4/27 – Colossians 2:1-5 – Labor of Love

Today’s DT was very personal, so I’ll just share my response to the first question.

What can I learn about Apostle Paul’s heart for the church at Colosse and Laodicea from this passage?  What I can learn is that Apostle Paul loves and cares for the people in Colosse and Laodicea.   His heart is not just feeling, but something real.  He says that he struggles for them, and so he is working and laboring for them.  What’s interesting is that he’s not just struggling for those he knows but also for those he has not met personally.

Tags: Colossians, Apostle Paul

Pacifica!

A2F Blue spent a nice saturday at Pacifica.  Here are some pictures.    We spent the day playing Ultimate tackle football.   Yes, even the sisters got into it.  In fact, they were tackling more fiercely than the brothers.   We did some fishing, crabbing and had a nice BBQ. Afterwards, we warmed up (it was cold) by going to Tapioca Express and getting some slush drinks!  What a way to warm up.  It was that cold.

Here’s a picture of Esther and me dancing at Tapioca Express (ugh, I wish the camera didn’t catch my double-chin).  They had a disco ball, and we couldn’t resist.  Here’s a picture of Hubert Wong literally flipping out on the beach.  Awesome shot, huh?  You can find more pictures here.

DT – 4/24 – Colossians1:24-29

What is Paul’s identity and purpose?  How was this intimately tied to the church in Colosse?  In v.25, Paul says that he was the servant of the church, commissioned by God to present the word of God in its fullness.  As a result, through Paul’s words, we see that he is engaged in ministry with the Colossians.  Paul admonished and taught everyone (with God’s word) so that he may present them perfect in Christ.  There is a great deal of relational, intimate ministry going on between him and the Colossians.

What did Paul have to do in order to fulfill his purpose? Paul suffered afflictions similar to what Christ suffered (v.24).  It’s amazing that Paul didn’t find an easier way.  He didn’t move away from suffering and afflictions.  He saw himself as a servant of the church, and there were some things that had to be done.  There were some situations that he had to endure.  And he did it because he was a servant and, in his eyes, had no other choice.    For Paul there was just one way to serving Christ and it involved suffering His afflictions.

Reflect on vss. 28-29, and on the character and attitude required of those on the receiving end of Apostle Paul’s ministry as described here.  How does this apply to me as one who must similarly be admonished, taught, and presented perfect in Christ?  Paul admonished and taught everyone, and so the attitude required by those on the receiving end was humility.  He ministered to grown adults, people who have lived their ways for decades.  He ministered to people with a Jewish mindset, with a Greek worldview and with values that have asserted the self before others. It takes a great deal of humility and trust to be admonished and presented perfect in Christ.

Tags: Colossians

Staff Joy Day

Here’s a picture of the A2F Brother staff at the ropes course last weekend.  I’m glad I’m in ministry with these guys and not some war.

Tags: a2f, acts2fellowship

DT – 4/23 – Colossians 1:21-23

Reflect on how much .v21 was true of my life before Christ.   Verse 21 says that once I was alienated from God and was enemies in my mind because of my evil behavior.  Alienated sounds right.  Enemy is a little much isn’t it?  I never considered myself an enemy of God, even in the worst of my non Christian days.  But if I reflect on my values and my thought processes and how I came to think about others and myself then I can’t think of a better word than enemy.   My sinful natures tells me that I’m better than other people and I scavenge of any type of evidence, great or small, to support that.  And when I think that I’m better than others then I want reality to conform to it.  I want others to recognize it, and I want others to honor me above others.  When I think this way I am going to make choices that favor me over others.  In short, this attitude is called pride, and pride, as CS Lewis says, is from the devil.  It’s an anti-God state of my.  And so not only am I alienated because of my values and my thinking, but I am an enemy.  God doesn’t want me to think or to live this way.  Through His Son, God showed me that the way to live is not by exalting myself.  It’s not by asserting myself.  It’s not by clinging onto life.  Rather, it’s by humbling myself, it’s by letting others have first dibs, and it’s by letting go of my life. 

Think about the way God reconciled me to him.  Why is this so amazing?  The text says that Christ reconciled me through Christ’s physical body through death.  This is amazing because the process was physical.  Reconciliation is a relational process, and it’s the bringing back together of two or more persons relationally.  I don’t know if God could have just waved his hand and declared us reconciled.  But the process of reconciliation involved a physical act.  And it wasn’t any physical act, but the death of his son.  This process communicates the cost of reconciliation.  It was expensive. God paid dearly.  He suffered relational loss himself to mend his relationship with fallen man (i.e. me). That was the price that had to be paid to reconcile a sinner (i.e. me) to this holy God.  And the thought is overwhelming.

What do I need to do to “continue in [my] faith, established and firm?”  What is it that moves me away from the hope held out in the gospel?   I think what I need to do is to bathe thoughts with the Word of God.  I need more exposure to God than I do to the world.  Because I interact so much with the world, I need a lot of time with God’s word.  For me, God’s word keeps me sane.  It helps keep my faith established.  It gives me hope.  These days, I’m finding that DT is not enough.  I need to read more of God’s word and allow his thoughts to alter my thoughts so that my faith and my hope are firmly planted.  The word of God is spiritual medicine that helps me live properly. 

Tags: Colossians, Reconciliation, Amazing Grace

A Cool Picture of A2F

A2F Blue went to Battery Park this past friday.  It was a warm night, for the Bay Area. And clear!  Here are some neat pictures.

Tags: acts2fellowship, a2f, Battery Park, Gracepoint Berkeley

DT – 4/22: Colossians 1:15-20 – Supremacy of Christ

Reflect on the description of who Christ is as described in these verses.  One thing that sticks out for me is the supremacy of Christ.  He is the one who has created all things, even rulers, authorities and powers.  Now it would seem that the people in power are in positions of power because of their own ambitions, which to some degree might be true.  But the text is clear that Christ is supreme, and he is the one who holds all things together.  And so it is because of the supremacy of Christ and the fact that he has dominion over these powers and authorities that I must submit to them.  The text also says that Christ is the head of the body, the church.  And so, it is my duty to serve the church and to submit to it, since Christ is the head.  By submitting to the church, I am not submitting to men, or leaders, or any group of people.  Rather, I am submitting to Christ.  He is the head, and he is the one who decides its direction and its organization.  And last, Christ reconciled all things to himself through the cross.

Tags: Colossians, Supremacy of Christ

DT – 4/22: Colossians 1: – Supremacy of Christ15-20

Reflect on the description of who Christ is as described in these verses.  One thing that sticks out for me is the supremacy of Christ.  He is the one who has created all things, even rulers, authorities and powers.  Now it would seem that the people in power are in positions of power because of their own ambitions, which to some degree might be true.  But the text is clear that Christ is supreme, and he is the one who holds all things together.  And so it is because of the supremacy of Christ and the fact that he has dominion over these powers and authorities that I must submit to them.  The text also says that Christ is the head of the body, the church.  And so, it is my duty to serve the church and to submit to it, since Christ is the head.  By submitting to the church, I am not submitting to men, or leaders, or any group of people.  Rather, I am submitting to Christ.  He is the head, and he is the one who decides its direction and its organization.  And last, Christ reconciled all things to himself through the cross.

Tags: Colossians, Supremacy of Christ

DT – 4/21: Colossians 1 – Giving Thanks No Matter What

Colossians 1:9-10

What is Paul’s main prayer request for the Colossians?  Paul asked God to fill the Colossians with knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

What is the purpose for which we should come to know God’s will?  Paul states that the purpose of this prayer—for the Colossians to know God’s will—is so that they may live a life worthy of the Lord and that they may please him in every way (v.10).

Colossians 1:11-14

What can I learn about the nature of Christian life from the fact that Paul asks for strength for the Colossians so that they may have “great endurance and patience”?   What I can learn is that Christian life is not going to be a walk in the park.  It’s not going to be a pleasant dilly-dally with y Lord.  Rather, the imagery often used to characterize Christian life is a race or a battle.  And so it is going to require strength because as a Christian I am going to be called by God to establish his will on earth, as it is done in heaven.  The world is fallen, and so being used by God to establish God’s will is going to require strength.  Also, God’s work is going to require great endurance.  The Lord doesn’t give me a timetable, and so I don’t know when my race will be over.  I think, for an athlete, knowing when a race is over is easier than not knowing when a race is over.  And so I’m going to need endurance.  I’m going to need great endurance and patience because the issues, problems and strongholds that I deal with usually are solved like they are in sitcoms (within 30 minutes).  In addition, sometimes these issues are much greater than I can handle.

What gives me the ability to joyfully give thanks to the Father regardless of my circumstances?  Knowing that I share in the inheritance of the saints gives me strength to give thanks regardless of the circumstances.  My life could have a series of ups and downs.  After I net out m life, may there will be more positives than negatives.  Maybe there will be more negatives than positives.  Regardless of my “balance sheet” looks like at the end of my life, there is an inheritance that I have a share in.  And because of that I can give thinks regardless of my circumstances.

Write a prayer of thanksgiving based on vv.12-14.  Dear father, thank you for saving me.  Thank you for rescuing me from the dominion of darkness.  In other words, thank you for rescuing me from my sins.  Because of my sinful lifestyle, I was in darkness, but because of your mercy you brought me out of that and into your kingdom.   I’ve been in your church for many years, and I’ve experienced a taste of your kingdom and it is wonderful.  Thank you for giving me a share in your inheritance.  If my earthly experience of your inheritance has been this great, then I can’t imagine what my heavenly experience of your inheritance will be.  It must be wonderful.  Lord, please encourage me with this though whenever I get discouraged, through my ups and downs, but especially during the nadir of my sufferings.  And knowing that you will encourage me, I commit to seeking your will and working toward that end.  Please help me, Lord.

Tags: Colossians

DT – 4/20: Colossians 1

Colossians 1:3-5

What does Paul thank God for regarding the Colossians?  Paul thanks God because of the faith of the Colossians and the love that they have for all of the saints.  The news that he heard was very encouraging.  His brothers and sisters were doing well spiritually because they have been putting their faith into action and caring for others. 

How does hope in heaven increase faith and love, and how has this dynamic been at work in my life? Hope in heaven increases faith and love by freeing from the need to make the most out of this world.  In other words, if I didn’t have hope in heaven then I will place my hope in this world.  This means that I will live so that I can get the most out of this world.  Often getting the most out of this world is to live selfishly, for myself or for my family.  But if I have hope for heaven, then I will have more room to live for others, and so I will be freed up to give to others.  This is love.  In addition, if I hope for heaven then my faith will increase because I will be looking forward to the realization of God’s promises.  Faith is taking God at his word and trusting that he will come true.  By hoping for heaven, then I’m going to invest in things that will end up in heaven—and that’s people. 

For the most part this has been true in my life.  But I know there have been moments, or periods, in my life where I have lived for myself so that I get the most meaningful experience in my life.  When I do this, I think in terms of “what is best for me,” or “what is God’s will for my life.”  It’s when I think in these terms that I reserve myself for work or opportunities that will excite me or advance me in some way.  It’s when I think in these terms that I have a hard time serving, in humbling and non-glorious or non-exciting opportunities.

Colossians 1:6

What can I learn about the nature of the gospel through this verse?  What I can learn about the nature of the gospel is that it is infectious and spreads to people.  It’s not surprising because it is good news that wants to be shared.  And often it is.  In addition, the gospel bears fruit meaning that it changes the lives of those who live it out in positive ways.

In what ways have I experienced the gospel bearing fruit and growing in and around me?  Well this past week, our church witnessed 22 baptisms.  I personally had a chance to see the gospel work in the lives of few of the candidates.  Watching their baptisms was a good testimony to the power of the gospel, for it changed their lives.  Their lives were characterized by hopeless and sin, but now they’re characterized by hope and sanctification.    Personally, I’m surprised by the gospel’s ability to bring my heart to peace.  In many ways it has enabled me to be at peace with myself and with others.  This is fruitfulness that nothing else in the world can buy.

How can the fact that “all over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing” encourage me in the midst of difficult situations I may face?  As a Christian my greatest stake is no longer in this thing called “my life” because there is nothing for me to gain on this earth.  Rather my hope is in heaven, but while I’m on this earth my greatest interest becomes sharing the good news with others.  And so it is encouraging when I hear about the good news spreading because my greatest stake and interest is the propagation of the gospel. 

Tags: Colossians

One of These Days

If you haven’t yet, check out Kelly Kang’s Blog entry, titled “One of these Days”

One Of These Days – FFH

DT – 4/17: Luke 24:46-52 – A New Thing

What did Jesus accomplish? Jesus suffered and died on the cross and by doing so he offered repentance and the forgiveness of sins. 

What did Jesus leave for his disciples to accomplish?  He told the disciples to preach the message of repentance and sins to all nations, beginning with Jerusalem.

What is the crux of the message that Jesus told his disciples to preach? The crux of the message is that according to scripture, Christ died on the cross and was raised on the third day.  This was God’s plan to offer forgiveness of sin to all men so that they can repent and turn to God.

What did Jesus promise to do?  Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to go with them as they preach the good news to all nations.  The presence of the Holy Spirit will enable the disciples to accomplish this call.  This enabling is the “power” that Jesus was referring to.

What enabled the disciples to return to Jerusalem with great joy even after Jesus’ departure?  The disciples had just witnessed the resurrection of Jesus.  As Jesus explained scriptures, they understood the implication of this: forgiveness of sins, defeat of death, our enemy, a new life.  The text also says that they worshipped Jesus.  It must have been an awesome worship service, and without a contemporary praise band!  The disciples were  given an opportunity where they can worship on new, cosmological terms.  Jesus is alive!  Death no longer has mastery.  If God raised Jesus then Jesus will also raise us.  We have forgiveness for sins and so we don’t have to fear God.  

Why does it naturally follow that my life should be characterized with great joy? My life should be characterized by great joy because the terms of life have been completely changed.  Death is no longer the victor.  It does not have the last say, and so it won’t separate me from the people that I love.  Sin is no longer the victor.  It does not have the last say, and so it won’t separate me from God.   So my two greatest problems have been met by God!  I have an answer and a solution.  In addition, I have the presence of the Holy Spirit with me, enabling me, counseling me, walking with me to do God’s work, which itself is a great call. 

DT – 4/16: Luke 24:36-45 – Help me, Jesus!

The disciples were frightened because they thought they saw a ghost when they saw Jesus. How are doubts and troublesome thoughts often the result of my misconceptions concerning Christ?  Isn’t it when I lose sight of Jesus that my doubts and troublesome thoughts arise?  Isn’t it when life strikes or when I need to deal with bad news, hardships or a challenging situations that I have doubts and troublesome thoughts?  Because isn’t it during these difficult moments that I have a hard time centering my life around Jesus?  Isn’t it during these moments that I have a hard time going to Jesus?  I’m such an independent creature, and even though I have the Son of God with me I try to deal with life on my own.  And when I do this, God is out of the picture, and when God is out of the picture his comforting words and his hopeful promises are out of the picture.  It is during these moments that doubts and troublesome thoughts arise.  What are such misconceptions?  I think the greatest misconception for me is that God doesn’t care.  My reasoning is this: If God cared, then wouldn’t he do something about my situation?  Sometimes I’m like Martha, complaining to God that he doesn’t care and that He has left me to wallow in my situation.  I feel it more when good things are happening to others around me.  Now that I look at this, I see that this is a very self-centered approach to life.  Life is not about me and what I get out of it.  Life is about worshipping and serving God.  The question is now what has God done for me lately, but what have I done for God lately.

What does Jesus do to settle the disciples’ doubts about his resurrection (cf. vv. 36, 39, 43, 44-45)?  In v.36, he appeared to them while they were still talking about him.  He appeared so that he could show them the good news himself and explain how the resurrection fits in with scripture.  In v.39, Jesus asked the disciples to examine his hands and feet and notice that he’s not a ghost but a real person, with flesh and bones.  He did this to demonstrate that they weren’t hallucinating and that the resurrection was a physical one.  In v.43, he ate food in their presence, further demonstrating that he is a person what is living and fully functioning.  In vv.44-45, he explained from scriptures why he had to die and resurrect.  Jesus didn’t scold the disciples for not believing.  Rather he helped them with their unbelief so that they can embrace resurrection reality and understand that Jesus’ resurrection was not a fluke of the natural order of things, but God’s plan.

Why do people need to open their minds to understand the Scriptures?  I think people need to open their minds to understand scripture because scripture is a different worldview and a different paradigm.  People are sinful and fallen, and do not think like God.

What part of the Scriptures do I need to open my mind to?   I need to open my mind to parts of scripture where God says the last shall be first and the first shall be last.  This rubs me the wrong way because it doesn’t seem fair. 

DT – 4/15: Luke 24:25-35 – The Road to Emmaus, Episode 2

Why were the disciples “slow of heart to believe” the Scriptures? I’m not sure exactly why the disciples were “slow of heart to believe.”  Perhaps all along they weren’t paying attention to Jesus’ words, and what really interested them was what Jesus could deliver.  In other words, they may have enjoyed the community that Jesus created and they may have been looking forward to the establishment of a new physical kingdom.  And so when Jesus spoke, they weren’t really paying attention.  Had they paid attention, they may have been able to piece his words to together and recognize that Messiah had to be crucified and raised on the third day.  Or they may have been slow to believe because of a worldview problem.  They may have believed in God and his words, especially the moral teachings and perhaps even an afterlife.  But they may have dismissed the idea of being raised after three days as something that God wouldn’t do because it just never happened. 

What are some attitudes I hold on to in my heart which the Scriptures repeatedly contradict, but which I am slow to let go of?  After reading the Return of the Prodgal Son for the second time, I realized once again that I’m so much like the elder son who thinks in terms of fairness, instead of relational love.  He is angry with his father for killing the fattened calf because his wayward, irresponsible brother returned.  Fairness requires that the Father reserve some harsh words: “I told you so,” or “You are no son of mine.”  But relational love rejoices at the fact that the younger son has returned.  And so how can we not celebrate?  What makes this story so poignant is what also makes the parable of the 11^th hour poignant—and difficult for me to swallow.  To me I think of fairness, and I think it’s so unfair that the 11^th hour worker is treated the same as the 1^st hour worker.  But the issue is not fairness, but the generosity of the landowner.  So what I need to reconcile in my heart is that I have a heavenly father who is generous and who operates by relational love.  And so there will be celebrations for returned prodigals and equilibration of workers so that the last is the same as the first.  And praise the Lord for it, for am I not the returned prodigal? Am I not the 11^th hour worker?  The sad thing is that I operate by pride and over years of service, I become the elder son and the 1^st hour worker and think that I deserve something more.  And when I don’t get it I cry foul.  This attitude is something that I would throw in the ocean, to be lost forever, in a heart beat.  But sinful attitudes do not work that way.  Over the years they the roots have grown and have grafted themselves to my heart.  It’s difficult to remove: I’ve tried and failed many times.  I look to God for strength to operate according to his values and not my own.  And I look to heaven where one day this sin will be removed forever.

What made their hearts burn?  What made their hearts burn was the revelation of scripture, as Jesus pieced it together for them.  It’s a story of man’s lostness and God’s zealous efforts to redeem lost man.  It is God’s plan declared and God’s plan fulfilled.

What made these two disciples get up and return at once to Jerusalem?They had seen Jesus.  And they had to tell others about it, especially the other disciples.  Such good news is too wonderful to leave it undeclared and unshared. 

The disciples had no option but to hasten back to Jerusalem and share with others how they encountered Jesus.  How does the Gospel have this kind of effect on a person’s life, turning him from the path that he is on and compelling him to share the good news with others?  How true is this of my life? The gospel message is the explanation for life.  Once it is understood and accepted, there is nothing else to live for.  The world no longer becomes our home, but a place that we’re just passing through.  And as we pass through, God transforms us and prepares us for heaven.  And along the way, we have the joy of telling others about it.  It doesn’t make sense to lay up our treasures on this earth because we can’t take it with us anyway.  This is true in my life from the first day I understood the gospel and accepted it.  I couldn’t help but tell others about the gospel.  I told my friends and my sisters.  Whenever I meet people my greatest concern is whether or not they have received the gospel.  I also understand that life is not about awards, accolades, accomplishments.

Tags: Road to Emmaus

DT – 4/14: Luke 24:13-21 – The Road to Emmaus

Today’s DT was really good, and personal.  I hope you guys had a good time answering the questions.  Because a lot of my responses were personal, I’m only uploading my response to the first question today.

William

Imagine how the two men must have felt as they walked to Emmaus.  What about their state might have kept them from recognizing Jesus?  The two men couldn’t take it anymore.  They were with the disciples, all gathered together at Jerusalem.  Then suddenly the women speak nonsense about Jesus’ body being missing.  Enough was enough for these two guys, and so they decided to get away from it all.  They took off the Emmaus.  Walking to Emmaus is like walking home after watching your team lose an important game.  Only it’s a lot worse, of course.  These guys were dejected.  The probably didn’t say much to each other.  They were probably replaying Jesus’ betrayal, the scourging, the crucifixion and how all their hopes got nailed to the cross.  They were downcast.  And when you’re downcast it’s so hard to see Jesus.

This has nothing to do with acts2fellowship or Gracepoint but…

I thought I’d put this up anyway. I was cleaning out my files, and I stumbled upon this video. It’s Danielle at Magic Mountain when she was three years old.

DT – 4/13: Luke 24:1-12

What can I learn from the fact that these women, who went to the tomb “on the first day of the week, very early in the morning,” were the first to learn of Jesus’ resurrection?  The women loved Jesus.  When they saw Jesus’ body taken down from the cross, they probably thought it had to be prepared for the grave.  Sabbath came, and they were forbidden work on the Sabbath, and so after Jesus crucifixion all they could do was mourn and grieve.  But as soon as Sabbath was over, as soon as they could they went to the tomb.  The women loved Jesus.  He was crucified and nothing else mattered.  And because they went they were able to be the first witnesses of the resurrection.  They were able to see that Jesus was alive.  Having said this, there’s something to be said about this kind of attitude where nothing else matters except knowing Jesus.  When nothing else matters there is huge spiritual reward.  There’s spiritual hunger which leads to greater depths of knowledge and insight.  When nothing else matters except knowing Jesus, one’s heart is more humble and is able to discern and ingest God’s work in this post-resurrection period.  When nothing else matters, there is tremendous spiritual growth because everything that hinders is thrown off and the disciple is able to just focus on Jesus. 

What was the effect of the women remembering Jesus’ words? When the women remembered Jesus’ words, things began to click and they believed.  They did not see the resurrected Jesus.  They only saw the empty tomb (the same evidence that is given to me).  They pieced together what they saw and the words that they remembered and they believed.  Immediately they went back to the disciples to tell what they had seen.  Their first words must have been, “He’s alive. Jesus is alive,” and not “The grave is empty.”  How they told the story makes a big difference in what they believed. What effect should these words have on me today?  Jesus is alive.  Christ came to die for my sins and to be raised on the third day so that God can do something new.  This new thing is not “the next best thing,” but it a new life, a new reality where sin and death no longer reign.  So when I “remember” these words, my heart should be filled with hope.  When I remember these words, I can embrace the good and the bad.  I can acknowledge my shortcomings and my sins.  I can accept how sin had ravaged my life and the lives of others.  And then I can take heart knowing that a life greater than sin is available for me today.  What I mean is that I can embrace Jesus—his words, his character, and invite his presence into my life.  I can walk with Jesus and by doing so I can allow his words to transform my heart, my habits, my hopes and my outlook.

Why did the disciples not believe?  The disciples did not believe, I think, because they heard the news from women.  But even if were men who brought they news they would not have believed because Jesus died.  The cross was so brutal.  “It is finished,” Jesus said and boy did he get it right.  There’s just no chance that what the women said could be true because Jesus was pummeled.  They all saw it.  The disciples didn’t believe because the sting of death is strong.  It leaves a wake of grief.  And it wins.  Nothing can overcome it.  The text says that what the women said sounded like nonsense.  Resurrection is nonsense according to the disciples worldview.

In what ways am I similarly refusing to believe, despite clear evidence and the testimony of God’s word?  I think that my refusal to believe manifests itself in being comfortable in this world and just trying to make it through.  Sometimes I don’t think that things will change about myself or about people.  And what happens?  My prayer life dies.  Perhaps my prayer life is a barometer of how much I believe in God’s word?

What was different about Peter?  How can I be more like Peter?  Peter had to see for himself.  At least for Peter, though the possibility of resurrection was remote, it was still there.  Peter denied Jesus, but that doesn’t mean that he didn’t love him.  I’m not saying that the other disciples didn’t love Jesus, but there’s something about love that engenders hope.  I think I can be more like Peter if I had more love for myself and for others.  And I can engender love by receive love from God.Tags: Gracepoint

DT – 4/10: Luke 23 – Good Friday

Hi everyone,

I hope you take some time out to observe Good Friday and Easter.  Please join us at Gracepoint for this weekend’s services. Here’s my DT.

What kind of relationship with the Father is attested to by Jesus’ final statement?  How can he have this kind of trust in God despite his suffering?  Jesus’ last act was to commit his spirit into his father’s hands.  This tells me that Jesus trusted God despite his sufferings.  He did not believe that God was out there to serve him.  He believed that his role was to obey the Father.  Even when God called him to take up the cross, Jesus didn’t doubt his goodness and his love.  The cross, it’s pain, it’s stigma and it’s curse was very real and Jesus embraced it.  But what was just as real, if not more, was God’s promise to his son that He will raise him and exalt him so that he will one day reign in heaven on his throne.   This is a stark lesson for me, and a lesson that I must never forget.  I must not associate my situation with God’s love.  God’s love has no correlation with my circumstance.  He loves me period.  This was a lesson I learned when my mother was dying of cancer.  As dark as that time was, I did not doubt God’s love, but trusted in his promises to forgive my mother’s sin and to raise her one day.  This is a lesson that I must learn when I go through my struggles.  Sometimes it’s very difficult for me to see that God loves me when I acknowledge the depths of my sin.  But I must trust in God’s words that he still loves me (Romans 5:8) and that he forgives my sins.  When Christ bore the cross, God forsook him.  The amazing thing is that when I bear my cross or undergo any horrible circumstance, God’s presence is always with me (Romans 8).

How does this give hope to someone who is undergoing suffering?  This gives tremendous hope. There is a reason to persevere and not give up.  Because of God there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and our sufferings do not have the final say.  The Bible is clear that God acknowledges our sufferings and redeems them somehow for our benefit and for His glory.

How does this challenge people’s notion that a good God would not allow suffering (cf. James 1:2-4, I Peter 4:12-16)?  James 1:2-4 says that we should consider it pure joy that we face trials because we have a chance to endure hardship, which helps us mature.  The Bible is clear that God doesn’t promise a suffering free life to those who follow him.  Rather he tells us that we should rejoice and be thankful when these moments come because it is through these moments that God gives us blessings.

What caused Joseph to come out of the secret about his commitment to Christ (cf. John 19:38-39)?  What regrets might he have had?  When Jesus was alive, Joseph of Arimathea was afraid of the Jews.  The tide had turned against Jesus, and if Joseph pledged him allegiance with Jesus then he would have lost everything, perhaps even his life.  But after witnessing Jesus death on the cross, Joseph must have been moved.   He could no longer protect his interest over his love for Jesus and for justice.  The cross exposed his cowardice, and brought him to a sense of shame.  But after watching Jesus die, Joseph had enough of that old life of politics and preservation.  He wanted to do what was right; he wanted to honor Jesus because he loved and admired him.  And so he came out to bury Jesus’ body.

Tags: Good Friday, Gracepoint

DT – 4/9: Luke 23 – The Cruficied Crook

The rulers accurately identified Christ’s mission statement – “He saved others,” but they sneered at such a life. What are some ways in which modern church goers can  “sneer” at this kind of life, even while being able to clearly state the call of the gospel?  Modern church goers sneer at this kind of life by living just like the world.  They won’t outright sneer at “devoted” Christians.  They will even commend what serious Christians are doing.  But they will find a way to justify their lifestyle and their pursuits.   They will say that these devoted Christians are serving God in their way and that they themselves are serving God their own way.  By doing so they equate the two in value.  Sometimes modern church goers will be vocal by saying that zealous Christians should take care of themselves and search for a balanced life.  They believe that emotional and healthy balance is key to Christian living.  But the Bible is clear that Christian living is about taking up the cross.  And how is one able to find balance by carrying the cross?  In addition, modern church goers take comfort in the fact that they are “saved,” and they think that the only Christian responsibility is to be saved and to serve God when it’s convenient. 

Note the repeated call from the bystanders for Jesus to “save yourself.”  How does this call, and Jesus response to it, capture the differing value system of the world and the gospel? The world says “save yourself.” It tells us to take care of ourselves because if we don’t then nobody else will.  Look after your own interests and if you have time and bandwidth help others out. To this invitation Jesus said no.  By giving up his life he taught us that life is not about saving ourselves but giving ourselves so that others may live and find life.  Life is not about living a long life, accumulating toys, experiencing life, or seizing the day. It’s about loving others and receiving love.  And because we live in fallen world where God has His own agenda to save it, we live with a purpose and a mission be a part of that agenda.    What value system have I embraced?  I embraced this world view and I still do from time to time.  When I run low on my resources—time, money—or when I feel stressed, I look after my own interest, and I take care of myself. 

What may have been going on in the mind of this criminal as he hurled insults at Jesus?  This man was afraid to die.    He had no love of regard for Jesus.  But because he was afraid to die, he tried to force Jesus’ hand to bring all of them down from the cross.  This guy is interesting because he must have actually believed that Jesus could come down from the cross.  In other words, he must have believed that Jesus had some type of power.  And somehow, because he saw that he and Jesus were on the cross together, he thought that he and Jesus were in the same boat, and, perhaps, on the same side.  And when it was clear that Jesus wasn’t going to do so, the criminal cursed him and hurled insults at him.

How does the cross of Jesus silence any notion that I am some kind of victim?  The cross shows that I am the villain.  The thoughts, the motives, the attitudes and value system that put Jesus on the cross are all in me.  They have sprouted in my life when it came down to the wire, when I was at the end of my rope, and I have asserted myself over God and over others.  I put Jesus on the cross.  That Jesus hung on the cross and not me shows me that I’m not a victim but a villain.

Tags: Gracepoint, Berkeley

DT – 4/8: Luke 23:26 – Simon the Cyrene

How might have Simon felt when he was seized and forced to carry the cross, especially in light of the fact that the cross was for the accursed?  I think Simon must have felt that this was unfair.  He must have felt that the Romans were being unfair.  He probably also hated his predicament, fearful that he might be associated with this cursed man.  And given the Jew’s disdain for anything that is unclean, he must have disdained his situation.  I think he could have also felt sorry for himself, thinking “why me.  There’s so many other people.  Why do I have to carry the cross?”  He may have even had regrets about being at the wrong place at the wrong time, wishing that he had gone to the super market instead of watching what was going on. 

From Mark 15:21 and Romans 16:13, we see that this Simon is most likely the father of Alexander and Rufus, members of early Roman church.  Simon’s brief encounter with Christ, forced to carry the cross behind Jesus, made him a source of blessing to the rest of his family.  How does cross bearing lead to this kind of blessing to others?  Simon was forced to carry the cross and at the time he probably thought it was the greatest curse of his life.  He was there because of Passover.  He wanted to worship God and have the Passover meal with his family on what was perhaps their one and only trip to Jerusalem.  But all of that got ruined because of the Romans.  But by carrying the cross, he walked hundreds of steps with the Son of God.  I wonder if Simon felt the joy that was set before Jesus as he endured the cross.  I wonder if Jesus’ silence spoke volumes of his innocence. And I wonder if Simon realized that the blood that he smelled, the blood that he touched, was the very blood that was going to cover his sins.  The worst day in Simon’s life became his best: he walked with God, like Enoch in the Old Testament (Maybe what made Enoch so righteous was not because anything he did but because he was in the presence of God).  Simon walked with God when God was at his best, bearing the cross and dying for mankind.  And walking with God changed Simon’s life, as well as the lives of his family.  They all found a relationship with God and eternal life.

There are times when I don’t like to take up the cross.  For example, there were times when I didn’t want to go to Sierra Lodge to do work, but I went solely out of duty .  By the time I got there I was so glad that I came.  Immediately, as I got into the work, I began enjoying it.  And now that the Lodge is all built, I’m glad that I did go up all of those times because I had a chance to help build a special place where many memories can be made and where many lives can be changed.  No one likes cross bearing.  But when it is done, it impacts others.

What can I learn from what happened to Simon the Cyrene?  What I can learn is that God gives me opportunities to carry my cross.  And he gives me clues about how to spot the cross.  The cross is unpleasant.  It’s something that I don’t want to do.  It feels like an interruption.  It’s going to ruin my plans for the day.  When God gives me the cross, I’ll know it.  I shouldn’t be surprised that he gives it to me.  I shouldn’t shun it; I shouldn’t avoid it.  I should embrace it and know that God can use it to bring blessing to other people.