"Quote" of the Week

"Too often our churches are rent asunder not by theological differences but by selfishness, pride, and lack of love." -Thomas Schreiner

November is a big missions month for our church. We are currently gathering gifts for Operation Christmas Child (OCC) and have a team preparing to leave for Nicaragua at the end of the week. So I thought it a good time to discuss why we as believers should value missions.

What we learn from Scripture about missions…

1) MISSIONS IS FROM THE MIND OF GOD

From the beginning, we learn that God’s interest is not for one single nation, but for the nations. In Genesis 12:1-3, God enters into a Godless culture, picks a pagan in a wicked city from a Godless family (Josh. 24:2), and blesses him so that through him the nations will be blessed. God says,

2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Although this was not fulfilled in Abraham’s lifetime and has not yet come to fruition with us, Scripture teaches that one day all the families of the Earth will be blessed because of the person and work of Christ. Though this clearly does not refer to every single person, Revelation 7:9 teaches us that in the end there will be a multitude of people from every nation, which no one can number, who will stand before the throne and enjoy the blessings of the Lord’s gracious rule.

2) MISSIONS IS A MANDATE FOR THE CHURCH

In Matthew 28:18-20, Christ gives His Great Commission to the church. Four times in this passage, He uses the word “All” to clarify this task.

First, Christ says He has “All Authority.” This simply means He has absolute right over both Heaven and Earth—therefore, what He says goes.

Second, He says the church should make disciples of “All Nations.” Once again, although there are no Gentile believers or churches at this time, we see God’s heart is for the nations.

Third, Jesus says the church should be teaching converts “All that He Commands.” Here He calls for His followers to invest in new believers, teaching them how to live under His Lordship.

Finally, Christ assures His followers He will be with them “All the Days.” He has not (nor will He ever) abandon His followers, leaving the task to them alone, but promises to be with them always.

3) MISSIONS IS THE NECESSARY MEANS FOR WORSHIP

The third reason we should emphasize missions is because “you and I were made for worship,” and worship is what is lacking in our world. On page 17 of his book “Let the Nations Be Glad,” John Piper states, “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because Worship doesn’t…When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But Worship abides forever.”

"Quote" of the Week

"God is so overflowingly, unashamedly satisfied with his own glory that he devotes all his energies to making this glory known. The creation of the universe, the history of redemption, and the consummation of all things are driven ultimately by this great passion in the heart of God--to exult fully in his own glory by making it known and praised among all the nations." -John Piper

HAPPY REFORMATION DAY!!!

Today is the anniversary of the day when Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany. This event took place on October 31, 1517 and launched the Protestant Reformation. Christians should be thankful for the way God used Martin Luther. The two most popular doctrines of the Protestant Reformation that became the battle cry for Protestants are sola scriptura and sola fida, which teach that Scripture alone has the authority to bind the consciences of believers and that salvation is by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

"I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen."

Believe it or not lasting joy is found in a relationship with God and a life lived for Him. What’s truly unfortunate, however, is that there are many in our world today who are trying to find it without Him.

The reason why our book stores are filled with “self-help” books and why we constantly feel as if there is more to life than what is right in front of us is because there is. Each and every one of us has a “God-Shaped/God-sized void” in our lives that can only be filled by God Himself.

C.S. Lewis once said, “If I discover within myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” And we are. The truth is there is no lasting joy in a life lived without God. Solomon is clear on this in Ecclesiastes 1 when he explains to his readers, “Life under the Sun, or life without God, is vanity.”

Fortunately for us, God did not intend for us to live life without him. Although Solomon diagnosed the problem, God provides the solution by sending His son.

"Quote" of the Week

"God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing." -C.S. Lewis

SERMON NOTES FOR OCTOBER 17, 2010...

Many today are hesitant to commit to Christ because they truly believe that the enjoyment to be had through living worldly is better than anything Christianity can offer. Classical Greek Philosopher Socrates proved this mentality is nothing new when he said, “Happiness is unrepentant pleasure.”

What we find in Philippians 1:27-30, however, is that joy is found not through living worldly, but through living worthy.

EXPERIENCING JOY THROUGH LIVING WORTHY

1) BE GOOD CITIZENS OF GOD'S KINGDOM (v. 27a)
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27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ,
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The phrase “Let your manner of life” is very unique and literally means, "Behave the way citizens are supposed to behave.” This would have meant a lot to the people of Philippi because they were a Roman colony and took that association seriously. Knowing that, Paul uses this phrase to encourage the Christians at Philippi to conduct themselves as good citizens of God's kingdom and live worthy of that association.
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2) STAND FIRM WITH INTEGRITY AS BELIEVERS (v. 27b)
so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind.

Even though Paul comes to terms with the fact that he is going to continue on a while longer with the Philippians in ministry, he tells them that he does not know when he will see them again. Instead, he encourages them to live with integrity, which is why he says, "no matter what happens...live worthy" and also says "whether i come and see you or am absent...stand firm."

May this be true of us. No matter if we are at church, at home or in the workplace, may we live out our faith by valuing integrity, standing firm in the faith and being the church in the world.

3) WORK TOGETHER TO ADVANCE THE GOSPEL (v. 27c)
striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

The word translated "striving side by side" is where we get our English word "athletics" and carries with it the idea of working together on the same team. Like athletes on a team, Paul expected the Christians at Philippi to work together with one mind focused on one goal—to advance the faith. For this to happen, Paul is clear that they have to be unified—putting aside personal differences so they can be faithful to do what God has called them to do.

How sad it is that so much time and effort has been lost because of internal issues in our churches? The one thing I think Satan wants to happen more than anything else is for the church to find opposition within itself so that it never gets around to fighting the real opposition in the world. For the church to make an impact in the world, believers have to die a bit to pride, personal preferences and petty differences for the sake of the Gospel.

4) EXPECT OPPOSITION FROM ENEMIES OF THE CROSS
28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

When Paul says “those who oppose you” we don’t know with certainty who this group was. Were they inside the church or outside the church? Did they oppose the church with false doctrine or with a standard of living that was not consistent with the Christian faith? Paul doesn’t say. What we do know is that the Philippians had opposition and Paul tells them to not be alarmed by it because the future end for "enemies of the cross" is destruction. He also give a word of comfort for those facing opposition for Christ by assuring them that their opposition is proof that they belong to God and are faithfully doing what He has called them to do.

5) ACCEPT SUFFERING FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Paul shows in this passage that while suffering is unpleasant it is in fact a sign of favor from God. He tells the Christians at Philippi that in the same way belief has been granted, so also has suffering. Suffering, though difficult, teaches believers about and serves to strengthen their faith.