Jun 28

Jesus, All For Jesus

Hebrews: Supremacy of Christ 2 Comments »

 

Yesterday we sang a song during our weekend worship services that truly captured the heart and message of the book of Hebrews – “Jesus, All for Jesus”

Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.

All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.

For it’s only in Your will that I am free,
For it’s only in Your will that I am free,
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.

As we pursue a vision of the supremacy of Christ in all things, this is what it looks like… surrendering all of our ambitions, hopes, and plans to Jesus, knowing that it’s only in His will that we are truly free. Where are those areas of your life where you’re giving Him free reign? Ask for more of Him in those areas. And where are the areas where you have yet to give Him lordship? It’s not as if He needs it, but give Him full permission to take over all of your life. Jesus is either Lord of all or not Lord at all. As we walk with Him, through Him, and for Him, those areas of become increasingly apparent and painful and we long for His grace and presence in every place of our heart and lives. “Jesus, all for Jesus. All I am and have and ever hope to be.”

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Jun 24

Summer Series at Northshore

Bible, Ecclesiastes: Meaning of Life, Northshore Baptist Church, Sermons No Comments »

This summer, we will have two sermon series for our weekend services. July 11, 18, & 25 Pastor Wayne Phillips will preach a three-week series entitled Three to Thrive.  I return to the pulpit on August 1, and we’ll explore the ancient book of Ecclesiastes in a 6-week series called The Meaning of Life.  Here are brief overviews of the series:

Three to Thrive: Faith, Hope & Love

July 11-25

Like a good parent God wants the best for us. He wants us to thrive. When we consider the teachings of the New Testament we see that the thriving life that Jesus has come to give us is characterized by two things: love for God and love for others (Mt 22:37-39; Mk 12:30-31; Lk 10:27-28). The Spirit of God is working to remake us into men and women who live that out daily. As we do that more and more, as we take off the things that get in the way of loving God and loving others, we will truly live (Lk 10:28). We will step into the fullness of life that Jesus has come to give us and that Satan seeks to steal (John 10:10). Simple enough, but it turns out that love is very difficult in practice. In fact, Biblical love is downright impossible without two other essentials that the Spirit of God is building in us: faith and hope.

These three—faith, hope, and love—are primary themes throughout the Bible, and they make up a framework used by the apostle Paul to examine the condition of his churches and strengthen them where needed. The interplay of faith, hope, and love in his writings is seen most clearly in 1-2 Thessalonians (ex. 1 Thess 1:2-3), Colossians (ex. 1:3-8), and in this classic:

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13

Through the series Three to Thrive: Faith, Hope, and Love, you will learn what defines and undermines each of them, and you will take away the Paul’s framework to help you more fully love God and love others wherever you are.

 

 

The Meaning of Life: Exploring Ecclesiastes

August 1 – September 6

What happens when we seek ultimate meaning outside of relationship with the Creator God? What happens when we’re desperate for the answers to life but can seem to find none? What happens when our souls get wearied from the constant pursuit of pleasure and possessions? These are enormous questions of life and meaning that Ecclesiastes grapples with in the timeless complexity and messiness of reality. Ultimately, the ancient philosopher recalibrates our hearts, minds, and lives to pursue ultimate meaning in the Ultimate God because God alone holds the key to the meaning of life.

August 1st–through September 6th during our weekend services, we’ll explore Ecclesiastes and the ultimate meaning of life. We’ll discuss five key themes in the book which can truly shape how we live a life of meaning and purpose today.

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Jun 20

Unstable or Unshakable?

Bible, Hebrews: Supremacy of Christ, Theological Musings No Comments »

“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” ~ Hebrews 12:11

Here’s the reality about spiritual formation: the forming in “formation” is painful. Forming always means change.  Let’s face it, we often don’t like change. The way that God changes us involves removing things that aren’t about Him… removing our unstable, earthly values and replace them with and forming in us His unshakable, eternal values.

Everything that He does and allows is for our greatest good, for our spiritual maturity, and for our everlasting joy. I know that’s difficult to believe, especially when we are going through difficult seasons in our lives. And that’s why we live by faith… even and especially when we don’t see and we’re not sure of what God is up to in our confusion and crises. As He removes the unstable and replaces it with the unshakable, we walk and live by faith, believing that God is who He says He is and that He does what He says He does.  But remember that in the moment, it’s not pleasant. It’s not always filled with immediate joy. That tends to and seems to come afterward.

Here’s what A.W. Tozer wrote about the pain of true spiritual formation in The Pursuit of God:

The ancient curse will not go out painlessly; the tough old miser within us will not lie down and die obedient to our command. He must be torn out of our heart like a plant from the soil; he must be extracted in agony and blood like a tooth from the jaw. He must be expelled from our soul by violence as Christ expelled the money changers from the temple. And we shall need to steel ourselves against his piteous begging, and to recognize it as springing out of self-pity, one of the most reprehensible sins of the human heart.

Father, I want to know Thee, but my coward heart fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding, and I do not try to hide from Thee the terror of the parting. I come trembling, but I do come. Please root from my heart all Those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that Thou mayest enter and dwell there without a rival. Then shalt Thou make the place of Thy feet glorious. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it, for Thyself wilt be the light of it, and there shall be no night there. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Where in your life is He removing the unstable to form the unshakable?

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Jun 17

Impacting our Community

Missional Living, Northshore Baptist Church 1 Comment »

 

By Kate Jones, Northshore’s Local Mission Coordinator 

Our third annual CommunitySERVE Day is August 21st and it’s bigger than ever. What started as a simple desire to share the love of Jesus with our neighbors has mushroomed into an event that is unifying churches and impacting our community with the Gospel of Christ. This year we are partnering with seven churches to bring a variety of service projects to our schools, local organizations, and cities.

Hundreds of volunteers will be working in twelve different schools—eight in the Northshore School District and four in the Lake Washington District—where budget cuts have left a major opportunity for us to step in and serve. Our teams will help teachers prepare their classrooms for the fall by making nametags, building bulletin boards, cutting out and prepping curriculum, and various other projects. We’ll also work throughout the schools to clean libraries and classrooms, weed, spread bark, paint, and attend to other projects affected by budget cuts.

Last year we were overwhelmed by the response from school faculty and staff who expressed their appreciation for our help and the positive impact it had on the start of their school year. Curtis Anderson, principal at Alexander Graham Bell Elementary said, “More than the actual work done, it was amazing to feel the support of our community.” A librarian stated, “I can’t begin to tell you what a joy it was to walk in last week and find a spotless library—I just kept looking around in amazement. Your help has given me the time to really make the beginning of the year go smoother and I’m planning some new and better things for my students.”

The letters, emails, and phone calls received were a confirmation that our schools need our support and help. CommunitySERVE Day for our local schools is an opportunity to show the love and example of Christ, “for even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.”

In addition to schools, we’ll have various projects within the cities of Bothell and Kirkland, helping to fill some gaps that budget cuts have created. Last year we were able to clean up and restore three different properties to pristine condition. One property was owned by a hoarder who had passed away and his daughter was working on cleaning things up in order to sell the property, a task which seemed overwhelming. But when a team of 60+ people from the local church showed up to help clear out the junk, pull out blackberry bushes, mow the yard, among other jobs completed that day, the burden was lifted.

Along with all the projects this year, we have a special opportunity to help with the framing of a building for a local organization called Vision House. Vision House Jacob’s Well provides transitional housing and a phenomenal program for homeless families. They have a 93% success rate in southern King County for helping families transition into permanent housing and achieving sustained income and hope to bring this same success to families in North King and Snohomish County. Much of Vision House’s original funding to build apartments and a childcare facility in the Kenmore/Shoreline area was lost when the economy turned two years ago. They are currently relying on local churches to partner with them so they can expand their program. You can go to http://www.youtube.com/user/visionhouse1 to watch a video showing the impact they are making for homeless families.

God has opened many doors for CommunitySERVE Day 2010, but no matter how many doors God opens we need you to walk through them in order for the impact to happen. We hope you will join us to make a difference. Visit CommunitySERVEDay.org to register. Invite your small group, neighbors, coworkers, family and friends to come and serve along side of you on August 21st.

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Jun 13

Rehearsing the Gospel

Bible, Hebrews: Supremacy of Christ, Sermons, Spiritual Disciplines, Theological Musings No Comments »

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2)

As we run the race of faith even amidst the confusion of life, we run by fixing our eyes and hearts on Jesus. And we fix our eyes upon Jesus by daily rehearsing the gospel. C.J. Mahaney in his The Cross-Centered Life gives us some practical steps on how we can rehearse the gospel, and in doing so, fix our eyes on Jesus.

1. Memorize the gospel. Memorize passages specifically about the gospel. Passages like Philippians 2:5-11, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:21. When we memorize these gospel passages, they help us fix our eyes on Jesus and run with faith and endurance.

2. Pray the gospel. Every day, begin with praying the gospel. Begin with gratitude by thanking God for the blessing of being reunited with Him because of the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Thank Him for being with you through all of life’s ups and downs. And then ask Him to graciously give you the strength and the desire to daily deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow after Jesus.

3. Sing the gospel. Make singing a cross-centered song a regular part of your day.  Get some worship CDs or download songs that have great cross-centered messages. Search carefully because many songs tend to make much of us and not much of Christ. Many of the songs that we sing at Northshore have been “theologically vetted” to make much of Christ and the cross… songs like “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us,” “In Christ Alone,” “Here is Love,” and “Sing to Jesus.”

4. Review how the gospel has changed you.  While we should never be held captive to our past, we should look back at our past to see our present transformation because of the grace of Jesus Christ and His glorious cross.  Write out your testimony… spell out the heart of the gospel… the blood of Christ, shed personally for your sins.  Explain how God saved you and changed you.

5. Study the Gospel. Study intently the passages that focus on the gospel. Read the entirety of the Bible with your eyes focused on the gospel… it’s been said that every passage of Scripture, OT and NT, either predicts, prepares for, reflects, or results from the work of Christ.  So study the gospel.

It is as we fix our eyes upon Jesus, rehearsing the gospel daily, that we run the race with endurance, perseverance, and faith.

How do you keep your eyes, heart, and life fixed on Jesus as you run the race of faith?

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Jun 08

No = Yes

Leadership Development, Theological Musings 4 Comments »

Life is filled with making decisions.  And in the end, decisions are a choice between “yes” and “no.”  We could add “maybe” or “wait” – which is really “no” for right now, but perhaps “yes” in the future.”  So it is down to “yes” or “no.”  And in making decisions in life – relationships, marriage, parenting, ministry, time, etc. – I have found that “no” is the best friend to “yes.”  Here’s why: when I can say “no” to one thing, it means that I have the opportunity and ability to now say “yes” to another thing.  Gordon Smith in his The Voice of Jesus says that good is often the enemy of the best.  We settle for what is good and either stop looking or are now unavailable to say “yes” to the best.  So in life, we have to learn to say “no.”  It means that we’ll disappoint people and pass up on opportunities that some might say we’re a fool to say “no” to.

  • Learn to say “no” to a margin-less schedule so you can say “yes” to things that really matter
  • Learn to say “no” to a good job offer so you can say “yes” to the best job
  • Learn to say “no” to people who constantly drain your tank so you can say “yes” to people who fill your tank
  • Learn to say “no” to earthly pleasures so you can say “yes” to heavenly treasures
  • Learn to say “no” to plans and programs that move the focus off of what you have said “yes” to in vision and strategy
  • Learn to say “no” to unhealthy relationships so that you can say “yes” in healthy relationships
  • Learn to say “no” to financial decisions that don’t allow you to say “yes” to using your resources for Kingdom work

Learning to say “no” is a discipline… and if you don’t learn how to say “no,” you’ll never be able to say “yes.” What would you add to the “no” and “yes” list?

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Jun 06

Praying the Names of God

Bible, Hebrews: Supremacy of Christ, Sermons, Spiritual Disciplines, Theological Musings 2 Comments »

If Christian faith finds it’s object as God, then we need to go to the Scriptures to see how God reveals Himself.  One of the key ways that God reveals His character and nature to us is by revealing His name to us.  And here’s what’s interesting… God knows His name.  He’s not revealing His name in the Scriptures for Himself. He’s revealing His name for us. He speaks His name for us, for our needs, to engage the needs of the people with whom He is in covenant relationship.  A practical application in living by faith is Praying the Names of God.  Here are some of the names by which God reveals Himself to us:

  • El Shaddai: “God Almighty.” Stresses God’s loving supply and comfort; offers His power as the Almighty one standing on a mountain and who corrects and chastens (Gen. 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; Ex. 6:31; Ps. 91:1, 2).
  • El Elyon: “The Most High God.” Stresses God’s strength, sovereignty, and supremacy (Gen. 14:19; Ps. 9:2; Dan. 7:18, 22, 25).
  • El Roi: “The Living One who sees me.” God sees us when we are far from home; He meets us where we are and gives us a future and a hope. (Genesis 16:1-16.)
  • Yahweh Yireh: “The Lord will provide.” Stresses God’s provision for His people (Gen. 22:14).
  • Yahweh Nissi: “The Lord is my Banner.” Stresses that God is our rallying point and our means of victory; the One who fights for His people (Ex. 17:15).
  • Yahweh Shalom: “The Lord is Peace.” Points to the Lord as the means of our peace and rest (Jud. 6:24).
  • Yahweh Sabbaoth: “The Lord of Hosts.” A military figure portraying the Lord as the Commander of the armies of heaven (1 Sam. 1:3; 17:45).
  • Yahweh Ro’hi: “The Lord my Shepherd.” Portrays the Lord as the Shepherd who cares for His people as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his pasture (Ps. 23:1).
  • Yahweh Tsidkenu: “The Lord our Righteousness.” Portrays the Lord as the means and source of our righteousness (Jer. 23:6).
  • Yahweh Shammah: “The Lord is there.” Portrays the Lord’s personal presence (Ezek. 48:35).
  • Yahweh Elohim Israel: “The Lord, the God of Israel.” Identifies Yahweh as the God of Israel in contrast to the false gods of the nations (Jud. 5:3.; Isa. 17:6).

(For a more in-depth study, see J. Hampton Keathley’s article “The Names of God”).

When we pray the names of God, we take an honest look at where we’re at. We identify the need that we’re facing.  And then we choose which name of God speaks to our need.  We go to a passage of Scripture where God reveals Himself with that particular name, and we discover how and why God revealed Himself in that way for that particular need.  And then we come to Him with our need, in prayer, in conversation with Him, and we call Him by His name.

For example, if I’m in a place where I’m struggling in the middle of the battle, and I need to know that God is the One who fights the battle with and for me, I pray His name Yahweh Nissi (the Lord is my banner). If I’m in a place where I need God to provide for my need, emotional, physical, spiritual, I come to Him in prayer with His name Yahweh Yireh (the Lord provides).  His name is not some incantation.  His name is His character, and faith is a firm, resolute confidence in the character and nature of God… that God is who He says He is and that God does what He says He does.  And His names represent that reality.  So we pray in faith, praying the names of God.

Is there a name of God that is particularly meaningful for you right now?

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Jun 04

A Guide to Spending the Day with Jesus

Leadership Development, Spiritual Disciplines, Theological Musings 4 Comments »

“As often as possible Jesus withdrew to the out-of-way places for prayer”

~ Luke 5:16 (The Message)

For the past decade, I have been taking regular days away… days with Jesus, filled with solitude, study, and prayer. Honestly, I don’t know how I would survive the demands of ministry and life without them. Up until a year ago, I took them once a quarter. Now, I’m taking them once a month. Over the years, I have shared this “Guide to Spending the Day with Jesus” with folks who want to know either how to do a day of solitude or who want to know what my days away look like. So here’s what I do:

Before you go:

1) What do you need to experience with Jesus during this day away?

2) Where have you been in the Word in the past couple of months and weeks, and where has God been speaking to you?

3) What are you “wrestling” with in this season of your life (specific circumstance, sin, relationship, etc.)?

During the drive to wherever you’re going:

Pray that the Lord would give you direction (Scriptures, a book to read, format for the day, etc.). Remember this is a “dynamic, fluid” day with Jesus, not a rigid, hyper-formatted day.

When you get there:

1) Get the environment the way you need it… coffee, temperature, noise reduction (if there’s a clock that ticks really loud, it’s annoying, so remove the battery or move it to another room), and find the best place to really meet with the Lord where you can stretch out in prayer, with books, etc.

2) Here’s a tentative time schedule that I use (once again, not too rigid)

7:30 Arrive and get situated

8:00 Prayer. I actually get down on my knees. I ask the Lord to clear the noise in my head and heart, and in my life. It actually takes me about 20-30 minutes for this noise to clear… so be patient (this fruit of prayer does not yield itself to the lazy).  I ask the Lord to meet with me… to give me a “vision” (not hyper-charismatic, but a picture or image of what He wants me to experience today. One time it was an open meadow in the mountains that represented His freedom. One time it was a picture of my father who truly represented faithfully the love of the Heavenly Father). I also ask the Father to let me know where He wants to take me today… Scripture… prayer… reading, etc.

8:45 The Word. I listen to the Lord or sometimes pick a Scripture to reflectively study and meditate upon. Typically the Lord has led me to something, and I spend the next 2-3 hours studying it, reflectively meditating upon it, journaling through it, praying through it. This is another weird thing that I do, but I actually will craft a worship service (with songs, readings, prayers, etc) around this passage and theme for the day. In seasons when I’ve lead worship, I’ve used those worship sets when I return. The point is to find an expression of this time with the Lord. Perhaps for you, write a chapter of a book, write a song, write a poem, write a movie scene… whatever you need to do to integrate this is in with your passions and calling in life.

11:30 Prayer. I spend some more time on my knees with the Lord asking Him to “cement” this into my heart and life.

12:00 Lunch and a drive to process more

1:00 This is the fluid part of the day. Sometimes the Lord simply wants me to pray more, especially intercessory prayer. Sometimes I’ve prayed for the concentric rings outward from my life (Family, Ministry, Staff and Elders, specific people in the congregation). Sometimes I read a book. Sometimes I strategically plan ministry stuff. Sometimes I take a nap. Sometimes I go for a run or go on a hike. Whatever happens, I always feel that it’s very effective because I’m really connecting with Jesus at this point… very actively and experientially… as if He’s right there with me (which He is through the Spirit).

I also typically leave with an “action plan” on things the Lord has impressed upon my heart that day… where to take it when I return to “reality” with family, ministry, life, etc.

I review these days away (and action plans) frequently to see how I’m doing (perhaps a stewardship issue) with the things the Lord laid upon my heart during my time with Him that day.

4:00 Prayer for the Lord to continue to integrate this more deeply into my life.

4:30 Pack up and drive back to home

Remember, this is not a formula… it’s a dynamic relationship. Even though we don’t want to propagate the “Jesus is my girlfriend thing,” how would you spend the day with someone you really enjoy being around? This is key! And remember to journal and write these things down. When you begin to get 2, 3, or even 4 days away over a year or two, it’s amazing to go back and see how the Risen Christ is transforming you into who He desires you to be.

What do you do on a day of solitude, word, and prayer? What helps you connect more deeply with Jesus?

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Jun 04

Praying the Psalms

Bible, Hebrews: Supremacy of Christ, Sermons, Spiritual Disciplines, Theological Musings 2 Comments »

One of the spiritual disciples that the people of God have historically done is pray through the psalms. The psalms are a collection of songs that the people of God have sung and prayed through all of life’s ups and downs.  There are psalms of orientation that point us to the character of God as we praise Him for who He fully is.  There are psalms of disorientation that are sung and prayed as we cry out in confusion and despair, as life is difficult.  And there are psalms of reorientation that re-center and refocus us to the character and nature of God.  In all of the psalms, the focal point is the character and nature of God.  As we pray the psalms, fixating and focusing on the character of God, here’s what happens: “Our perseverance is rooted in His promise which changes our perspective.” When we pray the psalms, we see His great promises, which are based in His great character.  And that gives us perseverance and changes our perspective.

Think for a moment about the Old Testament prophet Jonah.  When he was in the belly of the whale, a definite place of crisis, in chapter 2 he cries out to God in prayer. But here’s the deal… his prayer was not a spontaneous, original prayer.  He prayed the psalms. Every part of his prayer in chapter 2 can be traced back to one of the psalms. This doesn’t mean that we don’t ever come to God in spontaneous conversation, but it does mean that God has given us these powerfully beautiful psalms to root us in who He is, what He’s done, and what He will do on behalf of His people.

Psalm 1, the very first psalm in the psalter, roots us in the practice of praying the psalms.  The very first psalm orients us to the character of God. The psalms help our roots go deep… and when the droughts come, we know where to find nourishment. When the storms come, our roots are deep within the bedrock of God’s character. As we pray the psalms, we go deep with God.

Take a psalm or a couple of verses of a psalm each day.  Read it slowly and meditate upon it. Pray through it. Journal through it. How does the psalm reveal the character and nature of God?  How does your life relate to the confession and cry of the psalmist? How do the character, nature, and promise of God change your perspective? See your life in light of what God is saying about Himself through the psalm. Give it a try… prayer through a psalm or a couple verses from a psalm this week and see how your vision and view of God is shaped as you live in those seasons of orientation, disorientation, and reorientation.  This is a key way in which we can take serious the character of God by taking serious His promise and perseverance.

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