Monday, Oct. 29, 2007

Good morning, saints,

Wow, there are so many things that I would like to put in this week’s musings, but I will have to control myself. This week, I would strongly encourage you to read the book of Jonah in anticipation this coming Sunday. Some of what we talk about will reference the entire story – so you will have to know the ending even as we study chapter 1.

Do you see any “elder brother” (i.e. Luke 15) attitudes in Jonah? (This question is a “no-brainer”!) Why do you think Jonah had no real love for the city? It is obvious that Jonah does not like the idolatrous Assyrians. In what way is Jonah just like them? Is Jonah himself an idolater? As you reflect upon Grace Fellowship’s fresh start in the city, what has this book done to cause reflection; conviction; and encouragement in you? Why do you think the story ends as it does?

Reformission Evangelism

This past Sunday I read some summary notes I made from Mark Driscoll’s book. I will write them here in case you missed it or would like to have a written copy to reflect upon.

“We are missionaries in the culture, who need to build friendships for the purpose of showing and sharing the love of Jesus with lost people. As people function as missionaries, evangelism is done through the whole church – instead of ministries of professionals, programs, or special events. Missions is more about who we are than what we do.

Traditional model: bring in a notable speaker to present the gospel to a large audience and call them to make a decision for Jesus; or Christians sent out to ask non-Christians leading questions in an effort to compel them to receive Jesus.

The emphasis is on eliciting a swift decision for Christ – not relationship. When someone walks forward or prays a prayer or signs a card or declares belief in the gospel – we bring them in as a convert, though whether they are actually converted may be debatable. It is once the person has made an affirmative decision that the person is welcomed into the church and friendship extended to the person. They the convert is trained for service in ministry by being separated from the culture.

In reformission evangelism, people are called to come and see the transformed lives of God’s people. (like going on a few dates instead of someone putting a shotgun to their head, asking them to hurry up, put on a white dress, and try to look happy for the photos.

So friendships and relationships are built with non-Christians (transformed lives of people in the church is the greatest testimony of the gospel … i.e. the living epistles written by the Spirit of God on the heart). Reformission Christians are not ashamed of the gospel and they speak about Jesus and pray to Him in front of their lost friends as they would their Christian friends, and there lost friends appreciate their authenticity. This will lead to a comfort level for them to ask questions.

We leave the saving to God. At times it may be very difficult to identify a single moment in time.

Reformission evangelism is careful to not sever lost people or new Christians from their circle of lost friends. The only exception would be if those relationships were causing someone to fall back into a habitual sin.”

The Church in the World

The Fellowship Baptist Church fall Bible conference was held on Oct. 26-27. My topic was “The church and the world.” I may have stirred a bit of controversy, as I believe we are to engage our culture. We are not to assimilate or withdraw. Is this a little tricky – being culturally relevant and at the same time counter-cultural? You bet! But we need to connect with our culture – loving our neighbor for the sake of Jesus and His gospel. I will paste a copy of my outline below. Give it a read and then add your comments on the blog.

Fall Bible Conference – 2007

Striving to advance the faith and joy of others in the Lord Jesus Christ through the teaching of the Word of God.

The Church in the World … a Nation within the Nation…

What in the world is the church?

• The church is not a place, but rather a chosen people belonging to God (1 Peter 2:9-10; Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Cor. 3:16-17 [note the “you” is plural]).
• The redeemed are the church 24/7 (John 4:20-26)
• The church’s “worship service” is described in Romans 12:1.

What in the world is the world?

· ‘Worldliness’ in the New Covenant era deals more with motives and inner attitudes than outward actions. (Matt. 15:16-20; Col. 2:16-23; 1 Cor. 13).

· ‘Worldliness’ is the opposite of heavenly mindedness. It is not living by faith in the reality of God. (1 Cor. 10:31; Phil. 3:18-20; Matt. 16:21-23).

· The world’s attitude and opposition to God is not the same as culture. Culture is like someone’s house. There are things in it which can be used for both good and bad.

What in the world is the church’s mission?

• Together we (the people of God) are on mission. We are “sent ones.” Together we function as the body of Christ in the world. (John 17:13-20; 2 Cor. 5:20; Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).
• The church is to be:

• 1. Biblically faithful (Before anything else, the church and its ministry must be biblically faithful).
  2. Culturally relevant (Churches that are biblically faithful to God’s mission will work to relate to people in culture).
  3. A Counter-cultural community (Christians should be counter cultural—in family life, values, finances, and every other aspect of their lives).

· Need all three of the above or you will have either:

1. Liberalism (the emergent church is simply liberalism in a post-modern world)

2. Fundamentalism (circle the wagons and separate from the culture and await the “rapture” so we can get out of here)

· Need to be a gospel-centered church on Christ’s mission (in the world but not of the world – a nation within the nation – loving and serving the nation for Christ’s sake).

What in the world is the church’s message?

· The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is our message in word and deed.

· There are three ways to live - the irreligious way, the religious way, and the gospel way. The Bible presents the gospel as the antidote to irreligion and religion.

Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 – The parable of the two sons.

o Act 1 – The lost younger brother

o Act 2 – The lost elder brother

In this parable, Jesus redefines:

o God.

o Sin – Act 1 reveals a typical view of sin (irreligion, self-indulgent, prostitutes etc.)

– Act 2 reveals sin hidden in morality (religious, legalism etc.)

o Salvation

- the initiating love of the Father

- repentance for more than a list of sins

- the cost born by the elder brother – salvation is not free

The gospel is, therefore, radically different from both irreligion and religion. Irreligion operates on the principle of self-acceptance, and obeys “self” as lord. Religion operates on the principle: “I obey, therefore I am accepted”. The gospel operates on the principle: “I am accepted through Christ by sheer grace, therefore I obey.”

Who Jesus is and what He has done provides both the motive and the means to true Christian spirituality. The Gospel is to be applied to every area of thinking, feeling, relating, working, and behaving.

“sola Christo - sola gratia – soli Deo gloria!”

Prayer –

(The following prayer and requests are provided by Julie Cortens. May it be an inspiration to us as we seek to remember one another in prayer this week, and that God would be glorified in our lives and in His world. Thanks again, Julie. May this lead us to be more faithful as a church that prays in right dependence upon our Lord. Please remember to pass on any prayer requests to Julie, so that they can be included next week.) Julie also would like feedback as to the format of the prayer requests that have come in. Would people refer a list, or are you enjoying the prayer format? Please let Julie know. This also lets us know how many people are actually reading and making use of the prayer list.

E M Bounds quote of the week…

“Around us is a world lost in sin, above us is a God willing and able to save; it is ours to build a bridge that links Heaven and earth, and prayer is the mighty instrument that does the work.”

1Pe 2:4-6 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Father in heaven above, thank you that we are ‘living stones’, dependent upon one another and even more importantly dependent on the Cornerstone. Jesus is our Living Stone, chosen by You. He is building us up into a spiritual house. We grow in our love of Him as we become dependent on one another. Help us, Father, to be living stones in this spiritual house dependent on our Cornerstone and loving one another.

We praise you, Father, for the testimony that Autumn Manz has been to your goodness, your strength, your mercy. You have provided Your perfect Comforter in these difficult times and we thank you. You are so good to us. Please continue to strengthen Kurt and Kendall in the coming days and weeks as they push on through the pain of loss. Hear our prayers for them, know the ache in our hearts for them and comfort them as only You can.

We pray also for Jan and Larry, and Gord and Lori in their great loss and their pain of seeing their own children hurting so. We praise You that in this hardship you have provided the loving family of God – the faithful from near and far, to support them. Please continue to help us to daily lift them in our prayer.

We pray for Patrick, Mandy and especially for Becky. Lord, provide wisdom for the doctors as they diagnose and treat Becky. Surround her with Your faithful that she might be reminded of in Whom she needs to place her trust and find her comfort. We pray this also for her sister Mandy and for Patrick as they comfort one another in this trial. May You be their source of all strength during this time.

We thank You, Lord, for opportunity for Amy to reveal her vulnerability to a co-worker and that in that openness relationships were healed. Help Amy to continue to build relationships with her staff. Give her wisdom as she directs them. Give her joy in her work, Lord.

We also desire encouragement for Jake and Brenda Fehr as they deal with the death of a friend in an automobile crash. May their faith in You be evident to all around them.

Lord, we ask that you would give Murray wisdom in his preparation of a message at school on Remembrance Day. We thank you, Lord, that there is opportunity for Your Word to be proclaimed in a dark place. Lord, we also thank You for Murray – his steadfast study of Your Word that we might grow individually and corporately in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. Thank you, Lord, for your provision to us in Murray. Bless him, Lord. Provide for his needs. Help us to be supportive in every way we can of Murray and his family as one worthy of double honour.

We continue to lift our lost loved ones to You. Some of them were able to hear a message of hope this past Friday that the world can never offer. Lord, break their hearts open to let that Word grow in them and bring great fruit for Your glory.

We pray for Mark who is seeking a new room mate – provide him with a room mate that will be an encouragement to Mark in his faith. We remember Allison and Sammy – Lord, help them to keep you their priority amidst the distractions of school, basketball and each other. Help them all to desire to glorify You in everything they do.

Lord, we remember Derek and Jessie and ask that you will cause them to know the depth of their sin and their dire need of a Savior. Keep us steadfast in our prayers for them.

We remember this also for Braiden, Blair, Harold, Shawn and Chris. We think of Maria and Bruce – Lord, there are so many we love and care for – help us to be a witness to each of them. Help us to step out and minister, to be uncomfortable for the sake of Your Gospel. Prepare their hearts to hear the Good news and use Your saints to carry that Good News.

Continue to prepare us to reach out into the city of Saskatoon with a message of hope. Use us, Lord, to further Your Kingdom.

It is because of His work on the cross that we can pray.

Amen.

May we love God, one another, and the city of Saskatoon.

Jesus, build your church in Saskatoon for the glory of our heavenly Father.

Much love in, and dependence upon, the Savior,

Murray

“Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God

and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ…”

Acts 28:31

 

“The story continues…”

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