Friday, February 27, 2015

Touching Base - Part 267

SUNDAY, MARCH 1ST, 2015

NEHEMIAH, PART 4
BUILDING WALLS, RESTORING LIVES - TAKING THE NEXT STEP


This 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 the morning services, it will be an opportunity to go deeper and build community because God's Word needs to be discussed in community.

This week's Touching Base is Week 2 of the Restore Prayer Event Workbook found here.

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

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Touching Base - Part 266

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22nd, 2015

NEHEMIAH, PART 3
BUILDING WALLS, RESTORING LIVES - HANDS AND FEET!


This 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 the morning services, it will be an opportunity to go deeper and build community because God's Word needs to be discussed in community.

This week's Touching Base is Week 1 of the Restore Prayer Event Workbook found here.

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

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Touching Base - Part 265

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH, 2015

NEHEMIAH, PART 2
BUILDING WALLS, RESTORING LIVES.

This 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 the morning services, it will be an opportunity to go deeper and build community because God's Word needs to be discussed in community.

God is a Redeemer! Do you know anyone that needs to experience this? The basic meaning of the word redeem refers to a transfer of ownership. It was originally a word from the world of commerce. But as we look at our text today we will see that a commercial word was adopted by the Jews to refer to the wonderful work that God can do in our lives. God is a Redeemer!

This week is part 2 of our new series. If you missed last week please either pick up last week’s TB or listen to the message to get the necessary backdrop to understand context.

Big Idea: God is a Redeemer!

Text: Nehemiah 1:5-11

V10- Note how this word “redeemed” is being used. Who are the redeemed? How are they described? How were they redeemed? What redemption event is Nehemiah referring to? Check out Exod. 6:6; Deut. 7:8,9

This exodus event is the great OT picture of redemption. God transferring ownership, by freeing his people from slavery, the whips and brute strength of the Egyptians, and setting them free to be the people they were called to be. This historic event has served to provide a rich backdrop for understanding God’s ultimate act of redemption seen in Christ. Check out 1 Pet 1:18,19, Gal 3:13.

What do we learn about redemption from Nehemiah’s prayer?

Redemption does not mean we get an exemption from “messy”! (“mess” is living in a way that is contrary to our title as the redeemed.) Note the disparity between their title and their experience. They are the redeemed but looking pretty “messy” at this point - exiled, discouraged, disobedient!

One writer has said, “In my lifelong study of the Bible I have looked for an overarching theme, a summary statement of what the whole sprawling book is about. I have settled on this: “God gets his family back.” From the first book to the last the Bible tells of wayward children and the tortuous lengths to which God will go to bring them home. Indeed, the entire biblical drama ends with a huge family reunion in the book of Revelation.”

But even when God gets his family back… messy can still erupt! The same is true in God’s redemptive work in our lives through Christ. Our redemption does not mean we won’t, at times, find ourselves living in a season of disobedience. It is messy because as the redeemed we are to be walking in the ways of God. Check out Galatians 6:1,2 on how we are to handle messy Christians.

Got any messy chapters in your walk with Christ? What do those chapters look like?
Praying for anyone who is a Christian and they are in a messy chapter?

Redemption means holiness matters.

Whether in the Old Testament or New Testament a follower could look back and see the date, the event that was the moment of their redemption. However a moment in time results in a journey of a lifetime where God works out His redemptive purposes in our lives. Think of the purchase of a house. There is the transfer of ownership - redemption. But then what often happens is that new owner goes from room to room – “redeeming” each room - aligning what that room looks like with the new owner. God works out his redemptive purposes in our lives - room by room, day by day, and chapter by chapter. This is a lifelong journey. Holiness matters.

One writer has said “…there is the tendency to overlook the fact that the NT as well as the OT sees redemption, or salvation, in terms of the total human situation.”

We have other theological words that expand on this- sanctification, transformation, renewal.

Eugene Peterson points out that “the root meaning in Hebrew of salvation is to be broad, to become spacious, to enlarge. It carries the sense of deliverance from an existence that has become compressed, confined and cramped.” It is a working out of new ownership!

Because the children of Israel are redeemed, they are now being held to account for their disobedience. There are all kinds of rooms in the “house” that do not reflect the new ownership. This will involve specific repentance for the decrees, commands and instructions that they have ignored. Note v6, 7. Our holiness matters to God because we are a redeemed people.

The same is true in the NT. Jesus walks through the “house” He owns and challenges us to align each “room” with who He is, not the previous owner. He desires to work out his redemptive purposes in every area of our lives.

Got any locked doors into rooms you know you need to allow God to redeem? In title He is the owner but in practice we need to acknowledge that fact.

Have you opened any doors lately where you could say that something is deeply broken but is being fixed?
Praying for anyone these days, praying that they would unlock a certain door?

Redemption is based on the work of God.

Whether we are referring to that moment in time when God redeemed us and transferred our ownership to Himself or to the ongoing process of redemption, God’s strength and power are essential! Note how v.10 refers to God’s strength. Also note v6,11. Nehemiah realizes that unless God “shows up”, nobody is getting fixed.

How many of us could identify a situation (personal or involving someone else) where you would say “unless they experience the power of God, the work of God, they may not get free!”

What happens when we fail to realize how necessary God’s strength is in redeeming people’s lives? This may apply to someone coming to faith or walking out their faith (one answer is that we can push people away because our desire to help actually hinders).

Because Nehemiah realized his need for the power of God, what did he do? For a clue, what one word summarizes what Nehemiah is doing from v.5-11?

Here is how I would sum up our big idea - God is a Redeemer Who is in the mess, challenging us on issues of holiness, and Who is present with power!

As you pray this week, engage with God our great and awesome Covenant Keeper (week 1) and Redeemer!

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

Friday, February 6, 2015

Touching Base - Part 264

FEBRUARY 8, 2015
NEHEMIAH, PART 1
BUILDING WALLS, RESTORING LIVES


This 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 the morning services, it will be an opportunity to go deeper and build community because God's Word needs to be discussed in community.

Plant your index finger on any continent you wish on a map of the world and you will discover a theme, a common thread that connects all that have life - brokenness. There is no Utopia, no perfect paradise, no state or condition that exists that has perfection as its logo. Now travel back in time, and with the exception of the perfect zoo in Genesis 1 and 2, you find that brokenness is very much rooted in our history!

Take a moment and talk about how you would define “brokenness” and where you see it most in your travels these days. Think of the categories of city, nation and world.

Now think more personally. Have you ever prayed a prayer that sounds something like, “Oh God, fix…..”

Describe your feelings that are associated with your thoughts of brokenness as seen in the world or in your own life.
What is your response to the brokenness around you or in you?
What is a picture that best represents the brokenness that most heavily burdens your heart these days?

TEXT: NEHEMIAH 1:1-11

Today we are starting a new series in the book of Nehemiah. For the next two weeks we are going to look at two names of God that surface in Nehemiah’s prayer in v.5-11. We need to know that, yes, our world is broken, but YES, God has a heart for restoration.

As we get started, read the chapter and answer the following questions:
- How would you define the brokenness that was being described?
- What emotions are in this text?
- What is the response of Nehemiah beyond just emotion?
- What is the picture?
- What do you remember from what I said on Sunday about historical context?

As we think of this issue of restoration, we need to understand (like Nehemiah) that God has a heart for restoration. In this prayer of Nehemiah, the first name we see that tells us God wants to restore is found in v.5.

GOD IS A COVENANT KEEPER!

Note the sandwich - in verse 5, Nehemiah declares that God is great and awesome. The walls are a mess, the people are weeping, but God is great. What is an example of that greatness? GOD IS A COVENANT KEEPER! So on top of this sandwich you have the character of God - great and awesome, in the middle you have the fact that he keeps his covenant or promise and on the bottom you have another reference to his character- it is a covenant of love. In Hebrew this is the word “hesed” - unfailing love.

Then note that as in all covenants there are two sides, note v.5b - but then read v6-9 - and note the contrast of the hesed posture of God and the sinful posture of the people.

They are in a mess because of what they did to themselves AND because of what others have done to them. They had parents that messed up and thus the exile, and now they the kids are paying the price and no doubt have sin issues themselves. FYI their captivity lasted around 70 years.

Note Nehemiah knows he is not talking to a wall. He knows that God is a covenant keeper and that he will listen and that if the people respond God will gather his people. God has a heart for restoration.

Let me give you three takeaways that you can discuss and pray into as you think about this issue of restoration.

1. COVENANT REMINDS US OF WHOSE WE ARE.

When someone entered into a covenant, say with a king, there would be the preamble or introduction, in which the great king is introduced with all his titles and attributes. In the book of covenant – Exodus - we see this pattern. The first 19 chapters establish who God is - He is a Savior and deliverer and then the requirements of the covenant are given - read Ex 20:1, 2 and then note how it moves into the commands.

We see this same pattern in the New Covenant. For example in Romans the first eleven chapters focus on the wonderful salvation God has provided in Jesus - deliverance. Note Paul’s response in Romans 11:33-36. Then in Romans 12:1 Paul’s says “Therefore…..” In light of who God is, our great King, we are to offer up our lives in complete surrender.

Note how the covenant reminds us of Whose we are. How important is it to remember Whose we are in this process of restoration? Covenant gets our eyes of our “walls” and onto our God. I like what John Newton said, “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.” When we understand Whose we are, the possibilities for restoration, healing and hope arise within!

2. COVENANT REMINDS US OF WHO WE ARE.

Go back to v.5 - This is a covenant of ……. Love - We are the objects of that love! In other words, this great and awesome God loves this at-times-not-so-great-and-awesome person.
When we are walking in brokenness, what or who is shaping our identity?
Is it possible that our broken walls have defined who we are? It is possible that are “broken walls” have shaped what we think about God, ourselves and others?

Think about the following:
Our brokenness can become our ID card.
How does this happen?
What are examples of this?

Note how this great and awesome God of the Old Testament sounds a lot like the God of the New Testament - Romans 5:8! I wonder why that is?

Take some time to pray into this issue. For many, it is their brokenness that shapes their ID, not their great and awesome God.

3. COVENANT REMINDS US OF HOW WE ARE TO LIVE

Note in v.7 and 8 the words commands and instructions. They had walked away from the commands and instructions of God. Jeremiah 2:13 provides a great picture of what this looks like. We have deep thirst and God’s truth is what truly sets us free.

If we are going to embark on the journey of restoration then we must embark on the journey of replacing the lies with God’s truth. Whether we have had people mess up our lives or we have done it all ourselves, truth is imperative in the healing journey. That truth begins with Jesus. Remember what Jesus said in the New Testament? ” I am the Way, the Truth and the Life…..”

As a group, brainstorm on various biblical truths that are crucial to the restorative journey then pray into those people and places that you would love to see restored.

This is one of Nehemiah’s nine prayers in this book. He will pray again, he will weep again. No journey involves one prayer or one tear. Let’s travel with Nehemiah as we journey together and rebuild the “walls”!

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