BibleScribbler

David and His Armor, the Church and Her Buildings

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I’ve been supplementing my Bible reading with readings from the Christian Community Bible lately. It’s a different translation, but the footnotes are the key. Here is what it said about 1 Samuel 17

David’s fight can easily be compared to that of the Church. She leaves behind Saul’s armor when she looks for less structure, less worry over financing her works and buildings; when she frees herself from political support. In abandoning all these securities, she makes herself freer and younger. Like David, she goes to battle trusting “in the name of Yahweh, God of Israel’s armies.” – the Christian Community Bible (Footnote)

In any ministry situation the greatest temptation is to do whatever you do for the glory of the organization. It’s really hard to not be a little jealous when that other church has 5,000 people or that person’s prayers are always being answered with miracles. All of those feelings come from looking at the wrong things.

In Luke 9:62 Jesus said whoever puts his hand to the plow and looks back isn’t fit for service in the Kingdom of Heaven. The point of the Kingdom, the point of following Jesus, is Jesus. If we spend our time looking for an audience, and a building to put them in, we may very well get that audience, but not the Kingdom of Heaven.

The trick, of course, lies all in the motives. It may look exactly the same to a critic that sees us building a building, but God looks at the heart. If God calls us to build a big building, let’s build it, always focusing on the kingdom. If God calls us to leave behind the building so that we can follow Him, let us give it away and run. If God calls us to be a part of the political machine, then let’s do it in the most Holy humble way that has ever been done, and never make that work our security.

The funny thing about this quote is that you can turn the quest away from structure and financing into it’s own legalism that is as awful as the structure and the financing.

In all of this, Jesus, the Kingdom of Heaven, is the right way. Focusing on methods, politics, music, etc. are all cultural preferences that will be different in 5 years. Focusing on Jesus turns our lives into a single scenic journey instead of multiple personality disorder with some religion thrown in.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:57-62 ESV

Silent Night at Taylor University – Another night, Another Lay Up

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Keaton Hendricks plays basketball for Taylor University. He shoots lay ups, long shots, free throws, the whole bit. But one night, there was one shot, that set everyone cheering like none of his other 351 points that season.

2014 Taylor University Silent Night from Dan Hendricks Media on Vimeo.

They do this close to Christmas every year. The whole arena is silent until Taylor scores the 10th point. When that happens, the crowd goes wild and cheers for 10 points worth of cheering.

It is appropriate that they do this during Christmas. On the night Jesus was born, it was just another night for a lot of people. Just another night of helping sheep birth their young; just another night of animals being fed and rulers of nations taking a census to justify their armies and taxes.

I’m not sure what angels do when a baby is born, but they did something different with this one. All of the cheering, all of the chaos, all of the rejoicing-joy of these Taylor University students is a dimly lit cup of luke-warm tea compared to the festival that the angels had over the fields that night.

Watch that video again and cheer.

Humble and Powerful Army Guy

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[1] After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. [2] Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. [3] When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. [4] And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, [5] for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” [6] And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. [7] Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. [8] For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” [9] When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” [10] And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

(Luke 7:1-10 ESV)

The most subtle and passive thing stuck out to me as I read this today. Everybody said the Centurion was “worth” and “deserved” the help of Jesus. If there is anyone Jesus doesn’t show a lot of mercy too, it’s the people that think they deserve stuff. He has just spent time and after this He will spend more time explaining to the Pharisees why they really aren’t as worthy as they think they are, and that the Kingdom of Heaven doesn’t really belong to those that are self-worthy!

I think Jesus already knew what He was in for with this guy, because He goes to help him and is met by servants of the Centurion (pay attention to that! The man’s servants are doing exactly what he told them to do!) that say the Centurion isn’t worthy. The only people in this story that are not calling the Centurion worthy are those that serve under him that are under orders to do so. And what message does he have for Jesus?

“This sickness will submit to your authority, you can take care of it however you want.”

Not only is the sickness under the authority of Jesus, but by asking for Jesus’ help, the Centurion is also submitting to Jesus’ authority.

When you go to the doctor and tell him your problems and ask for his help, you are submitting to his authority.

When you show up at the cell phone store and ask him to switch over your phone, completely unlocking your smartphone with your privacy code and unlocking your account with your social security number, you are submitting to that 20-year old’s authority.

The Centurion here knew power and he knew authority. He knew how it worked, and the consequences of rebellion. His response to that knowledge was “Go ask Jesus for help here, but let Him help however He judges best.”

Jesus helped, and called the humblest Centurion in Israel the greatest man of faith He had seen.

Wonder and Praise in Luke 1

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I love the way that twice, in the opening chapter of the Gospel of Luke, there is wonder and awe at God.

First from Zechariah,

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well.” (‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ NET)

Then from Mary,

Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” (‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭34‬ NET)

The other neat thing that shows up three times is worship.

Elizabeth:

“This is what the Lord has done for me at the time when he has been gracious to me, to take away my disgrace among people.” (‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭25‬ NET)

Mary:

And Mary said, “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior, (‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭46-47‬ NET)

And finally Zechariah, since he lost his voice for most of this chapter,

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people. (‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭67-68‬ NET)

I just quoted the first few lines of each of their praises, but if you don’t know what to pray today, you can’t go wrong reading through Luke 1.

My Christmas Sermon (written)

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I was able to preach this past weekend at Westminster thanks to an awful bug that Dave caught. This is the closest I’ve ever come to a Christmas message, but it’s full of stuff that I’ve been thinking about for years. Hopefully in a few days I’ll post the audio, but don’t wait! Read on!

Christmas is this week: I always love to really think deep about the events, because the events of my life have lots of detail, lots of significant moments and turning points. It’s too easy to read the first parts of Matthew and Luke and not think about the reality of the events. [Read more…]

Advent of Peace

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This weekend I was scheduled to teach at Westminster, but the snowpocalypse was bad enough that we decided to cancel services this Sunday. Instead, we are emailing out a link to this post, so everyone can be cheered on in the safety of their own homes.

First is a note from Dave, then a video message from me:

Last Sunday, we lit the candle of Hope. The world tells us to hope in so many things, but we know that we have to look to something greater than this world in order to have true hope.

This Sunday, we won’t be physically lighting a candle, but we can still think about the Peace that God sent to this world. This past week, the world lost Nelson Mandela. He was a man who fought against inequality and struggle between races. Mandela worked every day to advance the peace that he felt all people deserved to experience. His efforts paid off for South Africa, and influenced so many in this world.

There are great people in this world whose life work is the advancement of peace. God offers us a peace that this world will never touch. Christ told us about peace in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

God offers every person a peace that remains in hard times; a peace that can’t be wiped away by struggle. It’s a peace that can’t be understood this side of eternity. We may not be able to fully understand it, but I assure you…it can be experienced!

Advent of Peace from Daniel Sullivan on Vimeo.

Notes from Luke 1

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Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the holy place of the Lord and burn incense. (Luke 1:8, 9 NET)

Now it was because of a man’s rules that a priest would be chosen by lot to do this. And it was part of the Mishna structure that a man would only do this once in his lifetime. SO Zechariah could have had a baby sooner if it hadn’t been for this complicated once-in-a-carreer setup. BUT the timing of John the Baptist’s birth perfectly coincided with the birth of Jesus, which had to happen at just the right time, so God used it all.

This takes me back to something I whisper sometimes but I’m not sure we (by we I mean me!) are ready to fully grasp it. Maybe God is a lot more sovereign and in control of things than we’d like to realize!

And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.” (Luke 1:17 NET)

Look at how much God is going to humble Himself! John is going to go as a forerunner ahead of Him! God needs somebody to show up ahead of Him to get people ready! Can’t God just show up and do it all Himself? Nope. He’s weak. He’s gonna be a man that has to talk and walk around just like every other man. He’s not going to work magic on people to convince them or hypnotize them into belief. He is counting on them being sensitive to pay attention and believe, and so He needs John to go ahead of them to soften them up. Wow.

“This is what the Lord has done for me at the time when he has been gracious to me, to take away my disgrace among people.” (Luke 1:25 NET)

I don’t think it’s any mistake that Elizabeth sees this as an event of removing disgrace. It’s not about motherhood, which is awesome. It’s not about God hearing and answering our prayers, which is awesome. Of all the things that could be on your radar when you read about this, God just plopped the phrase “take away my disgrace among people” into the account of the birth of Christ.

Jesus was Tempted

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Today I met Andy J at the bank and we talked about Luke 4. The amazing thing about Jesus being tempted in the desert, I think, is that a lot of times we’ve been ripped off and analyze what the temptations represent or what they symbolize and the way He resisted w/ God’s Word or how Satan knows the scriptures blah blah blah.

It’s enough for me to realize that Jesus was tempted. And he wasn’t tempted like my co-worker that doesn’t want me to leave the box of donuts near his cube. This was God, in the flesh, so he was weakened and gave up some of His power, being tempted to cheat the plan.

In the Miracle Maker, a claymation Jesus movie, the do a really good job of showing Jesus being tempted. At the end He is hollering at the top of His lungs, ‚ÄúYou shall not…put…the Lord…your God…to the test.‚Äù and He says that twice, almost forcing it out. Every time I see it I get tears in my eyes, because you really don‚Äôt know if He‚Äôs saying it to the devil or if He‚Äôs saying it to Himself. It really is a struggle for Him to resist.

I don’t know how to explain how one part of the Trinity could rebel or turn against God, but it was possible. It was entirely possible for Jesus to bow down to Satan. If it wouldn’t have been possible, then it wouldn’t have been a temptation. God’s own right hand angel turned against Him, His own son had the opportunity to do it too, but He didn’t.

And that’s the amazing thing. Jesus was fully man and had all of the limitations that we have as men (and women.) As He was a man, He had a perfect relationship with God, and in that relationship GOD did a ton of things through Jesus.

He was tempted to do something, and I don’t think His resistance had anything to do with some rational reasoning as to why we should all resist Satan. He resisted because He knew that was what the Father would do. He resisted because the things Satan suggested weren’t right, and He was willing to die rather than do even one thing that was not in alignment with the Father.

Prepare the Way then Get Out of the Way

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Luke 3:3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke 3:4 As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.
Luke 3:5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.
Luke 3:6 And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’”

Is. 40:3 A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
Is. 40:4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
Is. 40:5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Whenever a king would go out into his kingdom, his subjects would go ahead of him and fix the roads that he would travel on. I saw something similar happen in Central Asia. We had some friends that lived on this really nice asphalt paved street. It was different from every single street all around it, except for the main thoroughfare through town that it was perpendicular to. I found out that the President of said country once came down that road and gave a gift to something like the oldest surviving veteran from WWII or something. Anyway, the week before the president came, they asphalted the street.

John the Baptist is preparing the way for the Lord. Preparing the way…so what is his prep?

Repent, quit cheating, share your extra coat, be content with your pay, don‚Äôt steal extra for yourself, and the most haunting for the people at the time, really…That the sons of Abraham aren‚Äôt the ones born in certain families. The children of Abraham are created by God.

This is definitely preparing the way for Jesus and His message. The great part isn’t that John is getting them cleaned up so that they look good for Jesus, he is getting them ready to leave the vain acts of the Law and to come to know God again.

He is cracking the hard boiled egg so Jesus can come and peel it.

I think we have a lot of these guys nowadays that come through and shake everyone up so we can fall and settle in new ways. The hard part is that John got taken out and his teaching slipped away as Jesus became stronger.
Today the crazy guys come and shake everyone up so we can come down and settle in new ways, but then they stick around for a long time, trying to keep their message as current and cool and different as it was a few years ago, and things just become weird.
Some of you might know some of the people I’m thinking of. Very radical thinkers and full of great ideas that helped us reshape the kingdom, but now we’ve rethunk and we need someone else to come along and show us how to live the new stuff out.