Jesus had already assured them they would “receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” which would enable them to be witnesses beginning close to home in Jerusalem and then spreading out with those concentric circles to the outer limits of the known world. That was quite a challenge. And it still is.

Amy Butler wrote a wonderful open letter to persons who are “spiritual but not religious (SBNR).” She talks about how often and how much the institutional church has lamented the loss of persons who are no longer interested in participating, and how often the conversation shifts to what can the church “do” to change this reality. Her contention is that this discussion has been a predominant one for a while, and that perhaps it is better to shift the emphasis from the church doing something to the church “being” something.

From its inception, the church as a body of believers has been called out to bear witness to the truth of Jesus Christ. This involves his accomplished death, burial and resurrection, and making sure the message of salvation is presented not only in deeds but words too. The Great Commission comes to mind. One of the great challenges I believe the church is facing is a changing culture and the realization that some forms and methods are not as effective as they used to be. However, I am also of the opinion (similar to Amy’s) that the church will become a minority in our society by virtue of our message. We still live in the Bible belt, as there are church buildings are every corner. So, in that regard you might say the spread of the gospel has been “successful.” Sadly, however, many millennials do not find comfort in models of ministry that were once used decades ago and have made that clear. With that in mind, we ought to accept that and find meaningful ways to express our faith that our consistent with the story of Christ. This won’t appeal to everyone.

My focal point this week in particular will not be on what I can do but rather what the Holy Spirit continues to do and what He enables the church to do in our community and world. There is a dynamic quality to life in Christ that should be evidenced by the people of God, not only as we gather for worship and study but also as we scatter to be salt and light to our culture.

The coming of the Holy Spirit gives us power to share our faith and live out our faith in a changing, challenging context. I’m constantly being reminded of my need for prayer and dependence upon the Holy Spirit to bring about the change in a person’s life. I’m grateful that spiritual formation is an ongoing process and that the Lord never gives up on his people.  Without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the church would be just another organization that does (hopefully most of the time) good things. He gives the church what we need to carry out our mission in the world.

The church in 2013 won’t be like the church fifty years ago, and that’s not all bad. We need to be more mindful of our role in the Kingdom and how the Holy Spirit fills us and gives us the means to point people to Christ. I pray that seeing people come to Christ and have meaningful change occur in their lives never becomes routine to the church. And we “walk in the Spirit” and trust Him with the results of our obedience.

The latest marathon in Boston was supposed to be a celebration of endurance and the human spirit. Runners from all over the world came to the city to compete with each other and themselves, many simply wanting to say that they finished the race. This would have been a huge accomplishment in and of itself.

Of course, this year’s marathon is known for something else much more disturbing. It did turn out to be, however, another kind of test in endurance and the human spirit. Complete strangers prior to this event rushed to one another’s aid in a time of crisis. Police and other first responders pulled together to care for the victims and attempt to create a sense of calm in a scene of complete chaos and panic.

I’ve been thinking about that 8 year old boy who was killed, and how much grief his family must be going through. They must have all gone out to enjoy the weather and cheer on the runners, and I’ve heard that this little one had just gone to get some ice cream. No one knew what was coming. It was horrible. I have an 8 year old boy, and I cannot fathom the grief and anger and conflicting emotions that must come pouring in after such an unspeakable loss.

Watching all this on television, like many others, has gotten to thinking about how often we tend to get upset over things that aren’t that important after all. I’ve also observed that resentment and bitterness can creep in whenever we feel like we haven’t gotten what we think we have coming to us or when things don’t happen in a way that goes our way. I doubt very seriously that this family has given any thought to some of their previous problems in light of the unbelievable pain created by a cowardly and evil action.

John Claypool told a story about something that happened when he was a little boy. It was during the War, and a soldier needed a place to store his belongings and asked if he could leave them with John’s family. The Claypools obliged, and the soldier was grateful and said they were free to use anything he was leaving them. One item that they enjoyed using was a Bendex washing machine. They didn’t have a washing machine, and this appliance made their lives much more enjoyable and the chore of cleaning easier.

The war eventually ended, and the soldier came for his things, including the washing machine. Upon his taking the machine, John expressed his anger at having “his” washing machine taken away. His mother rebuked him and told him that the machine wasn’t theirs to begin with, and the very act of being able to have it at all was a gift. As such, they should be grateful for being able to use it at all.

There are a number of vices that are to be avoided, but I think one of the most dangerous ones of all is ingratitude. Far too often we think about what we don’t have rather than what we do have. We complain more than we express thanks. We can be jealous of each other rather than thankful for the blessings we have received. And we can take our time and days for granted.

The Boston Marathon will be forever changed as a result of these bombings. I hope that is some small way each one of us can be changed too, for the better. Let us remember the words of the Psalmist: “I will extol the Lord at all times. His praise will forever be on my lips” (Psalm 34.1).

Apparently, Paul’s message of God’s graciousness and mercy through Christ had been well-received, but after his departure others came in proclaiming “a different gospel.” Judaizers were insisting that acquiring a right standing before God required some degree of works. Keeping the law and maintaining the practice of circumcision, among other things. This would, in essence, make the gospel message faith in Christ plus ___________ in order to be justified before God. Paul had received criticism for making salvation too simple, for surely some works were necessary in order to be right before God.

It’s hard to imagine what it must have been like for the Jews who were converting to Christianity to deal with the former expectations of their previous religion. They were dealing with the question of whether to remain Jewish in their practice along with being a follower of Christ, or whether their new found faith liberated them from their “bondage to the law.” There were those who were doing their best to impose the requirements of Judaism upon these new converts, which made Paul respond with such passion to their desertion of the faith.

This question of the gospel is still a relevant one. I don’t deal with that many persons coming out of Judaism, but do respond to those who by practice or by expectation think that works are required for salvation. It’s a natural question to ask about individuals who indicate they are Christians but have lives that are not consistent with the teachings of Christ. If works aren’t required, some would say, what relationship do they have with faith? This is an ancient topic, one that Paul dealt with as he instructed those Galatian churches.

I’m so thankful for what Christ has done in my life and in the church body. None of us are good enough on our own, no matter how much we try to appear pious before others.This issue of God’s grace and sufficiency in Christ should remove legalism and pride from our thinking. One reason for keeping legalism in our understanding of salvation is the fact that it leaves room for pride. In this approach, persons can compare themselves to others and feel better about themselves. 

On the other hand, this newfound freedom is Christ comes with the responsibility of following Jesus and learning from him on a daily basis. Martin Luther responded this way, “Faith must of course be sincere. It must be a faith that does good works through love. If faith lacks love it is not true faith” (Luther, Galatians commentary).

Salvation by grace through faith has been a signature trait of Baptists through the centuries. I am grateful for this distinctive, and more importantly the dynamic nature of salvation because of what Christ has done. It is his righteousness, not my own, that makes possible a right standing before God. Paul summarized his approach later in his letter: ”It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5.1)

I’m glad to read about a few artifacts getting out into the public domain, most significantly the Bible that was used by Thomas Jefferson. Here is an article about it’s stay in Colorado. Jefferson didn’t allow for the supernatural in his thinking, so he literally cut out those parts which did not line up with reason. It seems he made the effort to correlate those parts of the New Testament that he did like, and sought to put together his own version of the sacred text.

This is not a critique of whether or not he was a Christian or about the issues of separating church and state. This “wall of separation” did come about from some of Jefferson’s writings, and a free church in a free state is where I want to be. However, I did want to mention that what Jefferson did is what many people do. It could be argued what all of us do, and that is we make our own “canon within the canon” in order to prioritize those parts of Scripture we pay more particular attention to as it impacts how we live.

These past few weeks I have been associated with being a liberal on the one hand because I have been watching the History channel’s mini-series on the Bible, and also a fundamentalist because I like Chik-fil-a and some time ago came out it came out in favor of traditional marriage.  This interesting polarity has caused me to think more about those areas of Scripture that are most formative for faith and practice.

One of the disciplines I’ve been practicing is reading through the Bible. Not a major shocker for a pastor to say that, but to reassure those who might wonder. It’s the one year chronological Bible and thus far I’ve made it to the promised land with Joshua, and have been reading through all the requirements for the people of Israel in order to maintain God’s favor. I haven’t spend a great deal of time in these areas through the years, but do appreciate the stories of faith and how God delivered his people out of Egypt with a deliverer named Moses.

The calendar indicates we have one week until Easter. Yesterday our church recreated the Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and talked about the significance of Palm Sunday. It is hard to imagine what Jesus went through in order to stay true to his mission of setting us free from our sins. The cross was necessary for this to happen, and this shameful death provided atonement for all who believe the resurrection of Jesus. It’s a fantastic claim to believe the Jesus rose from the dead after three days, but this truth is the centerpiece of the Christian faith. And I have chosen to accept this truth and allow it to shape my life and thinking.

The Apostle Paul had to deal with those who were skeptical of the resurrection. He wrote, “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. . . And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all people” (I Corinthians 15:13-19).

Jefferson accepted the ethical and moral teachings of Jesus. Many people do. But the supernatural element of Jesus’ life and work cannot be dismissed without eliminating what Jesus came to do in the first place. There are those who can make the reasoned argument for the resurrection too, and the work of apologetics is important. I am choosing to affirm the story of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, grateful for what it means for me when my life on this side is over.

Easter is coming, and with that people who don’t usually enter church buildings on Sunday but acknowledge there is something extra special about this day. I will tell everyone that every Sunday is Resurrection Sunday, hoping that it will resonate and make a difference in someone’s life so that they might also believe the resurrection too.

It takes a lot of effort to plan and pull off a successful VBS. You have to start really early in recruiting teachers and other workers, and you have to make sure that particular week is set apart as far as other work related commitments go. I’m always amazed at the energy and effort people put in to make sure we are ready.

I’ve always been around VBS in one form or the other, but was reminded recently of its importance at a meeting the other day. In the conversation I was having with this person, he indicated that the reason he’d gotten connected with the church was through VBS. His children had been welcomed and through that experience he and his family had found a church home.

A lot of times there is a sentiment about filling the positions on the boards and committees of the church, and the need to have good teachers in Sunday School. However, it is good to be reminded that there a reasons for all this effort with the main goal of reaching people for Christ. Especially children.

Many parents treat VBS as a chance to drop off their kids for a few hours, and I’ve known of some who build their summer plans around taking their children to every VBS in town. That’s just part of it I guess. Regardless of where they come or how they here, these children have a chance to hear about Jesus and learn more about the Bible in that week of concentrated attention and energy.

I’m already praying for this moment coming up in our church, and hope you’d pause for a moment and do the same. A child’s life could be changed for eternity.

It’s worth looking at here.

Although Tebow’s quarterbacking skills have been in doubt at times, no one has questioned his sincerity or his desire to share his faith. Some have criticized him for being too assertive in his views, via putting scripture references on his face while playing at Florida. So, when I hear Robert Jeffries implying that Tebow is a cowardly Christian because he cancelled an appearance at his church, it makes me wonder whether Jeffries has paid any attention to Tebow’s life up to this point.

Tebow is mocked for his sexual purity by the media, and his desire to live out his faith in a world of professional football is not only unique but exceptional. He is a football player, not a minister, but shares his faith at different venues of his choosing. If he wants out of his appearance at FBC, then he ought to be released without being criticized by people who call themselves ministers. He already gets enough abuse from others without getting it from people who should be appreciative of Tebow’s efforts to live out his faith. Keep in mind that Tebow is only 25 years old, even though he happens to be a public figure due to his faith and occupation.

A few years ago I attended the Willow Creek Leadership Summit simulcast here in Springfield. Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, was scheduled to deliver a presentation at the event. He was on the program. At the last minute, during the summit itself, Bill Hybels announced that Schultz had canceled his appearance. Schultz was dealing with a lot of pressure relating to his agreement to speak, and decided it would be better not to appear. I recall thinking that this was a lame thing to do, but remember Hybels being more sympathetic and understanding of Schultz. Rather than condemning Schultz, Hybels asked us to pray for Schultz and not react in a vindictive manner toward him or the company. This was a classy response toward someone whom I am not sure is a Christian. It didn’t matter either way, it was a good thing to do.

I still remember Hybel’s kind response toward this disappointing development. He didn’t use the platform of the Summit or his church to attack Schultz or talk about how some people cower in the face of public opinion.  Rather than take this as a personal attack or affront, Hybels acted in a redemptive manner. This could have been a wonderful opportunity for Jeffries to respond in the same way toward Tebow, but he chose to insult him instead.

The man walked in and became an instant hero. “I want you to know I came by here for chicken, but instead you all gave me all this money.” Well, the manager was relieved to have the money back and complimented the man for his actions. “You two are the most honest people I’ve ever known. I am going to call the newspaper right now and have your pictures put in the paper. The man responded, “Oh no don’t do that!”  Then, leaning in and whispering he said, “You see, that woman I’m with is somebody else’s wife.”

It’s possible to be honest without integrity. The Apostle Paul was concerned with both.

Acts 20:32-38 includes a notable saying that isn’t found in the gospels, but Paul told the Ephesian elders to remember what Jesus said: “More blessings come from giving than receiving” (CEV). Paul wanted the leadership to focus their attention on helping the weak and ministering to those who couldn’t help themselves.

It’s been repeated countless times to church members and leaders. There is a problem with the consumer driven mentality of our culture infiltrating the community of faith. In essence, we in the church can be focused more on “what am I getting out of it?” than “what can do to help?” This issue is becoming more and more significant with churches who are wrestling with how to maintain their future in reaching out to a younger generation.

We ought not be worried about our survival, but rather emphasize a spirit of service in the name of our Lord to our world. The generational divide is becoming more and more pronounced, and people aren’t attending church just because it’s the thing to do anymore. This is a painful reality for churches who are trying to keep up with the changing culture without changing those things which are essential to their identity.

Even though the statistics do not favor increased participation in church by millennials and the I-generation, I remain encouraged by the energy of those who do remain connected to the body of Christ. These young men and women are not only unique, they are exceptional and should be praised. One teenage girl in particular has impressed me with her commitment to “giving up something” for Lent. She recognizes the spiritual component of Jesus’ sacrifice and wants to do something to identify with that spirit.

During the Lenten season, I am spending time thinking about Jesus’ service and those things that were important to him. I want to reflect upon his suffering and sacrifice, and allow the Holy Spirit to teach me some things about giving to others. This will start as I remember the words of Jesus, then translate that remembrance into doing something with my faith.

Haggai has been my subject of choice this last week, having preached a message out of that book yesterday. He served during a very difficult period for the people of God, as they had been in exile and suffered the destruction of their temple. They were now back in Jerusalem and were trying to get their lives back together. Their temple remained in ruins and based upon the efforts so far, not much progress had been made. One thing for sure, the rebuilt temple would not match the splendor of the first one.

The word of the Lord came to the prophet:, “Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, Be strong, O Joshua, Be strong all you people of the land” declares the Lord. “and work.” For I am with you. . . and my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear” (Haggai 2:3-5).

This is a great passage, a challenge to apply however. It’s tough to remain strong with you get bad news or are dealing with a disappointment like the people of God back then. It’s hard when you don’t have visible signs of progress and your temple is in ruins, and you question whether your future is going to be worth living in. The tough part is to continue to work, even though you’re not sure there’s going to be any results from it. The Lord reassured his people then that he was going to “shake some things up” (6-10) “in a little while” so they needed to get motivated and on with the task of rebuilding the temple. In other words, don’t stop working.

They encountered a problem that I run into, and probably every one else too: our own stuff. They had good intentions of coming back to Jerusalem after the exile and rebuilding, and I’m sure they thought about it and talked about it. But, they were getting their own houses and lives in order at the expense of the Lord’s house. This is easy to do, and understandable to a certain degree. It’s natural to want to put things in order for ourselves.

The one lesson I received from this small book is a familiar one. When we put God first, our stuff will be taken care of one way or the other. When we put our stuff first, we don’t have time for the things of God. And when this happens, we wonder why things get all out of balance and we live frustrated.

The people of God through the centuries continue to share the same character traits of disobedience and lack of faith. We can also demonstrate confidence and follow the Lord as we adhere to his reminders: “Be strong, I am with you, don’t be afraid.”

Let’s keep working.

There were many downers among the people of Israel. Numbers 14 records Moses’ desire to follow the Lord’s guidance by sending spies into the land of Canaan. This was the land promised to them by the Lord, but upon their return, 10 of the 12 spies indicated that there was no way they could move into the land. There were “giants” in the land, so the “milk and honey” that they saw only served as a teaser of what could have been.

We don’t remember much about those 10 spies, but we do follow the paths of Joshua and Caleb. Caleb, in particular, attempted to silence the people by telling them that the Lord would go before them and they would be successful. However, they had to be careful not to rebel. Unfortunately, this was exactly what they had been doing. They were cultivating a spirit of complaint.

They had gotten good at this. At the sign of trouble, and really before trouble began, the people of Israel complained and griped against Moses. They wanted a new leader, and couldn’t believe God would bring them all the way out from Egypt only to watch them die. It was a Debbie Downer display if ever there was one.

There’s a difference between disagreement and disobedience to God. Sometimes people disagree over certain matters, but it’s not the same as rejecting God’s purpose for your life when things get hard. When this happens, we settle for less than God’s best for us. Consequently, all those complainers never saw the promised land or lived to see the results of obedience to God.

I enjoy being around Calebs. They are instinctively encouragers and see the possibilities beyond the problems. Not everyone can do this, which is why the Lord noted that Caleb had “a different spirit.” The people of God had cultivated an entitlement mentality which reinforced their belief that difficulties were not part of the deal.

Sometimes folks get the idea that they are entitled to certain things. This can create problems when things don’t go their way. Complaint becomes not only a guest of the house but a resident, unpacking his suitcase of bitterness, frustration, and fear. That’s what was taking place around Caleb, Joshua, and Moses.

It’s a good time, while we’re still in January 2013, to make a point to follow Caleb’s example as the Lord lays out the opportunities before us. The Lord is patient and compassionate, and I’m grateful for these attributes as he works with me and the family of faith. May God help us to have a “different spirit” when tempted to succumb to complaint and anger when things don’t go our way. This is a real challenge for people who follow Christ.

Between Egypt and Canaan there’s a lot of room for spiritual development. It could be a time of personal growth or for personal griping. The land in between is like that.

Let’s keep moving.