On November 30, 2010 I posted a blog detailing a major change in our life and ministry as my wife began to fight leukemia through a bone marrow transplant in New York City. With unbelievable joy and gratitude I can share that Beth is now officially and permanently back home with our family. Beth must remain fairly isolated as flu season approaches and her immune system continues to mature. She will still need to be seen by the transplant team in NYC every two weeks. But her leukemia is in remission, the post-transplant complications (mainly the Epstein-Barr virus) is all but gone, blood counts are good, and her strength is returning.
First, we thank God for walking with us through this time, providing amazing doctors and their wisdom to battle a complicated and dangerous condition, and loving us through His Word, His Spirit, and His church. When we first received the devastating diagnosis of leukemia, Beth said that "the greatest miracle is salvation" which is so true. To know that nothing can separate us from God's love is unbelievable and a source of constant joy; however, we are recipients of a "lesser" miracle that God did not owe us. So we marvel once again at the mercy and grace of our great God!
Second, we must thank Rock Bridge Community Church and God's universal church. From Dalton across the U.S. and even into Africa, people have prayed for us. Many gave everything from time to money to 'sky miles' to support us. We would receive text messages, cards, emails, and phone calls in dark moments that provided glimpses of light that pointed us back to hope in Christ.
Thank you for letting me walk with my wife through this time. Thank you for letting me learn the joy of serving my wife in some small way as Christ loved and served us, His church. I missed being there with many of you as you walked through your own valleys but God is so big and His grace is so overflowing, I trust He was sufficient for you as He has proved for us.
Beth's life verse is Romans 8:28 -- "We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose."
This is a dangerous verse (but we know it is true) because when God asks you to believe it as you face extremely difficult "all things", you have to die to anything but Jesus. But in dying you really learn to live.
Galatians 2:20 -- "I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I love by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Another Reason to Attend Church
If you are a Christian, somewhere along the way you've been taught to attend church or "meet together" with other believers. The biblical reasons for doing so are to receive encouragement (Hebrews 10:25), hear the preached Word of God (2 Timothy 4:2), be equipped to serve God (Ephesians 4:11-13), pray (I Timothy 2:1), and praise God (Colossians 3:16).
I want to suggest another extremely important reason: to evangelize. Yes, your attendance and active participation in a worship service can be an act of evangelism (evangelism is telling & showing others God's worth as revealed through the Gospel of Jesus Christ or you could say that evangelism is simply recruiting more worshippers for God).
How is worship part of evangelism?
1-Unbelievers are present in most weekend worship services ... so they are watching you!! This means your worship is a witness because how you are responding to God is showing unbelievers how much God means to you. While unbelievers cannot worship God because they do not yet know Who He really is, they are still worshipping something (we are all pre-wired to worship) so they understand passion, excitement, and authenticity. The fact is most unbelievers see more worship at a football game than in a church. Some suggestions to improve your worship witness:
a) Sit like you are interested and excited about what is going to happen. If someone offered you tickets on the 50-yard line or the end zone 'nose bleeds', you'll take the 50 every time.
b) Sing. Read the psalms, read the OT, read the NT, and note how many times music is involved ... you will see that music is like God's "love language". God loves for His people to sing His praises. He is drawn to it. A side benefit is that the more you participate in a service, the more you'll tend to enjoy it.
At RBCC, we are very intentional about picking songs that are easy to sing and easy to learn. We talk about and evaluate this literally EVERY week because it is that important to our overall worship environment.
c) Take notes during the sermon. Again, you'll get more out of it and you demonstrate the "weight" of God's Word in your life.
2-God is attracted to worship and when God shows up in a service, people don't tend to stay unaffected. In fact, the Apostle Paul taught that when worship is rightly focused, rightly ordered, and God's Word rightly preached then unbelievers will be converted and become worshippers --
I want to suggest another extremely important reason: to evangelize. Yes, your attendance and active participation in a worship service can be an act of evangelism (evangelism is telling & showing others God's worth as revealed through the Gospel of Jesus Christ or you could say that evangelism is simply recruiting more worshippers for God).
How is worship part of evangelism?
1-Unbelievers are present in most weekend worship services ... so they are watching you!! This means your worship is a witness because how you are responding to God is showing unbelievers how much God means to you. While unbelievers cannot worship God because they do not yet know Who He really is, they are still worshipping something (we are all pre-wired to worship) so they understand passion, excitement, and authenticity. The fact is most unbelievers see more worship at a football game than in a church. Some suggestions to improve your worship witness:
a) Sit like you are interested and excited about what is going to happen. If someone offered you tickets on the 50-yard line or the end zone 'nose bleeds', you'll take the 50 every time.
b) Sing. Read the psalms, read the OT, read the NT, and note how many times music is involved ... you will see that music is like God's "love language". God loves for His people to sing His praises. He is drawn to it. A side benefit is that the more you participate in a service, the more you'll tend to enjoy it.
At RBCC, we are very intentional about picking songs that are easy to sing and easy to learn. We talk about and evaluate this literally EVERY week because it is that important to our overall worship environment.
c) Take notes during the sermon. Again, you'll get more out of it and you demonstrate the "weight" of God's Word in your life.
2-God is attracted to worship and when God shows up in a service, people don't tend to stay unaffected. In fact, the Apostle Paul taught that when worship is rightly focused, rightly ordered, and God's Word rightly preached then unbelievers will be converted and become worshippers --
"...if an unbeliever or some inquirer comes in [to a worship service] ... he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, 'God is really among you!'" {I Cor. 14:24,25}
3-Worship fuels evangelism. When we worship God, we are declaring His infinite worth and value to us. This also should produce a burden in us for those who do not yet know the God we worship. So worship drives us to tell others (i.e.-evangelize) about the worth of God.
May people say every week at RBCC that "God is really among us!"
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Moment or Movement?
Our church appears to have been touched by the presence of God at last week's First Wednesday service. We thank God for speaking, for moving, and for affecting us during that moment in time. But what now? What happens next?
First, let me address what usually happens -- nothing. We go back to our routines, habits, and typical patterns. We shared a great moment together but we then move back to life as we know it. But we must remember that whenever God uniquely encounters His people (as we believe He did last week), He does so for more than our momentary pleasure; He wants to move and accelerate His people to His purposes for them. In other words, God "moments" in our lives should lead to God "movements". The overall direction and trajectory of our lives and our church should be somehow permanently altered. A new normal should be defined, a new pattern should emerge, and new habits should form.
To encourage us toward a "movement" of God and not just a "moment" with God, I believe God has ONE simple step: immediate obedience. However God spoke to you (conviction, challenge, comfort, awakening, awareness) last Wednesday, act on it now! Delayed obedience is sin --
First, let me address what usually happens -- nothing. We go back to our routines, habits, and typical patterns. We shared a great moment together but we then move back to life as we know it. But we must remember that whenever God uniquely encounters His people (as we believe He did last week), He does so for more than our momentary pleasure; He wants to move and accelerate His people to His purposes for them. In other words, God "moments" in our lives should lead to God "movements". The overall direction and trajectory of our lives and our church should be somehow permanently altered. A new normal should be defined, a new pattern should emerge, and new habits should form.
To encourage us toward a "movement" of God and not just a "moment" with God, I believe God has ONE simple step: immediate obedience. However God spoke to you (conviction, challenge, comfort, awakening, awareness) last Wednesday, act on it now! Delayed obedience is sin --
"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
James 4:17 {NIV}
So God revealed something "good" for you to do, you must do it and you must do it now while it is clear in your mind and while there is a sense of God-given confidence in your heart. If you wait, you will become less clear and less sure of your next step.
Here are a few suggestions to encourage your immediate obedience and fuel what I hope is a movement and not just a moment in the life of our church body:
1-Write down how God touched you and what you sensed Him saying. Then tell a friend and/or your small group and ask for accountability -- tell someone to ask you if you have "acted" on what God revealed within 10 days.
2-Pray for boldness. Your struggle is not lack of knowledge of God's will, but fear. God's perfect love casts out fear and God's Holy Spirit gives you courage, not timidity. Know His love for you and be bold in your obedience to Him ... your obedience is how you tell God you love Him!
3-Remember the goal is obedience, not a certain result. Most of us fear what our obedience will cause or lack faith that our obedience will matter. Our obedience matters and God will use all obedience for His purpose ... so give God your obedience -- today!
Praying we "move" together with God!
Matt
Friday, October 7, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Repentance
What is repentance?
The word 'repentance' should be no stranger to a Christ-follower. Repentance is part of our initial step into Christianity. We often say that when a person becomes a Christian, they "put their faith" in Jesus. Repentance and faith are different sides of the same coin and are inseparable experiences of God's saving grace. Repentance is the turning from sins and an overall God-less path, and turning to Jesus. As we turn to Jesus, we place our faith in Him as our Savior, Lord, and highest treasure. The result is a life that has a new affection for Christ and a new ambition to live for Him. This also means that we have a new battle. Before Christ (and repentance) we were at war with God and His ways. After Christ (and the new life He gives us), we now are at war with sin.
Because Christians are always at war with sin, repentance is an ongoing part of our walk with Christ. God will continually reveal sins in our lives to produce repentance. This ongoing repentance continually demonstrates that Jesus is our Lord and that our highest desire is to live in fellowship with Him.
Finally, we must understand that repentance is not an endless cycle of sin, remorse, and confession ... only to keep on sinning. Repentance is not sorrow for getting caught or sorrow for consequences. Nor is repentance an attempt to "do better".
Repentance includes sorrow for sin, its consequences, and its offensiveness to God.
Repentance is more than doing better; it is also a conviction that believes Christ is better than sin.
What causes repentance?
Repentance is the right response to God's revelation. God through the Holy Spirit reveals the truth to us about our sins and about Himself. We see sin for what it really is -- offensive and dishonoring to God and harmful to us. We also see God for who He is -- glorious, almighty, loving, holy, and perfect. This clarity about sin and God prompts us to turn from sin and turn to God.
How do I stay "repentant" before God?
First, would be to pray something along the lines of Psalm 139:23-24, asking God to search us and reveal anything that is offensive to Him.
Second, would be to ask yourself (and perhaps your spouse, mentor, accountability partner, small group) some questions about yourself:
The word 'repentance' should be no stranger to a Christ-follower. Repentance is part of our initial step into Christianity. We often say that when a person becomes a Christian, they "put their faith" in Jesus. Repentance and faith are different sides of the same coin and are inseparable experiences of God's saving grace. Repentance is the turning from sins and an overall God-less path, and turning to Jesus. As we turn to Jesus, we place our faith in Him as our Savior, Lord, and highest treasure. The result is a life that has a new affection for Christ and a new ambition to live for Him. This also means that we have a new battle. Before Christ (and repentance) we were at war with God and His ways. After Christ (and the new life He gives us), we now are at war with sin.
Because Christians are always at war with sin, repentance is an ongoing part of our walk with Christ. God will continually reveal sins in our lives to produce repentance. This ongoing repentance continually demonstrates that Jesus is our Lord and that our highest desire is to live in fellowship with Him.
Finally, we must understand that repentance is not an endless cycle of sin, remorse, and confession ... only to keep on sinning. Repentance is not sorrow for getting caught or sorrow for consequences. Nor is repentance an attempt to "do better".
Repentance includes sorrow for sin, its consequences, and its offensiveness to God.
Repentance is more than doing better; it is also a conviction that believes Christ is better than sin.
What causes repentance?
Repentance is the right response to God's revelation. God through the Holy Spirit reveals the truth to us about our sins and about Himself. We see sin for what it really is -- offensive and dishonoring to God and harmful to us. We also see God for who He is -- glorious, almighty, loving, holy, and perfect. This clarity about sin and God prompts us to turn from sin and turn to God.
How do I stay "repentant" before God?
First, would be to pray something along the lines of Psalm 139:23-24, asking God to search us and reveal anything that is offensive to Him.
Second, would be to ask yourself (and perhaps your spouse, mentor, accountability partner, small group) some questions about yourself:
- Are there any idols in my life? Is there anything in my life that is carrying more "weight" than God?
- Have I turned to substitutes for God? Is anything causing me to "forget God"?
- Are my words and speech tearing others down? Critical? Gossip? Condemning? Discouraging?
- Is my heart full of love for others?
- Am I disobeying any known command of God?
- Do I currently have the "joy of the Lord"? {lack of joy generally = lack of repentance}
- What would those closest to me say about my walk with the Lord?
- How unified am I with other Christians? Am I regularly meeting together as commanded by Scripture?
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