Luke 1
Luke makes special note to his motivation for writing his account of the Good News. He explains to Theophilus that his desire is to present a detailed account of the "harvest of history" or the fulfillment of things that were promised. Luke is the third book of what we call the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew and Mark being the other two, which share many of the same stories. He is clear that others had written before him and that he was taking their writings into account, as well as his own investigation. His plan is to start at the very beginning. His preface is more formal than that of the other writers. He uses phrases that are not used anywhere else in the NT, but are used by other classical writers of his time. Luke is an educated and well-read man. His account of the gospel can be read with a great deal of confidence behind it. Claiming to write a detailed account of this history would have brought scrutiny to his writings. Critics would have ripped him if they thought anything he said was untrue. They would have tweeted about his errors, blogged about his discrepancies and probably destroyed any credibility he might have had. That did not happen, and we have copies of his writings still today.
Presuming Luke to be a doctor (historical assumption), we discover brutal honesty and straightforward accounts of the physical liabilities that faced Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth is old and Mary is young. Elizabeth has tried for years to conceive and Mary has never been with a man - in the "biblical way." Luke doesn't sugar-coat their situation, but simply states the facts of the situation. Luke is the only one of the synoptics to tell of the angel visits to Elizabeth and Mary. I find this fascinating because if they were simply legend and not actual events, of all people, Luke would have not included them in his account. But he does. Luke has no interest in the inclusion of fable into his narrative.
So as we kick off our reading through Luke today, we can approach with confidence and understanding that what we read is what happened, to a degree that we might not have other accounts. Luke is the most like us and is an ardent defender of the outsiders. His passion for "all people" is contagious and seen from the very beginning. It often feels like Luke is writing to people who don't believe or who are critical of the story being told. I feel at home listening to his story.
(Family Questions will come in another post today)
Showing posts with label Authority of the Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Authority of the Bible. Show all posts
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The Roman Road Challenge
Our challenge to Springs of all ages this month is to memorize the following 5 verses from Romans. Called the "Roman Road," they are the gospel message in 5 short verses.
Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 10:9, "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:13, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Parents, learn these with your kids. Tables, challenge one another to learn them and check on progress week-to-week. Print them out, put them on the fridge or your bathroom mirror; email or text them to yourself or others; add them as a note on your smart phone or computer. If you have an idea for learning them, share it with others as a comment on this post.
Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 10:9, "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:13, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Parents, learn these with your kids. Tables, challenge one another to learn them and check on progress week-to-week. Print them out, put them on the fridge or your bathroom mirror; email or text them to yourself or others; add them as a note on your smart phone or computer. If you have an idea for learning them, share it with others as a comment on this post.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Romans 7:7-12 :: Scripture and Sharks
Romans 7:7-12 in The Message and TNIV
Suppose you were vacationing at the beach one summer. Work has been hard this past year and the kids have been a challenge. You dream about wading out into the clear, cool water and relaxing with no phones and no computers and no kids! You love the water, you find yourself taking longer baths as you imagine floating on your vacation. It's going to be incredible.
Then you arrive at the beach only to find this...
That's right. The beach is closed. There have been multiple shark sightings and even an attack or two in the past couple of weeks. Your dream vacation is ruined. No floating, no fishing, no surfing. At that moment you have a choice regarding the sign. First, you can get mad at the sign and complain that the sign is completely unfair and how it is ruining your vacation. You can curse the sign and you can even spit on the sign. Or, you can recognize the sign for what its purpose is - to protect you from sharks. The sign doesn't remove the sharks, it just tells you they are there.
The law is now like this sign. It's purpose is to protect you and allow you to live in the freedom of life, not death. It's message is clear: If you do this, you will die. Without this warning, we are free to wander into destruction.
Has this been your view of the bible or have you seen it as a cage that keeps you from having fun and enjoying all that there is in life? Can you see how the law might be beneficial to you, rather than constricting? Sure, you are free to swim with the sharks, but...
Suppose you were vacationing at the beach one summer. Work has been hard this past year and the kids have been a challenge. You dream about wading out into the clear, cool water and relaxing with no phones and no computers and no kids! You love the water, you find yourself taking longer baths as you imagine floating on your vacation. It's going to be incredible.
Then you arrive at the beach only to find this...
That's right. The beach is closed. There have been multiple shark sightings and even an attack or two in the past couple of weeks. Your dream vacation is ruined. No floating, no fishing, no surfing. At that moment you have a choice regarding the sign. First, you can get mad at the sign and complain that the sign is completely unfair and how it is ruining your vacation. You can curse the sign and you can even spit on the sign. Or, you can recognize the sign for what its purpose is - to protect you from sharks. The sign doesn't remove the sharks, it just tells you they are there.
The law is now like this sign. It's purpose is to protect you and allow you to live in the freedom of life, not death. It's message is clear: If you do this, you will die. Without this warning, we are free to wander into destruction.
Has this been your view of the bible or have you seen it as a cage that keeps you from having fun and enjoying all that there is in life? Can you see how the law might be beneficial to you, rather than constricting? Sure, you are free to swim with the sharks, but...
Friday, September 24, 2010
Romans 3:19-20 :: Logs and Mirrors
Romans 3:19-20 (The Message and TNIV)
As a pastor, I often fall into the trap of reading the bible simply to find new truths to share with others. There was even a season where I would write down things from my bible readings that could or would eventually make it into a sermon, a blog post or some other teaching..."Not that there's anything wrong with it." When I succumb to that temptation, I fail to see that the bible has something to say to me. When I fail to see that the bible has something to say to me, I allow myself to live with blindspots that prevent me from experiencing the true life God intends for me. When I read this bible we have, it is really reading me.
Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God. Just knowing the right answers doesn't fix anything. God's truth is like a mirror. When you look in the mirror and see that your hair is a mess and you have chocolate on your cheek, you don't walk away thinking that it's fixed because you saw it in the mirror. That would be crazy. The mirror reveals the truth that your hair is a mess and that you have chocolate on your cheek. The fix is not the mirror or in knowing you have a problem.
What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else's sin. The bible and God's reveal out part in the corporate nature of sin in our world. When you sin, it affects me. When I sin, it affects you. True community has a deep understanding of this truth. We are all in this "sinking boat" together and only God can fix it and bring us back into right relationship with Himself. He does this through Jesus.
I have to admit, this was easy for me to admit when I became a Christ-follower. I understood that I wasn't the only one who sins, but that everyone falls short of God's perfect plan. However, I lose sight of this too often today. I still fall prey to seeing the specks in others' eyes before seeing the log in my own eye.
What stands out for you in today's reading? Or maybe there's something you've been wanting to share about something else you've read this week? Do you buy into our sin affecting each other?
This makes it clear, doesn't it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it's clear enough, isn't it, that we're sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else's sin. (The Message)
As a pastor, I often fall into the trap of reading the bible simply to find new truths to share with others. There was even a season where I would write down things from my bible readings that could or would eventually make it into a sermon, a blog post or some other teaching..."Not that there's anything wrong with it." When I succumb to that temptation, I fail to see that the bible has something to say to me. When I fail to see that the bible has something to say to me, I allow myself to live with blindspots that prevent me from experiencing the true life God intends for me. When I read this bible we have, it is really reading me.
Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God. Just knowing the right answers doesn't fix anything. God's truth is like a mirror. When you look in the mirror and see that your hair is a mess and you have chocolate on your cheek, you don't walk away thinking that it's fixed because you saw it in the mirror. That would be crazy. The mirror reveals the truth that your hair is a mess and that you have chocolate on your cheek. The fix is not the mirror or in knowing you have a problem.
What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else's sin. The bible and God's reveal out part in the corporate nature of sin in our world. When you sin, it affects me. When I sin, it affects you. True community has a deep understanding of this truth. We are all in this "sinking boat" together and only God can fix it and bring us back into right relationship with Himself. He does this through Jesus.
I have to admit, this was easy for me to admit when I became a Christ-follower. I understood that I wasn't the only one who sins, but that everyone falls short of God's perfect plan. However, I lose sight of this too often today. I still fall prey to seeing the specks in others' eyes before seeing the log in my own eye.
What stands out for you in today's reading? Or maybe there's something you've been wanting to share about something else you've read this week? Do you buy into our sin affecting each other?
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Romans 3:10-18 :: No Entitlement, No Earning
Romans 3:10-18 (The Message and TNIV)
In our section of reading today, Paul takes us on a journey. He cites a collection of texts from what we call the Old Testament - mostly from Psalms. Paul has made a logical appeal up to this point and now he appeals to scripture to bolster his point. This is what my seminary professors called "proof-texting," and they warned us of dangers when we preach this way. I am not saying Paul is wrong here, just that he does not take the text where it was and bring the truth from the text. He employs a common technique for Jewish and Gentile Christians, by taking collections of scriptures together to support his point. Not unlike many pastors today - in fact many proponents of "topical preaching" even point to Paul as one of their examples.
The point it seems Paul is making appears two-fold for me. First Paul makes it clear that we are all in the same sinking boat apart from Christ, as Cameron wrote about yesterday. He does not want anyone to miss the point that our birthrights do not make us right with Him, but rather faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Second, Paul is addressing the people in Rome, both Jew and Gentile, who believe that keeping rules is what makes one right with God. He doesn't know that there is no one, but he recites the words of God from the Psalms. God is the one who sees all and knows that no one is obedient enough, no one speaks purely enough and no one is humble enough to earn their relationship with God. No one.
Have you ever struggled with either of these two? Have you ever thought that since you have basically been a good person that God will see that and grant you access to Him and to heaven? Have you ever stopped and said, "But God, I do...and I did..."? Maybe we treat God like a giant vending machine from time to time. You know, we put our coins (prayer, church, compassion, service, etc.) in and expect God to produce what we want and if we don't get it, we shake the machine and reach up inside trying to get it. What do these verses say to you today?
In our section of reading today, Paul takes us on a journey. He cites a collection of texts from what we call the Old Testament - mostly from Psalms. Paul has made a logical appeal up to this point and now he appeals to scripture to bolster his point. This is what my seminary professors called "proof-texting," and they warned us of dangers when we preach this way. I am not saying Paul is wrong here, just that he does not take the text where it was and bring the truth from the text. He employs a common technique for Jewish and Gentile Christians, by taking collections of scriptures together to support his point. Not unlike many pastors today - in fact many proponents of "topical preaching" even point to Paul as one of their examples.
The point it seems Paul is making appears two-fold for me. First Paul makes it clear that we are all in the same sinking boat apart from Christ, as Cameron wrote about yesterday. He does not want anyone to miss the point that our birthrights do not make us right with Him, but rather faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Second, Paul is addressing the people in Rome, both Jew and Gentile, who believe that keeping rules is what makes one right with God. He doesn't know that there is no one, but he recites the words of God from the Psalms. God is the one who sees all and knows that no one is obedient enough, no one speaks purely enough and no one is humble enough to earn their relationship with God. No one.
Have you ever struggled with either of these two? Have you ever thought that since you have basically been a good person that God will see that and grant you access to Him and to heaven? Have you ever stopped and said, "But God, I do...and I did..."? Maybe we treat God like a giant vending machine from time to time. You know, we put our coins (prayer, church, compassion, service, etc.) in and expect God to produce what we want and if we don't get it, we shake the machine and reach up inside trying to get it. What do these verses say to you today?
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Anyone Getting Excited?
Today, we had our weekly staff meeting and as we discussed what we have been reading in Romans, it got me excited about where we are heading this fall. I was wondering if any of you were also anxiously expecting something?
Check out these two passages:
If we really believe the bible to God's written word to us, then we must believe these words to be true. If we believe these words to be true, then an embarking on a book like Romans must be met with some sort of anticipation, right?
What are you anticipating?
Check out these two passages:
"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
- Isaiah 55:10-11 (TNIV)
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
- Hebrews 4:12 (TNIV)
If we really believe the bible to God's written word to us, then we must believe these words to be true. If we believe these words to be true, then an embarking on a book like Romans must be met with some sort of anticipation, right?
What are you anticipating?
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Acts 23 :: Where is the Nugget?
Acts 23 in The Message and TNIV translations
I'm afraid some people think that every time I read the bible, I find something inspiring or challenging or encouraging to write about. I'll admit that most of the time I do. I do believe that the bible is the inspired word of God and is useful to us today. It's like panning for gold...sometimes it's easy and other times it's not.
Today is one of those chapters that is not easy. I've read it twice and parts of it more than twice. I may be tainted from my post two days ago, thinking that Paul's trip to Jerusalem shouldn't have happened. Whether it's my disposition to day or the point of the story, I'm just not finding anything incredibly inspiring to write about from these verses.
So, what do we do when something like this happens. Do we just check our box to show that we did read that day? Do we beat ourselves up because we aren't spiritual enough to find the nugget here? Or is there some solace in realizing that we are reading a story and stories have ebbs and flows. There might be a time in my life later when something in this chapter jumps out at me and does inspire me or challenge me. For someone reading this, you may have found that nugget today, and I'll hear from you and maybe receive my inspiration from God speaking to you...and that would be cool.
We believe the bible is God's word and has the right to command my belief and my action (Belief: Authority of the Bible). "Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another - showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We also believe that Christ-followers study the bible to know God, the truth and to find direction for our daily lives (Practice: Bible Study). It is "sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or disease, laying us open to listen and obey" (Heb. 4:12).
I believe it's useful, but I'm just not finding that today - can someone help a brotha out?
I'm afraid some people think that every time I read the bible, I find something inspiring or challenging or encouraging to write about. I'll admit that most of the time I do. I do believe that the bible is the inspired word of God and is useful to us today. It's like panning for gold...sometimes it's easy and other times it's not.
Today is one of those chapters that is not easy. I've read it twice and parts of it more than twice. I may be tainted from my post two days ago, thinking that Paul's trip to Jerusalem shouldn't have happened. Whether it's my disposition to day or the point of the story, I'm just not finding anything incredibly inspiring to write about from these verses.
So, what do we do when something like this happens. Do we just check our box to show that we did read that day? Do we beat ourselves up because we aren't spiritual enough to find the nugget here? Or is there some solace in realizing that we are reading a story and stories have ebbs and flows. There might be a time in my life later when something in this chapter jumps out at me and does inspire me or challenge me. For someone reading this, you may have found that nugget today, and I'll hear from you and maybe receive my inspiration from God speaking to you...and that would be cool.
We believe the bible is God's word and has the right to command my belief and my action (Belief: Authority of the Bible). "Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another - showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We also believe that Christ-followers study the bible to know God, the truth and to find direction for our daily lives (Practice: Bible Study). It is "sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or disease, laying us open to listen and obey" (Heb. 4:12).
I believe it's useful, but I'm just not finding that today - can someone help a brotha out?
Monday, April 20, 2009
Core Belief :: Authority of the Bible
We believe the Bible is the Word of God and has the right to command our belief and action.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God's people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God's people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
What a difference a day makes. Yesterday we affirmed the core belief of a Personal God, which everyone wants to be true even if they don't believe it. Today, not so much. The Authority of the Bible is a controversial belief even among Christians.
According to the New York Times, more copies of the Bible are distributed in a single day than most NYT bestsellers' total printing run. To date, as many as 6 billion copies of the Bible have been printed. And yet, the world always seems to be swirling with conflicting information about the Bible. Can it be trusted? Have the books of the Bible been altered after the fact? Have legends crept into the Bible along with historical facts? Can a 21st century person believe in the biblical creation account?
Then there are the more personal questions. Can I understand the Bible if I read it? Where do I start? How did the Bible become the Bible anyway?
There may be more societal obstacles to embracing this core belief than any of the other 9. And since none of them is simple or trivial, I won't try to address them in this brief post. I will say, though, that after a lot of research--and a lot of personal experience with the Bible--I am more confident than ever that:
- the entire Bible is inspired by God;
- God speaks to us and leads us through it;
- it is historically accurate;
- it is THE standard for spiritual truth in the world; and
- it is the definitive resource on the life and teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Because I am convinced of all of the above, I submit to the authority of the Bible and read it believing that God is communicating directly to me. My experience with the Bible in this regard is beyond words--literally. More is happening than reading words on a page. For instance, I read Jeremiah 1 as a teenager and believed God was using it to guide me into ministry as a vocation. That's only one way that reading the Bible has changed the course of my entire life.
What about you? How has reading the Bible changed your life? Or if any of the questions above (or others) are obstacles for you, ask them in a comment and let's talk about them.
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