It's All About Jesus

What is the Bible about?

I think we all know the answer to that question – Jesus. It’s easy to say the Bible is about Jesus without actually thinking about it. But have you ever thought about how each individual story, song, and prayer is divinely ordained by God to point to His Son? Listen to this message by Tim Keller:

I love this video. I love the truth in it. I love the passion in his voice. I love how excited he is about Jesus and how exciting these truths are to me. We showed this video to our 9^th grade girls a few months back and it has helped frame each passage we study. It has served as a continual reminder of what everything in the Bible points to and what everything in our lives should point to.

Each time we study a new story or passage, I ask the girls, “What is the Bible about?” They answer, “Jesus.” Then I ask, “So what is this particular story about? What is it pointing to?” That is such a great place to begin discussion of how all passages in the Old and New Testaments prepare and point our hearts toward Jesus.

As we study the metanarrative of the Bible – Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation/Restoration – we are continually reminded that the main character is Christ. And as we seek to have our lives in line with God and seek to be a part of His story, we are reminded that Christ, not self, is also the main character in our lives.

It’s not about us.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. – Colossians 1.15-20

The Single's Response to Marriage

My last post focused on submission, particularly in marriage. So what does that mean for single women? What are we supposed to do with that information? I think the answer is interesting.

The idea of marriage is exciting to me. I would like to be married eventually (and if I’m honest, most days eventually = now). It hasn’t always been like that. I used to think marriage was just another step in adulthood, but not that important. Then my perspective changed, and marriage became very important to me – it became something I sought after. And people would say not to make marriage my focus, not let it become an idol. At the same time, though, other people would talk about the high value of marriage, and especially the high calling of being a wife and mother. Those 2 messages seem almost contradictory.

But they’re not.

John Piper tweeted a statement the other day that resonated with me because it brought those 2 contradictory ideas together in the same sentence. This was his tweet: “An unmarried woman should have a high view of marriage, but also of God's sovereignty in her own life." (Nancy Wilson)

Marriage is important and holy, instituted by the Lord. We are to view it as such. We cannot make it an idol, though, which happens when we view marriage above Christ. Being married is not more important than walking with Christ and being sanctified for all eternity by Him. And, yet, sometimes we place it above Him. That is sin, and we must repent of it.

The answer to idolizing marriage is not to condemn it, though, which is sometimes the tendency. We are tempted to devalue marriage in an attempt to combat our own sinful idolatry. That is just as wrong. Marriage is of great value because it was created by God. Marriage is a picture of Christ and His church. We are not to condemn it, but to value and respect it as an institution ordained by God.

The solution to these two extreme views is not found in the middle of them, but is instead found in the freedom of the Gospel of Christ. Christ’s death and resurrection brings freedom in life – whether single or married. A life dedicated to Christ is a life free from the constraints of this world and our culture.

When we are freed from those constraints, we can take our focus off of them and off of ourselves. We can turn our eyes to things above, to Christ, where they should be. When we turn our eyes to Christ, we see what we are to be living for – Him.

So then as a single woman, my focus is not on getting married, but on giving my life up for Christ. It’s about laying down my rights – both in my singleness and in marriage – and picking up my cross. It means that I don’t need to worry about when or if I will get married because my only worry is how Christ is asking me to die to myself today.

Too often, we are so focused on trying to change our situation or move on to the next stage that we fail to see God’s hand in our current situation. We allow our selfish dissatisfaction to kill God’s joy in our lives. We waste what God has given us and where He has placed us. If we are not being faithful where we are, we are not preparing for the future God has for us, and when He takes us there we will not be ready and we will fail.

Our eyes must remain on Christ. He is at work in our lives – growing, teaching, stretching, and molding. God’s goal in our lives is sanctification. He prepares us for each stage as He brings them to us, but ultimately all of His work in us is preparing us to spend eternity with Him. That’s where our eyes need to be.

Am I living like this? Sometimes. Not always. Because it’s difficult. It doesn’t come easy. It’s not natural. But I’m called to intentionally put the natural, earthly me to death so that I may be raised with Christ in holiness.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. – Colossians 3.1-4

Christ Centered Relationships - Part 2 (Partner and Submit)

Several weeks ago, I talked about a series of messages that Francis and Lisa Chan did on Christ-Centered Relationships. Lisa did the majority of the speaking in the second message, focusing on partnering and submitting. Francis introduced the talk with a few tough truths about all of us:

• - We really like Jesus, but if we’re honest with ourselves we don’t want to become like him.
• - We admire His humility, but we don’t want to be that humble.
• - We are thankful that Jesus would be abused, but we would never let that happen to ourselves.
• - We love that Jesus laid down His rights, but we will fight for ours.

Those thoughts are not consistent with what we are instructed in the Word, though:

“…whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” – 1 John 2.6

What a great introduction to the idea of submission and partnering as women. Lisa’s message in conjunction with the Partnering section of the Ezer study at Grace Church have been both clarifying and challenging to me, and have provided wonderful, Biblical guidance.

We are called to submit to God (James 4.7) and then to each other out of reverence for Christ and the authoritative order He has established (Ephesians 4.21). I should not expect my attempts at submission to others to be positive or successful until I have first submitted my life to Christ.

What does a life submitted to Christ look like?

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” – Luke 9.23-24

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14.26-27

A life submitted to Christ sacrifices self and embraces the life of Christ. It puts the agenda of self to death and embraces the agenda of Christ. Submission to Christ means intentionally owning the cause of Christ as my own.

Submission to others, namely a husband, comes after we submit to Christ. If we have not embraced Christ’s cause and agenda, we will not view marriage as He does – as a picture of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5.22-32) – and will instead view marriage by the world’s standard – an institution designed for our happiness and security. With a wrong view of marriage, we will either make no attempt at submission or it will be a constant, painful struggle, always ending in failure. If, instead, we embrace Christ’s agenda and His plan for marriage, our perspective will change. Submission and partnering will still be a struggle at times and we will still fail, but those struggles and failures will sanctify us and teach us to rely more on Christ’s strength, not our own. And He will bring victory.

Partnering is about owning the cause of another. In marriage, it means coming alongside your husband, lending strength to him, and owning his cause as your own. Submission is part of owning that cause, and is one way God has given us as Christian women to be set apart from culture - to point people to Him through our lives. It’s not about rules and roles. It’s about loving Christ, loving others, and serving. Partnering is bigger than submission. Partnering is bigger than my wants, my kingdom. It’s about living my life to see His Kingdom come and His will be done.

Nica 2011 - Vision and Misson

When we got into Nicaragua on Saturday, we had an orientation with the Christ for the City International (CFCI) team. They oriented us to the country, our trip, and their team. The basic rules, guidelines, and the “what to expect” information were given. All of it was relevant and helpful, but the best part of the orientation was when they shared the CFCI vision and prayer requests for Nicaragua.

The CFCI Vision

• · No place without a witness
• · No church without a vision
• · No person without hope

CFCI is focused on leadership development, pastoral care, teaching, and training of the local church.

Nicaragua Prayer

• · Divided nation (politically, geographically, religious)
• · Recent hurricanes
• · Few healthy families/marriages or churches
• · Rapid growth of evangelicals
• · Task for workers – Bible teaching, leadership training, material and social needs

This was the best part for several reasons. First, it gave us a focus for the week and for our ministry partnership in the future. Vision casting is vastly important in leadership, whether you’re leading people for one week or many years. If you don’t know what your goal is or where you’re headed, it’s difficult to get there. Second, it gave us a glimpse of the CFCI team’s burden for the people of Nicaragua. It encouraged us to know that their team has spent time talking about, praying for, and seeing direction for Nicaragua. It pushed me to do the same.

Finally, this vision casting gave me yet another reminder of how Christ, as the head, leads the many parts of His Body to function as one.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. – 1 Corinthians 12.12-28

I have been a part of other mission teams with other purposes. When I worked with short-term teams while in Asia, our goal was church planting. We, as the longer-term missionaries, were focused on meeting people and sharing the Good News with them. Though we did disciple new believers during our time there, in the villages there were no believers to disciple because they had not heard. Short-term teams helped give us access to villages without a witness, villages where people had never heard the name of Jesus so that we could share with them the Name above all names and the Truth of the Gospel.

In Nicaragua, though, our focus is different. We were in a village quite similar to those in Asia, but this village has an indigenous, evangelical church. This village has a witness. What the believers in Rivas, Nicaragua need is discipleship, training, encouragement, and an opportunity to share the Gospel with their people in their own language and culture. That’s what we were able to do for them in the week we were there.

Please stop and think about how cool this is. Years ago, before this village in Nicaragua had a church or Christian presence, missionaries came in bringing the Good News of Christ. Their goal was probably similar to my goal in Asia. They were obedient and God moved. He is always faithful. Because of the obedience of those who came before us, we are now able to stand on their shoulders and build on the foundation that is Christ.

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 3.7-11

I love seeing how the Holy Spirit equips us with gifts for building up the Kingdom. It’s so cool to see how spiritual gifts can intersect spiritual needs when we are obedient. I’m thankful for how this has been modeled for me in the past and how it is currently being lived out at Grace Church.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good…All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. – 1 Corinthians 12.4-7, 11

Nica 2011

I think most people already knew this, but last week I was in Nicaragua serving on a team from Grace Church. Here's a run down of the week, with pictures...

The Clinic (4 ½ days)

- Saw 459 patients

- Gave out 1780 prescriptions

- 84 people made decisions to follow Christ through evangelism efforts of local church members

- 30 people recommitted their lives to Christ

Construction

- dug a trench for walls for a new room at the church

- made rebar columns to frame/stabilize the wall

- began to put up the walls (mixing cement by hand, by the way)

- connected with Nicaraguan partners, sharing testimonies and growing together

Kids

- poured into kids nonstop for 5 days, spending time with at least 20 kids per half day

- activities included: soccer, wiffle ball, face painting, jump rope, basketball, bubbles, coloring, and 2 water balloon fights

- shared Bible stories and prayed with kids daily

Teaching

- our teachers taught a 4 day class for about 60 Nicaraguan pastors/leaders

- one teacher taught through Galatians and our freedom in Christ

- one teacher taught on world religions

- had many Nicaraguan pastors confess leadership sins and mistakes, and commit to changes

- by the sovereign hand of God, saw a woman wander into the church for help and receive the greatest Answer of all, Christ

We had the opportunity to spend a night with a family from the church. Here's me, Carrie, and our family.

The team!

What Kind of Leader Are You?

Do you consider yourself a leader? Many of us do, at least in some respect. Many of us don’t. I like the quote that says, “If you think you’re leading but no one is following, you’re just on a walk.” That’s true. However, I also believe that someone is always watching us and is observing how we live our lives. We are influencing someone, whether we know it or not; whether we want to or not.

With that in mind, there is a good chance you are leading someone, right now. All leaders can stand to improve. We all need to be continuously learning, changing, and improving, with the ultimate goal of moving toward Christ and helping others do the same.

In an effort to learn and improve leadership skills, I have subscribed to Mark Driscoll’s leadership coaching (go here to sign up to view the videos). Even if I don’t agree with everything he says, just listening will help me grow by pushing me to think through things and evaluate my leadership style and efforts.

The first coaching session dealt with what kind of leader you are. He gave three distinct types: Prophet, Priest, and King. Here’s a run down of the three:

Prophet – preach, teach, relay sound doctrine; teachers, writers

Priest – love, serve, care pray, mediate; counselors, pastors

King – lead, administrate; pastors, heads of organizations

Driscoll listed some examples of each type of leader, but emphasized Christ embodying each of these roles perfectly. He encouraged us to consider what type of leader we were.

I think seeing the distinction of a kingly leader is the easiest. It’s clear that the kingly leader has large-scale leadership qualities. He has vision and a goal/destination in mind. Christ knew His goal and His purpose. Though He didn’t appear as king in the way most thought He would, Christ is the King of Kings (Revelation 19.16).

The prophet leader and priest leader seemed to overlap more to me. I once heard someone describe prophets and priests in the Old Testament by saying that prophets had their faces toward the people, receiving messages from God and giving them to His people, while priests had their faces toward God, making intercession on behalf of His people.

These roles are not the same now, though. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of them. He came to earth to give us God’s full and complete message, making the role of prophet (as it was in the Old Testament) unnecessary (Hebrews 1.1-2). When Christ returned to His Father’s side in Heaven, He gave us the Holy Spirit, in addition to the Scriptures, from which we hear God. Christ is our High Priest, making intercession for us and allowing us entrance into the holy places (Hebrews 8.1, 9.11-12, 10.19-23). When Christ came to earth, He perfected the role of prophet and priest, changing their roles and functions.

Driscoll distinguished these 2 leadership styles well. A prophet is concerned with communication of the truth, while a priest is people oriented, more focused on one-on-one relationships.

As I listened to him talk about this, I was reminded of a conversation I had with a friend a couple months ago. She is a counselor and we were talking about the motivation to enter into the field of counseling. She clarified the distinction between a passion for discipleship (prophet) and a passion for counseling (priest) by asking this question:

When you’re talking with someone and you know there is a deeper hurt that requires clinical knowledge and delicate care, do you desire to know more (psychologically and clinically) to be able to understand and help them? Or do you desire for them to seek professional counseling, but personally want to maintain the discipleship/teaching/mentoring relationship?

I thought that was a great question. Honestly, I’ve been on both sides of that scenario in my experiences with people. I spent a good deal of time working through my answer. Right now, my answer is that I desire to have the discipleship/teaching/mentoring role.

As I listened to Driscoll talk about leadership styles, I could see my passions and desires lining up with all 3 in certain ways, which he acknowledges is common. However, as I reflected on his teaching and my conversation a couple months ago, I see how I am more of a prophet leader right now. I can see how my gifts and passions lend themselves to that style of leadership.

All of our focus, time and energy doesn’t need to be spent on determining our leadership styles, as that is only a means to an end. However, until you know how you are wired up and what your leadership style is, you cannot properly develop it or use your gifts fully and effectively for Christ’s ministry.

So what about you? What is your leadership style?

Will's Audition Video

Check out my friend Will's audition video to be the new voice of the Cubs. How awesome would that be! Pretty sweet video, right?