Praying at Breakpoint

On November 19th, I had the privilege of sharing at Breakpoint, the monthly meeting of some Grand Rapids area pastors. I set two goals for the time.

1. Challenge each of us, as pastors and ministry leaders, to pray more. 
2. Give time to pray with and for each other's ministries.

Most of the material I presented was not original to me.  It was quoted or adapted from  Prayer:  How Praying Together Shapes the Church by Onwuchekwa, Praying with Paul by D.A. Carson and The Praying Church by Paul Miller.  

The time began by getting into three groups to see what the following passages say about prayer and how to pray.

• Daniel 2:17—23
• Psalm 13
• Philippians 1:9—11

Rather than sharing what we talked about, I want to encourage you and others from your church to study and pray these verses.

Here are other prayer passages from Ephesians 1:15 - 24, 3:14 - 19, 6:18 - 20.

I have been learning how praying prayers from the Bible helps with God-centeredness, specificity, and more.   Most, if not all, Bible-believing Christians would say prayer is important.  However, Bible-praying Christians see the need to pray more and live more God-dependent prayers.

“When prayer is sparse and sporadic, when it’s done just enough to ease the conscience and not much more, we’ve got a problem.”  

Here are some faulty ideas about prayer. Here are a couple of these ideas. 

• Seems like a waste of time.  
• Lie: Let's get working and doing something.
• Truth:  We are commanded to pray.  We need to grow in our dependence on God.  

• "I don't know how to pray."
• Lie:  There is an exact way that I need to pray.
• Truth:  Ask others to help you grow in your prayer life.  If you aren't sure how to pray, look to the Bible for examples of prayer.  
• If God is sovereign, why bother praying.
• Lie:  There is no reason to pray if God is sovereign.
• Truth:  We are commanded to pray.  The purpose of prayer is not to change God's mind.  
• Prayer does not work.
• Lie:  I have prayed for specific things and didn't get what I wanted.
• Truth:  ” Effective prayer is the fruit of a relationship with God, not a technique for acquiring blessings.”  D.A. Carson

KEYS TO PRAYER

• God and His Glory
• Man’s dependence on God
• God’s Word
• God's family, the church

Marks of a praying church?

• People pray more.
• Harmony and unity in Christ.
• Growing dependence upon God

• “Where prayer is abundantly present, it teaches the church that we really need the Lord.  Where prayer is absent, it reinforces that we believe we are okay without God.”

• Understanding that prayer is not ONE MORE activity of the church.  Prayer lies at the heart of all the church's ministry.  (The Praying Church, p. 28)
• Individuals pray for each other and ask others to pray for you. 

 

Here are some ways you and others in your congregation can pray for churches.

1.  Pray they will keep their eyes on God.

King Jehoshaphat faced three combined enemy armies and did not know what to do except to lock his eyes on God. That’s the answer whenever we have no clue about the next steps.

“For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You.” (2 Chron. 20:12, HCSB)

2. Pray they will not take a step apart from God’s leading.

Moses prayed this prayer when God would send only an angel to lead His people after their fiasco with the golden calf. He would rather the people not start the journey if God Himself were not leading them.

“If Your presence does not go,” Moses responded to Him, “don’t make us go up from here.” (Exod. 33:15)

3. Pray they will beware of relying on their own strength instead of God's

David, who knew the Lord is the one who fights for him (1 Sam. 17:47), trusted in his own might when he took a census of the Hebrew armies. Recognizing his sin, he prayed a prayer most leaders need to pray at some point:

“I have sinned greatly in what I’ve done. Now, Lord, because I’ve been very foolish, please take away Your servant’s guilt.” (2 Sam 24:10)

4. Pray they will be wise in leading God’s people.

When Solomon might have asked for much more, he instead asked God to give him a “listening heart” as he governed the people of God. All of us who lead congregations need this wisdom.

“So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who can judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings. 3:9)

 

RESOURCES:

PERSONAL PRAYER:  Do you pray? A Question for Everybody by J.C. Ryle
Free ebook @ www.monergism.com/call-prayer-ebook

1.  I ask, `Do you pray?' because prayer is absolutely necessary to a person's salvation

2.  I ask, `Do you pray?' because a habit of prayer is one of the surest marks of a true Christian

3.  I ask, `Do you pray?' because private prayer is the most neglected Christian discipline

4.  I ask, `Do you pray?' because the Bible is full of encouragement for all who want to pray

5.  I ask, `Do you pray?' because faithfulness in prayer is the secret of true holiness

6.  I ask, `Do you pray?' because neglecting prayer is one of the great causes of backsliding

7.  I ask, `Do you pray?' because prayer is the best recipe for happiness and contentment

CHURCH—WIDE PRAYER:  A Praying Church by Paul Miller

“We’ll hear sermons on prayer, listen to a pastoral prayer, and begin meetings with prayer, but prayer seldom happens naturally in conversation.  It just feels too religious.”  (18)

“Prayer is not one more activity of the church—it lies at the heart of all the church’s ministry.” (26)

“Good preaching (and teaching) needs good praying, or we begin to rely too much on the power of our horizontal words.”  (56)

“The act of praying itself is a kind of dying, where you give up your self-will to “make things happen” and go to God with a collective “Help us.”  The initial feeling of prayer is dying to self because praying is an act of the will, a decision to shut down your activity and open the door to God’s activity.” (111)

“Prayer isn’t just another ministry; it is the ministry that sparks the rule of the Spirit of Jesus in all ministries.”  (154, emphasis authors)

Think about these questions…

• How can I grow prayerful dependence in my own life? 
• How can you help grow prayerful dependence in your church?

Tough Questions Week 11

Using the PRAY acrostic, we took time to pray about several of the topics discussed throughout this quarter

You can read more about what we discussed and learned by clicking on the link.
Here are the prayer requests that we shared 

POLITICS  (Part 1)  (Part 2)

• Praise and Thanking God
• God is sovereign over all.
• For the country we live in
• For the freedom of worship we have in the United States
• Repent
• of trusting man and politics more than God
• Indifference
• Selfishness and pride
• Identifying ourselves and others by political party rather than image bearers in need of a Savior
• Ask & Yield
• The people of our country would look to Jesus Christ as their savior
• Ongoing freedom of worship here and a growing passion for God
• For the ongoing passion for God in countries where the church faces persecution - India, Uzbekistan, China, and other places

ABORTION

• Praise and Thanking God
• Strategically placed pregnancy centers
• God is the author of life
• God is compassionate and holy
• Repentance
• Indifference - nationally and individually
• Wrongly representing Christ
• Ask & Yield
• Jesus Christ would change people's hearts
• Jesus Christ would change the laws of this land

LGBTQIA2S+

• Praise and Thanking God
• God is the creator of sex and marriage.
• Opportunities to reach people who need Jesus Christ as their Savior, including those in LGBTQIA2S+ community
• People who share the truth of the Gospel
• People who have been saved
• Repent
• Indifference 
• Compromise 
• Not loving and sharing with people who need Jesus
• Identifying people by the sexuality 
• Ask & Yield
• Show me where I need to caring for and talking to family, friends, and others.
• Work in our minds and hearts as it relates to our attitudes
• Remember the great, life-changing power of the Gospel

CHILDREN (these prayer points are for parents and anyone in a church that desires to minister to parents and children)

• Praise and Thanking God
• God has brought children into our lives as parents and as a church family
• Children are a gift from the Lord
•  Repent
• Making our children an idol
• Thinking that we can save our children and forgetting that it is Jesus who saves
• Ask & Yield
• Plead with God to work in our children's live
• We would point our children to Jesus

At the end of class, I said I would share some resources about Christian Nationalism.
Here are some of those links:

• G3 Podcast on Christian Nationalism - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0N68dMTJdvJLpYicHLBTQX
• Christian Faithfulness:  The Biblical Alternative to Christian Nationalism - https://g3min.org/christian-faithfulness-the-biblical-alternative-to-christian-nationalism/

Christian Nationalism appears to have begun as a slam or a put-down, but over time, it seems to have been embraced by some.  It is a confusing term because people have differing ideas about it. 
The bottom line is that true, eternal life change comes only through the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we cannot make laws to make people worship God. Life change and worship are not political issues.

The Christian Faithfulness article makes the distinction between Christian Faithfuness and Christian Nationalism.

Tough Questions Week 9

This post and other Tough Questions posts don't necessarily reflect the beliefs of all the pastors and elders at Trinity.  I use this blog to share things I am teaching and thinking about.  

Also, note that this is written by a pastor who loves and wants to help people grow as disciples of Christ and glorify God in everything he does.

The Tough Questions class has examined general doctrine, abortion, politics, parenting philosophies, and school choice.  These lessons began with a common belief, and the challenging part was the different responses.

This lesson on election begins with different beliefs, and the goal is a common response.  Many writers say this is one of, if not the most, controversial doctrines in the church.  "Just because I don't understand how something can true, does not mean it is not so."  See Romans 11:34.

The goal of the Week 9 lesson and this post is not to end the debate on this issue because I would be foolish to think I could do that.  The goal is to help those in the class, those at Trinity Baptist Church, and anyone reading this post make much of God and His Work in our salvation.  

I want to offer three challenges when considering election/predestination and free will. 

When you consider God's sovereignty and man's responsibility, there is an antinomy—an appearance of a contradiction between conclusions that seem equally logical, reasonable, or necessary.  In Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J.I. Packer writes, "God's sovereignty is a reality, and man's responsibility is a reality too."  This appearance of a contradiction in our minds is so hard to grasp.

Another challenge when discussing this issue is that both sides are often attached to men rather than scripture.  The debate becomes more about what Calvin vs. Arminius or Augustine vs. Pelagius said than what the Bible says.  Both sides often construct faulty arguments and make straw men of the viewpoint.

A third challenge at the heart of this debate is that humans are trying to understand God's mind, which is impossible.  God is God.  We are not, and thank God we are not God.

So, what is the doctrine of election?

The free and sovereign choice of God made in eternity past based on nothing in the person solely because of the good pleasure of His will to be saved from sin and inherit the blessing on eternal life.  (author unknown)

God is the author, provider, perfecter, and finisher of my salvation.

There are verses that show God's sovereignty in salvation and others that show man's responsibility for salvation.  

Here are some verses that show man's responsibility.

Ezekiel 18:23 says that God does not have "any pleasure in the death of the wicked rather than that he should turn from his ways and live."  

First Timothy 2:3, 4 says God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

Second Peter 3:9 says God is "not wishing any to perish but for all to come to repentance."

Acts 17:4 says Paul persuaded some people, and they joined Paul and Silas.

Acts 17:27 - 34 describes people seeking, groping for, and finding God.  At the end of this time in Athens, it is written that some men joined and believed.

Here are verses that show the importance of God's sovereignty in salvation, along with a brief statement after each.

Ephesians 1:4 - 5

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Verse 3 states that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.  Then, several verses later, verse 11 says, "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will"

Throughout Ephesians 1, Paul reminds the church that God has predestined, chosen, willed, and blessed us with salvation.  These are words from the chapter.  

Romans 8:29 - 34

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.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Be sure to check out Pastor Brett's sermons in Romans at tbcgr.org/sermons-romans.html

2 Thessalonians 2:13

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:13, "the divine element in election (sanctification by the Spirit - being set apart by God) and the human element in personal salvation (faith in the truth)."  (Stallard)

Other verses to consider are Acts 13:48, 16:14, Ephesians 2:8, and 2 Timothy 2:8.

I want to respond to the verses earlier in this post, which I have divided into two groups.  

Ezekiel 18:23, 1st Timoty 2:3, 4, and 2nd Peter 3:9 discuss God's desire, not man's response.  Greg Koukl has a five-minute video entitled "Does God Literally Desire All to be Saved?" 

The two verses in Acts 17 discuss what Paul did and how the people responded.  These two narratives explain what people saw as God working through Paul and in the people.   

“C. H. Spurgeon was once asked if he could reconcile these two truths to each other. “I wouldn’t try,” he replied; 'I never reconcile friends.' Friends?—yes, friends. This is the point that we have to grasp. In the Bible, divine sovereignty and human responsibility are not enemies. They are not uneasy neighbors; they are not in an endless state of cold war with each other. They are friends, and they work together.”  (Evangelism and Sovereignty of God , J.I. Packer)

Tough Questions Week 8

PARENTING is not dependent on programs and human plans. 
It is dependent upon God, His Word, and His Grace.

"Our Children don’t belong to us but to God.  Parenting is about what God has planned to do in our children through us.”  Paul Tripp

Here are videos about the 14 Gospel Principles from Paul Tripp's Parenting book 

Calling
Grace
Law
Inability
Identity
Process
Lost
Authority
Foolishness
Character
False Gods
Control
Rest
Mercy

SCHOOLS

What I've Learned About School Choice
Main points.

1. School isn’t a right and wrong decision.
2. School isn’t necessarily a one-and-done decision.
3. School isn’t entirely our decision.
4. School isn’t a salvation decision.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

KIDZ:  Kids and families Intentionally Discipled Zealously.

Zealous by David Michael tbcgrkidz.blogspot.com/2022/02/zealous-introduction.html

Zeal is so much more than enthusiasm and excitement.  "It is the result of a heart on fire for the glory of God that is uncontainable and spills out in zealous evangelism, discipleship, service, and good works." (p. 13)

1. Embrace a Biblical Vision for the Faith of the Next Generation 

2. Foster a Robust Partnership Between Church and Home

3. Teach the Breadth and Depth of the Whole Counsel of God

4. Proclaiming the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ

5. Disciple the Mind, Heart and the Will

6. Prayerful Dependence on God's Grace

7. Inspire Worship of God, for the Glory of God

Tough Questions Week 7

The book of 1st Peter is addressed to "those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in..." (1:1)

The book ends with a greeting: "She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings." (5:13)

There are believers in many different places that they don't want to be.

Five verses in the middle of the book (2:13 - 17), show how what Peter wrote and God requires are the following.

• "Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors" (2:13-14a)
• do good, and by doing good you put to silence ignorant talk. (2:15)
• live free and live as a servant of God (2:16)
• honor everyone (2:17a)
• love the brotherhood (2:17b)
• fear God (2:17c)
• honor the emperor (2:17d)

While 2:18 is specifically about servants and masters, it includes a good, but hard, reminder.  "Be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.

We must remember to prepare ourselves to provide these responses in challenging situations like an election.

Resolve in your mind to do the right thing. (Daniel 2:1)

Always be prepared to defend yourself against anyone who asks about your hope. (1 Peter 3:15).

• 
  

Tough Questions Week 6

Because there is so much more to discuss on this topic, we are doing one more week on politics.

Is this the BIGGEST election ever?

Yes AND No.

YES, the election matters and is important.  Plus, all previous elections are in the past.

NO, this election does not matter as much as the kingdom of God.

As we think about politics, we must remember that God is sovereign and holy, and man is limited and sinful.  An election does not change these facts at all.

Remember, it is not about every four years.  It is about every day!

It is not surprising that non-Christians view that the next election is the most important thing in the world.  Because they have no real future, eternal hope.

Let's start thinking about politics in the Old Testament and then the New Testament.

This is a self-study; take out your Bible and answer these questions.

• What does Jeremiah 29:4 - 14 say about how those who trust the Lord must live?

• What does Romans 13:1 - 7 say about what the government should do?

As we consider political issues, we may ask ourselves, "How can they be Christians and support that?"  There are several reasons people think this.

1. Justified people care about justice.
2. Self-satisfying people are certain their convictions are just.  Too often, we are self-serving with our anger.
3. Political judgments require wisdom: "Most political judgments we make depend on wisdom, not on directly applying explicit biblical principles."  (Leeman, Naselli)

How can we love church members with different politics?

1. Adjust your expectations
2. 2.  
3. Recognize what unites a church and what belongs to the domain of Christian freedom.
4. Straight line vs. Jagged line issues
5. Respect those who have a different conscience on jagged line issues.
6. Remember what is most important.

"The more a nation denies God, the less savory all our options might be."

Here is the recent Wisdom Conversation, "Christianity and American Democracy: Living as a Faithful Christian and Citizen," at Cornerstone University.

Tough Questions Week 5

LGBTQIA2S+ Biblical Teaching Overview 

God is the Creator and Designer of human beings.
Going against God's design and plan is never fulfilling.
Our identity is found in Christ.

The book What Do I Say When...? has five chapters on sexuality identity:  sexuality, gender, homosexuality, identity, and transgenderism.  Key points from each chapter are listed at the end of this post. 

As we consider this current hot topic, we must look beyond culture or individual stories to God's Word.

Genesis 19:1 - 9 is the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Verses 4 and 5 say, "But before they lay down the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house.  And they called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight?  Bring them out to us, that we may know them." Let's look at two ways this passage can be misused.   One misuse is that every homosexual person looking to cause riots and civil unrest like these men.   omosexuality does not equal riotous behavior.   On the other side, some say Sodom and Gomorrah have absolutely nothing to do with homosexuality.   They say the sin of these cities was hospitality.  They look to Ezekiel 16:49 to prove this.  "Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom:  she and her daughters  had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease but did not aid the poor and needy." Two important interpretation principles to remember when looking at this specific verse are the surrounding context and Biblical context.  The surrounding context of Ezekiel 16 is filled with abominations, idolatry, selfishness, and so much more than just hospitality.    The verse says they had pride. In the Biblical context, there are other verses about the sin of homosexuality.  

The Biblical context is looking at the Old and New Testaments.  Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 talk about men lying with men and women lying with women.  While it is sometimes suggested that these verses are about pagan worship, not committed relationships, nothing in the context indicates this, and these are moral laws, not civil or ceremonial laws.     the New Testament passages like Romans 1:18 - 32, some explain away by making a distinction by focusing on the term "natural relations." Heterosexual men going against their natural tendency is wrong.  Homosexual men following their natural tendency is not wrong.  However, the problem is there is a difference between "natural relations" - God's created order and "human nature," which has been corrupted by sin.  The other New Testament passages containing the English word homosexual are 1 Corinthians 6:9 - 11 and 1 Timothy 1:8 - 10.  Supporters of homosexuality argue these words do not mean homosexuality as we think about it today.  In many of these and other arguments, supporters of homosexuality appear to know better than God and His Word. 

With this Biblical context and the following statement from What Do I Say When...? "No bigger lie has been told in our culture than the life that sexual freedom is the source of personal happiness and fulfillment," we looked at the following three questions.

What do you say when a family or friend says he/she is gay?
Is it o.k. to attend a loved one's gay wedding?
What is transgender?  Why is it such an issue today?

What do you say when a family member or friend says he/she is gay?
From Your Child Says, "I'm Gay" by Tim Geiger

1. Grab the ANCHOR (Isaiah 41:13)
2. You don't need to know all the answers, so watch your words (Proverbs 10:19) and pray for wisdom.
3. Acknowledge their courage to tell you.
4. Affirm your love for your child.  Your child's struggle with sexuality is primarily an issue with God and His Word.
5. Begin the dialogue.
6. Remember, you can't change people.
7. Your child doesn't need to become straight.  Your child needs to be Holy.
8. Bring others in for prayer and support.
9. You may need to set boundaries.

Is it o.k. to attend a loved one's gay wedding?

From Your Gay Child Says "I Do by Nicholas Black 

Four possible responses:

1. Cut off your child completely.
2. Embrace their homosexuality.
3. Do not attend, but stay connected.
4. Attend the wedding with grief.

"Only the last two alternatives accomplish what is true to Scripture and honoring to God."   As you think through the third and fourth responses, let's be prayerful, humble, loving, and biblical.  The booklet has a brief explanation of both of these responses.

While there are many different thoughts, opinions, and responses to this question, I want to share my answer.

I would not attend, but I would try to stay connected.

A wedding is a celebration of marriage. 
When Jesus teaches about marriage and divorce in Matthew 19, he returns to Genesis 2 and the creation of man and woman.

Now, here is an additional thought I shared in class.

Some may say that is making a bigger deal of homosexuality than other sins. 

I would say that I also would have a problem going to the wedding of a man and woman living together before marriage.  

What is transgender?  Why is it such an issue today?

Go to the Transgender section below for more about this question.

Remember, transgender does not equal intersex.

 SEXUALITY 

• God created human beings to be sexual; therefore, sexuality is good under God's design.
• God's pattern for sexuality upholds the marriage of husband and wife as the exclusive grounds for sexual activity.
• God's pattern for sexuality is freeing and tied to human flourishing.
• Rightly-ordered sexuality brings God glory.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.  So glorify God in your body.  (1 C  r. 6:19–20)

GENDER

• Male and female embodiment is a gift from God.
• The body reveals identity, purpose, and calling.
• "Gender" is first and foremost determined by biological sex.
• Biblical gender expression has broader contours than modern culture's tendency toward gender stereotyping.
• The logic of bodily sex difference helps explain the moral logic of biblical sexual ethics overall.

HOMOSEXUALITY

• Everywhere homosexuality is mentioned in the Bible, it is mentioned critically.
• The Bible prohibits all forms of homosexuality.
• The Bible's prohibition on homosexuality is grounded in creational reality.
• Jesus affirms the immorality of homosexuality.
• Claiming an identity at odds with Scripture is never fulfilling.
• Expect and prepare for disagreement.

IDENTITY

• The Bible provides a comprehensive and stable account of human identity.
• Biblical love does not mean affirming non-biblical identities.
• Moral relativism at the level of personal identity is unsustainable and harmful.
• The Bible provides a consistent and impartial standard for judging which identities are sinful and which are morally good.
• There are other identity-giving forces in our lives, but none as important as God.

TRANSGENDER

• Sex difference is an embodied reality.
• Sex difference is stable and unchanging.
• The transgender worldview is built on incoherent foundations and internal contradictions.
• Compassion is owed to those who are psychologically vulnerable.
• The beauty of the Christian worldview surrounding questions of transgenderism is the sufficiency of the Christian worldview.
• Intersex conditions do not disprove the gender binary.
1. Intersex conditions are medically verifiable and diagnosable, whereas claims that someone is transgender are not.
2. Intersex conditions are a recognition of a problem that exists against a typical medical standard.  These conditions actually serve to reaffirm the abiding authority of the gender binary by recognizing a deviation from it.
3. Despite ambiguities in anatomy, the majority of individuals who are intersex do not have confusion over whether they are male or female once chromosomes and other primary and secondary sex characteristics are discovered.

 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Podcasts

• Christians, the LGBTQ Community and the Call to Hospitality by Rosaria Butterfield -  www.crossway.org/articles/podcast-christians-the-lgbtq-community-and-the-call-to-hospitality-rosaria-butterfield/
• Making Sense of Transgenderism and the Sexual Revolution - www.crossway.org/articles/podcast-making-sense-of-transgenderism-and-the-sexual-revolution-carl-trueman/

Books

• The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield
• Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier
• Strange New World:  How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution by Carl Trueman
• What Do I Say When...?  by
• What the Bible Says about Homosexuality by Kevin DeYoung

Tough Questions Week 4

During Week 4 of the Tough Questions, Fall 2024, we talked about abortion.

The most important thing we can do is pray.

This is why we want to encourage people to pray during the 40 Days of Life Prayer Vigil.  Here is information from this past year's prayer vigil.

One specific opportunity to pray is the 40 Days of Life Prayer vigil.   

Trinity's days to pray are October 17th (1 pm to 7 pm) and October 25th (7 am—1 pm).  You can sign up at the church's communication center or at 40daysforlife.com/GrandRapids.  If you have any questions, ask Allison Plakmeyer.

Here are some notes and thoughts from the Week 4 Adult Christian Education class.

Is this the biggest issue?

While there may be disagreement about whether it is the single biggest issue, it is a crucial issue.  Here are some reasons why.

The sanctity of human life begins with God the Creator.
Scripture always prohibits the unlawful taking of human life.
Christians are called to defend the weak.

Here are some verses to read and meditate on:

Psalm 139:13-16

Jeremiah 1:5
Proverbs 6:16 - 19

Tim Challies has an excellent resource for discussing abortion.  Here is the PowerPoint link - www.challies.com/resources/a-resource-for-discussing-abortion/

He makes the case that elective abortion is a moral wrong in three ways.  
1.  science
2.  history
3.  human rights

Today, abortion is often talked about in terms that attempt to make it positive in our current age...
body autonomy
Plan B pill
pregnant persons' rights
reproductive health
women's health issues
some have suggested using terms like "pro-logic" and "pro-sanity" instead of "pro-choice."

The Bible passages, three points from Challies' presentation, and even the abortion terms above show us the heart of the matter on both sides - control.

Pro-choice, Pro-abortion people make the argument about women's rights vs. government control.
Pro-life, Anti-abortion people make the argument about God's sovereignty vs. people's sovereignty.  This is the Christian argument for life and against abortion.  Some pro-life people would not hold to this God's sovereignty argument. 

In Contenders, Marc Newman writes, "Sacrificing children to solve problems, in direct violation of God's command against killing innocent human beings, is the very definition of idolatry." (13)

Some do not view abortion as a sin.  In a 2019 article in the Atlantic, Jes Kast, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, says, " When people talk about 'Our body is a temple of God, and holy, ' I see that as I have the right to choices over my body, and the freedom to make the decisions that are right for me"  (Newman, 17)

This response to scripture is a Garden of Eden-like twisting of God's word.  God is wrong.  You know better.

In class, we discussed various arguments, with the understanding that it is the Lord who works in and changes people's hearts.  Because of this, we need to pray.

We took time in class to pray, and I want to encourage you to do so.
You can sign up to pray during the 40 Days of Life prayer vigil on October 17th or 25th at the communication center or online at 40daysforlife.com/GrandRapids. 

As you pray, please follow one of these Action Steps:

1. Alpha Grand Rapids - Join Trinity in our support of Alpha through finances and service
2. Adoption—Consider how you could help others through adoption. Reclaiming Adoption: Missional Living Through the Rediscovery of Abba Father is an excellent book on adoption.
3. Assist moms (pregnant moms, single moms, and every mom).  One argument against the pro-life movement is "You are pro-life until birth." While this is not the case, may we show more and more falsehood in this statement?

Additional Resources:

Books

• The Story of Abortion in America 
• Marvin Olasky will be at Wisdom Conversation @ Cornerstone University 
  Christianity and American Democracy; Living as a Faithful Christian and a Good Citizen 
  Here is the recording of this event https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM_JM-UXuFs
• What Do I Say When...?
• Contenders: A Church-Wide Strategy to Unmask Abortion, Defeat Its Advocates, Empower Christians, and Change the World - 

Podcast

• 5 Myths about Abortion - www.crossway.org/articles/5-myths-about-abortion/
• 5 Myths about the Pro-Life Movement -www.crossway.org/articles/5-myths-about-the-pro-life-movement/
• Resources Related to Abortion & The Sanctity of Life - www.crossway.org/articles/resources-related-to-abortion-and-the-sanctity-of-life/
• The Heart of the Abortion Debate - www.crossway.org/articles/podcast-the-heart-of-the-abortion-debate-scott-klusendorf/
• The Dark History of Abortion in America - www.crossway.org/articles/podcast-the-dark-history-of-abortion-in-america-leah-savas/
• The Case for Abortion and How to Refute It - www.crossway.org/articles/podcast-the-case-for-abortion-and-how-to-refute-it-scott-klusendorf/
• Roe v Wade Has Been Overturned Now What - www.crossway.org/articles/podcast-roe-v-wade-has-been-overturned-now-what-scott-klusendorf/

Tough Questions Week 3

For all Tough Question posts, click HERE. 

This Sunday's Tough Questions ACE (Adult Christian Education) class was on Doctrinal Issues.  The purpose of the class and this post is not to settle doctrinal issues.  Our goal is to clarify how to think about doctrinal issues and interact with others with differing views.

The first clarification is doctrine matters.

Three of the Urban Legends of Theology Michael Wittmer writes about are...
"It is important to believe in something and it does not matter what".
"Doctrine divides and love unites", and
"Theology puts God in a box."

Each downplays the importance of sound, biblical doctrine—doctrine that summarizes the Bible's teaching, is faithful to the Bible, and is useful for life (Jamieson).  

Titus 2:1 - 6 begins with Paul's command to Titus to teach sound doctrine (v. 1).  Paul then goes on to talk about how older men and older women are to live.  Verses 4 and 5 share what older women are teaching young women.  Then, the passage concludes with a command for younger men.  The passage that begins with Paul telling Titus to teach sound doctrine is filled with how to live.  Sound doctrine should impact how we live.

Doctrine leads to maturity and personal growth.

Ephesians 4:11 - 16 is Paul's explanation of what the apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers do. They equip the church for ministry and for building up the church. The passage is filled with maturity and unity language.  This growth and unity involves not being "carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes."  

Doctrine leads to maturity and unity in the church.

The second clarification is that there are essential and non-essential doctrines, but this distinction does not mean what you might think it means.  In Sound Doctrine, Jamieson writes, "'Non-essential for salvation' does not mean of no importance at all." (Jamieson)  Just a reminder of the first clarification, Doctrine Matters.

Here are four basic categories of doctrinal triage:

• First-rank doctrines are essential to the gospel itself.  Historic, orthodox Christianity.
• Second-rank doctrines are urgent for the health and practice of the church, and they frequently cause Christians to separate at the level of the local church, denomination, and/or ministry.
• Third-rank doctrines are important to Christian theology but not enough to justify separation or division among Christians.
• Four-rank doctrines are unimportant to our gospel witness and ministry collaboration. (adiaphora)

 This clarification can be seen in the Paul's epistles

He writes about first-rank doctrine when he says in 1st Corinthians 15:3-4 "For I delivered to you as of first importance that what I also received:  that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures."

In Romans 14, Galatians 3, and other passages, you read Paul's teachings about food and holy days, which are issues of stronger and weaker brothers and sisters.

On a personal note, I understand there may be differing opinions and thoughts on what is first, second, third, and fourth-rank issues.  A lesson like today's is very hard to teach because of differing views in the class.  If nothing else, I pray this topic, taught in the way it was taught, encourages people to think through what is important for salvation, church fellowship, and Christian living.

A Call for Theological Triage by Albert Mohler
Christianity and Liberalism (PDF version) by J. Gresham Machen

Tough Questions Week 2

For all Tough Question posts, click HERE. 

Week 2 of "How Do I Answer Tough Questions?  Conscience and DIscernible Issues?"  focused on "Conscience:  What is it?  Why is it important?"

HERE is the link to the lesson worksheet.  
HERE is the link to the Conscience Verses sheet.

This is why the graphic for the class is a Check Engine light.

We don't want to ignore our conscience like some might with a Check Engine light.
At the same time, there may be times when we have to get the Check Engine light recalibrated and fixed because it is not working correctly.  

The definition Naselli & Crowley give is "The conscience is your consciousness of what you believe is right or wrong." (Conscience:  What is it, How to train it, and Loving those who differ)

They go on to share three important truths about our consciences. First, "conscience produces different results for people based on different moral standards." No one's conscience is perfect.  Second, "conscience can change."  As an individual experiences life and learns, that person's conscience changes.  Finally, "conscience functions as a guide, monitor, witness, and judge."  The conscience is not Lord.

The conscience can be positive- blameless, clear, clean, pure, washed, sprinkled clean. 
The conscience can be negative - weak, wounded, defiled, encouraged to sin, evil, and seared.

 As we think about discernible issues, we must remember that "your conscience is not identical to the voice of God."  (61)

Resources

Podcast:  https://www.crossway.org/articles/podcast-mind-your-own-conscience-and-love-your-neighbor-andy-naselli-and-j-d-crowley/
Article:  12 Principles on How to Disagree with Other Christians
Article:  How Reliable Is Your Conscience?

A Prayer from Conscience (p. 116-117)

Father, we are finite and sinful people, and for a complex of reasons that you know far better than we do, we disagree with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ on all sorts of disputable matters.

1. Would you please give us grace to welcome those who disagree with us on various disputable issues?
2. Would you please give us grace to not look down on those who are stricter than we are?
3. Would you please give us grace to not be judgmental toward those who exercise more freedom than we do?
4. Would you please give us grace to be fully convinced of our positions in our own consciences?
5. Would you please give us the grace to practice our freedoms and restrictions for your glory and to assume that other believers are doing the same?
6. Would you please give us the grace to keep disputable matters in perspective, knowing that we will all someday stand before your judgment seat?
7. Would you please give us the grace to grace to not let our freedom destroy the faith of a professing Christian who is weaker on a particular disputable matter?
8. Would you please give us grace to build each other up in righteousness, peace, and joy?
9. Would you please give us grace to not flaunt our freedom or expect others to be as strict as we are?
10. Would you please give us the grace to live according to our conscience and experience your blessing?
11. Would you please give us grace to follow the example of Christ, who put others first?
12. Would you please give use grace to bring you glory by welcoming one another as Christ has welcomed us?

Lord, we are weak and selfish.  We need so much endurance and encouragement to live with our brothers and sisters in this way of peace.  You are the God of endurance and encouragement.  Please grant us to live in such harmony with one another and in accord with Christ Jesus that together we may, with one voice, glorify you, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Amen.

Tough Questions Week 1

For all Tough Question posts, click HERE. 

Week 1 of "How Do I Answer Tough Questions?  Conscience and Discernible Issues?" focused on Romans 14 and 15 and asked, "What have we been learning?"

This class originates from the last six sermons of our current Romans series and questions from the Spring 2024 Evangelism class.

HERE is the link to the lesson worksheet.  

The SERMON NOTEBOOK has six sermon review questions to help think about past sermons.
You can see the questions on this week's lesson sheet - HERE

 Most of the class time was spent reviewing the Romans's sermons on discernment.  Here are a couple of reminders from each of the sermons.

1.  Romans 14:1—4

Our unity should be based on Christ not our preferences.  The unity gives greater to Christ because we are focused on Him and not worldly preferences and desires.

 2. Romans 14:5—12

3. Romans 14:13—18

Remember, God rules.  We submit.

4. Romans 14:19—23

This peace and mutual edification take effort  We must pursue it (ESV).

5. Romans 15:1—6

The strong brother must not just tolerate the weaker brother.  He must help him grow.  Verse 2 states "each of us is to please his neighbor."  The verse and surrounding verses this is done for the edification, building up, of others for the glory of God. 

6. Romans 15:7—13

Would you like Jesus to accept you in the measure you accept others OR in the way he did?

HERE is the Romans' Love Chart given in class.

For this class, and for handling discernible begin this class, there are four expectations.

1.  Prayerful.  Knowing we need the Lord's wisdom.

2.  Humble.  Knowing our goal in everything should be to glorify God, not win arguments.

3. Loving. Knowing the amazing love God has shown us through Jesus Christ should be reflected in how we interact with others.

4. Biblical.  Knowing the truth is found in God's Word, not this world's philosophies.