There are many ways to approach this topic, and for the record I think this is a good conversation to have. Furthermore, I believe many are asking the wrong questions as each individual’s perspective on the nature of religion will vary according to their experience in life, the church and the scriptures. Bottom line, truth is not subjective but our interpretation of religion is.

I recently read Matthew 23 and found some insight.

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat,”
(Matthew 23:1-2 ESV)

A way of translating this might be to say, “The Pharisees have taken Moses license and office”. This may very well have been a self appointed position since they did have some authority in matters of the law (Deut 17:9), but they had far exceeded their jurisdiction.

“So do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.”
(Matthew 23:3-4 ESV)

Now, it is important to take note of two things.

1. Jesus is NOT doing away with the law, instead He affirms its authority and power. In fact, He even encourages obedience to the expressed preaching of the Pharisees (pending it aligns with God’s word)!

2. Jesus IS publicly condemning the persuasion of extra-biblical traditions. He explicitly stands in opposition to this type of legalism, as it creates unnecessary “burdens” (v.4) and obstacles for the people.

So, what is the difference between the two?

God’s law is a gracious thing. It was intended to reveal the goodness and wisdom of God, bring awareness of sin and guilt, and show the need for divine redemption (Leviticus 17:11; Galatians 3:24; Romans 3:19-20; 7:7-13; 1 Timothy 1:7-11). The law, however, was not given to be utilized as a performance-based means of salvation. Moreover, when it is, even good things become bad things. This is what the Pharisees used to keep authoritative control over the people and I believe this is what Jefferson Bethke intended to convey in his poem. When we create initial expectations beyond faith, we actually rob people of the very thing we hope for them to experience; grace.

“You shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.”(Matt 23:13)

I realize this sounds harsh, but my mom use to say the same thing about me watching cartoons and playing video games all day, and she was right (man I miss cartoons!). I digress.

As a result, many young people end up aligning (theologically), not with scripture but with much of what the passed 250 years of western philosophical development has created (very generically categorized by what it means to “Be”, “Think” and “feel”). Now, don’t get me wrong, I want students to ponder the great mysteries of life, art and beauty more than the next, but with the understanding that all grand conclusions must live and die at the authority of God’s Word.

So, this begs the question, why Ephesians?

I could argue that it is easily one of my favorite books and that plainly stated, it is awesome. However, ultimately, Ephesians is vital to our young people’s understanding and equipping for today and tomorrow’s world.

Last night, we finished chapter 1. And in that moment I realized the profoundness of what is taking place. My students are being afforded (by God) an opportunity to re-evaluate or redefine altogether, Spiritual blessing and hope (chapter 1),  grace in its mystery and ability to unify (chapters 2-3), and what it means and requires to walk them out in this life(chapters 4-6). This is an enormous thing.

As we continue through this beautiful exposition of God’s heart and motives, would you pray for us as we eagerly seek His best?

I’ll conclude with a wonderful insight from N.T. Wright.

Six Verses in Ephesians to Shape us for the Future

1:10 – God’s plan was to gather together all things in heaven and earth under Jesus.  There is no dichotomy between heaven and earth, no split level living. Jesus enables us to live the life of heaven and earth as a reality here and now.

2:10 – We are God’s art work. God created us to bearing fruit, to be co-creators in this world. God gives each of us  a calling to bring to the world unique thing(s) that only we can do. We are each playing a real role in heaven and earth.

3:10 – The Church is called to be a diverse and counter-cultural community so that the wisdom of God might be known by the principalities and powers of the world. The very existence of the Church testifies that Jesus is the true Lord (And that they are not).

4:15 – The Church is called to hold to the truth in love, growing up into one, connected with the head, Jesus. This is  not about us. We are growing together with the Church, under the authority in into the likeness of Jesus.

5:14 – The resurrection of Jesus displays the power of God to change our way of life.  We do not have to live the old way of life. There is hope for a new way of life because of heaven and earth’s union in Jesus.

6:13 – We must put on the full armor of God. This is a battle. The powers do not want to submit to the just and righteous rule of Jesus. We are to live out the way of God’s Kingdom in the face of powers’ resistance to the true King.

Soli Deo Gloria-

Though I believe many would agree that comfort food, televised football and mid-afternoon naps would make a great daily routine, this is obviously not the heart and mind of God in this text.

Rather Paul highlights the privilidge of Christian community and our shared responsibility to one another.

“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work…” (v12-13)

Be thankful for your Pastors, leaders, mentors and parents. Those who work with you and alongside you for your growth and the spreading of the hope we share in Christ, Jesus. These faithful men and woman have a very difficult task; laying out the duties and responsibilities of the Christian life wile correcting and training in Godliness. Love them dearly and hold them in the highest regard! God is showing you tremendous grace by His provision of solid, Christ-centered leadership.

“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all…” (v14)

Be Thankful for those who struggle, doubt and lack strength. This is the beauty of church. That God would sufficiently endow His children with gifts according to His will, by His grace, that we would lock arms (Gal 6:2) and encourage one another as we press forward in the race He set out for us!

“See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone…” (v15)

Be thankful that God has set His perfect love as the goal of our maturity and growth. Be purposeful in your love. Seek any and every opportunity to display the example of Christ and His passionate pleasure in showing mercy where justice and vengeance should have reigned.

God supplies all that we need to grow, serve and display His goodness. To this end we ought to have no other response than  ”Rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us…” (1 Thess 5:16-18)

I read this text quite often. I don’t read it because it has some hidden, spiritual fortune-cookie message or because a popular Pastor has made it the new “buzz”. I read David’s lament because I am all too familiar with the sting of disgrace and the crippling weight of iniquity. Sin has incredibly damaging affects. It has real repercussions. It is caustic. It hurts me, hurts others and attempts to shake my hope in Christ’s work.

David knows this well.

If you do not know the story, David abused his authority as king, raped another man’s wife, impregnated her and then had the husband murdered to protect his integrity (2 Samuel 11). Then, just as David thought all had been covered, God sends the Prophet Nathan to reveal his sin. Upon doing so, David responds in remorse and sincerity, “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Sam 12:7-13).

As if the story wasn’t full of enough despair, there is more. God shows mercy to David, which at first glance seems promising, until we find that the result of his disobedience will be war, spousal infidelity and instead of his life, God will take the life of his baby (2 Sam 12:13-18).

“ For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me…”

Can we even begin to imagine? Oh how David was acquainted with grief. He KNEW them. Intimately, profoundly and powerfully. Every morning he would remember what lust had given birth to. Every time he gazed into his wife’s eyes, he would recall that she had first loved another and that he was taken from her. Every year, he would have to mourn the death of his son. They were always before him.

“Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge”.

It isn’t to say that David hadn’t caused harm to Bathsheba, Uriah, or the nation as a whole. But David had recognized the infinitely more tragic reality. Prior to any of the collateral damage, he had taken arms against the Lord in his heart and as a result deserved far worse than he received.

“Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me…”

TO KNOW…

David clearly sees the truth of his constitution. He recognizes that sin makes up much more than a few frivolous “mistakes” that he fumbled through in his adolescence. It is a real, human condition and surely it plagues us all from birth (Romans 1).

“Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place”.

BE KNOWN…

The good news. He chose to change and keep him. Even before his birth, God was ordaining and preparing him for this very moment. To fear the LORD and entrust himself to Him. To truly repent, remembering always, that he may never repeat the same offense again. God is intimately involved! He cares for His children and desires earnestly for their healing and redemption.

Though it may be difficult to understand why God would extend mercy to such a man, we must recognize that this is the joy that God set forth in Jesus. ”He was pleased to crush His son”.

Why?

^“God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus”. (Romans 3:25-26)

For the sake of salvation…

For David and for us…

Recently I have been listening to some great sermons by Matt Chandler. For those of you that know me, I am kind of a fan. There is something special about people who treasure Christ above all things and desire that all people would share in that treasure(Romans 10:15).

I wanted to share something that really struck me. Something that God used to truly arrest my attention.

I pray that through the month of October you would consider these next 9 points in you’re prayer life as we grow in our capacity to be effective for His glory.

As His body, let us pray these things…

1. That we would see that the greatest problem in the universe is not mere moral failure – but a failure to honor God (Romans 1:21)

2. That we would understand that discipline will never bring about love – but love always brings about discipline (Galatians 3:5)

3. That we would realize that children of God are not under wrath – but mercy (Romans 9:23)

4. That we would find that the fullness of all things – including life and joy – is in Christ (John 10:10)

5. That we would experience a holy discontentment with where our lives are – and espouse the hope of what our lives can be (Romans 8:20)

6. That we would recognize that God has purposefully placed us here – at this time, in this place – for His glory (Acts 17:26)

7. That we would develop a taste for truth – even difficult ones (Psalm 119:11)

8. That we would embrace Biblical Christianity – not American evangelicalism (2 Timothy 3:5)

9. That we would believe in the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit – and desire them earnestly (1 Corinthians 14:39)

Eagerly expecting His return…Pastor Jo-

“The greatest cause in the world is joyfully rescuing people from hell, meeting their earthly needs, making them glad in God, and doing it with a kind, serious pleasure that makes Christ look like the treasure that He is”. 

This has been my confidence and instruction for the past eight years and I can’t recall a time I ever sat back and really questioned it. I have doubted much in the object of it’s pursuit (people) but rarely if ever in the value of it’s goal. People are easily the most difficult expression in the equation. We are completely submerged in our own desires and passions, even to the extent of death. We rarely love, rarely consider, rarely serve,and sadly, never naturally desire God. People are hopeless.

But…

 …God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

This is what makes the good news so wonderful.

This is why the ministry of the Gospel is the greatest cause in all of the earth.

When we were a people of ill-repute and dead in our trespasses, God saw fit to save some, even me. And He did so with a purpose. That we would exhaust our lives declaring His goodness for what He has done (1 Peter 2:9-10).

So here’s to another eight years…