Eric Kuykendall

Karis says, "My mama is silly..."

2009-03-23T13:17:00.001-05:00

Karis says, "My mama is silly..."
Originally uploaded by esk4010

Beautiful Preaching by C.J. Mahaney

2009-01-23T21:00:00.000-06:00

A Thorn in the Side of the Church

2009-01-09T20:48:00.000-06:00

This One Got Me...

2008-12-31T12:32:00.001-06:00

Karis Day at Disney World

2008-12-17T10:06:00.001-06:00

Fight FOCA

2008-11-22T19:00:00.000-06:00

Mark Richt and Wife are Inspiring

2008-10-29T16:52:00.001-05:00

Karis Eloise Kuykendall

2008-07-31T21:48:00.001-05:00

Our baby girl Karis was born July 17th. Click here for pictures.

Jaw Dropping

2008-03-04T21:21:00.001-06:00

Love this...

Piper and Eric

2007-12-01T20:54:00.001-06:00

Piper and Eric
Originally uploaded by esk4010

Do you see any resemblance?

Introducing Bishop Piper Kuykendall

2007-12-01T20:43:00.001-06:00

Foreshadowing?
Originally uploaded by esk4010

This is our newest puppy named Bishop Piper Kuykendall. He goes by Piper. He will walk in the legacy of Bishop. Although we lost Bishop to cancer, we saved Piper from an animal control center in Bishop's honor.

Thoughts on The Church is Bigger Than You Think by Patrick Johnstone

2007-10-22T20:21:00.000-05:00

In his article The Church is Bigger Than You Think, Patrick Johnstone lays out a very interesting look at the spread of Christianity through history. He explains various instances in history that caused an increase or a decrease in the number of people being reached for the Gospel. The most telling aspect of the various diagrams is the dramatic increase of reaching the ends of the earth in the last two hundred years.

I believe the two primary reasons why Christianity is being spread at a much higher rate than at any other time in history is because the translation of the Bible in native languages and the advancement of travel. First of all, prior to about the 15th century the Bible simply could not be found in the language of the commoner. Therefore, the Gospel had to be preached by lay people who did not have the authority to preach by the Roman Catholic Church. The Protestant Reformation only accelerated the ability of lay people and non-Catholic preachers to take the Word of God to the people.

The proliferation of lay people getting a hold of the Word awakened a generation passionate about taking it to places it had never been seen. As the momentum to spread the Gospel gained traction, the world became smaller and smaller with the evolution of trains, cars, boats, and planes. Suddenly, relatively speaking, a person was able to travel to places far away in a short period of time. Also, missionaries were able to take the Gospel to unreached people groups at a much faster rate. The result is the spread of Christianity to almost every people group within a span of two hundred years.

God has orchestrated these events in history to make is absolutely simple for His people to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We have career missionaries spread out all over this planet that will almost certainly welcome people from the states. The network of missionaries across the planet is also strong and prepared to reach every last unreached people group. However, we remain to have a generation of comfortable Christians that will not forsake worldly pleasures for the call of missions. Therefore, the spread of Christianity is more efficient than any other time in history. Yet, American Christians remain infatuated with temporal pleasures at the expense of the spread of the Gospel. May God have mercy.

Christ is a Gift, Not a Reward

2007-05-03T09:10:00.000-05:00

From Chris Tomlin's song "Enough"

You're my supply, my breath of life
Still more awesome than I know
You're my reward, worth living for
Still more awesome than I know

A reward is something we earn. Jesus was a gift that we did not earn (nor deserve).

Even if we worked hard for Jesus, our ability to do good was supplied by God. Apart from the grace of God I can do no good.

Ironically, my reward is to do good things for the Kingdom. 1 Cor. 9:16-18 "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel."

Jonathan Edwards and Hell

2007-04-08T18:53:00.000-05:00

Jonathan Edwards is regarded as one of the greatest and most profound of American theologians and revivalists. His powerful, reformed preaching combined with his missionary zeal combine to make him one of the most influential teachers of the last three-hundred years.

Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of much of his sermons was his low view of fallen man and high view of holy God. Edward’s “fire-and-brimstone” sermons would serve as a catalyst to the First Great Awakening. In his most famous “fire-and-brimstone” sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Edwards said, “All you that never passed under a great change of heart by the mighty power of the Spirit of God upon your souls; all that were never born again, and made new creatures, and raised from being dead in sin...you are thus in the hands of an angry God; 'tis nothing but his mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction." One might argue that Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God is not even Edward’s most condemning sermon. Consider these other titles: The Justice of God in the Damnation of Sinners, The Future Punishment of the Wicked Unavoidable and Intolerable, and Hell Fire and Repentance.

I believe that Edward’s bold description of the realities of hell helped usher in First Great Awakening. This style of evangelistic preaching prompted the famous accounts of widespread weeping, swooning, crying out, and convulsions from members of the congregation. These kinds of reactions occurred even though Edwards read the sermons in a monotone voice with his eyes allegedly fixated on the church bellrope. Clearly the reality of Hell can and should be used in evangelistic efforts.

Many unbelievers today do not believe in hell and think we just go to sleep at the end of life. Others view hell as a state of mind. In an online response to the question of hell, one lost person said, “it would be this big, flaming party with everyone ever condemned by the Christian church. Oscar Wilde would be there. John Lennon would be there. Galileo would be there. It would be really fun and we could practice any vice.” Thus, Edwards was right to evoke the realities of hell to stir the heart.

Surely today’s popular evangelism tools see the need to explain the eternal destination of the unsaved. However, a brief inspection of these evangelism tools shows the abandonment of the reality of hell. Evangelism Explosion presents man as a sinner and falling short of the glory of God. It states clearly that the penalty of sin is death. It even says, “Man cannot save himself.” But from what does man need to be saved? There is absolutely no mention of Hell.

The FAITH Evangelism Strategy is the most recent outreach tool adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention. It also seems to avoid the big white elephant in the room. FAITH states, “It is impossible for God to allow sin into Heaven” and “judgment is without mercy". But what is this judgment that the tract speaks about? Certainly the assumption is hell. However, should we leave the blinded mind with the task of understanding the gravity of hell? They may think they are on the path to the biggest heathen party in the universe!

Good News Publishers is a Christian ministry that exists solely for the purpose of proclaiming the gospel through publishing. They list their bestselling tracts on their website. Of the top ten bestselling tracts, only one mentions Hell. However, the one that actually does mention hell only describes it as a separation from God’s blessings – a far cry from Edward’s description.

The unfortunate reality is that today’s popular evangelism tools have totally abandoned evoking the image of Hell as a means to sharing the Gospel. Without the reality of Hell, the good news simply becomes O.K. news. Without speaking about Hell, salvation becomes life-enhancing instead of life-changing.

The Cross of Christ - Book Review Pt. 3 of 3

2007-03-08T09:30:00.000-06:00

Section Three – The Achievement of the Cross
Because of the cross, we now have salvation. This was all possible through the integral components, or “images” as Stott puts it, of God’s salvation system. Stott thoroughly expounds upon the doctrines of propitiation, redemption, justification and reconciliation. Penal substitutionary atonement is a majestic system with many components. Stott explains how these doctrines are all part of the bigger system and work congruently to bring about perfect atonement.
The cross also revealed the glory, justice, and love of God. All three of these attributes, discussed in chapter eight, bringing into clearer focus the true nature of God. This section ends with the victory found through the cross. That victory over Satan was predicted at the fall of man when God said Satan would be crushed by the Messiah, began in the public ministry of Jesus, and achieved at the cross. That victory is also extended today as the church receives victory after victory over the darkness.

Section Four – Living Under the Cross
The final section is all about application. What are we to do with this wonderful news? We are first shown that this salvation provided through the cross ushers in a new relationship with God that is characterized by boldness, love, and joy. The sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and baptism are a natural, appropriate outflow of this new relationship.
The final three chapters discuss how the cross should revolutionize our attitude about our self, our neighbors, and our enemies. The cross brings an attitude of personal self-denial in the form of humility. However, in that humility comes a confidence that we are emboldened by Jesus to accomplish His mission. The cross also models a self-sacrificial that should lead to giving in the context of community. Finally, Christ modeled a pure form of love for His enemies on the cross. Followers of the cross will endure suffering which should only be combated with love, patience and hope.

Conclusion
John R.W. Stott’s The Cross of Christ is one of the more thorough, yet accessible, works on the cross made available in the last fifty years. The book would be revolutionary and challenging for the casual Christian, affirming for the mature Christian, and fortifying for the church leader.

The Cross of Christ - Book Review Pt. 2 of 3

2007-03-01T15:40:00.000-06:00

Section One – Approaching the Cross

The book begins in chapter one covering the sign and symbol of the cross through the centuries. Every major religion and organization has a symbol that makes it distinct. Christianity has been defined by the symbol of the cross. The cross is the central image of the most heinous form of capital punishment known at that time. Stott describes how the cross became the central symbol for Christianity. He then moves on to describe how the cross was in the mind and sight of Christ during His ministry. Jesus repeatedly foretold of his impending execution by way of the cross.
But why did Christ die and who was responsible for his death. Certainly these questions were brought to extreme relevance even recently as the blockbuster movie The Passion of the Christ caused people to point fingers. These questions are thoroughly addressed by Stott in chapter two. The Romans, the Jews, and Judas Iscariot all played roles in Jesus’ capture and execution. But, Stott throws down the gavel and ultimately shows the culprit to be the sins of every individual that sent Jesus to the cross.
In chapter three we are led to look below the surface and discover several instances leading up to Christ’s death that give us further insight into the meaning of the cross. The Last Supper points us to remember this monumental event, especially how his shed blood usher in the New Covenant. The agony in the Garden of Gethsemane shows the gravity of the moment and the resolute confidence displayed by a man on a mission. Jesus’ words on the cross show in a profound way the justice of God at work.

Section Two – The Heart of the Cross

If section one was a appetizer, section two begins the real meat of the book. God’s plan of salvation creates a problem for man that only Christ can sufficiently address. Chapter four shows us that our sins require an atoning act because they are ultimately sins against God. While sins against fellow humans are often easily brushed aside, our sins against God are rebellious and consequently grave. God’s holiness cannot coexist with sin. His wrath opposes it. Therefore man has a seemingly irreconcilable situation on his hands.
Chapter five begins to lay out God’s solution to that problematic situation. The solution is found in the satisfaction found through the death of Christ on the cross. God needs an appropriate satisfaction before He makes the crimson sin as white as snow. Some have suggested that it is the devil or the Law or God’s honor or the “moral order” that demand satisfaction. However, Stott lays out a clear and convincing argument that it is God Himself, the Author of Salvation, that demands an suitable means of forgiveness in order to not contradict Himself. The cross of Christ not only represents Jesus as the perfect satisfaction for God but also the perfect substitute for us. This is the subject of chapter six. The Old Testament sacrificial system foreshadowed the notion of substitution – that is one taking the place of another “in order to bear that person’s pain and so save him or her from it.” Where the blood of bulls and goats was imperfect, Jesus was perfect. The sinless one, God in Christ, bore the sins of many as the only perfect substitute.

The Cross of Christ - Book Review Pt. 1 of 3

2007-02-22T09:57:00.000-06:00

I recently finished reading "The Cross of Christ" by John R.W. Stott. Below is the first of a three part review of the book. In case you want the bottom line in the first paragraph, I would highly recommend this book.

It has been well asserted through the years that the cross of Christ is the most widely recognized symbol of Christianity. Yet few in our culture take the next step of understanding the significance of that cross. The cross that supported the body of Jesus Christ is the principal representation of the atoning work of the Messiah. It’s significance has reached across generations and caused a fork in the road for billions of individuals. It’s importance cannot be understated.
Writing on the subject of the cross of Christ would be a humbling for any reverent theologian. Author John R.W. Stott would be considered highly respected among Evangelical authors. He has written dozens of books and sold millions of copies of which are translated in dozens of languages. He was even honored in 2005 by Time magazine as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World”.[1]
Of all of his accomplishes, perhaps the magnum opus is The Cross of Christ. In this thorough work on the subject of the cross, Stott carefully and methodically answers the questions of its significance and relevance. The casual reader will certainly have a much better understanding of the meaning and centrality of the cross. However, this book is so comprehensive that it will also be both devotional and resourceful for the trained minister.

The Overall Scope
The cross was the symbol of torture and death for the generations that saw law-breakers executed for crimes against humanity. The cross became the symbol that identified believers. Later it was painted on shields and used in wars that brought shame to the One upon which we celebrate. Today it is used as jewelry and worn by the most immoral people our culture has to offer. How did the symbol of the cross get so far from its original meaning? Stott’s message in The Cross of Christ brings us back to the central meaning and significance of the cross from the Biblical worldview.
The book is divided into four sections. The first section looks at the cross from a historical perspective. The second and third sections are the nucleus of the book. They present a thorough treatise on the significance of the cross. It is in these two sections that the reader will find the cross as a crucial application to the problem of our own sinful nature. Stott shows that Christ’s death on the cross sufficiently satisfies God’s justice toward believers because He is the perfect substitute. The final section explores practical ways this truth applies to the lives of the faithful.

[1] http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/2005/time100/heroes/100stott.html

A Life Cannot Be Divided – Mark 3:20-27

2007-02-13T16:30:00.000-06:00

I got to preach on Sunday. Below is my sermon notes:

One of the most traumatic events of American history was the Civil War (or as some would call it the War of Northern Aggression). The issues surrounding this sad time are complex and much debated, including many of the decisions made by President Abraham Lincoln. What’s not often discussed, however, is the impact of the Bible upon Lincoln’s life and the way he processed decisions.

With an early grounding in God’s Word, biblical themes would shape Lincoln’s adult thinking. As the slavery issue threatened to divide the Union, Lincoln wrote,

“I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved; I do not expect the house to fall; but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other.”

This statement was a direct application of Mark 3:25 which says, “If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” Lincoln would often use this allusion to Mark 3 in his political campaigns, including his 1860 campaign for the presidency.

This same scripture rings true today. It is foundational for your understanding of how to live your life for God to the fullest and take hold of the glorious victory we have in Jesus.

CONTEXT
After Jesus taught in the synagogue about the Sabbath, the Pharisees and the Herodians began conspiring to capture Jesus and put him to death.

(vs. 7-12) Jesus withdraws to the sea. However, His popularity is sky-rocketing. A great number of people were hearing about all that Jesus was doing.

(vs. 13-19) Jesus went up on a mountain and summoned to himself 12 disciples. He commissioned them as apostles to be sent out to preach and gave them authority to cast out demons.

We pick up in verse 20 with Jesus returning from the mountain and again attracting a crowd.

EXPOSITION

20And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal.
21When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, "He has lost His senses."

When Jesus came home, the crowds began pressing in to see him.

Vs. 21 says, “When His own people heard of this…” The Greek points to it probably being Jesus’ very family!

When they heard of this commotion, they went to take custody of Him saying “he has lost his senses” or “he is out of his mind!”

Jesus’ own family had yet to figure out what Jesus was up to. During Jesus’ ministry, his own brothers did not believe Jesus. It was only after the resurrection and ascension that the brother’s believed.

22The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons."

Beelzebul was the title of the Caananite pagan God Ba’al – translated “Prince Ba’al”. The Hebrews would later mock this title by changing it to Beelzebub which is translated “Lord of the Flies”. Through the years, the term Beelzebub has become synonymous with Satan.
So the Jewish religious leaders were claiming that Jesus was possessed by Satan and casting out demons in the name of Satan.

Let’s see how Jesus responds…
23And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan?
24"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25"If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
26"If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished!

Jesus used well known truths of a kingdom and a house to logically conclude that it was impossible for him to be casting out demons in the name of Satan.

THESIS STATEMENT

It is upon this parable that we can draw this important truth for your life:

A life divided against itself, is a life that will not be able to stand. A divided life will be rendered ineffective and of little use.

You should never settle for living a divided life. You can and should live an intentionally unified life for the glory of God for three clear reasons:

God is Supreme
Christ is Victorious
We were made to glorify God alone

God is Supreme

God is first and the best of beings. He created you to honor and glorify Him above everything this world has to offer.

Now, the world has a lot to offer – or should I say, they are offering a lot.

If the most recent Super Bowl ads are any indication:
¨ Beer is still the pinnacle of the human experience
¨ Doritos and Coca Cola are a close second
¨ And you better be careful how you eat a Snicker’s Bar

But that is just a small percentage of what is trying to vie for your affections. TV, internet, food, money, work, relationships, -- All of these can divide your life and cause you to be pulled in a thousand directions and totally ineffective for the Gospel.

Turn to Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Now God doesn’t want you to serve Him like a slave would serve a master. Serve your Lord by bringing glory to Him in all things.

As a child of God, he must be first in our lives. Loving money or material possessions equal to or above God is sin. Like everything else God gives us, money should be used to bring him glory.

Therefore, we must evaluate our attitude toward our possessions. Possessions can divide our heart and our affections. When material things and the accumulation of them become more important than worshiping and serving the Lord, they have become a god.

Again, it is not just material things. Apply this to your life. It could be technology, food, approval, the employment ladder, etc. Apply it.

Not only is God first, there really should be no second!

The Great Commandment? “Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' Matthew 22:37

There is a word that appears 3 times here…all. Actually “with” and “your” also appear 3 times.

What does “all” mean? All means all!

What are the implications of loving the Lord your God with all of you heart, soul and mind? What are the implications in your life today? Think about that!

Why should God be first in your life – because He is best!

Exodus 15:11
"Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

Is God only one of the best? NO! He is preeminent, supreme, the only exalted one.

Christ is Victorious

Another reason there is no basis to have a divided life is because Christ disarmed and triumphed over Satan. Christ is victorious! To know and believe this, you need to understand how it happened and then claim it as a powerful truth in your life.

The victory by Christ over Satan was prophesied all the way back in Genesis 3. It was set in motion way back when Adam and Eve first sinned.

God said to Satan, “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

The woman’s offspring is the Messiah who was destined to crush Satan. When the Messiah had finally come and began his ministry, Satan made many attempts to thwart this destiny.

Remember the temptations in the wilderness.
Remember Peter tried to deny the necessity of the cross to which Jesus replied, “Get behind me Satan”.
Demon-possessed people would go crazy around Jesus and try to frustrate Jesus.

But Jesus was resolute in following the Father’s will. Look at vs. 27:

27"But no one can enter the strong man's house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.

Satan is the strong man and Jesus is the only one who can bind the strong man. This shows that Satan is completely at the mercy of Jesus who can bind, or overpower, him.

Perhaps the most important NT passage in which the victory of Christ is set forth is Colossians 2:13c-15.

He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Notice first “he forgave us all our sins”. He canceled the debt. He cancelled it how? – by nailing it to the cross.

What did this forgiveness of sin accomplish according to verse 15? Namely:
¨ The disarming, or stripping away, of the powers and authorities.
¨ Jesus made a public spectacle of them, exhibiting them as powerless.
¨ And He triumphed over them by the cross.

So the victory of Christ, predicted immediately after the Fall and begun during his public ministry, was decisively won at the cross.

So, we can and should live an intentionally unified life for the glory of God because:
Ø God is Supreme
Ø Christ is Victorious

We were made to glorify God alone

Each of us was created for one ultimate reason. Your chief end, your ultimate purpose, is to glorify God alone and enjoy Him forever. When you live your life by funneling all that you do through this very purpose – of glorifying God – you will experience the Abundant Life.

The problem is that we are often a divided life. We glorify God, but that is only one slice of the pie. We also feel the need to devote your time to kids, and bills, and entertainment, and relationships, and eating, and drinking.

1 Corinthians 10:31; So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

There’s that word “all” again!! What does all mean? All means all!

What?!? Am I suggesting that you become a monk, renounce all worldly pleasures, and embrace poverty and chastity??? Of course not! But, we were created for God’s glory. This means, whatever you do, whether you eat, drink, work, marry, laugh, play, etc. – do it all for the glory of God.

Paul said to the Corinthian church: “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”

Does this mean he stopped hanging out with friends? Does this mean he stopped playing games? Does this mean he stopped eating and went on a life-long fast? Of course not!

But there was a theme in all the things he did - The glory of God in Christ! And that made a lasting difference in this world.

The people who have made a lasting difference in this world are not the people who have mastered many things, but who have been mastered by one great God.

Many lives are like pebbles thrown in the ocean. The ripple effect is hardly noticeable. If you want your ripple effect to become waves and reach the ends of the earth and roll onto eternity,
You don’t have to have good looks or riches or come from nice neighborhood or have great clothes. Instead, you have to be driven one great all-embracing purpose – the glorification of our great God and King -- and be set on fire by it!

Let me recap the main points for you this morning before we close and sing:

A life divided against itself, is a life that will not be able to stand. A divided life will be rendered ineffective and of little use.

You should never settle for living a divided life. You can and should live an intentionally unified life for the glory of God for three clear reasons:

God is Supreme
Christ is Victorious
We were made to glorify God alone

Baptist Catechism Question Four

2007-02-08T15:42:00.000-06:00

Today’s Question: What is the Word of God?
Today’s Answer: The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, being given by divine inspiration, are the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice..

Scripture: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:16

"Scriptures" is a special word for the "writings" of the OT and NT. The OT deals with God's word that came before Jesus was born; and the NT is the word of God that came after Jesus was born. [John Piper - JP]

Read 2 Tim 3:16

How is Scripture described in this verse?
"Divine inspiration" means that it is God-breathed: by his Spirit he guided his spokesmen to speak his word in their language. [JP]

Being that the words of Scripture are from God, to believe or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.

Does anyone know what the word infallible means?
"Infallible" means it will never lead us astray in what it teaches. It is true and does not err. It can be trusted. [JP]

In what ways does the Bible equip us for daily living according to 2 Tim. 3:16?
Answer: teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness

Which of the four equipping roles is most needed in your life right now? Why?

We have seen that the Bible is God’s inspired Word to us. If the Bible truly is our Creator’s Word to us, then it ought to be the ultimate source of authority for our lives. [Real Faith, Campus Crusade for Christ]

How then can we increase our reliance upon God’s Word?

Read Psalm 19:9-11

What value did David place on God’s Word?
Answer: It was more valuable to him than precious gold

Do you value the message in your Bible more than any other object on this earth? Does the Bible need to play a more important role in your life? Why?

"Faith" refers to right thinking and feeling; and "practice" refers to right doing. We measure our thoughts and emotions and actions by the rule of the Bible. [JP]

Scripture is sufficient. What does that mean?

It means that “Scripture contains all the words of God we need for salvation, for trusting him perfectly, and for obeying him perfectly.”

All other authorities are subordinate to Scripture and are fallible. You don’t need a magazine or another person to tell you how to live.

It seems like some of these folks on American Idol live and die by the words of Randy, Paula, and Simon. The Christian should take comfort in a higher authority.

Small Group Discussion:

Read the following scenario and discuss:

FOR A BOYS GROUP:

Matt and Chris met one particular Tuesday over lunch. Over the course of lunch, Chris asked Matt if he had read any good books or magazines regarding girls.
“So, who do you have a crush on?” Matt replied.
“Well, her name is LaFonda. But, to tell you the truth, I can’t figure out girls at all. I don’t really know how to act around them.” said Chris.
“Actually I have a great book” said Matt. “The Bible lays out pretty clearly how God has designed girls and how we as guys should treat them. I could show you some passages if you would like.”
Chris quickly interrupted, “Yeah, yeah. The Bible has some good stories that teach good morals. But, so do a lot of books! Do you have any suggestions for a man in the 21st century? The Bible is nice, but I need something that speaks about modern relationships! Besides, Christians can’t even agree with each other about what the Bible says!”

DISCUSS: If you were Matt, how would you respond?

FOR A GIRLS GROUP:

Mary and Christy met one particular Tuesday over lunch. Over the course of lunch, Christy asked Mary if she had read any good books or magazines regarding boys.
“So, who do you have a crush on?” Mary replied.
“Well, his name is Kip and he’s very smart! But, to tell you the truth, I can’t figure out boys at all. I don’t really know how to act around them.” said Christy.
“Actually I have a great book” said Mary. “The Bible lays out pretty clearly how God has designed boys and how we as girls should be around them. I could show you some passages if you would like.”
Christy quickly interrupted, “Yeah, yeah. The Bible has some good stories that teach good morals. But, so do a lot of books! Do you have any suggestions for a woman in the 21st century? The Bible is nice, but I need something that speaks about modern relationships! Besides, Christians can’t even agree with each other about what the Bible says!”

DISCUSS: If you were Mary, how would you respond?

Heaven is Better than Marriage

2007-02-02T07:40:00.000-06:00

Today I read from Matthew 22:23-33 Jesus' words about whether we will be (re)united in marriage in Heaven. He said,

For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

I truly delight in the presence of my wife. My heart sings. I am inebreated with love. My joy overflows. My three and a half years of marriage have been by far the best years of my life. God has blessed my with a helpmate that far exceeded my imagination of what a wife could be. She is my pride and joy - not in the sense of a possession, but in the sense of a much better extension of me. She is beautiful, and lovely, and wonderful.

Now, my finite understanding of Heaven would be a place of no suffering/sin where Kylie and I can worship Jesus together. That's my idea of Heaven. Praise God that Heaven is not limited to our "idea" of what Heaven should be. Jesus alludes to Heaven as a place where even our earthly marriage pales in comparison to the joy that will be experience at the new "wedding feast". We will be united with Jesus and experience a bliss that is far better than anything we can comprehend. After this life, Kylie and I may not be married. But, we will be handed over in marriage to the Perfect One where our hearts will sing louder and our joy will not just overflow but explode like a guyser. Praise God!

Baptist Catechism Question Three

2007-02-01T10:33:00.000-06:00

How do we know there is a God?
The light of nature in man, and the works of God, plainly declare that there is a God; but his word and Spirit only, do effectually reveal him unto us for our salvation.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1

ACTIVITY
Break into groups of 3 or 4 and read the Church of England’s response to the question “How do we know there is a God?” Answer each section with true / false / half truth.

How do we know there is a God?
From http://www.portsmouth.anglican.org/faq/questions_about_faith/

¨ The truthful answer is that we cannot know for certain. We cannot prove the existence of God, but there are many reasons why belief in God is reasonable. true / false / half truth

¨ The first is that nothing science has discovered explains the existence of the universe. Yet the universe has a beauty and an order that suggest a rational mind lies behind it all. Just as the existence of a computer demonstrates that there is someone who invented it, so the world in all its beautiful complexity points to the existence of a Creator, God. true / false / half truth

¨ A second reason is that within the heart of man there is a capacity to love and a desire to be loved. Christians point to that and say it indicates that there is a power of love in the world, which many people call God. true / false / half truth

¨ Another reason is that in every part of the world today and throughout history, men and women have always believed and worshipped God. Some people have said that in every person there is a “God-shaped hole” that only God can fill. The existence of that desire to pray and to believe and talk with God is one argument for God’s existence. true / false / half truth

THREE MAIN REASONS WE CAN KNOW THERE IS A GOD

1. We know there is a God because of the things which He has made.

The light of nature in man, and the works of God, plainly declare that there is a God

" The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands " (Psalms 19:1).

When we see a house we know that someone wise enough and strong enough built it. A house cannot exist without a builder.
In the same way, when we see the sun, moon, stars, the earth, and all that is in the earth, we know they have a builder. Someone wise enough and strong enough made all these things. Only God has power to create the heavens and the earth. Therefore, we know there is a God when we see the things He has made.

The Earth...its size is perfect. The Earth's size and corresponding gravity holds a thin layer of mostly nitrogen and oxygen gases, only extending about 50 miles above the Earth's surface. If Earth were smaller, an atmosphere would be impossible, like the planet Mercury. If Earth were larger, its atmosphere would contain free hydrogen, like Jupiter. (R.E.D. Clark, Creation (London: Tyndale Press, 1946), p. 20)

Earth is the only known planet equipped with an atmosphere of the right mixture of gases to sustain plant, animal and human life.

The Earth is located the right distance from the sun. Consider the temperature swings we encounter, roughly -30 degrees to +120 degrees. If the Earth were any further away from the sun, we would all freeze. Any closer and we would burn up. Even a fractional variance in the Earth's position to the sun would make life on Earth impossible. The Earth remains this perfect distance from the sun while it rotates around the sun at a speed of nearly 67,000 mph. It is also rotating on its axis, allowing the entire surface of the Earth to be properly warmed and cooled every day.

And our moon is the perfect size and distance from the Earth for its gravitational pull. The moon creates important ocean tides and movement so ocean waters do not stagnate, and yet our massive oceans are restrained from spilling over across the continents. (The Wonders of God's Creation, Moody Institute of Science (Chicago, IL))

The human brain...simultaneously processes an amazing amount of information. Your brain takes in all the colors and objects you see, the temperature around you, the pressure of your feet against the floor, the sounds around you, the dryness of your mouth, even the texture of your keyboard. Your brain holds and processes all your emotions, thoughts and memories. At the same time your brain keeps track of the ongoing functions of your body like your breathing pattern, eyelid movement, hunger and movement of the muscles in your hands.

The human brain processes more than a million messages a second. Your brain weighs the importance of all this data, filtering out the relatively unimportant. This screening function is what allows you to focus and operate effectively in your world. A brain that deals with more than a million pieces of information every second, while evaluating its importance and allowing you to act on the most pertinent information... did it come about just by chance? Was it merely biological causes, perfectly forming the right tissue, blood flow, neurons, structure? The brain functions differently than other organs. There is an intelligence to it, the ability to reason, to produce feelings, to dream and plan, to take action, and relate to other people. How does one explain the human brain?

Does God exist? "Chance" or "natural causes" are insufficient explanations.
The alternative to God existing is that all that exists around us came about by natural cause and random chance. Reality: life cannot arise from non-life.

2. We know there is a God because our hearts or conscience tells us.
People have always believed in a God. This has been true in every country and in every age. People have often had false ideas about God but they have always believed in Him.

Read Romans 2:14-16. What is being communicated here?

The light of nature in man, and the works of God, plainly declare that there is a God

There are certain things that everyone knows is right and wrong. The Law is embedded in everybody’s conscience. What are some of the Ten Commandments? Does everyone agree that it is wrong to lie, murder, steal, dishonor your parents, covet, etc.?

3. We know there is a God because He has revealed Himself to us in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Read Hebrews 1:1-2 "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds".

but his word and Spirit only, do effectually reveal him unto us for our salvation.

Jesus Christ came to earth as God in the flesh. He said he was and his disciples were willing to die for that truth.
Jesus fulfilled all the hundreds of prophesies about himself. The odds that a man could fulfill just 8 of the prophesies is one hundred million billion. That is a number far more than the total number of people who have ever walked the planet.
The odds of a man fulfilling 48 prophesies is one chance in a trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion. Our minds can’t comprehend that number. (See The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel)

Yet Jesus fulfilled all the prophesies perfectly.

Jesus also rose from the dead. If people wanted to disprove that they could have just gone to his grave and found the body.

God Delights in Sharing the Knowledge of Himself

2007-01-31T07:39:00.000-06:00

I am currently reading Jonathan Edwards The End for Which God Created the World. Today's 'morning Scripture reading' brought to mind Edward's point in Section Three that God delights in the sharing of His perfection - specifically the sharing of the knowledge of Himself.

Edwards writes this regarding God delighting in His revelation of knowledge: "as [God] delights in his own light, he must delight in every beam of that light; as he highly values his own excellency, he must be well pleased in having it manifested and so glorified."

The knowledge of God is perhaps best found in the Scriptures. Therefore we must have Scripture manifested and this glorifies God. As we interact with Scripture, we need to know that it is God's revelation of His perfect knowledge. This perfect knowledge gives God glory - and we get to read and digest it!

Perhaps this analogy can bring these thoughts to life: A man goes to a restaurant to eat a meal. The chef is perfect and fixes a meal that is perfect in every way. It is the best cut of meat served at just the right temperature. The sides perfectly complement the meat. They are the man's favorite sides and done just the way he likes them. His heart is full of joy as he delights in this pefectly delicious meal. The chef watches on and takes delight in the man enjoying this perfect meal. The man's delight brings the chef glory. The chef did not need the man's satisfaction to fulfill his own joy. The chef knows the meal is perfect and glories in that perfection irregardless of the man's reaction. However, the man's delight brings more joy and more glory to the chef.

In the same way, God has given us His perfect revelation and knowledge in Scripture. He delights in sharing that knowledge with His creation. He receives even more glory when we delight in manifesting that Scripture. Manifesting Scripture can come in many forms. It can come in the respect we give to the Word of God. It comes in our obeying its precepts. It comes in our preaching the Word to a dark world. It comes in praying the Word. It comes in rightly dividing the Word. When we manifest Scripture this way, God receives glory and honor. This is the end for which we are created.

Steps to Reconciliation

2007-01-27T08:52:00.001-06:00

Matthew 18:15-20

Three Biblical Steps to Discipline / Reconciliation

1. One brother or sister must go to the other privately in the attempt to reconcile matters. Do not go in with the mind set of "one and done" - meaning confront one time and be done with it. Try and try again until you have exhausted this means.
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.

2. Take one or two other believers with you and attempt to reconcile matters. These others may help bring about reconciliation. This, too, may involve several attempts.
16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

3. If steps one and two have failed, the matter must be brought officially before the church. The church, represented by its pastor and elders, should seek reconciliation in this setting. It their is failure at this step, the unrepentant sinner must be solomnly cut off from fellowship. The church must pray that this act will bring the person to repentance and reconciliation.
17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Baptist Catechism Question Two

2007-01-25T12:49:00.000-06:00

What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

1 Cor. 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Review / Introduction

Question 1: Who is the first and best of beings? God is the first and best of beings.

God is the first – He is number one. Scripture says you can’t serve two masters. Therefore, not only is God first, there is no second.

Does anyone know the Great Commandment? “Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' Matthew 22:37

Why is God first – because He is best! God is almighty, Creator, sustainer, powerful, all-loving, perfect, good in every way, etc. Is God only one of the best? NO! He is preeminent, paramount, the only exalted one.

Now that we all see this truth, we must ask ourselves, “What do we do with this knowledge?”

ACTIVITY: Let’s pretend that Jesus walks in this room right now. He is God in the flesh. He is the very essence of God, the Prince of Peace, The Lion of Judah, the Annointed One, the Alpha and the Omega. What do you do?
[Have an individual dress up like Jesus and walk in the room]

How you respond to Jesus reveals what you really think of God. Your entire existence revolves around how you respond to God. This is called you purpose in life.

Today’s question: What is the chief end of man?
Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

What does the word “chief” mean? As a noun it means “the person with the most authority or highest rank in a group”. As an adjective (they way we are using it) it means “most important”.
It is combined with the word end. Does anyone know what a person’s chief end is?
It means their most important purpose in life.

I am giving you the key to life today. It is the most important message you will ever hear from me. What is your chief end? to glorify God and to enjoy him forever

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31; So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Let me remind you that the world you live in wants to tell you the answer to the all important question. Who has been watching American Idol? What is the ultimate goal of most of the people who try out? Are they over the top? They may be over the top pursuing their misguided goal, but I want you to be over the top pursuing your chief end!

Emo has become a popular music style. How would you describe the content of Emo music? (they dwell on darkness and despair) What do you think they would tell you is your chief end?

You were created by God for a reason. If you find your purpose and live with a single passion to fulfill that purpose, you will be a great person. People will look up to you. You will be a leader. Everyone will notice you. You won’t even have to try to get attention. You will be the center of attention. But, most of you do not have a single passion. Your passions are divided between friends, tv, internet, sports, video games, movies, money, etc. So, you are not nearly as effective for God as you can be. But make no mistake; you can be a powerful force for God if you just put your heart and mind into it.

The Bible tells us throughout its pages that we are created for God’s glory.

Isaiah43:7. everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

What does it mean to glorify God? Magnify him (like a telescope) – to live our lives in a way that makes him look more like the greatness and the beauty and the infinite worth that he really is. In the night sky of this world God appears to most people, if at all, like a pinprick of light in a heaven of darkness. But he created us and called us to make him look like what He really is.

Our purpose of glorifying God should not be like a chain around our neck. God would never make his glory a millstone on us!

Read Psalm 16:11 - What do we receive when we spend our days knowing and savoring God? – joy and pleasure.

When we glorify God, it is to our joy! When we honor Him, we receive pleasure in doing it! There you have it! God created you to live with a single passion to joyfully proclaim His excellence in all spheres of your life.

Read 1 Cor. 2:2 – Does anyone know who said those words? Does this mean he stopped hanging out with friends? Does this mean he stopped playing games? Does this mean he stopped eating and went on a life-long fast? Of course not!

But there was a theme in all the things he did à What was that? The glory of God in Christ! And that made a lasting difference in this world. You don’t have to know a lot of things for your life to make a lasting difference in the world. But you do have to know a few great things that matter, perhaps even one, and then be willing to live for them and die for them.

The people who have made a lasting difference in this world are not the people who have mastered many things, but who have been mastered by one great thing. Most lives are like pebbles thrown in the ocean. The ripple effect is hardly noticeable. If you want your ripple effect to become waves and reach the ends of the earth and roll onto eternity,

You don’t have to have good looks or riches or come from nice neighborhood or have great clothes (like me). Instead, you have to know one great all-embracing thing and be set on fire by it!

"It is not in me"

2007-01-19T07:24:00.000-06:00

A believer's life is defined by grace - the unmerited favor given by God. Every blessing we receive has a direct correlation to the grace of God.

In life there is a constant temptation within ourselves to boast of accomplishments. A derivative of boasting is pride. Pride is a satisfaction in self. Therefore, boasting is the action of being quite satisfied and pleased with the accomplishments of self.

So, we have grace which gives all credit to God. And we have pride which gives all credit to self. We battle daily with this see-saw of expressing thanks in grace and pride by boasting.

Pride is probably the most serious sin I commit on a regular basis. Metaphorically I like to put my arm around God and say, "We did it!". However, that is sin. I am breaking the first commandment by making a god out of myself.

For instance, let's take preaching. I will often get a handful of compliments after a sermon, to which I reply, "Praise God" and "Thank you." However, after each compliment the flesh is tempted to well up in a false pride. It is false pride for the following reasons:

the message was orchestrated (put together) by God
the delivery of the message was made possible by the Holy Spirit
God allows me the time and resources to prepare
God has given me a supportive, loving wife (as opposed to a contentious, nagging wife)
God is the one who called me to preach
I am justified, saved, and being sanctified only because of God
God saw fit to not allow me to have a sore throat or any other physical detriment to preaching

There are more reasons, but this should give you an idea. This all came to mind as I was reading this morning about Joseph. God had given him the ability to interpret some dreams. When Pharoah head about this, he brought Joseph in and asked him if he can interpret. To this, Joseph replied, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” Joseph understood God's grace and lived it! He directed all praise to God who gave him favor.

Therefore, when you receive praise, be like Joseph! Say, "It is not in me. God has allowed this to happen. Praise be to God!"

The Plight of the Disciple

2007-01-14T21:06:00.000-06:00

Matthew 10:16-23 gives us some precarious words from Jesus regarding the plight of His disciples. His charge remains today: Go and make disciples. The journey also remains the same:

The disciple is sent "out as sheep in the midst of wolves". Let's make sure we understand this analogy. A sheep is generally thought of as defenseless. Ovbviously that does not apply as we have the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). However, sheep are the target of wolves. They are the prey. One doesn't have to look very far in our culture or in history to see that Bible-believing Christians have been targeted for death. In this sense, we are like sheep in the midst of wolves.

The disciple is to be wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove. The use of the serpent and dove are just ways of drawing out the adjectives "wise" and "innocent". Wisdom is a special insight into the ways of the world. The Christian disciple must view the world through God's eyes. When he does, he will view himself as an alien in a fallen world that desperately needs to hear the Gospel. However, that message is often validated by the witness of the messenger. This is why it is imperative that the disciple be innocent - above reproach. Author Brennen Manning said, “The greatest single cause of atheism today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny Him with their lifestyle. That’s that an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”

The disciple is to "Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues...for my sake, to bear witness before them ". This ties into the thought of being sheep among wolves. Notice that Jesus does not tell the disciple to fight back. In fact, Jesus seems to be saying that the disciple should take his public beating for the cause of Christ in order to be a witness. A witness of what? Perhaps of their devotion to Jesus. Perhaps to demonstrate that they are willing to die for what they know is true. This is where - as the saying goes - the men are seperated from the boys. I would venture to say that most Christians would cower at this point. From what I have seen, most of our American "disciples" are willing to go only as far as they are not greatly inconvenienced. I'll leave it at that.

The disciple is empowered by the Holy Spirit in his speach. (vs. 20) What a great comfort for the disciple! Jesus is saying, don't spend time worrying about what you are going to say. Perhaps more appropriate - don't worry that you won't have all the right answers. God will give just the right words at just the right time!

The disciple "will be hated by all for my name's sake." The Gospel is devisive. Jesus is devisive. Scripture is devisive. All this division will cause people to be uncomfortable with you - even hate you.

The disciple "who endures to the end will be saved". The life given over to the Lord Jesus will endure to the end. A life of pretense or hypocrisy will be exposed in the end. The disciple will be saved and enjoy communion with his master for eternity!

Honor the Lord With Your Wealth

2007-01-12T07:31:00.000-06:00

Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

I have heard it often said that you should give your tithes and offerings abundantly because you cannot outgive God and He will bless you back many times more.

Now, this is a true statement on several fronts. But, allow me to elaborate on a couple of truths and give a bit of a caution.

Honoring the Lord with Your Wealth is Commanded

Malachi 3:10 Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Tithing is one of the necessary elements of the church. Without certain monetary provisions, the church will be limited in its impact on Earth. The believer should have a love affair with Christ. If you love Christ, you love the church because He is the head of the church. (see Eph. 1:22 & Col. 1:18)

Honoring the Lord with Your Wealth is Worship

First of all, the Great Commandment says to love God will all your heart, mind, and soul. All means all. It doesn't mean a portion or a percentage. So we cannot give to God only a percentage of what the Spirit is leading us to give. Matthew 6:24 says, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

Secondly, giving the Lord your money is an offering. An offering to God is worship. If we do not worship God with our money, we do not really worship God. It is acknowledging that
1. He is God
2. He is Worthy
3a. The church is God's ordained instrument to fulfill His purposes. Or,
3b. The person or organization is being used rightly by God.
4. etc.

Honor the Lord with Your Wealth and You Will Be Blessed

Our blessed and merciful heavenly Father has repeatedly promised His reward upon those who give liberally.
CAUTION!!! CAUTION!!! CAUTION!!! CAUTION!!!
But great men with great hearts, like David, give out of delight and love for God rather than what they might receive as a result of their giving!
Do not give to God for the motive that God will bless you back even more abundantly. God knows the intentions of the heart. In Luke 16:15, Jesus says, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts."
Keep the words of Hebrews 13:5 near to you. "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

The Bottom Line

God is so worthy of you all. This means releasing to Him all that keeps you from Him. Money is mentioned all throughout Scripture as a major stumbling block for people. But you cannot server two masters. It is either all God or you are serving two (or more) masters. Give to God your wealth out of love and worship. When you do, you will be blessed with spiritual blessings that money can't buy.

Why Did Jesus Heal?

2007-01-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

After the cross and the nativity, I would guess that most people picture Jesus healing the sick, lame, and possessed. It is true that the Gospels are replete with stories of Jesus miraculously healing those along His path. But why? Why did Jesus spend so much time performing the healing miracles? And what is our application for today?

I know of two Biblical reasons why Jesus held. I deduce from Scripture another reason or two. And I think there are several false conclusions.

Two Biblical Reasons Why Jesus Healed the Sick

1. To fulfill the prophesy. Matthew 8:17 states plainly why Jesus was healing many: "This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” Now, I don't believe that Jesus went out simply to fulfill prophesy. There were other reasons why He did what He did.

2. To prove His deity. When Jesus healed the paralytic in Mark 2, He first forgave the man of his sins. Jesus healed the spiritual before He healed the physical. The Scribes and Pharisees were upset that Jesus had the audacity to think He had the authority to forgive sins. Jesus answered them in Mark 2:9-11 saying "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” In other words, Jesus says, "In order to prove to you that I am God, [pointing to the paralytic] Get up and walk!" And in Matthew 8:4, Jesus tells the recently healed leper, "go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” Proof for what? That Jesus is the Messiah!

Two Deduced Reasons Why Jesus Healed the Sick

1. To model a parable. Jesus loved to speak in parables. A parable is short narrative under which some important truth is veiled. I believe that Jesus physically healed in order to demonstrate what was being done in the spiritual. Many were healed because they demonstrated faith in Jesus. As such, they were spiritually regenerated. In order to demonstrate the radical change on the inside, Jesus would radically change them on the outside.

2. To model compassion. Jesus preached compassion and He modeled it for us. The healings were an extension of His teaching. However, see below what Jesus was not modeling.

Two False Conclusions Why Jesus Healed the Sick

1. To model healing. Jesus did not heal a person and then say to His followers, "Go, do as I did." The healings were an element of His deity. We are called to be Christlike - yet that is commanded only as far as we can be Christlike. For instance, we are not commanded to atone for sins. We are not commanded to fulfil prophesy. We are not commanded to heal.

2. To draw a crowd. It has been suggested that the healings were good marketing for Jesus. One blogger even suggests that this is "Jesus’s bait and switch — promise them healing, give them salvation." Of course this is quickly repudiated when Jesus regularly tells those He healed to be quiet about it.

Today we do not have the luxury of Jesus walking amongst us miraculously healing. However, that does not mean that the miraculous healings stopped. I am living proof of Jesus miraculously healing me from the inside. He reached down to this defiant boy who regularly defamed God and did a miracle. He saved me by giving me the gift of faith and spiritually transforming. I was dead in my sin - yet, Jesus took my sin on the cross, suffered, and died in my place. Then He rose from the dead and will greet me when I die on earth. That's the greatest miracle of all.

The Lamb of God

2007-01-09T08:20:00.000-06:00

Today I read the story of Abraham's obedience to God by willingly putting his son on the altar. When his son, Isaac, questioned what was going on, Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.”

This is foreshadowing of Christ who is the perfect Lamb of God. John the Baptist loudly proclaims the coming Jesus in John 1:29 "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!".

Jesus was the spotless lamb sent to atone for the sins of the elect. Through this propitiation, the innocent and the guilty were reconciled.

I love the words of the song "The Fathomless Love" by Steve and Vicki Cook:

Why would you the pure give your life for the vile
The innocent seeking the guilty to be reconciled?
I can't comprehend the fathomless love.
I'm gripped and amazed at what you have done.
Why would the adored become the despised,
To bear all the furious wrath that was mine?
How awesome this mystery of your fathomless love for me!

Guard Against Hypocrisy

2007-01-08T08:07:00.000-06:00

In my reading from the Sermon on the Mount, I was struck by the contempt Jesus had for the hypocrites. Notice the language:

Matthew 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them"

Matthew 6:3 "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,"

Matthew 6:6 "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret."

Matthew 6:7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words."

Matthew 6:16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others."

Perhaps this can be summarized in verse 24 - “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other."

In our corporate worship, I believe we are strongly tempted to be concerned with how we are perceived in our worship. For some that means no expression in worship lest anyone hear your voice. For others it means a modified worship - being concerned with your perception.

Father, may we enter our worship - be it serving others, giving to the needy, praying, fasting, singing, etc - with a single-minded devotion to you. I pray that you would strengthen me in time of temptation to worry about perception. I want to worship in spirit and truth trusting that you will give me a manner of expression that will align to your order in worship. Please strip away all caution in me - to the praise of your glory.

Memorable Verses from the Sermon on the Mount

2007-01-06T13:47:00.000-06:00

I went throug a lot of the Sermon on the Mount today. These verses jumped out at me:

"...whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery." Matt. 5:32

"And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. " Matt 5:41

"Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you." Matt. 5:42

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matt. 5:48

Be Glad When Reviled

2007-01-05T08:49:00.000-06:00

I was particularly struck today with Matthew 5:11-12

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Christian faith and doctrine contains a number of paradoxes. Some are absolutely mind-blowing. We will not figure out most until our time of glory.

Some paradoxes include:

to live is to die
Jesus was both fully God and fully human
God is sovereign yet we have human responsibility

I found this list from Arlan:

We become free when we are slaves to Christ. (NIV John 13:15-17)
We become rich when we give things away. (NIV Luke 19:1-10, Luke 21:1-4)
To grow up, we must become like children. (NIV Luke 18:15-17)
We are fully alive when we are dead to ourselves. (NIV John 12:23-26)
To become the greatest, we must become the servants of all. (NIV John 13:12-17)
When we are independent, we will want to fully depend on God. (NIV John 13:8)
We are most powerful when we are meek and humble. (NIV Matthew 5:5)
When we lose ourselves we find ourselves. (NIV Matthew 10:39)
We love our enemies and bless those who curse us--completely the opposite of revenge. (NIV Matthew 5:43-45)
We are strongest when we are weak. (NIV Matthew 5:5)
Sometimes God speaks the loudest in a gentle whisper. (I Kings 19:11-12)

Today I am struck with the paradox that we are to rejoice in our persecution. I often think that general persecution is tolerable and I can even count it all as joy. But, when others utter evil against me falsly (ie. when others maliciously spread lies about me) I would struggle with this calling. It would require a walk with the Lord that perhaps I don't currently have but desperately seek to attain.

Lord, I pray that I can be so lost in my love for you that even evil spoken falsly against me would be seen through your eyes and I would not break from glorifying you.

Genesis 8:21 and the Sufficiency of Scripture in Counseling Matters of Sin

2007-01-04T07:30:00.000-06:00

Genesis 8:21 - "for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth"

an excerpt from a paper I wrote about the sufficiency of Scripture in counseling:

Scripture is Sufficient in Counseling Matters of Sin

Perhaps the fundamental issue that every counselee brings to the counselor is essentially a problem of sin. The sufficiency of Scripture reminds us that nothing is sin that is not forbidden by Scripture either explicitly or implicitly.[1] Secular psychology simply has no place in defining when a person is sinning. A secular psychologist probably does not even have the word “sin” in his or her vocabulary.

Scripture reveals to the Biblical counselor the reality of mankind. All people have a heart problem. The heart of the problem is sin. Matthew 7:20-23 says, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” The great Puritan writer Thomas Watson said, “Should men live forever, they would sin forever…Sinners have an everlasting principle of sin in them. Their stock of corruption would never be quite spent. They have a never dying appetite to sin, which is justly punished with a never-dying worm.”[2] No one—not even a man after God’s own heart—is immune from sin. Proverbs 20:9 says, “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” No one can say that. Ecclesiastes 7:20 declares, “For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.” It might even be said that sin is the reason Biblical counseling exists!

Scripture will always be able to answer whether or not a person is sinning. John tells us that “sin is lawlessness”. (1 John 3:4) Sin includes not only individual acts such as lying or stealing, but also attitudes that are contrary to the attitudes God desires from us. Paul lists attitudes such as jealousy, anger, and selfishness (Galatians 5:20) as attitudes of the flesh. Wayne Grudem says that “sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature.”[3] A born-again believer inherits a new nature with a new purpose: to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark12:28). Anything that falls short of this purpose is not glorifying to God and is therefore sinful. The Bible sufficiently exposes sin.

[1] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan,1994),132.
[2] Thomas Watson, The Mischief of Sin, (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1998), 69-70.
[3] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan,1994),132.

The Flood and the Deity of Jesus

2007-01-03T07:18:00.000-06:00

In my reading of Genesis, several things jumped out at me:

The flood was actually 150 days. Gen 7:24 "And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days."
God shut Moses into the ark. Gen 7:16 "And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him. And the Lord shut him in." Why did God have to shut Moses in? Was it merely for the sake of keeping water out? Was it to keep Moses from letting others in? Was Moses tempted to leave the ark?
I am reminded that, although the story of Noah's Ark is on every nursery wall in America, this is a story of God's holy wrath at work. Death and destruction were everywhere. I would imagine that Noah and his family were sober knowing that friends and relatives all died. Of course, we know that Noah took care of the sober thing when he got on dry land!

In my reading from Matthew, I was struck by Matthew 3:12 "His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” John the Baptist is describing the coming Jesus. This description is in stark contrast to the sandal-wearing, tree-hugging, hippie Jesus that we have grown accustomed to seeing. John brings to light the deity of Jesus - saying that Jesus will be the fork in the road. Jesus will divide the righteous from the unrighteous. Woe to those who reject the Savior. Glory to those whom are elected.

Eric Kuykendall's Sermon

2007-01-02T12:05:00.000-06:00

Here is the mp3 of the sermon I preached on December 31st.

The text is Mark 2:1-12

The title is: Christmas is over...What now?

The four points are:
1. Jesus is God
2. Jesus forgives sins
3. We bring sinners to Jesus
4. God is glorified

Let the Journaling Begin

2007-01-02T07:35:00.000-06:00

It's a new year and it's time to turn over a new leaf. I have been just aweful at journaling my whole Christian life. But, that is no excuse. It is time to journal my thoughts -- mainly for my own benefit. But, if you derive any edification, then glory to God.

Per the recommendation of Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds, I have begun listening to the Bible online. As he quotes from the ESV blog:

Sign up for any of our one-year Bible reading plans and get them delivered to your email each day starting January 1, 2007.
But you should think about signing up for our daily RSS feeds instead because technology has made daily email newsletters largely obsolete.

Today I was reminded again about the offering Cain brought to God. What struck me was that he brought an offering - unlike many. However, we learn quickly that not just any offering will do. It must be of the first fruits. That is the theme we should bring to every offering.

I am reminded of Pastor John Piper's illustration in Don't Waste Your Life where the retired individuals proudly brought to God his collection of sea shells. What a shame!!!

Lord, please bring to my mind the correct offering and my heart a desire for even more. I love you so much. Glory to your son Jesus!

We're Back!

2006-07-04T11:52:00.000-05:00

After 32 hours of driving over 3 days, we are back! Everyone is excited to be home and sleep in their own bed. Be sure to be in church on Sunday as we share with the congregation some of how God used us in VA Beach.

Be Home Soon!

2006-07-02T21:40:00.000-05:00

We are in Baton Rouge. We will be home Monday afternoon/evening. We are exhausted and can't wait to sleep in our own beds again. We look forward to seeing everyone!

The End of the Road

2006-06-30T16:35:00.000-05:00

The group will close tonight with a time of celebration and worship. Tomorrow we leave for Honea Path, SC where we will be staying the night. On Sunday we hope to make it to Louisiana and then on to Leon Springs. We look forward to seeing our family and friends!!

More Good Mission Work Today!

2006-06-29T15:39:00.000-05:00

The Lord blessed us with a rainless day! That means that we got a lot of work done today. Below is some of the evidence...

Sandra and Jesi pose for a picture with the resident of the house they are working on. He is in a wheelchair and cannot get around the house. They are making his bathroom facilities more acceptable.
Gabby and Harrison are busy digging holes that will eventually hold a new wheelchair ramp.
April and Rebekah overcome their fear of heights to roof an elderly man's house. When Kylie and I spoke with him, he was so overcome by the hearts of the youth he began to cry.
Molly and John Wayne...err, Doug, stop to pose for us. They are replacing old windows with new, more insulating windows.

God continues to be so good. We are going to finish strong tomorrow (Friday) and began our trek home on Saturday. Keep us lifted up!

Jami Smith visits the Youth

2006-06-28T09:40:00.000-05:00

Christian recording artist and worship leader Jami Smith blessed our group by dropping in on our devotion. Jami has been so great leading us into the presence of God every night. After leaving with Kylie, Jami commmented on how spiritually mature our group appeared. (I happen to agree!) Jami is in the center behind Harrison and in front of John.

This was a super special treat for April. Jami has been April's favorite Christian Artist for a number of year!

Today the youth work a half day. This afternoon they get an earned break. We will be treated to some Golden Corral for lunch, watch a movie, go to a Rec Center, and have a nice dinner. Please continue to pray for the youth. They are truly doing a tremendous work for the Lord!

Leon Springs Youth On Mission

2006-06-27T15:04:00.000-05:00

John Newell works hard roofing. The rain stayed away for much of the day and a cool breeze rolled through. There is still much work to be done!

Caitlin learns how to use the circular saw.
James, Mary, and Kylie strike a pose on a roof. James gives us his best "Macho Man" pose.
Rachel and Caitlin love on two children that live at the house they are working on. The little girl had a hole in the ceiling in her room that is being fixed.

Yep, there has been rain. This house has water all the way up to its front door. We still need prayer to keep the rain away during the day.

Howdy from VA Beach!

2006-06-26T13:45:00.000-05:00

It's time to get to work! The orientation is over. The work crews have been formed and strategized. Our hearts have been thoroughly molded and equipped. We are ready to sow seads in God's harvest.

A thousand students (all dressed in their new red World Changers shirts) begin each evening being led into worship by Jami Smith. Every night includes powerful praise and worship, an incredible, relevant message, and a youth group devotion.

Pictures Soon

2006-06-26T09:39:00.000-05:00

Howdy! I hope to get some pictures up as soon as I get new batteries in my camera. We took some good ones last night during worship. I will be out and about getting "action shots" today and tomorrow.

Urgent Prayer Request: A lot of crews are doing outdoor work on houses including painting and roofing. Rain is trying to slow down progress. Please pray that God would hold back the rain from 7am to 3pm every day this week. Please also pray for safety...but most of all that our Christian witness would be evident.

Youth Group hits the mission ground running!

2006-06-25T15:37:00.000-05:00

The first two days of the experience in VA Beach are fast paced, non-stop action.

The group arrived on Saturday at 2:30pm. They dealt with more traffic, but were super excited to hit the ground running. After getting situated at our lodging facility, we went to the Welcome Celebration. The group got acquainted with World Changer expectations and got to bounce up and down to some high-energy praise and worship.

After the Welcome Celebration, we got to stuff our faces with pizza and learned about Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus while Martha worked.

The highlight of the day was the Concert of Prayer. The evening worship service saw the students praise God in Adoration, become broken in Confession, lift up praise in Thanksgiving, and prayed through supplication. Worship leader Jami Smith set the tone by drawing us before the throne. There were several break-through moments already experienced. One particular prayer request that was lifted up 3 weeks ago was answered already: the students were "undone".

The night was a combination exhaustion and an orchestra of snoring. The boys are sharing their room with two other youth groups (13 males in 1 room). The girls have their own room to spend talking late into the evening.

Sunday morning saw lines beginning at the showers before 6am. After breakfast, the group got to know their construction crew for the first time. They spent most of the day visiting the home of the resident they are ministering to and planning strategy to effectively meet the needs.

tomorrow begins the work on site!

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.

2006-06-23T20:34:00.000-05:00

Today has been a rough travel day for the group. They were hit with a double whammy -- rush hour traffic in Atlanta during a downpour. Needless to say they were bumper to bumper in one of the nation's largest city for several hours. They should be arriving in Winston-Salem some time around 11pm central.

Prayer Requests: Excitement would build and the vision of World Changers to take hold. Pray that their first night of worship (The Concert of Prayer) would set the tone for the rest of the week.

Here is there schedule for their first official day "on mission". All time are Eastern Standard. Please pray for them throughout the day at their various activities!

2:00 p.m. Check-in & Church group orientation.
4:30 p.m. Welcome Celebration
5:30 p.m. Dismiss for Dinner in Devotion Areas
6:30 p.m. Church Group Bible Study Time/Preparation for Prayer Time
7:15 p.m. Worship
8:30 p.m. Youth Group Devotion
9:30 p.m. Leave for Schools
10:30 p.m. In rooms
11:00 p.m. Lights Out. Please be respectful of others.

Group Arrives in Jackson

2006-06-22T21:27:00.000-05:00

I just got off the phone with Mary and the group is just outside of Jackson, MS where they will be staying the night. So far everything has gone smoothly. They stopped at Waffle House for dinner -- a good demonstration of suffering for Jesus!

In our conversation, Mary said that so far this has been unlike any youth trip she has been on. The students have been very well behaved and are already focused on the coming mission work that is to come.

Tomorrow [Friday] they group will drive all day to Winston-Salem, NC. It will be a long day, but the end of the road trip is near.

Prayer Requests: That the students will receive a passion for the people of VA Beach & continued traveling safety.

2006-06-21T21:49:00.000-05:00

AND WE'RE OFF!!

The youth at Leon Springs Baptist Church are leaving Thursday morning for their inaugural World Changers mission trip.

Prayer requests: Travel safety. They will be traveling ~675 miles to Jackson, MS. Pray that their hearts would be prepared for the work God has set forth for them to accomplish.

For concerned parents, they will be staying at Apple Tree Inn (601-469-2640).

2006-06-21T17:39:00.000-05:00

Email the Youth!

If parents want to send students notes of encouragement via email, they can use this address. WCXLVA@aol.com Please put WCXL and then the student's whole name in the subject line. I will try and check it daily and put in them in the encouragram envelopes.

2006-06-13T17:09:00.000-05:00

Howdy! Just as a reminder, the group will be leaving for Virginia on Thursday, June 22nd. They should arrive in Jackson, MS that evening. They will then drive all day to Winston-Salem, NC and stay the night at Terri's friend's house. Saturday the 24th they arrive in Virginia Beach for the first day of World Changers! Stay tuned for more details.