This song, among others, by Shane and Shane (who rock by the way) has been getting me to think.
What does it look like to burn with a passion for Jesus, today, in America, in 2009?
I don't necessarily have the answer, but I do want to burn on the inside.
Holy design
this place in time
that i might seek and find my God
my God
Lord i want to yearn for You
i want to burn with passion
over You and only You
Lord i want to yearn
Your joy is mine
yet why am i fine
with all my singing and bringing grain
in light of Him
oh You give life and breath
through Him You give all things
in Him we live and move
that's why i sing
"And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring." (Acts 17:25-28 NIV)
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28-29 NIV)
Showing posts with label Acts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Acts. Show all posts
8.28.2009
3.17.2009
that's church!
Last night, I was able to go to a home worship session. We sang, prayed, and offered our hearts to the Lord.
Other than being really awesome, it was really awesome.
There is something about an informal setting, being in the company of brothers and sisters who share a love for Jesus and a desire to serve Him, that makes all these bells go off in your head of "ding, ding, ding...you're getting it just right!!"
In fact, historical definitions of the word "church" mean more "the company of Christians that composed the spiritual body"...not necessarily what we understand "church" to mean in our contemporary culture.
It's not like we were doing something unique and original to the Christian identity for the first time in all of history. I do think the house church model has some very appealing elements to it -- namely that you are hitting the heart of Christian community and providing a setting that is potentially more comfortable and inviting than an institutionalized, professionalized church.
In fact, the early church was much like what we did last night.
Throughout the Book of Acts, we see various instances of healings, fellowship meetings, meals, and times of worship taking place in the context of home meetings.
See for yourself! Acts 2:1, 2:37-47, Acts 16 (40) when Paul gets out of prison...
Home worship, offering our lives to the Lord together...now that's church!
Other than being really awesome, it was really awesome.
There is something about an informal setting, being in the company of brothers and sisters who share a love for Jesus and a desire to serve Him, that makes all these bells go off in your head of "ding, ding, ding...you're getting it just right!!"
In fact, historical definitions of the word "church" mean more "the company of Christians that composed the spiritual body"...not necessarily what we understand "church" to mean in our contemporary culture.
It's not like we were doing something unique and original to the Christian identity for the first time in all of history. I do think the house church model has some very appealing elements to it -- namely that you are hitting the heart of Christian community and providing a setting that is potentially more comfortable and inviting than an institutionalized, professionalized church.
In fact, the early church was much like what we did last night.
Throughout the Book of Acts, we see various instances of healings, fellowship meetings, meals, and times of worship taking place in the context of home meetings.
See for yourself! Acts 2:1, 2:37-47, Acts 16 (40) when Paul gets out of prison...
Home worship, offering our lives to the Lord together...now that's church!
12.10.2008
disciples, not converts
In terms of global evangelism and missions (which is still relevant here in the USA), it's great to go and share the gospel, but I think Scripture even more specifically calls us to try and make disciples, not just mere "converts" to the faith.
Jesus says so himself: "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." (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)
Go and make "disciples"...it doesn't say go and make "converts"...
Paul, a great missionary himself, also keys on the importance of "disciples" and not mere converts throughout the book of Acts. We see different instances (please see for yourself in Acts) where Paul is growing up "disciples" or strengthening the already existing "disciples."
"Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them." (Acts 19:8-12 NIV)
I think this is important to recognize. It changes the focus and logistics of what missions may involve and the commitment to missions.
1) It will be a slower process. We are used to so many things fast, fast, fast in our modern day and age. We acquire material goods, even large things, like buying a house very quickly. In many countries of the world, it may take a family 15 years to build their homes. They buy a lot, and when they can afford some cinder blocks they start a foundation. Then 5 years later when they can afford cinder blocks for a wall, they buy those and now you have a foundation and a wall. The point is, we are used to acquiring or accomplishing things with rapidity.
I feel like genuine discipleship and missions that seek to bring honor and glory to God are distinctly different.
2) The "numbers" won't be as many. Also in our day and age, we have this mentality of "more is better." We certainly take this approach to our financial holdings. Our houses as well. Even our food. Supersize me please! More, more, more!
I don't think it's wrong to desire that everyone know and have a genuine relationship with Jesus. I wish everyone I knew would know the Truth and Joy that is found in Jesus and Him alone. This may be my pessimistic attitude, but I'm not sure of the reality of how those two things mesh together. If we are taking time in missions to go deeper into relationships and with a commitment to discipleship, I feel like there's not enough time to go around for having deep relationships with numerous individuals.
That's hard to reconcile. In thinking about missions, against our fast and high quantity mindsets that we have been a-cultured to, I think the Lord wants us to do less, but do less well.
Jesus says so himself: "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." (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)
Go and make "disciples"...it doesn't say go and make "converts"...
Paul, a great missionary himself, also keys on the importance of "disciples" and not mere converts throughout the book of Acts. We see different instances (please see for yourself in Acts) where Paul is growing up "disciples" or strengthening the already existing "disciples."
"Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them." (Acts 19:8-12 NIV)
I think this is important to recognize. It changes the focus and logistics of what missions may involve and the commitment to missions.
1) It will be a slower process. We are used to so many things fast, fast, fast in our modern day and age. We acquire material goods, even large things, like buying a house very quickly. In many countries of the world, it may take a family 15 years to build their homes. They buy a lot, and when they can afford some cinder blocks they start a foundation. Then 5 years later when they can afford cinder blocks for a wall, they buy those and now you have a foundation and a wall. The point is, we are used to acquiring or accomplishing things with rapidity.
I feel like genuine discipleship and missions that seek to bring honor and glory to God are distinctly different.
2) The "numbers" won't be as many. Also in our day and age, we have this mentality of "more is better." We certainly take this approach to our financial holdings. Our houses as well. Even our food. Supersize me please! More, more, more!
I don't think it's wrong to desire that everyone know and have a genuine relationship with Jesus. I wish everyone I knew would know the Truth and Joy that is found in Jesus and Him alone. This may be my pessimistic attitude, but I'm not sure of the reality of how those two things mesh together. If we are taking time in missions to go deeper into relationships and with a commitment to discipleship, I feel like there's not enough time to go around for having deep relationships with numerous individuals.
That's hard to reconcile. In thinking about missions, against our fast and high quantity mindsets that we have been a-cultured to, I think the Lord wants us to do less, but do less well.
10.28.2008
stumbling blocks to genuine community
In Acts, we have one of the purest pictures of the early church and early Christian fellowship:
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2: 42-47 NIV)
I think an emphasis worth noting is "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
Pure community. And not by coincidence, the body of believers was growing quickly. The more unified the community, the greater it was able to grow as others came to know Christ.
One of my pet peeves if I could call it that of Christian community is that there all sorts of weird aspects in relationships that prevent pure and genuine community. Obviously, sin plays a significant role in coming between brothers and sisters, brothers and brothers, sisters and sisters...a lot of these stumbling blocks I think have migrated from worldly cultural tenets and principles into Christian community. For brother and sister relationships, one of these main stumbling blocks I think involves the idea of marriage. I posted on that a bit earlier, that there is this underlying cultural expectation to get married that I don't think is necessarily completely in-line with Scriptures' premise of marriage. As a result of this, when brothers and sisters are meeting each other for the first time, or first developing friendships, I think there is an underlying weirdness, as a result of some cultural expectations. It's possible that what's going on is that brothers and sisters are reading into things or having their minds not foremost on developing Christian community for God's glory, but rather on personal desires for relationships, possibly marriage.
For brother - brother relationships, I think cultural aspects of the importance of being thought of as intelligent, "Godly" or even being this "manly" man sometimes provides a stumbling block. I think guys sometimes get together and there is an underlying desire (that comes primarily from culture) to be able to lift more in the gym than the other guy or being more witty or having a greater knowledge of the Bible. This is not a limited list, there are other things guys do with other guys to "one up" each other in a sense, even if it's in a subtle way. Some of this sounds dumb and childish, but I do think it goes on. In addition, this desire is exacerbated when in a group setting.
I'm not going to try and speak to sister-sister relationships, since I'm not a sister, but I imagine there are stumbling blocks with those relationships too. And so what are we to do?
First, I think it's important to examine and recognize tendencies in relationships that may contribute to these "stumbling blocks." I think the desire to be humble and a servant before your brother or sister is something really important to keep in mind. Being vulnerable is hard, but it can be done more easily I think the more one's eyes are on the prize, Jesus. Also, it wouldn't be bad to echo Jesus prayer for community unity and keep in mind the direction to which Jesus was pointing with His prayer (this is kind of long, but most excellent):
"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (John 17: 6-26 NIV)
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2: 42-47 NIV)
I think an emphasis worth noting is "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
Pure community. And not by coincidence, the body of believers was growing quickly. The more unified the community, the greater it was able to grow as others came to know Christ.
One of my pet peeves if I could call it that of Christian community is that there all sorts of weird aspects in relationships that prevent pure and genuine community. Obviously, sin plays a significant role in coming between brothers and sisters, brothers and brothers, sisters and sisters...a lot of these stumbling blocks I think have migrated from worldly cultural tenets and principles into Christian community. For brother and sister relationships, one of these main stumbling blocks I think involves the idea of marriage. I posted on that a bit earlier, that there is this underlying cultural expectation to get married that I don't think is necessarily completely in-line with Scriptures' premise of marriage. As a result of this, when brothers and sisters are meeting each other for the first time, or first developing friendships, I think there is an underlying weirdness, as a result of some cultural expectations. It's possible that what's going on is that brothers and sisters are reading into things or having their minds not foremost on developing Christian community for God's glory, but rather on personal desires for relationships, possibly marriage.
For brother - brother relationships, I think cultural aspects of the importance of being thought of as intelligent, "Godly" or even being this "manly" man sometimes provides a stumbling block. I think guys sometimes get together and there is an underlying desire (that comes primarily from culture) to be able to lift more in the gym than the other guy or being more witty or having a greater knowledge of the Bible. This is not a limited list, there are other things guys do with other guys to "one up" each other in a sense, even if it's in a subtle way. Some of this sounds dumb and childish, but I do think it goes on. In addition, this desire is exacerbated when in a group setting.
I'm not going to try and speak to sister-sister relationships, since I'm not a sister, but I imagine there are stumbling blocks with those relationships too. And so what are we to do?
First, I think it's important to examine and recognize tendencies in relationships that may contribute to these "stumbling blocks." I think the desire to be humble and a servant before your brother or sister is something really important to keep in mind. Being vulnerable is hard, but it can be done more easily I think the more one's eyes are on the prize, Jesus. Also, it wouldn't be bad to echo Jesus prayer for community unity and keep in mind the direction to which Jesus was pointing with His prayer (this is kind of long, but most excellent):
"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (John 17: 6-26 NIV)
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