Matthew 13

Take some time to read this parable:

“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭9‬, ‭18‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV

As I read this passage, I can’t help but find myself getting bogged down in the details, but then I hear the Spirit of God say, “Watch and listen. You are missing something vital.”

I love to come up with new ideas. I love to find ways to get things done. Sometimes what I am hoping for to happen, doesn’t. That’s just a reality. Sometimes things go so much greater than I ever imagined.

How about you? I’m sure you have gone through seasons of innovation, implementation, expectation, only to see your efforts fall flat. Is it because of something you did wrong? There is always the possibility it was the wrong thing to do, could have also just been the wrong time. You can’t plant any crop at any time you want and expect them all to grow.

But notice the sower, in the parable, was determined to get the seed out. Nothing stopped him from attempting to plant. Nothing stopped him from moving forward. He couldn’t control the quality of the soil.

We get so easily discouraged when things don’t happen the way we want. But, what if, our job is to keep planting? What if our job is to keep moving? See, we can be hopeful for what God is going to do because he knows how to make his kingdom grow. 

You and I have been called to keep sowing the seeds of the Word of God. We are called to continue moving forward, working with God, so the Kingdom of Heaven is expanded. So it is known and shown.

The encouragement we should continue with is keep moving. God will produce the fruit in due time. When you step out in faith, know that God is leading, guiding, and causing his work to be done.

An example of this kind of life is found in John Wesley, the 18th Century founder of the Methodist Movement. He clocked over 250,000 miles on horseback, thousands of sermons, thousands of followers he led to Jesus. He has an incredible legacy. A phrase he used was “the world is my parish.” He would do anything he could to reach people for Jesus.

But it wasn’t always fun and easy. He had his “setbacks” many times. Being stoned, thrown out of public places, churches, made fun of, and so much more. His “failures” did not stop him. He kept pressing forward no matter what. His entire life was devoted to proclaiming the message of Christ to all he could.

Keep in mind, your obedience to sowing the seeds and moving forward is your part. You are following where Jesus is moving. But we also cannot get discouraged when people reject the message, when the fruit doesn’t come, when the soil can’t yield the produce. Why? Because we cannot control how the seed is received. We cannot be held responsible for how people react. But we are responsible for moving forward.I encourage you to keep a hopeful eye on the horizon. Keep moving forward as someone who knows God can and will do incredible things.

Takeaway: Keep sowing seeds. You never know how God will produce fruit from the steps of faith we take.

Work of the Gospel

I am sure you may know what the “gospel” (Good News) of Jesus Christ is. If not, the Apostle Paul gives a great “short” telling of the essence of what the gospel is:

“By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.”

1 Corinthians 15:2-11 NIV

By this, what we can see is the essence of the gospel is the life, death, resurrection, ascension of Jesus Christ. It is in the proclaiming of Christ that we experience the good news. This good news leads to salvation, wholeness, reconciliation, holiness with God. This good news leads us to life. 

This looks at “gospel” being a “noun.” In other words something tangible. But thee gospel is also a verb. How? When someone is being gospeled, they are being formed into the likeness and image of the message being proclaimed. When this happens, the mind is changed and the person is no formed into the good news.

So, whenever we proclaim the gospel, we are also witnessing the Holy Spirit do the gospel work within a person. The person’s mind is being transformed by the message of Jesus and the person’s life (spirit, emotions, etc.) is being gospeled by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

This is the reality when we proclaim Christ. The message of his life, death, resurrection, and ascension is what holds the power for life change to bring healing, reconciliation, wholeness (holiness), for the person who is open to hearing the truth of Jesus.

So here’s the challenge: Who can you share the gospel with? Who will you invite, and pray for, so the Holy Spirit can do the gospel in work within the person?

The power and presence of Jesus is incredible. It’s too good not to share with the world!

I’d love to hear your stories of sharing the gospel message to others.

Leadership that Encourages

What makes a person a leader?

This is the point where I would hear things like, “good role model, smart, think outside the box, knows how to get things done, etc. etc. etc.”

But here’s the answer. A person is a leader when there are people following him/her. That’s it. You cannot lead if there are no followers. So the question now becomes, what is important when leading? In other words, what makes a “good leader?”

In my experience, a good leader is someone who can build others up. Someone who encourages people to become and do more than they thought possible. Yes, a leader helps direct; but more importantly, the good leader makes sure the people know the direction forward and are confident in this plan.

People will, really, only follow when they believe in what is happening. There are times it seems like people are like sheep and blindly following, but the truth is the people would not be following if they did to find any meaning.

This is why it is vital for the leader to know what will help people become who they were meant to be. Good and true leadership begins with a clear understanding of what it means to follow God. Good leaders understand all their giftings and intellect and wisdom are from the One who created them. It is not something we have given ourselves.

Therefore, we give praise and glory to the One who created us. Good leaders follow and model their lives after the ultimate expression of God, Jesus Christ. Modeling life and leadership after Jesus will show us how to be compassionate when tired, how to look after the needs of others, leading people to a place of life change.

For leaders to model their lives after Jesus Christ, they also should be spending time getting to know who Jesus is, what Jesus is like, and what Jesus calls his people to do with their lives. Leaders set the example for expectations and ways of living. Leaders are always learning and allowing the person and presence of Jesus to change and transform their own lives.

Modeling our lives after Jesus Christ, who we’re being made into likeness of anyway, means leaders look beyond their current situation and see the possibilities that lay ahead of them. Leaders keep the best interests and wellbeing of their followers in mind.

Good leaders know how to encourage and how to help people live into the gifts and talents God has given them. They will surround themselves with a team of diverse gifts and strengths to make sure they are all working together in a complementary way, for the betterment of everyone.

There is so much more to say about what makes a good leader. I would love to hear your thoughts.

To sum all of this up, I see good leaders as those who seek and follow Jesus Christ, work for things beyond themselves, and seek to encourage the followers to be who they were created to be and live out their giftings God has given them.

Be Confident in Your Calling

To what do you feel called? In other words, what is your purpose in life? What are you passionate about?

These questions are all part of a series of questions we should ask ourselves to better understand who we are as humans. Finding the answer to these questions will also help us see how we are all connected to each other.

I’m about to say something that will make you go, “well duh!” Here it is. We are all different. We all have different talents. We all have different passions. What makes it really interesting is when we allow each other to live into their talents, live into their passions, live into the purpose they were created.

So if this is so obvious, why do I point this out?

We seem to live in a time when we attempt to celebrate diversity. At the same time we end up vilifying anyone who thinks differently than we do. The truth is that it takes all of us to work and live together. Without your gifts, my gifts, my and your neighbor’s gifts, our co-worker’s gifts nothing would really be done of lasting significance or value.

My five year old daughter loves the Tinker Bell movies on Disney. One of the movies gives the origin story of Tinker Bell and how she became a “Tinker Fairy.” It turns out she was gifted with a special and unique gifting as a Tinker none of the other Tinker fairies received.

The whole movie is about Tinker Bell being displeased being a Tinker (one who fixes or creates things) and try to be a different kind of fairy. So she tries to be an animal, water, light, wind fairy. All of these different giftings, but she was not able to make those talents work for her, and she was not happy.

It took a disaster, caused by Tinker Bell, for Tinker Bell to discover she actually likes and loves who she is. It took this event for her to embrace who she is.

That is our challenge today. Seeking out who God created us to be and living into that with confidence and joy. Will be be able to do everything we want or desire? Most likely not. But we can still find fulfillment in our gifts/talents because God has made us all unique.

To help drive this point, I invite you to read 1 Corinthians 12. (Click here to read the chapter)

See when we all live into our giftings, we can see how we all fit together, and are meant to be part of a community. Not just a community where everyone is exactly the same, even in thinking. No. But a community with diversity of gifts and passions to help make this world (with the help and grace of God) the place it was meant to be.

So, be confident in who God created you to be and trust he has placed you with he right set of gifts. Stand firm in your passions and just watch God use your calling to do incredible things in the world.

It won’t always be easy, but don’t try to be like everyone else. Stick to who God created you to be and just watch how you thrive and live in joy.

What Does It Mean to Receive Christ?

Have you ever wondered what it means to “receive” Christ? Or what it means to “believe in” Christ? This sermon, on John 1:9-13, seeks to explore and explain.

Sermon: “Receiving the Light”

Here are my notes that display the Greek words from the video.

Beginning a Disciplined Life

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” “If you could change anything anything about yourself, what would it be?” These are questions we all get asked, or we ask ourselves.

These are good questions, but I think a better question would be “how much are you willing to do/change to achieve the goals you set?” The reason I say this is because it is important to know what we are willing to go through to. In other words, we need to know how disciplined we are.

Discipline. Now that’s a word that has some negative connotations for some people. But the truth is, when we talk about how disciplined we are, we are talking about how much we can focus and structure/arrange our lives around different routines, concepts, tasks, etc. This is where we see how much we can grow to become the person we desire.

Over ten years ago, I realized I needed to restructure and change my thinking. I knew I needed a change. So, I made a change. At the time I did not realize why I was making this change but now I know. The Holy Spirit was preparing me, mentally, to handle things in the future.

How?

Through intentionally incorporating spiritual disciplines into my daily routine.

At first, I would schedule HWFW (His Word First Word) in my calendar to help me start the day with reading scripture. Over time I have had to learn what works best for me.

Now, I incorporate the Daily Office into my daily life which involves reading scripture and praying at certain points of the day. Here lately I have started a much slower devotional piece that is having me write the scripture, in my own handwriting, and meditating on that throughout the day.

This has been phenomenal. I’ve been seeing more words and punctuation than ever before. Plus I am paying more attention to the word choices.

My mind has become more focused throughout the day just by “tweaking” different aspects in my routine. I have found the Holy Spirit to be speaking more and more in this practice and process.

When our day is arranged so the practices are incorporated, the Holy Spirit does something. Suddenly we find we are able to handle what we’re faced with more clarity and peace because we are relying more on the Spirit’s power and presence to be known in and through us. We’ll also notice how we are becoming transformed into the likeness and image of Jesus Christ.

The question we now have to face is how much do we focus on Jesus each day.

What will help you discipline yourself, mind, heart, attention on Christ?
I would recommend the book by Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline, and discover the spiritual practice that fits with who God made you to be.

I’d also love to know how you “connect” with God each day.

Guarding Our Thoughts

What do you like to read? What do you like to watch? To listen to? These are things I have been working hard at paying attention to. Why?

Because I know how my my mind can be, and is, influenced by what my eyes see and my ears hear. I know how dark my thoughts can get. I also know how full of life and grace my thoughts can get.

I know I am driven by my thoughts, so I am working hard at what I let into my mind.

A few years ago, my wife and I got interested in a series on Hulu. We watched the first couple seasons, and we enjoying the story line. One day, we both looked at each other and acknowledged we did not feel well…it was like there was a weight on our minds holding us back. We stopped watching that show, and also canceled Hulu so we weren’t tempted.

Our older kids are in middle school, almost high school. I cannot believe how fast they are growing up! There are times they’ll say, “Daddy, listen to this song I like.” When I listen to it, I notice I like the beat, I like to music. But what gets me is the lyrics. I don’t ever forbid them from listening to the music, we do talk about the power of lyrics. 

That’s the thing I would encourage us to focus on. We may not ever think about the lyrics. We may not ever think about the little joke. We may think nothing of that particular book. We may not ever think about the comments, the expressions, the style of reporting. But all of this helps shape how we think and, therefore, how we live.

We are what we think. We act as we think.

The challenge I have for me, and all of us, is to guard our thoughts. Guard our peace. Guard our joy and hope. Otherwise, we can find ourselves in a frame of mind contrary to who we really want to be.These thoughts will not happen all at once. But slowly, consistently, steadily, we find ourselves, over time, being influenced and changed because of what we allow in our minds.

I fail constantly. But I am working hard at remembering, and living out, Paul’s exhortation to the Philippian Church:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” ~‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:4-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Christian Unity

“I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” ~John 17:23 NIV

“Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike?” ~John Wesley in “Catholic Spirit” sermon

 It is easy to talk about “unity.” But are we talking about the same thing?

In his final prayer, Jesus prayed for his disciples to be “one.” He prayed for them to be in “unity.” In his sermon, “Catholic Spirit,” John Wesley wrote the words, “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike?”

What’s interesting is the diversity among Jesus’ disciples. Each one of the had their own unique gifting and unique personality. But Jesus called, and prayed for, them to be “united.” I would challenge each one of us what we think about the word “united.”

Oftentimes, I hear people talked about being united as the same thing as being uniform. This can cause a lot of confusion, and a lot of anger as well. How? Because these words mean different things.

“Uniform” means doing everything the same way. “United” means to be focused, together, on the same goal. Uniformity implies a “cookie-cutter” approach by making sure everyone is doing everything the same way, same amount of time, wherever they are. 

On the other hand, if people are “united” in their cause, they will be focused on the same end goal, yet approach it from different angles. This is key. No one approach will be able to reach everyone. Think about that. Jesus used a tax collector, a big mouth, a doubter, and more to have his message spread throughout the world. It takes all kinds of people, gifts and talents, and methods to reach people.

As Christians, we can easily fall into the trap of making sure everyone follows and does things the exact same way we do because—our way is the right way, right? But how many people do we turn away when we don’t find ways to contextualize the message so they are able to hear it and be transformed by the message.

It is also easy to critique others for not doing things the way we know how. But remember, being united means we are all moving toward a goal. Being united means we live with a diverse group of gifts and methods and trust that God si working to complete his goal.

Because the “Catholic Spirit” sermon is quoted a lot, in the crowds I am part of, I would encourage you to read the full sermon. You can read it here: http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-sermons-of-john-wesley-1872-edition/sermon-39-catholic-spirit

What else would you add to these thoughts?

I pray Christ’s followers are all united in his message, yet live in diversity to reach all kinds of people in various cultures, circumstances, etc.

Picture of Transformation

One of my favorite things to do is spend time in the mountains. I love this because I can disconnect and admire the incredible majesty of the mountains.

Right now, I am writing this after spending a few hours over 8,00 feet elevation at a place called Bible Point. The views were incredible! As I sat on a rock, with my feet hanging over, I couldn’t resist the beauty and the silence (except the roaring water from below).

This was a tranquil moment of time for me. I was able to finish reading a book, and then read Isaiah 1-6.

From then, I put everything down and just looked out at the mountains, even more. That’s when it hit me.

Mountains are a great picture of transformation!

How?

When we are at the base of the mountain, there is something that entices us to climb up. As we continue to climb, we find the path is harder than we imagined. If we continue, we find there are even more obstacles than we ever imagined. If we keep persevering, we’ll find we make it to the top. Once on the top, you can look down and see what you had to get through to get to that point. You are a different person.

That’s a picture of a person’s life being transformed into the likeness and image of Jesus Christ.

There comes a point when a person will sense Jesus saying to them, “Just come and follow me.” So the person begins the trek. Along the way, following Jesus becomes more challenging. It’s not as easy as we originally thought or imagined. If we continue, and don’t go back, we find  there are even more obstacles. But, if we keep persevering our whole life, we come to a place where we have been completely transformed. We can look back and reflect at everything we had gone through and we see we are a different person.

The best part? We have never done any of this life by ourselves. As we follow Christ, we learn we have never been alone. Jesus has always been with us along the way.

My prayer is you continue following Jesus, you keep moving forward with him, and you see how much you are being transformed through this life.

Worship then Spiritual Warfare

Look around. What do you see? Do you notice the beauty around you? Do you notice things that you deem wrong? Think about that for a minute. What is it you focus on?

I ask this question because there is so much more than what we can physically see. Our physical eyes have limitations that prevent us from seeing the spiritual side that is around us. The reality is, is is not just what we see that impacts our minds and our lives. We are also impacted by the spiritual side we cannot physically see. How?

Recently I read a short book called “The Garden” by Jon Gorgon. It is a parable about Genesis 1-3. In this short parable, the main characters begin talking about the thoughts they have. One of the teenage characters begins to reveal all of the negative thoughts that have been occurring.

The point? The older character, who is guiding the teenagers, begins to tell about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He explains how everything, from the beginning, was created for good…until negative (evil) thoughts entered into the minds of Eve and Adam. The whole point is negative thoughts did not come from the internal self, they came from outside forces.

We may not realize how much we are impacted by outside forces. It is easy to turn something positive, something good, into a negative experience or situation or even person. This is one of the ways we can be impacted by the spiritual realm.

I know there will be those who disagree, but the point is to pay attention to what we pay attention to. It may not be a voice whispering in your ear, but how much negativity is experienced just through media? Through people who have had a bad day?

One thing we can do is to make time, and take the time, to worship God. When we worship, we place our being in a place of God’s victory over any negativity, any evil, any darkness. Psalm 27:1-6 demonstrates a worldview of worship, and victory with God. Take time to read it:

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:1-6‬ ‭NIV

See, when our focus is on the Lord, we place ourselves in a position to live a life without fear. We can see how God is transforming AND protecting us in the midst of great difficulty. When negativity or anything else comes in our way, take time to praise God. 

The truth is the only way we can engage, and endure, any type of spiritual warfare is putting ourselves in a position and lifestyle of worship. Negativity and evil only brings us down if we focus more on it rather than on the power and presence of God. Just because we cannot see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there. 

Take some time and ask God to open your physical eyes to see the spiritual realm all around us. I just bet you’ll see even more beauty and goodness all around you than you ever imagined possible.

Worship above all else.

I’m praying for you.