Tag: christianity

Why does God make a way for us to return to paradise?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn PracticalLeave a comment

from the blog www.stuckincustoms.com

The world we live in is sinful. It is the way it is because Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden after they rebelled against God. Because we are mostly focused on the negative, we think a lot about why things are bad and messed up in this world but we spend little time thinking about why God makes a way for us to return to paradise.

You see, one day God will recreate this world. Everything that is broken, corrupt, and wrong with this world will be gone and in its place will be paradise. But why?

Why God would go to all the trouble, especially since we are the ones who lost paradise by rebelling against Him?

Well, God goes to all the trouble, He makes a way for us to return to Paradise because at His core God is gracious and merciful.

Jen (my wife) and I like to watch movies, but we are cheap, so we don’t go to the theater. Instead we go to the Red Box. I understand you don’t get the experience of the movie theater, but I’ll take a movie at our house for a $1.50 any day. One of the movies we rented recently was Pompeii.

There was a scene in the movie where a princess in a horse drawn carriage was passing by a line of chained gladiators heading to Pompeii to fight in the arena. The terrain was very muddy. As they passed by the gladiators, one of the horses slipped and broke its leg. Seeing that the horse was in extreme pain and couldn’t go on, one of the gladiators runs over, and in a show of strength, breaks the horses neck with his bare hands.

Now, he could have allowed the horse to live, but he didn’t. He didn’t because he knew death right then was better than allowing the horse to suffer and die later. So this gladiator, in an act of grace and mercy, did what was best for the horse.

In the same way, God in an act of grace and mercy in Genesis 3:22-24 did what was best for Adam and Eve – He cast them out of the garden.

“Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Ge 3:22–24)

So God, in an act of grace and mercy, cast them out of the garden and barred them from entering again to keep them from the Tree of Life and living forever in a sinful world.

The same grace and mercy that drove God to cast Adam and Eve out of the garden is what drives God to make a way for us to re-enter the garden.

So while God doesn’t have to make a way for us to return to Paradise, He does because He is gracious and merciful.

Question for Reflection

  1. Do you realize God doesn’t have to make a way for us to return to paradise?

Resource

Post developed from the sermon Can We Return to Paradise?

Image

Why Do People Deny the Existence of God?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Practical4 Comments

No Rules

The Theory of Evolution is fraught with errors, our world screams designer, and other theories for life’s existence are far fetched and scientifically untenable – a comet or aliens bringing life, multiple universes, a cyclical universe that continually “Bangs” and “Crunches”. Why do people deny the existence of God?

An Ulterior Motive

I believe folks push evolution and these other theories, even though they are fraught with error because they want to live in world without God.

If God doesn’t exist they can live life on their own terms, according to their own rules. If God doesn’t exist, there is no one to which we have to answer.

I believe at it’s core this is why people push theories that are fraught with error. It’s not because science has proven them correct, its because they have an ulterior motive – to eradicate God from the world so they can live how they want.

Question for Reflection

  1. What do you think?

Resources

Post adapted from the sermon: Is God Or Evolution Our Creator?

Image

What are the Barriers to Making Disciples?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, Evangelism, Pastoral5 Comments

Disciples

Even though we are commanded to make disciples and Jesus gives us a simple three step method to follow, we have trouble following His command. We have trouble because we encounter barriers. The list of barriers we encounter can be a mile long. There are a lot of things that hinder us from making disciples. I can’t cover all of them, nor do I know all of them, so let me offer you five.

Barriers to Making Disciples

(1) Busyness

Let’s be honest, we all have a lot going on – work, church, kids and grandkids sporting events, school, friends, family – are just a few things that compete for our time on a weekly basis. With all these things going on, we might think we don’t have the time to make disciples.

But here is the problem with that line of thinking, Jesus commands us to make disciples. In Matthew 28 Jesus says,

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28)

So Jesus commands us to make making disciples a priority in our lives, which means we have to do it.

Reading those words, you are probably thinking: “Great, one more thing to had to my schedule.” But what if I told you making disciples doesn’t have to be another thing you add to you schedule. Remember Jesus’ idea of “go” is “as you are going” you are to be making disciples. If we do that, if we focus on making disciples as we are going, it won’t be something extra to add to our schedule because it would be apart of the natural rhythm of our lives. So while you are at the football game or the school play, or whatever else it is that you are doing, you can be making disciples. You can be meeting others with the intention of building a relationship and speaking the truth of God’s Word into their lives.

Personally, that is why I spend a lot of time at Starbucks. I am going to prepare sermons every week, so why not do that in place where I can meet people, build relationships with them, and either encourage them in their Christian walk, or share the gospel with them. I have to tell you, I have had a lot of conversations with people through the years at Starbucks.

So while busyness can be a barrier to making disciples, it does not have to be, if we incorporate making disciples into the natural rhythm of our lives.

(2) Fear

One fear you might have is that you won’t know what to say. While that is a real fear, we don’t have to let it keep us from making disciples. You see, Jesus hasn’t left us alone. At the end of verse 20 in Matthew 28, He says,

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (Mt 28:20b)

So as we are going about our day, Jesus is with us and He will give us what we need to make disciples.

Another fear you might have is that someone will respond negatively to your message. While that is a real fear, a fear I personally have, research tells us that only about 5% of people in the States will be hostile to the message of the gospel.

You know, I think that is true. Even though I am afraid of how people will react, personally I have never had anyone outright attack me because I talked with them about the gospel and only a few people have been rude. For the most part, everyone I have ever engaged in a gospel conversation has been respectful.

So while fear can be a real barrier to us making disciples, it doesn’t have to be because Jesus promises He will be with us and most people we engage will be receptive and polite.

(3) A loss of your first love

What I mean by that is that something else has captured your attention. Something has become more important to you, more exciting. You see, we talk about that which we are excited. That which we love. Think about your favorite restaurant or vacation spot. You share those things with people because they excite you.

But if you think about it, what is more exciting than the gospel? What is more exciting than knowing Jesus has willingly died in your place so that you might have life? If we are truly a believer, nothing should be more exciting than that.

So if you have lost your first love, if something has become more exciting than the gospel to you, then you need to meditate on the gospel. You need to preach the gospel to yourself until that excitement returns and you want to share that with other people.

(4) I need to get my life right first

But here is the thing, if we wait to get our life right before we make disciples, we are never going to make disciples because our life is never going to be completely right. Becoming a fully mature disciple of Christ is a process; a process that takes a lifetime.

Plus, Jesus never said we need to get our life right first before we can make disciples. Remember, His idea of “go” is “as you are going” As you are going through life. As you are growing in your Christian walk, you should be making disciples. You should be bringing others along on the journey with you to be more like Christ.

(5) I am just a sinner saved by grace, what right do I have to speak into another person’s life. 

That is true — you are a sinner saved by grace. But you have been given a commandment by Jesus to make disciples. And as Jesus’ disciple you are an ambassador of Jesus.

You know what Ambassadors do? They speak on behalf of another. Nations have Ambassadors. The United States has ambassadors. When they go to another country, they have the right to speak on behalf of our country. That is the same for us. As Christians we are Ambassadors of Jesus and we have the right to speak on behalf of Him.

Now when we speak to others we don’t do it harshly. We are sinners saved by grace so we need to exercise grace and mercy when we speak to others.

But the point is we have the right to speak to others. We have the right to make disciples and we have been given that right by Jesus.

So those are some of the barriers to making disciples. Admittedly, those can be difficult for us to overcome. They can take a lot of work for us to overcome. So why?

Why should we fight to Overcome These Barriers?

Fighting to overcome these barriers and making disciples is the only way our country is going to turn around. As well as if we don’t do it — if we don’t make disciples — no one else will. You see, we are God’s plan. God uses disciples to make disciples. So if we don’t do it, no one else is going to do it.

Question for Reflection

  1. What barriers have you faced in making disciples? How did you overcome them?

Resources

Image

Post adapted from the sermon: Disciples Make Disciples

On the Christian Message

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, Quotes20 Comments

Christians proclaim the unthinkable. We believe that God became a man, the man Jesus Christ. God, who cannot suffer and die, becomes a man so that he can do the incomprehensible: the God-man dies.

In his Son Jesus Christ, the God of life and holiness faces the reality of death and sin.

What kind of God are we talking about here? He becomes a man not merely so that we might better understand his teachings, but that he might bring reconciliation. He dies that he might overcome sin and death.

Question for Reflection

  1. Do you see just how scandalous God’s love is for His people?

Resources

Kelly Kapic, God So Loved, He Gave, 71.

Image

How Do We Make Disciples?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Pastoral2 Comments

Disciples

A lot of folks think making disciples is a complicated and difficult task. One that requires a lot of training and time. But that is not true. Training is helpful, but you don’t have to have a PHD in Biblical Studies to start making disciples. Jesus didn’t set it up that way. Instead Jesus gave us an easy to follow three-step method to making disciples. What are those steps?

(1) We are to go

In verse 19 of Matthew 28, Jesus says,

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,” (Mt 28:19a)

We aren’t to sit stagnant. We aren’t to just let folks come to us. Instead we are to go. We are to go and find folks to tell the good news.

When Jesus tells us to go, He doesn’t just mean for us to go on a mission trip, or go and be a missionary in another country. Those things are necessary and we should do them, but that is not all of what Jesus means when He tells us to go. Instead He means that we are to make disciples as we are going about our day. So whether we are living Africa, China, or Decatur, we are to make disciples, as we are going about our day.

So the first thing Jesus tells us that we are to do is — Go — to go to our communities and the world with the intention of spreading the gospel and making disciples.

(2) We are to Baptize those who believe the gospel

Look what Jesus says in the remainder of verse 19,

 “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Mt 28:19a)

I believe Jesus’ second step to making disciples give us hope, because as we are going, as we are sharing the gospel with others in our life, as we take trips to other countries, people will believe the message we are sharing with them.

When they do that — when they believe — Jesus tells us we are to baptize them.

Now, you have to know that Jesus doesn’t tell us to do that because baptism saves them. Instead, He tells us to baptize because Baptism shows a person’s commitment to God. It shows that they are aligning themselves with Jesus. We don’t baptize folks in order to save them, or to complete the salvation process.

We baptize people because it is an outward expression of an inward reality.

So that is the second thing we are to do — Baptize those who believe the gospel.

(3) We are to teach those who believe the gospel to obey all God’s has commanded in His Word

Look at the beginning of verse 20,

“teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”” (Mt 28:20a)

Jesus’ command doesn’t just apply to Pastors. It applies to every disciple, all believers are to teach others to obey all God has commanded in His Word.

Teaching people God’s Word might occur in a formal setting like a church service or a Bible study, or it might occur in some other way. The point being you don’t have to be an official teacher to teach.

You can teach in a number of ways:

  • Most of us have families that we can teach. Again, that doesn’t mean we have to prepare a formal Bible Study. All we really need to do is sit down and read the Bible together, or share what God is teaching us, or share what we read in God’s Word that morning.
  • Participate in a men’s Bible study. My church has one every Friday morning. We meet at IHOP and discuss one chapter in God’s Word.
  • Participate in a Women’s group. We also have a Bible study for women similar to the men’s breakfast, but it is more missions focused. They do missions work in the community.
  • Disciple new believers. This can be done by getting together with a new believer and answering their questions about God’s Word.
  • Joining in on the discussion in Sunday School class, Community Groups, or Bible study.
  • Everyday conversations. Talking to people throughout your day about God’s Word and what you have learned is another good way to make disciples.

As you can see there are a number of ways we can teach and help others grow into fully mature disciples of Jesus, we just need to do it.

So that is the last thing we are to do — teach others to obey all Jesus has commanded.

Question for Reflection

  1. What part of making disciples do you find to be the hardest?

Resource

Image

Post adapted from the sermon: Disciples Make Disciples

The Gospel and the Christian Life – Part 7

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, Practical, The Gospel and the Christian LifeLeave a comment

The Gospel and the Christian Life

Over the next several weeks we are going to follow the story line of Scripture from Creation to Jesus’ return in an effort to deepen our understanding of the Gospel and how Christians are to live after they have professed Christ as Lord and Savior. (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6)

Did you know Jesus is coming back?

The story wouldn’t be complete if everything that was destroyed by sin wasn’t made new.

At the return of Jesus Christ, all creation will be restored (Is 65; Daniel 9; Rev 21-22). The world will be recreated and man’s relationship with God will be restored. As well as our relationship with each other will be perfect, and God and man’s relationship with creation will be redeemed and made right as well (Isa. 65).

Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the dead accomplished much more than giving us eternal life; it redeems all creation, so that man and creation are able to accomplish their God-given purpose, which is to glorify God (Ps. 86:9; Isa. 60:21; Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor. 6:20; 10:31; Rev. 4:11).

So while Adam and Eve’s rebellion in the garden plunged the world into sin, Jesus Christ will pull it out of sin and restore everything to its original state when He returns. Heaven then isn’t a city in the sky where we float on soft pillowy clouds for all eternity. Instead, heaven will consist of a recreated world where we will all live in perfect harmony with God, each other, and God’s creation.

Reflect

  1. Where in God’s Word does it talk about God’s New Creation (Is 65; Daniel 9; Rev 21-22)? Read those chapters now. As you do, imagine what a perfect world will be like.
  2. Who will be able to enjoy God’s new creation?
  3. What is our God given purpose?
  4. How can you glorify God with your life?

Resources

Image

Some posts’ structure influenced by Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware