Free to Serve

Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

On Sunday morning we looked at 1 Timothy 2:8-15. Here Paul described the roles of men and women in the church. God has designed us differently. Neither gender is better than the other. Each has been made by God to uniquely reflect his glory. Men are to model initiative. Paul addressed the men first, he called upon them to lift up holy hands in prayer. They are to take the spiritual lead. Women are to model modesty, both in what they wear and in how they learn in the church.

In many quarters of the church, this passage is controversial. Mainline churches refused, long ago, to accept the God-given differences between the genders. They wrongly opened up the office of pastor to women, contrary to the clear teaching of 1 Timothy 2:12.

God did not inspire this text to give birth to controversy but to inspire worship. How could this be?

Last Sunday morning, I ended the sermon listing three ways the different roles of men and women in the church should lead us to worship Christ:

First, we get to see what God values.

Think about biblical manhood. Brothers, God values men who pray with holy hands (v. 8), men who take the initiative to spiritually lead their family and church. God values men who are willing to model for others a passion for the lost and for God’s glory.

Think about biblical womanhood. Sisters, it is not your physical appearance that God values, it is your heart. Are you adorning yourself with good works (v. 11)? Are you learning quietly and in all submissiveness (v. 11)? Don’t let the world sell you a false bill of goods and tell you that to really be successful you need to be Martha Stewart and Angelina Jolie rolled into one. No, true beauty is a life lived for the glory of Christ.

Second, we get to see God’s wisdom.

As I read 1 Timothy 2:8-15 and learn that women are not to teach men in the church because God made Adam first, I’m left wondering, “Why?" Paul doesn’t say. So all I can do is trust God’s wisdom, even when I don’t understand it through and through. The Christian life is like that a lot, isn’t it? We are constantly faced with truths in Scripture and facts of life that we have a hard time understanding. Instead of using them as an excuse to run away from God, we should count in an opportunity to remember that God is not like us. He is different, he is wise, and he is good. Our job is not finally to understand him, but to praise him.

Third, we get to see God’s grace.

How many men feel like they do a good job leading spiritually, initiating in worship at home and at church? How many women struggle with modesty, and have a hard time accepting that God has given men and women different roles in the home and in church?  

It is easy to be presented with these differences and get discouraged because we have failed to embrace them the way we should.

Thankfully, the gospel does not begin with you being a biblical man or a biblical woman. The gospel begins with you being a sinner, who deserved God’s wrath and judgment. It is because we were not the men and women we should have been, that Christ came. Men, Christ had to come because you refused to lead. Ladies, Christ had to come because you refused to follow.

But Christ did come, and this is grace. There is hope for you and for me and for each of us. God doesn’t want us first to godly men and women; he wants us first to be humans who see our sin and our need for the blood of Christ to save us. It begins with grace. God isn't calling on us first to embrace biblical manhood and womanhood but biblical grace! As Charles Wesley wrote about our Savior:

 

He purchased the grace which now I embrace;

O Father, Thou know’st He hath died in my place:

His death is my plea; my Adovcate see,

And hear the blood speak that hath answered for thee.

 

Sunday Reflections

Started Sunday at MVBC sitting through an excellent Sunday school in the Bible Overview class. The text was Genesis 3. The topic was Adam's sin. I was reminded by Dustin Butts that Adam's sin really was my sin, and that God was just to punish Adam and Eve just as he would be just to punish me. Yet even back then, God revealed not only his justice but his mercy. He clothed Adam and Eve, he promised a Savior, God gave them hope.

Dean Ropp, the pastor of Midway Community Church, a church partially planted by MVBC, preached through John 10. He pointed to Christ as the fulfillment of Psalm 23 and our good shepherd. He is everything we need.

After a good lunch with Dean and family, I had a membershp interview before the evening service. This is an opportunity to hear someone's testimony before they join the church. It is ALWAYS an encouragement to see how the Lord works in people's lives to bring them to a saving knowledge of himself.

Brad Thayer led the prayer service Sunday evening while I took a break and sat with my family. After we prayed, Larry Chandler led us through a devotional of Psalm 23:1-2. Some application he gave us: 1) Do you know God's Word well enough to mediate upon it? 2) Do you know Christ as your good shepherd? 3) Is your prayer, "God, protect me from the storm" or "God, protect me in the storm?" 4) If you don't desire God's Word, ask God for help. 5) Ask God to make you bold to share his Word with others. 6) Are you trusting the Lord? Husbands, pray with your wives. Singles, get in the Word. Church, pray for each other.

It was a good day to remember that God really does take care of us. His compassion is real. To remember that Christ has given us everything we need through his atoning death and resurrection is to be able to endure anything the world can bring. 

 

The Greatest Story Ever Told: The Fall

Grace is always sweetest when we comprehend the extent of our need. Sunday morning we continued our series called, The Greatest Story Every Told, by thinking about the Fall. In Adam we all sinned (Rom. 5:12) but salvation has come through Christ. I ended the sermon asking why it is important for Christians to understand the Fall.

• For one, God uses this teaching to humble us. How can we be proud when we know that murder and anger both come for sinful hearts? 
• Second, God uses this teaching to give us greater confidence in him. Because of our sin we would never turn to God--unless God were to turn to us first. Our confidence must be in him. 
• Third, this teaching helps us read the Bible better. Instead of seeing it as a collection of moral stories we now see it as one story exposing our hearts. We can identify with the worst sinners in Scripture because they, like us, sinful. As we identify with them we see our need for someone to reverse the effects of the Fall.
• Finally, we need this teaching to see Jesus clearly: his life, his death, his resurrection. This is God's ultimate and perfect answer to a fallen world.

Sunday Reflections

This Sunday I had the privilege of teaching the youth in Sunday school. We looked at the account of Martha and Mary from Luke 10. All the preparations surrounding hosting Jesus distracted Martha from actually listening to Jesus. When Martha expressed her frustration that Mary was not helping, Jesus assured Martha that Mary had chosen what was better.

I read a devotional on this passage a few weeks ago that really struck me. Martha was doing something good, but that good thing nonetheless distracted her from something better. In the midst of all that we do, sometimes very good things (service, fellowship, etc.) we can be distracted from the Best, Jesus Christ himself.

Sunday morning was the last in our series through 2 Thessalonians. In these closing verses Paul tackles the topic of idleness. Some in the church were refusing to work, instead being supported by Christians in the church. I made two points. First, idleness undermines the Gospel. Jesus worked hard his entire ministry. He is an example of diligence. That diligence is most evident in his final days when he earned our salvation through his death. Paul wanted to model diligence for that church (he refused to be paid for preaching) so that they would better understand the ministry of Jesus Christ; a selfless, pour-yourself-out-for-others ministry. Such a ministry is not reflected in a life of idleness. Second, the idle must be warned by the church. Refusing to obey the commands of Scripture may be a reason for church discipline. Paul talks about it in verses 14 and 15. This is a hard text but an important reminder to local churches that we must take unrepentant sin seriously. I was very helped in thinking through this by an article written by Jonathan Leeman. He asked when sin should be brought before the church as a whole. He gave three rules of thumb: when the sin is outward, serious, and unrepentant. For more, look here. 

In the evening, Brad Thayer delivered a terrific devotional from Numbers 6:26. He urged us to look to the One who is able to bless, to long for the Day when we will see the Lord, and to know that we have and can experience peace. Good words and great preparation to celebrating the Lord's Supper.

Sunday are full. My prayer on Monday is that we live out what we've learned.

 

Sunday Reflections

The day began at 9:30 when much of the church gathered for a Q&A to discuss elder qualifications. We are in the process of nominating men to serve us as elders. The congregation has an important role to play, recommending men and, ultimately, electing them.

I then preached the second to the last sermon in 1 Thessalonians from 4:13-5:11. The title was "Be Ready" and I asked three questions related to our anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ. First, why should I be ready? Because the end is coming and on that day God's justice and mercy will be finally and forever established. Moreover, on that day, Christians will be with the Lord forever. Second, what if I'm not ready? Paul is clear, those who are not ready will not escape the judgement and wrath of God. Third, how can I be ready? We can be prepared by grasping that Jesus will return any time. But, most importantly, we can be ready by looking at the cross. 5:10, "He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him."

It is the return of Christ that gives us a real sense of urgency. He is going to come and judge the living and the dead. Our lives are to be devoted to preparing ourselves and others for that great day.

At the end of the service, I got to baptize a man who has been professing faith for many years but was only recently converted. This is a reminder that it is not enough to say that Jesus is Lord--we are called to live under his authority. Praise God that the Gospel broke in to our new brother's life.

In the evening we held our annual, "Christmas at Mt. Vernon." This concert is always spectacular. It more sweet and sad with the reminder that our choir director, Dr. Kristine Harris, is moving on to teach and study in New Orleans at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The spoken storyline of the Bible was woven into an evening of music and song--a beautiful thing.

Sunday Reflections

We had a great and very full day. For me it began with the first session of Knowing MVBC, our membership class. I always teach on our church covenant and its definition of the responsibilities of membership. I summarize it in three words: know, equip, and send. It's an opportunity to share a vision for a church full of people who are confident that God's Word will build his church and committed to seeing this worked out together in a community of faith. 

David Carnes was back leading our corporate worship. He and his wife, Tricia, lost their son to disease just a few weeks ago. It was a hard and trying time, but David expressed how in the darkness he came to see more clearly than ever the goodness of God. 

Before I prayed during the service, Brad Thayer announced a wonderful opportunity MVBC has to get out of debt. Generous members have agreed to match any gifts to debt reduction made above and beyond normal giving. We have the opportunity to get out of debt in just a few weeks. This is a tremendous challenge!

The sermon was in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16. Paul's love for God and for God's people is in full force here. I actually left a good chunk of my message out of the sermon. I wanted to share how Paul knew the gospel was at work in the lives of the believers he wrote to. The answer from verses 14-16 is that he saw the church persevere in suffering. In pain and trials our dependence upon God is more obvious than any other time. I'm sure we will return to that theme soon. In the meantime, it was a joy to preach the gospel today.

After the service, lunch with friends and then a membership interview. I heard the personal testimony of a new and dear brother to me. I'm so thankful for the people the Lord is bringing here.

From the membership interview I went to the second elder nominating committee meeting. We spent over an hour reading aloud and talking about the passages in the New Testament that address elders from 1 Timothy 3, 1 Peter 5, Titus 1, and Acts 20. Great and helpful conversation. 

In the evening service I interviewed Jason Phillips, director of the Atlanta Care Center. He has a love for the Lord and a sparky personality. We learned about the Center's heart to see the gospel transform the clients with whom they interact. We want to pray that God provides the finances and the volunteers they need to invest in young moms. After a time of prayer for him and others, I closed the day with a brief meditation from Ezekiel 20:41 about how the holiness of God is on display in our church in sight of the world around us. 

It was a full and very good day. Praise God for his work in our midst!

Sunday Reflections

Last Sunday, my wife and I had the privilege of attending the service of First Baptist Church Charleston, South Carolina. It is the oldest Baptist church in the South, founded in 1696. The Gospel is still preached there, and we heard an excellent sermon from Psalm 51.

During the service, an elderly member of the church fainted and collapsed. My wife, who has a clear mind, a helpful heart, and a medical background went to assist. Thankfully, the lady who fell was fine, but it took several minutes to find this out. Meanwhile, we waited for the paramedics to come. They arrived and wheeled her out of our ancient surroundings to, I trust, a modern hospital. 

Over lunch, Deana and I spoke about the brevity of life. We spoke honestly and openly about our anxieties about life and even about death. Hearing the Gospel on a morning when we saw a woman nearly take her last breath primed our conversation! We both expressed how thankful we were for the lives--both material and spiritual--that the Lord has given us. We reminded each other that our health is in His hands, and we enjoyed another day together, being refreshed by the Word and in our marriage--the purpose of our retreat to Charleston.

That evening, as we prepared to go to dinner, Bryan Pillsbury, our Associate Pastor of Missions, called to tell me that Chris Carnes, the eldest son of David and Tricia, died that afternoon. David is our Associate Pastor of Corporate Worship. He and his wife Tricia have served at Mount Vernon for over thirty years. They are beloved by the church and the community. Their son (who has a younger brother, Patrick) had been very sick for many years. I did not know Chris, and only met him once, but I knew from stories told by his father that he had been sick for many years and barely had enough energy for work and treatment. LIfe was not something Chris could control--and he knew it. I saw Chris a few months ago after he had been in a car accident. He looked big and strong even in a hospital bed. He reminded me of his dad. He even cracked a joke. Chris's health could not be managed. The Lord saw fit to take Chris in his twenties, while he slept. Chris had a difficult life. I know he wrestled with God. I am thankful that, by all accounts, Chris remained humble before the Savior.

The congregation at Mount Vernon found out during the evening service that Chris had died. Our time of corporate prayer was coming to an end, all that remained was a devotional from Scripture. The text that evening was 2 Samuel 22:29, where David prayed, "You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light." Bryan announced to the church that Chris had died and then encouraged them to stay to hear message that was brought by Pat Knowles. That was a good decision, and Pat rightly noted that months ago, when we planned this service and this text, the Lord knew exactly what would take place that day. I wasn't there, but I'm told Pat's first point was, "LIfe is too short to walk in the dark." 

Chris grew up at Mount Vernon. He was one of those children running through the hallways each and every Sunday. The Lord saw fit to take Chris back on October 17, 2010. 

Deana and I drove from Charleston to Atlanta Sunday evening. Like the rest of MVBC we prayed for David and Tricia and Patrick. It seemed like every hour on Sunday we were reminded that life is, in fact, too short to walk in the dark.

Proverbs and the Gospel on Friendship

We continued our series in Proverbs Sunday morning. This time we looked at several texts that have to do with friendship. Many verses warn us that not everyone who calls himself a friend is a friend: Prov. 1:15-16; 14:20; 16:29; 18:19; 19:4-7. Prov. 22:24-25 warns us against making friends with those who are hot-tempered. Several other texts tell us how to keep or lose friends: 10:12; 12:26; 14:30; 16:6; 16:28; 17:9; 18:1; 19:11; 22:11. Prov. 25:17 is very practical, "Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house--too much of you, and he will hate you." But what is a friend? These texts help flesh out that question: 17:17; 18:24; 20:6; 25:21-22; 27:6; 27:9-10; 27:17.

As I prepared this sermon, I was constantly reminded that I'm not the friend I should be nor the friend I want to be. This makes me all the more thankful for God the Father who has befriended me in Christ. It is interesting that God the Father is never called our friend but we are called his friend. 

If I could add two things to the sermon, I would emphasize: (1) When we are lonely, we can draw near to God and he promises to draw near to us (James 4:8). We think we need others--and in a sense we do. But God alone can satisfy. Spend time alone in prayer and in God's Word. Hunger after him until you find him. (2) Jesus knew what it was like to be alone. This is not because he sinned but because he bore the punishment we deserve. When he was forsaken on the cross he had already been abandoned by his disciples, but on the cross he was abandoned by his father. He did not deserve it. But he willingly accepted it. When you feel lonely, remember that Christ knows how you feel and turn to him.

 

Sunday Reflections

This Sunday MVBC offered "Knowing MVBC," our course on church membership. We've found the best way to do it is to make it a whole day affair. People meet us at 9:15 for a talk on what it means to commit to a local church. Then after the morning service, they meet for three more sessions: a talk on our basic beliefs, a talk on Christian disciplines, and a talk on the nuts and bolts of MVBC. The course is always being tweaked, but it is a good introduction to who we are as a church.

I usually teach the session on what it means to be committed to a local church. This is always a huge encouragement and privilege. I'm reminded how God designed us to be together, serve together, and honor him, together. I'm also reminded that we are a work in progress. We have much to be thankful for and much to be humble about.

Bryan Pillsbury preached from 1 John. He reminded us of the sufficiency of Christ for our daily lives. Then, in the evening, we were exhorted to look away from worthless things and toward the Cross. A good day.

Sunday Reflections

Great day thinking about the topic of wisdom from Proverbs and from 1 Corinthians. Two simple points from the morning sermon. First, if you choose to be a fool, you will suffer and die. Second, if you choose to be wise, you will prosper and live. Proverbs is not about the exceptions to the rule. We see that in other books like Job and even the Psalms. But in Proverbs, we see God's divine order fleshed out for us. We learn the importance of fearing God, which is the beginning of wisdom. 

Hidden in the words of Proverbs is the wisdom of the Cross. We are all foolish but need to be wise. How can we become wise? Jesus. Jesus alone feared the Lord through perfect obedience. Now He is our wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30). That changes everything. 

D. A. Carson, writing on the Cross, reminds us not to lose sight of God's perfect wisdom:

I fear that the cross, without every being disowned, is constantly in danger of being dismissed from the central place it must enjoy, by relatively peripheral insights that take on far too much weight. Whenever the periphery is in danger of displacing the center, we are not far removed from idolatry.