Sunday School Small Groups

Defining a Successful Believer on God’s Terms

In the final chapters of 2 Corinthians Paul again returns to reminding the Corinthians of his apostleship and the lie of the “super apostles” who were no apostles at all. It is clear that the challenge against Paul’s authority by some was strong and persuasive. Paul, however, sets the record straight and shows what a true apostle looks like in God’s economy not in theirs.

As Paul lays out why he is a true and better apostle, we see truths of what a successful believer in God’s terms looks like. The Corinthian church had listened to persuasive but false apostles who were convincing, but Paul shows what really defined him and his ministry.

Though we will never be apostles these same characteristics can be evident in our own lives and help us to see what a successful believer really looks like. We must define our success as a believer by God’s terms and not in relation to others actions.

Rely on the Power of God

In 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 Paul says “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh by have divine power to destroy strongholds.” It hardly even needs to be said, but for sake of discussion, we spend more time relying on our own strength than trusting in God’s. Very little of our lives are lived in a way that failure would be the only option if God did not show up. I am not encouraging reckless risks but a life that is characterized by reliance upon the Lord rather than business as usual with our own strength, living on yesterday’s grace. If you want to live a life characterized by reliance upon the Lord, live as the gospel calls us to live and pray, pray, pray because a life like that cannot be lived on your own.

Do not measure yourself by others.

2 Corinthians 10:9-12 shows us the behind the scenes of the church at Corinth. Paul is being challenged with slander of his personal presence as compared to his letters. The “super apostles” are setting themselves up against Paul and saying look at him and look at us. Paul is weak and the assumed is that they believed themselves to be strong but Paul says that such actions reveal they are “men without understanding.” Comparing ourselves to others will never produce godliness in your life, only comparing yourself against who we are to become like, Christ Jesus, will produce gospel maturity.

This is not to say that mentors and spiritually mature people in your life cannot sharpen you, but that when we compare one of two things will happen. We will pick someone who is less mature and become prideful because we have used a poor measuring rod, or we will pick a spiritual giant and then find ourselves wanting to throw in the towel. Look to Christ and trust God to produce in you holiness. He will. Let others spur you along in the process and imitate them only as they imitate Christ.

Be content and faithful with the influence that God gives you.

Ever found yourself wanting someone else’s ministry opportunity or dealing with jealousy because you could thought you do something in the church better than another person. I think I have seen that in my own life far more than I care to admit. But when we look at 2 Corinthians 10:13-18 we see that Paul is unwilling to boast beyond the influence that God has allowed.

Paul was faithful in his ministry to the Corinthians with an expectation that as their faith grew so would his impact. Paul was unwilling to take credit for someone else’s labor and was content with the opportunities the Lord afforded him. Paul was concerned in verse 18 that the Lord was the one who would commend not man. This should challenge you thinking! As Jim Elliot was quoted as saying, “Wherever you are be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.” Don’t live for what you think should be God will open those opportunities of influence as you are faithful in what he has given you now. And if he should never give you what you think you deserve, trust Him because it is the Lord who commends.

Be sincerely and purely devoted to Christ alone.

Paul goes on the say in chapter 11:1-4 that he is concerned that the Corinthians are being led astray by the false apostles. He passionately pleads with them to be sincerely and purely devoted to Christ and not to be deceived by a cunning proclamation of another gospel. No matter how skilled the presentation what matters is the true knowledge of Jesus Christ. There are many skilled orators in our day that proclaim a different gospel. There charisma and ability to stir a crowd supersede the truth in many minds, do not be swayed, the gospel is the gospel, even if the speaker is not 6’ 4” with an athletic build and charming smile.

Live a sacrificial life for Christ.

If you have never done so, sit down and read 2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10 do so. It is a powerful message of what a life committed to the gospel at all costs may endure. It is a strong reminder that this world does not compare to what is to come and any sacrifices made pale in comparison to an eternity with Christ. Yet the Corinthian church was being led to compare the resumes of the false apostles to Paul’s. To set the record straight Paul tells us of the hardship he has endured for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul, however, uses an awesome tactic on the “super apostles” by stating that he is speaking as a madman and in foolishness to “boast” about his accomplishments, hardships, and revelations.  He never calls the Corinthians foolish but shows clearly that they are foolish for accepting works as a basis of authority.  Paul instead boasts of his weaknesses because Jesus Christ and His gospel are most important to Him. And then comes one of the famous verses of 2 Corinthians “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (12:9)

Whatever sacrifices we make matter not because they show we are a real Christian to others, but because they show that Jesus Christ is a real Savior to the world.

Some questions to ponder.

Maybe you are trying to live the Christian life under your own strength because you refuse to really trust God with it.

Maybe like the super apostles you want to measure yourself against weaker faith and be seen as godly.

Maybe you like to claim the work that God has done through another’s life as your own.

Maybe you want someone else’s ministry rather than focusing on what God’ has in your life at this very moment.

Maybe you want another gospel than that of the scriptures because it is easier.

Maybe you want people to see all the things “you” have done for Christ and want His glory for your own.

Where are you defining success as a believer by measuring against someone else rather than measuring against God and your faithfulness to where he has you at this moment in your life?

May God transform you as you live in the gospel of Jesus Christ on God’s terms and not man’s,

Pastor Dave

Eclipsed Summer Retreat

This past weekend the students of Richland Creek Community Church joined together in a weekend retreat at Camp Oak Hill in Oxford, NC. Not much different that any other retreat. Hopes of new friends and time to spend with old ones. Talks of fishing and the climbing wall, who would ride in each van, and where to bunk and in which cabin.

But this past weekend eclipsed any I have been a part of in the last 12 years of ministry. I must admit, I wanted more students to join us, but the Lord had a plan and a group of students he desired to come. God was apart of this weekend in power and glory. Young men began to step up and take the lead in conversations and prayer times, the truth of the gospel for every day of life was poured forth into the hearts of the students by the Spirit in a way they had not understood it before, and the worship was authentic, real, and passionate. It was clear that the students were finding pure joy in the worship of their God and desired to stay instead of moving on to some other activity or event.

The Gospel is Greater and eclipses the world’s understanding of life, forgiveness, and promise. These truths changed lives of students this weekend. One student trusted Christ for the first time and most students realized the impact of truly believing the gospel every day and in every situation.

It is hard to describe the joy I knew this weekend, as I watched God do what only he can do in our students. As pastors we can preach the truth, point apologetically to the gospel, and pray, but the rest is the Lord’s. This weekend God openly answered my prayers and I trust this weekend will only be the beginning of a pure and sincere devotion to Christ. I believe in the power of the gospel anew everyday for our students. May the Lord pass that passion for him on to the years to come, their families, and the students who were not able to join us.

Students, I love you but more importantly I love the God working in you. Remember the truth spurred your affections and devotion this weekend. Thinking on the greatness of the gospel will always lead you to authentic worship. You cannot create it on your own, it is not mechanical or manipulated. It is a natural and simple response of a faith that grips your heart in a way that can only be expressed in authentic and soul breathed worship to your God and a life that is truly lived for what you were created to be.

Thankful to be a part of a God’s mission in this world,

Pastor Dave

Morality without God: Living a borrowed idea.

(Originally posted May 19, 2009)

In an article posted by the News and Observer in Raleigh, NC this week, Yonat Shimron wrote of families in the Triangle area meeting on Sundays to “get together and offer each other support for rearing children without religion.”

The article Parents gather to nurture non-belief tells the story of these families who want to raise their children to be open-minded and willing to ask questions. I am all for teaching children to think, as a student pastor I encourage our students to think through what they believe, to ask questions and seek answers. This is not a counter Christian idea but is firmly rooted in the understanding that Jesus Christ is the truth. If one wants truth, one can find absolute truth. But there in lies the problem with the concept of morality without God.

Niki Ashmont, a social worker from Zebulon is quoted in the article, “People think if you don’t believe in God you have no morals. That’s just not the case.” The question we must be open to is, where do morals come from? How does a society determine its morals? Can one culture determine something to be right and another the same to be wrong? Can a tribe in Africa approve of murder and it be ok? What if a person from that tribe came to the US where murder is wrong, would it be ok for him to do murder here since his society has determined it to be a virtue rather than a vice?

These are questions that an open mind must ask. But just as it is vital to be open to questions, it is vital to be open to where the answers may come. So here is the main question, Can one have morals without God? I say, absolutely no.

When there is no God, man is no longer created in his image. As a Christian my worldview is shaped by the understanding that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Dr. Paige Patterson, while speaking at Richland Creek, my home church, submitted that the most important verse in this Bible was Genesis 1:1, without which nothing else would matter. (Click Here for the message)Why? Because all things find their beginning in him, including morality, right and wrong.

So what if there was no God, why would that cause morality to cease? Or to put it another way, why would there no longer be right and wrong? IF God did not create the heavens and the earth, then we and the rest of the world are a product of random. Random has no meaning unless it is given meaning by an authority who can rightfully give that meaning, i.e. God. But if there is no God even our intentions and thoughts to assign meaning to random cannot be valid since the thoughts are a product of random themselves.

In other words the whole world including our own thoughts are a product of random chance with no purpose, no meaning, and ultimately will pass into useless memory.

Which then raises the question how can these parents in the article, “raise caring, responsible, ethical children.” I would submit they can be caring. I would also agree that they can be responsible. But they cannot be ethical because there is not such thing as ethics apart from God, and for that matter our definition of caring and responsible are up for grabs because all are simply a product of random with no real value or meaning. In order for them to be ethical or “Moral” they must borrow parts of a Christian worldview and biblical ideas to support their desires and declarations.

If taken to the logical conclusions raising moral children in an absence of God is impossible, unless you borrow morality and the difference between right and wrong from the scriptures. Anyone can hold whatever belief they want, but please ask questions before you live out that belief. Ask real, hard questions and be ready for real, hard answers.

The scriptures say in John 1, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God….and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus Christ is truth in the flesh. As the creator he is the beginning and end of knowledge. Since we were created by God in His image we can reason, be creative, and have real emotion, because God himself does.

Which leaves you with the ultimate question. If I can know truth through Christ then that means I must admit that I have sinned against a holy God and need a Savior to take the penalty for sin, or I will be justly punished for eternity for my rebellion. The Truth, however, provided a sacrifice to take that penalty for you. Jesus Christ who lived a perfect life died a sinner’s death so that those who by faith believe in him though they have lived a sinner’s life can have the righteousness of Christ. And that is the Truth.

(Addition August 8, 2010)

As a parent that leaves us with one glaring truth as well, when we do lead our children to be moral apart from Jesus Christ we are expecting of them the impossible. Parenting apart from the gospel is only raising pharisees. The Truth must be the cornerstone of our teaching, guiding, and everyday talk. We must use the scriptures and believe them to be sufficient for all things pertaining to life and godliness.

Pastor Dave

Who is able to share the gospel?

In 2 Corinthians 2:16 Paul asks “Who is sufficient for these things?” Based on the context he is asking who is sufficient to be used of God to spread the knowledge of Christ, to be led in triumphal procession. With all of the hardship and struggles that he apostle had endured and the daunting task of sharing a message of the death and resurrection of God himself Paul was left to ask who can really do this sufficiently?

The answer is nobody. Somewhat surprising?

Paul goes on to say that he was not even qualified for this task “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us.” Paul was not sufficient and you are not sufficient. The message and the task are to great to be done by ourselves. But there is hope for sharing the gospel. In fact Paul explains in the next two chapters how every one of the Corinthians are to persuade others to believe in Jesus Christ. But how are we to do that if we are not sufficient for the task?

Rely on God

“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”  – 2 Corinthians 3:5-6

We are not sufficient but God is and he has empowered us through the Spirit to be competent to share the truth of Jesus Christ. You are able to share the gospel because God, through His Spirit has made you competent.

Do Not Lose Heart

“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:1-2

When we do share the Gospel some will receive our message and some will not. We can be tempted to try manipulation, deceitful ways, or easy roads to get results, but results focuses on our own accomplishments and relying on God focuses on His power. We may feel we are doing someone a favor by telling them that life with Christ is filled with joy, freedom, and hope for eternal life, and we would be telling truth, but conveniently leave out that following Christ involves sacrifice, affliction, and perseverance just to get  a decision, but we are not doing them a favor. We are to rely upon God share the truth in honesty and passion and let the chip fall where they may. We are not looking for notches on a belt but transformed individuals who have crossed from death to life.

Keep an Eternal Focus

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:16-18

When we think of sharing the gospel we get week in the knees, lumps in the throat, and sometimes a fear that will not subside. These are all very real factors in our lives but compared to Paul’s momentary affliction like being left for dead they fail to really measure up. But whether we are sacred or faced with intense persecution the focus on the “eternal weight of glory” seems to far outweigh whatever we may endure. Our sacrifices make no sense without the backdrop of eternity, but with with eternity in the back drop it makes little sense to lose heart and fade away in fear.

Do not forget you are accountable.

“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-10

At home in this body or away with the Lord our goal is to please Christ. But what is Paul’s motivation? He will give an account to Christ for his actions. Many times I hear of people who say, “What does it matter Christ will forgive it anyway.” That is dangerous territory and a poor understanding of the Gospel and our role it spreading the knowledge of that Gospel. We will give an account for what we have done in this body. Not a just punishment of sin, for Christ has taken upon himself the full penalty for the believer, but rather the accountability for what has been required of us, a life surrendered to Christ.

“Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.” 2 Corinthians 5:11

Who is sufficient to share the Gospel? None of us. Who is able and made sufficient to share the Gospel? All believers in Jesus Christ! That includes you! There are no excuses for us to avoid our responsibility to spread the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Chances are you have never shared the gospel. In fact statistics say that 90% of believers in the US will never share the gospel. Without debating why, you have never done it. The problem is not that you have not shared the Gospel, the problem is you are not willing to try. Rely on God, Do not lose heart, keep an eternal focus, and remember that you are held accountable then try. When you flop seek help and try again, and again, and again…

Praying that you will,
Dave Miller