The following is from John Piper, a guy who is way smarter than I am.
Should Christians celebrate Christmas?
I sympathize with those who want to be rigorously and distinctly Christian, who want to be disentangled from the world and any pagan roots that might lie beneath our celebration of Christmas, but I don't go that route on this matter because I think there comes a point where the roots are so far gone that the present meaning doesn't carry the pagan connotation anymore. I'm more concerned about a new paganism that gets layered on top of Christian holidays.
Here's the example I use: All language has roots somewhere. Most of our days of the week—if not all—grew out of pagan names too. So should we stop using the word "Sunday" because it may have related to the worship of the sun once upon a time? In modern English "Sunday" doesn't carry that connotation, and that's the very nature of language. In a sense, holidays are like chronological language.
Christmas now means that we mark, in Christian ways, the birth of Jesus Christ. I think the birth, death and resurrection of Christ are the most important events in human history. Not to mark them in some way, by way of special celebration, would be folly it seems to me.
I remember I lived next door to somebody back in seminary who didn't celebrate birthdays for their kid. The idea was, partly, that all days were special for their kid. But if all days are special then it probably means that there are no special days. Yet some things are so good and precious—like anniversaries, birthdays, and even deaths—that they are worthy of being marked. How much more the birth and death of Jesus Christ!
It's really worth the risk, even if the date of December 25 was chosen because of its proximity to some kind of pagan festival. Let's just take it, sanctify it, and make the most of it, because Christ is worthy of being celebrated in his birth.
There is no point in choosing any other date. It won't work.
© Desiring God www.desiringgod.org
While I do (and probably always will) celebrate Christmas, wouldn't it also be a good idea to have the spirit of Christmas all year long? Shouldn't we be constantly aware of the Gospel and what it means in our lives? I'm thinking that instead of holding out for December 25 to buy gifts for all your friends, what would it hurt to do it just whenever? If you're out, and see something that a family member or friend might like, why not just get it for them right then? Do you really have to wait for a birthday or Christmas?
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
It's Been Far Too Long!
We're coming to the end of the year.
How do we look back and how do we look forward?
It's been an interesting year. My first blog was "The New Face of SIX33" and followed the "I'm Done" sermon (www.ibchighland.org/six33 - go to "Downloads").
God has really been working in my life in some very cool ways recently.
I've always held that Scripture is the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God, but lately, God has been bringing me back to that over and over.
There are two verses that I just can't get away from.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teachign, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
2 Peter 1:3 says "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence."
These two verses are such an encouragement to me. While I have never changed in my view of Scripture, lately, my passion to know and be saturated in Scripture has been renewed and refreshed.
Right now, I'm in the middle of a 30 day journey through the Book of James. I'm reading the entire book every day for the month of December. (I've challenged some of my students to join me on this journey). It's been so incredible to come to God's Word every day and even though I'm reading the same words as I read yesterday, and the day before, and the day before, etc. I see something new every day.
'For the word of God is living and active..." (Hebrews 4:12) This verse, along with the first two I listed, has been shown to be so true this month.
In today's society the whole concept of "truth" has been so watered down it's not even funny. There are even churches out there who don't seem to hold to God's Word as Truth. I just don't understand how you can claim to be a Christian and not hold to the inerrancy of Scripture.
So - saturate yourself with Scripture. Let your delight truly be "in the law of the Lord" (You HAVE to read Psalm 1).
Oh - and when you have time, check out the Pyromaniacs blog. It's deep, but really good! www.teampyro.blogspot.com
How do we look back and how do we look forward?
It's been an interesting year. My first blog was "The New Face of SIX33" and followed the "I'm Done" sermon (www.ibchighland.org/six33 - go to "Downloads").
God has really been working in my life in some very cool ways recently.
I've always held that Scripture is the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God, but lately, God has been bringing me back to that over and over.
There are two verses that I just can't get away from.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teachign, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
2 Peter 1:3 says "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence."
These two verses are such an encouragement to me. While I have never changed in my view of Scripture, lately, my passion to know and be saturated in Scripture has been renewed and refreshed.
Right now, I'm in the middle of a 30 day journey through the Book of James. I'm reading the entire book every day for the month of December. (I've challenged some of my students to join me on this journey). It's been so incredible to come to God's Word every day and even though I'm reading the same words as I read yesterday, and the day before, and the day before, etc. I see something new every day.
'For the word of God is living and active..." (Hebrews 4:12) This verse, along with the first two I listed, has been shown to be so true this month.
In today's society the whole concept of "truth" has been so watered down it's not even funny. There are even churches out there who don't seem to hold to God's Word as Truth. I just don't understand how you can claim to be a Christian and not hold to the inerrancy of Scripture.
So - saturate yourself with Scripture. Let your delight truly be "in the law of the Lord" (You HAVE to read Psalm 1).
Oh - and when you have time, check out the Pyromaniacs blog. It's deep, but really good! www.teampyro.blogspot.com
Sunday, August 26, 2007
{ go vs. be }
I want everyone to stop going to church
No, that’s not a typo – stop going to church.
Mark 7:6-7 “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men” God is not impressed with your attendance.
Paul tells us that because of who Jesus is and what He did on the cross, a Follower of Jesus Christ is not condemned to keep on sinning.
Jesus died and was resurrected so that we CAN live the righteous life that the Bible tells us we must live.
How do you fix yourself? You don’t.
The secret is focus. You focus on God and choose to respond and let God’s Spirit give you the strength to obey.
So – we start with the GOSPEL
The GOSPEL is simple: Jesus Christ obeyed His Father and died on a cross so that we would not have to suffer the consequences of our sin. He rose from the dead to destroy sin and death. He did all this first for God’s glory and second, so that we can live a righteous, holy life.
If you’re bored with church….
If you’re not excited about hearing God’s Word,
Then you’re doing something wrong.
Ask yourself the question: “Why am I here?”
• Are you here for yourself?
• Or are you here to empty myself and seek God?
So what does all this have to do with the first sentence “stop going to church?”
Everything.
If the truth of the Gospel is something that is a part of your life. If you have become a Follower of Jesus Christ. If you are a Disciple.
Then your call is clear.
Stop going to church and start being the church.
Read Acts 2:42-47 - They were together.
Read I Corinthians 12:12, 18, 19, 27 - We’re called to serve. To BE the church
That’s why you must stop going to church and start being the church.
Because if you’re headed to Immanuel, or some other church building on Wednesdays or Sundays, it’s going to be one or the other:
{ go vs. be }
If all this makes sense to you, then your next question should be “Okay, so how do I go and be the church?” Good question. You find out where you can serve and how you can help. It is the call of every Christian to not only be involved in a local church, but also to be in a place of service.
In the High School Ministry at Immanuel, there are many places and ways to serve. Just find a signup card on the back table, fill it out, and drop it in the mail slot or give it to Rob.
The Process of Growth:
• Attract
• Connect
• Grow
• Serve
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes… for in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed…”
Romans 1:16-17a
No, that’s not a typo – stop going to church.
Mark 7:6-7 “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men” God is not impressed with your attendance.
Paul tells us that because of who Jesus is and what He did on the cross, a Follower of Jesus Christ is not condemned to keep on sinning.
Jesus died and was resurrected so that we CAN live the righteous life that the Bible tells us we must live.
How do you fix yourself? You don’t.
The secret is focus. You focus on God and choose to respond and let God’s Spirit give you the strength to obey.
So – we start with the GOSPEL
The GOSPEL is simple: Jesus Christ obeyed His Father and died on a cross so that we would not have to suffer the consequences of our sin. He rose from the dead to destroy sin and death. He did all this first for God’s glory and second, so that we can live a righteous, holy life.
If you’re bored with church….
If you’re not excited about hearing God’s Word,
Then you’re doing something wrong.
Ask yourself the question: “Why am I here?”
• Are you here for yourself?
• Or are you here to empty myself and seek God?
So what does all this have to do with the first sentence “stop going to church?”
Everything.
If the truth of the Gospel is something that is a part of your life. If you have become a Follower of Jesus Christ. If you are a Disciple.
Then your call is clear.
Stop going to church and start being the church.
Read Acts 2:42-47 - They were together.
Read I Corinthians 12:12, 18, 19, 27 - We’re called to serve. To BE the church
That’s why you must stop going to church and start being the church.
Because if you’re headed to Immanuel, or some other church building on Wednesdays or Sundays, it’s going to be one or the other:
{ go vs. be }
If all this makes sense to you, then your next question should be “Okay, so how do I go and be the church?” Good question. You find out where you can serve and how you can help. It is the call of every Christian to not only be involved in a local church, but also to be in a place of service.
In the High School Ministry at Immanuel, there are many places and ways to serve. Just find a signup card on the back table, fill it out, and drop it in the mail slot or give it to Rob.
The Process of Growth:
• Attract
• Connect
• Grow
• Serve
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes… for in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed…”
Romans 1:16-17a
Friday, July 13, 2007
Are you sharing your faith?
Four Questions from our Pastor
If you were at SIX33 this past week, you heard an amazing message from our pastor. He preached it at the Southern Baptist Convention in San Antonio last month. He was preaching to a lot of pastors, but every word of the sermon can apply to our youth group just as much as it applied to those he was preaching to. The first time I heard the sermon, I was thinking “wow! He’s preaching to us (the youth group) and to me all at the same time. It was amazing!
Basically, he was telling us that we need to be about the “business of evangelism” all the time. Sharing who Christ is should be in the front of our minds all the time. As I listened to the sermon, these four questions and what I like to call “the wrap-up question” all rose to the top. My challenge to you is to really consider these questions. Don’t just read them and answer a quick “yes” (or a quick “no” either). Really look at the question and as you answer the question, also ask “how” and “why” to each of them. Here they are:
When it comes to sharing my faith,
• Am I taking it seriously?
• Am I taking it personally?
• Am I enthusiastic about it?
• Am I being prayerful?
And the “Wrap-up Question”
Am I really involved in winning people to Christ?
If we all really commit to not only living a consistent Christian lifestyle, but also actively sharing our faith, then we’ll see changed lives. Not only our own, but the lives of our friends around us.
Who is God leading you to engage in a spiritual conversation with?
If you were at SIX33 this past week, you heard an amazing message from our pastor. He preached it at the Southern Baptist Convention in San Antonio last month. He was preaching to a lot of pastors, but every word of the sermon can apply to our youth group just as much as it applied to those he was preaching to. The first time I heard the sermon, I was thinking “wow! He’s preaching to us (the youth group) and to me all at the same time. It was amazing!
Basically, he was telling us that we need to be about the “business of evangelism” all the time. Sharing who Christ is should be in the front of our minds all the time. As I listened to the sermon, these four questions and what I like to call “the wrap-up question” all rose to the top. My challenge to you is to really consider these questions. Don’t just read them and answer a quick “yes” (or a quick “no” either). Really look at the question and as you answer the question, also ask “how” and “why” to each of them. Here they are:
When it comes to sharing my faith,
• Am I taking it seriously?
• Am I taking it personally?
• Am I enthusiastic about it?
• Am I being prayerful?
And the “Wrap-up Question”
Am I really involved in winning people to Christ?
If we all really commit to not only living a consistent Christian lifestyle, but also actively sharing our faith, then we’ll see changed lives. Not only our own, but the lives of our friends around us.
Who is God leading you to engage in a spiritual conversation with?
Are you sharing your faith?
Four Questions from our Pastor:
If you were at SIX33 this past week, you heard an amazing message from our pastor. He preached it at the Southern Baptist Convention in San Antonio last month. He was preaching to a lot of pastors, but every word of the sermon can apply to our youth group just as much as it applied to those he was preaching to. The first time I heard the sermon, I was thinking “wow! He’s preaching to us (the youth group) and to me all at the same time. It was amazing!
Basically, he was telling us that we need to be about the “business of evangelism” all the time. Sharing who Christ is should be in the front of our minds all the time. As I listened to the sermon, these four questions and what I like to call “the wrap-up question” all rose to the top. My challenge to you is to really consider these questions. Don’t just read them and answer a quick “yes” (or a quick “no” either). Really look at the question and as you answer the question, also ask “how” and “why” to each of them. Here they are:
When it comes to sharing my faith,
• Am I taking it seriously?
• Am I taking it personally?
• Am I enthusiastic about it?
• Am I being prayerful?
And the “Wrap-up Question”
Am I really involved in winning people to Christ?
If we all really commit to not only living a consistent Christian lifestyle, but also actively sharing our faith, then we’ll see changed lives. Not only our own, but the lives of our friends around us.
Who is God leading you to engage in a spiritual conversation with?
If you were at SIX33 this past week, you heard an amazing message from our pastor. He preached it at the Southern Baptist Convention in San Antonio last month. He was preaching to a lot of pastors, but every word of the sermon can apply to our youth group just as much as it applied to those he was preaching to. The first time I heard the sermon, I was thinking “wow! He’s preaching to us (the youth group) and to me all at the same time. It was amazing!
Basically, he was telling us that we need to be about the “business of evangelism” all the time. Sharing who Christ is should be in the front of our minds all the time. As I listened to the sermon, these four questions and what I like to call “the wrap-up question” all rose to the top. My challenge to you is to really consider these questions. Don’t just read them and answer a quick “yes” (or a quick “no” either). Really look at the question and as you answer the question, also ask “how” and “why” to each of them. Here they are:
When it comes to sharing my faith,
• Am I taking it seriously?
• Am I taking it personally?
• Am I enthusiastic about it?
• Am I being prayerful?
And the “Wrap-up Question”
Am I really involved in winning people to Christ?
If we all really commit to not only living a consistent Christian lifestyle, but also actively sharing our faith, then we’ll see changed lives. Not only our own, but the lives of our friends around us.
Who is God leading you to engage in a spiritual conversation with?
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
The {2 4 2} Scenario
So what does it mean to be a part of our youth group? What does the Bible teach about it? As we're moving forward, what's the next step?
Let's Grow!
That's what I want to see happening in our group. Growth is two things: inside and outside.
"Inside" we should all understand. We need to be reading the Bible and praying daily. We also need to be committed to being really involved in church.
"Outside" is a little more difficult. We have to be intentional in our efforts. We need to be thinking "how can I share what I have with my friends?"
Which brings us to 2 4 2.
If we're truly growing inside, the outside is a natural part of that. So what's the picture?
Read Acts 2:42-47 and you'll get a good picture of what we should look like. That's the profile the Bible gives us.
There are four things that should define the SIX33 Youth Group:
1. Teaching - this is pretty simple. When you're involved, you'll be learning what's in the Bible because teaching takes place on Sundays and Wednesdays, as well as other times.
* Bottom Line - Show up and be ready to learn.
2. Fellowship - Being a Disciple is more than just Sunday & Wednesday. It also includes Fourth Fridays, Second Saturdays, Beach trips, the (coming soon) game room, etc.
* Bottom Line - Let's hang out together. Take advantage of the times we're together and just enjoy each other's company.
3. Eating together - You might not be cooking a big meal every night, but you can always invite someone to join you.
* Bottom Line - Have meals together. When you're having a meal, invite someone along. Whether it's dinner at home, Niko Niko, Red Robin, or wherever. We all eat. Let's eat together more often.
4. Prayer - Let prayer be a continual part of your life. Don't just pray when you have your quiet time. And pray with others
* Bottom Line - Pray with each other often. If you're doing the three above this, you're already with other Christians so it's easy to just pray with them more.
When a group does all these things, then those outside the group will like what they see. The passage concludes with this: "They followed a daily discipline of worship... every meal a celebration, jubilant and joyful... People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were [being] saved" (The Message)
That's a great picture. That's what our youth group should look like.
* Bottom Line - read and re-read this passage regularly
and keep {2 4 2} in the front of your mind.
Ask yourself: How can I be {2 4 2} today?
Let's Grow!
That's what I want to see happening in our group. Growth is two things: inside and outside.
"Inside" we should all understand. We need to be reading the Bible and praying daily. We also need to be committed to being really involved in church.
"Outside" is a little more difficult. We have to be intentional in our efforts. We need to be thinking "how can I share what I have with my friends?"
Which brings us to 2 4 2.
If we're truly growing inside, the outside is a natural part of that. So what's the picture?
Read Acts 2:42-47 and you'll get a good picture of what we should look like. That's the profile the Bible gives us.
There are four things that should define the SIX33 Youth Group:
1. Teaching - this is pretty simple. When you're involved, you'll be learning what's in the Bible because teaching takes place on Sundays and Wednesdays, as well as other times.
* Bottom Line - Show up and be ready to learn.
2. Fellowship - Being a Disciple is more than just Sunday & Wednesday. It also includes Fourth Fridays, Second Saturdays, Beach trips, the (coming soon) game room, etc.
* Bottom Line - Let's hang out together. Take advantage of the times we're together and just enjoy each other's company.
3. Eating together - You might not be cooking a big meal every night, but you can always invite someone to join you.
* Bottom Line - Have meals together. When you're having a meal, invite someone along. Whether it's dinner at home, Niko Niko, Red Robin, or wherever. We all eat. Let's eat together more often.
4. Prayer - Let prayer be a continual part of your life. Don't just pray when you have your quiet time. And pray with others
* Bottom Line - Pray with each other often. If you're doing the three above this, you're already with other Christians so it's easy to just pray with them more.
When a group does all these things, then those outside the group will like what they see. The passage concludes with this: "They followed a daily discipline of worship... every meal a celebration, jubilant and joyful... People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were [being] saved" (The Message)
That's a great picture. That's what our youth group should look like.
* Bottom Line - read and re-read this passage regularly
and keep {2 4 2} in the front of your mind.
Ask yourself: How can I be {2 4 2} today?
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
So What Now?
Okay, I'm focused and truly passionately seeking God and consistently in the Word and involved in church. Now what?
The answer is simple. A little scary, but still pretty simple.
You've got to let it overflow. If you're truly focused God & it's not just been a "quick fill" (like what so many of us get at camp) then it will spill over into the lives of others around you.
So the question to ask yourself isn't just "what is God doing in my life." You must also ask the question "what is God doing through my life?"
The answer is simple. A little scary, but still pretty simple.
You've got to let it overflow. If you're truly focused God & it's not just been a "quick fill" (like what so many of us get at camp) then it will spill over into the lives of others around you.
So the question to ask yourself isn't just "what is God doing in my life." You must also ask the question "what is God doing through my life?"
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