What does it mean to 'live as not'? #amcl

Today in the Annual Moore College Lecture Series we thought about the nature of the world, in particular, the fact that it is passing away.

One of the texts we considered was this passage in 1 Corinthians:

And I say this, brothers: The time is limited,  so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31)

It's an odd thing to say.  What does it mean to 'live as not'?  In terms of the marriage example, Paul is clearly not advocating spousal neglect or adultery (see everything else he writes on the topic!).  He is also surely not saying that we should be emotional suppressed (consider how he encourages us to weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice - Rom 12:15).  His point is not that we should deny these things.  Rather, it is that we should, in some way, live as though we don't have these things.

I think Paul's teaching in 1 Timothy 6 helps to provide some further insight into what this means.

     For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root  of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. (v7-10)

Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.  Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good reserve for the age to come, so that they may take hold of life that is real. (v17-19)

This passage also reminds us that this present world is passing away.  We will leave it, and we will not be able to take anything with us.  Those things too will perish.  That is why we should not put our confidence in them.  Rather, we should be our confidence in God.  I think this is the sense of what he means by 'living as not'.  We not to deny marriage, possessions or emotions, just like we are not to deny wealth.  But we are to deny their attempts for power over us.  As we search for security and certainty, we are not to hold onto these fleeting things, but onto God.  And as we hold onto God, we are able to let go of those other things, being generous because we know that God is our provider in both this age and the next.  So we don't need to deny these things, but we do need to hold on very lightly to them.

However, there is also a sense in which we may choose to deny these things.  Jesus has changed everything.  Since him, we now live in the last days.  This changes our priorities.  As we see the future, we act differently.  For example, Jesus and Paul teach how marriage and singleness are shaped by the future.  Previously marriage was important as it was part of the way God made the world, and also to keep having kids so that the Saviour would be born one day.  But now the possibility of choosing singleness is more prominent.  The Kingdom of God has come, so now is the time to call people to repent.  Singleness is encouraged by both Jesus and Paul so that people can devote themselves more fully to this task (Mt 19, 1 Cor 7).  This is not denying the goodness of marriage (which is good because God made it, but is also good because it is a pointer the relationship between Jesus and the church), but is highlighting the possibility of making a new choice in light of the Kingdom.  Similarly, disciples of Jesus are able to throw themselves into Kingdom work without worries about their possessions here because God will provide for their current needs and will also give them treasure in heaven (Mt 6).

So we can see that God provides us with good things to enjoy, so we should enjoy them, but not put our confidence in them.  And secondly, we may choose to give up some of God's gifts for the sake of the Kingdom.  Taking either of these paths will not be lamented in the end, for things that are truly good, real and lasting will be given to us in the age to come.

so-called 'spawn of Satan' returns to church

On College Mission I met a lady who, unbelievably, as a 10 year old in Sunday School, was told "you are the spawn of Satan".

We were horrified.  But we also prayed.  We prayed for God to bring healing to her heart.  We prayed for her to give church another go.  We prayed for her to come back to God.

On that second Sunday of Mission, which we'd been building up to all week, I looked and looked, but she wasn't there.  I was disappointed.

We went home from Mission.  But the regulars at St Marks were still on mission, and God was still on mission.

The senior minister put a birthday card, some chocolates and an Easter flyer in her letterbox.

God did the rest.

Shaking, she entered the church on Easter Sunday.  What a great act of courage!

This time she wasn't berated, but was welcomed.

And she even was brave enough to ask a question!

Praise God!

"Chocolate is central to what we do"

"Chocolate is central to a lot of what we do here at St Marks." - Craig Schaffer, Senior Minister

Craig's comment was made in best, but there's a bit of truth to it.  Chocolate has certainly featured highly in our mission this week.

As we greeted people on the way to the train station they generally didn't want to take the flyer.  But then a miraculous thing happened.  Their eyes registered the chocolate stapled to it, then they smiled and took the flyer.

Does it really work though?  Absolutely.  3 years ago a guy was given a flyer and a Freddo.  He decided to take his girlfriend and go to church.  A couple of months later they were both converted.  Today we joined them handing out flyers and Freddos.

Today Craig also shared some of the other things he's learnt about ministry over the years.

One of his key strategies is prayer.  He prays on his own.  He prays with the staff.  He prays with the congregation.  He is a great model of prayer.  And God has been answering his prayers.  It was a good lesson for us:  "Devote yourselves to prayer" (Col 4:2)

the day a tiger joined our mission team

Yesterday a tiger joined our mission team.  Or rather, one of our mission team became a tiger.

On Sunday St Marks Pennant Hills is 'open for inspection'.  Everyone's invited to come and connect or reconnect with church.

In addition to explaining stuff that goes on at church there's a whole bunch of activities going on before/after, including a jumping castle, aBBQ and face painting.

Most of us on the team said, "I don't know how to do face painting."  But Mark said, "My daughter is a professional face painter."  So he organised for her to give us some face painting training.  Fun times.

Step 1 (for Jimbo): Draw where hairline would be.

Step 2: Find your inner tiger.

Step 3: Unleash the tiger within.

Perhaps Jimbo needs to work on his fearsome look!

innovative evangelism

Sometimes we wonder, ‘how can I start sharing the gospel with people I know?’

Well, that’s a good place to start…having the heart to share the gospel in the first place!

The other 2 ingredients are prayer and people.

Some of the ladies at Pennant Hills have been gathering people.  They’ve started ‘shuffling’.  A group of women get together to walk/power walk/run each week.

It started as a group of friends from church.  Now they’ve been inviting non-church friends along too, and have been praying for them.

Jesus said, “They will know you’re my disciples by the love you have for one another.”

Now the non-Christians have a first hand opportunity to hang out with Christians and see the care they have for one another; they can have fun together; they can build friendships with one another.

It all started with being intentional.  How can you connect non-Christians in your life with other Christians?

hump day

Did you feel like it was a struggle to get over hump day today?

We sure did.

We were feeling tired after a big week so far.  People.  People.  People.  For introverts like me it's been a taxing week.  And even for the extroverts it been a draining time too.

Today was a big day with the team doing train station leafletting, primary Scripture lessons, a high school lunchtime Christian group session, Wednesday church, door knocking, jogging group and a women's event.  I wasn't sure we were going to make it, or at least I wasn't sure I was going to make it though the afternoon, but our dear heavenly Father sustained us.

All praise be to Him.

"you are the spawn of Satan"

This morning I met a lady at the train station.  She had not stepped foot inside a church for 46 years.  Each time she passed the church she shuddered.

She is a curious person, who loves asking questions.  But when she was 10 a stern Sunday School, her Sunday School teacher chastised her for this, and said, "You are the spawn of Satan."

Yikes!  How awful!!!!!  I find it incomprehensible that someone would say that to anyone, least of all a child.

But amazingly, when she got a flyer at the station this morning she came back and talked to us.  She's received a number of flyers from the church in her letterbox, and she's been thinking, "Maybe I could give it another go.  Maybe it's different."  Today she got to meet the senior minister, and found that he's not a draconian warlord, and that they even have question and answer time at the end of sermons! :-)  So she said, this Sunday's my birthday, maybe I'll make it a time for a new start, and come back to church.  Please pray that she does come.  More than that, please pray that she comes back to Jesus too.

the most important thing we'll do all week

This morning in our team devotions we read:

⁵ What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. ⁶ I [Paul] planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. ⁷ So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. ⁸ Now the one planting and the one watering are one in purpose, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. ⁹ For we are God’s coworkers.^[e] You are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3)

God give spiritual growth.  That is why the most important thing we'll do all week is what we did tonight - pray.

It was great to be able to pray together with brothers and sisters from Pennant Hills church.

Her name means 'white snow'

Today we had the pleasure of visiting the English for Life program at the church.

People come to learn English, which helps them for this life, and they also learn the Bible, which helps them for the next life.

The advanced English class put on a play today, based on the story of Jesus healing and forgiving a paralysed man (Mark 2:1-12).

They did a fantastic job!  Afterwords, Phil shared how Jesus can not only heal us on the outside, but on the inside too.

This fit really well with a conversation I had with one of the ladies.  She said, "My daughter's name means 'white snow'."  I said, "That's what Jesus' cleansing is like.  He makes us like white snow.

"it's like the United Nations here" - mission day 1

What do we need for mission?  People and food!  (am I forgetting something...?)

We certainly were blessed with good food and good company today on our first day at St Marks Pennant Hills.

I was particularly encouraged to meet brothers and sisters from various parts of the world.  One guy said, "It's like the United Nations here."

I was able to hear the testimonies of brothers and sisters who have come from the falsehood of Hinduism and Buddhism to the true and living faith in Jesus.

We are praying that God will grow His family in Pennant Hills as we go out with these brothers and sisters to tell people in the area about Jesus.  Will you join us in prayer?

textual criticism - useful?

Even though it seems annoying, textual criticism is important because the trustworthiness of the Bible is important.  We want to have a foundation for our faith.  We want to know that what we believe is true.  And in order to know the truth we need to have an authoritative source of truth.  But what if there is a question about the trustworthiness of the Bible?  Some people have concerns about the historicity of the Bible, others have concerns about its content, but textual criticism deals with issues concerning the text of the Bible.

There are “multiple copies” of the Bible so to speak.  It’s not as crazy as it first sounds, though.  In the case of the New Testament they made oodles and oodles of copies so that lots of people could read it.  But this was way before the printing press, so they made copies by hand, so you’d expect the odd ‘typo’ to get in.  Having said that, though, most of the variations in the manuscripts don’t make a difference to the overall meaning (for example, spelling errors).  So if someone says to you “you can’t trust the Bible because there are so many variations in the manuscripts”, don’t worry.  There’s not one single Christian belief which is in doubt because of a textual variant. Thank you textual critics who've gone through and checked out stuff like that!

We can trust the Bible.  God worked through people to write down the Bible.  He was in control of the writing process.  He has also continued to be sovereign as the Bible has been preserved, transmitted and translated.  And more amazingly, He teaches us the Bible from the inside.  His Spirit is inside us, helping us to understand the Bible, to remember it and to live it out. 

The creator of the universe speaks to us.  Wow.

blissful rest

This may seem a very strange thing to be feeling at the end of semester with exams looming, but I'm feeling incredibly relaxed.

No, I'm not completely on top of everything yet...

But God has granted me this amazing peace.  I've not been stressed about exams.  I've not been flustered.  I've not had that icky feeling in my gut.  I've been totally calm.

I've even been so calm that I've been wandering around singing.  Even more amazing is that I've pulled out my guitar to play it (it has been months since I've done that!!).

Wow.  Thanks heavenly Dad!!

It is finished

This is the text for my sermon on Thursday (for women's chapel)

John 19 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

 31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness-his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth-that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”


Brilliant stuff!

Now if only my sermon was finished just like Jesus' work is finished...

Who is Jesus Christ for us today?

'Who is Jesus Christ for us today?'

This is a question posed by Bonhoffer in the 1940s.  Today our lecturer posed it to us.

Here's my quick 2 minute answer:

Today Jesus is seen as a byword, a swear word, a nice guy, but an irrelevant guy.  His followers are seen as bigoted, weak and stupid.  However, the reality is that Christ is who he always has been.  He is the ruler of the world.  He is the one who is reconciling all things to the Father.  To those who believe in him, he is their brother, their Saviour and their Lord.

What do you think,  'who is Jesus Christ for us today?'

God is sovereign, so the Bible is relevant

This week College is holding the Annual Moore College Lectures.  Rev Chris Green from the UK is speaking.

One really fabulous thing which struck me in Tuesday's talk was his encouragement to hold our Doctrine of Scripture together with our Doctrine of God.

Sceptics will readily say that the Bible is an ancient book.  Evangelicals will also affirm the ancientness of the text.  In particular, Evangelicals will seek to look at the original cultural and historical setting in which the writer was writing.

However, an unfortunate by-product of these ways of thinking is that it distances the Bible and God.  The Bible is no longer relevant because it was written so long ago.  And God only spoke to people back then, not now.

I have heard it said that 'we don't need to make the Bible relevant, because it is relevant'.  I think this is true.  However, I don't this statement is always presented with solid evidence to back it up.

But Chris helpfully showed theological evidence for why this is true.  It starts from what we know about God.  God knows everything.  He knows everything for all time.  Therefore when He caused the Bible to be written, He wrote exactly what he wanted to say to people in every age.  He did not just constrain His words to people in the 1st century, but He wrote those words for us too.  So although the Bible doesn't mention things like computers and other technological advances, God has still given us all that we need for life and godliness through those ancient words, because He knew that these days would come.

Thanks all-knowing heavenly Dad for giving us a true and relevant word for today and every day!

something old, something borrowed, something ... new

In class yesterday our lecturer said that in the New Testament letters the writer will often repeat things and then build upon them. [I don't know about other writers, because he didn't mention it, and I didn't think to ask until now!]

 4 I always thank my God for you because of God’s grace given to you in Christ Jesus, 5 that by Him you were enriched in everything — in all speech and all knowledge.

Oddly enough, this was clearer in Greek because they used the same word.

But the same thing can happen with concepts too.

6 In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, 7 so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Authors can use this to reinforce their message and communicate clearly.

The repeated ideas come through really strongly, but it also helps you to follow their logic and to be on the lookout for what the 'new' element is.

Cool!

awesome homework #2: what does Colossians 1:15-20 say about creation and its destiny?

Another awesome homework task: What does Colossians 1:15-20 say about creation and its destiny?

What struck me immediately was the "Jesus-ness" of creation described here.  Admittedly, this passage is about Jesus, first and foremost, and just happens to say things about creation as well.  But I think that sometimes I forget that the Son was involved in creation, not just the Father.  The Son is over all creation (v15).  He is superior to all of the created things (v17).  Everything was created by Him (v16).  Everything was created though Him (v16).  Everything was created for Him (v16).  He created more than we think.  He created not just the stuff we can see, but also the stuff we can't.  He didn't just create it and let it go wild with its own whims, but He holds everything together (v17).

Not only is Jesus the head of the original creation, he is also head of the new creation.  The church is a new creation, a gathering of those reconciled to Himself (v18, 20 cf 2 Cor 5:17).  It is a new body, and He is its head (v18).  Verse 18 also hints at the end of things, of the destiny of creation: "He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything."  Creation changed with the resurrection of Jesus.  The world is no longer the same.  A person has now been raised from the dead.  And He won't be the last.  He is the firstborn from the dead.  It was just the beginning.  More will follow.  This guarantees that all of creation will be made new.  [Well, this is the more the point of 1 Corinthians 15...also a good read :-)].  But here Paul says that because Jesus has been raised from the dead He will be the boss.  He will have first place in everything.  Also, everything will be reconciled to the Father through Jesus' death (v20).  The end will be reconciliation and peace.  It will be a complete reconciliation, including both things in heaven and on earth (v20).  But there will still be a pecking order.  The Son will be in first place over all creation.

But with all this Jesus-ness, what about the Father?  Was He on holidays?  Is He in disagreement with these plans?  Absolutely not!  The Son is like the Father.  He is His image, His likeness (v15).  Furthermore, God the Father was pleased to have all of his fullness dwell in the Son (v19).  And He was pleased to reconcile everything to Himself through the Son (v20).  This was His plan, His design.

not just numbers, but people

As I mentioned earlier, last week was mission awareness week at College.  At chapel on Friday the guy leading the service was sharing about the vast numbers of people who have not heard of Jesus and people who don't have the Bible in their own language.  As he was sharing this, he began to cry.

It was very powerful.  I was reminded that these are not just numbers, but are real people.  Real people who need peace with God.

May God give both me and you hearts like that - hearts that weep for the lost.

May we be like Jesus, who said,
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ” (Matt 23:37-39)

Mission awareness week

This week is mission awareness week at College.

It has been really fantastic (as it was last year as well)!

We have mission agency reps come, we have talks from missionaries and overseas workers and we have food from all around the world.

I think it's really fabulous.  It lifts my eyes again from my little patch of the world.  It reminds me of the many great ministries happening overseas.  It also reminds me of the huge needs they have, and the huge wealth of resources we have (eg. great Bible knowledge + finances + a stable country).

But that's me.  I'm already excited about mission.  I'm already planning to go.

What about the rest of people at College?  Many aren't planning to do mission.  Many are undecided, but the default option for them is probably church ministry of some sort.

Not many people come along to ministry and mission hour each week.  Not many came to the seminars this week.  Why is that?

I know that people are busy, but I think this is something that should be a priority - hearing about other people's ministries.  I find it really sad that this is one aspect of what our community is like. 

Now making attendance at these sorts of things compulsory isn't the answer - a change of heart needs to happen.  I pray that God will keep changing me and our whole community

bargain!

I love bargain hunting!

It's not so good for when you really want a specific thing, but it's nice to browse and come across a nice thing you might like at a bargain price.

Today the Moore College Grapevine was on (think extreme op shop...basically like a clothes swap).

Here's what I scored...

Tall boots, bag, scarf, shirt.  And the price?  $2 for the lot.  Not bad.  Not bad at all! :-)