Live According to Your Theology

I have been preaching through Philippians. In 4:6 of this book it says, “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God.” I have quoted this verse my whole life and even counseled people with this verse. In my study I was overwhelmed by what Mark Driscoll said in commentating on this verse. He said that many of us live according to our anxiety. We are slaves to the worry associated to the various trials of life. Is there going to be enough money this week to buy groceries? How am I going to pay for the car? Why can’t we have kids? Why do these kids stress me out like this? He commented that the reason we are anxious is because we do not live according to our theology.

I challenge you – do you serve a sovereign God? Do you believe he is in control? Do you believe he will take care of you? In thinking about this statement, I believe the greatest freedom from worry and anxiety is to (as Driscoll states)… live according to our theology. If you believe (I hope you do) that God is just, faithful and loving and sovereign then I encourage you to live like it. Don’t live according to your anxiety – Live according to your theology.

Calvinism and Free Will

The Calvinism and Free Will debate has been around for a long time. It is a hot button among many evangelical churches. The debate has gotten so hot it has caused a split in many churches.

I am not a Calvinist. I am comfortable with this. However, I am not comfortable with evangelical churches fighting over these issues and neglecting their responsibility to serve Christ passionately and boldly.

Brad Ferguson, Pastor at Tega Cay Baptist Church in Tega Cay, SC has written 4 blog posts on this issue. Specifically, how both sides can serve together, agreeing to disagree, and focus on what unites us than what divides. Check our Brad’s post here.

GET ME IN THE BOAT NOW!

I love white water rafting. It is an incredible rush, a great view of God’s creation, and good time with friends. Recently, some guys from The Creek and I went rafting down the Nolichucky river in western NC and eastern TN.  I rafted this river 13 years ago and it was not much fun. The water level was so low at one point we had to stop, pick up our boats and walk to the faster moving water. However, that was not the case this time.  

Rafting was scheduled for Friday. We arrived on Thursday and after getting settled in, the skies opened up and dumped 6 inches of rain on us. Local schools were closed due to washed out roads, the river was roaring and were going rafting. Actually, truth be told, the guides who checked the level of the river “fudged” some so we could raft. Thanks guys.

Our guide was a rafting veteran of 31 years who lived in a school bus “down by the river. “ His name was Jed. The rapids were fast and furious and unrelenting the first 2.5 hours. Just before lunch, after coming through a furious stretch, I saw Jed fly about 6 feet out of the raft into the furor of the Nolichucky along with our lunch bag.

We got Jed up to the boat to pull him in and he yelled, “GET ME IN THE BOAT NOW!” He was lifted into the boat coughing from the water he swallowed and in time for another challenging wave of rapids. He said, “I yelled at you guys to get me in the boat because I knew what was ahead.”

This situation made me think of the sovereign God of the universe that knows what is ahead. He guides us, molds us, leads us, and sometimes yells (not audibly) because He knows what is ahead. Jed said, “I did not want to get stuck in that next rapid. It is a nasty one.” He also did not want a bunch of inexperienced guys to go into the unknown waves with out a guide.

I challenge you to “GET IN THE BOAT NOW” of God’s grace. He knows what is ahead of you and desires for you to surrender your life to him so he can guide you.

The DIRECTION you take DETERMINES your DESTINATION

The Chesapeake Tunnel in Virginia is made of a lot of concrete. My grandfather helped build this underwater tunnel and growing up I thought it was great going in the tunnel. The thought of going underwater was fascinating to me. I would tell my sister we were going underwater and she had to hold her breath. She would try to do it for the whole time.

I remember driving with my dad and brother through the tunnel one night late and getting a flat tire. We could see the exit. My dad got out of the car and changed the tire, and shortly we were back on our way out of the tunnel.

In Philippians, Paul encourages us in 3:14, “To press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” I believe this verse and verse 20 are talking about the sanctification and glorification part of our salvation. Paul was reminding us to walk through life and remember this is not our home. We are citizens of heaven. 

You may be in a tunnel  – your marriage is hurting, your kids are acting up, your finances are a mess, and your job is not going well. I am so encouraged by Paul’s admonition in this section of Philippians to remember your destination.

I think it is best stated this way – THE DIRECTION YOU TAKE DETERMINES YOUR DESTINATION. Don’t take you eyes off of the destination waiting you. You may go though a tunnel and get a “flat” tire, but keep your eyes fixed on the prize.

Mid-Sermon Escapes

What is it like to plant a church and prepare sermons every week? I can tell you the sermon prep part is hard work. I love preaching. However, grinding over the text is hard word and sometimes I need a break. Here are my favorite mid-sermon prep escapes:

1. Check my email. I am a fanatic about readying my email and getting back to people quickly. I have the little bell notifying me of an incoming message but I even check when I don’t hear the bell.
2. Checking my Fantasy Baseball Team. I have played Fantasy Baseball with 9 other guys I went to college with for the past 7 years. We go away the first week of March every year and draft out teams, tell stories, play flag football, and laugh at each other. In 7 years my record is 33 wins and 88 loses. I am terrible and think each year is my year.
3. Yes – The other FB. I check Facebook.

These are my mindless musings of mid-sermon escapes.

Ambition

We had a great family day Saturday, May 9th. We were looking at the ducks at the park and noticed a hungry copperhead. Ambitious isn’t he?

 

DA CUBS

 

 

 

 I was able to attend the Gospel Coalition Conference last week in Chicago. The Cubs were playing the Reds while we were there. I have been to Fenway Park (several times), the Old Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium (Mets old place) and now the historic home of the Cubs – Wrigley Field. Still routing for the Red Sox but had a great time with Dana.

The Hope for RDU

The Summit Church in Durham started an outreach/service ministry called Hope for Durham a couple of years ago. The goal of this ministry was to have their members serving the residents of their target area with the purpose of sharing and showing them the love of Christ. They painted a school one year for the city of Durham.

Just last year they changed the name from HOPE FOR Durham to HOPE FOR RDU. They are inviting other churches to set aside a week – July 5-12 – to serve and love their community. The interest from churches all over RDU has been great.

We, The Creek Church, will partner with this movement to serve and love our part of RDU. Check out this site to see more info about Hope for RDU.

The Gospel Coalition

The Gospel Coalition was held last week in Chicago. I was able to attend with my wife and two other couples. We had a great time. Here are the highlights in random order:

1.    The Gospel is good news and sufficient. I was reminded and renewed in the emphasis on expository preaching and the cross of Christ.

2.    John Piper said, “Don’t hover over the text. Land in the text. Most of you are hovering and never land.” I was so encouraged by this exhortation/rebuke.

3.    Giordano’s – Chicago’s deep-dish pizza is all that and then some.

4.    Wrigley Field was awesome – I have been to Fenway, The old Yankee stadium and Wrigley. Cubs got killed but it was great.

5.    Of the 4000 people in attendance there many were under 40 years old. I love this stat. My generation is seeing it is not about entertainment but the GOSPEL.

6.    There are different ways to preach expository messages. It was a blessing to see the same commitment lived out in different ways. I still (sorry, J. Edwards) don’t believe reading the sermon is the best way to communicate.

7.    I loved being in Chicago with my wife and friends.

 

I was reminded of the centrality of the Gospel and the reliance upon the Holy Spirit (not the commentaries) to reveal the meaning of the text. It was refreshing and encouraging. I was so encouraged by the challenges given were actual things we as a new church are doing (expository preaching and just reading the bible as apart of the worship set).

The Gospel is sufficient. 

The Creek Church- Part 5

Before I get to Part 5,  let me digress……I have been asked by many how many did you have in attendance on Easter Sunday? My answer to this question is ONE. That is right… ONE.

Numbers are great. I have no idea how many guests we had (I am very interested in this stat) or the total in attendance (again, very interested). I am flying high over the ONE lady who accepted Jesus on Sunday morning. She has been coming to our church for almost a year. In September 2008, she sat on my couch and told my wife and I that God could not love her. This last Sunday – and all the Sundays that led to this one – she was loved by people of The Creek and taught the love, grace, and forgiveness of Jesus. Here is what she said this week after giving her life to Jesus:

Thank you so much for being patient, and a wonderful teacher.  Through

you, and my friends at the Creek, I realized I do not have to be afraid

of anything.  I was holding back for months out of fear of letting God

down.  I am human; I know I will have my shortcomings.  Through this, I

want to be a better mom, wife and Christian.  I have learned that if I

forgive myself, and let God take control, he will NEVER ever steer me

wrong.  I feel as if the weight of the world has been lifted off me, and

I am not afraid.  

 

OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

To The Creek – I love you for loving her. Let’s pray together for her growth. God saves people – doesn’t that just rock your world? I got saved Easter Sunday 1983 and this Sunday was like getting saved all over again. What a big God!!

Now, our process for making disciples – We exist to love people from the bleachers to the field. The FIELD is where the action happens. The life we can live through Christ is beautiful when we realize we are invited to participate (or play),  in his plan of redeeming people into a relationship with Him. We are sovereignly positioned and placed for God’s glory.

What is the FIELD? The field is where God has placed you to represent Him to your family, neighbors, co-workers, and nation. You are first on the FIELD preparing your family (present family or future family for you single peeps). This is the most important mission field you have. Loving, leading and demonstrating to your spouse and kids the greatness of God. The FIELD extends out of your driveway and all the way across the ocean and encompasses everything in between.

What do you do on the FIELD? You have been fashioned with passions and gifts God has given you (I Cor. 12 and Eph. 2:10) to bring others to Him. It is where the teachers teach, the plumbers plumb, the singers sing, and the mechanics fix – all because of HIM. The field is what you have been created for. It is where the action of God’s plan unfolds. God has invited you and I to be a small part of this grand plan. If you are not on the FIELD you will be miserable.

Are you on the FIELD? What is holding you back?

The Creek Church – We exist to love people from the BLEACHERS to the FIELD.