Late to the Party

I admit it. We are late to the party – by about 20 years!

Last year as we were going through a lengthy study of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, I began to wonder why the effectiveness of the New Testament church seemed so foreign to me.  I had read about it many times in the book of Acts and even studied church history in college.  What became clear to me, cast me into a personal metamorphosis that would result in complete overhaul of our ministry model.  It occurred to me…

We don’t experience the same things they did because we don’t do church like they did.

I know the culture has changed and that our situation is largely different.  But frankly, the needs of people’s hearts – our – hearts, have not.  And honestly, it has been my experience that what we know and what we are comfortable with have replaced the simple, effective ministry of the New Testament. 

Looking back, the church grew exponentially at Pentecost.  And they stayed together with mutual commitment, “…And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…” (Acts 2:42)  And they multiplied through community, “…And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46 & 47)

Can I just say - that is what I want! 

I want to see God add to our number as often as He chooses and as much as He chooses.  So we set out on course to model our church after the pattern revealed in the book of Acts.  Commitments were made to the Word, to prayer and to fellowship.  Small groups were started to build relationship and create community within our body.

So far it has been more successful than I could have imagined.  The dynamic within our church is changing.  People are growing.  They are finally getting to know people they have been in church with for years.  I know we are late to the party but…

Better late than never!

Grace in the Command

We’ve been studying the 10 Commandments for two weeks on Sunday mornings.  It is something that I have done in every one of the 3 churches I have pastored now.  But this is fresh, a new study with new perspective.  And it has been revelatory to me in many ways, no doubt having to do with my own spiritual journey.  I’d like to share with you how…

There is grace in the commandments. 

I had been taught that, but had never seen it.  Not like this anyway.  In verse 2 of Exodus chapter 20, God says, ““I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”  The language is important because it implies relationship.  God identifies Himself as the Redeemer of Israel, and designates Israel as the redeemed. 

Here is where grace comes in. 

Israel was not redeemed by keeping these laws, or any other for that matter.  These laws were given to them because they had been redeemed and they belonged to the God who ransomed them out of slavery in Egypt.  It is a blessing peculiar to Israel, but also applicable to those of us who live in the age of grace.

Our Heavenly Father relates to us in the same way.  Sin’s ransom has been paid upon the Cross of Christ.  “…It was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ…” (1 Peter 1:18 – 19)

We therefore belong to Him.  And we reveal we belong to Him by doing what He asks.  In 1st John 5:3 scripture says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome (grievous – KJV).”  Jesus put it this way in John 14:15: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”   

If there is grace on the commandments, then there is also relationship.  It is forged in the fires of redemption and it enables us to enjoy God the most as we are most satisfied in Him. 

Maybe I'm not so good at this...

OK...I'll admit it.  I'm a not as good at this as I thought.

My wife is visiting her sister and our newly arrived nephew in Arizona.  If you do the math, that means I'm at home with my 2 and 4 year old.  Yeah...I'm tired.   You know, the left eye twitching kind of tired.  Don't get me wrong.  I've got lots of help from gracious people in our church, which by the way, makes me think they know something I'm just coming to terms with.

My wife is infinitely better at being a parent than I am.  And I'm not just saying that because I miss her, she is and I am proud of her for it.  Perhaps this is what God saw in Adam when He looked at the crown of His creation and said, "It is not good for man to be alone..." (Genesis 2:18).  

Perhaps this is what Solomon was hinting at when he wrote Proverbs 31.  "An excellent woman, who can find? She is more valuable than precious jewels.  The heart of her husband safely trusts her..." (Proverbs 31:10&11).  

And it is what I am realizing now, I need my wife.  I can't do this without her and I don't want to.

Many women have done excellently.  But you my dear, surpass them all! (Proverbs 31:29)