Imagine your gospel community has announced plans to multiply. Several individuals are upset & frustrated with this vision because they would much rather stay together. How would you address their concerns & build for them a biblical rational for multiplication?
Author: joemarino (Page 52 of 52)
Unit 6 of the Porterbrook Learning Module entitled Understanding Leadership defines leaders as servant-leaders, who take the lead among the people of God by providing direction through contextual gospel teaching, modeling & influencing gospel-centered culture-creation, taking the initiative to challenge, refute & confront erroneous teaching & living without succumbing to the idolatrous desires for comfort, acceptance or reputation.
Have you ever been in a situation with a friend who says “Let’s focus on the positive, on what I’ve done well.” “Everyone else does it.” “It seemed the sensible thing to do.” “I did it with good intentions.” “I was afraid of other people.” Consider those comments in light of 1 Samuel 15.
I asked one of the guys in our church for feedback on a recent message of his choice. He seemed to pick up the basic structure, big idea, context and application of the message. He did seem particularly and personally challenged by the message. He didn’t remember any illustrations other than a more modern retelling of the parable that was part of the text the message was based on. (For the record he is right… there weren’t many illustrations needed from outside the text itself).
Have you ever known someone struggling with addictive behavior who has been told that their addiction is due in part to their low self-esteem?
I come from a long history of addictions. My family has deep roots in various addictions from drugs to alcohol to sexuality to the constant pursuit of material belongings. The church I am part of planting is bursting at the seams with people who are currently struggling or have struggled very recently with various forms of addiction. Thankfully I am witnessing the Lord’s power at work as he continues the process of freeing me and many others in our community from these behaviors though it has been a slow process – sometimes much slower than I wished it would be.
How would you answer someone who asks, “What difference does union with Christ make, anyway?”
John 15:4-6 teaches us that union with Christ is the difference between being a Christ follower and not being a Christ follower. In other words if there is no union with Christ there is no Christian. Union with Christ is the central core thread of everything pertaining to being a Christian.
Take salvation, sanctification, community & mission for example. Where there is no union with Christ salvation is understood & pursued through worldly & faulty false gospels; holiness becomes legalism or license; community disintegrates due to individualism or externalism & mission becomes a means for selfish gain.
What we learn as we examine our union with Christ is that salvation is the completed work of Christ whom we are united to. Sanctification is the continuing work of Christ whom we are united to. Community is a representation of our union with Christ. Mission is pursued because of our union with Christ.
Union with Christ is the core of the gospel and it affects how we understand our identity, purpose & function. Without union with Christ this basic framework becomes twisted. My identity becomes rooted in what I do or what crowd I am a part of. My purpose becomes rooted in bettering or furthering my own causes. My function becomes self-satisfaction or loving myself.
When we truly are united with Christ our identity isn’t found in what we do or what crowd we are a part of it is defined & found in being a son or daughter of God in Christ. Being united with Christ affects the purpose of our lives & moves us from selfish-gain or self-glorification to living for God’s glory or to bring attention to Him in all that we desire, think, say & do. Union with Christ also changes the way we function from self-seeking satisfaction & self-loving behavior to God loving & neighbor loving living.
Union with Christ is the difference between being a Christ follower and not being a Christ follower.
Jesus says some really hard things when he speaks. He doesn’t gloss over things and he doesn’t paint a picture of easy-peasey faith. When Jesus calls us to be his disciples he invites us into a journey of suffering as he hands us a cross, which is an instrument of torture…
Do you have true faith? Faith that sets a good example… Faith that carefully watches your own soul… Faith that gently & lovingly rebukes sin… Faith that forgives… Do you have true faith? Look at what Jesus says in Luke 17:1-6… Continue reading
Here we are again in Luke’s Gospel examining Luke’s account of Jesus becoming a man, walking among us, performing miracles, preaching the gospel and intentionally heading towards Jerusalem where certain death awaits him. It’s a great story!! It’s a roller coaster of a ride!! Continue reading