Basics of the Gospel
We’ve been reading through, teaching, and discussing the Gospel of Matthew on Sunday mornings. Last Sunday, we covered the last passage in Matthew. For the next few weeks, we’re going discuss a few topics before we start studying a new book of Scripture together (probably Genesis).
Next Sunday, our topic will be “the Basics of Christianity.” Another brother is scheduled to facilitate this discussion, but as I prepare for meeting with the church, I’ve decided to study this as “the Basics of the Gospel.”
So, what would you say if someone asked you, “What are the basics of the good news of Jesus Christ?” Why?
More Gospel, Community, and Sermons
Last week, I quoted Tim Chester and Steve Timmis’ book Total Church: A Radical Reshaping around Gospel and Community (see my post “Another Word About the Sermon“). When I found that quote, I also found that I had marked these two passages from the same book:
James says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). We must not only listen to the word – we must put it into practice. Churches are full of people who love listening to sermons. But sermons count for nothing in God’s sight. We rate churches by whether they have good teaching or not. But James says great teaching counts for nothing. What counts is the practice of the word. What counts is teaching that leads to changed lives. We must never make good teaching an end in itself. Our aim must be good learning and good practice. And that is a radically different way of evaluating how word-centered we are. (pg. 116)
Let us make a bold statement: truth cannot be taught effectively outside of close relationships. The reason is that truth is not primarily formal; it is dynamic. The truth of the gospel becomes compelling as we see it transforming lives in the rub of daily, messy relationships. (pg. 188)
Think about it this way: our teaching by mouth (whether lecture, dialogue, discussion, or other method) is ineffective if it is not accompanied by teaching by example and practice. I can teach by mouth, “Love one another,” and I can even get everyone to memorize the command, “Love one another.” But, neither of these indicate that I have truly taught “Love one another” or that anyone has truly learned “Love one another.”
My words “Love one another” must be accompanied by real actions demonstrating “Love one another”. Note that when I said “teaching by example and practice” above, I did NOT mean giving verbal illustrations. Verbal illustrations are simply another way to teaching by mouth. Instead, I must teach people with my life. So, it is imperative that my teaching be done in the context of real, life-sharing relationships.
I’ve offered several examples from Paul in the past, particularly from 1 Thessalonians 2:8-10 and 2 Timothy 3:10-11. However, there is also a very powerful example from Jesus in the Gospel of John:
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him… When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, 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 13:3-5, 12-15 ESV)
Jesus taught with his words and with his actions. We need to do likewise.
Remember that Chester and Timmis said, “Our aim must be good learning and good practice. And that is a radically different way of evaluating how word-centered we are.” How would we measure “good learning and good practice”?
Great Commission and Jesus
Last Sunday, as we were finishing up our study of the Gospel of Matthew, the church discussed Matthew 28:18-20, commonly called “the Great Commission”. Over the next few days, I’m going to publish some short posts concerning some things that came out in our discussion. These are probably not novel – in fact, I’m sure they’re not novel – but hopefully they will be helpful to some readers, like they were helpful to me.
First, notice the repetition of the word “all” in these three verses. Primarily, the passage is “bracketed” by two uses of the word “all” that apply to Jesus himself: 1) Jesus said that he has been given all authority, and 2) Jesus said that he would be with his disciples “all the days” (or always).
Jesus’ complete authority and Jesus’ continuing presence not only “brackets” this statement, they must also “bracket” our discipleship. How does Jesus’ complete authority and Jesus’ continuing presence affect our discipleship? What “excuses” does these statements render null and void?
Another Word About the Sermon
I was talking with someone recently about the book Total Church: A Radical Reshaping Around Gospel and Community by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008). By the way, if you haven’t read this book, you should. Seriously.
My friend mentioned that the authors seem to have a view of teaching and the sermon that is similar to mine. I had forgotten what Chester and Timmis said about the sermon, so I looked it up. This is what they wrote:
All too often people equate being word-centered with being sermon-centered. People argue for sermons by arguing for the centrality of God’s word, assuming that the word and the sermon are synonymous in Christian practice. It assumes God’s word can only be taught through sermons. Or people assume that the alternative to sermons is anarchy or relativism with no place for the Spirit-gifted teacher of God’s word, as if Spirit-gifted teachers can only exercise their gift through forty-five-minute monologues.
But our concern is not to reject the sermon. Monologue continues to have its place as one of the ways in which the Bible can and should be taught. It stands alongside other complementary methods such as dialogue and discussion. Being word-centered is not less than being sermon-centered. Our contention is that being word-centered is so much more than being sermon-centered. (pg 114)
And, after reading this passage, I agreed with my friend. This is very close to my own view of the sermon and teaching. I would only add that monologue only teaching (especially where the same person always gives the monologue) can tend to make people teacher-centered.
I would also add that teaching must be more than teaching people what the Bible says. Whether our teaching is monologue, dialogue, or discussion, it must move beyond these methodologies to include all of life. As another friend of mine taught me, “Our teaching needs a context.” That context is the way that we live our lives.
If we hear someone give a monologue week after week, but we do not know how the person lives his life, then our understanding will be limited. I think this can also be said of dialogue or discussion based teaching.
Of course, we see this in Scripture, especially when Paul encourages his readers to remember his life and conduct as well as his words. (For example, see Philippians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 2:8-12, 2 Timothy 3:10-11.)
So, whatever method of teaching we use (teaching by speaking, that is), that teaching should also include shared life experiences… and many shared life experiences. We should know one another and live with one another. Otherwise, our words will be much less effective – perhaps even ineffective.
Counting the Cost of Making Disciples
Based on Luke 14:28, we see that following Jesus (that is, being his disciple) involves cost. In fact, Jesus says that we should consider (count) the cost before we begin to follow him. While it would be to discuss the various “costs” of following Jesus, this is not the purpose of this post.
Instead, consider that part of being a disciple of Jesus is making disciples. Thus, following Jesus includes helping others follow him. It follows, then, that there is cost involved in helping others follow Jesus (i.e., making disciples).
So, what are some of the “costs” associated with helping other people follow Jesus?
Discipleship and Failure
Failure has always been a part of my growth… physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, educational, occupational. It seems that as I grow, I also find myself failing. In fact, failure often leads to growth.
Do we make room for failure today? Do we allow people opportunities to fail without making them feel like failures? Do people know that we love them in spite of their failures (and perhaps even that we expect them to fail)?
How can the church help or hinder in this failure/growth process?
Which Church?
I had a very interesting discussion yesterday with a new friend. We were discussing the church, unity among believers, sectarianism, etc.
At one point, we started talking about reasons that people choose to meet with one church over another church. There are many, many different reasons. Sometimes those reasons are gospel related, but I think most of the reasons are not related to the gospel.
Instead, people choose to meet with a certain church based on music styles, preaching/teaching styles, leadership personalities, ministry programs available, etc. Similarly, people choose to meet with a certain church instead of another because of denomination or specific doctrines: baptism, Lord’s Supper, end times, etc.
As we were talking, I started wondering, are these valid reasons for choosing to meet with one church instead of another? If a group of believers meet near me, is it valid to meet with another group farther away because of these issues? Is that choice perpetuating the divisions among believers?
Now, please don’t misunderstand me… I’m seriously asking these questions. In fact, I asked my friend, if my family moved to another city, how should we choose which church to meet with?
Do I start by assuming that I must meet with a group that’s part of the same denomination as my background? Is this a valid filter?
Do I choose based on certain doctrines, such as baptism, end times, communion, etc? Are these valid reasons to reject a certain group of believers?
What about music styles, preaching/teaching styles, ministry programs? What about buildings and other aesthetics? Are these valid reasons to choose or not choose a certain church over another?
I realized as we were talking that we tend to choose churches based on ourselves, our beliefs, our needs, our comforts… based on us.
Should we instead choose to meet with the believers who are closest to us or with whom we can spend the most time? Are these valid reasons?
To be honest… I don’t know the answer.
So, I ask you, if you were going to move to another city, far away from where you currently live, what criteria would you use to choose which church to meet with? Why that criteria?
A Cup o’ Joe or a Cup with Joe
Just under two years ago, I wrote a post called “A Cup o’ Joe or a Cup with Joe.” This was one of the most fun posts to write, and it led to the most interesting and fun comment threads. I hope you enjoy this post.
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A Cup o’ Joe or a Cup with Joe
A few weeks ago, my friend Joe invited me for a cup of coffee. We decided to meet at a local Starbucks on Tuesday at 5:00, just after work. We happened to arrive at the same time, and coincidentally, we both ordered the same thing: a tall cafe mocha decaf. Joe surprised me by buying my coffee. We found an empty table in a quiet corner and spent the next hour or so talking about God and life. We each discussed what God was teaching us and how we were trying to obey him in our day-to-day lives. We talked about loving other people and caring for the least. As Joe told his stories, I was encouraged and challenged all at the same time. When Joe announced that he had to leave, I was disappointed but also understood the demands of life and family.
I enjoyed my time with Joe, and I was looking forward to spending more time with him. From what I could tell, we had experienced real fellowship, the beginning of community, the sharing of the Spirit. Also, since I am learning what it means to grow in maturity and disciple others, I thought it would be a good idea to share this experience with others.
The next week, I invited another friend to have a cup of coffee with me. Unfortunately, Tom was busy on Tuesday evening, so we had to meet on Wednesday. He works later than I do, so we met at 5:30, and since Tom doesn’t like Starbucks, we went to a local coffee shop. I was a little concerned about the change in plans, but I thought maybe it would work anyway. When I got to the coffee shop, I had to wait about 10 minutes for Tom to show up; apparently he was delayed at work. I ordered my tall cafe mocha decaf, and waited a moment for Tom to order. Instead, Tom waited until after I paid for my coffee. I was surprised that Tom didn’t buy my coffee, and I was getting a little anxious. Next, Tom ordered a black coffee – no mocha, no decaf. Even though there was an empty table in the corner, Tom picked a table in the center of the room.
As we sat and talked, I kept going over things in my mind: Wedneday instead of Tuesday; 5:30 instead of 5:00; local coffee shop instead of Starbucks; Tom was late, and he didn’t pay for my coffee; Tom didn’t order the same thing that I ordered; our table was right in the middle of the shop, while there was a perfectly good empty table in the corner. Things were not going well for our coffee meeting. In fact, I didn’t see how anything good could come out of this. Everything was going wrong, and nothing was going right!
Finally, after enduring several minutes of this train wreck, I interrupted Tom as he was babbling on about how his job was not going very well, and how he was afraid that he was going to be downsized, and how he and his wife were having trouble. I told him that I needed to go and that I was sorry that our meeting wasn’t very productive.
Then, Tom said something surprising, “I noticed that you seemed distracted. Is there something wrong?”
Can you believe that Tom asked me if there was something wrong!?!? I mean, everything was wrong! The day was wrong! The time was wrong! The location was wrong! The coffee was wrong! The table was wrong! I can’t believe he had the nerve to ask me if there was something wrong. I don’t even know if this could be called a proper meeting for coffee!
But, instead of pointing out his obvious flaws, I just shook my head and made a hasty exit. I decided then and there to never have coffee with Tom again. He just doesn’t know how to meet for coffee.
Jesus is not risen
I know what you’re thinking. Either Alan has lost his mind, or this is an April Fools Day joke. Well, I don’t think I’ve lost my mind, and this is not an April Fools Day joke.
Instead, as I’ve been thinking about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, thinking how God might want to use me to encourage and teach the church, I’ve also been thinking about my own life.
Imagine for a moment that the person you cared for most in your life (maybe your spouse, or parent, or child) died. That person was dead dead… completely dead and buried. A couple of days later, that person rises from the dead. Note, this was not the result of medical intervention. The physicians gave up days ago. The mortician had already done his work. And, this dead person came back to life. What would be your response?
That’s what I’ve been thinking about lately. How would I respond?
I think I would respond to this “real” resurrection differently than the way that I respond to Jesus’ resurrection. Obviously, my response does not indicate that Jesus is not risen. But, my response (or lack thereof) does indicate what I really think about Jesus’ resurrection.
To be honest, I live most of my life as if Jesus was not risen. Oh, I “know” he’s risen. And I profess that he’s risen. And I believe that he’s risen. But, for the most part, when does his resurrection actually intersect my life? At what point is my life different – day by day, priorities, choices, actions, etc.?
My words are consistent: “Jesus is risen!” But, my life is inconsistent. Sometimes my life claims, “Jesus is not risen.”
I need help. I need reminders. I need more than an annual reminder. I need encouragement and admonition to live each day as if Jesus was risen and still alive. This is one way that I hope to encourage brothers and sisters when we talk about the resurrection. I guess that’s a good thing about this time of year. We tend to focus on the resurrection, while we’re thinking about bunnies and chocolate. But, what about other times of the year? What about next Monday?
So, when we’re talking about the resurrection, I’m going to ask my brothers and sisters to remind me – daily if necessary – that Jesus is alive. I’m going to ask them to warn me when I’m living as if he’s not alive. I’m going to ask them to show me how to live as if he is risen.
Jesus is risen! But, when I live as if he’s not risen, my words mean little. I thank God that he’s surrounded me with brothers and sisters in Christ who can help me live as if he is risen. Then, not only my words, but my life will say, “Jesus is risen!”
Discipling those who are not interested in being discipled
I’ve noticed that some churches expend great amounts of time, energy, and resources trying to disciple people who are not interested in being discipled.
And, I wonder, is this a good thing? How much time, energy, and resources should we (as a church and as individuals) spend on people who are content where they are and are not really interested in maturing in Christ any further?