Joy

This week I’m looking at Isaiah 61:1-4, which looks forward to the good things God will do for his people.

I find it easier to feel joy over what God has already done in my life than what he will do. Joy at the coming of Christ is both in a way. We already have forgiveness, peace with God, the joy that comes from feeling right on the inside.

But life can still be nasty at times. Cars break down. Our kids can be tiresome. We get sick occasionally, and, as the Bible helpfully reminds us, we’re all going to die. There's so much in our lives that seems unfinished.

Advent is about feeling joy for what hasn’t happened yet. We anticipate the coming of Christ. We look forward to his return, when all these nasty little problems (like death) will be sorted out for good.

Here’s my question: How do you experience joy over something that hasn’t happened yet?

What’s would be your message to somebody who was dealing with the worst of life—but trying to look forward to something better?

What practical things can we do to experience this kind of joy now?

In what ways has knowing Jesus brought joy to your life already?

I guess we all know what it means to be happy. Is this the same as joy?

What do you think?

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Prince of Peace

This Sunday's sermon is based on Mark 1:1-8 (which echoes Isa. 40:1-11), and the subject is peace.

Here's what I've got so far.

Many people have an unsettled feeling about their lives. We deal with stress at work, conflict in relationships, anxiety about the economy, and our country is at war. Most often we look for solutions outside ourselves. If work would slow down, we’d be less stressed. If the enemy would surrender, we’d have peace.

When Jesus came, life was perhaps even more unsettled. According to Mark, Jesus came to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy about a the great Messianic age of peace. To prepare for that time, John called people not to take control of their schedules, understand their finances, or sort out their relationships with others—he called them to repent.

So the balance we are seeking in life, in relationships, in finances, in the world begins with our relationship with God. To people who are stressed, worried, anxious, hostile or otherwise have their lives out of balance, Mark brings this message: You don’t have to live that way anymore.

I’m thinking this message might apply to people who—

• Feel stress about the holidays because they have too much to do
• Are angry about the election because they think the country is on the wrong path
• Are dealing with a difficult marriage and feel rejected or betrayed
• Worry that their retirement portfolio will no longer support them
• Face conflict at work because they deal with difficult people or demanding assignments

The message could be something like this—

• Don’t look to other people to make your life better, look to God.
• Quit trying to control your circumstances, because you can’t.
• Rather than finding fault with the world, examine yourself.
• Be at peace with God, and you will be at peace within yourself.
• Then you will have peace with others.

Some actions people might take based on this message might be to—

• Examine their inner thoughts to see the real sources of the stress they face.
• Admit that they are partly or fully to blame for the problems they face.
• Forgive others for not being perfect.
• Relax.
• Seek to know Jesus better and to be guided by the Holy Spirit.
• Forgive someone in particular against whom they’ve held a grudge.
• Humble themselves and seek reconciliation with another person.
• Trust God to provide for them.

What do you think?

Am I on the right track here?
Does this scratch where anybody itches?
Do you have any thoughts or ideas that would help to illustrate these points?

Let me know what you think.

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Advent Series

Thanks to everybody for comments on this weeks sermon prep (also rec'd via Facebook & e-mail). It'll be streamed from the Fall Creek web site in a day or two.

I won't be preaching on Nov. 30, as Heather and I will be in Canada for one her speaking engagments, plus a visit with family.

After that, I'll be developing a series on the remaining three Sunday's in Advent. The themes for those weeks are:

Dec. 7 Peace
Dec. 14 Joy
Dec. 21 Love

This week I'm gathering thoughts, pondering Scripture texts, and forming ideas. Next week, I'll begin bearing down on what may be the toughest theme for these times--Peace.

Your thoughts are welcome.

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Book Review: The Truth About You

The Truth About You
Marcus Buckingham
$29.99; Kit w/ Booklet, DVD, Notepad; 112 pp.

This kit contains several good ideas that are certain to aid people in analyzing their temperament, discovering their strengths, and working themselves into more satisfying jobs. Unfortunatley, there is probably not enough new content here to justify the $29.99 price tag.

The author’s aim is to coach readers through a series of exercises that enable him or her to identify strengths (as opposed to skills or talents), the things that produce energy and satisfaction.

He also dispels several commonly held beliefs that may keep people trapped in boring or unfulfilling vocations. Most notable is the idea that you should work to improve your weaknesses—Buckingham contents that this is pointless and we’re better of playing to our strengths.

However, several of Buckingham’s points (such as the one regarding the futility of improving weaknesses) have been well made elsewhere, including in the author's previous work.

Also, Buckingham’s central point—that only you can know yourself thoroughly enough to identify your strengths—directly contradicts his previous book Now Discover Your Strengths, which includes access to an extensive online survey aimed precisely at diagnosing the reader’s strengths.

The 20-minute DVD includes nearly all of the material contained within the scant 110 page booklet. This material has the feel of a workshop or half-day seminar that has been packaged as a consumer product.

Buckingham’s thesis has merit, but anyone familiar with current business or self-improvement literature will have heard most of this before.

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What Does It Mean that "Jesus Is Lord"?

This week is Christ the King Sunday, the day in our church year when we celebrate the reign of Christ in the world and in our lives.

I'm struggling a bit on this one because there is so much that we could say ... I need to narrow down my thoughts. Here are three directions this message could take.

A. The Deity of Christ. This idea is doubted in our culture and even among Christians. Do you have to believe that Jesus is the son of God in order to be a Christian? Does it matter? If I were to speak on this theme, I would choose a text like Eph. 1:15-23.

My goal would be to convince Christians that Jesus is the Son of God and must have authority in their lives.

B. The Reign of Christ in the World. Jesus commissioned us to be his "hands and feet" in the world. His Kingdom comes to the extent that we make it come by doing the things he has commissioned us to do. I would use a text like the Parable of the Sheep and Goats to show how serious Jesus was about us extending his ministry.

My goal would be to inspire Chrisitans to transform the world.

C. The Lordship of Christ. People come to Jesus for lots of reasons. Some want to be forgiven. Others healed. A few even want him to "crack the whip" on people with whom they disagree. But Jesus always refuses to conform to our agenda. He is our Lord rather than vice versa. I would use a text like Matt. 7:21-23 to show how strongly Jesus asserted his authority, and how important it is for us to respect him.

My goal would be to challenge believers to submit their entire lives to Christ.

So what do you think? Which one do you think is most needed in the church today? Which would you preach? Any other ideas?

Thanks for sharing ...

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What If We All Walked on Water?

This coming Sunday (Nov. 16) I want to dig a little deeper into the idea that we really can live as Jesus lived.

Is that true?

If so, then can we ... heal the sick? Multiply food? Walk on water? Here's what I'm thinking so far.

I'm going to key on Peter's experience in the Miraculous Catch (see Luke 5:1-7)and look at the incredible result of Peter saying "Because you say so" to Jesus. I hope to challenge peope to seek God’s vision for specific ways in which they can bring peace, justice, and healing to the world.

Imagine what the world would be like if we all walked on water--that is, if we all believed the God really would do anything through us. I think the reason we don’t do accomplish more is not because we lack power; it’s because we lack faith.

Jesus prayed “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” He intended that his followers would transform the world through the power of God. Yet our lives often seem powerless, mired in personal issues, family problems, and social problems.

It doesn’t have to be that way. We really can change the world ... if we trust God.

What do you think?

Is this idea on target? Is it faithful to the text?
What could happen in our lives (think suburbia) if we believed this way?
What's the biggest problem that Christians are doing nothing about?
Where does the power to change come from in the Christian life?

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Was Jesus Crazy?

Next Sunday I'll be exploring the Sermon on the Mount, especially the Beatitudes, in my message.

Here's what I've got so far ...

Many people live safe, predictable lives because they’re afraid to act on their deepest convictions.
Jesus wasn’t.

He showed us a completely new way to live—radically devoted to God, selflessly available to others, completely free from fear and doubt. Love your enemies, he told people. Bless those who curse you, and thank God when you are persecuted for being righteous.

People thought he was crazy. Were they right?

I'd like to challenge people to examine their lives to see if they really are living the way Jesus taught us to live ... and to ask the question, "If not, why not?"

Here are some questions I'm wrestling with--

What does it mean to be an "authentic" follower of Jesus?

Do you know people whom you would consider to be truly Christlike? What are they like?

Am I right in thinking that a lot of us play it safe when following Jesus? Is it realisitc to expect people to enact the lifestyle Jesus teaches in Matt. 5-7?

What's the most challenging thing about living the way Jesus lived?

What images, metaphors, or illustrations might get at this point?

Let me know what you're thinking . . .

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