Why I Believe in Particular Redemption or Limited Atonement 2/15/2012
This is a very important doctrine of Grace. Many evangelicals will give thought to the other points but hate this one. The truth is that if we do not have a proper view of what Christ did on the Cross and for whom then all the other points are meaningless.

As we have already seen, the unconditional election of God in itself does not save anyone, it only marks out particular sinners for salvation. Those chosen by the Father and given to the Son had to be redeemed if they were to be saved. In order to secure their redemption, Jesus Christ came into the world, and took upon himself human nature so that he might identify Himself with His people and as their legal representative, substitute. Christ worked out a peerfect righteousness in his life and death which is imputed or credied to the elect the moment they are brought to faith in Him. Through what he did, the chosen are constituted righteous before God. They are also freed from all guilt and condemnation as the result of what Christ has suffered for them. Through His substitution sacrifice He endured the penality of their sins and thus removed their guilt forever. When God’s people are joined to Him by fatih, they are credited with perfect righteousness and are freed from all guilt and condemnation. They are saved, not because of what they themselves have done or will do, but solely on the ground of Christ’s redeeming work.

Hebrews 9: 15 “Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may recieve the promised eternal inheritance…”

Christ’s redeeming work was definite in design and accomplishment. It was intended to render complete satisfaction for certain specified sinners, it actually secured salvation for those individuals and for no one else. Christ did not die simply to make it possible for God to pardon sinners. Neither does God leave it up to sinners as to whether or not Christ’s work will be effective. All for whom Christ sacrificed himself will be saved infallibly. Redemption, therefore, was designed to bring to pass God’s purpose of election.

Jesus came into the world to represent and save only those given to him by the Father. Christ’s saving work was limited in that it was designed to save some and not others, but it was not limited in value for it was of infinite value and would of secured salvation for everyone if this had been God’s intention.

Those who have a different view of the atonement (Arminians) also place a limitation on the atoning work of Christ. They hold that Christ’s saving work was designed to make possible to salvation of all men on the condition that they believe, but that Christ’s death in itself did not actually secure or guarantee salvation for anyone (according to this Armenian view).

Since all will not be saved as the result of Christ’s redeeming work, a limit must be admitted. Either the atonement was limited in that it was DESIGNED TO SECURE salvation for certain sinners but not for others, or it was limited in that it was not intended to secure salvation for any, but it it was only to make it possible for God to pardon sinners on the condition they believe. As a theologian (Boettner) has said this is the difference of whether Christ’s death is a narrow bridge which goes all the way across the stream, or as the Armenians would say it is like a great wide bridge that only goes half way accross.

I have heard it put another way by a Preacher that salvation is like a coin. On one side is what Christ did for us on the cross and on the other side is our decision (our faith). This clearly states that Christ’s work on the cross is only worth 50% of our Salvation. This is a great error. Christ’s death does not only half way secure for us our salvation. His death on the cross is complete in obtaining salvation for those who are called of all nations and people. Our faith is a response that God gives us to respond to the complete atoning work of Christ. Jesus’ work on the cross is both sides of the coin!

If Christ’s atonement on the cross is complete then it is complete for those chosen by God the Father since before the foundation of the world. Some people will say that they are 4 point Calvinists; that they can not accept this point. Let me say to you there is no such thing as a 4 point Calvinist. You must accept all 5 points or there is no point at all. Each one is interconected and dependent to the others. Don’t be pointless in your faith in Christ!

Next time we will look at the biblical texts that lead us to the conclusion of redemption being limited to those elected.

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Why I Believe in Unconditional election Part II 2/8/2012
We have been discussing the Unconditional Election of God in respects to Salvation. It is imprtant to understand that Election is not salvation but “unto” salvation. Just as the President-elect does not become President until he is inaugurated. those chosen unto salvation are not saved until they are regenerated by the Spirit and justified by Faith in Christ.
Romans 11:7-”What then? Israel failed to obtain what it sought.” (The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardnened.)
II Timothy 2:10 “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which in Christ Jesus goes with eternal glory.”
Romans 16:7 (It is clear that we are not actually “in Christ” until our conversion.
It is also clear from scripture that it is not our will but God’s will that determined which sinners would be shown mercy and saved. Exodus 33:19; Deuteronomy 7: 6,7; Matt. 20:15; Romans 9″10-24; Romans 11:4-6; Romans 11:33-36; Ephesians 1:5.
It is also important to see the doctrine of election in light of a much broader Biblical doctrine of God’s absolute soverignty. The Lord God rules over heaven and earth with absolute control; nothing comes to pass apart from His eternal purpose. I Chronicles 29: 10-12; Job 42: 1,2; Psalm 115:3; Psalm 135:6; Isaiah 14:24,27; Isaiah 46:9-11; Isaiah 55:11; Jeremiah 32:17; Daniel 4:35; Matt. 19:26.
When we see how great and absolute God is in all things then we can get a glimpse of how God works in predestination and election.
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WHY I BELIEVE IN UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION  2/1/2012

The 2nd point of the’Doctrines of Grace is this: God’s choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own soverign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on whom he knew would freely give themselves to believe the Gospel. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom he selected. These acts (repentance, faith) are the result, not the cause of God’s choice. Election was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtue or act forseen in a person. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. So God’s choice of the sinner, not the sinner’s choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of Salvation.

Because of Adam’s sin, his descendants enter the world as guilty, lost sinners. As fallen people, they have no desire to have fellowship with the creator. He is holy, just and good while we are sinful, perverse and corrupt. Left to our own choices, we will follow the god of this world and do the will of our father the devil. Because of this we have cut ourselves from God and are God’s enemies. It would have been perfectly just for God to have left all men in their sin and misery and to have shown mercy to none. God was under no obligation whatsoever to provide salvation for anyone. It is in this context that the Bible sets forth the doctrine of election.

1. God has an elect people: Deut. 10: 14,15; Psalm 33:12 ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he has CHOSEN as his heritage’.; Psalm 65:4; Psalm 106:5; Matthew 11:27, ‘…no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son CHOOSES to reveal him.’; matt. 22:14 ‘For many are called but few are chosen’; Matt. 24: 22,24,31; Luke 18:7; Romans 8:28-30; Colossians 3:12; I Thess. 5:9; Titus 1:1; I Peter 1: 1,2; I Peter 2:8,9; Revelation 17:14

2. Before the foundation of the world, God chose particular individuals to salvation. His selection was not based on any foreseen response of act performed by those chosen. Faith and good works are the result , not the cause of God’s choice.

• God did the choosing.  Mark 13:20; I Thessalonians 1:4; II Thess. 2:13
• God’s choice was made before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4; II Timothy 1:9; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8
• God chose particular individuals to salvation-their names are written in the book of life before the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8
• God’s choice was not based on any forseen merit residing in those whom He chose. Romans 9:11-13; Romans 9:16; Romans 10:20; O Cor. 1:27-29; 2nd Timothy 1:9.
• Good works are the result, not the basis of predestination. Eph. 1:12; Eph. 2:10; John 15:6;
• God’s choice was not based on foreseen faith.  Acts 13:48; Acts 18:27; Philippians 1:29; Phillippians 2:12, 13; I Thess. 1:4,5; II Thess. 2:13,14; James 2:5.
• It is by faith and good works that we confirm our calling and election. II Peter 1:5-11;

More on the Election of God next time!  I encourage you to look up the verses and prayerfully consider this doctrine of grace.

 

 

WHY I BELIEVE THAT AS SINNERS WE ARE TOTALLY UNABLE TO FIND GOD ON OUR OWN 1/26/2012

In recent years I have rediscovered the “Dotrines of Grace” and these 5 points of this doctrine have become the foundation to how I preach, how I pray and how I give direction to the Church and even in how I counsel and pastor. They are the core of what I believe and what the Bible teaches about man and God and Christ and Grace.  Without this foundation we are weak and not rooted in the gospel and grace. In the coming weeks, I will be sharing the 5 doctrines of Grace (also called the 5 points of Calvinism) and why I believe in them.

The First teaching is that we are as humans totally inable to find God on ourselves because we are sinners. The Bible clearly teaches that our nature is corrupt, perverse, and sinful throughout. All that we are has been totally affected by sin.

As a result of this inborn corruption, we are spiritually bankrupt and we can do nothing pertaining to our salvation. When judged by our own standards, it is obvious that many people who are not believers have many admirable qualities and vitues but in the spiritual realm, when judged by God’s standards we are incapable of good. We are enslaved to sin, a child of Satan, rebelious toward God, blind to truth, corrupt and unable to save ourselves or to prepare ourselves for salvation. In short, outside the work of God in us, we are DEAD IN SIN, and our WILL IS ENSLAVED to our evil nature.

Because of the fall, when Adam sinned, the consequence is that our will is no longer free but in bondage to our sinful nature. As a result of Adam’s sin, we are born in sin and by nature are spiritually dead. If we are to become God’s children and enter His kingdom, we must be born anew of the Spirit.

Our only hope is God and what he has done for us through the cross of Christ. Colossians 2:13 says, “And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.”

David confessed that he, as well as all other men, was born in sin. (Psalms 51:5; 58:3).

Jesus taught that we must be born anew if we are to enter God’s kingdom. (John 3:5-7)

As a result of the fall, we are blind and deaf to spiritual truth. Our minds are darkened by sin; our hearts are corrupt and evil. (Gen.6:5;Gen. 8:21; Ecclesiastes 9:3; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21-23; John 3:19;Romans 8: 7,8;I Cor. 2:14; Eph. 4:17-19; Ephesians 5:8; Titus 1:15).

Only in Christ is our will freed from sin. That is the good news; that is the Gospel: that God found us and saved us through the work of Christ on the cross. When we consider our state of of wickedness and inability to find God, we see that it truly is Amazing Grace that saves a wretch like me!

 

They Will be as white as snow-01/12/2012

Today, we are not only having our first snowstorm but our first snow. It took all the way to January 12 for it to happen. That is incredible. As I look outside my window at all that is white, how different it looks from yesterday.

Of course, I can not help but think of the passage in Isaiah 1:18 “Though your sins be like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (ESV) and Psalm 51: 7, “Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow”. (ESV).

Both Isaiah and David are able to make these statements only as they look forward to the Cross of Christ. It is by the blood of Christ on the cross that we can claim these verses. Our sin is only as white as snow because Jesus paid for our sin by His death at Calvary. Jesus once and for all paid for all of our sins, past, present, future with his very blood. Only His red blood can make us white.

It is because of the cross that Paul could say in Romans 8:1 that “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”(ESV). As you look oustide your window, be reminded of the price that God himself paid to wash us white as snow.

Also think of all those outside your window that have not trusted in that Gospel. Pray for them and Pray for an opportunity to share the power of the cross with them. We can not wash ourselves no matter how good we are or how hard we try with ritual and good works. Christ has done the work we could not do and we can place our trust in Him and in Him alone. That is truly Amazing Grace!

The Incarnation-12/13/2011

John 1:14: “The word bacame flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as if the only Son from the father, full of grace and truth”

Colossians 1: 19,20- “For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and thru Him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of Christ.”

The incarnation is when Christ (fully God) came to earth (fully man) to save us from our sins.

This concept is very difficult for us in our human minds to get our hands around. I think it is impossible. This is a part of faith. Jesus was not half God and half man. Jesus did not come to earth as something he was not (not God). Jesus was fully God and fully man all wrapped up in one.

Jesus was God but he came to earth and submitted to being of this world. He was fully man. He experienced pain, being tired, being tempted, joy, anger, frustration just like we do but yet he did not sin. He was the perfect man. He was all man but yet all God right from the moment of conception.

Hebrews 2:10 ff says that Jesus came to partake of our flesh and blood so that he could know what it means to be human. That really means that in Christ, God experienced being human. He (v. 14) partook of the same things as us so that he could in His death destroy the power of devil and sin.  He could only do this as fully man but yet it would of had no power over our lives if he had not also been fully God.

The Incarnation is when the Fullness of God meets the fullness of Man.

Up next: Incarnation: What difference does it make?

 

 

We are continuing our series taking off from a blog on www.solidfoodmedia.com  by RW Glenn. I have taken his “Marks” of a Healthy Church and added my oun comments.

 

Marks of a Healthy Church  12/7/2011

5.  Church Discipline.  This is not simply “Church punishment” but should be encompassing of all the fromative work that we do as a Church to see that a person hears about Jesus, gets saved and grows in the grace of God in our lives. This is biblically called discipleship. Discipline and Discipleship are related. Disciplin comes out of training and modeling the Christ life. Church discipline happens when the l;eadership of the Church and the members of the Church are willing to turn one another back to Jesus in loving calls to repentance, through encouragement in suffering, and exhortations to grow in grace.

6. Mercy for the poor. I John 3:17 says that if we who have the woerld’s goods and behold our brotherin need and close our hearts against him, we don’t have the love of God in us. It is a test of how genuine our Christianity is that the church cares for her poor. More than that, our care for the poor, though it should be a priority for the believing community, should move beyond the church to the broader community. “let us do good to all people, especially those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

7. Concern for the Lost, evidenced by a Church committed to personal evangelism. And by “personal evangelism” I do not mean a church that has evangelistic programs, but that the people love their neighbors enough to tell them about Jesus. So look for a sincere interest in reaching the lost with the gospel of grace on the part of the pastors and the people in the pew, not as a progam but as a way of liofe and out of a heart for the lost.

Marks of a healthy Church-11/30/2012

3. Biblically Driven Public Worship  The basics of worship need to be present: public reading of scripture. exhortation and teaching from scripture, songs, prayers, the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Note that the style of music is not necessarily driven by a biblical teaching. Our worship of God is not dependent on organs, drums, bass guitars or any instrument at all. Our style of music in worship tends to become “consumer driven” rather than driven biblically. That can be true of much we find in the present day worship service. Are we more concerned with giving people what they want in sermons, music or are we truly concerned about glorifying God? Are we entertaining ourselves or are we gathered for the pleasure of God the Father? Are we lifting up a certain leader or are we lifting up Jesus Christ? Are we led by surveys and public opinion or by the Holy Spirit?

How about the lyrics of the songs we sing? So much is just 7 words said 11 times. If there is any doubt who we are speaking about in our songs then we are missing the mark. Our lyrics should exalt Jesus Christ and deepen our apprectiation for and understanding of the gospel of grace. Our worship as well as our preaching should be cross centered. There may be a place for “I Love you Lord” but if in general the content of our songs for public worship are shallow, then we should be concerned about the health of our worship. I want to say here that I commend those who have been leading our worship in the last few months. Issac and Vi have been leading the most and God has been working in them and using them to lead us not only in worhip but doing it with substance and in humility. Thank you all for putting Christ first!

4. Biblical Leadership.  This is actually a “mark” I am adding. In the last few months I have become convinced that the health of the local church is directly related to the strength of the leadership, mainly having strong Elders who see themselves not as “board elders” who just validate the Pastor but who see themselves as pastors, shepherds responsible for the sheep. There is no where in the bible that we see “The Pastor” as most churches have put in place. The bible is very clear that the Elders are plural and work together. The Preaching Pastor is to be seen as a first among equals. The Pastor should never be the head but one of the elders as a peer; not below or above but equal. Christ is the Shepherd and the elders are under-shepherds of Christ.  A church that realizes that it is not about democracy but about submitting to the Elders as they submit to Christ and all of us seeking to follow the will of God as revealed in His Word, will be a healthy Church. Without biblical leadership a church that is growing is simply gowing up but not growing deep and strong. A healthy Church is not measured by the numbers of people but by the maturity of the Leaders and the consistent spiritual growth of the flock.

To be continued!

RW Glenn on his blog for 10/31/11 at www.solidfoodmedia.com shared 7 “marks” of a healthy and effective Church. As the Search committee is looking at where we are at in our Church health, I thought this would be a good time to share these “marks” and make some comments of my own.

Marks of a Healthy Church

1.  Clarity on the gospel of grace.  There are many false and weak gospels out there that imply that you can work off your sin and debt to God on your own with right behavior and good deeds. For the Gospel to be complete, there needs to be both comfort and the call of the Gospel. Jesus said to the woman caught in adultry, “I do not condemn you”, but he also said “Go and sin no more”. A work of grace and a removal of condemnation comes before the call to obedience. Both are necessary for the Church to be preaching the Gospel. I believe in what the early reformers called “The Doctrines of Grace”. The healthy Church proclaims the whole truth of Grace: The Soverignty and the free election of God; the total depravity of man; the irreistiable grace and call of God, the complete work of Christ saving the elect from their sins, the perservance of the saints (Those who are saved will persevere to the end; those who persevere to the end are saved).  Only in these doctines do we find clarity of the gospel.

2.  Christ-centered Preaching. I truly believe that the best preaching is expository preaching. That is preaching that takes a text from scripture and works thru it verse by verse. Instead of lots of nice stories and examples, let the word of God explained work on our thoughts and hearts. This is best done by taking a book and working thru the book. That is why we have been going thru I Corinthians. Although we are taking a break for a few weeks from I Corinthians, we will still be looking at a passage and working thru it. Christ Centered preaching is more than expository preaching. It is seeing Christ and the Cross in every passage even the Old Testament. It is always about preaching Christ and the cross. Someone has said that if you are hearing a sermon from the Old testament and if the preacher would not be thrown out of synagogue for preaching it, then the preacher is not preaching Christ. Expository preaching should be the means  by which we get to Jesus. It is the means, not the end of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.

Next time we will continue to look at the characteristics of a healthy Church. I would love to discuss these “marks” with anyone who would like to discuss them!

 

Here is a an old Blog of John Piper’s that I thought was worth sharing.  11/4/2011

My Happy Confession of Having No Merit

byJohn Piper|August

Topic: Pride & Humility

 

 

 

 

 

Tim Tebow and public displays of Commitment to Christ 11/1/11

There has been alot of commotion lately about Tim Tebow and his habit of kneeling in the endzone. This past week many members of Denver’s opposing team mocked his habit. One thing that is puzzling to me is why now? This is not a new habit on Tebow’s part. It is also not new to strut and call attention to oneself in the end zone. This is done all the time not out of humility or thankfulness to a creator who has given the ability to run and play sports but as an arrogant in your face, look at me kind of statement.

There is alot of discussion on why Tebow does this. Some are saying it is “Pharisaical” and he is doing it for PR and for show. I suppose that this motive is possible especially if there was nothing in his life that was consistent with kneeling in the end zone.

The truth is that Tebow is willing to make alot of unpopular statements concerning his commitment to Christ and to human life. His lifestyle is consistent with kneeling in the end field. Not only what he says, but Tebow lives his life in a consistent manner that portrays his commitment to Jesus Christ. He has repeatedly spoke up for the unborn and in every aspect of his life, shown thankfulness to God for all that God has given him. His kneeling seems to me be a response of humble thankfulness to God not a pompous arrogance show of selfish pride.

How humbly are we walking with our God? Do our words and  actions line up with a life of thankfulness and commitment to Jesus Christ?

Reformation Sunday 10/28/2011

This Sunday is Reformation Sunday and is celebrated all over the world by protestants. In the last couple of years I have devoted myself to the writings of many great reformers as well as their biographies. I have especially enjoyed the writings of John Calvin and his commentaries. They are written like they were written today with great clarity and insight. I have also enjoyed a new found appreciation for the writings and life of Martin Luther. What really sticks out to me about both men is their unwavering committment to the Bible as God’s Word. Martin Luther’s proclaiming of salvation by Grace alone through Faith alone in Christ alone should be our proclamation always. John Calvin’s teaching of the sufficiency of the Cross and the soverignty of God should also be our guide.

Here are a couple of good videos to watch for Reformation Sunday.

reformation polka

Luther: at Diet of Worms

 

 

The Wild Animals Outside My Window (10/25/2011)

Genesis 4: 7:  “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and it’s desire is for you, but you must master it.” 

Can you imagine? Looking out your window and seeing 5 tigers strolling by, a monkey hanging from a tree, a baboon sitting across the street. That is kind of what it was like last week in a community in Ohio. 57 wild animals were freed and running about the neighborhood. Sadly, most of the wild animals were shot because of the danger to people in the area. The whole ordeal was scarry and tragic.

In Genesis 4:7, God is speaking to Cain and tells him that sin, like a wild animal was crouching outside of his door waiting to devour. How often do we really see sin in these terms? We tend to see sin as attractive, pleasurable, enjoyable. We see God and the Bible as killjoys of those thing we enjoy. As attractive and as beautiful as sin can seem, there is a wild, dangerous, threatening aspect to sin. Sin is destructive. Sin destroys relationships between friends, husbands and wives and between ourselves and God. Sin can lead us to agony and regret in this world and lead to complete destruction to hell in the next world.  We need to see Sin as crouching at our door, ready to devour us.

Who can rescue us from such an utterly devasting end? Thanks be to God in Christ (Romans 6:17). Only the work of Christ on the cross can free us from the destructiveness of sin. He paid the price that I could not pay, I owed a debt He did not owe. I needed someone to take my sins away. Thank you Jesus for taking my sins so I can be free to choose to repent and believe in you!

 

 

Being The Church Outside My Window (10/11/2011)

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost it’s taste, how can it’s saltiness be restored?…You are the light of the world. A city on a hill can not be hidden.” Matthew 5: 13,14 (ESV).

Outside my window I see the Church. No, not the church building because I am inside looking out but outside of my window the church is visible. On Monday you might find the Church volunteering or meeting for bible study and encouragement at one of the restaurants. On Tuesday, you may find the Church helping others, ar attending a bible class, or coaching an ‘Upperward Football” team practice. On Wednesday, you may find the Church inviting  and picking up kids to go to Awanas and the Church volunteering to listen to memory work, teach and share their lives with children. Some of those children will form their impression of the Church and of Christ simply based on what they see on Wednesday nights.  On Thursdays we see the Church praying for our outreach ministry to the Truth Singers. In the evening we find the Church gathered to worship as the truth singers gather to praise God and to learn about the gospel. On Friday, we might find the Church in a bible study of women gathering in a home. On Saturday, now we will find the Church at Westbrook Park, coaching and leading in the Upweard Football Ministry and sharing in testimony to the parents and grandparents that are in attendance. On Sunday,  just one of the days of the week, we will find the Church inside my window for worship and study and youth ministry.

The Church outside my window on Monday thru Saturday is just as real as the Church on the inside the building on Sunday. There is an impact that we can have as we work, go to school, reach out to our neighbors, help those in need and share the love and the Gospel of Christ with those in our lives during the week. The Church scattered is still the Church. We can not be the salt of our community or the light without getting out of the building and living with those who are deparately in need of Jesus and His saving grace.

I have a friend who is a pastor and he is starting a Church plant in Davenport. Two important things about this ministry. First of all, it is missional. All involved in this plant are missionaries 24/7. Every part of their lives is about reaching and discipling people for Christ, Another important thing is that they are intentionally working on building their church not from Christians that seem to drift from one Church to another looking for the next latest and greatest thing. Their desire and intention is to build their Church by discipling the undiscipled, reaching the lost and not sheep swapping. That is what being the Church scattered is all about, being missional in purpose and reaching the lost intentionally.

Let’s be the Church along with this new plant and be missionl and intentional in reaching the lost for Christ!  Be the Church outside my window!

 Outside My Window 10/1/2011

I thought long and hard about what would be the best name to call my new blog. I went through several names and one day while I was looking outside my window, deep in thought I came up with the best name. Since I have been occupying the office at the church, one of my favorite corners of my office is the window that looks out at the City of DeWitt. I spend time each day looking out the window and praying for our community. I try to imagine the lives that are being lived just a little ways outside my window. These are lives that need the ministry of Jesus not really that much different than the people that Jesus touched in the gospels.

There are people who are living lives and are tired and lifeless by the choices they have made in their lives not unlike the Woman at the Well in John 4.

There are religious people that have their traditions and rituals but yet their faith is lifeless and without power not unlike Niccodemus who comes to Jesus at night and Jesus challenges him to be born again in John 3.

There are parents who are concerned about their children and desparate for a touch on their lives like Jairus in Luke 8.

There are people looking for a political answer to all their problems not unlike the Zealots in the gospels who misunderstood the kingdom of Christ.

There are people hurt and broken in need of hearing the words of Christ as well as people who are going about their days unaware of their need of a savior and of the need for forgiveness, grace and mercy not unlike those who Jesus came into contact in the Gospels.

These people who live outside of my window are people that Christ died for and God has called you and me to minister to and to share the gospel with. They are our families, friend and neighbors. They are the mission field that has been given to this Church.

In the weeks to come I will be sharing thoughts that would be of interest to those people as well as to us who are attempting to reach them for Christ. I am looking forward to sharing with you thoughts as I look outside my window.