Archives For Evangelism

The Beauty of the Gospel in the Prodigal Son

November 11, 2012 — Leave a comment

The Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt

Kenneth Bailey invested his 40+ year New Testament research and teaching career in the Middle East.  Of his many books, three are on the cultural background of Luke 15 and the “Lost and Found” parables, especially the “Prodigal Son,” or as Bailey titles it: “The Compassionate Father and His Two Lost Sons!” (Luke 15:11-32)

You can listen to Bailey explaining some of his findings at this eProdigals website.

Listen to my whole sermon on the parable here at the Christ Church website where you can download, listen, or subscribe to the podcast.

HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE GOOD NEWS as seen in the parable – the journey of the two lost sons:

1. The father pays the price of reconciliation by continuing to endure the agony of rejected love.

2. The younger son comes to the end of his resources. In a moment of truth, he sees and admits to himself where his pride has brought him.

3. He turns and starts back admitting that he is wrong – and hoping yet to save himself. [“I know what I’ll do…”]

4. The father demonstrates unexpected love in self-emptying humiliation [by running to meet him.]

5. Shattered, the younger son surrenders completely, and offers no alternative for their ongoing relationship.

6. The younger son confesses his personal unworthiness.

7. The father offers reconciliation and sonship.

8. The younger son accepts in genuine humility, knowing that [his sonship] is a gift of pure grace. His repentance and faith come in “allowing himself to be found.”

9. The younger son accepts (we can presume) the responsibility of sonship with a new heart. Now he knows, accepts, and can return his father’s love. Service is not now a means to gain more, but rather an opportunity accepted joyously to express love and thanks.

10. The older son publicly insults his father and poisons the relationship, asserting his prideful self-righteousness.

11. The father, again in self-emptying humiliation searches out the older son and  gently urges him to accept the invitation to join in the celebration as a reconciled brother.

NOTE: The missing conclusion. The question hangs: “Will the elder brother go into the party?”

[Jesus is challenging the religious leaders to join him in the true understanding of God as the one who seeks and saves the lost and to see themselves as in need of a Savior; to recognize that their hearts are far from God even as they outwardly see themselves as ‘religious’ and ‘IN!’]

__ adapted from The Cross and the Prodigal, and Finding the Lost by Kenneth E. Bailey

I’m convinced that we need to master the “Prodigal Son” parable as one of the best ways to both understand AND communicate the life-changing message of the Gospel of Jesus!

Christ calls the irreligious and the religious; the law breakers and law keepers, hot rebels and cold rebels – to come to eat with him at the table he’s prepared by his costly grace.

Jesus demonstrates in these parables, how much “lost” people matter to God.

Q – Am I loving the people in my life in ways that allow them to see Jesus as the compassionate one who seeks and saves the lost?

In Evangelism, Gospel, Jesus, Love Like Jesus
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Are you ‘Plugged in?’

September 19, 2012 — Leave a comment

Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches…apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) We were created and redeemed to be connected to God, to God’s people, and to be fruitful in God’s mission in the world.

Jesus promised the gift of the Holy Spirit who would through his new community the Church, do “greater things!”

The beginning church in Jerusalem was not a set structure to be imitated, but it is a model of values and vision that continues to inspire the church of all times and places! It inspires us here and now.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers….And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.     (Acts 2:42,47, ESV)

In a recent teaching, linked at our website, I summarized the inspiring vision of the Church in this way.

We want to be a LEARNING Community
We want to be a SHARING (‘Koinonia’) Community
We want to be a WORSHIPING Community
We want to be an OUTREACHING Community

It means being taught the authoritative Word of God and being life-long learners;
It means knowing and being known, loving and being loved, serving and being served;
It means coming together for prayers and worship publicly and in our homes;
It means being a contagious people who live and speak the hope of Good News into our world.

It means being committed and connected – PLUGGED IN to Christ and his community.

Are you plugged in?
If not, what’s the one next step the Lord wants you to take?

In Church, Disciplines, Evangelism, Holy Spirit, Mission and Vision, Uncategorized
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‘Going Viral’ – the power of our story

March 21, 2012 — Leave a comment

We had an incredible morning of services at Christ Church that God used to drive home how God uses each of our stories to impact our world.

Jesus, in John 4 engages the woman at the well in Samaria – a place and a people self-righteously avoided by the average Jew.  In the course of the self-revealing conversation, Jesus forgets to eat and the woman forgets her waterpot as she runs back to the village.

Known, but loved by Jesus, she shares her story of meeting the Messiah.  The response is beautiful:   Continue Reading…

In Christ and Culture, Evangelism, Gospel, Rule of Life/'Game Plan'
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McKnight’s Reflections on Providence visit

November 7, 2011 — Leave a comment

Gloria Dei - host site for The One Event

I believe The One Event and Leader’s Forum on The King Jesus Gospel with Scot McKnight were fruitful and important experiences for the church in our area.

We had a wonderful time with Scot and he was so generous of his time and energy with us.  More of  my thoughts later…

You may be interested in his reflections on the lectures, discussions and sermons, both in Providence and at Gordon College in Mass.

Here is his Jesus Creed blog post.

 

 

[Pardon the abundance of 'Mook references' - Stephen and I just happen to be his RI connections!]

In Church, Evangelism, Gospel
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Who is Scot McKnight (and why is he coming to Providence?)

October 29, 2011 — Leave a comment

We’ve talked for several years about trying to have Scot McKnight in Rhode Island.  Scot is not your celebrity type Christian rock star.  But he is making a very rock-solid  contribution to the Christian world. McKnight is New Testament prof at North Park University (connected to our Evangelical Covenant denom.) He is a prolific author of both scholarly and ‘popular’ books on NT studies and the Christian life.  His blog, Jesus Creed, is one of the best in the world at engaging important issues of faith and culture. It has a following of thoughtful and respectful commenters who work through books and questions guided by McKnight.  Scot is also a sought after speaker all over the world on subjects of Jesus, biblical interpretation, and the state of the church.  I believe he has been gifted for these times to be a uniter instead of a divider while not being afraid to challenge the evangelical status quo.

(My son, Stephen, got to know McKnight while at North Park and invited him to Providence for November 4th when learning that he was speaking at Gordon College the same week. The Lord, through the generosity of an anonymous donor, is making it happen!)

Scot’s latest book is called The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited.  In it, he challenges the church’s understanding of the Gospel and her all-too common method of sharing the faith.  Our Gospel is often a shrunken version that leads to settling for “decisions” instead of making disciples. There is a lot more!

So here are the details:
** Nov. 4th, Friday evening is The One Event.  (click here for the Facebook page) - a large gathering from churches in Providence and around the state led by Andrew Mook and Scott Axtmann with a team from Sanctuary, Renaissance Church, Christ Church and others.

**The location is Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, with parking in the Providence Place Mall. (Go to the north end mall parking garage nearest the State House and the entrance is directly across from the church.

**Scot McKnight will preach at this unified worship service  which begins at 7 pm.

**Scot has graciously agreed to meet from 4-5:30 pm with pastors and church leaders.  We have designed this session under the title: “The Original Gospel Revisited, Sharing the Good News in Today’s World” – A Discussion with Scot McKnight.  Stephen, Todd Murphy (Sacred Journey Church) and I are coordinating this event with the great help of Cassandra Chavez, staff at Gloria Dei.

**We have room for about 200 at 4 pm and 600-700 at the 7 pm service.  So come on time and be praying for the Holy Spirit to do a wonderful work of unifying and equipping us for greater Kingdom impact in our state and region!

In Evangelical Covenant Church, Evangelism, Gospel, I am the Church, Make Disciples, Uncategorized
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Exclusively Jesus? A new look at an old question

July 15, 2010 — Leave a comment

It’s a stumbling block for many who seek AND for many who share their faith.  In an age of religious and spiritual pluralism (many options) and “the new atheism” – how do we announce as the apostles did, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12)

The book with the clever cover pictured here is God is Not One.   I find helpful in that it explodes  the myth that “all religions are the same,” or “It doesn’t matter what you believe.”   It is reviewed by Scot McKnight on Jesus Creed.

Two Christ Church audio teachings on this topic are available:

The Power of Jesus Name; and

Jesus is the ONLY Way? from our Sanctuary service.

In Acts series, Christ and Culture, Evangelism, Fully Human, Uncategorized
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Reclaiming Jesus’ way of ‘Evangelism’

May 15, 2010 — 1 Comment

Jesus and Zacchaeus

Insights often come in threes. Everywhere you turn, you hear the similar challenge or reminder. This week it was in counseling a new Christian, a conversation with a son, a column by the President of the Covenant denomination of which we are a part.

Our American brand of Christianity has often made evangelism about method-sharing instead of life-sharing. So here are three anecdotes about evangelism.  [Literally the proclamation of the 'Good News.']

1. A new Christian wants to tell the whole family about the changes in her life. I share an old definition. “Remember, it’s like one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” Let them realize, “Something’s different; what is it?”
2. My son, Stephen tells of a conversation with a skeptic and the important conclusion that hit him: “I realize that cynicism is usually rooted in a story of  brokenness, not in a thought-out argument; our role is to share our stories that are rooted in hope!”
3. Gary Walter , Covenant Church President in his column, Compass Bearings, is reminded of the essence of evangelism:  “…help those who are far from God hear from God what he wants to say to everyone… “I know you. I love you. You were meant for this relationship.”
Click Here to read Gary’s excellent article: Joining Jesus in His Mission.

This is not the time to shy away from sharing Good News. It’s also vital to keep learning  Jesus’s way of doing it.  Stay tuned!

In Evangelism, Gospel, The Missional Church
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