Church Launch: The Heart of the Church?
Devotions this week based on the Message: “Whose Church Is It?”
Rules. Rituals. Irrelevant. Hypocritical.
These words are used by those outside the church to describe the church. For those of us in the church, we may defend the position and say, “These aren’t our rules, they’re God’s rules.” Or we may say, “They aren’t just rituals their faith traditions.” Or “You have to work to make God’s truth apply to you today.” Or “You just caught me on a bad day.”
While these statements have truth in them and we can be defensive against attacks, there is another reality that nearly 80% of people would welcome a spiritual conversation, but yet are not interested in being part of organized religion.
While we could dig into the statistics to understand a bit better what is going on, there is enough evidence to suggest that perhaps we have gotten off the purpose of the church. Because it’s also evident that God didn’t set up the church to be known as the “rules, ritual, irrelevant, hypocritical” church of the 21st century…or any century for that matter.
Should we accept the hard truth, it is an opportunity to repent, refocus, and renew our understanding and commitment to be the church God intended his church to be. Sure, we are imperfect people so any earthly manifestation of the church will be flawed, but that doesn’t mean we don’t seek to set our compass in the direction of where the Lord would have us focus.
This week’s devotions will help us do that.
Because we wouldn’t be the first to need this help. In fact, if you would go to the “First Pharisee Church” of Jerusalem, we might be the ones looking in and saying, “All they’re interested in is rules, rituals, and regulations. What a bunch of irrelevant hypocrites they are.”
And, sadly, we’d be right…not because it’s our observation, but Jesus himself made statements to this effect against the Pharisees and the other members of the “organized religion” of the time, the teachers of the law and the Sadducees.
One of the Pharisees was curious to understand. Unsure to come out in the daylight, he came to Jesus at night. The interaction is recorded in John 3. Verse 16 is familiar, but read John 3:1-17 and see what Jesus teaches Nicodemus about the kingdom of God, i.e. the church. In the next devotions we’ll unpack three key components of God’s church that Jesus teaches Nicodemus and us.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Apply: It’s easy to point out the flaws of the church…but what about our own hearts? Reflect and repent today of how you have made church to be a place focused on rules, rituals and regulations instead of the saving work of Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, forgive us for making the church more about us than about you. This week refresh, renew and refocus on you and what you desire to be at the heart of your church’s mission and message. AMEN.
A Memorial Day Prayer
A Memorial Day prayer
(Adapted from a prayer posted: https://baptistmessage.com/a-memorial-day-prayer/)
Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be Thy Name.
We, your children, come with very grateful hearts for all You have done for us as individuals and as citizens of this great nation. We recognize it is because of Your Grace and the sacrifice of so many that we can call ourselves Americans and can be a part of the most blessed nation in the world.
On this Memorial Day enable us to remember.
To remember those who have given their all for the values we hold as Americans. To remember those who have returned with wounds so physically and emotionally deep, that they may never be the same as before.
May we sympathize with those who will never see the birth of their child, their child’s graduation, see their daughter as the beautiful bride, or stand with their handsome son as the groom. May we also sympathize with the many who will never hold a grandchild, cruise the oceans, or live to see old age.
Your Word says, “No greater sacrifice can be given than to give one’s life for his friends.”
That is what so many have done. They have given their lives for their country, for the freedom and values we hold so dear.
Father, as we remember on this memorial day, help us join with the grief stricken families that live every day with the sorrow their loss has brought. May we who live in freedom bow our heads and grieve for the many that have died in war and out of our grief we urgently pray for peace and the end of war.
Heavenly Father, Creator of this world, as we remember this day, let us also be thankful for the men and women who are willing to lay it all on the line and die so their families and friends can live in freedom.
Help us to remember with sincere gratitude those who’s final resting place may be in one of our beautiful national cemeteries or in a small family plot as well as those whose remains rest abroad or whose resting place has yet to be found.
God Bless those who have given their lives; God bless their families who grieve, and God bless America with a continued freedom to live and share our faith in you. May we hold close and dear the values for which our men and women died.
Lead all who serve in our armed forces to find their hope, peace, and eternal comfort in the life, death and resurrection, so that should their life be giving in sacrifice of our country, their soul might live with you forever.
On this Memorial Day we pray for peace in America, and around the world. We pray for the protection of our soldiers today who are in harm’s way. We pray the world will know You are the True and Living God, the Father who created each of us, the Son who gave his life for all of us, and the Spirit who brings life to our hearts to trust you.
In the Name of our Triune God. AMEN
Church Launch: The Basics…People Changed by the Gospel
Devotions this week based on the Message: “The Spirit of God Launches His Church!”
We like to see results.
In fact, we like to see lots of them really fast.
But sometimes we don’t control the results, just the activity that has potential to lead to results.
Gardening…we think we can control the results…but not really, we just plant, water, and fertilize the seeds.
Sometimes in the church we take responsibility for the results. We find success if many people come to church or engage online or whatever the measurable is. We find failure if people don’t attend or don’t engage online.
But God reminds us, the results are his doing not ours. Our role is to be the ones who share the Gospel with those who need the Gospel. Our role is to give the Holy Spirit as many opportunities with the power of the Gospel to change hearts. Changing hearts is the Spirit’s job, not ours.
Pentecost the Spirit changed the hearts of 3000 individuals to trust Jesus was the Messiah and Savior.
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:37-41)
At the end of the Pentecost day we see the convergence of the basic elements of the Church as God Launched it.
The Gospel message based on the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus was prominent and proclaimed to the crowd in the language of their heart. The Spirit communicated clearly the Gospel message.
The Spirit gave confidence to those he set apart to share the message of the Gospel. He gave them confidence to confront the skeptics, boldness to confront sin, and joy to point people to Jesus.
Finally, the Spirit of God convicted hearts with the law of God and healed them with the promise of forgiveness found in baptism and a new orientation of their heart to the Lord Jesus who was their Savior who lived, died and rose again for them.
It is just that simple. The Gospel…people who need the Gospel…and people to share the Gospel.
This is the Church the Spirit launched…this is the Church the Spirit has made you part of.
Apply: Ask the Lord to give you confidence to proclaim Jesus to people…then wait for the Spirit to change hearts. He will do it in his time and his way. Don’t give up!
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the Gospel, people who need it, and people to share it. Lead us back to the heart of your Church to take your gospel and share it with people who need it…including ourselves. AMEN.
Church Launch: The Basics…Bold Sharers of the Gospel
Devotions this week based on the Message: “The Spirit of God Launches His Church!”
The difference 50 days make.
It wasn’t a “Grow your Boldness in 40 days” book. It wasn’t a “How to Be Your Best after You’ve Been at your worst” podcast. It wasn’t a 40 day mentoring program by the best public speaker of the first century. It was a gift of God.
Boldness from the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Jesus had left 10 days earlier and told his followers to stay in Jerusalem and wait for this promise: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
Boldness turned into courage. Cowardice turned into conviction.
Peter who denied Jesus three times just 50 days earlier when the pressure was on by the opposition to Jesus boldly confessed he was a follower of Christ. The group that deserted Jesus in the Garden stood confidently in front of people from all over the Mediterranean world proclaiming the wonders of God. Those that yelled “Crucify him” Peter confronted with clarity with their sin of rejecting Jesus as the Messiah.
The Spirit turned the focus from fear of what is going to happen to me to a conviction of knowing that without faith in Jesus what was going to happen to them was eternal destruction.
This power of the Spirit did not end on Pentecost, but is still active and working in and among us today. The purpose of the power of the Spirit is to do what the Church was designed to do: Preach the Gospel and Make Disciples.
Will we have skeptics and opposition? Yep. It’s Ok – carry a concern for their soul to and speak the truth in love.
Will we have to confront sin? Absolutely, but we don’t do it with a judgmental “I’m better than you” spirit, but rather with a compassionate, “I’m concerned for you” and let the Spirit go to work with a conviction of sin.
But then we get the fun of sharing Jesus as Savior. This is the goal of the Gospel – that all would see the solution for sin is in the very one they sinned against.
Peter said it this way: “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).
Are you timid? Cowardly at times to engage in a spiritual conversation? I am too. But we are not alone in this work. The Spirit of God loves to give power to the weak and courage to the cowards.
Apply: Simply pray for the Holy Spirit to give boldness to your witness. Don’t be surprised when he gives you an opportunity to be bold!
Prayer: Spirit of God give boldness to the cowards, give confidence to the timid. As you came to the disciples with power, come on all who pray this with that same power to be your Church…proclaiming the Gospel and making disciples. AMEN.
Church Launch: The Basics…The Gospel Part 2
Devotions this week based on the Message: “The Spirit of God Launches His Church!”
If you are reading this, there is a Bible you can read.
For nearly 500 years, if you are an English speaking person you have been able to have a Bible in your heart language, your native tongue. William Tyndale is credited with completing an English translation of the New Testament in 1526 with a full version of the entire Bible completed by Mile Coverdale and published in 1535. Up until this era, the printed word of God was in Greek, Hebrew or Latin.
We take an English Bible for granted. We open our Bible app or pick up a printed version and think nothing of reading about the wonders of God in our own language.
At our May 2021 Pastors’ Study Club I gained a whole new appreciation for one of the miracles of Pentecost and the heart of God to make sure people hear the “wonders of God in our own language.” Dr. Chris Pluger and his wife Janine spoke of their work with Lutheran Bible Translators. This group of individuals has as a mission to bring the written word of God into the hands of 180 million people who do not have a Bible in their heart language.
He spoke of the 3.5 year project he completed in 2016 of bringing the New Testament to the Nsenga speaking people of Zambia, Africa. This group of 2 million people until 4 years ago did not have a Bible in their native language. Now they do. This video link is to the celebration they had when they received the New Testament in the Nsenga language for the first time.
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1CmFNogDAE
Translation of the song:
We are happy, we have joy
We are very happy, we Nsenga people
Because you have given the Nsenga Bible
We are very happy, we Nsenga people
(NOTE: Dr. Chris and his wife are headed to Ethiopia in August of 2021 to oversee work on 20 more translations of the Bible. To receive his newsletter or support his work financially, go to www.lbt.org/pluger.)
The Spirit of God is intent on bringing the message of the Gospel clearly to the ears of people. It is true that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, but as the Apostle Paul said,
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
… 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:14-17)
At Pentecost, the Spirit of God ensured that those that were there “heard the wonders of God in their own language” (Acts 2:11) A project that humanly speaking would have taken at least 3.5 years for each language represented at Pentecost was done in 3.5 seconds with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
God has gifted us the message of the Gospel in our hearts. He has gifted us a printed copy of the Bible in our language. The Church, which includes each of us, was established by the Spirit of God to be the instrument to take the Gospel message and communicate it clearly in the language of those that need to hear. So receive the gift …and then let’s share it confidently (more tomorrow!).
Apply: What is your first memory of hearing the Word of God…or reading the Word of God? Perhaps you don’t have one. Take time this week to read your favorite chapter of the Bible and then thank God’s Spirit for giving you the Bible in your heart language.
Prayer: Spirit of God, thank you for giving to me the Words of God in the language I understand. Forgive me for taking it for granted. Inspire me to bring the word of God to others that they may hear, believe and be saved. AMEN.