One of the more compelling and moving and inspiring events in all of Scripture is the Upper Room Discourse. Now, most Christians have no idea what that is, so let me explain. John 13-17 gives us one of the fullest expressions of the heart of Christ as He offers His final teaching to His disciples prior to His arrest, trials, and crucifixion.
As one scholar put it, "If you think of the Scriptures as the Temple of God, this passage would be “the Holy of Holies”... the Inner Sanctuary, where the very presence of God, Himself, dwells." (Net Bible Study) These 4 chapters contain some of the most powerful memory verses to sustain the Christian throughout his life; I counted in my personal study Bible and found that I have 16 verses/groups of verses highlighted in yellow - all of them key memory verses. For example:
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." (John 15:13-14)
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13)
"In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you." (John 17:20-21)
My challenge to you this week, as we approach Sunday on which we will study Day 5 - Thursday - The Last Supper - The Lord's Passover, is to read these 4 chapters and take in the very heart of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! His eternal words will convict you, challenge you, and comfort you as you seek to serve Him with all that you are!
Pastor Randy
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Countdown to Passion and Power!
Did you know that of the 89 chapters that comprise the Four Gospels, 30 chapters describe the final week of Christ's 3-1/2 year ministry?
That is staggering! Fully one-third of the first four books of the New Testament is dedicated to His final week on earth. If the amount of time devoted to a particular set of events is any indicator of their significance, then clearly the passion of crucifixion and the power of the resurrection are not only critical but in fact they serve as the very basis for the Christian faith!
Over the next 7 weeks, we will count down the last 7 days of Christ's First Coming, beginning with His Triumphal Entry (historically this took place on Sunday, 10 Nisan). This was the same day on which the lamb was presented prior to the Passover of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt.
I cannot wait for this sermon series and I encourage you to not miss out. Each Sunday will bring us another day closer to the PASSION of Christ and the POWER of His resurrection!
In His Love,
Randy
That is staggering! Fully one-third of the first four books of the New Testament is dedicated to His final week on earth. If the amount of time devoted to a particular set of events is any indicator of their significance, then clearly the passion of crucifixion and the power of the resurrection are not only critical but in fact they serve as the very basis for the Christian faith!
Over the next 7 weeks, we will count down the last 7 days of Christ's First Coming, beginning with His Triumphal Entry (historically this took place on Sunday, 10 Nisan). This was the same day on which the lamb was presented prior to the Passover of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt.
I cannot wait for this sermon series and I encourage you to not miss out. Each Sunday will bring us another day closer to the PASSION of Christ and the POWER of His resurrection!
In His Love,
Randy
Friday, March 4, 2011
Why do People Leave the Church?
A recent article in Churchleaders.com addressed the question, "Why do People Leave the Church?"*
As any church, C3 has its share of members/partners who have left or who have just fallen into an infrequent attendance pattern. As a pastor, and especially as a pastor who has a memory of who attends and when, my heart hurts for those who are not at worship service on Sunday mornings. The reason is simple: God has given me a shepherd's heart.
The article offers the results of survey work done in this area. The top reasons people leave the church are:
1. Change in life situation
2. Disenchantment with the church
3. Don't feel loved by the church
4. Are not really Christian at all
As pastor, it is my job to pray, to preach, and to lead our church to invest and invite into the lives of others, whether they are sinners far from God or whether they are one-time church attenders/members who have stopped coming to church. I pray that C3 is the kind of church where people know and experience the awesome power of corporate worship of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, where people do not become disenchanted with us, and where people feel loved and welcomed.
Now, a delicate balance must be struck between this searching heart and the commands of Christ to not compromise on His Truth. The pastor's paradox is that he wants everyone to love him, but due to his calling from God, he is not always going to make decisions that everyone loves. That said, every pastor is called to love his people and to go after them when they have wandered off from the rest of the flock.
I pray that if you are reading this blog and are not fully connected into a Christ-centered church that you join us for worship this Sunday.
pastor randy
* Reference used: http://www.churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/outreach-missions-articles/138855-coming-home-why-people-leave-the-church-and-how-to-bring-them-back.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily-Update
As any church, C3 has its share of members/partners who have left or who have just fallen into an infrequent attendance pattern. As a pastor, and especially as a pastor who has a memory of who attends and when, my heart hurts for those who are not at worship service on Sunday mornings. The reason is simple: God has given me a shepherd's heart.
The article offers the results of survey work done in this area. The top reasons people leave the church are:
1. Change in life situation
2. Disenchantment with the church
3. Don't feel loved by the church
4. Are not really Christian at all
As pastor, it is my job to pray, to preach, and to lead our church to invest and invite into the lives of others, whether they are sinners far from God or whether they are one-time church attenders/members who have stopped coming to church. I pray that C3 is the kind of church where people know and experience the awesome power of corporate worship of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, where people do not become disenchanted with us, and where people feel loved and welcomed.
Now, a delicate balance must be struck between this searching heart and the commands of Christ to not compromise on His Truth. The pastor's paradox is that he wants everyone to love him, but due to his calling from God, he is not always going to make decisions that everyone loves. That said, every pastor is called to love his people and to go after them when they have wandered off from the rest of the flock.
I pray that if you are reading this blog and are not fully connected into a Christ-centered church that you join us for worship this Sunday.
pastor randy
* Reference used: http://www.churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/outreach-missions-articles/138855-coming-home-why-people-leave-the-church-and-how-to-bring-them-back.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily-Update
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Are you in Control?
Some people are "control freaks." Some might even place me in that category. I work very hard not to control EVERYTHING! LOL. That said, some people have no control. They struggle to be in control of their emotions, their attitudes, their behaviors, their relationships, their finances, their future, you name it. They look around for someone, anyone to help them out, to bail them out, to sort them out, but alas, to no avail. Why?
The Bible declares a fruit of the Spirit is self-control. The term is not used very much outside of that one verse from Galatians, but it is implied a lot. The punchline for this topic is found in this truth: Godly self-control comes from God, just like every other fruit of the Spirit. The source of these attributes is God and without a full, vibrant, daily surrender of the flesh to the Spirit's power, no Christian can exercise the fruit of the Spirit.
So, the question remains: How do I exercise self-control? Let Him who is in you BE greater than He that is in the world. Paul challenged himself and all Christians with this word: "I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualifed for the prize." (1 Cor. 9:27)
Just as we engage our bodies in physical discipline in order to remain fit and healthy, so we must also engage our spirits in spiritual fitness...Sound Familiar?
pastor randy
The Bible declares a fruit of the Spirit is self-control. The term is not used very much outside of that one verse from Galatians, but it is implied a lot. The punchline for this topic is found in this truth: Godly self-control comes from God, just like every other fruit of the Spirit. The source of these attributes is God and without a full, vibrant, daily surrender of the flesh to the Spirit's power, no Christian can exercise the fruit of the Spirit.
So, the question remains: How do I exercise self-control? Let Him who is in you BE greater than He that is in the world. Paul challenged himself and all Christians with this word: "I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualifed for the prize." (1 Cor. 9:27)
Just as we engage our bodies in physical discipline in order to remain fit and healthy, so we must also engage our spirits in spiritual fitness...Sound Familiar?
pastor randy
Thursday, February 17, 2011
What does it mean to be meek?
Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
What does that mean? To begin, we have to make sure we know what meekness is not. Meekness is NOT weakness. To be meek is to demonstrate a humility of heart and spirit in the knowledge of one's own inadequacy before the Lord. Jesus was essentially highlighting the stark contrast between the proud self-assessment of the religious leaders of His day with those who understand and acknowledge their own spiritual poverty and hopelessness without the gracious hand of God intervening in the person of Christ.
I am continually amazed at the political correctness adopted by Christians if/when they do present Jesus to others. The problem is that most Christians jump right to a person's need for Jesus, which on the surface sounds right enough. However, unless a person knows AND admits his own sin nature and his sure path to destruction and hell, the idea of trusting Jesus carries little urgency or even importance.
In any given person's life, their journey begins with optimism, hope, and a bright outlook. As they grow older, they begin to witness and experience mortality. This triggers an investigation into the matters concerning the life after this life. Whether they believe in the afterlife or not, they nevertheless wrestle with those questions. As they age even further, the surety of death comes ever closer, challenging them to make decisions.
We read daily of the "premature" death of many young people, whether teenagers or twenty-somethings. Their regular rejection of Christ is sourced from their natural dismissal of death's potential. The American culture has also contributed to this casual refusal of the Christian witness because the Christian faith has been erroneously stereotyped as restrictive and guilt-ridden.
Now we return to how blessed are the meek. The meek Christian has such an intimate and life-transforming knowledge of his own sinful nature, his consequent prior separation from God and destiny to hell, God's amazing grace given in Christ's substitutionary death on the cross, God's re-creation (birthing again) and regeneration of the person, God's consequent justification of that person and adoption into the family of God, with certain eternal life with God in heaven upon departure from this life!
When the Christian comes to a fuller understanding of his "position" in Christ, in spite of his sinful nature, his witness is then so much more compelling and impacting upon the person with whom he shares Christ. When that person "sees" it in the witness, that person then comes to a realization of the freedom truly felt by the Christian and the fullness of life truly experienced by the Christian.
Meekness leads to inheritance - for every genuinely converted follower of Christ is a joint-heir with Him!
Dish out
What does that mean? To begin, we have to make sure we know what meekness is not. Meekness is NOT weakness. To be meek is to demonstrate a humility of heart and spirit in the knowledge of one's own inadequacy before the Lord. Jesus was essentially highlighting the stark contrast between the proud self-assessment of the religious leaders of His day with those who understand and acknowledge their own spiritual poverty and hopelessness without the gracious hand of God intervening in the person of Christ.
I am continually amazed at the political correctness adopted by Christians if/when they do present Jesus to others. The problem is that most Christians jump right to a person's need for Jesus, which on the surface sounds right enough. However, unless a person knows AND admits his own sin nature and his sure path to destruction and hell, the idea of trusting Jesus carries little urgency or even importance.
In any given person's life, their journey begins with optimism, hope, and a bright outlook. As they grow older, they begin to witness and experience mortality. This triggers an investigation into the matters concerning the life after this life. Whether they believe in the afterlife or not, they nevertheless wrestle with those questions. As they age even further, the surety of death comes ever closer, challenging them to make decisions.
We read daily of the "premature" death of many young people, whether teenagers or twenty-somethings. Their regular rejection of Christ is sourced from their natural dismissal of death's potential. The American culture has also contributed to this casual refusal of the Christian witness because the Christian faith has been erroneously stereotyped as restrictive and guilt-ridden.
Now we return to how blessed are the meek. The meek Christian has such an intimate and life-transforming knowledge of his own sinful nature, his consequent prior separation from God and destiny to hell, God's amazing grace given in Christ's substitutionary death on the cross, God's re-creation (birthing again) and regeneration of the person, God's consequent justification of that person and adoption into the family of God, with certain eternal life with God in heaven upon departure from this life!
When the Christian comes to a fuller understanding of his "position" in Christ, in spite of his sinful nature, his witness is then so much more compelling and impacting upon the person with whom he shares Christ. When that person "sees" it in the witness, that person then comes to a realization of the freedom truly felt by the Christian and the fullness of life truly experienced by the Christian.
Meekness leads to inheritance - for every genuinely converted follower of Christ is a joint-heir with Him!
Dish out
Friday, February 11, 2011
Got Faith?
The Bible says that "without faith, it is impossible to please God." We know that God is faithful - faithful to carry out His promises, faithful to renew His mercies every morning, and faithful to providentially care for the universe and all that is in it.
But are YOU faithful? Do you trust God and take Him at His Word? Do your actions everyday sync up with that trust? The Bible defines faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Jesus said to doubting Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Many will refer to faith in Christ as blind faith, but that is not accurate. Blind faith implies that the one we are following does not know where he is going. Faith in Christ is founded on who He is, what He taught, how He acted, what He ultimatley did, and the profound, pervasive and prolonged impact He has had on the world!
No other person in the history of the world has had a greater impact. There isn't even a close second. The fact that Christ is the central figure in the story of mankind is no coincidence - it proves the sovereignty of God. There is no greater demonstration of faithfulness than when Jesus said, "Nevertheless, not my will be done, but Thy will be done."
When we come to the realization that Christ really is who He claimed to be, then there is NOTHING that will stand in our way or prevent us from following Him!
Do you have such faith?
Dish
But are YOU faithful? Do you trust God and take Him at His Word? Do your actions everyday sync up with that trust? The Bible defines faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Jesus said to doubting Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Many will refer to faith in Christ as blind faith, but that is not accurate. Blind faith implies that the one we are following does not know where he is going. Faith in Christ is founded on who He is, what He taught, how He acted, what He ultimatley did, and the profound, pervasive and prolonged impact He has had on the world!
No other person in the history of the world has had a greater impact. There isn't even a close second. The fact that Christ is the central figure in the story of mankind is no coincidence - it proves the sovereignty of God. There is no greater demonstration of faithfulness than when Jesus said, "Nevertheless, not my will be done, but Thy will be done."
When we come to the realization that Christ really is who He claimed to be, then there is NOTHING that will stand in our way or prevent us from following Him!
Do you have such faith?
Dish
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Oak Trees or Pear Trees?
When our family returned from our flight out of Charleston in the wake of Hurricane Floyd, we saw that our neighbor's Bradford Pear tree was completely uprooted and tossed across the yard. Not sure how our trees fared, we pulled into the driveway. The verdict? Our oak tree was still standing strong!
Which is better - the oak tree or the pear tree? Well, most everyone would say the Oak. Why? It's more deeply rooted and therefore stronger. But it takes a long time to grow, so some would say the pear is better. Which one will withstand a storm better? No doubt, the oak would withstand the storms better.
If Christians were trees, what kind of tree would you be? Jesus said we are to "make disciples." Are you a disciple? A disciple is a fully-devoted follower of Christ.
I would say that the fully-devoted followers of Christ are like oak trees. They have strong root systems that have developed over a long period of time. The trunk of an oak tree is stout and sturdy. The branch system is such that it can withstand the strongest winds. The "fruit" - the acorn - is not that beautiful but it is plentiful, but when planted, produces yet another mighty oak!
I am convinced that discipleship is the single greatest need in the church today. In fact, evangelism in America has waned because the average Christian has not been discipled; the average Christian is more like a pear tree. They have a shallow root system, the flowers bloom quickly but then soon wither, and when the storms come, the tree is oftimes uprooted and tossed.
So, why is discipleship not happening in the church? Why are churches producing a considerable number of pear trees but very few oak trees? There are probably a whole list of reasons, but the two that come to my mind are: 1) it is hard, and 2) it takes time.
C3 exists to cultivate the seed sown in the heart of ALL believers - whether they have been a believer for 20 years or 2 months. This cultivation occurs through various "growth" opportunities. These include: consistent intake of the Word of God; persistent prayer time with the "Gardener"; regular worship and digestion of God's Truth through songs, prayers, sermons, and fellowship; systematic "working out" of one's knowledge of the person AND work of Christ; proven endurance through trials and troubles (the storms) that come into one's life; and daily articulation of one's faith both in practice and in witness.
If you were to start today, it may not be for a long time that you begin to bear the fruit or resemblance of the oak tree, but if you persist with steadfast endurance, you will one day become the mighty oak that God desires for you to be.
It all begins with a decision of the heart!
Randy
Which is better - the oak tree or the pear tree? Well, most everyone would say the Oak. Why? It's more deeply rooted and therefore stronger. But it takes a long time to grow, so some would say the pear is better. Which one will withstand a storm better? No doubt, the oak would withstand the storms better.
If Christians were trees, what kind of tree would you be? Jesus said we are to "make disciples." Are you a disciple? A disciple is a fully-devoted follower of Christ.
I would say that the fully-devoted followers of Christ are like oak trees. They have strong root systems that have developed over a long period of time. The trunk of an oak tree is stout and sturdy. The branch system is such that it can withstand the strongest winds. The "fruit" - the acorn - is not that beautiful but it is plentiful, but when planted, produces yet another mighty oak!
I am convinced that discipleship is the single greatest need in the church today. In fact, evangelism in America has waned because the average Christian has not been discipled; the average Christian is more like a pear tree. They have a shallow root system, the flowers bloom quickly but then soon wither, and when the storms come, the tree is oftimes uprooted and tossed.
So, why is discipleship not happening in the church? Why are churches producing a considerable number of pear trees but very few oak trees? There are probably a whole list of reasons, but the two that come to my mind are: 1) it is hard, and 2) it takes time.
C3 exists to cultivate the seed sown in the heart of ALL believers - whether they have been a believer for 20 years or 2 months. This cultivation occurs through various "growth" opportunities. These include: consistent intake of the Word of God; persistent prayer time with the "Gardener"; regular worship and digestion of God's Truth through songs, prayers, sermons, and fellowship; systematic "working out" of one's knowledge of the person AND work of Christ; proven endurance through trials and troubles (the storms) that come into one's life; and daily articulation of one's faith both in practice and in witness.
If you were to start today, it may not be for a long time that you begin to bear the fruit or resemblance of the oak tree, but if you persist with steadfast endurance, you will one day become the mighty oak that God desires for you to be.
It all begins with a decision of the heart!
Randy
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