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Epic: Episode 7, Rescue Has Come

Clint — Mon, 24 May 2010 03:11:44 +0000

Summary by Darrin Koehler

Continued from Epic 6…

Through chapters 6 and 11, the Scriptures teach very clearly that God is all-knowing. He knew that Pharaoh would not let the people go until after his heart was hardened. He knows past, present, and future. It is easy to get caught up, however, on the fact that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. Doesn’t this mean that Pharaoh had no choice in the matter? Doesn’t this mean that Pharaoh had no chance to repent? On the contrary, God did not harden Pharaoh’s heart until after Pharaoh hardened his own heart many, many times.

Through Moses, God miraculously loosed 9 plagues in the land of Egypt, each of which was a direct message against the false gods of the Egyptians. Through each of these plagues, Pharaoh hardened his own heart. He refused God and sought out his own glory to such a great extent that he could no longer hear or receive the word of God. By this point, Pharaoh was so far from God and from repenting from his own sin that he would never hear what God would have to say. And so, as we read, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. The treasure of the word of God is far too precious to be cast upon the ears of someone bent on rejecting it.

In chapter 12 we see the beginnings of one of the most historically celebrated holidays. This, the Passover, was the last and final plague in the land of Egypt. God warned that every first born son would be put to death unless the doorpost of that household was found with the blood of a lamb spread upon it. The Pharaoh continued in arrogance, but the Israelites believed what God said and so followed His instruction. When the spirit of the Lord came to take the lives of each firstborn son, he passed over every home that had heeded the instruction. At this, finally, Pharaoh commanded the Israelites to leave. They hurried, taking all that they could carry, but Pharaoh was relentless. Though he told them to leave he still pursued them because his heart was hardened and he refused to relent. However, when the Israelites reached the other side, God commanded Moses to raise his staff and make the waters return, drowning the Egyptians who pursued them.

To be continued in Epic 8…

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CrossWay Church is a modern expression of the biblical community of faith, hope and love serving the cities of Debary, Orange City, Deltona, Deland, Sanford and the surrounding central Florida area. Our passion is for the glory and fame of Jesus Christ. Our vision is to effectively engage our contemporary culture with his timeless gospel. Our mission is to help people find and follow hard after him. Visit us on the web at crosswayflorida.com

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Epic: Episode 6, Rescue Is Coming

Clint — Sun, 16 May 2010 17:07:45 +0000

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Sermon Summary by Darrin Koehler

Continued from Epic 5…

Joseph and all of his brothers died, but they were very fruitful and had many sons and daughters. After several generations, the Israelite people became numerous in the land of Egypt. The Egyptians began to dread the Israelites and subject them to slave labor. However, the more harsh Pharaoh was with the Israelites, the more they multiplied. When threats and subjugation failed, he commanded the mid-wives to kill all Israelite newborn sons by throwing them into the nile river. One of these newborn sons survived, though, and was found by Pharaoh’s daughter, who took him in and named him Moses.

Moses was raised up in royalty and was not subject to the harsh labor of his people. When he was walking about in the streets one night, he witnessed an Egyptian task-master beating down an Israelite. Moses took justice into his own hands and killed the overbearing Egyptian. Once Pharaoh found out about this he wanted Moses dead, and so Moses fled for his life into the land of Midian.

Moses spent almost 40 years in the land of Midian, during which time he married Zipporah and became a shepherd. His stay ended, however, when God called out to him from within a burning bush. God called Moses to return to Egypt and free his people from the bonds of slavery.

But Pharaoh did not acknowledge the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and as Moses demanded that Pharaoh let them go, Pharaoh only became more harsh with the Israelites. Seeing this, Moses cried out to God for wisdom and direction. God said, concerning the Israelites, “I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant…. I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slave to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgement. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.” (Exodus 6:5-7). This marks the beginning of the renowned exodus of God’s people from Egypt. Rescue is coming.

To be continued in Epic 7…

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Epic: Episode 4, A Nation is Born

Clint — Mon, 03 May 2010 00:32:19 +0000

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Summary by Darrin Koehler

It is with Abraham that we begin to see the narrative of God to redeem humanity really take shape. When he was at the age of 75, God called out to him, saying, “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen. 12:2,3) But before this would be realized, Abraham’s faith would be challenged. Abraham questioned God because he had no son of his own, yet God promised, “your very own son shall be your heir,” saying, “‘Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them…. So shall your offspring be.’ And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”

This does indeed show that God desires faith, and that the righteous shall live by faith. However, Abraham becomes impatient when he and his wife do not have a child. His wife says to him, “the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” (Gen. 16:2) But this was not God’s plan. As a result of this, Abraham had a son named Ishmael who would stand as an adversary to Israel for many years. But God was gracious, and he still fulfilled his promise. He said about Abraham’s wife: “I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her…. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant.”

It happened just as God said. Abraham’s wife had a child and they named him Isaac. But that’s not where this story ends. Abraham would face yet another test of faith. God commanded Abraham, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” What a command! Yet Abraham did not hesitate; he had such faith that in Hebrews 11:17 we read, “Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead.” However, God did not allow Abraham to kill his son Isaac. There at the alter, knife in hand, the Angel of the Lord called out to Abraham, saying, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And so the Lord provided instead a ram as a burnt offering in the place of Isaac.

We know now that the purpose of this gut-wrenching scene in history was to foreshadow the coming of Jesus Christ, and how he would be given as the Father’s only son as a sacrifice to save the whole world.

John 8:56-59»

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Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.Powered by Hackadelic Sliding Notes 1.6.5

Stoopid Sheep and Baaad Leadership

Clint — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:22:26 +0000

Reprinted from our sister blog, The Underground Awakening.

In July 2005, the Associated Press reported that nearly 1,500 sheep jumped from a cliff in eastern Turkey, killing approximately 450 animals. (The rest were saved from death “as the pile got higher and the fall more cushioned.”) God only knows what caused that first sheep to go rogue and take up cliff diving, but the whole herd followed lockstep, leaping to their doom. What a parable for our lives!

Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. We need to be very careful who we allow to influence our lives. Often, it is those who have the loudest megaphones who gather the largest audiences, but real leadership, good leadership is far more than being able to convince a herd of sheep to jump to their deaths.

Never forget the serpent was clever, articulate and convincing. He will give you an ocean of truth to conceal a teaspoon of lies.

Think of the men you allow to influence your life. Are they lip servants or servant leaders? Do they pastor and provide for their families well? Do they honor authority and model respect? Do they reason from the Scriptures or from their opinions?

?What about the women to whom you lend your ears? Are they gracious and godly or prideful and petty? Do they build bridges or set snares? Do they spread gossip or gospel?

Careful who you follow. You just might find yourself at the bottom of a dumb, dead flock.

“My people are destroyed from a lack of knowledge.” – Hosea 4:6

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Fearless: Episode 15

Clint — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:00:02 +0000

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Paul reveals the secret to satisfaction, and he should know because he has been rich and poor, lived as a political powerbroker and a persecuted preacher. Yet, he has found the sweetness of contentment and shows us how to find it too.

Philippians 4:10-13 NIV
10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

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Should Pastors Pay Taxes? Should You?

Clint — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:53:37 +0000

Here is a fascinating article by Dr. Russell Moore grappling with the issue of the Christian citizen’s responsibility to God and (or?) government. When do we submit? When do we refuse? The Bible is pretty loud on the subject.

Dr. Moore addresses the question raised by a young pastor about the ethics of his decision to be a “conscientious objector” to paying Social Security taxes. In doing so, Moore slices like a razor through the ethical dilemma with Yoda-like mastery and raises a lot more ethical (and biblical) issues that speak directly to believers and their relationship to ordained human institutions.

I think this article will be a particular interest to political junkies.

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More Sex Talk from the Pulpit?

Clint — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:42:53 +0000

Are preachers too silent on the topic of sexuality? That’s the question posed in this article by Dr. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Mohler begins by describing a report from the Religious Institute celebrating the changing landscape of attitudes toward sexuality in liberal “mainline Protestant” denominations (contrasted with evangelical ones.) Specifically, he identifies the inroads and gains made by advocacy groups such as the Religious Institute in championing the causes of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender persons in religious organizations and churches.

But the real value of this article is actually found in the concluding remarks:

The Religious Institute wants liberal preachers to talk more about sex. My guess is that they will. But what about evangelical pastors? Where is the teaching about God’s gift of sexuality and the glory of God in marriage? Where is the teaching about the Bible’s grace in telling us what is sin? Where is the acknowledgment of human brokenness? Where is the honesty about the struggle to bring all things under submission to Christ? Where is the preaching about how the Gospel lays claim on every dimension of our lives? Where is the teaching about how sex relates to sanctification and holiness?

Where indeed? *crickets chirping*

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Does It Matter That I’m Saved?

Clint — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:13:32 +0000

by Clint Wagnon, Lead Pastor

Here is one of the prized works in my library that I have found myself returning to many times over the past several years. I first met Millard Erickson in New Orleans when I was working on my masters program in the late 90′s. He was a guest lecturer at the seminary, facilitating a week-long seminar on postmodernism and faith. He is one of the most regarded and renowned theologians of our day. But this little book (159 pages) doesn’t read like it was written by a dusty theologian. It is approachable and understandable and actually very enjoyable. When I begin discipling a new believer, there are only about three books I strongly recommend along with the Bible, and this is one of them. It is also helpful for that twenty-year infant still wading in the shallow end of the pool.

Does It Matter That I’m Saved takes the treasure chest of soteriology (doctrine of salvation) and breaks it down and unpacks it in a way that not only illuminates, but inspires. When someone really begins to wrap their heart and soul around the truths inside this book, they are building their faith on solid biblical ground. That sure foundation will prove invaluable when the inevitable difficulties and storms rise and beat against the house that faith built.

Erickson uses winsome and plain language to explain conversion, faith, justification, regeneration, adoption, sanctification, assurance and glorification–the major themes of the New Testament letters. One glaring omission from his treatment of salvation is the issue of predestination. He leaves that complicated little gem for another place and time.

The book is no longer in print, but you can still find it on Amazon. Get it. Read it. Give it away. You will not be disappointed. Enjoy.

[See also my series on soteriology called Unwrapping the Gift.]

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A Review of The Shack

Clint — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:09:17 +0000

UPDATED
Tim Keller also weighs in on “The Shack.” See his assessment, or “impressions” on his blog. Particularly interesting is Keller’s contrast of C.S. Lewis’ treatment of fiction in Narnia with Young’s in the shack.
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ORIGINAL POST
Dr. Al Mohler, president of Southern Seminary, has written a comprehensive and fair critique of the blockbuster book “The Shack.” In his review, he points out some of the key theological underpinnings of this highly controversial book and explains their importance.

The footnotes alone are worth your time in reading this review. His blog and radio show can be found at http://www.albertmohler.com.

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Update on Pastor Matt Chandler

Clint — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:56:23 +0000

Here is an update on our friend Matt Chandler, pastor of the Village. Thank you for your continued prayers from him and Lauren and their three children. In addition to full recovery, please specifically pray regarding the side effects of the chemo and radiation treatments. Keep up with Matt on Twitter @mattchandler74.

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