Serve Him

Ministry is giving when you feel like keeping, praying for others when you need to be prayed for, feeding others when your own soul is hungry, living truth before people even when you can’t see the results, hurting with other people even when your own hurt can’t be spoken, keeping your word even when it is not convenient, it is being faithful when your flesh wants to run away.”

  There aren’t many Sundays when I have mixed emotions on where I’m at and what I’m doing. Today though is one of them. Last week we began our study: Luke – Finding Jesus. I’m really pumped about this new series.  But then I had an offer that I “just couldn’t refuse.” You see, today is Dave Bratlie’s Installation Service at Crossroads Church in Pittsville, Wisconsin.

  A few weeks ago, Dave called and asked if I would preach the “Charge to the Pastor” at this service. I was both humbled and honored. Yet, I struggled with my responsibility to our church, so I asked our Deacons and they gave their blessing. This morning I have the great privilege of speaking at Dave’s church as part of this special service as he begins this new ministry.

  Dave’s life and entry into ministry has been an exciting one. After he and Shawna came to Christ, they became involved in their church. The door later opened for Dave to leading a Bible study. He developed a passion for ministry and went on to seminary…the rest is history. Did you know that that’s normal Christianity? People trust Christ and God lays His hand on some of them, giving them a passion for vocational ministry. They then invest their lives in full time Christian service.

  Somehow we’ve lost that in the church today. It’s very rare today for someone to even consider vocational ministry. I’m not sure why that has become the exception. It’s certainly not because of lack of need or that God’s plan has changed.

  Obviously, not everyone is called to full time Christian service, though everyone is called to be a full time Christian. God’s will, too, is for every believer to be involved in service. That’s a purpose of our salvation and it’s the only way that we find fulfillment and meaning in our spiritual walk. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). You’ll often find that some of the most miserable Christians you meet are those who are uninvolved in serving the Lord, giving or evangelism. That’s because we are saved to serve. It’s part of our spiritual DNA. To be uninvolved is to violate our new nature. And that’s why at Grace we diligently seek to help believers find places to serve, areas of ministry, that fit their gifts and how God has designed them. To be candid, oftentimes it’d be easier to hire staff than to seek to enlist and equip volunteers BUT it would be biblically wrong. Often, it’d be easier to just do it yourself. Many times you feel like a parent trying to motivate a teenager. It’d be easy to give up and just do it yourself, but it’s not in the best interest of your teenager.

  Most churches are overflowing with ministries, yet as we examine Scripture, most of those are not necessarily biblical ones. They help a church accomplish its purpose and mission but they’re not necessarily found in Scripture. For example, the Bible doesn’t say anything about a nursery or having a children’s ministry or even small groups for adults. Those are good ministries but they are not necessarily biblical. They give Christians though opportunities to serve.

  The truth is though that most of us can come up with scores of reasons to never serve. Obviously, we’re too busy. We’re either working a lot. Our kids have a lot going on. We’re in school. We’re burnt out. We did it in the past. We don’t feel qualified. I’m sure that you could probably come up with some different ones, even some unique ones.

  But when we fail to serve, it violates how God has designed us. Remember what Jesus did in His last meeting with the disciples in the upper room. He put on a towel, picked up a basin of water and began to wash their feet. Remember, what He said to them: “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:12-15). The bottom line is that if you love Jesus, you want to serve. And that’s what happened to Dave Bratlie. When Dave got saved, he fell in love, he fell in love with Jesus. And that’s why he’s in vocational ministry today.

  It’s also why at Grace, we work at finding opportunities to serve for every believer. And we start young with things like assisting in Children’s Church. We want young people to have the opportunity to serve the Lord in our worship team, AV ministry, and Sunday Morning Live. We see that as an investment in their spiritual future. Who knows who God will touch and call into another part of His harvest field? Interestingly, the Lord doesn’t call those who are sitting on the bench. He usually begins with a low commitment ministry and then increases their responsibility.

  Most of us came to Christ because of someone serving the Lord full time in vocational ministry. Either they led us to the Lord or they were instrumental in the life of the one who brought us to Jesus.

  The need of a lost world has not decreased since you came to Christ. Our world desperately needs the Gospel. Let’s pray together that the Lord would call more out of our midst to serve Him. Maybe the Lord will call someone to a second career after retirement into ministry. Maybe He’ll touch a young person’s heart. Perhaps, it will be someone, like Dave, who has a family and a career but serving the Lord begins burning in his heart.  

  The person the Lord calls to serve Him might be that young person that you’re teaching in Children’s Church or a child from one of our midweek ministries. They see the love for Jesus and the commitment of the leaders, and the Lord uses it to touch their heart.

  I can guarantee this though. If you’re not involved in serving the Lord, you’re not going to touch anyone’s life. Sadly, your own soul will begin to shrivel because you’re violating God’s design. We are saved to serve. Do you have a ministry? Are you serving the Lord?

Luke: Finding Jesus

“Luke’s Gospel is for anyone who needs to know Jesus. It is for people who have never met Jesus before, and for people who need to meet Him again, as if for the very first time. It is for people who aren’t quite sure about Jesus, for people who are just starting to trust in Him, and for people who have known Him for a long time, but still need to become more secure in their faith. It is for anyone who wants to know for sure.” Philip Graham Ryken

  Someone once asked Scottish theologian, Dr. James Denney, if he could recommend a good life of Christ. Dr. Denney answered, “Have you tried the one that Luke wrote?” When was the last time that you read a book about the life of Christ? So have you tried the book of Luke?

  This morning we’re beginning a new sermon series on the Gospel of Luke – Luke: Finding Jesus. A perfect and complete Jesus is presented to us in each of the first four books of the New Testament, that we know as the Gospels. Yet, each of these four books emphasizes a slightly different aspect of Jesus’ many-sided character. Luke then is unique in its presentation of who Jesus is.

  Luke is the Gospel of stories. Don’t you love a good story? People in today’s culture quickly tune out data or facts or statistics, but they love a good story. Studies show that we’re wired to remember stories much more than facts and figures. Luke shows us who Jesus is through story after story. One picture or one story can crystallize a particular truth or concept for us. Luke uses stories to powerfully communicate God’s truth.

  Luke’s Gospel is universal. In fact, it’s the most universal of the four Gospels. Matthew’s Gospel was written to Jews. It gives background and details that have particular meaning for a Jewish audience. Mark was written for the Romans, the pragmatists, lovers of power and influence. It’s full of fast moving events written with brief language to communicate the mighty acts of God to people who understand power. John wrote his Gospel for the Church and those with a Greek worldview. His Gospel is a deeply spiritual book for the believer and focuses on the Deity of Christ for the unbeliever. Luke, though, writes for the whole world.

  For example, while Matthew’s Gospel traces Jesus’ earthly genealogy back to Abraham to make his point, Luke takes his genealogy all the way back to Adam, our universal ancestor. Luke’s Gospel frequently mentions half-breeds like the Samaritans, underscoring again that Jesus was the Savior of the world, not just the Jewish Messiah. Luke portrays Jesus was the hope of the world. He says that everyone and anyone can be born-again—old, young, slave, free, rich, poor, man, woman or child, Jew, Samaritan and Gentile. Whoever you are, Jesus loves you and died for you.

  The Gospel of Luke is for the disenfranchised. It’s for the poor, the lost, the diseased, the hurting and broken. There are twenty-one unique parables in Luke that exhibit similar themes that emphasize the worthiness of plebeians and even the lowliest of society, those who others would not give the time of day because they considered them unworthy of notice.

  And more than any other Gospel writer, Luke gives women a very prominent role in his story. He names several female followers of Jesus, noting that they are the first witnesses of Jesus’ empty tomb. He affirms that they, too, should attend to the teachings of Jesus. But Luke lives in a Greco-Roman culture, where there is a commonly held worldview that women don’t even have the capacity to learn. Luke's sensitivity towards women is such that his whole Gospel is marked with a distinctly feminine overtone. His concern for downcast women is particularly evident. Over half of all references to widows in the five New Testament history books appear in the Gospel of Luke.

  Luke writes about home life. In his Gospel we find the only scene from Jesus’ boyhood and it explains just a little of Jesus’ relationship with Mary and Joseph. He introduces John the Baptist’s parents and shares in detail the unique circumstances of his birth. It’s through Luke that we have a glimpse of the home where Jesus loved to stay, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. He emphasizes the shaping influence of home life and family.

  The Gospel of Luke is deeply spiritual. Luke writes of angels, prayer, and the Holy Spirit more than any other Gospel writers. He gives us seven more prayers of Jesus than the other writers. Luke points to the Holy Spirit as the motivator and source of life, stressing that it’s the Holy Spirit Who is the key to understanding Jesus.

  This is a mean world. Our world suffers from a severe lack of compassion. Even for the Christian, it’s easy to walk through the world with tunnel vision, concerned only with ourselves and getting through the day, blocking out concerns and issues that stir feelings of tenderness within us. Luke is the Gospel of compassion. Jesus Christ in Luke is seen as the tender, compassionate Son of God. Luke shares how Jesus mingled with people, including the outcasts, and that He shared the burdens of the afflicted and weak. Jesus demonstrates conclusively that compassion is a sign of strength, not of weakness; and that God’s power flows through loving hearts.

  “Whom the gods would destroy,” goes an ancient Greek proverb, “they first make mad.” Or, as George Bernard Shaw mused, “If other planets are inhabited, they must be using this earth as a lunatic asylum.” Our world is overflowing with hurting, confused, often irrational people who need a tender, loving touch, a word of encouragement. Luke is the Gospel of compassion. It’s our marching orders as Jesus’ followers. The Lord Jesus has put us here to let this hurting world know that He cares and because Jesus cares, His followers too must care.

  During the course of our study of the Gospel of Luke may each of us “find Jesus” in a new, more personal, deeper and unique way. And then, because of His work in our heart and lives, may we be Jesus to a lost and hurting world.

When a self-aborbed Queen lengthened a marathon....

“If we aren’t careful, instead of encouraging worshipping families, we become family worshippers.”  Jason Helopoulos

  Today is the Annual Chicago Marathon. Runners from all 50 states and more than 100 countries will set out to accomplish a personal dream of reaching the finish line in Grant Park. Chicago is one of the six major world marathons. It’s limited to 45,000 runners on a first-come, first-serve basis. The official distance of a marathon is 26 miles and 385 yards. My good friend, Scott Ziegler, is running the Chicago Marathon today.

  Marathons began in commemoration of the fabled run of the Greek soldier, Pheidippides. After their victory over the Persians, Pheidippides ran from Marathon to Athens to deliver the news. But modern marathoners run further than Pheidippides did…and they do so because of the self-absorbed whim of one English queen. Until 1908, marathons averaged 25 miles. The 1908 London marathon was originally to run from downtown Windsor to the White City Stadium, a distance of nearly twenty-six miles.

  Queen Alexandra, however, had another idea. Originally, she planned to watch the end of the grueling race from her royal box in the stadium, but she wanted her children and grandchildren to be able to view its beginning. So the starting line was extended to the lawn of Windsor Castle, so the Queen’s offspring could watch from the windows. That made the distance of the marathon 26 miles plus, 385 yards. While it might seem like a minor addition, it wasn’t for the frontrunner that year, Dorando Pietri. This twenty-three year old Italian led for most of the race yet collapsed less than 100 yards from the finish line. Those extra 385 yards cost him the race. And in 1921, the International Amateur Athletic Federation chose the distance of the London Marathon –26 miles, 385 yards—as the new standard course. The next time you watch those final, punishing moments of a marathon, remember Queen Alexandra who was thinking of family first but apparently no one else. I’m sure Dorando Pietri never forgot her.

  What’s wrong with “family first?” God must be first. Anything else is idolatry. Idolatry isn’t just worshipping a Buddha or some other idol. Idolatry is very insidious. And a great temptation for Christians, possibly because our culture is increasingly anti-family, is to “worship our family.”

  Am I suggesting we ignore or become anti-family? Absolutely not!  Marriage and children are gifts from God. Idolatry occurs when we take a good thing and make it a god thing. While we’re often blind to this idol, this idolatry isn’t new. God didn’t have Pharaoh’s attention (Exodus 11) until He killed all the firstborn sons in Egypt. Every plague that came down on Egypt confronted a god that they worshipped. God saved the final judgment, the killing of the firstborn, for the greatest idol of all – the idol of family. Finally, He had Pharaoh’s attention.

  When our family becomes our greatest source of meaning, purpose, significance and joy, it becomes idolatry. Jesus must be first in our life.  It’s tempting to make our family name and reputation great. Our focus though must be to make God’s name great, not ours. If we aren’t careful, instead of encouraging worshipping families, we become family worshippers. Recently, I read a blog by Jason Helopoulos. His article suggests possible signs we’re worshipping our family. Let me warn you, they’re very convicting.   

  We seldom, if ever, use our home to minister to others. When our home is seen primarily as a fortress set against the world, there’s a problem. A home centered on Christ is marked by growing hospitality. We gladly invite others into it for encouragement, strengthening, and to share Jesus. We realize what’s been given to us by way of our homes is a gift from God. We are managers of His gifts, not owners.  

  We hardly ever reach out to others. Do others really know us, even in our church? If our family is so insular that others don’t know us, there’s a problem. A Christian family filled with love will overflow to those around them. Neighbors, co-workers and relatives can’t help but be touched by the love that permeates in and flows out from our family.

  We seldom serve in our local church. If we’re so busy with “our schedule” or on just being a family that we can hardly attend any other church activities, there’s a problem. If parents can’t serve in any ministry, there needs to be a re-evaluation. And what better way to teach our children to serve as Jesus did, than by letting them see us serve. As a   family, we’re to see ourselves as part of the local church community, not separate from it, or more important than it, yet essential to it.

  We seldom have any time for those outside our family. When our family is always busy with its own activities, whether sports or music or even family vacations, to the point that we have little time for others, there’s a problem. The enrichment and growth of our children, even in spiritual things, isn’t to pull us away from people but towards them. It’s true that we only have so many years to train and teach our children while they’re at home. But what are we really teaching them? To be self-absorbed? Narcissistic? Are we teaching them they’re the center of life? Or, are we teaching that worshipping Christ…loving others is what’s most important?

  We seldom sacrifice. If our family is reluctant to give generously because of what it costs our family, there’s a problem. If we don’t give at all or give so sparingly because the family and our future, like our children’s college education comes first, we need to re-evaluate our finances. Somehow there is always an excuse for not using the money God has given us to worship Him or help others. Sadly, it’s usually our family’s need that provides the ground for that excuse. God’s children are to be generous and model generosity generationally, even to the point of giving sacrificially.

  We seldom have any flexibility. If others feel they’re always interrupting our family by calling, visiting, or proposing a time to get-together, there’s a problem. Others usually notice it before us. They begin to feel our family’s routine just can’t be interrupted. We forget that every minute is a gift and we’re stewards of the time God has given us. Our family should be known for flexibility and joy when others stop by, friendliness when called, and availability when needed.

  We seldom speak well of others. If our family tends to have an arrogant air about it, there’s a problem. It’s “we have it together, others don’t.” Our conversations are negative, critical and judgmental. God hates pride! Our families should be filled with thanking God for others. Our children should hear us commending and promoting others. Outsiders should find that we’re refreshing to their souls, rather than critical of their practices.

  Yes, we must enjoy and treasure our families. We need to pour out our lives and hearts into ministering to our spouse, raising our children in Christ, and filling our homes with the love and truth of Christ. However, in so doing, let’s make certain we’re worshippers of Jesus first, worshipping Him together in our worshipping families.

Depression: light beyond blues

“The problem is that if you pack up your bags and make a move to get away from depression, you somehow always pack depression up and take it with you.”

  Have you had this conversation before? I have, countless times. Someone will tell me, “I have a headache.” I nearly always ask, “Have you taken something for it?” Almost without fail the answer is, “No, it’s not that bad” or, “I’m waiting to see if it will get better on its own.” But pain often doesn’t just “get better.” You must take personal responsibility and be proactive. The same is true of emotional pain. Specifically, I’m talking about depression. It’s estimated 10% of Americans struggle with some form of depression. Personally, I think it’s higher. The difference is primarily the level or seriousness of the feelings of depression. With recent celebrity suicides, depression has been in the news quite a bit. And since I’m not a psychologist, I want to walk carefully here.

  God’s Word and His grace are our greatest resource for dealing with all emotional struggles. We’re designed by God. The Bible says we’re “image bearers of God” (Genesis 1:26-27). The greatest Source for what troubles us is the Designer and His instructions found in His Word. Let me though make some general observations about depression.

  Depression is universal. Everyone struggles at some level with depression. It’s like that song, “that’s why they call it the blues.” How could we not? This is a sin contaminated world. We have sin contaminated, broken bodies, brains and emotions. As we read the pages of Scripture, we find that some of the greatest heroes of the faith struggled with depression: Moses, David, Elijah, and the Apostle John to name a few. Some folk just seem to be more susceptible to depression than others.

  Then, we must come to grips with this reality – this is not a perfect world. My body isn’t perfect, should I be surprised that my emotions aren’t? By depending on God’s grace, we can learn to persevere, even thrive while experiencing some level of emotional discomfort. The problem for most who suffer from depression is not depression. It’s that the depression is chronic, seems endless, insurmountable even hopeless.

  Depression can be good. Guilt is a major cause of depression. Those who have true guilt should feel “guilty.” A popular movie from a few years ago was Analyze This. A psychiatrist attempted to help a mobster deal with panic attacks. But shouldn’t a mobster feel pain about “whacking” someone? God didn’t design us to live with guilt. It’s miserable and a cause of depression. The only cure for guilt is the Cross and God's forgiveness. Psalm 32 is the record of King David’s depression after he committed adultery and murdered a man. He didn’t find relief until he’d confessed his sin, repented and had a restored relationship with God.

  Sometimes depression requires medication. Some emotional conditions require medication, though we need to use caution here. Our culture is quick to look for quick solutions. In some situations, medication can mask root causes, like guilt, that needs to be dealt with. Aside from that, personally, I believe God would rather have someone on meds and functioning, than someone who has convictions about not using drugs yet is unable to function. Even Scripture encourages some drug usage to cope with depression, though it was the medication of the day, Proverbs 31:6-7.

  Sometimes the cause for depression is unidentifiable. It could be past family issues, a lack of rest or stress, or just our emotional makeup. Some are more susceptible to depression than others. While these may not be a cure, these suggestions will bring you some relief.

  1. Share your depression with your Heavenly Father. Sharing burdens with a friend lightens our load. When we’re suffering from depression we need to cry out to God as our first, not last resort. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” Give it to God and move on. Sometimes those depressed further entrench their depression because they give it to God but then keep praying about it, which only turns their focus back on the depression. It’s like someone with a loose tooth who won't leave it alone. If you give it to God, leave it with Him. For many that's the hardest thing to do, to leave it with God.  

  2. Work at developing new mental habits. Depression is a harmful, habitual way of thinking. We must choose to develop replacements for those mental ruts, Philippians 4:8. Depressed people will often say, "I can't. I've tried." Those breaking the habit of smoking or drinking say the same thing. Both physical and mental habits can be broken and replaced. God’s grace really is sufficient. But it’s takes work and persistence, and it’s not easy. Some though are “addicted” to the misery. Memorizing Scripture is a good place to begin making new mental habits.

  3. Have a plan of action and do it. When we’re depressed, we're tempted to stay in bed, pull down the shades and withdraw. That’s the worst thing you can do. Getting out, particularly with other believers who love the Lord and care about us, forces us to be external. Just taking a shower or going for a walk, helps us break out of the mental fog. If we begin doing, our feelings will come along. Martin Luther advised those with depression to ignore the heaviness, “A good way to exorcize the Devil was to harness the horses and spread manure on the fields.” In other words, do something productive and you'll start feeling productive. Actions affect feelings.

  4. Develop an attitude of praise. A depressed believer can praise God that they know depression is temporary. No one is depressed in heaven. Thank Him for allowing it because it will make heaven richer for you. Develop a habit of praise. Keep a praise diary. All of us have blessings we can be thankful for, if we look for them. One woman encouraged a very grumpy man to be thankful. He retorted, "Thankful for what? I don't even have enough money to pay my bills!" She thought a moment then said, "Well, be thankful you’re not one of your creditors."

  5. Become a giver of your time, talent and treasure. Depressed people often make their suffering worse because they’re so self-oriented. Giving helps us be “others-oriented.” Famed psychiatrist, Dr. Carl Menninger, once gave a lecture on mental health and was answering questions.    Someone asked, "What would you advise a person to do if that person felt a nervous breakdown coming on?" Most thought he’d say, "Go see a psychiatrist immediately," but he didn't. To their astonishment, Dr. Menninger replied, "Lock up your house, go across the railroad tracks, find somebody in need, and help that person." To overcome depression, don't focus on yourself, get involved in the lives of other people.

  Are you depressed? Tell your Heavenly Father. Do you know someone who’s depressed? Pray for them and encourage them, Galatians 6:2. We’re brothers and sisters in His grace. Family loves and cares for one another.