Exceling in the Grace of Giving

We've been in the midst of a three week sermon series on the grace of giving from 2nd Corinthians 8-9. As a pastor, I am always a little leery of the issue of money, simply because I know that for many people the church appears to always have its hand out. That's not what church is about. Church is about being transformed into the image of Christ. And that is going affect our lifestyle...and our pocketbook.

That's why during this series I have been talking about the bedrock principle that we are to give ourselves...everything we are and have...to the Lord. Our lifestyles will then reflect our relationship with God. In a very real way we are all called "full-time" into ministry and "full-time" into stewardship. Each of us has a different destiny to fulfill. For some it will be sharing Christ in the workplace. For others it will be focusing on the home. Still others are in the challenging years of attending school. Wherever you are, you are called into full-time ministry.

At the same time, God has entrusted each of us with material possessions. We are all full-time managers of what God's possessions and will be held accountable for how we use them. This week we'll be finishing the series by looking at 5 principles of giving. I'm finding it personally challenging and am having a wonderful time meditating on what God says here in 2nd Corinthians. I'm looking forward to sharing the fruits of that study with you on Sunday. See you there!

A Sermonless Sunday

Almost every week of the year I spend a great deal of my time preparing a sermon. This week Tim Maki will be preaching and sharing his vision of a new church in Hibbing. So what do I do on weeks that I am not preaching? Is it a vacation week?

No.

A week that I am not preaching is a refreshing break from the routine. That's something we all need. I wouldn't call it a vacation though. I use my time to try to catch up on things that have been neglected and to try to get a head start on the coming weeks. Right now that means getting ready for Vision Day and the Annual Meeting. It also seems like the weeks that I don't preach wind up being busy with counseling and family obligations.

One thing I've noticed this week is that I find myself praying for Tim pretty regularly, but praying for myself even more. I am praying that Tim has a keen sense of what he is supposed to share on Sunday and that he is truly led by the Spirit.

One reason I'm blogging about this is that I want to encourage us to pray along the same lines every week. I know that I can tell when people are praying for me during the week as I prepare for Sunday morning. I covet people praying for me!

I have also been praying for myself, that I might really hear what God wants to say to me this Sunday. I have to confess that before I became a pastor there were many Sundays that I didn't really listen. My focus was on other things. I think I probably missed alot. So I'm praying for myself, that I would be open to what God wants to say to me. Perhaps that will be the key thought of the sermon, but it could be found in a song we sing, a prayer that's prayed or comment from a friend. Whatever it is, I believe that God wants to speak to me.

The other reason I'm blogging about a Sermonless Sunday is that I want to encourage us to pray for ourselves and one another that we would have a hunger for what God wants to say to us each week. Let's arrive hungry and leave filled to overflowing with something to share!

The Judgment Seat

As a pastor, one of the things that I am committed to is the systematic teaching of God's Word. Over the years I have found that this provides a balanced diet for the people of the congregation. There is no temptation to dress up the same six sermons in different clothes or to preach on my favorite themes over and over again. It causes us to deal with difficult issues and hopefully I stay true to the Bible.

Sometimes, though, it can make for some interesting moments for people who are visiting the church. This coming weekend is no exception. There will be people in town for Christmas, but as we work our way through 2 Corinthians we find ourselves in chapter 5 verse 10:

We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

That's not what most people are expecting to hear two days before Christmas! At the same time, it is a passage that is incredibly real to me right now. Last night Celinda Johnson, who had recently started attending our church, was killed in an accident not far from our house. Earlier this week I was stopped in traffic on 169 while officers cleaned up after a head-on collision. Earlier this month I blogged about almost sliding into 169 after picking up one of the boys from basketball practice.

The truth is you never know when your days will come to an end. Hebrews 9:27 says that "it is given man once to die and after that to face judgment." Everyone needs to be ready for that day...our "day in court."

I also know that most people will not think about what might happen. To cause people to think about their day of judgment takes an act of God. John 16:8 says that the Holy Spirit will "convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment." That's what I'm praying for this Sunday: that the Holy Spirit will convict people and apply a "pre-test" to let them know where they are standing now in light of that day.

Take time to read 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 and 1 John 5:11-13 and pray that people would be ready for that awesome day when they stand before Him.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

One of the things that I am constantly aware of as I study 2nd Corinthians is that Paul's perspective on life is radically different than mine tends to be. His is healthier. His is sustainable.

For example, Paul talks about the ministry in terms that make some sense to me. He calls us the "aroma of Christ" and says that we "reflect the Lord's glory." It is easy for me to think about trying to "shine my light" when things are going well.

But then Paul talks about having this treasure in "jars of clay" (2 Corinthians 4:7). That the weakness, troubles and problems of life are part of the deal. In fact, sometimes the trials come so that it can be more plainly seen that it is God who is working in our lives. The confidence we have knowing that God is in control dazzles people without Him. When tragedy strikes and we truly find our comfort in God, his presence shines through us. When the job is lost and we rely on God for our provision and he meets our needs, his hand is most clearly seen.

Sometimes people wonder why the difficulties of life come their way. Could it be that in the midst of the the troubles God wants to shine our light the brightest? No one notices the light of the lighthouse during the day. But when the wind is howling and darkness has fallen, then the light penetrates the darkness and points the way home. Could the storms of life be designed by God so that your light will have the greatest impact?

I'm not saying that God wants us to suffer, rather that in the final scheme of things the suffering that we go through here is momentary in comparison to the joys of eternity. Could it be that God allows us to go through trials in part so that others may see that He is at work in our lives? When the trials come, isn't it best for us to continue to look to Him...and to let others see that we have an "invisible means of support"? Sure it is.

Thinking this way helps me deal with the troubles that come my way. I try to look at the problems and pray, "Lord, let me shine for you through this." And usually he helps me to keep bobbing on the surface of the water during the storm. Sometimes, though, it feels like I'm going under and I wonder what's going on. In Paul's terms I feel "hard pressed and perplexed" (2 Corinthians 4:8). In the midst of it though, God truly is in control. I'm learning that I can trust in him. And even when I'm wondering where He is and feel like I am going under He is using me to shine His light to others.

The Aroma of Christ

Wow, its been a while since I've posted. Perhaps its time to get the internet at church so I don't have so much competition for the computer.

The last couple of Sundays we've been studying 2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6. We've talked about being the aroma of Christ and the fact that God uses us to spread the fragrance of life to those who are being saved. Last week we talked about being involved in a spiritual ministry. True ministry consists not in attempting to get people to behave by following rules, but in being used by God to help transform the human heart. We are competent for this type of ministry only because of our relationship with Christ. It is obedience to Him that allows us to be competent to minister to others.

I was thinking about the disciples this morning. They had spent three years with Jesus. They heard the teachings, saw the miracles and watched Jesus up close. They were blown away by the resurrection and spent time with Him before he went back to heaven.

They certainly knew enough about Jesus to teach a Sunday School class or lead a Bible Study! But Jesus had an important message for them. He told them to wait in Jerusalem until they had been baptized by the Holy Spirit and that this Holy Spirit would empower them to be witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:4-8).

Why was this necessary? They knew enough to teach others, but they were told to wait for the Holy Spirit. As we read the book of Acts, we see that the disciples were led by the Spirit in their ministry. Being "led by the Spirit" is not a blanket phrase to cover all that is done in the name of Christ, rather it is a description of how they did ministry. They waited on and followed the directives of the Holy Spirit as they sought to spread the gospel. This was a key for their ministry.

How much more do we need to be Spirit-led in all we do! Yet many are unfamiliar with the ministry of the Holy Spirit in their own lives. Let us all take time to examine our lives regarding whether we know the Holy Spirit by experience. If we don't, let us ask God to fill us with His Spirit that we might be truly led by the Spirit.

2 Corinthians Begins...

This week we start a new sermon series. As most of you know, when we start going through a book we are going to be at it for a while, so its a pretty big decision. I spend alot of time praying and seeking God for a sense of direction. As I've done that this time around I've found myself settling on 2nd Corinthians.

Why this book?

To begin with, I have to say that each book we've gone through has been a bit of an adventure for me. I've started with a sense of what God wanted to teach us, but have been amazed at the direction He takes us as we study the book together. The work He does is always far beyond anything I could have planned. It always blows me away when the text we are looking it on a particular Sunday matches either what we are going through as a church or what someone is dealing with in their life at the moment. So when I look at the the "reasons for doing a particular book" I have to admit that I don't have much of a clue what God is going to do when we start.

At the same time, 2 Corinthians has a lot of stuff that's pretty relevant for where we are at these days.

• Paul shares his passion for sharing the gospel...and isn't afraid to talk about the cost.
• Paul calls people to an undivided walk with Jesus.
• Paul talks about generosity and its rewards.
• Paul shares details of the spiritual battles he's been through and is currently fighting.
• Paul reminds us that it is when we are weak that God's strength shines strongest.
• Paul teaches about the importance of personal integrity.
• Paul talks about the love that binds us together as a church.

I could go on, but would rather encourage you to read through 2 Corinthians on your own. It's a great book and I can't wait to dig in!

Keeping Focused in a Mixed Up World

The BWCA is one of my favorite places. It is great to get away from the crowds and spend some time in the beauty of the creation. One of the things that I have learned (and relearned) is the importance of using a compass and a map. Sitting low in the water it can be difficult to determine just where you are. On a cloudy day it can be maddening to keep your sense of direction. In fact, most people discover they don't have one.

That's where the compass comes proves itself to be indispensable. By carefully studying the map and the compass, you can pick a point and head there, confident that you are going the right way. Mistrust your map, or your compass, and you will quickly become lost. Actually, I've never been lost, but I've taken a number of detours as I searched for the right way. I like to call them short cuts.

Psalm 73 is a psalm that talks about the disorientation that can occur when we take our eyes off of God. Suddenly the world around us appears alluring and we begin to wonder if following God is "worth it."

This week we will look at the importance of allowing God to be our compass and map as we navigate the wilderness of life.

Create in Me a Clean Heart

This week we are looking at a powerful Psalm of repentance...Psalm 51. This psalm is written by David after he had committed ery with Bathsheba. It was a sin that he thought he had "gotten away with." Perhaps he thought that no one knew about it. I think it is more likely that he believed that he was "man enough" to handle the situation without consequences, much like a person takes up smoking and believes that it won't hurt them. It took the prophet Nathan to expose his sin and bring him to his knees in repentance.

When we lived in Chicago we attended a church that would occasionally have guest speakers come in for a weekend of ministry. One of the men that would come had a prophetic gifting. When he prayed for people God would often reveal things to him. Normally these things would insights into a person's situation that would give the person a sense of hope or direction, but sometimes there would be a revelation of hidden sin. It would be a powerful time of ministry that brought great healing and cleansing in a person's life.

As I look back on it, I can remember that I attended those meetings with anticipation and fear. Before I went, I would always spend time searching my heart to see if there was an area of sin in my life that I was hiding. The threat that my sin would be exposed led me to repentance. It was like going on a diet before the doctor's appointment.

The writer of Hebrews speaks of throwing off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles (Heb 12:1). I sometimes wonder how much sin we tolerate in our lives. Do we really think that sin is no big deal? That's what David thought.

He learned that sin had consequences. When he faced his sin and saw its horror, he repented. He asked God for mercy, cleansing and renewal. He discovered that when he repented, God forgave. He found joy and his relationship with God moved to an entirely deeper level.

What about us? Do we think that we can live with sin and avoid its consequences? If a Nathan came to church this Sunday what would he say about us?

Before you come to church this week, take time to read Psalm 51 and ask the Lord to search your heart. Get right with him.

Up, Down, North, South, East or West

When we were first married, Janet and I went to a Keith Green memorial concert. I was stunned to find a friend of mine there. We had grown up a few houses away from each other. When we got to high school, we ran with different circles of people. He was definitely into the party/drug scene, while I hung out with my friends from the youth group. I had never shared the gospel with him. I figured that there was no way he would be interested. Frankly, I was afraid of what his reaction might be if I had brought up church or the Lord. As far as I could tell, he was a "lost cause."

I hadn't seen him since I had gone off to college, and now here he was telling me that not only had he become a Christian, but he was heading off to the mission field!

It was one of the first times I had really understood that this whole evangelism thing is not so much about me sharing the gospel as it is the fact that God is at work around us. In fact, I believe that one of the biggest reasons that we hesitate to share the gospel is that we don't see the big picture. We forget that God is at work in the lives of the people around us. He is the one convicting of sin, revealing the gospel and drawing people to himself. We are simply an important part of the process.

This week we are going to look at Psalm 107 (find it here). This psalm helps us see that the Lord is working in lives in order to establish a relationship with them. He is in charge of their circumstances, bringing them to a place of acknowledging him. He is working to become their salvation and redemption. Some of the people are now caught up in pursuing money, others are in bondage to drugs or alcohol, still others are openly scoffing at the idea of God. The Lord wants us to know that He is working in their lives. He is preparing them so that they will be open to hearing the gospel.

Your friends are not lost causes. God has undoubtedly orchestrated your friendship so that your life can be a constant witness to your friend. The Lord is going to give you windows of opportunity to share your faith and the message of the gospel. God is at work...and he wants to use us.

Isn't that a thrill?

A Blessed Life or the Life of the Blessed?

This week we are going to be looking at Psalm 103. Let me encourage you to spend some time reading through and thinking about this psalm. (Find it here). As you do, you will notice that David spends a lot of time talking about the things that God has done for us. You might want to take a piece of paper and list all of the things that David mentions. For example, God forgives, God heals, God redeems, etc. You can add to the list examples of the things that God has done in your own life.

Without a doubt, you will have quite a list. A list like that can lift your spirit, encourage you and get your eyes off of the problems that you might be facing today. Focusing on the good things you've experienced helps you look on the sunny side of life. Things aren't as bad as you were thinking they were. After all, when you look at the list, you have to admit that you are living a blessed life. (If you are struggling with that, let me encourage you to look at the post "Rich? Me? Couldn't Be!").

Most people stop there. After considering their good luck, they smile and think, "I am so fortunate to have experienced all of these blessings."

But let's go a step further than that by recognizing that the every one of the blessings we experience flow from throne of God. His love for us overflows into the blessings we experience. Some blessings are physical like a gorgeous day. Other blessings are relational like friends and family. Still other blessings are internal like endurance, patience and peace. Each of these blessings flows from God into our lives because he loves and cares for us.

Read that last sentence again and ponder the fact that the King of the Universe has stretched out his hand and chosen to bless you because he loves and cares for you. You are not simply living a blessed life...you are living the life of the Blessed. The King looks at you and calls you "My Blessed One."

You see, the blessings we experience are best experienced in the depths of a relationship with the King. Let me encourage you to ask him to open your eyes to the blessings he is pouring out all around you. And as you begin to see them praise Him for who he is, thank him for his love for you and express your love back to him.

The Psalmist's Greatest Hits

This week we are starting a new sermon series that will be a little different than what we have done in the past. Instead of working our way through a book of the Bible, we are going to do a "Greatest Hits" series on the book of Psalms. As with any compilation, your favorite psalm may be missing from the mix, but that's the way it goes.

Sunday we are going to be looking at a psalm of incredible depth and beauty...Psalm 19. I am having a hard time getting past the first verse:

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the works of his hands."

We've all stood out on a cold winter's night and stared in awe at the stars. Those who live up here in the north country are regularly overwhelmed by the northern lights. These things shout about who God is...his power, his majesty, his creativity and his desire to be known.

Consider the vastness of space for a moment. Where does "space" end? I don't think it does. Why would an infinite, all-powerful God create something that has a limit? Remember, the heavens declare the glory of God and according to Romans 1:20 God's "invisible qualities" (like his divine power and eternal nature) can be clearly seen in the creation.

During our bi-annual play "The Northwoods Revue" I talk about how many guys say that they feel closest to God in a deer stand. That's not surprising. The created world can tell us much about the Lord if we open our eyes to see it. The creation bears witness to him. His fingerprints are everywhere.

I think we need to use the word "creation" more. Words have power that change the way we think about things. "Nature" is a neutral word while creation implies a creator. We give up too much by agreeing to refer to the world around us as "nature". Scientists study the creation. There is a divine order to the world around us that forms the basis for scientific study. In the last 200 years scientists forgot that...seeking to be "modern" and "scientific". But today increasing numbers of scientists are coming to the conclusion that the creation around them could not just have happened by chance. Instead, the scientists (many of whom have no religious agenda) are declaring that the best explanation for the data that they are encountering is the existence of some intelligent designer who "made it this way." Their studies are coming full circle. They are discovering that the order that they see around them displays the handiwork of God.

In the words of the late Francis Schaeffer, "God is there, and He is not silent" or as David put it, "The heavens declare the glory of God."

Karl

Rich? Me? Couldn't Be!

We're getting to the end of our study in 1 Timothy. Paul has some instructions for those who are "rich in this present world." Do you know any wealthy people? How do you decide who is wealthy? Just who does those who are "rich in this present world" include?

My definition has always been to take my bank account balance, add a zero to the end of it and that number is the bottom rung of the "rich" ladder.

What's your definition? I'd love to know!

While you're thinking about it, you might want to check out the link below. It'll blow your mind!

www.globalrichlist.com

Karl

Living in a Materialistic World

"...but godliness with contentment is great gain..."
"...if we have food and clothing we will be content with that..."
"...the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil..."

The meaning of these words from 1 Timothy 6 is clear and echoes the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:24, "you cannot serve God and money." The Lord is calling us to be devoted to him rather than to the things of this world. Could it be that we have not taken these words to heart?

We live in a country that is slipping further and further away from God. The fault lies at the door of the church. Is it because we have compromised here, at the point of where our devotion lies? How many of us can say that we are content if we just have food and clothing?

As I prepare for Sunday's message, it strikes me that some radical surgery may need to be done in our lives if we are to apply these words to our lives. Is it enough to say "I love God" if our lives show that we are governed by the bottom line? What are the implications for the business owner, the union worker or the retiree?

I believe that we really need to allow the Lord to work in our hearts on this one. Are we really willing to serve him if it costs us in our standard of living? Are we willing to give it all away? Are we willing to become living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2)?

Am I? Are you?