Touching Base! Part 205

Botox Church 2013, PART 9
Fatal Distractions

(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.

Agree or disagree?  When you set your heart to walk in obedience you can often expect pushback.

What can represent the pushback? Pushback can come from any direction, any source and sometimes the least expected source. In our text we see Paul referring to different sources of pushback. I call these Fatal Distractions - experiences and realities that can divert, distract, and prevent us from walking in obedience, pushing ahead and staying on the path that God wants us to walk.

Text: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Big Idea: To remain faithful we need to contend with Fatal Distractions.

Note Paul’s Calling (v.1)

What are the key words that would define his calling? Note the pronoun, showing that he is not referring to just himself.
The phrase “secret things of God”, many think, is a Greek phrase that Paul stole. Paul is using it to reference the Gospel that is the “foolishness” of God. See 1:21-25, 2:7-10

Note The Challenge (v.2)

What must those who have been given a trust prove?
All Christ followers are servants, entrusted/stewards of the Gospel. How that plays out for each of us is different. Gifts, passions, life call - all shape how this works itself out. Nonetheless, we must prove faithful, endure, be reliable, and trustworthy. It is with this admonition that Paul raises three fatal distractions that can divert our focus.

Note The Fatal Distractions (v.3-5)

1. Critics (v.3)

Paul is not talking about constructive critics, the one that come alongside us because they love us and want to make us better people. He is talking about nasty, mean critics: their tongues are sharp, their intentions are dark and their glance is cutting. Paul had those kinds of critics in Corinth. They attacked his gospel, apostleship, gifting and basically rejected him.
How much does Paul care about the words of his critics? Do you think this meant they didn’t hurt him at all or that the hurt was felt but not deeply? Can you say of your nasty critics, “I care very little”?
I think one of the clues in the text that helps us understand how Paul could say this is seen in the word “servant”, used in v. 3:5 and 4:1. As a servant, his identity was rooted in Christ, (“servant” is an identity word), his security was established and his assignment was clear, thus critics’ words were a very small thing. He knew Who he answered to. See v.4.

Do you think many get sidelined because of nasty critics?
How can nasty critics soil our souls and hinder our hearts?
What does it mean to prove faithful in light of nasty critics?
Do you agree that this issue – critics - can be a fatal distraction?

2. Conscience (v.4)

Critics can be nasty, but consciences can be..... Note the big BUT in v.4. Note what Paul is saying: one’s conscience can be a faulty means of assessing if one is being faithful, staying the course. In fact, if your conscience is your guide, there is a good chance you are way off course and possibly not even knowing it.

The word conscience means to be “with knowledge”. Where does the conscience get such knowledge? What does v.4b suggest is the source of the conscience’s knowledge? The healthy conscience is informed by objective moral laws and truth. The Moral Law Giver ultimately informs and shapes the conscience.

When Paul says he doesn’t even judge himself, he is referring to a certain kind of judgment - ultimate judgement. The conscience is not able to make the ultimate judgment. Only God can. Paul was judging all kinds of issues in Corinth, but ultimate judgment belongs to God. Our systems are broken and faulty and require an ultimate judge.

What was one of the many problems in Corinth? They had what they thought was a clear conscience BUT that did not mean they were innocent. Note in v.5:1,2 - they are proud but they should be ashamed. They are not proving faithful, they are way off course and their blind guide – conscience - is leading the way! Their conscience was not being informed and shaped by God’s word and the Holy Spirit, but rather by worldliness. See v.3:3.

A fatal distraction is when our misinformed conscience supplants the authority of the Lord in our lives.

I think this is a huge problem in our Christian culture these days. Here are statements that illustrate the problem. Discuss and add your own.

“I really feel that this is okay….”
“My conscience is clear”
“I have talked to some of my friends and they agree…”
“I don’t see anything wrong with this…”
“Hey it’s working for me so why not continue in this direction?”
“We just really feel that this is the best for us right now.”

What does one need to do to prove faithful in light of this second fatal distraction?

3. Motives (v.5) ( I will keep this short)

Again note what kind of judgment Paul is talking about. What can we not clearly judge? What is hidden?
These words of Paul reveal a third fatal distraction - our motives. Paul wants them to come clean on their hearts before God. While our behaviour might be looking ok, our hearts could be very unhealthy. As God’s servants, He doesn’t just want our faithful acts, but a faithful, transformed heart. However, reality is that many unguarded hearts have compromised faithfulness. They have allowed broken motives to be the key drivers of their hearts.

As you wrap up, list wrong motives that can be fatal distractions, then pray for whole hearts.

Might we all prove faithful in contending with fatal distractions.

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?

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?

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?

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?

Touching Base! Part 201

Botox Church 2013, PART 5
Skywalker

(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.

Has anything helped you gain or appreciate another perspective on a particular issue? When I think of this question I think of three factors that help with perspective:

• Experience: We might not understand what someone is going through until we go through it ourselves
• Education: Study can help us see things we have not seen before
• Friendship: Listening to others can help us see things in ways that our own set of eyes might not see

What might you add?

Text: Our text is 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. This is a text that is about perspective. It is about what people see and why some can see what others cannot see.

Big Idea: The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to grow the people of God.

Let’s work through the text together.

V.6-9 The Ground Level
On the ground level we cannot see everything. On the ground level our view is limited and our understanding is dwarfed. As a group, scan these verses and answer the following questions:
What terms indicate that there is a lack of understanding?
How does the bigger context (i.e. Chapter 1) define this wisdom? See 1:24,30
How is this wisdom described?
Where was it hidden? If you need a clue check out Romans 16:25-27
What is the ultimate example that the rulers have rejected this wisdom?

I love v.9. This conveys such child-like excitement. The word that I think catches the mood of v.9 is ANTICIPATION. This is the theme of our Move prayer focus this week (join us at 4pm Sunday for prayer).

When have you been filled with anticipation? Perhaps as you drink your cup of coffee at Tim’s, full of anticipation that as your roll up the rim YOU WILL WIN? This verse is obviously talking about so much more than winning a free coffee.

Note how man is portrayed in these verses - blind, unable to see, hear or conceive what God has prepared (v.9)
Note how God is portrayed as the giver of a great gift. Then notice how God moves us from the ground level to the rooftop (v.10).

V10-16 The Rooftop
How does God the Holy Spirit reveal this wisdom/Christ?

• First we see He has the ability to reveal.
V.10,11 What does the Spirit of God know?
What illustration does Paul use?
What does Paul say about the Spirit of God in 2 Cor. 3:17,18?
How does this help explain why the Spirit of God knows the thoughts of God?

• Secondly, He takes up residence in the Christ follower.
Note the really mind-blowing point Paul makes.
V.12 Who resides in believers and what is His function?
In context, the understanding He brings has to do with the person of Jesus and all that God has freely given us in Christ. Note Paul’s prayer for believers in Ephesians 3:14-19.

• Thirdly, He uses the word of God to reveal the Word (Jesus the Son) of God
V.13Notice how often words are mentioned. What did God use to reveal spiritual truths to Paul? What did God use to reveal this Jesus to the heart of Paul? Another way of asking this is what was Paul’s primary source?
Read the following verses to see what God used.
Texts: Romans 1:1-6, Romans 4:1-4, Romans 16:25-27, 1 Cor. 15:3-5
Note how often Paul talks about the Scriptures. God used the Scriptures which was the OT to reveal to Paul the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Paul preached in synagogues all over the Mediterranean. Each synagogue had its own biblical text, its own scrolls. God used the Scripture to reveal this wisdom to Paul and then Paul, in turn, used the Scripture to reveal this wisdom to his audience.

Notice v.14-15: unless the Spirit of God opens blind eyes, deaf ears and limited minds, they will think the message is foolish. See 1:18.

(A quick explanation of v.15: When Paul writes that the spiritual man ‘is not subject to any man’s judgment’ he does not mean that we cannot be called to account for our speech or behaviour (cf. 14:29), but that the natural man—that is to say, the unregenerate man—is in no position to understand our actions and the motivation of our lifestyle when we live according to God’s wisdom. They might in fact call our message foolish!)

Does God still want to deepen our understanding by his Spirit so that we might understand all that God has given us? Paul certainly believed so. This was not a unique experience for Paul. For many who heard the word, their eyes were opened. Read what he says to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

Today the main food group that God the Holy Spirit wants to use to grow us and deepen our understanding is the Word of God. Things have not changed. We are in the privileged position, not only to have the Old Testament, but the New Testament as well. Notice v.16 makes it very clear that our example of what it means to be spiritual is Christ. Having His mind refers to a way of living and thinking.

Here are some questions to ponder:

• Are you praying specifically for the Holy Spirit to open the eyes, ears, and minds of those who don’t follow Christ? Who are you praying for?
• Are you, as a Christ follower, feeding on the word? There are no shortcuts to spiritual growth.
• Is there something you need to take off your plate so you can prioritize God’s word in your life?
• What community are you part of that helps you understand the word of God?

There is an exercise you can use to help you get into God’s word. I would suggest starting in the gospel of John. Jesus is clearly revealed in John.

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

S.O.A.P.

S is for Scripture

Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.

O is for Observation

What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own words, in your journal.

A is for Application

Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you today.

P is for Prayer

This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.

 

Touching Base! Part 200

Botox Church 2013, PART 4
Leadershift

(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.

We have all heard of “leadership”, how many of us have heard of “leadershift”? For our purposes in this Touching Base, I want to draw out the contrast between these two words. Leadership in our culture can be very much about the leader and her agenda. Leadership can at times be a position people use to feed their hungry ego.

Have you ever worked under a leader where it was all about him?

Leadershift is all about leading strongly but, ultimately, leading people to a greater cause than just oneself. In a company, leadershift is about leading people to embrace the values and mission of the corporation that will outlast the leader. In the Church, leadershift is all about using one’s gifts to direct people to Jesus Christ. My life becomes a means of deflecting and directing people to Christ.

In our text today we see Paul practicing leadershift.

Text: 1 Corinthians 2:1-4

Big Idea: Leadershift is God-Centered Leadership!

Paul demonstrates leadershift in two ways in our text.

1. He demonstrates leadershift by being authentic about who he is. 1,3,4a

Examine these verses and list the number of ways Paul is being authentic. How is Paul “undressing” in front of them?

To understand the emotion of v.3 read Acts 18, note specifically v.9-11.

What makes Paul’s authenticity really interesting are the following two facts:

A. He is speaking into a context where people are rejecting him and the gospel that he is preaching. He is not sharing this with people who might be kind. In fact they might be kind of mean, and use his weaknesses to further reject him.
How good are you at self-disclosing? How good are you at self-disclosing when you know your audience might use it against you?

B. His deficiencies are in the exact areas that were greatly valued in that culture. The itinerant philosophers and teachers depended on their wisdom and eloquence to gain followers. The city of Corinth was filled with such “spellbinders.” Paul is not buying into their techniques or trying to appear stronger than he really is.

Do you see how Paul is practicing leadershift? He is not building himself up in some way so as to make people think he is THE MAN, he is the hero. Instead, he is very self-deprecating.

Some questions to consider about this kind of person:

• How does this kind of person handle power?
• How does this kind of person relate to his/her team that he/she may lead?
• How does this kind of person deal with others’ failures or struggles? How do you think he/she makes others, who may not have the greatest confidence, feel?
• How approachable is this kind of person?
• How does this kind of person process praise or promotion?

2. He demonstrates leadershift by making Christ the focus. v1b,v2,4b,5.

Read and discuss these verses and see how, for Paul, Christ was clearly the focus.

The key verse for me is v.5. The result of his willingness to be authentic and to focus on Christ is that people will not attach themselves to Paul, but place their faith in Christ. Note how he says it in v.1:31.

In the context, what is a demonstration of the Spirit’s power? Verse 5 answers that question. Who does the phrase “God’s power” refer to? Check out v.1:18,24

Note the relationship between humility and being powerfully used by God (v.4).

How is it that Paul could be so comfortable that he could practice leadershift?

I think one of the answers is seen in this text: Paul had an intimate relationship with Christ (note that this week in our Move prayer focus, intimacy is the theme). Notice his passion to know Christ (v.2) and his intimacy with the Spirit in v.4. The result is that people will come into relationship (intimacy) with Christ. This is a man who knew God and as a result he led others to know God.

His confidence came from a deep place that, no doubt, was nurtured over time, thus he was able to self-disclose.

Discuss the following: When you see your worth in Christ you don’t need to prove your worth to people!

The heart of the gospel is not about us, but about God, not about our glory, but Christ’s, not about our work, but God’s superb work, not about our agenda, but God’s, not about our wisdom, but God’s wisdom.

Who are people in your life that model leadershift?

What do you need to do to better model leadershift?

Botox Church is where we make it all about a human personality. Detox Church is where the toxic elements of human ego are set aside and Christ is glorified.

Let me close with the words of John the Baptist (John 3:30): “He must become greater; I must become less.” Leadershift!!

I would encourage you to participate in our Move prayer focus this week. Join us Sunday March 10 at 4pm.

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

Touching Base! Part 199

Botox Church 2013, PART 3
God's Soccket

(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.

Think of the amazing world that we live in. What new invention, new gadget blows you away? What is out there that you would say is a techno miracle?

Text: Today we are looking at 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. When you read this text through you discover that what God did on the cross in Christ was way outside the box of the great thinkers of the day. On Sat/Sunday I talked about God’s soccket. If you were not there, just google the word “socket” and you can read the story. God’s soccket was the message of the cross, a new “technology” that had some of the critics up in arms.

Big Idea: Better to be a fool in God’s Kingdom than wise in the eyes of the world.

Open up your bible and work through this text and see how Paul develops this big idea.

1. God demotes those on High (v.18-25)

V.18 - What is the contrast you see in this verse? How would you describe the two groups of people in this verse?

V.19 - What does Paul say God will do to the wisdom of the wise and the intelligence of the intelligent?
“Destroy”: render useless
“Frustrate”: to declare invalid

V.20a - Who are the intelligent and the wise?
Note that the original context is Isaiah 29:13, where Israel was saying that their wisdom and intelligence was greater than God’s. Paul now adapts this saying to his current discussion.

V.20b - Note the word “foolish”. Is this the first time Paul uses it in our text? Paul is simply taking a word that they (the wise man, the philosopher and the scholar) are using and applying it to their own wisdom.
“Foolish” - it is where we get our English word “moron” from. Take a moment and in your group talk about who the real morons are in your life (just kidding!)

V.21 - What is Paul saying about the wisdom of God vs. the wisdom of man in this verse? What was considered foolish about the wisdom of God? Before you answer that question from the context, think of 2013. What is foolish about the message of the cross today?

V.22 Paul talks about what was considered foolish by referring to two groups of people:
“Jews”
The Jews wanted a conquering Messiah with a world empire, not a condemned and crucified one (Matt. 27:42; Luke 24:21). Only criminals of the worst sort were crucified. For the first-century Jew, dying on a cross signified that one was under God’s curse.
“Greeks”
Roman society was built around power and status; power was concentrated in the male head of the household, in wealthy and aristocratic families, and so forth. Associating power with a crucified man—the epitome of weakness—made no sense.

V.23-25 - What does Paul say Christ is in these verses which would be the exact opposite that Jews and Greeks would be saying? Notice the irony of v.25.

Based on what Paul has said thus far, I would far rather be a fool in God’s kingdom than wise in the eyes of the world.

Discuss the following:

• One of the biggest road blocks to coming to faith in Christ is the power of idolatrous human wisdom that keeps us captive. Agree? Illustrate Know anyone who is being held captive by the power of idolatrous human wisdom? Why not take some time in your group or on your own to pray for that person.
• Paul is not saying don’t love God with your mind, he is saying don’t limit God by your mind! Does your mind have any stretch marks on it? Growth can be painful!
• Botox Church wants to take the mystery of the Gospel, the wonder of God’s soccket and reduce it, clean it up, reshape it, making it more palatable for the current day crowd. How do we do this today?

2. God promotes the lowly v26-31

Note the “lowly” from v.26-29. Remember the lowly were probably many of the freedmen (just a class above slaves known as trouble makers) who helped resettle Corinth.

V.29 - What does this statement make clear about salvation? That it is a result of ____________ not works!

V.30 - Notice who is the ultimate lowlife that has been promoted?
This Jesus (that they say is a fool) is actually the wisdom of God. Wisdom is another way of saying the cleverness of God. Look at Jesus and you see the cleverness and brilliance of God. The exact opposite of what they were saying. In fact note

v.18, 24, 30 point to Christ as the brilliance of God.

How is Jesus an example of the cleverness of God? V.30
Our righteousness - A status of legal rectitude/correctness that satisfies the moral requirements of God. Jesus makes us righteous by our faith in Him (Romans 1:17)
Our holiness - This is a word that emphasizes our righteousness. I think the emphasis in this day and age is key. We need Jesus, but not to be happy or to be wealthy or to have white shiny smiles. We need Jesus because Scripture says (v.18) that we are perishing – this bears the sense of wreckage and points to the tragedy of waste and loss. Without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Our redemption - This refers to the fact that Jesus is our payment for sin (Mark 10:45), meaning to pay a price in order to secure the release of something or someone. It connotes the idea of paying what is required in order to liberate from oppression, enslavement. Scripture declares that we are bound, prisoners of sin. This was a great act of love. It was our debt not his, it was our sin not his, it was his sacrifice not ours to gain our freedom.

Do you think our world would be a better place if more people were made righteous before God? (Morally aligned with God’s values.)

Do you think our world would be a better place if holiness was found in our political hallways, exemplified in office towers? What if holiness was found in more of our churches?

Do you think our world would be a better place if humankind was redeemed from some of the dark maladies – greed, perversion, selfishness, hate, racism that controls the human heart?

Paul is saying that Jesus is the cleverness of God! Thus his final words in v.31

Like I said, better to be a fool in God’s Kingdom than wise in the eyes of the world. Jesus is our boast! Are you a fool?


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