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Christ Centered Community

The past few weeks or couple of months now I guess...First Southern kicked off its Northwest Life Group.  Its a small group geared for people making the transition out of the college lifestyle and into the workplace.

God has really blessed the group numerically, nearly doubling it in the first week, and in love for one another.  It's been a neat process to be a part of and I'm thankful for the opportunity God has given me to be in the group.

If you look at some of the people in the group, it's really a hodgepodge of people.  You wouldn't expect these people to get together.  But here is a group of young professionals that have two things in common...a love for Jesus...and no friends.  Jk on the no friends.

Displacement Effect

However, a common problem of young professionals making that transition out of school is really trying to find friends, then even harder...maintain those relationships.  It's been very encouraging for a lot of people in that group to have community within the "life group."  When you're in school it seems easier to identify with a community than when you're no longer in school.  Yes, there are people that you identify with from work based on common occupation, however, this doesn't mean that because you work together that you'll want to hang out or even get along.  Moreover, you're limited to essentially one location to meet people, whereas school provides a variety of outlets to meet people via classes, clubs, etc.  There are more accessible ways of interfacing with different social networks.




The same goes for identification with a church.  Although, you have many commonalities, sometimes people that are young professionals(not just this group) can feel displaced.  Connection in churches are often limited to traditional categories of age groups.  This inflexibility and lack of diversity restricts the incorporation of people that don't quite fit into traditional categories of ministry.  They don't quite fit into the college ministry because they aren't in college.  They might not be married.  They probably don't have kids.  On the other hand some of them do, so that makes it hard too because they don't fit into the other traditional categories.

Characteristics of Successful Post College Groups

Something that I have noticed in my interaction with the group at First Southern and Epic Church, is that both of these groups share 3 essential characteristics that allow them to be successful.

Maturing Christians

The first, and perhaps most important characteristic is, an individual desire to be in relationship with Jesus Christ and pursue Him.  Both the groups at FSBC and Epic are built around a solid core of people who are spiritually maturing.  No longer infants in the faith, they've made the transition from 'milk' to craving 'solid food.'  These people have walked long enough with Jesus to know how to feed themselves spiritually by investing in the study of God's Word.  Moreover, their spiritual appetites will not be satisfied with cute diatribes(common of most churches) aimed at convincing someone they need to surrender their life to Jesus.  They've already surrendered their lives to Christ and desire to know more fully the power of Christ's resurrection and to be continually transformed into His likeness. (Phil 3:10 Amp)  They desire intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Commitment to Community

The second characteristic is a desire for Christian Community.  This desire for an affinity group based around the love relationship with Jesus Christ produces several things.  Namely, this desire provides the reason to meet.  As mentioned earlier, most young professionals are in an awkward transitory period where they may feel displaced from traditional ministry categories provided by the church.  A positive side effect of this displacement is gratitude.  Because of the limited number of people who share similar life circumstances...anywhere.  People become less picky about who they would consider socializing with.  The two predominate thoughts that override normal social conventions is the former(relationship w/Jesus Christ and spiritually maturing) and later(desire for community).

A spiritually mature person is more likely to overlook minor quirks or character defects that would otherwise preclude them for social interaction.  The spiritually mature person has discerned what issues are key to maintaining Christian Fellowship.  This person will not divide fellowship over minor issues.  In essence they have learned, as a favorite preacher/scholar of mine(Tony Merida) says,"to keep the main things the plain things, and the plain things the main things."

By making the focal point of these relationships the pursuit of a love relationship with Jesus Christ, it frees individuals to act on their desire to have community by engaging in relationships with people.  In order to have community, you need to have people.  So if you desire to be in and have community, at some point you must take the risk of engaging people to start a relationship and build community.  

Works of the Faith

Lastly, a desire to live an authentic Christian life by being obedient to the commands of Jesus.  These people are spiritually mature enough to know that true spiritual maturity isn't a simple measure of knowledge.  Rather spiritual maturity is measured within the context of relationships.  Our relationship with Jesus Christ and others.  We demonstrate our spiritual maturity and continue to grow in maturity by exercising fruits of the Spirit.  These maturing young Christians desire community, but also value authenticity.  It isn't enough to have a group that just meets, they aren't looking for a Sunday School experience.  They desire genuine Christian Community, people in relationships that truly love one another.  They desire to live out live out their faith, works that demonstrate true love for God seen in how they treat others. (John 14:15, 21; James 1:22-27)

Products of the Process

When you get a group of people like this together, people that are spiritually maturing in their love relationship with Jesus, desire genuine Christian community centered around love for God and love for others; the result is that this community will grow.  They will grow in love for one another, they will develop spiritual maturity by enduring in love for one another.  Inevitably, there will be disagreements and hurt feelings, however, if Christ continues to remain Lord and leader of the group, then those issues will be resolved for the sake of the relationship with Jesus Christ and the group(body/church).  

Moreover, this group will grow numerically, because they'll recognize(hopefully) other people that are like-minded yet alone.  They'll invite them to be a part of their community.  Eventually, if the bible continues to be studied and the Word of God honored, then the group will recognize that what they have is good, moreover that Jesus commands them to share what they have.  Now, instead of just sitting in the group and rejoicing with one another, they'll allow that joy they have from within the group to overflow into other parts of their lives.  They'll desire to reach out to the lost in their lives as community.  They'll desire to serve others demonstrating the love of Christ as community.  

Transforming Community

There is a process of transformation that takes place between isolated and alone young professional, to like-minded young professionals seeking community. The young  professionals becoming Christ centered community that desires to live genuinely with one another to Christ centered community that seeks to obey Christ by taking the gospel to the nations.  This sounds a lot like a church to me.  Isn't it?  Now, I don't know that this "life group" should become a new church.  I think that churches, that is the formal organization, are born out of necessity.  I mean, if your initial group continues to grow and creates multiple groups that's great.  But if they are still able to interface and serve in the church that started the small group there's no need to start a new one.  These are young professionals who will become the next generation of the church.  They should stay, and learn from the ones in the church who are older while they still can.  These older people should, hopefully, also be more mature believers.  They can lend insight, experience and advice for both spiritual matters and life in general.  The older people in the church, hopefully, will serve as mentors and disciplers for the younger generation.  So no, I don't think that just because the group gets big that you should start a 'church plant.'  

If however, the group continues growing and the formal organization/facility is no longer able to house or serve everyone at the church; then you two options.  You can expand the facility and staff or you can plant  a new church in the place that makes sense.  

What Makes Sense?

I do think that you should plant churches and do ministry in places where there are no churches and where the gospel hasn't been taken before.  However, I think that too often seemingly well intentioned people decided to try and start 'church plants' without using their brains nor really consulting scripture.  If we look to the model we see in Acts, churches spring up from the places where Christians dwell.  So in terms of the example above, I think that it makes the most sense to make the 'hub' of the new church in an area where most of the 'community' dwells.  

But I will say this, the church spread in Acts largely because of persecution.  Who knows, if the persecution of Christians didn't occur in Jerusalem, then perhaps the church would never have left.  In most parts of the world, this same pattern still holds true, except in America.  There is no persecution here, so Christians don't spread.  The opposite is true in America, Christians conglomerate.  Using Tucson, AZ as an example, generally speaking the suburbs of Tucson house fairly large churches.  Most of the Christians also live in the suburbs.  Generally speaking, the mid-town and down town areas are home to largely unchurched/unsaved people.  The churches in downtown and midtown are few and far between or dying.  

So what should happen

I think that in order to reach these unchurched/saved people that the Church, needs to move out of their area of comfort and into the area of need.  I think we, the Church, need to examine whether or not we have made an idol out of our comfortable suburban homes so much so that we are unwilling to move into an area of Tucson, or where ever you are, that is' seedy.'  This is a systemic problem taking the mentality of short term overseas missions on a whole new level.  

When most people go overseas on short term missions, they should know that their impact will be minimal simply due to time constrictions.  Therefore, a the preferred mission strategy is to partner with a church in the area that is local, so that when the missions team leaves new believers will have a group of Christians to identify with.  This group will serve as spiritual family protecting and nurturing new believers into maturity.  

When people do long term missions, the life impact is greater, more time in life is spent with people.  'Career' missionaries integrate into local culture/community and share life with the people they desire to reach with the gospel.  

So why then have we adopted a short term missions focus at home in the States, without the church?  Ministries or programs will happen in unchurched areas, but after the event is over, its really over.  There is no one from the church that lives in the community for prolonged interaction.  No one to be a bearer of the gospel.  As mentioned earlier spiritual maturity and the gospel aren't simply matters of knowledge but relationships.  Life on life.  So rather than simply going to do 'outreach' why don't we move from where we are into the places that need to be reached?  If we think this is crazy and ludicrous, then maybe we need to question whether we've placed something above the priorities and desires of our Savior and God.  

What's the point?

Eventually, some of you may say that, this is all pointless discussion and that getting Christians to move into communities that are unchurched/reached to start a new church won't do anything.  Because the Christians don't even interact on a regular basis with the people in the neighborhood they currently reside.  

Well let me put this back into the context of the small groups and Christ Centered community described above.  We can't ever lose sight of the initial 3 principles that got the initial group off the ground.  Most importantly we can't ever lose sight of the love relationship with Jesus Christ.  Once you begin to grow and have formalized organization and a facility, it's easy to lose sight of the essentials of life with Christ and life with other Christians.  It's easy to lose sight of the commands of Christ to go out and make disciples when you become a part of an organization that seems to be doing just that.  However, we need to question what we ourselves are doing.  Each of us has a responsibility to be going and making disciples.  Each of us is responsible for growing in spiritual maturity with Jesus Christ in the context of His Church, community.  Life on life.  We can't teach people we disciple to obey commands of Christ that we aren't obeying ourselves.  New believers are just like children.  Children don't learn how to do something simply by being told how to do it.  It must be demonstrated and observed.  In the same way  we need to be growing in our love for Christ by growing in our obedience to His commands.  Just as we individually should always be 'working out our salvation with fear and trembling.'( Phil 2)  We should also examine how we function as a community, the body of Christ and make sure that we are keeping Christ as the center, that Christ is the head.( Ephesians 4)

Trinity transposed...

I was listening to a sermon series from Brook Hills church, David Platt's church.  The series started in Genesis talking about Biblical manhood and womanhood.  What really stuck out to me over the course of the series was how God created Man(mankind) in His image.  That sounds old, but I had never before thought of the nature of God and how we were formed in His image in terms of the doctrine of the Trinity.

If we think about the nature of God, three in one, Father, Spirit, and Son; we dont get a picture of that nature in man when we consider individuals.  Man, is not three personages encapsulated in one person.  Man did not have community within himself as God does.  When we look to the account found in Genesis 2, God creates woman so that man will not be alone, providing man with community.  Now when you consider a child and add that to the mix, we see a mirror image in man's community of the community God has with Himself.  This is how God makes man in His image. 

Something that I've always took for granted is the truth of God's Word telling us that all creation proclaims the glory of God.  I'm a created thing.  Most Christians are so wrapped up in themselves and how God made man in His image that we forget we are still part of His creation.  Moreover, that everything about us brings glory to Him.  The way we were created reveals the nature and character of God.  We are God's analogy to describe Himself.  Too often we get it wrong and try to fit God in a box to describe how we think we are.  Anyway that's a tangent...

Back on track...If we take our understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity and transpose that into human relations we then come to a proper understanding of gender roles and family dynamics.

Equal in Substance

In essence, all parts of God are equally God.  No part is lesser or diminished than another.  Each is person of the Trinity retains all aspects attributed to God:  All Powerful, Omnicient, Omnipresent, Eternal.  When we take this understanding and overlay it on the family: Father, Mother, and Child, we see that the same is true.  In our essence we are equal.  No sane person would argue that a child is less human than its mother or father.  Each part of the family, the first and most basic unit of community, is equal in substance.

Functionality in the Trinity

Now the second aspect of the Trinity we consider is the functionality of the Trinity.  God the Father exercises authority over everything.  The Holy Spirit and the Son act according to the Father's will.  There is unity of purpose between each part of the Trinity.  The key thing to pick up on in scriptures where we see the doctrine of the Trinity is that the Father is always the initiator.  The other parts of the Godhead act in response to the initiative to the Father.  Moreover, when they do act it never subverts or contradicts what the Father is doing. 

Family is God's Analogy

The family is meant to model the relationship we see between each personage of the Trinity.  The father is supposed to take initiative.  He leads by example setting the tone for what the rest of the family does.  I said take initiative, not control or chare, but initiative.  This is an important distinction to make when we overlay the Trinity over family dynamics, because when the family functions the way it was intended to, the leadership a father exerts over his family will model what is seen in scripture. 

The Father's leadership is always purposeful, its not domineering.  A man that exerts control for the sake of control or proving dominance does not honor God, nor does it conform to the model seen in scripture.  The Father's leadership is also always beneficial for all parts of the God head.  Each thing the Father does is for the purpose of glorifying Himself.  In the same way, a father's purposeful initiative should always lead to benefit for the whole family. 

So in the same way, whenever a mother or child responds to the purposeful initiative of the father, it should be with an attitude of unity.  This unity comes from the trust and understanding that the father's initiative and desires are for the benefit of the entire family.

However, since the fall, and seemingly more apparent in recent times, fathers/men have violated this trust.  They do not lead in a manner that benefits anyone but themselves, or in many cases they don't lead at all.  They take no initiative and crave the incentives of leadership without taking on the responsibility demanded of this position of authority.  They do not honor God nor do they reflect the nature of God as they were intended.

Likewise, whenever a mother or child acts in a way that subverts the authority of the father, sowing seeds of discord among the fellowship of the family they too do not honor God nor do they reflect the nature of God in their actions.

After the fall, this type of flawed and failed behavior went from atypical to the norm of how things went in the world.  So when a family truly models this type of family dynamics based on the doctrine of the Trinity, it is truly amazing.  It serves the purpose of primarily bring glory and attention to God Himself.  Secondarily, it brings harmony and benefit to the family by providing the appropriate context for relationships and community within the family.  This also serves to bring the family credit within the community at large and provides them with an outlet to proclaim and make known the Glory of God .  

End of Year 1: How every thing fits together

End of Year 1: A look back and lessons learned

A Comparison of Hebrews and Romans: The Role of Faith in Salvation History

THE ROLE OF FAITH IN SALVATION HISTORY

Salvation is a common theme found throughout scripture.  The whole of scripture paints a consistent picture of God’s redemptive work throughout history culminating in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Faith is also a topic commonly found in scripture and it plays a key role to properly understanding the nature of salvation under both the Old Covenant and New Covenant.  Hebrews and Romans present complementary information regarding the salvation found in Jesus Christ by faith.   This paper will explore the relationship between faith and salvation by examining Hebrews 11 and Romans 4.  While both books contain similar language and share complementary content there are differences in the thrust of the respective passages.  To gain a better grasp of how faith plays into both passages the meaning of the word and its use in context must be examined.

Πίστις

Πίστις is the Greek word most commonly used for faith.  In Romans 4 all instances of the word for faith stem from πίστις.  According to Danaker, the πίστις is most often translated into, “that which evokes trust and faith.”  The second definition listed is a, “state of believing on the basis of the reliability of the one trusted.”  This word and definition is also applicable to almost all instances of faith appearing in Hebrews 11.   There are only two instances in Hebrews 11 in which a word other than πίστις is used.  The first is found in Hebrews 11:4 where αὐτός is used in reference to Abel.  The second instance is Hebrews 11:11 πιστός is the word used in conjunction with Sarah.  All other times, faith functions in both passages primarily as a verb with God as the subject.  Faith is paired with God in such a way that suggests that God is a person worthy of trust.  God is “that which evokes trust and faith.”  God is the One who is being trusted.  The basis of the characters faith rests in the reliability of God.  Πίστις is an affirmation of the Holiness of God and a declaration of His worthiness.  (Revelation 4:8, 11)

The Object of Faith

            The object of faith found in Hebrews 11 and Romans 4 is God Himself, which is a peculiarity when compared with other parts of the epistles.  More typically the object of faith is Jesus Christ, however in these passages the object of faith is the One who raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  (Romans 4:24) “Paul contends that God puts the sinner right with him through faith.^[1]”  Throughout Hebrews 11, the author makes it clear that each of the heroes of faith place their trust in God regardless of the situation they find themselves.  They cling to the character of the Promise Giver.  In this way there is assurance of salvation because faith is not placed in human effort but in eternal God. 

Substance of Faith

            While both passages of scripture use the same word for faith in a similar context, Hebrews expands on the idea of faith by exploring the nature of faith.  It must be noted that the word ὑπόστασις  has been translated various ways.  Ellingworth brings up various areas of contention regarding this passage.  He brings up the point that part of the problem in rendering this passage is understanding verse 1 as being an objective or subjective statement. Some translations render the meaning as ‘having assurance or confidence.’  The other way it has been translated is to mean ‘substance’. ^[2]  While the former translation has gained prominence, Kistemaker argues that both interpretations work to complement one another.  “Even though the objective sense has validity, the subjective meaning is commended.^[3]” Kistenmaker proposes that the balance of both interpretations of the passage comes, “when certainty prevails, even though the evidence is lacking.^[4]” The subjective assurance of faith comes from the practical outworking of the substance of faith.  Because full certainty and assurance will not be fully realized until a future date perseverance of faith or patience is an essential component of the objective faith.  A.W. Pink argues that patience is an imperative that accompanies faith.  To properly understand the role of faith in salvation one must understand that, “faith directs us to things afar off which we do not as yet enjoy; it then necessarily includes patience.^[5]”  The role of patience and how that is paired with faith becomes the subject of the rest of Hebrews 11 shown in the actions taken by the biblical figures in the rest of the passage.

Faith is Active

The verse 2 of Hebrews continues to expound upon the assurance of faith found in the substance of faith.  The author sets up a basis for the faith each of the ‘men of old’ have in God by referencing the creation of the universe.  The entirety of existence was brought forth by the word of God.  That which is now seen was brought forth by the unseen. It is on the basis of this understanding of the power of God’s Word that the patriarchs place their trust in God.

 In both Hebrews and Romans,  faith describes a continual action, not a one time occurrence.  A character that appears in both passages is Abraham.  Hebrews describes Abraham’s faith as a hope in things yet unseen.  Abraham is called to action and obedience in God with the hope of a future promise.  Abraham obeys acting out in faith before being given what God has promised Him.  (Heb 11:8-14, 17-19)  Romans paints a consistent picture of Abraham’s faith citing how Abraham persisted in faith continuing to hope in the promises of God although the physical state of both he and his wife seemed to make God’s promise an impossibility.  Abraham continued to believe in God’s promises and became strong in His faith.  (Romans 4:16-22)  Here in Romans we see this idea of persistent faith played out in the life of Abraham leading to God crediting him with righteousness.  Abraham’s faith in the unseen led to the manifestation of that which is seen, namely his son Isaac.  Although even in Isaac’s birth the fullness of God’s promise to Abraham was not fully realized, but acted as a guarantee or assurance of God’s faithfulness and ability to complete what He promised. 

Faith Has Always Been Part of God’s Plan

Within the context of Romans, Paul is linking those under the old covenant with those under the new covenant.  Paul means to prove the consistency of God by stating that the method of salvation today is the same as it was in times past.  That is faith in God leads to being credited with righteousness.  To illustrate this point,

“He attacks the proponents of the opposite view—salvation on the basis of human merit—at the very fortress in which they deem themselves to be the strongest, namely, the story of Abraham, that great patriarch who, according to the thinking of the Jews, had earned his way into God’s good pleasure.^[6]

Most scholars agree that the contemporaries of Paul assumed that Abraham was justified by works.  Hendriksen cites the Prayer of Mannasseh 8 and the Book of Jubilees as works that were commonly referenced to show that the patriarchs achieved righteousness on the basis of obedience to the law of God.  However, Paul refutes this claim by quoting Genesis 15:6.  “Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. ^[7]”  Paul uses this passage to say that none, not even the great patriarch Abraham, father of many nations, was justified the merit of his works but by faith alone.  This pattern of justification is also established in Hebrews 11.  However the language in Hebrews departs from the legal language used in Romans using approval instead of justification.  Nevertheless, a list of biblical heroes, spanning from Abel to the prophets before Christ are all shown as having been given the approval of God based on their faith in Him.(Hebrews 11:4:34)  This establishes a historical record to say that God’s plan for salvation by faith is not something new after the coming of Christ.  Salvation by faith has always been part of God’s plan.  Paul clinches his argument t in Romans by quoting David’s Psalm:

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!

Here Paul restates his original proposition with a twist.  Man is not justified by the by his own merit, moreover man is not condemned by his unrighteous acts.  “The blessing is not concerned with someone who has good deeds to urge as meriting favor, but with one whose evil deeds are not imputed.^[8]”  Thereby both Hebrews and Romans not only show that faith has always been a part of God’s plan of salvation and points to its essentiality in salvation. 

Faith Essential to Salvation

            Salvation is not something that can be gained or achieved, salvation is a free gift of God.  Paul cites in Romans that Abraham was credited righteousness by God and that he was not justified by any work of his own.  Paul continues expounding on this idea by stating that to try and work for salvation is to reject God’s free gift of grace.  When a person works for salvation their deeds are not born out of love for God, they are now the wages of due to the debt we owe.  Unfortunately we cannot pay the debt we owe through our own merit.  However, God offers to pay our debt according to the grace found in Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:23)  All that is required of us is faith in God’s ability to pay our debt.  Coincidentally, God is the lien holder of the debt we owe, so it would behoove us to trust in God’s ability to cancel out our record of debt.  (Colossians 2:13-14)  In Romans 4, Paul makes the case that salvation is set apart from any act of human merit.  Salvation is only found by God justifying the ungodly.  The righteousness of God is credited to man by faith.  This concept of the essentiality of faith to salvation is echoed in Hebrews 11. 

The writer of Hebrews states, “without faith it is impossible to please Him.”(Hebrews 11:6)  Hebrews breaks from the legal language found in Romans and describes aspects of a relationship between man and God.  The latter half of Hebrews 11:6 goes on to state two acts of faith required to please God.  The first is to believe in the existence of God.  The second is to believe that God rewards those who seek Him.  The end of the chapter reaffirms the idea that the approval of God was gained by faith.  (Hebrews 11:39) 

History of Faith

            Although both passages present the idea that present day believers must persist in faith for the future hope of salvation, the authors of both books provide reassurance that faith in God is not misplaced.  Those who continue to persevere will be strengthened in faith and God will not disappoint them. (Romans 10:11, Isaiah 28:16)  Hebrews provides a list of ‘men of old’ who gained the approval of God.  (Hebrews 11:2)  The bulk of Hebrews 11 is a description of past biblical figures who shared two things in common the approval of God acquired by faith in God to fulfill His promises.  In both Hebrews and Romans we see a pattern of submission as a result of the faith placed in God.  Each of the people listed in both passages are said to have faith and what they do is affected by their faith.  Looking forward to the promise given from God they live their lives claiming what will be theirs.  Hebrews is far more explicit in expressing a life of faith based on what is to come.

For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. ^[9]

The purpose of examining the lives of the patriarchs serves the same purpose in both passages, which is to provide the present day believer with an exhortation to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before persisting in faith.  (Romans 4:23-22)

Faith of Future Hope

            Another common characteristic of both Hebrews and Romans is that the reward for faith isn’t necessarily something experienced in the present but more often is something that will be experienced in the future.  This idea is expressed in both passages by citing Abraham as a patriarch who continued in faith looking forward to the future fulfillment of God’s promise.  Hebrews qualifies this idea with verse one saying, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”(Hebrews 11:1) While both Romans and Hebrews cite those who have died in their examples, the concept of faith in a future hope has ready application to those still alive.  Just as Abraham trusted in the fulfillment of God’s promise to make him the father of many nations, Christians must trust in God’s promise of eternal life with Jesus Christ.  For the believer this hope of eternal life with Christ is never fully experienced in this life.  The reward is yet intangible but requires our persistent faith.  The byproduct of persistent faith in God exemplified in the lives of the patriarchs is submission to the object of both their faith and ours, which is God.  Here at the end of both passages appropriate attention is redirected to , the author and perfecter of our faith in whom we have peace with God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

            An examination of Hebrews 11 and Romans 4 provide much insight into the role faith plays in salvation. The use of πίστις is not complete without an object of faith.  The object of faith in both passages appears to be God.  Additionally, the concept of faith appears to be tied into the idea of salvation.  The authors of both Hebrews and Romans appear to agree that salvation is not possible without faith.  Moreover, both passages agree that the nature of salvation is not an object that can be achieved but is given on the basis of faith in God.  Faith in God is persistent and not contingent upon the immediate provision of the promises of God but the future hope that God will fulfill His promises.  Faith for salvation is not believing or hoping in salvation itself(the promises) but in the One who provides salvation.  Faith in God is an affirmation of His character and Holiness.  Faith isn’t a static idea but an active process of submission to God. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker and Walter Bauer. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New

Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.

Ellingworth, Paul. The Epistle to the Hebrews : A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids,

Mich.; Carlisle [England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1993.

Guthrie, George H. The NIV Application Commentary:Hebrews. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan

Publishing House, 1998.

 Hendriksen, William and Simon J. Kistemaker. Vol. 12-13, New Testament Commentary :

Exposition of Paul's Epistle to the Romans. New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001.

Kistemaker, Simon J. and William Hendriksen. Vol. 15, New Testament Commentary : Exposition

of Hebrews. New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001.

Morris, Leon. The Epistle to the Romans. Grand Rapids, Mich.; Leicester, England: W.B.

Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1988.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.

Pink, Arthur Walkington. An Exposition of Hebrews. Swengel, Pa.: Bible Truth Depot,

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^[1] Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, vol. 15, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of Hebrews, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 308-09.

^[2] Paul Ellingworth, The Epistle to the Hebrews : A Commentary on the Greek Text (Grand Rapids, Mich.; Carlisle [England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1993), 565.

^[3] Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, vol. 15, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of Hebrews, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 311.

^[4] Ibid

^[5] Arthur Walkington Pink, An Exposition of Hebrews. (Swengel, Pa.: Bible Truth Depot, 1954), 635.

^[6] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 12-13, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of Paul's Epistle to the Romans, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 144.

^[7] New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ge 15:6.

^[8] Leon Morris, The Epistle to the Romans (Grand Rapids, Mich.; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1988), 199.

^[9] New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Heb 11:14–16.

Thematic Study Template

Thematic Study Template

Section Key Themes:

Section Ponder Points:

Section Application Questions: 

Also see:

Creating Dynamic Small Groups

Holdfast

This video is from Spring 2011 at First Southern Baptist Church. I got the chance to speak at the Breakaway service and help continue the series through Joshua. The topic for the night was Holdfast: Clinging to God when Faced with Decisions

Link to the manuscript:  Holdfast: Clinging to God when Faced with Decisions

Operation/Event Outline Template

(Event)

Date/Time: 

Report completed by:

Tasked Organization:

Mission Brief Outline

I.  Situation:

Target group:

Organizational Assests:

Venue:

Weather:

Terrain:

People Considerations:

II.  Mission:

(Who, What, When Where, Why)

III.  Execution

Leader's Intent:

Organizational purpose:

Key Points:

Desired endstate:

Element Tasks:

IV.  Coordination Instructions

Time Order:

Risk Assesment/Safety Plan:

Personel Posturing:

V.  Command and Signal:

The Pursuit-Personal Transformation

This video is from Fall 2010, my first time speaking at Christian Challenge continuing the semester series 'The Pursuit.'  The theme for the night was Personal Transformation.

Link to the outline:
Personal Transformation

Prayer tips

Prayer Guide

1.        Self-Examination

-James 5:16, 1 John 1:9, 2 Chronicles 7:14

2.       Small group

3.       Christian Challenge

4.       University of Arizona

5.       Tucson

6.       Nation

7.       World

Prayer Tips

1.       Right Relationship-Communication.  If there are obstacles in your life that create a rift between you and God it hinders your effectiveness at prayer.  Just like any other relationship, communication is difficult or impossible if you hold a grudge or have done something to upset your friend.  In our relationship with God we call those things sin.  Clear the air and take care of the things that keep you from being on good terms with God in your relationship.  If it helps, put your relationship with Jesus into perspective.  Jesus gave His life for you and took the punishment you deserve.  Jesus loves you. 

2.       Be Specific-Just like in any conversation, you want to be clear.  In prayer it’s important that we be specific so that we express our concerns to God.  God wants to hear what is on our hearts and minds and we’ll never have the opportunity to do that if we talk in vague terms. (Philippians 4:6) 

3.       Use Scripture-When you don’t know what to pray use scripture.  When you do know what to pray use scripture.  (1 John 5:14-15)  If you get stuck and don’t know what to pray or want a model of how to pray follow the prayers in the bible.  There are 66 books in the bible and hundreds of thousands of words used to describe God, praise God, thank God, and cry out to God.  God knew you would be in the situation you are in now and provided plenty of examples in scripture that relate to any circumstance of life you find yourself. 

·         -God’s Word is filled with divine wisdom, hope, and promises of love.  Pray what God desires for you because it’s better than what you want for yourself.  (John 14:27, Jeremiah 29:11)

·         Pray scripture because God’s Word is true and never fails.

-be sure when you pray promises that you study the promise and know who it’s for

-study scripture in context

·         Don’t assume.  Just like in a conversation we don’t want to assume that what is said is directed toward us.  Nor do we want to assume that because we say something that things are going to happen just like we said.  Some promises in scripture aren’t directed toward us.  And while God may know what we are saying it doesn’t mean that He agrees with it and will give us anything we ask for.  (John 14, 1 John 3:22-24)

4.       Pray with Confidence-If we talk to our friends like we don’t trust or believe anything they say that becomes an obstacle to both communication and our relationship.  When we pray we should go into prayer with a clear sense of who God is and who we are.  God gives us an image of who He is from scripture but has also give us a picture of Himself by how He has worked in our lives.  Remind yourself How God has demonstrated His love and faithfulness in the past so that you can pray confidently for the present and future. 

·         Pray expecting God to give you an answer.  It might not be the answer we want but He is always faithful to answer prayer. (Yes, No, Wait, Grow)

Life History Template

Life History Worksheet

Significant people/Events/Circumstances	Struggles/Negative/Painful Experiences
Phase of Life	Events
Phase 1:
Phase 2:
Phase 3:
Phase 4:
Phase 5:
Phase 6:

Phase 1: 

Lessons/Insights :

Phase 2: 

Lessons/Insights :

Phase 3: 

Lessons/Insights :

Phase 4: 

Lessons/Insights :

Phase 5: 

Lessons/Insights :

Phase 6: 

Lessons/Insights :

Biblical Purpose Template

Biblical Purpose Worksheet

(Where am I Going)

To learn how to live a focused life that brings glory to God we must have a firm foundation.  Our foundation is found in the Word of Truth.  Scripture will allow us to live fully focused and fulfilled lives by streamlining our journey always pointing us in the direction we should go. We will take a look at several scriptures that:

1.        Declare the reason why we exist

-A Being Statement

2.       Reflects the Heart of God

-A Kingdom Perspective

3.       Clarifies what is Non-Negotiable

-True North: the way we should go

In the sections below:

1.        Reflect on the verses that have clarified your sense of purpose in the past

2.       Review some of the scriptures which have been meaningful to other Christians

3.       Follow the instructions for trying to capture your sense of your biblical foundation in your own words.

What Scriptures has God used to give focus, purpose, and direction in your life?  List those verses and summarize the insight(s) you gained from each verse.

Verses from Your Past
Verse	Insight

Review these familiar verses and summarize the insights they provide regarding the question of purpose for a believers life.

Matthew 22:37-40
Matthew 28:18-20
John 15:1-11
John 13:34-35
Romans 15:6-7
2 Corinthians 4:7-11
Philippians 3:7-10
Colossians 2:6-7
2 Peter 1:5-11

Reflection on your Study

Based on your study of these scriptures ask yourself the following questions to help you clarify God’s purpose for your life.

·         Why do I exist as a person?

·         Apart from what I do, what gives my life its deepest meaning?

·         Why did God create me?

·         What is my response to God’s work of grace and salvation on my behalf?

In single words or phrases what themes have emerged from your review and reflection on the Scriptures?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Writing a biblical purpose statement

Our purpose is the foundation upon which we live our lives.  Purpose isn’t a list of tasks we must accomplish but is a statement of ‘being’ that captures the essence of our existence.  Based on our reflection through scripture, write up a draft of your biblical purpose statement.

Additional helps:

·         not a list of do’s and don’ts

·         should be concise

·         describes why a person exists based on scripture

·         being statement

·         describes our relationship with God

ex:

·         The purpose of my life is to know God and hear his voice so clearly that I live a life of obedience and servant hood. As a result, I will be a self-defined person with a non-anxious presence

·         I exist to live in authentic intimacy with Jesus and let him so shape my life that the people of my life will see him at work in me.

·         Understanding Jesus Christ is Lord of all creation, that He loves me, and by His grace rescued me from captivity so that I might be free to serve Him; I seek to know Christ and allow Him to shape me toward His purposes.

Your Biblical Purpose Statement