January 2015 Book Release / A Family on Mission Action Journal

A Family on Mission Action Journal  /  Coming January 2015

Check out my first forthcoming Action Journal dedicated to fostering intentional family life in Christ together. Get active on purpose and regularly at that! Next Year (January 2015) order a copy for your family - and one for each of the families in your Missional Community. Get active together one day at a time.

Live UP / Live IN / Live OUT  This rhythm of life as a family dedicated to growing in Christ personally and together AND engaging Jesus' call to make disciples who make disciples is a wild adventure. On our journey to engage our neighbors and network with the Gospel together as a family we need a little encouragement from time to time.

Journey together through UP - IN - OUT adventures, journal about the events, the people involved, the work of the Spirit and the fruit you'll be praying about for future relationship and mission.

Being missional as a disciple of Christ is most rewarding when it's the overflow of our Deuteronomy 6:4-9 family life rhythm. It's most fruitful when it leads to discipling relationships both inside and outside the home.

Are you enjoying the call of Christ right here in your home?

A Family on Mission Action Journal / The Next Absolutely Unprofessional Publication coming January 2015.

How Was Your Christmas?

I've been asking this question the past couple of days as I run into people I haven't seen in a bit. I don't even know what I mean by it if I'm honest.

Family dynamics.
Party schedule.
Gift reception.
Financial peace.
Experience the spirit of the season.
Overeating.
General enjoyment of the kids, wife and time together.

Deep in my gut I'm also wondering how the person is engaging Jesus in this season. How celebrating the incarnational birth of Immanuel has impacted their heart, soul, mind and body here and now.

It's the other side of the pre-Christmas question: Are you ready for Christmas? It depends, what are talking about?

If you had asked me that in regards to gifts? Yes.
In regards to scheduling? Yes.
In regards to enjoying the family? Yes.
In regards to decorations? Yes.
In regards to peace and low stress? Yes.
In regards to worshiping Jesus?

Yes.

Paul challenged the body of believers to examine their own hearts and minds before engaging in the bread and the cup. Catch that? Before a Christ-follower is to eat a hunk of bread and take a shot of wine we're challenged to spiritually engage Jesus on His terms (1 Cor 11:27-31).

A celebration festival in honor of Christ's birth isn't found in Scripture - but the amount of space dedicated to recalling His coming gives weight to such a worthy party. Communion honors His death and resurrection and our place in Him. Christmas honors His birth and His place over us.

So, were you ready for Christmas? How did your Christmas go?

Did you examine your heart and it's focus on Him and overflow of His love in this season?
Did you examine your mind and your understanding and awareness of His Messianic Nature as the God-man?
Did you examine your body, your actions and engage in a divine level of self-control and service in loving your family, friends and neighbors?
Did you examine your soul and it's intermingling with the Spirit of the Living God in and about you?

How was your Christmas? Whether it was good or not may not have to depend on your family dysfunction, gifts or lack thereof, favorite foods, smells, church services and feelings. This isn't a new concept but maybe the Christians Christmas experience ought to depend on how we honored Christ this season? If Isaiah the Prophet can find hope and peace in a coming Messiah he didn't know, how much more can the disciple of Jesus enjoy His birth in all we do know.

How was your Christmas attitude?

Read Philippians 2:1-13 and engage this God this Christmas 

John's Story: 5:1-15

Do you want to get well?

Text / 

5:7 The Mans Response

Ever been asked an incredibly simple but overtly personal question? That's how I see the question above. Jesus asks this ill man if he would like to be healthy, whole. How would you respond?

'No one helps me into the pool and others cut in front of me when I do try to get in and that angel from heaven doesn't show up very often...'

I'm not even sure these are excuses. There's no reason to give an excuse here. Maybe if Jesus asked, 'Why aren't you well yet?' then maybe these would be worthwhile but not here. Yes or No? After 38 years of being ill do you want to be well?

Possible Explanations for the Mans Response:

1. R.C. Sproul sees Jesus question as a possible warning to the man, "Jesus' question likely was intended to warn him that being healed would bring radical life changes. There would be no more handouts, no more assistance. Instead, he would have to be productive. He would have to function in a society."
2. Towns notes, "When one waits a long time for a miracle or answer to prayer, discouragement grows, and with it unblief begins to develop." Maybe he was simply beginning to doubt that healing was even an option.
3. I wonder if the man simply wasn't prepared for an actual opportunity to be healed. His condition was very real, his desire to be healed abounding, but his lack of awareness of Rabbi Jesus and quite possibly never having truly witnessed a miracle may have left him with his guard down.
4. What if he was still engaged in whatever sin put him in that position? If this is the case then there's no way to give Jesus a straight answer. His heart and mind were not free of guilt.

Excuses Image taken from Towns pg#49

5:8-9 'Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.'

Whatever the case, Jesus knew of the mans condition and had sovereignly planned a healing. Some translations say Jesus 'learned' of the mans condition. Others stress more directly that Jesus 'knew'. John often demonstrates Jesus' ability to divinely know information (1:47-49).

Jesus knew the condition.

Jesus knew the man.

Jesus knew his heart.

Jesus knew his reaction to healing.

Jesus knew the Jewish leaders response.

Jesus knew the intended purpose of not only this healing, but his coming offer of eternal healing for all.

In Genesis 1 we see God speaking creation into existence. The same power and production Christ used in creation (Colossians 1) He uses here. The Words of God are full of power, they're living and active (Heb. 4)

After the healing Jesus disappears. The man can't or doesn't find Him and so he has no idea who it was that healed him. I wonder if he cares? He seems to just go on about his day. Maybe he's overwhelmed. Maybe Jesus simply left too quickly. Maybe he's excited to run off and hug his family and friends.

Regardless, Jesus finds him later on and leaves him with a serious warning, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."

Again, the mans response is strange. He knows the Jews are upset with him about breaking their law (not The Law, as they have attached way too much to the original Text in Exodus 20:8-11) but he goes to them and makes sure they know who actually commanded him to walk (break the law). Why? He was just healed, not only do the Jewish leaders miss the miracle, but the man himself is yet shifting the focus and 'blame' away from himself and onto this Rabbi.

Also, did you notice the 'again' (:14)? So prior to the 38 years of infirmity this man was healthy and active and productive. Something about his choices, his co-mission of a particular sin or lifestyle of sinning set him on his back for 38 years.

Which leads me to a pretty important question.

Is suffering a response to sin? That is, is a believers suffering always directly related to sin, either conscious committal of a sin or the omission of a precept? Or worse a sin one isn't even aware of in their life? Is suffering always the result of sin?

I was in a service one Sunday visiting a local church when this concept repeatedly came up. The speaker hammered the notion that God only blesses, he does not cause suffering. If anyone in the audience were experiencing suffering then sin is at the root and they are distant from the Lord.

Terrifyingly unbiblical. Imagine how many people churchgoers live under the invisible hammer of God without experience the Truth about suffering.

Scripture teaches that suffering is a part of the human condition. Yes it exists because of sin but in Gods economy it is:

• the consequence of sin (natural and intentional) (John 5:1-15)
• The consequences of a broken world (Luke 13:1-9)
• the means to challenge and grow the believer (Heb. 12:6)
• the response of the world towards believers, persecution (John 15:20)
• the byproduct of the divine meeting the flesh, sanctification occurring in imperfect bodies

Paul said that "it has been granted to you (Philippians, and you and I) on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him," (Phil 1:29-30). The original audience were experiencing many of the same struggles Paul had and he was encouraging them to carry on well, that God the Father knew and intended belief and suffering to go hand in hand for our benefit and His Glory.

Many, many, many believers today are experiencing the very same struggles Paul had. Many others are experiencing different forms of pain, struggle, suffering, conflict, persecution etc.

Side Notes /

Feast of the Jews: Which one? John doesn't say but Passover, The Feast of Tabernacles and The Feast of Dedication are options. Most leave out the Passover as John tends to specify this feast as it plays an important role in Jesus' interaction with the Jews and His temple.

Pool of Bethesda 'house of mercy': near the Sheep Gate on the North side of Jerusalem. Thoughts on this pool:

• animals were cleansed here prior to being sacrificed at the temple
• healing waters: minerals giving the pool a reddish hue and believed to have healing attributes
• healing waters: angel stirs the water providing divine healing to few (not in the earliest manuscripts)
• natural spring within that would turn the waters and gave the impression of angelic healing
• archaeologists have noted later Roman attachments to this pool regarding health and healing as well

Personalize /

How do you respond to suffering? Do you hold unbiblical concepts of suffering?

In your suffering do you discern what is the result of your sin, persecution, others sin, challenge, natural brokenness in the body, character discipline, faith stretching, etc?

How do you respond to answered prayer or miracle in your life? Do you respond with gratefullness and joy? Do these cause you to worship and glorify God, boasting in Him all the more? OR do you wonder why God didn't respond differently? Do you lack contentment in His work and response no matter how great? Is God's work in you ever good enough for you honor Him?

The sick man experienced physical healing and yet seemed to miss out on the spiritual healing Jesus was truly offering. How many Christ followers are missing out on true healing of the heart and mind and focusing too much on the physical healing of the body and surroundings?

I challenge you to point out 3 things today that you are thankful for. 3 things that God has worked in and about you that you must simply and humbly honor Him in response.

John, Elmer Towns #48-49.

MacArthur Study Bible #1586-1587.

John, RC Sproul ebook, #1085.

John's Story 4

Places of worship and water are wildly important aspects of faith. In fact, nearly every system of faith puts emphasis on the location of a god, its residence or place of worship and interaction in the tangible world such as temples, altars, universities, labs, volcanoes and mountains.

As well water is a symbol of either life or death - running water such as rivers or natural springs signify health, purity, spiritual interaction with man (libations, baptism etc.), while stagnant pools of water are both physically dangerous and spiritually symbolic of death.

Text / John 4:1-30 Living Water

At the end of her conversation with Jesus the Samaritan woman left her water jar behind as she went to share the Living Water with her community. This is a great ending to a strange interaction. I wonder how man of us leave behind our old buckets after meeting the Creator.

So what do we take away from this idea of Living Water? Teacher Gary DeLashmutt notes 4 points:

1. Living Water is Essential for spiritual life: this Living Water is symbolic of Gods Holy Spirit indwelling our own bodies to know Him.
2. Living Water is Available in Abundance:
• phrear :11 - physical, man-made well or shaft
• pege :14 - fountain or well, associated with spiritual depths
3. Jesus is the Source of Living Water: He alone has authority to dispense the Holy Spirit.
4. Living Water is a Gift: whoever asks receives, not earned but given.

Later on in chapter 7 we see Jesus calling out to the masses at the closing of the Feast of Tabernacles, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink."

So thousands of people are crowded around the ritualistic procession of the Priests carrying a pitcher of water from the Pool of Siloam back to the altar as an offering to the Lord. Tradition. Physical symbolism. Familiarity. Holy Ritualism. And Jesus calling it an absolute waste of time. Jesus claiming that only HE can offer such forgiving and living water.

Jesus, a Jewish Rabbi, alone, speaking with a woman, a Samaritan woman, a woman living a lifestyle against Gods design - this is an interaction between God and man that now, through Christ, happens to each one of us. God directly and graciously personally connecting with us in our sin with a desire to pull our hearts and minds back to Him and away from our relationships with people and things that will never bring Living Water.

Text / John 4:19-26 Place of Worship

Location, location, location! It's just as important in the Spiritual world as it is in the physical. However, Jesus blows our understanding of this out of the water.

Historical Background on Mt. Gerazim: After the Assyrians took over the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722bce they brought in various cultures and religions to populate the area. In the 4th century bce, Manasseh, the high priest in Jerusalem, was challenged to divorce his foreign wife or be expelled. Sanballat the Samaritan leader and father of Nikaso, Manasseh's wife, promised the high priest his own temple of the lord, land and power if he would only remain with Nikaso. Manasseh agreed.

Side Note: Both Manasseh and the Samaritan woman Jesus interacted with were placing higher regard on physical fulfillment in their intimate relationships than on their Lord and Creators desire, design and Glory. Somethings in the human condition don't change right? How often do you put sex, money, longings, desires, personal fulfillment and self-esteem before the call of Jesus?

By the time Jesus arrived to meet the woman at the well the temple on Mt. Gerazim had been destroyed by the Jews over 100 years before. The rift between the Jews and Samaritans went pretty deep I would say.

Jesus wasn't worried about rifts. Jesus wasn't interested in temples.

"A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth...God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth." 4:23-24

spirit - pneuma: principle life-giving source, contrasted with the body, symbolic of the heart: the seat of emotion and affection, more than physical action or rite.

truth - aletheia: reality, fact, actual state of affairs - symbolic of the opposite of darkness, evil, partial knowledge in the shadows.

Jesus is beginning to proclaim the drastic change in mans understanding of worship. We naturally desire an object, a location, a ritual, a rite of passage or worthy activity...And here Jesus is proclaiming that the only worthy act of worship is to believe with our hearts, in the depth of a renewed spirit by The Spirit and in actual, knowable truth, specifically Truth about this Living Water in Himself, the Savior and Reconcillor to God the Father!

What does this mean?

You and I no longer have to wait to worship God on a mountain or in a temple or around the mouth of a volcano tossing cows and wild boars into in order to appease his anger.

Nope. We worship God through worshipping Christ and just where you are in spirit and in truth. In genuine heart adoration and knowledge of the truth in our minds.

Challenge /

Have you taken a sip of this Living Water? Have your, like Nicodemus in chapter 3, been born again? This isn't a catch phrase form hippy Jesus movements. This isn't cultish ritualism. This is actual and honest engagement with the God of the Universe on His terms and for your sake.

What personal, traditional, religious, mental, physical, emotional, spiritual temples do you need to tear down in order to actually, intimately, spiritually connect with God? What Truths in Scripture do you need to unpack and build life upon in order to worship Jesus as He has designed?

Come to Him with a pleading heart in the manner of the Official who sought Jesus' presence for his sons healing (4:43-54) but come with the knowledge that Jesus can heal even apart from His physical presence. He is active here and now in ways we cannot yet see.

Gary DeLashmutt 2012 John Series @ Xenos.org

Mt Gerazim notes from Archaeological Study Bible

Comments on the role of water from The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion

Just Think: Eisenhower Matrix

Apparently President Eisenhower once said, "The most urgent decisions are rarely the most important ones." And so I'm assuming the below tool mystically sprang up in accordance with his quote.

In an ongoing series (with the theme music being 'Right Now' by Van Halen) I'll be posting tools for decision-making, brainstorming, organizing, re-imagining, en-visioning etc. Basically tools useful for creatively and strategically living life on mission. Most of these are transferable to different areas of life, for example:

• organizing and casting vision for our Missional Communities
• creatively and joyfully planing our family calendar
• casting vision for our organizations and business'

The Eisenhower Matrix from The Decision Book

So let's start with the Eisenhower Matrix and I'll state now that while I've seen this elsewhere I have directly taken this from The Decision Book: 50 Models for Strategic Thinking.

Resting on the axis of Important / Urgent we have 4 quadrants:
1. Not Important / Not Urgent
2. Important / Not Urgent
3. Urgent / Not Important
4. Urgent / Important

I recently spent time charting out my rhythm of life for this holiday season. Everything from Christmas shopping to study for John's Story and discussion to Home Projects. In fact, each of the four quadrants I then divided into four more quadrants and started really clarifying what was the MOST Urgent / Important of those on the list etc.

The night I charted this stuff out and presented it to my wife I immediately felt confident to dive into the most pertinent (great word) project, one that was both Urgent & Important (a Christmas project my son is working on), while leaving on the desk a personal project that is Important (to me) though not Urgent whatsoever.

Personally speaking, there's something about flexibility that MUST be a part of my daily rhythm when it comes to deadlines, and being a good steward of my time and energy authors that flexible rhythm all the more and fosters Christlike character growth (Matthew 25:20-21, Colossians 3:23)

I'm interested to see if this one becomes a habit or a one-season-offering to the God of management...

The Decision Book: 50 Models for Strategic Thinking by Mikael Krogerus & Roman Tschappeler

John's Story Light & Belief

My kids and I were grilling the other night as the sun was dropping and the moon was on the rise. We watched the sun descend in what looked like an awesome fiery mess on the horizon and then almost immediately the moon appeared to help us finish grilling dinner.

"It's so cool that even when it's dark all around us we can still see what we're supposed to be doing," Elias observed (Captain Obvious maybe, but he's six so on the age scale I'd say pretty astute).

To which my daughter so relevantly replied, "I can twirl and touch my nose." Clearly gifted in her own right.

My son noted the physical analogy of a brilliant spiritual Truth repeated in John by John the Baptist, John the Author, and Jesus himself. Light shines in the world, in all of the world all the time, it's simply a matter of realizing it.

Text / John 3:16-21
This is the verdict; Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their actions were evil. Through this Light, Who is the Word and was and is with God and known to us as Jesus, In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. This Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood It and cannot overcome It. John 1:1-5, 3:19

God didn't send this Light into the world to condemn it, it (we) was already condemned, no God sent this Light to save the world and those who do understand this Truth and Believe will experience from here onward eternal life. Those that ignore the Light, that run from it or never dare peer at the light remain under the wrath of God set in place by mans original rejection of Him. John 1:1-5, 10-13, 3:14-18

Verdict =

• So the Light of Christ and the Belief of man in Christ unite in the disciple to eternally experience Life.
• And the Darkness of the evil one and the unbelief of man rejecting Christ unite in the student of the world to eternally experience destruction.

These are such vivid pictures of salvation and separation and Jesus is so forthright in discussing and explaining them they are worth investigating as tangibly and spiritually as possible. We created an axis with these 4 concepts as the key points attempting to see with more distinction the nature of light / dark, belief / unbelief.

Unpack /
Light / Belief Quad: The Disciple of Christ, heart and mind transformation. This person not only believes that Jesus is Lord but has also submitted him/herself to His Divine Light in in true repentance and genuine salvation from sin and death. They are walking in the Light as imperfect students being renewed, looking to the cross, modelling Christlikeness. (3:19-21 / 1:4-5)

Darkness / Belief Quad: The Seeker, Unbeliever, a spiritually muddy area at times. James 2 tells us that even demons believe Jesus is Lord...yet they clearly run from His Light. This person might believe that Jesus was a great Rabbi, a wise teacher, a prophet even, they might even believe Jesus is Truth and Life - but this person hasn't submitted to His Lordship, His Way of salvation. This person seeks after their own desires first and foremost and so remains in darkness...aware of the Light. (3:15-18, 36a / 1:12 / 6:29)

Darkness / Unbelief Quad: This is the Disciple of the World, no belief and intentional darkness. Sins of co-mission and omission take shape. This person is aware of Christ, they have heard the Gospel and they have denied it. In response they remain in the dark, both their own sin and the general brokenness of the world. Jesus isn't condemning them for their unbelief, original sin has done that, but He does let them remain in the dark if they don't want His Light. (3:14-15, 20 / 1:5)

Light / Unbelief Quad: Everyone starts here and many finish here. To the Romans (chapter 1) Paul makes note that Truth is apparent in nature, that all creation proclaims Him and His Light reveals Truth in it's raw divine form...but men and women reject it as The Truth. Here natural sin develops and blinds us in unbelief. We see the Light but can't put a name to this Light unless the Spirit moves first. This person also remains under the wrath of God which is the effect of mans rejection of Truth and Love and the consequences of separation from Him. (3:36b / 3:18 / 1:10-11)

John's Story 3

In John 3 Jesus very briefly compares His coming crucifixion and the salvation He brings with a weird little story from the Book of Numbers in the Torah.

A familiar story to His audience. A story that I think both demonstrates the Prophetic nature of Scripture as it relates to Jesus, but also the Historical / Cultural ways God connected early on with His people.

Text / John 3:1-21

The 4 R's

Read Numbers 21:4-9

1. The people Reject the Lord and Moses
2. God's WRathful response
3. Peoples Repentance
4. God's Reconciliation & salvation

If you've read Jesus' interaction with Nicodemus the Pharisee, and even more so the first few chapters of John, then you'll note the analogy here:

1. The world has Rejected God (Genesis 3) and doesn't recognize Jesus as His Son and Savior (John 1:10-14)
2. The original sin of Adam and Eve has heaped condemnation (WRath) on all men everywhere in all generations (John 3:36)
3. Through Repentence of our sinful nature against the Lord (John 3:14-17)
4. Jesus offers salvation (through looking to the cross)  and thus Reconciliation with God the Father

The Bronze Snake is a symbol of Salvation, a Type of Christ (strange, I know, snakes tend hold such anti-Christ symbology in the Word so be careful not to read into an analogy more than is intended). Jesus is saying to Nico that He (Jesus) is like the snake and anyone who looks to Him as the Savior will be rescued in the same way the Hebrews were from their clear and present demise (venomous snakes)!

Think about how tangible of an analogy this really is. Jesus is saying that just as the snakes were a very real, tangible and immediately deadly threat...and just as the Bronze Snake was a very real, tangible and immediately salvific cure...so our state of condemnation is very true and real and immediate and so Jesus' Messianic cure, salvation, is real, tangible, immediate and eternal.

Incredible.

Key Points /

Nicodemus: Pharisee, wealthy, good standing among his peers, known in the community and obviously well-educated in the Scriptures and thus the Law.

Nico is fishing here. In His opening statement he's seeking clarification from Jesus about His status, His role, His intention - and so begins a three tiered conversation:

Q1 "We know God is with you Teacher" / "Nico, you'd have to be 'born again' to know who I really am.

Q2 "How can I be born twice? My mom wouldn't like that..." / "Nico, you know that God's kingdom is Spirit first and foremost, it's like the wind going where it pleases. You know that a man must be cleansed with water in renewal and purity, just as his fleshly birth was an innocent introduction to the fleshly world. (Read R.C. Sproul, John, Chapter 6 'Rebirth' - great discussion on the various meanings)

Q3 "How?" / "Seriously? You got nothing here? Alright, let's get to the point: God deeply loves His creation (all people) and has sent ME, the Christ, to be like the Bronze Snake...you're a teacher of Israel, you get it now right? I didn't come to condemn anyone, everyone is already separated from God and that is your real issue, sickness, eternal position. I did, however, come to save and whoever comes into my Light and believes the Truth will see plainly the salvation before them and through Me."

So Hozier, I'm sorry man but your song 'Take me to church' just doesn't cut it - Jesus didn't bring poison to be spouted each week but instead the only possible cure. Really catchy tune though! (not sure the lyrics make sense, one too many contradictions to be a sound argument for a life's philosophy...)

Read 3:31-36  John the Baptist continues His Testimony of Jesus

Two quick notes on this chunk:

• "He must become greater; I must become less." Is there really any other model statement that could define a healthy mindset when it comes to knowing and loving Jesus?
• :36 Here John totally qualifies Jesus' earlier statements about belief, salvation, eternal life, rejection, Son/Father equality, sin/wrath. Not that Jesus needs man's testimony - but if any man did qualify Jesus' nature...this is worth taking note of!

Questions /

1. What are you fishing for when you engage the Bible? Or when you engage Jesus? Like Nicodemus, what truths do you see and where do they point? Better yet, Whom do these truths point to?
2. Are you born again? This isn't some outdated religious question. This is the basic question of Jesus for anyone truly and deeply questioning reality: Spiritual reality / Physical Reality in Truth. Have you engaged Jesus directly on His terms?
3. What do you think about your natural state of condemnation? Not very politically correct is it. Not socially or culturally flattering or acceptable right? Even the most conservative, level headed, play it safe, good neighbor, employee, student, parent, homeowner, ticket-less driver person in the world is condemned outside of Jesus' Reconciliation as defined by Him.
4. How might you respond to the teaching in this chapter?

One Year Since Departing...

The other day a friend asked how my position was fleshing out at the local church I had moved here to Ohio to help launch. Two things came to mind:

One: Man, time flies! It's been one year since I parted from that position and local body.

Two: I haven't connected with this guy in a year. That's ridiculous!

I hadn't intended on processing the previous season at the one year mark but around this same time I bumped into another individual I had been building a relationship with during my time on staff and was struck by their impression of my departure. These encounters have spurred me on to continue to reflect on the growth, healing and hoping process as the Spirit regenerates and repurposes my family and I.

Here are a very, very few things that have come to light.

The Junk:
It's safe to say I had some baggage going into that position that hadn't been dealt with, much I was even unaware of. An unhealthy blend of self-deprecation and pride blasted my confidence in the Lord and thus robbed Him of His due glory.

When there was no one left to 'do ministry' with and my family I were thrust into a season of reconciling our purpose and rhythm with our present circumstances...then pride and self-deprecation were dragged out into the open and I have been forced to reckon with these oppressive character traits.

Freedom does abound beyond the restraints of 'self'. You know what light does, right? It dissipates hurt and disillusion and everything that's false. Not quickly, but surely.

The Family:
Goodnight! I have an incredible wife. I have two incredible kids. I missed them and I wasn't even aware of just how much. During my stint on staff I had spoken a lot about healthy family rhythm and quantity of time with the family, not simply quality...honestly I felt much like a skipping record on these verses.

Yet, somewhere in the midst of that season I lost touch with my own family, my own healthy rhythm and all in the name of 'getting my crap done so the Kingdom can move onward.' By the time I left my position I was disillusioned with my call, my gifts, my family unity, my role in the Kingdom and the individual relationships with my wife, my son and my daughter.

In the past year my wife and I have been rebuilding a vision for the future and acting on our mission. I have reimagined an honest discipling relationship with my son. I am also learning to be the father of a beautiful little girl who doesn't need a pastoral figure in the house but a father chasing after God's heart.

The Parting:
I was surprised (maybe not entirely) to hear the impression my friend had regarding my leaving the position and thus the local body. He wondered why I would move here, build relationships and then depart overnight without a word to anyone personally and all under the banner of a 'difference of ministry philosophy and vision.'

Great question. At the moment I didn't know what to say except what I had been saying - that my personal expectations grew apart from the direction of the body and so I departed. I suppose that's true.

What's more, however, is that I didn't choose to depart, at least not quickly and quietly and not at that time. I had been asked to leave. There's a difference. This particular conversation revealed a hurt caused by my rapid abandoning of this budding friendship, hurt in no major way I should add, but hurt that I would choose to indirectly disown them and that without a word.

I didn't intend to. Yes, my pride and self-deprecation robbed us of fruit and relationship but these were heavily intertwined with ministry philosophy changes and challenges creeping in apart from those I was truly convicted of and so I wasn't able to (or willing to) reconcile what I had moved here to serve and partake in with what was actually being developed. But I didn't jump ship. The ship made a brief but rapid stop and asked me to depart. I did not intend to abandon any relationships and yet I did, collateral damage.

You know how it works, you're hurt so you inadvertently hurt others and communication breaks down and impressions and assumptions are made etc. And so I consolidated my personal resources and relationships and bunkered down to regroup. Some people didn't make it in the bunker. I'm sorry.

So now what? Well it's interesting to look back over the past year and see this Sovereign God still at work.

While I cannot reconcile all of the experiences during my time on staff with Gods heart and purpose, it is safe to say that He neither abandons His people, those on all sides of such painful interaction, nor does he abandon the work of expanding His Kingdom one disciple at a time through those who are faithful. That is glorious knowledge and faith abounds in retaining such truths.

So how is my position fleshing out? Well, it's doing just that. The Spirit is continuing the lifelong process of incarnating the Gospel within these old bones, within my family and my home. One year is not a lot of time. It's the amount of time I spent investing in that local body. It's also the amount of time I have had since leaving that position.

One year goes by fast and while the above realizations are important they are only a slice of what has been taking shape. It feels good to own my junk, my sin. It also feels good to own my decisions and let go of those others have made on my behalf.

I wonder what you might be in the process of realizing, overcoming, healing from and hoping for?

Where do you see the Lord at work and where do you see Satan creeping in to steal and destroy?

And of course - what is God teaching you about who you are in His Kingdom and what are you going to do about it?

A year flies by. Don't waste it.

John's Story 2:12-25

Jesus arrives at the Temple Mount, standing in the outer court, and for the first time He acts on the unacceptable use of space in His Fathers house. Now, I assume as a child, even the previous year for that matter, Jesus witnessed the sale of sacrificial animals and the many business opportunities and happenings surrounding the festival. Maybe His parents even partook in this convenient trade.

But we know this year was different.

Jesus was publicly teaching, acting on the miraculous, gathering crowds, calling disciples, being commissioned via baptism and the Spirit and preempted by one like Elijah. Jesus' hour for the cross had not yet come, but here at this first Passover in public ministry His time had come to begin reconciling His people to His Father.


Text / 2:12-25

Let's focus on one particular concept, that is, the redefining of the Temple. Check this out:

'In the temple (heiron) courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip and drove all from the temple (heiron) area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a house of merchandise!"

'Then the Jews demanded a sign to prove His authority...

'Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple (naos) and I will raise it again in three days."

'The Jews replied, "It has taken 46 years to build this temple (naos)...

'But the temple (naos) Jesus had spoken of was his body.'


Jesus was not referring to the temple complex. If His use of the word 'naos' was not clear enough to the original audience the author tells us that after Jesus' death and resurrection they recalled this event and realized fully His intended meaning in this mysterious response to the Jewish leaders.

Define: The two words for temple were somewhat interchangeable but still held particular meaning and it's within this meaning that we understanding Jesus' distinct and prophetic use of 'temple'.

• heiron (Greek) - temple proper, holy place
• naos (Greek) - inner sanctuary, Most Holy Place (later on used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:16 to describe the Body of Believers)

This is a small interaction with huge implications for Judaism, for the ancient Church and for all Christians everywhere today.

There is a tendency to think that ministry takes shape in the churches buildings. That we 'go' to church. That God meets us most distinctly in our gathering complexes. And yet Jesus is demonstrating the movement away from the building (Temple, the footrest of God on earth) and noting that this Most Holy Place is within Himself!

He is the fulfillment of any and everything the Temple ever meant to the Kingdom of God on earth.

• John 1:14  Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us
• John 4:21-24  worship neither here nor there but in spirit and truth
• John 17:20-23  Jesus said, 'I have given them the glory that you gave me...I in them and you in Me...'
• 1 Corinthians 3:16-17  you yourselves are God's temple...
• 1 Cor 12:27 you are the body of Christ
• 1 Peter 2:4-10  you are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood...

The destruction of the Naos (Jesus' body) was the ultimate rejection of the very cornerstone of the temple of God. That cornerstone, however, was the building block of the spiritual Naos Jesus was building for His disciples, and their disciples, and all believers in the Christ in all time and space. He is the ultimate High Priest (4:12-5:10, Hebrews 10:19-27) and thus as His disciples / workers / partners - we are all priests in His temple.

Yes, gathering together is important and commanded. Yes, buildings are a blessing and even necessary at times. But no, these material complexes do NOT constitute the Church - they only house us as necessary.

Only Jesus was fully aware of the magnitude of this simple reply to the Jews. Where they assumed a literal destruction of their building - He spoke of a literal destruction of the body of their Creator.

Key Points /

• As with His reference in :4, Jesus' prophetic discussion on his death and resurrection demonstrates the reality that He was fully aware of His divinity and was not surprised to find out His role in Gods plan of salvation as some say.
• Demand of a sign: The Jewish leaders demand of a sign (:18) instead of an immediate arrest leads us to believe they had already heard about Jesus and His powerful teaching and miraculous gifts.
• The synoptic versions of this story:

1. Read: Matthew 21:12-13 / Mark 11:12-19 / Luke 19:45-48
2. These three take place near the end of Jesus' ministry following His Triumphal Entry into the city, leading some theologians to believe this to be a catalyst for His coming arrest.
3. Johns version takes place at the launch of Jesus' ministry and so leads many to believe this happened more than once.

• Key Differences:
• John notes a whip - others do not
• John did not drive out the people (except the dove handlers) - other authors note He scattered all people and animals
• John notes only a turning of the money tables - others note a turning of the dove tables as well
• Jesus' proclamation in John is distinct from the others who recall Him quoting from the Scriptures in the process: 'House of prayer' Isaiah 56:7 & 'Den of thieves' Jeremiah 7:11

In the previous section of the chapter we see Jesus demonstrate the miraculous and reveal His glory and so develop faith in His disciples. In this section we find Jesus passionate about His Fathers Holiness, demonstrating His role as the ultimate Prophet, hinting at his role of ultimate Priest and demonstrating His authority over His people in His temple.


Question /

1. What do you think of your body as the temple of God? Both your individual body AND the body of believers in all places in all time?
1. How might your self-image change as a result of this realization?
2. How might your view of other believers change (those you both like and dislike)?
3. How might your role as a disciple change as a result of housing the Holy One?
2. What about your understanding of the Church? If the Church is more than a building how might this impact how you live as the Church?
3. What implications might the role as the 'priesthood' have as a disciple of Christ? Any? To all believers or only some and why?

What is God teaching you through the Spirit in this Text?

What are you going to do about it?

Read: Key Word Study Bible NIV, John Commentary by Towns, MacArthur on John, John by R.C. Sproul

John's Story 2:1-11

What if Jesus had offered no signs of His divinity and intent? That is, what if all the way up to the cross and resurrection (the greatest sign) Christ had taught, gathered disciples and crowds, travelled about and spent time explaining the Scriptures but offered no miraculous sign?

If there were no signs would Jesus' world have responded to Him the way it (they) did?

I like the hypothetical question because it causes us to all the more dig into the miracles Jesus performs, the very signs John preserves in his narrative, and attempt to understand them in their original context. Many skeptically dismiss these signs as later fabrications of the authors and future copyists.

But if we're founding our understanding of Christ on the very letters of the Apostles and closest disciples...skepticism is born out of our own understanding of the authors intent and not the content itself..

Text / John 2:1-11

'When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."'

'"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come."...Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.'

Let's dissect this mysterious little interaction a bit. Let's start with Mary's comment:

1. Is this a question or statement? Is she in turn asking Jesus to act on this embarrassing social mishap or simply pointing out it's occurrence?
2. Does Mary desire Jesus to simply make a spiritually charged speech and smooth over the situation?
3. Is she upset that He brought so many of His own guests to the wedding (disciples) who in turn drank more wine than was anticipated?
4. Is she fully aware of His ability to perform miraculous feats through experience and eyewitness? Or simply due to the divine promises she is fully aware are bestowed on His life.

Some thoughts on the above:

1. Comment or Question: It's obvious by Jesus' response that He believed Mary was asking Him to act in some fashion, which He does.
2. Speech: Seeing how Jesus had been teaching publicly up to this point it wouldn't make sense for Him to proclaim that His "time had not yet come."
3. Disciples: Nope. It would not have been odd to have the number of guests fluctuate throughout the week long celebration.
4. Yes, Mary was fully aware of Jesus' divine nature as it would be hard to forget the miraculous virgin birth, the angelic visits and the like. However, did she experience these miracles during His childhood?
• In :11 John notes that this was Jesus' first miraculous sign. Is this the first miracle period or His first public sign of His glory?
• If Jesus had been performing miracles up to this point John had no reason to note this 'first' sign - especially such a backwoods and private one such as this.
• Personally I wonder what happened to Joseph, Mary's husband. Most theologians assume his death in Jesus' childhood (after his half bro's and sisters were born) which leads to me to question why Jesus wouldn't have miraculously spared him at that point - this is total conjecture, we simply know very little about Jesus' childhood and Joseph.
• "Do whatever he tells you" as an imperative statement by Mary leads us to believe she knew and expected Jesus to physically produce a response to her comment.

What about Jesus' response:
Part One "Dear woman, why do you involve me?"

Rewritten: "Woman, what is to you to me"

• "woman' was a term of endearment or respect (do not think our Western sense)
• "what is to you to me" - some teachers and commentators note the odd form of this statement as it's recorded in the Greek. there is general agreement that it's a strange way to invoke to idea of: "dear mother, what matters to you also matters to me..."

What I appreciate about this latter translation is the compassion and respect apparent in the text as opposed to the NIV translation above which tends to make Jesus sound bothered by His mothers request, annoyed even.

When this compassionate translation is coupled with His next statement we are opened up to a pretty cool tension in the life of Christ.

Part Two "My hour has not yet come" - stated again in: 7:30, 8:20, 12:23, 27, 13:1, 17:1

This statement clues us into the reality that Jesus knew His plan and purpose all along and wasn't left to the whims of culture or a distant God - instead He was living on purpose to the cross.

Put together these two statements present the tension between Jesus' physical nature and His divine nature - this hypostatic union 100% man / 100% God. What's more they demonstrate for us the honor and unity involved in interaction with men and with God the Father.

1. Jesus, knowing His purpose and the time table involved sought to honor God by quietly glorifying Him through this simply miracle in the kitchen of a wedding.
2. Jesus, showing love for His mother honored her request, that which was important to her, by fulfilling the tasked sought after and doing so without major publication regarding His "hour."

Key Points:

This first miracle: (:11)

• revealed His glory to the disciples, Mary once again, servants taking part
• fostered formative seeds of faith for His disciples

Johns use of Jesus' miracles as signs had the effect of:

1. glorifying God
2. developing faith in His disciples
3. demonstrating fulfilled prophecy
4. expressing Jesus divine nature as the Son of God, the Messiah

As I was reading this chapter a subsequent thought came to light. Think about the host of the wedding, the parents, the other guests and the married couple. Out of nowhere this incredible wine appears near the end of the bash surprising them all. Each one of them partakes in this mysterious gift and goes on enjoying one another.

Meanwhile, in the backroom, Jesus and the servants are uniting to complete this miracle. The servants do what they can (bring the water), and Jesus does what only He can (change the water into wine). They unite to do the work of the Father. A fitting analogy to our current role as disciples. We do what we gifted and able to and the Spirit on behalf of the Lord completes our work (His work) through us.

Back to the guests. Like most of the world, the guests are experiencing the fruit of Jesus' work without knowing Him nor giving Him due credit. We live and breath because He holds all together (Colossians 1) just as the party continued on because Jesus honorably and divinely acted.


Question

• How does this story of the first miracle impact your own faith in Christ?
• How might your investigation into Christ's claims of divinity be furthered because of this passage?
• As a result of seeing Christ work such a seemingly small miracle how might you view your own role in His Kingdom? Is there any act of service too small to be worthwhile?
• How might you respond and act here and now?

Later this week we'll discuss the next part of Chapter 2 - the first public display of Jesus' Divine Authority.

Comments and textual ideas taken from: John by E. Towns, Jewish New Testament Commentary, John MacArthur Study on John, Dennis McCallum sermon on John 2

John's Story 1:19-51

What makes for a good testimony? What are the qualities of a good witness, someone sharing their account of an event, like a witness on the stand.

Google 'How to be a good witness' and you'll find many courthouse pages dedicated to tips on testifying: tell the truth (I suppose it's worth stating) - be calm and take your time - be clear and concise - provide the facts - be yourself etc.

The above having mainly to do with presentation there are other qualities in the make-up of a witness: first hand experience (see, feel, hear) - a willing participant of the event (personal investment) - a real-time antagonist to the event - multiple interactions / opportunities to witness - nature of the circumstances (stressful, threatening, fast-paced, inviting) - familiarity with surroundings, culture, time and space, language etc. - corroboration with another source (person, history, like events, character etc).


Text / John 1:19-51

Johns Story begins with a series of testimonials about Jesus:

1. John the Baptizer - :23, 26-27 one coming after / :29-31, 36 Lamb of God to be revealed / :32 Spirit descends on Jesus / :34 I have seen and I testify
2. Holy Spirit - :32-34 Holy Spirit displays Jesus' divine role
3. OT Prophecy - Isaiah 40 along with other passages and types there was a general anticipation for the return of a mighty king, a Savior
4. Jesus - :51 regarding Himself as the very Son of Man (a title after that of the prophets like Jeremiah)
5. Andrew - :39 spent time with Jesus / :41 'We have found the Messiah'
6. Philip - :45 'We have found the Moses wrote about...whom the prophets also wrote...' - recalling OT expectations from reliable men / :45 'Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph' - lineage and hometown, verifiable information
7. Nathaniel - skeptical at first (what divine being could come from such a depressed town?) / :49 Rabbi (teacher), Son of God, King of Israel.
8. Priests and Levites - :19-25 these men confirmed John the Baptists anointing though didn't know how to title him (later they will do the same to Jesus)
9. John the Apostle / Author - believed to be one of John the Baptists disciples and then Jesus' disciple / :35 he is one of the two disciples with John / he is both an eyewitness over the span of Jesus' and John's ministries as well as one with personal resources and relationships to account for his Gospel.

Look at that list! If you had been a part of the original audience of John's letter you would have been left without doubt about his testimony of Christ through the words and actions of all these characters and sources. His clarity about the events, his trustworthy character, his experience, his articulation etc. Everything accepted as true and genuine good news (Gospel).

Do we now doubt simply because of the span of time and culture from the original writing? NO, but we will have to work harder to understand the cultural, spiritual and language differences - we have to investigate just as the 12 did! Just as we all do with anything that's important to us or to those we care about, or even to our pesonal well being politically, socially and economically. We investigate.


Key Points

Investigation: 'Come and see' was the approach of Jesus before the eventual call to follow as a steadfast disciple. Jesus invited them to investigate His reality - this is a great model for us as disciplemakers in His image. Personal invitations to others to come and investigate Jesus through our own lives.

Notice two key aspects of Andrews investigation:

• first follows (invited to come and see)
• then invites (shares his findings with those close to him, Cephas)

Q. What did / does your Gospel investigation look like? Are you seeking Christ directly or are you seeking around Christ?

Our culture is enamored with mysterious Eastern religions which appear culturally pure (un-Westernized / commercialized), sexy, personal etc. Simultaneously we tend to think we know about Christianity, we know who Christ is and so the mystery is gone, the apparent sexiness of Christianity is lost in all the American tradition, hymns, cheesy road signs and bake sales.

Where has the investigation gone in evangelism / discipleship? The personal 'come and see'? The follow me as I follow Christ and see for yourself.

Exodus: Note the 'Lamb of God' reference to Exodus 12 - the role of the Messiah coming to eliminate sin / Savior freeing the people from their bondage to sin (world)

John / Elijah: There was an expectation that Elijah would return pre-Christ (since he did not die 2 Kings 2:11) and so many assumed John the Baptist was this Elijah though he denied it:

• Matthew 11:14 / Jesus note John as one like Elijah or is 'the' Elijah of this time and place
• Luke 1:17 / John came in the spirit and power of Elijah

Humility: John was amazingly humble for a man with such divine and social power.

Titles: In this chapter we see many titles of Jesus introduced.

1. Lamb of God
2. Son of God
3. Son of Man
4. Rabbi
5. Messiah
6. Prophet (of Moses)
7. Jesus of Nazareth / son of Joseph

Question
Is Jesus who he claimed to be? Is He whom his contemporaries claimed Him to be?

So what does your testimony look, sound and feel like? How are you confessing, testifying and modelling an actual witness to the power of the Christ?

• are we confident and calm in our gracious proclamation?
• do we know the Scriptures, the very source of our ongoing witness?
• how does the Spirit interact with you and about you in real time?
• how does your present walk with Christ testify against your past? Is there a difference?
• who are you inviting to 'come and see'?
• who is in your inner circle of friends, family, neighbors and co-workers that you might invite to investigate alongside you and your local Body?
• are you a disciple or part of the questioning crowd?

John's Story 1:1-18

Through the next season of life I'll be coursing through Johns Story of Christ with a group and as we go I'll be highlighting key points of the Text as well as those things that grab us in general conversation about Christ and His life.

This isn't meant to be a holistic study of every facet of Johns Letter nor a developed commentary but a developing conversation on the fourth Gospel. I'll attempt to note other sources both when necessary and when I simply remember to do so but it's safe to say that any original sounding ideas I may toss in the mix will have already been said by more brilliant men and women through history!

Thoughts on Authorship: John the Apostle. Check this out - Irenias, a disciple of Polycarp, a disciple of John testified that 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' (21:20), this very John the Apostle, is the author of the Text. Ah the power of intentional disciple-making.

Purpose of Letter: 'But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.' John 20:31


Text / John 1:1-18

Opening Themes
Jesus' Eternal nature
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God. (:1-3, 15)

Jesus' Divine nature
And the Word was God. (:1-5, 10-18)

Jesus' Saving-Relational nature
To those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. (:12-14)

Testimony to Jesus' nature
There came a man who was sent from God...He came as a witness to testify concerning [the] Light. (:6-9, 15)


Key Points / Here are a couple of points of interest on this go around in John.

First, the word 'Word' or in the Greek 'logos' - its use stirs up all sorts of thoughts and reflections on the ancient world and the authors intention. Two thoughts:

1. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus called the logos the 'ordering principle of the universe' - the 'divine logic'. He connected this logos to fire and that human reason was born of fire and word. The Stoics developed this concept onward.
2. Contemporary Jewish Targums on Genesis 1 used the Aramaic word 'memra' or speak, to denote the creative work of God as He used words to speak all of creation into existence from nothing. God spoke, life took shape.

The Jewish world was not only Roman occupied but Helenized in general. The Greco-Roman way of life and thought was everywhere and influencing nearly every aspect of life. For John to utilize this simple word 'logos', which carried such profound implications for his mixed audience, he must have chosen his own words very intentionally (even being carried along by the Spirit in the process 2 Peter 1:19-21).

Second, 'To those who believed in His name.' Not of natural descent, human decision or mans will but belief alone in Christ as Messiah is the key to invitation into Gods family (read 1:13).

1. What are some major implications in various systems of thought and belief as it pertains to salvation?
2. Who decides who becomes a child of God, a co-heir to the throne? Do we ourselves decide to follow Christ? Do our parents decide for us as a 'family religion'? Do we marry into Gods family or birth into it? Does God reach down and open our hearts and minds to Him or do we truly stumble across Him in our own desperate time?
3. Is the act of believing a work or is it a response?

Some thoughts and phrases taken from the Archeological Study Bible notes on John 1.

Naked Much? Probably More Than You Think

Have you ever gone streaking? My two year old in potty training does it all the time right now, it's innocent silliness...for another year at best.

In Mad City (Madison, WI) there were all sorts of public excuses to drop the formalities and go for a 5k underwear run or if I remember correctly the canoe race in your whitiest-tighties. And then your good ole fashioned streak like that guy over there. He's even casually making a call, probably checking his messages or calling his aunt who's in the hospital - normal stuff.

Let me do the classic leap to a semi-contextual spiritual point here and be the first to admit that spiritually speaking I'm a streaker.

That's right. I run around nearly every day with naught more than a pair of shoes or a belt with a sweet buckle shaped like a cross made out of fake diamonds.

To the Ephesian Church Paul laid out a pretty specific outfit for the disciple of Christ to put on daily.

'Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God s that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.' 

It's a bit awkward using myself as the main image of a spiritual streaker here with nothing more than a belt of truth on so why don't you go ahead and replace me with yourself and discern onward. Thank you.

Ever walk out of the house in the morning with nothing but a belt on? Nothing but the belt of truth draped on your hips.

Or the breastplate of righteousness...only. Like to spend time around this guy? Wearing righteousness like a bad Christmas sweater and without faith or truth to match.

What about the sandals of readiness. Sure they're beautifully ordained with the gospel of peace...but when not coupled with righteousness or a shield then I'm not sure what you're ready for.

The shield of faith is a culturally misunderstood and over politicized one. How many of us sprint out of the house in the morning with literally nothing more than a shield, even void of salvation itself, in hopes of defending Christianity from the arrows of the evil one in the culture wars? Yeah, it's like that.

Most of us are really just a bunch of naked babies running around with helmets on trying not to hurt ourselves. Let's call it what it is. We cried out to Jesus in 11th grade, strapped on our helmet, and went streaking. What do you think the likelihood is that you'll live as a dedicated and passionate disciple of Christ who makes healthy disciples if you're running around town naked alongside other naked 'brothers and sisters'?

Catch that?

A bunch of naked, immature believers who know little more than the flavor of forgiveness and freedom from sin without the belt, breastplate, sandals, shield, sword and prayer to suit up with on a daily basis. I'm sure that'll go well. Because naked people model incredible restraint and Christ-likeness around other naked people.

Some of us tend to just walk around with the Word of God as if just holding it without any other preparation or investment in the armor were necessary. A naked guy with a Bible. Not someone I want greeting my kids and I in the children's wing at a Sunday gathering with the body.

Are you naked?

Are you spiritually naked? Are you sprinting through your day with little more than a helmet and a shield while talking to grandma on the phone about kittens?

If you're a disciple of Christ then you're also an ambassador for His kingdom. Dress appropriately.

Read Ephesians 6:10-20

Manhandling OR Sharing

Is your Ministry Vision dependent on you individually to maintain its course and development?

Let me ask you this:

'if you disappeared for a year on sabbatical would you return to find the Body passionately fostering continued and innovative growth within the context of your collective vision OR deterioration, discouragement and a burden to maintain and manage your baby?'

In Scripture we find both individually empowered leaders paving the way for the Spirits work in a Body AND we also find more and more in the NT collective groups of Overseers being chosen, called and stepping up to lead the local Body as need and opportunity arises.

Whatever the context, are you singularly man-handling your vision and keeping it from: wolves, detractors, innovators, co-partners and other qualified and called leaders who might also be called to run the race alongside you in your local sphere? That may have been necessary in the beginning but as disciples are born and the body grows, is your shared top-tier Overseer leadership growing as well to form a greater more holistic vision for the Body?

What if you shared the burden?

What if Paul is right to call out a handful of leadership roles in the Church (Eph. 4 apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers) and so expect Jesus to remain the Head of the Church while these called leaders share in the work here on the ground?

What if...what if you and your APEST co-partners discerned the vision for your context and then created a platform: common purpose, language and paradigm for disciplemaking to move and breath and carry the Gospel beyond your knowledge and capacity. What if you release the vision to grow and simply personally model what your vision casts?

Are you man-handling YOUR baby OR are you fostering APEST vision while letting Jesus handle His baby?

Called & Quiet?

There's a new/old tension in the Western Church lately regarding the form and quality of discipleship. A tension in philosophy where on the one hand every disciple is called and gifted to be engaged in incarnational mission while on the other appropriate Christian programming within the church is the focus and scope of discipleship.

Missional communities or small groups?

1x1 disciple making and multiplication or classroom Bible study?

Between Matthew 28:18-20 'Go and make disciples,' and 1 Thess. 4:11-12 'Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life.'

There is a real tension, a real division in thought and practice between a local body that sees every individual actually doing the work of ministry as one united body AND a local church whose overseers do the work and invite the body to come and see.

The problem is that Jesus' call to make disciples (Matt 28) is not a different call from Paul's later challenge to live quietly (1 Thess. 4). That while there might be tension built into these dueling passages there's unity of mission. Even where there is a difference of interpretation there is no less a call to fulfill both.

Go & Do: We're familiar with the charge of Christ to go and make disciples of all nations. And we're familiar with the subsequent disciple making movement in Acts. We may even be familiar with the reality that in the following three hundred years after Christ much of the Middle East and most of Europe had converted to Christianity. So the rhythm of personally proclaiming Christ and then personally teaching others to obey His commands = making disciples, may be radical to us but it's not new territory.

But this isn't separate from Paul's charge to aspire to a humble and quiet life. To work diligently with our hands and win over outsiders. What's the context? Is there a reason for this intentionally mild-mannered challenge in light of Jesus' radical call? Probably.

Stay & Be: The Thessalonians turned from their idols to Christ in such a way that they became a model to all of Macedonia and Achaia (1:7). Their faith had become known everywhere (1:8). Despite severe suffering they were infused by the Holy Spirit to endure and so imitate Jesus (1:6). They abandoned their temples, discarded their false teachings, dropped out of trades and unions devoted to false gods and were most likely denied access to many social functions. Culture felt the impact.

Paul thanks God for their 'work produced by faith' - 'labor prompted by love' - 'endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ' (1:2-3)

Even their brotherly love is so extravagant that Paul notes their understanding and lifestyle of love has been directly taught by God and felt all over the countryside (4:9). Paul even urges them to demonstrate it more and more (:10). It's as if the humble and quiet life he goes on to cherish is full of persecution, hard work both in the use of their spiritual gifts and their vocation, a genuine labor of love-lifestyle towards all brothers and sisters and an endurance through all things for the sake of Christ!

Apparently this joyful (5:16), prayerful (5:17), thankful (5:18), zealous (5:19), faithful (5:20), discerning (5:21), aware (5:22) quiet and humble lifestyle is exactly what Jesus meant when He prayed for future generations of disciples on mission (John 17) and then called His own disciples to go and make disciples until the whole world knows of His love.

So, where is this tension? It's not in the Biblical call to make disciples. It's not in a lifestyle that demonstrates His Truth wholly. Where is it?

The tension arises in two places (actually more but I'm writing here and this is all I want to cover):

1. General & Specific Fears
2. Misunderstanding of Gifts / Personality

Fear: We fear all sorts of things but typically we don't live this lifestyle because we're scared. I won't go into detail on this point, if you fear anything or anyone other than God and His divine power then submit and move forward.

Misunderstandings of gifts and personality: We generally agree that the spiritual gifts are given to serve the body and entice the non-believers to Gods grace - but personality is a messy and subjective discussion. That our personalities are given by God and shaped by our circumstances is an important piece of who we are and how the Lord calls us.

I wonder if it isn't within a deeper understanding of our personalities that our humble and quiet life is better discerned. Yes, our culture will shape how the Gospel is lived out and communicated, but so will our personalities. That two very different disciples both with the gift of teaching may very well utilize this gift in very different capacities - one on a stage and the other in a living room.

My wife and are both quite introverted and yet her form of quiet yet intentional living quite naturally looks different than mine and often we're tweaking and shaping and challenging and sacrificing what that means within our household and ministry.

Living quietly and working diligently will be different in different towns, homes and local churches - yet the work of making disciples will always be laborious, faithful and self-sacrificial work requiring perseverance and wrought with forms of persecution.

Who are you in Christ and who are you called to connect with intentionally yet humbly?

Word of Beard

To the saints who are faithful in Christ Jesus everywhere - you are loved on purpose.

Grace. Peace. (1:2)
Blessed. Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (1:3)
He chose us. Holy. Blameless. Love. (1:4)
Adoption. Good pleasure. (1:5)
Grace bestowed on us. (1:6)
Redemption. Forgiveness. Riches of his grace. (1:7)
Abound. All wisdom and insight. (1:8)
Making known. Good pleasure. Purposed. (1:9)
Bring together on earth and heaven. (1:10)
Chosen. Purpose. Works all things. (1:11)
Hoped. Praise of his glory. (1:12)
Gospel. Salvation. Sealed. Promised Holy Spirit. (1:13)
Inheritance. Redemption. (1:14)

In these 14 verses of Paul's letter to the Church surrounding Ephesus he overwhelms us with the overflow of the Lords character - He floods with His intentional and gracious love for us. Crazy!

Seriously. Just read through the list above describing what God, through the life of Christ, offers us.

Not only that but all with preemptive purpose and design. Catch that? It's actually been Gods will from before the beginning of time to pull us into His vision of eternity. Check this out:

Chose us before the foundation of the world. (1:4)
Predestined. Through Christ. Good pleasure of his will. (1:5)
Praise and glory of his grace. (1:6)
He caused to abound to us. (1:8)
Making known to us the mystery of his will. According to his good pleasure. Purposed in him. (1:9)
Fullness of times. Bring together in Christ. (1:10)
Chosen. Predestined. Purpose of the One. Works all things according to his will. (1:11)
Promised Holy Spirit. (1:13)

It's not chaos and condemnation that propels the Creator onward in purpose and mission. It isn't anger and distance and disillusion. No.

From eternity past the Father, the Son and the Spirit have found nothing but pleasure in fostering and securing redemption for us. Through the eternal plan and cost of the life of Christ and the seal of the Spirit we are drawn in as heirs, adopted into the family of God the Father with love according to what pleases Him in His Holiness and Perfection.

He chose us and invites us into the divine mystery of His will.

You and I are loved. Read Ephesians 1:1-14. Read it again. Read it once again. You have been loved. You are being loved on. You will be loved forever. Now tell me that isn't just exactly what your heart truly desires?

Uber-Spatial Unity

In Ephesians 4:1 the author, Apostle Paul, acknowledges two Spatial contexts in motion: Physical and Spiritual (both being Relational in nature).

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Every follower of Christ, through salvation, is equipped to live a life worthy of their new place in Fathers kingdom, His family. In fact, living a worthy life isn't something earned but a lifestyle overflowing with the eternal work Jesus HAS done and IS doing in the Christian life. Fantastic!

This new life, this worthy lifestyle according to Paul, takes place simultaneously on two Spatial fronts:

1. Physical Space: (4:2-3) Paul urges the Asian Church to foster and share in awesome community with one-another. Being gentle and humble, patient and intentionally peaceful and united...these take shape alongside other human beings - Physically and thus relational, mental and emotional.
2. Spiritual Space: (4:4-6) Paul goes on to urge unity in the Spiritual realm. A one-ness that encompasses the Body of believers everywhere, the One-ness of The Father, Jesus and The Spirit in the Trinity. The One-ness of Gods Sovereignty in and through everything - of faith and baptism and hope. A Spiritual Unity that surpasses every physical border and boundary.

I wouldn't be off the mark in saying that this Spatial Unity is just as important in the Body today, the Church (universal and local), as it was at the time of Pauls Epistle to the Ephesians.

Uber-Spatial Unity is a call, a charge, an urgent and refreshed word to the Body to be united physically beyond denominations, styles, personal preferences and expressive flavors in such a way that the Love of Christ would be on display on every street corner and in every home in between.

Sounds uber-idealistic I suppose. Yeah, it is.

Uber-Physical Unity only works as it is partnered with Uber-Spiritual Unity. That the very heart of Spatial One-ness that Paul urges for (4:4-6, Philip. 1:27-28, 1 Cor. 12) is first found in the glue of the Spiritual Space holding the very Physical realm together.

Every Physically-spatial relationship is first impacted by Spiritually-spatial truth.

As much as you and I can imagine, discern and intentionally foster spiritual unity on the major doctrinal issues with brothers and sisters in our communities we ought to then be intentional in fostering physical unity for the sake of the world.

Where is the Spirit encouraging you to be unified more and more both in spirit with your Savior and in relationship with the Church?

Word of Beard

'On the 24th day of the eleventh month I had a vision...the word of the Lord came to [me]...During the night I had a vision... 

'He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord... 

'Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.'

What happens next is what has happened to every man and woman on earth for whom Christ is discovered as reality. Joshua here, in Zechariah's vision, is a symbol of Israel.

Israel was distant from the Lord, rebellious, soaking up the scraps of life and religion and self gratification. But their story doesn't end in that false-satisfaction.

'The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take of his filthy clothes." "See, I have taken away your sin and I will put rich garments on you."'

Sound familiar?

The journey the LORD shares with Israel is fulfilled in Christ and His relationship with all believers. It's an ancient journey, an ancient process where God removed the filth, the confusion, the missteps, the sin and both symbolically and spiritually would take Israel as His people again and again (Hebrews 10 speaks to this repetition and final reconciling).

That removal of the old and replacement with the New as Paul notes in 2 Cor. 5:17. That Incredible Regeneration, that Eternal Reconciliation is not new to Christs purpose with Israel, however, it is Final!

The absolute final removal of the Old ineffective human ideas of spiritual wholeness and the absolute final adoption of the New AND 2000 years later we just celebrated that final victory over sin and death in Christ on Easter! Fantastic!

'Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head."

I'm aware that we won't be wearing turbans as a religio-fashion statement here in the Western Evangeleical Church (though I wouldn't be opposed, with a fine robe and effeminate Toms-like shoes to match...), but this particular headpiece has serious significance. Check out the priestly garments in Exodus 28:36 and you'll discover that this was inscribed with the phrase, 'Holy is the Lord.'

Now that's a turban worth wearing.

The reality for you and I is that we are inscribed with that very Truth in a much more personal way. Every Christ-follower carries within them the very Spirit of the Living God (1 John 4:13-16). Hmm, what shall I prefer as a sign of my personal connection to the Lord of the Universe - turban OR Spirit of God? (Now if you prefer the turban you have a crippling addiction to religion and I can't help you, but the Spirit can. Step away from the turban and spend time in commune with Jesus.)

'This is what the LORD Almighty says: "If you walk in my ways and keep my requirements...I will give you a place among these standing here."'

He frees us from the weight and grime and false sense of reality and hope that our own dreams and creations and sins offer us.

He places on everyone who trusts in Christ (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10) a new wardrobe sourced in His Love. A new clothing line defined by Faith, Hope and Love. A new attitude (Philippians 2). A new everything as we journey with Him.

In fact, as we embark on this lifelong journey of walking in His ways and so standing among His people / His family, we experience both the One Time removal of our dirty clothes AND the ongoing cleansing and renewal that comes from living in a place that isn't yet fully reconciled to Him.

If you haven't yet seen the vision of Christ making all things new in your life and so removing the old I suggest you spend time in prayer and the Word not only painting this picture of spiritual reality, but truly believing it at that.

Read Zechariah 3 for this piece of his vision.