Random thoughts about the church growth movement (Part 2)

Why did reading this church growth magazine cause me to feel discouraged? I am not sure that I fully know why. Perhaps there are several reasons. I will mention three of them that come to mind.

First of all, it seems church growth is being reduced to a mere science: just apply the correct methods and you’ll have growth. I cannot escape the feeling that the underlying belief is that church growth is merely a byproduct of marketing technique, human talent and ingenuity. From the bit of reading I did in this magazine, I did not receive the impression that there was anything remotely supernatural to church growth. In fairness, I did not read this entire magazine, and right now, I do not have that issue of the magazine in front of me; I’m writing from my recollection of the reading. However, the impression I was left with was that church growth has nothing to do with the power of God and has everything to do with the application of the correct methods and techniques.

I find this disturbing for a few important reasons. First of all, this philosophy of church growth, to my mind, bears no resemblance to what I read in the Bible. The book of Acts is the historical record of the beginnings of the Church. When I read Acts, the picture I come away with bears no resemblance to Willow Creek or Saddleback or any of the more well-known “megachurches” that are idolized by the church growth movement. The Church in Acts wasn’t seeking relevance, rather, it was counter-cultural: It cut against the grain, and aroused the ire of the surrounding culture.

When I read Acts, I don’t see people coming to the Church, grinning from ear to ear, saying, “Isn’t this a warm and friendly church? I do so enjoy the upbeat music, and, you know, Pastor Peter’s sermons are so positive and humorous, and our children are so excited about the children’s ministry, and I just love the coffee they serve…!” On the contrary, when people came to the first Church, they came crying, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).

Can you imagine the Church in Acts being described as “fun”? The apostles are arrested for proclaiming Jesus as the Christ (Acts 5:17-42). Ananias and his wife Sapphira drop dead because of lying to God in church (Acts 5:1-10). Stephen is stoned because of what he is preaching (Acts 6:8-7:60). If the Church had any “fun”, we don’t know about it because God didn’t bother to have it recorded in Scripture.

The preaching of the Church recorded in Acts, apparently, wasn’t very “seeker sensitive”. For example, note the reactions to Peter’s sermons on separate occasions: “they were cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37), “greatly annoyed” (Acts 4:2), and “they were enraged and wanted to kill them” (Acts 5:33). Stephen’s sermon elicited a similar response: “Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him” (Acts 7:54). By church growth standards, I’d have to say that Peter and Stephen needed to improve their styles of communication, be less “judgmental” and more sensitive to their audience’s “felt needs”.

I think the reason there is little resemblance between the “successful” churches of the church growth movement and the Church in the book of Acts is because, frankly, unbiblical methods and techniques have been adopted by these churches in order to manufacture growth.

(To be continued…)

(Part 1)

Dr. Magary's sermon on Psalms 1 and 2

I finally have a link to the sermon on Psalms 1 and 2 preached by Dr. Dennis Magary of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Dr. Magary preached this sermon at our church the last Sunday of 2006. Dr. Magary has good message to keep in mind as you go forward into 2007.

Random thoughts about the church growth movement

My family and I were at church the other night. I thought I had two music rehearsals, one at 6:30 and the other at 8:00 but, as it turned out, the 6:30 rehearsal was going to be next week. That meant we ended up with an hour-and-a-half to spare until the rehearsal began. So, while my wife took the boys to McDonald’s to get something for them to eat, I found a place by the church offices to sit down and rest my feet.

On a table next to the chair I was sitting in was a Christian magazine that looked interesting, so I decided to read it. I had never read this magazine before, but I quickly discovered it was one of the magazines of what I would call the “church growth” movement. Right upfront, I must admit a personal bias against the church growth movement. There are probably several reasons for my negative feelings, and I’m not sure I’m fully aware of all the reasons.

Some of it, no doubt, has to do with my personal background and experiences. The fact is, until our present church, which we began attending a little over 6 years ago, I have never been a part of a church with more than about 300 or so active members. The idea of purposely “growing” a church to a size of multiple hundreds or thousands was probably unknown to me until I was grown. What I read in this church growth magazine was so foreign to my early church experience, “it ain’t funny”. Perhaps (or very likely) this is just me, but as I read I kept thinking about my church experience which, prior to our current church, was exclusively within the Black community. I kept thinking, these writers aren’t writing for the church in the Black community. What they are writing isn’t for Black people. Maybe this is something I need to work through. If so, pray for me. Nevertheless, this is a thought that went through my mind.

Maybe my bias against the church growth movement has something to do with how I was first introduced to the “seeker-sensitive” church. Willow Creek Community Church is probably the mother church of the “seeker-sensitive” movement. I first heard of Willow Creek from my mother, who began attending when she still lived in Chicagoland. I remember when she first told me she was attending a church. I thought there must be something wrong with this church. Why? Because I would no more associate my mother with church than I would associate David Duke with the NAACP. My mother was never a Christian in any biblical sense of the word, and didn’t pretend to be one. Today, she is a part of a Science of Mind “church” (pray for her, please). So, the fact that she found a church that she liked made me suspicious. Plus, this church didn’t sound like any church I had ever known. Since that time, let me hasten to add, I found Willow Creek wasn’t weird or anything like that. But, it is interesting to me that she could attend Sunday “seeker” services, enjoy them, yet not only not be drawn to Christ as Savior and Lord, but also experience (apparently) no conviction of sin. It does make me wonder about the kind of gospel that was proclaimed there.

At any rate, I read through much of this magazine in the hour-and-a-half that I had to wait. As I read, I began to feel very discouraged.

(To be continued…)

"He's never failed me yet"

I'm hopelessly sentimental. I could reminisce all day long. One of the joys of this past Thanksgiving Day was that we had my sister, Maere, as our guest. It had been such a long time since we had spent any time together, and so we spent a lot of time on Thanksgiving Day talking about things "back in the day". My son commented to his mom that he hadn't heard me talk that much to anyone besides his mom. He said I seemed to enjoy having his aunt over. Well, I did!

Often, my mind reflects back on past memories—good and bad. One thing I often think about is my "parents", who were actually my great-grandparents. "Pa Bill" and "Grandma" have been deceased 17 and 20 years, respectively. There are so many things I wish I could talk to them about now, so many questions that I would ask that never occurred to me to ask when I was younger. Mostly, I would love to be able to thank them and tell them I love them.

Since my mother was but a young teen when I was born, I was placed in foster care. When I was 2-months old, my maternal grandfather, "Daddy", took me out of the foster home I was in, brought me "home" to North Chicago, and gave me over to his mother and step-father to raise. I never left their home. I stayed with Grandma and Pa Bill until they died, and I can look back and say God richly blessed me through them.

In this day of single-parent households, I am grateful I had a two-parent upbringing. Growing up, I knew I was loved, and I never wanted for anything that I really needed. I had lived out before me a truly good example of what marriage and marital commitment is about. Pa Bill modeled what it takes to be a respectable and responsible man and Grandma was the epitome of a mother, as well as a fount of wisdom and common sense (or "plain ol' horse sense", as she called it). I strongly believe that I was spared many of the pitfalls that I see young people today fall into because of the grace of God in giving me a stable, two-parent household in which to grow up.

I am grateful that I grew up in a home where education was valued. My great-grandparents didn't have much of an education. They both grew up on small family farms in rural Alabama and migrated to northeastern Illinois in the 1920s in pursuit of a better life (which meant factory labor or custodial and domestic work). Grandma went no further than 8th grade while Pa Bill only made it to the 6th grade (and the way things were for Black children in the rural south of those days, they were probably about 18-20 years old by that time). They didn't have a lot of "book knowledge"—Pa Bill could barely read—but they knew education was important. They wanted me to take advantage of the educational opportunities they never had. Going to college was always a "given" for me. Pa Bill said, "I want you to get your education so you don't have to clean toilets and scrub floors, like I had to." One of the proudest moments of my life was when I graduated from college. I had stayed an extra year to earn my Masters degree. Pa Bill was there to witness the event. Grandma's health was failing rapidly by that time, so she wasn't able to be there in person, but when I got home the first thing I did was show her my diploma cover to let her know, "I did it!". Grandma died less than 3 months later but, thank God, both she and Pa Bill lived to see me get my education.

I'm also grateful that I grew up in a Christian home. This Christian home included my great-grandmother's widowed sister, "Aint Willie", who lived next door. Now, Grandma, Pa Bill and Aunt Willie didn't know theology like you out there in the Reformed Christian blogosphere. They didn't know what a Calvinist or an Arminian were. I'm pretty sure they never heard the expression, "Doctrines of Grace", and the only T.U.L.I.P. they knew was a flower. But, they did know, "Ye must be born again". They knew that Jesus Christ was the only way to God. They knew the Bible was right and that anything that disagreed with the Bible was wrong. And they knew that God hears and answers prayer. It was through my household of origin, through the prayers and example of Grandma, Pa Bill and Aunt Willie, that I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

At the start of another year, as I think about where the Lord has brought me from, my heart is filled with gratitude. Like the Black gospel song says, "You don't know what He's done for me...", and I can't tell it all, either! Suffice it to say, God has been good! As the old folks would say: "He's been better to me than I've been to myself!" That's why I must praise Him and continue to "press on toward the goal". The words of another old Black gospel song come to mind:

"We've come this far by faith leaning on the Lord; Trusting in His holy Word, He's never failed me yet." (Albert A. Goodson)

Amen.

I look forward to what God has in store in 2007, and pray that, according to His grace, I may grow closer, stronger and deeper in Him.

May God grant you the same.

Happy New Year 2007!!!

Today at church, we had a guest preacher: Dr. Dennis Magary of Trinity Evangelical Theological Seminary. He preached a relevant and spiritually challenging message from Psalms 1 and 2. In each of these Psalms, according to Dr. Magary, we are presented with a question, the answer to which will make all the difference in our lives as we enter a new year.

Psalm 1

1Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

In Psalm 1, we're confronted with the question, "Who are you going to listen to?" In 2007, will we be self-instructed or God-instructed?

Psalm 2

1Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, 3"Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us."

4He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6"As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill."

7I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

10Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

In Psalm 2, we're confronted with the question, "Who is going to be in charge?" In 2007, will we run our own lives, or will we acknowledge God's rule over our lives?

If we choose to be God-instructed and God-ruled, the psalmist is clear: We shall be blessed (Psalm 1:1 and 2:12b).

If we choose to be self-instructed and self-ruled, the psalmist is equally clear: We shall perish (Psalm 1:6 and 2:12a).

May God grant that, in 2007, we would submit to His teaching and rule over our lives.

May you have a happy and blessed New Year.

Lauterbach's final installments re: "Censorious Thoughts"

I thought Markk Lauterbach was finished with his series on "Censorious Thoughts, but he has two more installments: "Censorious Thoughts, 5" and "Censorious Thoughts, final". I think it is worth your read. If you missed the previous installments, you can read them here: Parts 1, 2, 3 & 4.

Just thinking about hell

Anyone who spends significant time with me will soon see proof that I grew up with old people. Some of my opinions, attitudes and habits give me away. For instance, there is a practice that I learned from my great-grandmother that I continue today: I daily check the obituary section of our area newspaper.

My experience was that old people checked the obituaries mainly to see if any of their peers had died. My great-grandmother would cut out the obituaries of people she knew and keep the clippings in a box. I still have her box of obituaries. I also have her sister’s collection of obituary clippings. And, yes, I have my own collection of obituary clippings.

Although I occasionally run across the obituary of one of my peers (a phenomenon that, unavoidably, becomes less rare, the older I get), mostly, I check the obituaries to see if anyone I’ve known has died, regardless of their age. You see, I hate to be totally out-of-the-loop, when it comes to the death of someone I’ve known. This is how it usually happens: I’ll be talking to a friend or acquaintance and, somehow, the death of a mutual acquaintance comes up. When I express surprise upon hearing the news, the other person will start off with, “Oh, didn’t you know?” It’s almost like everybody in the county knew, attended the funeral, the burial, and the dinner at the church afterwards, but somehow forgot to let me know. “Oh, didn’t you know?” Well, no! How could I if someone doesn’t tell me?!

So…I read the obituaries.

Well, I was reading the obituaries today and, lo and behold, there was an obituary for an older gentleman I’d known all my life. This gentleman had retired some years ago and moved to another state, so the obituary was mainly to inform people in this area, who had known him, of his death. I was reminiscing about this gentleman to my wife, and mentioned that I thought his late mother had been a member of our former denomination because I can remember her visiting our church when I was a boy, whenever she would be in town visiting her son. My wife asked me, “So, what church did he go to?” I told her I didn’t think he was affiliated with any church. At least I don’t remember ever hearing about him being a part of any church.

I was thinking about that later, and it occurred to me that if, indeed, this gentleman was not a Christian, he’s in hell right now. I had to pause and let that thought sink in. Then, I wondered, “How many of the people, whose obituary I read today, died in a lost condition and are, therefore, in hell today?” That’s a very sobering thought. But, that thought led to yet another one: How many people do I know who are in hell today?

Have you ever thought about that? Do you know anyone in hell? You knew them in this life. Perhaps, they were good, decent people: An older person from the neighborhood when you were a child growing up; a friend who died tragically in an accident or as the result of a lingering illness; or, maybe, a beloved relative or family member. You know this person never professed faith in Christ. They never even pretended to be a Christian. They’re dead now. Where are they? If they died outside of Christ, they must be in hell. You knew them in life, but now they’re in hell.

This makes me think about people I know who are still in “the land of the living”. They don’t profess to know Christ Jesus. They’re not associated with anything Christian. Some of them are good, decent, honest people—upstanding citizens, a credit to their communities. But, by the standard of Scripture, they are lost—they, like you and me, “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Good people, but traveling on the wide and easy way that leads to hell (Matthew 7:13). Some of them are coworkers, neighbors and relatives. If they died, I would never see them again, because they would be in hell.

Do you ever think about the reality of hell? Do you ever consider that every person—every soul—who is outside of Christ Jesus, will spend a conscious eternity in hell, “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48, quoting Isaiah 66:24)? Are you aware that hell is not a myth? Jesus said, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16), and, praise God, that is true. But, do you also see that it is equally true that whoever does not believe in the only Son of God shall perish, and that eternally?

I used to think of hell as a place of literal “fire and sulfur” (Revelation 14:10; 20:10; 21:8; Psalm 11:6), a “lake of fire” (Revelation 19:20; 20:10, 14, 15), where the lost burned forever without being consumed. I now see that hell is infinitely worse than that. I am of the opinion that “fire and sulfur” and the “lake of fire” are symbolic expressions. We all know that symbols are less that the things they symbolize. The reality is always greater than the symbol. As horrible as eternal burning in literal “fire and sulfur” or a “lake of fire” would be, hell is infinitely worse. I am of the opinion that “fire and sulfur” and “lake of fire” are symbolic of nothing less than the terrible fire of God’s wrath.

“For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29, quoting Deuteronomy 4:24).

“The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: ‘Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?’” (Isaiah 33:14).

The eternal and unquenchable fire of God’s wrath against sinners will make burning in a literal fire, as we know fire, seem tolerable by comparison. What “fire and sulfur” and “lake of fire” symbolize is infinitely worse than anything we can possibly imagine.

“Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’” (Revelation 6:15-17).

In contradiction to those who would pit a loving Jesus against an angry Old Testament God, please notice that in that day people will be trying to hide themselves “from the wrath of the Lamb” as well as the wrath of the Father “who is seated on the throne”. The “great day of their wrath”—the Father and the Son—is included in the wrath of God that I’m talking about.

I also used to think of hell consisting of separation from the presence of God. But, that can’t be right because it isn't possible to be totally separated from the presence of a God who is omnipresent.

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!” (Psalm 139:7-8)

If we read Scripture carefully, I think we will see that the lost are not separated from God’s presence.

“And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb’” (Revelation 14:9-10).

Here, I not only see an association of “God’s wrath” with the “fire and sulfur”, but I also see, instead of being separated from God, the wicked are “tormented…in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.” Where the “holy angels” are, isn’t the Father there, also? I’m speculating here, but could it be that the same light of God’s holy presence that will bring eternal pleasure to the redeemed will be experienced by those in hell as tormenting fire?

There are some, even among Bible-believing evangelicals, who would shrink from facing the reality of God’s wrath. But, face it we must. Yes, the wrath of God is frightening and horrible, but it is a reality clearly taught in Scripture. Some, trying to avoid the full force of God’s wrath, flee for refuge in an unbiblical doctrine of annihilationism. Well, if the wicked simply cease to exist, that isn’t so bad, is it? Might as well live it up in sin now, because in hell you will just cease to exist. Nonsense! God will not be mocked like that. Hell is never-ending:

“The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name” (Revelation 14:11).

Eternal, conscious torment under the wrath of our God who “is a consuming fire”. This is a reality for everyone “whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain” (Revelation 13:8):

“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

I think I know some people who are now in heaven. Based on their profession of faith and what I knew of their life and doctrine when they were living, I trust that these people are now in heaven and that one day I shall see them again as we rejoice in the presence of our Lord and Savior. But, there are others, based on what I knew of their life and doctrine when they were living, I am not hopeful about. Sadly, I think I know some people who are now in hell.

But, what troubles me the most is that I know some people yet living who will also end up in hell, unless they turn to Jesus Christ. Do you know people like that? I’ve often thought that if it were possible to coerce a soul into salvation, I’d be willing to force my unsaved relatives and family members into the Kingdom under the point of a gun—anything, just to get them to flee to Christ. Sometimes, it’s so frustrating trying to talk about Christ with people whose hearts and minds are hardened against Christ and against the gospel. Yet, to be unconcerned, when millions upon millions are on their way to an eternal hell, is most unloving and totally unacceptable for those of us who, but for the grace of God, would also be hell-bound.

So, what is the Christian to do about those we know who are in eternal danger?

“Go…and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19).

“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15).

“Preach the word…always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:2, 5).

And, there is something else believers can do: pray! Only God can save. Only God can open spiritually-blind eyes. Only God can bring the spiritually dead to life. Therefore, pray for unbelievers, that God would cause them to see “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Pray that God would shine in their “hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Pray that the Spirit of God would bring to the unbeliever conviction “concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8)—their sin of unbelief, Christ’s righteousness, and the judgment of the wrath to come.

You and I can pray. We must not stop praying for the lost. We can’t save anyone, but listen to the words of Jesus: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). I feel like I’m speaking mostly to myself (because I need to hear this), but I also say to believers who are reading this: “Trust God!” “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14). Is anyone too difficult for God to save?

If you need some motivation, just think about hell.

God does give second chances

Having taken a few days to celebrate Christmas and just enjoy being with my family, I’m now back at the computer.

In my devotional time this week, I’ve been trying to read through the prophecy of Zechariah. At first I was feeling a bit discouraged because, honestly, the book didn’t make any sense to me. I grabbed a verse here and there which seemed understandable and from which I could draw some personal application, but the majority of the text was just simply confusing. Believing in the perspicuity of the Scriptures and the priesthood of believers, I trudged on, yet I wasn’t getting anywhere, as far as understanding the message of Zechariah. I felt like the Ethiopian eunuch when Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The eunuch answered, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” That’s where I was.

Finally, I decided to turn to someone for help and went to Mark Dever’s book, The Message of the Old Testament: Promises Made (Crossway Books). I hoped Dever might provide me with a general overview of Zechariah (At this point, I didn’t care if I got any of the details!). To my relief, I found Mark Dever's message on Zechariah very helpful in making the message of this prophecy much clearer (Thank God for His gift of theologians and teachers "to equip the saints"!).

I was almost immediately encouraged when I read (p. 906) that Zechariah was “the most obscure minor prophet. Old Testament professor Douglas Stuart had said that most people find it ‘an especially difficult read, even for a prophetic book.’” Well, at least I was not the only one! In his message/chapter on Zechariah (“The Message Of Zechariah: Does God Give Second Chances?”, pp. 905-923), Mark Dever focuses on Zechariah’s message that God would give His people, recently come out of Babylonian captivity, a second chance.

God says, through Zechariah, “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the LORD” (Zechariah 1:4). After all, the Jews had been sent into exile because of their sin and disobedience:

“They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts. ‘As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.’” (Zechariah 7:12-14).

Yet, despite their past, God entreats the people, “Return to me…and I will return to you…” (Zechariah 1:3). Notice how God takes the initiative to bring His people back:

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness” (Zechariah 8:7-8).

“I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them” (Zechariah 10:6).

Aren’t you grateful that God takes the initiative? Look, again, at Zechariah 10:6. We come to God because He has acts first: “I will bring them back…” Not only does God act to bring us back, but he restores us: “…they shall be as though I had not rejected them…” He not only will restore, but God will strengthen us: “I will strengthen the house of Judah…” Zechariah 10:12 adds, “I will make them strong in the LORD, and they shall walk in his name”.

All these blessings are made possible because of the “fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness” (Zechariah 13:1). Of course, this prophecy finds its fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

"There is a fountain filled with blood

Drawn from Immanuel's veins;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood

Lose all their guilty stains."

(William Cowper)

Through Christ, we can be brought back, restored and strengthened. We can receive a second chance!

Do you feel far from God? Have you failed to follow God obediently as you know you should? Because God takes the initiative, you can respond to Him. Please, heed God’s voice; respond to His call:

“Return to me…and I will return to you” (Zechariah 1:3).

The Incarnation: The Best Reason To Celebrate Christmas

Text: John 1:14, 16-18

I. Through the Incarnation, God came near

14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

II. Because of the Incarnation, we can experience the fullness of Grace

16And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

III. Because of the Incarnation, we can know God

18No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

Surely, the Incarnation of the Son of God gives us our best reason to celebrate Christmas. Having received so much in Christ Jesus, how can we not praise Him?

Hark, the herald-angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King,

Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.”
Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem.”

Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord,

Late in time behold him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb!
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity!

Pleased as man with men dwell, Jesus our Immanuel.

Hail the heaven-born Prince of peace! Hail the Sun of righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die;

Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.

Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Have a blessed Christmas!

More of "What A Good Pastor Is To Do"

Thabiti Anyabwile has now posted Part 11.