Author: Scott Lane

Scott Lane is the Executive Pastor of Ministry at FBCSA.

Deep and Wide

Re: Verse reading–John 13:1-17; 31-38 (day five) 

John 13 is closely connected to the prayer in Ephesians 3.  “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,”.   John describes the exact actions and attitude of Jesus that the apostle Paul prays the believers in Ephesus would understand and appreciate.  The hope is that those early Christians would be filled, inspired, and strengthened.

John 13:1 “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”

Jesus’ love for His disciples is “wide”- Loving His disciples completely and perfectly during His three years of ministry and teaching.  Through times of questioning, unbelief, slow progress, and stubbornness, His love for them never falters or runs out.

Jesus’ love for them is “deep”- Loving His disciples with intensity and determination in the moments of service, suffering, and sacrifice.  Jesus’ love is not lessened by humility, pain, or sorrow.  In fact, His love remains sturdy and visible.

May God give us grace to become more aware and in awe of His love for us!

 

 

Jesus Believed…

Re: Verse reading–John 11:17-44 (day five)

When Jesus walked the earth, his actions and attitudes are worth noting and following.  By becoming flesh (human), Jesus affords us opportunities to see His Wisdom, Strength, and Authority.  There are great insights to be gained as we are presented with occasions to understand what Jesus really believed about:  scripture, eternity, heaven, a relationship with His Father (to name a few).

John 11: 41 – Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.”

Jesus believed that not only was He able to hear from God, but also that God heard Him.  He really believed that God hears and responds to the prayers of His children.  He really believed that in a relationship with God, communication was not only possible, but also essential.

What would a real and honest conversation sound like between each of us and the Living God this day, this moment?  What would we say?  More importantly, what would God say?

“It’s Me”

Re: Verse reading–John 10:1-21 (day five)

Ever answer a phone call (without caller ID) and the person on the other end says just two words, “It’s Me”?  Based on the ability to recognize the voice, the listener immediately is in a state of confusion or comfort.

John 10  vs 3 “and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ” vs 4 “When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

This scripture teaches at least two amazing truths.  1) Jesus calls to His sheep by name.  2) His sheep have the opportunity and capacity to recognize His voice.

When Jesus says He is the Good Shepherd, He is promising to faithfully call and lead His sheep.  Are we (His Sheep) ready and willing to listen and follow?

Challenge for 2015:  Every day we would spend time faithfully praying and meditating on the scripture so that we could understand and recognize the voice of Jesus.

The goal- We might find peace and comfort when the conversation begins by Him saying, “It’s Me”.

“What Did You Get?”

Re: Verse reading – John 8:31-47 (Day Five)
It is a question that floated around yesterday at our house.  From instagram to text messages, from facebook to phone calls, I looked and listened with curiosity as my kids answered the question “What did you get?”  Their responses revealed their evaluation of importance, significance, and relevance.

Jesus teaches that the ability and capacity to hear, understand, and apply the Word of God is invaluable.  Look at verse 47- “He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”  It is a gift given to every true believer.  Do we perceive its importance, significance, and relevance?  R.C Sproul says, “There is no greater gift we could ever receive from God than to have our ears opened, to have the scales taken from our eyes, to have our stony hearts softened so that they become beating, pulsating, responding hearts of love as we hear the Word of God.”

Farming Lessons

Re: Verse reading–2 Timothy 1:6-14; 2:1-15 (day five) 

6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.

Paul uses the image of a farmer as a picture/example to teach Timothy (and us) lessons about the Christian Life.  What is it about the farmer that helps us better understand that Christian Life?  Hard Work?  Yes!  Certainly effort and energy are required.  But consider Paul is also illustrating a blueprint for growth and strength in the relationship between God and each believer.

Jerry Bridges writes, “Farming is a joint venture between the farmer and God.  The farmer cannot do what God must do (sunshine, germination, rain), and God will not do what the farmer should do (plow, fertilize).  We can say just as accurately that the pursuit of holiness is a joint venture between God and the Christian.  No one can attain any degree of holiness without God working in his life, but just as surely no one will attain it without effort on His own part”.

 

 

Prone

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 6:3-19 (day five) 

11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

Do you get tired of constantly being reminded or repeatedly urged and encouraged about things you already believe or understand?  Most of the time my response is a dismissing “I Know, I Know!!”  Paul reminds Timothy of “trustworthy sayings”.  He urges remembering doctrinal truths.  Over and over, he calls for Timothy to teach these same things to believers in Ephesus.  Why?  Paul knows the human heart.  He knows that the human heart is wired to pursue.  It’s just often we pursue the wrong things.  Sometimes we pursue the right things but for wrong reasons.  So, maybe if we frequently made (sang) honest confessions and earnest pleas, the Spirit would give our hearts needed “course corrections”.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it                                                                                                    Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

 

 

 

Youthfulness

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 4 (day five)

12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

It’s a scripture used in Youth Ministry to encourage teens to grow and lead now.  So, what  can we learn from Youth these days?  Here are recent conversations with teens at FBCSA.

Evangelism:  “I wanna learn how to share my faith with my friends so they can know Christ”.

Hunger:  “Which book of the Bible should I read next? I just finished Ephesians and it was AWESOME!”

Selflessness:  “Before I go into the workplace, I wanna serve in a foreign country.”

Obedience:  “How can I get to Africa? I believe God wants me to go to there.”

“How do I start a Bible Study at school?  God is calling me to lead a group.”

“How do I teach the Bible?  God is telling me to share scripture with my friends.”

Strong and Visible

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 3:1-13 (day five)

Paul goes into great detail in describing the qualifications and character traits for the servant/leaders of the church.  He doesn’t mince words in his prescription or perspective.  The result of this kind of outlined leadership leads to a church that is strong and visible.  See verse 15- “which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth”.  The church as a foundation will keep the true doctrines of the faith strong against heresy and withstand the tension that will always come from the surrounding culture.  The church as a pillar will lift high the Name of Christ and the Truth of the Gospel.  Great Privilege!  Amazing Opportunity! Incredible Responsibility!  May FBCSA be both strong and visible!

NextGen

Re: Verse reading – 1 Timothy 1:1-19 (day five)

2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith:,                                                                                        15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance,

A new strategy we began last year was to partner teenagers in a “leadership track” with mentors, and have them meet regularly over the course of a year.  The marked difference in their faith, perspective, and emotional stability was noticeable.  As we read 1 & 2 Timothy, we catch glimpses of a phenomenal mentoring relationship.  One of the primary desires in the NextGen Ministry is to “Partner with Parents” in the faith development of their kids. I’m wondering if mentoring (both to kids/teenagers and parents) might be a good picture of how a church can invest and grow the “Next Generation” of believers and leaders in God’s Kingdom.  Let’s look for ways to teach and encourage “trustworthy statements” of our faith, and the life lessons learned through our own mentoring or personal experience.

Don’t Miss the Gospel

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 5:21-33, 6:1-9 (day five)
It is easy for me to read these words and let my thoughts race towards expected behaviors and attitudes spelled out for husbands and wives in this passage.  “This will be Hard for me to do!” “Will this really make me Happy?”  Seems that this puts “me” as the focus of the text.  Not a hopeful perspective.

But, if I see the Mission and Work of Jesus in this text, then something amazing happens.  I am thankful and humble because of His title- Savior (v23).  I am reminded of His Great Love and Sacrifice (v25).  I am aware that His intention was to make people (made dirty, ugly, and depraved by sin) beautiful, clean, and Holy (v26).  I see His great eternal hope for humanity (v27).  I then, am filled with the same optimism and eagerness in my marriage and relationships with others.  I have a completely changed perspective “Filled with the Hope of the Gospel”.