Monday, January 31, 2011

RELATIONSHIPS - Game Plan Part 5 Extended Notes

Here are the extended notes from yesterday's message on RELATIONSHIPS. Keep in mind, you can download the entire podcast on a2's website by clicking here, or you can find us on iTunes. Just type "a2 Church" into the iTunes search engine... Enjoy!


RELATIONSHIPS
Game Plan - Part 5
January 30, 2011

George Gallup has said, “Americans are among the LONELIEST PEOPLE on the planet.” ~ Randy Frazee, The Connecting Church

STAT: According to one study by the Washington Post, one out of every four Americans say they don’t have ANYONE they can discuss their personal problems with… ~ Shankar Vedantam, Washington Post, June 23, 2006. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/22/AR2006062201763.html

STAT:
Another study in the American Sociological Review indicated that Americans are more socially isolated than they were two decades ago and one out of every four say they don’t have anyone to stand with them in a time of CRISIS. ~ McPherson, Miller; Smith-Lovin, Lynn; Brashears, Matthew E (2006). "Social Isolation in America: Changes in Core Discussion Networks over Two Decades" (PDF). American Sociological Review 71 (3): 353–375.

Before her death, Mother Teresa once said, “Loneliness is the leprosy of modern society. And no one wants anyone to know they’re a leper.” ~ John Ortberg, Everybody's Normal Til You Get To Know Them.

THOUGHT: With billions of people in the world, someone should be able to figure out a system where no one is lonely.

Somebody has! That somebody is God. And God’s answer is COMMUNITY! God’s answer is deep-level, life-giving RELATIONSHIPS

This week we’re going to talk about a GAME PLAN for connecting with people


John Ortberg describes the importance of connecting with people in his book, The Me I Want To Be: He writes: “Part of what it means to be made in God’s image is our capacity for connectedness… …we flourish when we are connected with God and people, and we languish when we are disconnected. Emotionally isolated people are more prone to depression, anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem, substance abuse, sexual addiction, and difficulties with eating and sleeping.

People who are socially disconnected are between two and five times more likely to die from any cause than those who have close ties to family, friends, and other relationships. People who have bad health habits like cigarette smoking, overeating, elevated blood pressure, and physical inactivity — but who still remain connected — live longer than people who have great health habits but are disconnected…

We were designed to flourish in connectedness.”



In another book on relationships titled, Everybody’s Normal Til You Get To Know Them, Ortberg describes some important research on the subject of relationships.

“One of the most thorough research projects on relationships is called the Alameda County Study. Headed by a Harvard social scientist, it tracked the lives of 7,000 people over nine years. Researchers found that the most isolated people were three times more likely to die than those with strong relational connections.

People who had bad health habits (such as smoking, poor eating habits, obesity, or alcohol use) but strong social ties lived significantly longer than people who had great health habits but were isolated.”


SIDE: In other words, it is better to eat Tortugas pizza, Krispy Kreme donuts, and Starbucks “whatever” with good friends than it is to eat broccoli and cauliflower and drink purified water all alone.

Furthermore, “Harvard researcher Robert Putnam notes that if you belong to no groups but decide to join one, ‘you cut your risk of dying over the next year in half.’” ~ John Ortberg, Everybody's Normal...

THOUGHT: Based on that study, instead of going with the LIVE UNITED Small Groups Campaign, we almost went with something like this, “Join a Small Group or DIE…”

Finally, Ortberg says, “For another study, as reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 276 volunteers were infected with a virus that produces the common cold. The study found that people with strong emotional connections did four times better fighting off illness than those who were more isolated. These people were less susceptible to colds, had less virus, and produced significantly less mucous than relationally isolated subjects. (I’m not making this up. They produced less mucous. This means it is literally true: Unfriendly people are snottier than friendly people.)” ~ John Ortberg, Everybody's Normal...

The book of ACTS gives us an amazing picture what COMMUNITY can look like

Acts 1:14 (NLT), They all met together and were constantly united in prayer…


Acts 2:1 (NIV), When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

NOTES: Immediately on the heels of what Acts 2 describes as a dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which also miraculously birthed or launched the church, the Bible gives us a snapshot of what relational life looked like in this first century community…


Acts 2:42-43 (NAS), ...they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.


Community in the first century church seemed to be based on at least three essentials:

• The Word of God was central! “…they were continually devoting themselves to the apostle’s teaching…”


Fellowship or Community was important. “…they were continually devoting themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread…”

NOTES:
The Greek word is “koinonia” and it refers to deep level relationships – relationships that go past the surface to the heart… The word actually means to “share” or “participate.” This is where we get the idea of “doing life together.”

Then it says that this first century community was devoted to “…the breaking of bread…” Most scholars believe that refers to both the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion), as well as just getting together to eat and hang out…



NOTES:
There’s a great passage that shows up three chapters later, in Acts 5:42. It gives us a picture of how the first century church did life…

Acts 5:42 (NIV 2010), Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.


Two Important Types of Church Gatherings:

o The Large Group — “…they…[met] together in the temple courts…” (Celebration)

o Small Groups — “…they broke bread in their homes…” (Community)

NOTES:
Believers in the first century church formed “little communities.” They formed small groups where believers gathered to do stuff like:

• CONNECT with God and with one another,
• to ENCOURAGE one another to live light’s out for God,
• and, to CARE for one another in a way that honors God and inspires people.


Rom. 16:5, Acts 2:26, 8:3, 16:40, 20:20, 1 Cor. 16:19 and Col. 4:15, Greet the church that meets in their home.

THOUGHT: Believers in the first century church understood that both contexts were essential…

Every believer needs to be part of a small group.


Finally, community was also based on this third essential:

• They were God-centered in their focus… “…they were continually devoting themselves to…prayer…”

Acts 2:43 (NIV 2010), And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles…

Paul Tripp, in his excellent book on marriage titled, What Did You Expect?, makes this statement about relationships…

“…marriages are fixed vertically before they are ever fixed horizontally. We have to deal with what is driving us before we ever deal with how we are reacting to one another. Every relationship is victimized in some way when we seek to get from the surrounding creation what we were designed to get from God. When God is in his rightful place, then we are on the way to putting people in their rightful place.”

THOUGHT: The relationships that developed in the first century church weren’t centered around “me” getting “you” to meet “my” needs… These relationships were God-centered!

As believers stood in the aftermath of what God had accomplished on the cross through His Son, Jesus Christ, they were blown away by God’s love for them, and God’s love for them enabled them to love one another…



Acts 2:44-47 (NIV 2010), All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.


Four Essential Keys to Life-Giving Relationships:

1. ACCEPTANCE: “You belong… You are welcome… I love you, regardless…”

THOUGHTS: Acceptance isn’t synonymous with approval… Acceptance doesn’t mean that I “approve” of everything a person says or does… Acceptance basically looks at other people the same way Christ looked at us and says, “Come exactly as you are. I like you. I love you, regardless.”


Romans 15:7 (NLT), Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.


John Burke says, “Acceptance is the most tangible out-working of grace…” ~ John Burke, No Perfect People Allowed

“Acceptance means you are valuable just as you are. It allows you to be the real you. You are not forced into someone else’s idea of who you are. It means that your ideas are taken seriously since they reflect you. You can talk about how you feel inside, why you feel that way, and someone really cares." ~ Gladys Hunt, Eternity Magazine, October 1969.

John Ortberg writes, “Acceptance is an act of the heart…To accept someone is to affirm to them that you think it’s a very good thing they are alive. We communicate this in a hundred ways, but the most powerful way is to listen with patience and compassion…”

Finally, John Burke nails it when he compares the world’s value of tolerance over the biblical value of acceptance. Burke says: “…the world can’t offer grace, in its absence, it found an inexpensive substitute: tolerance.

…The very idea of toleration implies enduring or putting up with something you don’t like or value. Our culture diets on the candy of tolerance, but what it really craves is the meat of grace. Tolerance doesn’t value people but simply puts up with their behavior or beliefs…”
~ John Burke, No Perfect People Allowed


2. AUTHENTICITY: “You can be real… You can be vulnerable… You never have to fake it when we’re together…”

NOTES:
To be authentic means to be real, the genuine article, “what people see is what they get.”

Authenticity means “self-disclosure, transparency, and ruthless honesty…” It means who we are on the INSIDE is consistent with the way we present ourselves on the OUTSIDE…

We refuse to paste on plastic smiles… We refuse to wear masks or play relational games… We value truth above making a good impression…

People in deep-level, life-giving relationships get past the superficial give one another person permission to BE REAL…



John Ortberg writes: “In the church, we have a sin problem. The problem is not just that we sin — everyone has that problem. Our problem is that we can’t talk about it. Our problem is that we pretend we don’t have a problem…” ~ John Ortberg, The Me I Want To Be

THOUGHTS: And that’s too bad… There’s a great phrase that shows up in Acts 2:46.

Acts 2:46b (NIV 2010), They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…

NOTES:
Underline the word “sincere.”

There’s a great story about where the word “sincere” came from… The ancient Romans used to prize Greek sculptures for their aesthetic excellence. The statues were already a few centuries old, however, and some of them had cracks or gaps where marble was missing…

Vendors discovered… Retailers discovered that if they put wax in the sculptures, these figures looked great — at least for a while… The wax looked like real marble, but over time, the wax would turn yellow and harden until it became apparent that the statue was not totally authentic…

So, when vendors wanted to sell a statue and it was all marble – when it was the “real deal” through and through – they would mark it “sine,” which is the Latin word for “without,” and then “cera,” which is the Latin word for “wax.”

“Sine cera.” “Without wax.”


Acts 2:46b says that in the first century church, people met together in their homes “…with glad and sincere hearts…” These believers were “without wax…” This group of believers cultivated a “come as you are” kind of culture!

These believers never forgot their roots… They knew that Jesus started with a group of rugged, independent and crusty fisherman and said, “Come, follow me…”

They knew, Jesus started with a woman who had failed at marriage five times and was presently involved in a “live in relationship” with potentially number six. Jesus offered her living water and gave her a new lease on life. His message: “Come as you are.”

They knew, Jesus started with a woman caught in the very act of adultery and accepted her just as she was and then said, “Go now, and sin no more.”

People in the first century church understood that in Jesus’ day people didn’t get themselves together, clean themselves up, wash themselves off and straighten out their character and then come to Jesus. They came to Jesus just as they were... So they decided to create the same kind of culture…

Relationships soar when we give people permission to be authentic… When we say to people…

Come as you are…with your doubts!
Come as you are…with your agnosticism!
Come as you are…with your atheism!
Come as you are…with your broken heart!
Come as you are…with your family problems!
Comes as you are…with your alcoholism!
Comes as you are…with your addictions!
Comes as you are…with the divorce that has scarred you life!
Come as you are…with your financial meltdowns!
Come as you are…with your skin color and social standing!
Come as you are…with your sins, mistakes, imperfections and flaws!

I love what C.S. Lewis said about this… He wrote:

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” ~ C.S. Lewis


3. DEVOTION: “You can count on me. I am completely devoted to you. I am ready and willing to share my time, energy and even my possessions with you.”

Acts 2:42 (NIV), They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

NOTES:
Circle the phrase, “They devoted themselves…” This is one of Luke’s favorite expressions. He used it in Acts 1:14 when he said that the disciples “…devoted themselves to meeting together…”

He used the same Greek word in Acts 2:46 when he wrote, “Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together…”

But in Acts 2:42 he uses it to say, “…they devoted themselves to…the fellowship…”

The first century church was marked by deep levels of devotion and loyalty. Here's what the word “devotion” means. The Greek word means “a binding promise” or “a pledge…” “…a binding promise or pledge…”

The believers in the first century church were people of the promise. They were people who had bound themselves to GOD and bound themselves to ONE ANOTHER. They had made a vow.

In fact, the word “devotion” carries the idea of “enduring” or “sticking to and with something” even when it would be easier to give up and give out.



“A friend is one who knows you as you are, understands where you’ve been, accepts who you’ve become, and still invites you to grow.” ~ Stu Weber


4. UNITY: “I’m committed to unity and oneness. I refuse to tolerate unresolved conflict, walk in bitterness or resentment and settle for quasi-community.”

Acts 4:32 (MSG), The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind!


QUESTIONS:
Is there unresolved conflict between you and someone else? Some other member of the body of Christ? If so, why? What are you going to do about it?

Do you ever speak negatively about someone behind their back to a third party? Do you ever do that?

Do you ever expect other people to be tolerant and forgiving of you, because after all, you’re human; but you refuse to offer the same kind of patience and forgiveness towards them?

Do you ever shut people out by giving them the “cold shoulder”? It’s not that your openly hostile, you just make it so uncomfortable that it’s obvious as to where you stand.



CLOSING QUESTIONS:

• What relationships need to be initiated?

• What relationships need to be nurtured?

• What relationships need to be restored?

• What relationships need to be ended?



Note: Thanks to Craig Groeschel and his excellent book, Chazown for these questions…

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

WISH I COULD DRIVE LIKE THIS!

Here's what a professional can do behind the steering wheel of a car... Pretty awesome stuff!

Warning: the first minute is advertising. After that, the action starts. Enjoy!

CHRISTIANS GET DEPRESSED, TOO...

Some time ago I spoke openly on a Sunday AM @ a2 Church about my personal battles with depression... This book sounds as if it could be very helpful for those, who like myself, have struggled with depression.

Dr. Wes Brendenhof reviews David Murray's book, Christians Get Depressed Too. Check out the review by clicking here. Here's a link to the book as listed on Amazon.

Hope this helps...

Monday, January 24, 2011

GOD - GAME PLAN Part 4 Extended Notes


GOD • GAME PLAN Part 4
January 23, 2011 • Chris Goins • a2 Church

Here are the extended notes from Sunday's message at a2 Church (January 23, 2011). I've also included additional material that we didn't cover during the message, but that might assist you as you utilize the material in your personal study. Links have also been included to some of the support sources... You can download the audio of the message by visiting a2's website by clicking here or via iTunes. God's best to you.

GOD • GAME PLAN Part 4

“Everybody ends up somewhere, but few people end up somewhere on purpose.” ~ Craig Groeschel, Chazown


Revelation 3:14-16 (NLT), Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen

NOTES: “Amen” is a Hebrew word that means “trustworthy” or “true.” It carries with it the idea of finality…

Revelation 3:14-16 (NLT), Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:

NOTES: The word “beginning” means “first cause” or “origin.” It doesn’t mean that Jesus is God’s first creation… It means that Jesus is the one who began God’s creation… He’s the Alpha and Omega… He’s the beginning and the end… He is the author (initiator) and the finisher of our faith…

Jesus is ultimate and final truth, and He is about to SPEAK TRUTH to the church at Laodicea…


BACKGROUND ON LAODICEA: Here’s the back-story on the church Laodicea… Laodicea was an extremely wealthy city… Financially, the church Laodicea was set… It was on a roll… The numbers on its graph chart were up and to the right…

Laodicea was located at the crossroads of three main highways… It was a major destination for trade…

It was a financial and banking center… In fact, it was the most famous banking center in that part of the world…

It was a fashion center… It was famous for a soft, black wool that was manufactured in the city…

It was even a medical center… A medical school was located in the city that exported a famous powder that was used for eye salve…


NOTES: The church at Laodicea appeared to have everything… It felt smug, superior and self-sufficient… But Jesus shows up and says, “Okay guys… You pride yourself in your fashion, intellect, innovation and wealth, but the truth is I’m responsible for everything you have…”

Then Jesus lowers the boom…

Revelation 3:15 (NLT), “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”

NOTES: Hot and cold are good… Lukewarm is bad… The church at Laodicea was a lukewarm church…

We like hot coffee, hot chocolate, hot tea, and hot apple cider! We like cold water, cold iced tea, cold Diet Pepsi, and cold Diet Root Beer… I’ve never heard anyone order “lukewarm” anything…

Revelation 3:15 (MSG), “I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! 16 You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit.”

IMPORTANT: Laodicea was about six miles east of Colosse… Paul wrote Colossians and asked that they share the letter he wrote to them with the church at Laodicea (Colossians 4:16). That was in A.D. 61

The book of Revelation was written in about A.D. 95… Over the last thirty years church at Laodicea had went South in a big way…


When it comes to your relationship with God people fall into one of three categories…

Taking Your Spiritual Temperature:
Getting Real About Your Relationship With God


• Am I hot? Am I passionate and growing in my relationship with God?

NOTES: If you’re hot, you’re thriving, growing and passionate when it comes to your relationship with God!

Salvation itself is the transformation from “cold” to “hot.” There is nothing as cold as DEATH, but the life of God brings warmth and renewal…

QUESTION: Are you hot when it comes to the things of God? Are you passionate? Are you on fire?


• Am I cold? Do I even know God?

“Cold” refers to people who don’t yet know God… They’re totally “cold” to the things of Christ… They’re not hypocrites… They’re not religious… They’re just blatant about being cold, irreligious, lost and unsaved…

A person who is “cold” is easier to reach with the gospel than a person who is lukewarm, because at least their coldness awakens them to the chill of being lost…

On the other hand, if you don’t think you’re lost, you won’t hope that someone finds you…

According to Jesus, “cold” is not the worst place for you too be… Because in a moment of time, you can come to know God personally…

QUESTION: Are you cold and not connected with God at all?


• Am I lukewarm? Am I comfortable, complacent, apathetic and drifting when it comes to my relationship with God?

NOTES: Lukewarm people claim to know Christ… They go to church (at least occasionally). They’re religious… They can recite a few Scriptures… But they’re not IN LOVE WITH JESUS… They’re self-righteous… Sometimes they’re even moral rule-keepers…


NOTES: It’s interesting that several of the commentaries I read on this passage mentioned the fact that one of the weaknesses of the city of Laodicea was that it didn’t have it’s own water supply… It was dependent upon water from one of two places…

One of the closest cities away was Hierapolis, and this city was famous for it’s hot springs that many people believed had medicinal qualities about it…

On the other hand, Colosse was also relatively close, and it was famous for the cold water that came down from the mountains…

A pretty sophisticated aqueduct system transported water to the city of Laodicea… But because the water had to travel a few miles via aqueduct to reach the city, but the time it got there it was foul, dirty and lukewarm… It wasn’t HOT like the water in the hot springs of Hierapolis that could relax and restore, and it was COLD like the mountain water in Colosse… The water was pretty much USELESS…


Illustration:
In his book, What Did You Expect?, author Paul Tripp writes about how marriages drift… While Tripp is speaking specifically of a marriage, his description can also be applied to your relationship with God…

“Things don’t go bad in a marriage in an instant. The character of a marriage is not formed in one grand moment. Things in a marriage go bad progressively. Things become sweet and beautiful progressively. The development and deepening of the love in a marriage happens by things that are done daily; this is also true with the sad deterioration of a marriage. The problem is that we simply don’t pay attention, and because of this we allow ourselves to think, desire, say, and do things that we shouldn’t.” ~ Paul Tripp, What Did You Expect, page 58.


Unfortunately, I think “lukewarm” describes a lot of what we see in our churches in 2011… I’m not the only one… Author John Stott writes the following:

“Perhaps none of the seven letters is more appropriate to the twentieth century church than this. It describes vividly the respectable, sentimental, nominal, skin-deep religiosity which is so widespread among us today. Our Christianity is flabby and anemic. We appear to have taken a lukewarm bath…” ~ John Stott, What Christ Thinks of the Church, 1980, page 116, quoted by John MacArthur, Commentary on Revelation, page 137.


EXAMPLE: (Luke 7:36-50 NLT)

All three categories or stages of a person's spiritual life get demonstrated in a story that shows up in all four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke Mark and John.

Luke 7:36-37 (NLT), One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume.

NOTES: A few years ago I read that this perfume was equivalent in today’s cost to about $3,000.00 an ounce. This probably represented this girl’s life and her entire future. It was all she had managed to save.

Luke 7:38-40 (NLT), Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.

NOTES: Kneeling at the feet of Jesus the woman began to kiss Jesus’ feet and wipe those feet with her hair. This was an expression of overflowing love. It was the natural response to the forgiveness, mercy and love that she had received. It was an act of pure passion and unmitigated devotion…

Immediately, the voices of reason filled the room… Simon immediately thinks about the woman’s reputation… According to Matthew 26, some of the disciples got indignant and felt like the whole scene was a little over the top… “How dare you waste such expensive perfume! You could have sold the perfume for a fortune…”


Luke 7:39-40 (NLT) When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”
40 Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”
“Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.


THOUGHT: It interesting that when this story gets told in Matthew 26:6, Simon is described as a “man who had leprosy…” Evidently, Jesus had healed this dude!

But it didn’t take Simon 30+ years to drift… During the short time span of Jesus’ earthly ministry Simon had already become lukewarm…

A guy who had once received GRACE is now hung up on stuff like protocol, rules, law instead of just being blown away by JESUS…

So Jesus decides to tell him a story…

Luke 7:41-50 (NLT), Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”
43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” 

“That’s right,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.
47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”
50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”


NOTES: Again, all three categories of spiritual life get walked out in this story… The woman had been COLD to the things of God, but transformed by the grace of God and was now HOT, ALIVE and PASSIONATE in here devotion to God…

Simon, a guy who had received extravagant grace had somehow drifted and become lukewarm…


Illustration:
Author Max Lucado describes what happened to Simon and what has happened to a lot of us…

“I [have come] face to face with one of the underground’s slyest agents — the agent of familiarity. His commission from the black room is clear, and it’s fatal. Take nothing from your victim; just cause Him to take everything for granted.

He had been on my trail for years and I never knew it, but I know it now. I have come to recognize his tactics and detect his presence and I’m doing my best to keep him out. His aim is deadly. His goal is nothing less than to take what is most precious to us and make it appear as most common. To say that this agent of familiarity breeds contempt is to let him off easy. Contempt is just one of his offspring.

He also sires broken hearts, wasted hours and an insatiable desire for more. He’s an expert at robbing the sparkle and replacing it with the drab. He invented the yawn. He put the hum in the humdrum. His strategy is deceptive.

He won’t steal your salvation. He will just make you forget what it is like to be lost. You will grow up accustomed to prayer and thereby, not pray. Worship will become commonplace and study will be optional. While the passing of time, he will infiltrate your heart with boredom and cover the cross with dust so that you will be safely out of the reach of change.

Nor will he steal your home from you. He will do something far worse. He will paint it with a coat of “drabness.”

He’ll replace evening gown with bathrobes, nights on the town with evenings in the recliner, and romance with routine… He’ll scatter the dust of yesterday over the wedding pictures in the hallway until they become a memory of another couple in another time.

He won’t take your children; he will just make you too busy to notice them. His whispers to procrastinate are seductive. There is always, next summer to coach the team, next month to go to the lake, and next week to teach Johnny how to pray. He will make you forget that the faces around your table will soon be at tables of their own. Hence, books will go unread, games will go unplayed, hearts will go unnurtured, and opportunities will be ignored. All because the poison of the ordinary has deadened your senses to the magic of the moment."
~ Max Lucado, God Came Near


QUESTION: Are you lukewarm when it comes to your relationship with God? Have you allowed yourself to drift? Are you complacent, indifferent or comfortable?

NOTES: Make no mistake about, God longs for us to be HOT… To remain passionate…

Romans 12:11 (AMP), Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.


What A “Lukewarm” Life Looks Like:

1. Passion for God starts to fade.

Apathy isn’t a state of mind; it is a state of heart. Just look at the word…

It’s formed from the prefix “a” which means, “without” and the root “pathos” which means passion. Apathy means “without love” or “no love.”


Illustration:
C. S. Lewis is the author of The Screwtape Letters. In the book, the devil briefs his protégé and nephew Wormwood on the techniques of tempting people. The goal, Satan counsels his nephew, is not wickedness, but indifference.

“I, the devil, will always see to it that there are bad people. Your job, my dear Wormwood, is to provide me with the people who do not care.” ~ C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters


2. We inevitably search for substitutes (idolatry).

NOTES: Human beings are worshippers. We are going to give our devotion to something or someone. We might channel our devotion into hobbies as eternally insignificant as weight lifting, quilting, football or ugly dolls.

We might even channel our devotion into our children or a special group of friends. Some people choose to channel their devotion into a romantic interest or spouse.

But our greatest passion and deepest devotion was intended to be reserved for God.


“Idolatry is not just a failure to obey God, it is a setting of the whole heart on something besides God.” ~ Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods, page 171.


Here’s an abbreviated list of some of the idols we come up with:
money
• success
• being smart
• being attractive
• relationships
• pleasure
• church
• work


Jeremiah 2:13 (NLT), For my people have done two evil things: 
They have abandoned me— 
the fountain of living water. 
And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns 
that can hold no water at all!


Romans 1:23 (NLT), And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans 1:23 (MSG), They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand.


Tim Keller in his book, Counterfeit Gods lists at least four ways we can identify the idols that have started to dominate our life…

• Look at your imagination or what your thoughts effortlessly go to when there is nothing else demanding your attention.

What do you enjoy daydreaming about? What occupies your mind when you have nothing else to think about? Maybe it’s your career… Do you develop potential scenarios about career advancement?

Maybe it’s material stuff… Maybe you daydream about your dream home…

Maybe it’s a particular person… Maybe you drift into thoughts of, “If I could only have him or her…life would be perfect…”


• Look at how you spend your money.

Jesus said, “Where you treasure is, there is your heart also” (Matthew 6:21).

Where do you spend your money? Other than non-discretionary items like shelter and basic food items, where do you spend the majority of your dough?

• What is your real, daily functional Savior?

Maybe you go to church… Maybe you even know a lot of Bible trivia… Maybe you even serve from time to time, But what are you really living for, what is your real – not your professed – god?

Keller writes that a good way to discern where you are on this issue is to look at how you respond to unanswered prayers and frustrated hopes… If you ask for something that you don’t get, are you a little sad and disappointed, but basically say to yourself, “Hey, life goes on… It’s not over…” Or do you explode in anger like Jonah and pray to die…

If so, whatever you were praying or hoping for is probably your functional savior?


• Look at your most uncontrollable emotions.

If you’re constantly angry, what’s driving that anger? Is there something too important to me? Is there something I’ve got to have at all costs?

Keller says we ought to do the same thing with emotions like fear, despair or guilt… We ought to ask ourselves, “Am I so scared because something in my life is being threatened that I think is a necessity when it’s not?”

Keller writes, “…when you ‘pull your emotions up by the roots,’ as it were, you will often find your idols clinging to them.”


John Ortberg says that we need to ask ourselves some questions like:

• Which of those items do you most fear losing and feel like life might not be worth living if you lost?
• Which of those items gives you a sense of identity?
• Which of those items do you look to, to make you feel secure?
• Which of those items do most of your efforts revolve around?

The answer to these questions will probably help reveal your primary rival god…


3. We become experts at self-deception.

Revelation 3:17 (NLT), You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

The lukewarm are spiritually self-satisfied…

Notice the contrast in Verse 17, “You say…” over against Jesus' assessment: “And you don’t realize…”


4. We eventually make God sick.

THOUGHT: Some churches make Jesus weep… Some churches make Jesus laugh… Some churches tick Jesus off… But the church at Laodicea made Jesus SICK…


THOUGHT: I don’t think I could think of more startling or gross image… Jesus is starting to put the cup to His lips… He hopes to taste a pleasing drink… What he gets is lukewarm coffee that’s so stale and disgusting it ends up on the ground…


Revelation 3:16 (Holman / NET), …because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.

Revelation 3:16 (MSG), You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit.


A Game Plan for Re-igniting Your Relationship with God:

1. Get real with yourself and with God. Repent!

Revelation 3:17-19 (NLT), You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

Revelation 3:19 (ESV), Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

The word “repent” is metanoia and it means to do a 180… It means to turn around 180 degrees away from SIN and back to God…

Re-igniting your relationship with God begins with REPENTANCE…


2. Focus on your relationship with God, not a list of rules you need to keep, behaviors you need to eliminate or bunch of stuff you need to do.

Revelation 3:20 (NLT), Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.


THOUGHT: It’s interesting that what Jesus is after, is what we crave and long for… He’s after RELATIONSHIP…

As John Piper has said, “Christ did not die to redeem a bride who would keep him on the porch while she watched television in the den. His will for the church is that we open the door, all the doors of our life.”


“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee…” ~ St. Augustine

James 4:8a (ESV), Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…


QUESTION: How do you best “connect with God”?

Some Spiritual Graces That Can
Enhance Your Relationship With God:


__ Read and Reflect on the Bible
__ Study and Memorize the Bible
__ Prayer
__ Worship
__ Servanthood
__ Be Still and Silent
__ Fellowship
__ Fasting

“The disciplines take cognitive knowledge and make it a life-shaping reality in our hearts and imaginations. Spiritual disciplines are basically forms of worship, and it is worship that is the final way to replace the idols of your heart.” ~ Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods, page 175.

Matthew 22:35-38 (NLT), One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.”



3. Persevere! Don’t ever stop paying attention.

Revelation 3:21 (NLT), Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. 22 Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

Hebrews 2:1 (ESV), Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.


“The devil wants people to fear the high cost of discipleship. But in reality, the cost of non-discipleship is much higher. Dallas Willard explains:

‘Nondiscipleship costs abiding peace, a life penetrated throughout by love, faith that sees everything in light of God’s overriding governance for good, hopefulness that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances, power to do what is right and withstand the forces of evil. In short, it costs exactly that abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring (John 10:10).’

The question is not, What will I have to give up to follow Jesus, but rather, What will I never get to experience is I choose not to follow Jesus?”
~ James Bryan Smith, The Good and Beautiful Life, page 31.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

THREE UPCOMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

I'm pumped about three upcoming speaking engagements that are right around the corner. If you're in the area, it would be great to have you join us.

Watts Bar Church of God
Sunday Evening, January 23, 6:30 pm EST

I always love hanging out with my mom and the amazing people at Watts Bar COG. This Sunday PM I"m especially looking forward to getting to spend a little time with two of my brothers... We'll be preaching Sunday PM and I look forward to sharing God's Word. If you're in the area, come and hang out with us. The Sunday PM Worship Experience at Watts Bar kicks off at 6:30 pm EST.

Lee University
Class: Aspects of Leading Music for Worship

Monday, January 24, 2:00 pm EST
Professor: Randy Sheeks

Really looking forward to being with my friend, Randy Sheeks. Randy has asked me to speak with his students on the following subject: "A Senior Pastor's Point of View on Music in Corporate Worship." We'll be taking on some of the following questions and it should make for an interesting class:

1. What relationship are you looking for as a pastor with your worship leader?
2. What are your expectations of a worship leader?
3. What great corporate worship does for a church and pastor.
4. Creative ideas in worship...
5. Your current top ten worship song list and why.
6. The heart of a worship leader... What is important in a worship leader?


Yes, you can come and check out the class and get in on the discussion. It's only a 50 minute class, so you don't want to be late...

Lee University Convocation
Conn Center
Monday, January 24, 7:00 pm EST
President: Dr. Paul Conn

I absolutely LOVE hanging out with the students and faculty of Lee University! Heaing these students in worship always blows me away! I'm honored to be speaking at their Winter Convocation and look forward to sharing what God has placed on my heart.

Convocation is open to all. The action kicks off at 7 pm in the Lee University Conn Center.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

DISCOVERY - GAME PLAN Part 2 Extended Notes


INTRO:
Almost everything you need to know about who you are and why you’re here is summed in about five sentences that appear in three verses contained in a letter Paul wrote to a church in a place called Ephesus…

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT), God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.


Three Facts About You:

1. You were designed by God. You are God’s masterpiece.

You are not an accident… You are not an afterthought… You are a piece of work by God…

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) says, “For we are God’s masterpiece…”

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) says, “For we are His workmanship…”

The word “masterpiece” or “workmanship” is the Greek word poiema… It sort of sounds like our English word, “poem.” A literal translation of Ephesians 2:10 could read, “We are God’s poem…”

But the word “masterpiece” means more than poem; it can refer to any work of art… It can refer to a statue, painting, song or piece of architecture… The word refers to artistic skill or craftsmanship…

R. Kent Hughes says the best translation of Ephesians 2:10 is the translation by Bible Scholar, F.F. Bruce when Bruce writes: “[We are God’s] work of art, His masterpiece…”


THOUGHTS:
You are a piece of work designed by God. Think about this…

God is CREATOR… Nothing exists apart from Him! He brought everything in the universe into existence…


Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God. 
 The skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

The stars, the galaxies, the skies, the universe are the work of God’s hands, but as wonderful as the cosmos is, it’s not God’s masterpiece…

Every baby is a masterpiece… According to Genesis 1:26-27, we were “…created by God and in the image of God…”

If you want a glimpse of the majesty, power and greatness of God just think about the complexity of the human body…


Check out the following facts from Dr. Richard Swenson’s book, More Than Meets The Eye:

The human body is composed of ten thousand trillion atoms – a number greater than the number of stars in our universe. In each person, more than a trillion of these atoms are replaced every one-millionth of a second.

Each human cell is made up of a trillion atoms. The body contains between 10 and 100 trillion cells. We tear down and rebuild over a trillion cells every day.

During a lifetime, the heart beats over two billion times and pumps sixty million gallons of blood through sixty thousand miles of blood vessels. We each manufacture over two million red blood cells every second. Laid side by side, our red blood cells would stretch over 100 thousand miles.

We breathe 600 million times over an average life span, with every breath containing over a billion trillion air molecules.

The retina of the human eye contains over 100 million rods and cones. The rods provide you with dim vision, night vision and peripheral vision. The cones are for color and detail. These rods and cones take continuous pictures under light conditions that can vary by a factor of ten billion.

Each eye has one million nerve fibers that electrically connect the photoreceptors in your retina to the visual cortex in your brain and allow your brain to "see" in images.

Get this: in one-third of a second, the retina solves the equivalent of nonlinear differential equations that would take a supercomputer 100 years to solve.

Not only that, but the human ear has a million moving parts, can vibrate twenty thousand times per second, can hear sounds over a range of intensity that varies by a trillion, and can distinguish among two thousand different pitches.

The human nose can distinguish ten thousand different smells, including some chemicals present in only 1 part to 400 million parts air. We have nine thousand taste buds in our mouths and over four hundred touch cells per square inch of skin.

Our three-pound brain is the most complex arrangement of matter ever discovered in the universe. It contains ten billion neurons (possibly ten times as many) and has 100 trillion neurological interconnections… The brain fires at a rate of a thousand trillion computations per second and can hold information equivalent to that contained in twenty-five million books.

Each of us carry around a mental videotape containing three trillion pictures. We are the only species with the gift of language and are capable of thinking at a rate of 800 words per minute…

Billion of skin cells are replaced every day and the entire epidermis is replaced every couple of weeks. We each have five million hair follicles on our bodies and, in a lifetime, grow over two million feet of hair on our scalp… There are some notable exceptions to this rule…

The adult human has over 200 bones that are as strong as granite in compression and twenty-five times stronger under tension. The femur is stronger than reinforced concrete, must bear an average of 1,200 pounds of pressure per square inch with every step, and is capable of supporting a force of six tons before it fractures.



I think St. Augustine was right:

“Men go abroad to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the season, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering.”


IMPORTANT THOUGHTS: But as amazing and magnificent as human beings may be, Paul is talking about a lot more than the complexity, symmetry and design of the human body when he says, “We are God’s masterpiece… We are God’s workmanship…”

He’s reminding us that the ultimate masterpiece and workmanship of God was revealed when God took people like you and me who were dead in our trespasses and sin… That’s the truth of Ephesians 2:1…

Before Christ (BC) we were physically alive, but we were not spiritually SICK, we were spiritually DEAD... We were basically animated corpses or spiritual zombies…

However, TWO WORDS that show up in Ephesians 2:4 changed EVERYTHING!


Ephesians 2:4-5 ((NLT), But God…

But God… When we were still DEAD in our transgressions and sins…

But God… When we were still dominated by the world system, our own fleshly appetites, and even the devil…

But God… When we were completely and utterly hopeless… When we were the objects of God’s wrath… Sentenced to die and deserving of judgment…

BUT GOD… Loved this fallen race of rebels and failures so much, that He came into this world where he was tempted by Satan, yet never sin – either by nature or by choice…

But God… Willingly sent His own son to die the death we deserved to die and pay the penalty for sin we deserved to pay, so that through his death, burial and resurrection He would secure our victory over sin, Satan, the world, the flesh and the devil…

Ephesians 2:4-5 ((NLT), But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)


The masterpiece Paul is specifically speaking of in Ephesians 2:10 includes a lot more than the marvel that is YOU — humanly speaking… The masterpiece Paul is referring to is YOU MADE ALIVE through the work of the cross and the power and reality of Jesus’ resurrection!


Get this: you were planned by God before you were ever born!

Psalm 139:13-16 (NLT), You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body 
and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! 
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, 
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born. 
Every day of my life was recorded in your book. 
Every moment was laid out 
before a single day had passed.

The NIV reads like this:

Psalm 139:16 (NIV 2010), Your eyes saw my unformed body. 
All the days ordained for me 
were written in your book 
before one of them came to be.


THE POINT: “God created every aspect of your personhood… He administrated every choice of your hardwiring… He determined how tall you would be, whether you would tend to gain weight, the color of your eyes, the texture of your hair, the shape of your nose, the size of your hands, the tone of your voice, your innate personality, your natural gifts, the tone of your skin, your degree of physicality or athleticism, and whether you are mechanical, analytical, relational [or highly creative]… You didn’t CHOOSE any of those things…” ~ Paul Tripp, What Did You Expect?


Author Eric Rees is right: “You were not created to conform… You were not created to compare…. You were not created to compete… You were not created to compromise… You were created to contribute to God’s kingdom and make a significant difference and impact with your life… You were created to just be you!” ~ Eric Rees, SHAPE: Finding and Fulfilling Your Unique Purpose for Life


Isaiah 64:8 (ESV), But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.


Three Questions That Help Us Discover The Game Plan God Has For Our Lives:

• What am I gifted to do?

Spiritual Gifts are “a set of God-given, special abilities that God gives you so that you can glorify Him, share His love and serve others…”


1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT), A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

1 Peter 4:10 (NLT), God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Romans 12:6-8 (NLT), In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.


An Abbreviated List of Abilities:
accounting
agriculture
athletic ability
artistic ability
architecture
administration
baking
barbering
boat-making
carpentry
computers
cooking
creativity
dance
debate
design
embroidery
engineering
engraving
farming
fishing
gardening
graphic design
horticulture
hospitality
inventing
leadership
machinist
making money
management
managing money
masonry
math
mechanical ability
molding
musical ability
organization
painting
philosophy
poetic ability
sailing
selling
serving
sewing
songwriting
tailoring
teaching
technical ability
tent making
website design
writing literature



• What do I absolutely love to do? What am I passionate about?

Heart or passion refers to “the empathy, excitement, attraction or draw you feel towards a group of people, a field of expertise or a particular type of service.”


THOUGHTS: Heart / Passion is the motivation you have to give yourself to an idea, a cause, or a person. It’s a burden you carry. It’s a calling you’ve received, a dream you have or a vision you’ve glimpsed.

When we talk about “heart” and passion we’re talking about the things you care about and the things you love to do. We’re talking about the motivations and emotions that make you, “you.”


QUESTION: What are you passionate about? What do you love to do?


Philippians 2:13 (NLT), For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Colossians 3:23 (GN), Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.


• How can I leverage the experiences in my past to glorify God, share His love and serve others?

God wants to use your experiences…

Educational experiences: What were your favorite subjects in school?

Vocational experiences: What jobs have you really enjoyed?

Spiritual experiences: What have been your most meaningful times with God?

Ministry experiences: How have you served in the past?

Painful experiences: How has God helped you with your problems, trials and hurts?

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT), All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.


2. Your life is a gift. Every moment has been marked by grace.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT), God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (NLT), The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! 8 Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you…

Ezra 9:8-9 (NLT), “But now we have been given a brief moment of grace, for the Lord our God has allowed a few of us to survive as a remnant. He has given us security in this holy place. Our God has brightened our eyes and granted us some relief from our slavery. 9 For we were slaves, but in his unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery. Instead, he caused the kings of Persia to treat us favorably. He revived us so we could rebuild the Temple of our God and repair its ruins. He has given us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem.”


3. You are not on your own. Because of the cross, you have been created “in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT), For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Colossians 1:27 (ESV), To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.


ONE MORE IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL FACT ABOUT YOU:

4. We will all give an account to God for what we did with our gifts, passion, experiences and life.

See Matthew 25:14-30

DISCOVERING YOUR STRENGTHS

During this past Sunday's message we shared the following thought: "If you want to discover God’s purpose and plan for your life, investigate where and how your gifts, passion and experiences intersect. Because where your gifts, passion and experiences meet is probably where you will find the “SWEET SPOT” as to how God wants to USE YOU to bring Him great glory, to share His love and to serve others." The entire message is available for download on a2's website.

Some have asked, "But Chris, how do I discover my gifts? How can I get a handle on what my passion in life really is?"

Great questions.

I recommend the following resources:

Tom Rath has written a book titled, StrengthsFinder 2.0. It's available over on Amazon.com for $10.69. The cool thing about the book is that with the purchase of the book, you get access to an online assessment tool that will assist you in discovering your strengths and giftedness. While Rath's book is not necessarily a "Christian" book or an examination of the "spiritual gifts" the New Testament talks about, it is very helpful. Check it out by clicking here.

Arthur Miller has also written a book titled, Why You Can't Be Anything You Want To Be. It's available over on Amazon.com for $14.96.

Miller's book IS written from a "Christian" perspective and does contain some really helpful tools that will assist you in discovering the unique way God wired you up. I highly recommend the book. Check it out by clicking here.

GET THIS: discovering and understanding your giftedness will require some time and effort. But it's well worth it! I'm convinced that the moment we take the time and put forth the effort to understand the way God has uniquely wired us is the moment we get the attention of God and He will begin to reveal His purpose and plan for our lives...

So, drop $15.00 on Miller's book or drop $11.00 on Rath's book. Take the time to read the book(s). Complete the assessments. Prayerfully ask God to reveal His purpose and plan. He has promised to provide wisdom and clarity if we will simply ask.

James 1:5 (NLT), If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

James 1:5 (MSG), If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it.

YOU ARE NOT A MISTAKE!

This past Sunday we spoke from Ephesians 2:10 (NLT), "We are God's masterpiece..."

Tony Evans is one of the most gifted speakers I've ever had the privilege of hearing. In this clip Evans echoes some of the thoughts we presented this Sunday morning. Thanks to Tim Challies for sharing over on his blog. Enjoy.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

A PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE - Pastor Scotty Smith

Here's the prayer by Pastor Scotty Smith that we shared at the conclusion of this morning's message at a2 Church.

A PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE
Pastor Scotty Smith

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Sovereign Father, this promise brings me immeasurable peace, humility, and joy. You’re vitally engaged in determining and directing every one of our steps. You’re working all things together after the counsel of your will. You’re working in all things for your glory and for our good. You open doors no man can shut and you shut doors no man can open. Indeed, you’re no mere life coach, you’re the Lord of all things… including me.

Many years I labored under the arrogance and anxiety of assuming that if I prayed hard enough and long enough… that if I was really filled with and “tuned” into the Holy Spirit, I could know the specifics of your will for my life… well in advance of any decision that needed to be made. Of course, my assumption was that if I was in your will, life would be enjoyable, pleasant and hassle-free.

If I bought the right car, it would never break down…If I bought the right house, the roof would never leak… If I married the right person, we would never disagree… If I went to the right college I’d get the right job and life would be all-right... If I sent my kids to the right school, they would never act out and would end up on the mission field. If all of this was true, I wouldn’t really need you.

Father, you’re certainly honored when we work hard to make good plans, in keeping with our understanding of the Scriptures. It’s important for us to seek and heed, wise prayerful counsel of good and godly friends. But help us to live with more confidence that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, not a consulting partner… a very present Lord, not an absentee landlord… the reigning King, not an impotent bystander. Because of Jesus, I’m confident your will is being done… on earth as it is in heaven.

Free us to accept that many times your will leads to great suffering and pain. It’s called the cross. But the cross and resurrection go together. Hallelujah! What a most glorious and gracious Father you are. So very Amen, we pray, in Jesus’ exalted and very present name.


~ Pastor Scotty Smith

GUIDANCE - GAME PLAN Part 2 Extended Notes

Here are the notes from this morning's message at a2 Church.

Acknowledgement: Special thanks to Jeff Henderson and his excellent message, The Fundamentals of the Game for insights into Colossians 3:1-4 and the overall subject of "the will of God" and "guidance." Also, Kevin DeYoung's book, Just Do Something, is the best book I've read on the subject. Several of the ideas and concepts in this message were inspired by or taken directly from Kevin DeYoung's book.


“If God has a wonderful plan for my life…then why doesn’t He tell me what it is?” ~ Kevin DeYoung, Just Do Something


What We Mean We Talk About “The Will of God”

• The determined, unstoppable, sovereign will of God that will come to pass, regardless!

Some people refer to this as “God’s will of decree or the providential will of God…” This refers to the stuff God has ORDAINED… This is the stuff God is going to do, regardless!

Ephesians 1:11b (NLT), …[God] makes everything work out according to his plan.

Isaiah 46:9b-10 (NLT), I alone am God! 
I am God, and there is none like me. 10 Only I can tell you the future 
before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, 
for I do whatever I wish.


• The desired will of God that we can choose to ignore, outright defy or humbly obey.

Some people refer to this as "...the moral will of God…"

Matthew 7:21 (NLT), “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”


What "God’s Desired Will" Looks Like:

(1) It’s God’s will for me to live a holy life.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NLT), God’s will is for you to be holy…

(2) It’s God will for me to rejoice like crazy, never stop praying and give thanks, regardless of what life throws at me.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV), Rejoice always,17 pray without ceasing,18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

(3) It is God’s will for you to be saved.

2 Peter 3:9 (NKJ), The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

(4) It’s God’s will for me to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:17-19 (ESV), Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart…

(5) It’s God’s will for me to become progressively more like Jesus.

Romans 8:28-29 (ESV), And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.


• The personal will of God for my life. God’s individual, specific plan for the “who, what, when, where, and how” for my life.

Some people refer to this as “God’s will of direction.”


Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV), If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.


A Simple Game Plan for Getting Guidance:

1. Remember who you are (because of Christ).


2. Stay focused on what ultimately matters.

Colossians 3:2 (AMP), And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

According to one scholar, Verse 2 can literally be translated, “Habitually set your mind—your attention—on things above…”


How To Stay Focused On What Ultimately Matters:

• Make God’s Word a huge priority.

“Wisdom is the difference between knowing a world-class biologist who can write your papers for you and studying under a world-class biologist so that you can write the kind of papers he would write. Too many of us want God to be the world-class scholar who would write our papers and live our lives for us, when God wants us to sit at His feet and read His Word so that we can live a life in the image of His Son. God doesn’t tell us the future for this simple, yet profound reason: We become what we behold. God wants us to behold Him in His glory so that we can be transformed into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18). If God figured everything out for us, we wouldn’t need to focus on Him and learn to delight in His glory. God says, ‘I’m not giving you a crystal ball. I’m giving you My Word. Meditate on it; see Me in it; and become like Me.” ~ Kevin DeYoung, Just Do Something pages 93-94


• Pursue wise counsel (small groups / mentoring).

Proverbs 12:15 (ESV), The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 15:22 (ESV), Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.


• Pray like crazy.


• Stay focused on Jesus.

Colossians 3:4 (ESV), When Christ who is your life

IMPORTANT: The focus of your life is not the future, the focus of your life is a person… But when the focus of your life is on the right person — Jesus, He will lead you to the FUTURE He has for YOU.


Matthew 6:33 (ESV), But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Psalm 25:14 (NAS), The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, 
And He will make them know His covenant.


Book Recommendation: Want to read more about discovering the will of God? Check out Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung

Thursday, January 6, 2011

THE COST OF NON-DISCIPLESHIP

I'm reading through The Good and Beautiful Life by James Bryan Smith and was blown away by this statement about the importance of discipleship. These three paragraphs alone are probably worth the purchase price of the book.

"The devil wants people to fear the high cost of discipleship. But in reality, the cost of nondiscipleship is much higher. Dallas Willard explains:

'Nondiscipleship costs abiding peace, a life-penetrated throughout by love, faith that sees everything in light of God's overriding governance for good, hopefulness that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances, power to do what is right and withstand the forces of evil. In short, it costs exactly that abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring (John 10:10).'

The question is not, What will I have to give up to follow Jesus? But rather, What will I never get to experience if I choose not to follow Jesus?"
~ James Bryan Smith, The Good and Beautiful Life, page 31

I long to be like the guys in the Gospels, who heard Jesus call out, "Come, follow me," and they immediately left everything to follow... I don't want to miss out on the amazing adventure God has for me because I'm fearful, anxious or just plain lazy... I long to follow Him!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

CHRISTIANS AND CULTURE

Here's an excellent article by Mark Driscoll on how Christians should respond to culture: movies, music, social media, you get the point...

Mark does a great job defining the believer's responsibility as he or she approaches culture... A great and challenging read. Check it out by clicking here.

ANOTHER REASON SMALL GROUPS MATTER

Want another reason as to why being a part of a small group really matters?

This post by Eric Byrant provides another reason we all desperately need to connect in life giving community. According to research, most people don't have the willpower to make their New Year's resolutions last longer than a week...

However, the people who do succeed at keeping new commitments or following through on resolutions, are almost always connected in community. They have support! They share their commitments, resolutions and decisions with family and friends...

So, you want to lay off "sugar" in the New Year? Why not share it with a friend? Ask them to help hold you accountable...

So, you're starting a brand new plan that will take you through the entire Bible in a year? What if you took on that challenge with two or three co-workers? What if you formed your own Facebook "Reading Thru The Bible In A Year Group?" You could create your own FB Group page where you and group members could share insights, prayer requests, as well as lovingly "spur one another on to acts of love and good works" (Hebrews 10:24).

Maybe, for health reasons, you know you need to lose 15-20 pounds and get your expanding backside to the gym at least three times a week? Let's be honest... That can feel like a huge mountain... But what if you enlisted some help? A workout partner who would cheer you on and provide the necessary "kick" to your expanding backside when nothing else did the job... Or, maybe a "healthy eating" partner who would help you say, "No!" to the Cookies and Cream Milkshake at Chick-fil-a or the third box of Cheez-its...

Get what I'm driving at?

Sure you do! We need each other! We were created for community! We're more likely to keep our commitments when we have a group of friends cheering us on and keeping us accountable...

Check out Bryant's post by clicking here and get involved in a Small Group!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

PRAYER AT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR

Here's the prayer Darrell Garrett shared during today's worship experience at a2 Church. It's from the book, Heart Cries to Heaven by David Campbell. Thanks to Tim Challies for sharing on his most excellent blog.

Our great and Gracious God,

As we come to the close of another year, we would indeed make it the prayer of our hearts that you would abide with us. We thank you that you have been with us through the days of this past year.

Perhaps many a day we have not felt you near,
Perhaps at times we have even felt that you have forsaken us and forgotten us but we thank you that it has never been so.
We thank you that you are constantly with your people, and that you have enabled us to persevere in grace,

You have comforted our hearts,
You have heard our prayers,
You have come so often to our aid. We pray that you will go with us into this new year.

There is none of us who knows what the new year will hold, but we thank you that every moment of that year is in your hands, and you will be with your people.

We thank you that with that promise girding us, we can go forward with confidence and in your peace. We pray that you will help us to walk with you in this new year better than we have ever done before. Forgive us, Lord, for our sins and our backslidings of this past year.

Grant to us, as the days of the new year unfold, an ever closer walk with you.

Help us to put sin to death,

Help us gladly yield our lives unreservedly to Jesus Christ, our Savior, and God that we may regard ourselves entirely at his disposal to be, to go, to do, as he would wish

We pray that it may be our privilege to serve him, to bring glory to him, to help others to know him better, and to help some, indeed, to come to know him for the first time.

Have mercy, we pray, upon those connected with us who come to the end of this year and their hearts are still closed against you, still hardening their hearts against you.

Spare them, O God, we pray; spare them! Grant that this new year would mark the beginning of new life in Jesus Christ. We are so thankful for the almighty Holy Sprit, for his limitless power

to bring conviction of sin,
to give new birth,
and to draw those who are away from you to faith and to repentance.

We pray, Lord, that you would do that in the hearts and lives of all who are upon our hearts.

For Jesus’ sake,
Amen.