Tag Archive - Matthew

Maturity, Part 2

March 26, 2008 in Discipleship with 2 Comments

Since posting about maturity earlier this week and reading and listening to comments on it, I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit – in fact, I can’t get it out of my mind.

We use terms like “mature” and “maturity” to describe things that have reached their goal. For instance, if I were to buy a $50 bond, it would have a “maturity date” on it – the exact date in the future at which time it will be worth the full $50. If I try to cash it in before it’s “mature”, I’ll get less than $50. Pretty simple concept.

Plugging it into the spiritual realm is not as simple. Paul defines “spiritual maturity” very specifically in Ephesians 4:

And he [Jesus] gave the apostles, and the prophets, and the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for ministry work, so the body of Christ will be built up, until we all reach the the full faith and knowledge of the Son of God, [until we all reach] a mature person, [until we all reach] a measure of Christ’s full stature. Ephesians 4:11-13

These verses are intentionally layered, with each layer giving a deeper and clearer understanding of the ultimate goal:

  • Jesus gave specially-gifted people to the church
    • Their purpose is to make sure the believers are ready and able to do ministry
      • Ministering believers are to build up (read: grow) the whole group (which means the individuals in the group have to grow)
        • A person’s growth is to be measured in these three ways:
          • how full is my faith and knowledge of the Son of God?
          • how well-rounded is my maturity as a human being?
          • how do I measure up to the life of Christ?

Like in our mental, emotional, and physical lives, spiritual maturity is not a one-time, one-place destination. It involves many aspects and areas of our lives. That’s one of the big concepts behind our “Open House” teaching series – exploring different areas in my life that need to grow.

There is no doubt that we have immature (not fully grown) people in our church:

  • Not everyone attends our gatherings like they should (weekly)
  • Not everyone serves on a ministry team like they should (regularly)
  • Not everyone is connecting with others in a group like they should (weekly)
  • Not everyone is giving financially like they should (at least 10% of income)
  • Not everyone is praying like they should (at all times)
  • Not everyone is sharing their faith in Christ like they should (every chance we get)
  • (did I get everyone?)

In fact, not a single one of us is doing everything like we should (full maturity). We each have areas in which we excel, and we have areas in which we fail miserably. But full maturity is supposed to be our goal.

Part of being mature is the ability to evaluate yourself, identify the areas that need work, and actually do something about it. It takes work, self-discipline, and probably even some help and accountability.

Growing up is your choice. We are trying to create an environment at OTCC where you can’t help but want to grow. You’ll either become mature or you’ll leave because you refuse to grow up. Strong language? Yes – but that’s our mission as a church and my mission as your pastor.

Coming to them Jesus said, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on the earth. So, as you go, make followers in all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to fulfill everything as much as I have commanded you; and, look, I myself am with you always, all the way to the complete end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20

The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these with faithful people, whoever will also be able to teach others.
2 Timothy 2:2

Yes, mature Christ-followers will naturally “breed” new, immature Christ-followers – people should accept God’s salvation because of you. But we can’t be satisfied to leave them there or stay there ourselves.

So, in what areas do you need to mature / grow up? What is keeping you from doing that? What can I as a church leader do about that? What can our church do about that?

Jeremiah 26

August 21, 2007 in Other with 0 Comments

In this chapter Jeremiah has a lot of great parallels to Jesus.  It is a story chapter, rather than a prophecy chapter.  You should read it for yourself and find your own parallels, but look at a few that I found:

1) They knew where their message came from.

The LORD gave me every word that I have spoken.
Jeremiah 26:12

For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. John 12:49

2) They stood out from the crowd of false teachers.

Then the officials and the people said to the priests and prophets, “This man does not deserve the death sentence, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.” Jeremiah 26:16

The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” … One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself– and us, too, while you’re at it!”  But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?  We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”
Luke 23:35, 39-41

3) They were not afraid to tell it like it was.

“Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: If you will not listen to me and obey my word I have given you, and if you will not listen to my servants, the prophets– for I sent them again and again to warn you, but you would not listen to them– then I will destroy this Temple as I destroyed Shiloh, the place where the Tabernacle was located. And I will make Jerusalem an object of cursing in every nation on earth.’” Jeremiah 26:4-6

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.  And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate.  For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”  As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings.  But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!” Matthew 23:37 – 24:2

Jeremiah was a Christ-follower.  And if he could imitate Jesus, before Jesus was even born, we have no excuse.  Following Him begins with knowing Him.  How well do you know Him?

Until next time,

Dan’l

Jeremiah 22:13-16

August 9, 2007 in OTCC with 0 Comments

For those of you who know of our church’s situation with the airport, you can probably imagine that is on my mind quite a bit, as I try to lead our church forward in God’s best path for us.

One of those things that I think about often is our future meeting place.  Will it be our own, or will we have to rent it?  How much will it cost to build a new building?  If we build, will we be able to include everything we want right away, or will we have to “make do” for a while?

And then my reading in Jeremiah today brings me to chapter 22.  I’m reading in the New Living Translation (2nd ed.):

And the LORD says, “What sorrow awaits Jehoiakim, who builds his palace with forced labor. He builds injustice into its walls, for he makes his neighbors work for nothing. He does not pay them for their labor. He says, ‘I will build a magnificent palace with huge rooms and many windows. I will panel it throughout with fragrant cedar and paint it a lovely red.’ But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king! Your father, Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink. But he was just and right in all his dealings. That is why God blessed him. He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn’t that what it means to know me?” says the LORD. Jeremiah 22:13-16 (NLT2)

How appropriate!  “A beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king!”  A beautiful meeting place does not make a great church!

“He gave justice and help to the poor and needy… Isn’t that what it means to know me?”

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27 (NLT2)

I have several meetings over the next four weeks.  I believe that it will be in these meetings that God is going to show His future for our church.  Please pray with me that I won’t be slow in picking up His signals.

No matter the outcome of our discussion with the airport, no matter what building we may or may not have, our mission and focus cannot change:

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;” Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)

Until next time,

Dan’l

How do you relate?

September 28, 2006 in Other with 0 Comments

Church Update
We went to the Airport update meeting last night and gained a little information. Now it looks like the new road won’t be opened until October 17th (“weather permitting”) – that is, we don’t know anymore. It’s looking really good, though. They installed the street lights yesterday; there is a new sidewalk that goes the entire length (about .75 miles). We are still waiting to hear from their attorney regarding our place in the process. Keep praying!

Special Update
This coming Sunday (October 1st) there is a brand new church launching in Bakersfield, CA, that I am privileged to have a part in. Pastor Mark Brock and his wife, Charity, will be holding the first service of Crossway Baptist Church at 9:30am (PST).

Leading up to this service, churches across the country (including OTCC), helped place more than 30,000 phone calls into Bakersfield to let the community know about the new church and to ask permission to send information in the mail. Over 1300 households responded, “Yes, send information!” Pray that God uses the Brocks and Crossway mightly, especially during their launch this Sunday.

Scriptural Thought of the Week
Many of us are or associate or work with people who are rich in this world’s power. They are men and women in business, government, or other places of authority. When you come in contact with them, how do you relate? What should be your Christ-like composure?

“Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5 (NASB)

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart…” Matthew 11:29 (NASB)

Do a word search for “gentle” in your Bible and check it with a few other translations. The synonym that you will find frequently in the KJV is “meek” (which may be how you memorized these verses).

In His dealings with people – those who believed and those who did not – Christ was meek, gentle, and He wants us to take our cue and “learn from” Him.

Quote of the Week
In one of the 20th century’s classic books on the successful spiritual life, A. W. Tozer says this about meekness:

 

The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God’s estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God has declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto. He knows well that the world will never see him as God see him and he has stopped caring. He rests perfectly content to allow God to place His own values. He will be patient to wait for the day when everything will get its own price tag and real worth will come into its own. Then the righteous shall shine forth in the Kingdom of their Father. He is willing to wait for that day.

Quoted from: A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God (Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications, Inc., 1982), p. 113. ISBN: 0-87509-223-3

 

 

Until next time,

Dan’l

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