Preacher's Magazine Volume 74 Number 01 Randal E

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Preacher's Magazine Church of the Nazarene

9-1-1998 Preacher's Magazine Volume 74 Number 01 Randal E. Denny (Editor) Olivet Nazarene University

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’S MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 1998

V o l u m e 74 • N u m b e r 1 12 A look at what the Bible has to say about the gift of tongues B . D . Webb 20 Is There Hope for the Napless Wedding Guest? A sermon on the parable in Mat . 22:1-14 C . S . Cowles 42 »e Ministerial rami Common myths that impact the behavior of ministerial families Donna J. Habenicht

Editor: Randal E. Denny Assistant Editor: Cindy Osso Highpoint Editor: David J. Felter

Consulting Editors: Bill M. Sullivan, Director o f the Division o f Church Growth, Church of the Nazarene • Wilbur W. Brannon, Di­ rector o f Pastoral Ministries, Church of the Nazarene • Norman G. Wilson, General Editor, The Wesleyan Church

Contributing Editors: General Superintendents, Church of the Nazarene: John A. Knight, William J. Prince, James H. Diehl, Paul G. Cunningham, Jerry D. Porter, Jim L. Bond • General Superintendents, The Wesleyan Church: Earle L. Wilson, Lee Haines, Thomas E. Armiger • Superintendents, Evangelical Friends Church: Stanley Perisho, Maurice Roberts, John P. Williams Jr., Howard E. Harmon • General Superintendent, Churches o f Christ in Christian Union: Dan Tipton • General Conference Secretary, Brethren in Christ Church: R. Donald Shafer

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version® The Revised Standard Version ( r s v ) of the Bible, copyright 1946,1952,1971 by the Division of C hristian ( n iv * ) . Copyright © 1973,1978,1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Education of the National Council ot the Churches of Christ in the USA. Publishing House. All rights reserved. King James Version (kjv). Quotations from the following versions are used by permission:

The New American Standard Bible ( n a s b ), © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977 by The Lockman Foundation. CONTENTS

EDITORIAL PASTORAL CARE

A n U n f a l t e r in g Fa it h ...... 2 H e l p in g P e o p l e H e a l f r o m t h e W o u n d s Randal E. Denny o f D iv o r c e ...... 3 6 Victor M. Parachin FEATURE PASTOR'S PROFESSIONAL GROWTH T h e L im it s o f P l a g ia r is m ...... 3

J. B. Chapman P r o b l e m s ? M a y b e N o t ! ...... 3 8 Ernest McNaught HOLINESS CLASSICS

I W a n t t o K n o w C h r i s t ...... 5 PASTOR'S PERSONAL GROWTH CariLeth W h e n Y o u r C o m p a n io n D ies ...... 4 0 HOLINESS HERITAGE Carl G. Conner

A s ia -Pa c if ic N a z a r e n e T h e o l o g i c a l S e m in a r y THE PASTOR'S FAMILY H e r it a g e D a y ...... 7 M y t h s a n d t h e M in is t e r ia l F a m i l y ...... 4 2 Floyd T. Cunningham Donna J. Habenicht PREACHING TODAY'S BOOKS FOR TODAY'S PREACHERS P r e p a r in g Y o u r A t t it u d e f o r S u n d a y ...... 10 Craig Rench T o d a y ’ s B o o k s f o r T o d a y ’ s P r e a c h e r s ...... 4 6

BIBLICAL STUDIES CHURCH GROWTH

T h e B ib l ic a l G if t o f T o n g u e s ...... 12 Pa s t o r a l T e n u r e a n d C h u r c h G r o w t h ...... 4 7 B. D. Webb Wayne M. Warner

WORSHIP PASTOR, BE ENCOURAGED N o w H e a r T h i s ...... 16 T h e R o m a n c e o f M in is t r y ...... 48 Jim L. Wilson C. Neil Strait T h e N e e d t o F e e l U n s t r u n g ...... 17 Doug Barnett STEWARDSHIP

CHURCH MUSIC S m a r t In v e s t i n g : B a l a n c i n g R isk a n d R e t u r n ...... 49 Submitted by Pensions and Benefits USA, Church of the Nazarene H y m n S t o r y o f t h e M o n t h , P a r t T w o ...... 18 Keith Schwanz A r e W e R o b b in g V is a t o P a y G o d ? ...... 5 0 John Conlon SERMON THEOLOGY Is T h e r e H o p e f o r t h e H a p l e s s W e d d in g G u e s t ? ...... 2 0

C. S. Cowles D o o m s d a y C l o c k : It ’ s S t i l l T i c k i n g ...... 5 2 Morris Chalfant PICTURE WINDOWS FOR PREACHING

P ic t u r e W in d o w s f o r P r e a c h i n g ...... 25 ARK ROCKER Compiled by Deri G. Keefer Living ... Way Back f r o m th e E d g e ...... 5 3

WESLEYANA WORSHIP AND PREACHING HELPS W it h in a H a i r ’ s B r e a d t h ? ...... 2 6 W o r s h ip a n d P r e a c h i n g H e l p s ...... 5 4 Tom Oord Jim Christy SOCIAL CONCERNS HIGHPOINT Is S o c ia l D r in k in g A c c e p t a b l e f o r t h e C h u r c h M e m b e r ?

Pa r t O n e ...... 31 H i g h p o i n t ...... 81 William K. Westafer Deri G. Keefer

Cover Photo by Cleo Photography

The Preacher’s Magazine is published quarterly by Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 2923 Troost Authors should address all articles and correspondence to Editor, The Preacher's Magazine, Ave., Kansas City, MO 64109. Address all correspondence concerning subscriptions to your de­ 10814 E. Broadway, Spokane, WA 99206. Self-addressed, stamped envelopes should accom­ nominational publishing house. Copyright 1998 by Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City. Canadian pany all manuscripts. GST No. R129017471.

The Preacher’s Magazine • September, October, November 1998 EDITORIAL

men that we tied up and threw into the fire? . . . Look! I see fourl men walking around in the fire unbound and unharmed, and thel fourth looks like a son of the gods’” (w. 24-25). God’s presence makes a d iffe r - ence! God goes with us in the furnace of our testings! That fourth One looks familiar: “‘Im­ manuel’— which means, ‘God with us’” (Matt. 1:23). More than solutions and answers, we i need Him! The Lord promises wej will “find grace to help us in our aniel 3 stretches my concept What happens to us when our time of need” (Heb. 4:16). God of God. Nebuchadnezzar prayers seem unanswered? Can doesn’t deliver us from the erected an image and or­ we trust God’s wisdom? So often flames, but He delivers us in the dered everyone to bow we barter with our prayers: “If flames. Pastors, Divine Presence down to honor it. Three He­ the Lord does this, then I’ll serve walks in our midst. Dbrew fellows possessed faith in a Him.” We get so used to telling Throughout your pastoral ca- | great God who “quenched the God what to do that we find it reer, learn to trust God’s power, fury of the flames” (Heb. 11:34). difficult to trust Him to use His God’s wisdom, and God’s pres- | They refused man-centered wor­ wisdom. ence. God’s deliverance is always ship. The Bible says, “We must I looked into the newly made complete: “So Shadrach, Me- obey God rather than men!” grave at a pink and white casket. shach and Abednego came out of (Acts 5:29). That baby only lived six weeks. the fire, and the . . . prefects, Pastors, keep an unfalter­ The cause of death was un­ governors and royal advisers ing faith in God’s power. The known. My eyes focused on the crowded around them. They saw trio declared their faith in God: young couple. Tragedy had that the fire had not harmed “If we are thrown into the blaz­ ripped their hearts. Hopes and their bodies, nor was a hair of ing furnace, the God we serve is dreams lay shattered. What could their heads singed; their robes able to save us from it, and he I, a student pastor, say? My only were not scorched, and there was will rescue us from your hand, O answer sounded trite: “Trust God no smell of fire on them” (Dan. king” (Dan. 3:17). They trusted in spite of it!” I had to trust God’s 3:26-27, emphasis added). God’s power to deliver. God is wisdom. “But if not— !” What a way to come through a able to deliver. Now, 39 years later, with the fiery test! If they could go Our pastoral journey is not al­ recent loss of our unborn twin through the fire and come out ways comfortable and conve­ grandsons, I still say, “Trust God without the smell of smoke, nient. Tragedy strikes without fa­ in spite of it.” I still believe in surely God can bring us through voritism. Yet, our God has power God’s wisdom. I’ve discovered we our fiery trials without the to deliver. aren’t free until we can say, ‘“But stench of resentment, without a ; Martin Luther, living under if not.. . ’ Even if You don’t de­ vengeful spirit, without blaming threat, drew from Ps. 46: “God is liver me, Lord, I will trust You!” someone, without criticizing or our refuge and strength, an ever­ Our faith does not rest in de­ whining or feeling bitter. present help in trouble” (v. 1). liverance, but in God! By trusting Only God can deliver from Pastors, keep an unfalter­ BY RANDAL E. God’s wisdom, I have learned life’s fiery furnaces without the ing faith in God’s wisdom. from personal experience that, lingering hint of our trials— and DENNY The men replied: “The God we out of our greatest hurts, God Editor bring glory to God! No one is serve is able to save us .. . But can bring our greatest ministry. promised a fire-free existence, Spokane, Washington even if he does not, we want you Pastors, keep an unfalter­ but God protects us even in the to know, O king, that we will not ing faith in God’s presence. midst of the fire. serve your gods or worship the In anger, the king ordered the Pastor, face your fire! Leave image of gold” (Dan. 3:17-18). furnace “heated seven times hot­ the results to God! Expect His ' They trusted God’s wisdom. ter than usual” (Dan. 3:20). presence in the midst of the fire! Our God can deliver if He Guards tied them and threw “Be strong and courageous. Do chooses, “but if not” we will re­ them into the furnace: “Then not be terrified; do not be dis­

main faithful. God works out His King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to couraged, for the L o r d your God purposes in ways He chooses, his feet in amazement and asked will be with you wherever you not in the way we would choose. his advisers, ‘Weren’t there three go” (Josh. 1:9). PM

T he P reacher’s M agazine • September, O ctober, N ovember 1998 2 FEATURE

to believe that wisdom was bom with them? They may not always r be conscious of copying, but I can find the most of what I hear them say in books and in magazines, or I can find them others who said in substance the same things they are saying and said them before the present speaker ever said them. D I have heard many a holiness preacher preach on “Christian Per­ fection,” following exactly the out­ line which Ralston gives in his “El­ ements of Divinity.” And you know that chapter was made up from tutor’s Note: J. B. Chap­ there that a preacher can claim as Ralston’s sermon outline on the man, general superintendent original, anyway? If his doctrines subject. It is possible that many o f the Church o f the Naza- are orthodox, it is because he has whom I have heard did not get rene, was the founding editor drawn them from the Bible and their outline right from Ralston, o f The Preachers Magazine. from the interpretations of the fa­ but they got it from someone else His first issue began in January of thers; and if he got them there, who got it from him. And my own 1926. Dr. Chapman served as editor they are not his own. If he is expert personal belief is that these for 22 years, until his death. He was in logic and rhetoric, he learned preachers did well to use this out­ j known as a beloved preacher and these arts from teachers and from line, for it covers the ground and is \ leader and a prolific writer. We are books. If he is adept in homiletical better by far than the majority of ! honored to bring this requested arti- arrangement, someone showed us could make for ourselves. : clefrom J. B. Chapman’s pen, first him how to do it. If he is a master There should be no dodging of published in August 1926. of language and diction, he owes the issue involved here. There I am not as old a preacher as I his accomplishments to others. should be no “soft pedaling” and hope to be sometime, but I have Plagiarism as a fault and a white lying. There should be no been paying pretty careful atten­ crime is possible only to one who false standards uplifted for the tion to preaching now for twenty- makes profession o f originality, for hindrance of young preachers and seven years, and time has not he alone attempts to take to him­ for the hurting of older men’s con­ served to give me any greater re­ self credit which should at least be sciences. The right and sensible spect for the man who makes loud shared with others. If a preacher thing, we believe, is for the profession of being “original” in the appropriates the material and preacher to make all the use he substance and arrangement of his arrangement of others and then can of everything that comes to his preaching material. Not that I claims exclusive right, he is both a hand for making him a more effec­ would question the preacher's ve­ thief and a liar. But if he makes tive preacher. When he hears racity who claims that he takes such use o f the work of others as someone say a good thing, he nothing consciously from others, he can in his effort to be an effec­ should try to remember it and say but that I feel sure he would have tive preacher and makes no supe­ it himself sometime. If he reads a had a much more effective ministry rior claims regarding the matter, good thing in a book, he should if he had done so. For in most in­ but rather confesses himself debt­ “ran it through his own mill” and stances the preacher who boasts of or to all whom he has ever met, make it his own. If he finds a ser­ his originality could sign his name and special debtor to those who mon outline which suits his mold, , to John B. Culpepper's confession. have contributed directly to his or if he finds in it a single point BY J. B. CHAPMAN Culpepper said that when he start­ store of things old and new, he is that will work into his own Founding editor, The ed out as a young man to be a both honest and truthful. processes, he should appropriate Preacher’s Magazine, preacher, he determined to be orig- Why do men write books and it. The business of disseminating K ansas C ity | inal or nothing, and he soon dis­ publish papers if one is not to be the truth of the gospel is not a covered that he was both. Revising permitted to use the gold that he commercial affair, and there is no , his theories and tactics, Culpepper digs from these mines? Why do place for patents and copyrights. If later said that he proposed to use men waste their time and mine in the preacher goes about trying to i at least as much judgment as an talking, if they do not want me to be “original,” passing up material ' old sow, and he had observed that remember what they say? And do and methods which would help . when someone throws com over men who write and speak expect him in his work, he is the slave of I the fence the old sow hastens to me to believe that they did not artificiality and the morbid victim ■ get as much of it as she can. learn what they are saying from of the shallow criticisms o f preten­ And come to think of it, what is someone else? Do they expect me tious theologues. PM

T he P r e ac h er ’s M agazine • S e p tem b er, O ct o b e r , N ovember 1998 Add the world’s best holiness reference works to your library with this compilation of the most significant literature of the Holiness Movement throughout church history.

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the meaning and purpose of this sacrament calls for us to search our hearts and examine our lives to be sure that our private com­ mitment matches our public pro­ fession. To help us in this time o f self- examination and preparation, we will draw from the writings of Francois Fenelon. This 17th-cen­ tury Christian devoted much of his life to the pursuit of holiness. His writings reflect the searching heart o f one who can help make our journey today. starter ideas for your develop­ Enriching Our W orship- ment and application. To Know Christ Deepening Our Holiness We must imitate Christ. This The resources available to us Text: Phil. 3:7-1 I is to live as He lived, to think pastors, teachers, and spiritual as He thought, to conform leaders in the Holiness tradition Introduction ourselves to His image, which are much richer and more di­ We live in a culture of mission is the seal of our sanctifica­ verse than we sometimes sup­ statements. Our schools, busi­ tion. . . . [Lord], I make Thee pose. We draw from a broad and nesses, and stores have them, of­ the entire sacrifice o f my ancient heritage. Our familiarity ten prominently displayed so that pride, o f the vanity which pos­ with that heritage can enrich our we will know what they are sesses me up to the present. own lives. Our use o f that her­ about. Popular writers like . . . “Turn my eyes that I see itage can resource and enrich Stephen Covey encourage per­ not vanity,” that I see only our practice of ministry. Holiness sonal mission statements to keep Thee, and that I see myself be­ Teaching— New Testament Times us focused. They remind us of fore Thee. It will be then that I to Wesley is volume 1 of the the importance of a clear sense of shall know what I am and Great Holiness Classics series. In purpose. When we know who we what Thou art.2 it we find insights into the un­ are and what we most want to The cry of the consecrated derstanding and practice of holi­ do, we can come closer to attain­ heart is to know Christ. It is not ness in pre-Wesley church histo­ ing those goals. We are better enough to work on His behalf. It ry. This rich historical heritage able to understand our life expe­ is not enough to accomplish great offers a quarry that can be rience and how to respond to it deeds for the Kingdom. So long mined to resource ministry. What in ways that serve our chosen as our focus is on what we can do follows is a sample exercise purposes. Without a clear under­ and the accomplishments and tro­ drawing from this heritage to standing o f purpose, we tend to phies we can offer to Christ, we prepare for the celebration of the drift and wander, moved by cir­ are settling for the scraps from Lord’s Supper. We w ill draw from cumstance and environment. the table. We have not discovered one of the sources in Holiness While our popular culture cele­ the feast. We risk entrapment in a Teaching, Francois Fenelon. His brates mission statements, it did holiness of works. The culmina­ work, Christian Perfection, is a not invent them. In fact, in this tion o f our spiritual life is what devotional and practical treat­ passage from Philippians Paul we are able to do, but not a dis­ ment of the holy life. John Wes­ writes a first-century personal covery of who He is. BY CARL LETH ley valued it enough to include it mission statement. He wants to Paul has declared that the dis­ Senior pastor in his Christian Library. We express clearly the priority of covery of the knowledge of R a le ig h , would not agree with everything purpose in his life. He wants to Christ is beyond the boundaries N orth C a ro lin a Fenelon writes, and we would invite the readers of his letter of my achievement, however ultimately find his theological (both the Philippians and us) to nobly intentioned. To know understanding inadequate from share his mission commitment. Christ requires that I go beyond our perspective. Nonetheless, we As we prepare to share the myself. I must leap beyond the may draw from the well o f his Lord’s Supper together, we want limits o f my abilities, my worthi­ spiritual journey and find re­ to review Paul’s personal mission ness, and my holiness to a place freshment.1 What follows is not statement— and ours. To share at where I come to rest in Christ expected to be used as it is, but the Lord’s table is to publicly de­ alone. I cannot clearly see Christ will hopefully stimulate your clare a personal mission state­ as long as my gaze is directed to­ thoughts and provide some ment commitment. Fidelity to ward myself.

T he P re ach er ’s M ag azine • Se p tem b er, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 5 The cry of the consecrated in our pleas to heaven for deliv­ bring our lives and the circum­ heart is “I want to know Christ.” erance from suffering. We are stances of our lives into Christ- aggrieved when relief from suf­ centered focus. Let us remember Suffering and Knowing fering comes too slow or seems and reaffirm the priority of our Once our focus is directed to­ not to come at all. We are indig­ lives to come to know Him. Let ward the discovery of Christ we nant when we are treated as us not bring our triumphs as an find that our path leads away slaves, or scorned or rejected. offering to the table, but rather from our spiritual success to the We are persuaded that the obvi­ our submitted willingness to shared experience of His suffer­ ous result of the exercise of di­ share in His sufferings. Let us ing. Paul explicitly links knowing vine power on our behalf will re­ bring our sufferings to Him— not Christ and sharing His suffering. sult in our escape from suffering. to plead that He would deliver Somehow knowledge of Christ is Yet Jesus willingly chose suf­ us from them, but rather that discovered through suffering fering. “Let us compare our life He would meet us in them. To with Him. I wish this were not to that of Christ. Let us remem­ share in the bread and cup of so. I would much prefer to know ber that He is the master, and this feast declares that I want to Christ through His revelations of that we are the slaves; that He is know Christ, willingly sharing power and demonstration of vic­ all-powerful, and that we are on­ the victory and the suffering of torious Lordship. And it is true ly weakness. He lowers himself, His cross. that knowing Christ includes all and we raise ourselves.”4 If we Let us not pretend to be able of these. Yet, to fully know Him would know Christ, our path to reach this state by our own leads me beyond these to find must surely wind its way through strength. Everything in us re­ Him in His suffering. the valley of His sufferings. This sists it. But let us console our- j Consider that is no detour. It is not to be regret­ selves in the presence of God. Jesus Christ is bom in a sta­ ted or avoided. We dare not be so . . . Let us find, then, all our ble. He has to flee to Egypt. He anxious to escape it that we fail strength in Him who became passes thirty years of His life in to discover its lessons. To know voluntarily weak to strengthen the shop of a craftsman. He suf­ Christ is to share in the fellow­ us. Let us enrich ourselves by fers hunger, thirst, weariness. ship of His sufferings. His poverty, and let us say with He is poor, scorned and abject. It is through finding Christ in confidence, “I can do all things He teaches the doctrine of the midst of our sufferings that in Him who strengthens me.” I heaven, and no one listens to they are redeemed. It is through want to follow, o Jesus, the Him. All the great and wise pur­ finding and following His way road which Thou has taken! I sue Him, take Him, and make through our sufferings that they want to imitate Thee; I can on­ Him suffer frightful torments. are transformed into a means of ly do so by Thy grace.6 pm They treat Him like a slave, grace to us. When we share fel­ make Him die between two lowship with Christ in suffering, 1. Paul M. Bassett, Holiness Teaching—New thieves, after having preferred a we come to know Him in a new Testament Times to Wesley (Kansas City: Bea­ thief to Him. That was the life and fuller way. “Let us com­ con Hill Press o f Kansas City, 1997), 327-31. that Jesus chose, and we, we mence to walk on the road 2. Francois Fenelon, Christian Perfection (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1947), 43; have horror of every sort of hu­ which Jesus Christ has marked Holiness Teaching, 331. miliation! The slightest con­ for us, since it is the only one 3. Christian Perfection, 43; Holiness Teach­ tempt is unbearable to us.3 which can lead us to Him.”5 ing, 331-32. We prefer to suppose that Je­ 4. Christian Perfection, 43; Holiness Teach­ ing, 332. sus came to free us from suffer­ Invitation 5. Christian Perfection, 44. ing. We are quick and persistent As we come to the table, let us 6. Ibid.

Pontius' Puddle DORlNOrTHE WEEK , X SOMETIMES YOO COOLD SAY (rOD WALTER IN N\V FAITH. SOTWHEMlGrO KN/OWS MOW TO OSE'THE | TO £HORCW,TWE: StNG-ING-, SCR\PTORE, hK>V\ET COORT ADVANTAGE I AND SERKOU HE1LJP TO RESTORE lAY CHRISTI&N corAwrmENT.

The Preacher’s Magazine • September, October, November 199 HOLINESS HERITAGE

push for a particular version o f it. Even theologies and practices of baptism, long divisive in Protes­ tant history, did not concern him. The church he founded intended to gather up all of what was best in the Holiness Movement. He did not found the Church of the Nazarene to be only a mission to the neglected poor, for the Salva­ tion Army was doing that, |oveikS,199S though urban missions were dear to his heart and integral to the Ire s e e s Mission and Oars’ message of holiness. Bresee did not intend for the re we keeping the mission another historian put it, a “search church only to represent certain o f the church or have we for order.” Bresee and other simul­ political convictions, though he departed from it? taneously organizing holiness had firm ones regarding the prohi­ churches throughout the country bition of liquor. He did not found were part of that search for order. the church to be only another Bresee’s Church of the They intuited that consolidation evangelical Methodist group. He Nazarene and his early fol­ would be the best way to sustain did sense the growing formalism lowers entered the foreign mis­ the vitality of the movement into and coldness o f Methodism, but sion field slowly They wanted the 20th century. Rather than con­ that alone was not central to his Afirst to “Christianize Christianity” tinuing to be an increasingly mar­ concern. He did not intend that in America by setting up centers ginalized group within Method­ the Church of the Nazarene be a of holy fire in its great cities. As ism, many Holiness people sect. That was one reason why he ■long ago as 100 years, Bresee per­ decided to maintain the “yeast” and others did not all enter the ceived the creeping decadence of and “leaven” of holiness within Wesleyan or Free Methodist de­ American society and sought Christianity by organizing sepa­ nominations, even though they moral reform for it through the rately. Even more so in the first clearly taught holiness. They had outpouring of the purifying Spirit decade of the new century, they become, for Bresee, too sectarian, upon the Church. He did not seek saw the extremes of fanaticism on too aligned with one particular to be divisive, but rather to con­ one side and ritualism on the oth­ section of the country and political serve, consolidate, and propagate er. This pushed them faster toward party; and they were strictly orga­ the message and experience of one another in various unions. It nized and controlled to embrace perfect love that he inherited became even clearer in this decade the dynamics o f the movement. from John Wesley through both that the Church of the Nazarene He intended for Nazarenes to be a Methodism and the American Ho­ represented a middle way as Pen- church, not a sect. liness Movement. Bresee could tecostalism emerged. What did being a Holiness have easily applied to the Naza- “Centers of holy fire” must be church mean for Bresee? A Holi­ renes what John Wesley wrote the base of the church. Holiness ness church was once filled with about why God raised the and nothing else was the reason to the glory of God. That describes Methodists: “Not to form any new be. From the National Holiness As­ what I have read of the Los Ange­ sect; but to reform the nation, sociation and from his own les church under Bresee, as well as particularly the Church; and to Methodist background, Bresee pos­ what he tells us, especially in his spread scriptural holiness over sessed strong aversion to any other Isaiah sermons, about the church. God manifested His holy presence, 1 the land” (Works, 8:299). BY FLOYD T. doctrinal or experiential emphasis. The decade of 1890s, when the At about the same time, A. B. and the people experienced the CUNNINGHAM Church of the Nazarene began, Simpson was building the Chris­ Spirit of God. The Spirit came in Academic Dean ; was one of great change in Ameri­ tian and Missionary Alliance up­ the music, prayers, and preaching can society. Christians placed on the four-pointed platform of until there could not help but be much faith in progress and reform, justification, plus divine healing deep emotional response— so but no longer in what one histori­ and the premillennial second much so that visitors came out of an called “boundlessness.” Some coming o f Christ. Bresee squarely curiosity to hear the loud and other Holiness groups, particularly rejected the latter two emphases. spontaneous “amens” and “hal­ , the Churches o f God, founded in He believed in divine healing but lelujahs,” to see men and women the 1880s, rejected denomination- feared emphasis upon it. He be­ become so blessed that they could I al structure altogether. But Bresee lieved in the Second Coming but not help but shout, stand, wave did not. He believed in superinten- was not dogmatic enough to their arms and handkerchiefs, and dency. The frontier days were over.

; There was during these times,T he as P r e ac h er’s M agazine • Se p tem b er, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 HOLINESS HERITAGE

laugh and cry for joy Some people Bresee? To him a Holiness church the experience only for the sake of today would describe it as Pente­ was a doctrine to be defended. testifying to a second crisis. It was costal, even though there was no Wesleyans have always criticized the fruit of the sanctified life that speaking in tongues. Calvinists for their doctrinal was o f the essence. In the best sense, it was a place rigidity—for their allegiance to A Holiness church was one em­ where the purifying and empow­ creeds. This was not what Bresee powered by the Spirit. No doubt to ering Spirit of Pentecost descend­ and others meant by holiness, Bresee a people filled with the ed upon God’s people again and just a doctrine others forgot that Holy Spirit would burst forth from again. More than emotion, it was ought to be preserved. Holiness the church just as the disciples had just like the first Pentecost. The was a life lived with utter love to­ at Pentecost, with the message of experience of God was life-trans- ward the lost and needy. Holiness salvation on their lips and the forming. Broken lives and homes was antagonism to formality and marks of His purifying grace in were fixed. Men and women and worldliness, and opposition to their lives. They would no longer young people repented and found the social sources of poverty and be timid, but bold; no longer stam­ Jesus Christ as Redeemer. Believ­ injustice. There was a pure and mering, but, like the early disci­ ers found cleansing from their common drive among early Holi­ ples, given words to say by the deepest depravities and freedom ness people to demonstrate righ­ Spirit. A Spirit-filled church was an from their self-willedness and teousness by self-abandonment. evangelistic church, spontaneously pride. They found Christ as Sanc- Once Bresee preached, “Men going out to the street comers and tifier. The saints went on to per­ and women of pride and place, slums, the “highways and byways.” fection, not because of Bresee, who scorn the drunkard, and who They reached out and witnessed to not because of anything but God’s gather your robes about you in all what God was doing. There was marvelous and wonderful descent the presence of a harlot, your no conflict between a Spirit-filled upon His people. pride, your worldliness, your ha­ church and a growing one. The A Holiness church to Bresee “Centers of tred to holiness, is as soul-de­ two were inseparable. was one in which believers were stroying as . . . the viler sins of A Holiness church was a puri­ sanctified wholly. Justification your sisters and brothers” (Isaiah, fied church. Bresee intentionally changed one’s life destiny, true; holy fire” 118). That speaks of a dynamic talked in moderate ways about and process was as much a part of love rather than reclusion and “standards.” He preferred that conversion as crisis; but he, along moral smugness, which would be, the Holy Spirit deal directly with with others in the Holiness Move­ must be the for Bresee, evidences of unholi­ converts about remaining sin. He ment lured, invited, even pressed ness rather than holiness. preferred not to list and legis­ believers toward a second crisis Inviting parishioners into the late. But in the 1908 union, he experience in their spiritual jour­ base of the experience o f entire sanctification, accepted the necessity o f spelling neys. Bresee described this experi­ Bresee preached: “You dedicate out some rules. ence in a plethora of biblical your wealth, much or little. It Later Nazarenes, particularly terms, images, and metaphors: church. seems as though it will be taken those living between the World entire sanctification, baptism with away. Well, it is not yours, and if Wars, added rules that would the Holy Spirit, Pentecost, perfect the Lord sees fit to give it to some separate the way they looked love, Christian perfection, cleans­ other servant, you should be able and acted from the rest of the so­ ing from Adamic sin, purity of to say, ‘Thy will be done.’ You give ciety. Yet, when the church was heart, the fullness o f the Spirit, up your family, your all. I resign its most legalistic, its growth rate Chrisdikeness, Canaan. It did not my will to be impelled by His will” was the fastest. If there is some matter so much what you called CMatthew; 75). He also told them, connection, it would confirm it, as long as you had it. Preachers “Only the heart that is melted what analysts o f church growth and people alike expected the with the most intense love, that is conclude as to why conservative Holy Spirit to instantaneously heated with divine fire in the fur­ churches grow: people want and sanctify wholly, just as the Holy nace o f the most holy affection, is need to commit themselves to a Spirit worked in conversion. It did in condition to be a channel o f the cause that demands sacrifice. not mean that ones so sanctified holiest and fullest love to men” Anything in life that comes did not need to continue to grow and women (ibid., 131). He did cheap is worthless. Forefathers in grace toward fuller Chrisdike­ not believe that any truly benefi­ and mothers in the Holiness ness; but the experience was sup­ cial service to humanity could be churches knew that discipleship posed to issue in a people and a sustained without perfected love, was costly. Historically, churches church that were uniquely God’s, and that the fruition of perfect that have demanded little of separated from the world while at love would be service to both the their members have declined. the same time enabled and em­ spiritual and physical needs of hu­ Whether Bresee would have powered to witness within it. mankind. Bresee had concern for appreciated the addition o f more What were the marks or the both the crisis and the content of rules in later decades is doubtful, characteristics of such a people to sanctification. He was not after but he certainly understood that D T he P re ac h er’s M ag azine • Se p tem b er, O ct o b e r , N ovember 1998 HOLINESS HERITAGE

following Christ demanded much. or thwarted by institutional struc­ Many congregations are inten­ He wanted holy people to be dif­ tures, God forges another path. tionally broadening— not theolog­ ferent in observable ways from Within a few years after Luther ically but socially and ethnically. others in their social environs. broke from the stifling structures of We see a revived interest in John What happened to missions? Catholicism, Lutheranism itself was Wesley as theological mentor as There is a tendency in any type growing cold, and Anabaptism well as model evangelist and or­ of organization to assume that it spread. Within Reformed or ganizer. We could still learn much can be improved by more efficient Calvinist churches, Pietism arose. from how Wesley managed over management. Increasingly there Puritanism and later Methodism several decades to keep Method­ has been a tendency in the church developed as revival movements ism a growing and influential toward “bureaucratization.” It is al­ within the Church of England. The “church within” the Church of En­ most inevitable given institutional Holiness Movement within Ameri­ gland. We are finding new ways structure as well as the trends in can Methodism and Protestantism of evangelizing modem suburban­ j society to assume that greater as a whole arose. ites, a people who are much far­ I planning, control, and conformity Has institutionalism thwarted ther away from Christian values, | to denominational standards will the mission of the church or fur­ norms, and language than many produce a more efficient and, thered it? Are Holiness people still in Bresee’s time. Although institu­ 'hence, growing church. The goal is able by establishing centers of tionalism looms over the church, to conserve and propagate holiness holy fire in the great cities of the God’s Spirit nevertheless breaks by greater consolidation— the world to Christianize Christianity through in new ways and words same goal that Bresee hoped the and bring holiness within God’s even amid structure. j Church of the Nazarene would ful- church? Is there still a way in God can sanctify and use hu­ I fill. The problem is that when which Holiness people can, by manity, individuals and structures, ■ movements institutionalize, they well-proclaimed doctrines and by whether churchly or social. An op­ lose the very characteristics that Christlike living, bear the message timism of grace is implanted in the made them dynamic and alive. Pio­ of sanctification to God’s people theology, an optimism of the abili­ neers with charisma were replaced and to the world? Is the sun set­ ty of God to re-form human beings i by responsible managers when mil­ ting on the Holiness Movement, into the likeness of Christ. We can lions of dollars were at stake. It is or can it be dynamic as a reform enjoy dynamic inward growth ; as though the Spirit is being “do­ movement within the church? within Christian perfection. We mesticated” or “tamed.” The majes- Can Holiness churches be revived, hope not only that God does and I tic glory of God coming sponta­ or must they stand aside while will continue to pour out His Spirit neously and serendipitously might God raises up others? Finally, are on us but also that we become 1 be crowded out of the way. How we content being small but holy conduits of the Spirit, agents of do we keep the glory down? Not sects within Christianity, but with­ the Spirit within the world and the j simply by “keeping the tempo up.” out much interest in its broader church. Is it too radical to say that 1 The second generation, as Timothy reaches, without anything to offer God will seek reform in and | Smith says, tried that. Not by more the world, without any influence through the structures? Will God efficient management. The post­ within the Christian world? keep the church returning to per­ war generation initiated that, As I travel around on deputation fect love as the great mark of holi­ j adopting corporate ways of admin- tours in local churches— one of the ness? To use perfect love as the dy­ | istering the denomination. All this privileges of being a missionary I namic of perpetual change and I may have been necessary even find many alive and growing outreach until Jesus comes? good, for it is important to the mis- groups with pastors and laypersons Let’s pray: “While on others You 5 sion of the church to have compe­ dedicated not to the institution of are calling, while on others You tent administrators. We needed our the church alone, but to its mis­ are pouring out Your Spirit, O contributions managed properly sion. Many churches have dynamic God, do not pass us by. O Lord, It seems sometimes as though worship services, whether tradi­ we want our church to be true to ; historical forces are inevitable. tional or contemporary in style. At our original mission. We want to When any religious movement in- times God’s glory descends. Holi­ preach holiness and to live holy 4 stitutionalizes, it rapidly loses its ness is preached. More important, lives. We want a church filled with dynamic character. During the perfect love is manifest. Exciting, compassion. We want to be em­ l fourth or fifth decades of its exis­ innovative evangelistic programs powered by Your Spirit, O Lord. tence, new reform movements reach into inner cities and other “Even so, Lord Jesus, come up­ A arise. It appears that God keeps communities. Our deeds may not on us. Re-form us. Keep us as raising up people among whom He be well known, but there is a re­ Your people. Do not take Your is able to work, ones among whom vived and dynamic compassion, Holy Spirit from us. Keep the joy He is able to pour out His Spirit, as and a deep desire among many to of salvation among us. Melt us. Mendell Taylor likes to say When­ return to our doctrinal and experi­ Mold us. Fill us. Use us, now and ever the Spirit’s blessing is blocked ential roots. forevermore. Amen.” pm

T he P r e ac h er’s M agazine • S e p tem b er, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 PREACHING

today! I get to hear God from Hij Word today! I get to praise my . God with joyful songs o f thanks-, giving and praise and gratitude from my heart (Col. 3:16). This is Sunday! Today I get to love God’s children for Him. Lord, help me to do that today and to do it well! This is Sunday! Today I get to be a blessing and an encourage-, ment t o _____ (your worship at­ tendance) of God’s hurting chil­ dren. Help me, Lord, to treat each person as though he or she is dying of a broken heart. For too many o f them, this will be hese faith declarations and Game Day! Today we will lead exacdy the case. statements I want to make o v e r______(your worship atten­ This is Sunday! Today I will on Sundays. dance) people in the worship of have the unbelievable privilege our Lord Jesus Christ. We will o f literally representing the Liv­ bring God great pleasure today! ing God to His people. God will - SUNDAY REVIEW. Pas­ T What a thrill to be in His pres­ use me to speak to them! He will tor, before you walk out ence and to experience a fresh actually use my voice and my to preach to your people on embrace o f His grace! personality and my choice of Sunday, read the following This is Sunday! This is the day words to speak to His children, out loud and see the differ­ I have waited for all week long, to call them to experience His ence it makes inside of the day I have anticipated to grace. you! come. This day I have the privi­ This is Sunday! Today God’s This is Sunday! This is the day lege of “washing [God’s people] Spirit will fall on our Church and Jesus rose from the dead. This is with water through the word,” He w ill fill us afresh and anew. Resurrection Day! This is Victory so Jesus might present them “to God has prepared me for this Day. This is Celebration Day! himself as a radiant church, day and I have come to This is Sunday! This is the day without stain or wrinkle or any that God’s kingdom w ill grow other blemish, but holy and (name o f your church) Church and expand like no other day of blameless” (Eph. 5:26-27). and to the Kingdom “for such a the week. Today hundreds of This is Sunday! Today I get to time as this” ! (Esther 4:14). thousands of people will leave greet God’s people and bless God’s Holy Spirit is going to the kingdom o f darkness and en­ them for Jesus, to love them and clothe himself with me, to anoint ter the kingdom o f light (Col. make them feel important, and me, to bless me, to fill me, and 1:13). Satan will watch his king­ to treat them like Jesus treats to use me in thrilling ways today. dom hemorrhage and be deci­ them. He treats them as being so I live for Sundays! mated in unprecedented num­ very important. This is Sunday! Today I will bers. This is the day that Satan This is Sunday! Today I get to watch God save people from an dreads the most. preach God’s Word to God’s peo­ eternal hell. People will make an This is Sunday! This is the day ple! I get to exhort and encour­ eternal choice to go to heaven that millions and millions will age and challenge Jesus’ Bride to forever because of what God give great worship to our Lord love Him more! I get to open does through our church today. Jesus Christ. Our King must live God’s Word and to teach His pre­ This is Sunday! Today I will get for Sundays! cious children about how much to greet and meet people that This is Sunday! Today the the Father loves them. They are God has hand-picked and drawn gospel will be preached and pro­ “precious and honored in [His] to our church who will be an in­ claimed by millions o f pastors sight” (Isa. 43:4). credible blessing to God’s king­ and evangelists and missionaries This is Sunday! I get to love dom and who will help us reach and lay preachers. People will my Heavenly Father exuberantly ______(your com­ get saved, marriages will be today! I get to listen to inspiring munity) for Jesus. touched, families will be re­ music today! I get to pray for This is Sunday! Today millions stored, bodies will be healed, BY CRAIG RENCH people today! I expect to see and millions will pray powerful hopes will be realized, and mil­ Senior pastor signs and miracles and wonders prayers that will bring devasta­ lions of prayers will finally be M ed fo r d , O regon and fabulous answers to prayer tion to Satan’s plans and destroy answered today! This is Sunday! This is our Big B T he P re ac h er’s M ag azine • Se p tem b er, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 PREACHING

iis demonic forces all over the the L o r d has made; let us rejoice nesses peeking from the grand­ yorld. Satan’s army will lose on and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24). stands o f heaven who have run >very front. They will lose fight­ This is Sunday! It will be the this race before me. Abel is ers and w e will gain all o f his greatest day o f harvest for lost there, Enoch is there, Noah is losses for our King and for His people that the world has ever there, Abraham is there, Jacob side. seen. It will surpass last Sunday’s is there, Joseph is there, Moses is This is Sunday! Today God will record-setting day, and it will be there, Joshua is there, Gideon jispatch angels to watch over us only eclipsed by next Sunday’s is there, Samuel, David, Elijah, and protect us and fight for us. tremendous day of harvest Elisha, Job, Ezekiel, Daniel, Today angels will sit in our sanc­ worldwide. Mary the mother o f Jesus; Jesus tuary and listen to me preach. This is Sunday! This is the day is there, Peter is there, Paul is That’s hard to believe, but it is that makes Satan shudder and there, Martin Luther is there, true! Today I will probably tremble. Why? Because thou­ John Wesley is there, Phineas shake hands with angels in dis­ sands and thousands of pastors Bresee is there, Charles Strick­ guise. Lord, help me remember will mount pulpits in all kinds of land is there, Ralph Earle is this today. Help me greet each places, all over the world. Well there,______person I meet today as if he or over 200,000 people will make a (personalize) is there. They are she were an angel, an angel that profession of faith in Christ to­ all there cheering me on. They I will see face-to-face in glory day! Thousands and thousands are watching today, surrounding someday. We may even talk one of people’s lives w ill be changed, me, rooting me on. They are say­ day about how I greeted him or homes will be mended, relation­ ing to me today, “Preach,______her today. ships w ill be restored, sins will (your name). “Preach the Word This is Sunday! Today I get to be forgiven, spiritual commit­ .. . correct, rebuke and encour­ encourage God’s faithful work­ ments will be made, churches age— with great patience and ers. Those saints serve Him faith­ will move forward, the influence careful instruction” (2 Tim. 4:2). fully week after week. What I say of demons and the influence of Therefore, I will “throw off to them could make all the dif­ darkness will be driven back, Sa­ everything that hinders and the ference between defeat and vic­ tan’s legions will be dealt a sin that so easily entangles, and tory in their lives today. I will crushing blow. Why? This is Sun­ . .. run with perseverance the make a positive impact on peo­ day! race marked out for [me]” (Heb. ple today. I will be a high-impact This is Sunday! This is the day 12:1). player and make a difference. I that 2,000 years ago Jesus rose This is Sunday! Today I am will do that today not because of from the dead. This is the day trusting You, Father, to set a who I am but through the grace that begins the first day of the guard over my heart and to cov­ and power o f God working in week. This is the day Christians er my mouth so I won’t say or do me. put God first by giving Him the or think anything that will grieve This is Sunday! Today we are first part of the week, the first You or quench Your Spirit. one week closer to the massive hours of the week, the first part This is Sunday! Today I have revival God is sending our way. of their income, and the first al­ the opportunity to respond with Today could be the flash point legiance of their lives. Because grace and forgiveness and to act day. God could choose to use this is Sunday! Christlike toward people who ______(your This is Sunday! And we are may criticize me or say hurtful church), and we w ill give God one day closer to Judgment Day things. I have the opportunity to great glory today. and one day closer to the day grow in grace and Christlike love This is Sunday! Today we will when Jesus will come back for today to all the people I meet. bring the whole tithe into the us. In fact, this could be the day! This is Sunday! It is going to be storehouse and God w ill pour This is Sunday! Don’t let me an unforgettable day! I can’t wait out His blessings on us in an al­ forget that today, in addition to to see what God is going to do most unbelievable fashion. God the many people who will hear through me, in me, for me, and to is going to meet our financial me preach and the angels who me. God is going to melt me and needs today. Thank You, Lord. are in the audience, help me not change me today— and I need it! You are Jehovah-Jireh, our forget that there are a great I am ready for Him to do whatev­ Provider. cloud o f witnesses who are root­ er He wants to do in me and in This is Sunday! “This is the day ing me on, a great cloud of wit­ my heart today! AMEN! PM

T he P r e ac h er’s M ag azine • S e p tem b er, O c t o b e r, N ovember 1998 BIBLICAL STUDIES

that God had given him as a “gift” so that he might be more effective in spreading the gospel. These were not lan­ guages without meaning. As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?’ “Do you speak Greek?” he replied. “Aren’t you the Egyp­ tian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?” e are to test the spirits are all sorts of languages Paul answered, “I am a Jew, and know if they are of in the world, yet none of from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizer God or from some other them is without meaning. of no ordinary city. Please let source. If you have been If then I do not grasp the me speak to the people.” given the gift o f lan­ meaning of what someone is Having received the com­ guages, then use your gift to saying, I am a foreigner to the mander’s permission, Paul bring glory and honor to our speaker, and he is a foreigner stood on the steps and mo­ Savior and to build the kingdom If the to me. So it is with you. Since tioned to the crowd. When o f God. Please, do not look down you are eager to have spiritu­ they were all silent, he said to on a brother or sister whom God al gifts, try to excel in gifts them in Aramaic: “Brothers has gifted in another area. After trumpet that build up the church and fathers, listen now to my all, “tongues” is the least o f the (1 Cor. 14:6-12, emphasis defense” (Acts 21:37— 22:1). gifts. Paul said: “I thank God that added). In this passage o f Scripture, it is I speak in tongues more than all indicated that Paul spoke Greek. of you. But in the church I would The Conclusion It is also stated that he addressee rather speak five intelligible Therefore, it must be conclud­ the crowd in Aramaic. O f course words to instruct others than ten sound a ed, at least according to the Paul was a Hebrew o f Hebrews, thousand words in a tongue” (1 teachings o f Paul, that there are so he spoke his native tongue. It Cor. 14:18-19). Having said this, no languages (tongues) without is believed that Paul spoke as let’s look at what the Bible has to meaning. To be without meaning many as seven different lan­ say about the gift o f tongues. excludes it from being classified guages. as a language (tongue). How can The Case who will we come to any other conclusion What Really Happened Paul said, than the one presented by Paul On the Day of Pentecost (Acts Now, brothers, if I come to that all languages or tongues 2), at the house o f Cornelius you and speak in tongues, have meaning? (chap. 10), and at Ephesus what good will I be to you, However, let’s not get carried (chap. 19), the gift of language unless I bring you some reve­ away and throw the baby out was given to facilitate the lation or knowledge or with the bathwater. We certainly prophecy or word o f instruc­ would not want to say that there tion? Even in the case o f life­ is no gift o f speaking in less things that make sounds, “tongues/languages.” That, of such as the flute or harp, how course, would not be biblical. BY B. D. WEBB w ill anyone know what tune Pastor is being played unless there is Paul's Radical Claim M u r p h y s b o r o , I llinois a distinction in the notes? Paul said that he spoke in Again, if the trumpet does not tongues more than any of those sound a clear call, who will to whom he was writing. “I get ready for battle? So it is thank God that I speak in with you. Unless you speak tongues more than all o f you” (1 intelligible words with your Cor. 14:18). It is well known tongue, how will anyone that Paul was a highly educated know what you are saying? man. The tongues he used were You will just be speaking into either languages that he had the air. Undoubtedly there been educated in or languages

T he P r e ac h er’s M agazine • S eptem ber, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 BIBLICAL STUDIES

ipreading of the gospel. These the message with the written God to give us a gift that we can­ ,vere gifts of identifiable, under- Word of God. Any verbal mes­ not understand or use, unless He : jtandable language used to sage from God can be validated gives us another gift to explain jring forth saving faith. These by the written Word o f God. the first gift? Especially when we ,vere not languages without God will never contradict him­ know that God has the power o f meaning. self. communicating in a language (tongue) that we understand. The Problem Revealed The Exception Rather than The problem in the Corinthian the Rule God's Language Church seemed to be centered This is not an attempt to limit In every case in the Word of around carnal believers who the power o f God, nor the gifts God, where God speaks directly ere anxious to display their He bestows. Some believe that with man, you will find that He “spirituality.” They were, in fact, their gift is a higher gift, that spoke in the language that was ngaging in the dangerous, car- they, in fact, speak in a heavenly understood by the person he was al game o f one-upmanship; that language, a special gift from speaking to. (Abraham receiving is, they were trying to better one God. Paul said, “If I speak in the covenant, Moses at the burn­ another in the area of spiritual the tongues of men and of an­ ing bush, Moses receiving the gifts. This tends to happen in the gels, but have not love, I am Commandments, Balaam’s don­ church when there is the absence only a resounding gong or a key, the baptism of Jesus, the of love. To further complicate in clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. transfiguration of Jesus, Saul on this matter, some had brought 13:1, emphasis added). Paul did the road to Damascus [Acts into the church questionable not say that he spoke a heavenly 26:14 identifies the language practices from their pagan reli­ language. He said, “if” I do. He God used], John receiving the gions. “You know that when you is not advocating this gift. He is revelation, etc.) were pagans, somehow or other denouncing it. If, however, you you were influenced and led insist that you have the gift o f Check It Out astray to mute idols” (1 Cor. “heavenly language,” then the If you believe that God has 12:2). can have burden o f providing an interpre­ given you the gift o f languages, tation rests with you. To be bibli­ may I suggest that you make a Paul's Solution cal, all public tongues-speaking recording o f your gift and take it In an attempt to free the Body n# interpre must be interpreted. With this to a linguist? There the language of Christ from this erroneous gift, you must also provide a could be identified. If your gift is teaching, “speaking in lan­ heavenly being to translate what found to be a valid language, guages without meaning,” Paul tation you are saying. Can we really ex­ then you w ill know with whom, insisted that any manifestation pect mere humans to interpret a where, and possibly how to use of an unlearned tongue be also heavenly language? It definitely your gift. The message could al­ accompanied by an interpreta­ and is, takes a tremendous amount of so be translated by an unbiased tion so that all might be edified. faith to believe that sons or party and validated by the Word “When you come together, daughters of Adam could inter­ of God. If what you are practic­ everyone has a hymn, or a word , (I) pret a heavenly language, a lan­ ing is found not to be a valid lan­ of instruction, a revelation, a guage that they have never guage, or the message is not con­ tongue or an interpretation. All heard, nor do they, or could they sistent with the Bible, then a of these must be done for understand. child of God would certainly the strengthening of the Even if God did give someone want to pray for deliverance church. If anyone speaks in a a gift of “heavenly language,” it from a practice that is not har­ tongue, two— or at the most must be spoken from a heart of monious with the Word of God. three— should speak, one at a love to be valid. Otherwise it To speak a language without any time, and someone must in­ would be no more than an irri­ knowledge of what is being said terpret. If there is no inter­ tating noise like “a resounding certainly poses a grave danger to preter, the speaker should keep gong or a clanging cymbal.” A the one speaking. quiet in the church and speak to heart filled with God’s perfect Some Warnings himself and God” (1 Cor. 14:26- love w ill produce a heavenly lan­ 28, emphasis added). A lan­ guage no matter what the di­ “This is the message we have guage that is unknown can have alect. A heart void of God’s love heard from him and declare to no interpretation and is, there­ cannot produce a language of you: God is light; in him there is fore, a false gift and not to be love regardless of how other­ no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). practiced. Interpretation of worldly it might be. “Dear friends, do not believe what is being said validates the every spirit, but test the spirits to speaker and the language, en­ A Logical, Orderly, God see whether they are from God, abling all present to compare Is it logical for us to expect because many false prophets

T he P r e ac h er ’s M agazine • S e p tem b er, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 3 BIBLICAL STUDIES

have gone out into the world” (1 speaking simply because it gives Why Bother? John 4:1). you a superior feeling of spiritu­ This brings us to the point of To practice speaking a lan­ ality, then the gift has been mad? asking, “If this is a valid gift, guage that is not understood is a of no value and is a false gift to then what is it for?” I want to as­ very serious matter, even a you. “Now to each one the mani­ sure you that this is a valid bibli­ “prayer language” where one A heart festation of the Spirit is given does not know what he is pray­ cal gift, but it might be well to for the common good” (1 remember that “tongues” are not ing for. Why do we need a prayer Cor. 12:7, emphasis added). God for the benefit o f believers, but language? God knows what we void of does not give gifts simply to for unbelievers. need before we ask. If He knows make one feel good. We are “Tongues, then, are a sign, not our hearts, why do we need saved by faith, not by works, or some “language” that we do not Hod’s love for believers but for unbelievers; gifts, or feelings. understand? This seems to me to prophecy, however, is for believ­ be a very dangerous practice, ers, not for unbelievers” (1 Cor. Inauguration Day 14:22). We are given the gift of particularly if the practitioner Before writing this o ff as tongues (languages) so that we has not been sanctified wholly heresy, I want to state that I be­ might proclaim the gospel to by the blood o f Jesus Christ our lieve in the biblical gift of lan­ produce a those of another language, to a Lord. (Speaking from a pure guages (tongues). In Acts, we person that might not otherwise heart, controlled by the love of have the account o f the 120 dis­ have an opportunity to hear the God.) ciples in the Upper Room. When Good News. Prophecy, or preach­ they received the fullness o f the Counterfoil Gifts ing, is for believers. It is the Spirit, or sanctification, some of mighty Word of God proclaimed If this gift can be counterfeited, love. them (but not all o f them) re­ in a language that the assembled and I have been assured by those ceived the gift o f languages. The church understands. What need who practice speaking in tongues Scriptures indicate that all who is there in the Body o f Christ for that it can be, how can we be spoke in “languages” were a language that is not under­ sure that what we are hearing or Galileans. It does not say that all stood? “So if the whole church speaking is from God? Unless, of 120 spoke in “languages” that comes together and everyone course, it is interpreted and they had not learned. However, speaks in tongues, and some agrees with the written Word of it is clear that some o f them did who do not understand or some God? As a matter o f fact, Paul is­ Utterly amazed, they asked: sues a warning that deals with unbelievers come in, will they “Are not all these men this problem: “Now about spiritu­ not say that you are out o f your who are speaking IfGod mind?” (1 Cor. 14:23). al gifts, brothers, I do not want Galileans?” Then how is it you to be ignorant. You know that each of us hears them in Paul's Conclusion that when you were pagans, knows our his own native language? somehow or other you were in­ If God has given you a gift of a Parthians, Medes and fluenced and led astray to mute language and you practice it Elamites; residents of idols. Therefore I tell you that no heart, why when there are those present Mesopotamia, Judea and Cap one who is speaking by the Spirit who do not understand, then padocia, Pontus and Asia, of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed, ’ and they will think you are out o f Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt no one can say, Jesus is Lord,’ ex­ do we need your mind to waste time on and the parts o f Libya near cept by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. something that has no relevance. Cyrene; visitors from Rome 12:1-3, emphasis added). If we come together and w e all (both Jews and converts to Ju­ some speak one language, does it make daism); Cretans and Arabs— Praising God or Promoting sense to think that our Heavenly we hear them declaring the Darkness? Father who speaks our language wonders of God in our own Therefore, it is imperative that will send us a message in a tongues!” Amazed and per­ we know what we are saying, tongue that no one understands, plexed, they asked one anoth­ even if we are using a language that we do and then expect that tongue to er, “What does this mean?” that we do not understand. I cer­ be interpreted by a person who (Acts 2:7-12, emphasis added). tainly don’t think for one mo­ does not speak the language, and ment that a child o f God would not under then ask us to believe that all of The Question want to say, ‘Jesus be cursed,” this is done so that we might be The question that was asked and not be aware of what he or enabled to understand the word on the Day o f Pentecost by those she has said. stand? He wants us to have? Does God who heard the message in their Paul said, “For if I pray in a work like that? own language is still a pertinent tongue, my spirit prays, but my question today. “What does mind is unfruitful” (1 Cor. A Gift Made Void this mean?” To us it means 14:14). If you are practicing tongues- that the inauguration o f the

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Church Age and the coming of guage he did not understand, the Holy Spirit into the world with his “mind unfruitful.” He was ushered in with signs and preached the message once, fully wonders just as the giving o f the aware of what he was saying, Law on Mount Sinai was ushered and 16 different nationalities all in with signs and wonders. The heard in their own languages. power o f God, seen in both in­ stances in the wind, signified the The Clear Word of God great power of God for life and Brothers and sisters in Christ, We regret that in the editorial service. The power is seen in the “tongues” are given to clarify the process an error was made in an fire, symbolizing purity o f heart “If this is message of Christ, not to cloud article appearing in the Decem­ and life. The voice of God or distort the message. It also ber/January/February 1997-98 (tongues) signified the universal­ m, might be well to remember that issue titled “A Wesleyan View o f ity o f the gospel for all men, re­ the Bible clearly indicates that Scripture” written by H. Ray gardless o f color, creed, or na­ not all will speak in “tongues.” Dunning. A portion of text was tionality. Therefore, this cannot be the evi­ omitted from page 15, the third dence of the infilling of the Holy column. The column should read What Do We Expect? Spirit. as follows: Do w e expect these manifesta­ is it for?” Paul says, . . . As Paul Rees wrote, tions o f the Spirit o f God to be Now you are the body of What is at issue here is not displayed when we come to an Christ, and each one of you is evangelical commitment but understanding of God’s Law? Ab­ a part of it. And in the church evangelical comprehension. solutely not! Wouldn’t it then be God has appointed first o f all There is a difference of under­ logical for us not to expect the apostles, second prophets, standing as to the way and signs— wind, fire, languages— to third teachers, then workers of form in which God has worked accompany the giving of the miracles, also those having to give us the mystery and the Holy Spirit, to the penitent seek­ gifts of healing, those able to majesty, the humility and au­ er, when he or she is born from help others, those with gifts of thority, o f the Word made above and receives the Holy administration, and those word— a wonder scarcely less Spirit, resulting in salvation. If speaking in different kinds of baffling than that o f the Word we expect these signs to accom­ tongues. Are all apostles? Are made flesh.2 pany the giving o f the Spirit, all prophets? Are all teachers? There are two ways of concep­ then maybe we should expect Do all work miracles? Do all tualizing the authority of Scrip­ our loving Savior to be crucified are given to have gifts o f healing? Do all ture, each doubtless having sub­ afresh every time a sinner comes speak in tongues? Do all inter­ tle nuances within them. One is to repentance. But, of course, we pret? But eagerly desire the to emphasize its form and the don’t. greater gifts (1 Cor. 12:27-31). other its function. Up to and in­ The evidence of the Spirit’s in­ cluding the classical reformers The Unfortunate Word filling is a pure heart. Peter said: during the Protestant Reforma­ It is unfortunate that the God, who knows the heart, tion in the 16th century (Luther translators commissioned by showed that he accepted them and Calvin), the emphasis was King James used the word “un­ by giving the Holy Spirit to upon the function of Scripture. known” in an attempt to aid our Christ, not them, just as he did to us. He Scripture was authoritative be­ understanding of this subject of made no distinction between cause it led one to Christ.3 tongues. To my way o f thinking, us and them, for he purified John Calvin articulates this po­ the word “unlearned” would bet­ to cloud or their hearts by faith. Now sition clearly and straightfor­ ter convey the desired message. then, why do you try to test wardly in his Institutes o f the God gave men the gift o f speak­ k God by putting on the necks of Christian Religion. In rejecting ing a language that they had not the disciples a yoke that nei­ the traditional view of the learned. Although they had not ther we nor our fathers have Catholic Church that it is the learned the language, they were been able to bear? No! We be­ church that authenticates the va­ understood by those that heard lieve it is through the grace of lidity o f Scripture, as w ell as re­ the message. As evidenced by our Lord Jesus that we are jecting the inadequacy of ratio­ Acts 2:11, “ (both Jews and con­ saved, just as they are (Acts nal argument, he says: verts to Judaism); Cretans and 15:8-11). But I reply . . . Arabs— we hear them declaring Paul admonished us to live in the wonders of God in our own the spirit of love, worship in the Our deepest apologies to the tongues!” On the Day o f Pente­ spirit of love, and eagerly desire author, H. Ray Dunning. cost, Peter did not preach the the greater gifts— the gifts that same message 16 times in a lan- serve God and His Church. PM

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T v astor, w e’ve really got to Do you agree that time is a remember the very moment ; I start pushing church camp, valuable commodity and some when you held your first child ■ w e’ve spent a lot o f money things are more important than for the first time? renting the cabin and if you other things? If so, how do you Announcement time is not or­ don’t push it, we won’t have adequately maximize the dinary time. It is a few brief mo- j anybody come.” “We need to re­ church’s ministries without mini­ ments in the midst o f a trans­ cruit people for the church mizing worship? forming worship experience. It is choir.” “We’re starting a new The worship hour’s primary valuable. class in discipleship training, can purpose is worship. The leaders How much time does a one- you promote it this week?” “Why use music, Scripture readings, minute announcement take? If didn’t you say anything about prayer, drama, and public speak­ you say one minute you are only the mission offering this morn­ ing to usher the participants into partially right. If there are 60 ing? People aren’t going to give consciousness o f the presence of people in the audience, each if you don’t say something!” God. minute announcement takes one Enough! People were bom­ Worship changes people’s hour o f the congregation’s time. barding me, sometimes right be­ lives. Ordinary people who get Every second counts. Before fore I went into the pulpit. I discouraged, frustrated, and hurt you spend valuable worship time want to help promote the min­ comprise your congregation. making an announcement, ask istries o f the church, but I can’t People attend the services who yourself these questions: spend 20 minutes a week. are in deep need o f God’s grace BY JIM L. W ILSO N Does this announcement apply How many things are the most and forgiveness in their lives. Pastor, to the entire church or to just a important thing? That is not a The people you face may be on First Baptist Church few people? simple grammatical question. It the verge o f divorce, murder, or o f Alameda is a mathematical problem with suicide. Their worship experi­ A lb u q u e r q u e , the formula O x T = MIT. You ence may make a tremendous N ew M exico take the number of opinions (O) difference in their life situation. and multiply it by the number of How much is 30 seconds things (T ). This results in the po­ worth? It seems like an insignifi­ tential number o f most important cant amount of time, but under things (M IT). the right circumstances it is quite Can the pastor emphasize valuable. How much money do every “Most Important Thing”? advertisers pay for a half minute How often can the boy cry during the Super Bowl? Will you “w o lf” before the people stop lis­ ever forget the brief exchange of tening? vows at your wedding? Do you D T he P r e ac h er’s M ag azine • S eptem ber, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 BENNER LIBRARY o,,^ & us -. WORSHIP There is no need to discuss the Day Camp-out today” The dra­ importance of a committee meet­ ma group did a few minute-long ing in front o f the entire congre­ skits during the welcome time. The Need to Feel Unstrung gation. Speak privately to the We placed sign-up sheets on the three involved people, and not bulletin board and distributed publicly to the entire church. them through the Sunday School BY DOUG BARNETT Is the time right to make this departments. Free-lance writer announcement? Momentum built, people S tephens C ity, V irginia Vacation Bible School is an im­ came, and God ministered to His portant church-wide event, but a people. The ministry was an un­ he story is told of a king who, January announcement for a Ju­ qualified success. despite the fact that he was ly school is premature. An Au­ Our staff promoted our Fa­ an effective ruler, was being gust announcement is too late. ther’s Day pie social this year by talked about. His advisers ap­ What else is going on in the making a colorful overhead cell proached him one day and church? and projecting the announce­ said, “Your majesty, people are Sometimes the church calen­ ment on the screen before and talking. They don’t think it’s a dar gets log-jammed. There may after the worship time. We also good idea for the king to tell fun­ be five important events happen­ placed the announcement in the ny stories and look so relaxed. ing within a short period o f time. bulletin and briefly mentioned it TheT king should always be on his The pastor cannot emphasize all How do you from the pulpit. throne since he’s the symbol of these events. Time is too pre­ Sometimes pulpit time or of­ the kingdom, and he should al­ cious, and people’s attention fice assistance is necessary to ways conduct himself in the most spans are too short. promote an event. Train your dignified manner possible.” Is there another way to pro­ people to do the following The king, though, had a deep­ mote this event? maximize things: er wisdom. He said, “When an Consider mailing a flyer, doing Give the staff plenty o f lead archer goes into battle, he a phone blitz, or placing an an­ time. strings up his bow until it is taut. nouncement in the bulletin. the Five minutes before the start If the bow is not taut, the arrow A few years ago w e decided to of the service is not a good time will not fly to its target and the have an all church camp-out to ask the pastor to announce battle w ill be lost. But an archer over the Memorial Day weekend. church’s something. It takes time to de­ is not in battle all the time. In The year before w e had less than sign flyers and produce mailings. fact, battles are much more in­ 200 attend worship over that Newsletters have deadlines, time frequent than times away from weekend. We had over 200 peo­ ministries pressures, and space constraints. combat. During those times, the ple drive to the beautiful Sierra Communicate their expectations. archer unstrings his bow because Nevada Mountains, a 120-mile They may assume the staff he knows that should the bow trip, for the weekend. We had 90 knows what they want. Ask them remain strung all the time, it will people stay behind at the church to put their ideas in writing and lose its snap. Then it wouldn’t be building and worship. Our atten­ discuss them with the responsi­ any good to him when he need­ dance increased by 100 over the minimizing ble staff person in advance. ed it in battle.” The king then previous year. There were six ad­ Trust their leaders. waved o ff his advisers and went ditions by transfer and one bap­ worship? They may not like what you o ff to laugh. tism over the weekend. The decide to do with their an­ Spencer Tracy was once asked camp-out was such a success nouncement. They may feel it de­ what he looked for in a movie that the church made it an annu­ served a passionate plea from the script, and the actor replied, al event. senior pastor and all it got is a “Days off.” In a world that en­ How did we promote it? The small notice in the bulletin. Help shrines workaholism, Tracy’s re­ coordinator began working with them not to lose their enthusiasm sponse may be more wise than his ministry team two months in in their disappointment. flippant. Reduced activity, times advance. They met weekly to iron The church camp was twice as o f vacation, times o f Sabbath, all out the logistics of setting up big as the year before, the choir work together to help us rest, camp, feeding, showering, wor­ is slowly growing, the disciple- find re-creation, and “unstring shiping, and so forth. Their excite­ ship training class was a success, our bows” so that when the test ment spilled over to their friends. and we exceeded our mission of­ comes later, w e’ll have our We began announcements in the fering goal. “snap.” Enjoy the time off. Use newsletter and bulletins. Why? Did I announce every­ the reduced activity to recenter We pitched a tent in the front thing that Sunday? No, we paced yourself. Find God in the quiet. lawn of the church a month be­ the promotion and prayed for After all, I can guarantee you fore the event with a sign that God’s blessings, and He brought that the battle is coming. pm said, “Sign up for the Memorial the results. pm T he P re ach er’ s M agazine • S eptem ber, O ct o b e r, N ovember 1998 B CHURCH MUSIC

“the half has never yet been told,” w e must keep trying. After each testimony, have the pianist and/or organist play a chord to give the congregation the pitch, then sing the last half of the re­ frain as a response to the testi­ mony. HYMN STUDY— The Birth of a Hymn, pp. 62-65

OCTOBER— "ALL THE WAY MY j SAVIOR LEADS ME" HYMN STORY— Fanny Crosby was wildly successful as a gospel songwriter. Some publishers were a bit sheepish to acknowl­ his is the second article in a bers o f the team or folks from edge Fanny as the author o f most series of four in which I pro­ the communities in which they of the songs in their books, so vide a hymn story for each ministered, Barney knew there they started using pseudonyms month of the year. For a were times he needed to be as a curtain. Hymnology scholars more complete introduction alone. suspect that over 200 pseudo­ toT this series of articles, see Such was the case when Bar­ nyms were used. Fanny was typi­ “Hymn Story o f the Month— Part ney served as one of the workers cally paid about $3 for each One” in the June 1998 issue of at a camp meeting in northwest­ song, and she never received The Preacher’s Magazine. All ern Ohio. So he left the camp­ royalty payments beyond that. A hymns listed in this series of arti­ grounds in search o f a quiet few of her closest friends felt cles are found in the Sing to the place where he could be alone that Fanny should be more high­ Lord hymnal, and hymn numbers for prayer and meditation. As he ly compensated, but it never be-1 are provided in parentheses fol­ walked through the woods, he came an issue for her. lowing the title. came upon a pipe that had been Fanny Crosby did not see h e r-! After telling the hymn story, I installed in an artesian spring. self as primarily a gospel song­ offer ideas for creative worship, “The water was flowing with writer. In a newspaper interview often linking the hymn story and great force in a stream the full on her 88th birthday, Fanny hymn with other songs, Scrip­ size of the pipe. I threw a chip identified herself as a city mis­ ture, testimonies, and/or prayer. into the pipe, but the force o f the sion worker. Many evenings each If a particular suggestion isn’t a water was so great that it carried week, Fanny attended the ser­ good fit with your congregation, the chip away. I then picked up a vices at the missions in New York use it as a catalyst for your own large stick o f wood about a foot City. Sometimes she would be creative thinking. If you like one in length and forced it down the asked to speak. Most of the time o f the ideas, use it with other pipe, but the powerful stream she would search for someone songs o f worship not discussed quickly brought it up and carried with whom to talk about faith in in these articles. it away.” Christ and godly living. If she At the end of each monthly Barney thought about Jesus’ were not at a mission, Fanny of­ section, I list a few sources that words concerning “a well of wa­ ten invited neighbors into her may be consulted for more infor­ ter springing up into everlasting BY KEITH SCHWANZ tenement apartment for fellow­ mation on the hymn story. Bibli­ life” (John 4:14, k j v ) , which Je­ Pastor, Columbia ship and singing. When she dis­ ographic citations of these re­ sus spoke during His conversa­ Ridge Church o f the covered someone with a finan­ sources appear at the end o f the tion with the Samaritan woman Nazarene cial need, Fanny often shared her articles. at Jacob’s well. He thought P o r t l a n d , O regon resources with her friend. If she about Peter’s words: ‘Joy un­ had been paid more for her SEPTEMBER— speakable and full o f glory” (1 songs, some have speculated, she "JOY UNSPEAKABLE" Pet. 1:8, k j v ) . As Barney watched probably would have given it HYMN STORY— Camp meet­ the water bubble out of that away. ings and revival services were pipe, the song ‘Joy Unspeakable” One day in the fall o f 1874, nothing new to Barney Warren. began to flow from his soul. Fanny needed money to pay her From the time he was 18, he had HYMN SINGING— After telling rent. As her custom, she began traveled as a singer and preacher the story and singing ‘Joy Un­ to pray about the need, asking with an evangelistic team. Since speakable” (423), ask several God to supply exactly what she he was always with other mem­ people to testify. Even though lacked. Soon after she prayed

T he P re ac h e r ’s M a g azine • S eptem ber, O ct o b e r, N ovember 1998 CHURCH MUSIC

this prayer, a man visited with was struck by another ship, the script could be recorded in ad­ her in her apartment. As he pre­ Lochearn. The Ville du Havre vance and played as the actor pared to leave, he shook hands sank in 12 minutes claiming 226 pantomimes. Ask the pianist or with Fanny, leaving a five dollar lives, including Horatio’s four organist to begin playing the in­ bill in her hand. Fanny respond­ daughters. He learned of the troduction o f “It Is Well with M y ed to the gift by saying: “In what tragedy in a terse cable: “Saved Soul” (554) as the monologue is a wonderful way the Lord helps alone. Your wife.” concluding. The hymn might be me! All the way my Savior leads Horatio immediately set out to sung by a soloist, a choir, or the me!” She wrote the hymn that join his w ife who, by now, was in congregation. day. Wales. For hours he stood at the HYMN STUDY— Amazing HYMN SINGING— Tell the ship’s rail watching the waves Grace, p. 202; 52 Hymn Stories hymn story. Then sing “All the and thinking about his daugh­ Dramatized, pp. 75-77; Songs in Way My Savior Leads Me” (559). ters. At one point, the captain Of the Night, pp. 3-4; Songs of Glory, ' The editors of Sing to the Lord the ship interrupted Horatio’s pp. 329-30. often placed songs with compati­ preoccupation to tell him that HYMN STUDY RESOURCES ble keys together. Using this fea­ they were in the vicinity where ture, have the congregation go the Ville du Havre had gone Amazing Grace, by Kenneth W. directly into “’Tis So Sweet to down. Somewhere on this jour­ Osbeck (Kregel, 1990) Trust in Jesus” (560). ney, in the midst o f sorrow that The Birth o f a Hymn, by Keith HYMN STUDY—Amazing “like sea billows roll,” Horatio Schwanz (Lillenas, 1997) Grace, p. 259; The Birth o f a penned the words o f “It Is Well 52 Hymn Stories Dramatized, Hymn, pp. 28-37; Songs of Glory, with My Soul.” by Kenneth W. Osbeck (Kregel, pp. 20-21 HYMN SINGING— Tell the 1992) hymn story as a monologue with Songs in the Night, by Henry NOVEMBER— Horatio Spafford standing at the Gariepy (Eerdmans, 1996) "IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL" ship’s rail. The monologue might Songs of Glory, by William J. HYMN STORY— For many be in the form of a prayer. The Reynolds (Zondervan, 1990) PM years Horatio Spafford knew on­ ly success. As a prominent attor­ ney and businessman in Chicago, he and his family enjoyed many " f o 1 material blessings. A fervent sup­ Cht/Kcll porter o f Christian causes, Hora­ tio was a personal friend of Dwight Moody and other leading evangelists o f the 19th century. Then a series o f disasters rav­ aged the Spafford family. A son UI D£ 0 % ! died suddenly o f scarlet fever. c - . ' * C * M T M A S | The great Chicago fire of 1871 CASTER. ■ wiped out Spafford’s extensive real estate holdings. A few Chris- ! tian “friends” assumed that the Spaffords’ misfortune was a sign . of God’s judgment, so they forced the Spaffords out of their : church for unconfessed sin. Hoping to provide a much- 1 _ G iSSPTTP SERMONS i needed time of rest and to assist Moody with evangelistic meet- i ings in Great Britain, Horatio made arrangements for his fami­ ly to travel across the Atlantic. Urgent business matters arose at the last minute, so Horatio sent his family ahead o f him. He was to follow in a few days. Partway 1 across the Atlantic the Ville du Havre, the ship on which his wife When you lose your voice, Reverend Perry— ! and four daughters were sailing, you can just fake your sermon.

T he P re ach er ’s M agazine • S e p tem b er, O ct o b e r , N ovember 1998 SERMON

Scripture: M all. 2 2:1-14 n a s b ) from the “main highways” eyes turn toward the object of (v. 9, n a s b ) as they throng to­ the king’s obvious displeasure. “But when the king came in ward the king’s palace. They are The spotlights zero in on one to look over the dinner overwhelmed with awe as they guest. Gasps of shock are heard. guests, he saw there a man file into the vast hall where ta­ Whispers of disgust ripple not dressed in wedding bles are already spread for the through the cavernous hall. The clothes” (v. 1 1 , n a s b ) . celestial supper. The lights are guests cannot believe it. What? A low. The music is soft. Anticipa­ guest at the wedding feast o f the trange parable. Great begin­ tion builds. great king’s son— and no tuxe­ ning, catastrophic ending. And then the trumpets blow. do? No bow tie? No high-polish Yet I find myself drawn to The band strikes up. Lightning black shoes? How did he get in? this hapless wedding guest flashes about the Eastern Gate as What nerve! What gross insensi­ because nobody else is. The the great king comes in. A holy tivity! Disgusting! Sfirst sermon I ever heard in a hush descends upon the vast I remember as if it were yes­ Nazarene church, while still in multitude of heavenly hosts as terday. Louis Shingler, distin­ high school, was on this parable the king solemnly scrutinizes his guished lay leader o f Los Angeles and the horrible fate o f the guest guests. First Church of the Nazarene caught at the heavenly banquet Suddenly his head snaps back. where I was an associate at the feast without the proper gar­ The music stops mid-beat. All time, picked me up at Fuller ments o f righteousness. It so chilled me that I didn’t go back for a year. I’ve never forgotten it. And I’ve never heard a sermon on it since. When preachers en­ counter this miserable fellow, like the Jews o f old meeting a leper on the road, they give him a wide berth. Luke, in telling this same story, doesn’t even mention him. Passes over him in silence. I BY C. S. COWLES guess that is why I’m drawn to Professor, Northwest him as I am to lost puppies and Nazarene College stray cats. I am drawn to this poor N a m p a , I daho man because of the monu­ mental embarrassment he suffered. He hears the invitation o f the great king. Unlike those who ear­ lier spurned the gracious offer, he responds with enthusiasm and joy. He joins the multitudes of both “evil and good” (v. 10,

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Seminary library in Pasadena to shirt, naked arms, faded poly­ Shingler. Perhaps he was too take me out to lunch. It was a ester slacks, and tennis shoes. If I poor to buy a new suit. Perhaps bright summer day. And my day could have found a crack in the he was a recent immigrant who off- hardwood floor even one cen­ wore the finest dress of his coun­ As he wheeled up in his Cadil­ timeter wide, I could easily have try not realizing how inappropri­ lac Eldorado, I sensed I was in slid through it without touching ate it would be in this land. Even trouble. I could see that he was either side. Do you wonder that if he were a morally wretched 1 dressed in a dark pinstripe suit. I my heart goes out to this poor tramp in filthy rags of unrigh­ had on a short-sleeve, open- man? teousness, stinking up the place, neck, knit golf shirt, faded poly­ I am also drawn to this I notice in verse 10 that the ester slacks in which the perma­ hapless wedding guest be­ slaves “gathered together all nent press crease had long since cause of the abuse he has they found, both evil and good” lost its perm, and was shod with suffered at the hands of bib­ ( n a s b ) . So we would presume Kmart “blue-light special” sneak­ lical commentators. that whatever measures of grace ers. I knew I was in trouble Without exception, they rush clothed the others with robes of when instead o f taking me to him to judgment. Some assert righteousness would have in­ Denny’s restaurant or the Ran­ Like the that he is a wicked wretch who cluded him as well. Many com­ cho Country Grill, he drove into weaseled his w ay in by nefarious mentators note that Eastern the parking lot o f the Pasadena means, perhaps climbing in kings and wealthy potentates of­ Jews of old ten provided wedding garments University Club, the most presti­ through a window. Others as­ gious top-drawer country club in sume that he is the embodiment for their guests. To fail to wear | Southern California where every­ meeting a of a phony Christian whose spiri­ the garments provided would body who was anybody was a tual nakedness is exposed for all constitute the greatest of insults. | member. The distinguished-look- to see under the white-hot glare There is, however, not one scin­ ing maitre d’, gold-braided leper #n of God’s holiness. Others main­ tilla of historical support for that 1 menus festooned on his arm, tain that he is a rebel who arro­ kind o f imaginative speculation. greeted Mr. Shingler by name. gantly refuses the king’s offer of There is something else that And he glared at me. the r o d , appropriate wedding garments. troubles me about the way com­ We were led into a cavernous For holiness commentators, this mentators trash this poor man. ballroom that doubled as an op­ wedding guest is the archetype They automatically assume that ulent dining room: domed ceil­ of one who has been saved but the king is God. If it is, then He ing, chandeliers, white table- not entirely sanctified, thus lack­ bears no resemblance whatsoev­ ' cloths, crystal goblets, fine china, ing the pure garments of that er to the God who, after the Fall, a dozen pieces of silverware, a give the “holiness without which no one comes walking gently into the r harpist playing background mu­ will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14, garden, not with the flaming sic. I glanced about. Everyone r s v ) . sword o f judgment but with the } was dressed to the nines; men in Why are biblical scholars so plaintive cry of a wounded lover, dark suits, white dress shirts, negative about him? Not know­ “Adam ,.. . where art thou?” f power ties with matching breast­ ing the facts, they invent a (Gen. 3:9, k j v ) . He is a God who pocket kerchiefs, and Rolex wedding worst-case scenario. They argue not only graciously forgives but • watches; women in long formal backward from horrible fate to also freely and mercifully covers dresses or pantsuits according to guest a just cause. After all, surely this Adam and Eve’s nakedness with high fashion of the time. And man must have been the ab­ the garment of righteousness. here I was: knit golf shirt, naked solute antithesis o f all that is The violent and vindictive king , arms, faded polyester slacks, ten­ wide berth. holy and righteous to have been in this parable bears no relation­ nis shoes. subjected to such public humilia­ ship to the benevolent father [ To make matters worse, Louis tion— not to mention being whose heart so yearns for his Shingler was president-elect of damned in the presence o f the lost son that he is up at the crack i the Pasadena Tournament of holy angels and all the saints to o f dawn, scanning the distant Roses that year. At least 6,384 a hell o f outer darkness and in­ horizon, looking for that wastrel guests— or so it seemed to me— expressible torment for all eter­ son, who when he sees him yet stopped by our table. Gracious nity. miles from home flies down the host that he was, Mr. Shingler The parable, however, says mountain, runs across the plain, dutifully introduced me not as nothing of the sort. In fact it says embraces him in his mighty “our associate pastor” but as “my nothing about this man, good or arms, escorts him home and calls i pastor.” Decorum dictated that I bad, other than that he failed to out, “Quick! Bring the best robe scoot my chair back, stand to be wearing proper wedding at­ and put it on him. Put a ring on f shake the proffered hand, thus tire. Perhaps he wasn’t aware of his finger and sandals on his giving each person a frontal the dress code, even as I was not feet. Bring the fattened calf and ’ close-up of my open-neck golf for Monday’s lunch with Mr. kill it. Let’s have a feast and cele-

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brate. For this son o f mine was holy God. I don’t have the right order o f worship. But alas, I look dead and is alive again; he was stuff. I am an unsightly specta­ down and I don’t have any pants lost, and is found” (Luke 15:22- cle. Clutching the tattered rags on. 24). o f an accusing conscience that The thought o f being publicly So if not the God of Jesus, points its finger at me and says, humiliated fills me with total then who is this king? And who no matter how hard I try, “That’s panic. Raw terror. It drives me is this hapless man? I found my not quite good enough!” Ever right to the edge. And in those answer through a most unlikely falling short o f “the glory of excruciatingly painful passages source. A book titled The Magic God.” Not measuring up. An em­ where I have, in fact, made a Eye caught my attention. I barrassment to my friends. fool of myself, or been judged as bought a copy. It is full of fasci­ Ashamed of myself. Cringing in suspect, or a heretic, or incompe­ nating computer-generated pic­ terror before the all-seeing and tent; when I have been criti­ tures called “stereograms.” What all-knowing omniscience of a cized, maligned, voted against, you see as you turn the pages righteous God. For “it is a dread­ and driven out, I feel not only re­ are colorful but repetitive pat­ ful thing to fall into the hands of jected by men but cast out by terns, appropriate perhaps for the living God” (Heb. 10:31). God. I project that condemnation wallpaper but not for framing or And when called to account, I of the “significant others” in my hanging on a wall. But if you am speechless. life upon God. I have not only stare at the picture long enough, Some months ago, I raced up embarrassed myself but insulted and force yourself to look be­ the escalator at the Boise Airport God. God is angry. God is in­ yond the surface into the depths, A vastly to catch a flight, dashed into the censed. He is too holy to abide a all of a sudden a miracle occurs. men’s rest room only to be in­ failure like me. The flat graphic comes alive as a stantly confused. It didn’t look This, I believe, is precisely dynamic, moving, three-dimen- different right. What did they do with the what is going on in this parable. sional portrait. Striking images, . . . ? Just then a young woman What we have here is not so previously hidden, come breath- came out of one of the stalls, much a description of God takingly into view. A humming­ picture of looked at me somewhat startled, as He is but God as He is bird in one. A throbbing heart in and then said cheerfully: “Good perceived to be by the one another. Dolphins frolicking in morning, Dr. Cowles, are you who suddenly finds himself the ocean in yet another— none lost?” It was one of my former on the outside looking in. of which are otherwise visible. students. Instantly I saw myself I’ve been there. Haven’t you? They remain hidden except for wedding standing with head bowed, face There is no pain to compare. the one who has the fortitude flushed, and ears burning before That is why my heart goes out and the will to plumb the the president o f the college, be­ to this hapless wedding guest, depths. fore the Board of Regents, before the quintessential misfit. The one What would happen, I asked the Board of General Superinten­ who doesn’t have the right color myself, if I applied a stereo- dents, before the General Assem­ of skin. Or is not of the right graphic technique to this terrify­ suddenly bly. I envisioned myself being gender. Or social class. Or didn’t ing parable and stared at it in called upon to explain. The utter go to college. Or out to work. Or depth? I read it over and over for shame of it all consumes whatev­ on welfare. Or not related. Or an weeks on end, pondering it on er explanation I might try to of­ immigrant. Or a newcomer. Or my early morning walks, think­ fer. I am too humiliated to even divorced. Or lacking in social ing about it during odd hours of say one word. graces. the day. I live with the subliminal fear As I kept staring at this para­ All o f a sudden, I saw it. I o f embarrassing myself. I battle ble and my depth vision skills broke through the surface. A terrible nightmares of being developed, I became aware that vastly different picture o f the called upon to preach and hav­ something is missing in this hapless wedding guest suddenly ing nothing to say. I stand in the parable. Or, more accurately, took shape. It came alive with a pulpit only to discover that my someone. The guests have gath­ force that astonished me. And sermon manuscript has disap­ ered. The house is full. The king what did I see? peared and the pages of my Bi­ has made his grand entrance. I saw myself! I am the one ble are blank. I cannot even re­ But there is something wrong. who has heard the king’s gra­ member the text. A recurring There is no sign of the king’s cious call, who has responded dream I have on Saturday nights son! with eagerness and joy, who has is standing in the anteroom just Come to think of it, how can come into the king’s hall only to prior to the worship service. I the king’s son, the good shep­ discover with a shock of shame can hear the choral introit sig­ herd, enjoy the party with the 99, that I am not dressed right. I am naling the start of the service. I or 99 million, who are safely in not attired in garments that will quickly run through my check­ the fold as long as there is one stand the white-hot scrutiny of a list: glasses, Bible, sermon notes, poor lamb who is not? How can

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jje participate in this great heav­ tells about a landowner who Jesus descended into hell. What enly “wellness” feast when there plants a vineyard, lets it out to did He do while there? What are those too sick to respond to tenants, and sends servants to else could He do but what He the king’s invitation? How can he receive his rightful share of the had always done: He preached Relight himself with the “in” produce. They beat some and to the spirits in prison. What did crowd when there are still so killed others. Finally he sends his He preach? He preached good many out there lost in the jungle son, sure that they will respect news: good news that even in of this world’s “main highways,” him. Not so. Rather, “They said hell the rejects were not forgot­ those who have not yet heard the to each other, ‘This is the heir. ten by God. Now I ask you: isn’t great king’s gracious invitation? Come, let’s kill him and take his that just like Jesus? Where is the bridegroom? The inheritance.’ So they took him Why did Jesus do it? Why did Icing’s son? He is here. Among and threw him out o f the vine­ He take on the garments of our those of us who are naked, ex­ yard and killed him” (Matt. humanity, our vulnerability, our posed, judged, and condemned. When I 21:38-39). sins, our shame, our lostness? He is here beside those o f us All of a sudden I saw it. Who Peter says it all: “that he might who have felt the stabbing pain is this unfortunate wretch with­ bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18, of discrimination, the shock of out proper wedding attire? Who k jv ). But the story does not end public embarrassment, the hurt is the one that was stripped there, for Peter goes on to de­ of being made a spectacle— naked by the religious and politi­ clare, “being put to death in the izea, flesh but made alive in the spirit” someone to be gossiped about, cal establishment of every ves­ laughed at, scorned. To all of us tige of orthodoxy, of honor, o f le­ (1 Pet. 3:18, r s v ) . Made alive in who feel shunned, unwelcomed, gitimacy? Who is it that was the Spirit? Well, I guess. unappreciated, and unwanted, arrested while at prayer, dragged Up from the grave He arose, Jesus understands. The prophet o ff in chains, hauled before the With a mighty triumph o’er His Isaiah said o f him centuries be­ voted chief priests, put on trial before foes, fore he was born, the official Sanhedrin who func­ He arise a Victor o’er the dark He had no beauty or tioned as representatives of an domain, majesty to attract us to him, austere and authoritarian God? And He lives forever with His nothing in his appearance Who is it that did in fact stand saints to reign. that we should desire him. before the great king, King He arose!. . . Hallelujah! Christ He was despised and reject­ and driven Herod, without proper attire? arose! ed by men, Who is it that when questioned I thought I had died and gone a man o f sorrows, and fa­ answered not a word? Was to heaven when my pastor— my miliar with suffering. out, I feel speechless? Who is it that heard friend, my model, my mentor— Like one from whom men those chilling words uttered by upon hearing that I didn’t have a hide their faces (Isa. 53:2-3). the duly established and legiti­ place to stay for the summer be­ Where is Jesus? He’s out seek­ not only mate authorities: tween my freshman and sopho­ ing the shamed, the wounded, Bind this messianic impostor more year in college, invited me the broken rejects. With open hand and foot. to live with his family. They fixed arms He says to you and me this Slap His face. a corner for me in the garage morning: “Come to me, all you Flog His back. and provided me with a cot and who are weary and burdened, Smash those thorns deep into a small chest o f drawers. Though men but I worked 12 to 15 hours a day, I and I will give you rest” (Matt. His skull. 11:28). “Him that cometh to me Drag Him through the streets. always tried to eat the evening I will in no wise cast out” (John Cast Him outside the holy city. meal with the family. I loved it. 6:37, k jv ). Spit in His eye. “C. S., I need to talk to you,” I tried something else with this Split His hands and feet. my pastor-friend announced one parable. I stepped back and sur­ Pierce His side. evening, rather ominously. We veyed the context with a wide- Crucify Him! Crucify Him! moved into the darkening living angle lens. Matthew places this Crucify Him! room. The sun had set. He sat in parable during the last week of And who is it that cried out the chair with its back to the pic­ Jesus’ life. The triumphal proces­ from the cross in unspeakable ture window, his face backlit by sion has fizzled. The cleansing o f agony, “My God, my God, why the twilight o f the setting sun the Temple has enraged the reli­ hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. was shrouded in shadows. Sens­ gious authorities. Jesus’ enemies 27:46, k jv ). ing trouble, I slouched down in are in full heat o f conspiracy. The “He came unto his own, the couch. Then he started in on disciples are wavering. The shad­ and his own said, ‘Damn me. He scolded me for leaving ow of the Cross looms ominously. his soul to hell!5” my bed unmade some mornings, Immediately preceding this And to hell He went. Rejected for shoes strewn about that parable is another in which Jesus by men and abandoned by God, someone might trip over, and for

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a dozen or so other minor irrita­ es, strapped them on the back of from his presence. He sent me to tions. my Cushman scooter, lifted the seek you out and bring you back. But that was only a warmup garage door, pushed my scooter The king says that it would not for what was really on his mind. down to the corner so as not to be a party without you there.” “C. S.,” he continued, “you’ve awaken them, cranked it up, “But,” I protested once again, j said that God has called you to climbed aboard, and drove out “I can’t go in! Look! I don’t have preach. Well I can tell you that into the night never to return to garments fit to stand in the pres­ you’ve got very large rocks in that house. Never to return to ence of a holy God. All I have are your head if you ever think you that church. Never to go to any these rags.” can make it as a preacher. Forget church of that denomination ex­ “What rags?” Jesus asked. it! You have neither the gifts nor cept for my uncle’s funeral a I looked down. I couldn’t be­ the grace for such a high calling. dozen years later. I would, in all lieve it! My rags were gone. I I’ve heard you testify to being likelihood, have kept on driving was clothed in wedding gar­ entirely sanctified. I’ve been into the deep abyss o f despair, of ments pure and gleaming, shin­ watching you closely. I can as­ shattered self-esteem of the out­ ing like the sun in full strength. sure you that you not only don’t Where is er darkness of hell... “Hurry,” said Jesus, as He bade have the experience but you Except for a Stranger who me farewell and headed on don’t even know the meaning of caught up with me in the night, down the road looking for other the word. In fact, I can’t see who drew near, who gently put lost souls. “The great king is pa­ much evidence that you have His arm around me, who hugged tiently waiting.” ever been saved. So, what do me to himself. I looked into His As I turned to head up the you have to say for yourself?” groom? face. Starlight refracted from road toward the lights o f the What did I have to say? What tears that glistened like dia­ heavenly city, I glanced back at could I say? I was speechless. A monds on his cheeks. Tears to Jesus. I couldn’t believe it. Guess fully loaded cement truck driven match my tears. I sensed that He what He was wearing? My golf over my stomach could not have knew. That He cared. That He shirt, faded polyester slacks, hurt worse. understood. Kmart tennis shoes. I stopped Early the next morning, long He whispered in my ear, “The and stared in amazement, once before the sun came up, I wrote table is set. The food is prepared. again speechless. Jesus turned, a note thanking my hosts for A place has been reserved for saw me standing there, and their hospitality, slipped into an you. I want you to go back to the called back, “My Father’s expect envelope along with the money I banquet feast.” ing you. The party cannot begin owed for board and room, and “But,” I protested, “the great until you get there. What are you slid it under the kitchen door. king ...” Jesus interrupted and waiting for?” Quietly I packed everything I said, “The great king loves you. Good question: What are we owned into two cardboard box­ He was alarmed when you fled waiting for? pm

Pontius' Puddle

WUAT MAKES IT SEETA LIKE KIDS TOt)Ay ARE MORE. DIFFICULT TO R A IS E THAN W E WETREI IN OOR VOOTW ?

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Stress and Pain Charles Swindoll gives a won­ derful illustration concerning how God helps train us through adjustment to irritation and pain. He relates that pearls serve as a great illustration of pain and the adjustments one has to make in life. Swindoll tells that the shell of the oyster gets pierced and an alien object en­ ters, lodging itself inside. Upon the forced entry of that particle, every resource of the diminutive up and laid his dollar on the pile Motivation oyster rushes to the blemish and of dollars. He stood again direct­ begins to release healing fluids King Duncan, in his book ly in front o f the mammoth beast that would otherwise remain Amusing Grace, relates a story and carried a 2" x 4" and showed dormant for the life of the oys­ about a man during the early the elephant the board. He then ter. After a period of time, the 20th century who traveled from asked, “Hey, elephant, remember pesky intruder is covered. The city to city to put on a “side me?” The elephant shook his wound is healed and trans­ show” to earn a living. One of head yes! formed into a pearl. Swindoll the features was an elephant King Duncan said, “That ele­ writes: “No other gem has so trained to follow his instructions phant was motivated to remem­ fascinating a history. It is the and no one else’s. ber!” What does it take to get symbol o f stress— a healed One day he arrived in a small you motivated? town and gathered a large crowd wound ... a precious, tiny jew­ around him and then challenged King Duncan, Amusing Grace (Knoxville: el conceived through irritation, anyone to try to make the ele­ Seven Worlds Publishing, 1993), 239. born of adversity, nursed by ad­ phant “shake his head from side justments. Had there been no Attitude to side as if it were saying no.” It wounding, no irritating inter­ cost one dollar per try. Several Howard Hendricks was on a ruption, there could have been people tried unsuccessfully and flight during the summer of no pearl. Some oysters are nev­ the man started to pick up his 1987 from Boston to Dallas that er wounded . . . and those who cash. finally left the airport sue hours seek for gems toss them aside, Just then a young boy asked if late. Exhausted Friday-afternoon fit only for stew.” he could try. “Sure, put your dol­ businessmen fumed about the Charles Swindoll, Growing Strong in the lar with the rest,” replied the sar­ delay. Hendricks tells that the Seasons o f Life (Portland, Oreg.: Multnomah man across the aisle from him castic man. Press, 1983), 164. When the kid put the money muttered under his breath every time the flight attendant passed on the pile of ones, he then Unwanted promptly left and went behind a by his seat. Hendricks contem­ “I have come more and more building. He quickly returned plated talking with the guy but to realize that being unwanted is carrying a 2" x 4" in his hand. He realized the futility o f such an at­ the worst disease that any hu­ stood directly in front of the ele­ tempt. Instead he walked back to COMPILED BY man being can ever experience. phant, showed him the 2" x 4" the galley to compliment the Nowadays we have found medi­ and promptly hit the elephant DERL G. KEEFER stewardess on her self-control cine for leprosy, and lepers can alongside the head, causing the Pastor and the way she handled the cir­ be cured. There’s medicine for elephant to shake its head from T hree R ivers, cumstance. He asked her name, tuberculosis, and consumption M ichigan suggesting he wanted to write side to side. can be cured. But for being un­ The boy took the money and American Airlines to express ap­ wanted, except there are willing left as an angry, frustrated ani­ preciation for the way she bal­ hands to serve and there’s a lov­ mal trainer yelled at him. anced the situation. She re­ ing heart to love, I don’t think A year later the showman re­ sponded, “I don’t work for this terrible disease can be turned, this time with the ele­ American Airlines. I work for Je­ cured.” — Mother Teresa sus Christ.” phant trained to shake its head PM “Yes,” and made the same chal­ Dynamic Illustrations (Knoxville: Seven lenge. Worlds Corporation), July/August, 1996, God’s Treasury o f Virtues (Hilsa, Okla.: That same little boy showed n.p. Honor Books, 1995), 232.

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he affinities between the avant-garde theology in its own rivative of his doctrine of God’s theological views held by and ensuing centuries. It is, per­ sovereignty. John Wesley and those held haps, the most important single Calvinism took root in En­ by John Calvin and the work of Reformed theology ever gland after English exiles re­ 18th-century English Calvin­ written. turned from those countries to Tists have been the basis for con­ Continuing Luther’s emphasis which they fled as Elizabeth as­ siderable discussion from the upon justification by faith, cended to the throne in 1558. 18th century to the present.1 Calvin especially underscores Presbyterians and Puritans in En­ This discussion attempts to ex­ both the utter sinfulness of hu­ gland found congenialities in amine those documents found in mans and the absolute sover­ this transplanted Calvinism and Wesley’s writings that address eignty of God in his Institutes. each became inseparable from it the theological statements of The particular doctrine that in their protest against Anglo- Calvin and the Calvinist tradition sparked the most lively discus­ Catholic theology and episcopa­ of Wesley’s day in order to assess sion, both in Calvin’s day and in cy. whether or not Wesley’s theology the centuries to follow, was his Calvinism’s heyday in England is “within a hair’s breadth” of doctrine of predestination. It is occurred in the 17th century un­ Calvin and English Calvinism. helpful to remember, however, der the Stuarts. After the that though predestination is a Restoration o f the monarchy in Hair Story in Context central doctrine in Calvin’s sys­ 1660, however, the fortunes of John Calvin’s (1509-64) con­ tem, it is not primary. It is a de­ Calvinism declined rapidly. By version to Christianity apparent­ ly occurred in the quiet of his studies as a young scholar. Though remembered today as a great reformer, his break from the Roman Catholic Church was not immediate; he initially be­ lieved Catholicism capable of ref­ BY TOM OORD ormation. However, in 1534, he Youth Pastor cut his ties with Roman Catholi­ B l o o m in g t o n , cism after charges of heresy were Ca lifo r n ia leveled against him. The publication of the first edition of his systematic theolo­ gy, Institutes of the Christian Reli­ gion, in 1536 made him famous overnight. This work remains his greatest lasting legacy. While it expanded with each succeeding edition and was translated wide­ ly, the Institutes proved to shape

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ithe beginning of the 18th centu­ tecedents to grace, and excludes between the two and recognized ry, England’s Anglicanism was all merit from humans. It comes a few of those who have recently [largely an Arminian communion. to the edge of antinomianism in underscored them. At least on John Wesley (1703-91) was exalting the merits and love of certain issues, Wesley considered the most important religious fig­ Christ and in rejoicing himself very near Calvin. ure in 18th-century England. can do evermore.3 Though raised as a Christian, his Eighteen years after this Soci­ A Broad Braid most famous religious experi­ ety meeting, Wesley reaffirmed The final version of the Soci­ ence occurred as a young adult his position in a letter written to ety minutes appeared in 1791— when his heart was “strangely a member o f the Society. He the year Wesley died. In the sec­ warmed” while reading Romans. states that “the true Gospel tion in which Wesley had Traveling throughout England to be touches the very edge both of previously declared that the as an itinerant evangelist, Wesley Calvinism and Antinomianism; truth of the gospel lies within a ‘kept a journal while writing let­ so that nothing but the mighty hair’s breadth o f Calvinism, a ters, tracts, and other articles. justified power o f God can prevent our significant change can be noted. These documents contain his ba­ sliding either into the one or the Almost a half century after the sic theological framework. Three other.”4 aforementioned meeting, Calvin­ (notions, among others, that Elements of Calvin’s basic doc­ ism is now seen as the direct an­ shape Wesley’s legacy then and trine of justification by faith tidote to Methodism and the i today are his: (1 ) emphasis upon were affirmed by Wesley in vari­ doctrine of heart-holiness! The Christian perfection, also known from evil ous sermons, especially in ‘Justi­ minutes read: “All devices o f Sa­ > as holiness and sanctification; fication by Faith.” In “The Lord tan, for these fifty years, have (2) doctrine of prevenient grace; Our Righteousness,” a sermon done far less toward stopping tand (3 ) tendency toward latitu- and preached at the end of his life, the work o f God” than Calvin­ dinarianism, which he called Wesley quotes approvingly from ism! “catholic spirit.” Calvin’s Institutes o f the Christian What happened in that half- Religion: “God justifies the be­ century to change the tune Wes­ One Fine Follicle liever for the sake o f Christ’s ley and friends were singing? In his Rediscovery o f John Wes­ do well. righteousness, and not for any What “happened” was that Wes­ ley, George Croft Cell joins vari­ righteousness of his own. So ley and the Methodist movement ous Reformed theologians in Calvin: ‘Christ, by his obedience, had been dogged by various con­ stressing the close relationships procured and merited for us troversies with English Calvinists between Wesley, Calvin, and grace or favor with God the Fa­ and these controversies clarified Calvinism.2 Cell acknowledges, ther’ (Institutes 1.2, c.17).”5 what were the actual differences however, that the heritage hand­ “Hair’s breadth” language ap­ and similarities. ed down in Methodism has por­ pears, with reference to justifica­ The differences between Wes­ trayed Wesley as an arch-foe of tion, late in Wesley’s life again. ley and the Calvinists arose early Calvinism, root and branch. He He writes: “I think on justifica­ within the Methodist movement also admits that Wesleyanism tion just as I have done any time itself. George Whitefield had be­ has done more than anything these seven-and-twenty years; come convinced that various else to discredit Calvinism in the Calvinism and just as Mr. Calvin does. In Calvinist doctrines were more modern church. this respect, I do not differ from sound than those being preached To be sure, there are basic sim­ him an hair’s breadth.”6 Return­ by Wesley. In a detailed response ilarities. Cell often reminds his — the ing to the 1744 discussion of to Whitefield, titled “Calvinistic readers that Wesley believed that whether Methodists have leaned Controversy,” Wesley discloses the truth o f the gospel lies “with­ too much toward Calvinism, what he believes are the three in a hair’s breadth” o f Calvinism. direct Wesley and company comment points in debate: unconditional This phrase is found in the min­ in the 1791 edition that, con­ election, irresistible grace, and utes o f a Society meeting con­ cerning justification, there exists final perseverance.7 vened by Wesley and close asso­ a strong affinity. Although hu­ With regards to unconditional ciates in 1745. The group noted mans can do something to be election, Wesley notes that God in their minutes that the gospel justified, namely ceasing from unconditionally elects various lies “within a hair’s breadth” of . . . the evil and learning to do well, sal­ persons and nations “to do cer­ Calvinism and antinomianism. vation is not by the merit o f tain works.” However, he cannot Antinomianism literally means works but by works as a condi­ believe that there is “one soul 1 “against the law.” The gospel doctrine of tion. upon earth who has not ever had comes to the edge of Calvinism Was the theology espoused by a possibility o f escaping eternal in that it ascribes all good to the John Wesley, then, really within damnation.” free grace o f God, denies that holiness. a hair’s breadth o f Calvin’s theol­ With regards to irresistible ' free w ill and power are an- ogy? I have noted the similarities grace, Wesley believes that the

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grace that brings faith and salva­ truth that “by grace you have The Mane Difference tion may be irresistible at that been saved, through faith ;. . . In “A Dialogue Between a Pre- moment. He concedes that most not by works, so that no one can destinarian and His Friend,” believers remember a time when “Three boast” (Eph. 2:8-9)— a text Wes­ Wesley cleverly quotes from God irresistibly convinced them ley also quotes approvingly. Yet Calvin’s Institutes and various o f sin or acted upon their souls. Wesley notes how easy it is fo r ' documents from the Calvinist However, at other times God’s points in these to infer, from their own tradition to illustrate their differ­ grace has been resisted. This personal experience, that God al­ ences. He uses these quotes as leads him to profess that, in gen­ ways works irresistibly in every ): un the voice of an imaginary pre- eral, grace does not act irre­ believer. Because o f this experi­ destinarian in the dialogue. In sistibly. Wesley also cannot be­ ence, these persons further be­ particular, he notes that Calvin lieve that all persons, in whom lieve it impossible for any to fall mil believes: grace does not work irresistibly, from grace. Consequently, they 1. All things that come to will be damned. infer that God “absolutely, un­ pass are ordained by God; On final perseverance, he is in­ election, conditionally, predestined them clined to believe that there is a 2. Every human’s will is to life before the foundation of governed by God; state attainable in this life, from the world.”11 Wesley illustrates which persons cannot finally fall. 3. God fore-ordained his point with John Calvin: “All The emphasis upon attainability Adam’s fall; men are created for the same underscores Wesley’s belief that 4. Some are predestined to end; but some are fore-ordained humans bear some responsibility eternal life and others to to eternal life, others to eternal in salvation.8 damnation; damnation. So according as The major doctrine that divid­ 5. God calls those predes­ every man was created for the ed Wesley from Calvin and the final perse tined to damnation to repent one end or the other, we say, he English Calvinists, however, was in order that they be more was elected, that is, predestined the doctrine of predestination, deaf; to life, or reprobated, that is pre­ with all its subsidiary tenets. In a verance.” 6. God destined those to destined to damnation.”12 letter written in 1765, near the damnation to do what he has Wesley’s line of counterargu­ end o f his life, Wesley writes the ordained. ment begins by addressing those line Cell often repeats and that Wesley’s response to this imag­ who reject double predestination has been noted earlier: “I think inary predestinarian is that God and simply affirm single predes­ on justification just as I have does elect, in Christ, all that con­ tination. Using common sense, done any time these seven-and- tinue in unbelief. The emphasis the confessions, and Calvin to re­ twenty years; and just as Mr. here is upon God’s action toward fute the soundness of such rea­ Calvin does. In this respect I do a category o f persons, not indi­ soning, Wesley notes that the not differ from him an hair’s viduals per se. What has been single predestination notion is, breadth.” Immediately after this predestined is God’s actions to­ to quote Calvin, “quite silly and remark in the same letter, how­ ward those who believe or con­ childish. For election cannot ever, Wesley writes: tinue in unbelief, thus allowing stand without reprobation. Just so my brother and I for a degree of freedom for the Whom God passes by, those he reasoned thirty years ago, “as The individual. In light o f this, Wes­ reprobates. It is one and the thinking it our duty to oppose ley does not believe that the Bi­ same thing.”13 predestination with our whole ble supports the Calvinist con­ After showing how unreason­ strength; not as an opinion, doctrine of ception o f predestination.10 able the idea of single predesti­ but as a dangerous mistake, It is in his “Predestination nation is, Wesley defines the is­ which appears to be subver­ Calmly Considered” (1752) that sue he wants to address: sive of the very foundation of predestina Wesley gives his fullest denunci­ predestination, also called un­ Christian experience; and ation to what he believes is a conditional election. He summa­ which has, in fact, given occa­ false doctrine. Here w e find ex­ rizes: sion to the most grievous of­ tion divides plicit and detailed evidence to Before the foundations of fenses.” That it has given occa­ support the claim that it is the the world were laid, God of sion to such offenses, I know; I doctrine of predestination that his own mere will and plea­ can name time, place, and per­ divides him from Calvin and the sure fixed a decree concerning sons.9 English Calvinists. all the children o f men who This quote notes both the pre­ from Wesley begins by acknowledg­ should be born unto the destination itself and the conse­ ing the experience of those who, world. This decree was un­ quence o f it. This doctrine will at a certain time, believed that changeable with regard to be addressed next, and the dis­ Calvin. they did not have the power to God, and irresistible with re­ cussion of its consequence will resist the grace o f God. These gard to man. And herein it follow. persons are convinced of the was ordained, that one part of

T he P re ach er’s M ag azine • Se p tem b er, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 28 WESLEYANA ’ mankind should be saved from judgment to come, nor any fu­ to draw, woo, or persuade per­ sin and hell, and all the rest ture state o f reward and punish­ sons to salvation than when left to perish for ever and ever, ment. If God’s will is irresistible God is understood to force without help, without hope. and all are predestined, judg­ persons into heaven or hell. Why should God do this? It ment is unnecessary— reward 3. When considered side by ’was His good pleasure “to show and punishment are meaning­ side, Wesley’s scheme, based ( forth his glorious power and his less. upon a certain degree o f hu­ ■ sovereignty over all the earth.”14 To those who believe that oth­ man free will, offers more glo­ To those who ground their er passages are correctly inter­ ry to God than one based upon doctrine of predestination in preted to espouse absolute pre­ a scheme that sees humans as Scripture, Wesley responds that destination, Wesley claims that, predestined machines. he is quite aware that election is Election is if these be true, the Scripture To those who believe that the spoken of therein. The Bible is should be given up altogether. glory of God’s love is displayed the authority that he also places For God declares three things ex­ when God elects 1 person out of Iover all others. However, Wesley plicitly: 10, or 1 in 100, Wesley has a believes that election means two 1. Christ died for all. question: How would they judge things when used in the Bible. 2. He is the propitiation for a human who, though she had First o f all, election can refer to a the sins of the whole world. the power and opportunity to divine appointment o f some par­ 3. He died for all, that they save hundreds, elects to save on­ ticular persons to do particular should not live unto them­ ly one? Would that human be tasks. Second, some persons are selves, but unto Him who died praised and glorified? To those elected, by divine appointment, for them. who believe that God is un­ to eternal happiness. This elec­ Of course, Wesley is not about changeable, Wesley notes that tion to eternal happiness is con­ to give up Scripture! He is confi­ what is unchanging is God’s af­ ditional, however; the election of dent that absolute predestina­ fection and “tempers.” God’s those to hell is also conditional. tion, such as what Calvinism es­ judgment changes depending on Election is conditioned upon pouses, is unscriptural. the actions of particular persons. what can be expressed in this To assert that the doctrine of To those who point to God’s scripture verse: “He that be- predestination is a legitimate faithfulness in keeping God’s lieveth . .. shall be saved; but he Doctrines Christian doctrine, one must promises in covenant, Wesley that believeth not shall be claim that God is insincere when points out that many of the He invites all persons every­ covenants are conditional— con­ damned” (Mark 16:16, k j v ). of uncondi The doctrines of unconditional where to repent. Since God ditioned by the response o f hu­ election or unconditional repro­ claims the attribute of love mans with whom God has made bation are not found in Scripture tional uniquely, how can God be loving that covenant. and are “utterly irreconcilable to to the one predestined to hell? A discussion of predestination the whole scope and tenor both “Is not this such love as makes also brings up questions of assur­ of the Old and New election or your blood run cold?” he asks.16 ance or the eternal security of Testaments.”15 Following this Subsequently, Wesley shifts his the individual. Wesley responds grand assertion, Wesley goes discussion to the issue of free by pointing out passage after - about showing hundreds of will. He quotes from the Calvin­ passage from Scripture that tells Scripture verses that cannot be ist Assembly of the Divines, which o f those who fall after first hav­ reconciled with these doctrines. declares that even Calvinists af­ ing faith. Therefore, the type of Included are verses such as: “The are not firm a measure of free will. A assurance available in a doctrine , Lord is . . . not willing that any classic assertion by predestinari- o f predestination is unscriptur­ should perish, but that all should ans is that God cannot have the al.17 come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9, found in glory o f salvation if humans Wesley’s conclusion is that the k jv ). In addition, Wesley points were to have any decision or doctrine of predestination is an out numerous passages describ­ choice in the matter o f salvation. opinion that is unreasonable and ing God’s justice that cannot be Scripture. Calvinists believed Wesley had a contrary to Scripture. If the doc­ reconciled to these doctrines. He deficient view o f sin and this trine were true, then the whole believes that God’s justice and view robbed God of glory by em­ o f Scripture must be false. Con­ sovereignty must not be separat­ phasizing the capabilities of hu­ cerning this doctrine, Calvinists ed from God’s other attributes, mans. Wesley’s answer to this as­ simply continue to hold inaccu­ particularly God’s chief attribute: sertion is as follows: rate opinions handed down love. 1. God gives humans the through the traditions o f their Wesley continues his argument initial power to work together ancestors. by noting that the logical conclu­ with Him. The final argument Wesley has sion to the doctrine of predesti­ 2. More glory is given to against the doctrine of predesti­ nation is that there will be no God when God is understood nation is one that seems as con-

T he P re ach er’ s M agazine • Se p tem b er, O ct o b e r, N ovember 1998 29 vincmg, or even more so, as so well, by means of this anti- Calvin. Concerning the doctrine those based upon reason and scriptural doctrine, constrains of justification, he probably Scripture. It is the argument me to oppose it from the same comes within a hair’s breadth. from experience. principle whereupon I labor to Wesley’s rejection o f John save souls from destruction.19 Calvin and English Calvinism’s The Big Hairy Deal Antinomianism, then, is that key doctrine o f predestination, The consequences of predesti­ doctrine which Wesley actually however, places him much fur­ nation appear to present an even believed leads persons to de­ ther than a hair away from them. bigger obstacle for Wesley than struction. He rejects predestination be­ the fact that he believes the doc­ A further example is found in cause it does not correspond trine to be unscriptural and un­ a personal letter written by Wes­ with the character of God found reasonable. On this matter he ley in which he asserts that ab­ in Scripture. When yoked with seems unable to remain calm! solute predestination is not only its antinomianism consequence, He is convinced, from his experi­ false but also dangerous to the predestination is quite danger­ ences and observations, that souls o f persons. It frequendy ous. Wesley’s emphatic demand Calvin’s doctrine of predestina­ hinders growth in grace and that Christians should strive to tion often leads to antinomian- stops the pursuit of holiness. It be holy makes it impossible for ism. Since holiness is central for How can feeds all evil, weakens all good him to align himself with Wesley, a direct assault on this tempers, turns many from the Calvin’s theological scheme, de­ principal emphasis cannot be tol­ way of life, and drives them back spite the holiness rhetoric used erated! God be to perdition.20 by Calvin and some English The notion of antinomianism As long as antinomianism re­ Calvinists. However much John had emerged during the initial mains a theoretical opinion Wesley may have claimed that he stages of the Reformation. Wes­ loving to based upon the Reformation’s was within a hair’s breadth o f ley may have considered Luther’s emphasis of sola fide, Wesley them, this study reveals that doctrine of sola fide to be the could calmly consider the inade­ Wesley’s theology is explicitly source o f the English Calvinist’s tie one quacy o f the doctrine. But when distinguished from both John antinomian bent since he regard­ doctrinal antinomianism turned Calvin and the later formulations ed Luther’s Galatians to be a into practical antinomianism, o f his theology in English Calvin­ dangerous treatise. He denied Wesley responds vehemently! As ism. pm the treatise’s reductionistic claim Allan Coppedge writes, “When of faith alone. Instead, he af­ the Calvinistic position on pre­ 1. See Randy Maddox’s synopsis o f the is­ firmed that salvation was by destination gave rise to practical sue and various texts concerning this discus­ sion in “Reading Wesley as Theologian,” Wes­ grace through faith and was con­ antinomianism, Wesley’s leyan Theological Journal vol. 30, 1 (Spring firmed by works. Such love ‘catholic spirit’ was stretched to 1995), 9-10. It was Wesley’s concept o f a the limit.”21 2. Along with George Croft Cell, Rediscov­ ery of John Wesley (N ew York: Henry Holt holy God who desired holy peo­ Shockingly, Wesley illustrates and Company, 1935) are two other major ple that heavily influenced his makes your what Calvin’s doctrine of predes­ works that contend similarly. These include separation from what he saw as, tination finally amounts to by Franz Hildebrandt, From Luther to Wesley at least latent, antinomianism in pointing to Calvin’s part in the (1951) and Colin Williams, John Wesley’s Theology Today (New York, 1960). 18th-century Calvinism. His em­ burning o f Michael Servetus! run 3. Works, 8:284, 5. phasis upon sanctification Calvin’s doctrine of predestina­ 4. Ibid., 7:278. caused him to react to anything tion bears dismal fruit since he 5. Ibid., 5:240. 6. Ibid., 3:212. that undermined godly living. In allowed Servetus to be put to 7. Ibid., 13:507-9. light of antinomianism, Wesley death “purely for differing from 8. Ibid., 508. said that “the real issue between him in opinion in matters of reli­ 9. Ibid., 3:212. me and extreme Calvinism is in gion.”22 10. “A Dialogue Between a Predestinarian and His Friend’’ in Works, 10:259-66. the doctrine of holiness and 11. Works, 10:205. Split End Christian Perfection.”18 12. Institutes, chap. 21, sect. 1. Returning again to the conclu­ Within a hair’s breadth? Wes­ 13. Ibid., book 1, chap. 23, sect. 1. sion of his tract “Predestination ley’s desire to identify with John 14. Works, 10:209. 15. Ibid., 211. Calmly Considered,” w e find that Calvin probably springs from his 16. Ibid., 229. near the end of the piece Wesley attempt to maintain a catholic 17. Wesley’s tract “Serious Thoughts upon writes: spirit. The latitudinarian temper the Perseverance o f the Saints” echoes this conclusion. Works, 10:284-98. The observing [of] these o f 18th-century England, which 18. Cell, Rediscovery o f John Wesley, 362. melancholy predestinarian ex­ surfaces in Wesley’s catholic spir­ 19. Works, 10:258. amples day by day, this dread­ it, coupled with his penchant for 20. Ibid., 13:149-50. ful havoc which the devil drawing upon diverse sources 21. Allan Coppedge, John Wesley in Theo­ logical Debate (Wilmore, Ky.: Wesley Her­ makes o f their souls, especially from antiquity, no doubt encour­ itage Press, 1987), 271. o f those who had begun to run aged him to seek to identify with 22. Works, 10:266.

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f t'art One

here is a great deal o f con­ er. It is important for pastors to ficient evidence to support the troversy in the church con­ establish in their own minds idea that social drinking is unac­ cerning the drinking of alco­ what is proper for themselves ceptable for the church member holic beverages. Is it and their flocks. People in a con­ because it is a poor witness. acceptable? Will it harm my gregation are in various stages of The Bible readily speaks to TChristian testimony? Is drinking spiritual growth. Some struggle this issue. In fact, “There are 627 today the same as it was in Bible with daily devotions. Others try references to drink and drinking times? Didn’t Jesus create wine to overcome sinful habits. Vari­ in the Bible.”2 David Hocking at a wedding? Didn’t Paul recom­ ous individuals also fill various states: “In the Hebrew language mend wine to Timothy for medi­ roles of leadership in the church of the Old Testament, some 12 cinal purposes? Didn’t the chil­ body. New Christians encounter words are used in 251 places. In dren o f Israel even tithe wine difficulties in their initial walk the Greek language of the New offerings? today the with the Lord as their old Testament, three words are used. lifestyles are challenged. Howev­ Gluekos is used once in Acts I. Alcoholic Beverages Are er, church members should be 2:13. This reference is to alco­ Dangerous same as it ready for deeper commitments. hol-free wine. At Pentecost the In one book, Pat Robertson at­ The following study will attempt believers were accused o f being tempts to explain how Jesus to demonstrate that there is suf­ ‘full o f new wine’ (gluekos). It could create “wine” at a wedding in for His first miracle: “Some would raise the issue o f what Je­ sus did when He changed water into wine. In ancient Israel there was almost no alcoholism, and there is little problem with it in times? Israel today. But in Jesus’ day, wine was used at meals and in ceremonial functions or for spe­ cial parties. . . . Their wine was probably a low-alcohol-content grape derivative, and it was more of a refreshing beverage than it was an intoxicant.”1 BY WILLIAM K. This answer does little to as­ WESTAFER suage doubts about the Bible’s Pastor, San Dimas position regarding alcoholic con­ Wesleyan Church sumption by the Christian believ- S an D im a s , C a lifo rnia

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was obvious the apostles did not used to denote other kinds of discussion will attempt to show drink fermented wine. It was an drinks, such as lotus fruit and the reasoning behind the latter insult hurled at them. In modern dates. position. terminology it would be similar According to Professor Alcoholic beverages are dan­ to saying, ‘These tea-totallers are Samuel Lee of Cambridge Uni­ gerous. Alcohol has the potential drunk on Coke.’”3 Aristotle said versity, the root of this word in to deform unborn babies, poison of sweet wine called glukus that Hebrew is yain or wine. The the liver, and cause depression. it would not intoxicate, and the word does not refer only to in­ It identifies with 6 million alco­ wine o f Arcadia was so thick it toxicating liquor made by fer­ holics and can easily become was necessary to scrape it from mentation, but more so to a habit forming. Yet, only 35 per­ the skin bottles in which it was thick, unintoxicating syrup or cent of Americans abstain from stored and dissolve the scrapings jam produced by boiling to the use of alcohol. in water.”4 make it storable. This thick One out o f three Americans re­ The term lenos is used five substance was stored in skin port that drinking caused prob­ times. This refers to the wine­ bottles. lems in their family. “Alcoholism press. The grape syrup was stored is our third worst national health The term oinos is used 36 Is there in new wineskins to prevent problem following only cancer times. This term includes three fermentation. It was referred and heart disease.”9 “An estimat­ compound words: oinopotes to as “new wine.” Old wine­ ed 10 million Americans suffer meaning “winebibber” ( k j v ) in skins induced fermentation, from alcoholism.”10 Someone Matt. 11:19 and Luke 7:34, just as improper canning pro­ dies because of drunk driving oinophlugia meaning “drinking evidence to cedures today can cause decay. every 22 minutes. “Far from aid­ parties” ( n a s b ) in 1 Pet. 4:3, and This thick syrup was similar to ing work, it reduces reaction paroinos meaning “not given to our grape jellies and could be tim e in every direction.”11 wine” ( k j v ) in 1 Tim. 3:3 and Ti­ squeezed out o f the skin bot­ The irony of all this is that tus 1:7. tles onto bread or dissolved in while working on this very pa­ One o f the reasons there is so water, to be reconstituted as a per, the author stopped to watch much confusion about the exact very desirable grape drink. a favorite television show, meaning o f the term “wine” in This process is described in the Cheers. American society has lit­ the Bible is that the terms used Hebrew Bible by Solomon and erally become so inebriated with have been loosely translated. social among Roman writers by the consumption of alcohol as “The Greek word oinos refers to Pliny.6 acceptable behavior that it is wine in all o f its stages, from be­ This evidence seems to be glamorized on a popular televi­ ing the grape on the vine to the drinking is borne out in historical books as sion situation comedy. total process of fermentation. well. “Homer, in the ninth book For so many years people have This is the problem we have in of his Odyssey, tells us that been told of the helpful uses for examining the biblical evidence unaccept- Ulysses took in his boat a for the use o f alcoholic bever­ goatskin of sweet, black wine, ages.”5 and that when it was drunk, it The word juice does not ap­ was diluted with twenty parts of pear in the New Testament water.”7 and appears only once in the church “The Greek (oinos) ... al­ Old. All fruit o f the vine was though [it] could be used for the called wine, whether it was juice of the grape however per­ fermented or not. There are ceived or for the fermented juice 13 different words used in the of other fruits, primarily meant Bible which are interpreted as fermented grape juice.”8 Scholars wine, nine in Hebrew Chaldee, have difficulty agreeing on the and four in Greek. The com­ very definition of the terms used mon word in Greek was oinos. for wine in the Bible. In some These Greek words correspond minds this may leave the issue of to yayin or yain in Hebrew, social drinking open to interpre­ vinum in Latin, and wine in tation. However, just as there English. may be some latitude in the Bi­ In the Septuagint, the Greek ble for consumption of alcoholic version o f the Hebrew Scrip­ beverages by Christians, there is tures o f Jesus’ time, the He­ social and scriptural evidence brew word for grape juice is that social drinking should be translated 33 times as the considered unacceptable for Greek word oinos. It is also church members. The following

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wine. It is recommended as a grade.”14 Could it be that Chris­ In Luke 21:34, Jesus said, “Be helpful digestive with meals. Per­ tian parents are influencing their careful, or your hearts will be haps no one has perpetuated this children to drink? Is that a prop­ weighed down with dissipation, habit more than the French, yet er witness for the church mem­ drunkenness and the anxieties of evidence may now be showing ber? life, and that day will close on contrary effects to their long- Rights are an important em­ you unexpectedly like a trap.” held practice: “The French may phasis in society today. Tragical­ II. Alcoholic Beverages Are be happier than other people, ly, Christians can be enticed to Denied to Certain People in but they don’t live much longer exercise rights as well. Unfortu­ the Bible and, apart from heart disease, nately, as church members inter­ they aren’t much healthier. Life pret the Scriptures for permis­ There is no question that alco­ expectancy is only about a year sion to drink, they not only set a hol is dangerous. The Scriptures more in France than in the Unit­ bad example for their children describe those prohibitions. ed States. Diseases associated but are subject to hurting others Priests with alcohol abuse are more as well. Rachel Kelly in an issue common there, and although the o f USA Today dated April 7, Priests were not to partake overall incidence of cancer is 1989, makes a poignant point: while ministering. Lev. 10:9-10 comparable to ours, the rate is It’s not the falling-down ( r s v ) mandates, “Drink no wine rising faster.”12 This researcher drunk who’s killing people on nor strong drink, you nor your continues: the highways. It’s the social sons with you, when you go into More important, not all lave drinker, the person who’s been the tent of meeting, lest you die; French people drink wine. In out to lunch or who’s return­ it shall be a statute for ever 1980 about a third of the ing from a ball game, has had throughout your generations. French drank no wine; today difficulty a couple o f beers and gets in You are to distinguish between it’s up to half. A mere 10% o f the car to drive. It’s the social the holy and the common, and the women and 28% of the drinker— the person who can between the unclean and the men say they drink wine every afford both to drink and to clean.” Ezek. 44:21 ( r s v ) con­ day. (They’re still way ahead drive. It’s not the poverty- curs, “No priest shall drink wine, of us— only 13% of Americans stricken person in the ghetto when he enters the inner court.” drink wine at least once a the very who’s causing the carnage. It’s Even Jesus avoided alcohol on week.) .. . “Alcoholics are not the social drinker, the person the Cross. “Christ was priest as a race apart,” says Dr. Michel definition who has money.15 well as offering, and no Jewish Craplet o f the Paris-based Na­ The Scriptures expressly tell of priest could be thought o f as tional Association for the Pre­ the dangers of alcohol as well. touching wine when vention of Alcoholism. “To say of the Prov. 20:1 ( r s v ) states, “Wine is sacrificing.” 17 drinking two or three glasses a mocker, strong drink a brawler; Nazirites is OK will ultimately encour­ and whoever is led astray by it is age alcoholism.” Even Dr. Cur­ terms used not wise.” Prov. 23:33 ( r s v ) Nazirites were not permitted tis Ellison, a specialist in pre­ reads, “Your eyes w ill see strange to drink wine during the time of ventive medicine at the Boston things, and your mind utter per­ University School of Medicine for wine in verse things.” Hab. 2:15 warns, who is convinced that wine “Woe to him who gives drink to has beneficial effects on the his neighbors, pouring it from heart, doesn’t endorse such iDie. the wineskin till they are drunk, promotion measures as the so that he can gaze on their Food and Wines from France naked bodies.” The Interpreter’s ad. Some research, he says, Dictionary o f the Bible elaborates: has come up with a possible Wine was often mixed with association between alcohol spices, following the general and breast cancer. “Our policy usage of the ancient Near East. should be, let’s get the facts.”13 Such a drink was, o f course, Unfortunately, another danger especially intoxicating. A cup inherent with the practice of of “foaming wine, well drinking is that children are mixed,” is prepared by Yahweh watching parents: “93% o f all for the wicked of the earth church kids will have at least one (Psa. 75:8, r s v ) ; . . . In gener­ drink before they leave high al, however, “those who go to school. And 40% or more will try mixed wine” have woe, have had their first drinking ex­ sorrow, strife, and complaining perience before leaving the sixth (Prov. 23:29-30, r s v ) . 16

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their vows. Num. 6:3 says, “He Kings and Princes to Timothy and Titus and in must abstain from wine or from Kings and princes were also the First Epistle of Peter. It is other fermented drink and must forbidden to drink. Prov. 31:4-5 translated “be sober” (seven not drink vinegar made from commands, “It is not for kings, O times), “be vigilant,” and wine or from other fermented Lemuel— not for kings to drink “watch,” the implied meaning drink. He must not drink grape wine, not for rulers to crave beer, of sober being either sober in juice or eat grapes or raisins.” lest they drink and forget what conduct and dress, or sober, the law decrees, and deprive all that is, not visibly intoxicat­ Prophets the oppressed of their rights.” ed.23 Others that were not to drink “Isaiah mocks the ‘shepherds’ wine were prophets while [kings] who are merely interest­ The Lord’s Supper teaching or prophesying. Isa. ed in processing wine and filling The Lord’s Supper is no place 28:7, RSV describes the diffi­ themselves with strong drink for wine. “In the accounts of the culties when prophets do im­ (Isa. 56:11-12; cf. Hos. 7:5).”20 Last Supper the term oinos oc­ bibe, “These also reel with wine Following the Prov. 31 passage curs neither in the Synoptists nor and stagger with strong drink; that is cited, the New Internation­ Paul.”24 In 1 Cor. 11:25, the word the priest and the prophet reel There is a al Version interprets verse 6 as an “wine” is not even used. Instead, with strong drink, they are con­ admonition to “Give beer to all accounts say, “the cup” or fused with wine, they stagger great deal those who are perishing.” Again, “fruit o f the vine.” with strong drink; they err in one encounters the difficulty of The incongruity o f drunken­ vision, they stumble in giving interpretation of terms used for ness and Christian experience judgment.” “Isaiah condemns of wine. This particular interpreta­ emerges very clearly in the those who ‘tarry late into the tion is troubling, though, since context o f the Lord’s Supper evening till wine inflames the art of distillation was not in­ (1 Cor. 11:21), so clearly in them!’ (Isa. 5:11, r s v ; cf. v. 22). vented until the ninth century. fact that current Corinthian Habakkuk contends that ‘wine The Englishman’s Hebrew and practice must be declared in­ is treacherous’ (Hab. 2:5, r s v ; Chaldee interprets verse 6 to valid (11:20). The Dionysus cf. Hos. 4:11), and Micah com­ in the read “give strong drink unto cult, with its stress on religious plains that the people want a him.”21 intoxication, was familiar in preacher who will speak of Once again, the difficulty of Corinth and further afield, and wine and strong drink (Mic. church interpretation of the very terms it is reasonable to see within 2 :l l ) . ” 18 Obviously, this is not for the argument for or against these New Testament episto­ proper or a prophet would not alcohol are inflamed by ambigui­ lary texts a concern to draw a have been taken seriously and ty. “Wine is praised and con­ clear line between all such would have been thought out of demned in both the Old Testa­ Hellenistic cults and the life of his mind when relating a word ment and the New Testament; in the Christian in the Spirit.25 from the Lord. John the Baptiz- the this respect a sharp distinction In Mark 14:25, Jesus uses the er in Luke 1:15 is a tremendous cannot be made between the two term “fruit o f the vine” not wine. example of a prophet set apart testaments.”22 Because of its color wine by not drinking: “For he will be drinking of could also be called the “blood great in the sight of the Lord. Church Officers of the grape” (Gen. 49:11; He is never to take wine or oth­ In the New Testament, church Deut. 32:14; Ecclesiasticus er fermented drink, and he will officers were charged to abstain. 39:26; 50:15; cf. Isa. 63:3; be filled with the Holy Spirit 1 Tim. 3:3 charges that officers Rev. 14:20). A similar phrase even from birth.” ‘John the should be “not given to drunken­ is found in Ugaritic epics. . . . Baptist could not drink strong ness.” Verse 8 goes on to say, It is possible that this termi­ drink. Evidently abstinence “Deacons, likewise, are to be nology was in Jesus’ mind from alcohol was felt to be a men worthy o f respect, sincere, when he “took the cup, and matter of high importance to be not indulging in much wine, and . . . gave it to them, saying, placed in parallel with sonship not pursuing dishonest gain.” Ti­ ‘Drink from it, all of you; this to the Highest. It was the mark tus 1:7 continues this line of is the blood o f the covenant’” and symbol of separation from thought, the “overseer . . . must (Matt. 26:27-28; cf. Mark corrupt living and from a de­ be blameless— not overbearing, 14:23-24; 1 Cor. 11:25).26 generate and doomed society.”19 not quick-tempered, not given to It is important to note that When one makes the decision drunkenness.” Ernest Gordon ex­ there was a Jewish tradition of to indulge in church member­ plains the Greek terms involved “watering wine” at Communion. ship, that commitment should in these guidelines: The watering o f wine at involve a symbol or symbols of Nepho in its primary mean­ Communion, a practice of the separation from a degenerate ing, to abstain from wine, is early Church, was a continua­ society. used nine times in the Epistles tion o f Jewish usage and pre-

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sumably dictated by the same nary o f New Testament Theology 5. Hocking, Moral Catastrophe, 21. 6. Wilkerson, Sipping Saints, 25-26. concurs with this position: consideration. Dr. W. M. 7. Ibid., 27. Christie, a connoisseur o f Jew­ Typical o f the Pauline atti­ 8. Everett Ferguson, ed., Encyclopedia o f ish customs and rabbinical lit­ tude is 1 Thess. 5:6, 7, where, Early Christianity (N ew York: Garland Pub­ erature, speaking o f the Last with an awareness of the im­ lishing, 1990), 939. 9. Bill Myers, More Hot Topics (Wheaton, Supper, says (Palestine Calling, minence of the end, Paul issues 111.: Victor Books, 1989), 81. p. 128): “The Passover wine a strong warning against the 10. Ibid., p. 81. was always mixed in the pro­ perils of drunkenness. The ar­ 11. Ernest Gordon, Christ, the Apostles, and Wine (National Woman’s Christian Tem­ portion of one of wine to three gument is based on the convic­ In ancient perance Union Publishing House, 1944), 36. of water (B. Shabb. 77a).” tion that Christians now live in 12. Laura Shapiro with Fiona Gleizes, According to the Mishna (ch. the light o f Christ’s new day... “Eat, Drink, and Be Wary,” Newsweek, 10) a person was not to have . A similar attitude is present 3/2/92, 68. Israel there 13. Ibid., 69. less than four cups of wine at in one of the parables (Matt. 14. Steve Arterbum, “How to Drugproof the Passover. This, according to 24:29; Luke 12:45), where Your Kids,” Leadership, Winter/91, 93. Lightfoot (vol. 9, p. 151), was almost drunkenness is shown to be in­ 15. Hocking, Moral Catastrophe, 201-2. 16. George Arthur Buttrick, The Inter­ would, if alcoholic, have meant consistent with the alertness of preter’s Dictionary of the Bible (Nashville: six ounces of alcohol, enough the faithful servant, who is Abingdon Press, 1962), 850. to badly intoxicate the women no properly aware of the eschato- 17. Gordon, Christ, 20. and children partaking.27 logical dimension o f service in 18. Buttrick, Interpreter’s Dictionary, 851. 19. Ibid., 14. the new age (cf. Luke 21:34).32 “The wine at the Eucharist was 20. Buttrick, Interpreter’s Dictionary, 851. the mixture of water and wine alcoholism, “Drunkenness is characteristic 21. George V Wigram, The Englishman’s that was the ordinary table drink of Gentile culture (1 Pet. 4:3); Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance o f the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1970), (Justin, 1 Apol. 65; 67).”28 David therefore, the thoughtful Chris­ and there is 1262. Hocking in his book also sup­ tian should not drink any wine 22. Buttrick, Interpreter’s Dictionary, 851. ports this theory for Passover, es­ at all if it will cause his weaker 23. Ibid., 29. pecially in regards to Matt. brother to slip back into Gentile 24. Gerhard Friedrich, Theological Dictio­ nary of the New Testament, Vol. V (Grand little ways (Rom. 14:21).”33 26:29: “As mentioned previously, Rapids: Eerdmans, 1967), 164. the rabbis o f ancient times mixed To be continued . . . 25. Colin Brown, The New International three parts water with one part Watch for Part Two in the next Dictionary o f New Testament Theology (Grand problem Rapids: Zondervan, 1971), 514. wine (regardless of its stage of issue. PM 26. Buttrick, Interpreter’s Dictionary, 850. fermentation) to insure that it 27. Ibid., 18-19. was not intoxicating.”29 “Our sin­ with it in 1. Pat Robertson, Answers to 200 o f Life’s 28. Ferguson, Encyclopedia o f Early Chris­ less High Priest ate with publi­ Most Probing Questions (Nashville: Thomas tianity, 940. Nelson Publishers, 1984), 224. 29. Hocking, Moral Catastrophe, 221. cans and sinners and drank the 2. David Wilkerson, Sipping Saints (Grand 30. Wilkerson, Sipping Saints, 16. pure juice of the vine. But never Israel Rapids: Fleming H. Revell, 1978), 47. 31. Friedrich, Theological Dictionary, 164- did He sit in the seat of the 3. David Hocking, Moral Catastrophe (Ven­ 65. scornful or touch the cup when tura, Calif.: Harvest House Publishers, 32. Brown, New International Dictionary, 1990), 216. 513. its contents were ‘red and biting’ today. 4. Wilkerson, Sipping Saints, 27. 33. Buttrick, Interpreter’s Dictionary, 851. (see Prov. 23:31, 32).”30 Paul admonishes believers to abstain if it causes someone to stumble. In Rom. 14:21 he cau­ tioned, “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do any­ thing else that will cause your brother to fall.” In Rom. 14:21 he recom­ mends total abstinence from flesh and wine should the weaker brother be upset about eating and drinking. In Eph. 5:18, on the basis o f Prov. 2 3 :3 1 ... he warns against ex­ cessive drinking of win e.. . . In contrast, he calls for surrender to the fullness of the Spirit, cf. Luke 1:15. There is also a warn­ ing against over-indulgence in 1 Tim. 3:3, 8; Titus 2:3.31 “What did the executive committee think of your suggestion The New International Dictio­ to revise the remodeling program?”

T he P re ach er’ s M agazine • Se p tem b er, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 35 Wounds of Divorce

'hen I was divorced after a Divorce is a couple’s greatest dis­ Placing trust in God effectively 12-year marriage, the re­ appointment and one of life’s reduces anxiety, facilitates emo­ ality hit me hard. I wasn’t most stressful situations. The tional balance, and generates just a ‘divorce statistic.’ I wounds are deep and the pain hope during a divorce process, was now a divorced searing. Yet, by planning careful­ says Larry M. Correu, a pastor woman terrified at being alone ly, praying earnestly, thinking and counselor. In his book, Be- j and doubting if I could navigate creatively, and acting optimisti­ yond the Broken Marriage, he my way through all the new re­ cally, the wounds can be healed writes: “The dread you feel is sponsibilities that were mine and the pain eventually eliminat­ lessened if God’s grace is a pow­ alone. I, the ‘together woman,’ ed. Here are some effective erful enough factor in your life suddenly felt paralyzed, unable strategies that pastors, Christian to drive dread from it. The out­ to function or make decisions,” educators, and other spiritual come of this whole mess may not recalls Sandy, 39. leaders can make to help people be exactly what you hoped for. • “Although my former wife heal from the wounds o f divorce. But even this will not be too and I managed to divorce heavy for you if you walk by without creating great hos­ Emphasize the need to trust in faith in the advocacy of God for tilities, I was immediately the God of everlasting love. you, believing that God is work­ overwhelmed when the di­ The Bible makes clear God is ing out good and gracious pur­ vorce papers were finalized not a faultfinder, constantly on poses for your life.” today. Now, after 18 years the search for things to condemn of family life together, I am in us. Rather, God’s magnificent Remind the divorced they must j a divorced man and the sin­ love sees us at our best, not our learn to live with the loneliness, ! gle parent of three teenage worst. God’s love anticipates An immediate result o f divorce boys. How could I possibly what we can become, not merely is the disheartening feeling o f manage. I am numb with what we are. Claim for yourself loneliness. Remind the divorced fear and insecurity,” wrote the promise declared in Jeremi­ that this is natural. They are David, 41, in his daily jour­ ah: “The L o r d appeared to us in making the awkward transition nal on the day his divorce the past, saying: ‘I have loved from being part o f a couple to papers arrived in the mail. you with an everlasting love; I being a single person. A psycho­ • “I never expected it to hap­ have drawn you with loving- logical void will linger as they pen to me, therefore I was kindness’” (31:3). If you feel de­ carry on the daily duties of life— unprepared for the rejection tached from God, reconnect cooking, laundering, working, and devastation involved yourself to God’s love by review­ paying bills, and so forth, alone. when I was divorced. I was ing these reminders from the Bi­ Learning to live with the loneli­ absolutely certain that I ble: “How great is the love the ness is greatly facilitated by would not survive being di­ Father has lavished on us, that adopting these kinds o f attitudes vorced. Death could never we should be called children o f and techniques: be so painful,” says Lauren, God!” (1 John 3:1). “You are for­ 29, who had been married giving and good, O Lord, Accentuate the positive side of eight years. abounding in love to all who call loneliness. Most women and men who BY VICTOR M. to you” (Ps. 86:5). “We do not “When I was being divorced, I are divorced or in the process of PARACHIN make requests o f you because we decided immediately that I could divorce can quickly identify with Ordained minister are righteous, but because of either brood and further depress the emotions expressed above. C la r e m o n t , C a lifo r n ia your great mercy” (Dan. 9:18). myself over circumstances or I

T he P r e ac h er’s M agazine • S eptem ber, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 36 PASTORAL CARE

tears will reap with songs of joy” 'could make the most of my time Recommend seeking help and (126:5). alone,” recalls Mike, who was di­ support from others. vorced after a 15-year marriage. “The best single piece of advice “I made a deliberate attempt to Suggest the divorced use the I can give to someone in the di­ identify some benefits of being healing sentences. vorce process is to surround your­ single again. Suddenly, I had In any relationship breakdown self with friends who will listen more time on my hands, so I it is tempting to attack and to without interrupting, without used that time to prepare for law blame in these ways: “She was judging, and without advising,” entrance exams. When I passed so unfair. Everything we worked says Martha, 34, recently di­ those successfully, I applied and for is gone.” “I had a lousy vorced after a 10-year marriage. was accepted to law school, lawyer, that’s why I’m in this sit­ “Divorce creates emotional pres­ which I attend part-time. I never uation.” “How could he do this sure and the most effective way felt I could do those things when to me!” Avoid completely the to release the pressure is by talk­ I was married because of time temptation to attack and to ing about the details in the pres­ constraints.” blame. Remind yourself that it ence of kind and sensitive friends. really doesn’t matter what “they” Not only will you find it a great Refuse fo live in an isolated did. The recently divorced may relief to get your feelings out, but shell. need gentle reminders there is your friends will feel closer to you The divorced should initiate no future in the past. Encourage and be even more supportive.” contact with others to reduce them to move ahead by using healing sentences such as these: loneliness rather than wait for Encourage the divorced to assist • God is guiding me moment someone to call them. Suggest someone else. they contact friends and invite by moment, day by day. Reaching out to help other them for dinner, a walk, a con­ • I will face new challenges hurting people helps the di­ cert. O f course, remaining active with courage and dignity. vorced take the focus o ff them­ in the church is vital for both • I am willing to begin again. selves and their pain. Helping spiritual and emotional support. • I accept the need to make others who are hurting will bring change. emotional balance and a fresh Encourage grieving. • I am teachable. I can learn. perspective to their lives. “One of A divorce signals the “death” God helps me. the things that really helped me of a marriage. Death always pro­ • I will move forward with as I was being divorced was con­ duces grief. There is a mourning confidence. tinuing my volunteer work as a period similar to someone whose weekly tutor for inner-city chil­ spouse dies. The divorced must Advise the divorced to sit tight for one year. dren,” recalls Janice, 38. “As I fo­ allow themselves to grieve. cused on others, I was made There is great wisdom in this Some people have made dras­ aware that my situation was not Jewish proverb: “If you bottle up tic mistakes by initiating changes the worst thing happening in the grief, you’ll never soften it.” Con­ too soon following a divorce. world. Helping others during my sider this insight from Mark, di­ Most people experience divorce own time of crisis actually vorced three years ago after as an emotional earthquake. The poured healing into me.” nearly 25 years o f marriage: pattern of life is drastically al­ The divorced ought to be re­ “The best advice I would pass on tered, leaving a person with con­ minded that none of us can con­ to those currently divorcing is to flicting and confusing feelings. trol everything that happens to us. mourn your loss. No matter what Because the emotional distress However, we can control our re­ the circumstances nor who initi­ level is high, the divorced should sponse. Healing from the wounds ated the divorce, there is almost avoid making major decisions of divorce means responding to always great sadness. Hearts are during the first 12 months. In life with energy, optimism, hope, broken. The pain produces tears her book Positive Plus, Dr. Joyce and faith. No matter how desper­ of grief. Don’t hold back the Brothers offers this sound advice ate, frustrated, guilty, or lonely tears. Don’t be ‘brave and for the recently divorced: “For a they may feel, urge the divorced strong.’ Both men and women year, don’t make any change that to accept the challenge of divorce should cry out their pain and not is not absolutely necessary. Don’t recovery by responding with faith, be ashamed. Tears cleanse the sell your house. Don’t move in positive attitudes, and actions. body and heal the spirit.” The with your daughter. Don’t remar­ This will help them heal from healing nature of tears is also ry. Don’t buy a condo in Mexico wounds, lead to increased growth, noted in the Bible, “Weeping or a cabin in Alaska. Don’t buy greater wisdom, more sensitivity may remain for a night, but re­ that stock. Don’t make that loan. for others, and an even greater joicing comes in the morning” Put everything on hold for 12 appreciation for living. p m (Ps. 30:5). “Those who sow in months.”

T he P re ach er’ s M agazine • S eptem ber, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 37 PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

children dedicated. When I went to their home to talk about the dedication, I asked them where they were in their relationship to Christ. They admitted having none. I presented the gospel and in a very simple but real way, they committed their lives to Je­ sus Christ. They wanted their children dedicated because another brother who had been saved two years ago invited them to church. They accepted his invita­ tion and witnessed a baby dedi­ A nee again I am in the mid- church, I began to express out cation. They were touched by ■ Id le o f a church crisis. Fires loud my frustrations to my wife. God’s Spirit. The first brother I need to be extinguished, The conversation focused on “my and his wife in this evangelism I I feelings need to be soothed, problem.” Then, much to my joy chain came to Christ two years \y misunderstandings need to and relief, Allan was introduced earlier because one o f the “old be clarified, and perceptions into the conversation. Perspec­ timers” in the church, thank God need a dose o f reality. tive on the immensity o f my for them, recognized him in a Crisis is something I have been problems immediately changed. downtown elevator. He had at­ through before. As in the past, it Let me explain. tended Sunday School several consumes my time, drains my Allan accepted Jesus Christ years before. So the man invited energy, frustrates me, makes me last Sunday. I was privileged to him to church again. He came. want to quit all together, and in witness along with the congrega­ He found Christ! Aren’t the webs my lowest moments even makes tion this most thrilling of all of evangelism wonderful? me question why anyone would church events. A student at Naz­ In the car that morning, as we want me to be a pastor. arene Theological Seminary, reviewed what God was doing, Am I the only one who has to home for the holidays, was asked my “problem” became very in­ deal with such ugly feelings? to preach. He is an earlier con­ significant. By the time we The current crisis is not the is­ vert o f First Church who came reached the church, I knew God sue, although it is significant because of sports. His folks even was going to be there. That’s enough that my fears suggest that came to hear him preach. It was good news for a pastor! I might even destroy a church— their first time to be in church What is church all about any­ but that will probably not hap­ when he preached. They speak way? Why do we labor as pas­ pen. Nevertheless, that’s how I very little English, so they proba­ tors? To be found in favor with feel at the moment. My reaction bly understood very little of those who wonder why such gift­ to the crisis is the real issue. what he said. Yet they heard him ed, nice people are feeling led to I am disappointed in myself! preach, but that is another story. go someplace where they can be My disappointment comes from He preached a powerful but sim­ “fed”? Am I to change who I am allowing myself to be put in the ple message. He opened the al­ so I can “feed” people who don’t pits by something that has the tar. Allan came forward and always want to eat? Do I wish to strange ability to seem bigger “stood” at the altar. He was so be found in favor with people? than God. Why do I let myself new he didn’t know that he was The following are a few things become so consumed by some­ BY ERNEST supposed to kneel. Allan was I think about when the “tyranny thing I can’t really solve? graciously converted. McNAUGHT of the urgent” raises its demand­ Reality check! I am out o f fo­ The refocusing continued that Freelance writer ing head and I am forced to refo­ cus. It’s time once again for a re­ morning on the way to church as cus. These lessons help keep me C hen ey, W a s h in g t o n focusing jolt. Thank You, Lord, we talked about “the rest o f the better focused. for not giving up on me! story.” This jolt is a bit more dramatic Allan came to the service that 1. I must learn to distinguish than most I have experienced. morning because his sister has between two very different Do you think God knew just how started coming. She and her hus­ "sources of problems." “unfocused” I was becoming this band come because her hus­ There is a big difference be­ time? band’s brother and wife accepted tween the kind of “storm” or Last Sunday on the w ay to the Lord about two months ago. problems that come from lack of church, feeling very much like I They accepted Jesus Christ after organization, inadequate training, did not want to even go to expressing a desire to have their or inept recruitment of personnel,

T he P re ac h er’s M agazine S eptem ber , O ct o b e r , N ovember 1998 38 PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

and the storm that is birthed out different approach to the Scrip­ learn to say, “I am sorry.” Perfec­ of a spiritual problem. When I ex­ ture,” it builds my ego because tion of heart does not give us pend energy on matters I can do they have heard the best preach. perfect perception of all circum­ something about, I don’t have I must not forget that living all stances. Sometimes I react out o f nearly as much trouble laying around me are people who refer a lack o f knowledge and infor­ them down at night. Yes, they to the Bible as, “you know, that mation, making a wrong choice. have to be picked up the next book,” and think our church is I must not be beyond admitting morning, and that’s not always some sort o f Jewish sect. my mistake, asking for forgive­ easy. I don’t always find an imme­ ness, and praying for reconcilia­ 4. I must stay close to a diate solution, but those problems tion. support group. don’t sap the same kind of energy During the 20-minute com­ as do problems of a spiritual na­ God did not intend for us to mute from home to church that ture. When I dissipate my person­ walk the “faith walk” alone. He Sunday morning, I was gently re­ al energy trying to solve problems gave us community. It is one of minded that pastoring is about that are in God’s arena alone, I God’s best ideas. Pastors are es­ holding up Jesus before people approach burnout. pecially susceptible to thinking who need Him and seeing that For example, if a lack o f chil­ we can do it alone. Find some­ they have a chance to consider dren’s workers is the problem, it one or a group to whom you can Him. It is not about winning all is basically nonspiritual in na­ be accountable. Without it, small the skirmishes. And people are ture. I can reorganize until more problems become much larger finding Jesus! Allan is the eighth workers are ready, invest in than they are, and big problems person to make a personal deci­ equipment that will make chil­ become major blind spots. sion for Christ in the few months dren’s programs more exciting, I have been the pastor o f “ol’ 5. I must be ready to say, use people in a double capacity First Church.” It is happening. "I am sorry." for a while, or many other op­ That is not “a problem!” That is tions. When “me, myself, and I” Even a sanctified pastor must victory! PM try to solve a worker problem and the problem is really caused by a carnal attitude of owner­ ship, aversion to change, or an unsanctified power play, and thereby take over the work of God, I can’t sleep, work, or even enjoy moments of recreation.

2. I must remember that the Enemy is the enemy. How often have I made peo­ ple, circumstances, the lack o f fi­ nances, or any other number o f things the enemy. I have to re­ member that the Enemy is the enemy, not people, places, or things.

3. I must be honest with myself about priorities in my ministry. I struggle to keep the main thing the main thing. Sometimes it’s easier to keep programs run­ ning than to develop eyes for the harvest. I sometimes assume that everyone I know is already aware o f the good news, so I spend my energy being creative in interpreting the Scripture for overfed Christians, which is quite fulfilling. When one o f the saints says, “That was a new Pardon me... where would I find books thought to me and it was really a on overthrowing the church government?

T he P re ach er ’s M ag azine • S e p tem b er, O c to be r, N ovember 1998 39 PERSONAL GROWTH *

out. In brief, they filled a tremendous void in my life. Second, don’t be shocked when matchmakers try to select a future companion for you. W h e n I « ; _ I was not immediately pre­ pared to consider remarriage, but that did not prevent match­ makers from suggesting an “available” possible wife. Most shocking, some women contact­ Com panion f a ed me personally to express their “love” for me. Third, don’t withdraw or go in­ to a shell. e instant in season, out of comes to the parsonage. No Fortunately for me, my church 1 season” is a regular instruc- doubt many go through the tra­ board called me into a meeting ? tion to ministers of the ditional stages following death— and said: “Pastor, it is rumored ■ gospel about to be or­ denial, anger, rejection, and you plan to resign. The board is / dained. However, few apply loneliness. has discussed this and wants to the scripture from 2 Tim. 4 to Thank God, I was able to get urge you not to resign. We need themselves when it comes to per­ through the grief. During the you!” sonal tragedy. What does a min­ first few weeks following the fu­ What a comfort to know I was ister do, for example, when his neral, I was encouraged to talk needed in a time o f overwhelm­ companion dies? with a denominational minister ing grief! Really, I needed them Ministers counsel members of who was employed in a counsel­ more than they needed me. the church on a regular basis ing ministry. He helped me Return to the pulpit as soon as when they face death in their through the initial weeks of possible. Following my w ife’s fu­ families. Who counsels ministers grief. In the process, I learned a neral on Friday afternoon, I at­ when their companions die? great many things that might tended church Sunday evening. Over the years I have told help others— especially minis­ My minister friend preached the dozens of bereaved families, “I ters— when they lose a compan­ morning and evening sermons, understand.” Not until my wife ion. but I asked for the pulpit and died suddenly and prematurely First, don’t expect people to ral­ closed the Sunday evening ser­ did I realize I had not under­ ly about you. vice. I do not remember most of stood. It may happen, but in too what I said, but I do remember Perhaps few ministers stop many cases, it doesn’t. Some in­ saying to the congregation: “You and think what they would do if dividuals do not understand. can’t give up now. I’m going to their companions died suddenly. Others are afraid and do not make it. We’ve come too far to Such was my case. On Friday af­ know what to say. A few think a quit!” ternoon, I took my wife to a doc­ minister has all of the answers The following Sunday morn­ tor when she had signs of having and needs no help. ing, I was back in the pulpit, suffered a light stroke. The doc­ However, a few close and con­ conducting the service. The first tor immediately diagnosed the cerned friends and relatives can few weeks, I cried a great deal. It problem as toxic poison caused make a difference when death was not uncommon to weep dur­ by a combination of two medica­ comes. My two sons, both of ing the worship. Sometimes I did tions prescribed by another doc­ whom live in distant cities, BY CARL G. CONNER tor. stayed in constant contact with Pastor We admitted my wife to an me. Few days passed that they E lizabeth C ity, area hospital around six o’clock did not call. While they were un­ N orth Ca r o lin a in the evening, and she died at doubtedly grieved by the loss of 1:30 the following Tuesday after­ their mother, they were con­ noon. A beautiful and fruitful cerned about their dad! ministry o f 38 years came to a One young couple— the hus­ sudden end. I was not prepared. band is a fellow minister— stood One may minister for many by me. A day seldom passed years, counsel several bereaved when they did not come to see families for a year and feel very me. They invited me to their confident in doing so, but it is a home where w e sat and talked. different story when death Occasionally we shared a meal

T he P re ac h er’s M ag azine • Septem ber, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 40 PERSONAL GROWTH

not know whether I was weeping short time. One good thing— my with her. She had also been a for my departed wife or because blood pressure, always relatively parishioner of mine seven years of the presence o f the Holy Spirit low, dropped to 116 over 65. earlier. I didn’t even know her who was my Comforter. Months passed. More than 300 address. She gave me the infor­ Fourth, recognize that loneli­ friends mailed me sympathy mation that I requested. ness may be an immediate prob­ cards. Cards continued to come A few days later, I sat down lem. as news of my wife’s death and wrote a note o f thanks for I was lonely. An older brother spread across the nation. I her call. Then, as days passed, I agreed to spend the nights with prayed for the cards to stop com­ realized I was attracted to her me for a few weeks until I made ing in order to give me a chance and picked up the telephone and personal adjustments. to get over the death. But they called her. One call led to anoth­ Loneliness was heightened as I continued to come. Even as er. As we compared notes on watched my sons dividing my Christmas approached, I began likes and dislikes, I discovered wife’s considerable library. Books receiving the usual notes ad­ we had a great many things in they did not want they con­ dressed to “Carl and Sara.” My common. She was a school­ tributed to our church library. As wounds were opened all over teacher— both my late wife and I a public school librarian, she had again as I took time to write and had been teachers. She was in­ collected a sizable library, which tell close friends she had died. terested in music and owned a was her joy. The absent books Fortunately, time passed rapid­ Baldwin piano— I had an almost signaled the vacancy in my home ly because I stayed busy. Then identical one. She had lost her and heart. one night a close friend from an­ husband 21 years earlier in Viet­ Fifth, my strongest advice to a other state called. “How are you nam. She had three sons— I had minister who has lost a compan­ getting along?” he asked. I ad­ two. ion is to stay busy. mitted I was depressed and lone­ The result was marriage. During the first few weeks fol­ ly. He finished the conversation Looking back on these happy lowing my wife’s death, I arrived and hung up. years, I realized our meeting at church each morning around Later, I learned my friend years ago was ordered by God. If 7:00 or 7:30 instead of the usual called a former parishioner who nothing good came out of my 8:30.1 often remained in the of­ lived in the same city as he. short pastorate in Georgia but fice until 7:00 in the evening to “Have Violet call the pastor,” my meeting Violet, it was worth it. A avoid being home alone. Thank­ friend suggested to Violet’s public schoolteacher and pastor fully, looking back, I spent a great mother. in one household make for a deal of time in prayer. Sometimes “Why?” she asked. busy schedule. Thank God He I wept and prayed as I drove “Well,” responded my friend, brought us together. across the city to make hospital “perhaps she can comfort him.” In all honesty, I am not com­ visits. And, yes, there were times Several evenings later, Violet pletely over my w ife’s death. It when I asked God why. called. She talked of her admira­ has been particularly difficult to Meals became impossible! Like tion for my late wife and asked accept the cause o f her death. many depressed individuals, I how I was getting along. Follow­ What do you do when you lose lost all appetite for food. As a re­ ing the 15-minute conversation, your companion? Trust God! I sult, I lost 11 pounds in a very 1 asked if I might correspond made it, and you can too! PM

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T he P re ach er’ s M agazine • Se p tem b er, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 41 THE PASTOR’S FAMILY

often leads to an inability to deal with personal feelings or to un­ derstand the feelings o f others. Hardening of the emotional ar­ teries sets in, leading to difficul­ ties in interpersonal relation­ ships. Sometimes the pent-up emotions and pressures of being the “perfect kid” erupt in an ex­ plosion of anger toward God (or parents). Mr. and Mrs. Pastor are crushed. What went wrong? Michael seemed like such a good kid. Very likely Michael simply couldn’t stand being in the pres­ sure cooker of perfection any longer. myth has a grain— per­ must be models in behavior, What can we do about this haps many grains— of dress, and spirituality. The chil­ myth? Yes, part o f the job de­ truth, but it is not the -t dren get the underlying mes­ scription of a church leader is to whole truth and may sage: Mom and Dad’s love for model God’s way o f family life. even be deceptive in them is conditional on good be­ But how can we do this without someA important way. Although surround havior. They easily transfer this denying problems or demanding many people believe in myths, message over to their relation­ unreasonable perfection? following one may lead to per­ ship with God. The answer lies in our motiva­ sonal disappointment. the Mr. and Mrs. Pastor may give tion for Christian living. If our As a PK (preacher’s kid), the their children the idea that if their actions emanate from an ongo­ wife of an ordained minister, and family has problems, no one ing relationship with Christ, we a professional counselor, I have ministerial should know. To admit problems will communicate this to our identified some common myths is to admit imperfection. They children. We w ill be concerned that impact the behavior o f min­ family? must deny feelings, put on a good about how we stand with God, isterial families. Because family front. Appearance counts. But and not be overwhelmed by how religious values closely tie into Michael and Michelle, alert PKs we stand with the congregation how children feel about their How (In that they are, know everything we serve. Our way o f living family, myths can affect the spiri­ isn’t right. They know how they comes from how God wants us tual growth of the pastor’s chil­ feel, even though Mom and Dad to live— not from what the dren. deny those feelings. The kids in­ parishioners expect. We should terpret the instructions to “look never let the parishioners’ wishes Myth No. 1: The minister's good” for the parishioners as crass dictate our expectations for our family should be (is) perfect. the hypocrisy. All o f this game-playing children. We must teach our chil­ Mike disrupts the general sci­ can easily lead to feelings o f per­ dren to derive their enthusiasm ence class for the umpteenth fectionism— a denial of grace, a for life from God. When that time with one o f his famous spiritual reliance on self for salvation. happens, the model for the con­ pranks. His teacher is exasperat­ Denying feelings and problems gregation takes care of itself. ed and yells, “How can I ever be­ lieve anything your father preaches when you act like this?” Mr. and Mrs. Pastor know that church members expect their family to be perfect. In their de­ sire to be models to their con­ gregation, the couple places a heavy burden of perfection on their children. Phrases like “We can’t do that— the members wouldn’t understand” or “Shsh, BY DONNA J. Daddy’s the preacher and every­ H ABENICHT

one’s looking at us” slip out fre­ Berrien S p r in g s ,

quently. The pastor’s children M ichigan

T he P re ac h e r ’s M a g azine • Septem ber, O ct o b e r, N ovember 1998 42 P THE PASTOR’S FAMILY

The answer lies also in how relationships difficult. The satis­ priorities for our time. The mo­ we deal with problems. Pretend­ faction of the addictive need be­ ment personal devotions begin ed perfection doesn’t show our comes paramount.2 This, in a to slide, we walk on dangerous children how to deal with their ministerial family, means putting ground. Satan quickly substitutes own guilt and imperfections. If others’ needs before those of the his motives for God’s and traps we humbly admit our own short­ family. This “sacrifice” feeds the us in his net o f ego needs. comings and ask forgiveness, our pastoral ego but starves the fam­ We need to be specific in seek­ children will feel surprisingly ily. ing God’s help to direct our daily warm toward us. They will also Mr. Pastor promises to lead out activities. We need to ask for cre­ learn how the grace of God oper­ in the games at Michael’s birth­ ativity in solving human prob­ ates in real life. The burden of day party on Saturday afternoon. lems. We need to be ruthlessly perfection will be removed by But early Saturday morning Sis­ honest with ourselves. Are we the comforting and reassuring ter Suzanna calls and asks the doing this because it makes us grace of salvation. pastor to please help her move. feel important? Could someone Yes, we can be a model for the Everyone she knows is gone for else help? Are w e willing to give parishioners, but only by being the weekend, and besides, the up some control to others (assis­ in close communion with God. pastor is such a good organizer. tant pastor, elders, deacons, and Our modeling becomes the natu­ Things will go so much better if deaconesses)? Have we orga­ ral outgrowth o f our walk with he is there! nized our church so the mem­ the Lord. Our children must hear to be Sister Suzanna, a new church bers can help meet the needs of this message and experience the member, really needs his sup­ others? Can we say no graciously freedom needed to grow spiritu­ ll port, reasons Mr. Pastor. Maybe but firmly, without feeling inse­ ally. he can get back in time for the cure? Are w e aware of the effect party. Mom can cope— she al­ of flattery on our priorities? And Myth No. 2: Every need is a ways has before. “No problem,” the most searching question of call from God. responds Mr. Pastor, “I’ll be over all: What will be important 10 The phone rings constantly. right after breakfast.” O f course, years from now? Parishioners, the conference, the ourselves. the moving takes longer than ex­ The answer to the myth o f the city fathers, the church school, pected, and Dad doesn’t make it pastor meeting every need also other conferences, discouraged to the birthday party. lies in a firm commitment to saints, dependent clingers, and Are we When five-year-old Michael family needs. Putting work first myriads o f others want to talk to asks why Daddy didn’t come to and family second does not pro­ the pastor. Most calls involve a his party, Dad explains how he vide the undergirding necessary request for something and don’t had to help Sister Suzanna. And for children to grow spiritually. respect time— family time, meal­ Mom covers up for her husband Placing God first reorders our time, sleep time, devotional by reminding Michael that “Jesus priorities into family second and time. The needs and the calls is happy when we help other work third. Putting the family seem endless. people.” That doesn’t satisfy before work does not mean sec­ Each request raises the specter Michael, who feels let down that ond-rate work. It may actually of turning down a call from God. makes us Daddy wasn’t at his party. result in better work because we So Mr. and Mrs. Pastor keep try­ Michael and Michelle soon then focus on the most impor­ ing to meet everyone’s needs. In learn that they are less impor­ tant aspects o f our calling. Our time a grave but subtle danger feel tant than others. Eventually this families will know their impor­ arises: the pastoral ego begins to translates into feelings o f rejec­ tance to us exceeds that of oth­ feel needed and indispensable. tion and resentment o f their fa­ ers. Each call feeds an insatiable ego. ther’s job. Because his work is a How does this work in practi­ Gradually God’s will and Mr. and religious calling, they easily cal terms? Consider again Sister Mrs. Pastor’s need for approval transfer these negative feelings Suzanna. The pastor had several and feeling needed become in­ to their father’s God and his alternatives. (1) He could have tertwined, and, as Tim Hansel church. told her he would help for only shows in When I Relax I Feel How can the ministerial family two hours (placing a limit on his G u ilty busyness becomes an evi­ keep in perspective the many de­ availability), because he had an dence of doing God’s will. In mands on their time? Isn’t their appointment later that day (writ­ contemporary terminology, the specialty helping God meet hu­ ing family commitments in the pastoral couple has become ad­ man needs? The answer lies in weekly schedule instead of leav­ dicted to doing good. an intimate connection with ing them to chance). (2) He The problem with any addic­ time’s Creator. Helping others could have suggested that Sister tion is that it dominates a per­ can never substitute for personal Suzanna call one o f the deacons son’s life and makes rational de­ encounter with God. Before the (delegating responsibility). (3) cisions about everyday life and day begins, we must seek God’s He could have given her the

T he P r e ac h er ’s M agazine • Se p tem b er, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 43 THE PASTOR’S FAMILY *

names o f some teenagers who between meals and giving a bad phasis on spiritual gifts may would like to earn a little extra example to the members.” The guide the ministerial family to money. baby needed an afternoon nap, set their priorities for church in­ As soon as he received the but he had difficulty sleeping in volvement on the basis o f their call, Mr. Pastor should have strange places. Sometimes he own gifts. Lay leadership and thought to himself, Nothing is would drop o ff to sleep, only to participation in different aspects more important today than my awaken as they moved on to an­ of ministry would certainly re­ son’s birthday party. He also other home. At the end o f the duce the possibility o f ministerial should have been aware of the day they had a cranky baby and burnout. desired effect of Sister Suzanna’s a critical husband who told her flattery on his ego. His family she was ruining his ministry be­ Myth No. 4: Spiritual activities commitment called him to be cause she couldn’t “make the ba­ nourish personal spiritual growth. home in time to prepare for by behave.” The young woman Church services, Sabbath Michael’s party and share the felt totally inadequate as a min­ schools, and prayer meetings are pleasant event with them. ister’s wife. Every week this sce­ all good, but not sufficient to Children understand real nario was replayed. What should nourish spiritual growth. Prepar­ emergencies like a death or an There exists she do? Her husband believed ing sermons, giving Bible stud­ accident, but they quickly recog­ the myth. ies, and serving others can help, nize pseudoemergencies. They Because religion is the life ca­ but they in themselves are insuf­ will share their parents for the reer of ministerial families, their ficient. Sending children to real emergencies, but they will children have certain advan­ church school, Pathfinder meet­ resent it when Dad ignores them of overex tages. They attend services regu­ ings, and summer camp, though in favor o f ego-satisfying “emer­ larly, frequently hear about God highly desirable, cannot compen­ gencies.” and salvation, learn to respect sate for a personal relationship Children need their parents posure and love the Bible, and often ex­ with Jesus Christ. every day. A special time each perience the joy o f serving oth­ All these activities do have day for play or reading creates a ers. However, along with these their role in personal spiritual warm bond between parent and until advantages, there exists the dan­ growth, but the question is, Are child. When Dad spends time ger of overexposure until reli­ they motivated by Christian love with his children before leaving gion becomes routine and loses expressing itself in joyous ser­ for evening appointments, he religion its heart appeal. vice, or are they a kind o f salva­ gives a forceful message of love. To require children to attend tion by works? The danger be­ When children know their im­ all the services in one or several comes real when ministerial portance to their parents, they churches where Mr. Pastor is the families begin to think o f these also know they are equally im­ minister ignores the normal activities as making up for defi­ portant to God. needs o f children and imposes ciencies in family life. After all, routine and an impossible burden on the Mr. Pastor is working for God. In Myth No. 3: The minister's family. Children cannot be ex­ our rush of activities for the fam ily must attend all church pected to forgo their own Sab­ Lord, we are too busy to notice functions and be active in bath school classes and attend our children’s needs. We think all church programs. two or three church services everything is going fine, until I never met the anonymous heart each Sabbath. They need activity that day when reality hits. Chil­ writer o f a letter I received, but on Sabbath just as they do on dren rarely collapse overnight. my heart ached for her. The wife other days of the week, and such The little red flags are usually up of a ministerial student, she activity should be with their for a long time. wanted to be his perfect helper friends with whom they feel True, God does care for our in­ in ministry. However, a serious close. An unbalanced church life adequacies, but not our deliber­ problem arose. Her husband in­ often leads to boredom, resent­ ate flouting o f His priorities. sisted that she and their 15- ment, and eventually to rejec­ What we sow, we reap. His in­ month-old son attend services at tion. struction is clear: There is no both churches in the district How can we communicate to substitute for individual time where he worked as a student members our involvement and with Him, for family worship, for pastor. After the services he support without denying the nor­ heart-to-heart talks with our wanted them to accompany him mal needs of our children? Per­ children, listening to them and on his afternoon pastoral calls. haps we should begin by exam­ being there when they need us. She found it impossible to keep ining our own attitudes about the baby quiet through both ministry. Most church members Myth No. 5: The minister church services, and he didn’t understand today’s lifestyles and represents the voice of God want the child to have a bottle would probably welcome a more speaking to humans. because that would be “eating family-oriented ministry. An em­ Unfortunately, some individu-

T he P re ach er’s M ag azine • Se p tem b er, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 THE PASTOR’S FAMILY

als are attracted to the ministry children to decision-making. wise confusion follows. When because of an unhealthy need or They communicate reasons for switching from authoritarian to desire to exercise power and au­ parental sanctions and provide authoritative parenting, we can thority. When a minister believes openness between parent and expect things to get worse before he or she is the voice o f God in child. The parents do not exer­ they get better, as with any ma­ all matters, it can lead to ex­ cise authority for authoritys jor change in family structure. treme authoritarianism in the sake, but, in communicating rea­ Children in late childhood or the teen years will not know how to family. As the voice o f “divine sons for rules, encourage chil­ authority,” the pastor believes in dren to participate in learning be more involved in self-direc- doing whatever he or she wishes how to live. The parents feel se­ tion. A ministerial family does pro­ to any member o f the family. cure about their parenting role; Such an individual denies hu­ they do not feel secure about vide advantages for spiritual growth. But perpetuation of cer­ man fallibility, shuts o ff new their parenting role; they do not ideas, and exhibits authoritarian- feel threatened because they tain ministerial family myths type parenting. The situation know they remain in control. Au­ places a burden on a pastor’s may even lead to child abuse— thoritarian parents fear loss of home. A close relationship with physical, sexual, or emotional. control, so they exercise it in ex­ God, a careful reordering of pri­ Of the four parenting styles treme. orities, an awareness o f prob­ identified by research (authorita­ Authoritative parenting leaves lems, and an attempt to let the tive, authoritarian, indulgent, more room for children to make positive dominate the family at­ and neglectful),3 the authoritari­ decisions. Therefore, it reflects mosphere would ensure a spiri­ an style remains the most dam­ God’s method of helping humans tual and balanced pastoral home aging to the child’s moral devel­ grow in spirituality and charac­ in which God remains the true opment, religious values, and ter. Parents can best understand Head o f the family. PM self-concept. Children reared in authoritative parenting by study­ ing God’s Father role. 1. Tim Hansel, When I Relax I Feel Guilty authoritarian homes often have (Elgin, 111.: David C. Cook Pub. Co., 1979). difficulty making decisions be­ How shall we react to this 2. Craig Nakken, The Addictive Personality cause all decisions have routine­ myth o f authoritarianism? Pas­ (N ew York: Harper and Row, 1988). 3. Eleanor E. Maccoby and John A. Martin, ly been made for them. Over the tors do have a responsibility to “Socialization in the Context of the Family: communicate God’s Word to the years they amass a reservoir of Parent-Child Interaction,” in Handbook of anger against their parents and parishioners, and they do have a Child Psychology, ed. Paul H. Mussen, 4th God. Many times they leave priestly role in the family. Lead­ ed., vol. IV of Socialization, Personality, and ership, however, does not imply Social Development, ed. E. Mavis Hethering- home at an early age and reject ton (New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1983), family values. pastoral-parental infallibility. 37-56; cf. Ellen G. White, Counsels to Parents The authoritative parenting Studying different parenting and Teachers (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific style retains parental control and styles and gradually introducing Press Pub. Assn., 1943), 155; Child Guidance (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald Pub. them into the family can be help­ sets firm limits for children but Assn., 1982), 263. provides more communication ful. If parents attempt new ways and support. The parents gradu­ o f parenting, the children must Reprinted with permission from Ministry ally and supportively introduce know this ahead o f time; other­ magazine, November 1991.

BEYOND BELIEF

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T he P re ach er’ s M agazine • S ep tem b er , O ct o b e r , N ovember 1998 45 TODAY’S BOOKS

Sept. 29, 1991), and his 22 ref­ erences to them, also with quotes you will not believe. Crouch avidly supports Copeland, Kenneth Hagin (father of the faith movement), and a denomination that is “a cult which claims that the trinity is a pagan doctrine” (p. 360). He calls people who question his doctrines “heresy hungers,” and says, “Quit blocking God’s bridges, or God’s gonna shoot you if I don’t” (p. 360). Crouch says, “If you want to criticize Ken Copeland for his preaching on faith or Dad Hagin, get out o f my Time in 1991 exposed Robert life! I don’t even want to talk to Christianity in Crisis Tilton’s fraud, this book exposes you, or hear you. I don’t want to by Hank Hanegraaff many o f the TV people whom so see your ugly face” (p. 360). (Eugene, Oreg.: Harvest House, many of us look to as deeply de­ Our careful author dresses up 1993), 447 pages, $12.99 vout persons, who, in many the outline of his book with long PA156-507-6966 ways, I think, are indeed devout. lists of alliterations, which only They name to God the nice some readers w ill find helpful. Don’t buy my theology book. things they want, especially Whereas I have reviewed scores At least, not until you have wealth and health. This book if not hundreds of books for over bought and read Christianity in names the people who do this 40 years, and whereas I have Crisis. and quotes some of their weird, perhaps never reviewed one that Evangelicals in general need mythical, cultish, nonbiblical, has been out some three years, I to read this expose of the faith and non-Christian teachings. have never called attention to a movement, which for years, over If you are impressed by Benny book more needed to be read by and over, has been slipping up Hinn’s soft-spoken sweet-spirit- us evangelicals than this one. on our blind sides. edness as I always am when I see The “name it and claim it” him operate as on the TBN net­ The New International people are often not naming the work, with the methodical in­ Commentary on the right things. They want you to stances of people being “slain in New Testament have wealth. You are to become the Spirit” and caught by associ­ THE BOOK OF REVELATION wealthy by making them ates, along with his so-called gift Revised Edition wealthy. The hundredfold in­ of knowledge due to which he by Robert H. Mounce crease here, folks, is for their cof­ BY J. KENNETH says he knows what diseases are (Grand Rapids, Mich.: fers, not yours. They get theirs being healed out in TV-land, Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1998), 475 first, and then, they say, you will GRIDER read this author’s expose of pages, hardback, $44.00 get yours. “Referring to his Distinguished Visiting Hinn. He gives 42 different (PA080-282-5370) wealth,” one of them says, “the Professor o f Religion, sources for his treatment, includ­ reason he drives a Rolls Royce is Olivet Nazarene ing Christianity Today’s study of No New Testament book has that he is following in the steps University; and him in its September 3, 1992, is­ of Jesus” (p. 34). Professor o f Theology sue. Health is the same as wealth— Emeritus, Nazarene If you love Kenneth Copeland the Christian is supposed to en­ Theological as I do, as one who has listened joy both. Some of them simply Seminary to him perhaps hundreds of do not allow flu and other ill­ S un La k e s , A r izo na times, always finding what is nesses into their houses, into helpful and winnowing out the their lives. Jesus w ill just as sure­ harmful, read this scholarly ly heal you as He will bring you Christian author on Copeland wealth. When the apostle Paul and his dear wife, Gloria, from sought God for healing three 46 of their sources. times, some of them fault Paul— Read about Paul and Jan and some say that his “thorn in Crouch and their estimated half- the flesh” was Satan. billion-dollar TBN empire (see p. As Diane Sawyer on Prime 417, footnote 223, L.A. Times,

T he P re ach er’s M a g azine • Se p tem b er, O ct o b e r, N ovember 1998 46 CHURCH GROWTH

caused as much confusion and been subjected to as many varied interpretations as Revelation. To­ day we continue to witness a surge of popular interest in Bible prophecy and questions concern­ ing such matters as the “last days” and the second coming o f Christ. Scholarly debates contin­ ue as well, especially regarding the occurrence, timing, and the­ ological significance o f the “tribulation” and the “millenni­ um.” When the first edition o f this commentary on Revelation was rin Am, a scholar o f the study was three and seven- published, in 1977, it was widely church growth studies, tenths years. Am claims it is not praised as a standard commen­ reported a significant cor­ coincidental that 82 percent of the tary on the Apocalypse. In this relation between church churches in America find them­ new edition, now based on the growth and the number selves plateaued or in decline. text o f the NIV and Nestle-Aland, of years in the pastor’s present Arn believes that denomina­ Mounce has revised and expand­ pastorate. tions that allow pastoral change ed his work to reflect more than Based on a study by Kirk Had- every few years are allowing the 20 additional years of mature away, author o f Church Growth continued plateau and decline of thought on Revelation and to Principles, two questions sur­ their churches. He says that pas­ bring this work up to date with faced: (1) Is longer pastoral tors moving every four years in­ the latest scholarship. tenure associated with church crease the likelihood of their As in the original edition growth? (2) Is frequent pastoral own church and the church they Mounce here engages seriously turnover associated with de­ leave behind remaining with the various approaches to cline? plateaued or in decline. interpretation and with the con­ Analysis of 542 randomly se­ Am further cites the ludicrous­ ventions common to apocalyptic lected churches revealed 20 per­ ness of the physician, dentist, or literature. In affirming more di­ cent or more increased over a other professional relocating rectly his own reading o f the five-year period, 15 percent de­ every four years and expecting Apocalypse, Mounce steers a clined, and 5 percent plateaued. to build a growing and loyal cus­ middle course between an ex­ I found it interesting that tomer base. treme literalism and a highly three-fourths of the growing What makes the church think imaginative subjectivism, believ­ churches had pastors who had it can expect any long-term in­ ing this to be the way the an­ been at their church for four or fluence on a community using cient text spoke to the first-cen­ more years. Conversely, two- short-term leadership that relo­ tury churches to whom it was thirds o f the declining churches cates every few years? addressed— and the way it had pastors who had served Obviously, pastoral longevity speaks to us today. there for fewer than four years. will not produce church growth Robert H. Mounce is president Plateaued churches remained BY WAYNE M. by itself. There seems little emeritus of Whitworth College randomly distributed. WARNER doubt, however, that rapid pas­ in Spokane, Washington. He is The average pastoral tenure Pastor toral turnover produces short­ author o f numerous articles and among Protestant denominations Battle C reek, term leadership and prevents books, including the volume on in the United States at the time of M ichigan significant church growth. pm Matthew in the New Internation­ al Biblical Commentary series and a popular commentary on Revelation titled What Are We Waiting For? pm

T he P re ach er’s M agazine • S ep tem b er , O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 lenge! There is romance in fac­ ing such a challenge. There has to be romance in ministry— for we are ser­ vants. It is a strange sound to the materialistic world— a mind-set that seeks to gain and talks in terms of “what’s in it for me.” God’s language and ways are dif­ ferent. He calls us to a cross, to sacrifice, and to service. Jesus gave us one o f His Kingdom prin­ ciples when He said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoev­ here is romance in ministry. ed, “She has been a reminder er wants to be first must be slave Yes, some w ill doubt the that there is a huge difference of all” (Mark 10:43-44). There is very words. For too many, between working for God and romance in serving. there has been little or no being with God” (ibid.). Our There has to be romance romance in ministry. But be­ partnership with God is not just in ministry— for we are touch­ causeT o f the lack o f it in some we “doing ministry.” It is a relation­ ing the lives of people. There are cannot conclude that it is not ship of redemption— He is our two ways to see people— as prob­ there for others. Ministry will Savior. It is a relationship of lems or as potential. No one have its low times, its valleys, its love— He loves us not because would deny that there are prob­ dry season. But, take heart—joy we do ministry, but for who we lem people in our world. They get comes in the morning! There is are. It is a relationship o f cove­ all the press! If we are not careful, romance in ministry. nant— He is committed to us be­ we could conclude that all people There has to be romance yond our comprehension. He is are problems. The romance in the in ministry— for we are in Father to us, He is Comforter, He ministry comes from helping peo­ partnership with God. Ministry is is Healer, He is our “all in all.” ple, sharing God’s good Word God’s business, not ours. For too Relationship means to relate. with them, seeing it take root in many pastors the ministry is a God relates himself to us by their lives and bear fruit. Ro­ solo journey. Without God as our bringing His love, His Spirit, and mance comes from touching the Partner, ministry loses its ro­ His resources, spreading them on lives o f people in their moments mance and its motivation. the table o f our souls. In this re­ of crisis and, having their warm, There has to be romance lationship He invites us to par­ affirming response, know then in ministry— for we are in the take at His table, to be nour­ that you were an ambassador of greatest partnership in the world. ished, to be fed, to be equipped God. Romance comes from com­ It is a humbling thought to realize for ministry. There is romance in forting people in their hour of de­ that God has called us to be His such a relationship! spair and knowing it makes a dif­ spokespersons with such a great There has to be romance ference. Romance comes from and desperate message. When we in ministry— for we have a sharing the joys o f people, know­ comprehend all that means, we great cause. Kevin A. Miller, edi­ ing you had a part in the joy mix. BY C. NEIL STRAIT can only be encouraged that we tor o f Leadership, tells of being at In their book Pastors at Risk, H. B. District are in partnership with God of a conference. At a time in the London Jr. and Neil B. Wiseman Superintendent, the universe, the source o f all our closing session, people were wrote, “Who else has a commis­ Michigan District, abilities, the fountain of all our asked to pray for other partici­ sion from God to walk into the Church o f the strength, and the wellspring of all pants. During that prayer, Kevin main events of the human drama Nazarene our words. There is romance in Miller said one woman prayed as a proxy for the Living Christ?” Grand Rapids, such a partnership. this prayer for him, “Thank you, ([Wheaton, 111.: Victor Press, M ich iga n There has to be romance Lord, that you have entrusted 1993], 234). There is romance in in ministry— for we are in a him with the gospel of Christ” helping people. grand relationship. Heidi ([ Leadership, Summer, 1996], 3). There is romance in ministry! Husted, in an article titled “Four There is romance in a cause, a This is not to say that every day Ways I’ve Found Encourage­ mission, bigger than life. The is a celebration of victory or suc­ ment,” tells of a relationship ministry is a trust. God entrusts cess. But the victories o f ministry with a spiritual director, and those whom He calls with the outweigh the downside. So, be how this director “helped me lis­ most thrilling news the world encouraged, pastor, your min­ ten to my life” ([Leadership, has ever heard. He entrusts that istry can be one of romance and Summer, 1996], 44). Heidi stat­ news to our care. What a chal­ victory. PM _1 T he P r e ac h er ’s M ag azine • Sep tem b er , O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 February 15-17. 1999 H. Roe Bartle flail ■Kansas City, Missouri

A Millennial Celebration eft ffelin&M, tk& 'T fX ^ y ^ e' eft ffej?&

Mid-Quadrennial Evangelism Conference ansas City will be the site Kof the U.S.A. Church of the Nazarene’s celebration of the changing ol the century and the millennium. Haddon Robinson William Willimon We invite our laity along with our pastors to join us in recognizing the James Dobson advent of the third millennium and the 21st century. We have invited several of the most notable Christian communicators to speak to us about the challenges and opportunities at this momentous event in time. The Jim Cymbala George Hunter III Board of General Superintendents will be addressing the issues of identity and purpose in the coming century. John Maxwell We urge Nazarenes throughout the U.S.A. to join us in Kansas City February 15-17, 1999, for this once- in-a-liletime celebration. We also implore all our members to pray for H. B. London Jr. divine blessing on this important gathering of the church.

17/e of tf&wui/ Great Musical Program

THE BOARD OF GENERAL SUPERINTENDENTS t> Monday, February 15

Registration from 12 to 5 p.m . Historical pageantry of our Nazarene heritage with John Knight, general superintendent John Maxwell, special guest speaker

Tuesday, February 16 • Speakers include Bill Bright and George Hunter III • Luncheon with discussion groups (optional) • Workshops • Evening worship service with James Dobson

te> t fc t t& th& Wednesday, February 17 • Speakers include Jim Cymbala, Haddon Robinson, H. B. London Jr., and William Willimon • Luncheon with discussion groups (optional) • Workshops • Evening worship service focusing on identity and purpose in the 21st century • Dramatic presentation

The following list is just a few of the large number of workshops that will be offered:

Urban Evangelism Volunteers: Recruiting People to Ministry Understanding Gen-X Ministry Thinking Globally, Acting Locally Sunday School: Reclaiming Our Birthright Prayer: Connecting with God Starting New Churches Reading the Culture Churches Daring to Change Preparing for Worship Style Changes Lay Mobilization Relationships for Life Media, Message, and Ministry Compassion Evangelism

-EXHIBITION CENTER-

Hours: Monday, February 15 2-6:30 p . m . Tuesday, February 16 10:15 a . m . -6:30 p . m . Wednesday, February 17 10:15 a . m . -6:30 p . m . Housing Form

DESIGNATED HOTELS The Kansas City Marriott Downtown and the Hyatt Regency Crown Center hotels have been named the designated hotels for the 1999 Millennial Celebration. SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT YOUR HOUSING RESERVATONS 1. Housing forms are released to the Nazarene public August 1,1998. Reservations should be received no later than January 13, 1999.

ALL REQUESTS MUST BE PROCESSED THROUGH THE KANSAS CITY HOUSING BUREAU. TELEPHONE REQUESTS W ILL NOT BE HONORED. ALL REQUESTS MUST BE IN WRITING. 2. Prior to January 13, 1999, any cancellations or changes in arrival and departure times must be made directly with the Housing Bureau. After January 18, all changes must be made directly with the hotel. 3. Please allow three to four weeks for the Housing Bureau to process your reservation request.

’ Please complete all information and mail or fax this form to the Kansas City Housing Bureau no later than January 13,1999. N o phone reservations will be accepted. Within three to four weeks you will receive an acknowledgment from the Housing Bureau. The hotel will send a confirmation at a later date. A credit card will guarantee your reservation, or you may send a one night’s deposit to the hotel after re­ ceipt o f your hotel confirmation. All changes and cancellations are to be made in writing directly to the Housing Bureau before the January 13, 1999, deadline. After the January 18, 1999, deadline, you may contact the hotels direct. All room rates are subject to a 12.1% local tax. Room assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Instructions: Please list your arrival and departure dates. If you do not give dates, you will be assigned to the official convention dates, which are February 15-17, 1999. Select the type of room desired with the number of persons in each room. Print or type names of all per­ sons occupying each room. Use a separate form for each room requested.

Downtown Kansas City Hotel Rates HOTEL NAME SINGLE DOUBLE DOUBLE/DOUBLE TRIPLE QUAD (! person / 1 bed) (2 persons / 1 bed) (2 persons / 2 beds) (3 persons / 2 beds) (4 persons / 2 beds) Hyatt Regency $89.00 Crown Center $89.00 $89.00 $99.00 $109.00 Marriott Downtown $92.00 $92.00 $92.00 $107.00 $122.00

HOTEL CHOICES: All rooms must be guaranteed. If you wish to guarantee your room by credit card, complete the following: 1st:______2 n d :______Credit Card No.: Arrival Date:. _/ Card Type: MC VS DS AX DC (circle one) Tim e:______. Departure Date:. / Your name as it appears on the card:

Normal check-in time is 3 rm. and check-out time is noon fo r all hotels.

Room Type (mark one): 1 bed:______2 beds:______Names of persons in room: Number of people in room:______

Please check any room preferences: Nonsmoking:_____ Handicapped:_____ Rollaway: (not avail­ able in two-bed room )_____

I am attending (please check all events that you will need this hotel Name:_ room for): ______U.S.A./Canada Leadership Conference Church Name:______U.S.A./Canada District Sunday School Chairpersons’ Meeting Address:______Millennial Celebration City:______International Board of Education State:______. Zip Code:______Women’s Council ______General Board Phone: (______) ______Other Fax: L

Mail your form to: The Kansas City Housing Bureau, EO. Box 26310, Kansas City, MO 64196-6310 • or fax to 816-691-3880 (PLEASE DO NOT BOTH FAX AND MAIL THIS FORM.) FOR REDUCED AIRLINE FARES CONTACT: American Airlines— 1-800-433-1790, File No. 2429UD If using American Airlines, you may receive a discount through Avis Car Rental— 1-800-433-1790, File No. B136000 Delta Airlines— 1-800-241-6760, File No. 117565A Trans W orld Airlines— 1-800-325-4933, File No. V16709 Or, you may access these discounted fares by contacting your local travel agent directly. p STEWARDSHIP

tributions among two or more of the options offered. Next, determine the amount of investment risk you can accept. Generally speaking, the younger you are, the more risk you can tol­ erate. This is because market fluc­ tuations historically have aver­ aged out over time. A 28-year-old retirement plan investor can, and should, invest more aggressively than a 60-year old, who generally should be more conservative. Finally, decide how to allocate your retirement dollars among the investment options available to you. Many o f you w ill consid­ er investing in a combination of options with varying levels of risk. You should take the time and effort to learn about the different investment options offered by your church’s retirement pro­ gram. Armed with this informa­ e’d all like a way to invest done some of the diversification tion, you’ll be on your way to a few dollars today and work for you. To diversify fur­ making the best decisions for be guaranteed a return in ther, divide your retirement con­ you. p m the millions of dollars— preferably by this time next year. This notion, o f course, falls under the heading of “too good to be true.” When you invest money in a retirement plan, you want it to BEYOND BELIEF grow as much as it can as fast as it can for as long as it’s invested. You also want it to be secure and safe. Unfortunately, these desires probably compete with one an­ other. Maximum growth poten­ tial usually means maximum risk. “Safer” investment strate­ gies normally yield lower re­ turns. Can you invest in a way that produces satisfactory re­ turns at acceptable risk levels? Yes. First, think “diversify.” In other words, spread your retire­ ment plan assets among a vari­ ety of options. This can decrease risk because market forces that influence one investment type may not similarly affect another. Most denominational retire­ SUBMITTED BY ment plans offer several different PENSIONS AND investment options. The differ­ BENEFITS USA, ent options usually invest mon­ eys in a group o f securities. That CHURCH OF THE means each option already has NAZARENE

T he P re ach er’s M agazine • S e p tem b er, O c to be r, N ovember 1998 STEWARDSHIP

theyre struggling. “But, with God’s help, you can begin with what you have and God will stretch it— if you let Him.” “Now that sounds a lot like prosperity gospel to me,” I’ve been told. I’m not proposing a miracle to circumvent the laws o f cause and effect. What I pro­ pose is a sound system o f “giving management” that honors God first and, at the same time, orga­ nizes the whole life in such a way that finances are in control. Spiritual principles for all giving f l l o some it seems that financial out o f the hole is to ‘Seek ye first are found in two passages, one in a stability has as many illusive the kingdom of God’ (Matt. 6:33, the Old Testament and the other I twists as a sidewinder slither- k j v ) . My first obligation is to ac­ in the New Testament. “Bring the I ing across the desert floor. Bill knowledge God as sovereign whole tithe into the storehouse” I and Jane came to me on a over all my life.” (Mai. 3:10). The tithe is a tenth of sultry August morning and asked “But we don’t have anything the increase in possessions accord­ if I would help them out of a fi­ left over. We can’t even pay the ing to Deut. 14:28. The second nancial disaster in their marriage. bills! How can we even think of part of this principle is that one Financial disaster in a marriage is a tithe?” Jane pleaded. must give with a cheerful heart (2 generally the symptom of a deep­ “I didn’t say the word ‘tithe,’ Cor. 9:6-9). Giving grudgingly ap­ er disease that must be treated be­ did I?” plied is not giving but paying a fore finances can be cured. “What else could you mean?” debt. Jesus paid our debt. We are I was prepared to probe deeply Bill asked. not obligated by a debt. We are to discover the problem when “That’s God’s way,” I said. “But brought into a new relationship Bill said: “I don’t know how it all there are two things you’ve got to where everything we have belongs happened, but there’s more remember: First, God doesn’t to God and where all the riches of month left after the paycheck charge dues for church member­ God are ours in Christ Jesus. runs out than there is money in ship and, second, the church isn’t For those who wish to argue the bank. We’re six months be­ a bank where you make deposits that the law o f tithing is an Old hind on the rent. We need some that earn interest in heaven.” Testament law that made provi­ help or w e’re out on the street.” I’ve counseled many young cou­ sion for the priests o f the Jewish What many people blame on ples on their last leg financially. Temple and does not apply in the their lack of income is more likely The one thing that strikes a com­ church, I would enlist counsel the result of a faulty philosophy mon cord with each situation is from father Abraham (Gen. underlying their management of that they want a quick fix. Most 14:18-20). Abraham gave a tithe life. So I asked, “How long did it don’t want a change o f lifestyle long before the Law o f Moses take you to get into this mess?” but some magician who’ll make all came into effect. Abraham gave “I don’t know,” Jane respond­ their debt disappear. No such ma­ his tithe to Melchizedek, king of ed, “it seems w e’ve always been gician exists. I found a formula I Salem. I may easily transliterate behind someway.” believe can assist anyone who is Melchizedek’s title to be the “There are no quick fixes,” I serious about financial stability—if Prince o f Peace. Abraham gave counseled. “If you’re going to get theyre willing to let go and allow unto God. It is not the law but a free of this debt, you’ll have to God to readjust their priorities. principle of living that a tenth of discipline your lives. Notice, I The first principle o f stability— all one’s increase belongs to God. didn’t say discipline your spend­ whether in the home, the commu­ Then Bill asked, “If I can’t give ing. That’s only part o f it. The nity, or the church— is giving with 10 percent without the threat of secret to stewardship integrity a cheerful attitude. I know how debtor’s prison, how do I do it? I doesn’t lie in organizing your ridiculous this may sound. Many can’t commit 10 percent then ex­ money but in organizing your life. people have asked me, “How can I pect to pay my debts. I can’t Are you willing to give it a shot?” give if there’s not enough to feed even pay them as it is.” “We’ll try anything.” Bill spoke the children or pay the rent? It That’s where the rub comes in. If for both of them. “But I don’t BY JOHN CONLON just isn’t possible!” I ever expect to get my priorities know how long it’ll be before we Pastor, New “Yes.” I usually agree after right, I must commit everything I lose everything.” Beginnings Fellowship comparing their income with the have— not just 10 percent— but all “The first principle of getting O r e m , U t a h payment schedule under which I have and am to God. I am a new

T he P re ac h er’s M agazine • S eptem ber , O ct o b e r , N ovember 1998 STEWARDSHIP

creature in Christ Jesus. My life is unless I am committed to live by The thing that makes this possi­ changed; my priorities are new. it. Now that I have balanced my ble is not a commitment to finan­ When I am forgiven, the past is income at $1,600 per month and cial discipline but the commitment forgotten. So I start from today. If my debt at $1,600 per month by to whole life giving. As I consecrate I stole in the past, God forgives management and negotiation, I my income to pay back those from me now and remembers my sin still find that there is not enough whom I have stolen, I am also no more. If I have murdered in to pay the tithe. What do I do? committing my time to God, my the past, I may have to pay the After I work with the figures mind, my gifts, my all, and every­ civil penalty of the law. When I very carefully, I find that I can thing to God. I am learning disci­ confess that crime to God and ask squeak out $30 a month to God pline and gaining in the service of forgiveness, my sin is forgiven and by sacrificing Cokes and other God. When I have committed my I am free o f the guilt and released personal treats. I begin with that. whole life to God, stewardship is from the bondage o f sin. This Then I identify my smallest credi­ not a matter of the pocketbook but same principle carries over to the tor. I pledge to repay, say $30 a a faithfulness that enlists all of me. financial sins I have committed by month, to this debt until it is fully God said to those who contin­ overspending and worshiping my repaid. Then, instead of moving ued to shove sacrifices and in­ charge cards more than God. that $30 that has been freed up by cense before His face: “Stop bring­ When I repent of that sin and con­ paying off the smallest debt to pay ing meaningless offerings! Your fess my guilt, God is faithful and some other debt, I add that on to incense is detestable to me.... If just to forgive me. I still have the my tithe. I now am tithing $60 a you are willing and obedient, you civil responsibility to repay that month. Again I select my smallest will eat the best from the land” which I have taken in the past. creditor and begin to work that (Isa. 1:13,19). Just because God forgives me debt down to nothing. When I The first thing in stewardship is does not release me from the civil find extra money in my purse or total commitment to God. I can’t debt I owe any more than God’s wallet, rather than falling for use my financial limitations as an forgiveness of a murderer releases high-pressure advertisements, I excuse to give less than $160 a that person from the civil penalty use that money to accelerate pay­ month or renege on my commit­ for his or her crime. The things I ment of my debts. There are al­ ment when I want something for have purchased do not belong to ways emergencies for which I myself. I am realigning my priori­ me; they belong to the credit bu­ must have provision in my bud­ ties to give all of myself. I am fo­ reau, or the department store, or get. But extra money, income tax cused upon God and His kingdom to whomever I have contracted an rebates, and things like that need first. I am no longer rationalizing obligation to repay. to be channeled toward debt re­ or manipulating, but maintaining So, what is my responsibility? I duction. When I can maintain a a pure heart before God. This pure have made a commitment to tithe committed focus on this repay­ heart is characterized by honesty and give God all that is His. How ment schedule, I will work my and decency in everything I think do I get out of this “catch 22” situa­ way out of debt. At the same time, and do. I am repaying my earthly tion? I have an income of $1,600 I will begin to meet my obligation obligations as well as putting God per month. I have a debt of $1,800 toward paying my tithe. first in all things. As I commit my­ per month. I have a tithe obligation After doing all this, I am not self to God, I must not incur more of $160 per month that pushes my forced into filing for bankruptcy debt. I must begin to live within debt to $1,960 per month. How do which may amount to breaking the the limits of my income. I must I pay my tithe and still meet the eighth commandment. Instead, I rein in my lifestyle to be in harmo­ obligations I am obliged to pay to am on the way to being released ny with my income. I have found my creditors. Do I say God comes from debt. When all my obligations that when I do this, I may not re­ first and the people I’ve borrowed are under control, I will discover I ceive a landslide of financial help, from don’t get paid? Is that rob­ have extra income. Then I can be­ but I always receive more from bing the Visa card to pay God? The gin to make up any back tithe I God than I give to make my life a commandment says, “Thou shalt owe to God in the same way I have repository of peace and joy. That not steal” (Exod. 20:15, kjv). repaid my civil debts. The principle only happens when I follow the First, I must take an inventory behind all of this is that God sees second principle of giving— to give of all my debts. Then I must ne­ into the motive of my heart and with cheerfulness. Not a surface gotiate with the people I owe on honors the honesty and integrity cheerfulness but from a heart of how to pay them a lesser amount with which I come to Him. He has gladness and joy. each month until I am able to re­ promised to open the floodgates of Bill and Jane began to follow pay everything. That means I heaven with blessings when I re­ the counsel I gave them. Within a must curb my spending and ac­ turn to Him that which is His own. couple years, they were well on quiring appetite. I accomplish What I am returning is my life, their way out o f debt and were this by preparing a budget. How­ wholly committed, unconditionally able to tithe fully without robbing ever, a budget is of little value given to Him. the Visa card to pay God. PM

T he P re ach er’s M agazine • S e p tem b er, O c t o b e r , N ovember 1998 farmer. In his later years, his in­ tensive studies of the Bible led him to pronounce in 1831 the general period o f Christ’s return Accounts show Miller to have been a sincere man. He was in­ tent on believing the Bible. In particular, he constructed a prophetic scheme from the bibli­ cal books of Daniel and Revela­ tion. The New York Herald reported Miller’s prophecies. Miller first predicted that fire would destroy civilization on April 3, 1843 (the approximate beginning o f the lu­ nar year). This pronouncement caused quite a stir in New En­ / \ n the cover o f the U.S. News come synonymous for many in gland. Although the destruction I la n d World Report, December the Western World. And as we did not come to pass, the move­ !| 19, 1994, is a picture of The approach the end of this millen­ ment rapidly gained listeners. I I Virgin and Child from the nium, history can teach us some Miller later declared the Day of V / studio of Andrea Solari. Be­ important facts. Dates often fas­ Atonement (even his calculation neath it shouts the headline cinate people. Some attach of this date was one month late), “Waiting for the Messiah: The prophetic meaning to approach­ October 22, 1844, as the day of New Clash over the Bible’s Mil­ ing years. The closer we get to Christ’s return. Hundreds lennial Prophecies.” such times, the more new climbed hillsides, waiting for the The article highlights the large prophecies seem to appear. For Second Advent. Again, nothing percentage (61 percent) of example, around the year a.d. happened. Miller died in 1849, Americans who believe Jesus 1000, there was speculation in continuing to believe in the im- Christ will return to the earth, Europe about the end of the minency o f Christ’s return. but it also shows the wild confu­ world. Almost a thousand years Interest in the future is not a sion about how that return will had passed since Christ’s birth. new phenomenon. From the be­ take place and approximately Did not the Bible speak o f a mil­ ginning of time, people have had when. A troubling part o f the ar­ lennium of the kingdom o f God an obsession to know about the ticle is its reference to how “the on earth and then the Judg­ future. In the past, magicians, mystery and promise of the Sec­ ment? Was it not evident from astrologers, seers, and witches ond Coming o f Christ have fired man’s corrupt condition that the were consulted to interpret Christians’ imaginations . . . and Judgment must be nigh? dreams or discern the signs in artistic and theological creativity We read about this in the writ­ the heavens. The only source of but sometimes destruction and ings of a German monk named authoritative prophecy, however, violence as well.” Johann Trithemius (1462— is the Bible. And almost one- The article says, “The history 1516): “In the thousandth year third of the Bible is predictive o f the church is filled with self- after the birth of Christ, violent prophecy, dealing with future proclaimed prophecy experts earthquakes shook all o f Europe events. The focus of all biblical who think they have cracked the BY MORRIS and throughout the continent prophecy is the return o f the biblical code and pieced together CHALFANT destroyed solid and magnificent Lord Jesus Christ. precise timetables for the end of Evangelist, Church o f buildings. The same year a horri­ There are no less than 1,845 the world.” ble comet appeared in the sky. the Nazarene references to the second coming Predictions of apocalypse are Seeing it, many who believed of Christ in the Scriptures. Of Bo u r b o n n a is , Illinois hardly new. Just about every age that this was announcing the last these, 1,527 are in the New Tes­ has had its doomsayers, and day were frozen with fear” {A tament. Whole chapters and there have been many episodes History o f the End o f the World, books are given to this thrilling in which prophets have gathered Yuri Rubinsky and Ian Wise­ theme. An average o f 1 in every their flocks to await the Apoca­ man). 25 verses of the Bible refers di­ lypse, only to be greeted by the Perhaps one of the most fa­ rectly or indirectly to this future embarrassment o f another sun­ mous examples o f failed predic­ event. For every mention o f His rise. tions is that o f the American first advent, there are eight men­ The end o f the world and the preacher William Miller— a sol­ tions of His second coming. The return o f Jesus Christ have be­ dier, atheist, and prosperous second coming o f Christ is a pre-

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,minent doctrine o f the Scrip­ tures. Billy Graham has said that more prophecy has been fulfilled in the last decade than perhaps in all of the years since the fall of Jerusalem. The front pages of many of our newspapers read like pages straight out of the Book of Revelation. Nature is in upheaval, civilization is in chaos, governments rise and fall, wars flare, and talks of peace increase. Many of the things Jesus spoke of are coming to pass. He said when you see these things, you know that His coming is near, even at the door (see Mark 13:29). The time of the end and o f the sn’t anything timeless? What’s to make friends with a mouse, second coming o f Christ is uncer­ a retired preacher to do? modem, printer, E-mail, or the tain. This is one of God’s great “Web.” secrets: “Of that day and that Doesn’t anything stay the way hour knoweth no man, no, not it is? the angels which are in heaven, In a recent church publica­ Several weeks ago out-of-city neither the Son, but the Father Ition the reader was assailed friends came to visit. Just before leaving their home they turned [only]” (Mark 13:32, k j v ) . For with a number o f articles and this reason, questions or specula- ■ columns that pressed the point— to their computer and using a tions concerning it are unneces­ computers in churches are in­ “program” typed in our address. sary, also unprofitable. evitable. In fact, they are here! What “printed out” was an accu­ Concerning the end time and About 10 years ago I bought rate map of our city highlighting the second coming of Christ, G. what was then called a personal the location of our home. It also Campbell Morgan emphatically word processor. For several years identified every eating place in declares, “One of the fundamen­ I jumped into discussions about the city limits with its proper tal positions of the New Testa­ computers and other electronic name and a red dot to catch the ment is that the hour o f the aids, touting the virtues o f my eye more readily. This they ob­ Lord’s return is not known, nor equipment. Recently, however, tained in just a few minutes. can be.” Hence anyone claiming when I referred to my word Yeah we know, don’t look back, to know the day and hour of processor, a listener said, “O yes, something may be gaining on Christ’s coming is merely indicat­ well that’s just a glorified type­ you. ing that he or she is not heeding writer.” In other words, if you’re Increasingly what we do or say what Christ himself said con­ going to insist on driving an ’86 is becoming quaint. We over­ cerning His return: “Of that day Toyota, please keep it to your­ heard someone referring to us as and that hour knoweth no man.” self. So I’m keeping the kind of “that nice older couple.” That’s a One evening Murray Mc- car I drive to myself. nice warm fuzzy. It’s also a push Cheyne was entertaining a com­ Am I out o f it or what? When to the sidelines. pany of friends. To each he put our family visited us this sum­ So we are staying timeless by the question “Do you think the mer, our oldest granddaughter using those behaviors that have Lord Jesus will come tonight?” asked if she could call her cousin proven to keep us in relationship When all had replied, “I think in Kentucky. “Sure,” we said. A with one another: notes of love, not,” he went on to say, “That little while later she whispered hugs, kisses, and pieces of means that He may come to her mother that our phone rhubarb pie— with a choice o f ice tonight. ‘For in such an hour as didn’t work. cream or cheese on the side. (If ye think not the Son of man “I pressed all the numbers, but rhubarb pie isn’t timeless, we don’t know what is.) cometh’” (Matt. 24:44, k j v ) . nothing happens.” She had never Herein is the paradox: The used a rotary phone before. In the meantime, we wish you fact of the end o f this age and All this electronic wizardry well finding your way onto the the second coming of Christ is as seems to be so far away from our Internet. pm certain as the dawn; the date is daily lives. Secretly we’ve been as humanly unpredictable as a hoping to make it to Maple flash o f lightning. PM Grove Cemetery without having

T he P re ach er’ s M agazine • Se p t e m b e r , O ct o b e r, N ovember 1998 PREACHING HELPS

Traditional hymn with organ and I piano only.

Responsive reading— varies in kind and methods.

Offering with various kinds of of. fertories.

Special music.

Sermon.

Smaller praise team leads in in­ vitation, closing hymn, or cho­ rus.

Reflections/ applications/chal­ lenges. masterpieces. They lose a lot INTRODUCTION moving from sound to sight. Closing prayer. pastor in the waning years The first four sermons deal of the 20th century is spe­ with common spiritual issues of Sometimes traditional benedic­ cially privileged. Many of Christians. The next four are tions. PM | the mores required o f him drawn from 2 Corinthians, a let­ or her at the beginning o f ter written to people much like the century have faded. Pastors A us. The next sermons look at be­ have more freedom to be the ing saved, growing in grace, and person God made them. That re­ being sanctified. The last sermon flects in language, dress, and in­ is the first sermon of Advent. terests. September Our local church worship ser­ Coupled with the loosening o f vices usually follow along these pastoral protocol is the explosion lines: o f resources and tools for preaching. None is more w el­ Traditional organ prelude. comed than the computer with its links to the world and its Praise team begins service with skills in word manipulation. one or more upbeat choruses (all These changes have drastically choruses and hymns are project­ affected the way we worship. ed on a screen that comes down Sunday-best clothes look nothing at the beginning of the service like the business dress o f a and goes up during the offering). decade ago. Attention spans get shorter and shorter. Bibles flood Traditional choir enters. the church. Music changes as fast as best-seller book lists. Lay leader makes announce­ Sound is generated, amplified, ments. recorded, and broadcast by mis- sion-control-type systems. Or­ Mini drama on focus of the gans and pianos have given way morning. to keyboards, and projection has supplemented hymnals. Lay leader reads scripture and And sermons— ah, yes, ser­ prays. mons— have changed. They are shorter. They are more direct. Four or five more choruses. They move fast. They are not so proprietorial. These sermons Prayer with open altar. move far from the traditional il­ lustration, three points, conclu­ PREPARED BY Pastoral staff “share” as appro­ sion, challenge. They are not JIM CHRISTY priate.

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good to the evil. Blake Seven, an English space story, end­ ed with the leader betraying his team. In history studies, it is amazing how easily everything from a secular source is accepted and how quickly any­ thing from a biblical source is viewed with suspicion. Bill by Jim Christy Moyers’ Genesis series continues the method o f verifying 2 Cor. 5:1-10 the Bible by the secular instead of verifying the secular by Sept. 6, 1998 the Bible. This not only happens with the past but also “We have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, happens with the dreams and hopes and purposes God not built by human hands” (2 Cor. 5:1). has planted in our hearts.

INTRO II. WE STRUGGLE ON EARTH BECAUSE WE BELONG IN Two things have more to do with our view o f God than HEAVEN (V. 4 ) with anything else. They are our belief in creation and If we belong in heaven and have eternity infused in our our belief of eternal life in heaven. They deal with the be­ very existence, then we do not belong on this earth. As ginning and the end of time. Both are shrouded in mys­ the songwriter put it, “This world is not my home / I’m tery and require us to accept them by faith because of just a-passing through.” what is written in the Bible. One of the great conflicts in There are ample proofs that this world is not and can­ science today is the question o f creation. The issue echoes not be our home. Paul tells us to look at our bodies. They in our courts as w ell as in our classrooms. Evolutionists are the tents that hold us together, not very good tents at reject God as the Source o f all things, substituting a series that! They get old. They break. They do not always work. of chances as proof. Christians believe God created all They limit us. They control us. They keep us from doing things. more than they let us do. The same remains true of heaven. The Bible defines The world that surrounds us is more hostile to our bod­ heaven. We know angels and uncountable numbers of ies than it is helpful. Science seems to discover that al­ people from every tribe and tongue and time will be most everything eventually causes some sort o f problem there. We know Jesus stands as the central Person and all for the human body. Food is filled with things that can present will love and adore Him. The Bible does not tell trigger cells to grow wildly. Air contains poisons to the where heaven is, if it operates in time and space, or ex­ body. Sunshine slowly destroys the elasticity o f skin and actly how we fit in. spawns cataracts in the eyes. ILLUS. One man, dead for several minutes, reports vis­ The inventions of humans that make life easier, faster, iting heaven. While there, he met old friends and rela­ more efficient, broader, and wider also cause a constant tives, sang songs of praise, and had a glorious time. When source of deformities, pain, exhaustion, and suffering. he awakened, he did not want to stay on this earth. Humans bring grief to each other. Only the smallest num­ These two— creation and heaven— are important to ber o f people bring us joy. Too often those who bring us everything else in our lives. One explains where w e came joy also bring us sorrow. Our own bodies work against us. from and the other explains why we are here. They set They grow weary, depressed, sick, and aged. People sing the framework for our dreams, our disciplines, our direc­ a lot of songs about the body growing old. The finest tion. As the product o f God’s creative act, we see our­ bodies wear out. In a different place, Paul the apostle selves as special, unique, irreplaceable. Because w e have writes that if this earthly life in this earthly body is all a heaven to gain, we see each day as an investment in that we have or will ever have, then we Christians, of all our personal future. people living, are the most miserable. God never intended for this earth to be all, to be the I. WE WERE MADE FOR HEAVEN (V. 6) end. He created us for eternity. That’s why we constantly Here Paul puts creation and heaven together. They be­ feel homesick— even when w e’re at home, why we are long together because the one supposes the other. God constantly feeling like we do not belong, why we never made us with eternity in mind. Our existence is not for a quite enjoy a peace within ourselves. This holy discontent short 50, 60, or even 120 years. God created us to dwell is the call o f eternity God has placed in all o f us. with Him forever. Gazing into a night star-filled sky, we Paul calls this sense of lacking something as being sense that we are destined for those stars. God put the naked. Corrie ten Boom wrote about her life in a Nazi stars there for us. God puts us here to enjoy them. God concentration camp where she was sent for helping res­ placed eternity within us when He made us. cue Jews who were being sent to death camps. She was Writers have penned dreams of humans moving among required to stand before her guards totally naked. The the stars. We have the popular Star Trek and Star Wars, men walked around her, inspecting her body. She felt along with dozens o f sagas going back to Jules Verne. As I shame and embarrassment. She hated that moment more read and watch these stories, I am moved by two things: than any other in her whole life. She wanted to hide and (1) the grandeur o f the dreams and (2) the corruption o f could not. Paul talked about something other than bodily the dreams. Without Jesus, these dreams become corrupt. nakedness. He spoke of nakedness o f the person. This But the dreams remain. If you follow any space stories, nakedness was difficult for me to understand until I be­ you know how they move farther and farther from the gan to think about all the studies on human nature dur-

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ing these last few decades. There is a wealth of informa­ vorced and she had not seen her dad in over a year but tion out there about us. All of it is drawn from our physi­ he was coming to take her to dinner. I tried to brace her cal natures. for his not showing up. The longer we sat there, the more ILLUS. I walked into a bookstore last week. Instantly convinced she was that he was coming and the more sure my eyes were drawn to a woman standing inside the I was that he was not. After about 30 minutes, I was door. It was only as I got closer that I realized she was a about to tell her that she needed to go home. Then an old statue. I felt foolish saying “hello” to a statue. I looked car drove up, trailed by blue smoke. A man jumped out of around to see if anyone had seen me. the passenger side o f the car, ran to the girl, picked her Little by little, layer by layer, we humans are being up, hugged and kissed her. He waved at the driver and stripped o f what covers our uniqueness. Think what kind the two, father and daughter, walked with arms around of world w e shall be living in as studies o f human genes each other down the street. and hormones, blood chemistry and nerve systems get more precise. In the O. J. Simpson trial, the jurists and potential ju­ SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER rists were studied until their outcome vote was guaran­ Congregation Meditation for Worship teed. Take an inventory o f the friends and relatives you have in We are becoming more and more naked as people. It is heaven. nearly impossible to hide behind clothes, homes, jobs, Opening Prayer families. The bad part of all this is that the more naked Scripture Reading...... Isa. 57:1-2; Rev. 21:1-6 we become, the less comfortable we are, the more we re­ Choruses...... “Come into His Presence with Thanksgiving” alize we do not belong. “Great Is the Lord” “Peace in the Valley” III. GOD HAS GIVEN US THE HOLY SPIRIT AS OUR “The Happy Jubilee” DEPOSIT OR GUARANTEE OF HEAVEN (V. 6 ) “He Is Lord” This assurance looms very important as w e live day by H ym n s...... “W hen We All Get to Heaven” day in this world where we know we do not belong. And “My Savior First of All” we know will not be around very long. D ra m a...... “The Gate of Heaven” ILLUS. A boy and a girl were separated after their par­ Worship with Tithes and Offerings ents died. The boy, 2 years old, was adopted by a family Pastoral Prayer in Missouri, the girl, 3 years old, by a family in Colorado. Serm on...... “Hope of Heaven” Seventy years later they met but were not sure they were Closing Chorus...... “There Is a River” who they thought they were. The 72-year-old took out of Benediction...... Rev. 7:12 his billfold a piece of paper wrapped in plastic. It had written on it, “You are the son of Paul and Edna Turner.” The 73-year-old woman reached into her purse and PASTORAL PRAYER pulled out a tiny box. In it was a paper that read, “You Focus your prayer on those who are going through the “val­ are the daughter o f Paul and Edna Turner.” For 70 years ley of the shadow o f death.” they had carried those papers. We carry the Holy Spirit a lifetime. He is our guarantee that we belong to God and that our home is with Him. CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS

Heaven is real. God wants us to be there with Him. I Pastor’s Preparation want you to be there too. Make your plans to be there. The sermon target is reminding the congregation there is a Come to Jesus. Let Him take you to heaven. heaven to gain that w ill be the fulfillment of all the hopes ILLUS. One Sunday morning, I noticed a girl about 10 God has placed in us. It is essential that the pastor is caught years old standing on the sidewalk outside the church. up in the hope w e have through Christ.

Everyone had gone home. I asked her if she needed a ride Opening Prayer home. “No, thanks,” she said, “my dad is picking me up, “Lord Jesus, w e celebrate and worship You, make yourself and w e’re going to dinner together.” known to our waiting hearts and infuse in us the hope of I said I would wait with her. We sat on the grass and heaven.” talked. She told me that her mother and father were di­

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shocked by my words. He bristled, saying the man was stupid and deserved any pain that came his way. I asked him again how he could have such feelings as a Christian. He then went into a long explanation of Christian respon­ sibility to think. I pointed out there is a big difference be­ by Jim Christy tween Christian thinking and attacks on people. I haven’t 2 Cor. 2:5-11 visited with him for a while now to find out if he has con­ Sept, 13, 1998 tinued his attacks or has repented. “If anyone has caused grief... he has grieved all o f you” (2 There is one and only one test for our actions— do they Cor. 2:5). please God? Sin causes us to build a case for our wrong acts. INTRO The church has always viewed the group o f believers as II. PAUL'S GRIEF AFFECTED THE WHOLE CHURCH (V. 5) family. The church at Corinth was a family, but something Paul handles this attack in a brilliant way. He sees it for had split them apart. Paul was trying to get them to move what it is. It is an attack on the whole church family. from community to family. ILLUS. During the Vietnam war one of the favorite at­ tacks o f the Vietcong was to spread small land mines all I. PAUL WAS ATTACKED BY A CHURCH MEMBER (V. 5) over an area. Often the mines looked like toys. They We are not sure what happened to Paul, but someone rarely killed anyone. Instead, they blew o ff a leg or an who was a member o f the Corinth Community Church at­ arm or blinded the person. Many children were maimed tacked Paul, either physically or verbally, questioning his for life. character. The Vietcong did this because they knew a dead person Sin destroys respect and regard for the family and the could be abandoned but an injured person required the possessions of the family. attention of at least one person and often a dozen people. ILLUS. A lady told me of the horrors she experienced Well-placed injuries could hurt the whole squad or com­ as a teen in her own home because her older, bigger, and pany. A soldier whose buddy just had his arm blown o ff stronger brother would sneak into her bedroom and rape would forget the fighting and go to the aid of his buddy. her night after night. Sin in his heart sent him into her If anyone in the church family is attacked, the whole room. church suffers. A blow to any one of you is a blow to me. Sin destroys respect for the family. Sin destroys respect A blow to me is a blow to you. for the church family. When someone attacks with the in­ tent of harming or destroying a member o f the church III. THE CHURCH REACTED AGAINST THE ONE WHO family, that attack flows from sin in the heart. CAUSED THE GRIEF (V. 6 ) Right now the churches o f Colorado are in a struggle The church understood something very simple: the for their survival. In November an item on the ballot, if it ones prompted by sin to attack others in the church will passes, will mean the closure o f hundreds of churches be­ sooner or later turn their attacks on the rest o f the cause churches will be forced to pay property taxes. Some church. Sin in the heart is never satisfied. It must conquer churches will be required to pay more than they receive and conquer and conquer. As soon as sin has destroyed in offerings. This referendum was presented by a lawyer one, it must move on to another. That is the nature o f sin. who as a child and teen was molested by a Roman Sometimes people foolishly think they will be treated dif­ Catholic priest many times. He is intent on getting re­ ferently. They are wrong. Actions prompted by sin have venge for what he suffered. He wants to punish all no respect for anyone. churches for what he suffered. He readily admits he hates ILLUS. I grew up in a large family. It was so big we the church. Nothing would please him more than for the had about every kind of person possible in it. My family church to disappear from the face o f the earth. This at­ was not alike. Every one of us was different. Our family tack on the family of God comes from sin in his heart. had a deadbeat, a crook, a liar, a society starlet, a boss, a Whoever attacked Paul was prompted by sin. wheeler dealer, a social climber, a moneymaker, a money Sin creates excuses for inappropriate behavior toward spender, a girl who broke all the guys’ hearts, and one the family. Once in a while all o f us do stupid things that whose heart all the guys broke. We were never allowed to bring harm and hurt to others. Yet the minute we are have the radio on. I think I know why. We could never made aware of how harmful our actions have been, we have agreed on the station. We would fight for the best immediately repent and begin mending our ways. Sin in seat in the car— the top o f the pile. We had unbecoming the heart, on the other hand, begins rationalizing and ex­ nicknames for everyone. One sister was so stubborn we plaining the behavior. In “political speak,” we call that called her the “white goat.” Another was “Gabby Maggie” “spinning.” because she never stopped talking. I was visiting with a friend this summer who began a We knew where the line was between family fun and tirade against a district superintendent. At first, I thought attack. We never crossed that line without risk. he was simply sharing his observations. However, as he I remember one time when it happened. One o f my sis­ talked I realized he was attacking the man. I asked him ters seemed destined to never date. She was stuck be­ how he could feel that way as a Christian. He was tween two sisters whom the boys lined up to date. One

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sister would have two dates some evenings. This particu­ o f the church is skeptical. A dozen years later Paul is still lar sister never had a date. She did not seem to have the struggling with a few who do not trust him. Yet Paul knack for attracting guys. Any guys who talked to her knows the grace o f our Lord Jesus Christ can take sinful were trying to get to the other sisters. people and transform them. He knows because God had One morning the girls were getting ready for school transformed him. and fighting over the bathroom. A fourth sister was trying Paul points out that the one who has attacked the to get into the bathroom and my nondating sister stood whole church through an attack on Paul has repented and in her way. She said to her, “I don’t know why you take so is letting Christ transform him or her, now needs the long in the bathroom; no guy will look at you!” grace of God extended to him or her through the church. Suddenly the whole house got quiet. No one said a He or she cannot demand it, nor does that one deserve word. My nondating sister opened the door to the bath­ forgiveness. But the church is called to carry out the re­ room and silently walked to the bedroom and shut the demptive acts o f Christ that include forgiveness and door. Throughout the day the sister who attacked re­ restoration. ceived the silent treatment. We younger ones knew she Family forgives and restores. Family welcomes home had done something awful, and w e could not speak to the very one who has tried to destroy it. Family senses her. That went on for several days with the delinquent the prodigal has been transformed and welcomes him sister trying to convince the rest of the family that what home. she said was true. No one budged. The family knew that if she got away with that, soon she would set her sights on the rest of the family. I was too young to know how SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER things were resolved, but I know a long time passed be­ Congregation Meditation for Worship fore that attack was put to rest. Pray for those around you in this morning’s service. This is what happened when Paul was attacked. The Opening Prayer church slowly realized the danger to itself and began iso­ Scripture Reading...... Deut. 30:15-20 lating the attackers. Gal. 6:1-6 Choruses...... “Come into His Presence with Thanksgiving” IV. THE ONE WHO CAUSED THE GRIEF REPENTED (V. lO ) “Great Is the Lord” We have no idea how much time elapsed between the “Gende Shepherd” attack and the repentance. The repentance did not occur “Family o f God” immediately. Paul left the church stunned and deeply “He Is Lord” concerned by the attacks. He knew the whole church Hymns...... “We Exalt Thee” could turn from serving Jesus Christ if nothing changed. “Glory to His Name” Much later, he writes o f his relief that the troublemaker Dram a...... “Getting Along with Aunt Tillie” had repented and was committed to changing. Worship with Tithes and Offerings Pastoral Prayer V. PAUL INSTRUCTS THE CHURCH TO CAUTIOUSLY Sermon...... “A View o f Community” EMBRACE THE REPENTANT ONE (W . 7-8) Closing Chorus...... “We Are One in the Bond of Love” Trust betrayed is not easily restored. One o f the most Benediction...... Eph. 3:20-21 difficult things a marriage can face comes when the hus­ band or wife is unfaithful. I have been amazed at how many couples decide to try to hold their marriage togeth­ PASTORAL PRAYER er after one has betrayed the relationship. But the trust is Focus your prayer on the unity o f the congregation in ful­ slow to return. filling God’s call to them. Paul calls on the church to embrace the very one who wounded them. He feels the particular one has truly re­ pented and is safe to bring back into the family as a trust­ CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS

ed member. He knows it will not be easy, but they should Pas to r a l P reparation do so anyway. The sermon target calls the congregation to accept respon­ ILLUS. Paul is speaking out o f his own experiences. sibility to each other. We first hear o f him when he is making havoc o f the It is essential that the pastor does not allow problems in church, arresting and killing member after member. Sud­ the church to bleed into this sermon.

denly he converts to Christ and begins trying to enter the O pening P rayer church as a loved member. He does not succeed. The “Lord Jesus, we come into Your presence with thanksgiving church in Jerusalem is very slow to accept him. A few because You love us all. Teach us this day to share that love.” brave souls open their lives and hearts to him, but most

B T he P reacher’s M agazine • Septem ber, O c to be r, N ovember 1998 PREACHING HELPS

A. God uses our suffering to open doors to His grace. Who can better understand the suffering o f others than the one who has suffered. God does not intend for your An Open Door suffering in any area to go wasted. He has plans to use it to bless others. When you suffer, let God show you His by Jim Christy open door to use that suffering to show His grace. 2 Cor. 2:12-16 ILLUS. Corrie ten Boom arrived in America as an old Sept. 20, 1998 lady. This short Dutch woman spoke broken English. As “The Lord had opened a door” (2 Cor. 2:12). she traveled across America, speaking in churches and halls, the people by the thousands crowded in to hear INTRO her. The multitudes came to hear her because she spoke When God opens a door, that door leads to ministry— of her suffering and God’s amazing grace. to doing good. John Wesley wrote of God opening doors B. God uses our concerns to open doors to His min­ for him to preach to the spiritually hungry. The mission­ istries. ary Livingstone tells of God opening doors for him to Paul was concerned about his friend, Titus. God share the gospel with a tribal member for the first time. opened a door for him to reach out to Titus. Paul, in today’s scripture, speaks of God opening a door ILLUS. George Mueller was deeply bothered by the for him to share the gospel of Jesus. That door opens to hundreds of orphans he saw running the streets of towns him because o f his concern for Titus, his friend and co­ throughout the British Isles. God opened a door for him worker. God used Paul’s love and concern for Titus as an to help thousands of children and to establish laws pro­ open door. When God opens a door, it is always for min­ tecting children. istry. Open doors allow us to always do good to others. ILLUS. Bill Bright was concerned about the millions God never opens a door for us to get something. His around the world who have not heard or seen the story of open door always provides us an opportunity to do some­ Jesus. God opened the door for him to guide a program thing. He gives an opportunity to do something good, that plans to show the Jesus film around the world to something good to others. everyone living. Someone says something unkind to you. That becomes God opens doors through the things that touch us so an open door for you to do something kind and good in we can touch others with the things o f God. All of return. Trouble comes to you. That becomes an open God’s open doors lead to helping others, to minister to door for you to openly demonstrate your trust in God. those in need. Sickness or disease knocks you down. That becomes an open door for you to pray. II. WE MAKE A TRIUMPHAL PROCESSION WHEN WE Joseph, the son o f Jacob, saw in his brother’s treachery FOLLOW GOD THROUGH THE DOOR HE HAS OPENED an open door for God to do good through him to his “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in tri­ whole family and the whole nation of Egypt. umphal procession in Christ” (2 Cor. 2:14). Paul saw, in the disappearance o f his fellow minister, ILLUS. In ancient Rome, the head o f armies would an open door to be used by God to find and encourage bring back to Rome their trophies of war. When the sol­ Titus. When God opens a door, it is always for ministry to diers arrived outside the city, heralds would go through others. It is never a way to satisfy ourselves. Open doors the city announcing the arrival of the general. When the become opportunities to let the power of God be demon­ crowds had gathered, the soldiers would march through strated in us. the city, leading their prisoners who carried the loot cap­ When you see a sign saying a store is open, it means tured from the cities. At the head o f the parade, the gen­ you can go through the door and get something for your­ eral was carried in an open cart as the people cheered his self. When you see a sign saying “open” over a door God rich bounty that enriched all of Rome. has set before you, it means you get to do something for Paul takes this picture and shows what will happen someone else. Note what Paul says about the open door when we walk through the doors God has opened. Some­ before him. time in eternity, Jesus will lead His captives into the eter­ nal city. We, His love slaves, will follow behind carrying I. GOD OPENS DOORS AND LEADS US THROUGH THEM the treasures we gathered when w e walked through the “Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of doors God opened for us. Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me . . . But thanks be to God, who always leads us” (2 Cor. III. WE BECOME THE FRAGRANT AROMA OF CHRIST 2:12, 14). TO THE WORLD God not only opens doors but also leads us through “But thanks be to God who always leads us in tri­ them. He never tells us to go alone. In fact, it is not possi­ umphal procession in Christ and through us spreads ble to go through the doors God opens for us on our own. everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For He must lead us because the doors are always more diffi­ we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are cult to get through than we are able to manage in our being saved and those who are perishing” (2 Cor. 2:14- own strength. 15). Here are two doors He opens and leads us through: Greeley, Colorado, is known for its aroma. And even

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though a lot o f folk say that smell is the smell o f money, traveled into Macedonia to find Titus. As he writes to the it’s not our money. It’s just a bad smell. church at Corinth, he tells them that because he walked Christians spread the aroma o f Christ. To some, it is the through the open door that God was leading him through, smell o f life. To others, it’s the smell o f death. the church at Corinth would be blessed by the coming of Ti­ ILLUS. One o f the pleasant surprises that has come tus whom Paul had found and was sending to them. from the lowering of the Iron and Bamboo curtains is the This morning God has placed before each o f you an fact that the number o f Christians in those countries is open door— an open door to do good, to let your suffer­ much larger than anyone thought. Why? Through suffer­ ing, your good things become opportunities to send the ing and tough times, God has opened doors for Christians aroma o f Christ to the world around you. God has placed to minister. before you an open door, a door to reach out and touch One o f my favorite stories that came out o f China is your world for Christ, a door to those who are perishing. about a Christian man who was removed from his profes­ Follow Jesus Christ through the open door He has placed sional practice and his family and placed in a mine to before you. work. For many years, he worked until his body could not survive the work deep in the earth. So he was placed at the top as the ringer o f the bell when it was time for shift SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER changes. He was able to talk to the men as they came in Congregation Meditation for Worship and out each shift. Always he kept a right spirit, no mat­ Answer this: If time and money w ere no object, what min­ ter how cruel his treatment. He always gave Jesus credit istry would I develop? for the good. Opening Prayer One day he felt a deep need to ring the bell in the mid­ Scripture Reading ...... Neh. 2:11-18 dle of the shift. He knew it would mean his death, but the Matt. 28:18-20 more he prayed about it the more he felt he should. He Choruses ...... “Come and Go with Me” rang the bell and the men came out o f the mine. The “What a Mighty God We Serve” leaders were angry with him and were making plans to “Gentle Shepherd” execute him when the earth began to shake. The mine “Family o f God” collapsed in an earthquake that would have killed every­ “M y Jesus, I Love Thee” one inside. Hymns...... “I Am Resolved” “If Jesus Goes with M e” IV. THROUGH US GOD GIVES LIFE TO OTHERS Dram a...... “The Food Bank Gang” THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT Worship with Tithes and Offerings “He has made us competent as ministers of a new Pastoral Prayer covenant— not o f the letter but o f the Spirit; for the letter S erm o n ...... “An Open Door” kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor. 3:6). Closing Chorus...... “Gentle Shepherd” God’s open doors are meant to give life. They lead us Benediction...... Eph. 3:20-21 away from the letter to the Spirit. They reveal to us that we get to serve and to trust Christ, not that we must. Open doors are the way to freedom. PASTORAL PRAYER Take suffering as an example. Paul tells o f his suffering. Focus your prayer on ministries that the people can/need His suffering is so bad it’s unbelievable. He suffered phys­ to get busy doing. ically. He suffered persecution, both from inside and out­ side the church. He was abandoned, chased, made fun of, CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS hurt, and abused. On the other hand, he was treated like

a god, was fed and lavished with gifts. He was given seats Pastoral Preparation o f honor, taken before powerful people, provided the best The sermon target challenges the congregation to attempt money could buy. Yet, in all these things, Paul had great things for God. learned a lesson: God uses life to open doors for ministry. It is essential that the pastor dream the impossible dream God opened door after door for Paul to minister. that God is giving him or her.

Today’s scripture tells about one o f those doors. At first it Opening Prayer looked like the door opened to preach in Troas, but sudden­ “Lord Jesus, may this service be a time when w e hear Your ly it became a door to find Titus, who was missing. Paul left voice calling us to something bigger than w e are.” the comfort of Troas, with all the perks and rewards, and

T h e Preacher’s Magazine • September, October, November 1998 PREACHING HELPS

To the command about not committing adultery, we used to say, “Do not get caught.” Now we say, “Admit you cannot help it; it is a biological problem.” The New Covenant To the command about not stealing, we explain that w e are not stealing, we have a right to it. by Jim Christy To the command about not giving false testimony, we 2 Cor. 3:1-6 allow the end to justify the means. Sept. 27, 1998 To the command about not coveting, we teach that to “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant” covet is good— even profitable. (2 Cor. 3:6). The children of Adam and Eve rejected the three steps given in the garden. They also rejected the 10 steps given INTRO on the mountain on “how to get to heaven.” The best-selling books in America are not novels or Next came the expansion of the 10 commandments. even romance books. The largest selling books are how-to Over the years, these embellishments o f the 10 laws grew books. They are step-by-step explanations on what to do and grew until, by the time Jesus arrived on the earth, to succeed at something like making a boat, a desk, a the 10 had become more than 20,000 laws. The way to television set. They explain how to repair a clogged heaven grew from 3 to 20,000 steps. drain, a broken garage door, a cracked pot. How-to books have become a standard part of the Christian Book Store. III. GOD GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, JESUS, TO They explain how to become a Christian, how to be a PROVIDE A NEW COVENANT (V. 6) Christian, how to live a holy life, how to be a good hus­ Jesus came to the earth to fulfill the Law and to provide band, a good wife, a good parent. The greatest how-to us the power to fulfill it. Three laws could not be kept; 10 book o f all time is the Bible. laws could not be kept; 20,000 laws could not be kept. Je­ sus brought one law. That law is placed in the heart of each I. GOD GAVE ADAM AND EVE THE FIRST THREE STEPS person. The new law is simple— love God and love your TO GET TO HEAVEN (GEN. 1:24-30; 2 :1 7 ) neighbor. This one law written on the heart is the new The Bible begins with three steps to eternal life. Adam covenant replacing the old covenant of 3,10, or 20,000 and Eve were instructed to (1) subdue the earth; (2) pop­ laws written on stone, on paper, and now in computers. ulate the earth, and (3) avoid eating from the tree o f the There is only one way to live under the new covenant. knowledge of right and wrong. That was it. In those three That is through Jesus Christ. He is the new covenant. The steps were everything anyone would ever need to know old covenant, written on stone, paper, and computer, is to live a good and fulfilling life. dead. It is black and white. It provides no room for differ­ The sons and daughters o f Adam and Eve have rejected ences in people and places. It cannot see and understand all three steps. Instead of subduing the earth, they have a higher law. destroyed much of it. Instead of populating the earth, ILLUS. In the early days of computers, when we wrote they have persisted in starving, murdering, and destroy­ our own programs, one of the most frustrating things we ing people. Instead of staying far from the tree of the experienced was the one letter error in a huge program. knowledge of good and evil, they have persisted in ex­ No matter what you did, the program would not work ploring evil, learning more and more ways to do evil. correctly until that one letter error was corrected. The computer would continue making the same mistake over II. GOD GAVE MOSES THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OR and over again. That’s how the old covenant works. STEPS TO HEAVEN (EXOD. 2 0 :1 -1 7 ) The new covenant law, written on the heart, is alive. It Once the first 3 how-to principles were rejected, God is unique to each of us. Jesus Christ dwells with us, show­ added a new set o f how-to concepts. They are called the ing us what is best, not what is correct. In the old Ten Commandments. The 3 became 10. covenant, it is possible to keep the Law and not do good, Look how we, the sons and daughters of Adam and to obey the 10 commandments and be an awful person. Eve, have rejected these steps to eternal life. In the new covenant, it is impossible to keep the one law To the command about having no other gods, we have and not do good— and not be good. Jesus simply does succeeded in making ourselves gods. not allow you to do evil without a great inner struggle. To the command about making no graven images, we have learned to worship the image of ourselves. IV. GOD GIVES US ONE STEP TO GET TO HEAVEN (V. 6) To the command about not misusing the name o f God, The one step is following Jesus as Lord and Savior. The we have filled the air with curses using God’s name. old covenant is 3 or 10, or eventually, thousands of laws. To the command about remembering the Sabbath by The new covenant is one. These covenants have two pur­ keeping it holy, we have concluded w e do not need a holy poses. The first aspect o f covenant was to make it possi­ day. ble for us to live a good life in community and the second To the command about honoring your father and moth­ aspect was to provide a way to heaven. God has always er, we have given this job to the state. tied the two together. To the command about not murdering, we have said, A. The old covenant and the new covenant both tell us “It depends on the circumstances.” how to act in society.

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They are the foundation for how people should behave there and how we lived it, but they felt and acted exactly in society. In the old covenant, the laws are specific— do the same. The new covenant was clearly written on their not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal— whereas, hearts. Not a one would purposely hurt or harm another. in the new covenant, they are summed up in one— love They were eager to do the things God wanted them to your neighbor. No society survives long without either the do. Everything they did was intended to glorify Jesus old or the new covenant. Christ. B. The old and the new covenants both tell us how to Jesus calls us to the new covenant. The covenant o f His get to heaven. love is written on our hearts. That law will take a dozen The old covenant provided lists to keep to qualify for turns you could never imagine. It will demand much heaven. The new covenant provided the sacrificial death more than the old covenant laws, but it will give far more o f Jesus. than the old covenant could ever give. It will open for ILLUS. The Bible tells about a rich young man who you the way to heaven and eternal life. was very important in Jerusalem politics who came to Je­ sus. He asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life and get to heaven. Jesus told him to keep the com­ SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER mandments— all 20,000 of them. The man honestly said Congregation Meditation for Worship he had kept them from his youth. He lived under the old Pray for the pastor as he or she ends the sermon. Be ready covenant, laws written on stone and paper. He knew they to respond to the leading o f the Holy Spirit. were not enough, for he might have overlooked one law Opening Prayer and, if he broke one law, he was lost. He would have Scripture Reading...... Exod. 20:1-17, abbreviated failed to meet the standards o f the old covenant to get to John 3:13-17 heaven. Choruses...... “Come and Go with Me” Jesus gave him the way to heaven by the old covenant. “What a Mighty God We Serve” The man pushed a little. He said he had done all the right “There’s Just Something About That Nam e” things but was not confident of them. “Oh, How He Loves You and Me” Jesus then turned to the new covenant. He said to the “M y Jesus, I Love Thee” man, “Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor” Hymns...... “Am azing Grace” (Matt. 19:21). “Softly and Tenderly” The man was shocked. He was very rich. The old D ra m a...... “Free Rides on the Gospel Train” covenant never asked anything so extreme. The new Worship with Tithes and Offerings covenant did. He refused and walked away depressed Pastoral Prayer and sad. What he missed seeing was that, if he had Serm on...... “The N e w Covenant” agreed to do what Jesus said, his life would have taken Closing Chorus...... “Oh, H ow He Loves You and M e” on a glorious dimension of joy and peace. He would have Benediction...... Eph. 3:20-21 had the law o f love written on his heart. ILLUS. One day at the Nazarene Theological Seminary where I attended graduate school, four o f the great Holi­ PASTORAL PRAYER ness thinkers of the day led a discussion on what it Focus your prayer on the salvation o f the lost. means to be sanctified. Dr. Willard Taylor believed in and taught covenant holiness; Dr. Richard Taylor believed in and taught substantive holiness; Dr. Mildred Wynkoop CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS

believed in and taught relational holiness; and Dr. Ken­ Pastoral Preparation neth Grider believed in and taught systematic holiness. The sermon target provides an opportunity for any in the The best way to describe how these four agreed was to congregation to become Christians. put each one in the corner of the room. That was as close It is essential that the pastor prepare for the closing altar as they could come in their heads. What was so amazing, call so the music and focus are not distracting. however, was how alike they were in their hearts. Not Opening Prayer once did one take advantage of another or put down an­ “Lord Jesus, prepare us now to hear Your call. We want to other or intimidate another. They talked totally different say yes to anything You ask of us.” approaches and ideas about the holy life, how we arrived

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The standard of the world is how you are packaged. Looks count for more than brains or skills. If we have to choose between the two, most often we w ill choose the 1 Great Treasure in a one who looks the best. Only a handful of sloppy people ever are accepted as they are— and that is because they are irreplaceable. That’s why we spend a fortune on straightening teeth, removing warts, taking o ff ugly pounds, wearing contacts, dressing in fine clothes, grow­ Clay Jar ing hair, shaving hair, applying makeup, putting on pain- inflicting shoes, shampooing, perming, moussing, styling

by Jim Christy hair. That’s one reason we wash, polish, and wax our 2 Cor. 4:7-12 cars, paint our houses, green up our lawns, buy new Oct. 4, 1998 clothes long before our old ones show wear, buy tooth­ “We have this treasure in jars o f clay to show that this all­ paste, deodorant, perfume, and mints. Image is the name surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Cor. of the game from the world’s perspective. 4:7). Paul is writing to a church full of people who lived and believed like the world. They wanted all Christians to ILLUS. Some o f the best packagers, as those who sell look sharp as a testimony to the world. The beautiful, the products are called, are cosmetic and perfume compa­ best witness of Christ, they proclaimed. The package was nies. The section of the store where they sell them is as the key to the witness. The better the package, the more foreign to most men as Tibet. The products sit inside effective the witness. Beautiful people best expressed glass cases where each little bottle is wrapped in foils or Christ. The church not only used the methods o f the shiny papers with gold trim, gold embossed seals, and world to witness but also believed in them. They were gold ribbons. The product the man seeks is inside one of more interested in the way the message was presented those glass cases. It has been moved from the last time he than in the message. They spent their time making them­ was there. Moving merchandise is an old trick in selling selves look good in order to make Jesus look gopd. things. In order to find what he’s after he must look at Paul did not care much for the way these church folk everything else. At every step he is hit with sweet smells. looked at witnessing. These verses are his response to Since his goal is to get what he wants, to escape the them. place, and to get back to a Country General kind of store, he looks for a salesclerk who is not busy doing mysteri­ I. WE ARE CLAY JARS (V. 7) ous things behind the counter. In today’s language, Paul is saying we are disposable Each woman has on a black dress with a long flowing containers. We are gallon milk containers, egg cartons, scarf hanging off the shoulder held there by a gold some­ pop cans, freezer bags, shampoo bottles. Clay « r s were thing. Her hair is perfect, and her long nails are painted cheap ways to store everything from water to wine, from dark colors. Real people don’t look like that. grain to grease, from fish to flour, from salt to silver. Clay When the man buys a little bottle of perfume, the box, jars were used for trash and garbage, as w ell as hiding four times the size of the bottle, the price 10 times what places for money and jewelry. Most homes had dozens of it should be, is placed in a huge bag with the name o f the clay jars of all sizes, shapes, and colors. There wtere so perfume emblazoned on the sides. Everything surround­ many o f them that some large excavation areas Ipok like ing that perfume says, “This is wonderful perfume!” they were graveled with pieces of jars. There were fancy Packaging the product is big business in the world to­ jars that had been fired, painted, and fired again. day. We have packages to protect the product from get­ Fancy, expensive, beautiful jars are not what Paul spoke ting damaged, from getting contaminated, from getting about. He referred to the everyday kind of clay jar. The wet, from drying out, from being stolen, from getting only unique thing about these treasure-holding jars is zapped with electricity or magnets. that they often had inscribed on the outside drawings The most significant purpose of a package, though, is that revealed what was inside. We pots holding Jesus to make the product look good. The word “package” has Christ can be people who hint at what He is like by how taken on the meaning o f what it requires to sell a prod­ others see us. uct, including advertising, testimonies, and sales tech­ niques. The package has become as important as, if not II. WE HAVE THE GREAT TREASURE IN OUR HEARTS (V. 6) more important than, the product. The value of the treasure is determined by itself, not by A few years ago, a trailer or advertisement was made the vessel that holds it. The treasure is so valuable that for a movie about Robin Hood. A minicamera was mount­ the finest vessel in the world adds nothing to its value. ed on an arrow and shot through the woods. The film ILLUS. When the British were about to burn down the was played in slow motion. That advertisement did not White House in Washington, D.C., the president’s wife cut come from the film and had nothing to do with the story. out of the frame the painting o f George Washington and Yet the filmmakers liked it so w ell they inserted it in the carried it off to safety. The frame burned, but the painting middle o f the film. Some who have seen the movie have was saved. No one complained because the frame was told me that was the best part. lost. Everyone rejoiced because the painting was saved.

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The frame had value only as long as it held the painting. Once she removed the painting, the frame could be SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER

burned with little loss. Congregation Meditation for Worship When the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered 50 years Think about Jesus with you right here, right now. ago, they were inside clay jars. Ordinary jars contained Opening Prayer priceless manuscripts. No one has bothered to keep track Scripture Reading...... Psalm 23 o f the jars, but the manuscripts have been carefully Phil. 2:5-11 watched. Choruses...... “Majesty” Our worth is determined by Jesus Christ being with us. “Great Is the Lord” The disciples had difficulty understanding this idea. They “Gende Shepherd” sailed in a boat together on the Sea o f Galilee. Suddenly “His Name Is Wonderful” when a storm hit, they cried out because they feared they “Oh, How He Loves You and Me” were going to capsize and drown. Jesus reminded them Hymns...... “Spirit Song” who was in the boat with them. He implied that no way “Springs of Living Water” the boat would capsize with Him on board. Dram a...... “The Old Box in the Attic” Worship with Tithes and Offerings III. THE WORLD WILL BEST SEE THE GREAT VALUE OF Pastoral Prayer THE TREASURE WE POSSESS IN CHRIST ONLY AFTER Sermon ...... “A Great Treasure in a Clay Jar” THEY SEE JESUS, NOT US (V. 5) Closing Chorus...... “Oh, H ow He Loves You and M e” The more o f us others see, the less of Jesus they see liv­ Benediction...... Eph. 3:20-21 ing in us. A. Our greatness detracts the world from seeing Jesus Christ. PASTORAL PRAYER B. Our greatness looks plain before the greatness of Je­ Focus your prayer on praising and worshiping God. sus Christ. People see Jesus in us by the way we handle the bumps and bruises o f life. The purpose o f a clay jar was to pro­ CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS tect the treasure inside. The jar was sturdy enough to be Pastoral Preparation kicked around, rolled, dropped, set in water or mud, left The sermon target helps the congregation grasp the w on­ in a burning building, all the time protecting the treasure. der of Christ dwelling in them. ILLUS. The “football” or “black box” that carries all It is essential that the pastor first feel the wonder of Christ the codes for firing the U.S. nuclear weapons remains within so he or she can share that wonder with the people. within six feet o f the president at all times. The satchel Opening Prayer looks ordinary, but it is made o f special material to pro­ “Lord Jesus, You are worth all glory and honor and praise. tect those vital facts and the system needed to deliver As w e worship You today, may we see You high and lifted up.” commands. No one would carelessly place great treasure in a con­ tainer that could not handle it. Jesus does not come into the heart and life of the person who cannot hold Him. He comes only into the hearts o f those given strength in all circumstances. Paul shifts the picture a bit. He points out that the jar or container is made too strong to destroy because of the treasure inside. The treasure of Jesus Christ makes the jar or the Christian strong by dwelling inside. That means, if Jesus dwells in your heart, you are a vessel able to hold the treasure. This adds up to something very important. Jesus Christ is living within us! Jesus Christ, the great treasure, the pearl o f great price, is in us. He is in us, we who are pots o f clay. With such a great treasure, w e must act like people who hold something wonderful. We must live so all can see the treasure. We must not let our clay pots hide Jesus Christ.

“I don’t come to church anymore. I'm home-Sunday-schooled."ea. T h e Preacher’s Magazine • September, October, November 1998 I PREACHING HELPS

is saying the things of God will always look crazy to the world. In 2 Cor. 6, Paul writes that he has been so successful serving Jesus that he has gone through trouble, hardships and distresses, beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, by Jim Christy sleepless nights, hunger, dishonor, bad reports, regarded 2 Cor. 5:16-21 as an imposter, beaten some more, sorrowful, poor, have Oct. 11, 1998 nothing. Anyone who takes up a life that brings all these “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the things is crazy. The world calls that kind o f person sick in old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5:17). the head and in need o f much help, including extended hospitalization. Paul does these things because Jesus calls ILLUS. A few weeks ago my wife and I were looking him to do them. He does them for no other reason. Jesus for a new coffeemaker. We are terribly hard on coffeemak- says “go” and he goes. Jesus says “run” and he runs. Je­ ers, so we wanted to find one that would last longer than sus says “stay” and he stays. Doesn’t that sound like a others we have owned in the past. We stopped at Boyer’s crazy man? He acts like a trained dog. Coffee store in Denver and found what looked like some­ In this list, Paul explains what he gets for doing these thing we could use. It was mostly stainless steel. The wa­ things. The Christian reading them understands and ter lines can be cleaned with a special spring. knows he is not crazy: He says the things that brought Velma began asking about it when a short, stocky man him suffering also brought him purity, understanding, pa­ came to the front o f the store carrying his lunch in a tience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, sincere love, truthful crumpled brown sack. He began talking about the cof­ speech in the power o f God, weapons of righteousness, feemaker, telling her how it worked, how to clean it, and glory, and good report. They taught him to be genuine. a lot of things I did not hear. He spoke with affection They made him known around the world and to God, kept about the machine. Sometimes his voice sounded like he him always rejoicing, making many rich, possessing every­ felt she was about to rip out o f his life a very special thing. This list makes sense to the Christian. It makes no thing. I half expected him to grab the coffeemaker and sense to the world. Most Christians would go through a run with it, fighting her off. lot to have what Paul had. We would go through the first Later we found out the man was Mr. Boyer himself. She list to have the second things. We do it all the time. was looking at his favorite coffeemaker and it was the ILLUS. A group of mountain climbers gathered togeth­ last one. He wanted to be sure it went to a home where it er to plan an ascent of Mount Everest. These men and would be properly cared for and used. women were successful in their professional fields. They It made me think o f how God, who made us, sees us. had acquired large personal wealth. They had almost When God made us, He planted heaven in our hearts. He everything they wanted. has a great deal o f interest in us. We are always impor­ Mount Everest was known as a killer. The weather tant to Him. The Lord is willing to go to extremes to see could turn terrible overnight. The risk to them would be that we fulfill the purpose for which He made us. Paul the great. Nevertheless, they went. They invested huge apostle insists God’s desire to assure that we go to heaven amounts of time and money preparing for the climb. is so strong He came among us and died to correct the Their hike was painful and slow. separation sin caused between us. As they neared the top, a storm smashed down on God is not willing that any should perish, that any them. Half o f the climbers died. They took all the risks, should fall short o f the glory o f God. Since the days of paid all the prices for the feeling of conquering that dan­ Adam and Eve, people have been at war with God, un­ gerous mountain. To most people they were crazy. To willing to get along with Him. No matter what God says, mountain climbers, what they did made perfect sense. we humans have resisted Him. Though God brings peace Without visible and understandable rewards, anything and a full life, we resist His ways. The world thinks get­ that brings risks is crazy. The world applauds people who ting along with God is for the weak. Marx called religion attempt dangerous things for great causes. The medical “the opium of the people.” The world believes strong peo­ world stood in awe when a researcher publicly drank HIV ple do not need God. They think the person who gives in It was only months later when word came that he had to another is weak. killed all the virus before he drank them and sterilized his “Surrender” is the worst word in the vocabulary o f the potential potion of death. The world calls “crazy” martyrs human ego. People have even developed a strategy of of great causes who attempt dangerous missions. surrender that is not surrender at all. It goes like this: “All The world calls us “crazy” if we let God lead us into right, you can have your way.” What a tricky statement. It things that bring suffering, pain, failure, and sorrow. Yet keeps the speaker in charge. He or she lets you have your that is exactly what Paul says w e must do. We must agree way. He chooses to let you be boss. The subtlety is that he to get along with God no matter what He tells us to do. remains in charge by letting you be in charge. In 2 Cor. 5, Paul points out that the Christian way of I. WE ARE TO REGARD NO ONE FROM A WORLDLY thinking was different from the world’s way o f thinking. POINT OF VIEW (V. 16) Paul says, “If we are out o f our mind, it is for the sake of The world views people as something to use to get God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you” (v. 13). He what they want. One o f the marks of the worldly is the

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way they go through people, getting from each person as IV. WE ARE TO RECONCILE THE WORLD (V. 19) much as they can, and then dumping them for the next person. They prey upon people in the church as one of This calls for us to lead others to get along. the best places for worldly people to operate. They swoop No Christian lives alone. Our deeds touch the world into a church, make friends with people, use them, and around us like the ripples spreading out over a pond when a then charge off to another place to find more people to rock is tossed in. When we are changed, we begin to change use. After a few dozen times that this happens to Chris­ our world. It may not look like much, but it will make a dif­ tians, they become suspicious o f new people who arrive ference. A litde change makes a big difference over time. on the scene and immediately act like friends. ILLUS. When a space capsule is launched, its destina­ Paul warns us not to develop the spirit o f the world to­ tion is determined by tiny increments. A fraction o f an ward people. So you get burned; so you are used. Still inch on earth makes the difference o f thousands o f miles Paul says w e must keep our hearts open to those who in space. A little difference at launch time can assure suc­ come among us. We must persist in taking the risk o f be­ cess or failure months and years later. ing a true friend, even though many are friends only as long as it remains to their advantage. SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER ILLUS. Christianity Today tells about what has hap­ pened in the church of Eastern Europe. When these coun­ Congregation Meditation for Worship tries were trying to free themselves from Communist con­ If God asks you to do something in this service, w ill you do trol, they filled the churches week after week. Once they it, no matter how small or how large? gained their freedom, they abandoned the churches. Opening Prayer Scripture R eadin g...... Ps. 51:1-12 II. WE BECOME NEW CREATIONS IN CHRIST (V. 1 7) John 21:15-17 A new creation is just that— new. The old passes away, Ch oruses...... “Majesty” replaced with the new. Jesus Christ does that to all who “Celebrate the Coming” come to Him. He transforms them. He makes them into “My Tribute” new persons. The bodies look the same. They sound the “Seek Ye First” same. Yet something is different, very different. Selfish­ “Oh, How He Loves You and Me” ness has been replaced with compassion. Greed has been H ym n s...... “O Worship the King” changed to generosity Weakness has been infused with “Wonderful, Wonderful” strength. When Jesus comes, all is changed. D ram a...... “W h o’s That Talkin’?” ILLUS. An evangelist returned to a church two years Worship with Tithes and Offerings after holding a revival there. One o f the seekers in that Pastoral Prayer first revival was a dirty rogue o f a man. His w ife and chil­ Serm on...... “The W ill to Get Along” dren wore plain, worn clothes. As the evangelist walked Closing C h oru s...... “Seek Ye First” into the church two years later, he was greeted by a well- Benediction...... Jude 24-25 dressed family. The husband and father was clean, clear­ eyed, and open about his faith in Jesus Christ. It was the PASTORAL PRAYER same scrubby man who had prayed at the altar two years before. He was totally transformed by the grace and pow­ Focus your prayer on living in the center of God’s will. er o f Christ.

CREATIVE WORSHIP ORDER III. WE ARE RECONCILED TO GOD (V. 18)

To be reconciled to get along with God, the Bible teach­ Pastoral Preparation es that we have strayed far from God. He has become our The sermon target calls the congregation to get along with enemy. We fear Him. We run from Him. We hide from God, to accept His claims on them. Him. We feel uncomfortable around Him. When we are It is essential that the pastor get along with God, that his made new through the power o f Christ, the first thing heart and life are obedient to Him. that happens is that we get acquainted with God. We dis­ Opening Prayer cover that He is good. He cares about us. He wants to “Lord Jesus, speak. Your servants are listening. Your ser­ help us. He pours good gifts on us. vants are ready to obey.”

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says all of us are that way.

II. WE HAVE DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING THE ERRORS, MISTAKES, FLAWS, AND SINS IN OTHERS ILLUS. Jesus told the story of two men who went into the Temple to pray. The first man told God how lucky God was to have him on His side and that he was not like other men, including the awful sinner praying at the from four Life— a same time. The other man did not notice the marvelous devotee praying but cried out to the Lord to be merciful to him because he was an awful sinner. Jesus did not deny that this second man was an awful sinner, nor that the first man was superreligious. Jesus Critical Spirit simply pointed out that a critical spirit is awful in God’s by Jim Christy eyes. The good guy had great difficulty getting the pic­ Col. 4:5-6 ture o f the bad guy straight because of his critical spirit. Oct. 18, 1998 People do that. We see only the result, so we criticize. “Let your conversation be always fu ll o f grace, seasoned Anyone can tell story after story of times when, if people knew the whole truth, they would not be so critical. We with salt” (Col. 4:6). are all that way. We have great difficulty understanding “Forgive us . . . as we also have forgiven” (Matt. 6:12). the errors, mistakes, failures, and sins of others.

INTRO III. WE UNDERSTAND ERRORS, MISTAKES, FLAWS, AND There is a big difference between a critical mind and a SINS IN OURSELVES critical spirit. We need critical minds. None o f us needs to This is the strange thing about the spirit o f criticism. have a critical spirit. A critical mind enhances and builds Somehow we see ourselves as exempt from it, as though our world. A critical spirit breaks down and destroys no one has reason to criticize us. I know why I say things things and people. I say and do the things I do and act the w ay I act. It is all The Bible encourages a critical mind. A critical mind so logical. My mistakes are little mistakes, while your critiques. The Bible tells us to test the Word o f the Lord, mistakes are big mistakes. God understands my sins quite to challenge in our minds what it says. The Bible will well. We have this wonderful ability to understand why withstand the most intense critical study. God does not we sin. We do not understand why others act the way expect nor desire that we accept His Word without they do. thought. We are not robots following instructions from on ILLUS. Jesus told the story of the man who owed some­ high. He created us to participate in our faith. A critical thing like $7,000,000 and could not pay. His creditor for­ mind does not lead one away from faith in Jesus Christ gave him the debt. The man walked out of the office o f his but a critical spirit will. creditor and soon met a man who owed him $20. He The Bible condemns a critical spirit. A critical spirit grabbed the man and demanded he pay up or go to jail. criticizes. As we look at this awful spirit that God wants When the creditor found out what happened, he threw to remove from our lives, remember, I am speaking, not the man in prison until he could pay the $7,000,000. The of a critical mind, but o f a critical spirit. I wouldn’t be man thought his reasons for not having to pay his surprised if more people have been harmed by a critical $7,000,000 debt made sense, while the reasons the other spirit than all the other sins people engage in. I know of man had for not paying his $20 did not make sense to him. no pastor who does not pray for the cleansing of critical By our very nature, we may condemn criticism by oth­ spirits from the church. People with critical spirits eat at ers and justify it in ourselves. the heart o f the church. They create distrust and suspi­ cion. They destroy friendships and marriages. They IV. WE ARE FORGIVEN OUR ERRORS, MISTAKES, smother the fires o f the Holy Spirit and revival, becoming FLAWS, AND SINS AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS OF THEIR a tool of the devil. ERRORS, MISTAKES, FLAWS, AND SINS “Forgive us . . . as we also have forgiven” (Matt. 6:12). I. WE ARE CRITICAL BY NATURE: "ALL HAVE SINNED AND This part o f the Lord’s Prayer is profound and power­ COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD" (ROM. 3 :2 3 ) ful. It strikes to the very heart o f a spirit of criticism. We The Bible points out that all of us, by our very natures, are not nearly as likely to criticize if we know that we are are critical of others. We slip into this critical spirit with­ guilty o f the same thing. out meaning to do so. We criticize people for whom we Timothy McVeigh did an awful thing when he bombed work and with whom we work. We may criticize at the Federal Building in Oklahoma City. His sin is great be­ school, people with whom we attend church, our neigh­ fore the nation and before God. What is his sin? Murder? bors, even our immediate family members. Wherever Yes. Hate? But I believe the sin that took him to Oklahoma people come together, there is a critical spirit. The Bible City in that yellow Ryder truck loaded with barrels filled

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with fertilizer and oil was a critical spirit. He became critical ple. These believers practiced their faith. Yet Paul had to of a government that is far from perfect. That spirit of criti­ remind them, as he did most every group o f Christians to cism seeped deeper and deeper into his soul until he acted. whom he wrote, that a spirit o f criticism is an ever-present You may say it is ridiculous to even hint that any o f us threat to their spiritual health. This message is for every­ could do what McVeigh did. You are right. But his critical one. Will you let the Holy Spirit search your heart to see if spirit took him on the path he followed. A critical spirit there is a critical spirit? Will you call on the Lord to for­ will not take you to good things. They surely will not be give, heal, and cleanse you? Will you forgive those who, as awful, but they will lead you away from the good, by their critical spirit, have hurt you or one you love? Paul away from what God wants from you and me. reminds us Christians that there is a right way to live, a You ask, “How can I be freed from a critical heart, from life free of the spirit o f criticism. He knew a Christian life a critical spirit?” Two things need to happen for you to be filled with grace is powerful. So he tells these wonderful free: Christians, “Be wise in the way you act.” We cannot, we A. First, find forgiveness in Christ for your critical must not act in a spirit o f criticism. Like those first Chris­ ways. tians, we must live filled with the grace o f God. When you were sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit, your heart was cleansed by faith. However, the spirit o f criticism was not removed. It continues to pop SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER up. It lies at the heart o f your very nature. When you are Congregation Meditation for Worship with others, that spirit o f criticism may pop up. The ugly Examine your week to see where you may have had a criti­ little thing that keeps popping up in even Christian circles cal spirit. is the spirit o f criticism. We must constantly ask God’s for­ Opening Prayer giveness for a spirit o f criticism that creeps into our lives. Scripture Reading...... Deut. 30:15-20 B. Second, if you are going to be free from a spirit o f Gal. 6:1-6 criticism, forgive people who have had a spirit o f criticism Choruses...... “Majesty” toward you. “Celebrate the Coming” This is not easy to do. Paul tells believers in the church “M y Tribute” at Rome not only to forgive those who despitefully use “Seek Ye First” them but also to do good to them. When others have a “Open Our Eyes, Lord” spirit o f criticism directed at you, be careful to not re­ H ym ns...... “Trust and Obey” spond with criticism o f them. “The Old Rugged Cross” The pastorate today is filled with subtle pressures. Pas­ D ram a...... “The Swimming Pool” tors can easily become the focus of a spirit of criticism Worship with Tithes and Offerings that can harm their families and bring on the temptation Pastoral Prayer to despair. That, in turn, can cause pastors to have a criti­ Sermon ...... “Things to Remove from Your Life— cal spirit. We have all experienced the spirit o f criticism a Critical Spirit” from friends and good people. We’ve all been tempted to Closing C h orus...... “Seek Ye First” allow a spirit o f criticism to grow in our hearts. Benediction...... Jude 24-25 In order to be cleansed of this spirit o f criticism, you must be willing to forgive whoever has viewed you with a spirit o f criticism. That’s what Jesus was saying, “Forgive PASTORAL PRAYER us . . . as we also have forgiven.” It is God’s way of doing The sermon target confronts the congregation with the things. He gives us a powerful insight into our nature. As problem of a critical spirit. long as other persons’ spirit o f criticism toward us is un­ It is essential that the pastor does not allow a critical spirit forgiven, we cannot be cleansed o f our own spirit o f criti­ to invade his or her life. cism. Our forgiveness is tied up in our forgiving. Whenever I feel a spirit of criticism developing in me, I CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS seek forgiveness and look for ways to forgive. It is a lot

easier to find and receive forgiveness for my spirit o f criti­ Pa s t o r a l P r e p a r a t io n cism when I can forgive someone with a critical spirit to­ The sermon target confronts the congregation with the ward me. problem of a critical spirit. If you want to be forgiven and cleansed from the spirit It is essential that the pastor does not allow a critical spirit o f criticism, then forgive those who have allowed their to invade his or her life.

critical spirits to hurt you. God will bring healing to your O p e n in g P r a y e r critical spirit. “Lord Jesus, may the words of our mouths and the medita­ The most important things for you to understand today tions of our hearts be acceptable in Your eyes, our strength are that a critical spirit comes to all of us and all o f us and our redeemer.” need God’s continuous cleansing. Paul wrote to good peo­

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stirs the soul. Often church services lend themselves to people getting fired up for Jesus. We like to think those things are the Holy Spirit moving among us. If they en­ courage Christians to test their faith by their feelings, we mislead the people. Faith remains unmoved by the ups and downs o f the flesh, even in church services. Faith is not the absence o f feeling but the recognition that feeling is not faith. We do not “feel” saved. We have from lour Life— faith in the words of Jesus. First comes faith, followed by feeling. Faith does not go up and down. Faith is not hap­ py and sad, encouraged and discouraged. It is not swayed by diet, sickness, drugs, alcohol, and people. ILLUS. A famous singer and actor wrote about his first years as a Christian. He is a very emotional person and Trust in the Flesh allowed his faith to be controlled by his feelings. When by Jim Christy things went good on the stage and he was up emotional­ Rom. 8:28-39 ly, his faith soared. When he had troubles or a bad night Oct. 25, 1998 and felt bad, his faith collapsed. One day God helped him “Everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Rom. to see that he had to move feelings behind faith. Then his 14:23). spiritual life began to stabilize. Faith builds on truth that does not change or shift. INTRO ILLUS. At the general assembly o f the Church of the Flesh represents the opposite o f faith. Flesh provides Nazarene in 1997, General Superintendent Jim Diehl five senses as w ell as a dozen or so emotions to tell us said, “As we have gathered here in San Antonio from what is happening. It signals pain, heat, cold, obstacles, around the world, we w ill be discussing many things, but success, failure, loss, frustration, danger, and a multitude there are some things we will not be discussing. We will o f other things. Flesh soars and it sinks. It screams and it not be discussing moral questions. We w ill not be dis­ whispers. It sings and it cries. It puts together all the ex­ cussing whether we w ill continue to preach and teach ho­ periences thrust upon the body and reinterprets them. liness. We w ill not be discussing whether we w ill be or­ Sometimes the signals get garbled. Sometimes they con­ daining homosexuals. We will not be discussing whether flict. Sometimes they are overwhelmed. the Bible is true. We will not be discussing whether there It is in this milieu that faith operates. Faith must man­ are more ways to heaven than through Jesus Christ. age the multitude o f signals the flesh sends. It must level Those issues are not on the table for discussion.” the highs and lows. It must counter fleshly outbursts that God does not want to remove feelings from our faith. reach too high and collapses that fall too far. Therefore, He wants our faith to move our feelings. He wants faith faith cannot be built upon flesh. Faith must be built upon to guide the flesh, not flesh to guide faith. Paul wants us the sure word o f Jesus Christ. to eat and drink according to our faith, not to build our In this scripture, Paul has been writing about the danger faith on what we eat or drink. Salvation by faith leads to of allowing things o f the flesh, like meat or drink, to take joy and peace in the flesh. Joy and peace in the flesh do the place of faith. Things of the flesh will never hold up be­ not establish faith. cause they will change from day to day, from year to year, from situation to situation. For faith to flourish, flesh must II. FLESH TRUSTS IN WHAT CAN BE SEEN; FAITH TRUSTS be removed as the controlling force from the Christian’s life. IN WHAT CANNOT BE SEEN ILLUS. In the Great Awakening that swept across New “Seeing is believing,” they used to say. No more. What England 200 years ago, Jonathan Edwards documented is seen may not be real at all. Television has ended that. events, experiences, and effects of that revival in the town of Most of what we see on television has been changed. Northampton, Massachusetts, where he served as pastor of What we see is not what was there. Interviews are the community church. He tells of shrieks of terror as people chopped up, rearranged, and filmed in front o f a fake set­ got under conviction, shaking and jerking and fainting as ting that is often added later and can be changed. We live they prayed, large crowds gathering together night after in an artificial world. night. As the revival ended, he noted something else. Not I stayed in a hotel that overlooked another hotel with everyone who was stirred by the Spirit became kind and for­ red tile painted on plywood that from the street looked giving. Those who were swayed more by fleshly experiences real. I bought a CD that sounded like a full orchestra. In than faith became troublesome people. They clustered to­ fact, all the sounds came from keyboards. Even musicians gether and in short order threw Edwards out of the church. cannot easily tell the difference. ILLUS. One day I was walking through one o f the best I. FLESH TRUSTS IN EXPERIENCES AND FEELINGS; FAITH antique stores in Denver. The owner is known as one of TRUSTS IN WHAT GOD HAS WRITTEN the most knowledgeable in the business. I noticed a little Flesh is much easier to connect with than faith. All it buggy that is rare and marveled to her that she had one. takes to feel good in the Lord is an inspiring service that Then I saw the price. What should have been a $2,000 to

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$3,000 buggy was under $50. pened so he dug them up again. Eventually he killed all I asked her how that could be. She told me it was a his rosebushes by constantly checking to see if they were copy. I could not believe it. Nor could she. She confessed growing. to me that she had bought it at a great price, thinking it Spiritual pulse-taking does not encourage spiritual was an original, only later to discover it was a copy. growth. It is more likely to hinder it. If your spiritual life The Getty museum in Los Angeles recently announced has been up and down, up and down, it’s time for you to that a large number o f its collection were fakes. A lot of move your life on to the sure word o f Jesus. It’s time to men in America wear fake Rolex watches and a lot o f move from feelings to faith. You can, with God’s help, people listen to music that is not the real thing. place your confidence in the promises o f God and not in Our salvation is not built upon something fake. Jesus the stirrings o f your flesh. Christ is real. Jesus Christ died for our sins. Jesus Christ offers us eternal life. Yet we cannot see Him. We cannot touch Him. We have no authentic pictures of Him, no SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER recordings of His voice. Yet we are called to believe on Congregation Meditation for Worship Him. As more and more o f our world that can be seen has Reflect on why you are a believer. become fake, the simple call to believe on Him whom we Opening Prayer have not seen becomes more and more important. Scripture Reading...... Ps. 121 Heb. 11:1-6 III. FLESH TRUSTS IN THE EVER-CHANGING; FAITH Choruses...... “What a Mighty God W e Serve” TRUSTS IN THE UNCHANGING “He’s Able” How much junk do you own that was up-to-date when “Celebrate the Coming” you bought it but is now worthless? How many eight- “Seek Ye First” track tapes and tape players do you own? How many “Open Our Eyes, Lord” record players are stuffed in your closets? How many cas­ Hym ns...... “How Firm a Foundation” sette tapes, 78 rpm records? No generation has experi­ “The Solid Rock” enced more change than we have. Change hits us daily. D ram a...... “M y N e w Coat Cost Seventy-two Dollars” ILLUS. A man who traveled across central Africa told Worship with Tithes and Offerings about riding in a truck carrying clothes to isolated vil­ Pastoral Prayer lages. The driver said the huge baled bundles o f clothes Serm on...... “Things to Remove from Your Life— were “dead man” clothes. The visitor asked why he called Trust in the Flesh” them that. Closing Chorus...... “Open Our Eyes, Lord” The driver explained that the only time there are any Benediction...... Jude 24-25 clothes available is after someone dies. Before the person is buried, the clothes are removed and sold or given to someone who has no clothes. The driver could not imag­ PASTORAL PRAYER ine a place where people tossed out clothes because they Focus your prayer on Jesus Christ. were out o f style.

IV. FLESH TRUSTS IN WHAT IS HAPPENING; FAITH CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS TRUSTS IN WHAT WILL HAPPEN P a s t o r a l P r e p a r a t io n This kind of trust is spiritual pulse-taking. We all do it The sermon target helps the congregation to remove, with some. When nothing appears to be happening, we begin God’s help, dependence on emotions/feelings and to build on to take our spiritual pulse. faith in the w ord o f Jesus Christ. ILLUS. Earl Lee had a neighbor in Pasadena, Califor­ It is essential that the pastor has a firm faith. nia, who planted roses for the first time. Nothing was O p e n in g P r a y e r happening to them, so he dug them up to look at the “Lord Jesus, m ay w e stand in Your presence with great con­ roots. Sure enough there was growth on the roots but not fidence as we worship You today.” on the stems. He replanted them and still nothing hap­

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I. DOUBT IS LIKE A WAVE IN THE SEA, ALWAYS CONTROLLED BY WHOEVER COMES ALONG OR WHATEVER WIND BLOWS (V. 6) One o f the most painful realizations o f life is that we have to trust someone. When we do not trust God, we set ourselves up to trust a whole lot o f foolish people. Money is a good example o f how spiritual doubt works. Our na­ tion is filled with stubborn folk who insist they know how from lour life to spend money and are constantly getting sucked into foolish schemes.

II. DOUBT SHUTS THE DOOR ON RECEIVING WISDOM AND DIRECTION FROM GOD (V. 7) Doubt The Bible takes us in a different direction here. It points out the consequences o f doubt. Doubt shuts the by Jim Christy door on good things. James 1:2-8 Nov. 1, 1998 ILLUS. I took my family to eat at a restaurant on the top of a 700-foot tower. We rode to the top in an elevator. “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because The day we were there, elevator maintenance men were he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around. The elevator travels on the outside o f the tower by the wind” (James 1:6). with a glass wall looking out over the land. One lady in the elevator went into hysterics, crying with fear. She ILLUS. A few years ago in Vail, Colorado, the cables on doubted the safety o f the tower and the elevator. All of us a gondola carrying skiers up the mountain snapped, sending dozens o f people flying into the air before crash- returned safely to the sidewalks below. landing in the snow. Many of those skiers were killed or Fear and doubt prevent us from having many good injured. The cables were repaired, inspected, and de­ things happen in our lives. Doubt that God can help us, doubt that God to help, doubt that God clared safe. The gondola has run safely since then. cares enough will help us, shuts many wonderful things out o f our lives. I had the opportunity to ride with my young sons on that gondola one summer and decided against it. I looked III. DOUBT LEADS TO A SPIRITUAL CONDITION CALLED at the cables. They looked fine, but there remained in the DOUBLE-MINDEDNESS (V. 7J back o f my mind the nagging memory o f that accident. O f course, I have to admit I have no great desire to ride Once more the Bible points out a serious consequence any kind o f ski lifts. of doubting God, double-mindedness. It is getting on a We live most o f our lives trusting things and people horse and riding o ff in all directions, or coming to a fork and systems. Every time you drive down a road, you are in the road and taking both forks. It is being tossed about trusting the other drivers to stay out of your path. Every like a toy boat on a windy lake. First double-mindedness time you eat in a restaurant, you are trusting those who goes this way; then it goes that way. Today you think and prepared the food to prepare safe, clean food. We trust believe one thing. Tomorrow you w ill think something engineers to know what they are designing, contractors different. to know what they are building, companies to sell what ILLUS. Bob Dylan is known for his experiments in they say they are selling. We trust the utility companies to many religions. He has tried many religions, including keep the water, gas, and electricity flowing. evangelical Christianity. He tried out each one on his We trust the laws o f physics to work. The apple falls to terms. He sampled the religions but never fully embraced the ground, not into the clouds. The winds move from them. His life has tossed from one thing to another. When west to east in our hemisphere. Oxygen is picked up in we don’t allow God to guide our lives, we have no choice our lungs by our blood and carried throughout our bod­ but to bounce from one thing to another. ies. Fire bums organic materials. We trust people to be what they claim to be, what they IV. TRUSTING GOD TO GIVE YOU WISDOM OPENS promise to do. We entrust our lives, our money, our fami­ DOORS TO THE FUTURE lies to others. We trust these things. We can trust God A. Trust brings great joy (v. 2). even more. God’s wisdom leads to joy, great joy. Seek, learn, and One o f Jesus’ disciples, Thomas, had the nickname follow the wisdom of God, and it will bring joy to you. “Doubter,” because he was so skeptical o f everything and Here are some things that bring joy to a Christian’s heart. everyone. There are many Thomases living today— and 1. Someone becomes a Christian. all of us have times when we become a “Thomas,” a 2. A Christian shows real changes to better things in “doubter.” Yet God summons us to quit being doubters. his or her life. We are called not to doubt when everything says to 3. I sort out what is important from what is not impor­ doubt, when nothing seems to have happened. Doubting tant. God leads to spiritual problems. 4. I respond to evil with good.

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5. I help someone. would still point up. For the first time, the pilot could fly 6. I overcome temptation through Christ. through a cloud and know in which direction the aircraft ILLUS. A man worked as a waiter in a lodge halfway was moving. Like all new things, many pilots refused to put up a mountain that was used as a resting place for groups this silly spinning thing in their planes. Many pilots contin­ of climbers before they made the final ascent. Climbers ued to crash nose first into the ground. Yet pilots continued would arrive at the lodge, weary from the climb. After a to think they could get through the clouds without one. few minutes, the guide would call them to get ready for Today those gyroscopes have been replaced with com­ the final climb. Nearly every time the waiter would watch plicated signals. No pilot worthy o f flying would consider as two or three o f the climbers would decide to remain in going into a cloud without help. the lodge while the others went up the mountain. Christians are amazingly stubborn about sensing the After the group was gone, those remaining would need for God’s help and believing that God w ill help. We laugh and relax. They seemed to be content. After a while can be a people o f “doubters.” If you stop doubting and one o f them would look out the window and mention begin believing, God w ill help you succeed. that the climbers had made it to the top. Little by little the lodge would grow quiet. By the time the climbers burst into the lodge on their way down, those waiting SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER were sullen. Their joy had vanished while those returning Congregation Meditation for Worship expressed joy that would last the rest o f their lives. List the things about God and your faith o f which you are B. Trust brings perseverance or the ability to hang in sure. when things get tough (v. 3). Opening Prayer Jesus called John the Baptist the greatest o f all the Scripture Reading...... Ps. 100 prophets. He had a large following. When Jesus came, Rom. 4:18-25 John lost nearly everyone. Yet not once did he give up. Choruses...... “We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise” C. Trust leads to maturity and completeness (v. 4). “He’s Able” People whom we most admire are those who have “Celebrate the Coming” gone through the fire and remained strong. We admire “In Moments like These” those people who let God guide them, giving them wis­ “Open Our Eyes, Lord” dom in facing each day and each situation. Hymns ...... “H ow Great Thou Art” ILLUS. In the early years o f aviation, pilots flew planes “A Mighty Fortress” with no instruments. They were never sure how fast they D ra m a...... “Maybe Yes, Maybe N o” were traveling, in what direction they were going, or how Worship with Tithes and Offerings high they were flying. Stories of these early pilots are Pastoral Prayer filled with a strange phenomena that they experienced Serm on...... “Things to Remove from Your Life— Doubt” when flying through clouds. Once a pilot flies into clouds, Closing Chorus...... “Open Our Eyes, Lord” it is no longer possible to see the ground, the sun, or an­ Benediction...... Num. 6:24-26 other plane. The pilot cannot tell in what direction the plane is going. Many pilots experienced the shock o f com­ ing out o f a cloud headed straight toward the ground. PASTORAL PRAYER Some would exit a cloud headed back the way they had Focus your prayer on the daily struggle to have faith in entered the cloud. Some pilots came out of clouds flying God, when doubt so easily creeps in. upside down. Others were sideways. All pilots had to find out the direction they were headed when they came out of the clouds and to make quick corrections. CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS

After a while, word got around that if you did not want Pastoral Preparation to crash into the ground, keep the engine revved up. Ex­ The sermon target calls the congregation not to allow the cept, if the engine was too revved up, the plane would temptation to doubt to get a foothold in their lives. make a loop and then head at great speed right into the It is essential that the pastor preach personal faith, not his ground. or her doubts.

One day a pilot put in his plane what is called a gyro­ Opening Prayer scope. This spinning contraption never changed directions. “Lord Jesus, remove our doubts about You and what You Turn it upside down and it would still point up. Turn it side­ can do as You strengthen our faith.” ways and it would still point up. TUm it to the right and it

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the works of the devil, which includes sin or rebellion against God.

I. SIN DESTROYS A. Sin destroys our relationship with God (1 John 1:6). The idea that we can be a partner with the devil and his ways and have God, too, is absurd. Sin destroys any relationship with God. Sin will do that to anyone. Sin will from Tour Life— do that to you if it is not brought under control. B. Sin destroys our relationship with one another (1 John 1:7). Tyson said there is no one, absolutely no one, he can trust. Everyone is after his money, his fame, his power. The only ones he could trust were his tigers and lions tie Practice of Sin that he keeps at his mansion in Ohio. He is alone. Sin has

by Jim Christy done that to him. Sin will do that to anyone. Sin will de­ 1 John 1:6—2:1 stroy your relationships if it is not brought under control. Nov. 8, 1998 C. Sin destroys our sense o f self-worth (1 John 1:10). Tyson’s idol is Sonny Liston. Liston was once the heavy­ “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not weight champion o f the world. But his life fell apart. In sin” (1 John 2:1). 1971, his body was found with a needle stuck into a vein in his arm. He turned to drugs trying to escape from him­ INTRO self. Mike Tyson bit a half inch out of Evander Holyfield’s Sin destroys the person from the inside out. Sin will do ear. This may be the perfect picture o f what is going on that to anyone. Sin destroys any dignity you have if it is in our world today. We are being pulled, manipulated, not brought under control. used, pushed into corners of private desperation, and we don’t know what to do. Like Tyson, w e can snap, II. SIN IS REAL tearing apart those around us, chewing them up and A. Sin is universal (1 John 1:8). spitting them out, bringing on yet more problems. It is so easy to look at someone like Tyson and say, “I Many, many people live on the edge. The line that would never do that.” You are not likely to ever have a keeps them civil is thin. On this thin line sin pushes us situation like this, but you could have something o f a one way or the other. similar nature. ILLUS. Tyson grew up in Brooklyn, one of many One woman was so angry at her ex-husband that one children. He never knew his father. His mother had lit­ day when she saw him and his new wife lying on the tle time for him. At the age of 6, he used a razor to beach o f a lake in Iowa, she drove over their legs. slice open an older brother’s arm while he was sleep­ A few years ago, the son of a Nazarene minister was ing. At the age of 10, Tyson delighted in stealing shot and killed in this town by an angry man. women’s purses and robbing men at gunpoint of all The Bible is clear— it says that all— everyone— all have their clothes. sinned and come short o f the glory o f God! There is no After being jailed over a dozen times, he was sent to one, not one, who has not sinned. Jesus alone, of all who reform school where a boxing trainer adopted him and have lived on this earth, is without sin. There has been no began teaching him how to put fear and terror in oth­ other. There will be no other. ers, while taking pleasure in hurting others. He was Look at the wars that have been fought because of sin. schooled in hate, finding joy in delivering blows to the Look at the homes that have been torn apart because of heart, to the kidneys, to the liver, to the ears. In sin. Look at the number o f police w e must have, the num­ prison, Tyson was said to have reformed, but his refor­ ber o f prison cells, the number o f vaults, the number o f mation had no repentance, no change, no forgiveness. security systems, the amount o f insurance because of sin. On the night of his fight with Holyfield, Tyson Go to the most remote island. If there is one person snapped. He says, when he realized he was about to there, you w ill find sin. Sin is found wherever there are lose and be humiliated before all the world, he took astronauts in space vessels, sailors in submarines, CEOs two bites out of his opponent’s ear. He said he did it in paneled offices, politicians in limousines, teachers in for his children. classrooms, workers in front of computer screens, wor­ When things do not go well, it’s easy to go on the at­ shipers in church. Sin is the companion o f all earthlings. tack, trying to destroy others. That attack is sin. Sin B. Sin is threefold. destroys. The habit of sin must be removed from our It is inherited; it is habitual; it is unintentional (1 John hearts. We cannot excuse it by saying everyone does it. 1:8, 9, 10). Or that it comes naturally. Sin is awful. It is deadly. It 1. Sin is inherited. takes everything good and ruins it. Everything! The Sin is a part of our nature. We are bom in sin. We are whole reason Jesus came to the earth was to destroy bom into sin. We are bom to sin. We are bom with a lean-

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ing toward sin. It is our first nature. Evolutionists call it ness includes God’s tremendous power. God forgives with “animal drag.” They know it’s there and try to explain it as transforming power. This is the mystery o f the gospel. the animal still in us. Somehow, they tell us, in a few thou­ When God forgives, He frees us from our sin. It is like a sand more generations, the animal part will evolve out. man pardoned and released from prison. The Bible says the opposite. It says sin will be a part of 5. Sin needs cleansing (1 John 1:9). everyone bom into the human race as long as people are Our scripture adds one more thing. It speaks o f cleans­ bom because sin is real, not “animal drag.” ing. If we confess, He w ill forgive and then He will 2. Sin is habitual. cleanse. Remember that I said, “Sin is powerfully addic­ Sin that begins in our heart has a nasty way o f becom­ tive.” Any of you who have ever gone through a treat­ ing a habit in our actions. We lie and get away with it. ment program for an addiction know that once you are One of the most troublesome things that happens to through the addiction and truly complete the cure, you teens is the awareness that they can lie to parents, to must never forget that you are still able to return to your teachers, and to bosses and get away with it. Or they can addiction in only one act. It only takes one drink for an steal from Mom’s purse or Dad’s billfold and not get alcoholic to return to the habit, only one cigarette to re­ caught. Later they learn more ways. turn to smoking, only one trip to get hooked once more Tyson learned to do many evil things, and every time on drugs, only one eating binge to go o ff your diet. It he escaped with a small price to pay— except what it has takes only one return to an intentional sin of the past to done to him. The great shock o f life is how easy it is to move back into the habit o f sinning. That is why God’s sin and get away with it or, at least, look like you got cleansing is so important. God cleanses our hearts so that away with it. we do not have in our system the desire for sin. Once the habit is well-entrenched, it becomes a normal Sin is an awful thing, a powerful force that will destroy part o f life. everything and everyone it touches. The whole Bible is 3. Sin is unintentional. God’s answer to sin. In many places, the Bible speaks to this sin. In the Old Testament, it gives guidance to the person who uninten­ tionally kills another. Killing is still killing, no matter how SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER it happens. Yet there is a big difference between inten­ Congregation Meditation for Worship tional and unintentional killing. No Christian must ever List the things you have done this w eek that are not good and let unintentional sins be ignored once we know about that you w ould like to change. them. We must confess them and ask for forgiveness im­ Opening Prayer mediately. Scripture Reading...... Ps. 1 C. Sin can be handled (1 John 2:3-6). 1 Pet. 1:18-23 1. All sin needs to be recognized for what it is. Choruses...... “We Bring the Sacrifice” It sounds simple to recognize sin in ourselves, but that “Holy, Holy, Lord Almighty” is not true. It is amazing how difficult it is for us to admit “Glorify Thy Nam e” we have sinned. Sin is not a trite little nothing. “In Moments like This” Sin is so awful that it sent Jesus to the Cross. Sin is “Seek Ye First” deadly. It is nothing to be proud of, nothing to keep H ym ns...... “Cleanse M e” around, certainly nothing to cover, to deny, to pretend “Whiter than Snow” does not exist. O f all people, Christians are the ones who D ra m a...... “It’s OK, I’m Only Hum an” most grieve over their sins. We are ashamed of our sins. Worship with Tithes and Offerings As David the king said, his sins were always before him, Pastoral Prayer bringing anguish to his heart. We must see and grieve Serm on...... “Things to Remove from Your Life over our sin. — the Practice of Sin” 2. Sin must be confessed. Closing C h oru s...... “Seek Ye First” We must not let sin remain our secret. We must confess Benediction ...... Num. 6:24-26 it to God. God knows all about your sin. He does not have to be informed about your sin; you need to confess it. Confession is not for God; it’s for you. PASTORAL PRAYER 3. Sin must be turned from. Focus your prayer on the need for the people to let God We must turn from it. Confession without turning from help them stop the practice of sin. sin is not confession. It is only acknowledgment o f sin. 4. Sin needs forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Up to now, w e have considered the things w e must do CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS

to remove the habit o f sin from our lives. All things men­ P a s t o r a l P r e p a r a t io n tioned up until now will not be enough. You can under­ The sermon target calls the congregation not to allow the stand the awfulness o f sin, you can see your own sin, and habit of sin to get established. confess it to God— but that is not enough. God must do It is essential that the pastor understand the danger of something for you. He must forgive. Forgiveness is more habits of sin. than an acknowledgement of your confession. Forgive­ H T he P reacher’s M ag azine • Septem ber, O ct o b e r , N ovember 1998 PREACHING HELPS

God uses to point us to himself, to let us know He is near. When God comes to you for the first time, it is es­ sential that you know He has come. God is always What It Means to Be preparing your heart, always preparing you so you can come before Him as a creature, seeking His help and His guidance. ILLUS. A young man dreamed of doing great things in his life. Instead, he found himself living in the middle of a Christian: Being a slum where there seemed no way out. For over two years he worked as a street sweeper, collecting a few coins to live on, sleeping in the streets, finding food wherever he could. He saw and experienced suffering firsthand. One evening he entered a rescue mission to escape the Saved or Born Again cold. He had no idea what the mission was. As he sat

by Jim Christy there, he heard someone talk about how Jesus had suf­ Luke 1:67-69 fered. He understood that suffering. Years later he real­ Nov. 15, 1998 ized that his two years living in the slums were times when God was preparing his heart so he could under­ “Praise be to the Lord . . . because he has come and he has stand the price Jesus paid for him, so he could under­ redeemed his people" (Luke 1:68). stand how great was God’s love. God is always preparing for His coming among us. He INTRO is preparing your heart for what He has next to say to In Jerusalem Zechariah served in the Temple for one you. The Bible tells us that no one comes to God the Fa­ month. Usually he lived with his w ife in the hill country ther unless that person is drawn by God himself. The first several days’ journey from Jerusalem. Both he and his thing God does in your personal salvation is to begin wife, Elizabeth, were old and had no children. Both were preparing you. Those unusual things that happen in your devout believers in the living God and served Him in fear life are not accidents. They are God’s activities in your and holiness every day. During this month’s service in Je­ life preparing you to hear Him speak to you. rusalem, Zechariah was chosen through random drawing to carry incense, representing the prayers of the people, II. ZECHARIAH SANG OF THE TRANSFORMATION before the altar. OF THE MIND While he was alone offering up prayers and incense, You (John the Baptist) will go on before the Lord to the angel Gabriel appeared before him and told him he prepare the way for Him, “to give his people the knowl­ and Elizabeth would have a son whom they would name edge of salvation” (Luke 1:77). A new attitude toward John. John the Baptist is how we would know him. This God must be directed by new ways of thinking based on child of their old age would be the forerunner o f the knowledge of salvation. Promised One whom we know as Jesus Christ. John Not only must the heart be prepared, so must the would prepare the nation for the coming of Jesus. When mind. You must have knowledge of what salvation John was bom, Zechariah sang this song o f four transfor­ means. This is a transformation of your mind. mations that the Christ would offer. If you could ask God for anything and knew He would grant it to you, much as a fictional genie grants three I. ZECHARIAH SANG OF THE TRANSFORMATION wishes, what would you ask o f Him? Jacob asked for ma­ OF THE HEART terial things like money or land or jewels. King Solomon “And you, my child, will be called a prophet o f the Most asked for wisdom. Moses asked for a grand speaking High; for you w ill go on before the Lord to prepare the voice. Paul asked that a physical problem be removed. way for him” (Luke 1:76). All these requests were made because people do not John would prepare the people to have a heart transfor­ know what God provides. They have the idea that He is a mation. God never does things without careful prepara­ sort of order blank for all our physical needs. Hang tion. He prepares everyone before He does anything with around God very long and you will discover this basic them. God wants us prepared to come before Him so that truth about Him: God does not often provide to those we can understand what it means to come to Him. Your who ask Him anything that can be provided by any other. life is filled with little things that God has been doing to God certainly will not give to us what we can get for our­ prepare you to receive the kingdom o f heaven. You may selves. have had little things happen like close calls, near-death ILLUS. Dr. Charles Mayo wanted to help the sick, so experiences, financial troubles, witnessing a tragedy, or a he learned what it took to help them. He discovered how wonderful thing like a sunrise, a brilliant moon, a falling to remove an infected appendix and repair a cleft palate. star, the birth o f a child, a scientific wonder. You may want to be good, to be kind, to be generous, Sometimes God prepares you with a song or with an to be forgiving. To do those things, you need to know overheard conversation. All these things, good and evil, what God offers.

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peace. God shows you the path. That is His part. Walking III. ZECHARIAH SANG OF THE TRANSFORMATION down that path is your part. Sometimes the path is to say OF MORALS you are sorry. Sometimes the path is to forgive. Some­ You will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for times the path is to forget. Sometimes the path is to give Him, to give His people the knowledge o f salvation, or to receive. “through the forgiveness of their sins” (Luke 1:77). When Jesus was bom, the angels sang o f peace. Peace This is a transformation o f actions, a correction in remains the most elusive dream o f the entire world. In morals. What used to be all right, now is sin and needs to fact, it is generally assumed that wherever there is peace, be forgiven. someone has to always give in. In a marriage where Gerber’s motto used to be: “Babies are our business. peace reigns, both partners have learned to give in on dif­ Our only business.” Salvation through the forgiveness of ferent things or one gives in all the time. In a nation of sins is God’s business. His only business. Everything else peace, either one group controls or tension is always just that God does with us and for us leads to this one. He below the surface. wants to forgive our sins. What does it mean to be saved or born again? Zechari­ Jesus came to the earth in human form for one pur­ ah realized what it meant. It meant transformation: pose. He came to do the work God sent Him to do in or­ transformation o f the heart, transformation o f the mind, der to bring salvation through the forgiveness of our sins. transformation o f morals, transformation o f relationships. Jesus did not come to the earth to heal our bodies, Speaking to Nicodemus one night in Jerusalem, Jesus though He can do that. He did not come to the earth to told him that if he wanted salvation, he would have to be make us rich, though He can do that. He did not come to “bom again.” Nicodemus laughed at the idea o f crawling bring happiness, though He can do that. Jesus came to back into his mother’s womb and coming out again. Jesus bring salvation through the forgiveness of our sins. told him the being “born again” of which He was speak­ ILLUS. One day Jesus was sitting in a house with some ing was the new birth by the Holy Spirit that was a trans­ religious leaders. Four men tore a hole in the roof to let a formation, a change into a new person. lame man down to Jesus. Jesus said to the man, “Your sins are forgiven.” The religious leaders murmured to themselves that Je­ SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER sus had the nerve to forgive, for only God can forgive. Congregation Meditation for Worship They were right— only God can forgive. They were wrong Reflect on this question: “W hy w ill I go to heaven?” in not recognizing that Jesus was God. Opening Prayer Jesus brings salvation through the forgiveness of sins. Scripture Reading...... Isa. 40:1-11 “Forgiveness” is a power-filled word. It does not mean John 3:1-9 something as trite as two children fighting and one hits the Choruses...... “We Bring the Sacrifice” other in the face and makes him cry and you, as a good “Holy, Holy, Lord Almighty” parent, tell the one who hit the one now screaming loud “Glorify Thy Nam e” enough for the neighbors two blocks away to hear, that he “In Moments like These” is sorry. The hitting son says to the hit son, “I’m sorry.” “Come, Holy Spirit, I Need Thee” The hit son says, “OK.” Hymns ...... “Heaven Came D ow n” An hour later you go through the same ritual once “Because He Lives” more. This is not how Jesus does it. D ram a...... “The Proposal” Forgiveness brings with it transformation o f actions. Worship with Tithes and Offerings You don’t just keep on hitting and asking for forgiveness. Pastoral Prayer Jesus grants forgiveness and transformation or freedom Serm on...... “W hat It Means to Be a Christian from the sins. That’s what the religious leaders meant — Being Saved or Bom Again” when they said only God can really forgive sins because Closing C h oru s...... “Come, Holy Spirit, I Need Thee” only God can forgive with power to transform. Salvation Benediction...... Num. 6:24-26 through the forgiveness of your sins means you are given the inner power to change. PASTORAL PRAYER IV. ZECHARIAH SANG OF THE TRANSFORMATION Focus your prayer on the assurance of salvation through OF RELATIONSHIPS faith in Jesus Christ. “To guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:79). Salvation never really takes hold o f your life until it be­ gins to change your relationships. How you treat others is CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS the acid test o f forgiveness because God’s forgiveness Pastoral Preparation leads to transformation. God transforms your relation­ The sermon target calls the unsaved to get saved. ships. Forgiveness is instant. In the twinkling of an eye, It is essential that the pastor feels in his or her heart that God forgives. Transformation takes a lifetime. everyone must receive the new life in Christ to be a Christian Zechariah describes this transformation in relationships and to enter heaven. as a path. You walk down the path. The path leads to B T he P re acher’s M agazine • S eptem ber, O cto be r, N ovember 1998 worker becomes more worthless than the one who does the same thing over and over again. People who travel for busi­ ness hate having the same kind o f rooms to sleep in and the What It leans to Be same kind of food to eat no matter where they are. We place high value on the unusual, the unique, the different. Christians face the same problem. That moment we were born again was a glorious moment. Most of us Christians point to it as the greatest day o f our lives. But a Christian: Growing that moment does not always carry us along with fresh excitement. Faster than it seems possible, getting saved loses its initial impact. Paul understood that Christians needed new, fresh, dif­ ferent experiences with Jesus Christ to keep the flame burning and the life filled with commitment. Many places in Grace in his writings, Paul points out the daily freshness and

by Jim Christy newness in Christ. Col. 3:12-17 In today’s scripture, Paul gives six things that will keep Nov. 22, 1998 your experience with Christ fresh and new. The list may surprise you because it goes the opposite direction from “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, what you might think it should go. The world’s most com­ clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gen­ mon way to add freshness to life is to do something very tleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive selfish. Paul writes that true newness comes from some­ whatever grievances you may have against one another. thing quite different. Let’s look at these six things that you Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues can do to keep your spiritual life in Christ as special today put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” as it was the first day Jesus came into your heart. (Col. 3:12-14). Last Sunday I spoke about what it means to be saved I. THE FIRST ASPECT THAT HELPS US TO GROW IN or born again. In a nutshell, to be saved or born again GRACE AND TO MAKE EACH DAY AS A CHRISTIAN means to be transformed in your heart, mind, and daily FRESH AND NEW IS COMPASSION life through the power of the gospel as Jesus comes into “Compassion” means the capacity to see people and sit­ your life. Being saved or born again happens in the mo­ uations in light of others’ needs and to act accordingly ment when you confess with all your heart that Jesus Think o f how many people there are in this world Christ is Lord o f your life. God forgives you. One minute around you. In your lifetime, you will never run out o f you are unforgiven. The next you are forgiven and some­ people. Each day will bring new people into your life. thing akin to a huge load is lifted o ff your shoulders. You Each new person adds a new dimension to your life. The are free from the chains of sin that mocked you. You have most fulfilled people have learned to see life through the come to God personally and have experienced His power­ eyes of others. ful, forgiving presence. Like all o f life’s good experiences, the first is the best II. THE SECOND THING THAT HELPS US TO GROW IN emotionally. We speak o f the delight and energy o f the GRACE AND TO MAKE EACH DAY AS A CHRISTIAN new Christian. Like all o f life’s good experiences, time FRESH AND NEW IS KINDNESS erodes its newness. To have more first-time experiences, Kindness is the act of treating everyone with respect. you push the edges for new experiences. Everyone. Kindness must not be limited to our chosen A car is an example. The first time you drive alone is few. It must not be given only to those who treat us kind­ quite an experience. The first time you put gasoline in ly- your own car or the first time you wash the windshield is ILLUS. I was headed into a grocery store in a rush. A exciting. After a while the car gets dirty or you start lady was coming from the other way in an obvious rush noticing its flaws. It loses its first-time excitement. If you also. I saw that I was going to arrive at the door about want to have a new fun experience with your car, you three seconds before she did. I saw her speed up and have to drive it faster, take more risks, or get a sound sys­ then slow down when she realized I would get there first. tem. I know a lot o f guys who own pickup trucks who are Her frustration and anger were obvious. Suddenly I constantly adding things. It is amazing how many things stopped and let her enter first. It confused her and she can be added to a pickup to get a first-time experience. mumbled a “Thank you.” Kindness always changes things We humans do not delight in the same thing day after in new and fresh ways. day. It must change, and the change must be an improve­ ment or we grow tired of the experience. We complain III. THE THIRD ITEM THAT HELPS US TO GROW IN most about doing the same thing over and over again. GRACE AND TO MAKE EACH DAY AS A CHRISTIAN Even the most unadventurous people get bored with FRESH AND NEW IS HUMILITY sameness. Humility is the willingness to see yourself as God sees Nothing is more deadly to a marriage than routine. No you.

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God made you. He likes what He made. Humility is not practiced by any one o f us in our lifetime. They are like putting yourself down, discrediting what you think, what knowledge— the more you develop them, the more aware you desire. God placed those things in you for a purpose. you become o f how little o f these qualities you possess. ILLUS. In an interview, Michael Jordan acknowledged These six character qualities must constantly be nour­ he was probably the greatest basketball player o f all time, ished or they will wither, dry up, and blow away. that he was very rich, and that he was not a good base­ Also, these six quality characteristics of a Christian ball player. He has learned to accept what God has given must be kept in balance. To have one and not the other him. five distorts the Christian life. Paul gives us the w ay to Humility sees both strengths and weaknesses without hold all six qualities in balance. That occurs through love: allowing either to get out o f focus. Once you accept who love o f God, love o f others, love o f myself. you are in Christ, what you can and cannot do, the more As with everything in the Christian life, these graces refreshing daily life becomes for you and the people cannot occur through your own power. They must be around you. molded and made by the power o f Jesus Christ at work in you. IV. THE FOURTH THING THAT HELPS US TO GROW IN There’s Paul’s list. Six areas to grow in grace that to­ GRACE AND TO MAKE EACH DAY AS A CHRISTIAN gether can make every day a new day, a fresh day, a first­ FRESH AND NEW IS GENTLENESS time experience day. Humility, compassion, forgiveness, “Gentleness” means to avoid using your strength or patience, kindness, and gentleness. Let God help you powers to harm someone weaker than you. You cannot build them into your heart and life. be gentle unless you are strong.

V. THE FIFTH THING THAT HELPS US TO GROW IN SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER GRACE AND TO MAKE EACH DAY AS A CHRISTIAN Congregation Meditation for Worship FRESH AND NEW IS PATIENCE Reflect on this question: W hat spiritual truth have I incor­ Patience is the self-discipline to hang in there until the porated into my life this last week? job is done. Opening Prayer ILLUS. Years ago I took the Dale Carnegie course. I Scripture Reading...... 1 Sam. 3:10-21 don’t remember much o f it, however I do remember a lit­ Gal. 3:26— 4:7 tle saying. We spent one entire session repeating it over Choruses...... “W e Bring the Sacrifice” and over again. The saying was this: “There are men who “Holy, Holy, Lord Almighty” are in the ranks who are going to stay in the ranks. Why? “Glorify Thy Name” I’ll tell you why They don’t have the ability to get the job “Open Our Eyes” done.” “Come, Holy Spirit, I Need Thee” How many things have you left undone? Some things Hym ns...... “Holy, Holy, Holy” aren’t worth your time and effort. They need to be aban­ “Where He Leads Me I Will Follow” doned. What about things you feel God wants you to do? D ram a...... “Fixing the Old Klunker” There is nothing quite like finishing something that has Worship with Tithes and Offerings taken much patience to complete. That moment is as Pastoral Prayer fresh as any. Serm on...... “What It Means to Be a Christian — Growing in Grace” VI. THE SIXTH THING THAT HELPS US TO GROW IN Closing Chorus...... “Come, Holy Spirit, I Need Thee” GRACE AND TO MAKE EACH DAY AS A CHRISTIAN Benediction...... Num. 6:24-26 FRESH AND NEW IS A FORGIVING SPIRIT A “forgiving spirit” means to stop placing blame on others. When we forgive, all things become new for us, PASTORAL PRAYER just as when we were first forgiven by Jesus. God forgives Focus your prayer on the leadership o f God in our minds us to free us. We forgive to free ourselves, not to free the and hearts. other person. In our moment o f forgiving another we let the forgiveness of Jesus flow over us once more. That’s why Jesus included in the Lord’s prayer, “Forgive us . . . CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS

as w e also have forgiven.” Pastoral Preparation Jesus showed us from the Cross that there is no action The sermon target is calling the saved to grow in grace. It taken against us or against someone we love that cannot is essential that the pastor is growing in the grace and nur­ be forgiven. The great power o f the gospel working in us ture o f Jesus. is revealed by our willingness to forgive others. No act Opening Prayer brings a new day like the act o f forgiving. “Lord Jesus, lead us into all truth. We know You are the Each o f these six areas o f growth for you as a Christian truth. May we know You better each day.” has unending potential. No one of these is completely

D T h e P re acher ’s M agazine • Septem ber, O ctober, N ovember 1998 PREACHING HELPS

aged, white-haired, thin men from the West who were passing out food, clothes, and medical care. The guides tried to avoid them, but they were everywhere. They What It Means to were men from Christian organizations that cared about the starving people in North Korea. They were doing good to those in need.

II. PAUL NOTES THAT OFTEN A CHRISTIAN CHOOSES Be a Christian: TO DO GOOD AND ENDS UP DOING EVIL “Evil is right there with me” (Rom. 7:21). “For I have the desire to do good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do— this I keep on doing” (w . 18-19). Conviction and We do not have the strength within ourselves to do the good we choose to do. Self-planned good rarely does much good. ILLUS. In the 1970s, north central Africa was suffering what North Korea is suffering today. Pop singers put to­ gether what they called Aid Africa. Millions and millions Confrontation of dollars were raised for food, medical supplies, and equipment to transport charitable aid. by Jim Christy Rom. 7:15-25 About one year after the concert, one singer made a Nov. 29, 1998 trip to the area to see how the effort had helped. When he arrived in the countries, he was shocked by what he “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” saw. Much of the food was sitting on the docks, rotting (Rom. 7:15). and being consumed by rats. He traveled into the coun­ “When I want to do good, evil is right there with me” (Rom. tryside and saw truck after truck that had been purchased 7:21). to transport the food, rusting along the road, abandoned where it had run out of gas. The singer came home so INTRO bothered he determined never to help in another cause. Just as certain things happen in life that are pre­ Many Christians intend to do good but end up doing dictable, so certain things happen in the Christian life evil. Evil or wrong actions quickly become habits. that are predictable. For instance, in growing up, a child in a good environment w ill attach to parents. When a III. PAUL SHOWS US IS THAT A CHRISTIAN WHO CHOOSES mother or a father holds his or her baby, they attach. This TO DO GOOD AND ENDS UP DOING EVIL IS ASHAMED is normal, natural, and predictable. “What a wretched man I am!” (Rom. 7:24). Paul speaks In your new life in Christ, some things are normal, nat­ o f the awareness of spiritual failure. Nothing makes a ural, and predictable. One important thing that happens Christian feel worse than to begin something good that as you mature in Christ is conviction with confrontation. turns out evil. It comes that moment when you are convicted of wrong­ doing and are confronted with what you are going to do IV. PAUL, THROUGH PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, REALIZES about it. This is the work o f the Holy Spirit. In today’s THAT A CHRISTIAN WHO CHOOSES TO DO GOOD AND scripture the apostle Paul is writing to the church in ENDS UP DOING EVIL NEEDS TO BE DELIVERED Rome about this very issue. “Who will rescue me from this body o f death?” (Rom. 7:24). I. PAUL POINTS OUT THAT A CHRISTIAN CHOOSES These little outbursts o f doing evil need to be con­ TO DO GOOD tained. They destroy relationships, trust, and peace. “When I want to do good” (Rom. 7:21). Wanting to do When I was growing up we referred to people who good and following Jesus are the same tune. Can you have outbursts that it was like walking on eggs around imagine someone claiming to be a Christian and bragging them. One false step and they broke up around you, cre­ that he or she intends to do evil? That is impossible. ating a mess. Paul knew the only way Christians could Christians are deeply committed to doing good to all peo­ cease doing evil when they wanted to do good was for ple who touch our lives. them to be delivered. ILLUS. A reporter was invited to go to North Korea to see what was happening. He saw orphanages caring for V. THE CHRISTIAN WHO CHOOSES TO DO GOOD AND ENDS children abandoned by parents who died of starvation UP DOING EVIL CAN BE DELIVERED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST outside its gates. He walked through hospitals that had “Thanks be to God— through Jesus Christ our Lord!” no medical supplies. He drove through wide streets that (Rom. 7:25). had few vehicles. Everywhere he went through the town You want to do good? Instead, you end up doing bad? with his government chaperons, he encountered middle- What’s the answer? Jesus Christ. He can deliver you. It’s

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that simple. Jesus Christ can and will deliver you. It is not more. Though his mother and father often asked him to magic. It is not some trick or allusion. The power o f Jesus sing and asked him why he refused, he never spoke of Christ is at work in you. that horrible day. I mentioned at the beginning o f my sermon that some The older brother went on to be a successful business­ things in your spiritual life are predictable. As a Christian man in Italy. Yet each time the older brother tried to pray, you can be sure that, as the days pass, you w ill become all he could see was his brother stripped and jeered on aware that you are not acting like you intend or want to the college commons and himself sitting at his desk act. You may find that you are more cruel in attitude and watching it all. action, more unkind in your relationships, more self-cen­ Finally he knew what he must do. He told his boss he tered and self-seeking than you realized. When these had to have a week off. He boarded a train and returned things happen, you feel embarrassed and ashamed. You to that farm. He arrived in the evening. His brother was feel guilty. You seek forgiveness. This pattern o f failure, in his room. He went to that room, knelt before his broth­ guilt, confession, and forgiveness is a natural part of er, and confessed his sin against him, asking him for for­ Christian growth. giveness. However, something more begins to happen. You begin The two brothers put their arms around each other and to notice a pattern in your life. You are doing more and cried and laughed and found forgiveness and peace. They more evil than good. You allow evil ways to win more of­ talked far into the night. About four in the morning, their ten. This is the crucial point in your spiritual life where father and mother were awakened by their house being the Holy Spirit begins to point out your entrapment. In a filled with song. The younger son was singing again. way, you have come to a fork in the road. You are con­ God will do marvelous things in your life when you let fronted with a decision. Will God be allowed to deliver Him have the body o f death that pulls you down. you from your body o f death? I have watched many Christians come up to this point of conviction and confrontation by the Holy Spirit and re­ SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER sist. I have watched some persons come to that point and Congregation Meditation for Worship quickly, easily let God take over. Those who resisted let­ Reflect on this question: “Does Jesus have all o f me?” ting God have control had no immediate changes— but, Opening Prayer over the weeks and months, they began to drift spiritual­ Scripture Reading...... 1 Kings 9:1-4 ly. Those who let God take over had no immediate Rom. 12:1-2 changes either but, over the weeks and months, they be­ Choruses...... “W e Bring the Sacrifice” came stronger and stronger in their faith. “Holy, Holy, Lord Almighty” Somewhere in your spiritual walk, you will arrive at this “Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen in M e” place where you see a pattern developing of good inten­ “Open Our Eyes” tions ending in bad actions. God will reveal it to you. Then “Come, Holy Spirit, I Need Thee” He will ask you to place those tendencies in His hands. He Hymns ...... “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” will ask you to let go of them. He will ask for them. “Holiness unto the Lord” When God convicts and confronts you with this devel­ D ram a...... “Get on Board, Little Children” oping habit, it is up to you to let Jesus Christ deliver you. Worship with Tithes and Offerings ILLUS. Brennan Manning tells a story about a family Pastoral Prayer in France who had two sons. The older son was brilliant, Serm on...... “W hat It Means to Be a Christian handsome, and loved by everyone. The younger son was — Conviction and Confirmation” hunchbacked, short, and had no friends. Closing C h oru s...... “Come, Holy Spirit, I Need Thee” The younger son had a beautiful voice. He sang all the Benediction...... 1 Thess. 4:23-24 time, filling the farmhouse and fields with melodies of praise. From his youngest days, he sang and his voice was a part of home. PASTORAL PRAYER The older boy went to college where he was quickly ac­ Focus your prayer on the Holy Spirit’s ministry to our cepted. In his senior year, he was elected student council hearts. president. His younger brother arrived on campus that same year. He made no friends and soon became the butt o f many hecklers. CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS

One day a gang o f guys started chasing him across Pastoral Preparation campus. He could not escape them. They tossed him to The sermon target calls the saved to be entirely sanctified. the ground, tore o ff most o f his clothes, and wrote vulgar It is essential that the pastor is clear in his or her experi­ words on his hunchback. ence o f entire sanctification. All the time this was happening, his brother was sitting Opening Prayer in his student president office watching. He never did a “Lord Jesus, purify our hearts so we can serve You as You thing. Soon the younger brother dropped out o f school would have us serve You.” and returned to the farm. When he returned he sang no □ The Preacher’s Magazine • September, October, November 1998 Sunday Night Preaching Resources

hen does the high point of the week occur? For some, it may be the weekend itself—those days when one’s time is one’s own. For a growing number of people W there is the awareness that a time is needed when there is opportunity to fo­ cus on the coming demands of the new week. Sunday night is that time when many people hunker down within the cocoon, squeezing out the last minutes of freedom in the comfort of home. But for many others, it is a time when they begin preparing their response to the challenges of the coming week. Sunday night church is seen by many pastors as a time to help equip their congregations for effective living. Highpoint provides busy pastors an excellent array of ser­ mons and ideas for transforming Sunday night into the high point of the week.

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y mother was 5'1" and my presents it, and its message is father was 6'3". Standing confirmed by the probing pres­ together they made quite a ence o f the Holy Spirit. Deri picture. Mom and Dad Keefer has plundered the pas­ were members of the De­ sages o f Holy Writ, extracting pressionM Generation . . . their preachable truths for busy minis­ language often betrayed them. ters. He too is a pastor as w ell as When referencing the disparity an author and editor. He stands between their heights, Mom re­ before a congregation fully ferred to them as “Mutt and aware of the awesome responsi­ Jeff.” I suppose Mutt and Jeff bility as well as the privilege in­ were comic characters. I never September herent in the proclamation of saw their syndication, but I scriptural truth. heard their names invoked many I have known Deri Keefer for times. many years. I know o f no one When her diminutive height better able to craft a sermon for was compared to that o f my fa­ use by busy preachers than Pas­ ther, Mother always said, “Well, tor Keefer. May this quarter’s dynamite comes in small pack­ presentation of Highpoint enrich ages!” Although she was a your resources and enhance your Southern woman, Mother pos­ Sunday evening options for pre­ sessed “her opinions.” My tall, senting the timeless truths of New Yorker dad could well rue God’s Word. the day when he ran afoul o f one of “her opinions!” Deri Keefer has explored the explosive power o f two rather minuscule manuscripts from the library o f Holy Books. Truly it may be said, “Spiritual dynamite often comes in small packages!” DAVID J. FELTER The first 10 sermons for this Editor, Highpoint Sunday night preaching resource Sunday Night Preach­ come from the Books o f James ing Resources and 1 Peter. Keefer unlocks the Ka n sa s C ity transformative power of life- changing truth as he develops these preachable sermons for practical application on Sunday nights. Each sermon is accompa­ nied by a variety suggestion that will enhance the message’s po­ tential. A sermon is a powerful tool when a preacher passionately

The Preacher’s Magazine • September, October, November 1998 HIGHPOINT

cknowledging God’s holi­ since 1983. He is married to ness is uniform throughout Karen and has two adult chil­ Christendom. Statements re­ dren, Julie and Jeff. Deri is also garding the Holiness o f God chairman of the Michigan Dis­ is safely cached in the trict Sunday School Ministry and Creeds, housed in the hymns, has been since 1987. He writes and tucked away in our tradi­ sermons and illustrations for tions. In the Holiness Movement, various clergy magazines and we have committed to moving manuals, including: Preacher’s beyond statis phrases o f ac­ Magazine, Resource, Preaching knowledgment to dynamic in­ Magazine, Clergy Journal, Minis­ vestment in living expressions ter’s Annual Manual, Abingdon modeled on biblical revelation. Preaching Annual, and others. Robert Browning once wrote: for Keefer has recently developed an I say, the acknowledgment o f independent ministry called God in Christ Lighthouse Ministry as a re­ Accepted by thy reason, solves source for ministers. fo r thee May God bless your efforts on All questions in the earth and Sunday nights. However you out o f it, conduct these services in your lo­ And has so fa r advanced thee to cation, let these outlines enrich be wise.* your array of possibilities for Rev. Deri Keefer begins this se­ evening celebration. ries o f sermons from James with this statement: “As we claim God *From, “A Death in the Desert,” stanza 21, The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of we also are looking for more in Robert Browning (1895), 390. our experience o f Him.” These Sunday night preaching re­ sources w ill take your listeners into the heart of practical reli­ DERL G. KEEFER gion. The wisdom of James is Senior Pastor, practical as w ell as applicable to Three Rivers Church real-life situations in our time. o f the Nazarene When you combine this with the T hree R ivers, variety ideas presented by Pastor M ichigan Keefer, you have at your finger­ tips, a resource for expressing the message of everyday holiness living in dynamic concepts that link the biblical revelation with Christian profession and prac­ tice. Deri Keefer has been senior pastor o f the Church o f the Naz- arene in Three Rivers, Michigan,

T he P re ac h e r ’s M agazine • Se p tem b er, O ct o b e r, N ovember 1998 W eek 1 tianity that we forget to talk about Jesus! What 4. Has a correct social concern a tragedy. Preaching Thought: Holiness B. Results of a VAIN religion is not dos and don’ts in life but 1. Deceives people rather a conformity to God’s James 1:19-27 2. Becomes a braggart character in the very depths of 3. Moves away from God our personhood. This conformi­ INTRODUCTION. Ray H. Hughes says, “The holiness 4. Has a wrong social concern ty is made possible only as we person masters the world, while the carnal person is mas­ Illustration: Tony Campolo writes that in the unite with Jesus and allow His tered by the world.” movie Oh God! John Denver plays a young Spirit to guide us. As w e claim God, we also are looking for more in our man who receives messages from God that III. THE CLAIMS OF HOLINESS CLEANS­ experience of Him. The moment of entire sanctification is were related for everybody else. In one scene, ES really only the depot o f departure on this incredible jour­ Denver goes to an evangelistic meeting to hear A. Keeps Christ in us ney that never stops. a certain preacher who exemplifies all the B. Keeps temptation overcome There are some important things that must be done as worst things about preachers. As the evangelist C. Keeps sin destroyed one lays claim to this experience o f holy living. delivers his sermon, the Denver character in­ Quotable Quote: “God has one • Listen when God speaks. terrupts him and says that God has a special destined end for mankind— holi­ • Examine the activity o f God in life. message just for the preacher! ness! His one aim is the production • Put faith in God’s promises. The evangelist halts the entire service and of saints. God is not an eternal • Allow God to mold your beliefs, behavior, and char­ announces to the congregation, “This young blessing-machine for men. He did acter. man has come with a message directly from not come to save men out o f pity. • Follow His leadership. God!” He came to save men because He • Get ready to experience the fullness of the Holy Spir­ All eyes are focused on Denver, and there is created them to be holy.”2 it. a hush that comes over the crowd. I. THE CLAIM OF HOLINESS— NOT A VAIN RELIGION Denver looks straight at the preacher and 1. Tony Campolo, Following Jesus Without Embarrassing A. What is a VAIN religion? with a strong voice says, “God wants you to God (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1997), 3. 2. Oswald Chambers, quoted in Albert Wells, comp., In­ 1. External and punctilious performance shut up because you’re embarrassing Him!” 2. Acts in the sight o f people spiring Quotations (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, A vain religion embarrasses God. As Campo­ 1988), 88. 3. Bound in selfishness lo writes, “Sometimes we have been pompous. 4. Substitutes ethics for true righteousness Sometimes we have said things about God that Illustration: The great political leader of In­ undoubtedly have made God shudder. Which dia, Mahatma Gandhi, found himself seated on of us can deny that? Even as we are trying to a locomotive next to an evangelical preacher. follow Jesus, we sometimes behave in ways Variety Ideas for Sermon 1 As the train sped through India the preacher which must make God and Christianity seem Have three people ready to testify as to sped through the gospel message attempting to ridiculous to those outside the faith.”1 their specific experience o f entire sanctifica­ convince Gandhi of Christianity’s superiority. II. THE CLAIMS OF HOLINESS— A PURE RELIGION tion. Spread them throughout the service. As the pair came close to the end of the jour­ A. What is pure religion? Have a teen lead in the responsive read­ ing “Sanctification” on page 510, Sing to the ney, the preacher pushed Gandhi to accept Je­ 1. Keeps itself undefiled Lord. sus as Savior. 2. Couples holiness with ethics ‘Jesus!” exclaimed Gandhi with a pretended 3. Acts in the sight o f God look of surprise, “I didn’t realize you were talk­ 4. Bound up with God ing about Jesus! I presumed you were telling B. Results of true religion me about some successful oil tycoon from 1. Corrects life Texas!” 2. Brags on God Often we talk about all the benefits of Chris­ 3. Moves toward God all that important that you and I understand— W eek 2 see— every detail of our lives, but it is supremely important that by faith we yield control of every Variety Ideas for Sermon 2 detail to the Spirit. A successful Christian life Ask someone from a community social doesn’t need the rationality o f sight, but it does action agency to come in and give a brief talk on how the church can respond to the James 2:14-26 need the faith o f surrender.”* needs o f the community through volun- III. I AM NOT FOOLING MYSELF WHEN I KNOW THAT INTRODUCTION. About the turn o f the century there teerism. was an old trestle bridge standing at the Niagara Falls. WORKS AND FAITH GO TOGETHER. A. Faith Brings New L ife-W orks Brings New Energy The trains would creep along because they would shake B. Faith Brings Freedom— Works Brings Legitimacy so badly as they passed over on the bridge. People sat in absolute silence fearful that the trestle would collapse. C. Faith Brings Hope— Works Brings Action One old man would come aboard just as the train started CONCLUSION: Faith and works are inseparable. Mere verbalization of faith is not enough. Mere repetition of re­ across the bridge, distributing religious tracts. He would ligious formula does not insure salvation. The person then stand at the back o f the train and in a clear crisp who claims to have faith but does not evidence it in his or voice cry out in the stillness, “If your faith is in Jesus, you her life must question the authentic claim to that faith. have nothing to fear.” In those moments, people didn’t need to fake a rela­ James never questions that faith is the instrument of tionship with God but have a vital faith. So it is in all life! salvation, but he insists that if faith is real, it will mani­ I. AM I FOOLING MYSELF IN THINKING WORKS fest itself in action! ALONE IS ALL IT TAKES TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE? ‘ Patrick M. Morley, Walking with Christ in the Details o f Life (Nashville: A. Secular organizations are humanistically helpful. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1992), 190. 1. Government Agencies 2. Philanthropic Agencies 3. International Agencies B. Christian organizations are humanistically helpful. 1. Missions Agencies 2. Evangelical Agencies 3. Local Church Agencies Preaching Point: Jesus was sensitive to the needs of those around Him. Those who were hungry— He fed. Those who hurt— He healed. Those who were lonely— He befriended. Those who cried— He comforted. Those who were lost— He found. What many of us need is a garage sale in our lives to clean out the accumulated junk and self-serving purpose. II. AM I FOOLING MYSELF IN THINKING THAT FAITH ALONE IS ALL IT TAKES TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE? A. Faith in a Loving God B. Faith in a Loving People C. Faith in a Loving Church D. Faith in a Loving Spirit Quotable Quote: “In the final analysis, it is not W eek 3 so that we could be like vultures and feed on the carcasses of other people’s failures. C. Your words can be fatal with a fascinating attrac­ Variety I d a for Sermon 3 tion to evil. Prior to the sermon have the teens o f the James 3:1-12 Pondering Point: The damage the tongue can in­ church give the old “gossip” skit. It will flict is like the damage of a forest fire. It is wide- serve as a reminder to the congregation as INTRODUCTION. A medical doctor usually takes the ranging and uncontrollable. Once a word is spoken, to how negative talk can be. bodys temperature under that funny-looking organ stuck there is no getting it back. Nothing is more impossi­ After the sermon, have the people find between the mouth’s palate called the tongue. By exam­ ble to kill than a rumor, nor is there anything more one person that has helped them in their walk with Christ and then give three posi­ ining the tongue of a patient, physicians find out the dis­ impossible to obliterate than an idle false story. tive thoughts about him or her. This w ill be eases of the body and the philosophers discover the dis­ Warning label: James is addressing Christians— not non- done as individuals. A twist to this idea is to eases of the mind and the theologians the diseases of the Christians. That says a lot to the church of today. select one person to come forward and have heart. III. THE TONGUE CAN BE A POSITIVE COMMUNICA­ the people tell the positive items about that James deals with the spiritual perspective of the TOR OF INFLUENCE person. tongue. A. The positive tongue can witness for Jesus. I. THE TONGUE IS A COMMUNICATIVE ORGAN OF Illustration: A turning point in the formative INFLUENCE years of John Bunyan came when he overheard A. Communication is a transmitting, impartation, or three poor women sitting in the morning sun, talk­ sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information. ing about the things of God. What if they had been B. Christian teachers have been gifted with the abili­ gossiping about their neighbors or rolling some ty to communicate. morsel of scandal under their tongues, how would 1. Teachers instruct the facts o f Christianity— not Bunyan have been influenced? Fortunately he myths or fallacies. heard them talk about the new birth, God’s work in 2. Teachers edify the truth of Christianity— their hearts, and how God comforted and blessed stamping faith and practice. their lives; how Jesus refreshed their spirits daily. 3. Teachers mold lives of Christians by their When Bunyan went to work fixing the pots and words. pans o f his neighborhood, the ladies talked, filling Quick Thoughts: his wondering mind and heart positively! • The school is the factory o f humanity. Sunday B. The positive tongue is controlled by the positive School is the factory o f Christianity. Jesus. • The Talmud tells of a famine that stopped because C. The positive tongue builds character. of the prayers of an obscure and humble man. D. The positive tongue has abundance of words to Others’ prayers had proved unsuccessful. When say for the good. asked who he was that his prayers should have CONCLUSION: I believe that with God’s control o f the such influence, he said simply, “I am a teacher o f tongue . . . little children.” 1. Nations could be changed. Instead of deceitful lies II. THE TONGUE CAN BE A NEGATIVE COMMUNICA­ — honesty could govern. TOR OF INFLUENCE 2. Families could experience healing. The truth is that A. Your words reveal your character. more families are split by what is said and done. Pondering Point: If you are negative, vile, and a 3. Neighbors could be friends. cheap thinker, you w ill be a negative, vile, and 4. People could be influenced to smile, laugh, giggle, cheap talker. and be happy. B. Destructive criticism is pointless and detrimental. 5. Lives could be made new through witnessing the Pondering Point: Jesus did not die on the Cross awesome love of God! transformed his life, so he went to the W eek 4 B. Listen for the lost o f humanity. C. Listen to the sighs of your neighbor. smokehouse to get a whole ham to give to D. Listen to the voice of God. his neighbor. On the way down the path IV SPEAK THE RIGHT WORDS the old devil whispered, “Give him the A. Speak words of Salvation. smallest one you have.” A spiritual and James 4:1-10 B. Speak words of Purpose. mental battle ensued. Finally the miser got INTRODUCTION. My wife had a dream when we got C. Speak words o f Eternity. the largest one he could find to give away. “You are a fool,” the devil said, and the married. It was that I would be as good as her father D. Speak words of Allegiance. farmer replied, “If you don’t keep still, I’ll when it came to being a MR. FIX-IT. It wasn’t long after E. Speak words o f Kindness. our marriage that she realized her dream was a night­ V GO TO THE RIGHT PLACES give him every single ham in the smoke­ mare! She discovered I new nothing about fixing things A. Go to places that need help. house!” That is how you defeat the devil! around the house. Several years after we were married B. Go to places that lift the Spirit. she purchased a book as a gift for me titled How to Be a C. Go to places that challenge the mind. Handyman. I assumed it was a gag gift and I got it out oc­ D. Go to places that exercise the body. casionally for a few laughs. Today it sits on a shelf some­ Illustration to the Point: The riots in Los Ange­ where downstairs in the “work room.” The Bible is a les several years ago overshadowed a story that how-to Book, but it is intended to be used and not to sit got small print. The people o f Newark, New Jer­ v on a shelf. We need the Scriptures for strength and power sey, held a large parade. At the end of the sermon, ask those who for God. Dozens o f convertibles drove down the streets are struggling with constant defeat to come Some thoughts on how to defeat Satan come from occupied with waving people. Reclining inside of forward. Have paper and pens ready and have them write on the paper their most James’s quill through the divine inspiration o f God. them was a federal judge, a mother with six chil­ difficult struggle, then take that paper and I. THINK ON GOD— ASK HIS HELP dren, a church choir o f 30 people who normally w ad it up and throw it into a container. rode in wheelchairs, rich and poor, famous and A. Dwell on the positives of God with the mind of Have a board member ready to pray with obscure. On the sides of the cars were signs that Christ. that individual at the altar for power and indicated that each of the riders had been saved Illustration: Dr. William Bucholz relates the sto­ strength to defeat the devil. ry o f overhearing two physicians discussing a pa­ by the Newark Fire Department. Behind the con­ per delivered at a national seminar o f cancer spe­ vertibles marched the hundreds of firefighters cialists. One complained that he couldn’t wearing their medals. Hundreds of thousands understand the recovery rate of his patients versus cheered curbside as they passed. It was a day of those of his friend Bob. His was 22 percent while celebration as the city honored the people who his buddy Bob’s was 74 percent. daily risked their lives to save others. Bob said that they both used the same drugs, Imagine the joy that will be in heaven as the hydroxyurea, oncovin, platinol, and etoposide. saints o f God come marching down the streets fol­ Bob said that he tells his patients that putting the lowing their Lord and Savior, having disregarded first letters of the drugs together spells H-O-P-E. threats, imprisonment, torture, and consequences He said to his friend, “I emphasize that they have by spending their lives pulling others out o f the a chance!” fire of hell. B. Dwell on the mind o f Christ by expecting the best. VI. BELONG TO THE RIGHT PERSON II. GAZE UPON THE RIGHT SIGHTS A. Give Jesus first place in life. A. Look for the good in people. B. Give the Spirit full control. B. Look for the good God. C. Give God the keys to your life. Chorus of Significance: “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus” CONCLUSION: Dwight L. Moody used to tell the story III. LISTEN TO THE RIGHT SOUNDS about a converted old miser whom a neighbor in distress A. Listen for the hurts of society. asked for help. The miser wanted to prove that God had W eek 5 came to him and expressed that he wanted to IV PRAISE JESUS FOR HIS REFINE­ be a Christian. The miner was having trouble MENTS (w . 6-7) believing that if he just asked Jesus to forgive A. Refinements come through trials. him that Christ would forgive. “It is too B. Refinements come through tempta­ 1 Pet. 1:3-9 cheap,” is what he said. Morgan said, “My dear tions. friend, have you been working today?” The INTRODUCTION. Peter proclaims praise should accom­ C. Refinements come through circum­ man looked at him and said, “Certainly, I was pany the God and Father of Jesus by the people of the stances. down in the pit.” “How did you get there?” world! The Greek “euloge” literally means “to speak well D. Refinements come through people. Morgan asked. “The way I usually do. I got in­ o f” so that in order to praise Him we acknowledge God’s Illustration: Horace Mann re­ to the cage and was pulled to the top.” How goodness. A child expressed it well, ‘Jesus is the best pho­ minds us that temptation is a fear­ much did you pay to come out of the pit?” tograph God ever took.” Thus any praise that comes to ful word. It can be the beginning o f Morgan queried again. “Pay? Of course, I God also comes to Jesus. infinite evil. It is the ringing of an didn’t pay anything.” Morgan then asked, 1. Praise through verbal response. A vocal “Amen” or alarm bell that vibrates through all “Were you not afraid to trust yourself in that “Praise the Lord” or “Hallelujah” is always appropriate. eternity. It’s like the sudden loud cage? Was it not too cheap?” “Oh, no,” he said, 2. Praise through nonverbal reaction. Our feelings and cry of “Fire!” under the window of “it was cheap for me, but it cost the company a thoughts cry out for expression through responsive activity. life. As soon as w e hear it, we lot of money to sink that shaft.” And without Peter draws a blueprint of praise through his writing. should rouse to instantaneous ac­ another word that admission broke upon him His Epistle diagrams the picture of praise. Though the au­ tion and brace every muscle to its and he saw that he could have salvation with­ dience is in the midst o f satanic attack through slander, highest tension. out money and without price. It had cost the ostracism, violence, hatred, suspicion, and worldly ruin, CONCLUSION: Dr. J. H. Jowett decades infinite God the greatest o f price to sink the yet Peter calls for praise. He reminds them that Jesus is" ago looked out his window one day and shaft and rescue lost humans. It took the Cross worthy o f praise and here are the reasons. saw a half dozen “sandwich men” walking and Jesus on it for people to be forgiven. I. PRAISE JESUS FOR HIS LOVING ACTION (v. 3) the streets of London looking thoroughly Praise God for His salvation! A. His Loving Action— Mercy starved and wretched. On their backs they II. PRAISE JESUS FOR HIS INHERITANCE (v. 4) carried the advertisement to every onlook­ 1. Mercy— Help for those who cannot help them­ A. The inheritance is one o f faith. selves. er, “The best dinners in London.” B. The inheritance is one of incorruptibility. a. Help by giving to missions. Jowett commented, “Famished wretches C. The inheritance is one of undefilement. b. Help by giving to church. advertising the best dinners in town! D. The inheritance is one o f eternity. c. Help by giving to community. Cheerless men and women advertising ‘the Song o f Praise: John Newton expressed it well d. Help by giving to individuals. joy of the Lord.’ Heralds in whom there is when he penned, “When w e’ve been there ten 2. Mercy— Prayer for those who need God. no buoyancy advertising the light of life! thousand years, / Bright, shining as the sun, / a. Pray for those needing hope. No, it is the cheery spirit, the praiseful spir­ We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise / Than b. Pray for those needing healing. it, that offers the best commendation of when w e’d first begun!” the grace o f God.” c. Pray for those needing holiness. Our inheritance can already be on reserve by d. Pray for those needing happiness. faith in the invisible God seen through the Son Je­ B. His Loving Action— Salvation sus and revealed by the Holy Spirit. 1. His action took Jesus to the Cross. III. PRAISE JESUS FOR HIS PROTECTION (v. 5) 2. His action brings reconciliation between God Variety Ideas for Sermon 5 Peter uses an interesting verb: phroureo signifying and man. Have a good old-fashioned “popcorn” tes­ “to keep watch” or “to keep under military guard.” 3. His action comes by confession. timony service where people give a praise The true disciples of Christ are under the continual to Jesus. 4. His action offers forgiveness. watchful care of God, and the inheritance is guarded Follow the praise sequence in the Sing to Illustration: G. Campbell Morgan tells the by God. We who are Christ’s can be thankful for His the Lord, Nos. 121-24. story that after one of his meetings a miner keeping power and protection. Remember what John said, “Dear children, let us horses were starving. The city was sur­ W eek 6 not love with words or tongue but with actions and rounded on every side by the southern forces. Grant was on crutches from an acci­ in truth” (1 John 3:18). A. Love is filled with admiration. dent he sustained in New Orleans, but the B. Love is filled with meekness. hour he arrived the conditions for the 1 Pet. 2:1-10 Quick Thought: Meekness is that we are emp­ North changed. He gave immediate orders for breaking through the southern lines to INTRODUCTION. Foundations vitally affect any struc­ tied o f selfish ambition and arrogance. secure relief. Within five days of that order, ture of permanence. They are what buildings are con­ C. Love is filled with contentment. Quote: “Allowing other pursuits or possessions the line was broken and the food supply structed on and without them there is no stability. While I or people to take the place of God’s kingdom in became abundant. An encouraged army was in Israel on a tour, I saw many Palestinian ruins, our lives will only guarantee confusion, failure, was ready to move against their enemy nothing was left except the 2,000-year-old foundations. emptiness, and dissatisfaction” (Greg Laurie in and the most important ingredient was Let’s look at some of the foundations that we can build Every Day with Jesus'.). Our contentment comes by confidence. They now knew they could on in life. allowing God first place in our hearts. have victory. I. OUR FOUNDATION IS JESUS How like this is to the coming of Christ, Illustration: A poor man in North Carolina saw a D. Love is filled with service. Quote: “Love has hands to help others. It has the Commander-in-Chief of life. Resources big, ugly stone lying limpid in a brook. He took that feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to are unused, courage at low ebb, disheart- heavy lump of rock back home to use as a doorstop. see misery and want. It has ears to hear the sighs enment saps the life, but in comes the One day a geologist stopped at his home and saw and sorrows of men. This is what love looks like” Commander, Christ, and leads us at once that chunk o f rock and examined it. To the geologist’s to a more abundant life. Our foundation is surprise it turned out to be the largest piece of gold (Augustine). III. OUR FOUNDATION IS GOODNESS the Lord of Hosts! at the time east o f the Rockies. No Christian can be the way he or she used to be. A. Many people looked at Jesus as just an ordinary There are things that must be stripped off. Peter says piece of human clay, but He was so much more! that just like a filthy dirty shirt must be stripped off 1. Jesus is more than a Galilean peasant. and discarded, so must those things that are unchrist- 2. Jesus is more than a prophet. 3. Jesus is more than a good man. like. Variety Ideas for Sermon 6 A. Honesty must replace dishonesty. 4. Jesus is more than one of the deities. Have a person dressed in contractor’s George Washington quote: “I hope that I shall B. Many people look at Jesus and see who He really clothes come forward and at each point of always possess firmness and virtue enough to is in life. the sermon have them build a foundation maintain what I consider the most enviable of all 1. Jesus as the Son o f God and label some of the building material titles: the character of an honest man” (Albert with the points of your sermon. 2. Jesus as the Lamb of God Wells Jr., Inspirational Quotations [Nashville: Nel­ 3. Jesus as the Messiah of God 4. Jesus as the Perfection of God son Publishing, 1988], 90). II. OUR FOUNDATION IS LOVE B. Sincerity must replace hypocrisy. C. Cooperation must replace bitterness and strife. Thought: “I love you.” Three words that everyone wants to hear. How awful life would be if no one ever D. Self-esteem must replace enviousness. said that to you. Our hearts long for those words to IV OUR FOUNDATION IS TRUST be expressed by a spouse, a friend, a child, or a par­ A. Trust is based on believing. ent. Those three words hold our future. We need to B. Trust is based on daily experience. see the practical side of love. Not just the verbaliza­ C. Trust is based on the person we know. CONCLUSION: When General U. S. Grant arrived at tion. Be a person, a family, a church o f action. Do Chattanooga, Tennessee, to take command of the north­ something about the needs of others. Show God and the world what you mean by love! Do it today. Don’t ern forces, he found them depressed, discouraged, and hard-pressed. The men were on short rations, and the put it off. W eek 7 Many years ago in the old Sunday School Chronicle When Christ is guiding and empow­ magazine there was a story of a whaler who went ering the church, the congregation will ashore one Sunday and attended chapel services. Af­ experience: ter the worship was over, the minister spoke to him A. A love that dominates differences. 1 Pet. 2:4-12 and asked if he received anything out of the service. B. A victory that will not be stifled. “The fact is, sir,” said the captain, “all the while you C. A growth that cannot be stopped. INTRODUCTION. There is no such person as a free­ were preaching I had whales on my mind. There is D. A joy that must be shared. lance Christian. Not to be a part of the visible family of no room in my heart for anything but whales.” E. A future that is bright. God is simply a contradiction of the Christian life. So many of us are like that whaling captain. IV THE CHURCH OF GOD IS ONE OF Several years ago I heard a disgruntled clergyman on a The reason we have not received anything out of PROCLAMATION Cincinnati station say, “Organized religion (that is the worship services is because our hearts are too full A. Proclamation that Jesus is Lord. church) is too political and is nonfunctioning.” of business to listen to God. B. Proclamation that Jesus forgives. The truth is that the “institution” of the church does II. THE CHURCH OF GOD IS A COVENANT OF CHRIST C. Proclamation that Jesus restores. have its problems, but it is still God’s instrument o f evan­ Thought: Dr. James Parker observes that the New D. Proclamation that Jesus renews. gelism, worship, fellowship, and power. Testament church is the historical continuation of the E. Proclamation that Jesus completes. A Spartan king boasted to a visiting monarch about the Old Testament, Israel. The basis o f the church’s life in F. Proclamation that Jesus transforms. walls of Sparta. The visiting monarch looked around and both Testaments is the covenant that God drew up CONCLUSION: My church is the place saw no walls. He said to the Spartan king, “Where are the with Abraham. The fundamental idea of biblical ec- where the Word of God is preached, the walls that you boast so much about?” The Spartan king clesiology is the church as the covenant people of power o f God is felt, the Spirit of God is pointed to his bodyguard of magnificent Spartan troops. God. The covenant is a relationship o f promise and manifested, the love of Christ is revealed, “These,” he said, “are the walls o f Sparta, and every man commitment that binds two parties together. and the unity o f the Spirit is perceived. It is of them is a brick o f the wall.” A. The covenant relationship is a corporate relationship. the home of my soul and the altar o f devo­ If a brick lies by itself it does no good. It can only be­ B. The covenant relationship is a permanent rela­ tion and the center o f my affection! I de­ come of use when it is put into a building. As Christians, tionship. sire it to have a place in my heart and we are built into the very fabric of the church. C. The covenant relationship is a redeemed relation­ mind. I promise to support it in the man­ I. THE GOAL OF THE CHURCH IS TO WORSHIP CHRIST ship. ner that the Bible prescribes. It will have Quick quote: “True worship . . . is never the unaid­ D. The covenant relationship is a God-known rela­ my zeal, care, and prayer. I will be part of ed action of man, even the devout man. It is rather tionship. the church of Jesus Christ! the attitude and expression which the Holy Spirit E. The covenant relationship is a confirmational rela­ prompts and guides . . . The Spirit is the key person tionship. *Oswald Chambers, My Utmost fo r His Highest (West­ in true Christian worship” (Floyd Filson, Jesus Christ III. THE CHURCH OF GOD IS GUIDED AND EMPOW­ wood, N.J.: Barbour and Co., 1935), 58. the Risen Lord). ERED BY CHRIST A. The true Christian in every service o f worship Important Idea: “The reason some of us are such ought to pray. poor specimens of Christianity is because we have no B. The true Christian in every service o f worship Almighty Christ. We have Christian attributes and ex­ Variety Ideas for Sermon ? ought to sing. periences, but there is no abandonment to Jesus Pass out sign-up sheets for those w ho will C. The true Christian in every service of worship Christ. When we get into difficult circumstances, we promise to pray regularly for the programs ought to praise. impoverish His ministry by saying, ‘Of course He can­ o f the church: D. The true Christian in every service of worship not do anything,’ and we struggle down to the deeps Building program: “Building Buddies” ought to participate. and try to get the water for ourselves. Beware of the Missions program: “Mission Moments” E. The true Christian in every service of worship satisfaction of sinking back and saying, ‘It can’t be Sunday School programs: “SS Supports” ought to unite. done’; you know it can be done if you look to Jesus. Teen program: “PTA— Parents and Teens F. The true Christian in every service of worship The well of your incompleteness is deep, but make Association” ought to love. the effort and look away to him.”* And so forth Quick thought: If we disobey God, we will pay ing from their lives. W eek 8 in remorse, regret, and failure. Obedience and Greater far is the freedom that comes to love are our rightful obligation to God. those who believe in Christ. There is also C. Breaking the chains of continued compromise. as much joy and thrill because this free­ 1. Compromise of ethics dom never ends but only expands daily. 1 Pet. 2:13-17 2. Compromise of morals *G. B. F. Hallock, Five Thousand Best Modem Illustrations 3. Compromise of standards INTRODUCTION. The man had a dream— a vision to (New York: Richard R. Smith, 1931), 619. unite Europe and Asia, but he met opposition everywhere 4. Compromise of philosophy he turned. He pitched his idea to people in Portugal, 5. Compromise of theology Spain, England, and France, but each of them refused his 6. Compromise of hearts sales pitch. After reassessing his position and reorganiz­ Christ has come to set us free from the compul­ ing his thoughts, he returned to Spain to talk with the sive grip o f sin and its power. V queen who agreed with the vision. Christopher Columbus II. FREEDOM COMES THROUGH DOING THE RIGHT Have a drama about the wild man Jesus healed in Luke 8:26-39. Have special music got what he wanted and discovered a new land called THINGS IN LIFE A. A need for a revival o f righteousness and congregational hymns focus on the top­ America. ic o f “Freedom.” What evolved the next 300 years was a nation passed B. A need to be fair to all like a hot potato from one controlling country to another. C. A need to respect and love During this time, the pioneering spirit had a taste of free­ D. A need for honesty and integrity dom. Freedom to live like they wanted to live. Freedom E. A need for goodness to worship God in the way they felt He ought to be w or­ Poem by F. W. Faber: shiped. Freedom to care about people and laws and so For right is right, since God is God, many other things. But the truth is that the freedom they And right the day must win; came to enjoy began having restrictions around it by an To doubt would be disloyalty, English monarch who wanted ultimate control. After the To falter would be sin.* monarch put chains around the country, the people of III. FREEDOM COMES BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD America rebelled and declared their independence. After A. God’s Spirit gives us life. years of struggle, their objective of freedom came into ex­ B. God’s Spirit gives us power. C. God’s Spirit gives us hope. istence. For many people, spiritual freedom comes after years D. God’s Spirit gives us infilling. Truth: The Holy Spirit is called that, not be­ of struggle when Christ comes into life. I. FREEDOM BREAKS THE CHAINS OF COMPULSIVE cause He is holier than the other persons of the Trinity but because His special function is to SIN cleanse and sanctify the heart by faith, to cultivate A. Breaking the chains of continued sin. Illustration: The old Sunday School Chronicle holiness in each person. tells that an old boatman was asked one day, “If CONCLUSION: G. B. F. Hallock tells that on August 1, anybody fell from the pier into the water, would 1834, the emancipation of 700,000 of British colonial he be drowned?” The sailor replied, “No, it is not slaves took place. Throughout the colonies the churches falling into the water that drowns a person . . . It’s and the chapels were thrown open, and the slaves crowd­ ed into them the night before. As midnight approached, the staying there!” The truth is, it’s not the falling into sin that the slaves fell on their knees and waited breathlessly for damns a man. It is refusing to return to the Father the moment to come when they would experience free­ in penitence and humility that drowns a person dom. When 12:00 sounded from the church bells, they sprang to their feet, and through every island rang the spiritually. B. Breaking the chains o f continued disobedience. glad sound of thanksgiving to God for the chains break­ W eek 9 by saying, ‘You have helped me so much. You have Illustration: ‘Jesus glorified God by given me just the help that I needed.” The minister giving himself for the work of His re­ said, “It was at that moment that I realized that deeming love. God’s glory is His holi­ what she needed was my sympathy, not my wisdom ness, and God’s holiness is His re­ 1 Pet. 3:1-16 for her problem to be resolved.” deeming love— love that triumphs B. A harmonious spirit includes brotherly love. over sin by conquering the sin and INTRODUCTION. As a college freshman, I had a very Thought: To paraphrase Charles Haddon Spur­ rescuing the sinner. Jesus not only good friend who just happened to be the freshman class geon, “A Christian should be a striking likeness of told of the Father being the righteous president. One day he asked, “Deri, how would you like Jesus Christ. Christ’s life should be written out in One, whose condemnation must rest to be the driver for our class banquet speaker? She is the the words, action, and holy love of His people.” on sin, and the loving One, who former Miss America winner, Vonda Kay Van Dyke.” I re­ C. A harmonious spirit includes courtesy. saves everyone who turns from his sponded with a definite, “YES!” Quote: “Courtesy springs from the heart; if the sin, but He gave himself to be a sacri­ My excitement mounted on the day of the banquet. My mind prompts the action, there is a reason; if there fice to that righteousness . . . let sim­ duties included driving to the airport in the brand-new car be a reason, it is not courtesy; for courtesy has no ple obedience mark our whole life. on loan to us for the special occasion from one of the local reason. Courtesy is good will and good will is Let humble, childlike waiting for di­ car dealers in Bethany, Oklahoma. As Miss America arrived, prompted by the heart full of love to be kind. Only rection, a Christlike dependence on the crowd cheered. We hustled into the car, and I slid be­ the generous man is truly courteous— he gives the Father’s showing us His way, be hind the wheel and pressed the accelerator. As I started to freely without a thought o f receiving anything in our daily attitude . . . Let God’s glory drive, suddenly a motorcade of police vehicles started in return. The generous man has developed kindness shine out in the holiness of our life.”2 front and behind me. It was all exciting for an 18-year-old to such an extent that he considers everyone as B. Hope includes meekness. college freshman! Miss Van Dyke was sitting right in the good as himself— and treats others not as he Quick quote: “The meek man middle o f the backseat. . . right in sight of the rearview should like to be treated but as he ought to be gives back love for hate, kindness mirror. It was difficult to keep my eyes on the road because treated” (Drew’s Imprint).1 for unkindness, sweetness for bit­ my eyes kept looking in the mirror. The years have quickly II. CHRISTIAN BEAUTY INCLUDES ACTION terness” (J. R. Miller). passed, and I’m now in my 50s! I haven’t seen Miss Van A. Christian action includes being a blessing. CONCLUSION: The beauty contest is on Dyke since that day I chauffeured her to the school, but I 1. Being a blessing by not returning evil for evil and you are the contestant! imagine she is a beautiful lady. 2. Being a blessing by not returning insult for in­ The truth is that beauty is only skin-deep. What we sult 1. G. B. F. Hallock, Five Thousand Best Modem Illustra­ need are the beauty marks on the inside that will never 3. Being a blessing by returning good for good tions (New York: Richard R. Smith, Inc., 1931), 194. 2. Time with God (Dallas: Word Bibles, 1991), 249. fade, age, or wrinkle! 4. Being a blessing by returning compliment for Peter understood the principle of Christian beauty. compliment I. CHRISTIAN BEAUTY INCLUDES A HARMONIOUS B. Christian action includes being a lover of life. SPIRIT 1. Lover o f life in a positive sense Getting along with others is a way o f demonstrat­ 2. Lover o f life in a holiness sense Variety Ideas for Sermon 9 ing our Christian spirit to a fragmented world. C. Christian action includes demonstrating life. Just before the sermon have a “Beauty A. A harmonious spirit includes sympathy. 1. Demonstrating through goodness Parade” o f all the babies in the church. Illustration: Our world hungers for compassion. Quick quotes: “How far that little candle Have someone take pictures of the babies The truth is that most of the time we can be of little throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a and give them to the parents. Then launch help except to sympathize with a situation. A pastor naughty world” (Shakespeare). “He who be­ into the sermon on “A Beautiful Christian,” tells about an experience he had with a poor moth­ lieves in goodness has the essence of all faith. using the parade as your introduction. er. On his visitation, she burst into tears, telling him He is a man of cheerful yesterdays and confi­ things that were beyond his wisdom to solve. The dent tomorrows” (J. E Clarke). pastor said that he felt a fool, for he did not know III. CHRISTIAN BEAUTY INCLUDES HOPE what to say to her. After a while she surprised him A. Hope includes righteousness. D. Seeking God’s will through avoidance of lusting aries” for Jesus, changing the world W eek 1 0 after the world. they live in for Christ. He told them A. W. Tozer related that God could use anyone, however they needed to speak out against flawed, as long as his or her heart was clean. That exhorta­ “ideas, ideals, philosophies, theologies, tion is true when it comes to seeking God’s will. Hearts institutions that would dehumanize or 1 Pet. 4:1-11 must be clean in order to seek and discern God’s will. dechristianize us.” He stated, “The world needs a church that will struggle INTRODUCTION. The message was painted in huge, III. COMMITMENT RENEWAL INCLUDES A HATRED against the principalities and powers bright red letters on the subway wall, “Christ is the An­ FOR SIN (v. 3) and call them into conformity with the swer.” Scrawled below in black lettering were the words A. Hatred of sexual sin will of God.” It is service we need in “What is the question?” B. Hatred of evil desires the name of Jesus. Peter’s world knew the question. It was Jesus who an­ C. Hatred of abuse to alcohol (drugs) A. Service produces reality. swered life’s questions. They were aware that if they be­ D. Hatred of idolatry B. Service produces satisfaction. came committed to Jesus, they faced suffering, persecu­ Quick quote: Billy Sunday, “One reason sin C. Service produces usefulness. tion, physical abuse, deprivation, social insecurity, and flourishes is that it is treated like a cream puff in­ D. Service produces action. possible supper for Rome’s lion population! stead of a rattlesnake.” E. Service produces lasting affects. Peter aids us in understanding that commitment We are sinners by nature and practice. We are as far from God as we can possibly be. As Christians, we VI. COMMITMENT RENEWAL INCLUDES through the text. GOD’S AUTHORITY (v. 11) I. COMMITMENT RENEWAL INCLUDES AFFLICTION must hate sin with all that is within us! IV COMMITMENT RENEWAL INCLUDES PRAYER (v. 7) A. Authority is cooperation. (v. 1) B. Authority is saving power. A. Affliction as a blessing in disguise. A. Prayer includes petition. C. Authority is cleansing power. Quick point: Many things that come into our B. Prayer includes remorse. D. Authority is eternity power. lives seem unjust, difficult to bear, and undesir­ C. Prayer includes action. Quote: R. C. Sproul wrote, “The able but often prove to be blessings in disguise. D. Prayer includes yielding. very word authority hints at a con­ Job would be a good example. E. Prayer includes exaltation. nection to the word authorship. B. Affliction comes to all. F. Prayer includes responsibility. Illustration: When my wife and I owned a little God is the omnipotent author of C. Affliction deepens life. His creation. He is the omnipotent Margret Bottome stood on the bridge over the cottage, it had a pump instead of a regular faucet. redeemer o f His creation. He exer­ Harlem river. A vessel was steaming its way up I was not used to the fact that I had to “prime” the cises omnipotent authority over His the river. A friend said there was a time when no pump in order to get it to work. Since we weren’t creation.”* boat o f that size could come up the river because there often, the water would get low and we the river was too shallow. Margaret asked what would have to put water into it and pump hard. It *Time with God (Dallas: Word Bibles, 1991), 19. caused it to be deepened so vessels could sail on took quite awhile to get the water to come up. it. He answered, “Blasting.” It’s like that in prayer. If we are instant in When we ask God to give us the power to bear prayer, every little circumstance awakens the dis­ suffering, we may not at first see this glory o f use­ position to pray. The words and the desire are al­ Variety Ideas for Sermon 10 fulness can only come as the Lord’s came, through ways ready. If we neglect prayer, it is difficult for At the end o f the sermon, have people us to pray because the water in the well gets low! suffering. The capacity to endure suffering comes who represent the various programs of the V COMMITMENT RENEWAL INCLUDES SERVICE TO as w e deepen our lives through the blastings! church (Sunday School, trustees, steward­ D. Affliction brings opportunities. OTHERS (w. 8, 10) ship, Caravan, quizzing, teens, etc.) at tables II. COMMITMENT RENEWAL INCLUDES SEEKING Sandy Audey says, “It’s loving and caring and shar­ with information about the program. After GOD’S WILL (v. 2) ing with others in the name of Jesus.” the benediction, have the congregation go to A. Seeking God’s will through prayer. When I attended World Youth Congress for the the various tables and sign up for a commit­ B. Seeking God’s will through inner desire. Church of the Nazarene, I heard Tony Campolo chal­ ment to what they can do best to help. C. Seeking God’s will through identifying with Christ. lenge those Nazarene young people to be “revolution­ W e e k 11 C. Jesus finds us in spiritual need and marks us with D. The Body o f Christ unites redemption. Thought: An E-mail from a friend D. Jesus finds us in spiritual need and marks us with contained a wonderful line, “I keep covenant. trying to live in the eternal realiz­ Acts 2:37-40 E. Jesus finds us in spiritual need and marks us with ing there is no time there.” The cleansing. Body o f Christ, His Church, is visi­ INTRODUCTION. A minister was called to his new Illustration: Let an individual go to a psychia­ ble and time oriented in one sense; parish and on his first Sunday he preached on baptism. trist and what happens to him or her? An adjusted however, the church is invisible and The next Sunday he did the same. Three months passed sinner. Let that same person go to a physician and living in the eternity of life. and each Sunday he preached on the subject of baptism. what does the person become? A healthy sinner. If Quote: “One of the most vivid The congregation became less than enchanted by his con­ that same individual achieved wealth and riches, metaphors of the Church in the tinual preaching on baptism. Finally tired of it, they what does that person become? A wealthy sinner. New Testament is Paul’s reference asked him to choose a new theme. If that person joins a church, signs a card, and to the Church as the Body of Christ. He said, “Well, I didn’t realize that you all felt that way turns over a new leaf, what does he or she be­ When this metaphor is coupled You pick out the text, and I’ll preach on whatever you come? A religious sinner. But let that person go in pick out.” with the correlative image of Christ sincere repentance and faith to the foot o f Cal­ as the Head o f the Body, a striking After a committee meeting, they picked out the text vary s cross, and what does the individual be­ picture of the Church emerges. and the chairman said, “Pastor, w e’ve picked Matthew come? A new creature in Jesus Christ, forgiven, Each individual Christian is a part 3:10: And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the reconciled, with meaning purpose in his or her life o f Christ’s body, living in harmony trees’” ( k j v ) . and on the way to marvelous fulfillment in God’s with the other parts, and under the He got up the next Sunday, read that text, and said, holy will.2 control o f the head.”4 “Amen. That’s wonderful. They laid that axe at the root of II. THE FOUNDATION OF BAPTISM IS HOPE WITH the tree. The only reason anybody would lay an axe JESUS 1. Rob L. Staples, Outward Sign and Inward Grace down at the root o f a tree is to take the axe to cut down A. Hope in the name of Jesus (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press o f Kansas City, 1991), 119. the tree, to dam up the creek, to get the water deep B. Hope in the name of the Trinity 2. Albert M. Wells Jr., Inspiring Quotations (Nashville: enough to have a baptizing!” Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1988), 174. C. Hope in the death of Jesus 3. Richard E. Howard, Newness of Life: A Study in the “For many Christians, especially Protestants and more D. Hope in the blood of Jesus Thought of Paul (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press o f Kansas especially those in the Wesleyan/Holiness tradition, E. Hope in the experience of Jesus City, 1975), 101. 4. Ibid., 106. sacramental practice seems meaningless and irrelevant F. Hope in the new world . . . one seldom hears sermons on the meaning o f bap­ G. Hope in the faith we have in Jesus tism, despite the fact that in the New Testament there are Quote: Dr. Richard Howard wrote: “When we, more allusions to baptism . . . This near-silence from the through faith, enter into Christ, we enter into His Wesleyan/Holiness pulpit regarding baptism is ironic in death. This means that the believer appropriates view o f the emphasis the same pulpit places on the Great by faith the death that Christ died for him. He Ask each baptismal candidate to write Commission and on the event o f Pentecost, in each of participates or shares in Christ’s death. He dies out his or her testimony o f faith. As he or which baptism is highly significant.”1 along with Christ. All men died provisionally with she enters the baptismal tank, either the The sacrament of baptism must be accentuated and un­ Christ when He died on the Cross, but only those candidate or a relative or friend can read it, derstood. who by faith accept that death die experientially or copy it and have it on an overhead, or I. THE FOUNDATION OF BAPTISM IS RELATIONSHIP with Christ.”3 have the candidate tape it ahead of time WITH JESUS III. THE FOUNDATION OF BAPTISM IS THE BODY OF and play it over the sound system as he or A. Jesus finds us in spiritual need and marks us with JESUS she enters the water or before he or she is poured or sprinkled. conviction. A. The Body o f Christ personally B. Jesus finds us in spiritual need and marks us with B. The Body of Christ corporately grace. C. The Body o f Christ eternally “This is terrible, because of your error I am going W eek 12 to face embarrassment and possible loss of busi­ ness. How could you do this to me?” Variety Ideas for Sermon 12 “This was a horrible error, and I am really sorry. At the conclusion o f the sermon, dismiss It was a mistake and, o f course, was not intention­ the congregation and go to the fellowship 1 Pet. 1:3-12 hall where a thanksgiving meal has been al,” the editor said. prepared. At the mealtime, have several “I don’t care! I want something done about this INTRODUCTION. The United States celebrates a holi­ give testimonies o f thanks and have special error! I want it done immediately!” day known as Thanksgiving! For Americans, it is a won­ music with the same theme. Include chil­ derful holiday as it conjures up so many good feelings The editor came up with a “plan” to save the dren and teens during this time o f thanks­ and memories. The pilgrims came to a strange and wild embarrassing situation. “Look, mister, cheer up. giving. country not knowing what they would find. The winters Tomorrow I’ll put your name in the birth column, were so cold and the wind had such icy blasts that it was and you can have a fresh start in life.” extremely difficult to find food and to simply live. Amid The new birth gives us that “fresh start” we all the harsh reality of life the pilgrims invited their Indian need! friends and had a celebration dinner to praise God for His B. A New Inheritance love . . . in spite of all the hardships! Perishable versus imperishable. Peter wrote to a church that was under religious C. A New Home bondage and persecution from the Romans. The civilian Quick quote: “To believe in heaven is not to run authorities menaced the Christians because they would away from life; it is to run toward it” (Joseph D. not submit to Roman emperor worship by saying that Blinco).* “Caesar is Lord.” Instead, the Christians proclaimed that 1. Heaven will be free from fear. “Jesus is Lord.” Two hundred and fifty years Rome dedi­ 2. Heaven will be open to our questions. cated itself to the extermination of a religion that would 3. Heaven will be a place of unstoppable love. not accept the divinity of the Roman emperor but only Je­ D. A New Hope sus the Heavenly Emperor. II. THANKSGIVING IS THANKSLIVING IN FAITH (v. 5) Peter’s document is not a gray, sorrowful stoicism that A. Thanksliving is the initial gift o f salvation. can only be described as a “grin and bear it” philosophy. B. Thanksliving is the vibrancy of visionary outlook. Archibald Hunter caught the authentic spirit o f Peter’s C. Thanksliving is the audacity o f abundant life. message by saying that those early Christians were D. Thanksliving is the assurance o f eternal life. “buoyed by an expectancy” of an inheritance incorrupt­ E. Thanksliving is the concept of reconciliation. ible and undefiled and that does not fade away F. Thanksliving is the tenacity of pursuing life. What Peter is expounding in his letter is that thanksgiv­ G. Thanksliving is the risk o f the redeemed. ing is really thanksliving! H. Thanksliving is the power to see us through. I. THANKSGIVING IS THANKSLIVING IN A NEW LIFE Illustration: I heard a story about a first grade teacher who stood at the door bidding her pupils good-bye as (v. 3) A new life in Christ swells from the heart and they moved on to the second grade. “Teacher,” one o f the bursts out of our lips as Christ comes to dwell in our boys said, “I sure do like you. I’d like to stay in first grade lives. Jesus brings newness to our lives. FOREVER, but I’ve been promoted. Boy, I sure wish you A. A New Birth knew enough to teach me in the second grade.” Illustration: Greg Laurie in his book Life. Any In the school of faith, it’s time that we move on and it Questions? tells about reading of a man whose is the Holy Spirit who will give us help through primary name had been mistakenly printed in the obituary faith, sustaining faith, and progressive faith. column in a local newspaper. He charged down to ‘ Albert M. Wells Jr., Inspiring Quotations (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Pub- the newspaper office and asked to see the editor. lishers, 1988), 86. W eek 13 B. Life comes when Jesus powerfully touches us for­ 2. Vernon McLellan, Timeless Treasures (Here’s Life Pub­ ever. Power will come as the way is paved with lication, 1992), 193. prayerful commitment (Deri Keefer). Quick ideas: Luke 5:12-15 1. “Religion can offer a burial service, but Christ offers every man new, abundant, and everlast­ INTRODUCTION. Dr. H. W. Jowett wrote: “I saw two ing life” (Wilma Reed). Prepare tables ahead of time and desig­ nate one person to be the leader. At the men fishing on the banks of the same river. One had 2. “Life is a lesson in humility’ (James M. Barrie). conclusion o f the sermon dismiss the con­ placed his rod in position, and fixed in a heap of stones, 3. “Saying yes to God means saying no to things gregation to the fellowship hall where the and then sat down to smoke. The other made the line that offend God” (Morgan Derham). tables have been prepared with juice and thrill with living touch, and sent life into the very bait as Maude Louise Ray wrote My Task: bread. Have the leader share a testimony it trembled on the water. The mechanical fisherman To love someone more dearly ev’ry day, and ask if anyone else would like to give a caught little or nothing; the fisherman with the living To help a wandering child to find his way, testimony as well. Then have prayer re­ touch had powers of almost compulsory allurement. The To ponder o’er a noble thought, and pray, quests and then share Communion as the fish which we have to catch as fishers of men know the And smile when evening falls pastor gives the directions. difference between life and earth, between mechanism This is my task. and soul. The heart yields to the touch o f affection.”1 To follow truth as blind men long fo r light, The Bible tells us that Jesus touched people’s lives and To do my best from dawn o f day till night, He touched them repeatedly. The four Gospels inform us To keep my heart fit fo r His holy sight, that over 30 times Jesus’ touch transformed human life. And answer when He calls. I. THE TOUCH OF LOVE This is my task.2 Thought: The biblical account tells of a man with III. THE TOUCH OF LIBERTY the most dreaded of ancient diseases— leprosy. Any­ A. Jesus gives instructions on worship. one who had this affliction was to stand up when 1. Sacrifice from our mouths. PRAISE. anyone drew near him or her and shout out, “Un­ Samuel Brengle said, “Praise is almost the clean, unclean.” Jesus drew them in close enough to only thing we do on earth that we shall not touch. cease to do in heaven.” A. Jesus’ touch broke with tradition. 2. Sacrifice from our lives. 1. The “church” good-folks would not go near Augustine told that the “Christians should be him or her. alleluia from head to foot.” 2. The priests would not go near him or her. 3. Sacrifice from our hearts. 3. The person’s family would not go near him or There is the sacrifice of offering. “All w e can her. hold in our cold dead hands is what we have B. Jesus’ touch identified the man’s problem. given away” (Anonymous). Thought: Jesus on the Cross identified with hu­ B. Jesus gives instructions as to witnessing. mankind’s ultimate problem. His love touch is The healed man followed the instructions of Je­ what we all need. That love says, “I care for you!” sus to go and show himself to the priest. Imagine II. THE TOUCH OF LIFE what that moment must have been like as the Here was a man full of leprosy. He was on the cleansed leper shared the excitement o f Jesus’ garbage dump of life when he came into contact with healing. Jesus. His life for all practical purpose was empty, de­ CONCLUSION: Jesus wants to touch your life and heal stroyed, useless, and then Jesus came along and your body! Let’s close with the song “He Touched Me.” changed its meaning around. A. Life comes when we are willing to be changed. 1. G. B. F. Hallock, Five Thousand Best Modem Illustrations (New York: Richard Smith Publishers, 1931), 704. Wholeness in Christ William M. Greathouse

ig into the biblical foundations of heart cleansing and holy liv­ Ding. William M. Greathouse, Holiness theologian and former general superinten­ dent, takes an in-depth look at the doctrine of entire sanctification as he examines both the Old and New Testament roots of Holiness. You will find this masterfully researched work is a valuable resource for discovering the life and spirit of holiness.

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