Month: March 2011

The Importance of Motivation

In our relationship with Jesus, it is important to realize that he does not begin with the call to obey. He calls us to come, to follow, to believe, to abide and over time he calls us to also obey. The order is important. It is similar in any relationship. God delivered the nation of Israel out of Egypt to be his special people. Only later did he give them the Ten Commandments, as a sort of covenant with his people. In a similar way, when going out with someone, you don’t begin with the marriage vows! You first establish the relationship. Then, as trust and commitment develop, marriage may occur in which there is a sharing of vows with each other.

We do not obey God’s commands “in order to” be loved, accepted and forgiven. That would be works righteousness, and none of our good deeds can ever measure up to God’s standards (Rom.3:23. Eph.2:8-10). However, in Christ, and all because of grace, we “already are” loved, accepted and forgiven – as a free gift! Once this truth touches your heart, you choose to obey “because of” what God has already done for you out of his great love. Obedience should be a natural response to the love God has for us. It is the ultimate act of worship.

WHY do we obey? Because we love Jesus and believe that his ways are best. He is the wisest person who ever lived and following him, though not necessarily easy, represents what is ultimately the best thing for our lives.

Obedience involves an act of our will, the enablement of the Spirit and the renewing of our mind. As we more consistently obey Jesus’ commands, we start to grow and change. We develop the character of Christ. Faith, hope and love emerge. The fruit of the Spirit starts to grow. Our lives start to reflect Christ more and more, offering an attractive alternative to the spirit of the age.

Some Reflection Questions

1. Why is it easier to accept Jesus as Saviour than it is to accept him as Lord of our lives?
2. What part does surrender and “taking up our cross daily” play in our call to obey?
3. How do we avoid the two extremes of (a) being a Christian who is not a good example of Jesus to others and (b) of becoming Pharisees who focus so much on keeping rules and regulations that they miss a genuine relationship with God and the fact that love is the summary of the entire law? 
4. A disciple of Jesus is called to become like Jesus – in character and mission. How does this happen? What is God’s part and what is our part?
5. In order to obey the commands of Jesus, we need to know what he actually asked us to do. Reflect on the role that Bible reading, especially that of the Gospels which contain the teaching of Jesus, plays in the development of our lives as disciples.
6. How can we better bridge the “knowing-doing gap?” Read and reflect on James 1:22-25.

Jesus is both Saviour and Lord

As we take the journey of following Jesus, along the way we start to see who Jesus really is. When Jesus was on earth, there were many opinions as to his identity. Some thought he was Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets back from the dead (Matt.16:13-15). Peter received a revelation that Jesus was “the Christ (the Messiah), the Son of the living God (Matt.16:16-19).”

The disciple’s belief in the divinity of Christ (the understanding that he was not only fully human but also fully God) emerged over a period of time, culminating in the time of the resurrection (note Thomas’ proclamation, “My Lord and my God!”) and then Jesus’ ascension back to heaven to the right hand of the Father. Through all of these experiences, Jesus’ followers came to see Jesus as the Saviour of the world (the one who gave his life a ransom for all, providing forgiveness for sins) and also the Lord of the world.

Notice the culmination of Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost: “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).” This understanding in the identity of Jesus calls forth our faith (placing our trust in Jesus as forgiver and Saviour) AND our obedience (submitting our lives to him as our Leader and Lord).  

Two Problems

When it comes to this area of obedience, there are two potential problems. The first is that of “non-following believers” – people who name the name of Christ but whose lives do not reflect him. Some people see Jesus as a person who forgives them of their sin and guarantees them access to heaven when they die but nothing more. They live their own lives, maybe even trying to do the right thing, but they don’t take their ongoing following of Jesus and obedience to his commands seriously.

The second problem is that of “following non-believers” – people who think that keeping a whole list of rules and regulations equates to a relationship with God. This ends up in religion without relationship. In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son (better called ‘the parable of the two lost sons’), the older brother never disobeyed the father, but he really did not know the heart of the Father. His obedience was one of joyless duty. This results in the religiosity and legalism that characterized the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. 

More tomorrow …

This year our focus at CityLife Church is simply on following Jesus. We have been reflecting on Jesus’ call to come to him (Matt.11:28-30), to follow him (Luke 5:27-32), to believe him (John 20:19-31) and to abide in him (John 15). As we respond to his call, we begin to know Jesus better and we begin to love him. After all, he laid down his life for us. Over time, we also begin to hear Jesus’ call to obey.

The Call to Obedience

As people began to follow Jesus, he taught them about what life in his kingdom should look like. Jesus is the King and as his subjects and citizens in his kingdom, we are to take on his character and nature, which is that of love. Jesus taught and gave instructions that clearly showed what that life looks like in practical terms. A classic example of his teaching is the “sermon on the mount” as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt.5-7). At the end of that teaching, Jesus made it clear that he wanted his followers to not only hear his teaching but also to put it into practice – to obey. Only then would they building their lives upon the rock (Matt.7:21-27).

In the Great Commission Jesus instructed his followers to make disciples but this included “teaching them to OBEY everything I have commanded you (Matt.28:18-20).” Jesus considers those who hear his instructions and put them into practice as his true family (Luke 8:19-21).

The apostle John, often called the “apostle of love” and the disciple who was closest to Jesus, emphasized Jesus’ call to obedience more than any other New Testament writer. He quotes Jesus as saying, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15) and again, “He who does not love me will not obey my teaching” (John 14:24). Jesus lived a life of hearing and doing the will of his Father. He told his disciples to do the same (see also John 13:15-17; 14:21-23; 15:9-11). John further emphasizes the importance of obedience to God’s commands in his letter to Christians (1 John 2:3-6; 3:21-24; 5:1-4). 

This connection of love and obedience is a common theme throughout the Bible (Ex.20:6). In fact, the greatest evidence of our love for God is doing what pleases him. These two important things, love and obedience, cannot be separated. Jesus is someone to be loved and obeyed. 

More tomorrow …

7.  Love over all!

For all of the many things and activities we will be involved in this year, let’s remember that LOVE (for God and people) is to be primary!

Remember the Ephesus story. This was a church that experienced an unprecedented revival (see Acts 19). It was a church 'on fire.' Yet as the decades went by, they left that first love. Here is Jesus' message to them through his servant John …

Rev. 2:1-7. Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamp stands: “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

There are a lot of good reasons for the work we choose to do and the ministries we may be involved in – for a sense of belonging, for a sense of contribution, for a job to do and maybe some pay for the effort, or for a sense of eternal reward. They are good and noble things BUT the greatest motivating force in our lives is to be LOVE. LOVE made me do it!

Conclusion

I hope you have received something from these 7 random thoughts. Hear the voice of the Spirit. Catch the wind of His movement. Respond accordingly … 

6. Exiles over Kings.

A theological reflection … We are now living and ministering in a different environment and we need to think differently in response to this change.

Here are some thoughts from Walter Brueggemann's insightful book, Cadences of Home: Preaching Among Exiles where he encourages us to rethink various church models through Scripture:

1. The Israelite Monarchy (approximately 400 years long) – the center of the Old Testament is the Jerusalem establishment of monarchy and dynasty (from David in 1000 BC to 587 BC). Israel is both state and church and it is a model that dominates many people’s thinking even to this day. There was the temple and the priesthood, the civil leadership of the kings, the wisdom of the sages (Proverbs), and the witness of the prophets. This view serves well the interest of an established, culturally legitimized church (a temple community). It is characterized by security, formality and stability – yet it is a model never to be repeated for Israel.

2. Israel before the Monarchy (approximately 250 years) – from Moses to David (1250-1000 BC). Life was shaped by the Exodus liturgy, the meeting at Sinai, the reinterpretation of Torah, no stable institutions, nor unified community. They lived on the margins in the “wilderness.” it was a time of informality, instability and uncertainty. This view serves well the concept of a new church plant or startup. 

3. Post-exilic Israel (approximately 600 years) – at the other end of the Old Testament we have another model for the community of faith. The temple had come to an abrupt end, as had the role of the king and the prophet. Israel had little influence over public policy, experienced temptations to cultural syncretism and the disappearance of a distinct identity, was focused on survival strategies (recovery of memory and rootage and connectedness, as well as intense practice of hope and becoming a textual community). So emerged the synagogue and the rabbis. It was a textual community. Ezra is an example of a new church start leader, reformulating faith in radical ways with strategies of survival as an alternative community.

Which period is most like the environment of the early church in the first few centuries after Christ? Which period is most like the environment after Constantine (the Christendom era)? Which period is most like the current environment we find ourselves in?

How does understanding our context affect the way we carry out our faith and live in our world? Notice the different approach of Elijah the prophet confronting King Ahab for example in period #1 above compared to how Daniel the prophet functioned in speaking for God in Babylon in period #3. 

Continue reading “Random Thought #6: Exiles over Kings” →

5.  Stories over Numbers

Like most churches, we have a lot of important numbers that we count and look at (attendance, salvations, baptisms, partners, volunteers, leaders and giving). However, we must continually remind ourselves that it’s all about the PEOPLE!

The Bible is a story about God and people and their journey together. It contains numbers (un-apologetically) but the focus is the people.

One day Jesus fed 5,000 people (someone counted!) BUT the focus of the story is on the little boy who offered up his lunch, the training of the 12 disciples in growing their faith, and the miraculous provision.

On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), there were 120 people praying in the upper room and after Peter preached, 3000 responded (again, someone counted!) BUT the focus of the story is on the power of prayer, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the formation of the new church community.

This year, take more time to listen to the stories (of struggles and triumphs) of other people – engage in them and then pass them on. This requires us to become better at asking questions.

In Reggie McNeal's excellent book Missional Renaissance, he suggests some good questions to ask of other people: 

1. “What do you enjoy doing?” People love to talk about what they love. There is always a link between what people enjoy and how God desires to use them. 

2. “Where do you see God at work right now?” One of the goals of spiritual formation is to help people see God at work in their lives. This question is designed to help people look for God is the everyday aspects of their life – not just at church or while doing some spiritual activity.

3. “What would you like to see God do in your life over the next 6-12 months?” “How can we help?” This question gets people talking about what is most on their mind and ultimately leads to personal development questions. We can them point them towards people, resources or experiences that can help them grow.

Informally, you become a coach and a mentor. [Notice that this is very different than frantically trying to get people to support our programs]

4. “How would you like to serve other people?” “How can we help?” Most people grow through service. That service may be within the church or outside of it.

5. “How can we pray for you?” Prayer is a powerful way to communicate love and care for a person. Prayer always helps!

This approach is much more personal than positional and can have a powerful affect. Focus on the stories … not just the numbers …

4.  Practices over Beliefs

We BELIEVE at lot of good things! Most churches have an orthodox "Statement of Faith" and many have articulated an admirable list of "Core Values." However, we must go beyond this. Beliefs are very important but we must move to ensuring that practices flow out of those beliefs. We must bridge the gap between preferred values and actual values. 

The Great Commission was not about knowledge but rather about action. We were told by Jesus to, “… teach them to DO … everything I have commanded you (Matt.28:18-20).” Notice Jesus did not say "… to know" or even "… to believe." Although knowledge and beliefs are important, they don't change the world – only action does.  

Behaviours are actually a greater indicator of our true values than are beliefs. How we live our lives in the evidence of God’s Spirit at work within us and our co-operation with Him.

Do we think ourselves into a new way of behaving or do we behave ourselves into a new way of thinking?

This year, our church is focusing more on the qualitative aspects of our lives as DISCIPLES of Jesus Christ, and specially, how that works itself out in our daily lives. After all, the person who built their house on the rock, was the person who heard the teachings of Jesus AND put them into practice (Matt.7:24-27).

2.  Relationship over Task

All of us will have a LOT of tasks and projects to DO this year. I love tasks. I even have a task list when I am on holidays. I love ticking off checkboxes next to completed tasks. I thrive on achievement. But I also realise that DOING must flow out of BEING.

We all know the story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42) and the constant tension between ministry for God and relationship with God. It is not an either/or proposition but an establishment of what is primary. Spirituality is the key to intimacy and greater productivity and fruitfulness.

The BIG Idea of the Christian Life is:

a. Intimacy with God (through hearing/conversation and seeing/experience) … which leads to …

b. Wisdom for Life (having God’s perspective) … which we then …

c. Speak out (communication – the prophetic dimension)

d. Act out (leadership – the apostolic dimension)

The order and the process are vital. If we don’t establish and maintain #1, then everything else becomes dry, stale and ultimately ineffective.

In Exodus 16 we read about God sending Israel the quail and manna daily (evening and morning). If they kept it longer it rotted. He sent it but they had to collect it themselves. In the same way, may we take time and give priority each day to connect with God so that our relationship with Him becomes the foundation for all we do. 

At our first church staff meeting in early February this year, I shared 7 Random Thoughts relevant to our ministry this year. I think that we are in a significant season of change. Transition and shifts are taking place at every level of our world, our church and our personal lives. There is a growing degree of uncertainty emerging and we have to be change-ready. Here is my first thought …

1.  Presence over Programs

There is nothing wrong with programs, ministries, meetings and activities (every church will have lots of them this year) … BUT they only serve as a ‘means’ to an ‘end.’ We must be careful that they don’t get in the way of what God wants to do OR that we focus on the mechanics of ministry and miss the Spirit.  

Moses once said to God, “If you don't personally go with us, don't make us leave this place (Ex.33:14-15).” Without God’s presence we end up with Icabod – the glory has departed and we are left with only the shell of a religious system.

Here are a few other important related Scriptures:

Psa. 127:1. Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. NLT

Zech. 4:6. Then (the angel) said to me, “This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies." 

John 15:4-5. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

This adjustment requires us to pause, to pray, to wait and to be sensitive to what the Spirit is doing. It involves a shift from ‘rowing’ to ‘sailing.’ It is about getting out of ‘auto pilot’ and ‘cruise control’ and into an ‘alert mode’ as to what the Father is doing. Jesus only did and said what He saw the Father doing and saying. This involves a shift from independence (“God, bless what I am doing”) to inter-dependence (“Father, what are you doing?”). 

This year – let's focus on PRESENCE over PROGRAMS.