2.1 – Assurance of Jesus – John 14:6

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (NIV).

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (NRSV).

Reflections on John 14:6

  1. Read chapter 13 and chapter 14 in John's gospel to understand the broader stream of Jesus' message for us.  Again, you may want to read these chapters from The Message.
  2. Jesus makes a bold claim here … I am the Truth, I am the Way, I am Life!  Do you remember Jack Nicholson's character Colonel Jessup thundering in the movie A Few Good Men, "you can't handle the truth!"?  Can you handle this truth?  What would it mean for you to let Jesus be truth for you and not whatever other standard others might bring to you?
  3. The word "way" implies a journey.  Where are you on the journey with Jesus?  Can you trust him to show you the way?
  4. Life … abundant life …   What are some paths that folks offer for abundant living?  Why do they come up short?
  5. Take time to post a comment or question.

Good Christian Men

Link: The Christian Century.

Fathers … now here is a topic of widely varied conversations today.  Are they attentive to their children, are they good for families, are they home, are they providers, are they …?  Don Browning’s review of a recent sociological study reveals that the activity level in a community of a faith says more about who a father will be than does their theological convictions.  At least this is the case among Protestant men, whether they are conservative or liberal.  Once again, faith (conviction) without works (practice) is a song you can’t sing … (WAB).

"Good Christian Men: How Faith Shapes Fathers" by Don Browning (The Christian Century, January 11, 2005).  Review of Soft Patriarchs, New Men: How Christianity Shapes Fathers and Husbands, University of Chicago Press, 337 pp., $62.00; paperback, $20.00 by W. Bradford Wilcox

"By exploring the contradictions between official theologies and the actual behavior of religious communities, sociologists of religion help religious people to view themselves more honestly—a sometimes deflating and even painful process. Such may be our experience in reading W. Bradford Wilcox’s Soft Patriarchs, New Men, perhaps one of the most important studies of American religion to come along in recent decades."

Continue reading “Good Christian Men” →

Rick Warren on Matching Music to Your Target

"Match the Music to the People You Want to Reach" by Rick Warren
Three thoughts about music in worship

I'm often asked what I would do differently if I could start Saddleback over. My answer is this: From the first day of the new church, I’d put more energy and money into insuring a first-class music ministry that
matched our target audience.

In the first years of Saddleback, I made the mistake of underestimating the power of music. Because we didn’t have a lot of talented musicians, we minimized the use of music in our services. I regret that now.

Music is powerful

Music is an integral part of our lives. We eat with it, drive with it, shop with it, relax with it, and some non-Baptists even dance to it!
A song often can touch people in a way that a sermon can’t. Music can bypass intellectual barriers and take the message straight to the heart.

It is a potent tool for evangelism.
In Psalm 40:3 (NCV) David says, “He put a NEW song in my mouth. … Many people will see this and worship him. Then they will trust the Lord.”  Notice the clear connection between music and evangelism: “Then they will trust the Lord.”

Music is a force that cannot be ignored. The rock lyrics of the 1960s and 1970s shaped the values of most Americans who are now in the 30 to 50 age bracket. Today, MTV shapes the values of most people in their 20s.  Music is the primary communicator of values to the younger generation.  If we don't use contemporary music to spread godly values, Satan will have an unchallenged access to an entire generation.

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Rick Warren on Facing Your Future

How to Face your Future By Rick Warren

"Decide to make the most of each moment this year."

No matter what the pollsters, pundits, and prognosticators claim, no one
  can accurately predict all that is going to happen in the next 365 days.
  Our best forecasts are just educated guesses.

Changes in our society have not only increased in speed and intensity,
  but also in their unpredictability. Doing business in this environment is
  what Michael Annison calls "Managing the Whirlwind."

How can anyone — including ministers — succeed when the future is so
  uncertain?

The Bible suggests three timeless principles for facing your future:

  • Include God in your goal-setting. Frankly, it's dumb to make plans without
      consulting God first. He's the only one who DOES know the future — and
      he's eager to guide you through it. The Bible says, "We may make our plans, but God has the last word" (Proverbs
      16:1, TEV). In other words, planning without praying is presumption. Start
      by praying, "God, what do YOU want me to do in 2005?"

  • Live one day at a time. While you can plan for tomorrow, you can't live
      it until it arrives. Most people spend so much time regretting the past
      and worrying about the future, they have no time to enjoy today! The songwriter John Lennon once wrote, "Life is what happens to you
      while you’re busy making other plans." Decide to make the most
      of each moment this year. Jesus said, "… don't be anxious about
      tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time" (Matthew
      6:34, LB).

  • Don’t procrastinate — do it now! "Do not boast about tomorrow,
      For you do not know what a day may bring forth." (Proverbs 27:1, NAS) Procrastinating is a subtle trap. It wastes today by postponing things
      until tomorrow. You promise yourself that you'll do it "one of these
      days." But "one of these days" is usually "none of these
      days."

What did you plan to get done last year that you didn't do? When do you intend to start working on it? “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV) 

Have a happy and fruitful New Year!

Take a spiritual inventory of your life. Click HERE and take
  the Purpose Driven Life spiritual health assessment.

©Copyright 2004 Rick Warren

1.4 – Assurance of God’s Love – 1 Kings 8:23

O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below–you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way (NIV).

O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart (NRSV).

Reflect on 1 Kings 8:23

  • What is the overarching story of 1 Kings 8? 
  • Where does Solomon’s word fit into the story?
  • What are some “earthly” gods in the world who are not like God? 
  • Where do you need to say no to some things in order to YES to God?
  • This passage is a prayer … part of an extended conversation with God.  How could you use this verse in your prayers?

Continue reading “1.4 – Assurance of God’s Love – 1 Kings 8:23” →

1.3 – Assurance of God’s Love – Romans 5:5

Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us (NIV).

Hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us (NRSV).

Reflect on Romans 5:5

  • Read Romans 5 to gain a context for Paul’s word of hope.
  • You might want to read chapter 5 in The MESSAGE to gain a fresh perspective on God’s Word.
  • Paul mentions the emotions of hope, disappointment, and love.  When have you experienced these emotions in your own life?
  • Reflect on a relationship where each of the above emotions was played out.  Where has God had a similar moment with you?

Dan Reiland on Ministry in the Past, Present, and Future

Ministry: Past, Present, Future By Dan Reiland

Blaise Pascal.  A unusual name to start the first article of 2005, but one of Pascal's writings stirred some thoughts during a morning devotional time last week. 

Pascal was born in 1623 in France.  He was famous as a scientist and a brilliant mathematician.  Today his scientific work is largely forgotten, except for a few of his more famous ideas, such as "Pascal's Triangle."   Pascal's theological writings, however, have sustained strongly with substantial impact over the centuries.  Even though he was a Catholic, Protestants have warmly embraced his reflections, particularly after John Wesley commended his essay on conversion.

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Rick Warren on Evangelism

How much does evangelism cost? by Rick Warren

I believe one of the reasons so few churches engage in outreach is because they ask the wrong question. Too often, the first question asked is, “How much will it cost?” The right question is, “Who will it reach?”  How much is a soul worth? If you spend $500 on a newspaper ad that reaches one unbeliever for Christ, is it worth it?

If
your church gets serious about developing a comprehensive evangelism
strategy, it will cost money! With this in mind, let me share some
insights about financing your strategy, based upon my experiences as
Saddleback grew from four members to over 20,000.

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The Gospel According to ?

Link: The Gospel According to ? – Books & Culture.

Are you looking to connect your favorite cultural vice to Jesus?  Or better yet, isn’t the truth of the old, old story buried in many other stories?  Andy Crouch leads us through the current preoccupation in the Christian publishing universe for "Gospels according to …."

The Gospel According to … … Charlie Brown, Tony Soprano, and other unlikely spiritual guides. by Andy Crouch

The early church was awash in gospels. Yet early bishops managed to winnow the field, and for well over a millennium, Christendom knew of just four "evangelists." In the gothic chapel of the seminary I attended, they stare down imposingly from niches above the altar, four carved figures with enigmatic expressions, sometimes looking a bit alarmed at the content of the sermons.

Do you suppose we could fit Tony Soprano in there somewhere?

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1.2 – Assurance of God’s Love – Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD your God is with you,
   he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
   he will quiet you with his love,
   he will rejoice over you with singing (NIV).

The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
   a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
   he will renew you in his love;
   he will exult over you with loud singing (NRSV).

Reflections on Zephaniah 3:17:

  1. Note the word Lord in Psalm 86:5 and the LORD in Zephaniah 3:17.  Every time you see the word LORD in all caps in most English translations of Scripture you can know that the Hebrew word Yahweh or Jehovah is being used for God's name. This word is unutterable by devout Jews and they will substitute another of God's names in reading the text aloud.
  2. Take time to read all of Zephaniah 3 within it's context.
  3. Again, read Zephaniah 3 from The MESSAGE.
  4. Lieutenant Dunbar (Kevin Costner) in the movie Dances with Wolves writes this in his journal: "It seems everyday ends with a miracle here. And whatever God may be, I thank God for this day" (Memorize This, 22).  Where are finding miracles occurring as you reflect on your day?
  5. As you move through this day and week look for where God is taking delight in you?