Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Touching Base! Part 204

Botox Church 2013, PART 8
Lululemonade


(You can find a recording of this sermon here.)

This Touching Base is a useful tool for small group discussion, personal reflection or in a one-on-one conversation. We believe that if the Sunday teaching is discussed outside of the morning services, it will be an opportunity to go deeper and build healthy community because God's Word needs to be discussed in community.


If you are working through this TB in a small group, brainstorm on all the things you are building these days. Let me give you some ideas, family, trust, career, walk with God, friendship, rebuilding health, a house, etc. Now take some time to talk about what it means to build carefully. Why is building carefully difficult sometimes?

Text: 1 Corinthians 3:10-23.
Read through the text and note Paul’s admonition to build carefully (v.10) and note what the project is (v.16).

Note the value God places on the church in v.16.
  • The pronoun “you” is plural, referring to the body of Christ.
  • They collectively are being referred to as a “temple”. Temples were a common sight on the landscape of Corinth, like Tim Hortons in our day.
  • Note that the temple is a place where the Spirit of God lives and it is sacred. Again, for the original context this would have been a real contrast:
“The distinctive cult of Corinth was veneration of Aphrodite, goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, who is identified with the Roman Venus. The summit of Acrocorinth was dominated by a temple dedicated to her worship, served by over 1,000 sacred prostitutes or slave-priestesses. Associated with such religious practices was a general moral degradation. Corinthian morals were notoriously corrupt, even when compared with pagan Rome.” Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (514). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

  • Note the harsh judgment for anyone that destroys God’s temple.

Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians is to build carefully.

Big Idea: Build Carefully What God Treasures Deeply

There are three ideas that Paul develops as he talks about building carefully:

1. Make sure we have the right match - foundation and structure v.11,12

Paul had laid the foundation (v.11). He had been in Corinth for about 18 months. Now others were building on it (v.12). The problem was that some were not building carefully. The structure did not match the foundation, and there was even the very real possibility of them changing the foundation all together.

How does Paul demonstrate in v.12 that we need to choose wisely what kind of structure we build on the foundation?
Much has been said about the various elements listed, but suffice it to say that we are being encouraged to choose wisely as we build, whether it is our own lives or whether it has to do with the body of Christ.

Read the following verses to see what the wood, hay and straw materials were in Corinth: 1:12, 31; 2:5; 3:3-4, 18-23.
They were guilty of attempting to build the church around a personality.

Think of our modern day situation, what are some faulty structures the church has been built around? Let me list what I talked about on Sunday. Do you have other examples? Which ones resonate with you?
  • Personality
  • Tradition
  • Political
  • Social/business
  • Tickling of the ears (just saying what people want to hear)

Botox Church is guilty of not matching the structure with the foundation. This, then, can lead to changing the foundation to match the “improved” structure.

See what Jesus had to say about this issue of foundations when it came to how carefully we build our personal walk with Him (Matt. 7:24-27).
Talk about seasons in life when your structure did not match the foundation of Christ.
For example someone might say that they are a Christ follower but are harbouring an unforgiving attitude.

Does your community have the courage to speak into your life when they see structure issues in your life? Are you open to that kind of accountability?

In light of Christ being our individual and corporate foundation, how important is it to be in the word of God? What is the connection?

2. Build with accountability in mind (v.12-15)

How does accountability encourage us to build (whatever) with care?
Comb through the verses and discuss what they teach about accountability.
Day” was a reference to Christ’s return
Fire” was symbol of testing and
Reward” - this and other texts don’t tell us much about the nature of the reward - lots of mystery. 4:5 sheds some light. One person said, “What more reward would one want than to hear- ‘Well done good and faithful servant.’”

Note that Paul is talking about Christians.
Note the incredible grace of God in v.15. Even though people have knowingly built carelessly, they are still saved. V.15 is not about salvation, but about accountability and rewards.
How often do you think of your accountability before God with regards to how you are building your life or the church that you are part of? Do Christians think of being accountable? If not, why not?
Do you think Paul wants us to experience some sick, twisted, perverse motivation where the only reason we do what we do is because of accountability?
What scriptures would demonstrate that our relationship with God is rooted in love, not the fear of accountability? (Check out 1 John 4:7-21) How do we strike the balance of living with a sense of accountability and also resting in the grace and love of God?

3. Understand how much we matter to God (v.16-17)

We are back where we started.

Obviously Paul is not talking about Christians in v.17. In v.15 he has just said that Christ followers will be saved but just by the skin of their teeth. They will have that “smoky smell”. The person in v.17 must be unregenerate and bent on destroying the church. Pretty sobering words!

Have you ever seen such destruction in a church by wolves in sheep’s clothing?

Take some time to pray into this all-important issue that Paul raises. Here are some prayer tips:

  1. Pray that the leadership at Bethel would carefully build the right structure on the Foundation of Jesus Christ.
  2. Pray that, as individuals, we would be quick to remove any wrong structures that do not match the foundation of Jesus Christ.
  3. Pray that we would live with a greater sense of accountability.
  4. Pray against accountability becoming an unhealthy driver.
  5. Pray for Christ followers who have been defiled, that God would restore them to health and wholeness.
  6. Pray for the city of Kingston, that Churches would be built on the solid Foundation.

Build carefully, pray faithfully!


Mark
If interested in joining or starting a small group contact bethelcommunitygroups@gmail.com

REFLECTION ON SCRIPTURE

Adapted from Dave Veerman, the senior editor of The Life Application Bible. He suggests you ask nine questions of the text:
  1. People: Who are the people in this passage and how are they like us today?
  2. Place: What is the setting and what are the similarities to our world?
  3. Plot: What is happening? Is there any conflict or tension? How would I have acted in that situation?
  4. Point: What was the intended message for the first people to hear this passage? What did God want them to learn or feel or do?
  5. Principles: What are the timeless truths?
  6. Present: How is this relevant in our world today?
  7. Parallels: Where does this truth apply to my life? At home, at work, at school, in church, in the neighborhood?
  8. Personal: What attitude, action, value, or belief needs to change in me?
  9. Plan: What would be my first step of action?

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Touching Base! Part 203

Botox Church 2013, PART 7
I, Me, My!


(You can find a recording of this sermon here.)

This Touching Base is a useful tool for small group discussion, personal reflection or in a one-on-one conversation. We believe that if the Sunday teaching is discussed outside of the morning services, it will be an opportunity to go deeper and build healthy community because God's Word needs to be discussed in community.

I + Me + My = The World

Know anybody whose life could be defined by the above equation? There world is very much all about them, they are often not great at pursuing others, and their problems or opportunities always consume the conversation. You may know a lot about them but they would know very little about you. That’s because in most conversations you end up doing all the asking and listening.

Text: 1 Cor. 3:1-9
Big Idea: Networks is how God works in His Kingdom!

We have already looked at v1-3a, but now, as we move deeper into this text, we note how Paul illustrates worldliness.
How might you define worldliness in this context?
In keeping with Greek thinking, there were some in the Corinthian context who wanted to elevate a man and make him bigger than life. We have already seen this in v. 1:12. The Greek thinking of leadership was of power and lording it over others, as expressed by Jesus in Mark 10:42. Being mere men, as Paul says twice in v.3,4, meant that they were mirroring men in their thinking of leadership. In v.5-9 Paul attempts to correct their thinking. He demonstrates that it is networks that God uses to accomplish His Kingdom purposes:

We + Us + Ours = The Kingdom of God

Paul develops three key understandings that go along with this networking principle.

1. We fit into a much bigger picture (v.5)
How does Paul attempt to show that both he and Apollos are smaller parts of a much bigger picture?
Servants - Greek “diakonoi” - minister- meant a menial worker of any sort, free or slave. It was often used of a table waiter or what we would now call a busboy.
A “servant” implies that one greater than they is being served. A task in this context implies there is something greater being accomplished.
According to Paul (in v.5) what was the bigger picture being accomplished by these servants?

Unfortunately, in the corporate world and in the church, people will often sacrifice the bigger picture for their bigger ego.

Based on the book Tribal Leadership, 48% of professionals operate with language that sounds like this - “I’m great and you’re not”.
“When people at this stage cluster together, they attempt to outperform one another (on an individual basis) and put one another down. Although this is often done under the veil of humour, the effect is the same: each is striving for dominance. Individuals’ behavior expresses a ‘lone warrior’ ethos, and collectively, the culture becomes the ‘wild, wild west.’” (Tribal Leadership, p.261)

How do you see this kind of mentality going against the heart of the Gospel? Re-read Mark 10:42-45
Why is it difficult, at times, to submit to the bigger picture?

2. We have limitations (v.5,6,7)
What are the three pictures developed in these verses? Here is a clue – “Paul planted…”
Who is the hero? Note based on 1:12 and 3:4 who they wanted to make the hero.
Who assigned the tasks?
Do you think gifting and limitations had anything to do with the assignments?

Verse 6 is a beautiful picture of imperfect people coming together and exemplifying what Paul talks about in v.9
God’s fellow workers- partnerships
God’s field - When I think of a field I think of the hundreds of wheat stalks swaying the wind. Each stalk represents God’s fellow workers in God’s field doing God’s work.
God’s building - Together we contribute to a part of the building. We are not the whole building but a part of it that is consistent with our gifts. Note in v.16 Paul uses the terminology, temple.

Paul’s primary point was that the Corinthian Church was built not by one person but by several individuals in partnership with God. What was true corporately is also true individually. We don’t get “built” by just one person but by many doing their part.

Think of several examples in your own life right now where you see very clearly your dependence on others to contribute in their area of gifting.

Any of you praying a prayer something like “Lord bring someone into (name)'s life to do for them what I cannot do”?

DANGER
If we don’t understand this big idea, and that we have limitations, do you know what happens? We try to be and do everything in a situation. Instead of saying “this is what I can and cannot do”, we slowly drain ourselves by trying to wear every hat. We develop what could be called the “savior complex”.

Side note - What does this text tell us about how our prayers should be shaped? Answer - pray that God makes things grow (v.7). But an equally important answer is seen in v.5 - Pray that you will know the task you are to commit to.

Think of a context where teaming up with others who have strengths you do not have, has resulted in good things happening.

3. We must be careful how we define success.
Based on this text, how do you think God defines success?

Let’s face it, many of us could find ourselves in situations these days where the only metric of success is our pure obedience to doing what we know God has called us to do. We don’t see much fruit, we struggle with limited results, we wonder if we are making a difference and those that we are investing in are ungrateful. Are you in a place like that these days?

Aren’t you glad God uses networks to accomplish His work?


Mark
If interested in joining or starting a small group contact bethelcommunitygroups@gmail.com

REFLECTION ON SCRIPTURE

Adapted from Dave Veerman, the senior editor of The Life Application Bible. He suggests you ask nine questions of the text:
  1. People: Who are the people in this passage and how are they like us today?
  2. Place: What is the setting and what are the similarities to our world?
  3. Plot: What is happening? Is there any conflict or tension? How would I have acted in that situation?
  4. Point: What was the intended message for the first people to hear this passage? What did God want them to learn or feel or do?
  5. Principles: What are the timeless truths?
  6. Present: How is this relevant in our world today?
  7. Parallels: Where does this truth apply to my life? At home, at work, at school, in church, in the neighborhood?
  8. Personal: What attitude, action, value, or belief needs to change in me?
  9. Plan: What would be my first step of action?

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Touching Base! Part 202

Botox Church 2013, PART 6
Texting while following can be dangerous!


(You can find a recording of this sermon here.)

This Touching Base is a useful tool for small group discussion, personal reflection or in a one-on-one conversation. We believe that if the Sunday teaching is discussed outside of the morning services, it will be an opportunity to go deeper and build healthy community because God's Word needs to be discussed in community.

This past weekend we talked about texting while following Christ. Texting is any distraction that can consume us and put us in the ditch. There is a reason why they have outlawed texting while driving a vehicle. Distractions can be dangerous to the people in the car and the people outside of the car. We need to focus in order to stay moving forward.

Likewise as I pursue Christ, texting while following Jesus can impair my growth and put me in the ditch. Before we jump into the text, as a group discuss the following statement:

“92% of Christ followers report they have experienced being stalled at some point in their spiritual journey.”

Talk about your experience of being stalled.
What did it (or does it) feel like?
What or who helped you get moving?
Finish this sentence: the most dangerous thing about being stalled in my walk with Christ is…”

Big Idea: Spiritual growth is not guaranteed!
Text: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3a
Question: What do we learn about spiritual growth from this text?

1. There are different stages (v.1)
Look at the verse and identify the stages Paul references.
Spiritual - one who is filled with, and governed by, the Spirit of God. See 2:16b for a succinct definition.
Worldly - one who is filled with, and governed by, the spirit of the world
Infants - babes, implied in this is the obvious opposite - adults.
What would you say is Paul’s tone in these verses, upbeat or disappointed? What are the clues to Paul’s mood in these verses?

Are you at where you should be?
If 5 is mature and 1 is a new believer what number would you assign yourself and why?
Are you disappointed with someone you love in terms of their spiritual growth?
If texting represents the distraction of growing spiritually, how would you identify that distraction? (sports, boyfriend, laziness, hobbies, etc.)
What has your conversation been like with them?

2. There are different types of food (v.2)
One thing is very clear: different stages require different types of food. Milk for the new believer, solid food for the growing believer. Based on a book the elders have been reading, there are 5 key factors that feed the believer. As I said a few weeks back, the word of God is the most essential, but there are other “food groups” that help us grow. Discuss the following as a group and how they have helped you grow. Especially take time to flesh out how service helps you grow. Think specifically about this aspect. Also discuss seasons where you have been distracted (texting) and not committed to some of these basic disciplines.

Five factors are most influential
  • Reflection on Scripture is the most powerful catalyst of spiritual growth.
  • Core Christian beliefs are crucial for those in the early stage of spiritual growth.
  • Personal spiritual practices are the building blocks of a Christ-Centered life.
  • Serving is the most catalytic experience offered by churches.
  • Spiritual community is vital.
3. Texting happens (v.1-3a)
Yes, I know what you are thinking, “this is obvious!” Texting (distractions) will challenge our forward movement. But what is obvious is not always so easily remedied. It can be a real battle to grow at times. Think of the Corinthians, they were being led astray by a new gospel, an overemphasis on tongues. What is interesting is that many were saying they were spiritual, and growing. Paul challenges that and says “you are still on milk”.

Botox Church often settles for a pseudo spirituality not rooted in Christ and His Word, but in culture and its wisdom. Thus we get a false sense of growth.

Notice what can contribute to being stalled out. The first word in v. 3:1 references not brother but “brothers”, referring to a group of believers, men and women who are all in the same boat. They are all worldly and stalled in their growth. As they looked around, there were others (not the entire church of Corinth of course) who had stalled out. In other words they were growing to the extent that their environment was challenging them to grow. Now along comes Paul, spurring them on.

Read Hebrews 10:24,25
The word “spur” means to provoke, irritate, stimulate. It is used in the most positive sense to benefit the recipient. How do you spur others on to growth? How does your small group spur others on to growth?

Take some time to pray for the spiritual growth of each in your group and all those who are part of Bethel. Our goal at Bethel is to help people grow, move and develop. Comfort is not our goal, discipleship is.


Mark
If interested in joining or starting a small group contact bethelcommunitygroups@gmail.com

REFLECTION ON SCRIPTURE

Adapted from Dave Veerman, the senior editor of The Life Application Bible. He suggests you ask nine questions of the text:
  1. People: Who are the people in this passage and how are they like us today?
  2. Place: What is the setting and what are the similarities to our world?
  3. Plot: What is happening? Is there any conflict or tension? How would I have acted in that situation?
  4. Point: What was the intended message for the first people to hear this passage? What did God want them to learn or feel or do?
  5. Principles: What are the timeless truths?
  6. Present: How is this relevant in our world today?
  7. Parallels: Where does this truth apply to my life? At home, at work, at school, in church, in the neighborhood?
  8. Personal: What attitude, action, value, or belief needs to change in me?
  9. Plan: What would be my first step of action?