Misused Verses - Misplaced Hope

Over the last couple of week's the Genesis class has been looking at 

The Most Misused Bible Verses.

We looked at three different verses. 

With today being my last day of teaching I wanted to close out the series 

and

help the class consider their involvement in the upcoming 

Biblical Counseling/Discipleship Training Conference

Over the three week's we referred to various Bible study ideas to help 

with looking not only at these misused verses but 

also any verses or passages.

The first week's help was "have a plan."

The specific plan I mentioned was COMA

Context, Observation, Meaning, and Application

from One to One Bible Reading

The second week's help from Ben Lawrence was

"Look for the author's original intent in writing the book/passage/verse"

The third week's help was "ask questions."

Some questions include 

"Who is the promise directed to?"

"Are there any words that need to be defined or clarified?"

This final week's help is "remember the focus of the Bible."

The Bible is not about you.

It is about God.

Most of the misused verses in the book are misapplied because

the reader puts his hope in the wrong place -

pleasant circumstances, more money, well-behaved children

instead of in Jesus Christ. 

We have the scriptures written to teach and encourage us

by giving us hope.

HERE is the link to the Sunday night session on "Why host a Biblical Counseling conference?"  

Biblical counseling in a local church setting provides the opportunity for the church to offer real hope to church members, regular attendees, and the surrounding community.

BIBLICAL DOCTRINE/ATMOSPHERE OF GRACE

Why preach and teach Biblical doctrine?

• In 2 Timothy 2:2. Paul tells Timothy to share what he has learned with faithful men who will share it with others.  This verse along with the rest of the Pastoral Epistles are encouragements to preach, teach and lead well.    

What does it look like?

• EVERYONE is preparing for the sermon
• The preaching and teaching prepares a congregation of “mini-preachers” to proclaim the Gospel to their families, neighborhoods, and workplaces.
• The ministry of the church on Sunday is so much more than just the pulpit ministry.  It is also a “pew” ministry
• It’s not just about teaching.  It’s about equipping
• The church family learns how to talk about “sanctification” and “growing and changing.”  They share Biblical answers for life.

CULTURE OF DISCIPLESHIP/SOUL CARE

Why develop a culture of discipleship/Soul Care?

• All the “one anothers” in the New Testament
• Some examples:  John 13:14, 34, 35; 15:12, 17;  Romans 12:10; 15:14; 16:16; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 5:21; Hebrews 3:13

What does a culture of discipleship/Soul Care look like?

• Living out the one another’s in Biblical, gospel-centered community
• Spirit-led, relationship-driven not program-directed

DIRECTIVE COUNSEL

Why do directive counsel?

• Share the hope that is in you – 1 Peter 3:13–16
• Share the hope with others – Hebrews 10:23-25

What does directive counsel look like?

• A synonym for counsel is discipleship
• It is focused on God-glorifying life-change,
• Deeper relationships that begin through friendships and small groups
• Goal = encouragement and obedience by speaking the truth in love

CORRECTIVE COUNSEL

Why do corrective counsel?

• 1 Thessalonians 5:14
• 2 Timothy 3:16, 17

What does corrective counsel look like?

• More targeted towards a specific problem
• More intentional relationship between counselor/counselee
• More formal situation and more equipped counselee

INTENSIVE COUNSEL

Why do intensive counsel?

• 1 Thessalonians 5:14
• 2 Timothy 3:16, 17

What does intensive counsel look like?

• Focused on life-dominating or tragic issues
• Requires more focused time
• Requires a counselor with more training.
• “Not intended to be a substitute for the ongoing, long-term discipleship that we all ought to experience in the body of Christ.”  Scott Mehl

Prayer for Strength - Ephesians 3:14-21

This week's Praying with Paul passage is Ephesians 3:14 - 21.  
I have to say that this passage of scripture has been an amazing encouragement to me this past week that was filled with some ups and downs.
We visited the Wood family in Toledo whose 8-year-old daughter, Ryleigh, has brain cancer.  At the end of this post is what Krista and Jadyn read to Ryleigh.
We had the opportunity to visit with friends and family from the Toledo area.
We also decided we needed to back out of our offer on the house in Grand Rapids.

It was an emotional weekend but I am thankful for not only reminders of God's power to change lives and know God's love found in this passage but also for the God who provides and loves more than I could ever imagine.

Here is a little bit of Sunday's lesson on a Prayer of Strength from Ephesians 3:14-21.

Verses 14 - 15:  For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

God is more than worthy of worship.

This passage is filled with worship and dependence on God.

Verses 16 - 17a:  that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith

Paul prays for the strength to change.  This powerful strength comes from God, the Father, who provides from His great riches.  This powerful strength comes through God the Holy Spirit.  This powerful strength transforms us into the image of God the Son so that others will see Jesus in us. 

This is a prayer that "Christ may genuinely take up residence within us, transforming us into a house that pervasively reflects his own character."  (187)   

Philippians 4:19 repeats this idea.  "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Verses 17b - 19:  that you being rooted and grounded in love, may have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Paul prays for the strength to comprehend the amazing love of God.  This is not a prayer to love God more but rather a pray that we might better understand God's love for us. (191) 

Paul "cannot think of their salvation without reminding himself that it utterly depends on God's sovereign love."  (190) 

The idea of fullness is found throughout Ephesians.  There is the fullness of God in 3:19, the fullness of Christ in 4:13, and the fullness of the Holy Spirit in 5:18 

Verses 20 - 21
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and over.  Amen.

God's power working in and through believers is so much more than we could ever understand . 

My prayer is that I, and those I am praying for, will 
-passionately worship the one who is over all creation and is able to do "far more abundantly than all that we ask or think"
-have the strength to continue to be changed into the image of Christ
-have the strength to understand how great the love of God is
with the ultimate goal of glorifying Him!

In God's sovereignty, while at the hospital, Krista and Jadyn opened Ryleigh's copy of the book Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing to where the bookmark was. The devotional they read her was entitled "Superpower Strength", which was a great reminder that the power to live life for God does not come from us it comes from Him.

Ryleigh wanted to hear another one so Krista turned the page and read the one entitled "Happy Birthday."  On one hand, it was a difficult one to read.  On the other hand, after reading the first devotional, it was a great, hope-filled reminder of a difficult truth. Here's what it says: 

The Queen of England has two birthdays.

On her official birthday she has to do Queen Things.  But on her actual birthday she gets to do whatever she fancies (like eat icre cream in her slippers all day if she wants). Wouldn't you like two birthdays?  Actually, when you belong to Jesus, you have THREE birthdays!There's your birthday when you were born into the world as a baby. Then there's your birthday when you say yes to Jesus and you are born all over again into God's whole new life. And then there's the birthday after you die - when Jesus takes you the hand and leads you through death - and you wake up with him into Perfect Life that won't ever end. 1 Peter 1:23 "For you have been born again, not of imperishable seed, but of imperishable, thorugh the living and enduring word of God. "

As I said, the devotional right before this one was about the superpower strength of God- that is the reason why we can confidently read the Happy Birthday devotional.  

  

Overcome the hurdles

Why is this chapter on Paul's prayer in Philippians 1:9-11 entitled "Overcoming the Hurdles"?

In the chapter before this one, Carson shares several excuses for not praying.  If you don't have the book you can read this chapter atwww.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/excuses.html

• I am too busy
• I feel too dry spiritually to pray
• I feel no need to pray.
• I am too bitter to pray
• I am too ashamed to pray.
• I am content with mediocrity

In this Philippian's prayer along with many other prayers, Paul is praying for holy discontentment.  Paul is thankful for what God is in doing them and he is also praying they would have a growing desire for more and more of God.
In this short prayer, Paul prays for growing love, holy living, and living for God's glory.

Here is a side by side comparison from the commentary Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon by R. R. Melick. of Paul's prayers in Philippians 1:9-11 and Colossians 1:9-11.  He notes that "the fact that they are parallel emphasizes the basic themes found in his requests."  Paul wants the churches to grow in Christ.

Three of Paul's requests in this passage include love, pure and blameless living and glorifying God.

love:  great, growing, purposeful love.

• Self-sacrificial love not 
• Growing because
• This love is abounding.
• This love is abounding more and more.
• This love is abounding [still] more and more.  Compare ESV (And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment) and NKJV ( And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment) of Philippians 1.  Some translations do not include the word "still."  It does appear in the original language - Greek.

Pure and blameless

• This video along with some helpful tips on reading difficult passages can be found at www.desiringgod.org/labs/i-dont-feel-blameless-am-i.  Here are the tips and there is an explanation of each tip.
• Identify what is clear from the passage. 
• Find the main point. 
• Look for clues within the book and surrounding context.
• Cross-reference. 
• Ask specific questions of the text. 
• Use a trusted commentary. 

To the glory and praise of God

• Holiness will make you happy video

Here are some of my study notes to help show the connections throughout the passage.

Challenging Prayer

 Sunday morning's Praying with Paul lesson is from Colossians 1:9 - 14.

⁹ And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;¹¹ being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Once again we read about ceaseless prayer.  This ceaseless prayer is in response to Epaphras' report of the Colossian's love in the Spirit for the saints and their faith in Jesus Christ.  Paul's prayer is that they would be controlled ("filled") by a deep, thorough, personal understanding of God and His will.  Paul was not praying that they would have a glimpse of God's future plan.  He was praying they would understand "the guidance of the Holy Spirit according to the proper interpretation of the Scriptures."

Spiritual knowledge leads to a life ("walk") lived in a way that pleases God in all respects.  This cannot be done in our own strength.  It can only be done in Christ.  Galatians 2:20 says "I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life  I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."  This God-given filling also results in fruitfulness, ongoing growth in knowledge, continuous strength from God himself, and joyous endurance of trials.

Paul's prayer for the Colossians ends with giving thanks to God who has empowered ("qualified")  them through Jesus Christ to share in eternal life and the promises of God ("inheritance").  What a great privilege it is to be rescued from sin and moved into a right relationship with God ("transferred to the kingdom") through God's son, who frees us ("redemption") which results in our sins being forgiven. 

John MacArthur's commentary on Colossians closes this section of scripture with the following quote.

So Christ's death on our behalf paid the price to redeem us.  On that basis, God forgave our sins, granted us an inheritance, delivered us from the power of darkness and made us subjects of Christ's kingdom.  Those wonderful truths should cause us to give thanks to God continually as did Paul in this prayer. 

A Passion for People

Can someone learn how to pray?  While it may seem like an obvious "yes" answer, there are some who live like they cannot learn to pray better prayers.  
They have limited themselves to shallow "God is good. God is great.  Let us thank him for this food" and "Now I lay me down to sleep" prayers.  
Luke 11:1-2 may be familiar verses to some, it provides an interesting challenge.  The Jewish followers of Jesus probably know some basic things about prayer and yet know this is something they can learn from Jesus.  They ask "Lord, teach us to pray."  They have observed the prayers and life of Jesus, John and the disciples of John.

Jesus' response to their question was not "Come on guys, you know this."  He said, "When you pray say..."  Jesus wanted to see the disciples grow spiritually.

Paul is the same as it relates to wanting to see God's people grow in their walk with God.
This week's prayer is 1st Thessalonians 3:9 - 13  In Praying With Paul, D.A. Carson provides some interesting content by beginning the chapter study with chapter two verse seventeen.  Paul's intense longing and great desire drive him to pray for God's people.  His prayers show that he is seeking the good of others.  Carson writes:

The issue is service, the service of real people. The question is How can I be most useful?, not, How can I feel most useful?, not, How can I feel most useful? The goal is, How can I best glorify God by serving his people?, not, How can I feel most comfortable and appreciated while engaging in some acceptable form of Christian ministry? The assumption is How shall the Christian service to which God calls me be enhanced by my daily death, by my principled commitment to take up my principled commitment to take up my cross daily and die?, not, How shall the form of service I am considering enhance my career [and name]?

Paul's desire to be with the church is a desire to be with them to help them grow.  Paul's prayers for people come from his passion for people. (85)  "If we are to improve our praying, we must strengthen our loving." (85)  It is not a narcissistic "I need you to feel good about myself" prayer.

The prayer in 1 Thessalonians 3:9 - 13 is filled with practical things to remember in your own prayers.

1. What we need is a prayer life that thanks God for the people of God, and then tells the people of God what we thank God for. (88)
2. Paul doesn't just pray that the people would be strengthened.  He prays that he would be used by God to strengthen the church.
3. Paul prays that the Thessalonians would love one another and others just as he did.
4. Paul prays that God might strengthen them so that they could live the life God wants them to live.  

The common thread between these points is that genuine, deep prayers are the words spoken by a person living in dependence upon God

Here are two videos to remind us that God is for God and we need to be for God.
As a pastor/preacher, what would you do if you were invited to preach at a church that holds a different view of the purpose of the church?  Here is what Matt Chandler did.

The full sermon Tim Challies references in #3 of the Great Sermon series.  It would be helpful to watch the video above 

What are you praying for?

D.A. Carson's book Praying With Paul:  A Call to Spiritual Reformation takes a look at the different prayers he wrote in his letters to the churches.  The Genesis class at West Cannon Baptist Church started a study of this book on May 13th.  In preparing for the class I was personally and deeply challenged.

Chapters 2 and 3 look at Paul's prayer in 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12.  The prayer is specifically in verses 11 and 12 but 3 through 10 have some great things to consider when we pray.  Carson refers to these verses as the framework for prayer. 

Verses 3 and 4 give some specific praises connected with the church in Thessalonica.

Paul gives thanks to God for them.  What does he thank God for?  What do we thank God for?  Have you ever thought about what you most often give thanks for in your prayers."  Our thanksgiving seems to be tied rather tightly to our material well-being and comfort.  The unvarnished truth is that what we most frequently give thanks for betrays what we most highly value."  (41)  

Paul gives thanks that the church's faith is growing, their love is increasing, and they are persevering under trials. 

"The church is different [than a local rock-climbing club, regional football team or a socially cohesive local church].  The church is made up of people who are as varied as can be:  rich and poor, learned and unlearned, practical and impractical, sophisticated and unsophisticated, aristocratic and plebian, disciplined and flighty, intense and carefree, extrovert and introvert - and everything in between.  The only thing that holds such people together is their shared allegiance to Jesus Christ, their devotion to him, stemming from his indscribable love for them." (42)

"When Christians lose sight of their first and primary allegiance, they will squabble."  (42)

One of this week's Fighter Verses connects very closely with these points.  Romans 12:12 says "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." HERE is a post about this verse.  There is a great reason Christians can be patient in tribulation.  "Christians are prepared to suffer and to endure because they keep their eye on the goal." (45)

In verses 5 through 10, Paul's focus shifts from what is seen in the church to what will happen in the coming kingdom.  For believers, there will be vindication, the clearing of blame or suspicion.  For others, there will be retribution, punishment for a wrong or criminal act.  At the cross, these two future realities meet.  "The cross simultaneously stands as the irrefutable evidence that God demands retribution and cries out that it is the measure of God's love (Romans 3:21-26)."  (48) 

After this great set up for his prayer, Paul writes "with this in mind."  "This" is the great fruit of faith, love, and perseverance in the church and "simple confidence in the prospect of God's perfect vindication of his people when Jesus returns.  Because of "this," Paul has some big prayer requests.
"Paul prays that God might count these Christians worthy of their calling" (51)  In writing to these Christians, Paul is telling them to become what they already are.  Since they are children of God must become what children of God should be.  Carson writes a very convicting paragraph in this section.

"When was the last time you prayed this sort of prayer for your family?  for your church?  for your children?  Do we not spend far more energy praying that our children will pass their exams or get a good job or be happy or not stray too far, than we do praying that they may live lives worthy of what it means to be a Christian?

What would this "become what you are" prayer look like for West Cannon Baptist Church?

Paul then "prays that God by his power, might bring to fruition each Christian's good, faith-prompted purposes."  (55) A new life in Christ results in new goals for the sake of Jesus' name.  We realize that "no Christian can do everything, and none of us should try.  But we can all do something" in God's strength and for God's glory.

Paul closes the prayer in verse 12 by sharing his two-fold purpose in the prayer.

• The glorification of Jesus Christ.  "The Christian's whole desire at its best and highest, is that Christ be praised."  (57)
• glorification of believers.  -Romans 8:29 - 30 says "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."  (emphasis mine)

"When we glorify God, we are not giving him something substantial that he would not otherwise have.  We are simply ascribing to him what is his.  BUT when we are glorified we are being made more like him, we are being strengthened or empowered to exhibit characteristics that we should not otherwise display."  (59)

The last line of the prayer is "according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."  This statement reminds us that we can do these things only in God's strength and power. "The Savior himself cannot be glorified in our lives, nor we be finally glorified, apart from the grace that he provides."  (61)

The 8 Lessons from the School of Prayer can be found HERE

Spirit Empowered Kids and Teens

Pray that our children's ministry and REACH Student ministries will be Spirit-empowered and help the children and students depend upon the Holy Spirit.

Pray that parents, leaders, and teachers of our children and teens would serve one another, pray to God and love their church and community.

Tonight's Fight Night study is going to include a prayer "walk" around the building and a look at this week's Fighter Verses, Romans 12:11-13.  The time is designed to help everyone, especially parents and children, prayerfully think about Serving, Praying, and Loving.

Here is what the Group Leader Guide for the activity time of the study.  The devotional teaching notes are HERE.

Group Leader Guide:

The goal is not to get through all the questions and activities in 5 minutes.

The goal is to begin conversations about serving, praying and

loving others.

Roman 12:11 questions 

Five minutes for filling in the blanks on the verse sheet,

answering the following four questions,

praying that you and your family would be hard workers and

if there is time left talking about the difference be hard worker & laziness

1. What are some animals that appear busy and hard-working?

2. What are some animals that appear lazy?

3. Who are some hardworking people you know?

4. What are some ways you waste time and are lazy?

Romans 12:12 questions

Five minutes doing the following two activities,

praying for these requests and

if there is time left talking about your favorite songs about Jesus.

1. Take some time on the back of this paper or the other to write down some joys you have to rejoice about.

2. Take some time on the back of this paper or the other paper to write down some troubles you are currently facing.

Romans 12:13 questions

Five minutes for filling in the blanks on the verse sheet,

answering the following five questions, and

if there is time left planning out some of the ways you can encourage your neighbors..

1. Church

A. Think about some ways your family can help someone from church this week.

B. Pick at least one and plan to do it. 

2. Neighborhood

A. What is something you like about your neighborhood?

B. Who do you know in your neighborhood?

C. Think about some ways you family can encourage people in your neighborhood this summer.

Spirit-Empowered Leaders

Over the last several weeks, Tuesday's prayer focus has been leaders.

I have shared requests and other information related to pastoral leadership.  I believe it is very important that we remember to pray for pastors but today let's focus on praying for two other groups of people that are used by God to make the ministry of West Cannon and other churches possible.

The first group is the administrative assistants, office managers, and building managers.  

Being involved in two schools, two churches, and a rescue mission, I have realized the blessing of godly, helpful men and women working behind the scenes in so many different ways.

At Santiago Christian School, Emmanuel Christian School, Keystone Rescue Mission, Emmanuel Baptist Church and West Cannon Baptist Church I have been extremely blessed to serve alongside people who have been not only helpers but more so partners in the ministry of the Gospel.    

I don't even want to begin naming names because I know I would forget some.   

Thank you for all that you do for the work of the Gospel. 

The second group is the volunteers.

Volunteers are such an amazing blessing and are so much more than an unpaid workers. 

 Here is a post written in 2014 about the difference between a volunteer and a disciple-maker.

No, this is not the next competition on TV.

It is a challenge to think about your role as a church member.

A volunteer is a person who does work without getting paid to do it.
A disciple-maker is a person who is growing in their relationship with God and desiring to help others grow.  Someone who is investing what God has given to him into the lives of others.

A disciple-maker in the nursery understands…

they are helping moms and dads grow by giving parents the opportunity to attend classes and sermons.

they are helping babies develop a love for the church by providing a consistent, caring environment.

A disciple-maker in the pre-kindergarten classes understands…

they are doing so much more than wiping noses and passing out snacks.

they are showing the love of Jesus through their caring actions and creative sharing of Bible stories. 

A disciple-maker in the 1st through 5th grade classes understands…

they are not merely keeping kids busy while the parents are in church.

they are showing the kids genuine worship as they sit in the auditorium and sing praises to our amazing Savior.
they are showing the love of Jesus by taking time to teach, talk and listen to the kids.

A disciple-maker who is greeting on Sunday morning understands…

they are not just greeting people at the door.

they are helping others prepare for our Sunday morning gathering time.

they are welcoming those who desperately need Jesus to a service that proclaims Him in singing, preaching, and conversation.

A disciple-maker in a small group leadership role understands…

they are not running or just showing up to a group meeting.

they are showing sincere love by being used by God to love people more.
they are showing a God-focused trust by bringing their concerns and the group’s concerns to God in prayer.

Serving in any ministry at church is more than volunteering time.

It is glorifying God by helping others.

It is about growing in Christ and investing in the spiritual growth of others.

For more Theology Matters prayer resources click HERE