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Faith for Finite and Focused…

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This coming Sunday, as we gather for Memorial Day weekend, we will be looking at Hebrews 11:20-22 and three patriarchs on their deathbed.  This reminds us that we are finite as well.  Further, each of these men were focused on future things they couldn’t yet see.  Most notable of these is Joseph, who moved to Egypt at the age of 17 and was so throughly acquainted with God’s promises that when he died at the age of 110 (still in Egypt) he gave instructions about his bones to be returned to the Promised Land, because he saw the reality that God’s promise was.

As people of faith who have been given a few years to live for God’s glory, does a future focus define our reality?  Are we gripped by the promises of the Gospel in such a way that they inform our living.  Come this Sunday as we seek to flesh these realities out.

Weekend Recap – 5/20/12PM

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On Sunday PM, 5/20/12, we began a new book in our Small Group Ministry entitled Who Am I? by Jerry Bridges.  This book explores our identity in Christ.  For our first session, we read the introduction and chapter 1, I Am A Creature.  Here’s the questions I developed for use in our small group based on these:

Related to the short introduction…In the introduction, Bridges said, “As Christians…our identity is to be found in our relationship with Christ, not in our subjective and often negative life experiences.”  Why do we base so much of our identity in these things rather than who we are in Christ?

What benefit do you think it will give to answer the question, “Who am I in Christ?”  Why is that important?

Related to chapter 1 I Am A Creature:Why would being a creature, created in God’s image, be an important starting point for our discussion of who we are?

In describing how, as creatures, we are utterly dependent, Bridges noted that we are dependent for: Food, Life & Breath, Plans, Abilities.  Which of these stood out to you, why?

How are you guilty of not being dependent upon God for everything?

How does realizing that we’re physically fragile help our being dependent upon God?

Have you ever heard the saying, “Pride goes before a fall?”  How does this relate to being spiritually vulnerable?  Why is this so important for our dependence upon God? 

Why do we so easily reject our moral accountability before God?

Bridges encouraged 2 applications in light of this chapter: humility and gratitude.  What other applications does this have for our lives?

We had a great starting night of discussion.  Our next small group will meet on June 24th…

Weekend Recap – 5/20/12AM

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My sermon from 5/20/12 entitled Faith Tested from Hebrews 11:17-19 is online.  The sermon examined the story of Abraham’s test to offer Isaac as a sacrifice and sought to show, first of all, that faith can be tested.  Many of us think that the Christian life is a life of ease and comfort, but the Bible never paints that kind of picture.  Even the greatest heroes of the faith were tested.  This was true of Abraham.  However, there was great hope in this text as we saw how a faith that is tested is strengthened.  Abraham emerged from the testing with a deeper, abiding trust in a good and all-wise God who had commanded him to obey and had given him promises.  This is where our faith can be strengthened as well, as we trust in God.

Hope you enjoyed a great Lord’s Day.

Weekend Recap – Faith’s Homeland

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My 5/13/12AM (Mother’s Day) sermon from Hebrews 11:13-16 is now online.  It was entitled Faith’s Homeland and dealt with faith and the future.  Specifically, faith prepares for the future by persevering in the present.  Part of this perseverance means we confess that we are strangers and exiles here.  Why?  Because faith seeks a homeland, specifically, a heavenly one.  So, we persevere in the present with our eye on eternity.  This has all kinds of applications for mothers, daughters, women, men, sons and fathers, as well as anyone else.  We shrink our lives to the here and now and put that in an ultimate category.  But, in Christ, we have reason to hope for the future.  Faith’s homeland is eternity with Christ in heaven.  Let’s live this week in light of this.

Strangers, Aliens, Home

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This coming Sunday, we hope to look at Hebrews 11:13-16.  One of the big arguments of this passage has to do with people, in faith, calling themselves strangers and aliens on earth and, in doing so, “make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.”  To be a stranger somewhere means that there is somewhere that is not so strange.  To be an alien, means that there is somewhere you are at home.

We are pretty hung up on being home.  We love the comforts, conveniences, security and familiarity it provides.  So, when we are in a “strange” place that feels like home, we call it our home away from home.  Home Sweet Home.  What does that mean?  Only that there is a place that is home.

How we live in this world and view it says a lot about our faith.  Come this Sunday, then, as we explore a life of faith and its future look affects your life in the here and now.

Fallin’ by Trip Lee

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I’ve had this song, Fallin’, by Trip Lee on repeat today because I resonate so much with this fight for sin he highlights.  Here’s a link his latest album, The Good Life: Amazon or iTunes.

If you feel condemned in your sin, know that God sent His Son, Jesus, to the cross and your sin can be forgiven in Him.  You can be set free from this.  You can go from being mastered by sin to mastering it through the amazing power of the Gospel.  This is reflected in these lyrics.

The lyrics go like this:
I don’t really want it but it’s calling my name 
“William come and get me I can take away the pain 
Come a little closer you got everything to gain” 
But I got too much to lose I’m bout to go insane 
I been here too many times got my head low 
If I gave a dime for every time I’d be dead broke 
I feel that battle in my soul the pressure closing in 
My passions askin for a passing I can’t hold it in 
There I go again no self control again I’m too good at givin in 
Feelin like throwin in the towel the guilt is closin in 
Sometimes I climb the heights but I’m at my lowest sin 
Cloaked in deception and overdosin on potent sin 
I’m so gone baby wanna be home again 
Wanna feel whole again come feel this hole again 
Now I’m doubled over with my face in my knees 
At Your side is where I wanna be 


But there I go again fallin’ 
Face to the pavement 
Once again faced with the same sin 
(There I go again fallin’) 
I don’t think Ima make it 
Don’t know how much longer I can take it 
(There I go again fallin’) 
I’m caught up in this sin 
I wonder if I’ll see Your face again 
(There I go again fallin’) 
Fallin’ (3x) 
(But there I go) 


Trying to keep it cool I don’t wanna lead em playin 
But it’s hard to block out everything that she be sayin 
Look like it keep coming baby just reach out and take my hand 
There’s no need to fear me all I wanna do is dance 
I believe the lie now I’m headed for my doom 
They finally got me locked and now I’m bout to be there soon 
Feeling like I’m watched by everybody in the room 
Cause they know Ima fake and if not they will soon 
Have you ever felt like the walls finna close in 
Shackles on your hands and your feet and your dozin 
Sleep to the logic you possessed before all of the mess 
So beheaded mess with the rest what’s left 
Is a schizophrenic still what a man once was? 
Now you get to see the damage your lust does 
So now I’m doubled over with my face in the knees 
At Your side is where I wanna be 


But there I go again fallin’ 
Face to the pavement 
Once again faced with the same sin 
(There I go again fallin’) 
I don’t think Ima make it 
Don’t know how much longer I can take it 
(There I go again fallin’) 
I’m caught up in this sin 
I wonder if I’ll see Your face again 
(There I go again fallin’) 
Falling (3x) 
(But there I go) 


Everytime I fall He go’n pick me up 
The Lord is my shepherd homie He go’n pick me up 
I fell into the trap again but He go’n pick me up 
Remind me of His promises in Him I put my trust 
I don’t never have to give into the lies 
I’m feasting on His word all my sin I do despise 
So now I’m down before His throne praying on my knees 
Asking Lord give me grace please 


I don’t wanna be fallin’ 
So I gotta face this but I know there’s nothing that He can’t fix 
(I don’t wanna be fallin’) 
Looking to the cross where they place Him 
Cause I know His grace is amazing 
(I don’t wanna be fallin’) 
He’s covered all my sin 
It’s gone never to be seen again 
So we’re callin’ 
Callin’ (3x) 
(Unto You)


Here’s the music video recently released:



Weekend Recap – Trusting God In The Impossible…

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My sermon from 5/6/12AM is online.  The sermon was entitled Faith Trusts God In The Impossible from Hebrews 11:11-12.  The sermon unpacked the second big foundational, formational event of Abraham’s life (last week’s being the call to move to a land God would show him and this week focused on the barrenness of Sarah and God’s promise of offspring).  God overcame an impossible situation (as we humans see it at least) to keep His promise to Abraham.  Both Abraham and Sarah believed God in the midst of this and, as Romans 4:19-22 points out, it was credited to them as righteousness.  The righteous truly live by faith.

I hope people who heard this message found their faith inspired to trust God in the midst of their impossible situations of life.  Let’s be characterized by having faith in God.

Hope Against Hope or…

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Faith Trusts God in the Impossible or at least that’s what Hebrews 11:11-12 would have us understand.  This coming Lord’s Day, we will be looking at this passage and the faith that Sarah exhibited and God rewarded (He is a rewarder, after all, of those who believe that He is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him).  Here’s how Ligon Duncan explains the thrust of this week’s passage:

We’re told [in this passage] that Sarah by faith become the mother of the faithful.  What that passage is saying is Sarah’s saving faith was the instrument by which the line of promise was continued.  That promise would ultimately lead to the Lord Jesus Christ.  But she believed even though physically there was no argumentation as to whether she would be able to have a child.  Humanly speaking, this was hope against hope.  But again, God’s Word came and said that through Sarah, Abram would have descendants whose numbers would be innumerable.  So Abram’s wife believed.  Here again she had to trust in something that she did not live to see.  The author [of Hebrews] continually points us to the future hope which is ours.

There are times when we have to weigh what God has said against what we can see with our eyes.  Faith is letting God’s promise hold weight.  We live in light of that.  Hope this helps you thirst for more of God in His Word.  Join us this Sunday.

VBS Isn’t Just For Kids…

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Here’s an article I wrote for our church’s newsletter…

There was a day when Saturday morning cartoons were a reality for some of us.  One of the staple commercials you could count on was that silly rabbit trying to get a bowl of Trix, which always ended with the children chiding the rabbit and saying, “Silly Rabbit, Trix are for kids.”  I fear that when it comes to thinking about Vacation Bible School, many in the church have that same feeling.  We hear about ministry opportunities and say to ourselves, “VBS is for kids.”  And, while it may be true that much of the energy is directed to serving children, I’m hoping to show today that VBS isn’t just for kids.  There’s much benefit to be had by the church at large through VBS.  Here’s some reasons:
1) VBS helps bring people together in service.  Most of us know that the law can be summed up as loving our neighbor as ourselves.  We know that we are to, through love, serve one another.  And, VBS is a great opportunity to come together with other like-minded believers and serve.  This, in turn, helps build the unity of our congregation.  When you are “in the trenches” with another believer seeking to serve, you will begin to be drawn close to that individual.  This is what makes the church strong.
2) VBS builds consistency in your relationships with others.  VBS is a week-long event.  So, rather than just bumping into others in our church on a Sunday, you get the opportunity to fellowship with others day after day.  Each night will present its own opportunities to glorify God and your consistent involvement in this will encourage you spiritually.
3) VBS looks outward.  Much of our difficulty in the church comes when we are inward focused.  We can become so intent on what we want and we would like to see happen, that our joy becomes tied to whether or not our desires are happening.  Each year, however, VBS is a call to remind you that church life doesn’t revolve around you.  There are others who need served.  Specifically, we get the opportunity to serve children. 
4) VBS communicates love for our neighbors who are younger than us.  When you think about church life, you probably devote most of your energy to things that don’t involve children (unless you’re a parent of a child and/or involved in an ongoing ministry to them).  What I love about VBS is that it gives adults and teenagers the opportunity to show children how dearly loved they are.  We rightly feel this in our hearts.  But, VBS puts feet to those feelings, showing children that we are excited to make known eternal truths to them.  VBS allows us to tangibly love not just in words but in actions and truth.
Finally, 5) VBS allows you to practice a spiritual gift.  Most of us know the importance of exercise or at least moving around so that atrophy doesn’t occur.  God has uniquely gifted every believer in the church to serve.  How often do you use those gifts?  Are you looking for an opportunity to use a gift you don’t use as often as another?  VBS is a great way to jump in and serve, employing your spiritual gift for the good of others.
So, those are a few reasons why I would encourage you to be involved in our VBS, June 10-14.  There is more info on it in other parts of the Edifier.  VBS isn’t just for kids, it’s for people like you and me who want to be a part of something that glorifies and enjoys God, forever.  

Faith’s Obedience and Look

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My sermon from 4/29/12AM was entitled Faith’s Obedience and Look and came from Hebrews 11:8-10.  This got to help in our faith from the example of Abraham.  Throughout the Bible, Abraham and faith go together, so it made sense in this chapter showcasing faith in the Bible, we would find Abraham.  Our writer wants us to learn that faith is how the righteous live, or, in this context, it is how we persevere in this world.

Abraham gave us a lot of help by showing us how an active faith is tied to immediate obedience.  Believing God is who He is should cause us to obey Him and what’s He revealed to us in His Word.  Further, faith has a look to it.  Faith is consumed with eternity.  If there’s ever anyone in the Bible who could have rested in a promise, it would have been Abraham, but Hebrews 11:9-10 showed us that Abraham lived in the promised land as a foreigner because he was looking to a future promised by God Himself.  There are many applications for us in this passage, then.  I hope you were helped by it and live this week with a faith that displays itself by obeying and looking heavenward.