A Lamp Shining In A Dark Place

Have you ever been in a place that was completely dark – no light at all? It can be unnerving and disorienting. After you have taken time to settle your thoughts, you must feel your way to where you think there will be some light. Paul described humanity this way as he presented the gospel to Athenian philosophers, “that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27). Henri Nouwen said, “Without the radiant beam of light shining into the darkness there is little to be seen. But everything changes with the light.” In that, we recognize the profound blessing of the advent of Jesus Christ; “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4–5). God’s self-disclosure is his light shining into the darkness of our human experience. His light rescues us from our self-oriented delusions, the distractions of immediate gratification, the despair of meaninglessness, and the death that results, “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light” (Psalm 36:9).

Acknowledging God’s self-disclosure is the beginning point of being able to recognize reality. Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Light proceeds from God because God is light. In him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Paul affirmed to the Corinthians, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Let’s be clear that light is not just that which is scientifically defined as electromagnetic radiation from charged particles; light has a name.

Fyodor Dostoevsky said, “We have never truly breathed air nor seen light until we have breathed in the God-inspired Bible and see the world in the Bible's light.” To this Peter says, “…you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place…” (2 Peter 1:19). The word he used for “pay attention” means to consider carefully and devote yourself to it (see 1 Timothy 4:13). To what end do we devote ourselves to the light of God’s word? “…Until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” It leads us to focus on the glory of Christ to where we are captivated by him in our attitudes and affections, overtaking the darkness within. Peter echoes eschatological terms to remind us that this process will only be complete when we see Jesus face to face. John reminds us “everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure” (1 John 3:3). To walk in the light, fix your gaze on Jesus Christ through his self-disclosure.

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Endurance

Having just returned from teaching an eight-day module in Haiti, I can say that I have witnessed unusual endurance. With two-hour classes scheduled from 6:30 a.m. to 9:40 p.m. this cohort of fifteen men crossed the finish line with a sense of accomplishment and joy. Sadly, in our culture endurance is a virtue that is fading. A commitment is kept only until something more pleasurable presents itself. We like to keep our options open. But David asserts that the one who dwells in God’s presence is one who will keep a promise even if it hurts (Ps. 15:1-4). The biblical virtue of steadfastness is a growing resolve in the face of difficulty, but the resolve is not based on personal grit, it is based on hope – an expected outcome. Such hope is not the product of wishful thinking, but of a trustworthy promise.

James teaches us that true endurance is directly related to wisdom and faith (James 1:2-6). It is the Lord who gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding (Prov. 2:6). This wisdom is the knowledge of God’s plans and purposes – knowing the direction and meaning of life. Faith, then, is taking God at his word and entrusting yourself to him – especially during difficult times. James promises us that constant trust in the wisdom of God is what produces steadfastness in us. Such steadfastness makes us complete and mature individuals showing integrity and focus instead of being tossed by the distracting waves of ideas or circumstances.

This is the intent of discipline – the discipline necessary to be a world-class athlete, or a fine musician. Why do some musicians or athletes excel while others remain mediocre? In his book The Social Animal, David Brooks points to research revealing that the common denominator in attaining excellence in a field is a long-term commitment to discipline and practice.* For the child of the loving, benevolent Sovereign, “discipline and practice” is the endurance in the rigors of daily struggle and hardship by entrusting yourself to the promises and purposes of God. In high school, I never came away from basketball practice without feeling some level of pain. I did not set out to find ways to avoid that pain, instead I cherished it as a means of development toward a desired end.

Move toward a life of integrity and excellence in a culture bent on image and comfort. Here is the promise in which you can anchor your hope for your daily endurance: this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Cor. 4:17).

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*David Brooks, The Social Animal (Random House, 2011), pp. 134-135

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Conduits of Outreach

The people of Grace

We are all in ministry – part of following Jesus is helping others follow Jesus. Living the gospel in front of friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors (FRAN) is the way each one of us points people to God. Let it be the outflow of your confidence in the One who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, and satisfaction from feasting at the banquet table of his goodness, grace and steadfast love. May you follow the Spirit’s promptings to pour into relationships, conversations, and acts of service.

Care Groups

A care group is a community – a natural means of hospitality. While some care groups are outreach-focused (W-S Rescue Mission, Grace to Go), inviting FRAN to your care group would be a welcoming way to show the love of Christ between brothers and sisters in Christ, and to those who are not in the family (yet). It is a gracious way to be a bridge into the community of faith.

Grace Counseling Ministry

From the beginning the counseling ministry was envisioned not only as a ministry of helping people in the church to address the matters of life through the lens of godly, biblical counsel, but as a means of outreach into the community. Over 60 percent of those receiving counsel from GCM are from outside the church. The fruit and the harvest are already there. Make known to FRAN that this ministry is available.

Delight in Grace Radio Ministry

Starting October 3rd, the teaching ministry of Grace Bible Church will air on WTRU (97.7) at 10:00 a.m. There are about 200,000 people in the Triad who listen to Christian radio, and approximately 40 percent of them are unchurched. Our message presents a regular theme of not only being saved by grace but living by grace. God has graciously provided for this ministry to be fully funded through 2023. Prayerfully think of FRAN you may invite to listen the message of grace – this could be great fodder for conversation.

Published Book

My book, 7 WORDS that can CHANGE YOUR LIFE (Xulon Press), practically mines the depths of God’s saving and life-transforming grace. This book is on track to be published and available by the end of October. When it comes off the press, I encourage you to use it for outreach – hand out copies, encourage people on social media to read it, or invite FRAN to an outreach Bible study with it.

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

The Joys and Challenges of Ministry in Haiti

Haiti Bible Institute (HBI) was founded in 2009 and is directed by Jim Bearss. Jim and his wife, Anna, are serving through On Target Ministry equipping national pastors, a work supported by Grace Bible Church.

From September 27 to October 6, I will return to Haiti to teach at HBI. This is the fourth cohort of students taught through this school since 2009. This group of fifteen students has been vetted as men who are faithful and active in ministry. They are eager and committed to learning rich doctrinal truth from Scripture, as well as developing the skill of “rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). I will be teaching two courses – the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, and the book of First Corinthians.

The good news is this time that I am in Haiti, two of the teachers will be HBI graduates! Several HBI students have now achieved advanced degrees and are recognized as qualified men to teach other Haitian students. This is a fulfillment of the HBI vision as prescribed in 2 Timothy 2:2 “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” HBI is now accredited by the Haitian Ministry of Education which is an important recognition for the pastor-teachers who have received degrees from the institute and are ministering to the Haitian community.

In each module the students receive sixteen hours of instruction and must pass an exam for each course. After the module the students are required to teach twelve hours in their churches from what they have learned in the HBI module in order to receive credit for the courses. Each module consists of six courses, so this is a rigorous eight days for these students – they spend twelve hours per day in class. But this very poor island nation is greatly benefiting from the commitment of these student/ministers. Light is dawning.

Please pray for them,
1) that they will have safe passage to and from the module
2) that they will have the strength and presence of mind to persevere the rigors of the module
3) that the Spirit will develop in each of them a deep delight and an accurate grasp of His Word
4) that these men will faithfully communicate the riches of God’s grace to the people of Haiti.

Key to getting Jim Bearss to Haiti to train pastors, and the founding of HBI was our friend Predestin Herard who just visited us this past weekend at Grace. Predesitn is a pastor-teacher and educator/administrator of My Father’s House – also supported by Grace Bible Church. At our church picnic gathering last weekend he gave an account of the status and challenges of operating My Father’s House I & II which encompass an orphanage housing and educating 200 children, a school teaching 250 students, and a trade school for 70-100 students. The monthly expense for this work is approximately $20,000 for food and a thirteen-member staff. Lately, because of the civil unrest in Haiti (Predestin moved his wife and daughter to the Dominican Republic for threat of kidnapping), and diminished support, My Father’s House operates with a monthly deficit averaging $11,000 – their financial resources of late have been less than half of their monthly needs. Obviously, they have had to cut back on school days and food rations for the orphanage.

Over the next two weekends we are collecting a love offering for My Father’s House in Haiti. Would you please prayerfully consider how you might give to help the needs of this impactful ministry? When you give, please make your check out to Grace Bible Church, and write “Haiti” in the memo line. May we “excel in this act of grace,” as our “abundance at the present time should supply their need” (2Cor. 8:7-14).

Thank you for your prayer support and caring generosity.

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Patrem Invocatis

When Andrea and I visited the Cove in Black Mountain for a pastor’s renewal retreat, Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, made a statement that has not left me. “When I don’t pray, what I’m saying is I don’t need God.” As if the wound wasn’t enough – he rubbed salt in it, “Proud people don’t pray.” Ouch! It’s not that I don’t pray, but I must admit, it is far too easy to get caught up in the busyness of ministry and count on schedule, meetings, study, planning and (choke) savvy, so that prayer is easily relegated to a checked box of Christian walk and ministry.

Do I acknowledge my utter dependence on God? Do I understand that this is HIS work – I am but an instrument in his hands and anything I have or can do is a trust – I am only a steward? Have I been captivated by his perfections in contrast to my limitations? When I consider that even Jesus – the very Son of God – invested serious time in personal communion with the Father, I am embarrassed at my hubris that I could employ prayer as a perfunctory or peripheral element of the Christian walk.

God is at work! You and I have the high calling and privilege to be instruments of his choice. The first question we must ask is, what is he doing? The second question is, how am I part of that? My calling in ministry as a steward of his reconciling mission requires me to call on him for his power to do his work. We are all in ministry. What is God accomplishing in the people of Grace? How is he working through us to touch lives? How can we pray for the people we know and love to be converted and transformed, to walk Godward?

We have set aside a time to call upon our Father – to invoke the arm of omnipotence – to do things that only he can do through his transforming grace. Our first Prayer Gathering is Wednesday, August 31st, 6:30 p.m. A necessary clarification is warranted here – there may be other scheduled meetings and get-togethers on Wednesdays. There is no expectation that they should be cancelled, or that Wednesday night is now officially set aside and nothing else can be scheduled. This is another gathering opportunity for those who want to focus on prayer. Starting September 21st, a Prayer Gathering will be scheduled every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.

Call on him as Father.

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

The Law Of Christ

One of the effects of our increasingly technologized society is the burden of having to form ourselves because of the loss of meaning and the deficit of a genuine sense of community. There are so many ways to “connect” but people today are lonelier than ever because technology has allowed the individual to survive. But how much meaning can there be in mere survival? Presenting an image of success and pleasure is not what generates a flourishing soul.

We are designed for community and connection, and we are called by God into communion with himself and his people. Jesus summarized this in his statement, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). That is the law of Christ that we are called to fulfill – to realize and exemplify genuine community – love relationships that are not self-seeking, but mutually investing. How is this practically realized?

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2

Various senses to the word “bear” include the idea of carrying an object for another, removing or carrying something away, to endure or bear up under, or to provide or support.1 This is what community does. No one ought to be alone in their experience or isolated in their understanding of themselves.

After thirty years of marriage, British novelist Julian Barnes’ wife died from a brain tumor. He was struck by how many of his closest friends didn't know how to talk honestly about his grief. Barnes said, "Some friends are as scared of grief as they are of death; they avoid you as if they fear infection."2 The point to bearing one another’s burdens is to share the weight of the load – not just to ease the pain or difficulty, but to be mutually bonded and formed in the grace of God. “The distinctive feature in this view of suffering is that the present burden is conceived to be productive [with the end in view]. From the burden of suffering comes the fulness of glory.”3

The context shows us that the primary reference in this text to “bear one another’s burdens” is moral lapses, temptations, and guilt. Each of us in the family of God – the community of grace – is in ministry because part of following Jesus is helping others follow Jesus, and sometimes this entails messy grace. We are all flawed. If we are on the path to becoming like Christ it is a joy-producing mutual benefit to walk together.

1 Swanson, J., Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament)
2 Julian Barnes, Levels of Life (Jonathan Cape, 2013)
3 Theological dictionary of the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 555).

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Swallowed Up

A lot of time in life is spent in preparation – preparing for the day, for a trip, for a task, for a major event like a wedding, a concert, or a sermon. Preparation assumes thought, prioritization, action, and discipline. The preparation, though in itself can seem like a journey, is not an end; it leads toward something ultimately. A couple weeks ago Andrea spent two days preparing to travel with our daughter-in-law and our grandchildren from Buffalo, NY to Maine. With much anticipation she exuded discipline and diligence with pleasure. Then the trip was cancelled due to a medical emergency. It was a letdown that could not have been helped, but her disappointment was evident. Although the preparation was for nothing, that wasn’t the source of her disappointment; that for which she had prepared and enthusiastically anticipated would not be realized.

The Scriptures teach us that God has prepared us for something grand and full of delight. Not only has he prepared us, but he has given a guarantee – the first installment of that grand delight. The initial deposit (guarantee) given is his Holy Spirit – his very presence – to encourage and empower us during this preparation phase that has its challenges and frustrations, but “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17). That contrast is echoed by the apostle in the next chapter when he writes “that what is mortal may be swallowed up in life!” (2 Cor. 5:4). Our current state of “mortality” is a temporary dwelling that is predisposed to corruption – to die. But I love the imagery that Paul uses in the phrase “swallowed up!” The idea is to overwhelm and bring to an end, like a frog ejecting its tongue to capture a fly and immediately the fly is gone - swallowed up. You see that, and you think, “Well, so much for that fly!” When our mortality is swallowed up by life, this momentary disorder and pain will seem rather insignificant. It was here, then it’s gone! Now, it is just the grand delight of life – fullness of joy and pleasures evermore! That is the presence of God when we see his face. Paul, who suffered beyond anything you or I ever will, could say, “So we are always of good courage” (2 Cor. 5:6).

So be of good courage in this time of preparation. God has prepared us and guaranteed it. Prepare to be swallowed up by life!

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Imitating Christ

Empathy has become a widely used term in recent times. As our society advances the authority of “lived experience” it is important that we practice empathy – especially if we are to speak meaningfully into another’s life.

The word empathy is a transliteration of the Greek term empatheia  (“in-passion”) that meant physical affection. The term does not appear in Scripture.  The first appearance of the word in English was in 1908. It began as a translation of einfühlung ("in-feeling"), a German psychological term that described how spectators projected their own feelings and movements into objects of art and nature. This early conception of empathy transformed into its opposite over the following decades. Social scientists and clinical psychologists refashioned empathy to require the deliberate putting aside of one's feelings to understand more accurately the feelings of another.[1] Psychologist Paul Bloom defines empathy as “the process of experiencing the world as others do, or at least as you think they do. To empathize with someone is to put yourself in [their] shoes, to feel [their] pain.”[2]

Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes to understand their experience and perspective is especially challenging in a self-determined, self-focused world. Psychologist, Frank M. Lachmann, states that our typical responses to people's pain—lines ranging from "It could be worse" to "Let's talk about something else"—"appear to be kind and aimed at soothing," but are really nothing more than code for "Don't confront me with things that are unpleasant," or "Don't bother me with your pain."[3]

Today’s meaning of empathy is what is meant by the biblical term sympathy or sympathize which means to suffer with.  Consider the God/man, the incarnate Creator, the second person of the triune Godhead,  “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3). He can “sympathize with our weaknesses” because he was “in every respect tempted as we are” (Hebrews 4:14). He entered our humanity and endured our suffering as described in the Gospel records and theologically affirmed in Philippians 2:6-8 and Hebrews 2:17-18.

In his classic, The Imitation of Christ, Thomas a Kempis wrote, "We must imitate Christ's life and his ways if we are to be truly enlightened and set free from the darkness of our own hearts. Let it be the most important thing we do, then, to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ.”

[1] https://books.google.com/books/about/Empathy.html?id=7TdsDwAAQBAJ&source=kp_book_description

[2] https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/april-web-only/imagining-neighbors-ourselves-good-samaritan-story-empathy.html

[3] Amanda Robb, "Empathy deficit disorder—do you suffer from it?" The O Magazine (April 2008)

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Extended Grace

Because of “this grace in which we stand” (Romans 5:2) grace is the element in which we live. Grace is not just the diving board that launches us into the swimming pool, grace is also the pool into which we dive. As you live in grace, communing and walking with your Creator/Redeemer, his truth, power, and presence transform you at the level of affection and attitude.  That is why striking statements in Scripture that, under the sun seem rather idealistic, can be practically true.

“Whoever abides in him does not sin” (1 John 3:6) – by grace abide in Christ;
continually be at home in his presence.

“Walk in the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16) – by grace let the Holy Spirit transform your life as you are sensitive to his illumination and direction.

“You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” – by grace abide in his word; let his word
dwell in you richly (Col. 3:16); hide it in your heart (Ps.119:11).

Because we have been lavished with grace in order to live in grace, we can be dispensers of grace, “so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15). Grace is like the mustard seed that grows and multiplies.  The idea that it “extends to more and more people” assumes human activity. By God’s grace we can live the gospel in the tenor of the beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) so that grace spreads in the human community. This is the only way to make sense of and find purpose in the difficult life of a broken creation.

With a challenging colleague, in God’s grace anchor your attitude and relationship in the character and purpose of Christ. In your neighbor’s physical suffering, through God’s grace, come alongside to lament with perspective; help maintain a view of the big picture and embrace the brokenness as an opportunity for joy. For the friend in emotional distress and weakness, lean with them into God’s gracious embrace. For those experiencing loss and hardship, through your settled satisfaction and freedom point them to the riches of God’s grace lavished on us.  Living in grace means that with the eye of faith you can see beyond immediate trials to a higher purpose and ultimate good.

Such grace extended will “increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” Gratitude is the antidote for self-preoccupation. We need more of it in the human community, and if we want to see it, we need to extend grace to more and more people.
 

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Live Joyfully

Joy is the result of the mind and heart focused on what God has done, is doing, and what he has promised. In his goodness and mercy, he has redeemed and reconciled us through Jesus. In his steadfast love and providential care, he graciously fashions us for glory and pleasure that it beyond what we can fully comprehend in our momentary journey. His transcendent power keeps us for the inheritance prepared for us when we are finally home in his presence enjoying him in full satisfaction and delight. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock” (Isaiah 26:3–4).

Christian joy is a settled satisfaction in God’s goodness, love, and sovereignty. Such serenity implies a confidence in a greater authority and resource than anything found in the created order. That confidence frees the one who trusts to not be preoccupied with his or her own security and satisfaction, but to look to the interests of others for their benefit and thereby point people to the benevolent Sovereign. Paul, for example, was in a violent storm on a ship driven across the Mediterranean Sea for fourteen days. I am sure he was feeling green, hungry and exhausted. But because he trusted the promise of God, he did not despair like the others. Rather, he provided focus and direction to a group gripped in suspense and weakness. His care for their need resulted in the encouragement of all (Acts 27:33-36). His confidence in God’s promise freed him from self-preoccupation, so he could care for the needs of others.

Phyllis Hall, in Springfield, Mo., is a widow of three years.  “When you’re a widow…you feel very alone – just like a new neighbor can feel.” So, in her settled satisfaction, she purposefully reaches out to her neighbors. “Your neighbor is anyone you come in contact with,” she said. “The main objective is to show them that someone cares.”[1]  The gospel rescues us from self-focus and frees us to incarnate a vision of peace and hope in a context of decay and despair.

Joy comes from a focused mind on the truth of God’s self-disclosure.  “The truth will set you free,” Jesus promised. So, live as people who are free. Live joyfully.

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[1] Lauren Dunn, The Simple Art of Neighboring, WORLD Magazine, July 30, 2022, p.68

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

The Grace Of God Makes Glad

The martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7) prompted a persecution of believers spearheaded by Saul who was “ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison” (Acts 8:3). If you lived then, you might have thought this was the end of the church. But God was at work; the scattered believers spread the gospel.

There was one problem though, they were sharing the good news only to Jews – people like themselves (Acts 11:19). Thankfully, some followers of Jesus came from the islands and shared the gospel with non-Jews. As a result, “a great number who believed turned to the Lord” because “the hand of the Lord was with them” (Acts 11:21). This news reached the Jerusalem church, and they sent Barnabas to follow up.  I love what Acts 11:23 reports, “When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad.” Indeed, God was at work, and the evidence of his investment was a community of grace – transformed lives. This was where the tag “Christian” was first used to identify followers of Jesus. It was at this time also that Barnabas sought out Saul – the one who had ravaged the church – and brought him to disciple the new believers for a year.

God’s work is amazing! We can miss such works of grace when we become preoccupied by the “bad” stuff that happens and focus our energy on shielding ourselves from it. But God is at work even in the “bad” stuff because the gospel spreads and the church thrives. Paul honored the Thessalonian church, for example, by writing, “Your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing” (2 Thessalonians 1:3).

It is the grace of God that makes glad. It is a growing love that manifests God’s transforming work of grace. What sets the church apart from social organizations is gospel-centered relationships. What we can learn from the islander Christians of Acts 11 is that if you want to grow in love, it will happen by getting close to people who are not like you. 

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Run The Race That Is Set Before Us

It is late May; the school semester is complete. Award ceremonies and graduation are coming up. I’m seven years old at a boarding school on a mountainside plantation in Colombia. My brothers are there, but Mom and Dad are not – I have not seen them for four months. I’m longing for home!  I am giddily awaiting their arrival, but none of us knows the hour when it will occur.  We keep busy throughout the day – getting chores done, polishing up special projects to put on display for our loved ones, eating meals, competing on the playground. By late afternoon my energy reserves are dwindling, but my anticipation keeps me where I can see the top of the mountain – at any moment they could appear. Suddenly someone says, “Hey, listen! Hear that!?” We identify the faint hum of an engine in the distance, it’s getting closer…closer, and…THERE! Dad’s Jeep truck with its white cab and blue stake body appears at the crest of the mountain road. At this point I’m jumping up and down, my brothers are running to the edge of the parking lot while dorm parents caution us to stay out of the way. I’m mustering all my energy to keep up with the others, eagerly anticipating Mom and Dad’s embrace! We’re going home!

My boarding school days were an experience of learning, discipline, stewardship, and perseverance. I knew it was not home; I was there temporarily. I knew the time would come that I would go home, and I looked forward to the day. Jesus has given us the same anticipation – he has gone to prepare a place for us. Here is his promise, “I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3). Until that day, we are “elect exiles” – temporary residents scattered around this blue orb, but with purpose and under his protection and privilege. So, “preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). It is a stewardship that requires perseverance – there is no question that it is a marathon, but “when the race is won, you will run into his arms.”*

May his grace and peace greatly increase toward you for the short journey ahead. Here is something that will contribute to that – join me in committing 1 Peter 1:3-9 to memory. As God’s self-disclosure – the word of Christ – dwells in you richly (Colossians 3:16), you will think his thoughts and gain his perspective.  That is a grace of God.  Also, “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble” (Psalm 119:165). Run the race set before you with your focus set on the One who is the reward of your soul.

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*From Runner, by Twila Paris, ©1985 Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Live Free

It is good to be home. There is comfort in the familiar, and rest in the routine. There is delight in the anticipation of interacting and worshipping with those I know and love. Yet with all that is known to me as “home” there remains an unrest, a longing. My satisfaction is not complete because there is the pull of an unfinished task, and the groaning of brokenness all around and within. I am not Home yet; this is not where I belong. I am really an exile, a stranger. But I am here on purpose under the loving care of the One who is Love – he demonstrated that by his sacrifice for me. I am here for a short time before I go home to “fullness of joy” and “pleasures evermore” (Psalm 16:11). That is where my Father is – my source, my sustainer, my security, my satisfaction, and my soul’s reward. Home.

As image-bearers we were designed to desire this higher purpose and ultimate good. We whose lives are “hidden with Christ in God” seek and set our minds on things above where Christ is (Colossians 3:2-3). That hope – that expectation – frees me from getting tangled in the weeds and briars of this short time in exile, weeds that cannot nourish my soul, painful briars that can lead to paralysis. That hope frees me to live.

That was Peter’s appeal to the displaced followers of Jesus in the first century. He called them (and calls us) not to focus on or be controlled or defined by adversity, but to remember who they are, and to keep Home in view. This is not a call to escapism, but to “live as people who are free” (1 Peter 2:16). Only free people can flourish and help others flourish. “Nihilism is fertilizer for anxiety and depression” writes psychologist Erica Komisar. “The belief in God – in a protective and guiding figure to rely on when times are tough – is one of the best kinds of support for kids in an increasingly pessimistic world.”  Her article in the Wall Street Journal begins, “As a therapist I’m often asked to explain why depression and anxiety are so common among children and adolescents. One of the most important explanations – and perhaps the most neglected – is declining interest in religion.”[1] Then – get this – when parents ask her how to talk to children about death if they don’t believe in God or heaven, her answer is simple, “lie.” We can do better than that. We can incarnate the truth and hope of the gospel.

The world needs hope. We worship and serve the God of hope (Romans 15:13). Living as people who are free is living the gospel. This Sunday we begin a series through the book of 1 Peter. I have asked that the bookstore be stocked with Journaling Bibles so that as we journey through this encouraging letter by the apostle, we can engage in ongoing conversations about our hope and what it looks like to live as people who are free.

[1] www.wsj.com/articles/dont-believe-in-god-lie-to-your-children-11575591658

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Thoughts From The Living Room

Dear Grace family,

Greetings from the living room! Today is the mid-point of the sabbatical and I thought I would "poke my head in the door" to let you know I'm enjoying my time, I'm staying busy, and I'm very thankful for Grace. It has been different - but good - to step away from the rigors of pastoral duties to focus on something I've wanted to work on for some time. So there is a sense of refreshment and refocus, but there is also a different-sort-of-busy in the time I spend writing.

Several joys have characterized my time in the first half. First, the family time has been delightful; second, writing has been invigorating; third, the pastoral conferences were refreshing; fourth, visiting other churches has been insightful.  But I love Grace! It has been a pleasure to attend a few times and just be a member of the family.  We have been blessed to interact with many of you in casual get-togethers or digital connections.  It has also been a joy - looking "from the outside" - to observe the church being the church. You are beautiful! With thanksgiving, Andrea and I are lifting you up before the Father's throne daily.

We had hoped to go to Ontario to visit Ben & Megan in their ministry environment, unfortunately Canada is not open to the idea yet. We will look for opportunity at another time.  Meanwhile, through Memorial Day week, we will tour of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Kentucky visiting loved ones. I look forward to attending Grace again when the Gaddalas are in town.  I feel I'm making good progress with writing - one more chapter to go on the first draft. At the end of June Andrea and I will travel to Amelia Island, Florida to celebrate our 35th anniversary, wrapping up the sabbatical with family in southern Florida on July 4th weekend.

Thank you for your encouragement and prayer.  I thank God upon every remembrance of you, and look forward to getting back.

Rich

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

As I Enter Sabbatical...

Dear Grace family,

On April 3rd, I begin a three-month sabbatical to focus on manuscript preparation for publishing, spiritual refreshment, and professional development. I will return to regular pastoral duties on July 5th. I leave you in good and loving hands.

This will be the longest time that I have gone without preaching in 24 years (I may need counseling for withdrawal symptoms). I do plan to attend here three weekends - the first will be Good Friday and Easter.
 
The point of the sabbatical is not to isolate me from you. We don't need a break from each other relationally - we are family.  Connecting with me would be welcomed.  Just think of it this way - you would be safe to have lunch with me and not worry about having to give a living picture.

You will be missed. I will not cease to uphold you before the Father's throne of grace, as I hope you will for me. Here is my desire and prayer for you while I am away:

1. Your delight in God’s word. Prepare for corporate worship, biblical exposition, and small group with great anticipation. Your delight in God’s self-disclosure will lead you to a flourishing satisfaction in Him.
   

2. Value the function of discipleship. At Grace there are many who are faithful followers and can walk with you in a Godward direction. Cherish that. Purpose to be a part of it. It is what Jesus taught us.
   

3. Champion the unity of the church. The church of Jesus Christ is united as Christ prayed in John 17. Fostering relationships anchored in the gospel is the mortar that keeps the building blocks together.
   

4. Live out the reality that we are all in ministry. Part of following Jesus is helping others follow Him. Move outward with your faith as you have been equipped.

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
[Romans 15:5-7, 13]

 
Rich

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Is It Well With You?

The elder apostle John wrote to his dear friend, Gaius, saying, Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul (3 John 2). The word translated “go well with” is translated two other ways in the New Testament – to prosper, and to succeed.

The same meaning was intended when Naomi communicated her desire for Ruth to have a place to settle down and call home, that it may be well with you (Ruth 3:1). Her desire was for her daughter-in-law to have her own place to call home – to establish a family and focus on the social, economic, and spiritual welfare of her household.

 The same word that Naomi used for “be well with” is translated “merry” regarding Boaz. After a day’s work he ate and drank, and his heart was merry (Ruth 3:7). The man experienced a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment from the produce of the land by the fruit of his labor. The Hebrew word that is translated both “well” and “merry” possesses the nuances of success, gladness, and satisfaction.

Both our homes and our industry are weighty to God because He designed and ordained them for us. Our homes are the places of belonging in a family, which are the building blocks of society. Our industry is the exercise of talent, strength, and gifts that God has entrusted to us for the flourishing of humanity.

It may be beneficial for us to re-think the meaning of success about our homes and our industry.  Are our homes fruitful in providing havens for the formation of godly, helpful people? Are we successful in our industry by enjoying the fruit of our labor, knowing we have contributed to the flourishing of humanity to the glory of God? He is the One who gives power to generate wealth (Deut. 8:18; Eccl. 2:24; 3:13). Both our homes and our industry are designed to be sources of joy and wellbeing.

We were created to desire and enjoy satisfaction. We must trust Him to provide. His design and His ways are good because He is good. The blessing of the Lord makes rich (Prov. 10:22).

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Christ Lives In Me!

Part 4
 
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
 

If you have surrendered to the sovereign Creator/Redeemer in faith then He has granted you life in His Son – everything that Christ is dwells in you. It is God’s purpose to develop and demonstrate the character of Christ in you since He is the one who has fulfilled perfect humanity fully obedient and pleasing to the Father. Christ has demonstrated the best humanity and has given us an example of what we in Christ were designed (created in Christ) to do.  For this reason the apostle Paul stated that his ambition was for Christ to be magnified in his body – by life or by death – it did not matter to him. The only point to him was that the goodness and righteousness of God be manifest through him. 

You may struggle with the question: “If Christ lives in me, why is He not noticeable in my life?” Remember that becoming like Christ is a work in progress. God is in the business of forming the character of Christ in the believer, but this requires surrendered faith daily – a long obedience in the same direction.  A human infant does not demonstrate the marks of maturity the day after his birth. A child grows through nurture and discipline – so it is with the child of God. The Father has granted us His Spirit (divine nature and power), His Word (divine transforming truth), and His church (divinely established community of His people) to fulfill that need in each of our lives. 

Sometimes you may get distracted (off track), but the heavenly Father is faithful to gently prompt you in a God-ward direction. He knows that your fellowship with Him and pursuit of Him is, bar none, the best thing for you because of your design – you were made for Him – He is your highest good and deepest satisfaction. 

Children love to measure and chart their physical growth. It is a milestone when a son grows to be taller than his mom. Just as physical growth is the product of physical life, spiritual growth is the product of spiritual life. Your spiritual life requires spiritual nutrition, discipline, and exercise. Clarify your diet and the necessary disciplines along with the community of God’s people. Set goals for your spiritual life; then mark and celebrate your spiritual progress with God’s people.  All who are in Christ are on the same path headed toward the same goal: the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Christ Lives in Me!

Part 3

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

If you have surrendered in faith to the sovereign Creator/Redeemer,  then He has granted you life in His Son – everything that Christ is dwells in you. Peter and John speak of God’s seed and the incorruptible seed.  A seed is small and must germinate then grow in order to produce all the potential that is packed within.  So it is with Christ in us. As we grow in faith we put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires (Rom. 13:14). Christ living in me looks like Christ Himself. 

He enjoyed constant communion with His Father. He affirmed this to be His desire for us when He stated this is eternal life, that they may know you….
 
Because of His communion with the Father He delighted to do the Father’s desires – I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.
 
Because of His delight He was zealous for God purposes – they consumed Him (Ps. 69:9; Titus 2:14). We are His own special people zealous for good works. There is meekness in this. Christ was not interested in promoting Himself or wowing onlookers, but pleasing His Father and pointing people to Him.
 
Because of His zeal for God’s purposes He was gracious, compassionate, merciful and loving. For this reason we are called to be kind, tender hearted, forgiving one another (Eph. 4:32).
 
Also because of His zeal for God’s purposes, Jesus lived with a forward view of hope and anticipation. So we can run the race and press toward the mark while we look unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before Him endured the cross… 

These are telling marks of one in whom Christ reigns.

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

God Works Through His Church

And so we have finished the exposition of the book of Acts.  The spread of the gospel is God’s work, and He works through His church.  He filled the church with His Holy Spirit, empowering His people to live the gospel, to communicate with boldness, and to persevere in faithfulness.  Luke records some amazing things accomplished in the early church, but that is because an amazing God was working through ordinary people submitted to Him. The same has been true through history – we are the same church, with the same mission, and the same indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

The book of Acts ends with an unfinished task. Now it is on us to take up the mantle to communicate the gospel to our generation. This is not merely a call to duty, but an invitation to live in the outflow of the amazing grace, love and power of Christ who created us for Himself and who redeemed us to reconcile us.  In Him we have forgiveness, we are new creations, and we are blessed with the powerful presence of His Spirit (Acts 1:8). We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, to  proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9), and who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:14).

There are four necessary components to communicating the gospel of grace in Jesus Christ:

1. Creator/community – God, who is community, created us to draw us into communion with Himself and enjoy Him forever.

2. Sin/separation – Sin separates us from God like a branch broken off the tree. That separation is ultimately his holy, necessary wrath.

3. Son/Savior – God, from eternity, had a remedy for our sin in place. His Son came to us, like us, lived a perfect life, then died on the cross taking God’s wrath in our place.

4. Righteousness/reconciliation – Because Jesus rose again, our surrendered trust in Him gives us His righteousness, so that we can be reconciled to God and enjoy Him forever.

There are various ways to communicate the gospel simply and clearly. Last Sunday I introduced you to two compelling gospel presentations. I promised to send you videos so you could learn them, so here they are, the 4 Chairs, and the 3 Circles. I encourage you to master them, then ask God’s Spirit to cross your path with another’s for a redemptive encounter. May His Spirit sharpen your sensitivity to His promptings.

O church, arise to the ministry of reconciliation…

to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light
and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins
and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.
Acts 26:18

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Christ Lives In Me!

Part 2
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
 

The one who is in Christ – the one that has been justified by God and reconciled to Him – must daily and habitually acknowledge that good exists in him or her. That “good” is Jesus Christ. The believer has been made partaker of His divine nature. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. The theological truth of being “born of God” speaks of parentage and passing on divine character. Here is the profound truth:  if you have been made “the righteousness of God” and through faith you are “in Christ,” then everything that Christ is dwells in you.
 
New Testament writers Peter and John speak of this reality using the metaphor of a seed – God’s seed and the incorruptible seed.  A seed is small, and it must germinate and grow to produce and realize all the potential that is packed within.  And so it is with Christ in the believer. We are instructed to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18).
 
By growing in Christ we undertake two important tasks that have life-changing implications. First, we put off the old man (Rom. 6:6; Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:8). The “old man” is the expressions of the mind and body habituated in sin, that is – things that are contrary to God’s character and His purpose for us. But just taking away leaves a vacuum. A replacement is necessary. Growing in Christ also means the manifestations of Christ developing in and through the one who is in Christ. The old becomes replaced with the new. Therefore, secondly, we are called to put on the new man (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10) which is the outward expression of God’s presence and work in the believer.
 

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.