Showing posts with label Cross-Centered. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cross-Centered. Show all posts

Living By the Cross

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Sunday, January 26, 2014 4:01 PM

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The very centerpiece of human history is the cross. With the coming of Jesus Christ God split time in half, and it was the cross (and His perfect life leading up to it and His resurrection and ascension following it) that signaled this cosmic, time-altering event. Thus the cross becomes the centerpiece of our individual lives as well, or at least it should be.
The cross is what brings redemption to our lives. It was through the cross that Jesus absorbed God’s wrath against sin. He took our place so that we could have a place with the Father in heaven. We call this the obstruction of justice. Jesus said,
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45 [emphasis added])
Jesus rushed out, faced sin full on, and destroyed its penalty and power over our lives. He did this by sacrificing Himself on the cross. That is the gospel and the gospel changes everything.
Those who are saved have a new life to live, and the cross teaches us how to live that life. The cross-centered life is one of sacrifice and redemption.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, 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.” (Galatians 2:20)
“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)
This is the type of life Floyd Ferguson (“Papa”) lived. He put others before self and loved Jesus above all, and his conversations were filled with redemption as He shared His love for Jesus with anyone around. During the last several years of his life Toy Elder became a close friend, and Toy saw this cross-centeredness. As God was prompting Toy and Gale to do something in memory of this dear friend, they thought of the cross. On Sunday, December 29, 2013 the Hoovers unveiled a cross the Elders commissioned to be built in memory of Mr. Ferguson.
It is the most amazing cross I’ve ever seen. It is a wonderful addition to the auditorium and will stand as a centerpiece to remind us of the great price Jesus paid to redeem us. It will also encourage us to live how Jesus called us to live – taking up our cross and following Him, just like Papa Ferguson did.
You just have to come by and see it.
Grace & Peace,

Scott

Why God Made Us His Own

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Tuesday, June 04, 2013 11:28 AM

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God has blessed my life tremendously. He has blessed me with a gracious relationship with Himself through the redemption He provided through His Son, Jesus Christ (back to this in a minute). He has blessed me with a wonderful family. He has blessed me with a loving church. He has blessed me with caring friends. He has blessed me with a beautiful place to live. He has blessed me with clear instructions through His Word. He has blessed me with life. He has blessed me with opportunities to serve Him. And the list goes on. In fact, most everyone reading this has been blessed in many of the same ways. Now back to redemption…
Redemption is the plan whereby God beautifully reverses the fortunes of those who are not His own. Peter put it like this,
Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:10)
That is the gospel and the gospel is the great reversal. Throughout the Bible we can find different metaphors describing the reversal. Once we didn’t belong, but now we do belong; once we had no identity with God, but now we are identified with God; once we didn’t know who our father was (Satan), but now we do know that our Father is God; once we were lost, but now we are found; once we had no hope, but now we are filled with hope. Isn’t that a beautiful reversal of fortunes?
Peter shares the purpose behind this reversal in the previous verse:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (verse 9)
So God changed our lives so that we could tell others how He could do the same for them. This is at least part of why God saved us, isn’t it? Yes it is! Evangelism is not about some new program that the church needs to buy into; it’s not about a certain night when we all “go out” to knock on doors. While those may be helpful they may also become harmful. How? Because it leads the church to think that getting the gospel out into the community is something that we can check off our list of things to do for the week. It can also be dangerous because it leads Christians to practice evangelism once a week instead of making it part of our lifestyle. What about the girl you work with? What if she was to ask about your hope and joy on Friday morning but visitation was Tuesday night? I guess she’s just out of luck for four days, right? No, right then and there we can begin to share the gospel by sharing our story of how God’s marvelous grace rescued us from the darkness and placed us into His beautiful light.
Has God’s blessed you the way He’s blessed me? If so, then why don’t you thank Him and then look for an opportunity to share His blessings with others.
Grace & Peace,
Scott

Jesus Came & Declared War on Sin

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Wednesday, December 05, 2012 11:48 AM

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Got a question for you: “Have you been doing Advent?” By that I simply mean have you been able to focus time and energy on the true meaning of the coming of Jesus? Before the stores and parties and concerts and gathers highjack our time I think it’s necessary for us to reflect on what the Advent of Jesus means.

Celebrating the coming of Jesus cannot become just another opportunity to spend money, go to parties, and have a Christmas musical. Let me be clear: I’m not against any of the festivities and traditions of Christmas, but I don’t want the true meaning of Christmas to be completely ignored either.

Jesus came into this world on purpose; God gave us the gift of His Son for a reason. Throughout Scripture we find that purpose laid out. This week I’d like to draw our attention to one of those Scriptures and unwrap at least part of the reason Jesus came.

            You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. (1 John 3:5)

            …The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)

And there you have it – in part at least. Jesus came (“appeared”) to deal with sin.

Sin is what destroyed the beautiful relationship God intended for us to have with Him. Sin is debilitating relationally. God has always known that we would be powerless to change our human condition no matter how hard we try. Amazingly He was not satisfied to leave us in that sinful condition.

God in His wisdom and mercy acted by giving His Son to remove (“take away”) sin. It is through believing and trusting that Jesus came, lived a sinless life, was publicly executed on a cross, rose from the dead, and is coming back that we will receive forgiveness and relational rightness with God.

Jesus effectively dealt with the problem of sin by destroying it. The only way sin could be removed from our lives and the works of Satan destroyed was by Jesus facing them head on at the cross. The cross makes a difference in our lives that will last for eternity.

Jesus was born for this battle. His purpose was to go to war against sin and the devil. Ultimately that cosmic fight took place at Calvary. The good news is that Jesus won!

And so, part of our reflection during Advent season is to remember that it is about a child who came to save us in a battle we couldn’t win, but He could. In a sense, those first cries 2000 years ago from the Village of Bethlehem were battle cries declared against sin and the devil.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

The Way I Remember 9-11

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Wednesday, September 07, 2011 4:43 PM

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This Sunday, September 11, marks the tenth anniversary of the attack on our country. This event is one of those in our lives when we will always remember where we were and what we were doing. At the first mention that something tragic happened, there was a mad dash to find a TV, and for the most of the rest of the day that is all we did - sit and watch in disbelieving confusion. On that morning 19 terrorists took over 4 planes. Two planes were crashed into the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York City, 1 plane was crashed into the Pentagon, and 1 more was taken over by passengers and crashed in an empty field in Pennsylvania. It took 2 hours for the Twin Towers to fall. Almost 3,000 people died that day. 9-11 has had a huge impact in America, some for the good and some for the bad. I can think of two I would like us to think about as we remember this weekend.

First, a tragedy like this shakes us to our very core. We stand in disbelief that something like this could happen here. We have a hard time putting something as terrible as this in a category where we can analyze it and eventually figure it out. It is beyond our understanding. One thing I have learned is that bad people will continue to to bad things, but it is up to good people to make changes, and the only changes that will last are those for eternity. It is only the Gospel introduced into this situation that will make an eternal difference. Elected officials will make policies, but Christians must share the crucified King!

Second, a tragedy like this shapes our future. 9-11 plunged us into war and economic crisis. It is difficult to find an accurate number of Americans killed since the terrorist attack on U.S. soil, but one source stated that 8,800 Americans have been killed in the war on terror (both military and civilian). We have sent thousands our our children overseas to fight this war, and it will forever shape the landscape of our country's history. But I have another question, "How has it shaped us spiritually?" Something as terrible as this should shape the Church into a haven of peace and security when we find none in the world. the Church must be shaped into prayer, an allegiance to the Gospel as the only answer, and as place where people find answers to spiritual questions.

We should never forget 9-11. I don't believe it would do any good to ignore what happened, but we must also take solace in the fact that Christ is still reigning and He has invaded the kingdom of darkness through the cross. Terrorism will win if the landscape of America is unchanged spiritually because of September 11, 2001.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

The Earthquake of 2011!

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Wednesday, August 31, 2011 10:51 AM

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At approximately 1:51 p.m on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 I felt the earthquake. At first I thought it was the helicopter flying over at the time or maybe a big truck trying to make it up the hill on Pearl Street, but no it was an earthquake! For those of us who experienced it, it was pretty cool in one way. It's one of those rare things that happen, and it reminded me of a couple of things from Scripture.

First, an earthquake is one of those reminders from God that the earth is under a curse because of sin. When sin came it didn't just affect humanity, the effects of sin are universal. Our entire planet feels the result of man's disobedience and desperately wants to get out from underneath its curse. Paul wrote,

For the creation itself was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now (Romans 8:20-22).

Tuesday afternoon we felt "mother earth" push!

Second, an earthquake reminds me that life happens quickly! Certain events, good and bad, come into our life unexpectedly. No matter how much we plan, something could come at us out of the blue and knock us out of our argyle socks. People don't plan to have a catastrophe touch their life. None of us wake up in the morning saying, "I think I'd like something really bad to happen to me today." That would be crazy, but these things happen every day, and when they touch close to home it hits an emotional chord we didn't realize existed.

The plain fact is that we just don't know what's going to happen tomorrow; in fact, we don't even have a promise that tomorrow will ever get here (and for some it won't). Listen to what James had to say on that matter,

You do not know what tomorrow will bring (James 4:14).

It is moment like these we need to be reminded that God has reversed the effects of sin through the cross. It is in the gospel we find our hope in catastrophes, not in our emergency preparedness (as important as that is). It is only through Jesus and what He did at Calvary that we find hope at times like these.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

Newness

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Thursday, August 18, 2011 2:31 PM

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A new school year has begun! For many this is a time of getting back into a good routine. Teachers want to teach a fresh batch of young, eager minds, and students want to show their friends their new shoes, jeans, shirts, and boyfriends...it's something new for everyone. It's simply an exciting time of year! At least it's better than sitting around bored with nothing to do but watch the grass turn brown in the heat of the summer. "Newness" is wonderful and this time of year reminds me of the constant newness of the Christian life.

God spiritually created us to be new through Christ. Paul called us God's "new creation" and then he describes God's creative activity in our lives with the statement "the old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). God is not satisfied with leaving us the way we were; He wants and expects change. This change is radical in the sense that it affects every single, solitary area of our life. It's a different direction for our lives, a different desire for our passions, a new set of habits, and a different way of looking at life.

Another point I want to make is that this change never ends. The newness is always new again. We will never get to a point in our lives when change is no longer necessary. We must always be growing. This constant, spiritual growth is by God's sovereign design according to Romans 8:29,

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son...

Just think about it, God's plan from before time began was to make us more and more like His Son. This plan is rooted in the gospel, continues in the gospel and finishes in the gospel. I say this because our spiritual growth is about being conformed to the image of Jesus. He didn't say conformed to a set of rules or traditions, but His Son. Central to being remade int he image of Jesus is the cross, and so central to our spiritual growth is the cross.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

Never Get Over the Cross!

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Tuesday, March 23, 2010 1:30 PM

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I remember the first time I told Barb "I love you." I remember our first kiss. I remember the first time I held each of our children. I remember the first church I pastored. I remember the first time I preached at Calvary (Easter, 2006). There are some things you remember forever; you just never get over them, and you don't want to, and you shouldn't.

Do you remember the first time you realized God's love for you was so great that He sacrificed His own Son? Have you gotten over it? Do you remember when you made the decision to follow Him and trust Him with your life? Salvation is something that is rooted in the event of the cross. That event took place over two thousand years ago and it still never loses its power to transform a life! The cross is central to our faith and it changes everything we do. It changes the way we love; it changes the way we worship; it changes the way we raise kids; it changes the way we spend money; it changes the way we live.

Oh, so many have come to the cross and accepted its sacrifice only to turn their back on the One who paid the supreme price to secure everlasting life. They came enamored by the transformation it produces; they stayed in love long enough to fervently read the Bible and learn how to live above the confusion and noise of a world gone mad; and they have followed hard after Jesus...for a time. Then suddenly, or maybe subtly, they drifted and "fell out of love" with the cross. No, they would never admit that, but their actions speak of a betrayal that mirrors Judas. They simply got over the cross and it is no longer central to their life. But this shouldn't be.

Never get over the cross!

Grace & Peace,
Scott

I Am Not a Racist

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Wednesday, March 03, 2010 9:22 PM

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I don't have a racist bone in my body (at least that is what I think). In fact I tell people that the first time I remember being south of the Mason-Dixon line was when I was probably 10 years old. I was born in Alaska so I didn't have much of a chance to interact with other races except Eskimos. I abhor racism and derogatory remarks made toward anybody. God created us in His image, and when He created Adam and Eve He created in them all future races. Why should we disparage any race when that God doesn't. Having said that let me share something with you...

I teach a non-denominational Bible study once a week to a group of wonderful senior citizens. Out of the 35 that come week-after-week only about 5 are white. I have been doing this for 2 years now and love it immensely! I have talked to them about race and God's view of the issue. In particular when teaching through Ephesians we came across the passage:

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. (2:14-16)

I'm just saying that one of the purposes of the cross is to create one new race. It is not a black race or white race or red race or any other race. This is a new race in Christ! It is the cross that brings about reconciliation.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

A Life Lesson from Papa Ferguson

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Thursday, April 23, 2009 9:23 AM

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Yesterday (Wednesday, 4/22/09) I was visiting with one of the most precious men I have ever known...Papa Ferguson. He has seen much in his long life (He will be 102 this year!) and it is fun to get him talking about the jobs he has had at the mills or the railroad. I have talked to nurses at the desk who said they just went into his room to meet somebody that old who still had a strong body and a sharp mind.

What is most amazing is that after we prayed together he said, "You know Pastor, I don't think we talk enough about Jesus and the impact His death has had on so many people." Now when a man like this talks he is better than E. F. Hutton because you really listen. Papa has never gotten over the cross! He is so much like Paul in his thinking. Remember when Paul wrote, "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death" (Philippians 3:10). This was Paul's consummate desire, the end of all things for him. Paul's life was centered on the cross and he wanted to know the intimate details and powerful outcomes of the experience of a "cross-life."

What would it be like for us to be consummed with the cross? How would our life change? What would our friendships be like? Would our spending and giving habits change?

Paul set the standard for "cross-living" and Papa reminded me of it this week. If I could only be like them then life would be better.

Glory in the Cross

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Monday, March 17, 2008 3:28 PM

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Last night at Calvary was a truly Amazing Grace experience! It was refreshing to have experienced the Spirit in a worship service like that. I wish not to give accolades to people, but my desire is to give God the glory and honor His majesty deserves. Too many times “musicals” or “cantatas” or “dramas” showcase the talents of people and elevate our egos to new heights while God is almost completely ignored. Not last night…in fact, my experience at Calvary has always been that God’s is exalted and I have come away refreshed by a fresh breeze of the Spirit blowing upon me. The worship service focused upon the instrument of suffering and salvation—the cross! Let me pull something from that experience for us to focus on during this Passion Week…

Let our minds be riveted on the cruel instrument upon which our great and mighty Savior, Jesus Christ, died—the cross! The cross was an instrument used by the Romans to “shame” and “humiliate” its victim. But, what we often equate with “shame” and “humiliation” God turns around and uses it for “glory” and “exaltation.” Yes, the cross was a place of curse lest we forget what scripture teaches us,

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13)

But we must always remember that it was our curse that Jesus bore on the cross; it was us who deserved to hang on the tree. And, in taking our place on the cross (i.e., becoming a curse for us) He offers forgiveness through repentance. So, the curse becomes a blessing…a blessing for us. It is a place where the burden of our sin falls off when we believe.

When we look at the cross let’s keep in mind also that it is God’s power of salvation that was displayed through the crucifixion. Some would see the cross as weakness, but to God it was the ultimate show of power and strength. Some would see it as foolishness, but to God it was the quintessential display of wisdom.

For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Cross-Centered,

Scott

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