Theology

Ignorance of God – ignorance both of His ways and of the practice of communion with Him – lies at the root of much of the church’s weakness today. J.I. Packer

Sin and Repentance

I'm doing a series of sermons on sin, which any pastor would approach with some concern. I had a friends email me that his pastor preached on sin and got all kinds of nasty phone calls. Ouch! But, as one of my professors in seminary would say, when preaching to people, don’t give them “half a loaf”; preach the whole gospel—even the discomforting parts. The discomforting parts are the ones that set us free, free from the sins in our lives that keep us from the best God has for us, and ultimately destroys us.

The response of the congregation is overwhelmingly positive. They are ready for more of God's presence in their lives.

This is an amazing quote about sin:
"Our sense of sin is in proportion to our nearness to God."
Thomas D. Bernard


I've used it the past two weeks, and will probably use it throughout the series. I'm looking forward to seeing what God is going to do in the congregation. How can it not be amazing when there are a whole community of people who are ready to repent of sin and are passionate about more of God in their lives?

God's will

Here is an illustration of praying with faith, and praying God’s will:

Luke 18:35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." 38 He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied. 42 Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

The blind man’s response in the NIV doesn’t give justice to what the man said. The NAS says, “And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” That is a man of passion!

Notice he didn’t say, “Lord, if it be your will”, or “Lord, I humbly beseech thee for healing, but only if you wish it,” or even, “Lord, I just want your will done.” No, he boldly and with great abandon proclaimed “I want to see!”

He would have had trouble fitting into a polite Baptist prayer meeting.

What would have happened if he has listened to the crowd? Nothing, absolutely nothing. But at least the crowd could have said, “well, God’s will was done.”

And the crowd would have been wrong.

The way Jesus taught us to pray God’s will is not the way we use God’s will.
Stop playing life (and prayer) safe. Start praying more than God’s will.

Start pursuing God’s will: that His Kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven.

Jesus and Lifestyle Changes

This was the introduction to my sermon last week. This was the last week of our series was called "Revolution".

Jesus came and brought a revolution, a revolution not just of ideas but of an ideology. He brought not just a different way of living; He said this is the only way to truly live. He didn’t bring a way to get to God; He said He was the only way to get to God. He didn’t just say here is how to live in this world, He said if you follow me you will no longer be of this world. He brought a way that didn’t end with death but conquered death. He made eternity reachable. He brought a revolution.

In the words of Dorothy Sayers:
"To do them justice, the people who crucified Jesus did not do so because he was a bore. Quite the contrary; he was too dynamic to be safe. It has been left for later generations to muffle up that shattering personality and surround him with an atmosphere of tedium. We have declawed the lion of Judah and made him a housecat for pale priests and pious old ladies."

Christianity has the most radical, dangerous, message of life, calling us to a radical, dangerous, daring earth-shattering life, but too many of us live a life of hum-drum, safe and tedious days. Is that really the call of Jesus? Not according to the Bible I read.