We are only a few days away from Easter - the time we celebrate the ultimate victory that Christians find in the resurrection of Christ. This is a holy time in our faith.
Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the work of the church that I miss the point that faith is real and powerful out in the 'real world'. This became so clear to me this week as I attended an FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) group leaders breakfast. It was cool to sit and talk with these other men, most of whom worked as coaches in the public school system. The gentleman who shared a time of devotion and testimony that morning is on the board of the FCA. His message was so simple and clear: live for Jesus every day - love Jesus every day - live in the love of Jesus every day. You could tell that he was genuine and that this wasn't just another talk for him to give. He shared stories of his failures to live this way and of how God always met him in grace. He made it all sound so simple.
As I think about the Passion Week we are now in, as I look toward Good Friday, as I think about Jesus' suffering and the fact that He rose from the grave, I can't help but think that Jesus did all of this to make our path to Him simple. We don't have to work for it, we don't have to pay money for it, we don't have to jump through any hoops to obtain eternal life. We simply have to have genuine repentance for our sins and receive His gift of life everlasting.
Now, I realize that life makes things difficult and that learning to live out our faith takes effort and discipline. Still, I couldn't help but think as he shared how simple living for Jesus really is. And when it's that way, it is easy for people to see that we are genuine about our faith. Perhaps preachers and churches make it harder than it has to be!
Live for Jesus every day. Love Jesus every day. Live in the love of Jesus every day. Jesus died and rose again so that our faith could be genuine and simple - every day!
Be sure to be in your church this Sunday, celebrating Holy Week and the victory Christ has given to us!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Isaiah's Response
We are looking at Isaiah this week and his response to the Lord. We find this story in the sixth chapter of the book of Isaiah. I wonder if we really grasp what happens in this passage. If we look at what is going on in the modern church, sometimes I don't think so.
Isaiah was blessed to have a vision of the Lord. Oh, that modern Christians could be filled with the same vision! It's not so much the vision of the Lord, though I say that with great hesitancy - it is Isaiah's reaction that I am interested in.
In modern Christianity it seems that we are more and more driven by what is the biggest, the brightest, the most glitzy - that thing which has the biggest 'ah' factor. What I am constantly amazed at as I look around me, is how deeply the church has bought into the belief that unless the 'next' thing is better than the 'last' thing, we are failures. Bigger, better, onward, upward, more-more-more, seems to be the mission statement of modern Christianity.
Now, before you get the wrong impression let me say that I believe the church should be on the march, changing lives, moving and shaking the world around them. I'm just not sure I believe it is the way I perceive it happening far too often. It seems that we either believe we have to see the newest, brightest fad coming down the religious pike or that we spend our time trying to make people's lives better for a few years.
The church is an instrument of 'eternity' and our focus should be on eternity - not what will make us look good or feel good or make us seem like we are doing something. The church has been used for more than two centuries as a tool of righteousness, love, healing and hope. But our hope is not in today, or tomorrow, or forty years from now. Our hope is in the eternal message of Jesus Christ.
Do you agree with me or am I simply going over the edge? The church seems to equate success with far too many things that I don't think are what they seem to be. There's political success. Cal Thomas wrote a wonderful book several years ago that talks about how we have come to equate Christianity with patriotism and patriotism with Christianity. If you're a Christian you must be a patriot. My question is this -- what happens if and when our government tells us that we can no longer worship Christ in freedom? You see, our allegiance is not to the state, it is to the Kingdom of God. Again, don't get me wrong, I love our country - I served for nearly seven years in the military. I'm proud of my service and would do it again. Still, I owe all I am, not to Washington D.C., but to Jesus Christ. Should we be changing the face of politics in our nation? YES! If we are salt and light we will strongly impact our culture in every way.
Another false success is found in numbers - attendees - rear ends in the seats. It seems that we are willing to do just about anything to get people in the seats. Again, please don't misread me. I want our church to grow, every church to grow! But our focus should be on church health, not church growth. The way to grow the church is to grow the ones God brings our way. If that's 50, 500 or 5000 - maturing our people in the faith should be our focus. If that is happening, those mature Christians will go out and be used of the Lord to bring others to the faith of Jesus.
So, what does this have to do with Isaiah's reaction to his vision of the Lord? When Isaiah saw the Lord he didn't jump up and down and shout hallelujah, he didn't walk the pews, he didn't do an interview with the local paper. Do you know what he did? Read Isaiah 6 - when he saw the Lord he fell on his face, realizing just how far from God he was. He said, 'Woe is me!". He then went and served his Lord.
You see, our reaction to the Lord is to first look inward out our condition, to make right any wrongs, to confess anything that keeps us from the Lord. It is a realization of total need of Christ. It's called brokenness. When that happens, we are at just the right place for God to use us. That's what I call success!
Isaiah was blessed to have a vision of the Lord. Oh, that modern Christians could be filled with the same vision! It's not so much the vision of the Lord, though I say that with great hesitancy - it is Isaiah's reaction that I am interested in.
In modern Christianity it seems that we are more and more driven by what is the biggest, the brightest, the most glitzy - that thing which has the biggest 'ah' factor. What I am constantly amazed at as I look around me, is how deeply the church has bought into the belief that unless the 'next' thing is better than the 'last' thing, we are failures. Bigger, better, onward, upward, more-more-more, seems to be the mission statement of modern Christianity.
Now, before you get the wrong impression let me say that I believe the church should be on the march, changing lives, moving and shaking the world around them. I'm just not sure I believe it is the way I perceive it happening far too often. It seems that we either believe we have to see the newest, brightest fad coming down the religious pike or that we spend our time trying to make people's lives better for a few years.
The church is an instrument of 'eternity' and our focus should be on eternity - not what will make us look good or feel good or make us seem like we are doing something. The church has been used for more than two centuries as a tool of righteousness, love, healing and hope. But our hope is not in today, or tomorrow, or forty years from now. Our hope is in the eternal message of Jesus Christ.
Do you agree with me or am I simply going over the edge? The church seems to equate success with far too many things that I don't think are what they seem to be. There's political success. Cal Thomas wrote a wonderful book several years ago that talks about how we have come to equate Christianity with patriotism and patriotism with Christianity. If you're a Christian you must be a patriot. My question is this -- what happens if and when our government tells us that we can no longer worship Christ in freedom? You see, our allegiance is not to the state, it is to the Kingdom of God. Again, don't get me wrong, I love our country - I served for nearly seven years in the military. I'm proud of my service and would do it again. Still, I owe all I am, not to Washington D.C., but to Jesus Christ. Should we be changing the face of politics in our nation? YES! If we are salt and light we will strongly impact our culture in every way.
Another false success is found in numbers - attendees - rear ends in the seats. It seems that we are willing to do just about anything to get people in the seats. Again, please don't misread me. I want our church to grow, every church to grow! But our focus should be on church health, not church growth. The way to grow the church is to grow the ones God brings our way. If that's 50, 500 or 5000 - maturing our people in the faith should be our focus. If that is happening, those mature Christians will go out and be used of the Lord to bring others to the faith of Jesus.
So, what does this have to do with Isaiah's reaction to his vision of the Lord? When Isaiah saw the Lord he didn't jump up and down and shout hallelujah, he didn't walk the pews, he didn't do an interview with the local paper. Do you know what he did? Read Isaiah 6 - when he saw the Lord he fell on his face, realizing just how far from God he was. He said, 'Woe is me!". He then went and served his Lord.
You see, our reaction to the Lord is to first look inward out our condition, to make right any wrongs, to confess anything that keeps us from the Lord. It is a realization of total need of Christ. It's called brokenness. When that happens, we are at just the right place for God to use us. That's what I call success!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The Path of Brokenness
We are beginning a journey this week at Cross Point that will last for the next four weeks. Actually, I pray it will last much longer than that. The journey is about brokenness, what it means to be broken before God, the importance of brokenness and how the blessings of God are upon the broken of heart.
In modern culture we think of brokenness as someone beaten down by life. Today's economy gives us many examples of individuals and families that have been broken because of the loss of a job or the complete reversal of finances due to outside forces (think Bernie Madoff). Or we think about people who live in poverty around the world or of children in war torn countries - again, a picture that is easy for us to see. While the bible speaks to those who have been broken by their outward circumstances, this is not the type of brokenness I'm writing about. The type of brokenness I speak of is that which brings us closer to the heart of God, it creates in us a better image of Christ - in that we live out a more Christ-like life and it is the condition of life that is most acceptable to the Lord.
David, after committing his terrible sin of adultery with Bathsheba is brought to a point of total brokenness before God. Was it because of adultery or that David had her husband killed in battle? These situations surely played a part in David's brokenness. But I believe David's real brokenness came as a result of his realization that he had sinned against God. It was the 'condition' of his heart before the Lord. He writes in Psalm 51:17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart - these O God, You will not despise."
David was broken before the Lord and the realization of his sin opened his eyes to the condition of his heart. His brokenness brought him to a point of humility, a willingness to turn everything over to God. It brought him to the point where he found true repentance and total reliance on God.
Our society teaches that success is found in personal strength and self reliance. The biblical principle of brokenness teaches us just the opposite. As Christians we find success when we realize that personally we can do nothing and we come to a point of complete reliance on the Lord and his strength.
For the next four weeks our LifeGroups will be studying and discussing this principle and the Sunday sermon will cover the same material. I am praying for revival for our church, for all churches. True revival brings a real change in our lives that leads us to be used of God to change our world. We are reading some works of Nancy Leigh DeMoss (I highly recommend her writings to you). She writes that God wants to bring revival to his people and that "it begins with brokenness and humility. No exceptions. No shortcuts. No substitutes".
Join us in this month long journey. I will gladly email our study to you if you'll just ask in the comment section of this blog.
May the Lord of all creation grant you the great gift of humility and brokenness before Him!
In modern culture we think of brokenness as someone beaten down by life. Today's economy gives us many examples of individuals and families that have been broken because of the loss of a job or the complete reversal of finances due to outside forces (think Bernie Madoff). Or we think about people who live in poverty around the world or of children in war torn countries - again, a picture that is easy for us to see. While the bible speaks to those who have been broken by their outward circumstances, this is not the type of brokenness I'm writing about. The type of brokenness I speak of is that which brings us closer to the heart of God, it creates in us a better image of Christ - in that we live out a more Christ-like life and it is the condition of life that is most acceptable to the Lord.
David, after committing his terrible sin of adultery with Bathsheba is brought to a point of total brokenness before God. Was it because of adultery or that David had her husband killed in battle? These situations surely played a part in David's brokenness. But I believe David's real brokenness came as a result of his realization that he had sinned against God. It was the 'condition' of his heart before the Lord. He writes in Psalm 51:17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart - these O God, You will not despise."
David was broken before the Lord and the realization of his sin opened his eyes to the condition of his heart. His brokenness brought him to a point of humility, a willingness to turn everything over to God. It brought him to the point where he found true repentance and total reliance on God.
Our society teaches that success is found in personal strength and self reliance. The biblical principle of brokenness teaches us just the opposite. As Christians we find success when we realize that personally we can do nothing and we come to a point of complete reliance on the Lord and his strength.
For the next four weeks our LifeGroups will be studying and discussing this principle and the Sunday sermon will cover the same material. I am praying for revival for our church, for all churches. True revival brings a real change in our lives that leads us to be used of God to change our world. We are reading some works of Nancy Leigh DeMoss (I highly recommend her writings to you). She writes that God wants to bring revival to his people and that "it begins with brokenness and humility. No exceptions. No shortcuts. No substitutes".
Join us in this month long journey. I will gladly email our study to you if you'll just ask in the comment section of this blog.
May the Lord of all creation grant you the great gift of humility and brokenness before Him!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Opening Thoughts
Hello all. I'm sitting in my office this afternoon wondering where Spring went? Sunny and 81 yesterday and now we're expecting a wintry mix over the coming days.
I am writing this blog as a way to share what is happening in the life of "The Church @ Cross Point", and to hopefully elicit feedback from you. I want to hear what is happening in your life, I want to hear your thoughts on current events in our church and in our world and I want this to be something that draws us closer together. Send questions, make comments - just write and let's begin a dialogue. So, let's start!
Cross Point is a church family that will be entering it's ninth year of existence on Easter Sunday. Kevin Minchey began CP in 2000 and then went to pastor First Baptist Church of Shelbyville, Tn. in 2005. I came to Cross Point in early 2006. As with any church, family or group, CP has seen its share of ups and downs, but the Lord has been generous and faithful to us. We moved from Oakland High School to our current location on Dill Lane in January of 2008.
At the beginning of this year we were able to launch "La Iglesia en punto de cruz", Spanish Cross Point. It has been an overwhelming success. Pastor Jairo and his family are doing a great job, new faces are at church each week and there have been several professions of faith in Christ. This has exceeded my wildest imaginations! That just shows how good God is! I am thankful that the Lord led us to create 'One Church in Two Languages" as opposed to two different churches meeting at one place. The Lord has brought two diverse people groups together and is molding us into one body. I have high hopes and great excitement to see the Lord continue to work in Spanish Cross Point.
As for English Cross Point, I am thankful for the work of the Lord. We have been given a "fresh Spirit" and a renewed sense of purpose. The Lord has been gracious to us in raising up new Elders to lead our church. I believe this to be a vital first step in setting direction. Please be prayerful and patient as we seek the Lord. Many people get caught in the trap of the immediacy of the moment. We can't do that. We need to be actively pursuing the vision of Christ every moment, but we must be long term minded.
There are many obstacles to being part of a church plant: we're trying to grow a children and youth program, we're trying to set an identity in our community and we're still learning what God wants Cross Point to be, to look like and to feel like. In everything we want to create an atmosphere of excellence for Christ.
Still, we are overwhelmingly blessed. We have an outstanding group of gifted musicians & vocalists who lead our praise team, we have dedicated families willing to do the Lord's work, our college ministy (called Bonhoeffer's) is getting off to a fabulous start and we have a building and seven acres of land to grow on. God is good, all the time! Yes, I am biased, because I believe God has a plan for this church family!
I've written far more than I intended to, I don't want this to be long winded. I just wanted to give you a small picture of Cross Point in case we've not been introduced. You can check out our website at www.crosspointcares.org for more information. I look forward to hearing from you!
Pastor Ron
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