Galatians Ch. 3 Recap

Wow, two new brothers added to the Tuesday Night Grind! Well done...

Galatians 2:11 - 21

The non-Jewish Galatians had put their faith in Christ, but were subsequently being told that they must adhere to Jewish laws to insure God's approval. The apostle Peter (of all people!) added to the cornfusion by showing favoritism to the Jews.

Paul confronted and corrected Peter and reiterated that only Jesus can make us right (or justified) with God.

We spent some time discussing what it must have been like for Paul to confront Peter in front of everyone like that. We had some differing opinions on who would do it like that or how it should be done. We checked out Matthew 18:15 - 18 too.

There have always been those who feel that "too much emphasis on grace" encourages people to believe that they can live however they want. Is this a valid concern?

"Why do so many people have a hard time understanding and embracing Christ's actions on their behalf?", was a question that kicked off quite a good discussion. I am coming to an understanding that I do not really understand "love". I have been stuck on this for a few weeks now.

What compelled God so much to want a relationship with us that He would love us unconditionally and send His Son to die for us? Do we really understand love in His context? My feeble attempts to grasp what it would be like to have everyone truly and unconditionally love each other ... is mind boggling.

What would that look like?

Is that a picture of heaven?

If God is love, then everything He does for us is done with love and is about love. eh? He loves for no other reason than love. We / I love and do things for people in the name of love so that I can get something out of it. Most of the world, in my opinion, are not believers or followers of Christ, yet He loves. That is wild my friends, but that is our God!

Hope you all have a great week. Drop a line and respond to the blog when you get a chance.

Stay Strong,

Gal 6:9-10

Fireproof (the movie) Your Marriage!

Check out this movie with your wife. Take her on a date, leave the kids at home and invest some time with her. We are called to be men of Christ, but this must start at home. Check out the trailer for the movie - make a date with her and just tell her that you want her to go with you. It will be one of the best times that you will have. The only theatre in the valley that this is playing out right now is Tower Plaza in Temecula. This independent film is from the makers of other great hits like "Facing the Giants" and "Flywheel". We need to support these films so that those who don't know the real love that we have can feel it through a cinematic experience. I am taking DeAnne tonight (10/4). A review will follow.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810036605/trailer

Galatians Ch 2 - DEFENDING THE GOSPEL

So good to hear about all of our unique faith stories that were shared last Tuesday. Awesome that no one can tell us that God has not done anything for us -- for we live with and for His changes everyday!

The discussion about Paul's testimony (v.15) revealing something about God's grace and mercy was AWESOME. If He know every hair on our head before we are conceived, why did God allow Saul to persecute His followers and then convert him to Paul? God has some kind of patience.

How zealous are you? Have you lost your passion for Christ, how can you get it back? I shared some tough things that I had been reading in Crazy Love regarding Lukewarm Christians. Francis Chan believes that this saying "Lukewarm Christian" is an oxymoron. Revelation 3:15-18, Jesus says:

I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, "I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing." But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white robes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Tough words for sure. We attempted to examine what zealousness is. But maybe it our modern understanding of lukewarm that needs correction. Jesus is saying to the church that because they are lukewarm, He is going to spit them out of His mouth. There is no gentle rendering of the word spit in Greek. This is the only time it is used in the New Testament, and it connotes gagging, hurling, retching. Many people read this passage and assume Jesus is speaking to saved people. Why?

When you read this passage, do you naturally conclude that to be "spit" out of Jesus' mouth means you're a part of His kingdom? When you read the words "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked," do you think that He was describing saints? When He counsels them to "buy white clothes to wear" in order to cover their "shameful nakedness," does it sound like advice for those already saved? (Crazy Love, Francis Chan, pgs. 84-85)

Some things to ponder for sure ... until next week!

Stay Strong
Gal 6:9-10

Rob

Have You Ever Wondered If We Are Missing It?

A friend of mine turned me on to this book by Francis Chan. He has an amazing story and this one will turn you up-side-down.

Here is a few snippets:

I get nervous when I think of how we've missed who we are supposed to be, and sad when I think about how we're missing out on all that God wants for the people that He loved enough to die for.

I haven't always felt this way. I grew up believing in God without having a clue what He is like. I called myself a Christian, was pretty involved in church, and tried to stay away from all of the things that "good Christians" avoid - drinking, drugs, sex, swearing. Christianity was simple: fight your desires in order to please God. Whenever I failed (which was often), I'd walk around feeling guilty and distant from God. In hindsight, I don't think my church's teachings were incorrect, just incomplete. My view of God was narrow and small. (Preface, pg. 20)

What if I said, "stop praying"? What if I told you to stop talking at God for a while, but instead to take a long, hard look at Him before you speak another word? Solomon warned us not to rush into God's presence with words. That's what fools do. And often, that's what we do. (Ch 1, pg. 25)


Go here now: http://crazylovebook.com/ & check out the awe factor of God video...left me, my wife and son absolutely speechless.

Definitely a must read.

Thanks Eric
www.ericbeeman.com

Galatians Chapter 1 Recap

LEAVING GRACE

Galatians 1:1-9

Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever amen. I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (NKJV)

So as we discussed the first week in the preview, Paul is really ticked off that the churches have allowed a perversion to the gospel that he preached to them. So mad in fact that he says let him be accursed -- who preaches any other gospel!

Check out the simple gospel that Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4! Also on page six, Lucado throws this down:

"What is it then, that God wants us to do? What is the work he seeks? Just believe. Believe the ONE He sent. The work God wants you to do is this: believe the ONE He sent (John 6:29 NCV).

Next week: Lesson Two, Defending the Gospel....see you at Tuesday Night Grind, Tues. 6:45pm.

Time to Get Real?

I have been thinking much about the opportunity to FAST as laid out by Pastor John and I am IN. I know...what, so you're not going to eat and stuff? No, not that way. I believe that true fasting is just that, simply (not really) not eating for period of time to cleanse the mind and body and focus on Christ. Since, I am not sure that I can really do it that way, Pastor John has presented us an opportunity to give something up for Christ and focus on praying and seeking His will. This is what I am in for. Pastor John had this to say in the recent enewletter:

FASTING
A few weeks ago I asked you to consider joining me and thousands of other Christians in California for a 40 day period of fasting and prayer for our nation and our communities. The fast is from September 24th to November 2nd. If you didn’t get to start on Wednesday, jump in now! Let’s fast and pray together; I am fasting from coffee and watching the news on TV. What might you fast from? As we fast, let’s pray together for: the elections; Proposition 8 to be passed, for our community to elect godly local council members, for our church’s launch of two additional services, and for the lost in our community to be saved. Join me at The Call prayer rally in San Diego on November 1st by registering at www.thecall.com .

So, check this out. I really need your prayers and support as I embark on my own fast of drinking anything but water over the next 40 days, starting today 9/26/08 at 12pm. Most who know me, know that I am addicted to coffee and carbonated beverages, so this will be quite a sacrifice for me. However, I believe through this process I will become closer to Christ and His presence in my life as I continue to pray for help to stay away from these types of products.

For you, it may be something different. Please put me down for some prayer in this area as I try to focus on His will for me and do some cleansing of my own. If you want to join me in this in some way, just respond to this post and I will add you to my prayer list.

Stay Strong

Gal 6:9-10

Rob

What Up with Your World?

Wow, it seems like so much is going on these days and the world is spinning so much faster and faster...can I get off for a while?

This fast paced life can leave us wanting more: more downtime, more time off, more family time, and hopefully more God time. I have been noticing for the past few months how my attitude toward things of this world has been changing. Thank God. However, I would not have been able to notice if I hadn't slowed my own world down a bit.

Ever notice that when you stop to wonder about why things are so crazy - you actually have the power to slow everything down! Then, if you actually pray about getting some relief from the hectic activity -- God brings peace.

Check this out...

So when I try to control it all, it gets crazier; when I give control to the ONE who already has it, it provides peace. Weird.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the PEACE OF GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ." (emphasis added, Phil 4:6-7, NKJV)

What do you think?

Galatians Begins Tuesday Sept. 16!

Hey Guys,
I went with Galatians over Ephesians, but also found some awesome other studies that I will be posting on this here blogspot so that we can vote for upcoming studies. I have also started to put up some great reading with a biblical/historical perspective as you can see from the last post.

The Galatians Study will be just like the Colossians one. We decided that Luke- A - doo was pretty good at bringing up questions that make us go - hmmmm. It also gave us some great conversation starters so that we could form a base friendship to build on as we move through this guy group thang.

Remember, we are hanging at the Grind now. The show starts around 6:45pm and goes until it goes. Drop in and out whenever you can - there will always be somebody there to hang out with.

This week, I have (or will have) prepared a short introduction to Galatians and hopefully will have all the books to hand out. I had to order a few so I am hoping that they come in before Tuesday night. If they do not, I will photocopy the first session and have the books for the following week.

Stay Strong
Rob

The Search for the Twelve Apostles

Ever wonder what happened to the guys who followed Jesus? Those 12 men who took up the cross and answered His call? Where did they go and what did they do after Jesus' resurrection and ascension? This book totally caught my eye as I went to collect the new study books for the Tuesday Night Galatians Study (Lucado) at Berean. I had to buy it and so far can highly recommend it.

Simon Peter, Andrew, James the son of Zebedee, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Jude, Simon, Judas Iscariot and Matthias were the men who went into the world and proclaimed Christ to all they came in contact with. Picking up where the book of Acts leaves off, Dr. William Steuart McBirnie brings these men to life as he explores the 12 and others who built the foundation of Christianity. I expect a great read from "The Search" and to gain more insight into these 12 men that changed the world by living out what Jesus taught them in His short time on earth.

Here is an excerpt:

"Of course, there were some disappointments. For example, the body of John is today no where to be found. I entered his tomb in Ephesus long ago. Recently, after many centuries of neglect, the authorities have sealed it and covered it with a marble floor. Though John's body has disappeared some parts of the bones of all the other apostles are believed to exist, and I have seen them."

"I had made twenty-six journeys to Jerusalem before learning that the head of James the Elder, several arm bones of James the Just, and part of the skull of John the Baptist are held in veneration in two churches there. And, I might add, with some strong historical records as to their authenticity."

"This is not, however, a book about bones. It is about living people who were described by Paul as founders of the churches (see Ephesians 2:19, 20). We are interested in apostolic bones because they are possible clues as to the whereabouts of the ministry and places of martyrdom of the twelve." (Preface, pg. viii)

Grab a copy and read through this one with me?

The Cross?

What an outstanding message last Sunday. I particularly loved the part where Pastor Ryan made the statement that the cross is not something to be glorified in and of itself. In fact, the Cross is an instrument of torture and death! The only thing to glorify about the cross is the selfless act that Jesus did on it when he died there. That selfless act, put forward for all mankind, was the glory. The Cross is only a symbol, not the Savior.

Send me your feedback and thoughts...