Author: Scott Chafee

Scott serves on staff at King’s Grant Baptist Church in Virginia Beach.

Marks of a Mature Christian

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I was able to give the message at King’s Grant and the topic of the day was, “What are the marks of a mature Christian?” Since Paul encourages believers to examine themselves to see if they are of the faith (1 Corinthians 11:28), I found at least twelve “marks” or “tests” to see whether one is a true follower of Christ. My prayer is that as you read this list, allow God to bring you to a proper understanding of where you stand with Christ.

1. Fellowship with God and Christians – 1 John 1:3-4

Immaturity says that belief is all one needs; just believe the right stuff about Jesus, accept Him, pray a prayer, come to church only when it’s convenient, and when you do, don’t get involved with a small group. A small group is where fellowship really happens. The Greek word, koinonia, means sharing a common life.

Maturity says that fellowship with God and other believers is important. How? What does this mean? Practically… we gather together for worship and in small groups; we don’t have fellowship by staring at the back of another person’s head! Fellowship allows us to get involved, get to know each other, bear one another’s burdens, and help each other to grow into the likeness of Christ.

Remedy: Like a log on a bonfire, the log that rolled away needs to be thrown back into the pile in order to be on fire. Otherwise the lone log will gradually dim and grow cold. Get back into a local church and get involved in a small group. Christianity was not meant to be lived in isolation; real life change comes in community, not a cocoon.

2. Sensitivity to sin – 1 John 1:5-10, 3:8, 5:18

Immaturity says that sin is not really a big deal, everybody does it, nobody’s perfect, I can stop if I want to, I’m not hurting anybody; but sin is missing the mark, hamartia, falling short of the target that God has set for us. Lack of sensitivity to sin is like cultivating a calloused heart, layers of excuses, apathy, failure, all lead to a hardened heart where sin does not bother you any more.

Maturity says that sin is a serious matter, and I need to deal with it as God tells me to. Sin brings death; the Son brings life (John 3:36).

Remedy: Confession of sin is not telling God something He doesn’t already know, but agreeing with God about the seriousness of my sin. Sin separates us from God like an umbrella shields us from the rain; God’s blessing and fellowship cannot get through when we are holding up our umbrella of sin. Recognize sin, confess sin, get serious with the removal of sin from your life. We need God for this, if we could clean up our own lives on our own, we wouldn’t need Christ.

3. Obedience to His Word – 1 John 2:3-5, 3:24, 5:2

Immaturity says that all I have to do in order to be saved is believe the stories of Jesus. I don’t have to be a fanatic of this Christianity stuff, like keep all those rules in the Bible.

Maturity says that if I truly have faith, I will want to demonstrate that faith in meaningful and practical ways. A child who tells his father that he loves him yet lives in total rebellion to the father’s will does not really love his father. Jesus said, “He who does not love Me does not keep My words.” (John 14:24)

Remedy: Discover what the Lord requires (Micah 6:8), follow His commands (1 Samuel 15:11, Matthew 5:19, John 14:15, 15:10, 1 Timothy 6:14), act in a manner worthy of the salvation that has been so freely given (Ephesians 4:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:11). God’s grace is free because it cost you nothing, but it is costly because it cost God the sacrifice of His only Son (Romans 5:8, John 3:16). How do we discover God’s commands? Read His word, discuss His word in a small group, and hide His word in your Heart so that you may not sin against God (Psalm 119:105).

4. Attitude toward the world – 1 John 2:15

Immaturity says that I need to be just like the world in order to identify with others, keep up with the Jones’, acquire more stuff, build debt in order to live beyond my means. If you want to be a winner, you have to drive like a winner. I serve a first class God and He expects me to live a first class life. I must live for today, get all I can, can all I get and just live for now.

Maturity says that this world is temporary and things do not last nor do they bring ultimate satisfaction. Everything on Earth will all pass away, except the Word of God (Isaiah 40:8) and people (Revelation 22:5), both will last forever.

Remedy: Have a proper perspective on possessions, power and popularity. You can be a follower of Christ and have all of these but the pursuit of them at the wrong time, in the wrong way for the wrong reason often leads to worldliness.

5. Persecution because of Christ – 1 John 2:18-19

Immaturity says that since I am a believer, God will shield me from trials, troubles and temptation. Life is much easier as a believer; if times are tough, it’s because I’ve done something wrong or am living in sin, or have forgotten to confess something.

Maturity says that since the world hated and persecuted Christ and the early church, why should I expect to be treated any differently (John 15:18-19)? Here, John says it’s the last hour, and in the last quarter, the enemy wants to tear down all that Christ has established. Many enemies of Christ have arisen; they started out with them, but have not remained faithful. They turned to the dark side, going against Christ (anti Christ).

Remedy: Stand strong with the body of Christ, the church; remain in solid fellowship with sound doctrinal belief. Understand that there are many who have tasted from the River of Life but have turned back to their former ways (Hebrews 6:4, 5, 6, Matthew 13:20, 21), and have fanned into flame a critical spirit of Christianity. Many former believers will ridicule the faith and those who hold dear the truths of the Bible. They are not apathetic about Christ, they have become anti-Christ. Their goal is for Christianity to be removed from every corner of society. Expect persecution; Paul tells us that all who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).

6. Anticipation of the second coming – 1 John 3:2-3

Immaturity says that I have plenty of time before Jesus returns; I want to travel, get married, earn a million, run for office, complete a marathon, experience the pleasures of the world, get my degree… I’m in no hurry to get my life straightened out.

Maturity says that this life is but a vapor and will quickly pass away (James 4:14). When He finally comes back at the Father’s command (Mark 13:32), John tells us that we shall be like Him and will see Him as He is; perfect and sinless (1 John 2:2). John mentions having this hope, fixed on Christ. Hope looks to the future, and we as believers ought to be ready (Matthew 24:42, 2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Peter 3:15, Revelation 21:2).

Remedy: Allow God to convict us of sin (John 16:8) and let His cleansing make us ready to see Christ. When He comes, we do not want to be caught off guard and ashamed (Luke 9:26, Romans 1:16, 2 Timothy 1:8, 2:15). If we live with the anticipation of His coming, our behavior will change. We begin to live as a bride getting ready for her wedding day; keeping herself pure and spotless, waiting for her Groom and the big celebration (Revelation 21:2, 9).

7. Lifestyle of godliness – 1 John 3:5-6

Immaturity says that my lifestyle does not need to be in line with my beliefs. I’m saved and it doesn’t matter how I live, I’m secure and on my way to heaven. Once saved, always saved.

Maturity says that because of my beliefs, I will bring my life in line with the commands of Christ. The one who has his hope in Christ will purify himself; as an act of the will. We are to be holy because He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). We must conform to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) and since He is pure, we are to be pure. Don’t live like the world.

Remedy: We will never be sinless, but hopefully we will sin less next week than we did last week. The will of God is your sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3), meaning we must become more and more like Christ every day.

8. Love for each other – 1 John 3:11, 14, 16-18

Immaturity says that I don’t have to forgive or love those whom I don’t like. It’s my right to hold a grudge for what they did to me.

Maturity says that we love each other, and even our enemies (Matthew 5:44), because love is from God. God IS love (1 John 4:7). Love is active and not passive. God so loved us that He acted (John 3:16, Romans 5:8).

Remedy: Notice the parallel between John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16. The Father loved, and gave, and laid down His only Son; we are to love others and lay down our lives for the brethren. First John 3:18 tells us to not love in word only, but with actions. James writes similarly (James 2:17, 26). Think of practical ways that you can love and serve others out of the abundance of gratitude we have for what God has done for us.

9. Discernment between good and evil – 1 John 4:1-6, 5:20

Immaturity says that knowing right from wrong or truth from error is something the pastor determines; or some other authority figure in my life.

Maturity says that since I have the Holy Spirit in my life, I am able to recognize spiritual error when I see it. I will not fall to faddish false teaching that leads people away from the truth found in the Bible.

Remedy: To be mature we need to grow up in all aspects pertaining to God (Ephesians 4:15). Someone may come to you with some new teaching that is called a “revelation from God” so we must be able to recognize such error. We may not be able to quote the Scripture, but the witness of the Spirit tells us that something is just not right. A lot of this preparation comes from Christian education that we find in the body of Christ. Just why is Sunday School so important? Not only is it our most effective strategy to reach lost people with the gospel, but it helps prepare believers for the times when the enemy will throw error our way to see if we can be led astray. A mature Christian is one who is continually learning God’s Word.

10. Witness of the Spirit – 1 John 4:13, 3:24

Immaturity says that we cannot really know that we are saved; therefore we live in doubt and fear about our eternal security.

Maturity says that God intends for us to be confident in our salvation and our future, because He has given us His Spirit to live inside of us.

Remedy: Allow God to take up residence in your heart. The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8). The Spirit will become our Helper (John 16:7) and our Guide who will disclose the truth to us (John 16:13). The more we know the Bible, the more the truth is implanted in our hearts, and the inner witness of the Spirit will give us confidence that we belong to Him.

11. Settled doctrinal belief – 1 John 5:1-2, 4:14-15

Immaturity says that God may not be finished in revealing His plan to mankind; that new revelation happens today that can change our spiritual understanding. Who is to say that we have it right? What if God should reveal something new? Aren’t all religions equally true? Isn’t is narrow minded to claim Jesus is the only way to salvation or heaven?

Maturity says that the Bible is our only source of faith and practice. Peter tells us that God has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). John tells us that no one is to add or take away from this book (Revelation 22:18, 19 – whether this is just the book of the Revelation prophecy or on a larger scale to include the entire Bible).

Remedy: Have a settled doctrinal belief. Be convinced that only those who love the Child born of God are really lovers of the Father. No one knocking on the door claiming the existence of modern apostles and new revelation are going to bring doubt in your mind. No one telling you that there are other ways of getting into a right relationship with God will cause you to rethink your theology. You will take no consideration to anyone claiming that Jesus is not God incarnate, the God-Man, deity in a manger and the risen Savior who is alive today, who invites you into an everlasting relationship with Him, and who is right here present with us today, knocking on the door of your heart.

These are the marks of a mature Christian, and I trust that you can examine yourself this day, to see whether you are in the faith, or if you need to get started on the greatest journey of all.

12. Answered prayer – 1 John 5:14-15

Immaturity says that prayer is an archaic practice that borders on superstition; why pray when it appears God does not answer?

Maturity says that prayer is worthwhile, not because of how God answers, but because prayer helps develop our relationship with God. Prayer is communication with the one who loves us and saves us. We spend time with those whom we love, and we communicate by talking and listening. Prayer is not a magical incantation that gets us the desires of our heart; name it and claim it.

Remedy: Answered prayer is not just getting what you ask for, but it is the confidence we have that He hears us (Condition alert – IF we ask according to His will). How do we know He hears us, answered prayer; but according to His will is the key. When we lose self, embrace Christ, and literally go “through the pit” with Christ (in order to get the mind of Christ), what we ask for will change. When we ask in accordance to God’s will, he hears and answers.

Set Apart or Living Like the World?

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Why is it that some people who are actively a part of the church seem to make such poor choices in their lives? I’m talking about choices that are not only conduct unbecoming a follower of Christ but could very well be illegal in some cases. We all have good intentions, but the fact is, good intentions are never good enough. We need to emphasize life change. My Sunday Bible study class recently finished a study on real life change… the churchy word is transformation (Romans 12:2).

The kind of change that God wants to see in a believer’s life does not happen by an act of will. We all have hurts, habits, and hang-ups that keep us from being everything that God wants us to be. We won’t change simply by trying harder.

The Bible says, “If the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free” (John 8:36) but if you look around our church, a lot of people are sitting around in chains. We’re not living free. You may have been a believer for 20 years, or a teenager who is new in the faith, but many people still have the same habits, the same struggles, and the same worldliness and values that everyone outside the church does. People are simply not growing into the likeness of Christ.

We often feel like Paul when he writes about his struggle with sin (Romans 7:15, 18-19, 23, 24). I believe that all of us can identify with that. In every human being there’s a civil war going on inside – between what is good and what is bad, between God and the enemy. The changes that God wants to see happen in your life, and those of our congregation, are going to take more than desire, determination and a prayer.

Just attending church isn’t the answer. Plenty of people who attend our church are not living lives worthy of the calling of Christ (Ephesians 4:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:11). I’ve been around church people most of my life, and I have come to realize that there are many people who had been in church for years who are just as envious, just as angry, just as sinful, and just as worldly as everyone else. The church doesn’t change you on the inside.

According to Paul, he discovered how to experience real life change (Romans 7:25). Paul’s answer for life change is the same for all of us sitting in church each weekend. He says, “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

As cliché as it sounds, Jesus really is the answer. Believers are to live in such a way as to show people how Jesus brings about lasting change. How should a believer’s life change because of a relationship with Christ? Have you ever thought about actually living out the teaching of Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)?

It’s not enough to just capitulate, go along with the crowd and claim that living the Christ life is too hard. Worse yet, how many people around us want to believe the facts about Christ, secure their fire insurance, but have no intention of growing in the likeness of Christ? If we claim the name of Christ, we must also seek to live the life of Christ. It doesn’t happen overnight, but we must strive toward Christ likeness as our goal.

At KGBC, we seek to “Know Christ and Make Him Known.” It is impossible to make Him known if we really don’t know Him. If we don’t strive to live in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7) how can we claim to be His follower? Every day we wake up and have to make a choice; will I live for Christ or live like those who are lost without Him?

A Picture of Power

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These are notes for my Bible study class on Sunday mornings at 9:45, a book called Downpour by James MacDonald. Today we will look at being filled with the Holy Spirit.

There is no Christian life apart from Christ in you; Christ is only in you by His Holy Spirit. What are the attributes of the Holy Spirit? (Galatians 2:20, John 14:16-17).

The Holy Spirit is God, not some force of God. The Arians taught that the Holy Spirit was an energy of God, but not a person. Unitarians deny a distinctive personality and personhood of the Holy Spirit. Mormans and Jehovah’s Witnesses believe He is the influence of God but not God.

The Spirit has mind, will, and emotions, just like any person with a soul. He has Intellect or capacity to know (1 Corinthians 2:11), He has emotions and can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30) and has a will giving gifts to whom He desires (1 Corinthians 12:11).  Here are some of the Spirit’s activities:

  • Source of truth – 1 John 5:6
  • Convictor of sin – John 16:8
  • Provider of comfort – John 14:16
  • Gives boldness to witness – Acts 4:31
  • Gives courage to follow – Ephesians 3:16
  • Gives grace to stand – Acts 9:31
  • Gives hope to endure – Colossians 1:11
  • Illuminates God’s Word – John 14:26
  • Prays for God’s people – Romans 8:26-27
  • Advances God’s agenda – John 16:13

Living in the Holy Spirit’s power can only happen when we are filled. If you don’t want what God wants for your life, you are not filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit sets your priorities and goals when He fills your life.

In Ephesians 5:18, the meaning of “being filled” is to be controlled, filled, intoxicated and thoroughly influenced. (Luke 4:28 and Acts 13:45 have a similar understanding of the word). It is to be overcome with a power greater than your own. It is a command, to be filled. It is also in a tense that indicates a continual action, “keep on being filled.” Early believers were filled and were filled again (Acts 2:4, 4:8, 9:17, 13:9). When you drink water in the morning, you get thirsty in the afternoon!

Check out Romans 8:9-13. How does one put to death sinful inclinations? Or get over a private addiction? Or become a man of purity? Or do what’s right? Or stand against sin?

Five confirmations of being filled (Romans 8:14-17):

  1. Is God leading me? (Romans 8:14) God directs our lives, helps us to speak well, do the right thing.
  2. Is God giving me confidence? (Romans 8:15) we no longer live in fear (the future, death, not having enough) but in confidence.
  3. Am I growing in intimacy with God? (Romans 8:15) with a spirit of adoption into God’s family.
  4. Do I feel secure in Christ? (Romans 8:16) we are not meant to doubt our salvation. We should doubt our doubts, not our relationship. When we are insecure, two things may be present: am I grieving the Spirit? (doing things that sadden Him) or am I quenching the Spirit? (not doing that which He has asked me to do)? What have you ignored (1 Thessalonians 5:19)? What is He saying?
  5. Do I draw my identity from Christ? (Romans 8:17) being an heir with Christ. We don’t earn the filling, we simply ask for it.

How to be filled with the Holy Spirit:

  1. Repent of all known sin (Psalm 139:23-24)
  2. Ask God to fill you (Matthew 7:11, Luke 11:13)
  3. Believe that He has filled you (John 14:13, Matthew 9:29)

Bill Bright has a Campus Crusade piece that helps us understand the Spirit-filled Life.

A Picture of Grace

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These are notes for my Bible study class on Sunday mornings at 9:45, a book called Downpour by James MacDonald. Today we will look at what Jesus was doing on the cross.

What was Jesus Doing on the Cross?

The cross is the signature symbol of the central event in human history. It was a symbol of execution until the second century when Constantine saw a vision of it and banned it as an instrument of execution. Today people are often casual about it and can wear it as a piece of jewelry, without understanding the meaning of the symbol.

He was substituting:

Between two robbers, thieves or better translated, revolutionaries, Jesus took the place of mankind, just as He did for Barabbas (Matthew 27:26). Jesus paid the penalty for us; He took the death that we all deserve (Romans 6:23, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:8).

He was scandalizing:

The cross is an outrageous offense that evokes intense reactions from those who are not saved. Look across America at the intense, irrational hatred of Jesus. Why all the illogical animosity toward Jesus Christ? Would people react the same way to Krishna, or Mohammed, a Hindu or the Buddha?

There is an army of darkness that has it’s sights on Christianity. To really live for Christ, we are going to experience this scandalizing hatred (John 7:7, 15:18).

He was suffering:

First century executions were not like today. They wanted to torture and completely humiliate the criminal. For Jesus, the pain was a lesser issue; it was the separation and abandonment that Jesus experienced that caused His suffering (Matthew 27:46).  He was forsaken by the Father and surrounded by darkness.

He was satisfying:

The curtain of the temple was torn in two (Matthew 27:51). The temple represented God’s presence. He lived in the Holy of Holies. The curtain represented that which separates man from God. It was torn from top to bottom, as if God was ripping it apart, saying “the way is now open, come into My presence, the wrath is diverted, My Son paid your penalty.” The debt is satisfied.

Why doesn’t God do something about sin? He did! It is finished (John 19:30).

Four Pictures of Grace.

Grace is undeserved, unmerited, unlearned; and received as a gift. It is not justice (getting what you deserve) or mercy (not getting what you deserve) because grace is getting something that you do not deserve.

Grace that redeems – the penalty is gone:

There was nothing special about any of us; God chose to set His love on us (Colossians 1:14). It is a picture of payment to God; not to come and get us but to pay a price to get us back.

Grace that releases – the power is gone:

Redemption without release is like a mountain climber who stays at base camp. It is not just that we have a home in heaven, but that we can be released from the power of sin here and now. No longer will we be slaves to sin; we have been set free. We have the power to say no to sin. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us today (Romans 6:13, 14).

Grace that reconciles – the prejudice is gone:

Grace causes us to reconcile with every class, race and culture. The walls of separation are broken down (Ephesians 2:14). There are no barriers. The people of God should be the most diverse place on the planet because Christ makes us one, united in spirit. Not only is the wall broken down, but hostility is gone (Ephesians 2:15-16). We must hate every form of prejudice in our society.

Grace that removes – the past is gone:

All sins are wiped away because of the cross (Luke 23:42, 10:33-35, 15:11-31, Matthew 20:8-15). So, where is my debt? It is cancelled (Colossians 2:14). Sometimes the greatest barrier is the way we see ourselves: we don’t feel worthy of God’s love; maybe too ashamed for what we have done or what we were.

Not until we grasp the gravity of our sin problem can we grasp the amazing solution that God has provided by grace. He has redeemed us, released us, reconciled us and removed the shame from us.

A Picture of Repentance

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These are notes for my Bible study class on Sunday mornings at 9:45, a book called Downpour by James MacDonald. Today we will look at five marks of genuine repentance.

What is repentance?

Repentance is the funnel through which all personal revival flows. After we have seen God’s holiness and been brought to a place of personal brokenness over our sin, repentance is the first step in the personal cleanup of the wreckage that sin brings. Here are a few passages regarding repentance: Matthew 3:2, 6:12, Luke 15:7, Acts 3:19, 17:30.

Repentance is change inside of me, in every way and at every level. Change not on the outside but in me. There’s a three-part definition: recognition of sin for what it is (heartfelt sorrow) culminating in a change of behavior. I see sin for what it is (changing my mind) and experience heartfelt sorrow (changing my heart). Then I determine to change my behavior (changing my will).

Repentance is a work of God; where God grants repentance (2 Timothy 2:25 (NIV)). It is a gift of God to anyone who wholeheartedly seeks Him. It’s not easy, only God can grant to us repentance from all that we have failed to do on our own.

Here are the five marks of repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9, 10, 11). Paul lists eleven fruits but are grouped here into five categories:

Grief over sin:

We must lose the grip we have that life is all together. We need to feel like a worm and recognize sin for what it is. If we desire to go higher, we must go lower. Here are a few responses of people who have made contact with the Lord: Genesis 18:27, Job 42:6, Isaiah 6:5, Luke 5:8, Revelation 1:17. The essence is heartfelt sorrow and regret over sin. This sin is always against God, not just against other people.

The word used is lupeo, meaning “greatly distressed,” like the feeling the disciples had after hearing Jesus’ announcement of His crucifixion (Matthew 17:23). It is used 26 times in the NT; half of those in 2 Corinthians; half of those right here in this passage.

Repulsion over sin:

See what godly grief has produced in you (2 Corinthians 7:11). To see means to behold; repentance brings with it an urgency about my relationship with God and strong negative feelings toward anything that would injure it. Those activities no longer bring happiness.

Restitution toward others:

Repentance does not demand anything, but it does request reconciliation; it is not concerned with what another person’s part may have been but what my own part has been. I am the one who is to do whatever it takes to make it right. Repentance is concerned about the people who are affected by my sin. We should be innocent in matters (2 Corinthians 7:11) meaning free of guilt, blameless in the eyes of others. Many people what to be right with God but will not make it right with others. We are to be bridge-builders for reconciliation. No more blaming. No more excuses.

Revival toward God:

Repentance brings an obvious restoration I our relationship with God. Your heart will become sensitive to sin, hunger for the Word of God, and crave less the things of the world. Fear is an attitude of the heart that seeks a right relationship to the fear source.  Fear of the Lord is a good thing (Proverbs 9:10, Luke 23:40). It is an increased awareness and respect for God.

All of a sudden church is not a chore for the repentant person, there is a longing and zeal (2 Corinthians 7:11). Bible study is not a burden. Joy in the Lord has returned. There is a realization that life is temporary. Revival is renewed interest in God after a period of indifference and decline.

Moving Forward:

We are to move forward and not look back; no “if only’s…” that bring regret (2 Corinthians 7:10). Repentance without regret! Move beyond self-punishment that is stuck in the past and won’t move toward the future. Worldly grief produces death, separation from God and hell for eternity. Let’s keep these five marks of repentance in the forefront.

Great Commission Resurgence

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I think Henry Blackaby put his finger exactly on the point when Baptist Press reported, “If Southern Baptists want to see a ‘Great Commission Resurgence,’ Henry Blackaby believes they need to focus on the relationship between disciples and the living Lord Jesus, not launch a new emphasis on evangelism.” 

Blackaby also said, “I have felt for a long time that Southern Baptists have focused on evangelism and missed discipleship. The most important part of the Great Commission is teach them to practice everything I have commanded you. That’s discipleship and that’s the heart of the Great Commission. If we want to have a resurgence in the Great Commission, there’s got to be a refocusing on the priorities of Christ for discipleship.”

Will You Lay Down Your Life?

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I was reading Oswald Chambers this morning and was fascinated by this observation… “Jesus does not ask me to die for Him, but to lay down my life for Him.” During the instruction time after the Last Supper, Jesus brings up the topic of his departure which prompted Peter to declare, “I will lay down my life for You” (John 13:37). Peter usually had an affinity for the dramatic and speaking up for the group (Mark 9:5, 10:28, 29, 14:47, John 18:10, Mark 11:21, Matthew 14:28, 15:15, 18:21, Luke 12:41), but I sense there is more here than just a willingness to die for Jesus.

We should be able to make that very same statement, because Jesus is still asking, “Will you lay down your life for Me?” (John 13:38). The point is that it is much easier to say we will die for Christ or for the sake of the gospel than it is to lay down our lives each and every day. I see a picture of surrender and submission to His will and authority. We must walk in the light in our everyday activities. He calls us not necessarily to die for Him but to live for Him.

For 33 years Jesus was on this earth and laid down His life to do the will of His Father. I see an interesting parallel in Scripture between John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16. The first mentions the passion, purpose and provision of the Father (He loved, gave and offers life). In the latter we have our Christian mandate, model and mission, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us, we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (we love, give to others, and lay down our lives). It is not easy because it is contrary to our human nature to do this.

We are selfish and self-preserving, but if we are friends of Jesus, we must deliberately and carefully lay down our lives for Him; love Him, learn of Him and live for Him. Salvation is easy for us, only because it cost God so much, but exhibiting salvation in our lives is quite difficult. It’s good that we don’t go through this life alone; we need His strength and have the Spirit to guide us. Involvement in a solid Christian community is also a wonderful benefit to living a meaningful life in the world.

A Picture of Brokenness

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These are notes for my Bible study class on Sunday mornings at 9:45, a book called Downpour by James MacDonald. Last time the lesson was on holiness, and it was significant to point out that we need to know what holiness is, because God expects us to be holy (1 Peter 1:16). 

Drop the umbrella:

We have an umbrella that keeps the showers of God’s blessings from reaching us, it is called sin. Sin is not in the neighborhood, or in the newspaper; it’s in the mirror. If you have ever asked the question of why you don’t feel as close to God as you used to, the answer is sin. You can study the Bible all day and serve faithfully in the church, but the bottom line is that you have to deal with sin; and deal with it God’s way. 

We must take sin seriously because it brings God’s wrath (Romans 1:18). We fail to conform to God’s Word and His standard. Hamartia is the word for missing the mark or target. And missing it brings death (Romans 3:23). 

The origin of sin goes back to the Garden of Eden; they chose their own way and did the one thing God told them not to do (Genesis 3:6-7). From then on we have passed on a sin nature to all mankind, like a genetic disease. This makes every unbeliever an enemy of God. 

The extent of our sin:

We all are sinners, to claim anything else would be self-deceit. When we acknowledge it, we forget it is a slippery slope that leads to ruin. Sin intends to do much harm: 

  • Sin will pursue you (Genesis 4:7, 11, 12) by crouching at the door and desiring us.
  • Sin will disappoint you (Hebrews 11:25) by bringing pleasure for only a short time.
  • Sin will trip you up (Hebrews 12:1) by spotting your weakness and catching you off-guard.
  • Sin will enslave you (Romans 6:16) by making you obey through addiction.
  • Sin will expose you (Proverbs 28:13, Number 32:23) by bringing your secret sin into the open.

Sin is my choice:

There are no excuses like, everybody’s doing it, or it’s not that bad, or I haven’t hurt anyone. Sin suppresses the fact of God’s existence (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Theologians call this our God-consciousness. You’ve got to work hard to suppress the sense that somebody’s out there. He sees me and is keeping track. Sin is the attempt to push this sense down. 

Your conscience accuses you; that internal alarm that knows right from wrong. No one can plead ignorance, God has made himself clearly seen (Romans 1:19), and He has written it on our hearts (Romans 2:14-15). Can you let your conscience be your guide? Nope! 

  • Your conscience is conditioned by what you know. The more you get into God’s Word, the more tender your conscience gets.
  • Your conscience is conditioned by what you do. It is made tender by doing right and becomes calloused when you do wrong. It is possible to sear your conscience, and actually lose the capacity to feel pain (1 Timothy 4:2).

Creation shouts the existence of God (Psalm 14:1) so it is foolish to say there is no God. We are without excuse, and have no defense. 

Sin is destroying your mind, causing you to think foolishly (Romans 1:21 – meaning pointless or in futility). Thinking becomes soft or logically unsound. When sin drives decisions, a lot of foolish thinking will follow. (See questions on p. 119 in the book). Sin so distorts our thinking that we begin to invent a god that will actually agree with us (Romans 1:22-23). 

A slippery slope:

We often do not fully consider the consequences of lingering in sin; but must see the slippery slope that will cause us to tumble. The author mentions three broad categories of sin: pride, pleasure and priorities. 

Pride is self-centered thinking, made up of three elements: position, prestige and power.

  • Position – it focuses on thoughts of superiority in relation to others because of the role you have attained.
  • Prestige – it has a consuming need for recognition, being watched by others and a desire for others to pat you on the back. It is dropping names and listing accomplishments.
  • Power – it is an inappropriate use of influence, to force people to do something not in their best interest. Then taking pride in the ability to affect others this way. 

Pleasure is not sinful, since God supplies things for us to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17). It becomes sin when we seek to pursue it at the wrong time, with the wrong person or in the wrong amount.

  • Sex – it is out of control in our world today and has made serious headway in the church. It can seriously hurt and degrade like a bad cavity when out of the boundaries God has set.
  • Substance abuse – it dulls the need to rely upon God, and it used to take off the edge or dull the pain of life. It keeps you from seeing how much you really need God.  God wants you under His power and nothing else (1 Corinthians 6:12).
  • Stuff – it is not wrong to have things; it is wrong when things have us (Psalm 62:10). Pursuing stuff in the wrong amount, at the wrong time or for the wrong reasons is sin.

Priorities describe the good that is left undone (James 4:17).

  • Priority of personal care – it is not taking care of yourself. Since we belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) we are to care for ourselves. Overeating, failure to exercise, refusal to rest, etc. sound familiar?
  • Priority of others – it is making relationships a priority, rather than closing up or withholding yourself from others, failure to forgive others (Ephesians 4:32) and failure to love.
  • Priority of relationship with God – Only you can answer this: are you loving Christ with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength? Are you walking with God?

Heartwork:

Cultivate the discipline of calling your behavior that fails to keep God’s law what it really is, sin. We need to give God unlimited access and ful permission to shine His light into every dark corner of our souls. I will bring the handout on page 125 to class on Sunday.

What’s Your Epitaph?

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I’ve just started reading a book by Bob Buford, called Halftime. Here are some introductory remarks:

The subject of death is never a fun one, but I wanted to ask a probing question. When it’s your time, and you’ve left this life, what would you want on your tombstone? What would you select as your epitaph? As we look into this question, let’s put it in the context of Matthew 13:3-9. 

The seed that fell on the good soil grew and produced a crop one hundred fold. In business, that would be considered a pretty good investment! St. Augustine said that asking yourself the question of your own legacy (what do I want to be remembered for?) is the beginning of adulthood. An epitaph is more than a fancy slogan or wishful personal motto. It says something about who you are, down to the essence of your personality and your soul. 

We are spiritual beings, not merely machines or animals. God has set eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11) and it tells that we can have purpose and leave a destiny. For believers, we exchange this life for something much greater. 

In today’s parable, which soil do you desire to be? Only the good soil is free from mediocrity and apathy. The desire is to have this life count for something, and to pass it on to the next generation… to our kids. When we look at life as an adult, it’s almost as if we are at halftime. Halftime is many sports is when we get to rest a bit, but more importantly we evaluate the first half and strategize for the second half. The first half of life we don’t have much time to think about how we will spend the rest of our lives. We rushed through college, fell in love and got married, started a career, climbed upward, and acquired stuff that made life more comfortable. 

You played hard during the first half, and might have been winning, but the older you get, keeping score does not offer the thrill it once did. You’ve taken some hits, and you have come to halftime with some pain: serious pain, like divorce, disappointment, too much alcohol, not enough time for your kids, guilt, loneliness, trapped in bad habits. You started with good intentions but got blindsided along the way. 

Even if your pain is slight, you’re smart enough to know that you can’t play the second half the same way you did as the first half. We don’t fear the end of the game, but you want to make sure you finish well. The first half is your quest for success; the second half is your search for significance. It’s the second half of life that causes us to ask questions about legacy. 

Athletes will tell you, the game is won or lost in the second half. It’s possible to make first half mistakes, be down at halftime, and still come out a winner, as long as you make changes in the second half. You won’t win by playing the same way as the first half.

Some people never get to the second half; they never grow up. Some don’t even know the second half exists. Once you turn 35, your life is not set toward aging and decline. Life is not over at 40. There are still things that you can do to leave a legacy worth remembering. You can move from success to significance. I trust that the Men of Steel can help you create an epitaph for your life, and a legacy for your family. 

Ten Commandments of Mentoring

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Seems there are Ten Commandments for most any organization, which obviously started in the Old Testament, but I found these two lists of the top 10 relating to mentoring. The first is a classic list of “do’s” and “don’ts” for effective mentoring, written by John C Crosby of the Uncommon Individual Foundation.

 

  1. Thou shalt not play God.
  2. Thou shalt not play teacher.
  3. Thou shalt not play mother or father.
  4. Thou shalt not lie with your body.
  5. Active listening is the holy time and shalt practice it at every session.
  6. Thou shalt not be judgmental.
  7. Thou shalt not lose heart because of repeated disappointments.
  8. Thou shalt practice empathy, not sympathy.
  9. Thou shalt not believe that thou can move mountains.
  10. Thou shalt not envy thy neighbor’s protégé, nor they neighbor’s success.

 

This second list of questions is designed to evaluate the mentoring relationship, written by Paul Stanley and J. Robert Clinton from Christianity Today. Ask the question and rate yourself with: Fully, Partially, or Didn’t.

 

  1. Establish a strong relationship. The stronger the relationship, the greater the empowerment. As you look for potential protégés, keep compatibility and chemistry in mind.
  2. Agree on purpose. A basic rule in planning is “begin with the end in mind.” When mentoring proves disappointing, the problem usually points back to differing or unfulfilled expectations. So at the very beginning, agree on what you’re both hoping to achieve.
  3. Determine contact frequency. Intensive mentoring works best with at least once-a-week contact, either face-to-face or by phone.
  4. Decide on the type of accountability. Will you use written reports, scheduled phone calls, probing questions during meetings, or a planned evaluation time?
  5. Set up communication mechanisms. As mentors, we have always asked our protégés, “If I see or learn of an area of concern, how and when do you want me to communicate it to you?”
  6. Clarify the confidentiality level. Make it clear when something you share should be treated as confidential.
  7. Set the relationship’s life cycle. It’s best to avoid open-ended mentorships. Better to have short periods, evaluation, and closure points with the possibility of reentry than have a sour relationship for a long time that each fears terminating.
  8. Evaluate regularly. See where progress has been made, where there are problems, and what should be done to improve the mentoring. Joint evaluation is always best
  9. Modify expectations as necessary. After a time of mentoring, bring expectations down to what is more likely going to happen—and give thanks for it.
  10. Bring closure at the right time. Vertical mentoring that has no clear end in mind will usually dwindle to nothing with uneasy feelings on the part of both people. A happy ending requires that both parties be involved in evaluating and mutually ending the mentoring relationship.