus and start practicing on His second purpose for your life.
And here it is in I Peter 2:17: “…Love the brotherhood…” When Peter speaks of “the brotherhood” he is telling us to love our Christian brothers and sisters, the church, our spiritual family.
That's what God wants you to do. That's the second purpose of your life. You see, God says that he wants you to learn to love the people in your family. Why? Well, there are several reasons. First, your physical family is going to eventually fall apart. But your spiritual family is going to last forever. You are going to spend more time with your spiritual family than you do with your physical family. God wants you to learn to love them.
Now, why does He want us to learn to love them? Here are a few reasons. First, it makes us more like God, because God is love. Second, he wants His children to learn to get along together. How many of you are parents? … You know, you usually want your kids to get along with each other ... Right? And number three, it’s practice for eternity. One of the things you're going to do in heaven, in eternity, is you're going to love God. And the other thing you're going to do is you're going to love the other believers that are there. It is going to be a place of love. So God says, “I want you to practice now learning to love other believers.” So let’s write this down:
MY SECOND PURPOSE IN LIFE IS FELLOWSHIP.
That's the word that the Bible uses to describe loving each other. What do you think of when I say the word ‘fellowship’? Some would say a casual conversation, some would say eating out together, some might say going to church. After this service is over, there will be a couple guys out on the patio, and they will be talking and one of them will say, “Hey, what happened to Kobe & the Lakers in Game 4??? Now, did they just fellowship? No! They just chewed the fat. They were just talking. That's not fellowship.
Write this down:
FELLOWSHIP IS LOVING GOD’S FAMILY.
.
And the Bible says this in I John 4:21:
“And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”
John is telling us that "The person who loves God must also love other believers." We have to love other believers. Now, how do you do that?
Well, fortunately, the Bible gives us crystal clear instructions. Paul wrote this, he said, “These things I write to you … so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Tim 3:14-15.
Paul is telling his young disciple and pastor Timothy: “I am writing you these instructions so that … you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God.”
Write this down:
God’s Family is the Church.
The Church is not a building; it is not an institution; it is not an organization; it is not a club. It is a family. A lot of people say, “Well, I’m going to go to church,” as if church is a place you go to. That's not correct. Church is not a place you go to. Church is a family you belong to. Big difference.
FOUR LEVELS OF FELLOWSHIP:
In God's family there are four levels of fellowship. We're going to look at them in detail. If we are going to fulfill God’s purposes for our lives we need to know how He expects us to do that. God did not mean for us to be “Lone Ranger” Christians. He tells us in the Book of Hebrews: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
The first level of Fellowship is Membership which is (write this in the blank), "Choosing to belong,"
LEVEL 1 -- MEMBERSHIP: CHOOSING TO BELONG.
That's the most basic level. In Ephesians 1:13 we read: “But now in Christ Jesus … you … who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” And then skipping down to verse 19, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”
So what is the first step in becoming a member of God’s family? Although we were originally created in God’s image, our first parents, Adam and Eve, made the choice to sin. Each of us has inherited a sin nature from them. That is what has made us strangers to God. We have all heard about the 10 commandments that were given to the children of Israel at Mount Sinai and we may pat ourselves on the back by thinking that we have done a pretty good job of obeying them. But if we really examine our lives we will find that we often do things that are not pleasing to God. This is sin and it creates a barrier between us and God. It breaks our fellowship with Him. The Bible tells us in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Now I know that forgiveness being a free gift might be a little difficult to understand; especially if you are in the military where forgiveness is hard to come by. Marines have a really hard time with this concept. You see … a Marine knows that to err is human and to forgive is divine … however … neither of the above is Marine Corps policy.
But our God is loving and merciful and does not want to punish us. However, our sin carries a penalty that must be paid. And Jesus Christ took care of that sin debt for us. He, Jesus Christ, God the Son, became a man, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and rose from the dead to go to Heaven and prepare a place for us.
Yes, Heaven, or eternal life is a free gift, but getting there is not automatic. How do we receive this free gift? It’s as easy as A, B, C. Write this down:
A you must admit that you are a sinner, B you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for your sins and purchase a place in Heaven for you and C you confess your sins to God and commit your life to Jesus Christ.
The Bible tells us in 1 John Chapter 1: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
Isn’t that a fantastic promise? God says that if confess our sins to Him (and that means we agree with God that we are sinners) and turn away from that sinful life style and trust Jesus Christ alone for our eternal life … then all of our sins, everything bad we have ever done is forgiven. The slate is wiped clean! Jesus did it all! He says in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Do you have a real relationship with God? Have you asked God if you can be a part of His family? Were you walking closely with God in the past but you have let sin get in the way of you fulfilling God’s purposes for your life? Maybe it’s time for you to make a change of direction.
The next part of Step one is finding a church family and choosing to get connected. Believing in Jesus and trusting Him alone for our eternal life is the essence of Christianity. But living the abundant Christian life here and now is a matter of belonging.
Fellowship begins with belonging, with making that choice. God wants you to identify with and to make the choice to be a part of His family. When you were born, you automatically became a part of the human race. But you have to choose to belong to the family of God, the church. It is a choice.
You may hear some people say, “Well, I’m a Christian, but I don't want to belong to any church.” That just doesn't make sense. The church is where you live out what it means to be a Christian. That's like saying, “I’m in the Army, but I don’t want to be a part of any division or regiment or company or platoon.” It’s like saying, I’m in the Coast Guard, and I want to live in Southern California, but I really don’t want to belong to the 11th Coast Guard District or Sector LA/LB.” It just doesn't work. A Christian without a church family is an orphan. God meant us to be a part of a family.
This next week in the Purpose Driven Life book, you will be reading six reasons why you need to be a part of a church family, why it meets your needs and why you meet other people's needs. The Bible tells us this in Romans 12, verses 5 & 6:
“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
When you make a decision for Jesus you belong to every other Christian. We are members together. The word "membership” today is used for being a member of every kind of club and signing up for this and joining that. But originally, the meaning was right here in the Bible; a member of the Body of Christ. Just like your hand is a member of your body, that's how tightly we are tied to each other. This isn't about being a part of some silly club, wearing silly hats and having silly signs. This is about belonging to each other, making the choice to belong to a family.
You know, it is only in America that it is common to have floating believers. By that I mean people who go from church to church to church. Suppose you were, let's say, the liver in the Body of Christ, that was God's job for you. You can't un-attach yourself from one body and try to go attach yourself to another and then to another.
(Leaf/Flower and Plant Illustration)
What happens when you pick a leaf off a tree or pick cut a flower to put in a vase in your living room. It looks great for a while but soon it will wither, shrivel up and not be good for anything.
And the same thing happens to us as believers. We need to attach ourselves to a group of believers, where we say, “I want to be a part of what's going on there.” Jesus loves the church. And you and I need to have the same kind of love. Jesus calls the church the “body.” We need to have that same kind of respect for it, to recognize what it means. What if I said to you, “You know, I love you, I just can't stand your body”? How would you feel about that? The church is Jesus' body. He loves the church. The church is the bride of Christ. What if I said, “I love you, but I can't stand your wife,” how would you like that?
There is a Biblical symbol of belonging to Jesus -- a picture that God gives us about being a part of His family. It is called "baptism." Baptism is an outward sign of what has already taken place in your heart when you committed your life to Jesus. Look at what 1 Corinthians 12:13 has to say about baptism:
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.”
When you are baptized you say: “I am identifying with Jesus Christ. I have become part of His body, the church.” Baptism is a public way of proclaiming that we died to our sin, our old lives and now we live to serve Jesus Christ. We died to an old way of life; we're living a new way of life.
I guess the best picture I can give you is that baptism is like the wedding ring of the Christian life. This wedding ring that I am wearing doesn't make me married. But Jean, my charming wife, gave it to me on the day we were married so I could wear it from that day forward as a visible symbol of a commitment of my heart. That's what baptism is. It is visible symbol of the commitment of a person's heart, saying I’m not ashamed to tell the world that I believe in Jesus Christ.
During this last year at Cypress Church we had more than 100 people who took that step. They said that they are not ashamed to identify themselves with Jesus. Three weeks from now, on June 8th, we are going to give you that opportunity. Any of you who have not been baptized and publicly identified yourself with Jesus Christ should plan to attend baptism class on May 25th and then you will be ready to be baptized on June 8th.
So we have talked about the first level which is choosing to belong. The second level of Fellowship is a little bit deeper, when you go a little further into the family of God. We will call this “the friendship level.” Let’s write this down on our notes:
LEVEL 2: FRIENDSHIP: LEARNING TO SHARE.
You see, you were created in God's image. So you were made for relationships. If we go back to the book of Genesis we find that God comments about His creation. Six times He calls it “Good.” After man was created and the six days of creation were complete He said that “it was very good.” But in chapter 2 we read: “And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.””
Life is not a solo act. You need friends. The Bible says this in Acts 2:44 where Luke tells us: “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,” Acts 2:44 (NKJV)
This means that “All the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other.” Acts 2:44 (LB)
Notice the two keys to developing biblical friendships. The first is meeting together and the second is sharing. Now, the more frequently you meet together, the closer you're going to get. Do you know why most people are lonely? They don't make time for friendships. They are too busy achieving; they are too busy working; they are too busy doing other things. They are not willing to put the time into it. You have to meet together. You have to get together. And until you start making fellowship a priority in your life, you're not going to develop any deep friends. Friendships don't just happen. They happen because you choose to make the time for them. It is not luck. It is a choice. And developing close friendships means sharing. It says, “they shared everything."
Now, those of you who are parents know one of the fundamental lessons children have to learn is learning to share. And God says “You know what? In the family of God I want you to learn to share with other believers.” So what are we supposed to share? Well, the Bible is full of instructions on things we are supposed to share - as Christians - with each other. Let me just mention a few:
Number 1, the Bible says we are to share…write this down:
OUR EXPERIENCES.
Experience is a wonderful thing. I’ve been told that it actually enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again. I think it was my Dad who told me: “Experience keeps a hard school but a fool will learn from no other.”
But the Bible says we learn from each other “just as iron sharpens iron."
When I was just out of the Navy I started working with a guy from San Pedro named Ed who had a charter sailboat. He was getting close to retirement and wanted someone to take over the business. He told me that if I was going to work for him I needed to do things exactly the way he showed me so I wouldn’t get into trouble. Of course, I followed his directions when he was around, but sometimes when he let me operate the boat by myself I would try an “experiment.” One day I thought I would try to get underway from a mooring over at Catalina using only the sails and no engine. I had never done this before, but youth, inexperience and pride won out over obedience. I ended up hitting the LA County lifeguard boat that was on a nearby mooring and had to buy them a new windshield. I could have learned from Ed’s experience but I chose the hard road.
Think of the wealth of knowledge sitting here right now in this fellowship and how much we could learn from each other … if … we just spend the time to get together.
Second, the Bible says we are to share:
OUR HOMES.
The Bible says in I Peter 4:9 “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.” It doesn't say invite your friend over only if you have a really nice home … just open the doors. Why do we need to share our homes? I'll tell you why – because it is very difficult to fellowship in a crowd. You can only have meaningful fellowship in a small group. Or even one on one. We can get together for Bible study here on Sunday. We can celebrate together. We can learn together. But as our group gets larger we will find that it is necessary to develop home bible study groups of about 6 to 12 people to maintain true fellowship.
Did you know in the first 300 years of Christianity, there were no church buildings? Other that some gatherings in public areas like the temple courts in Jerusalem, church meetings were held in homes. There were no buildings. And that, by the way, was the fastest period of growth for the church.
I am a harbor pilot in the port of Long Beach and my company understands the principle of small groups. Our staff is divided into groups of 6 men who work the same schedule. That way we can really get to know each other, trust each other and share our experiences for the benefit of the other members of our group.
My nephew is a major in the Marines stationed at 29 Palms. As you may know the marines are organized into platoons of 16 men but even these groups are broken down further into a squad of eight or a fire team of four.
We have a Bible Study group here at the Naval Weapons Station that meets on Wednesday evening at Bunker 33 at 7:00 pm. If you have not been to one of the meetings, I would encourage you to make that a part of your week. It is a great way to stay consistent with the 40 Days of Purpose study and develop close friendships.
Now, not only do we share our experiences and our homes, the Bible says, number three, we're to share:
OUR PROBLEMS.
We are not meant to face our problems alone. The Bible says I Galatians 6:4: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
You know when you share a joy, it is doubled; and when you share a problem, it is cut in half? The Bible tells us in Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
You don't have to fix everybody's problem. God hasn't told you to do that. He just says share them.
I know when I first became a Christian I made the mistake of thinking I could go to church on Sunday and not get into a home study group. I quickly got off track. It wasn’t until I got into a small group of 4 men who met weekly to share our lives with each other that I really began to make progress.
So Level One of Fellowship is Membership – Choosing to Belong and Level Two is Friendship – Learning to Share.
The third level of Fellowship is Partnership and partnership is … write this down:
LEVEL 3: PARTNERSHIP: DOING MY PART.
Partnership is realizing that you have got a contribution to make; that the family of God needs you. Listen, God brought you here to participate.
The Bible is filled with examples of how people worked together with others to get important jobs done. There are more than 50 times in the New Testament where the Bible says we are to do things with one another. We are to serve one another. We are to love one another. We are to pray with and for one another. The Bible even says we have to put up with one another when we're doing all of this. That's how the Christian life works. Christianity is not a religion – it is a relationship. First with Jesus and then with other believers. This is love in action. Not just in words. You see, it is great to share your heart, that's level two. But it is even greater to do your part. That is what level three is all about.
Listen to what the Bible has to say in 1 Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 9: “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building” And then in verse 16: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Fellow workers means we are partners working together with and for God. But in order to be a part, you've got to find your niche, you have got to find out, “Where do I fit, how I do I fit?” The Bible tells us we all have a niche. Look at Ephesians 4:16 where Paul talks about the church and says that we are … “joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share” … and that this … “causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
So we each have a job to do. Now at first this may look hard, but we don’t serve God in our own strength. Paul tells in Philippians 4:13: “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” God does it as we yield ourselves to Him.
There is an attitude, a heart attitude that is the key for me and should be for all of us. What ever we do it should be: “with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men” and that is from Ephesians 6, Verse 7.
It’s the attitude Jesus talks about in Matthew chapter 25, verse 40 when He says: "Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are the members of my family, you did it to Me."
So I want to encourage you to make this a practical action step this week, if you want to experience a deeper level of fellowship. Look for a practical need in your group to meet this coming week, just some practical thing, and watch what it does for your relationship (your fellowship) with one another.
Now, the fourth and deepest level of fellowship in the family of God is what we are going to call "Kinship.”
Kinship or kinfolk are terms that we don't use much anymore out here on the west coast. But in Arkansas, where my sister and my Mom live, the word “kinfolk” means something very special.
Kinfolk (or kinship) literally means your closest relationships. It means your closest family … you might want to write this down -- the deepest level, is:
LEVEL 4: KINSHIP: LOVING BELIEVERS LIKE FAMILY.
…treating and loving believers like they’re family. You're completely committed to them. The Bible tells us in Romans 12:10 - 11: “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”
Now in the original Greek, the word for fellowship in the Bible is “koinonia." And the basic root literally means being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ; that is the deepest level of fellowship.
Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest says that the word “koinonia” was used in a (Greek) marriage contract where the husband and wife agree to a joint-participation in the necessaries of life. The key idea in the word is that of partnership, of possessing things in common.
Commentator Marvin Vincent states that “koinonia” “was also used in secular Greek as a commercial term for a joint-partnership in a business venture in which all parties actively participate to ensure the success of the business.”
So we need to be as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ. That is family relationship. That is kinship. That is saying I’m at the level of being willing to sacrifice for you.
Many of you know John 3:16 … the verse that begins with: “For God so loved the world…" but you don't know First John 3:16 which says: “By this we know love, because He (that’s Jesus) laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
You see, when the Bible talks about loving each other it is not sexual love or the “I love hamburgers!” kind of love. The Greek word for Biblical love is “agapao.” This is the deepest level of fellowship; sacrificing for each other. It's the kind of love Jesus Christ had for you. He died for you.
Friends, this is what life is all about, loving God and learning to love each other. Life is not about accomplishments. It is about relationships. You were put on this earth to know God and love Him, and to know His family and love them, because our Christian brothers and sisters are the people we are spending eternity with.
So right now let’s do a little pop quiz. How do you know if you are truly a member of God's family? How do you know personally? Let me read you three verses that will be the acid test to let you know if you're really a Christian or not. Listen to this, right from the Bible.
1 John 3:10: “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” That's the Bible.
Here is another verse that is very interesting … 1 John 4:20, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”
And then there’s 1 John 3:14: “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.” Each time you heard the word “love” in those three verses it is the same Greek word: “agapao” … sacrificial love. So we find that love is the proof.
The greatest privilege you will ever be offered in life is a privilege of being a part of God's family. You see, God's family is a laboratory for learning to love. Some of you grew up in homes that didn't have a lot of love. The only love most people know about is sexual love or romantic love. They don't know any other kind of love. So we have to be taught, and the church (the family of God) is where you learn to love real people, not ideal people. Nobody in your small group is ideal and neither are you. We learn to love real people, and that's one of the main reasons God put us on this earth.
So let me ask you a couple relevant questions: which of these levels of fellowship are you at? Have you even made it to the first one, choosing to belong? Or are you a spiritual Lone Ranger? Are you at the Friendship level – learning to share? Have you made it from sharing your heart to the Partnership level - doing your part? Or have you made it to the deepest level – kinship? Are there any other believers that really know … that you … are devoted to them? That you are going to be there for them in their crisis? Are you truly loving others?
And if you are not, it brings up an even more basic question … are you really a part of the family of God? You say, “Well, isn't everybody a part of the family of God?” No. Everybody is created by God, but not everybody is a child of God. You have to choose to be a part of God's family. God gave us one condition in Galatians 3:26: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
A little earlier this morning I asked you these questions: Do you have a real relationship with God? Have you asked God if you can be a part of His family? Were you walking closely with God in the past but you have let sin get in the way of you fulfilling God’s purposes for your life?
Let’s ask the Lord to bring each of us into His family or to restore our broken relationship with Him right now. Will you bow your heads with me and join me in this prayer committing your life to Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father, I want to be a part of your family and I want to learn to love my spiritual family just like you do. I know that I have not always done what is pleasing to you. I know that I am a sinner. And I thank you for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins and rise from the dead to purchase a place in Heaven for me. Lord, I confess my sins to you and right now I turn away from my sins and turn to Jesus Christ as my Personal Lord and Savior. Thank you Lord, that you are faithful and just to forgive my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Thank you that I am now a child of God. In Jesus Name, AMEN.
If you prayed that prayer with me and meant it deep in your heart then you are now a member of God’s family. If you have just made a decision to follow Jesus for the first time or if you have recommitted your life to Christ today please see me after the service so that we can pray together.
May God Richly Bless Your Life today and every day!
This message was prepared using materials drawn from The Holy Bible (NKJV), messages by Rick Warren, Mike McKay and the Precept Austin website.
Purpose Driven Life 40 Days Bible Study:
Message Presented by Bob Koehler at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station For the Military Community Christian Community.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Responsive Reading:
“That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:3-7 (NKJV)
*****
Good Morning. Welcome to the Seal Beach Military Christian Community. Today we are continuing in our series on 40 Days of Purpose.
A few years ago a woman named Adelina Dominguez died in San Diego. Now, what made her death noteworthy is that according to the Guinness Book of Records, she was the oldest living American. At 114 years of age, she outlived all of her children and some of her grandchildren. When she was asked the secret of her longevity, Associated Press reported that she gave all the credit to God and to His plan and purpose for her life, quote, "I knew God had a purpose for my life."
Two weeks ago we answered the question “What on Earth am I here for? We discovered that God has many purposes for our life. In this series we are looking at five of those purposes:
First is Worship – we were planned for God’s pleasure;Second, Fellowship – we were formed for God’s family;Third, Discipleship – we were created to become like Christ;Fourth, Ministry – we were shaped for serving God;And fifth, Evangelism – we were made for a mission.
Last week, we looked at God’s first purpose, which is for you to get to know Him and to love Him. The Bible calls that worship. And today, we're going to look at the second purpose, which is that you are formed for God's family. Relating with God and with other Christians is called Fellowship.
God has not ever been lonely, but He wanted a family of men and women. In the first Chapter of the Bible – Genesis 1, Verse 26 we read: “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…”
In the Book of Ephesians Chapter 1, Verse 5 Paul writes that God: “…predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,”
He is telling us that: “His (God’s) unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.”
The Bible is all about Jesus and about God is building His family on Jesus Christ, the Chief Corner stone, using the apostles and the prophets as the foundation and using you and me as the building blocks. The Apostle Peter calls us “living stones” in 1 Peter 2:5. God is building a family for Himself that is going to last not just here on earth, but forever and ever and ever in eternity. It is very important to realize that you were made to last forever.
Now, once you understand and get started on God's first purpose for your life, which we talked about last week, getting to know and to love God … then … God wants you to begin to focus and start practicing on His second purpose for your life.
And here it is in I Peter 2:17: “…Love the brotherhood…” When Peter speaks of “the brotherhood” he is telling us to love our Christian brothers and sisters, the church, our spiritual family.
That's what God wants you to do. That's the second purpose of your life. You see, God says that he wants you to learn to love the people in your family. Why? Well, there are several reasons. First, your physical family is going to eventually fall apart. But your spiritual family is going to last forever. You are going to spend more time with your spiritual family than you do with your physical family. God wants you to learn to love them.
Now, why does He want us to learn to love them? Here are a few reasons. First, it makes us more like God, because God is love. Second, he wants His children to learn to get along together. How many of you are parents? … You know, you usually want your kids to get along with each other ... Right? And number three, it’s practice for eternity. One of the things you're going to do in heaven, in eternity, is you're going to love God. And the other thing you're going to do is you're going to love the other believers that are there. It is going to be a place of love. So God says, “I want you to practice now learning to love other believers.” So let’s write this down:
MY SECOND PURPOSE IN LIFE IS FELLOWSHIP.
That's the word that the Bible uses to describe loving each other. What do you think of when I say the word ‘fellowship’? Some would say a casual conversation, some would say eating out together, some might say going to church. After this service is over, there will be a couple guys out on the patio, and they will be talking and one of them will say, “Hey, what happened to Kobe & the Lakers in Game 4??? Now, did they just fellowship? No! They just chewed the fat. They were just talking. That's not fellowship.
Write this down:
FELLOWSHIP IS LOVING GOD’S FAMILY.
.
And the Bible says this in I John 4:21:
“And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”
John is telling us that "The person who loves God must also love other believers." We have to love other believers. Now, how do you do that?
Well, fortunately, the Bible gives us crystal clear instructions. Paul wrote this, he said, “These things I write to you … so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Tim 3:14-15.
Paul is telling his young disciple and pastor Timothy: “I am writing you these instructions so that … you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God.”
Write this down:
God’s Family is the Church.
The Church is not a building; it is not an institution; it is not an organization; it is not a club. It is a family. A lot of people say, “Well, I’m going to go to church,” as if church is a place you go to. That's not correct. Church is not a place you go to. Church is a family you belong to. Big difference.
FOUR LEVELS OF FELLOWSHIP:
In God's family there are four levels of fellowship. We're going to look at them in detail. If we are going to fulfill God’s purposes for our lives we need to know how He expects us to do that. God did not mean for us to be “Lone Ranger” Christians. He tells us in the Book of Hebrews: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
The first level of Fellowship is Membership which is (write this in the blank), "Choosing to belong,"
LEVEL 1 -- MEMBERSHIP: CHOOSING TO BELONG.
That's the most basic level. In Ephesians 1:13 we read: “But now in Christ Jesus … you … who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” And then skipping down to verse 19, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”
So what is the first step in becoming a member of God’s family? Although we were originally created in God’s image, our first parents, Adam and Eve, made the choice to sin. Each of us has inherited a sin nature from them. That is what has made us strangers to God. We have all heard about the 10 commandments that were given to the children of Israel at Mount Sinai and we may pat ourselves on the back by thinking that we have done a pretty good job of obeying them. But if we really examine our lives we will find that we often do things that are not pleasing to God. This is sin and it creates a barrier between us and God. It breaks our fellowship with Him. The Bible tells us in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Now I know that forgiveness being a free gift might be a little difficult to understand; especially if you are in the military where forgiveness is hard to come by. Marines have a really hard time with this concept. You see … a Marine knows that to err is human and to forgive is divine … however … neither of the above is Marine Corps policy.
But our God is loving and merciful and does not want to punish us. However, our sin carries a penalty that must be paid. And Jesus Christ took care of that sin debt for us. He, Jesus Christ, God the Son, became a man, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and rose from the dead to go to Heaven and prepare a place for us.
Yes, Heaven, or eternal life is a free gift, but getting there is not automatic. How do we receive this free gift? It’s as easy as A, B, C. Write this down:
A you must admit that you are a sinner, B you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for your sins and purchase a place in Heaven for you and C you confess your sins to God and commit your life to Jesus Christ.
The Bible tells us in 1 John Chapter 1: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
Isn’t that a fantastic promise? God says that if confess our sins to Him (and that means we agree with God that we are sinners) and turn away from that sinful life style and trust Jesus Christ alone for our eternal life … then all of our sins, everything bad we have ever done is forgiven. The slate is wiped clean! Jesus did it all! He says in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Do you have a real relationship with God? Have you asked God if you can be a part of His family? Were you walking closely with God in the past but you have let sin get in the way of you fulfilling God’s purposes for your life? Maybe it’s time for you to make a change of direction.
The next part of Step one is finding a church family and choosing to get connected. Believing in Jesus and trusting Him alone for our eternal life is the essence of Christianity. But living the abundant Christian life here and now is a matter of belonging.
Fellowship begins with belonging, with making that choice. God wants you to identify with and to make the choice to be a part of His family. When you were born, you automatically became a part of the human race. But you have to choose to belong to the family of God, the church. It is a choice.
You may hear some people say, “Well, I’m a Christian, but I don't want to belong to any church.” That just doesn't make sense. The church is where you live out what it means to be a Christian. That's like saying, “I’m in the Army, but I don’t want to be a part of any division or regiment or company or platoon.” It’s like saying, I’m in the Coast Guard, and I want to live in Southern California, but I really don’t want to belong to the 11th Coast Guard District or Sector LA/LB.” It just doesn't work. A Christian without a church family is an orphan. God meant us to be a part of a family.
This next week in the Purpose Driven Life book, you will be reading six reasons why you need to be a part of a church family, why it meets your needs and why you meet other people's needs. The Bible tells us this in Romans 12, verses 5 & 6:
“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
When you make a decision for Jesus you belong to every other Christian. We are members together. The word "membership” today is used for being a member of every kind of club and signing up for this and joining that. But originally, the meaning was right here in the Bible; a member of the Body of Christ. Just like your hand is a member of your body, that's how tightly we are tied to each other. This isn't about being a part of some silly club, wearing silly hats and having silly signs. This is about belonging to each other, making the choice to belong to a family.
You know, it is only in America that it is common to have floating believers. By that I mean people who go from church to church to church. Suppose you were, let's say, the liver in the Body of Christ, that was God's job for you. You can't un-attach yourself from one body and try to go attach yourself to another and then to another.
(Leaf/Flower and Plant Illustration)
What happens when you pick a leaf off a tree or pick cut a flower to put in a vase in your living room. It looks great for a while but soon it will wither, shrivel up and not be good for anything.
And the same thing happens to us as believers. We need to attach ourselves to a group of believers, where we say, “I want to be a part of what's going on there.” Jesus loves the church. And you and I need to have the same kind of love. Jesus calls the church the “body.” We need to have that same kind of respect for it, to recognize what it means. What if I said to you, “You know, I love you, I just can't stand your body”? How would you feel about that? The church is Jesus' body. He loves the church. The church is the bride of Christ. What if I said, “I love you, but I can't stand your wife,” how would you like that?
There is a Biblical symbol of belonging to Jesus -- a picture that God gives us about being a part of His family. It is called "baptism." Baptism is an outward sign of what has already taken place in your heart when you committed your life to Jesus. Look at what 1 Corinthians 12:13 has to say about baptism:
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.”
When you are baptized you say: “I am identifying with Jesus Christ. I have become part of His body, the church.” Baptism is a public way of proclaiming that we died to our sin, our old lives and now we live to serve Jesus Christ. We died to an old way of life; we're living a new way of life.
I guess the best picture I can give you is that baptism is like the wedding ring of the Christian life. This wedding ring that I am wearing doesn't make me married. But Jean, my charming wife, gave it to me on the day we were married so I could wear it from that day forward as a visible symbol of a commitment of my heart. That's what baptism is. It is visible symbol of the commitment of a person's heart, saying I’m not ashamed to tell the world that I believe in Jesus Christ.
During this last year at Cypress Church we had more than 100 people who took that step. They said that they are not ashamed to identify themselves with Jesus. Three weeks from now, on June 8th, we are going to give you that opportunity. Any of you who have not been baptized and publicly identified yourself with Jesus Christ should plan to attend baptism class on May 25th and then you will be ready to be baptized on June 8th.
So we have talked about the first level which is choosing to belong. The second level of Fellowship is a little bit deeper, when you go a little further into the family of God. We will call this “the friendship level.” Let’s write this down on our notes:
LEVEL 2: FRIENDSHIP: LEARNING TO SHARE.
You see, you were created in God's image. So you were made for relationships. If we go back to the book of Genesis we find that God comments about His creation. Six times He calls it “Good.” After man was created and the six days of creation were complete He said that “it was very good.” But in chapter 2 we read: “And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.””
Life is not a solo act. You need friends. The Bible says this in Acts 2:44 where Luke tells us: “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,” Acts 2:44 (NKJV)
This means that “All the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other.” Acts 2:44 (LB)
Notice the two keys to developing biblical friendships. The first is meeting together and the second is sharing. Now, the more frequently you meet together, the closer you're going to get. Do you know why most people are lonely? They don't make time for friendships. They are too busy achieving; they are too busy working; they are too busy doing other things. They are not willing to put the time into it. You have to meet together. You have to get together. And until you start making fellowship a priority in your life, you're not going to develop any deep friends. Friendships don't just happen. They happen because you choose to make the time for them. It is not luck. It is a choice. And developing close friendships means sharing. It says, “they shared everything."
Now, those of you who are parents know one of the fundamental lessons children have to learn is learning to share. And God says “You know what? In the family of God I want you to learn to share with other believers.” So what are we supposed to share? Well, the Bible is full of instructions on things we are supposed to share - as Christians - with each other. Let me just mention a few:
Number 1, the Bible says we are to share…write this down:
OUR EXPERIENCES.
Experience is a wonderful thing. I’ve been told that it actually enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again. I think it was my Dad who told me: “Experience keeps a hard school but a fool will learn from no other.”
But the Bible says we learn from each other “just as iron sharpens iron."
When I was just out of the Navy I started working with a guy from San Pedro named Ed who had a charter sailboat. He was getting close to retirement and wanted someone to take over the business. He told me that if I was going to work for him I needed to do things exactly the way he showed me so I wouldn’t get into trouble. Of course, I followed his directions when he was around, but sometimes when he let me operate the boat by myself I would try an “experiment.” One day I thought I would try to get underway from a mooring over at Catalina using only the sails and no engine. I had never done this before, but youth, inexperience and pride won out over obedience. I ended up hitting the LA County lifeguard boat that was on a nearby mooring and had to buy them a new windshield. I could have learned from Ed’s experience but I chose the hard road.
Think of the wealth of knowledge sitting here right now in this fellowship and how much we could learn from each other … if … we just spend the time to get together.
Second, the Bible says we are to share:
OUR HOMES.
The Bible says in I Peter 4:9 “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.” It doesn't say invite your friend over only if you have a really nice home … just open the doors. Why do we need to share our homes? I'll tell you why – because it is very difficult to fellowship in a crowd. You can only have meaningful fellowship in a small group. Or even one on one. We can get together for Bible study here on Sunday. We can celebrate together. We can learn together. But as our group gets larger we will find that it is necessary to develop home bible study groups of about 6 to 12 people to maintain true fellowship.
Did you know in the first 300 years of Christianity, there were no church buildings? Other that some gatherings in public areas like the temple courts in Jerusalem, church meetings were held in homes. There were no buildings. And that, by the way, was the fastest period of growth for the church.
I am a harbor pilot in the port of Long Beach and my company understands the principle of small groups. Our staff is divided into groups of 6 men who work the same schedule. That way we can really get to know each other, trust each other and share our experiences for the benefit of the other members of our group.
My nephew is a major in the Marines stationed at 29 Palms. As you may know the marines are organized into platoons of 16 men but even these groups are broken down further into a squad of eight or a fire team of four.
We have a Bible Study group here at the Naval Weapons Station that meets on Wednesday evening at Bunker 33 at 7:00 pm. If you have not been to one of the meetings, I would encourage you to make that a part of your week. It is a great way to stay consistent with the 40 Days of Purpose study and develop close friendships.
Now, not only do we share our experiences and our homes, the Bible says, number three, we're to share:
OUR PROBLEMS.
We are not meant to face our problems alone. The Bible says I Galatians 6:4: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
You know when you share a joy, it is doubled; and when you share a problem, it is cut in half? The Bible tells us in Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
You don't have to fix everybody's problem. God hasn't told you to do that. He just says share them.
I know when I first became a Christian I made the mistake of thinking I could go to church on Sunday and not get into a home study group. I quickly got off track. It wasn’t until I got into a small group of 4 men who met weekly to share our lives with each other that I really began to make progress.
So Level One of Fellowship is Membership – Choosing to Belong and Level Two is Friendship – Learning to Share.
The third level of Fellowship is Partnership and partnership is … write this down:
LEVEL 3: PARTNERSHIP: DOING MY PART.
Partnership is realizing that you have got a contribution to make; that the family of God needs you. Listen, God brought you here to participate.
The Bible is filled with examples of how people worked together with others to get important jobs done. There are more than 50 times in the New Testament where the Bible says we are to do things with one another. We are to serve one another. We are to love one another. We are to pray with and for one another. The Bible even says we have to put up with one another when we're doing all of this. That's how the Christian life works. Christianity is not a religion – it is a relationship. First with Jesus and then with other believers. This is love in action. Not just in words. You see, it is great to share your heart, that's level two. But it is even greater to do your part. That is what level three is all about.
Listen to what the Bible has to say in 1 Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 9: “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building” And then in verse 16: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Fellow workers means we are partners working together with and for God. But in order to be a part, you've got to find your niche, you have got to find out, “Where do I fit, how I do I fit?” The Bible tells us we all have a niche. Look at Ephesians 4:16 where Paul talks about the church and says that we are … “joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share” … and that this … “causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
So we each have a job to do. Now at first this may look hard, but we don’t serve God in our own strength. Paul tells in Philippians 4:13: “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” God does it as we yield ourselves to Him.
There is an attitude, a heart attitude that is the key for me and should be for all of us. What ever we do it should be: “with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men” and that is from Ephesians 6, Verse 7.
It’s the attitude Jesus talks about in Matthew chapter 25, verse 40 when He says: "Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are the members of my family, you did it to Me."
So I want to encourage you to make this a practical action step this week, if you want to experience a deeper level of fellowship. Look for a practical need in your group to meet this coming week, just some practical thing, and watch what it does for your relationship (your fellowship) with one another.
Now, the fourth and deepest level of fellowship in the family of God is what we are going to call "Kinship.”
Kinship or kinfolk are terms that we don't use much anymore out here on the west coast. But in Arkansas, where my sister and my Mom live, the word “kinfolk” means something very special.
Kinfolk (or kinship) literally means your closest relationships. It means your closest family … you might want to write this down -- the deepest level, is:
LEVEL 4: KINSHIP: LOVING BELIEVERS LIKE FAMILY.
…treating and loving believers like they’re family. You're completely committed to them. The Bible tells us in Romans 12:10 - 11: “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”
Now in the original Greek, the word for fellowship in the Bible is “koinonia." And the basic root literally means being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ; that is the deepest level of fellowship.
Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest says that the word “koinonia” was used in a (Greek) marriage contract where the husband and wife agree to a joint-participation in the necessaries of life. The key idea in the word is that of partnership, of possessing things in common.
Commentator Marvin Vincent states that “koinonia” “was also used in secular Greek as a commercial term for a joint-partnership in a business venture in which all parties actively participate to ensure the success of the business.”
So we need to be as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ. That is family relationship. That is kinship. That is saying I’m at the level of being willing to sacrifice for you.
Many of you know John 3:16 … the verse that begins with: “For God so loved the world…" but you don't know First John 3:16 which says: “By this we know love, because He (that’s Jesus) laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
You see, when the Bible talks about loving each other it is not sexual love or the “I love hamburgers!” kind of love. The Greek word for Biblical love is “agapao.” This is the deepest level of fellowship; sacrificing for each other. It's the kind of love Jesus Christ had for you. He died for you.
Friends, this is what life is all about, loving God and learning to love each other. Life is not about accomplishments. It is about relationships. You were put on this earth to know God and love Him, and to know His family and love them, because our Christian brothers and sisters are the people we are spending eternity with.
So right now let’s do a little pop quiz. How do you know if you are truly a member of God's family? How do you know personally? Let me read you three verses that will be the acid test to let you know if you're really a Christian or not. Listen to this, right from the Bible.
1 John 3:10: “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” That's the Bible.
Here is another verse that is very interesting … 1 John 4:20, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”
And then there’s 1 John 3:14: “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.” Each time you heard the word “love” in those three verses it is the same Greek word: “agapao” … sacrificial love. So we find that love is the proof.
The greatest privilege you will ever be offered in life is a privilege of being a part of God's family. You see, God's family is a laboratory for learning to love. Some of you grew up in homes that didn't have a lot of love. The only love most people know about is sexual love or romantic love. They don't know any other kind of love. So we have to be taught, and the church (the family of God) is where you learn to love real people, not ideal people. Nobody in your small group is ideal and neither are you. We learn to love real people, and that's one of the main reasons God put us on this earth.
So let me ask you a couple relevant questions: which of these levels of fellowship are you at? Have you even made it to the first one, choosing to belong? Or are you a spiritual Lone Ranger? Are you at the Friendship level – learning to share? Have you made it from sharing your heart to the Partnership level - doing your part? Or have you made it to the deepest level – kinship? Are there any other believers that really know … that you … are devoted to them? That you are going to be there for them in their crisis? Are you truly loving others?
And if you are not, it brings up an even more basic question … are you really a part of the family of God? You say, “Well, isn't everybody a part of the family of God?” No. Everybody is created by God, but not everybody is a child of God. You have to choose to be a part of God's family. God gave us one condition in Galatians 3:26: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
A little earlier this morning I asked you these questions: Do you have a real relationship with God? Have you asked God if you can be a part of His family? Were you walking closely with God in the past but you have let sin get in the way of you fulfilling God’s purposes for your life?
Let’s ask the Lord to bring each of us into His family or to restore our broken relationship with Him right now. Will you bow your heads with me and join me in this prayer committing your life to Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father, I want to be a part of your family and I want to learn to love my spiritual family just like you do. I know that I have not always done what is pleasing to you. I know that I am a sinner. And I thank you for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins and rise from the dead to purchase a place in Heaven for me. Lord, I confess my sins to you and right now I turn away from my sins and turn to Jesus Christ as my Personal Lord and Savior. Thank you Lord, that you are faithful and just to forgive my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Thank you that I am now a child of God. In Jesus Name, AMEN.
If you prayed that prayer with me and meant it deep in your heart then you are now a member of God’s family. If you have just made a decision to follow Jesus for the first time or if you have recommitted your life to Christ today please see me after the service so that we can pray together.
May God Richly Bless Your Life today and every day!
This message was prepared using materials drawn from The Holy Bible (NKJV), messages by Rick Warren, Mike McKay and the Precept Austin website.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Body Builder Bible Study Questions for May 18, 2008
Church History – Week 9 – Council of Chalcedon & Roman Catholicism
Topic #1 – Jesus Christ - Hypostatic Union:
Scripture Verses: Is. 9:6; Is. 7:14; John 1:1-3; John 1:14; Phil 2:5-8; 2 Cor. 8:9.
Questions:
1 – Is Jesus Christ one person or two persons?
2 – Does Jesus Christ have one nature or two natures?
3 – When Jesus was here on planet earth as a human what happened to His divinity?
4 – Why did Jesus not know the day or the hour of end times events (Mk. 13:32)?
5 – Why was Jesus not able to grant the wishes of John & James (Mk. 10:35-40)?
Topic #2 – Monasticism:
Scripture Verses: Gen. 1:27-28; Gen. 2:24; Mat. 19:10-11; Mat. 5:16; Mark 16:15;
1 John 2:15; John 15:19.
Questions:
1 – What are some of the positive things about monasticism?
2 – What are some of the negative things about monasticism?
3 – Does God desire that some people be celebate?
4 – Does God desire that all people be celebate?
5 – Does God want us to live a life of isolation from the world?
Topic #3 – Roman Catholicism:
Scripture Verses: Mark 9:33-35; Mat. 20:25-28; Mat. 23:9-12; Mat. 16:15-19;
Mat. 12:46-50.
Questions:
1 – What is Jesus’ view about ranking one believer over another?
2 – What is Jesus’ view about calling someone here on earth “Father?”
3 – Did Jesus actually say He would found the church on Peter?
4 – According to Scripture what is Mary’s role in the redemptive process?
5 – What are 5 things that we as Protestants have in common with Roman Catholics?
6 – What are 5 differences we as Protestants have with Roman Catholic beliefs?
Topic #1 – Jesus Christ - Hypostatic Union:
Scripture Verses: Is. 9:6; Is. 7:14; John 1:1-3; John 1:14; Phil 2:5-8; 2 Cor. 8:9.
Questions:
1 – Is Jesus Christ one person or two persons?
2 – Does Jesus Christ have one nature or two natures?
3 – When Jesus was here on planet earth as a human what happened to His divinity?
4 – Why did Jesus not know the day or the hour of end times events (Mk. 13:32)?
5 – Why was Jesus not able to grant the wishes of John & James (Mk. 10:35-40)?
Topic #2 – Monasticism:
Scripture Verses: Gen. 1:27-28; Gen. 2:24; Mat. 19:10-11; Mat. 5:16; Mark 16:15;
1 John 2:15; John 15:19.
Questions:
1 – What are some of the positive things about monasticism?
2 – What are some of the negative things about monasticism?
3 – Does God desire that some people be celebate?
4 – Does God desire that all people be celebate?
5 – Does God want us to live a life of isolation from the world?
Topic #3 – Roman Catholicism:
Scripture Verses: Mark 9:33-35; Mat. 20:25-28; Mat. 23:9-12; Mat. 16:15-19;
Mat. 12:46-50.
Questions:
1 – What is Jesus’ view about ranking one believer over another?
2 – What is Jesus’ view about calling someone here on earth “Father?”
3 – Did Jesus actually say He would found the church on Peter?
4 – According to Scripture what is Mary’s role in the redemptive process?
5 – What are 5 things that we as Protestants have in common with Roman Catholics?
6 – What are 5 differences we as Protestants have with Roman Catholic beliefs?
Friday, May 9, 2008
Join the Cypress Church "Facebook" Community
For all those interested in Social Networking check out these links (you must be a "Facebook" member for access to the "Groups"):
Cypress Church now has a page on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cypress-CA/Cypress-Church/16510051890
Cypress Church Student Ministries has a page on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cypress-CA/Cypress-Student-Ministries/32014045832?ref=ts
There is a Cypress Church "Group" on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18593479880
There is a Cypress Church Student Ministries "Group" on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5884314311
Cypress Church now has a page on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cypress-CA/Cypress-Church/16510051890
Cypress Church Student Ministries has a page on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cypress-CA/Cypress-Student-Ministries/32014045832?ref=ts
There is a Cypress Church "Group" on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18593479880
There is a Cypress Church Student Ministries "Group" on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5884314311
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Body Builder Bible Study Questions for May 11, 2008
Church History – Week 8 – The Trinity
Topic #1 – God the Father
Questions: What one thing do we learn from each verse about the Father?*
Phil. 1:2 - _________; Isaiah 64:8 – __________; 1 Kings 8:27 – __________; 1 John 3:20 – __________; Psalm 90:2 – _________;
Luke 22:42 - _________; John 3:16 – __________
In Isaiah 48:16 who is speaking? Who else does He refer to? How many distinct persons are mentioned?
Some have used the model of an egg (yoke, white, shell) to describe the concept of the Trinity. What strengths and what weaknesses do you see in this analogy?
Topic #2 – God the Son
Questions: What one thing do we learn from each verse about the Son?*
Col. 2:9 - __________; John 1:3 – __________; Mat. 28:20 – __________;
John 16:30 – _________; Micah 5:1-2 – __________;
Luke 22:42 -_________; Eph. 5:25 – __________
In Mat. 3:16 – 17 how many different persons or entities are mentioned? Do all of these persons or entities appear to be existing together (at the same time)?
Some have used the model of H2O which exists as liquid (water), solid (ice) and gas (steam) to describe the Trinity. What strengths and what weaknesses do you see in this analogy?
Topic # 3 – God the Holy Spirit
Questions: What one thing do we learn from each verse about the Holy Spirit?*
Acts 5:3-4 - __________; Job 33:4 - __________; Ps. 139:7-10 - __________;
1 Cor. 2:10-12 - __________; Heb. 9:14 - __________;
1 Cor. 12:11 - __________; Rom 15:30 – __________
In Mat. 28:19 how many distinct persons or entities are mentioned. What do you see in the grammatical structure of this verse that might hint at the Trinity?
Some have used human mental functions (mind, emotions, will) as a model to describe the Trinity. What strengths and what weaknesses do you see in this analogy?
* One quality, characteristic or attribute of God from each verse.
For everyone:
What do verses like Romans 11:33 and 1 Corinthians 13:12 say to us about our ability to know and understand absolutely everything about God?
Early Church Creeds indicate equality of Father, Son & Spirit:
Council of Nicea – 325 AD - Nicene Creed – the standard of orthodoxy:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty; maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life; who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets. And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Apostles Creed – c. 200 AD:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen
To wrap up our discussion from last week about baptism & communion –
Quote from Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible about false views on baptism:
That it (baptism) is necessary for salvation. This is totally erroneous. Dozens of key passages, such as Romans 4:1-6; Eph 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5 and many others make it clear that salvation is by grace through faith plus nothing. The strongest refutation of baptismal regeneration is found in 1 Cor. 1:17: “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.” In 1 Cor. 15:1-4 Paul explains what the gospel is, and baptism is definitely not a part of it (see also 1 Cor. 4:15).
Quote from “New Commentary” about John 6:53:
Jesus demanded that they eat his flesh and drink his blood in order to appropriate eternal life. Since he spoke of the blood as being separated from the flesh, he was speaking of death. Christ himself, by virtue of his sacrificial death, is the spiritual and eternal life of men; and unless men appropriate this death in its sacrificial virtue, so as to become the very life and nourishment of their inner man, they have no spiritual and eternal life at all.
1 Cor 12:13 tells us all Christians have been baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ.
Topic #1 – God the Father
Questions: What one thing do we learn from each verse about the Father?*
Phil. 1:2 - _________; Isaiah 64:8 – __________; 1 Kings 8:27 – __________; 1 John 3:20 – __________; Psalm 90:2 – _________;
Luke 22:42 - _________; John 3:16 – __________
In Isaiah 48:16 who is speaking? Who else does He refer to? How many distinct persons are mentioned?
Some have used the model of an egg (yoke, white, shell) to describe the concept of the Trinity. What strengths and what weaknesses do you see in this analogy?
Topic #2 – God the Son
Questions: What one thing do we learn from each verse about the Son?*
Col. 2:9 - __________; John 1:3 – __________; Mat. 28:20 – __________;
John 16:30 – _________; Micah 5:1-2 – __________;
Luke 22:42 -_________; Eph. 5:25 – __________
In Mat. 3:16 – 17 how many different persons or entities are mentioned? Do all of these persons or entities appear to be existing together (at the same time)?
Some have used the model of H2O which exists as liquid (water), solid (ice) and gas (steam) to describe the Trinity. What strengths and what weaknesses do you see in this analogy?
Topic # 3 – God the Holy Spirit
Questions: What one thing do we learn from each verse about the Holy Spirit?*
Acts 5:3-4 - __________; Job 33:4 - __________; Ps. 139:7-10 - __________;
1 Cor. 2:10-12 - __________; Heb. 9:14 - __________;
1 Cor. 12:11 - __________; Rom 15:30 – __________
In Mat. 28:19 how many distinct persons or entities are mentioned. What do you see in the grammatical structure of this verse that might hint at the Trinity?
Some have used human mental functions (mind, emotions, will) as a model to describe the Trinity. What strengths and what weaknesses do you see in this analogy?
* One quality, characteristic or attribute of God from each verse.
For everyone:
What do verses like Romans 11:33 and 1 Corinthians 13:12 say to us about our ability to know and understand absolutely everything about God?
Early Church Creeds indicate equality of Father, Son & Spirit:
Council of Nicea – 325 AD - Nicene Creed – the standard of orthodoxy:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty; maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life; who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets. And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Apostles Creed – c. 200 AD:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen
To wrap up our discussion from last week about baptism & communion –
Quote from Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible about false views on baptism:
That it (baptism) is necessary for salvation. This is totally erroneous. Dozens of key passages, such as Romans 4:1-6; Eph 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5 and many others make it clear that salvation is by grace through faith plus nothing. The strongest refutation of baptismal regeneration is found in 1 Cor. 1:17: “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.” In 1 Cor. 15:1-4 Paul explains what the gospel is, and baptism is definitely not a part of it (see also 1 Cor. 4:15).
Quote from “New Commentary” about John 6:53:
Jesus demanded that they eat his flesh and drink his blood in order to appropriate eternal life. Since he spoke of the blood as being separated from the flesh, he was speaking of death. Christ himself, by virtue of his sacrificial death, is the spiritual and eternal life of men; and unless men appropriate this death in its sacrificial virtue, so as to become the very life and nourishment of their inner man, they have no spiritual and eternal life at all.
1 Cor 12:13 tells us all Christians have been baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR?
WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR?
Introduction to the Purpose Driven Life 40 Days Study
Message Presented by Bob Koehler at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station
For the Military Community Christian Community
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Responsive Reading
I will love You, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1-3 (NKJV)
Sermon Outline & Notes
On the back page of your worship folder is an outline with a place to take notes and fill in some blanks.
Let’s open our Bibles to the Book of Ephesians Chapter 1 and read verses 3 through 6:
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Eph 1:3-6 (NKJV)
Welcome to 40 Days of Purpose. We’re ready to start on an exciting journey that will take us through the next 7 weeks. Today we’re going to look at life’s three greatest questions: 1) The question of existence – why am I alive? 2) the question of significance – does my life matter? and 3) the question of intention – what is my purpose?
LIFE’S 3 GREATEST QUESTIONS:
1. QUESTION OF EXISTENCE: WHY AM I ALIVE?
Now this first question, the “Question of Existence: Why am I alive?” is not exactly a new question. It was asked thousands of years ago. In fact, 7 centuries before the birth of Christ, Jeremiah asked this question in Jeremiah 20:18, “Why did I come forth from the womb to see labor and sorrow, That my days should be consumed with shame? Jer. 20:18 (NKJV)
Now there have probably been times in your life when you felt that way, too. Was I born just to have a bunch of problems? Was I put on this planet just to have heartache, grief and stress? Jeremiah is essentially asking: “Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow, to end my life in disgrace?” Jer. 20:18 (TEV)
Science Fiction writer Arthur Ashley Brilliant said “my life is a superb cast, but I can’t figure out the plot.” Jack Hanley, is an American writer and was a cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1991-2003. He wrote, “I hope life isn’t a joke, because I don’t get it.”
Everything that we see both as good and also things we may see as bad have some kind of purpose. In the Book of Proverbs we read:
“The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.” Prov. 16:4 (NKJV)
The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster. Pr. 16:4 (NLT)
So “The Lord has made everything for His own purpose…” Prov. 16:4a (GW)
It’s for His purpose. Now God has never made anything without a purpose. Every rock has a purpose, every plant has a purpose, every animal has a purpose and you have a purpose. The truth is God has many purposes for your life. In the next 40 days we’re going to look in detail at five of those purposes. Five of the reasons God put you on this planet.
Today, though, I just want us to see God’s motive.
Lets look at our Scripture from Ephesians again in Verse 4 … “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,”
The idea here is: “Long before He laid down earth's foundations, He had us in mind, and settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love.” Eph. 1:4 (Msg)
If you don’t get anything else as we start this 40 days study, I want you to understand this, God says He made you, to love you. God made you to love you. You might want to write that down in the blank space on the outline. Why did God create me? Write this down… I was created to be loved by God. God is love and God wanted to create someone to love and so He created you. He really didn’t need you. He wasn’t lonely. But He made you in order to love you..Because He wanted you..And before we can talk about anything else, you have to understand that this is what on earth you’re here for–to be loved by God.
I WAS CREATED TO BE LOVED BY GOD.
2. QUESTION OF SIGNIFICANCE: DOES MY LIFE MATTER?
The second key question of life is the “Question of Significance: Does my life matter?” Isaiah asked this question in Isaiah 49:4a. Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain;…
“My work all seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and for no purpose at all.” Isa. 49:4a (NLT)
But he goes on in the same verse to conclude:
Yet surely my just reward is with the Lord, And my work with my God.’” Is. 49:4 (NKJV)
You were made for meaning, and if you don’t have a meaning and purpose in your life and you don’t know why God put you on this planet, life just does not make sense.
Elsewhere the prophet Isaiah tells us:
“Thus says the Lord who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; Is. 44:2-3
“I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born.” Isa. 44:2 (CEV)
During World War II, there were prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp in Hungary, that were put to work in a factory. The allies came along, bombed that factory and blew it apart. So the prisoners had nothing to do. The Nazi soldiers had the prisoners take all the rubble of that factory and move it to another field. The next day, they had them take that same rubble and move it back in reverse. The next day, they had to take that stuff and move it back and day after day they had no meaning, no purpose. It was just work doing the same thing over and over with no meaning and no purpose. Then something strange began to happen. The prisoners began to go crazy. They began to lose their will to live because there was no meaning, no purpose in their work. They were just moving bricks back and forth, back and forth. Many of them began to throw themselves in front of the guards trying to get shot. In essence, trying to commit suicide.
I had a very similar experience when I was running tugboats. We were asked to move a barge to a certain oil dock and load a particular product, then take it to another dock and discharge the cargo into the shore tanks. Then we received orders to load the same product back on the barge and take it back to the dock where we loaded it and discharge it there. The company never told us why, they just said: "do it." We felt like we were just spinning our wheels. This is because our brains are hard wired by God. We know that we were made for meaning and purpose.
In our Scripture reading for today notice verses 5 & 6: “5having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
Jesus Christ wants to adopt and accept each one of us. We can be part of God’s family if we desire to find God’s purposes for our life.
In the Book of Psalms we read: Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. Ps. 139: 16-17 (NKJV)
Another way of stating this is … “You... scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!” Ps. 139:16 (LB)
Psalm 33 tells us: The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. Ps. 33:11 (NKJV)
The idea here is that God’s "His plans endure forever; his purposes last eternally." Ps. 33:11 (GN)
So if we are part of God’s plan and His purposes last forever then you can write this in the blank on your outline: God says, “I was made to last forever.”
I WAS MADE TO LAST FOREVER.
I was made to be loved by God, and I was made to last forever. This life is not all there is. One of the biggest ways you can waste your life is thinking that all there is, is here and now. You are going to spend far more time on that side of death, than you do on this side. On this side, you may get to live 60, 70, 80 or 90 years or so. But that’s just a drop in the bucket compared to eternity. It’s like if you stretched out a line from Tokyo to Los Angeles, across the Pacific Ocean. The first millimeter of that line would not even equal how tiny your life is compared to all the time you’re going to spend in eternity. You were made for eternity and this life is preparation for eternity. You’re not going to find that in a self-help book, but it’s the truth. Life is preparation for eternity and in the next 40 days we are going to discover how to prepare, because this is not all there is. This is the key to the meaning of life. Realizing that life on earth is preparation for life in eternity. The Bible says this:
“1For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 1 Cor. 5:1 (NKJV) God is preparing new resurrection bodies for us!
A more contemporary translation might be: “When this tent we live in—our body here on earth—is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.” 2 Cor. 5:1 (TEV)
How do we get there to Heaven and in our new bodies. Proverbs tells us: “Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.” Pr. 9:6 (NKJV)
Another way of stating this might be to “Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life with meaning." Prov. 9:6 (Msg)
It is extremely and eternally important that we discover how to find the purpose and meaning God wants us to have.
Jesus spent quite a bit of time during his ministry explaining in great detail what specifics He would like to see in our lives and also what He does not want to see in us. After one such message to His disciples about what NOT to do He concluded with these words:
“And these (speaking of those people who were NOT fulfilling God’s purpose) will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Mt. 25:46 (NKJV) Which direction are you going right now?
3. QUESTION OF INTENTION: WHAT IS MY PURPOSE?
Next comes the third question, the “Question of Intention: What is my purpose?”
(Discussion of why we need to know our “purpose” using three electrical devices as illustrations. What happens if we connect something to the wrong voltage?)
So what is my purpose? What on earth am I here for? And that’s what we’re going to spend 40 days looking at. In Psalm 89:47 David asked the question “For what futility have You created all the children of men?” Ps 89:47b (NKJV) Who is David talking to when he says that, himself? No, he’s talking to God.
He is basically asking: “Why did you create us? For nothing?” Ps. 89:47 (NCV)
One of the greatest, atheist philosophers of the last century, Bertrand Russell, an Englishman said .. (Now remember he was an atheist and at least he was intellectually honest enough to say this) … he said, “Unless you assume the existence of God, the question of life’s meaning and purpose is irrelevant.” You see, if there is no God, if you’re just a freak chance of nature, if you came from just some complex pond scum – guess what? – Your life doesn’t matter.
Let’s turn in our Bibles to the very first page of the Book of Genesis and read with me the very first words in the first verse in the entire Bible:
“1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Gen. 1:1
The Bible begins with the statement that God created everything. Then if you move down the page to Verses 27 & 28 you find: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
So you are not descended from some pond scum … God made you and He gave you a job to do.
The Bible tells us in the 1st verse of Psalm 14 that: The fool has said in his heart, “(There is) no God.” The words “There is” were used for clarification in the English translation. The literal translation from Hebrew is: “The fool has said in his heart … NO God.” You do not want to be someone who rejects God and his purposes for your life because there are eternal consequences.
King Solomon was David’s Son. During his reign he was the richest and wisest man in the entire world. Success spoiled him and he had many problems later on in His life. He had it all yet he stumbled and did not completely fulfill what God could have done with him had he been obedient. But … He did learn an important and expensive lesson which he shares with us. In the Book of Proverbs King Solomon tells us: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Pr. 9:10 (NKJV)
What does in mean to fear God? Well, first of all …
Fearing God does not mean being terrified of him. Knowing God increases reverent fear. To fear the Lord is to recognize God for who he is: God is loving and merciful. He is also holy, almighty, righteous, pure, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-wise. When we regard God correctly, we gain a clearer picture of ourselves: we are sinful, weak, frail, and needy. When we recognize who God is and who we are, we will fall at his feet in humble respect. Only then will he show us how to choose His way of accomplishing His purposes for our lives.
Fearing God leads to knowing him more fully. “Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him.” God offers intimate and lasting friendship to those who revere him, who hold him in highest honor. What relationship could ever compare with having the Lord of all creation for a friend? Your everlasting friendship with God will grow as you revere him.
In essence God is telling us through Solomon that … "Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding." Pr. 9:10b (LB)
So…Write this down in the blank on your outline. I find my purpose by getting to know God. It all starts with God.
I FIND MY PURPOSE BY GETTING TO KNOW GOD.
We need to know God because we are told in the Book of Colossians: For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. Col. 1:16
In a nutshell this means “For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible … everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.” Col 1:16 (Msg)
If God is our creator (and the Bible says He is) then we are ultimately responsible to Him.
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, Eph. 1:11 (NKJV)
Paul is telling us that “It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for... part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” Eph. 1:11 (Msg)
God considers 40 days to be a significant time period. In fact, in the Bible, when God wanted to prepare people for His purposes, He often took 40 days. For instance:
· Noah’s life was transformed during 40 days of rain;
· Moses’ life was transformed during 40 days on Mount Sinai;
· The spies were transformed while spending 40 days in the Promise Land;
· Part of David’s transformation happened because of Goliath’s 40-day challenge;
· The city of Nineveh was transformed in 40 days and decided to repent of their sins;
· Jesus was empowered for ministry while spending 40 days in the desert;
· And the disciples were transformed during their 40 days with Jesus after His resurrection.
I am confident that if you participate with us the 40 days of Purpose study your life will be transformed.
Why do we need to know God?
We will live forever. Our bodies will eventually pass away, but our spirit and soul live on. At some point in the future God promises us new, resurrection bodies. After our life on earth there are only two possible destinations. Eternal life with God or eternal separation away from Him.
In our Scripture verses for today in Ephesians 1:3 we read: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”
So the big question is … Are you “in Christ?” This verse is telling us that we are only blessed with every spiritual blessing” if and only if we are “in Christ.”
You see … Eternal life (or Heaven) is a free gift. God wants you to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Heaven is a perfect place and in order to be accepted there Jesus tells us we must be perfect.
“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Mat. 5:48 (NKJV)
But we all know that right here- right now, we are not perfect. We know that in the world there are all sorts of problems. These are primarily the result of something God calls sin.
What is sin? Sin is doing something that God has told us not to do. And … Sin is also NOT doing what God has said we must do.
Paul says in Romans…”for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Rom. 3:23
How many of you have ever had to qualify with small arms out at the range? The Greek word for sin is hamartia. It is an archery term. Today we can relate that to the Rifle range: Sin is anything except dead center!!! How hard is that? Can you shoot in the exact center of the target every single time? I’ve held an NRA certification as an Expert marksman and Rifle Instructor and I know I can’t.
Even though we are sinners … God is merciful and does not want to punish us. The Bible tells us that “God is love” 1 Jn. 4:8b (NKJV)
But … God is just and must punish our sin. He is “keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, (BUT) by no means clearing the guilty,” Ex 34:7 (NKJV)
This presents a real problem. How can God be both merciful and just at the same time? Well … God is big enough to solve any problem and He solved this problem through Jesus Christ.
Jesus is both 100% God & 100% man at the same time.
The Gospel of John tells us:
1In the beginning was the Word (THAT’S JESUS), and the Word was with God, and the Word (JESUS) was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him (JESUS), and without Him nothing was made that was made. … 14And the Word (JESUS) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-3 & 14 (NKJV)
Jesus (God in the flesh), became a man, died on the cross and rose from the dead to pay the penalty for our sins and purchase a place in Heaven for us.
All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Is. 53:6 (NKJV)
(Book Illustration of how Jesus took our sin on Himself tied in with Is. 53:6)
It sort of looks sort of like this. When I was stationed on the Minesweeper USS Implicit and one of the crew did something wrong he got written up and went to Captain’s Mast. If he was guilty he received a punishment or had to pay a fine. Let’s suppose that I did something wrong and got fined by the Captain, but then the Captain said: “I’ll pay your fine for you.” He takes out his wallet, gives the money to Disbursing Officer who marks our account “Paid In Full.” If you are Army – think of being found guilty at a Court Martial and having General Combs from the Joint Forces Training Center offer to serve your sentence for you!!!
We are guilty of sin. The Bible tells us: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 6:23 (NKJV)
Jesus, the righteous judge has declared that there is a penalty that must be paid for our sin. And Jesus our merciful Savior took off His robes of office, came to earth, became a man just like us, lived a sinless life, went to the cross and died in our place … in your place.
The free gift of eternal life has been paid for, it is available to all, but it is not automatic.
John’s Gospel tells us: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12 (NKJV)
Now you might remember back in the Book of Genesis that God originally created man in His image. The next question might be – well, If I was created in God’s image…why do I need permission to be a child of God. When Adam and Eve sinned - man’s fellowship with God was broken. We inherited a sin nature and we need God’s forgiveness to restore the broken relationship.
So how do we go about obtaining forgiveness and becoming part of God’s forever family?
Jesus answered this for us in the first sermon He ever preached. In Mark 1:14 we read - Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
If you’ve ever been a part of a unit that marched or watched a drill team you know what the word “Repent” means. It is the same as “About Face!” Jesus says we need to turn away from our sin and towards Him in faith.
Now this might seem hard to do. In fact many people mistakenly believe that you have to work hard to get to Heaven. They think that God grades on a curve and if they do enough good works they might have a chance of getting in. But that is not God’s plan… Jesus said:
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:29 (NKJV) Who is the one we need to believe in? Jesus Christ.
How do we do this? By faith in Jesus. But this faith is not just head knowledge. We need to transfer our complete trust from anything we have ever done or could ever do in the future that we think might earn God’s favor and place our faith in Jesus Christ alone for our eternal life.
(Sitting in the chair illustration of what really constitutes faith)
The Bible says in the Book of Romans “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom. 10:9-10 (NKJV)
I realize that all of us here today are at different stages in our spiritual journey. That doesn’t matter. Everyone is on a spiritual journey whether they realize it or not. Some of you may be seekers, some of you might no be sure if you buy the whole idea of Jesus and Christianity, some may be new believers and some may have been Christians for a long time. That’s Great! We’re all going to have the chance go through this journey together, no matter what stage you are in. Some of you are strong believers, and you’re going to be able to go deeper with God than you’ve ever gone before and you’re going to bring others along, too. Regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey, listen to what God says in His word: …in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. Acts 10:35b (NKJV)
The idea here is that “It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open.” Acts 10:35 (Msg)
When I was in 7th and 8th grade I worked at the YMCA in Canton, Ohio. One of the directors there had a sign on his all that I still remember today. It read “always be ready to give up what you are today for what you can become tomorrow.” This speaks of action. Are you ready to take action by turning away from the things you are doing which are not pleasing to God and discovering what His purpose for your life?
Let’s bow our heads – You know God had a purpose in bringing you here today. He wants you to know Him and He wants you to know His purposes for you. Let’s talk to Him right now…
“Heavenly Father, I realize that if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be alive. But because you made me, I know that you have a purpose for me. I admit that I have focused on my plans for my life, not yours. But I want to know your purposes for me, so I commit myself to learning more about you and your plan. Thank you that you made me so you could love me. Thank you that you cared for me even when I didn’t know you. Thank you that I was made to last forever. I want a life filled with meaning. I want to start by getting to know you better. So, right now, I turn away from my sins and I turn towards you. Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for me and purchasing my place in Heaven. To the best of my understanding, I ask you, Jesus Christ, to come into my life and help me to know your purposes for me. I want to take the first step today. In your name I pray, Amen.”
Thank you for joining us today. May God Richly Bless Your Life!
Material for this message drawn from Sermon Notes of Rick Warren from Saddleback Church and from The Handbook of Bible Application Edited by Neil S. Wilson. Most Scripture verses are from the New King James Version. BestOfTheWebShopping.Com is a good source for Christian Books and Music.
Introduction to the Purpose Driven Life 40 Days Study
Message Presented by Bob Koehler at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station
For the Military Community Christian Community
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Responsive Reading
I will love You, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1-3 (NKJV)
Sermon Outline & Notes
On the back page of your worship folder is an outline with a place to take notes and fill in some blanks.
Let’s open our Bibles to the Book of Ephesians Chapter 1 and read verses 3 through 6:
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Eph 1:3-6 (NKJV)
Welcome to 40 Days of Purpose. We’re ready to start on an exciting journey that will take us through the next 7 weeks. Today we’re going to look at life’s three greatest questions: 1) The question of existence – why am I alive? 2) the question of significance – does my life matter? and 3) the question of intention – what is my purpose?
LIFE’S 3 GREATEST QUESTIONS:
1. QUESTION OF EXISTENCE: WHY AM I ALIVE?
Now this first question, the “Question of Existence: Why am I alive?” is not exactly a new question. It was asked thousands of years ago. In fact, 7 centuries before the birth of Christ, Jeremiah asked this question in Jeremiah 20:18, “Why did I come forth from the womb to see labor and sorrow, That my days should be consumed with shame? Jer. 20:18 (NKJV)
Now there have probably been times in your life when you felt that way, too. Was I born just to have a bunch of problems? Was I put on this planet just to have heartache, grief and stress? Jeremiah is essentially asking: “Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow, to end my life in disgrace?” Jer. 20:18 (TEV)
Science Fiction writer Arthur Ashley Brilliant said “my life is a superb cast, but I can’t figure out the plot.” Jack Hanley, is an American writer and was a cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1991-2003. He wrote, “I hope life isn’t a joke, because I don’t get it.”
Everything that we see both as good and also things we may see as bad have some kind of purpose. In the Book of Proverbs we read:
“The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.” Prov. 16:4 (NKJV)
The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster. Pr. 16:4 (NLT)
So “The Lord has made everything for His own purpose…” Prov. 16:4a (GW)
It’s for His purpose. Now God has never made anything without a purpose. Every rock has a purpose, every plant has a purpose, every animal has a purpose and you have a purpose. The truth is God has many purposes for your life. In the next 40 days we’re going to look in detail at five of those purposes. Five of the reasons God put you on this planet.
Today, though, I just want us to see God’s motive.
Lets look at our Scripture from Ephesians again in Verse 4 … “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,”
The idea here is: “Long before He laid down earth's foundations, He had us in mind, and settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love.” Eph. 1:4 (Msg)
If you don’t get anything else as we start this 40 days study, I want you to understand this, God says He made you, to love you. God made you to love you. You might want to write that down in the blank space on the outline. Why did God create me? Write this down… I was created to be loved by God. God is love and God wanted to create someone to love and so He created you. He really didn’t need you. He wasn’t lonely. But He made you in order to love you..Because He wanted you..And before we can talk about anything else, you have to understand that this is what on earth you’re here for–to be loved by God.
I WAS CREATED TO BE LOVED BY GOD.
2. QUESTION OF SIGNIFICANCE: DOES MY LIFE MATTER?
The second key question of life is the “Question of Significance: Does my life matter?” Isaiah asked this question in Isaiah 49:4a. Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain;…
“My work all seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and for no purpose at all.” Isa. 49:4a (NLT)
But he goes on in the same verse to conclude:
Yet surely my just reward is with the Lord, And my work with my God.’” Is. 49:4 (NKJV)
You were made for meaning, and if you don’t have a meaning and purpose in your life and you don’t know why God put you on this planet, life just does not make sense.
Elsewhere the prophet Isaiah tells us:
“Thus says the Lord who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; Is. 44:2-3
“I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born.” Isa. 44:2 (CEV)
During World War II, there were prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp in Hungary, that were put to work in a factory. The allies came along, bombed that factory and blew it apart. So the prisoners had nothing to do. The Nazi soldiers had the prisoners take all the rubble of that factory and move it to another field. The next day, they had them take that same rubble and move it back in reverse. The next day, they had to take that stuff and move it back and day after day they had no meaning, no purpose. It was just work doing the same thing over and over with no meaning and no purpose. Then something strange began to happen. The prisoners began to go crazy. They began to lose their will to live because there was no meaning, no purpose in their work. They were just moving bricks back and forth, back and forth. Many of them began to throw themselves in front of the guards trying to get shot. In essence, trying to commit suicide.
I had a very similar experience when I was running tugboats. We were asked to move a barge to a certain oil dock and load a particular product, then take it to another dock and discharge the cargo into the shore tanks. Then we received orders to load the same product back on the barge and take it back to the dock where we loaded it and discharge it there. The company never told us why, they just said: "do it." We felt like we were just spinning our wheels. This is because our brains are hard wired by God. We know that we were made for meaning and purpose.
In our Scripture reading for today notice verses 5 & 6: “5having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
Jesus Christ wants to adopt and accept each one of us. We can be part of God’s family if we desire to find God’s purposes for our life.
In the Book of Psalms we read: Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. Ps. 139: 16-17 (NKJV)
Another way of stating this is … “You... scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!” Ps. 139:16 (LB)
Psalm 33 tells us: The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. Ps. 33:11 (NKJV)
The idea here is that God’s "His plans endure forever; his purposes last eternally." Ps. 33:11 (GN)
So if we are part of God’s plan and His purposes last forever then you can write this in the blank on your outline: God says, “I was made to last forever.”
I WAS MADE TO LAST FOREVER.
I was made to be loved by God, and I was made to last forever. This life is not all there is. One of the biggest ways you can waste your life is thinking that all there is, is here and now. You are going to spend far more time on that side of death, than you do on this side. On this side, you may get to live 60, 70, 80 or 90 years or so. But that’s just a drop in the bucket compared to eternity. It’s like if you stretched out a line from Tokyo to Los Angeles, across the Pacific Ocean. The first millimeter of that line would not even equal how tiny your life is compared to all the time you’re going to spend in eternity. You were made for eternity and this life is preparation for eternity. You’re not going to find that in a self-help book, but it’s the truth. Life is preparation for eternity and in the next 40 days we are going to discover how to prepare, because this is not all there is. This is the key to the meaning of life. Realizing that life on earth is preparation for life in eternity. The Bible says this:
“1For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 1 Cor. 5:1 (NKJV) God is preparing new resurrection bodies for us!
A more contemporary translation might be: “When this tent we live in—our body here on earth—is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.” 2 Cor. 5:1 (TEV)
How do we get there to Heaven and in our new bodies. Proverbs tells us: “Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.” Pr. 9:6 (NKJV)
Another way of stating this might be to “Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life with meaning." Prov. 9:6 (Msg)
It is extremely and eternally important that we discover how to find the purpose and meaning God wants us to have.
Jesus spent quite a bit of time during his ministry explaining in great detail what specifics He would like to see in our lives and also what He does not want to see in us. After one such message to His disciples about what NOT to do He concluded with these words:
“And these (speaking of those people who were NOT fulfilling God’s purpose) will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Mt. 25:46 (NKJV) Which direction are you going right now?
3. QUESTION OF INTENTION: WHAT IS MY PURPOSE?
Next comes the third question, the “Question of Intention: What is my purpose?”
(Discussion of why we need to know our “purpose” using three electrical devices as illustrations. What happens if we connect something to the wrong voltage?)
So what is my purpose? What on earth am I here for? And that’s what we’re going to spend 40 days looking at. In Psalm 89:47 David asked the question “For what futility have You created all the children of men?” Ps 89:47b (NKJV) Who is David talking to when he says that, himself? No, he’s talking to God.
He is basically asking: “Why did you create us? For nothing?” Ps. 89:47 (NCV)
One of the greatest, atheist philosophers of the last century, Bertrand Russell, an Englishman said .. (Now remember he was an atheist and at least he was intellectually honest enough to say this) … he said, “Unless you assume the existence of God, the question of life’s meaning and purpose is irrelevant.” You see, if there is no God, if you’re just a freak chance of nature, if you came from just some complex pond scum – guess what? – Your life doesn’t matter.
Let’s turn in our Bibles to the very first page of the Book of Genesis and read with me the very first words in the first verse in the entire Bible:
“1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Gen. 1:1
The Bible begins with the statement that God created everything. Then if you move down the page to Verses 27 & 28 you find: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
So you are not descended from some pond scum … God made you and He gave you a job to do.
The Bible tells us in the 1st verse of Psalm 14 that: The fool has said in his heart, “(There is) no God.” The words “There is” were used for clarification in the English translation. The literal translation from Hebrew is: “The fool has said in his heart … NO God.” You do not want to be someone who rejects God and his purposes for your life because there are eternal consequences.
King Solomon was David’s Son. During his reign he was the richest and wisest man in the entire world. Success spoiled him and he had many problems later on in His life. He had it all yet he stumbled and did not completely fulfill what God could have done with him had he been obedient. But … He did learn an important and expensive lesson which he shares with us. In the Book of Proverbs King Solomon tells us: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Pr. 9:10 (NKJV)
What does in mean to fear God? Well, first of all …
Fearing God does not mean being terrified of him. Knowing God increases reverent fear. To fear the Lord is to recognize God for who he is: God is loving and merciful. He is also holy, almighty, righteous, pure, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-wise. When we regard God correctly, we gain a clearer picture of ourselves: we are sinful, weak, frail, and needy. When we recognize who God is and who we are, we will fall at his feet in humble respect. Only then will he show us how to choose His way of accomplishing His purposes for our lives.
Fearing God leads to knowing him more fully. “Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him.” God offers intimate and lasting friendship to those who revere him, who hold him in highest honor. What relationship could ever compare with having the Lord of all creation for a friend? Your everlasting friendship with God will grow as you revere him.
In essence God is telling us through Solomon that … "Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding." Pr. 9:10b (LB)
So…Write this down in the blank on your outline. I find my purpose by getting to know God. It all starts with God.
I FIND MY PURPOSE BY GETTING TO KNOW GOD.
We need to know God because we are told in the Book of Colossians: For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. Col. 1:16
In a nutshell this means “For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible … everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.” Col 1:16 (Msg)
If God is our creator (and the Bible says He is) then we are ultimately responsible to Him.
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, Eph. 1:11 (NKJV)
Paul is telling us that “It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for... part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” Eph. 1:11 (Msg)
God considers 40 days to be a significant time period. In fact, in the Bible, when God wanted to prepare people for His purposes, He often took 40 days. For instance:
· Noah’s life was transformed during 40 days of rain;
· Moses’ life was transformed during 40 days on Mount Sinai;
· The spies were transformed while spending 40 days in the Promise Land;
· Part of David’s transformation happened because of Goliath’s 40-day challenge;
· The city of Nineveh was transformed in 40 days and decided to repent of their sins;
· Jesus was empowered for ministry while spending 40 days in the desert;
· And the disciples were transformed during their 40 days with Jesus after His resurrection.
I am confident that if you participate with us the 40 days of Purpose study your life will be transformed.
Why do we need to know God?
We will live forever. Our bodies will eventually pass away, but our spirit and soul live on. At some point in the future God promises us new, resurrection bodies. After our life on earth there are only two possible destinations. Eternal life with God or eternal separation away from Him.
In our Scripture verses for today in Ephesians 1:3 we read: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”
So the big question is … Are you “in Christ?” This verse is telling us that we are only blessed with every spiritual blessing” if and only if we are “in Christ.”
You see … Eternal life (or Heaven) is a free gift. God wants you to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Heaven is a perfect place and in order to be accepted there Jesus tells us we must be perfect.
“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Mat. 5:48 (NKJV)
But we all know that right here- right now, we are not perfect. We know that in the world there are all sorts of problems. These are primarily the result of something God calls sin.
What is sin? Sin is doing something that God has told us not to do. And … Sin is also NOT doing what God has said we must do.
Paul says in Romans…”for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Rom. 3:23
How many of you have ever had to qualify with small arms out at the range? The Greek word for sin is hamartia. It is an archery term. Today we can relate that to the Rifle range: Sin is anything except dead center!!! How hard is that? Can you shoot in the exact center of the target every single time? I’ve held an NRA certification as an Expert marksman and Rifle Instructor and I know I can’t.
Even though we are sinners … God is merciful and does not want to punish us. The Bible tells us that “God is love” 1 Jn. 4:8b (NKJV)
But … God is just and must punish our sin. He is “keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, (BUT) by no means clearing the guilty,” Ex 34:7 (NKJV)
This presents a real problem. How can God be both merciful and just at the same time? Well … God is big enough to solve any problem and He solved this problem through Jesus Christ.
Jesus is both 100% God & 100% man at the same time.
The Gospel of John tells us:
1In the beginning was the Word (THAT’S JESUS), and the Word was with God, and the Word (JESUS) was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him (JESUS), and without Him nothing was made that was made. … 14And the Word (JESUS) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-3 & 14 (NKJV)
Jesus (God in the flesh), became a man, died on the cross and rose from the dead to pay the penalty for our sins and purchase a place in Heaven for us.
All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Is. 53:6 (NKJV)
(Book Illustration of how Jesus took our sin on Himself tied in with Is. 53:6)
It sort of looks sort of like this. When I was stationed on the Minesweeper USS Implicit and one of the crew did something wrong he got written up and went to Captain’s Mast. If he was guilty he received a punishment or had to pay a fine. Let’s suppose that I did something wrong and got fined by the Captain, but then the Captain said: “I’ll pay your fine for you.” He takes out his wallet, gives the money to Disbursing Officer who marks our account “Paid In Full.” If you are Army – think of being found guilty at a Court Martial and having General Combs from the Joint Forces Training Center offer to serve your sentence for you!!!
We are guilty of sin. The Bible tells us: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 6:23 (NKJV)
Jesus, the righteous judge has declared that there is a penalty that must be paid for our sin. And Jesus our merciful Savior took off His robes of office, came to earth, became a man just like us, lived a sinless life, went to the cross and died in our place … in your place.
The free gift of eternal life has been paid for, it is available to all, but it is not automatic.
John’s Gospel tells us: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12 (NKJV)
Now you might remember back in the Book of Genesis that God originally created man in His image. The next question might be – well, If I was created in God’s image…why do I need permission to be a child of God. When Adam and Eve sinned - man’s fellowship with God was broken. We inherited a sin nature and we need God’s forgiveness to restore the broken relationship.
So how do we go about obtaining forgiveness and becoming part of God’s forever family?
Jesus answered this for us in the first sermon He ever preached. In Mark 1:14 we read - Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
If you’ve ever been a part of a unit that marched or watched a drill team you know what the word “Repent” means. It is the same as “About Face!” Jesus says we need to turn away from our sin and towards Him in faith.
Now this might seem hard to do. In fact many people mistakenly believe that you have to work hard to get to Heaven. They think that God grades on a curve and if they do enough good works they might have a chance of getting in. But that is not God’s plan… Jesus said:
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:29 (NKJV) Who is the one we need to believe in? Jesus Christ.
How do we do this? By faith in Jesus. But this faith is not just head knowledge. We need to transfer our complete trust from anything we have ever done or could ever do in the future that we think might earn God’s favor and place our faith in Jesus Christ alone for our eternal life.
(Sitting in the chair illustration of what really constitutes faith)
The Bible says in the Book of Romans “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom. 10:9-10 (NKJV)
I realize that all of us here today are at different stages in our spiritual journey. That doesn’t matter. Everyone is on a spiritual journey whether they realize it or not. Some of you may be seekers, some of you might no be sure if you buy the whole idea of Jesus and Christianity, some may be new believers and some may have been Christians for a long time. That’s Great! We’re all going to have the chance go through this journey together, no matter what stage you are in. Some of you are strong believers, and you’re going to be able to go deeper with God than you’ve ever gone before and you’re going to bring others along, too. Regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey, listen to what God says in His word: …in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. Acts 10:35b (NKJV)
The idea here is that “It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open.” Acts 10:35 (Msg)
When I was in 7th and 8th grade I worked at the YMCA in Canton, Ohio. One of the directors there had a sign on his all that I still remember today. It read “always be ready to give up what you are today for what you can become tomorrow.” This speaks of action. Are you ready to take action by turning away from the things you are doing which are not pleasing to God and discovering what His purpose for your life?
Let’s bow our heads – You know God had a purpose in bringing you here today. He wants you to know Him and He wants you to know His purposes for you. Let’s talk to Him right now…
“Heavenly Father, I realize that if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be alive. But because you made me, I know that you have a purpose for me. I admit that I have focused on my plans for my life, not yours. But I want to know your purposes for me, so I commit myself to learning more about you and your plan. Thank you that you made me so you could love me. Thank you that you cared for me even when I didn’t know you. Thank you that I was made to last forever. I want a life filled with meaning. I want to start by getting to know you better. So, right now, I turn away from my sins and I turn towards you. Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for me and purchasing my place in Heaven. To the best of my understanding, I ask you, Jesus Christ, to come into my life and help me to know your purposes for me. I want to take the first step today. In your name I pray, Amen.”
Thank you for joining us today. May God Richly Bless Your Life!
Material for this message drawn from Sermon Notes of Rick Warren from Saddleback Church and from The Handbook of Bible Application Edited by Neil S. Wilson. Most Scripture verses are from the New King James Version. BestOfTheWebShopping.Com is a good source for Christian Books and Music.
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About Me
- Bob Koehler
- Cypress, CA, United States
- I am a U.S Navy Veteran, a Bible student and I work in the maritime industry. I attempt to represent Jesus Christ accurately on this site. My blogs are not the "official" position of any church or ministry.