The doorway to Faith

Faith is the doorway

I’ve always been fascinated with the unknown. I love the movies, stories and the experiences that deal with the mysterious. What is on the other side of the door? Even as a kid I would imagine the woods as an undiscovered land full of mystery. Recently in a historical drive back from California on the Route 66 trail it wasn’t the nostalgic roadside stops, but wondering, “What is behind that mesa?” that got my blood pumping.

I guess that is what is so exciting about this “living by faith” thing. Knowing the Master of the universe who loved me and died for me has this great plan for my life. What can be a bigger thrill that waking up trusting that God has this incredible plan for your day.

For those of you who don’t care about what is “behind the mesa” or must get through your day “ticking off the check list” that is great! Just remind yourself to invite Him in to the planning session for the day. Either way God desires you to be involved in His daily planner. One thing I’m learning through life and especially through this series of sermons on Hebrews 11 is that God doesn’t want our lives to look the same, but He wants us all to live by faith.

Thanks for being an awesome body of Christ to learn, grow and minister with. It was a great night of VBS, everyone looked terrific. I know many kids felt Christ’s love through you, no one can ever take that from them.

God bless and I’ll see many of you tonight,

John

July 13th Sermon Summary
Hebrews 11:4

Abel’s faith was a doorway from religion to righteousness
Abel’s faith was a doorway from continuing status quo to challenging it
Let God’s Word challenge your status quo, remember faith is belieiving God’s word and regulating your life accordingly

Living By Faith

Living by Faith

Yesterday we began to look at one of the New Testament's greatest chapters Hebrews 11. Throughout the letter of Hebrews we have seen the superiority of Jesus to the old Jewish covenant. The author is trying to encourage the readers not to give up or settle for a lesser faith. In chapter 11 he shows how God has always been pleased by those who put their trust in Him.

As we go through this chapter we will see that those who live for God on this earth are radically changed, they are not just "religious" people. Much of our culture has grown calloused to the gospel or have a clouded view of Christianity due to the lack of examples of people living by faith. That is why these messages are important, we are to be those examples. Never underestimate the power of a brief encounter, a kind act, or a helpful hand. Living by faith is seldom the great deed or immeasurable sacrifice, but having a new perspective on life's daily events.

We are seeing God do great things in our body because you are living out your faith. Your families, friends and neighbors are taking notice of how your faith is transforming your life. In doing so they are being presented the power of the gospel. We can go on and on with the facts, philosophies and historicity of the gospel, but no one can argue with a transformed life. As we looked in Hebrews 10, we can take some very practical steps to help us grow in our faith.

(from verses 22-25)

- draw near to God-take some time to be alone with Him

- make Him your anchor-our lives are governed by His truth and will not our emotions

- encourage others-remember God wants to use you to build up others, putting self last is the
cure for selfishness

- don't neglect the body- we have a tremendous church family, be sure to stay connected in worship and in our new Sunday School classes.

The relationships formed will strengthen your faith.

Thanks for being a blessing, John

Reflections on Life, death, and 90 Minutes in Heaven

It has been a long time since I have used this blog to write. Life is very busy and tonight I cannot sleep. Most of you at BFCC are familiar with all the circumstances surrounding several of our members. Pat Tierney is now on hospice and we have several others being treated for cancer. I am greatly humbled by Pat and Brenda's faith and strength, as well as, that of all of those within our body who are suffering. Visiting with Pat and Brenda last evening (Thursday April 3) I found myself so limited on what to say. However, I was reminded of the passage of scripture in Hebrews "Jesus, for the joy set before him, endured the cross" (ch. 12). Pat and his family know that heaven is that joy that we all are created to enjoy eternally with Christ. God certainly has the power to miraculously heal, but all healing is temporary. By faith in Christ and through his grace we have confidence when facing our own mortality. I thank God we have heaven and the presence of Christ awaiting each of us.

On the subject of heaven, I must address the issue of Don Piper's book 90 Minutes in Heaven. I know it is a best seller and I don't want to question Mr. Piper's sincerity, but as a teacher and student of God's Word and as a leader of this congregation I am compelled to put the claims to this book about heaven in context of God's inspired word. No one can argue with experience, but my experience and that of others must align with God's Word.

What is great about 90 minutes in heaven is that it reveals our world's thirst for answers to life after death. The popularity comes from the question, "What happens after I die?". Many people are reading this book hoping to find answers, hopefully we can use this book to relate to them the good news of Jesus Christ. Mr. Piper also clearly states his faith in Christ as the source of salvation, rather than many movies and books in our culture that speak in generalities about faith and being a good person.


However, the limited description of heaven in 90 minutes, does not resemble that of the three inspired views of heaven that we have in the New Testament. (Stephen, Paul and John) Don Piper's description is more reflective of our modern cultural view of the afterlife than of the Biblical view of heaven.

Here is one apt summary:

"Piper’s heaven was a place of reunion with loved ones, a place of beautiful music and a place of literal pearl (or “pearlescent”) gates and literal streets of gold. It is a heaven that can be so easily described to a human mind using mere human words, as if it had originated in a human mind. Piper is able to describe it in some detail, but what he presents is surely far too human to be heaven."

Callies.com book review

It seems (I have read only excerpts of the book) that little is mentioned of Christ in these 90 minutes, whereas the Biblical descriptions are completely based on the presence of God. The reason I write this is to encourage all of us to be biblical-minded readers of this very experience oriented book. Our faith is based on the Word of God and not only on experience. We must not get caught in the rapture of experience as the basis for our faith. God works daily in our lives that is not a question, but be careful not to fall into believing for believing sake. Heaven is beyond are comprehension, what we can know and need to know is clearly revealed in Scripture. We must be rely on Scripture to interpret our experiences, not allow any experience to reinterpret Scripture.

We live in a time of experience and feeling, therefore we all must be vigilant to study Scripture to effectively live, experience and teach others how to know God and enjoy a life and relationship with Jesus Christ. I am extremely thankful for so many in this body who are no only witnessing to others about Jesus Christ, but praying for and ministering to others who are hurting in this body. Thanks for all you are doing in His name!

May God bless,


John

Illinois weather like life

Sunday afternoon I was on my bike enjoying a windy yet sunny ride around town. It was close to 80 degrees. Two days later I was slipping and sliding blindly through the hospital parking lot during a snowstorm. It was an incredible two days of rollercoaster weather.

Sometimes our lives are like this weather pattern. We experience incredible moments when we see God doing great things, then the storm comes. What can we learn? Good question!

First, we can't really do much about the weather, just like so many things are out of our control. However, the same God who is sovereign over the sun, is in control of every facet of our lives. He guarantees us that nothing will given to us that we cannot handle. That in the end is more than a rainbow, there is an hope and peace after the storm.

Secondly, we are strengthened through the storm. Our enjoyment of the good days, allows us to experience God's grace, yet is during the storm that our faith is grown. It is in the midst of the trial that we are purified and prepared for greater service to Him. This is why the author of Hebrews tells us, "We are not of those who shrink back and are destoryed, but those who believe and are saved." (Hebrews 10:39)

No matter whether you are enjoying the sunshine or wading through the storm we are getting ready to celebrate His resurrection. I want to encourage you to take the time and make the effort to turn your hearts and minds to our risen Lord as we remember the great hope we have because He lives.

We have several events and activities to help us share in this celebration:

1. Palm Sunday is Friend Day. Be thinking and praying for your friend who doesn't have a church home. On March 16th we want to give you the opportunity to invite someone to attend with you so they can experience God's love and joy with us.

2. Palm Sunday evening is going to be a great time to enjoy our Easter program. Mitzi Fuguitt has been organizing this program with some of our talented students and adults. I'm sure it will be uplifting and entertaining. Bring your family and your favorite dessert to enjoy with others after the show.

3. This Easter Sunday we will have a special prayer time at 7:00am followed by breakfast at 7:30. Several of the guys here have volunteered or been volunteered to help cook a great breakfast. If possible plan on attending the 9am service, because we are certain to have a crowd at the 10:30 service.

Plan now to take advantage of all these activities to celebrate with your church family!

May God bless,

John

PS Remember this Saturday to spring forward one hour!!

Stay The Course!

We aren't sailing on a peaceful sea, but trying navigate through an ocean filled with dangerous and faith-killing obstacles. Therefore, we don't get sloppy in our faith, but pay attention.

Last Sunday we looked at the following passage:

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Hebrews 2:1-4

No one every wakes up and says, "I think I'll throw my faith away today!". It is a slow and often unnoticed slipping away that ends in a hard heart containing a dead faith. The book of Hebrews was written to people like us, believers and followers of Christ who can easily drift away. This passage is the first of five warnings to us. Drifting causes doubt, doubt produces a dullness towards the Word, dullness leads to despising and ultimately this despising changes to defying the Word. It begins when we drift away from the basics of our faith. The key is keeping our eyes, thoughts and lives focused on Jesus Christ. We can practically do this daily by reading His Word, real communication through prayer, and acknowledging His glory in worship.

I encourage all of us, especially those who have been in the faith awhile, don't get sloppy. No one is above silently slipping in a ritualistic faith rather than holding fast and paying attention the real faith in Jesus Christ. Take some time, evaluate, mediate, and deliberate (just had to have 3!!) and STAY THE COURSE.

God bless,

John

Does our company determine our character?

Good Morning,

Tonight's study will begin a section of Acts that deals with some specific examples of how the early church dealt with persecution from the outside, pollution from within, and politics in the body of believers.

However, my favorite verses in these chapters come from chapter 4, "They took note that they had been with Jesus." What stood out to the religious leaders was the fact that these men (Peter and John) reminded them of Jesus.

Ever notice how easy it is to be negative around negative people or how you can just slide into being positive in a positive group? Of course, we are all human! Time with the Lord, time in His Word will effect you. In Hebrews 4 we are reminded the the Word is living and active, spend time with Him and people will notice.

God bless,


John

What is attractive about our lives?

I often joke with Laura that it was my wit and timing that won her heart. As we face the onslaught of the commericialization of Valentine's day, let's challenge ourselves to think about the attractiveness of our lives. There will always be someone more witty, with better timing, more beautiful, handsome, winsome, more humility, more confidence than ourselves. This is why we must turn to Jesus. Having His presence in our lives trumps any personality trait or self-accomplishment we could imagine.

"People may view the church as irrelevant, but when they get down to who Jesus is they usually show more interest." -Warren Bird in Lost in America

A church or a person filled with the spirit of Christ will attract attention and because they are filled with Christ's spirit they will reflect this attention to His glory. This is why we are going to spend the next several Sunday mornings looking at the book of Hebrews. This letter/essay was written to those who had accepted Jesus as Lord, but like ourselves, had some doubts about their decision. This series of sermons will hopefully let us see the glory of Jesus Christ and better reflect that glory in our lives.

This will be a great time to invite friends, doubters, and others who are looking for a real picture of who Jesus is not merely religious jargon about Him.

May God bless,


John

Great thought from last night's study!

Last night we looked at Acts chapter 3. In verse 19 Peter tells the crowd, "Repent and turn to God..." That word repent had already been used in Acts and it will continue to be used in the presentation of the Gospel to the return of Christ. However, "Turn to God" is interesting, considering the context. Remember Peter is in the temple area, people who were there to worship, pray and fulfill what they believed God was calling them to. Yet, with all their religious activity they still needed to "turn to God". A valuable lesson and thought for us today. I believe it is a healthy process to evaluate the reason or our motivation for all our activity, even religious activity. Is my walk with the Lord more about pious activity or is my life a reflection of the transforming grace poured upon me because I have turned to God? I appreciate thoughts given to me such as this and ask that you let me know what you think or if God speaks to you through His Word today.
May God bless,
John

Acts study picking up steam!

Well after about 5 days of sickness and fever I'm planning on teaching tonight. We will be looking at Acts 3 and preparing for some very pivotal chapters. In chapters 4-6 we will see how Satan tried to destory the work of the early church through persection, pollution and politics. (Three "P's") However we want to say it I believe we are all learning the value of seeing how the early church acted and reacted to attacks. They prayed for strength, wisdom and courage to boldly preach and teach the gospel. I pray that we can be that type of church, in doing so we too will see God do amazing things in our lives. So bring an appetite at 5:30 and be ready to dig into God's Word at 6:30 every Wednesday. I also want to say "Way to Go!" to all of you who are bringing your friends out to enjoy our studies together. Truly you are an inspiring group of believers!

See You Tonight,

John

Why have a blog?

The message is universal and unchanging, but the methods are always changing. That is why this blog. The is a great communication tool and accountability device. I preached on Sunday the 20th about setting the alarm clock up ten minutes and starting your day with the Word and prayer. If you would like to check out this blog, I will be trying to post a thought each morning starting Feb. 4th, the day we get internet at our house. This is a great tool to share "virtually" our thoughts and prayers with each other on a daily basis. Our website bethaltofcc.com is already linked to this spot. Marking bethaltofcc.com as a favorite will also allow you to keep up with all the activities and events this body is doing to help "make heaven a crowded place."

May God bless,

John

A new habit

We started a new sermon series today entitled "5 Habits that allow God's grace to transform our lives." Today's sermon emphasized the need to establish good habits. The first one mentioned was to "Buy an alarm clock." This helps to establish the Principle of Priority. If you're reading this in the morning, I hope that means you set your alarm clock 10 minutes earlier.