Showing posts with label The Cross;. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Cross;. Show all posts

Will Relocation Change What Is Central to Us?

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Monday, September 26, 2011 10:39 AM

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Many of us have a perspective on the new building on Parris Bridge Road. I think it looks like a peach shed. Others are surprised at how big it is. Everyone is glad there will be no steps to climb! But one perspective I want us to think about and draw an observation or two from is Scott Carter's; he thinks it looks like a prison. Now, you have to understand that he said this jokingly, and to be honest it does resemble a prison right now without the skin on the metal studs. But Scott knows, as we all do, that the building stands for something completely the opposite of a prison - it is a place of freedom because of our crucified King!

Because the gospel we embrace and preach is a gospel that sets prisoners free, the place where it is both embraced and proclaimed must be considered a place of freedom as well. At the outset of Jesus' ministry, while in the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovering of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed,
To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor (Luke 4:18-29 [cf. Isaiah 61:1-2]).

After Jesus read these powerful words He said, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." It is impossible not to hear these words as a personal application to Himself. It is through the proclamation of the good news of Christ's death that those who are held captive by sin are set free.

This is what has been done at Calvary since its beginning in 1923, it is what we are doing at Calvary today and this is what we will be doing when we relocate. A new building has never changed what has been central to this church, and there is no need to think that moving down the street is going to cause us to change now.

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

Don't Neglect Such a Great Salvation!

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Wednesday, September 01, 2010 9:48 AM

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This week we will be worshiping God the Father by remembering the sacrifice of His Son. The Lord's Supper is always an important time of worship for the church. It has also become a time to which I look forward. As a pastor-teacher I love opening the Word and discovering what the Bible teaches about our Savior. In theology we call this "Christology." I especially enjoy the study of the cross and how it molds, changes and centers our lives as disciples.

In my studies on the Lord's Supper I have come to understand it as a sacred meal. It is sacred because of the meaning behind it. No other meal we eat has such a rich history behind it. I don't approach my morning oatmeal in the same way I come to the Lord's Table. It is also sacred because of Who ultimately prepares it for us. When somebody diligently prepares our favorite meal it has a special meaning to us. You know what I mean...you can't wait to get to the table because of what awaits you. The Lord's Table is so much more! It causes us to go well beyond our stomachs to our souls. It touches not our physical appetite but our spiritual one. It satisfies pains that are celestial not earthly.

The passage of Scripture I have chosen to examine this week is found in Hebrews. We will be proverbially "skipping the rock" through chapter 2 as I will be pointing out some of the highlights that pertain to the question the writer poses in verse 3:

How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

I want to encourage you to read through Hebrews 2 several times over this weekend in preparation for our Sunday worship. Try to set a grasp of why it is so important for us not to neglect such a great salvation. Ask questions like: "What am I escaping?" "How could I neglect my salvation?" "Why does he call it a great salvation?" You may come up with some other questions that touch your walk with Christ, just don't be afraid to ask and investigate.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

Following a Murdered Hero

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Wednesday, May 12, 2010 11:06 AM

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In John Milton's epic poem, "Paradise Lost" he wrote, "Heavenly love shall outdo hellish hate."

I think we all like heroes. You know the type...mild-mannered newspaper reporter Clark Kent who runs into the nearest phone booth to become Superman when help is needed. (Can you imagine him trying to find a phone booth today?) Heroes and heroines are always endowed with some type of superhuman power(s), and when they come to rescue they use those powers to "save the day." If you were a super-hero what sort of power(s) would you want?

Now imagine that it was up to you to save the entire human race...what would be your plan and what would be your power? From eternity past God set out to do exactly that--save the lost, struggling and dying human race. God's plan to save us was shocking, something nobody would ever think of, He would send His Son. No x-ray vision, no invisible jet, and no fancy cape. He would come clothed in human flesh (Philippians 2:7) armed with love. Those around Him expected something powerfully spectacular (1 Corinthians 1:22), but to their surprise He came in humility. Paul calls this God's wisdom and power--the cross. This is why Paul wrote,

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

God's power to save through the cross was no expected, but it was the only way to rescue us. Too many want a savior who is like Superman or Wonder Woman, and when we don't get what we expect we become disillusioned and disappointed. In the end some walk away from Him because it seems so silly to follow a murdered hero. But this is precisely what God wants us to do; He wants us to follow His Son, a most unlikely hero.

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
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