Enjoy some pictures from ‘IT’ night!
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Here is a great little thought on idolatry by Kevin DeYoung:
What must we leave behind if we are to follow Christ?
The simplest answer is that we must leave behind idolatry. That’s the very first commandment—you shall have no other gods before me. They don’t have to be obvious representations of the divine; they don’t have to be stone or wood or marble. There are all sorts of gods: education, athletics, marriage, choice, power, self-expression, beauty, achievement. Whatever you give your whole life for, there’s your idol.
If only I had ______ then I would be happy.
If only I had ______ I’d be worth something.
If only I had ______ I could truly live a fulfilled life.
Whatever you put in the blank, that’s your god. That’s what you are living for. That’s what you worship. Marriage may be in your blank, or your dream job, or better parents, or better kids, or fewer pounds, or more influence. Many of these are good desires, but they must not be ultimate. They are not meant to be gods.
What might a Jerusalem Council like the one in Acts 15 say to us? What might God be requiring us to give up as disciples of Christ? What might a Spirit-inspired council say to the hard-charging corporate guy who sees everything and everyone as a means for his advancement? What might it say to the woman obsessed with beauty and status, living from tabloid to tabloid, from gossip to gossip? What about the college student who lives for the party scene? Or the “good” college student, who thinks he has to get good grades and go to grad school?
This may all seem like normal life, but it is not normal Christian life. Remember, worldliness is whatever makes sin look normal and righteousness look strange.
Christians are not going to look like everyone else. They are not going to do what everybody else does. They will stand out. It’s hard to carry a cross without leaving some baggage behind.
Here is a great video based on a poem by John Piper about the Christian life. I don’t know why he called it “The Calvinist”–pretend it is called “The Christian” and enjoy!
Just taught a little series on Biblical frienship in my Bible class. Here are my basic notes:
Biblical Friendship
The body of Christ ought to be the basis of our fellowship as believers. –Eph. 4:1-6; Heb. 10:22-25
The body of Christ provides a central heart, a central purpose, and a central goal; each of which give our friendships a benefit of love, purpose, and lasting worth.
1) Heart: Common loves between all believers: God, the Word, worship, service, God’s house, etc..
2) Purpose: Common goal to all our lives. I am a friend to any person that wants to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are giving everything to know, serve, and love the same Savior.
3) Goal: Heaven. The understanding that all our friendships are eternal should cause us to view them with a new perspective of love, worth, and meaning. And a very select few we get to know for eternity plus!
The influence of friendships/fellowship is inescapable; either positively or negatively. –Ps. 119:63; Prov. 27:17; 1 Cor. 15:33-34; 2 Tim. 2:22
How do we maintain friendship with unsaved people/the world?
We are to keep our unsaved friends with the purpose of bringing them to Jesus and not simply to fellowship with them around worldly things. –Jn. 17:13-18; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; Eph. 5:11-13
What are your friendships fellowshipping around? Rejoicing in? Who is in the lead? Are we helping or hurting the gospel? What appetites and desires drive our relationships? We need to continue friendship with the unsaved where possible, but we need to cut off fellowship with the world.
We do not separate from the world because we are too good or judgmental; we separate from the world because we are not good enough to keep our testimony and personal walk clean amidst certain pressures. In the end, those who would have accepted and loved Jesus should accept and love us. Those who would have rejected Jesus should reject us.
Priority of “being” over “having”.
The key to understanding Biblical friendship is asking “Am I a friend?” vs. “Do I have friends?” We will give an account to God of how friendly we were, not how many people liked us. True Biblical friendship is a positive and active reality. See –Prov. 18:24; Jn. 15:12-13; Rom. 12:10; 15:1-3; Phil. 2:2-5; etc…
Use example of David and Jonathan as one whose life benefited another. Is anyone’s life better because you are their friend? Divesting of oneself to the blessing of another.
Practical Applications:
Prayer: Phil. 1:3-5; 2 Tim. 1:3; 1 Peter 3:12
Deeds: Gal. 6:10; 1 John 3:16-19
Encouragement: Rom. 12:14-18; 1 Thess. 5:11; 1 Peter 3:8-9
Speech: Eph. 4:29; Col. 3:16-17; 4:6; 1 Peter 3: 9-10
Correction: 1 Cor. 5:9-13; Gal. 6:1-2; 2 Thess. 3:6-7; 14-15
Wounds: Prov. 19:11; 27:5-6; Eph. 4:15
Forgiveness: Prov. 17:9; 19:11; Lk.17:3-5; Eph. 4:32; 1 Thess. 5:15; 1 Peter 3:11