Read, Reflect, Respond - 1st April 2007

Read, Reflect, Respond This Week

2.Tim.3:14-17; Heb.4:12
1. What is the purpose or intention of the Word of God?
2. What does the Word of God say about itself?
3. How should we be approaching and reading the Bible?

Pastoral Note - 1st April 2007

What is an ‘evangelical’ Christian? One of the problems is that lot’s of people call themselves ‘evangelicals’. You can find people who call themselves ‘evangelical’ Roman Catholics or ‘evangelical’ Pentecostals or ‘evangelical’ Greek Orthodox.

In fact, WE are called an ‘evangelical’ church. Historically, an ‘evangelical’ was a swear word in the 16th century; a divisive word that was narrowly defined. It was a word that was used of a particular type of Christian.

At its most basic level an ‘evangelical’ is a gospel-centered Christian. In fact, the word ‘evangelical’ comes from the word ‘gospel’ or ‘good news’ in the New Testament (NT). What we need to be clear about is that not everyone who calls themselves an evangelical is a gospel-centered Christian. I say this because true ‘evangelicals’ are those whose beliefs and practices are shaped by the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Cor.15:3-4; Eph.2:20; Rom.1:1-5). And at the heart of the gospel is the atoning death of Jesus on the cross for our sins, his victorious resurrection from the dead, and the call to repentance, faith and a life of discipleship. The problem is sin and judgment: it is people’s greatest need. The solution is the death of Jesus on the cross: it deals with people’s sin and judgment. Therefore, personal salvation and change in society comes through bringing men and women to faith in Jesus and his work alone. I would venture to say that many popular ‘evangelical’ groups would not hold to this gospel, because when it comes down to it, they are not Word-centered Christians.

For an ‘evangelical’ is not only a gospel-centered Christian, they are also a Bible believing Christian. For ultimately a true understanding of the gospel must come from the pages of Scripture. The second thing we need to be clear about is that not everyone who calls themselves an evangelical is a Bible believing Christian. An ‘evangelical’ is committed to the authority of the Scriptures as the Word of God on all matters of life and belief (2 Tim.3:16-17; Heb.4:12).

Firstly, it means being committed to the inspiration of Scripture as the special revelation or the very Word of God. Whenever we open up to read or hear the Bible read, we must remember that God himself speaks. It is God-breathed (2 Tim.3:16a). It is the authoritative Word that stands above every culture, belief, value, opinion, government and life. Secondly, it means being committed to the infallibility of Scripture because it is the very Word of God. If the Scriptures originate from God himself, then it would also be true to say that it is without error in its teaching, its commands and its claims. Thirdly, it means being committed to the sufficiency of Scripture because as the very Word of God it is sufficient not just in saving us (2 Tim.3:15), but sufficient for all of life (2 Tim.3:16-17).

‘Evangelical’ Christians in the true sense of the word are Christians who’s beliefs and practices are shaped by the gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed in the written Word of God, inspired by God himself, infallible and sufficient for all of life. Are you an ‘evangelical’ Christian?

Euge

Pastoral Note - 25th March 2007

Evangelism is hard work. Evangelism is daunting work. Evangelism is embarrassing. It’s true isn’t it – 99% of us find evangelism hard for a range of reasons. The fear of rejection and ridicule. The fear of not knowing how to answer people’s questions. The fear of being marginalized at the office. Yet, we saw in last week’s sermon, that in a culture that despised and looked down on the Christian faith, Paul says in Romans.1:16, ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel’. Why? As v.16 goes on to tell us, because it is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe. Because ultimately, the gospel saves! It saves people from the wrath and judgment of God, and their sin (Rom.1:18ff). I once said to someone at church that if you saw a friend walking towards the edge of a cliff, unaware that they are about to walk off that cliff, would you be embarrassed and ashamed to warn them, to yell out to them, to do all you can to get their attention. Wouldn’t you do all you could to convince them to turn around?

The same holds true if you understand the gospel. Because a far greater destruction awaits those who do not know Christ. Are you ashamed and embarrassed to warn people, to get their attention, to convince them?

This coming Friday will be a great opportunity with our Outreach Dinner, to reach out both personally and as a cell group. It will be an opportunity both in terms of pre-evangelism and evangelism. For most of us evangelism is daunting enough by ourselves, so let me encourage you to do this with your cell group. If you knew that when your friends came, there would be some people from your cell group sitting with them and talking to them, it would take the pressure of you wouldn’t it. But more than anything else you don't just want your friends to hear the gospel, you want them to meet other Christians who’s lives have been changed by the gospel.

So let me encourage you to maybe speak to your cell group this week, to see how as a group you can be preparing for Friday. Maybe, you could organize a table or two as a cell group for you and your friends? Maybe, you could work out which two people would be best sitting with the friend or friends you bring. Maybe, you could organize to have pre-dinner drinks with your friends and some people from your cell group, as there is a coffee bar with lounges right next door to the function centre (which makes great pizza as well). I'll leave it to you - but take the opportunity.

Secondly, I think the Outreach Dinner this Friday will be an opportunity to help you be more confident and bold in your personal evangelism. If you can't invite a friend to dinner, I suspect you won't take the next step to share your testimony or faith with them. Let this week be a first step for you - to invite your friends, family and colleagues to a dinner. Even if they choose not to come, at the very least they will know that you are a Christian, which will then provide you with further opportunities as you have just opened the door to your faith.

One of the things that saddens me is that so often when we have outreach events over Christmas/Easter, I have people say to me - 'that was a great talk, I wish I'd brought a friend, didn't think it would be relevant to where they are in life'. The reality is that a chance lost, is a lost opportunity to bring unbelievers one step closer towards God’s kingdom. I believe every opportunity counts. For as Paul says, ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.’ (Rom.1:16)

This week let me encourage you to pray for this Friday night, the speaker, those in your cg, their friends and those you are inviting to the dinner. And more than anything else to not be ashamed of the gospel!

The Shame Of The Cross

This week in preparing my Sunday sermon on being ‘unashamed’ of the gospel, I spent some time researching the shame of the cross. Paul’s statement in Romans 1:16 where he says that he’s not ashamed of the gospel is a radical statement. It’s radical because the cross was a symbol of shame and humiliation in the world of the New Testament (NT). When Paul writes, I am not ashamed of the gospel … he’s in effect saying, “I’m not ashamed to look bad, I’m not afraid to look foolish, I’m not afraid to be considered a fool, I’m not afraid to be shamed and humiliated for the gospel”.

Why was the Christian gospel considered both an embarrassment and shameful? In 1 Cor.1:22-23 Paul reminds us that, Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. The gospel was considered a foolish message and a shameful message, because at the heart of the gospel was the symbol of a cross – a message concerning the crucified Christ.

These days – crosses are a common sight aren’t they. In our church we have a cross on the steeple of the church, on the stained glass windows, even on our weekly bulletins. In fact the wearing of a cross is a fashion symbol these days, worn by the likes of Madonna, Britney Spears, David Beckam and Liz Hurley. But in the world of the NT, the cross was a shame symbol. Only the scum of society were crucified. Death by crucifixion was reserved only for runaway slaves, criminals and murderers, rebels convicted of treason, and captured enemies of the state. What people fail to understand is that death by crucifixion wasn’t just meant to cause a person great pain. Crucifixion wasn’t just a way to cause someone a slow and painful death (where you eventually suffocated to death, as your organs shut down from lack of oxygen, as your lungs fill with fluid causing you to drown in your own bodily fluids). Crucifying someone was also a way of shaming them, of publicly humiliating them.

The goal of a Roman crucifixion was to not just kill the victim, but to shame them in a public way. You were stripped naked so that your body would be exposed (remember how the guards gambled for Jesus robes and divided it up among themselves in Mark 15 and Matthew 27). You were scourged or flogged with a whip with metal or bone at the tips ripping pieces of flesh from your body. And then 5 to 7 inch nails would be driven into your wrists as you’re tied to a cross. Your legs are then broken. And then you’re left out in the open air in all your nakedness for everyone to see … each hour, each day, as the life drains out of you … as you loose control of your bodily functions … and then left to the vultures to be consumed. In the world of the NT, a crucifixion was a public shaming of the person, leaving them exposed and powerless. It took away their rights, their control, their worth, their dignity … a public statement really to say to everyone around that this is what this person is worth.

The cross was a symbol of shame in the world of the NT. And a gospel whose message is Christ crucified wasn’t just absurd or embarrassing, it was shameful and appalling. What sort of people worship a crucified man? What sort of people speak of a crucified man saving them? They should be ashamed of the cross. Only fools worship a crucified man whom they call God’s King and Savior.

Graffiti has been around a long time. In 1857, archaeologist discovered graffiti scratched into the plaster walls of the barracks of some Roman soldiers built by the Emperor Nero. One of these pieces of graffiti called the Alexamenos Graffito drawn in the first century Jesus reads, ‘Alexamenos worships his god”. And alongside these words is a picture scratched into the wall. The picture shows a small man, Alexamenos, praying with one arm extended toward Jesus suffering on the cross. Jesus appears on a visible cross with arms outstretched, hands nailed. But in this crude picture, scratched on the barracks wall by a pagan soldier, Jesus has the body of a crucified man - but the head of an ass. And beneath this are the words, ‘Alexamenos worships his god’.

That was the common, prevalent attitude of the day to the gospel and those who called themselves Christians. A gospel whose message was Christ crucified was a stumbling block to the Jews, and foolishness to the Greek speaking world. In fact, the word used to describe the early Christians was asinarii, which can be translated to mean "belonging to an ass" or an ‘ass-worshipper’.

In the eyes of most people, not only was this crucified King and Savior an ass, but so were his followers. For what sort of people glory and boast in, proclaim and worship a crucified man? It was both appalling and shameful. How can the cross be good news? What’s so good about the crucifixion of a man on a Roman cross? It’s something you should be ashamed of!!!

The temptation for Paul and certainly for Christians in the NT was to be ashamed of the gospel, to be ashamed of the cross of Jesus. Yet, we read in Rom.1:16, that Paul is not ashamed of the gospel. He is unashamed to be shamed and humiliated for the gospel in his world. He is unashamed to be considered an ass for Jesus! And the reason comes in the second half of v.16. Paul is unashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

It is the ‘dynamite’ explosive power of God to save all who believe! (1 Cor.1:18) Paul is unashamed of the cross because in and through the death of Jesus on the cross God saves! For in this gospel a way to be right with God is revealed, a way to be right with God that is by faith from beginning to end (Rom.1:17). If you go on to read Romans 1:8-32 and Romans 3:9-26 you discover that in the death of Jesus on the cross God is saving us from his wrath and from the consequences of our rebellion (more on this in the weeks to come). You discover how at the cross Jesus pays the penalty for our sin: bearing on himself God’s wrath and dying for our sins. And the way to be right with God comes through faith or trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ who was crucified in my place as a sacrifice for my sin (Rom.3:22).

For ultimately, the death of Jesus on the cross was not the last word. For the last word at the cross is not death, but resurrection. For the last word at the cross is not shame, but vindication. For the last word at the cross is not humiliation, but exaltation. For the same Jesus who went to the cross, is the same Jesus God has resurrected and lifted up to the highest place to be worshipped, and given the name above every name (Phil.2:6-10). For the same Jesus who went to the cross, is the same Jesus God has declared to be his promised Son, His chosen King and Savior by his powerful resurrection from the dead (Rom.1:1-4).

And because of that, Paul is unashamed of the gospel!

At the cross
God demonstrates His love for us
While we were sinners Jesus came to die
So by His blood we would be justified

So be not ashamed of the cross
It brings salvation to all who believe
God is revealed, Guilt is removed
Forgiveness can now be received

So be not ashamed of the cross
Tell of its power to all who will hear
Great is our joy, Glory is ours
From death we can now be set free

At the cross
God demonstrates that He is just
Unpunished sins could not be overlooked
So Jesus took them on himself

At the cross
God demonstrates His endless grace
He chose to send His precious only Son
To punish Him for sins we’ve done


At The Cross.
Music: Phil Percival. Words: Bryson Smith.
(Consider Christ Album. Available at www.emu.mu)

The Harvest Is Plentiful, But The Workers Are Few

The words of Jesus rings so true as we consider English ministry in our Chinese Churches, "the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few" (Matt.9:37). The opportunity to reach a new generation of Australian Born Chinese within the Chinese church abounds, but the workers are indeed few. As I speak to and meet leaders both in NSW and inter-state the constant refrain I hear is, 'we need someone to come and serve in our church'. When I was at university in the early 1990’s, I could count the number of English pastors in our Chinese Churches in Sydney on one hand. Today I count them on just over two hands, even though our Chinese Churches in Sydney number over 70! This does not even take into account the fact that there are limited positions available for paid women's workers in our Chinese churches, even though half of our congregations are made up of women.

There are many reasons for the shortage of workers in English ministry in our Chinese churches. Apart from the lure of materialism and self-centered careerism, the other would be inter-generational conflict between OBC (Overseas Born Chinese) and ABC/ARC (Australian Born/Raised Chinese) leadership. Many who have undertaken theological training have chosen not to return to serve because of their experience of inter-generational conflict growing up in Chinese churches. Others in lay leadership have served for years and left the Chinese church altogether, disillusioned and bitter, again because of inter-generational conflict brought about by the cultural differences. While it is easy to dwell on the inter-generational differences between OBC and ABC/ARC leadership, what many fail to realize is that serving in English ministry within the Chinese is really a mission in itself. Those who serve in English ministry within the Chinese church need to see themselves as missionaries working inter-generationally in a foreign cultural context (OBC), reaching and growing a specific people group (ABC/ARC’s). We need to approach English ministry in the Chinese church missionally. Our failure as leaders in English ministry within the Chinese church is that though we are well equipped to do English ministry, we have not bothered to learn and neither have we seen the need to be all things to all people (especially towards OBC’s in leadership), to win them (1 Cor.9:22).

Another reason for the shortage of workers also stems from the lack of ongoing leadership training and development in our churches. It's a vicious circle, as many English ministries and congregations in our Chinese churches do not have pastors to lead them, and those holding the fort in the interim feel inadequately prepared. The solution is a long-term one as pastors are not produced overnight. We must raise up leaders from among our English congregations today if we are to have men and women who will serve our congregations tomorrow. And it starts with young emerging leaders: identifying them, discipling them, training them and giving them opportunities to serve and lead. It's been my privilege to have different leaders mentor me since year 7, who took the time to disciple me, who gave me opportunities to serve with them, to lead and who eventually challenged me to go into full-time paid Christian ministry. And not all of them were pastors!

The Chinese church and her leaders must be prepared to give her young men and women opportunities to serve, and to call them to full time Christian ministry, if we are to meet the needs of our many English congregations in the Chinese church nation wide. For too long the church has left the calling of men and women to pastoral ministry to the individual. The setting apart of men and women for the work of ministry is the responsibility of the local church: identifying, discipling, training and calling them to ministry (Titus 1:5; 2 Tim.2:2).

We are fortunate in Sydney to have training events such as the yearly Katoomba Youth Leadership Conference, Sydney Chinese Christian Churches Association (SCCCA) Pilot Day and more recently the launch of SCCCA’s monthly regional Ministry Training Centres (you can find out more about this at www.ace-network.org). These however does not substitute for the personal ongoing discipleship of young emerging leaders by their Sunday School teachers, Bible Study group leaders, Youth Fellowship leaders and elders or deacons. You can send your leaders to a training day, but you'll see a much greater impact when you personally draw alongside them, involve them in your ministry, pray with and for them, read the bible with them and share your life with them. For in doing so you're not only teaching them, but modeling it for them in the way you're living the Christian life. What made the most impact for me as a youth, was having a Youth Fellowship leader who spent time teaching me guitar, who was always encouraging me to move forward in my Christian life each time we met. At university the person who made the most impact for me was a pastor who would regularly take me fishing with his wife, who was always using the opportunity to encourage me in my relationship with God and with my family. I not only learnt from them, I saw it in the way they lived their lives.

As leaders whether OBC or ABC/ARC, old or young, can you make a difference in the life of a young emerging leader? You certainly can as a Sunday School teacher, Youth Fellowship leader, small group leader, church elder or deacon. Look around, identify them, encourage them, get alongside them, involve them in your life and ministry, share your vision for ministry with them, mentor them, teach them, model for them. It’ll be an investment that will not only benefit your church, but in the long-term the kingdom.

The needs of English ministry in our Chinese church are great, as the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. I do take heart however, as Jesus also said, "ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field" (Matt.9:38). Ultimately English ministry in our Chinese Churches is God's ministry. More than anything else as we consider the need for more leaders, workers and pastors in our English congregations, we must pray to him and work with him to do this. We must ask God and work with him to continue raising up, and sending out men and women who are prepared to serve him.

Euge

Read, Reflect, Respond - 4th March 2007

Read, Reflect, Respond This Week

Ephesians 4:12-13
1. What does it mean for me to be ‘prepared’ for works of service?
2. What is a work of service? Cf. John 13:34
3. What is the goal of being prepared for works of service?
4. What can I be doing to prepare myself for works of service?

Pastoral Note - 4th March 2007

Looking to improve your tennis serve or golf swing? Looking to ace your course? We do it all the time from sport to study. Looking to improve your spiritual life? Growth in the Christian life takes time and believe it or not ‘effort’. Godliness doesn’t come by thinking about being godly, it comes when you work on your godliness. Serving others doesn’t come by thinking about where you can serve, it comes when you actually involve yourself in serving others. What you need to realize is when you commit yourself to following Jesus, you are actually committing yourself to a life of discipleship. (Mark 8:34-38)

Discipleship is a life-long journey, or rather a life life-long relationship, not a one-off event. And part of discipleship means committing yourself to being equipped as a disciple of Jesus. This means that if you are a Christian, you have committed yourself to learning how to follow Jesus in life. I believe that there are three areas of discipleship every Christian needs to work on. It’s all about growing to be more like Christ (Col.1:28). Firstly, there is the discipleship of a Christlike mind i.e. having your mind or thinking shaped by the word of God (Rom.12:2). As they say – ‘garbage in, garbage out’. The same holds true for your mind – right thinking comes when your mind is filled with the right things. Learn to disciple your mind by growing in your knowledge of the word of God (2 Tim.3:14-17). Disciples of Jesus are students of the word of God.

Then there is the discipleship of a Christlike heart i.e. having your heart shaped by the godliness a Christlike character. Your heart is the hidden unseen part of your life that occasionally surfaces in your relationships, your attitudes and your decisions. Forgiveness, humility, love, patience, kindness, compassion, perseverance, self-control, generosity … are all ‘heart’ issues (2 Peter 1:5-9; Gal.5:22). Learn to disciple your heart by growing in your personal godliness, in Christlike character. Disciples of Jesus are students of personal godliness.

Thirdly, there is the discipleship of a Christlike hand i.e. having your hands shaped by a Christlike service. Following Jesus is not just about becoming more like Jesus, but also becoming more like Jesus in my relationship to others as well (John 13:34), It’s all about equipping yourself for the work of ministry to serve those around you (Eph.4:12-13). Learn to disciple your hands by growing to use your God given gifts and abilities to serve others, in Christlike service. Disciples of Jesus are students of ministry.

If you’re following Jesus, you’ll commit yourself to the discipleship of your mind, your heart and your hands. Every Christian is called to be prepared for the work of ministry. And that really is what Training For Ministry (TFM) is all about this year. Running over 6 Tuesday evenings in March and April, TFM is looking to help you grow in your knowledge, character and ministry. Would you be prepared to invest 12 hours this year to go the next step in your Christian life?

Check out the details, by right clicking and downloading the TFM image below!

Euge