A Look at Luke 14:15-24

The Parable of the Great Banquet offers us a look into the type of teaching that Jesus typically did for those he came into contact with. It also gives us a glimpse into our own lives as we sift through the parable characters and see shadows that may echo our own. This passage begins with the statement of a person being blessed by eating at the feast of the kingdom of God, and then Jesus shares the banquet parable.

There are two Promises to claim in this parable which have to do with being in invited to the banquet. The first is a promise of acceptance. Jesus speaks of a man who invites important people to a banquet, but they create self-important excuses and decline to claim the promise of a seat at the table when they choose not to come. Instead, the man has his servant go into the streets and offer that same invitation to ordinary people. Those people gladly accept the invitation and claimed their seats at the master’s table. In the same way, we are invited to accept Jesus’ invitation to claim the promise of eternal life and sit at the Master’s table in heaven. The second promise is one of rejection. Many times, those who are invited to claim that very promise believe that they have more important things to do. They believe that there is “more life to live”, and therefore, choose to do just that, all the while leaving their eternal reward of heaven behind. God offers His invitation through Christ Jesus to all who will come. Those who accept it will filled with the hope and joy of knowing they will see God. Those who choose not to accept it will never get a taste of heaven, for they will be shut out and cast into eternal darkness.

The master in the parable Expresses the emotions of anger, frustration, and sadness as his invitations are turned down one by one for reason that are not important and are very self serving. His emotions express the intense desire that he had for all those invited to come and share a meal at his table. When they refuse to do so for one reason or another, his anger, frustration, and sadness expose themselves to the point that he decides to have nothing to do with them whatsoever. This is an important lesson to learn, for I believe it is an example of how God reacts when those He invites to be reconciled to Him choose not to accept that invitation for worldly reasons. Although we do not currently see His anger, frustration, and sadness, I am certain that they are authentic. We will see those emotions one day when we are before the throne of judgment. Those who have not accepted His invitation will feel God’s emotions first hand as He sends them into eternal darkness.

There are two Examples in this parable. One to follow and one to avoid. The one to follow is that of the master. He desires to fill his table at the banquet with people who will share in his celebration and happiness. When those he initially invited made the decision not to come for one reason or another, the master chose to fill his table with whomever would come. Instead of cancelling his banquet, he filled the table with the less fortunate and those off the street that gladly accepted the invitation. This is much the same for us when it comes to the invitation that God offers us through Christ. He invites us to come willingly and sit at His table, and we should willingly accept so that we might share in God’s celebration and happiness. The example to avoid is that of those who chose not to come. Rather than accepting the master’s invitation to the banquet, they chose to make excuses about why they could not attend. This incited the anger and frustration of the master to the point that, even if they had changed their mind and come to the banquet, they would not have been allowed to share in the celebration after it had begun. So it is with God, that those whosoever chooses not to accept His invitation of reconciliation through Christ, because they want to do their own thing, will be completely shut out of the celebration in heaven once it begins after the rapture even if they change their mind.

In all of this, I must give Adoration to God for His faithful promise of accepting me when I accept Him. The master in the parable told his servant to go and get the dregs of society and bring them in for the banquet hall to be full. He commanded the servant to bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. When that wasn’t enough to fill the banquet hall, he had the servant travel the roads and lanes of the area so that he might bring in more people to fill the place for the feast. The master didn’t show preferential treatment. He simply wanted people to come and eat with him. He wanted people to accept him by accepting his invitation, and when they did, he accepted them without a second thought. God does the same with us. He invites us to come and accept Him by accepting His invitation of reconciliation through Jesus. When we accept that invitation to believe in God through Christ, He accepts us completely and unconditionally into His family. This acceptance is absolutely priceless, and yet, God gave everything in the person of His Son to give us the opportunity to accept Him and be accepted by Him. For that, I give God praise and adoration for his invitation!

However, in order for me to accept that invitation, there must be a Confession on my behalf. I must confess that I am indeed a sinner that is in need of the power of Jesus in my life to cleanse me of that sin. I must confess that I can’t do life on my own, and am in need of Christ as my Savior. This is a time of confessing wrong thoughts, attitudes, and actions to the Lord, and allowing His grace and mercy to help make restitution for our wrongs. Through the work of God’s servant, the Holy Spirit, I am invited to share in the Master’s happiness at His table. In accepting that invitation, I complete the confession of my sinful nature, and have a place at the table with God to sit and be with Him. One of the great rewards of this confession is the knowledge that, just as I have confessed my sins before God and Jesus has accepted me, Jesus will confess me before God and He will accept me when the time for judgment comes.

I give Thanks to God for his invitation of reconciliation through Christ. I have a feeling that those who accepted the invitation to the banquet gave thanks to the master for opening his home and preparing such an extravagant meal for them. In a similar way, I give thanks to God for opening heaven’s gates to me through the sacrifice of Christ, and for preparing such an extravagant home for me when my days on earth are finished and Christ comes again to establish the new heaven and new earth. This is a task that we must perform more often than not, as giving thanks to God for loving us enough to send Christ to die and rise is an important part of keeping perspective as a Christ follower.

In Supplication for myself, I choose to ask for the Father to keep me mindful of this parable, as I do not wish to treat the invitation God has placed before me with contempt or indifference. I wish to treat it as the beautiful and priceless gift that it is; the opportunity to spend eternity dining at the true Master’s table. In supplication for others, I pray very fervently for those who are lost, hurting and confused. I pray for those who have heard of the saving knowledge of Christ but have chosen to walk away from it. I pray for those who may have been hurt by other Christians at some point, and that has caused them to step away from the Master’s table invitation. It is my prayer for these that they will look again at what exactly it is that God offers them through the sacrifice of Jesus, and that they will see that it far outweighs anything that the world could offer them. I hope and pray that they will accept freely the invitation from God to be with Him for eternity, so that they will not be left out once the heavenly feast has begun. I also pray for those who have accepted the invitation of reconciliation. It is my prayer for these that they will continually remember just how much God paid to be able to deliver that invitation to us, and that we must continually accept that invitation in our lives, sometimes on a moment by moment basis.

A Look at Matthew 8:23-27

The passage in Matthew that I chose for this study is the point when Matthew speaks of Jesus calming the storm that had come up and frightened the disciples. Some might argue that this isn’t necessarily a miracle as we perceive them in the Bible, because it didn’t have anything to do with someone getting healed. However, the simple fact that Jesus could calm the waves with his hand and voice certainly qualifies as a miracle in my book.

Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV)
²³ Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.
²⁴ Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
²⁵ The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
²⁶ He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

As we look at this passage of Scripture, we see several Emotions expressed from the disciples. The first of these emotions was fear. Some of these men were fishermen, and had most likely been out on the sea when fierce and furious storms barreled across the water toward their ships. They may have seen men get tossed overboard. They may have seen ships broken apart by the buffeting waves that were considerably larger in a storm than normal, or ships sink due to taking on so much water that they could no longer stay afloat. These memories could have been the likely trigger for their fear and trepidation of sailing through a storm.

Some of these men were not fishermen, but were of what we might call a “white collar” profession, if there were such a thing back then. They may never have been on a boat in the midst of a storm, and there is a very likely chance that their fear at that moment was caused by the lack of experience on the sea during times like these. With these things in mind, we can clearly see the possibility of fear to set in during this storm.

There also seems to be an emotion of anger or frustration with them, because even as the storm is raging overhead, Jesus is sound asleep in the bowels of the ship. The storm has awakened everyone else on board the ship, with the exception of Jesus. This angers and frustrates them quite thoroughly, which we see in their tense demand for Jesus to save them from what they felt was certain death by drowning.

The first emotion that the text brings out to me from Jesus is one of calm. Everyone else is running scared and getting all worked up about the storm outside, and yet, Jesus is sleeping peacefully inside the ship. Did Jesus know that the storm was going to come up while they were on the sea? The text doesn’t give us a clear answer, but it seems to me that He might have had a clue, as He was the only one on the ship that was apparently unconcerned with the copious amounts of water coming from the sky.

The next emotion that I see in Jesus is one of anger and frustration with the disciples for their lack of faith. Instead of following His example of being calm, cool, and collected in the midst of the rolling waves, they choose to cower in fear and demand that Jesus do something to fix the situation. Jesus first rebukes the disciples for their lack of faith and fear of the situation, and then He rebukes the wind and waves into submission as well. It would seem that Jesus was angry at the entire situation, and not just the disciples or just the weather.

The disciples express yet another emotion in the process, which is fear combined with trepidation and wonder after Jesus rebukes the wind and waves. They stand there in complete and utter amazement at the fact that nature itself follows the commands of their rabbi, and wonder who He really is. It is this particular expressed emotion that intrigues me the most in this passage, because these men have been walking with Jesus for some time, and have seen Him perform all kinds of miracles. One would think that they’d have a sense of safety and satisfaction when Jesus calms the storm, but in fact, their emotional state is quite the opposite!

We see that, in spite of the lack of faith and abundance of fear that the disciples display in this situation, Jesus still chooses to give Assistance by calming the storm. This is not unlike our own lives, when we come to the Lord in the midst of crisis. We might be completely afraid or scared of the situation, and might feel as though the waves of life are about to come crashing down around us. For many of us, this is the only time we come to Jesus for assistance with the problems of life. Even with our lack of faith and fear, He is faithful and answers our cries with help and assistance.

There is also a Command to obey within this passage of Scripture. Jesus rebukes the wind and waves, and they calm down. Much in the same way, when we are in the midst of trial and tribulation, Jesus commands us to be calm and trust in Him. When we choose to do this in a real and authentic way, then we find that He calms the storm within us, which allows us to see the path to get through the issue we are dealing with. It is important that, when that command to calm comes, we obey it so that He might show us the way that He would have us go to work through whatever situation is causing our storm.

There is an Example here to avoid, and that is the example that the disciples portray during and after the storm. They were fearful, scared, unsure of what to do, unsure of who Jesus actually was, and lacked faith. The world tells us that there is no God. Satan desires for us to believe that lie just a little, so that he might infiltrate our faith and make it counterfeit. He wants us to run scared every time some new and possibly detrimental plot twist rises up within our lives. This is not what God desires for us, and we must be careful to remember that. God desires that we know who Jesus is in our lives, and that we trust in His character of grace, mercy, and faithfulness, so that we will not live in fear.

In order to do this, there needs to be a Confession to God of the fear and lack of faith that plagues us as sinful human beings. We need to acknowledge that there is indeed a sin issue within us that causes us to doubt the character of Jesus, and in turn, whether or not He will be faithful to calm the storms in our lives if we call upon Him. If we don’t confess this, we cannot get to the heart of the matter of our lack of faith, which causes us more distress and heartache in the long run. It is of utmost importance that we choose to face this head on and give our lack of faith to God, so that He might build faith within us.

This brings us to the point of Supplication, or asking God for something that we desire of His nature within ourselves. It is in asking God to heal us and protect us from our natural tendency to be fearful and lack faith that we find the answers to be confident in who Christ is and what He has and will continue to do in our lives. The act of supplication forces us to break down the walls of self and let God in. This can be a very hard thing to do, but once it happens, it gets easier to do it each time. Notice that we don’t do it just once! This is an ongoing process of continually asking God to break down the barriers of fear so that we might gain more of the strength in Christ that we need. The process is different for each of us. It might be a once per week thing for some, and a moment by moment event for others. The frequency with which you go to God in this manner isn’t necessarily the issue, but rather, the actual act of going to God on a regular basis. It is through this process that we can be less like the disciples on the boat, and more like the disciples after the day of Pentacost.

Taking A Look At Mark 1:1-3

In reading through Mark 1:1-3, we see Mark speaking of the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry on earth. In doing so, he opens with who he believes Jesus is. In this we find a Promise to Claim. This promise is in Mark’s firm assertion that Jesus is, in fact, Christ, the Son of the living God. Mark makes no bones about his belief that Jesus is the Messiah, although he does not come out and state that publicly. It is, however, very apparent by his use of both “Christ” and “Son of God” in the first verse of his Gospel.

He then goes on to tell the story of John the Baptist. This story begins with a restating of the words of the prophet Isaiah from chapter forty and verse three in his book from the Old Testament. As these words are brought to light for a new generation of believers, we find another Promise to Claim. Isaiah prophesied in the Old Testament that one would come and prepare the way for the Lord. Mark believes that John the Baptist is the one of whom Isaiah spoke about so long ago, and that John indeed does fulfill that prophecy. We see this come to fruition through Mark’s telling of the story of John the Baptist.

These promises are ones that we can claim for ourselves in a couple of ways. First off, with Mark’s belief that Jesus is the Messiah, we are able to claim Jesus as our Messiah and our Lord and Savior. We can claim that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Being able to claim that proclamation brings us to the second promise. That promise, spoken of by Isaiah and again by Mark, is that of a messenger being sent to us to prepare the way and make the paths straight. Just as John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus to do ministry, Jesus prepares the way for us to be reconciled to the Father. John baptized with water, but Jesus baptizes with His own blood shed for our sins. This washes us clean so that we might be pure and righteous in the sight of God.

In reading through this text, I believe that Mark has some Emotions that are expressed. I believe that he expresses excitement through stating that Jesus is the Son of God, and also through the restating of Isaiah’s words as a confirmed prophecy of both John the Baptist and Jesus. We, too, can experience this excitement through these words as we believe that Jesus is who Mark claims He is, and through the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah as a confirmation to the modern reader that God does what He says He will do.

The words of Isaiah that Mark quotes have an Example for those of us who are Christ followers today. When Mark speaks the words “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”, it is important that we realize our role in that process. When we became Christians, someone made the path to the Lord straight for us. We came to a point through the help of friends, family members, pastors, teachers, etc… that our path choice was a blatantly obvious one. We needed to choose the path of righteousness, which was paved with the blood and by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. However, without those around us making straight paths to the Lord, we may not have ever found our way to salvation. As we interact with those around us, it is of utmost importance that we are an example of Christ’s work in our lives at all times. When we do not exhibit those characteristics, the path we create becomes winding and twisted, which is hardly a straight path for others to follow to the cross. The example of Mark’s straight forward approach to telling exactly who he believed Jesus to be, and the confirmed words of Isaiah’s prophecy show us that we need to make it easy for others to find Christ.

In conclusion, I want to offer Thanks to God through what I read in this passage. I thank Him for being faithful to fulfill His Word. According to Mark, the arrival of John the Baptist on the scene fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy of one who would prepare the way for the Lord. I am inclined to believe that this is true, and I want to thank God for showing Himself faithful to do what He says He will do. This is but one example of God fulfilling the prophecy foretold in the Bible, and it is through the fulfilling of this prophecy that the ministry of Jesus begins. That ministry is what ultimately led to the greatest sacrifice ever seen, which covers my sins and allows me to be reconciled to God. I can’t help but thank Him for being true to His character and Word!

Remember...

Ok, so its time to take a break from posting my college homework, and give you something that might actually be more interesting! Yes, I could have posted my 16 page 3400 word inductive Bible study on Leviticus 19:5-8, but instead, since I am preaching this Sunday, I chose to get some more mileage out of that study and give it some practical application legs. Hopefully, this will stir some good responses:

Memorial Day weekend is here! What are you going to do? BBQ? Go to the lake? Watch baseball? Sleep? Any way you slice it, you're going to make some memories that will last for a very long time. Things you can look back on a few years from now and remember are always happening. Memorial Day is a time set aside for remembrance of those who have and are serving in the Military. To those of you serving, to those of you who have served, and to the families of those who have lost loved ones in the armed forces and civil services, I thank you for the sacrifice of service you have made for our country. We also spend time remembering those in our lives who have passed away. There are many that I crossed paths with who shaped my education, upbringing, hunger for knowledge, and walk with Christ that no longer tread this mortal plane. I remember them, especially on this day.

However, remembrance needs to extend to our spiritual life as well. God called the first century Hebrews to remember, and so should we, for we end up failing more often than not when we forget God and try to do things our own way.

Leviticus 19:5-8 (NIV)
⁵ "'When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf.
⁶ It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up.
⁷ If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted.
⁸ Whoever eats it will be held responsible because he has desecrated what is holy to the Lord; that person must be cut off from his people.

Now, you might be asking yourself (and me) "What in the world does the Fellowship Offering in Leviticus 19 have to do with remembering God?" This is a noble and important question! Let's unpack it a bit. In order to understand where I am going, we need to understand why God set rituals like the fellowship offering in place. I believe there are 4 main reasons.

1. He set them in place to visibly set His people apart from the rest of the surrounding cultures in the area.

Many of the surrounding cultures practiced all kinds of pagan rituals such as prostitution, homosexuality, cutting themselves, and human sacrifice. God set forth a completely different set of rituals that would free them from dealing with these dangerous and potentially deadly ones.

2. He set them in place to remind them constantly of who He was and what He had done for them.

From the beginning of God's story with Abraham through this point after the Exodus, God was tangibly active in the life of His people. However, they continually forgot His deeds and commands, and therefore, ended up in bondage. God instituted these rituals in order that His people would continually remember what He had done.

3. He set them in place to remind them of who they were in relationship with Him.

God wanted His people to remember that they were set apart. They were to be a "peculiar people". In observing these rituals, they were reminded of their relationship with God, and their relationship to Him as His people.

4. He set them in place to remind them of their dependence upon Him.

God continually provided all that His people would need after the Exodus. He wanted them to remember that their prosperity and blessing were a gift from Him, and that all they needed to do was depend upon God to supply their needs.

Why choose the fellowship offering as an example? I believe that the fellowship offering shows us 3 major points to being the Church as God intended for us to be.

First we need to look at "fellowship" - its general meaning is of entering into a state of wholeness, unity, and restored relationship. To fellowship with others is to come together in unity for a common purpose. To fellowship with God is to commune with your Creator in unity.

Next we look at the word "offering" - it is a sacrifice. many different sacrifices took place in the Old Testament, but they were all a gift of great price from the giver. You have to remember here that the first century economy was not the great capitalistic machine we have to day in America. It was a farming and ranching society with only so much money and livestock to go around. To give an offering meant to sacrifice a piece of your livelihood in order to atone for sin or spend time in communion with God and others.

Finally, we look at being "cut off" - it means literally to be broken off or ruined. To root out, eliminate, remove, excommunicate, or destroy by a violent act of man or nature. This is NOT a pleasant experience!

Elmer Martens, in his book "God's Design" says this about being cut off: "The seriousness of violating these borders is emphasized by the degree of punishment: excommunication from the congregation or permanent severance from it, through either ostracism or death... Such drastic punishment is necessary because Yaweh's name has been defiled."

So, how does this ancient ritual from the first century apply to our church here in post-modern America? We need to take a look at our big 3 again.

Fellowship - Just as in ancient times, God desires fellowship between His people.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
²⁵ Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

He also desires fellowship WITH His people

Psalms 119:9-16 (MSG)
⁹ How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word.
¹⁰ I'm single-minded in pursuit of you; don't let me miss the road signs you've posted.
¹¹ I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt.
¹² Be blessed, God; train me in your ways of wise living.
¹³ I'll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
¹⁴ I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches.
¹⁵ I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you've done it.
¹⁶ I relish everything you've told me of life, I won't forget a word of it.

We are required to sacrifice. However, instead of livestock or agriculture, He asks that we sacrifice our very lives.

Romans 12:1-2 (MSG)
¹ So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
² Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

We must have fellowship with others within the body of Christ so that we might sharpen, encourage, rebuke, pray for, work with, and lift up each other for the benefit of all. We must have fellowship with God both personally and corporately so that we might grow closer to Him and mature spiritually. In addition, we must sacrifice our wants and desires so that we can be used in whatever way God chooses. His Word shows us the prescribed path that we should follow, and the way in which we should go. These are very clear in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)
³⁷ Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment.
³⁹ And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

These two passages remind us of the attitude and heartbeat for how we are to fellowship and sacrifice so that we can do the work God has set before us. If we choose to forget what God has done for us, and come to worship with any other agenda than those listed in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, we risk being "cut off". That doesn't mean that you're going to be stoned to death or excommunicated from the Church, but it does mean that you may have God's blessing removed from your efforts.

You might be thinking "now what?" How do we honor the memory of what God has done for us, and pass that on to others so that they can make memories of what God is doing for them? There must be action.

Rick Warren, speaking at the Baptist World Centenary Conference in Birmingham, England, said "A non-serving Christian is a contradiction. God didn't save you to sit, soak, and sour. He saved you to serve. Significance (or honoring the memory of what God has done) comes from service."

He also said "What Jesus did in His physical body, he expects us to do in his spiritual body as the church. Why do we do this? Why should I care about the sick and the poor and the uneducated and the spiritually empty? Because of what Jesus has done for us. We do it out of gratitude."

"Do you know what God cares about most?" Warren asked the crowd. "He wants his lost children found. ... God never made a person He didn't love."

These are powerful words, and they cut to the heart of what we need to be doing. Let's remember what God has done for us, and be the Church He has called us to be!

Be the Church INSIDE the walls!

The Church needs nursery workers, Sunday School teachers, Small Group leaders, Ushers, Care Team members, Men's and Women's Ministry workers, Server, Communion preparers, Musicians, Technicians, Prayer Warriors, Sacrificial Givers, and more.

Be the Church OUTSIDE the walls!

The community needs Missions teams, Evangelism teams, Apartment ministries, School mentors, Vacation Bible School workers, Rescue Mission teams, and the list grows, depending on your community and its specific needs.

There is much to be done! However, that cannot get accomplished if we forget that we are to fellowship and sacrifice TOGETHER. Many churches spend way too much time bickoring and infighting amongst themselves that they lose sight of the amazing works God has done for them, and the memory of what it is that God has asked the Church to do fades away. It is of the utmost importance that we put this aside and start a new reformation from within; a reformation that hinges on the remembrance of the promises, command, and commission of God.

Rick Warren says "It's time to stop debating the Bible and start doing it. It's time to stop criticizing and start cooperating. It's time for the church to be the church. This is the new reformation I'm praying for."

Paul speaks of this in Ephesians as well.

Ephesians 4:29-32 (NIV)
²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Let's stop engaging in backbiting, slander, false witness, gossip, and discontent! Instead, let's remember what God did for us, and focus those energies into what we can do to be the Church in the way God intended: Fellowshipping together and offering ourselves completely for His purposes, so that, rather than being cut off from His blessings, we are receiving a full measure of them as a body and as individuals.

Defining Hermeneutics, Identifying Hermeneutical Issues, and Suggesting a Response

Ok, so most of you know I am in classes at Tabor College finishing up my bachelor's degree. I want to keep up with my blog, but that gets tight when I'm already writing so much for class! Soooo.... I thought I would share some of my homework with all of you and see what you think. This post is on the wonders of Hermeneutics. It's a word that we've almost never heard, but it's something we do all of the time when it comes to reading Scripture. Hopefully, this will be enlightening!

Defining Hermeneutics as it pertains to the Bible is not a simple task. There are so many variables to take into account that it can be absolutely mind-boggling to make sense of all the potential definitions. However, in reading and researching, I believe that I have a definition of what hermeneutics is to me as it pertains to Scripture. Hermeneutics is the process of taking the original intent of a passage of Scripture (found by proper exegesis) and seeing how, or if, it applies to the time, place, and circumstances in which we live today.

Even with proper exegesis, we still come up against issues as we try to apply Scripture to our lives hermeneutically. While there are many, let us focus on three. The first of these is what Fee and Stuart call “The Basic Rule.” “a text cannot mean what it never could have meant to its author, or his or her readers…This rule does not always help one find out what a text means, but it does help set limits as to what it cannot mean. (Fee & Stuart, 74).”

The second focus issue is that of “Cultural Relativity”. This issue is particularly troublesome, due to the complete differences in cultures all across the globe. As Fee and Stuart put it, “The point is that it is extremely difficult to be consistent here, precisely because there is no such thing as a divinely ordained culture; cultures are in fact different, not only from the first to the twenty-first century, but in every conceivable way in the twenty-first century itself (81).”

The third issue has to do with the Biblical text being put in isolation. This approach attempts to detach the text from any and all external factors, including the author and the cultural setting. In doing so, it supposedly allows the text to say what it wants to any time, place, culture, or people. Jack K. Willsey of the Northwest Baptist Seminary says, “This approach assumes that meaning is a factor of written sentences, not the intention of the author nor the bias of the reader (NARBC Preaching Seminar, 2000).”

In response to the first focus issue, it is of the utmost importance that we do not allow our interpretation of Scripture to convey a meaning that it could not originally convey. First and foremost, our efforts should be to perform an exhaustive exegesis of the passage we intend to interpret. Only then can we get a solid idea of the author’s original intent. Once we know what the passage was trying to convey to those it was written to, we can begin the process of interpretation for our current place, time, culture, and people. By following “The Basic Rule”, we can assure ourselves of making less hermeneutical mistakes when interpreting Scripture.

Finding and Developing My Strengths in Life and Ministry

Have you ever really wondered what your strengths are? I never really did, until I got into my classes through the Tabor College Adult Degree Completion program. I hadn't ever really thought about "strengths" per say, but rather, had continually "done things' that turned out well, and so figured that there must be something more to it. Part of my first class module was focused on finding strengths. To that end, we went through Strengths Quest by Donald Clifton and Edward Anderson. The finds were very intriguing!

There are certain things all of us do that seem to be second nature. These things just come naturally, and require little to no effort. Call them gifts, talents, or quirks if you wish, but each of us have certain strengths of character that I believe are built into us as God knits us together in our mother's womb. These strengths, when harnessed, have the ability to produce success in life, learning, and ministry. After taking the Strengths Quest test online (www.strengthsquest.com), I discovered that my top five strengths are as follows: 1. Strategic, 2. Communication, 3. Belief, 4. Developer, 5. Responsibility. These five strengths, when used together, create an opportunity to greatly increase my ability to succeed.

The first strength in my list is Strategic. According to the StrengthsQuest book, I am able to "sort through clutter to find the best route... This perspective allows you to see patterns where others simply see complexity (67)". I've seen this particular strength in my life from many sources. I've always been good at critical analysis, and coming up with a rock solid plan that turns chaos into calm isn't hard for me to do. People have given me the reputation of one that "just gets it done", and that ability has served me well.

In ministry, this particular strength comes in very handy when revamping current ministry events and creating new ones. When working with so many volunteers, it can be challenging to focus everyone's attention on a particular issue. By harnessing this strength, I am able to clearly identify what needs to be done, delegate those responsibilities, and see it through to completion.

The second strength in my list is Communication. From an early age, I learned how to clearly communicate ideas and opinions. Public speaking or performing hasn't been an issue for me at any point in recent memory, and when I have the opportunity to speak, I am excited and challenged to make it something that will stick in people's minds for a long while. I want my word pictures to "pique their interest, sharpen their world, and inspire them to act (Clifton/Anderson/Schreiner, 36)". As a minister, this strength is used on an almost daily basis, as I preach, teach, counsel, and shepherd my congregation. Communication is of utmost importance if I am to bring the Gospel to the masses in fresh, relevant, and relational ways.

The third strength in my list is Belief. My parents instilled a need to believe in something greater than myself from birth. They told me the stories of the Bible, showed me the wonders of God, and lived a lifestyle that exuded the essence of living as a Christ-follower. It is my belief in Jesus Christ that gives me the hope to face each day head-on, and that belief guides my thoughts, decisions, and actions each moment of each day. StrengthsQuest says that "When you live your life according to your deepest values and beliefs, you experience motivation, drive, and determination (34)". I find this to be absolutely true for me. It is in living my life for Jesus that I find the motivation to move forward in every aspect of life and ministry. My beliefs reach every corner of my being, and give me the desire to instill those beliefs in my children, my friends, and in those who walk through the doors of my church each week.

The fourth strength in my list is Developer. This is what I would call "shepherding" in ministry terms. This strength is what gives me the ability to see things in others, and the desire to bring it out of them. I was in bands for years, and it was always a joy to bring along players and watch their abilities grow. As a worship minister, it is part of my job to develop players and singers of all ages, so that they might work together for the glory of God and edification of the Body. The most important part of this development is not musical in nature; it is the spiritual aspect that is, in fact, the most essential. As StrengthsQuest says, "When you interact with others, your goal is to help them experience success. You look for ways to challenge them. You devise interesting experiences that can stretch them and help them grow (44)".

The fifth and final strength in my list is Responsibility. As I mentioned earlier, I'm the guy that gets labeled as one who "just gets it done". When I take something on, it is important to me that it get done correctly. I want it to be the absolute best it can be so that it can be as successful as possible! Unfortunately, I can be this way to a fault. StrengthsQuest says "With the responsibility you feel to the people who come to you and with the demands that each of them brings, you might feel overwhelmed and under pressure to perform (63)". In ministry, as someone with a strength in responsibility, it is very easy to take on too much and want it all to be too perfect. It's for God and His people, right? If so, then it HAS to be perfect! I must watch myself in this area constantly, or my strength of responsibility can become a weakness of taking on too much responsibility.

With these five strengths now being defined for me, I have the ability to harness each of them directly. It is my hope that this will make a positive impact on myself, my family, my congregation, and the world.

The Electric Parable

John 15:1-11 (MSG) - I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken. "Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me. "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples. "I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love. "I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.

How many of you have heard this parable from Jesus before? Looking back at Jesus’ time, this parable made perfect sense to use. At that point in history, there wasn’t a central water district, no sewer system, and nobody had a clue as to what chlorination was. Water was, at best, a very marginal version of “clean” depending on how far outside the city you went to get it. Nobody had ice machines, and no one was carrying around an indestructible plastic Nalgene bottle or even a metal canteen! Nope. Wine was the most sanitary drink of the day. Easily transportable in barrels or animal skin pouches, it would stay fresh for a fairly decent amount of time and would not grow bacteria nearly as fast as water transported the same way. Taking care of the grape vine was an integral part of life and commerce in those days!

What does it bring to mind when you hear or read this passage? For me it brings to mind the sprawling fields of grapes in Napa Valley California. I got to see that in 2004 when some friends and I went to a worship conference at Saddleback Church. After we got off the plane and ate at IN ‘n OUT (best burger and fries in the nation!), we had an afternoon to kill. One of my friends was a die-hard Reagan fanatic, so we drove up to the Reagan Presidential Library in Napa Valley. The place was on top of a hill that overlooked the entire wine valley, and it was breath taking! All those vines, all those grapes… All that wine that was going to be made that was more expensive than my house… Thinking of it that way, the parable was understandable, but didn’t make much sense to me. I don’t grow grapes, so while I can relate, it doesn’t hit home as hard as it might.

This parable might make perfect sense today to those of you in the Agriculture industry, it tends to be a little distant for me, because I am a techie. Sooo… I think we need to “Power” this parable up and look at it in a different “light”. To that end, here’s a version of that same parable, from the MJT, or Makeshift Jeremy Translation:

"I am the Wall Outlet and my Father is the Maintenance Man. He shuts off every power strip of mine that doesn't power something. And every power strip that does he adjusts so it will power even more. You are already adjusted by the message I have spoken. "Stay plugged into me. Make a connection in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a power strip can't turn on a light by itself but only by being joined to wall outlet, you can't be light in this world unless you are joined with me. "I am the Wall Outlet, you are the Power Strip. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and electric, the amount of usable appliances is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is powerless, gathered up and thrown in the recycling bin. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce usable light, when you mature as my disciples. "I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love. "I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.

In order to more fully understand this idea, we need to look at the three main parts here of our “Electric” parable.

1. The Wall Outlet – Jesus! He is the way we tap into the mighty power of God and distribute it to the ministry we are wired for. If we don’t accept Jesus for who He is and plug into the idea that we need Him in our lives, then we’re powerless! Sure, we can do all kinds of good things, but ultimately they are not going to have the blessing and momentum that God intended.

John 14:6 is so relevant here! Jesus said that He was the way, the truth, and the life, and that NO ONE could come to the Father except through Him. It would be foolish to expect that we are going to tap God’s power and do great things for the kingdom if we don’t first accept Jesus as the source we need to plug into in order to tap that power!

2. The Maintenance Man – God! God is the one who provides power to the the Wall Outlet, and helps us to plug into that power. He is also the one that adjusts our power outlet levels, depending on how new we are to the source! That adjustment can sometimes be hard, because there are many of us that are used to being our own power source. We can easily try to unplug from the Wall Outlet and fire up our own generator again, but that only lasts so long. We need to allow Him to keep us plugged into the Wall Outlet and adjust our power output so that we can be the most effective at distributing His light and power to the world.

3. The Power Strip – Us! We are the ones who plug into the Wall Outlet and give light to the world. We have many “appliances” (ministries) that get power from us. Whether we head it up or are just a volunteer, we power those ministries through the power that we receive from Jesus. Here’s the catch – we have to be switched “on” in order to distribute that light and power!

How many people do you know that say they are plugged into the source, and yet have no light to show for it? They probably are plugged into Jesus, and the power may very well be flowing from the outlet into the power strip. However, it stops short of being distributed to the world because the switch is off!

These are the types that come to church, put a little in the plate, take communion, tolerate the music, sleep through the sermon, complain that we got out late, and then go home to fall asleep in front of the tv. I’m completely over-exaggerating here, but you get the point! There is no way on God’s Green Earth that we are going to be effective for the kingdom without having that service switch flipped into the “on” position so that we can distribute the light and power that God intended.

So, what do we need to take from this today?

1. Allow the Maintenance Man to make the necessary adjustments to you so that you can be consistently plugged into the Wall Outlet and distributing light and power to the masses.

Romans 8:28 (NIV) - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

2. Stay plugged into the Wall Outlet so that you might be able to do all that the Maintenance Man asks of you!

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

3. Keep your switch turned “on” so that the power can flow through you to light the world!

Matthew 28:19-20 (New International Version) - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Apart from Jesus we can do nothing, but with Jesus we can light the way for others to come to the Father!

One Body, Many Parts

I would assume that most of us have at least glossed over the passage in 1 Corinthians 12 that speaks about the body. We all have the head knowledge that this particular piece of Scripture speaks to, which is that we are all different, and yet, part of the same body. To refresh all of our memories, here's the passage I'm talking about.

I Corinthians 12:12-31 - The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is wit Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many, If the foot should say, "Because i am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts of that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unrepresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that ts parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one parts in honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to heal others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

This idea of One Body, Many Parts, is meant to show the church that it is to be a unit. This idea is to be shown in the local church AND the church worldwide by the inclusiveness of the body, regardless of race, gender, background, financial status, job, education, or gifts and talents. We are to accept the God given diversity of our brothers and sisters in Christ so that we might truly be one body of believers made up of all kinds of people. Preachers, teachers, prophets, healers, musicians, vocalists, servants, prayer warriors, etc... We are to think of and act like the church as a great melting pot that welcomes all parts into God's family.

It is important that I stress one very important point here. We are also to welcome those who practice a homosexual lifestyle into the Church. Yes, there are clear verses in Leviticus 18 & 20, as well as I Corinthians 6, that state God's true feelings about homosexuality. However, there are also many other verses that state God's true feelings about other sins as well, not to mention that God doesn't rate one sin higher than another. God loves them, but detests their lifestyle choice. How else are we to show them the love God has and the truth about their sinful condition if we don't even let them in the doors? Let me be clear: I am NOT saying that we should invite them to serve on the Worship Team, teach a Sunday School class, or be a Youth Sponsor. I would not be kosher with that, just as I would not be kosher with a raging alcoholic, pedophile, or adulterer doing any of those things. I AM saying that we should invite them in so that they might hear the Good News, believe, and turn from their sin to go the direction that God would have them go.

Another part of being One Body, Many Parts, is recognizing that not all of us will have the same function within the body. We are not made from a cookie cutter! Each of us has had a diverse set of experiences, and no two people have had the exact same experiences. That means that we are all designed to do things that another is not, and God planned it that way! Not everyone is an amazing musician, gifted speaker, or well studied teacher. Some have those gifts, but some might just be good at service oriented things, and others still might have a bigger knack for prayer and encouragement. The body has many different skill sets on purpose, so that we might better serve when we're together.

The problem here is when folks get the idea that one gift or another is bigger, better, or more important than another. Folks, we're all called to the same mission! Our call is to continue the work of Christ here on earth until He returns. How we do that depends on our gifts and abilities! Just because I'm called to continue Christ's work on earth through Worship Arts doesn't mean that I'm any better than my friend Dave who's called to continue Christ's work on earth through being an electrician. We simply do different things within the body to further the kingdom! Ministry is our full time job, regardless of what we do for gainful employment. His is turning on lights, and mine is turning on amps and computers.

We cannot seek status with our gifts and talents, and still expect to be One Body. It just won't happen. When people use their gifts as a way to build themselves up, it creates the "pedestal complex", in which one is all of a sudden better and more distinguished than another.

I've worked with pastors and lay leaders that were doing their jobs for the status within the Body that it gave them, and they used that status as leverage to get what they wanted. Did that create unity? Quite the opposite. It almost always created a fair amount of dis-unity and chaos within the Body.

On the other end of the spectrum, the pastor I work for now has every right (by the world's standards) to be on a pedestal. He's been here almost 4 decades, and has a powerful and dynamic personality and preaching style that captures your attention from beginning to end. He could easily just go about his days prepping to preach and leaving the rest to others. Instead, he doesn't even consider his status as anything to talk about, rolls up his sleeves, and gets dirty just like the rest of us. There is no "pedestal complex" in his heart; he only has the love of Jesus and the desire for unity within the Body.

Where did he learn how to do that? What was His example? It was the example Jesus set for us that Paul speaks of in his letter to the Church at Philippi.

Philippians 2:5-11 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

THIS is how we become One Body, Many Parts. We consider status nothing and humble ourselves to become obedient to what it is that God has set before us. Only then will we be able to live together in unity and allow God to increase our ability to further His kingdom for His glory.

One Body. Many Parts. All ages, races, countries, denominations... Globally and locally, all working together for the sole purpose of combining our gifts and talents in order to give God glory.

I'm in. Are you?