Sunday, October 31, 2010

SUNDAY NIGHT REFLECTIONS - 10-31-10

This morning was one of our “all church, all in, family style” worship experiences at a2 Church. Periodically, approximately four to six times every year, we intentionally design a worship experience for the entire family. We then invite children Grades 1 and up to join their parents in the worship room for this special worship experience.

One of our big desires at a2 Church is to partner with parents in their attempt to lay a spiritual foundation in the lives of kids that will in God’s timing and in God’s way lead every child into a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

We believe that modeling is crucial in the discipleship process. It’s important that children see their parents engaged in worship and in receiving the taught Word of God.

Worship this morning was upbeat and included the following:

Sing, Sing, Sing by Chris Tomlin
Marvelous Light by Christy Nockels
Forever Reign by Hillsong

After prayer, fellowship and announcements, the band also covered one item number…

Rejoice by Audio Adrenlaline

We followed up our worship experience with a special "Trunk and Treat" in the parking area! Great time with parents and their family!

Awesome day!

Here are the extended notes from this morning’s message and the closer on our series from Philippians. As always, you can check out our podcast on the a2 Church website or via iTunes by typing "a2 Church" into the iTunes search engine.


Old Dogs, No Tricks, Just Lasting Joy EXTENDED NOTES
Philippians: Finding Joy in a Broken World – Part 9

Text: Philippians 4:10-23

Philippians 4:10-23, How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. 22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household. 

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.



Some Marks of Maturity:
(Borrowed from Chuck Swindoll in his book, Laugh Again, with “tweaks” by Chris Goins…)

A person is becoming more mature…

• When our concern for others outweighs our concern for ourselves…
• When we discern the presence of evil, temptation or danger before it’s obvious…
• When we begin to develop and grow in wisdom and understanding, not just knowledge…
• When our emotions are tempered by a sense of responsibility, diligence and the desire to be thorough…
• When our awareness of needs is matched by our compassion and willingness to jump in and get involved…
• When we have a willingness to change and repent, especially as the Holy Spirit nudges or convicts us and gives us a leading that we need to follow…
• When we are growing in our ability to feed ourselves the Word of God through the regular intake of Scripture, and we’re also commitment to hearing the Word of God taught in the context of being part of a Bible believing church…
• When we have more than great ideas, but we also have the discipline to carry them out and get things done…
• When we not only understand what needs to be done, but we have the fortitude, diligence, commitment and determination to stay with it until it gets done…



“Maturity is the ability to do a job whether you are supervised or not; finish a job once it’s started; carry money without spending it. And last, but not least, the ability to bear an injustice without the need to get even.” ~ Fred Cook


THOUGHT: An incredible picture of this definition is contained in the book, Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Suess. The key phrase that appears in the book over and over again reads as follows:

“I meant what I said,
and I said what I mean…
An elephant’s faithful
One hundred percent!”

~ Horton the Elephant, Dr. Suess

Eventually, Horton’s faithfulness, loyalty and commitment, not only influences his life, but it influences the egg that he has faithfully sat on for the last 51 weeks!

THOUGHTS: The book of Philippians is about growing up, becoming mature and maintaining your joy throughout the journey…

Regardless of what Paul experienced, he refused to be caught in the grip of pessimism and allow his circumstances to determine or define his sense of JOY…

Our Definition for Joy: “Joy is a deep, abiding sense and the confident expectation that God is with me, that God is for me, and that our sovereign God is working everything together for my ultimate good and His great glory!”


Joy That Goes The Distance:

1. Be alert when it comes to recognizing and affirming the good you see in the people around you.

THOUGHTS: One of the really amazing things about people is that they tend to rise or fall to the level of your expectations… If your expectations are reasonably high, most of the people in your life will be challenged to rise to the occasion… If your expectations are low, you’ll probably get exactly what you’re looking for…

Paul challenged the church at Philippi to become all that God intended for them to become…

He affirmed them relentlessly… Encouragement and affirmation show up all throughout this letter…


Philippians 4:10 (NLT), How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me.

Philippians 4:14-17, …you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once.


Philippians 1:3 (NLT), Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Philippians 1:6 (ESV), …being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:7 (ESV), It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart…


2. Learn the secret of being content.

Philippians 4:11-12 (NIV), I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.


Contentment Defined: Contentment is an abiding peace and bold confidence in God and the sufficiency in Christ we can experience regardless of our circumstances….

Two Major Secrets to a Contented Life:

• Avoid comparisons.

Philippians 4:11b (NIV), …I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Philippians 4:11b (AMP), I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.

Proverbs 14:30 (NIV), A heart at peace gives life to the body, 
but envy rots the bones.


• Be flexible and adjust to change.

Philippians 4:12 (NIV), I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.


3. Be confident! God’s power really is at work in you and through you.

Philippians 4:13 (ESV), I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

THOUGHT: God promises power to anyone who will simply and humbly ask.

Isaiah 40:29-30 (ESV), He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.


THOUGHT: God's power is mentioned throughout the book of Philippians.

Philippians 1:6 (NIV), …being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:12b-13 (ESV), …work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Philippians 3:10 (NLT), I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.

Philippians 4:13 (AMP), I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].


4. Always rely on the promises of God.

Philippians 4:19 (ESV), And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Joy Defined: “Joy is a deep, abiding sense and the confident expectation that God is with me, that God is for me, and that our sovereign God is working everything together for my ultimate good and His great glory!”

Sunday, October 24, 2010

SUNDAY NIGHT REFLECTIONS - 10-24-10

What a terrific week! This week was one of those week’s that absolutely rocked in terms of prayer, preparation, planning and out right getting things done! Praying I can hit “repeat” tomorrow am. For some reason, it just seemed like I was “in the zone...”

Great day @ a2!

This morning my wife was in NYC was our daughter Caley attending Parent Weekend at King’s College. We really missed her, but her team did an awesome job leading our congregation in worship. I mean it! The team rocked! (PS: I really believe that’s one of the marks of a good leader… Girl, your team did awesome.)

Here’s the set list from this morning’s worship set:

You Are Good (Arranged by Lincoln Brewster)
For All You’ve Done (Hillsong)
God You Reign (Lincoln Brewster)

During the offering, the team led us in a new worship song that I'm certain we’ll be coming back to in the next few weeks…

Forever Reign (Hillsong)

The extended notes for the message are included below…

We had originally planned to close out the service with a special item number… God had other plans… At the conclusion of the message, we closed the service with an extended time in prayer…

As always, you can download the mp3 of the morning message on our website by clicking here, or find us on iTunes by typing a2 Church into the iTunes Search Engine.

Next week we’ll wrap up our series in Philippians. I love this book! Big time! But looking forward to covering the last half of Philippians 4 next Sunday.

Until then, here are the extended notes from today’s message.

Joy Over the Long Haul EXTENDED NOTES
Philippians: Finding Joy in a Broken World – Part 8

Three Sources that wage a constant assault on the life of every believer and the church itself:

• The World System
• The Flesh
• The Devil (1 Peter 5:8)

Three Possible Response:

• Break Out – Have a panic attack, get angry, breakout in a rash, fall completely apart…

• Break down – Hold everything in and silently withdraw… Allow worry, fear, anxiety and frustration to eat you alive…

• Break through – Experience God’s power in the middle of this madness, providing grace, strength, power and security for you to make it one more day…


John 16:33 (AMP), I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]


NOTE: Paul wanted to provide the Philippians with a model of what a “breakthrough life” looks like.

Philippians 4:9 (ESV), What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT), “You should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.”


THOUGHT: Paul “translated” his life in Christ for the church at Philippi and provided an example of what "life in Christ" looks like.


Three Relationships We All Need In Life:

• We all need a Paul: We need a mentor who models life with Christ for us and provides an example for us to follow…
• We all need a Barnabas: We all need someone who loves us, is loyal to us, but is not in the least impressed by us…
• We all need a Timothy: We need someone we’re pouring our lives into…

NOTE: Paul made himself available as a mentor and model to the church at Philippi, and provided them with an up close and personal example on how to maintain your spiritual equilibrium and stability in the middle of a messed up world.


2 Corinthians 4:8-9, We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not knocked out.


QUESTION: What was it that created that kind of tenacious faith and stability in Paul? How did this guy retain his joy over the long haul?


How To Keep Your Joy Over The Long Haul:

1. Remember your position. Stand firm in Christ!

Philippians 4:1 (ESV), Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV), Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV), Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Galatians 5:1 (ESV), For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Ephesians 6:11, 13, 14, Stand firm…


THOUGHT: Paul knows the dangers of instability… He knows that spiritual instability leads to disappointment, doubt, discouragement and ineffectiveness… He doesn’t want these believers to be knocked around by the world, the flesh and the evil one…


Philippians 4:1 (ESV), Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

IMPORTANT: The two words “stand firm” are actually one word in the original language. It’s the word “steko.” In the original language it is “…an imperative, a command with almost a military ring to it.” It was a word used of a soldier on the front lines holding his position while under attack (Eph 6:11, 13, 14)…


“The difference between defensive and offensive warfare is this, that in the former I have got the ground and only seek to keep it, whereas in the latter I have not got the ground and am fighting in order to get it. And that is precisely the difference between the warfare waged by the Lord Jesus and the warfare waged by us. His was offensive; ours is, in essence, defensive. He warred against Satan in order to gain the victory. Through the cross He carried that warfare to the very threshold of Hell itself…. Today we war against Satan only to maintain and consolidate the victory He has already gained. By the resurrection God proclaimed His Son victor over the whole realm of darkness, and the ground Christ won He has given to us. We do not need to fight to obtain it. We only need to hold it against all challengers.”
~ Watchman Nee, quoted by R. Kent Hughes
Commentary on Philippians, page 227


Philippians 4:1 (ESV), Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

IMPORTANT: Underline the phrase, “…in the Lord.” The phrase, "in Christ" is an important phrase in the New Testament… In fact, Paul himself uses the phrase at least 132 times in his writings… The phrase “…in Christ…” refers to our total union with Christ…


Galatians 2:20 (NIV), I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Colossians 1:27 (NIV), To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

John 15:5 (ESV), I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.


IMPORTANT: These verses are basically sing, “The Christian life isn’t just difficult, it’s impossible… So impossible, that only one person on the planet has ever actually been able to pull it off! And He was so good at living the Christian life, that we actually named it after Him… His name is Jesus Christ…”


Who Am I?
Our Identity In Christ


I am completely accepted…

• I am a child of God… I can call God “my Father”… (John 1:12; Romans 8:14, 15; Galatians 3:26; 4:6)
• Because I’m God’s child, I am an heir of God and I am a coheir with Jesus Christ… (Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:6-7)
• I am a friend of God… (John 15:15)
• I have been justified by faith have peace with God through Jesus Christ… (Romans 5:1)
• I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit... (1 Corinthians 6:17)
• I have been bought with a price and I belong to God… (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
• I am a member of Christ’s body… (1 Corinthians 12:27)
• I have been chosen by God and adopted as God’s child… (Ephesians 1:3-8)
• I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins… (Colossians 1:13-14)
• I am a new creation. The old is gone. The new is come. The past is forgiven. The old life is forgotten. Everything is new… (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• I have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and translated into God’s wonderful kingdom of light… (Colossians 1:13)
• I am complete in Christ… (Colossians 2:9-10)
• I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ and can be confident that He will hear me when I pray… (Hebrews 4:16)
• I am a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people… (1 Peter 2:9-10)
• I am a saint… (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2)

I am totally secure…

• I am free from condemnation… (Romans 8:1)
• I am sure that God works all things for my ultimate good, regardless of my present circumstances… (Romans 8:28)
• I cannot be separated from the love of God in Jesus Christ… (Romans 8:31-39)
• I have been established, anointed and sealed by God… (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
• I am hidden with Christ in God… (Colossians 3:1-4)
• I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me… (Philippians 1:6)
• I am a citizen of heaven… (Philippians 3:20)
• I have not received a spirit of fear… I have received a spirit of power, love and of a sound mind… (2 Timothy 1:7)
• I am born again in Jesus Christ – and the evil one can’t possibly touch me… (1 John 5:18)

I am deeply significant…

• I am the salt of the earth… (Matthew 5:13)
• I am the light of the world… (Matthew 5:14)
• I am part of the true vine - Christ’s life flow in, through and out of me… (John 15:1, 5)
• I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing… (Ephesians 1:3)
• I am chosen and appointed by Jesus Christ to bear fruit… (John 15:16)
• I have the mind of Christ. He enables me to make right and wise choices… (1 Corinthians 2:16)
• I am a Holy Spirit empowered agent and witness of Jesus Christ giving the mission and assignment of telling everyone possible the good news of the Gospel… (Acts 1:8)
• I am a temple of God… God’s Spirit lives in me… (1 Corinthians 3:16)
• I am a minister of reconciliation… (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
• I have been raised up and seated with Christ in heavenly places… (Ephesians 2:6)
• I am God’s workmanship… (Ephesians 2:10)
• I can approach God with freedom and confidence… (Ephesians 3:12)
• I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me… (Philippians 4:13)
• I am right now a child of God, you can’t yet see what I will be, but when He appears I will be like Him. I will see Him just as He is… (1 John 3:1-2)
• I can overcome the enemy by the blood of the lamb, through the word of my testimony and because I don’t love life so much that I shrink back in my commitment when I’m faced with death… (Revelation 12:11)
• Greater is who lives in me than He who is in the world… (1 John 4:4)
• I am a king and priest unto our God… (Revelation 5:10)

“The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity.” (Dr. Neil Anderson, Victory Over the Darkness)

IMPORTANT: Paul’s point in Philippians 4:1 is this: “Make your PRACTICE consistent with your POSITION… Live out of your IDENTITY IN CHRIST… Stand firm in who you are ‘in the Lord’.”


2. Love like crazy.

Philippians 4:1 (ESV), Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Philippians 4:2-3 (NLT), Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner (Syzygus), to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.


3. Make joy a high priority! Rejoice in the Lord, regardless!

Philippians 4:4 (NIV), Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!


“Joy is a deep, abiding sense and the confident expectation that God is with me, that God is for me, and that our sovereign God is working everything together for my ultimate good and His great glory!”


THOUGHTS: John MacArthur describes what it means to rejoice like this: “Rejoicing is reckless abandonment to Jesus Christ in any circumstance.”

In other words, sometimes joy is just saying, “God, I’m yours… I don’t understand what’s going on or why it’s going on, but I’m glad I belong to You, and in that reality – that I belong to You – I find joy.”



THOUGHTS: The word “rejoice” is a present imperative, which basically means, Paul is calling believers to the continual, habitual, ongoing practice of JOY… At least 70 times in the New Testament, we are commanded to REJOICE!


Philippians 4:4 (NIV), Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Two thoughts about joy come right out of this passage:

• First of all, our commitment to joy needs to be continual… Joy isn’t something a believer turns “ON” and “OFF” like a light switch… “Rejoice in the Lord, always…”

• Second, we don’t always rejoice because of our circumstance, sometimes we rejoice IN SPITE of our circumstances…

Karl Barth, in his commentary on Philippians says that “joy in the book of Philippians is a defiant ‘Nevertheless!’”


Proverbs 15:15 (AMP), All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].


4. Hold on to your heart. Practice gentleness.

Philippians 4:5 (NIV), Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

THOUGHTS: The word “gentleness” is an incredible word in the original Greek… One English word can’t quite convey the entire meaning… So scholars, commentaries and Bible translations have several “takes” on the word: “sweet reasonableness, generosity, goodwill, friendliness, charity towards the faults of others, mercy towards the failures of others, and GRACIOUSNESS…”

Paul wants GRACE and the quality of GRACIOUSNESS to saturate our lives, so that it becomes evident to everyone around us… He wants us to be a GRACE SATURATED PEOPLE…



Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT), But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.

2 Corinthians 10:1 (NLT), Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ…

1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 (NIV), …but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.


5. Remember, you are not alone! God is with you and God hears you. Peace really is possible.

Philippians 4:5b-7 (NIV), The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT), Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.


6. Guard your thought life. Your mind is huge when it comes to keeping your joy over the long haul.

Philippians 4:8 (ESV), Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Friday, October 22, 2010

BOOK REVIEW: SUN STAND STILL by Steven Furtick


In Hebrews 10:23-24, the writer of Hebrews writes, "Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. [God] always keeps his Word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out..."

Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick is one of the most encouraging, inspiring and fun books I've read in a while... It's premise is simple: God is great; God is good, and you can believe Him to do the impossible, improbable and audacious in and through your life... You can discover your "Page 23 Vision" - (you'll have to read the book for yourself to learn more about that) and "activate audacious faith" to pray your "sun stand still prayer" in order to achieve the purpose and plan God has for your life!

This book made me want to get out of my chair and go out and DO SOMETHING AMAZING for the glory of God and the cause of the gospel!

It's filled with anecdotes from Steven's life and includes several stories about the amazing journey of Elevation Church. (Only four years old, they've witnessed thousands of decisions for Jesus Christ and are already averaging about 6,000 people in weekend worship attendance! Yeah, God!) But you don't have to be a pastor or church leader to get something out of the book. The book contains principles that apply to every individual regardless of your station or situation in life.

In short, if you need a B-12 vitamin shot or 5 Hour Energy Drink for your faith, pick up a copy! I've really, really enjoyed the book!

Amazingly, right now Amazon.com has the book on sale for only $6.52 per copy (with a limit of 3 copies per person). Click here to learn more... It's worth every penny. In fact, I encourage you to "see how inventive you can be..." Buy three copies of the book and then give them away to a couple of people who need a little "pick me up" to their faith...

Enjoy!

DAVID CROWDER BAND - "OH, HAPPINESS!"

Love this video by David Crowder Band.

"Oh, happiness..
There's grace enough for us
and the whole human race..."


AL MOHLER ON READING

Here's a video clip of Al Mohler discussing the importance of reading. Though this clip primarily relates to pastors / leaders, it's a great clip for anyone about the how important it is to read for "growth unto godliness." Thanks, Dr. Mohler.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

TURN OFF THE TV AND READ A STINKING BOOK!

Our Tuesday and Wednesday AM Men's Small Groups have been reading through the book of Proverbs. Talk about challenging? The book of Proverbs rocks! And I don't mean "rocks" in the way of bobbing your head up and down, while mindlessly lifting your hand in the air as Bon Jovi sings, "It's My Life..." Don't know where that came from, I'm not really a Bon Jovi fan... But you get the picture...

I mean the book of Proverb "rocks" in that it "rocks your world, shakes you out of your complacency, smacks you in the face" and says, "Pay attention, dude! This stuff is important!"

Well, this morning, our Small Group covered this verse from Proverbs 20.

Proverbs 20:13 (NLT), If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

At first glance, this passage doesn't have a lot to say to a group of guys that get up at 5:00 am so that they can be to small group by 6:30 am... Further, as one of the guys in our group said, "I'm so broke I don't sleep at all..." So, this verse can't have anything to say to people like us, right? Right...

Now, while I'm sure the specific warning / meaning of this verse is probably something like: guys and gals who constantly hit the snooze alarm and roll back over in bed for a few more zzzz's are going to end up being 40-something-year-olds who walk around in their pj's, stalk people on Facebook, and hang out in their parent's basements playing World of Warcraft 24/7... In short, they'll probably snooze their way through life...

Well, this morning after hitting this verse, along with a "few" others in Proverbs 20, I got another little right hook to the temple when I read this post by Seth Godin... (After the way God has been working me over this am, I don't think I'll need any Ambien later on tonight...)

This post really hit hard... Hold on, I'll come back to Proverbs 20:13. Here's what I mean...

Information, knowledge and possibility of wisdom are more readily available than ever before... Books are so stinking accessible... They're even more affordable than they've ever been... And if you can't buy them, many of them are available on line via Google Books and other "legal" sights...

Further, really good and insightful blogs are one click away... I've got about 10 blogs that I check on a periodic basis by guys who post really challenging articles...

Further, podcasts and mp3 downloads by world class pastors, speakers and evangelists like Mark Driscoll, Erwin McManus, Francis Chan, Andy Stanley, Craig Groeshchel, etc., can be downloaded absolutely free!

Which begs the question: Why do so many of us willfully remain "ignorant."

Now, don't misunderstand... Don't get ticked off... Don't think I'm calling people names... The word "ignorant" actually means, "lacking in knowledge or information." I'm ignorant on a variety of subjects... Some of them, I want to remain ignorant on...

But why do so many of us remain willfully ignorant about stuff that really mattters! It's not that we're stupid... It's not that we struggle with a learning disability, it just way too many of us are "sleep walking through life." Now, we're back to Proverbs 20:13...

Oh, we might not be hitting the snooze button on our alarm clock, but way too many of us (including yours truly) are mindlessly and indiscriminately watching loads and loads of television... Vegging out on silly little magazines about Paris, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Joy Behar, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Avatar, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...

Don't get me wrong. Some television and entertainment might be helpful to the guy who is wired way too tight, and sometimes just needs to sort of unwind and relax... But when we're watching so much television that we've made a permanent indention in the couch... When we're watching so much television that the remote control has become permanently glued to our hand...

IMPORTANT:
When we're watching so much televsion that we don't have time to read God's Word, pick up a great book, invest in Bible Study, talk to our spouse, read with our kids, have a meaningful conversation, you get the drift... Well, we're just sleeping with our eyes wide open.... NOTE: That's where Proverbs 20:13 comes back in...

So, with that intro, here's Seth's post... Check it out, then TURN OFF THE TELEVISION AND READ A STINKING BOOK!

Better yet, READ YOUR AMAZING BIBLE!

If you need a recommendation, check out Steven Furtick's new book, Sun Stand Still... As Steven says, "It's not a dose of Ambien, it's a wake up call to audacious faith..."

Go ahead, read Seth's article and then grab a book (or your Bible)!

Deliberately uninformed, relentlessly so [a rant]
Seth Godin

Many people in the United States purchase one or fewer books every year.

Many of those people have seen every single episode of American Idol. There is clearly a correlation here.

Access to knowledge, for the first time in history, is largely unimpeded for the middle class. Without effort or expense, it's possible to become informed if you choose. For less than your cable TV bill, you can buy and read an important book every week. Share the buying with six friends and it costs far less than coffee.

Or you can watch TV.

The thing is, watching TV has its benefits. It excuses you from the responsibility of having an informed opinion about things that matter. It gives you shallow opinions or false 'facts' that you can easily parrot to others that watch what you watch. It rarely unsettles our carefully self-induced calm and isolation from the world.

I got a note from someone the other day, in which she made it clear that she doesn't read non-fiction books or blogs related to her industry. And she seemed proud of this.

I was roped into an argument with someone who was sure that ear candling was a useful treatment. Had he read any medical articles on the topic? No. But he knew. Or said he did.

You see a lot of ostensibly smart people in airports, and it always surprises me how few of them use this downtime to actually become more informed. It's clearly a deliberate act--in our infoculture, it takes work not to expose yourself to interesting ideas, facts, news and points of view. Hal Varian at Google reports that the average person online spends seventy seconds a day reading online news. Ouch.

Not all books are correct or useful. Not all accepted science is correct. The conventional wisdom might just be wrong. But ignoring all of it because the truth is now fashionably situational and in the eye of the beholder is a lame alternative.

I know this rant is nothing new. In fact, people have been complaining about widespread willful ignorance since Brutus or Caesar or whoever invented the salad... the difference now is this: more people than ever are creators. More people than ever go to work to use their minds, not just their hands. And more people than ever have a platform to share their point of view. I think that raises the bar for our understanding of how the world works.

Let's assert for the moment that you get paid to create, manipulate or spread ideas. That you don't get paid to lift bricks or hammer steel. If you're in the idea business, what's going to improve your career, get you a better job, more respect or a happier day? Forgive me for suggesting (to those not curious enough to read this blog and others) that it might be reading blogs, books or even watching TED talks.

As for the deliberately uninformed, we can ignore them or we can reach out to them and hopefully start a pattern of people thinking for themselves...

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

ON THE VERGE OF DESTINY?

VERGE: n. 1) the extreme edge, margin or border of something... 2) the limit or point beyond which something begins or occurs; the brink, cusp, edge or threshold...

"On the verge..." It's an expression we've all used... When we're feeling a little stressed, we say stuff like, "I think I'm 'on the verge' of a nervous breakdown..." When our team is playing lights out and hitting on all cylinders we say stuff like, "They're 'on the verge' of another championship..."

The Bible is filled with "on the verge" stories... Pivotal moments when destinies were either embraced or abandoned, victories were either won or lost... " Over the next few weeks, I'm going to tackle some of those stories... On the verge..."

Twelve men are assigned a covert operation of checking out what they've been told is the "land of promise." After completing their operation, ten of the twelve come back to their leader, a guy named Moses, with this report: "The land is awesome! The opportunity is incredible, but there are some obstacles... The people are strong and some of them are even tall... There are giants who live there... In fact, we looked like grasshoppers compared to them... We looked like Justin Bieber... They looked like Shaquille O'Neal..."

These guys were "on the verge" of destiny, but they forfeited a chance at destiny because the "giants" were too big, their faith was too small and the challenge was beyond the scope of their vision in the greatness of God... (Numbers 13-14)

Steven Furtick makes this statement in his new book, Sun Stand Still: "...if the size of your vision for your life isn't intimidating to you, there's a good chance it's insulting to God."

Ouch! Ten of the twelves spies missed their "on the verge" moment... The result? Their unbelief was such an insult to God that they ended up taking a forty year detour in the dessert until they all eventually died...

Here's why all of this is really important: a2 Church officially launched two years ago on November 9, 2008! We're about to celebrate our two year anniversary, and begin our third year as a church... Can you believe it?

IMPORTANT: Some church growth guys talk about the "third year" being the "grave yard" for a lot church plants... Hmmm... Let that sink in...

If I read my Bible correctly, the God we serve is the God who sat a really weird prophet down in the middle of graveyard and said to Ezekiel, "Zeke, prophecy! Preach!" And in his vision, as Ezekiel began to prophecy and preach, God resurrected an entire grave yard!

If I read my Bible right, the God we serve is the God whose power stepped into the grave where Jesus' dead body had lain lifeless for three days; and this same God breathed resurrection power into the body of Jesus miraculously raising Him back to life! He then rolled the stone away from the grave, and gave an angel the assignment of sitting on top of the stone that had just been rolled away from the entrance to his tomb and announcing to the world, "If you're looking for Jesus, He's not here! He has risen, just like He said..."

"On the verge..."

BIG QUESTION: What is a2 Church "on the verge" of? A funeral or a resurrection? Destiny or the same old, same old?

Amazingly, God says, "According to your faith, be it done to you..." (Matthew 9:29). We can be like the ten spies who took a forty year detour and became corpses in the wilderness of lost hopes and dreams... Or, we can be like the two spies who after looking at the size of the giants and getting a glimpse of the challenges ahead said: "Let's take them on! Our God is able! They're bread... Somebody open up a can a peanut butter, cause I'm ready to have lunch and giants are on the menu..." (Number 14)

"On the verge..."

As we prepare to celebrate a2's 2nd Anniversary, we really believe we're "on the verge..." Of what, you ask? Well, that's up to you and me... Will we settle for a mediocre and mundane version of life and church, or will we believe God for the miraculous and supernatural?

I don't know about you, but I'm believing we're on the verge of a miracle...

VERGE
a2's Two Year Anniversary
November 7, 2010

VERGE: The Worship Experience
Sunday, November 7, 2010 * 9:45 am

VERGE: The After Party
Sunday, November 7, 2010 * 5:00 pm

Monday, October 18, 2010

Taking Out The Trash. Finding Your Treasure. Extended Notes

There were two primary contexts believers gathered together in the N.T.

"...in the temple courts..." That was the large group, corporate gathering of believers. Where believers gather to worship and hear

• "...from house to house..." This was the small group gathering. Where believers gathered for worship, fellowship, encouragement, affirmation and accountability.

I love the corporate gathering of believers at a2 I get jazzed when we worship, celebrate and sing to our great God as a body of believers. There's really nothing like it in all the world.

Here's the scoop on yesterday's corporate worship experience at a2 Church.

Say Say by Michael Gungor Band
Marvelous Light by Christy Nockels
Glorious One by Hillsong London

Bill Robbins gave shared the exciting new of all that's going on for a2's 2nd Anniversary Celebration. Check out the announcement...

Open Up The Skies by Deluge

MESSAGE: Taking out the Trash. Finding Your Treasure.
Philippians 3

We closed the service by singing "One Pure and Holy Passion" by Passion.


Now, here are the extended notes from yesterday's worship experience at a2 Church.

Taking out the Trash. Finding Your Treasure.
Philippians: Finding Joy in a Broken World – Part 7
EXTENDED NOTES

October 17, 2010 • Chris Goins


THOUGHTS:
Philippians 3 gives us a glimpse into the heart and passion of Paul…

Paul was a guy who was on the fast track to power, prestige, success, admiration and first century fame… He was a guy who was an uptight, Type-A, performance driven, religious power player, when all of a sudden, he was ambushed by GRACE…

Now, after at least 25 years of doing life with Christ… (The Damascus Road experience probably occurred in 37 A.D…. Paul wrote the book of Philippians somewhere around 62 A.D.)

In Philippians 3 Paul gives us a glimpse of what makes his heart beat fast… Paul says, “Guys, this is my passion... This is what keeps me up at night… This is what gets me going in the morning… This is my magnificent obsession… I want to know Christ… I want more than fire insurance… I want more than a passport to heaven… I long for an intimate, up close, growing, vibrant, dynamic, personal relationship with Jesus.”


Five Big Ideas Contained in Philippians 3:

1. Joy is a major by-product of sanctification and spiritual growth.

Philippians 3:1 (NLT), Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.

THOUGHTS:
Paul was serious about joy! Not some superficial, fake “joy” where we pretend everything is okay when we know it’s not okay… But deep, abiding, lasting joy that is not based on circumstances, but is based upon Jesus!

When Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord!” He was saying, “Consider Christ so precious, so valuable, so important… Consider Christ such a great treasure, that whether life brings prison, poverty, affliction, pain, setbacks or success; that knowing Christ, loving Christ, belonging to Christ becomes what defines you and gives you lasting JOY…"

“Joy is a deep, abiding sense and the confident expectation that God is with me, that God is for me, and that our sovereign God is working everything together for my ultimate good and His great glory!”


2. Legalism is one of the oldest, most deadly and relentless joy killers on the planet.

Philippians 3:2 ((NIV), Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.

Dogs…

THOUGHTS: When Paul refers to legalists as dogs he was not thinking of some pet we refer to as “man’s best friend.” He was not talking about some loyal, obedient, loving pet you pamper or nourish…

These dogs were wild, dirty, disease carrying scavengers that ran through the streets in packs… They snarled and growled…. They were unable to be controlled and potentially dangerous… They were often rabid… They would fight one another and sometimes even attack people… They posed a threat to anyone who got in their way…

Paul looks at this church and says, “Beware of those people who self righteously call other people dogs, they’re the dogs… Legalists are dogs… They’ll fight one another and attack the truth… Legalists will growl, snarl, threaten and attempt to intimidate you… They are vicious, dangerous and even deadly…”


Men who do evil…

THOUGHTS: Legalists taught that people were saved – people were made right with God – not because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross when he died for our sins, in our place… Legalists taught that people were saved as a result of what Christ accomplished PLUS our good works… PLUS keeping the law… PLUS observing some kind of religious ritual like the Jewish ritual of circumcision…

And because this group was so into “works righteousness” – keeping their little scorecard, putting a check by all the boxes, making certain they performed all the rituals – they liked to think of themselves as “workers of righteousness…”

Paul says, “Are you crazy? These Judaizers or legalists aren’t workers of righteousness… They’re workers of evil… Because anybody who thinks that by their feeble efforts they can add anything to what Christ has done on the cross and puts pressure on others to do the same is evil…”

IMPORTANT:
ANYBODY who teaches ANYONE that they can add ANYTHING to what Christ has accomplished on the cross… Anybody who would suggest that the work of Christ was not SUFFICIENT is a worker of evil…


Mutilators of the flesh…

THOUGHTS: This specifically deals with the Jewish ritual of circumcision… The Jews prided themselves in the rite of circumcision…

But in Philippians 3:2, Paul gets kind of graphic… He uses a play-on-words and basically says, “You legalists love to think of yourselves as ‘the circumcision.’ But that rite and ritual was supposed to be a symbol of a heart that was soft and pliable towards God… You guys have made it into the equivalent of a pagan ritual… It’s lost its meaning… It doesn’t have anything to do with your heart and life in relation to God… You guys have become superstitious, pagan, ritual worshipers… In fact, it’s so meaningless to you, that you’re really not ‘the circumcision’ any more, why don’t you just call yourself ‘the castration.’” That’s actually the word Paul uses…

Paul is saying, “Any attempt to win God’s favor and approval that doesn’t begin and end on the grounds of what Christ accomplished on the cross, is basically self mutilation…”

Paul is rejecting any theology of Christ PLUS anything… In fact, in Paul’s mind whenever you try to add anything else to Christ, you’re actually subtracting from Christ… You’re saying, “Christ isn’t enough…” And Paul says, “Salvation is by Christ alone through faith alone...”


Philippians 3:3 (NIV), For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh–


Three Marks of an Authentic Believer:

• A heart overflowing with worship…
• A person who boasts or glories only in the cross…
• A lack of confidence in human effort, external ceremonies and human credentials… Trusting only in Christ and what He has accomplished for your salvation…


Philippians 3:3-4 (NIV), …[we] put no confidence in the flesh–4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. 
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more…

Philippians 3:5-7 (NLT), I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel, and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.



3. Getting to the “top of the ladder” is great, as long as the ladder is leaning against the right wall.


4. Jesus Christ is the ultimate treasure. My achievements, accomplishments, performance, resume and religion are trash (_________) compared to the privilege of knowing Christ.

Philippians 3:7 (NLT), I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.

Philippians 3:7 (NIV), But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

Philippians 3:7 (NET), But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ.

Philippians 3:7 (MSG), The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ.


THOUGHTS; Paul didn’t view himself as some kind of ascetic… He isn’t saying that he had to give up all this stuff… He’s simply saying, “When I encountered Jesus… When I met Jesus… All of a sudden I realized that Jesus was more valuable, more precious, more important than anything… And anything that could possibly stand between me and Jesus had to go…”


EXAMPLE: Jesus described what Paul was saying with this parable in the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 13:44-46 (NLT), The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

THOUGHTS: The keys phrase in Matthew 13 is the little phrase, “…in his excitement…” Or, NIV, “…in his joy…” Here’s the way one author described it:

“When that great joy, surpassing all measure, seizes a man, it carries him away, [it] penetrates his inmost being, [and it] subjugates his mind. All else seems valueless compared with that surpassing worth.”

Matthew 13:45-46 (NLT), "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!


Philippians 3:7-11 (NIV), But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ…

Underline the word, “rubbish.”

The ASV uses the word “refuse.”
The Amplified uses the words, “rubbish (refuse, dregs)…”
The NLT, CEV and GN use the word, “garbage.”
The NCV uses the phrase “worthless trash.”
The ESV and NAS use the word “rubbish.”
The Holman Standard Bible uses the word “filth.”
The KJV and NET use the word “dung.” The KJV is the closest to the actual meaning of the text…


The actual Greek Word is the word skubala

Daniel Wallace is a guy who has a PhD from Dallas Theological Seminary and has taught Greek at the graduate level since 1979. He is Senior New Testament Editor of the NET Bible. Here's what he says about this word:

"In Hellenistic Greek, it seems to stand somewhere between "crap" and "s**t." (His words, not mine.)

R. Kent Hughes in his commentary on Philippians says that the word is an "indelicate expletive."


THOUGHTS: In Philippians 3, Paul said, “Everything I’ve worked so hard to achieve… All of my religious efforts and accomplishments are nothing but a steaming pile of manure, when compared to Christ…”


4. Jesus Christ is the ultimate treasure. My achievements, accomplishments, performance, resume and religion are trash (skubala) compared to the privilege of knowing Christ.

Philippians 3:7-11 (NIV), But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.


Knowing Christ in the power of His resurrection:

• Forgiveness of sin. (Justification) vs. 8-11

• Freedom from and power over sin. (Sanctification) vs. 12-16
(Also see Romans 6:3-13)

• Ultimate victory! (Glorification) vs. 10-11, 20-21



Philippians 3:8 (AMP), …I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]…

Philippians 3:10 (AMP), [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly]…


5. Stay focused. Don’t get distracted by past success or failure. Your future is in front of you and your future is Christ.

Philippians 3:12-15 (NIV), Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 
15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained
.


Philippians 3:17-21 (NLT), Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.


IMPORTANT:
Christ is our ultimate treasure. We should treasure Him above and over all.

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Than to be the king of a vast domain,
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

VERGE: a2's Two Year Anniversary


2 Church officially launched two years ago on November 9, 2008! As we look back to celebrate, we're also looking forward, believing we're "on the verge" of something even greater! We're pulling out all the stops! Join us Sunday morning, November 7 for VERGE: The Worship Experience! We'll sing LOUD, worship with PASSION, share inspiring STORIES of radical life change, along with a glimpse of what we could be "on the verge" of...

And that's just the beginning... We'll follow up all that action with VERGE: The After Party, featuring a chili-cook off, fall desserts, Dunkin Donuts coffee and speciality drinks, inflatable games for kids, a live house band rockin' out to your favorite tunes and amazing door prizes!

If you've been a part of a2's first two years in any way, or just want to check things out, we hope you'll join us for the party!

Verge Worship Experience · Sunday, November 7 · 9:45 am
Verge After Party · Sunday, November 7 · 5:00 pm

a2 Church
600 Montgomery Highway, Suite 208
Vestavia City Center, Vestavia, AL
(Just above Pet Supermarket)

Monday, October 11, 2010

CAUTION: God at Work in You Extended Notes

Sorry for the delay in getting the notes up... Here are the extended notes and review of Sunday, October 10 @ a2 Church.

I love what God is doing at a2 Church! It's awesome to see His activity in the lives of our corporate gathering and in the lives of individual families and believers.

In three weeks we'll be celebrating our 2nd Anniversary! Yeah, God! We're calling it VERGE. Can't wait to see what God does... Mark your calendars and make plans to attend. By the way, we'll be having both a 9:45 am and 5:00 pm gathering! They'll both rock!

Okay, here's the scoop on everything that went down yesterday at a2 Church!

A lot of you ask about the set list and where to locate specific songs. Here's the overview:

Let God Arise by Chris Tomlin
Everlasting God by Chris Tomlin
Glorious One by Hillsong London (NOTE: Not yet available on CD or mp3. Featured as an "extra" on the new Hillsong DVD, A Beautiful Exchange. Great song!)

Special: Take Me Over by Michael W. Smith
NOTE: This song closes the new release by Michael W. Smith and features a beautiful instrumental with piano and strings. Great song. Janet covered this on the piano.

After the message, we closed the service by singing Shine by Matt Redman.

Next Sunday we'll be in Philippians 3:1-16. The passage rocks, and I'm already so pumped about the music and the message. We may be doing an item number unlike anything we've ever attempted at a2 Church. We'll see... Still praying and working on all the specifics necessary to bring it all together.


EXTENDED NOTES: The last couple of weeks I've attempted to expand our extended notes section by walking out a little more of the message in the notes. Please note that these notes aren't intended for publication, and haven't really been edited for grammar, punctuation and referencing all sources.

For this message I used a variety of sources, which I will list below, but really appreciate a message by John Ortberg titled, The Main Thing for insight I used in the introduction of the message. Also, Ligon Duncan's series on the Book of Philippians was really helpful.

Helpful Commentaries on Philippians:
Philippians, John MacArthur
Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, R. Kent Hughes
Philippians: An Expositional Commentary, James Montgomery Boice
Philippians: The NIV Application Commentary, Frank Thielman
Laugh Again, Charles Swindoll


CAUTION: God at Work in You Extended Notes
Philippians: Finding Joy in a Broken World – Part 6

October 10, 2010 • Chris Goins • Philippians 2:12-30

QUESTION: What is the “main thing” when it comes to a2 Church?

In Philippians 1:21 Paul described the “main thing” of the church like this: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain…”

In Colossians 1:28 he described it like this:

Colossians 1:28, We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.


THOUGHT: In Colossians 1:28 and Philippians 1:27 – 2:18, Paul seems to indicate that the best way for Christ to spread to people who don’t know Jesus is for Christ to be FULLY FORMED in people who do know Jesus…


Philippians 2:12-18 (NIV), Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your [own] salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.



Six Fundamental Truths:

1. Because of what Jesus accomplished (through His death, burial and resurrection), radical and transformational change is actually possible.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT), …anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NLT), I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.


QUESTION:
If we really become a “new person” with a “new heart,” why do we often act so old?


Two Important Theological Concepts:

JUSTIFICATION An act of God’s extravagant grace whereby God declares an individual “not guilty” and “having never been indicted in the first place.” God pardons and forgives all our sin on the grounds of what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross.

IMPORTANT THOUGHTS: Justification means that God loves us and accepts us not because of something in us, not because we deserve it, not because of something good we’ve done, not because the good things we’ve done outweigh the bad things we’ve done… Justification means that God loves us and accepts us not because of anything in us, but on the basis of what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross.

God loves us and accepts us not because we are righteous, but because Jesus is righteous, and somehow through faith in what He accomplished on the cross, His righteousness is imputed to us… (Romans 3:24; 4:22-25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Titus 3:7; Galatians 5:5)

Justification occurs instantly the moment we place our faith in the finished work of the cross… At that moment we are acquitted and declared not guilty… We are accepted and pardoned on the basis of what Jesus has done!


Romans 5:1 (AMP), THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…


SANCTIFICATIONA work of God’s extravagant grace that describes the ongoing process of transformational change that begins the moment we are saved and continues throughout our life. 2) A progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and more and more like Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:13; Hebrews 12:14).


THOUGHTS: Sanctification is a theological term that means to “cleanse, purify or make holy.” “…set apart from the ordinary for special use…”

It’s a word that describes what it means to grow spiritually…

The New Testament talks about sanctification in terms of what it means to imitate Jesus, follow Jesus, look more like Jesus, become more and more like Jesus!

The book of Hebrews and 1 John describe sanctification in terms of having God’s law written on our hearts (Hebrews 8:10; 10:16; 1 John 2:14). (It’s not just hanging on the wall… It’s not just sitting on the nightstand by our bed…) But the truth of God’s Word has been pressed deep down into our hearts so that it’s the very core of who we are, influencing all our attitudes and actions…

The Bible describes sanctification in terms of being re-shaped, re-formed and re-created in the very image of God… Genesis 1 indicates that God made us “in His likeness and in His image.” But the image of God in man was marred, disfigured and corrupted when Adam and Eve rebelled against God…

Through the process of sanctification God wants to heal and re-store us so that we can experience human life the way God originally intended it.


Galatians 4:19 (NLT), Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I'm going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.


THOUGHT: The focus of Philippians 1:27 – Philippians 2:18 is sanctification… But unlike justification which isn’t dependent on anything that I can bring to the table, sanctification is a process whereby I partner and cooperate with God in what He wants to accomplish in me…

Philippians 1:27 (NLT), Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.


2. Radical and transformational life change is usually the by-product of a long obedience in the same direction. Obedience is a natural, vital and necessary part of the believer’s life.

Philippians 2:12 (NIV), Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation…

THOUGHTS: Paul wants these believers to know radical and transformational life change is usually the by-product of something Eugene Peterson called “a long obedience in the same direction.” He wants these believers to know that obedience is a natural, vital and necessary part of the believer’s life.


3. Radical and transformational life change must be relentlessly and actively pursued. Apathy, passivity and complacency short circuit and stunt spiritual growth.

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV), Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…

THOUGHTS:
Paul is not saying, “Work for your own salvation… Work so you’ll be loved and accepted by God… Work so God eventually forgive you…”

Paul is basically saying, “Hey guys… Your role is very important when it comes to sanctification and spiritual growth. It’s not something that will happen just by getting zapped. You will have to relentlessly and actively pursue godliness, holiness, spiritual growth and radical, transformational change… ”


Philippians 2:12-13 (AMP), …work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation…


4. We should pursue transformation with an attitude of reverent awe and humility.

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV), Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…

THOUGHTS:
That was actually a stock expression or stock phrase in Paul’s day. It doesn’t mean, “…work out your own salvation with a sense of nervous anxiety, not knowing whether or not you’re ever going to be good enough for God.” That’s not what Paul is talking about.

The expression actually means, “…work out your [own] salvation with a humble attitude of dependence upon God and God’s power working in and through your life. Realize there’s a role you have to play. But there is also a role that God has to play.”


Philippians 2:12-13 (AMP), …work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).


5. We are not in this alone! God is constantly at work in us, changing us from the inside out; transforming our attitudes and inspiring our actions.

Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV), Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.


THOUGHTS:
Sanctification and spiritual growth is empowered by God. It’s impossible without Him. Sanctification and spiritual growth isn’t an either/or proposition; it’s a both/and deal. God has a role to play and so do you! We are to work out what God works in. God INITIATES, and we RESPOND!


Philippians 2:12-13 (AMP), …work out…your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling… 13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.


6. Radical and transformational change is practical and obvious. It should be pursued for the sake of others, not just for myself.

Philippians 2:14-18 (NIV), Do everything without complaining or arguing…

THOUGHTS:
The word “complaining” is actually the Old Testament word for “grumbling.”

John MacArthur says that it is “…a negative response to something unpleasant, inconvenient, and disappointing, arising from the notion that it is undeserved…”

It’s the Greek equivalent of the word that was used to the rebellion of the nation of Israel when they wandered around in the wilderness for forty years, GRUMBLING…


THOUGHT: Grumbling isn’t a minor offense in the eyes of God. Here’s the way one author describes it: “These things, then, are not minor blemishes of morality, peripheral human weaknesses in another otherwise flawless Christian [life]. Instead, they are part of what marks the watershed of the Christian life.” ~ Markus Bockmuehl, quoted by R. Kent Hughes


Philippians 2:14-18 (NIV), Do everything without complaining or arguing…

THOUGHT: The ESV translates the word “questioning.” The word “arguing” actually refers to “dialogue” or “intellectual debate.” It’s an attitude or disposition that constantly calls EVERYTHING into question…


IMPORTANT: The goal of sanctification is love and the glory of God.


Philippians 2:14-18 (NIV), Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

The phase “shine like stars in the universe” is actually a reference to Daniel 12:3.

Daniel 12:3 (NIV), Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

THOUGHT:
Paul believes that there should be such a definable difference in the lives of Christ followers that we “shine like stars” in the midst of a dark and messed up world.


IMPORTANT: The goal of sanctification is love and the glory of God.


(Two Examples of a Transformed Life:
Timothy and Epaphroditus – Philippians 2:19-30)

• Timothy

Philippians 2:18-24 (NLT), If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon. Then when he comes back, he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has helped me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.


• Epaphroditus

Philippians 2:25-30 (NLT), Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, a faithful worker, and a courageous soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 Now I am sending him home again, for he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he surely was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have such unbearable sorrow.
28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and that will lighten all my cares. 29 Welcome him with Christian love and with great joy, and be sure to honor people like him. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while trying to do for me the things you couldn’t do because you were far away.

HOW CAN I GLORIFY GOD?

Here's a great post by Kevin DeYoung on 20 practical and biblical ways we can glorify God in everyday, ordinary life. Good stuff.

How Can I Glorify God?
Kevin DeYoung


I imagine most readers of this blog want to glorify God. The chief end of man, after all, is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. But have you ever thought about how to glorify God—I mean practically in every day life?

Here are twenty biblical ways you can.

1. Give God verbal declarations of praise (Rev. 4:8-9).

2. Live a life of noticeable piety (Matt. 5:16; James 1:27; 1 Peter 2:12).

3. Ask God for things in Jesus’ name (John 14:13).

4. Bear fruit and show yourself to be a disciple of Jesus (John 15:8).

5. Declare the truth about Jesus (John 16:14).

6. Love your life less than God (John 21:19; 1 Peter 1:7; 4:16).

7. Worship God as God (Rom. 1:21).

8. Live a life of sexual purity (1 Cor. 6:20).

9. Live a life of generosity (2 Cor. 9:13).

10. Rejoice in God’s glory displayed in creation (Psalm 19:1).

11. Do the works of faith (2 Thess. 1:12).

12. Use your gifts in God’s strength (1 Peter 4:11).

13. Make sure everyone knows you’re not God (Acts 12:23).

14. Live a life of gratitude (Psalm 50:23; 2 Cor. 4:15).

15. In matters of liberty, seek the good of others (1 Cor 10:31).

16. Extend grace to sinners (2 Cor. 8:19).

17. Be a part of a local church (2 Cor. 8:23; Eph. 3:20-21).

18. Tell God you are wrong and he is right (Josh. 7:19; Jer. 13:16; Rev. 16:9).

19. Obey God (Lev. 10:3; Mal. 2:2).

20. Go from a Christ-despiser to a Christ-worshiper (Gal. 1:24).

Monday, October 4, 2010

Between the Boy and the Bridge

Last week, my heart was broken by news reports regarding 18-year-old college freshmen Tyler Clementi, who ended his life by jumping off the George Washington Bridge after learning that college classmates had set up a live webcam in his room capturing moments intended to be private and sharing those moments on the Internet...

Dr. Al Mohler writes a penetrating and profound article on this tragedy... As I read Mohler's article this morning, I was struck by the questions Mohler asks towards the end of the article:

"What if Tyler Clementi had been in your church? Would he have heard biblical truth presented in a context of humble truth-telling and gospel urgency, or would he have heard irresponsible slander, sarcastic jabs, and moralistic self-congratulation?"

"Was there no one to step between Tyler Clementi and that bridge? Was there no friend, classmate, or trusted adult who had the courage and compassion to reach into his life and offer hope? Was there no one who could tell him that the anguish of his moment would not last for his lifetime? Was there no one to put into perspective the fact that people who did not love him had taken advantage of him, but that the many who did love him would love him no less?"

Mohler ends the article with this powerful and profound paragraph:

"I am haunted by the one question that seems so obvious and clear in the account of Tyler Clementi’s tragic death. In those days of crushing anguish, humiliation, and confusion, was there no one who could have stood between that boy and that bridge?"

You can read Al Mohler's entire article by clicking here. I recommend that you read it and share it... This is one of the most powerful and insightful articles I've read in a long time...

Share it with your friends... And then pray... Pray that God would make me... That God would make you... That God would make His church... That God would make us...people who lovingly stand "between the boy and the bridge."