Advent: Messiah

Messiah: could you ever imagine that a baby could save the world? Well we know when we look at the bible that this happened. Jesus came as the messiah, which means promised deliver. He came to save His people from there sins Mathew 1:21. Jesus came to change hearts.

Did you know that the people Jesus came for wanted Him to be something different? Have you ever looked at a present and thought it was something amazing and inside it was just pajamas or socks? Well these people wanted a King to fix all their problems but what they needed was a savior to pay for and forgive their sins. These people were not happy with Jesus because he was not a warrior King.

We know why Jesus came because the Bible tells us, to save his people from their sins. Have you been saved from your sins? Do you want Jesus to be something he is not? Jesus is not a magic genie where you can make wishes and they come true. Jesus is the God of the universe who came as a baby to save people from their sins. He was what the world needed but not what they wanted. When you look at the Christmas tree or you look at baby Jesus in the manger ask yourself what do you want from Jesus, and then ask does that fit with what He came to do?

The question to ponder: How does knowing the Messiahs true meaning help to prepare your heart for the day we celebrate Jesus birth?

Advent: Immanuel

Immanuel: What an amazing name for Jesus. The angel said this was to be His name because it means God with us, you can find it in Matthew 1:23. God desires relationship with us. He wants to be with us. When you look at the beginning and God was spending time with Adam and Eve in the garden it must have been wonderful. Man’s sin changed this relationship until we look at the end of the story and see God dwelling with man in heaven. God knew this end would not happen apart from Jesus. That is why Jesus had to come as a baby to be with us, to live the life we could not live and to die the death we could not die so we could one day dwell with God forever.

Did you know you could have God with you now? Jesus was on earth for 33 years, Immanuel, God with us was here only a short time but God had a plan for us to have Him all the time. Did you know it was through a gift that we could have God all the time? When Jesus was telling His disciples he was going to leave they were sad that they would not have God with them anymore. Jesus told them not to be sad but that something better was coming, and that something is the Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of men. God knew he was going to be with us, through the Holy Spirit. What a wonderful
picture of God with us always.

When you think about the presents under the tree you can think about the gift that God gave you in the Holy Spirit if you follow Him. What must it have been like to here Jesus say there is something better coming than Him? What a joy to know God did not leave us empty but He gave the Holy Spirit.

The question to ponder: How does having Immanuel with you help to prepare your heart for the day we celebrate Jesus birth?

Advent: Love

Love: Love is an amazing word. It is a word the Bible uses to describe why Jesus came as a baby. Did you know that we celebrate love on Christmas? We celebrate the love that God had for His people that he would send His son to die. Think about John 3:16 for God so loved the world that He gave his only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Wow what a verse, did hear all the Love that was in that verse.

The Bible tells us in 1 John 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. The true Love of Christmas is that Jesus would give himself for us. God knew when he was sending his only son that we would have to die. This love is big and real and so wonderful that God would give his child for us.

On Christmas we celebrate the birth of a baby who would one day die for us. We celebrate the love of God for His people. We celebrate the amazing gift of Jesus. When we think of Love we should automatically have Jesus come to mind. Love is such a wonderful word because it is a word that describes our Gods affection and attention towards us.

Take some time this year when you wake up on Christmas to think about the Love that was given for you, the birth of a baby who would grow up to die so that we could be forgiven and made new. God knows how to give good gifts and what better way to celebrate Christmas then to remember and think about the best gift ever given.

The question to ponder: How is the true love of God helping to prepare your heart for the day we celebrate Jesus birth?

Advent: joy

Joy: What makes you happy? Christmas makes me happy; music makes me happy, what a wonderful feeling to be happy. Can you think of something that can make you happy forever? I think the only answer that can truly fit for that question is Jesus. Joy is one of the best emotions and feelings that God could have given us.

One of the Christmas songs that we have sung for a long time is Joy to the World. What a great title. I love this song because it says that happiness has come to the world because Jesus came to the world. Jesus came into the world to be the savior of the world. He came to bring life, to wake up our dead hearts and make them work. Jesus is the true picture of Joy.

When we think of Christmas joy we think of family, friends and presents and to tell you the truth they do bring Joy but not the Joy to the world joy we are talking about.
The true Joy is in Jesus coming as a baby to be our Savior to be our King. True happiness that we can be saved from our sins and be able to live for Jesus here on the earth. The angels in Luke 2:10 tell us that this Joy is great and will be for all the people. Christmas songs should have a wonderful new meaning to us when we think about the Joy that we can have because Jesus came as a baby.

When you spend time with your family this year at Christmas be happy enjoy them but know that the greatest Joy is in knowing Jesus as your savior. Think about what it would look like to be happy and joyful everyday because you remember what Jesus gave for you.

The question to ponder: How is true joy helping to prepare your heart for the day we celebrate Jesus birth?

16 Daddy tips for Christmas:From Mark Driscoll

’Tis the season for Dad to drop the holiday ball, stress out as the money is being spent for presents, and miss yet another providential opportunity to lovingly lead his family. So, this blog is intended to help dads not fall into the same old rut of holiday humdrum, sitting on the couch watching football and eating carbs, but rather intentionally plan out the upcoming holiday season. Our children grow quickly and if we miss the sacred moments God opens up for us to connect with and bless our families, everyone suffers and we set in motion generations of missed opportunity.
Dad needs...

1. a plan for the holidays to ensure his family is loved and memories are made. Dad, what’s your plan?
2. to check the local guides for what’s going on to make fun holiday plans for the family. In Seattle it’s here.
3. to carve out time for sacred events and experiences to build family traditions that are fun and point to Jesus. Dad, is your calendar ready for December?
4. to not let the stress of the holidays, including money, cause him to be grumpy with Mom or the kids. Dad, how’s your joy?
5. to give experiences and not just gifts. Dad, what special memories can you make this holiday season?
6. to manage the extended family and friends during the holidays. Dad, who or what do you need to say “no” to?
7. to ensure his family is giving generously during the holidays. Dad, who in need is your family going to adopt and bless?
8. to schedule a big Christmas daddy date with his daughter. Dad, what’s your big plan for the fancy daddy date?
9. to schedule guy time with his son. Dad, what are you and your son going to do that is active, outdoors, and fun?
10. to help Mom get the house decorated. Dad, are you really a big help to Mom with getting things ready?
11. to ensure some holiday smells and sounds. Dad, is Christmas music on the iPod, is the tree up, and can you smell cookies and cider in your house?
12. to snuggle up and watch some fun shows with the kids, especially the little ones. Dad, is the DVR set?
13. to take the family on a drive to see Christmas lights while listening to music and sipping cider. Dad, is it mapped out?
14. to help Mom get the kids’ rooms decorated. Dad, do the little kids get lights or a small tree in their room?
15. to read about Jesus and pray over his kids. Dad, how’s your pastoral work going with each of your kids?
16. to repent of being lazy, selfish, grumpy, or just dumping the holidays on Mom. Dad, are you a servant like Jesus to your family?

Advent: Peace

Peace: Do you ever feel worried or scared? Do you not know where to find peace? What is peace? Is it no more war? Is it quiet and stillness? Well yes it is both of these things but it is so much more when it is the peace that comes from Jesus.

When we sing Christmas songs we see this word a lot. Why is that? Well when Jesus came into the world it had been at war against evil and darkness. When Jesus came he said that the kingdom of God was here. Jesus came to end the war; He came to bring peace, peace unlike anything that had ever been seen before. Jesus was coming to make things right. He came to save people from there sins and to give them the peace of God.

This is not just world peace, which will come when Jesus returns but this is inside peace. This peace that we sing about is the peace that God gives to His children. This peace means we do not need to worry or be scared and that we can be comforted and loved forever by God. When we have the peace of God we do not care how the world looks at us because we know what God thinks of us and He loves us.

The angels when the came to the shepherds told them: “ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. (Luke2:14)” No one had heard this before it was all new. God giving peace to His people through Jesus what an amazing gift and how special to experience Gods love this way.

The question to ponder: How is true peace in Jesus helping to prepare your heart for the day we celebrate Jesus birth?

Advent: Hope

Hope: What an amazing word, but you might be surprised by what it really means. Hope is a word used in our world as something that might happen. We use it to talk about the future and what we might become or do. When we use this word in the way the Bible uses it we see that it is a future event that will happen. There is certainty and fact about the word Hope.

We celebrate at Christmas time the hope that the people of Israel had that the Messiah would come and rescue them. There hope was fulfilled it was true when God said thousands of years before that He would send a rescuer to come and set them free. You and I can remember the story so clearly; we have been taught the story since we were little children before we could talk. We celebrate the day our Savior came into the world.

The other part of the Hope we celebrate at Christmas is the hope of Jesus return that He will come back and reign as the rightful king of the world. The true Hope that God will do what He said He would do. 1 Corinthians 1:10 reminds us that God has delivered us from and sin and will one day bring us to be with Him. We know how the story ends, it ends in a beautiful city where Jesus is sitting on His throne, and we get to spend eternity with Him forever.
Now that you understand the true meaning of Hope you can change the things you hope for this year. The presents are fun and enjoyable but the hope that comes in knowing Jesus, as your Savior and King will last forever.

The question to ponder: How is true Hope helping to prepare your heart for the day we celebrate Jesus birth?

a calling God

Our God is a calling God. Throughout all time, we find God calling people to carry out specific tasks – wealthy and settled Abraham was called to leave everything and go to a land that God would show him; the reluctant Moses was called to lead the people of Israel to freedom; the shepherd boy David, not old enough yet to shave, was called to be king; Gideon, who wanted proof that it was really God who was speaking to him, was called to lead an army against Israel’s enemies; the cheat and thief Matthew was called to be a disciple; the Christian hater, Saul of Tarsus, was called to be a missionary to the Gentiles. What is evident in all these examples is that the people whom God calls to do his work are ordinary people like you and me – people with weaknesses and handicaps, people with their fair share of marriage and family problems, people who don’t have much going for them from a human point of view. It is not beyond God to seemingly call the wrong people, for the wrong jobs at the wrong time and place. It seems all wrong doesn’t, but God knows what he is doing.

What are you called to?

Cultivation

Take a few minutes and read the evbc mission statement and reflect on it.

We exist to glorify God by cultivating Christ in each other so that we can be Christ to the world. We are a people who love God, love His word, and love people.

What words stand out to you why? What makes them so significant to you? What do you thinks this means to a Sunday school classroom?

When I look this statement over there is a word that fits so clearly with children. It is cultivate. Why you may ask? This is what we are about when we are planting the seeds of the Gospel. Think about the times you have read the Gospels in the New Testament, how many time can you think of or remember Jesus using agricultural language? Largest portion of Jesus illustrations were using agricultural terms think about how then we can use these in thinking about discipleship.

Here a few examples of the words He used:
Plow, yoke, winnowing fork, vine and branches, fig tree, pruning, sower and the seed, soil, wheat and weeds, mustard seed, harvest, white with harvest, parable of the weeds, a tree and its fruit, and many more.

Now think about these things in light of the mission statement you just read. Now think through the lens of a farmer, especially in the cultivation of soil and examine the definition below:
Cultivate: 1 : to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops; also : to loosen or break up the soil about (growing plants)
2 a : to foster the growth of b
1. To grow plants, notably crops
Farmers should cultivate their crops to get a good harvest.
2. To nurture; tend
They tried to cultivate an interest in learning among their students.
3. To turn or stir soil in preparation for planting.

Discipleship is a cultivation ministry. It takes hard work and time; it takes thought and relationship to do this word justice. Cultivation is not easy sometimes it hurts. Imagine trying to cultivate soil with out modern machinery. How would this feel? How long would it take? What muscles or body parts would be sore after you were done? Cultivation is what God has called us to as the church, which is where you come in as a Sunday school teacher. The thing about cultivating children is that we are preparing their heart soil; we are helping to nurture and prepare their hearts. This word cultivate is very significant when you think about the ramifications. What will they see in you and remember about what was said in class about the God of the universe?

What a profound ministry we have, to be apart of what God will do in the heart of children. Have you ever thought that sometimes children have a different perspective when they listen to you then when they listen to their parents? It is like bringing in new machinery that has not been on a field before. It has the potential to go deeper into the heart of the soil, unlock something that has not seen sunlight. Remember when you would listen to other adults and not your parents? Our goal is to work hard to come along side of families to help cultivate the heart soil of their children, to bring added nutrients from scripture to be apart of the process. What a joy that we have to be able to love these little ones this way, now go back to and re-read the mission statement with some fresh perspective. What comes alive now? How will your class look different having thought through the mission the leadership of evbc has set forth?

bless

I have been working really hard to orient my life around others. I have been using a model given to me by a friend who got it from someone else, which is how it normally works. The model is called B.L.E.S.S. missional rhythms. Bless is a way to think intentionally about your life here is the basics for bless:

Each week we respond to the identity that God gives to us in his grace by trying to
B. L. E. S. S. others through what we do.

B. We bless
Each week we aspire to bless others in our Christian community and our spheres of influence in word, action or gift at least three times. As a guide we seek to bless 1 believer, 1 unbeliever, and someone not like us.

L. We listen
Each week we aspire to listen to God, looking for him to guide us through his word and Spirit. And we listen to people around us to understand their stories and the story of our culture.

E. We eat
Each week we aspire to eat or have a drink with people outside our immediate family at least three times (1 believer, 1 unbeliever, and someone not like us) offering friendship and community.

S. We speak
Each week we aspire to tell people the story of Jesus and our story of Jesus, making Jesus a normal part of our conversations. And we speak to God through prayer, recognizing our dependence on him in all things.

S. We sabbath
Each week we aspire to spend time in rest, praise, play, partying and creativity.

I found this to be an amazing way to think about others and what it is that God has for me. think through this how would this fit into what you are doing already to be intentional about others.

when it all clicks

Have you had a moment lately when you feel like things have clicked together. I have these moments regularly but they are not when i have figured it out but when the Holy spirit works it out in me.

In the last three weeks my family has seen big changes we have welcomed a new child into our family, and now have three girls under the age of 4 figuring life out together. My wife and I were talking last night about what it is that God is doing in us as parents. The thing that has been overwhelmingly clear is that God desires to make us more like Jesus. I feel like marriage was a no big deal transition in life, but being a parent has been what God has used to make me more dependent on Him. I love the picture that parenting a toddler paints for me. you can instruct a toddler they seem to get it and then as quickly as there is a shimmer of understanding it falls away. This must be a wonderful picture of Gods interaction with us. We seem to get it and we are walking byt the spirit and as soon as we lose sight of our Savior we fall away.

So back to the click, I now feel like things fit together better, that my instruction and discipline of my children is just as much for me as it is for them. It is this beautiful reminder of how God wants me to respond to Him. To be soft and obedient to recognize when i have disobeyed and failed. This process is also for me to show my children a small picture of what God is like (see exodus 34 for the exact description) although it be really small picture. My desire is to be more like Christ but not by my effort but by the Holy Spirit shaping me through all that God has in store for me.

Generational Faithfulness

Generational faithfulness:
The original outline for Gods plan for parenting is found in Deuteronomy 6. God clearly describes the goal of our homes. God has allowed us to know how to continue our faith through our children. This is the most missional thing we can do, parent in Gods aproach, so that others will see our love for our children becasue of the love God has poured out on us.

3 things from Deuteronomy 6
1. God says to teach and talk to our children about who He is and what His statues are.
They way God commands us to teach and talk is diligently. This means with purpose and intent. Life is the classroom and God has provided the objects and the call of what to teach. Scripture has been for thousands of years the textbook for life. The first book most children until the last two centuries would have read first was the bible. God is very clear that is commands and statues are what guide our lives and set us apart from the world around us. God did not give us aimless things to teach our children He gave us they very things they need for life and to know Him.

2. God says make these things you teach and talk about apart of everyday life.
Teaching your children fits in to all the learning styles based on what God says in Deuteronomy 6:
Auditory –listening
Visual-watching
Tactile and Kinesthetic- movers and shakers
God knew exactly who He was talking to when He gave this commandment. God knows that His little creations are each individually unique, and need all of these approaches to teach His truths.
Modeling:
He knows that your children watch you. Your children will learn to worship what you do. They were designed to be followers, and Jesus has a strong warning for those who lead them astray. They have a high level of perception to the way you orient your life.
I.e. Computer, tv, phone, husband, wife, family, work



Teaching Moments: The world around you and things that happen everyday are perfect opportunities to talk about the Godly and biblical response. When our children see that our very first response is to seek the council of God they to in time will begin to act the same way, this does not mean they are believers. It is a step to talking about why we as there parents respond to God as our father.
TV- caillou and his whining problem
Grocery store and screaming children
Nature and Gods creation
Homeless people on the side of the road
Food for the hungry
Prayer is not just for food and bedtime
Books looking for places to point out sin and good behavior
3. God says these things happen out of love.
First for God, second for our children, Deuteronomy 6:20 is the answer to why we teach and talk to our children about these things. So that when your son asks why do we do all of these things you will have an answer. The reason is that they might know God and not forget who He is. When we remember God for all that he has done it shows our love for Him and proves our love for the one we are speaking to. If you found the perfect wrinkle remover wouldn’t you tell the people you love. You know how great our God is and you tell the people you love.
Here are a few questions about Deuteronomy 6:20 to probe the way you live.

What in your life is there to ask about?
Why would they want to ask you?
What about your life brings up questions now to your preschooler, elementary, jr high, high school students?
Do the answers to they questions they have point them to your God?

The reason the Israelites fall apart can be found in Judges 2:10: And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the work which he had wrought for Israel.
The older generation did not tell the younger. God has called us to be the front lines of discipleship in the world. This is the quickest way to share your faith. As moms and dads you are on the edge of evangelism everyday. If the people of Israel had truly taken seriously Deuteronomy 6 this could have been a different outcome.

God desires that the family be the strongest missional focus in the world. This passage gives us purpose to be set apart from the world. We are different: our parenting is not about us; it is for the God who saved and loves us. The reason that we spend time with our kids is because we love them and because of that we continually remind them about Jesus. When the world sees that they see that we live for a greater purpose then our selves and our kids.
A few Passages for reflection:
David knew well what leaving a Godly legacy could do. Listen to these two passages.
Psalm 78
Psalm 71
Proverbs is clear about children and parents. So perfect is the model of Godliness in proverbs 31 that we should all take note.
Proverbs: 1:8, 7:1, 3:26, 31:10-31
The New Testament even gives a glimpse at the heart of generational faithfulness.
Luke 1:17 John the Baptist job description
Luke 1:50 Mary and the magnificat

How sweet it is...

How sweet it is to think how much our Heavenly Father loves us. God has made it clear to us that when He called us His children at the conversion of our hearts He provided exactly what we need. 2 Peter 1:3-10 describes this reality, Peter declares that we have everything we need for life and godliness. What an amazing statement, all of this was granted by His divine power through the knowledge of the one who called us. If you follow this passage all the way through you will be blown away by how much God truly loves you. If you were in doubt about Gods provision let that doubt be washed away by the security of the Love of your Heavenly Father. God cares and loves you. You are his most precious creation. David Crowder writes a song called "everything glorious" where he describes Gods creation. The process of the song takes us down the road that God makes (everything glorious and I am yours, so what does that make me?). That makes you His prized possession. As a child of the King you are an heir to the kingdom and the promises the King gives His children, be excited today as you think about how loved you really are. God knows you, take joy in your Father.

what matters most...

Take some time and think about what matters most to you. I know you all want to say God or Jesus or wife and kids or something like that. Think hard what is it that you are striving for? How will you know when you have made it in this life? where are you going? Is what you are doing now what you are supposed to be doing?

OK i will stop with the questions. I am sure these are coming to fast to actually get them all straight. To be honest it should all come down to one thing. What is on the throne of your heart. All the questions are very purposeful questions when set in the frame of Jesus. Jesus is the guide for our life's direction He is G2. God, neighbor and world:s these three components only make sense when understood that only Jesus can make it possible to live them out. I am sure that you have answer for the above questions, but do you have the lenses and framework to answer them correctly. Any answer that is you or self focused, has a very skewed perspective. Its all because of Jesus I'm alive, it's because the blood of Jesus Christ that covers me. When this line of thinking invades us and sets our course then all falls into a great rhythm, Jesus rhythm.

Erasmus Quote

A friend of mine gave me this quote in regards to education and Sunday school. I thought of this in line with the potential of preaching and teaching.

"I admit that your vocation is laborious, but I utterly deny that it is tragic or deplorable, as you call it. To be a school master is next to being a king. Do you count it mean employment to imbue the minds of your fellow-citizen in their earliest years with the best literature and with the love of Christ, and to return them to their country honest and virtuous men? In the opinion of fools it is a humble task, but in fact it is the noblest of occupations."

The joy of caring for people through instruction in Gods word. The goal to change them on the spot. To preach and teach straight to the heart. We desire to have God through the Holy Spirit move in them that they leave different not by our words but by Gods. Our love of people and there souls compels us to speak with authority and direction to be more like Christ.

In Christ alone

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.


No guilt in life, no fear in death from life's first cry to final breath

The kingdom life

I have be reading through the message trying to look for places where Jesus talks about the kingdom life. What amazes me, is what He is describing when he gives us the standard of living to follow Him. When i read the sermon on the mount i am blown away by how many cultural laws Jesus shuts down and then infuses kingdom living into them. The beatitude,s Matthew 5 talks about how to receive the kingdom, and how to represent the kingdom. Matthew 6 talks about the radical nature of the kingdom and it's benefits. Matthew 7 describes our relationship with God and who He is. The kingdom is not just and idea it is the way of life. Jesus came and the kingdom of God was what He established. Life is more than just being good it is about living for the kingdom and the one who brought you under its rule.

dethroned

We all have idols of the heart. We fight them, we long for them to go away. Idols have a way of getting into our dna. They tell us how to think and what to be. The create in us a false sense of salvation or comfort. Tim Keller calls them functional saviors, they functionally make us feel better for a time so we feel safe and rescued. The truth is there is only one true savior, Jesus Christ. We can talk details and see the importance of removing idols and allowing Jesus to have the throne of our hearts. you and I can talk about our idols and the role they play in making us who we are, but the greatest idol is still to be removed, you. A.W. Tozer said that " we all want to be saved but we insist that Christ do all the dying". We love our selves and the role we play in our own lives. We might think to our selves that salvation is a means to an end not the beginning of life. Eternal life sounds better than the transformation and dethroning our selves form our own hearts. Where will it all end? At the foot of the cross. Take up your cross and follow Jesus. Take your life give it away and get the one He intended for you. Take you acceptable sins and confess them. Take you life and give it away to the one who knows you better than you know your self. Will you allow your self to be dethroned?

The cross is a radical thing

The cross effects its ends by destroying one established pattern, the victim's, and creating another pattern, its own. Thus it always has its way. It wins by defeating its opponent and imposing its will upon him. It always dominates. It never compromises, never dickers nor confers, never surrenders a point for the sake of peace. It cares not for peace; it cares only to end its opposition as fast as possible.

With perfect knowledge of all this Christ said:

Luke 9:23 (NIV) "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

So the cross not only brings Christ's life to an end, it ends also the first life, the old life, of every one of His true followers. It destroys the old pattern, the Adam pattern, in the believer's life, and brings it to an end. Then the God who raised Christ from the dead raises the believer and a new life begins.

We must do something about the cross, and one of two things only we can do--flee it or die upon it. And if we should be so foolhardy as to flee we shall by that act put away the faith of our fathers and make of Christianity something other than it is. Then we shall have left only the empty language of salvation; the power will depart with our departure from the true cross.

If we are wise we will do what Jesus did: endure the cross and despise its shame for the joy that is set before us. To do this is to submit the whole pattern of our lives to be destroyed and built again in the power of an endless life. And we shall find that it is more than poetry, more than sweet hymnody and elevated feeling. The cross will cut into where it hurts worst, sparing neither us nor our carefully cultivated reputations. It will defeat us and bring our selfish lives to an end. Only then can we rise in fullness of life to establish a pattern of living wholly new and free and full of good works.

excerpt from A. W. Tozer the cross is a radical thing

Volunteer letter 7

God has blessed us to be a blessing. We have been given the riches of salvation (blessing) and now we can extend those riches to the children in our classes. Thank you for being faithful to speak the name of Jesus to these children. We know from Acts that there is no other name given among men by which we must be saved. What a blessing to no the power is not in us but in the name of our God and King.

We are quickly coming to a close of the school year session. I have been encouraged all year by your patience, persistence, and trust in our great God. As we are moving toward summer session and you maybe looking to a break, let me encourage you to finish strong. These little ones are apart of your flock for now and you are there shepherd under the great Shepherd. Allow them to see you pressing on towards the mark of the High calling of God that Philippians reminds us of.
You know your students and what your class needs to be successful. Please be looking for people in the church who you might encourage to fill your role in the classroom. You are our best recruiting tool; you know what we need and what works. God has blessed us in abundance with people through out the years to help leave a legacy for these children. You are apart of the legacy of evbc.

One of my favorite memories is of my 1st and 2nd grade Sunday school teacher’s Mr. and Mrs. Green. They were a young couple with out children who loved me. They would call and send cards. The thing I remember most was being able to go to a Detroit Pistons basketball game with Mr. Green; not for memorizing scripture or attendance, but because he desired to have a lasting impact on my life.

God has called us to love beyond our capacity with His love. Who needs the love of Christ in you from your room? Which child needs that extra encouragement? Who would you call to come along side of you in your mission to leave a legacy? We have more blessing than we always know what to do with. Lets give it away to the little ones of evbc.

I am praying for you and asking God to strengthen you in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:14-21

when love comes home

now what? do you every thing that phrase over and over in your head? Something happens and now what? I spent the weekend in Williams, AZ for high school winter camp. I was blown away by God. I got to see His spirit moving in the lives of students. I was able to see the love of God penetrate hearts and see people worship for the very first time. The students gained a renewed perspective on their heavenly Father. The amazing part was the bearing of one anothers burdens, the students had compassionate love for each other. It was a wonderful weekend.

the question now stands: now what? what now? Love has come home. God has been so good so gracious and now what? The fire is still burning and the passion for the King is glowing now what? The goal is to remember to ask for open skies, a window into heaven. When we have this window we have eyes that see the King on His throne. Love has come home in us. Love can go out through us, through the Holy spirit. God loved us first and that is the only reason we can love. Love has come home and it is alive. When our view of God is big and our love is filled our now what as action behind it.

Love has come home. look out world God has done great things this weekend and He has established His purposes in His people. They are on task and about the Kingdom, i can't wait to see all that God will do in the students with there now what.

God in Heaven thank you for all you did this weekend. Your purpose remains, you rescue sinners, you bind the broken hearted and you get your kids back. we are so grateful for all you have done and will do through the Holy spirit. We praise you and glorify your name becasue you are a God who loves. Thank you that Your love has come home in us. amen.

Jesus is the true and better:

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

The Bible’s really not about you — it’s about him.

our world belongs to God

This is a great article. Take time to read through it and to allow the phrases to sink in i think you will be amazed by the content.


here is the link.

Root or the fruit

I just read something really great. In Aw Tozers book the root of righteousness he calls us to look at the condition of our roots more than our fruit. Fruit is good and represents healthy roots, but when do we spend time allowing our roots to grow deep. Psalm 1 reminds us about a tree that is planted by a river. Are your roots healthy? I have never thought about this question before. I can understand why, the fruit of the spirit is a great thing. Is the root system being managed well? Have you looked to have them go deep into the word of God to have your fruit be bigger and better.

In a strange way the roots of G2 are loving God, going deep into who He is and spending an extended period of time with Him. The fruit is the love of neighbor and the world how beautiful to see your roots in action. We can only love out, when our roots are deep in the love of God.

Mission Vision Statement

This is a wonderfully well written Mission Vision statement from New City Presbyterian Church in south Florida.

At New City, we believe that God is on a mission to reclaim and replenish a world lost and broken by sin thereby “making all things new” (Revelation 21:5). We believe that the most startling aspect of God’s mission is that he has called his imperfect people (the church) to take part in carrying out his glorious work of revitalization. Christians have been rescued by God in Christ to become agents of renewal--missionaries.

This means that while evangelism remains a priority, the salvation of individuals is not the church’s only mission. Churches are designed by God to be instruments of renewal in the world, not only renewing individual lives but also renewing cultural forms and structures, helping to make all that is crooked in our world straight.

So, our mission is spiritual and physical, individual and cultural. God wants us to involve ourselves in the rehabilitation of hearts and houses, souls and society. We’re to care about the renewal of both people and the environment. This requires word and deed, proclamation and demonstration. God is renewing human hearts and recreating all things through his church. This is our mission to the world.

Volunteer letter 6

To God be the glory. This year has been already been a great blessing. In January and February I have already had meetings with three children who have made a profession of faith. I am so excited with what God is doing in our ministry. God has done a wonderful work in using the faithfulness of parents and the consistency of Sunday School to have His Gospel go forth. I am excited that children are being saved at evbc. We know this is not about numbers, but about God transforming hearts. I tell you these wonderful stories as encouragement to keep going and press on. Paul tells us to “not grow weary in doing good. ” We know that our service is for our Savior, not ourselves.

The Gospel is our main thing, and we will be able to communicate it most effectively when it is all we are. We had a staff summit; we talked about our purpose as teachers and what God desires for us to do. We had a wonderful Q&A, where we discussed how we should love and care for the special needs students who are in our ministry. We have put the audio from the morning on the church website and would love for you to listen, and move with us on a journey where Jesus matters more than anything.

I am encouraged with all that God is doing and will do. We have an amazing King and we have the ability to pray big prayers. Join with me as we finish up this spring semester in asking God to save more of the children in our church, that they would live for His glory and honor all the days of their lives.
http://www.evbc.org/Media.aspx
You can access the summit audio at this link and then search: Justin Marshall

Pray for a child

We all have children in our lives. The neighbors, nieces and nephews, students or our own. Here is a helpful tool that you can use to pray for the children in your life. This will allow you to very specific as you speak to the God of the universe on behalf of the children in your life.

I will pray regularly that this special child in my life will:

-Live in ways that are pleasing to Jesus, not because adult Christians expect it, but because it brings joy to Jesus.

-Choose heroes who are worthy role models.

-Have the strength to say no to doing wrong, and to stand up against wrong, even if others don't.

-Ask Jesus' forgiveness for things he or she has done that displease Him, and for the things the child didn't do, even when they knew they would have pleased Jesus.

-Grow in Christ in measurable ways that the child and those who love him or her can see.

-Share Jesus with others that they believe in Jesus

-Develop talents and give those talents as gifts to Jesus.

-Watch how older Christians live for Jesus, and pattern their life after those older Christians.

-Practice Christian disciplines, especially prayer, Bible reading, giving, and service.

-Pick best friends from those who are living for Jesus.

-Pray for others, and not be exclusively focused on their own needs.

-Not give up when they fail or when things go awfully wrong.

-Understand that the Christian life is a lifetime growth process, and to look forward to what God has in store for them.




Can you imagine the blessing that we will see when we begin to pray these things over the children in our lives.

love beyond our capacity

Love beyond our capacity, is only possible when we are filled with the one who is infinite. Love is the key purposes of G2. Love God, Love Neighbor and Love World because He first loved us. Is love possible apart from God? Absolutely. This love, is not the love God has called us to apart from the Holy Spirit. Read Romans 12 see if that moves you to understand how to love. Jesus said they will know us by our love for one another. 1 John speaks in true terms of how we know that we are in Christ, by our love.

Love has to be our driving force. I am a better husband and father when I do what God has called me to do not out of duty but from Love. I am a better friend and neighbor when I act out of Love not duty. Our motives matter. Checking your motives calls in to question your heart. As we know from Scripture our hearts are deceitfully wicked. In a book by Jerry Bridges called disciplines of grace we are reminded to preach the Gospel to ourselves daily. The Gospel is what will allow us to live lives filled with Christ Love.

G2 is a motive checker who are you serving and why? What are you trying to get out of your love, is because you love or want something back? Love matters. Love as we see in first Corinthians does a lot of things which would not be all of why we love, but how we should love when transformed by Christ. Love is a big deal. Love is core to who we are, especially when He first loved us. True biblical love is only possible because of the One who laid down His life for you.

Check your heart, where does your love come from?

The drama

Why do we love story so much? What is it about story that captures us. Have you ever thought that we were meant for drama, that we were were made to be interwoven into the greatest drama ever told? Man has always turned to story to describe beginnings, death;and the in between. Drama/story is principle to who we our. Think about that one family member who tells the best stories, you are captivated even if it is the same stories year after year. When story captivates us we talk about it. The movie you saw, the novel that moved you, there is a need for story to be told. Beyond the stories we want to tell, you and I are apart of the greatest story being told.

You and I are in the story of God. His(story). Think about all that God has done. He is involved in the greatest rescue the world has ever known. You and I are the object of rescue. What a joy to be consider as a story line, not by name but by personal transformation from the inside out. We have been pursued, ransomed, and redeemed. Who wouldn't want to write that into a movie script. You and I, for what ever reason tend to forget the rescue that came to us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Where will it all end? In the glory of worship of the rescuer for all eternity in heaven. What a privilege to be in the story and to live out my life for the one who set me free. I can't wait for the day the story can be seen from beginning to end in the glorious hd of eternity.

Children's Bible

The Jesus Storybook Bible
Sally Loyd-Jones

This Children's Bible will move you. Never in my life have i ever thought i would talk about a Children's Bible with this much enjoyment. The story telling of the greatest drama ever is wonderful. I enjoy reading this by my self and with my 3yr old daughter who doesn't want it to end. My favorite line from the book describes Gods love for us" Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love." I am recommending this as an add on to your normal family and individual routine.
Justin


“I would urge not just families with young children to get this book, but every Christian—from pew warmers, to ministry leaders, seminarians and even theologians! Sally Lloyd-Jones has captured the heart of what it means to find Christ in all the scriptures, and has made clear even to little children that all God's revelation has been about Jesus from the beginning—a truth not all that commonly recognized even among the very learned.”
DR TIMOTHY KELLER,
REDEEMER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH , NYC

The President, the Passengers, and the Patience of God

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2009/3520/

See article by John Piper.

Histroy here and now

Today we mark and amazing historical event. We have voted in the first African American man as president of the United States of America. We have seen something so many people never thought would happen. What an amazing thing. We have seen a large portion of the injustices and prejudices in our country come undone in just over half a century. One thing to understand, if you believe in the administrations policies or not, this a exciting day in the history of America.

I wonder today if we are going to be the kind of people God called us to be. We are to be a praying people. We will see real change as our President said today not in the halls of Congress but in the streets of America. How as a Christian am I going to respond? We as Christians can pray, we can call on the power of the most high God and ask Him to do something so amazing that people can only point to Him. We can live as Peter called the scattered believers to: "Live such good lives among the pagans that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven". Do you look like a person who will enact change in his or her community? Do we allow ourselves the freedom to pray and ask blessing for those who lead us at a governmental level? Will you pray for our presidents marriage, his girls? We have an opportunity here and now to be a community of believers who call on the power of God to infect our nation.

The Grand question on this historic day is: How will we as Christians respond to the call of God and to the desire to see a nation change by His power?

be refreshed

Read through Acts 3:19-21. Repentance leads to refreshing. What an amazing passage to be impacted by. Repentance carries this wonderful imagery of our sin being blotted out, how perfect for what we need. We have mad a huge mess and the only cleaning agent is the blood of the king. Drawing us to the presence of God is one of the greatest gifts of repentance, we get God what more can you want. Be refreshed today.

G2 and the Church

This is the definition of church as given by Mark Driscoll in his new book, Vintage Church.

"The local church is a community of regenerated believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord. In obedience to Scripture they organize under qualified leadership, gather regularly for preaching and worship, observe the biblical sacraments of baptism and Communion, are unified
by the Spirit, are disciplined for holiness, and scatter to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission as missionaries to the world for God’s glory and their joy."

Notice the last sentence where the goal of the church scattered is to live out the call of Jesus. We gather to celebrate and scatter to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the world around us. What a great and concise description of what Jesus has left us to do.

What if...

What if we put all of these things in to practice and lived them out the way in which they were intended with out question. What if?


Matthew 22:36-40 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 7:12 12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Mark 12:28-31,33 28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Romans 13:9 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Luke 10:27 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:14 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Volunteer letter 5

Happy New Year: What an amazing first semester we have had. God has blessed us so much. I am so grateful for all that I have learned in my first fall semester with children’s ministries. God has shown me how the gospel transforms children, and how a family can be impacted by the truth. There have been wonderful stories of your willingness to reach out to a child or a family outside of Sunday and that speaks to what God has done in your hearts. I am blown away by the amount of volunteers who see children’s ministries as their life not just a place to serve. To God be the glory for all He has done in and through you.

As we move into this New Year I want to encourage you that our task stays the same; to proclaim the never changing message of Jesus Christ in an ever-changing culture. Be ready to try new things find new ways to present the same message. The gospel is what melts hearts and transforms lives; God uses us and our methods and presentations to bring that message. As you are studying and preparing your lesson, think about how to be creative, fresh for your students. The most important thing to remember about preparation is that you are personally prepared. We as the teachers need to be saturated with Jesus. Our classes should see Jesus in us. When the students come to class no matter what the lesson is the one thing they should walk away with is that there teacher loves them and wants them to know Jesus.

I want you to know that I am so proud of you. I have been so excited to know that you and your teams are the front door to the church for so many children that come on our campus. You have been there church connection for many years. They look up to you and know that you are apart of their faith story. God is using you in tremendous ways and these children may not remember your name but they will look back and know their Sunday school teacher who told them about Jesus loved them. My prayer is that you will finish strong and call others to serve with you who have never been with us before. Have a wonderful 2009 and be encouraged because you are doing what Jesus has called you to do.

Welcome back

This is a new year, a fresh start. Our lives begin to chase a whole new calendar. What or where have we planned God out of already? Where have i made my life my direction instead of the direction of my savior? I think we can become so focused on our own plan that we move away from the grand plan of God.

G2 has the grip of Jesus all over it. Do you want Gods direction; then move to loving Him more, your neighbor more, and the world more. God has given us brains for a reason, use them. We should not become complacent to the call of Jesus in our lives. We have the most wonderful opportunities to do what Jesus said. They were the two most important commands: love God, love neighbor. God wants us to think ahead but to give Him first priority in all we do. Nothing matters more than our God. Love Jesus more this year than last year give God your best. The blessings that come through a life of love are unbelievable, lets open our eyes to what God might do.