Where did all the old guys go?

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Rob Armstrong

I was standing in the bookstore at a seminary today and was struck at the amount of books being “pushed” that are written by guys my age. I then asked myself the question… ” where did all the old guys go?”

Has my generation forsaken the wisdom of others to listen to themselves? Is there anyone to imitate in the generation above us?
Has my generation has embraced the new ways of communicating and utilizing technology resulting in greater influence?

Maybe the older guys had their day… Maybe it is because of them that there are young faces on the best racks in book stores… Hopefully we will continue to be influenced by each other, led by God, and imitate the faithful who have come before us.

Who do you look to in the generations before you as you imitate Christ?

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Witness: Sustaining the Mission of the Church through Teaching and Preaching, Acts 6:7

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Rob Armstrong

Text
“7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”

 

Explain 

“7 And the word of God continued to increase”

The word of God increases as it is taught/ preached and received

The Word of God is the truth of Jesus Christ… The Old Testament promise and the NT fulfillment…

The apostles were dedicated to teaching & preaching regardless of the circumstances.

Acts 5:21 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. 

Acts 5:25 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”

Acts 5:29 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 

Acts 5:42 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. 

Acts 6:2 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.

 

It’s like sowing seed in a field, the seed increases as it grows… (parable of the sower)

The word of God is primary to the growth of the church and the accomplishment of the mission.

The mission is to make disciples (Matt. 28:18-19)

 

“and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem”

  1. The mission of God is to make disciples…
  2. Making disciples means…
  3. Multiplication…
  4. God multiplies His kingdom through the teaching of His word… the message of Christ.

 

“and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”

  1. God’s word bears fruit
  2. The fruit that God produces is often unexpected
  3. Regardless of background, upbringing, race, or previous belief… the message of Christ is a call to obedience to the truth of Christ for all peoples
  4. The truth of Christ when preached changes the hearts of the hearers…

 

Observations from the Passage

  1. The Message of the Gospel is Central to the Mission… Not only does is the message what we are on mission to believe, live, and share… the preaching and teaching of the message sustains those on mission, the church
  2. The Mission is sustained through the word, and God supplies called men to teach and preach the word
  3. The Mission necessitates ministry, and that ministry is guided by and consistent with the Word.
  4. God supplies men to accomplish the ministry of the word in His church
  5. God changes lives, He calls men to obey Him by proclaiming the truth, the mission and message call out men to serve those in need
  6. The church has one mission…

 

 

Making it Personal

Do you believe the Message?

Are you on Mission?

Are you Multiplying?

 

New Union must be about proclaiming the message

New Union’s leadership must be dedicated to preaching & prayer.. & ministry… but they can’t do it alone…

New Union’s members must be dedicated to leading and serving in ministry… we are blessed here but there is still room for you

New Union is to multiply through making disciples of all nations, taking the gospel to all people… beginning here, then striving to have a global impact (Acts 1:8)

 

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Cross-Centered Life: Following Through, Ephesians 6:10-24

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Rob Armstrong

Recap

Ephesians 5:1-2 God’s love relationship with us is the pattern for all of our other relationships. Our lives are offered as living sacrifices to God, given once and for His will.

Ephesians 5:3-14 Following Christ changes the way that we live. God’s love shapes us and distinguishes the Christian’s life from the world.

Ephesians 5:15-21 Living Cross-Centered determines our purpose, our actions, and our relationships.

Ephesians 5:22-33 Cross-Centered Marriages tell the story of God’s love for us by showing the love of Christ to each other. To rightly understand our roles in marriage we must rightly understand the relationship between Jesus and the church

Ephesians 6:1-4 Cross Centered Parenting results in the righteousness of Christ in both the children and the parents as the build and grow the relationship with eternity in mind.

Ephesians 6:5-9 Cross Centered Relationships are built on and modeled after our relationship with God. God has demonstrated to us how we are to love those who are difficult, because as sinners we bring the difficulty to our relationship with Him. In our difficult relationships we need to be cross-centered in all ways, both cross centered in our goal for ourselves, and for the other person.

Text: Ephesians 6:10-24

 

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 

Literally means “to be strengthened in the Lord”

Our strength is not enough to accomplish the Christ Centered Life that we are called too. God strengthens us through His might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

The devil has schemes… or “wiles”.

These are subtle, dangerous, and divisive plans of the enemy. This is not war with missiles and grenades, but war that is waged in ploys that divide from within.

Put on the armor of God, not of your own strength.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Not only is the devil our enemy, but the condition of our world and culture is “evil”. We live in an day this is in opposition to God and His ways.

To stand firm in the moment of evil, in the culture that is opposed to God, we must do all that we can do to be protected and prepared.

 

So how then do we put on the armor of God? What does this mean?

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

The Gospel message is the foundation for our protection. We must believe the truth about Christ. We must know that our righteousness come from Christ and not our works. And we must ground ourselves in the position of the Gospel. (Like being in a stance of readiness…)

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 

Regardless of what we are facing, it is our faith that extinguishes the attacks of the evil one. As he lies and manipulates us we must trust God and not waiver in our faith. He conned Adam and Eve, through Christ we must trust God and not the lies of our enemy.

The helmet of salvation is like the helmet of victory! We have already won in Christ! The sword of the Spirit is the very words of God… and like Christ in the desert as he was tempted we too must speak the truth of God’s word to ourselves and the devil.

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. 

Not only do we speak to ourselves and the devil, but we pray and ask God for help. Believing the Gospel and trusting in Christ by faith produces prayer and perseverance. Perseverance is the continued trust in the face of opposition.

21 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. 

23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

The devil intends to corrupt our love for God and each other. He intends to scheme and destroy the relationships of believers. That is why our relationships with each other must be Cross Centered. We must be centered on Christ in our church, our marriages, our families, and even in our most difficult relationships.

We are to be fully trusting in Christ, and seeking to love God and love others in all circumstances… basing our lives on every word that comes from the Lord.

 

Making it Personal

Are you cross-centered?

Are you putting on the full armor of God?

To follow through in our pursuit of following Christ we must believe the truth, trust fully by faith in God, know and use the word of God, and be in prayer for our selves and each other.

Cross Centered Relationships are consistent with God and His relationship with us. Cross-Centered Relationships have the goal of God’s glory and our joy in salvation at their heart. Protect yourself with the Gospel (bad news and good news). Protect your family and your friends with the same truth.

 

 

 

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Reflection on Psalm 51

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Rob Armstrong

I am taking a few classes towards my Masters this Spring and one of them requires that I journal on specific ideas, scripture, and life experiences. I will be using my blog to write and publish them as the semester continues.

In reading through Psalm 51 today there a few thoughts that stuck with me regarding God, His character, His relationship with man, and how it relates to me and us.

David recognizes that God is merciful. At the point of failure and struggle, David has committed adultery and murder, David calls out to God for mercy (vs.1). Like David we can call out to God for mercy, because He is merciful. God’s mercy translates to forgiveness and restoration for those who call on His name. As David expounds on the effects of His sin (vs. 3) on himself and His relationship with God I am reminded of the reality of my sin and its effects on me and my relationship with God as well. God is holy, and my transgressions and sins have stained my soul and separated me from God. But, like David I too can be forgiven. God is the only one who can repair the relationship between me and Him. I need God to restore to me the joy of His salvation… Because salvation is not mine to take, but it is God’s to give (vs. 12). David recognizes that God saves… that God cleanses.. and that God supplies. God saves us through Christ. God cleanses us through Christ. God supplies for us through Christ. God restores David through His mercy and grace.

David’s response to the restoring work of God is to praise and honor God with his lips, heart, and life (vs. 13-15).  David’s response to dedicate himself to leading and teaching others of the mercy of God is consistent with God’s desire for His people throughout the scope of scripture. Like David I desire to teach other sinners of God’s merciful ways so that they too may experience God’s mercy and grace. All of us like David have much to be forgiven for. God desires for each of us to be restored to Him through believing in Jesus and trusting in His sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins.

God’s desire for us to be restored is present in David’s confident request and humble heart. May my life, heart, and desires be the result of humility stemming from the mercy and grace of God through the person and work of Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection.

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Cross Centered Relationships: Difficult Relationships, Ephesians 6:5-9

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Rob Armstrong

What do you do with those who are hard to get along with? What are some of the most difficult relationships you can think of?

One of the most difficult relationships to imagine in history is that of slave and master… In many ways we will let the direction God gives through Paul give us direction for our difficult relationships today.

“5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.” Ephesians 6:5–9 (ESV)

 

Understanding the Text

“5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling

an anxious eagerness to do your duty, and a fear of displeasing, as great as is

produced in the ordinary slave by “threatenings”

 with a sincere heart,

with a single mindedness, determined, purposed, true, no ulterior motives

 as you would Christ,

Christ is the ultimate authority… and we are to serve all others in the same manner

6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, 

to serve by the way of eye service is to serve when the boss is looking… It is to perform and act not from sincerity or truthfulness, but out of perceived benefit. You want to them to think that you have done well…

 but, as bondservants of Christ, 

regardless… Christ is your master and thus you obey Him in all things

 doing the will of God from the heart

obedience to Christ is the will of God

 7 rendering service with a good will 

cheerfully…willingly… similar to the idea of with dancing and singing in your heart

as to the Lord and not to man,

everything that is done is done to the Lord…

 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.

God is not partial… He gives to all through Christ… the only good that is done is done for Christ, through Christ

 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.”

God’s treatment of others is not based on performance… but is based on grace and faith in Christ Jesus. The treatment of others should be based on the same. We should love and respect others in the same that God has loved us… dying for us while we were sinners.

 

Translating this to difficult relationships

  1. God’s love for us is our pattern for all relationships
  2. We are the difficult person in our relationship with God
  3. We are to obey God… “Loving Him & Loving Others” Parable of the Good Samaritan
  4. We are to be sincere in our love for God… that sincerity translates into a sincerity of love for others
  5. We must express the love of God to others in the way that He has expressed it to us… unconditionally.

So what do we do about the people who hurt us?

  1. We guard our hearts
  2. There is a difference in guarding and attacking…
  3. Build space and boundaries that allow you to love God and love others.
  4. We recognize that God sacrificed His Son at the hands of those whose hearts were evil towards Him.
  5. We recognize that there are consequences

So what do we do about the people we have hurt?

  1. We seek forgiveness
  2. We respect their needs
  3. We recognize that God has called us to repentance and obedience
  4. We give them the space, time, and boundaries that they need so they can love God and love others.
  5. We recognize that there are consequences

 

Cross Centered Relationships are built on and modeled after our relationship with God. God has demonstrated to us how we are to love those who are difficult, because as sinners we bring the difficulty to our relationship with Him.

In our difficult relationships we need to be cross-centered in all ways, both cross centered in our goal for ourselves, and for the other person.

 

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Cross Centered Relationships: Parents & Children

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Rob Armstrong

 

Recap

Ephesians 5:1-2 God’s love relationship with us is the pattern for all of our other relationships. Our lives are offered as living sacrifices to God, given once and for His will.

Ephesians 5:3-14 Following Christ changes the way that we live. God’s love shapes us and distinguishes the Christian’s life from the world.

Ephesians 5:15-21 Living Cross-Centered determines our purpose, our actions, and our relationships.

Ephesians 5:22-33 Cross-Centered Marriages tell the story of God’s love for us by showing the love of Christ to each other. To rightly understand our roles in marriage we must rightly understand the relationship between Jesus and the church

 

Text: Ephesians  6:1-4

“6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

 

Explanation of the Text

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

1. Obey is different than submit… compared to the relationship between husband and wife.

2. Obedience is qualified… to “in the Lord”… this command is not just part of the natural world. It is a command of God. Parents are to be followed in the manner in which they are consistent with God… for the instruction of parents should lead children to God, not away from Him.

3. Obedience is right, true, consistent with the desire and command of God.

 

“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

  1. Obedience is the evidence of honor
  2. Obedience may be enforced
  3. Obedience brings a good life to children… It is a commandment that holds promise for this life…

 

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

See Colossians 3:20-25 “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

 

  1. Be reasonable, not severe.
  2. “Let their conduct towards their children be at once mild and considerate, so as to guide them in the fear of the Lord, and correct them also when they go astray. That age is so apt to become wanton, that it requires frequent admonition and restraint.” John Calvin
  3. Growing up in a Christian home is meant to be a positive, encouraging, and Godward upbringing.

 

 

Making it Personal

How do we bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord?

This question could take us weeks to adequately answer… but we will identify the goal of parenting… and then look at how discipline and instruction achieve that goal.

 

The goal of parenting…

“Have the Right Goal in View: As Christian parents, our goal in raising our children is not primarily to prepare them for going out into the world as fully functioning adults. Our goal, as Christian parents, is to prepare our children for eternity! This should shape all that we do in our homes.” Kevin DeYoung

 

Discipline

Hebrews 12:4-11“4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

 

  1. The Purpose of God’s Discipline is to turn our hearts back to Him… our heavenly Father. It is to correct our path, to shape our hearts and minds in the direction of righteousness and not sin.
  2. The Purpose of a Parent’s Discipline is the same… Our discipline is meant to turn our children’s hearts toward us and not away from us. Our discipline is to turn our children to the paths of righteousness and not sinfulness.

 

Instruction

What does it mean to instruct? detailed information about how something should be done, catechize, make wise, prepare…

“Make disciples…” Teaching them about Christ… Leading them to know Christ… Leading them to follow Christ… and Leading them to love Christ.

What do we instruct our children to do?

  1. We instruct our children to live in a way that is pleasing to God. We teach them the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
  2. We instruct our children to see the world through the lens of the Bible and not culture.
  3. We instruct our children outside of discipline. When we only instruct during times of discipline we lose the impact and influence. We must instruct our children before and after so as to help them avoid the rebellion and sin in their lives.
  4. We instruct our children in the ways of God, not to live in a way that makes life easier for us. Our goal in instruction is always their good, their faith, and their future… not our present.
  5. We instruct in an effort to avoid legalism and morality. If our children only obey to avoid punishment, and not to enjoy God and the life He gives in Christ, then we are setting them up for struggle.

“Christianity not Morality: Morals are good, but not in and of themselves. Let’s teach our children and pray for a morality that flows from a heart changed by God’s grace. For many of us, our default is to slip into morality parenting, rather than Christian parenting. The former is focused solely upon outward behavior, the latter is focused upon inward change which will manifest fruit  in moral outward behavior.” Kevin DeYoung

 

Our parenting comes with great significance… 

  1. We are carrying out the responsibility of making disciples of our own children.
  2. We are leading our children to follow in the ways of God, the paths of righteousness
  3. We are preparing our children not only for the future of this world, but for eternity
  4. We are parenting our children in hopes of inner life change that comes only through Jesus Christ.

 

Cross Centered Parenting results in the righteousness of Christ in both the children and the parents as the build and grow the relationship with eternity in mind. 

 

Recommended books for parenting…

  1. Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Ted Tripp
  2. Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas
  3. Instructing a Child’s Heart by Ted Tripp
  4. Raising a Modern Day Knight: A Father’s Role in Guiding HIs Son to Authentic Manhood by Robert Lewis
  5. Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt
  6. Parenting in the Pew: Guiding your children into the joy of worship by Robbie Castelman
  7. Everyday Talk: Talking freely and naturally about God with your children by John A.Younts
  8. The Parent Adventure by Rodney and Selma Wilson
  9. Parenting beyond our capacity by Reggie Joiner and Carey Niewwhof

 

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Cross Centered Relationships: Marriage Part Two- Husbands & Wives

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Rob Armstrong

Cross Centered Recap
Ephesians 5:1-2 God’s love relationship with us is the pattern for all of our other relationships. Our lives are offered as living sacrifices to God, given once and for His will.

Ephesians 5:3-14 Following Christ changes the way that we live. God’s love shapes us and distinguishes the Christian’s life from the world.

Ephesians 5:15-21 Living Cross-Centered determines our purpose, our actions, and our relationships.

Ephesians 5:22-33 Cross-Centered Marriages tell the story of God’s love for us by showing the love of Christ to each other. To rightly understand our roles in marriage we must rightly understand the relationship between Jesus and the church

What is the purpose of marriage and how do build and grow healthy marriages?
How do we build and grow healthy marriages? To understand marriage we must look for direction from the one who established marriage. God. As we think about being Cross-Centered in our relationships… we start with what a Cross-Centered marriage looks like…

Cross-Centered Marriages tell the story of God’s love for us by showing the love of Christ to each other. To rightly understand our roles in marriage we must rightly understand the relationship between Jesus and the church.

Text: Ephesians 5:22-33
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

The Role of Husband and Wife
“22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

The Husband leads like Jesus
The Husband leads and loves like Christ… Sacrificially… this is a putting yourself second for her benefit, not putting yourself first for your benefit
The Wife Follows Like the Church
The Wife Willfully Submits Herself to Her Husband… this is a result of His loving sacrifice.
This is not forced, but the word submit refers to the willful inclination of her heart to follow him.

Complimentarian View
In the beginning God created male and female… before sin the relationship between husband and wife was as described here in Ephesians 5. After the fall… the relationship has been distorted… there has been a relinquishment of roles in the pursuit of self.

God has designed the marriage relationship from the beginning to have roles. God has designed from the beginning for both male and female to have the same value and worth… God has designed the expression of love between man and wife to be done in a manner that is consistent with Himself… not the world.

Our value is the same… Our roles are different

The goal of the roles… to show the grace, love, and commitment that exists between God and His people.

The Relationship of Husband and Wife
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Jesus demonstrates His love for the church by His sacrifice
Jesus’ sacrifice is for the purity and righteousness of His church
Jesus’ sacrifice is so that there can be relationship with His church

The goal of our relationship… sanctification, righteousness, purity, Christ-Likeness

The Degree and Depth of the Roles and Relationship: Unconditionally Commit, Cherish, Nurture, Respect, & Love
28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

Nourish
Cherish
Commit
Unconditional Respect
Unconditional Love

The result of our roles and our relationship… grace, joy, satisfaction, fulfillment, unity

Making it Personal
Our marriages are to reflect the relationship between Christ and His church
This type of relationship is hard… it is counter cultural… It is based on our true fulfillment being found in Christ and not each other.
Be committed to working at this… Remember you are building something… enjoy what has is built, and keep working to build more
This week our homework in our marriages is to work at fulfilling your role, building your relationship, and exercising grace to yourself and each other.

Marriage is a holy calling, and God is with us in our efforts to build our marriages on His word.

So Husbands… love your wives
And Wives… Respect your husbands
Couples… honor Christ in your relationship with each other.

Jesus is committed to His church. His words and actions demonstrate His love. Marriages are to reflect the love and commitment that Jesus has made to us.

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Adoption: Galatians 3:15-4:7

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Rob Armstrong

Link to sermon preached at Bryan College Chapel on January 28, 2013. Click Here

It is important that we understand what we call the doctrine of adoption. Understanding adoption is  essential to understanding of the message and work of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:15-29; 4:1-7

 

Adoption is part of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham

“15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

  1. God made a covenant with Abraham
  2. The promised offspring was Jesus Christ
  3. The addition of the law 430 years after the covenant between God and Abraham does not void the covenant.
  4. Inheritance comes by promise… not by the law.

 

Adoption is plan A, not plan B

19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 

  1. What good then was the law? What purpose did/ does it serve?
    1. The law exposes sin (it was added because of transgressions)
    2. The law reveals the need for a savior.
  2. Angels were with God when He gave the law to Moses on Mt. Sinai
  3. The scripture (law) did not give life… instead the law condemned all men… leaving only one who could receive the promised inheritance… Jesus Christ.

 

Adoption opens the door for all to be saved. (It is not tied to anything other than faith in Jesus)

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. 

  1. Faith = new covenant faith through Christ
  2. We are not justified before God through the law… we are justified by our faith in Christ.
  3. Life under the law was slavery… Life in Christ is filled with the joy of all the freedoms, rights, and privileges that come with sonship.
  4. Baptism signifies the death of the old and the life of the new
  5. Putting on Christ = the new life that is lived by faith to fulfill the will of God/ purpose of God.

 

Adoption brings us home into the family of God

4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. “

  1. Israel and the Old Covenant were in the position of the child who is not yet ready for the inheritance.
  2. Just as the Israelites were enslaved by the law, Gentiles were enslaved to their sinful ways, practices, and religions.
  3. But… Neither the Israelites nor the Gentiles were left in their condition of slavery. Freedom came in the form of Adoption.
    1. In adoption all the rights, privileges, and benefits that come with being an heir are given.
    2. Christ has come to do what the law could not do, Christ has come to fulfill the promise of God to Abraham.
    3. God’s promise through Christ is fulfilled through all those who are adopted in the family of God by faith through the grace of God.
  4. Those who are adopted by faith through grace in Jesus Christ receive the promised Spirit.
    1. The Holy Spirit confirms our sonship and guarantees our inheritance.
    2. Our inheritance is eternal life… the result of Jesus’ work on the cross and the forgiveness of our sins.

 

Truths from this passage

  1. The hope of all men is found in the reality of being adopted into the promises of God
  2. God has made a way for you to be justified before Him through faith in Jesus Christ.
  3. God keeps His promises, so you can trust Him to save you, watch over you, guide you, and love you as His child.
  4. Our relationship with God changes from being under the guardianship of the law to being sons and daughters through adoption in Christ.
  5. You are justified before God because of the adoption you have in Christ.
  6. There is a difference in how we approach God, each other, and the world because of our adoption
    1. We are no longer slaves to the law or the world… so we should live like it
    2. We are free to live in Christ and follow Christ… so we should do it
  7. The life of the one who has an inheritance is lived in light of the inheritance… both in terms of the present and the future.

 

Making it Personal

The truth is that adoption matters to people who believe in God and to those who don’t.

  1. God’s desire for you to be saved is not tied to anything other than His love and His grace.
  2. To put the truth of this passage into practice is to place your faith and your trust in what Christ did for you.
  3. There are no distinctions in the new age after Christ other than believer or not. No ethnicity, social status, etc. This is not to say that there are not the realities of these in the world. It is to say that sonship is not tied to them, it is tied to faith in Christ. Because in Christ there are no divisions… we should actively work to eradicate any racial, social, economic, etc divisions within the body of Christ. In doing so we find ourselves working to see them removed from the world period.
  4. Adoption is central to our understanding of the Gospel
  5. In your desire to imitate your heavenly Father you will compelled by the Holy Spirit to participate in adoption on some level.
    1. First… you should share the story of your adoption through Christ with others.
    2. Second… you should pray about the part you will play in the adoption of children here in our world who don’t have parents.
      1. Pray for and Encourage Other
      2. Give and support those who are adopting
      3. Bring a child into your home as an heir to your name… Like God has done for you.
    3. Third… you should recognize that to be pro-life is to be pro-adoption.

 

Today know that you are loved… you are wanted… and there is a way for you to come home to God. Through Jesus Christ, you can be forgiven of your sins, saved, and adopted into the family of God to live for all eternity with Him. Experiencing all the rights and privileges of sonship through Christ.

 

God is calling His church to love the world and each other the way that He has loved us… Find your place in the family of God through Christ, then let God use you to help others find their way home… and while here, bring a child into your home and love them as your own… or help someone else do it.

 

Categories: Personal, Sermons, The Journey to the End | Leave a comment

Cross Centered Relationships: Marriage Part One- Jesus & the Church

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Rob Armstrong

Cross Centered Recap
Ephesians 5:1-2 God’s love relationship with us is the pattern for all of our other relationships. Our lives are offered as living sacrifices to God, given once and for His will.

Ephesians 5:3-14 Following Christ changes the way that we live. God’s love shapes us and distinguishes the Christian’s life from the world.

Ephesians 5:15-21 Living Cross-Centered determines our purpose, our actions, and our relationships.

Love… what is love?
Example of the movie “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”

This is the typical TV or movie version of love… Two people meet, they offend each other, treat each other badly, then in one twist of fate they stare madly into each others eyes fall in love, get married, and… Well the movies rarely show us the 10 year later picture.

2009 US Census data states that
33% of American adults had never married
67% of American adults were married
52% married once
11.6% married twice
3.1% married three times

The current divorce rate in America is about 41% for the first marriage, 60% for the second marriage, and 73% for the third marriage.

TN is in the top 12 states annually for divorce rates.

Southern Baptists report that 30% of their marriages end in divorce… the highest of all religious groups in the US.

How do we build and grow healthy marriages? To understand marriage we must look for direction from the one who established marriage. God. As we think about being Cross-Centered in our relationships… we start with what a Cross-Centered marriage looks like…

Cross-Centered Marriages tell the story of God’s love for us by showing the love of Christ to each other. To rightly understand our roles in marriage we must rightly understand the relationship between Jesus and the church.

Text: Ephesians 5:22-33

Jesus leads by loving
“22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Jesus leads the church
The church is His body
Jesus is the Savior of His church
The church willingly submits to the leadership of Christ

Jesus demonstrates His love by sacrifice
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Jesus demonstrates His love for the church by His sacrifice
Jesus’ sacrifice is for the purity and righteousness of His church
Jesus’ sacrifice is so that there can be relationship with His church

Jesus is committed to His church (United, Cherishes, Covenant)
28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

Jesus nourishes the church
Jesus cherishes the church
The church is committed solely to Jesus
Jesus is committed to His church

Making it Personal
Our marriages are to reflect the relationship between Christ and His church
God has given both man and woman roles in the marriage relationship
We cannot be yoked to more than one… that is why in vs 31 we see that in our relationship with God we must be completely committed to Christ. This is true in our marriage relationships as well.
This week our homework in our marriages is to love each other in the way that Jesus loves His church. Next week we will look more in depth at how the roles God has given men and women work in marriage.

Jesus is committed to His church and His words and actions demonstrate His love. Our marriages are to reflect the love and commitment that Jesus has made to us.

Categories: Sermons, The Journey to the End | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Cross Centered Relationships: Relationship to the world- Following Christ is living distinct from the world

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Rob Armstrong

Our Relationship with God is the pattern for all other relationships…
Remember that God loves us, God is our heavenly father, God desires that our lives are dependent upon Him, Our love for God is expressed in words and in actions to Him and to others.
Our lives are offered as sacrifices to God. Sacrifices are given once and are for the pleasure of the one they are offered to.

In Ephesians 5:3-14 we see the way that following Christ changes us, shapes us, and distinguishes us from the world.

Explanation of the passage
“3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.”
We cannot live as fragrant aromas or sacrifices with sin in our lives.
Our actions and our desires are to be in the pattern of Christ.

4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
Our words are to be in the pattern of Christ

5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
A lifestyle of sin is inconsistent with following Christ. Those who are truly His are marked with lives of repentance.

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
God is opposed to sin. God will judge sin and punish sin. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
There is great temptation to dismiss the smallest of sins.
The world will invite to participate in what it would call harmless rebellion, but rebellion is never harmless!

“7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.”
Following Christ is fellowshipping in Christ.
Walking in love is walking in the light.
Following and walking involve relationship. You can’t walk in two directions at once. To walk with Christ you must follow Him. You can’t walk with the world and with Christ.

“Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
The way that we live matters.
Live pursuing what is good, right, and true (Philippians)
As you face each situation, circumstance, and relationship… discern how God would have you to do, act, or respond.
The fruit of our faith is seen in our actions, thoughts, and words.

11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
Do not participate in the darkness and rebellion of the world.
Expose the darkness by doing what is good, right, and true.
Live shameless lives.

13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Shameful and sinful acts when exposed, create the opportunity for repentance and faith.
Sin is death, its actions are dead, there is no fruit from the life of sin other than death
Coming to Christ is coming alive! Come to Christ and His light will shine on you.
The light of Christ will expose the sin of your heart, mind, and body.
But, it is in the light that you will find forgiveness and light!

Truths from this passage…
God has saved us from death to give us life
We are called to pursue the life we have in Christ through our thoughts, actions, and words.
We cannot live the same as the world.
The way that we live is based on Christ and His love and life
The way that we live exposes the difference between death and life

Making it Personal
Pursue what is good, right, and true by pursuing Christ.
Pursuing Christ is done through the word, prayer, and in the community of Christ.
Repent and come to the light, letting your sins be exposed and forgive by God because of Christ.
In your relationship with God follow Him
In your relationship with the world live distinctly from the world by pursuing righteousness (good, right, and true) and not sin.

We only have two options in how we live.
Option #1
Live for sin and rebel against God

Option #2
Pursue things that are good, right, and true through following Christ by faith and in practice.

Categories: Sermons, The Journey to the End | Leave a comment

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