"...to keep you from doing the things you want to do."

This band is David Crowder Band minus David Crowder. This song is always stuck in my head for hours after I hear it.

Sunday we discussed the encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus. Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again. We talked about what it means to be born again. Watch this challenging clip from David Platt regarding contemporary statistics on born again Christians.

If what Platt says is true, we're surrounded by lost people. Clearly this is a reminder to see not just the rest of the world, but our community as our mission field.

See you Sunday!
J

"For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free..."

Well, the Crossroads blog is back after a long hiatus. Some new faces have popped up. Some classic faces have moved on to serve in other classes. I'm so glad to have the opportunity to get together with you guys every week.

I know it's hardly thrilling to watch two guys sit in chairs and calmly talk about the Holy Spirit, but this is rewarding viewing. Two Sundays ago we discussed the Spirit's identity and yesterday we talked about the Spirit's work. Here, John Piper answer a question about whether the Spirit is emphasized enough in evangelical communities. As always, he provides an insightful answer.

This clip also serves as a bit of foreshadowing for the lesson this coming Sunday. See you then!

"What is His name? What should I tell them?"

We had a great time at the gnat attack cook-out Tuesday. Unfortunately, we'll be out again this weekend. Fortunately, Justin and Haylee will be leading class Sunday!

Take a few minutes and watch this clip of RC Sproul talking about God's "being." It'll make you feel simultaneously small and big. 

We'll see everyone a week from Sunday!

J

"Claiming to be wise, they became fools..."

Good to see some new faces mixed in with the old classic faces. It's getting stuffy and crowded in our life group room, but that's a good problem to have!

 

Sunday we briefly discussed "the new atheism." The author of our lesson suggested that Christians should not be overly defensive in response to the attacks of these aggressive atheists. Tim Keller echoes that sentiment in this brief clip.

He seems to suggest that noise versus noise simply creates a louder noise. It is frustrating that adherents of the new atheism would be so dismissive of our faith, our truth, and our Savior. Shouting back might feel gratifying in the moment, but to what end?

Hope everyone is having a good, productive week.

 

J

"Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me"

So good to be back (finally)! Our vacation was full of blessings and reminders of how good God is.

Anyway, excellent contributions all around Sunday and nice to see some new faces. Sunday we discussed the difference between knowing about God and actually knowing God. Tullian Tchividjian presents an interesting answer to the question: "Do I know God?"

Just to tie up this theme of knowing/knowing about, watch this short clip of Apollo astronauts Gene Cernan and Charlie Duke discussing their revelations upon being in space. Duke was on Apollo 16 and Cernan, often spoken of as "the last man on the moon," was on Apollo 17. Charlie Duke's last statement is fantastic.

Have a great week!

"The law came along to multiply the tresspass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more..."

"I can't comprehend Your infinitely beautiful and perfect love..."

It was great to be back today. We missed you! Thanks to everyone who attended today and congratulations to the half-marathon gang. Alas, we'll be out again the next two weeks. With that in mind, we appreciate prayers for our trip to visit the Mouse in a couple of weeks.

We dipped our toes into some deep waters today. I found this short clip of Tchividjian weighing in on the topic. Pay attention to his amazing comment at about 40 seconds.

We're freed from slavery to sin so that we can serve the living God! Have a great week.

J

"If righeousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose."

I wanted to remind everyone that Breanna and I will be absent this Sunday. We're going to see Weird Al. When we tell people that, they ask if he's still alive. We'll find out Saturday night. Anyway, Alex Ogburn has agreed to lead the class. Ask him to try to not rip his jeans. For real. Ask him that.

We discussed justification by faith alone last Sunday. John Piper takes that discussion a step further and presents an amazing point.

 Have a great week.
J

"If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!"

This song is by The Digital Age, formerly the "Band" of David Crowder Band. Pretty powerful for a one word song.

I hope everyone stayed for Mark's message today. It was one of the best messages I've heard him deliver in my 2+ years of attending Lynwood. If you missed it, Mark discussed the days between Jesus' resurrection and His ascension. He presented 10 responses to the resurrected Christ: believe; worship; follow; learn; trust; make disciples; live empowered; live expectantly; love God; and love others. In discussing making disciples, Mark presented a simple way to present the gospel. This overlapped nicely with our life group lesson about Peter's bold declaration of the gospel. When we think about the gospel, we tend to think about sharing it with others. John Piper reminds us that, although we've heard the gospel, we need it again every day.

We're heading to Chicago Thursday for a super exciting political science conference. We'll be back Sunday, but we covet your prayers in the meantime.

J

"Why do you seek the living among the dead?"

Thanks to our small but vocal group today! With a John Mark McMillan song and a Tullian Tchividjian clip, this post is bound to have a bit of a deja vu feel. Rest assured, both clips are new!

One of the standout points of the lesson today is that, for the disciples, the resurrection is a call to action. The same is true for us. We talked about Luke 24:47--Jesus reminds the disciples that the Messiah would suffer, the Messiah would rise, and repentance and forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed to all nations. The first two events had happened by the time Jesus spoke the words. The third is in progress. As we set out to make disciples, consider this point from Tullian Tchividjian about the the risk of grace.

 

 

Hope everyone had a good Easter and made it back safely. I'm eager to see everyone next Sunday.

J

"You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above..."

I was so glad to see everyone today. Excellent discussion once again. The Gospel Project is great at hitting us with a shotgun blast of exposure to God's Word. However, some topics invite more discussion and depth, and the cross is certainly one of those topics. The cross is overwhelming. The event itself is heartbreaking. As Jacob said in class today: "He was whooped!" We spent a good chunk of discussion today talking about the application of the cross. What does "It is finished" mean?

Tullian Tchividjian, Billy Graham's grandson and pastor of Coral Ridge Church in Florida, is one of my favorite contemporary authors. His book Jesus + Nothing = Everything is about the gospel and it has helped me to clarify my understanding of grace. This short video is a great explanation of the finished work of Christ on the cross (Blogger wouldn't let me embed the video for some reason, so I'm just pasting the link HERE).

I understand that many of you will be traveling for Easter next weekend. I pray for safe travels and good fellowship.

J

"He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do"

Excellent class discussion today! More people talked today than any day since Breanna and I have been attending Crossroads. Outstanding! Best Shirt Award goes to Paul. As usual.

I stumbled across this fantastic advice from John Piper regarding the miracles of Jesus. I'd attempt to summarize his point, but I fear I wouldn't do it justice. Instead, take 5 minutes and listen to this segment of Ask Pastor John:

https://soundcloud.com/askpastorjohn/interpreting-the-miracles-of

Slow down and meditate. Let's try it this week. Report back Sunday.

J

"Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear."

This afternoon I skipped around the Synoptic Gospels, comparing the presentation of the parable of the sower among them. Of course, the parable is essentially the same in each Gospel. One of the first things I noticed was the difference in the yield mentioned by Jesus. In Matthew and Mark, Jesus says that the seeds that fell on good soil yielded thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. It is interesting that Luke only mentions the yield of a hundredfold. I read this and wondered in which tier of yield I would place myself. Have I yielded thirtyfold or the abundance of a hundredfold? I admit I got hung up on this point. Then I wondered whether the amount of yield was critical to applying the parable. Perhaps that's why Luke dispensed with the tiered yield system in his account. What is the point of the parable? Seed planted on good soil produces yield. I guess the crucial question is whether I'm good soil, rocks, or thorns.

As I read Luke's account of Jesus' explanation of the parable, something jumped off the page. Luke 8:13-- "And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe it for a while, and in time of testing fall away." Have you known people like that? Were you ever that person yourself? Matthew's version adds some interesting details (13:21): "... and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away." Luke's account is a bit vague. These people receive with joy, believe for a brief time, but "in time of testing fall away." Two things stand out in Matthew's account. The first is the word "immediately." The second thing I noticed was that the trial mentioned occurs "on account of the word." This changes the nature of the parable for me. Jesus was talking about people who face trials because of Him and immediately abandon Him. Of course, this reminds us of the truth that following Jesus sometimes means enduring suffering, pain, and sacrifice.

Mark's account of the parable of the sower closes with the following (4:20): "Those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit..." John MacArthur's comment on this passage is: "Three Greek present participles mark continuing action. Believers, in contrast to unbelievers, hear God's word because God allows them to hear it. They 'accept' it--they understand and obey it because God opens their mind and heart and transforms their lives." What an extraordinary blessing it is that God has allowed us to hear it! I pray that we'll go forth this week with transformed minds and lives.

"And his food was locusts and wild honey ..."

We've spent the past few weeks discussing the work of OT prophets, so John the Baptist (or "The Baptizer" as our lesson called him) is an absolutely appropriate transitional figure. I find the descriptions of the Baptizer absolutely riveting. Later in the passage we discussed this morning, when giving his testimony, John the Baptist says (John 1: 23): "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." A few verses later he says (verse 34): "And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."
The Gospel of Luke reports that as crowds approached him to be baptized, John said (Luke 3:7-9):

"You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Might I remind you that people were FLOCKING to this man! How would we respond to someone who spoke to us like that? When was the last time you took one step closer to someone who called you a brood of vipers? Not only were people attracted to this camel's hair and leather belt wearing, locust and wild honey eating, wilderness wandering Baptizer, they sought his counsel. They asked: "What shall we do?" He answered with TRUTH. Luke later notes (verse 18): "So with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people." And what was the Baptizer's reward for his witness? Herod locked him up.

So what about us? Should you point your finger at the brood of vipers in the office down the hall from yours? Probably not. But who needs to hear your testimony? More important, who needs to hear the Good News? Scroll over to Matthew 5:13-16:

"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feed. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Let's be salt and light this week.

Why am I always so glad to have to cut my notes short? Because it means our class was filled with discussion. Thanks again for a great class.

"You cover the LORD's altar with tears..."

GREAT discussion in life group Sunday. Somehow we managed to have a class in which idolatry was not the major topic. Nevertheless, idolatry is always lurking about. Flip a few chapters back from the passage of Malachi we discussed today and you'll find some incredible language. Malachi 2:11--"Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god." What happened when these people presented an offering to God? Verse 13: "And this second thing you do. You cover the LORD's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand." The Scripture says that these people were "cut off" (v. 12).

Even a cursory study of the Old Testament provides examples of brazen idol worship. Unfortunately, our idol worship is often more subtle, sometimes hidden to ourselves. Golden statues are obvious. A low-grade anxiety that affects your work productivity or your relationship with your family is less apparent. I've mentioned before that one of my idols is safety (or security or health). Only in the last year or so have I started to realize how much of an idol safety, which in itself is a worthy thing, has become for me. At my son's soccer practice today I watched the coach demonstrate the principle of staying between the other player and the ball. Then I watched the kids work so hard at protecting the ball that it became the terminal, rather than a mere instrumental, goal. Why am I protecting the ball? So that I can protect the ball! That's what safety had become for me: the goal in itself, rather than just a something to consider on my way to the real objective.

Malachi spoke to people who engaged in useless weeping and groaning, cut off from God by their sin. What about us? Did you marry the daughter of a foreign god? Where is your golden statue? More important, what stands between you and God?

How grateful are we that Jesus is our sanctuary?!

"He changes times and seaons; he removes kings and sets up kings..."

Daniel is a superstar of obedience and faith. His divine reward for following Mosaic Law is revealed in Daniel 1:17--"As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams." Chapter 2 begins with Nebuchadnezzar's troubling dreams. As you know, Daniel offers to interpret the king's dream. Notice what happens in 2:17-18--"Then Daniel went to his house, and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon." Before Daniel would interpret the king's dream, he sought the prayers of his friends. I hope to remember that the next time I hesitate to share something weighing on my spirit.

That night, God graciously provided the interpretation of the king's dream to Daniel in a "night vision." What is Daniel's response? Praise! Verses 20-21:

"Daniel answered and said: 'Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings...'"

Because of his obedience, Daniel is blessed with health, wisdom, and the ability to interpret strange dreams. Daniel's focus is singular and unwavering, never forgetting the source of his gifts and blessings. During his interpretation of the king's dream, Daniel reminds Nebuchadnezzar "the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory..." (v. 37). Daniel's message is: "I didn't do this and neither did you!" In exile, surrounded by pagan government and culture, Daniel does nothing but praise God, thank Him for His gifts and blessings, and keep His commands. The king's response in verse 47 is AMAZING: "Truly your God is the God of gods and Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery."

Daniel is my hero: respected and promoted by his pagan culture for doing nothing other than maintaining laser focus on God. Would we get the same response from our culture? More important, does it matter?

We missed everyone helping with DNow last week, but had a great meeting with everyone who came. This Sunday we'll cover the last lesson in our OT survey: The Return. Have a great week and see you Sunday!

"And the LORD spoke to the fish..."

I've mentioned a few times in class how much I relate to Jonah. I recently heard RC Sproul's sermon series on Jonah and was richly blessed by his teaching, particularly his sermon on Jonah's prayer (Chapter 2). Take a look at verse 5:

"The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped around my head..."

Jonah was as good as DEAD. What did God do? He "appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah" (Jonah 1:17). The "great fish" was not created to punish Jonah. God designed that creature for one purpose ... to save Jonah's life. In the midst of these mind-blowing circumstances, Jonah unleashed an amazing prayer. The last time I read the book, a couple of verses stood out that relate heavily to our last two life group sessions. Verses 7-9:

"When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came up to you, into your holy temple. Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD."

Does anyone else shudder at verse 8? Will anyone else admit to paying regard to vain idols? Despite that, consider this ... Jonah fled from God, going so far as trying to take a nap in the bowels of a ship while the rest of the crew faced extraordinary peril. Still, God responded with love, although its form in this instance is bizarre. Nothing says "I love you" like being swallowed and vomited by a huge fish.

Speaking of difficult circumstances, the focus of Sunday's life group session is "The Exile." We'll discuss a chunk of Daniel, another of my favorite books of the Bible.

Hope everyone has a great week. See you Sunday.
J

"Surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses..."

The reading from Hebrews 12 really stuck with me after life group Sunday. We're surrounded by a "great cloud of witnesses." Dig back through Hebrews and you'll discover that the author of Hebrews specifically names these witnesses. Hebrews 11:3 says: "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible." Starting in verse 4, the author lists the witnesses:
Abel – offered a better sacrifice by faith and was commended as righteous
Enoch – by faith he pleased God, so he never experienced death
Noah – by faith he obeyed God’s command
Abraham – obeyed God and went where God told him to go, without knowing where this would be.  He made his home in the Promised Land even though he was a stranger there. 
Isaac – Abraham’s promised child, who by faith blessed Jacob and Esau
Jacob – who by faith blessed Joseph’s sons
Joseph – who by faith gave instructions that his bones should one day be carried out of Egypt and buried in the Promised Land
Moses’ parents – who by faith hid Moses from the edict of Pharaoh and did not leave him to die
Moses – who, though adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, by faith refused to be known as her son, and “chose to be mistreated along with the people of God”.  By faith he kept the first Passover.
The People of Israel – who by faith passed through the Red Sea
Rahab – who by faith welcomed God’s spies, saving her family from the fall of Jericho

The author closes the roll call in verse 32 by mentioning Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets.

If you jump down to Hebrews 12:3-4, you find additional encouragement, but also a grim reminder: "Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." Wow.

I created this blog as a way for us to engage the class material outside of class. I'll try to post reminders about upcoming lessons, group events, and prayer requests. With the great cloud of witnesses in mind, it is my hope that we might serve a similar purpose for each other.

J