Author: Scott Lane

Scott Lane is the Executive Pastor of Ministry at FBCSA.

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”.

Thank You? Thank You!

Re:Verse reading–Ephesians 4:17-5:20 (day five)
20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father

Giving Thanks for all things is an indication of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Only the Holy Spirit can help a person understand at a deep invisible level that at the center of both triumphs and tragedies is a loving God who acts and works for the Glory of His Name and the Good of His People. The songs, prayers, and declarations are dramatically different in each circumstance, but all will reflect the work of the Holy spirit- an attitude of thanks, trust, and hope.  John Piper says, “giving thanks for all things is an outrageous idea unless you have a deep, Biblical theology of God’s sovereign goodness.”  Our hearts can cry out “Thanks” at some level each day even if it’s with a question mark (amidst burdens and questions) or exclamation point (when we clearly see God’s visible work and provision).

Keep these Together

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:1-16 (day five) There must always be a close relationship between Theology and Biography in the Christian Faith.  What we do must be a reflection of what we believe.  What we believe must be reflected in what we do.  Paul shifts from Theology in chapters 1-3 (deep meaningful images, metaphors, and doctrinal statements) to Biography in chapter 4.

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Seems the type of believers Paul has in mind are those who study, understand, and process the deep rich and mysterious truths of the Scripture, yet “walk” and act in a manner that makes them easily approachable and highly relational.

Keeping a “sound” Theology and a “worthy” Biography together will take discipline, determination, and God’s grace.

Learn from Our Prayers

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 3 (day five)

I have sensed the Lord pressing me to journal more in this particular season of my life.  It’s not a skill I am good at, or fond of doing.  But it is SO helpful to me to see how the Lord is working and has worked.   It can also be a subtle reminder that God is speaking and I need to listen and hear as much as possible.

This week I will begin to journal my prayers too.  Reading Paul’s prayers in Ephesians (3:14-21) has been so rich.   Paul’s insights, passion, and priorities are remarkable.  I was also challenged by John Stott’s words this week: “One of the best ways to discover a Christian’s chief anxieties and ambitions is to study the content of his prayer and the intensity with which he prays them.”

God =

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 2:1-10 (day five)
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)

God = Rich in Mercy (not giving us what we deserve)

God= Great in Love/Grace (giving us what we don’t deserve)

Do “born-again” souls feel and express the life He has given?  Do the hearts of His Children celebrate the love He has bestowed?  Do the eyes and lips of “the saved” proclaim Thanksgiving for His mercy?  Do these attributes of God shape the way we will sing, serve, study, and surrender this week?

Psalm 107:2  “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so”

 

Saint (Your Name Here)

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 1 (day five)
No one has ever called me a “Saint”.  I certainly wouldn’t classify myself as such either.  Yet Paul labels every one of the believers in Ephesus as a saint.  vs. 1 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:”  Why?  Were these folks different in character and behavior than us?  The encouraging answer is “NO DIFFERENCE”.  So why the saint title?  Because our identity as believers (saints) is not found from behavior, actions, or deservedness.  It comes from the work and power of The Lord.  In Christ we receive a new: heart, nature, loyalties, kingdom.  They are now ours because of the work and character of Christ alone.  He has made us saints!!  What a hope-filled identity!!  Thank you God for Your work in us!!

Opportunities

Re: Verse reading–Isaiah 6:1-8; Revelation 4:1-11 (Day Five)
What is it about God that compels or “draws” you into worship?  As we read the Re: Verse  passages this week we see several possibilities:  His Holiness, His Purity, His Sovereignty, His Beauty, His Kindness, His Graciousness, His Generosity, His Strength.  William Temple says worship is to “quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.”  Opportunities are available because the scripture says that God “seeks” worshipers (John 4).  Personal Worship, Corporate Worship, and Small Group Worship all present moments and experiences to see and hear from the Lord.  Worship begins with a holy anticipation and ends in holy obedience (becoming more like Christ)- the point and goal of each spiritual discipline we’ve studied this summer.

 

Do you believe…

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 103, Luke 17:11-19 (day five)
Do you believe that Jesus was the most “joy-filled” person who ever walked this planet?  Do we want to have that kind of “joy-filled” life?  If the answers are yes, then we must look at how He lived and what He taught.   It’s really what we’ve been doing all summer- studying the hows and whats.  Jesus certainly taught about thanksgiving and gratitude (Luke 17).  And He faithfully practiced it  (Last supper, feeding of 5,000, raising of Lazarus, and many more times)  There is a connection to a thankful heart and joy-filled life.  We need look no further than our Lord for proof and practice.  I read this week that Thanksgiving is a “confession of blessings”.  This practice causes us to remember (past), rejoice (present), and regain an eternal perspective (look to the future).

Starting with Nothing

Re: Verse reading–Deuteronomy 8:10-18; Matthew 25:14-30 (day five)

14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.”  In this parable what can the slaves call their own?  What do they actually begin with?  Nothing.  They are slaves.  They depend on the master for food, clothing, shelter, and provisions.  Then he gives them “talents”.  It’s a humble place to start, but I believe that it leads to an insightful perspective.  Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it”.

I read this week in an article “the more you own, the less freedom you have.”  It made me pause and think.  I wonder however, if these passages might change our perspective of the Lord and ourselves.  What about this:  The more we “steward” the more freedom (and joy) we gain.  Something to think and pray about.