Faith - 4

I am taking the fourth and fifth examples together. There is, in a sense, a place where faith seems to be crazy.

God told Noah to get ready for lots of water. So, Noah spent 100 years building a really big boat, hundreds of miles from the ocean. God told Abraham to move approximately 2000 miles from his family, and his support system, to create something new that would turn the world upside down ... in a good way. And both of them acted in faith, agreeing with what God said.

Each man responded to a word given to them. They responded in ways, to those around them, may have seemed foolish. But it was not foolish to them, because they knew, and trusted, the one who spoke to them.

I wonder how many others have responded similarly. Were people scratching their heads when Charles Finney left his law practice, and became an intolerant preacher? What did people think when William Carey got on the boat, to go to India? Or when Hudson Taylor, and his family, got on the boat to go to China?

Indeed, everyone, who responds to the gospel, turns away from their past, and life as usual, to embrace something new, different, and unknown. And this change should provide improvement in the character of the person. And, as a result, it should provide an improvement of society, and culture. Especially, if these changed individuals band together into a changed community.

Of course, it depends on how they embrace, and practice, the change. 

Faith - 3

The third example was Enoch. Enoch's story barely exists. He was the father of Methuselah. And he walked with God. And one day he disappeared. Scripture says he did not die. Rather, God took him. Perhaps like God took Elijah?

Scripture says Enoch walked with God, and he pleased God. I am sure that does not mean Enoch never sinned. He recognized God as Creator, and Ultimate Authority. And if he is these two things, then the wisest thing anyone can do is adjust the way one lives, to agree with God's heart.

It does not say how, but if Enoch walked with God, we can assume he made some adjustment in attitude, mind set, and behavior, that demonstrated his agreement with God.

So, thus far, we can see faith is acceptance, and reliance, concerning something we personally have not witnessed. This acceptance might not be completed in a vacuum. We believe, and accept, the authority of God in our lives. We have not personally witnessed evidence for our need to give him our allegiance. But we have received testimony from others who have.

And, as a result of our faith, in accepting those unseen things, we take steps to change our mind-sets, and our lifestyles. 

Faith - 2

 The second example was Cain and Abel. Cain was a farmer; Abel was a shepherd. They both offered gifts to God from what they produced.

In Leviticus, the Bible allows for both a grain offering, and an offering of a live stock. But in Hebrews, it says that Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain. Since, both type are allowed, it was not the specific material that God judged. Indeed, in Genesis, God warns Cain about the condition of his heart.

It seems like Cain thought he was pretty great. He planted, watered, weeded, and harvested. And he was successful, because of his work. Abel, on the other hand, recognized that he did not have control over his flock's growth. So, Abel's offering was an expression of gratitude. And Cain's was "look how great I am!" So, God was more inclined to Abel, because of his humility. Cain was at the beginning of a downward cycle of sin, selfishness, and violence, that culminated in Noah, and God's judgment.

The writer's comment about faith point to Abel's humility, and dependence on the Father. Faith is, in part, a recognition of the need of humanity, and their dependence on the Father. And it also recognizes God's willingness, and readiness, to give, and meet the needs of his family. And he meets the needs of all people, because the world would fall apart without God's hand maintaining it.

It is good to give thanks for all of God's grace, daily. Thanksgiving is a declaration of our dependence and need. And it is a declaration of God's willingness, and ability, to provide. It does not negate our work. We can still work, but we are not able to bring to completion all that need.

Faith - 1

Faith is a funny thing. The writer of Hebrews writes "Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see." (NLT) That's like looking into the future, and saying that something is definitely going to happen, while everyone else says maybe it will, and maybe it won't.

Then to give further insight, he lists several examples, to act as pictures of what faith looks like.

The first example concerns creation. Some people say God spoke, and out of nothing -- no matter, no energy, not anything -- brought into being everything that is. And some people say there was a bunch of stuff, and either the stuff exploded, or the stuff crashed to together, and the resulting "mish mash" resulted in everything that is, purely by chance. 

Which makes me want to ask the question: where did the stuff come from? Seems to me, some people believed there was stuff, that there was an explosion -- as the result of a collision, or the result of an internal reaction -- and the got rearranged in some way that it generated light, water, an oxygen rich atmosphere, and finally, life. Sounds to me like evidence of things we cannot see. Sounds to me like faith.

No one was there in the beginning to witness how it happened. People, the world, and the universe exist. So, they got here somehow. But no one really knows how. They can only theorize how, and believe one of the theories.

And it cannot be a scientific theory. The scientific method requires an observation, a theory, and a test, or experiment, that demonstrates the truth of the theory. And the experiment can be repeated a million times, and get the same results. Can we repeat exploding a bunch of matter, and the universe, and all of life is created? I am sure that someone has tried on a small scale to repeat the big bang creation. But no matter which system, creation must be understood, and accepted, by faith.

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I will probably look at all the examples myself. I don't know if I will share my thoughts about all of them here. I will certainly share several of them.

Jesus' Prayer - 3

We are looking at Jesus' prayer, when he was with the Twelve, right before his arrest. His primary concern, and focus, was those who would give him their allegiance. The Twelve, and those who would respond to the gospel through the Twelve.

There seems to be two things he brings to the Father, concerning his followers. The first is the Truth. He was. And  concerned how they saw, kept, and were committed to the Truth. We looked this in the previous post.

Second, he was concerned about the relationships his followers had with one another. And he described that relationship as being united.

Unity is usually a bond formed around agreement in the same issue. In God's family, unity is formed around agreement about Jesus. Who he was. What he did. Who he did it for. And what our response should be.

Jesus knew there was going to be a learning curve after he returned to the Father. Jesus knew there was going to be issues, misunderstandings, and maybe some out and out fights. But he also knew his family needed to stand together, and behind one another.

Now Jesus did not use the word "unity." He said, "May they be one, as we are one." He prayed that the connection in his family would be as strong, as complete, as the connection with the Trinity, within God himself.

All those, who have allegiance to Jesus, should stand with, and behind, those who have allegiance to Jesus. Whoever. Wherever. However. Reformed. Baptist. Charismatic. Cru. Intervarsity. Navigators. India. Africa. Asia. America.

We need to have the same commitment to Jesus' children, as Jesus does. Practically, this is hard to do. Parts of God's family have a particular focus that they believe is really important. So, there are divisions in practice, in emphasis, and how they operate. It is easier to stay within the borders each group has set for themselves.

But there are two things in Jesus' prayer that he said, that we need to be aware of.

One, the unity of God's people demonstrates that God sent Jesus. Unity is a weapon of the gospel. Unity amid all the diversity of God's family proclaims the truth about Jesus. The connection, and commitment, of God's people to one another is a loud bell, or siren, that say this is new, and different. Pay attention!

Two, the unity of God's people demonstrates God's loves for his family. Unity is a weapon of the gospel. It shows that God sits in the midst of his family. It shows God's positive attitude toward his people. It shows what God's love can do in people.

Jesus' Prayer - 2

 Jesus was looking ahead to his return to the Father. So, Jesus get to the main concern in his prayer. Those who follow him. Not just the Twelve. Not just the Seventy. But all of us who have chosen to give allegiance to Jesus.

Jesus walked before, and lived with his disciples. He showed them, who the Father was -- his nature, and his heart -- and the way they should live. The disciples saw what Jesus said, and did. And they accepted, and believed it all came from the Father.

Jesus prayed for his disciples continued faithfulness, and connection to the  truth. There are many, who have argued, that God's family have not completely been faithful to God's commands, and practices. Peter writes that all of God's family are God's priests. [1 Peter 2:9] So, every child of God represents the Father, and his family. Every child has the duty of giving spiritual care (pastoring), sharing God's forgiveness (evangelizing), and helping to begin new expressions of God's family (church planting). But many have professionalized those responsibilities. Only those, who have received special training and recognition, can complete those responsibilities. But God calls all his children to participate. And God calls those in leadership to teach, train, and enable all disciples to obey, and be effective.

And Jesus' concern here is that those giving him allegiance would stay connected to what he has taught them, and what the Holy Spirit will continue to reveal to them.

He is concerned they will be influenced by the world, instead of his truth. Their mission is to continue his mission, and take his word to the world. Not just the professionals. All of his family. So, his word meed to become part of who they are. It needs to affect their thinking, their speaking, and their actions. The world needs to see a difference in them. And that difference is more than attending weekly meetings.

God's mission is to reveal himself to the world, and to call the world back into relationship with him. That mission has now been given to his family. Proclaiming the gospel, demonstrating God's love, praying for one another and the nations, are all part of that mission. And God's family need to remain close to the Father, close to his word, and close to his family, in order to remain faithful to our part of God's mission, and to complete all parts of that mission.

Jesus' Prayer - 1

At the last supper, which was the annual celebration of the Passover, that is Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt, Jesus reminded his disciples of several things. He washed their feet as a symbol of his service to them and the rest of mankind. He reminded them to love one another. He explained the coming of the Holy Spirit. He reminded them of his mission to be the Passover Lamb that delivers from sin, and condemnation. He reminded them that they needed to depend on him, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. He instituted another celebration, like the Passover, only this celebrated the deliverance from the slavery to sin.

Finally, at the close of the Passover meal, before going to Gethsemane, and getting arrested, he prays.  He expresses his heart to the Father. Many scholars refer to this prayer as the "High Priestly Prayer," because Jesus prays for those who follow him, as his representative. It certainly seems that, because of what he knows is coming, and how soon it is coming, he is praying what is utmost in mind, and heart.

He begins by recognizing that God's plan to bring salvation, and redemption, to all peoples is nearing completion. He asks the Father to glorify Jesus -- through his suffering, death, and resurrection, which is the culmination of his plan -- and that the glory, which Christ receives, may cause greater glory for the Father.

The Cross will bring great glory to the Father, because it will result in billions coming to the Father, to have restored relationships with the Father, Son, and Spirit, to have new lives, and to set in motion a movement that will change the world by changing people, who choose to enter into relationship with Father, Son, and Spirit, and become part of God's family.

Jesus will be glorified by completing his part in God's plan. He will be given glory in heaven, and on earth. He will be glorified as God's family continues the mission, by continuing to expand God's family on earth, by continuing to represent God's character by living as Jesus lived, and loving as Jesus loved.

The Armor of God - 6

 The sixth piece of God's armor is the sword of the Spirit, which is identified as the Word of God. Many have understood that the Sword of God is the only offensive weapon listed in God's armor.  I would also like to note that the Sword is not identified with, but is closely associated with prayer in Ephesians. In other words, Paul encourages the Ephesians to use God's Word as a weapon, and, in the same breath, pray for the gospel to go out.

The Word is a weapon against Satan, because it proclaims truth. And Satan is the father of lies. And when we wield this Sword, especially in prayer, we disrupt, and destroy, Satan's lies, and his kingdom of evil.

Of course, the war we wage is different. In normal war, the result is the death, and defeat of your enemies. In the war God's family wages, the lies of the enemy are destroyed. Members of the enemy, 's army are defeated, but they turn around, and become part of God's family. The overall result is greater obedience to God's word, greater love for God, greater faith in Jesus, and greater love for people.

We are in a war, but we do not seek the destruction of our enemies. We seek their surrender, and allegiance, to the King of Kings. We use the armor to complete God's mission.

And a vital part of that mission is prayer, reminding God of his promises, so that his Spirit will bombard the hearts of those on earth, and they come to know the God of creation, and turn to him.

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You can subscribe, and have a copy mailed to you. Personally, I download a copy in PDF format.

The Armor of God - 5

The fifth piece of armor is the helmet of salvation. Again, we are applying truth to our lives. Since, this is a helmet, we are applying truth to our thinking.

Our cognitive processes are important. Satan attacks our thinking by whispering false ideas about standing with God, morality, and God's nature. Knowing, and understanding, God's Word, and appropriately reviewing God's Word, are protection against the lies Satan spreads.

Our thinking, and our hearts, work in union. When the ancient Greeks, and ancient Israel, referred to the heart, they referred to all the inner parts of a person. Ie. emotions, logic, the will, morals, etc. So, we affect our hearts when we choose to focus on God's word. The choice affects our emotions, our memory, as we process what we are reading, thinking, and hearing. What we engage in also affects our actions. And our actions affect our practices, our habits, and our lifestyles.

Directing our thoughts toward God's Word, we protect our walks with God, and, step by step, grow into God's image.

As our walk, and lifestyle, grows, we live more in agreement with God's nature, and God's mission. We fulfill our roles in God's family. We learn to love more. And God's kingdom, and family, advances grows, and moves toward completion of God's plan.

The Armor of God - 4

The fourth piece of armor is the shield of faith. Scripture says when we use this piece of armor, we can snuff out the arrows Satan fires at us.

Satan's ambition is to bring dishonor to God. One of the main ways he does this is to highlight the sin, and failures, in God's family. It especially works when he can provoke sin in God's family. So, he tempts. He lies. He whispers. He seeks to promote actual thoughts, words, and actions of sin. He also works to promote doubts, and fears. And members of God's family do fail, and succumb to all these.

The truth is: God provides for all our needs. Sin will not satisfy us. God is totally faithful, so we do not need to fear, or doubt. His truth, and promises, are our shield. And like Armor #3 -- where we review the gospel -- we need to hold his truth, and promises, so we can place them between our hearts and his lies, accusations, and temptations. 

Definitely reason to read, and meditate, on God's word. And it is a strong argument to memorize Scripture, and to use Scripture in our prayers.

And it works most effectively as a shield, when we apply the appropriate Scripture to Satan's attack.

Here are a few of God's promises:

• There is no separation from God's love.
• There is no condemnation for those in Christ.
• There will be perfect peace.
• God will not leave you.
• God will give guidance.
• God will give wisdom.
• God will make you new./

The Armor of God - 3

The third piece of armor is to have the right shoes. We can see from sports how important the right footwear is. Football, basketball, and ice hockey all need very different types of shoes to succeed.

The shoes, we are supposed to wear, is the "preparation of the gospel of peace." We are protected by knowing, understanding, and receiving God's gospel.

When Satan attacks, one of the first steps we need to take is to review the gospel. We need to remember God's heart, Christ's work, and our response. Satan's main assault is intended to cause doubts about God. If we remember Jesus, his death, and resurrection, and the work of grace he accomplished, we can appropriate peace in the midst of trouble, because we remember God's heart toward us, and for us. We remember Jesus' love given to us. We remember the Holy Spirit in our hearts, as a guarantee, and the one who enables our ability to love before God.

And as we walk in remembrance, we are also ready to share the message that gave us peace, with anyone we meet. And they can experience the same peace, we experience.

The Armor of God - 2

The belt of truth is the foundation, and the basis, of our armor. Without it, we cannot stand before Satan's schemes, and machinations.

But in some way, it seems like it is expressed through the other tools connected to it.

The second tool is the breastplate of righteousness. A breastplate is obviously worn to protect the heart, and other vital organs.

The truth is -- all mankind is tainted in sin. Mankind is steeped in sin from the heart. Mankind's basic motivations, and inclinations, are opposed to God's word, and design.

But the truth is also -- God's design is for mankind to live in relationship with God, in love, peace, and righteousness. So, he developed a plan to deal with sin, which is the barrier to that relationship. So, he sent Jesus into the world, to die as a sacrifice for sin. Now, if people yield their allegiance to God, and appropriate by faith the results of Christ's death, their sin is forgiven, and the become a part of God's family.

They also become partners with God to proclaim that God has made a way to peace with him, and peace in life.

As this is the opposite of Satan's intentions, he targets God's family. Satan whispers lies to God's family. The more he can convince God's family to believe the lies, the more polluted their hearts become. And their actions, emanating from their hearts, are tainted with selfishness, legalism, sin, and impurity. God's family loses its effect in the world. It loses lose, joy, and peace. It becomes ineffective in its mission for God.

So, protection of the heart becomes vital. How does one put on a breastplate of righteousness?

I will suggest that since Satan seeks to poison our hearts, we make a practice to regularly renew our hearts.

There are actually several ways to renew our hearts. Regular prayer, reading, and meditation, of God's Word are a few examples. Regular meeting with like-minded people is another. Along with meeting with people, the practice of the Lord's Supper is, in particular, aimed at heart renewal. There area other practices -- eg. silence, solitude, and fasting -- the some other's recommend.

Heart renewal is important. It will protect us from Satan's tactics. (Not that he won't try. We will hear the same lies. Now, we will have a response, so the lies will bounce off our armor.) It will also feed our hearts, providing for healthy transformation into Christ's image. Our character will change. And we will become a greater asset in God's mission.

The Armor of God - 1

 In the last part of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he warns the church about the schemes of the devil. Our fight is not really against people. Our real fight is against Satan, and his armies. Indeed, if one looks at certain parts of the Bible, it will seem like, at certain times in history, Satan, and his armies, are winning. Sometimes, looking at the news, it seems like he is winning.

But Paul tells use we need to stand. We do not surrender to the discouraging events in the news. We do not surrender to falsehoods being spread. We do not surrender to discouragement. We stand for God, and his kingdom. We stand for the gospel.

And Paul gives us several tools, or weapons, to hold onto, and use, to stand bravely, and skillfully, before Satan, and his effort to bring dishonor to God, to promote lies, and to bring down God's family.

The first tool is the belt of truth. God has revealed truth in Jesus, truth in the Scriptures, and, also, in science. As in all things, it is valuable, and helpful, when held in the right relationship with the Father.

Of  course, Paul is probably not talking about the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. He is talking, in part, about things that we could realize without the Scriptures. God designed, and created, the universe. There are things that are definitely right morally. And there are things that are wrong. God acts in "common grace" to all people. That is, there are things in the world that benefit all people.

It is the first of our tools. Some people say Paul observed the armor of the Roman soldier, and saw that the belt was the foundation. Other pieces of armor connected, and derived strength, from it. So, our grasp, and conviction of truth, becomes our foundation, and our basis, for the other tools God gives us. Our grasp on truth enables us to stand again the schemes of Satan, and what\who he controls in the world.

God's Mission - 2

If the primary focus of God's mission is making disciples, the followers of Jesus, of necessity, need to be disciples.

"Disciple" is a term that is similar to "apprentice." An apprentice gives allegiance to a master, follows, observes, and practices what the master does. Usually, that refers to skills, and practices of a trade. To be a disciple of Jesus, one does need to follow, observe, and practice what Jesus did. One also needs to practice how he lived. And one needs to recognize his teaching, that each person is imperfect in his human core, in his heart. So, one also needs to change his core, his heart, because people live from their heart.

So, to be a disciple of Jesus, one turns away from how normal life is practiced, to how Jesus practices life. One agrees that one's actions, words, thoughts, feelings, and attitudes do not agree with God's design, and each person needs to change in all parts of life. Changes to thought, words, feelings, and actions.

There are some, who say that Christians of today have decided they don't need to be disciples. Being a disciple means one of the Twelve. Or being a pastor. Or a missionary. Or super spiritual.

Jesus commanded his disciples to make disciples. The Twelve began a chain. A disciple makes a disciple. Anyone who believes follows Jesus, and becomes a disciple of Jesus.

A disciple sees Jesus, believes in Jesus, gives him his allegiance, and follows him. Following Jesus means agreeing to submit to a process of heart transformation, which results in a process of life transformation. Which means changes in priorities, changes in goals, and changes in practices. 

God has purposefully designed his family with a huge amount a diversity. Scripture says that people from every tribe, people, and language will be part of his family. So, there will be different nationalities, different genders, and different Myers-Briggs Temperament Indicators. But only one family.

I say this to help people realize that completing God's mission requires the whole family. Each one in the family will be one of Jesus' disciples. We need to be ready to obey all of Jesus' commands. We need to continue to lean into heart transformation, and therefore, action transformation. But none of his family is a stereotype. There is not one path for a member of his family to complete the mission. There are as many paths as there are family members. We may think we are on one path. We need to be alert, and remain connected to the Vine. God may want you to change direction. Or he may want you right where you are. We need to learn to listen to him, to pay attention, and to do what he gives us, with all our hearts.

To use another analogy: Everyone in God's family is part of God's mission, God's army. Some of us are infantry. Some are artillery. Some in the Air Force. Some maintain the chain of supplies. All needed. All valuable.

God's Mission

I have mentioned in this space, a number of times, that God has placed his family in the world to partner with him to complete his mission. What is his mission? Perhaps the most succinct statement of God's mission is found at the end of the gospel of Matthew.

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And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

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The main focus of God's mission is making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey.

To make a disciple, God's family connects a person to Jesus by introducing him to the gospel, and demonstrating what life as a disciple is like. The person, then, recognizes that his life does not agree with God's design, and that God condemns people who do not follow his design. But the person, also, recognizes that the Father sent the Son into the world to die for mankind's sin. So, the person accepts, and believes, in Jesus' work to reconcile, to redeem, and to justify, mankind. The person agrees to turn his life, and to live a lifestyle that agrees with God's design. And the person chooses to give his primary allegiance to the Father, Son, and Spirit. 

This is a general description of the process. Not everyone follows this process exactly. I know of people, who realized God is the primary, and absolute, authority over all creation. Therefore, people should bow, and give their primary allegiance to the Father, Son, and Spirit. They, initially, did not understand their sin, and their need for forgiveness. They chose to follow Jesus based on an understanding of authority. They learned soon afterward about sin, and Jesus' act to bring forgiveness.

Baptism does not have any effect on a person's life, and relationship with God. It is a symbol, and a proclamation, of a person going through the process we just explained, and making a choice to stand with Christ. The person is announcing his intention to follow Christ. 

Teaching to obey is the continuing process. Once, the decision process, that baptism symbolizes, is complete, a person needs to move down the path of completion, and realization, of God's design. Jesus, as a person, is a picture of what God's design is supposed to be like, and what each person is to make progress towards. We, all, as followers of Jesus, need to continue in the process of agreeing with him, and continuing to make choices, and changes, so that we all end up obeying all that Jesus commanded.

One author organized all of Jesus' commands into seven groups, or seven general commands. If we focus on the seven, we can spend a lifetime trying to master them. There is a balance between exerting our own energy, and relying on God's grace. Maybe not a balance, but a simultaneous exerting, and resting in grace.

We cannot exert ourselves, and earn saving grace. But we can exert ourselves to live in agreement with God's standards, and design. We can position ourselves to receive grace from God for transformation.

I admit I do not totally understand how this agreement between exertion, and rest, works. I can think of activities that will put us in the correct position to receive grace: reading and meditating on God's word, prayer, and worship. I know of some who would encourage silence, solitude, and fasting. And probably others.

The aim is to get into position to receive grace, to change our hearts, and, as a result, change our actions, and practices. And, then, to complete Jesus' commands more completely, and purely, without ceasing, until he returns.

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Jesus' Seven Commands

• Repent and believe
• Be baptized
• Share in the Lord's Supper
• Love
• Pray
• Give
• Make disciples

God's Family

The church -- meaning the people, and family, of God -- have a few particular roles.

They are first to be disciples of Jesus. The concept of a disciple is similar to an apprentice. Apprentices learn from a master tradesman, for a particular trade by being with him, learning, and practicing, the skills of the trade. Jesus' disciples followed him, watched, and listened to him. And they were given assignments to go, and do, as he did. The church should be continuing this mission.

Second, they should be producing new disciples. This is done by proclaiming, discussing, and talking about the gospel, Jesus' message, in a reasonable, gentle, loving, way.

And in support of this presentation, the church should demonstrate God's character. Jesus did not just travel, and give sermons. He acted. He fed people. He healed people. He loved people. The life of the church needs to be a mixture of proclamation, service, and mercy. Many christian organizations argue for one over the other. In Jesus' life, they were one package. In God's family, they need to be the same.

The church needs to also mix deciding, and acting, in obedience to God's word, but also to listen, heed, and rely on God's Spirit. The Spirit is the leader, and the power source, for God's family. We must complete what we know. We must also allow him to work with us, adding his power to our actions. We must also listen as he directs.

Scripture describes the church using the human body as a metaphor. The body is a combination of many parts, formed into one unit, to complete his mission. God has enabled, and directs, different people in his family to do different things. We can see talents, and gifts, in people. So, God's people in God's family will do different things. But the different parts need to remember, they belong to the whole. They are part of the family. And when the world looks at the family, they need to see Jesus. Fulfilling his mission. One heart. One mind. One purpose.

Everyone Has A Part

Paul continues his theme of unity in Corinthians, by discussing the design of God's family.

The word for church in the original language (ekklesia) literally means "the called-out ones". It was generally used to refer to a group of people, assembled to perform a particular task. A town's city council was referred to as an ekklesia.

God's people are called out to complete his mission in the world. To proclaim the gospel, and bring into his family, people from every nation, every tribe, every people group, and every language. To complete this mission, there are numerous jobs, assignments, and responsibilities.   New ground, without the gospel, needs to be identified, and reached out to. Areas need to be saturated with the gospel. Areas need to be saturated with prayer to alter the spiritual climate. New ones need to be grounded in God's Truth, and introduced to a new way of life. Lifestyle changes, corrections, and adjustments, need to be identified, and implemented. People's spirits need to be encouraged, loved, consoled, and comforted. And there are physical services: household repairs, meals, medical care, and rescue from disasters.

God's mission is not one thing. It is the creation of a community, a family, in tune with Him, and one another. As a result, there are a multitude of needs to meet. And God has developed his body to meet those needs. He gives his Spirit to each new family member. And the Spirit empowers each member with a gift. And each gift is the ability to complete one of the functions, one of the assignments, in God's family. And without that function working, God's family will not work as God intended.

So, we can look around at all the people in our local family of God. Each one has a place in the family. Each one has a role in the family. Each one has an assignment, that when completed, makes God's family function better, brings God's mission closer to completion, and demonstrates God's character to the world, because it expresses the love, and unity, of God's family.

It may not be the same as our role, and assignment. But that does not mean it is not needed, or valuable. If it is needed by the body of Christ, then we all need it, for our good, and our growth, and the growth of God's Kingdom.

It may not take place on Sunday morning. It may not take place in the Sunday meeting. It is still necessary for God's mission.

Not one person is the same. Not one gift is given to all -- except the gift of the Spirit, who gives all gifts. If they are in God's family, we need them, the church needs them, and the world needs them.

Lord's Supper

Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians, because they had gotten off track in a number of ways. Paul brought the gospel to the city, and it was received with joy. But then cultural practices got mixed in with the gospel.

Now, God created culture. So, expressing allegiance to Jesus through cultural expression is not necessarily wrong. Scripture can be translated into a people group's heart language. Praise, and worship, can be offered using a particular cultures art forms, music, dance, or poetry.

Jesus translated the Lord's Supper from the Passover. The Passover is celebration of deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The Lord's Supper is a celebration of deliverance from slavery to sin. Jesus took the symbols of Passover -- bread and wine -- and applied them to the context of the new covenant. Unleavened bread, eaten in haste, to his body. Blood on the doorposts and lintels to his blood.

The problem came when the Corinthians connected the Christian celebration with the celebrations done before Christ, and the gospel, came to them. They would have celebrations for the other gods. They have to be the same, right?

Of course, they were not the same. The pagan feasts focused on me having a good time. The Lord's Supper focused on everyone's need, because of sin in everyone's life. The Lord's Supper focused on Christ's work of redemption, which we all need, and which we all received.

So, if someone is more concerned about how much food is piled on his plate, while others have none, then we have one more symptom of division. If we are all part of God's family, then it should matter than some of the children are provided for, and some are not.

A prominent theme in this letter is unity. How meetings, and other practices, are handled, demonstrates how all people are viewed. And we need to look at ourselves, make sure our hearts are right before God, so we act, and respond, rightly, with love, and unity, toward others. 

No Division

Paul urges agreement, and no divisions, in the Corinthian church. The people are quarreling about who to follow. Paul, Apollos, Peter? Is it any different today? Luther, Wesley, Calvin? (Or IV, Cru or Navs?)

I think we should be grateful for these individuals, and groups. They have reminded us of truths, principles, attitudes, and practices that were forgotten. God's family is better for all of them. But they did not die for our sins. We are not save by agreeing with their teachings, and putting faith, and trust, in them.

It is Christ, and the gospel, that saves, and transforms, us. It is holding onto one truth as the most important, that divides God's family, and dishonors Christ, and the gospel, before the world.

Jesus says that if we love one another, we demonstrate to the world that we follow him. How we live in community, and how we live our lives individually, testifies to the reality of Christ, the cross, the resurrection, and salvation by faith, as much as preaching the gospel. (Which we should be doing also.) Hypocrisy is one of the charges hurled at God's family. And it is the main reason, many people reject the gospel.

This is especially tricky nowadays. Not only are there groups of Christians, who stress different parts of God's truth, but there are different groups of Christians, who reject different parts of God's truth. And there are groups, who call themselves Christian, but reject the cross, the resurrection, the grace of the gospel, and the divinity of Christ. 

I am certain that God wants his family to love, and be united, with his family. All parts of it. I am not sure how that works with quasi Christian groups, or pseudo Christian groups. But doing a good job of loving, and demonstrating unity, across lines of genuine Christins would at least be a good place to start.

A Role In One Another's Lives

Paul begins his letter to the Corinthians by identifying himself, and Sosthenes. He identifies himself as an apostle, a messenger, of Jesus Christ.

He brought the gospel to them. He was commissioned, and entrusted, by Jesus, not only to bring the message, and begin the church, but also to define the limits of life in the church, because they were given to him by Jesus.

We are all to bring the gospel. We are all to be involved in planting, and establishing, churches. But we are not all given authority to define what life in the church should be like. (Now, I do not mean whether or not we should sing 3 or 4 hymns. Or how long the message should be.) Rather Jesus defines the church as a community. And he defines how his body should live as individuals, and as a community. And he has given messengers, and the scripture, to communicate those definitions. Current day leaders are to take those definitions, clarify them, and help apply them.

Paul, also, mentions Sosthenes. He does not say who Sosthenes is, because everyone in Corinth should know him, as one of their local leaders.

If you have read 1st Corinthians, you realize that the church has gotten pretty messed up. This letter is Paul trying to get the church back on the right track. So, it seems like Sosthenes, seeing things go from bad to worse, tracks Paul down, and informs him about what is going on. So, Paul mentions Sosthenes to let the church know that he is not inventing all of the stuff he is about to say. He has an eye witness, who he trusts, and who they all know.

The Bible encourages all the followers of Jesus to give one another positive instruction, and encouragement, in living with God, one another, and those outside of God's family. But it can also include reproof, rebuke, and correction. As we see in this letter.

There are many places in Scripture, where wisdom is praised. And part of wisdom is in receiving correction. But there is also wisdom in giving correction.

One part of giving correction wisely is being sure of the facts. That is why Sosthenes is important. He is a witness to the problems of the Corinthian church. He is a trustworthy witness. And someone who is trusted by the Corinthians.

Another part of wise correction is a focus on the positive. The first thing Paul does in this letter is to praise the church for the good in them.

If all we recognize is bad in someone, and hammer away at that, do we communicate any message of hope, and worth, in that person.

The purpose of correction is to communicate wrong areas of thinking, speaking, and acting. But it should also communicate how to do those areas rightly, and why. And it should communicate motivation to change.

None of us are perfect. So, we all need correction. If all we hear about is how wrong we are, we will have no motivation to pursue what is right. Communicating worth, value, and where we excel can have as much effect in enabling us to move in a right direction, as pointing out our wrong direction. It gives hope, and encouragement.

The gospel reminds us, we are all condemned sinners. But the gospel also reminds us that we are loved, and redeemed. It is the second part that moves us to repentance, and pursuit of a new life, a new way of living.