Over the past several weeks the church has been looking for its lost passion. The hope is that we will somehow recover it before it is too late. This search has taken us to Revelation 2:1-7 and then to the book of Ephesians. Last week we started our study in Ephesians with the idea - God chose you for His glory. Therefore you should respond to Him in wonder and heartfelt worship. This idea developed out of our study of Ephesians 1:3-6. Tomorrow, we will continue the study by examining Ephesians 1:7-12. In this passage we learn - In Christ you are accepted, redeemed, completed, and eternally secure.
Sometimes I am asked, "How should I respond to such a message?" "I've heard all this before. But what I want to know is how should I apply such a thing to life?" Passion is not something you put on like a new coat. Passion, especially in worship and service to Christ, is a response to an understanding. Our passion for our lover - boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse - is a response to the knowledge that they love us. Likewise, passion in worship or service to Jesus is a similar response. I find that in Him I am all the things mentioned above, and more. That knowledge should fill me with a myriad of positive emotions. If I understand that I am outside of Him, then I will respond in many negative ways - guilt, shame, regret, rebellion...
The message will be posted sometime after November 1st. Give it a listen and let me know how you understand the text. In a few days I will share more on the subject.
-Mark
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Here I am
Welcome again to Stories of Redemption. Many months back I created this blog with the hope of creating something different from the Wakefield blog that I also write. However, that never materialized. Now it makes more sense to close the Wakefield blog and post in just one location. I hope this does not cause confusion.
-Mark
-Mark
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The Wonder and ZZZ of Doctrine
A problem has arisen as I prepare for this Sunday's message - How do I honorably preach the doctrine of Ephesians 1:3-6 without making it an academic exercise? Bible churches in the Maryland/Pennsylvania area have a culture centered around the expository preaching of God's Word - line by line, verse, by verse, word by word. I agree with this, but have found that if poorly preached it accomplishes the same as that of poorly preached topical messages. It becomes an academic message, a seminary lesson, that soars above the average listener. The sad result is that the doctrine of say Ephesians 1:3-6 becomes tedious and boring. The listener can find no reason to listen. Their minds wander and little is accomplished. (Now I understand that I am not including in these thoughts the role of the Holy Spirit and His use of God's Word.)That said, when I read this passage I am filled with wonder and joy. God chose me before the foundation of the world! He adopted me as a son! And He did all this, and more, to the praise of His glory! If this fills me with wonder and joy, why does it not so move the average listener? Because it is poorly communicated. We take this profound truth and boil it down the war between Calvin and Arminius; and the response is ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!
Pray for me this week as I try and find the way to best present this wonderful verse without killing the wonder and joy.
-Mark
Please visit our church at www.wakefieldbible.org
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Remember, Repent, and Return
Revelation 2:1-7 records the first of seven letters to seven churches. In each letter, Jesus addresses the pastors of the church, called "angel" or "messenger" in each letter, and holds them accountable. The church at Ephesus was commended for many things: their labor, patience, stance against evil, and their ability to expose false apostles. However, Jesus pointed out one glaring weakness, their lack of heart.
Of the seven churches addressed in Revelation, Ephesus would be the most prominent. Ephesus was a key city in the Roman empire and a thriving port city. Jesus, though, was willing to remove that church if they did not bring the heart back into the work. It was not enough for Christ that they were getting it done; no He demanded that they balance that with passion. He does give a remedy for this problem. In Revelation 2:5 He tells them to 1) Remember from where they had fallen; 2) to Repent; and 3) to Return ("to the first works return").
This past Sunday we went to the early days of the church in Ephesus found in Acts 19:17-21. There we examined three things that this new church was doing and applied these three actions to the above instruction "to remember." First the church magnified the name of Jesus. That simply means they made Jesus number one in all they did. His name took the preeminence. Sadly, there is much that can be accomplished in a church without magnifying the name of Jesus. Second they confessed their sins and testified to God's deliverance. In short, they were transparent one with another. Imagine the dynamic that would be created if all church members were just honest with each other. And finally, they put away all sins that were causing them to stumble and stray from a godly life. This reminds me of Hebrews 12:1.
It is my prayer that the members of Wakefield will begin to do the actions the early Ephesians: magnify Christ, become transparent one with another, and put away our sinful behavior. I feel that by just focusing on these three actions we can begin to recapture the passion that Christ demands for His church.
Please visit our church at www.wakefieldbible.org
Of the seven churches addressed in Revelation, Ephesus would be the most prominent. Ephesus was a key city in the Roman empire and a thriving port city. Jesus, though, was willing to remove that church if they did not bring the heart back into the work. It was not enough for Christ that they were getting it done; no He demanded that they balance that with passion. He does give a remedy for this problem. In Revelation 2:5 He tells them to 1) Remember from where they had fallen; 2) to Repent; and 3) to Return ("to the first works return").
This past Sunday we went to the early days of the church in Ephesus found in Acts 19:17-21. There we examined three things that this new church was doing and applied these three actions to the above instruction "to remember." First the church magnified the name of Jesus. That simply means they made Jesus number one in all they did. His name took the preeminence. Sadly, there is much that can be accomplished in a church without magnifying the name of Jesus. Second they confessed their sins and testified to God's deliverance. In short, they were transparent one with another. Imagine the dynamic that would be created if all church members were just honest with each other. And finally, they put away all sins that were causing them to stumble and stray from a godly life. This reminds me of Hebrews 12:1.
It is my prayer that the members of Wakefield will begin to do the actions the early Ephesians: magnify Christ, become transparent one with another, and put away our sinful behavior. I feel that by just focusing on these three actions we can begin to recapture the passion that Christ demands for His church.
Please visit our church at www.wakefieldbible.org
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Restoring Passion
It has been months since I have had the time to post. This has been due to the many trips I have needed to make to visit and to care for family. Hopefully now I can return to regular posting since much has been accomplished.
At Wakefield Valley Bible Church we have begun to study passion. Not passion as it relates to lovers, but passion as it relates to church. This study began with an examination on how God loves. Then it moved to the idea of love, or passion, as a part of faith. From there we moved to Revelation 2:1-7, where the letter to the church of Ephesus is recorded. That message, titled Remember, Repent, & Return, positioned us to begin a study in the book of Ephesians.
Ephesians, like many of Paul's letters, begin with doctrine and then transition to the practical application of this doctrine. Often what happens, is that preachers get bogged down in the doctrine, turning an exciting subject matter to one that bores the listener. I believe it was Dr. Howard Hendricks who I first heard say "It is a sin to bore people with the Bible." (I'm certain that I have committed this sin on a number of occasions.) With this upcoming study on passion, it is my goal to take the doctrine of Ephesians and have it awaken in us this missing passion.
So check back over the weeks to follow this study. All the messages will be under the series heading of Keeping the Candle Lit.
-Mark
Please visit our church at www.wakefieldbible.org
At Wakefield Valley Bible Church we have begun to study passion. Not passion as it relates to lovers, but passion as it relates to church. This study began with an examination on how God loves. Then it moved to the idea of love, or passion, as a part of faith. From there we moved to Revelation 2:1-7, where the letter to the church of Ephesus is recorded. That message, titled Remember, Repent, & Return, positioned us to begin a study in the book of Ephesians.
Ephesians, like many of Paul's letters, begin with doctrine and then transition to the practical application of this doctrine. Often what happens, is that preachers get bogged down in the doctrine, turning an exciting subject matter to one that bores the listener. I believe it was Dr. Howard Hendricks who I first heard say "It is a sin to bore people with the Bible." (I'm certain that I have committed this sin on a number of occasions.) With this upcoming study on passion, it is my goal to take the doctrine of Ephesians and have it awaken in us this missing passion.
So check back over the weeks to follow this study. All the messages will be under the series heading of Keeping the Candle Lit.
-Mark
Please visit our church at www.wakefieldbible.org
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
