People are in need of the truth, Christians and non-Christians alike. Every person longs for the truth to guide them and to give them hope. That’s what Christ does, and that’s what His Word does. It is life to those who seek it, but likewise it is a barrier to those who chase after their own desires.
Unfortunately many churches make it a point to avoid the truth of the Word. They have resolved to put forth a message that tickles the ears and promotes worldly gain. They make those that attend feel less guilty about their pursuit of themselves, to the severe detriment of the communities that surround them.
To be clear, Jesus taught the opposite of worldly gain, and He Himself was an example of humble service, not power and position, though He possessed both of those. This is evidenced throughout the Bible, which only has to be occasionally opened and read in order to glean its elementary truths. God’s Word needs no secret decoder ring, and it is accessible to all who come to it. Storing up treasure in heaven is a basic teaching of God’s Word. So why do so many preach worldly gain, which is worse than useless to the believer?
Recently I attended a Sunday service at a church in Northern California whose pastor had never been to seminary. Afterward my friend proceeded to tell me the story of the church beginning, and how the pastor had organized a small bible study in his apartment complex some years ago. Through prayerful planning and teaching, the group grew to 50 people, and soon had to be held at another location to provide ample space for the attendees.
This pastor obviously had direction from the Lord, and upon observance I noticed that his teachings were almost verbatim from the Bible. He was preaching the truth, and people were drawn to it. Currently the church has over 3,000 members, with several services. There were people standing along the walls of the auditorium at the service I attended. People yearn to hear the truth of God.
The challenge for us is this: Are we brave enough to proclaim God’s truth to those who will listen? You don’t need a degree to teach the gospel, and the need is great. Sure, people will always come around to listen to what makes them feel better, but will we proclaim the fullness of the Word of God even if it may rub some people the wrong way? I submit that we must, and that if we muster the courage, others will be blessed with hearing God’s Word of Truth, which is never wasted, and will always have a spiritual return for those who hear.
August 26, 2008
July 12, 2008
The Pursuit of Christianity
Being a Christian is about being a servant. It is putting others’ interests first, not exalting yourself above others. Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” We are to put others ahead of ourselves. That is the essence of the Christian life, and it is how our Lord Jesus himself lived when He was here on Earth.
The pursuit of wealth or prominence in this country has consumed most of the American church. The evidence lies in the teachings of pastors such as Joel Osteen, or Joyce Meyer, who often advise people that the power to do or get what you want lies within you. Their book sales are in the millions and they seem to be everywhere on TV and the internet. But their large ministries are a factor of telling people what they want to hear, and slick (and expensive) advertising.
Getting what you want is not in the Christian playbook, nor has it ever been. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that we deserve more possessions, a bigger house, or a high paying job. In fact, the Bible says that those worldly things are meaningless in the Kingdom of God. The pursuit of wealth has no place in the pursuit of Christ.
Just as with anything in life, a Christian must make a choice and stick with it. Contemporary wisdom says to pursue your own interests. God says to pursue Him. We must make a daily choice to follow Christ and extract ourselves from the pursuits of the world.
The pursuit of wealth or prominence in this country has consumed most of the American church. The evidence lies in the teachings of pastors such as Joel Osteen, or Joyce Meyer, who often advise people that the power to do or get what you want lies within you. Their book sales are in the millions and they seem to be everywhere on TV and the internet. But their large ministries are a factor of telling people what they want to hear, and slick (and expensive) advertising.
Getting what you want is not in the Christian playbook, nor has it ever been. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that we deserve more possessions, a bigger house, or a high paying job. In fact, the Bible says that those worldly things are meaningless in the Kingdom of God. The pursuit of wealth has no place in the pursuit of Christ.
Just as with anything in life, a Christian must make a choice and stick with it. Contemporary wisdom says to pursue your own interests. God says to pursue Him. We must make a daily choice to follow Christ and extract ourselves from the pursuits of the world.
June 21, 2008
Doing Good Is Not Wasted
God’s Grace is a wonderful thing. It is the reason we are all alive and dwelling on this Earth. It is the reason that, having no merit within ourselves, we could gain the inheritance of heaven through the sacrificial work of God’s Son. We are products of God’s Grace and Mercy.
Today’s
Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 5:16) The purpose of works is to glorify God, but also to orient men. Non-Christians watch those who believe very closely, even when they seem indifferent. They watch because a deep part of them longs to see that there is order to the chaos that surrounds them, that there is light among the darkness. Jesus said that we are that light.
Understand that it is OK to do good works. You are not negating the grace given to you. Works do not equal boasting. Be confident that God wants you to focus on doing good things, not as a measure of righteousness, or as a justification, but as an assignment that He has given until the day that He comes.
Doing good is never wasted when it is done in the name of our Father. Do good and orient a darkened world toward Jesus, then receive your reward with humility from the One who notices everything.
May 26, 2008
Start With The Word of God
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10 & 11.
Do you struggle with reading God’s Word? Take some time right now to examine why that might be. Does it have to do with time? Does it have to do with not knowing where to begin? Does the prospect of opening the Bible give you the feeling that you are starting something that is too big to finish?
As pastor Chuck Swindoll often tells his congregation: Relax. These are all normal feelings that are shared by practically every person who has endeavored to study God’s Word. The fact is that it is a huge undertaking, with cosmic importance to you and those around you. But it doesn’t have to be a huge problem for you, and it doesn’t have to equal the weight of the world on your shoulders.
Start by reading a book of the Bible that interests you. Scared of Revelation? You don’t have to start there, nor do you have to start with prophets or the Psalms. If you are a student of history try the book of Acts. It reads like an informal history of the early church, with incredible detail as researched by the author, Luke. Or are you searching for guidance and foresight on a specific topic? Look at Proverbs which gives the reader the straight dope on hundreds of specific practical issues directly from the wisest man there ever was, King Solomon.
Are you partial to the workings of war and politics? Like a good Tom Clancy novel? Check out First and Second Samuel and First and Second Kings to know the history and politics behind King David’s reign and his successors.
The point is, don’t let the prospect of learning God’s Word scare you. Any little fragment of His Word will act like water to your soul, and you will find yourself growing in spite of yourself. God loves you and He wants you to know Him. He has provided the most important, most powerful tool in the universe in His Word. Take the time to become acquainted with it.
May 19, 2008
Our Fight
Gideon was not the man with the strongest character. He was not the biggest, nor was he the best or the brightest. In fact, where did the angel of the Lord find Gideon when it came time for him serve? On the threshing floor, beating wheat as fast as he could because he knew it would be taken from him by the Midianites. He was not planning a great battle against Israel’s oppressors; he was taking care of his own business.
Yet God called him as one man to stand against an insurmountable enemy. God called him to a job that He had designed for him. Gideon had no personal thoughts of action according to the scriptures. But even though Gideon might not have believed God at first, he did eventually acknowledge God’s will and agreed to do it.
As Christians, our fight is against the spiritual enemies that exist in this fallen world. Our enemies are as real as you and I, and no matter what your state of mind, they are relentlessly attacking you and everyone that you love. So the question is: what has God called you to do? What has the Spirit laid upon your heart to take up? What did He say to do today that you did not do?
Like Gideon, you may not be the most spiritually minded Christian. You may not have a comfortable grasp on prophecy. You may not volunteer at homeless shelters or spend time with the elderly. But God has called you to be a part of this fight. You have a function in this Body.
And just like Gideon you must continue to press on toward that which God called you. Even though it looks like it could not possibly happen the way you first envisioned it. Even though you feel weak or indifferent, you must charge on, past the exhaustion and the distraction, with a singular focus. This is how Gideon and his men defeated the 135,000.
For further study:
Judges 6-8
Yet God called him as one man to stand against an insurmountable enemy. God called him to a job that He had designed for him. Gideon had no personal thoughts of action according to the scriptures. But even though Gideon might not have believed God at first, he did eventually acknowledge God’s will and agreed to do it.
As Christians, our fight is against the spiritual enemies that exist in this fallen world. Our enemies are as real as you and I, and no matter what your state of mind, they are relentlessly attacking you and everyone that you love. So the question is: what has God called you to do? What has the Spirit laid upon your heart to take up? What did He say to do today that you did not do?
Like Gideon, you may not be the most spiritually minded Christian. You may not have a comfortable grasp on prophecy. You may not volunteer at homeless shelters or spend time with the elderly. But God has called you to be a part of this fight. You have a function in this Body.
And just like Gideon you must continue to press on toward that which God called you. Even though it looks like it could not possibly happen the way you first envisioned it. Even though you feel weak or indifferent, you must charge on, past the exhaustion and the distraction, with a singular focus. This is how Gideon and his men defeated the 135,000.
For further study:
Judges 6-8
March 3, 2008
Study of Mark: Focused on Jesus
I believe the Lord made men to be goal oriented. We are one-track animals, we are good at locking on to something and following it until we strike the proverbial mark. So what holds our focus during the course of everyday life? Better yet, what was Jesus’ focus? How did he structure His life so that He could reach His goal?
We catch a glimpse of His focus in Mark chapter 1, verses 35-38, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, in order that I may preach there also; for that is what I came out for.” Jesus had a job to do while here on earth, and He wasted no time getting to it. He came to love, to teach, and to die. He knew what He came out for. He was constantly focused on His objective.
What did you come out for? What made you get out of bed in the morning? Forget what the world says for a moment, forget that you care about what anyone thinks, including your family, and ask yourself, “Why am I here?” The question has been mishandled by so many “spiritual” people that it has become shopworn and almost silly. But this is a question that we need to answer within ourselves if we are to ever gain a sense of true direction in the Christian life.
Jesus never questioned it. His disciples may have, but in the end they understood, and most of them gave their lives as a result. This seemingly benign quote of Jesus tells us of His character, always pointed toward His objective. Thank our Holy God that He was so focused.
We must be focused too. Let us put aside those things that hinder us from proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. But how can we know what God wants from us, you ask? The answer is simple: He wants us to be focused on Him.
For further study:
Romans 8: 12-17
We catch a glimpse of His focus in Mark chapter 1, verses 35-38, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, in order that I may preach there also; for that is what I came out for.” Jesus had a job to do while here on earth, and He wasted no time getting to it. He came to love, to teach, and to die. He knew what He came out for. He was constantly focused on His objective.
What did you come out for? What made you get out of bed in the morning? Forget what the world says for a moment, forget that you care about what anyone thinks, including your family, and ask yourself, “Why am I here?” The question has been mishandled by so many “spiritual” people that it has become shopworn and almost silly. But this is a question that we need to answer within ourselves if we are to ever gain a sense of true direction in the Christian life.
Jesus never questioned it. His disciples may have, but in the end they understood, and most of them gave their lives as a result. This seemingly benign quote of Jesus tells us of His character, always pointed toward His objective. Thank our Holy God that He was so focused.
We must be focused too. Let us put aside those things that hinder us from proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. But how can we know what God wants from us, you ask? The answer is simple: He wants us to be focused on Him.
For further study:
Romans 8: 12-17
February 1, 2008
A Survey of the Gospel of Mark: Introduction
This is not a proper commentary in the likes of Mathew Henry or John MacArthur. It is an attempt to teach the basics of the book, while underscoring certain principles that this author feels is bedrock for the contemporary Christian. It is by no means authoritative, and as with any of the writings you see posted here (and anywhere else for that matter) it should be tested against the Holy Word of God itself.
This is also meant to be a basis for discussion, so please don't be afraid to post questions or comments, or even concerns. I will also include references and/or a reading list for those who wish to delve deeper into the topics covered.
Introduction
The Gospel of Mark is focused more upon the miracles of Jesus rather than his direct preaching to the Israelites. One might ask why then is this book included among the gospels, if it is basically a reiteration of the other three? There are at least two good reasons, one has a historical basis, and the other is spiritual.
Historically speaking, Mark fills some of the gaps of the other gospels by detailing more of His miracles. More than likely, Mark received much of his information from the apostle Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles. Mark himself was not, but we can assume that his information is quite good, given his relationship to the early burgeoning church in Palestine. Mark was the nephew of Barnabas, the missionary who traveled with Paul throughout Asia Minor. Acts 12:12 shows us that the early church gathered at his mother’s house to pray.
Spiritually speaking the Gospel of Mark gives us a window into a.) the character and humanity of Jesus, and b.) the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, which was of special import to the Jews at that time. The Jewish Messiah had to come in a certain way according to the Old Testament prophets. One of the obstacles Jesus faced was that the Jews had their own ideas of how those prophecies should be fulfilled. In effect this book attempts to show exactly how Jesus fulfilled these prophecies, and how they are a testament to His deity.
Jesus Christ is God, which can be shown in each of the gospels separately. But each has its own way of transmitting this message. All of the gospels work together in harmony to give us a greater, more believable, and accurate account of the life of Jesus.
May God bless the study of His Word.
This is also meant to be a basis for discussion, so please don't be afraid to post questions or comments, or even concerns. I will also include references and/or a reading list for those who wish to delve deeper into the topics covered.
Introduction
The Gospel of Mark is focused more upon the miracles of Jesus rather than his direct preaching to the Israelites. One might ask why then is this book included among the gospels, if it is basically a reiteration of the other three? There are at least two good reasons, one has a historical basis, and the other is spiritual.
Historically speaking, Mark fills some of the gaps of the other gospels by detailing more of His miracles. More than likely, Mark received much of his information from the apostle Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles. Mark himself was not, but we can assume that his information is quite good, given his relationship to the early burgeoning church in Palestine. Mark was the nephew of Barnabas, the missionary who traveled with Paul throughout Asia Minor. Acts 12:12 shows us that the early church gathered at his mother’s house to pray.
Spiritually speaking the Gospel of Mark gives us a window into a.) the character and humanity of Jesus, and b.) the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, which was of special import to the Jews at that time. The Jewish Messiah had to come in a certain way according to the Old Testament prophets. One of the obstacles Jesus faced was that the Jews had their own ideas of how those prophecies should be fulfilled. In effect this book attempts to show exactly how Jesus fulfilled these prophecies, and how they are a testament to His deity.
Jesus Christ is God, which can be shown in each of the gospels separately. But each has its own way of transmitting this message. All of the gospels work together in harmony to give us a greater, more believable, and accurate account of the life of Jesus.
May God bless the study of His Word.
January 17, 2008
New Look, New Year
Welcome to the Fireside Study! We are starting the year with a new look and a new format. Timely commentary will now come weekly, and subject matter may vary as we will have guest writers as well. I hope you enjoy the changes. We look forward to sharing thoughts of foundational Christian living in the new year!
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