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Breaking Free from Selfishness

We come into this world screaming for our own way and most of us never grow out of it.  Selfishness, simply put, is putting yourself and your needs ahead of others—including God!

Obviously, this does not include all self-interest.  Even the most self-LESS among us will not offer themselves as heart donors – while still living!  God has built within us a need for self-interest.  Without it we would starve, fail to get medical care, and subject ourselves to the abuse of others.  It is not selfish to stand up for yourself.

When does self-interest become selfishness?  Let’s stay with the donor imagery.  Let’s suppose you are healthy and have two perfectly good kidneys.  You can live with only one, but you never know what the future will bring; you may need both kidneys some day.  Yet, the transplant lists are full of people you would match, one of whom could be saved, if YOU donated your kidney.  Is it selfish for you NOT to offer your “extra” kidney to one of these strangers?  You answer, “No.”  I would agree.

Let’s change the scenario.  Let’s suppose it is your child or spouse who could be saved with your kidney?  Would it be selfish to deny them? “Yes.”  I think we would all probably agree.  At what point, however, between a close relative and a nameless stranger would failing to offer your kidney become selfishness?  Your best friend?  Someone in your church family? Your neighbor?  Your great nephew?  Things can get complicated quickly, can’t they?

Alright, we have determined that “relationship” is a factor; it’s not the only factor, but it must be considered.  There could be any number of circumstances that could affect your decision; we certainly, can’t consider every one. My point is since we are predisposed toward self-interest, we need to carefully weigh each of our decisions to be sure that SELF is not in the way of what is RIGHT.

Jesus made this very point, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”  (Luke 9:23-25).

 You see, the denying of self and embracing the cross is a daily decision.  Jesus gave his life in one, single sacrifice.  He is asking us to give our lives little by little each day.  Someday he may require our lives in one lump sum, but for most of us he requires that we daily examine every decision to be sure SELF is not in the way of what is RIGHT.

These daily sacrifices may not seem as heroic as becoming a martyr, but I assure you, giving up a night in front of the TV to make a visit has a heroism all its own.

Blessings, Joey

Message Notes

What Does Selfishness Do?

• Devalues the needs/desires of Others
• Creates perpetual unhappiness
• It leads to unhealthy conflict
• It destroys relationships
• It reduces your world and shrinks your soul

What Does God’s Word Say about Selfishness?

• It is a work of the sinful nature (Galatians 5:19-21).
• It is subject to the wrath of God (Romans 2:6-9).
• It is contrary to the work of God in our lives (Ephesians 4:22-24, Ephesians 4:30; Ephesians 5:1-2).
• It is not compatible with the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:1-5).
• It violates the law of love (1 Corinthians 13:1-8; Matthew 22:37-40).

How Can I Break Free from Selfishness

• Take up the Cross & Follow Jesus: Die to Yourself (Luke 9:23-25).
• Embrace the Mind of Christ: Put Others Ahead of Yourself (Philippians 2:1-9).
• Look Outward and not Inward.
• Cooperate with God’s work within you (Psalm 119:36).

The Power of Words

Continuing our “Breaking Free” series, this morning we will be discussing how we can break free from gossip! We all have been guilty of talking about others behind their backs. While there may be a few good and legitimate reasons for some of these conversations, most of the time they accomplish nothing and can be quite harmful. The Bible warns us to watch our words because of their power!

What Our Words Can Do…

Our words can determine death and life. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21).

Death and life of the spirit (self worth)

Death: Reckless words pierce like a sword… (Proverbs 12:18a). A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear (Proverbs 18:14)

Life: …But the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18b). An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up (Proverbs 12:25).

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones (Proverbs 16:24).

Death and life of the Eternal spirit (soul)

Be kind and compassionate to one another… (Ephesians 4:32).

Death: With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge, the righteous escape (Proverbs 11:9).

Life: The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment (Proverbs 10:21).

Our words can determine our own death and life. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21).

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned (Matthew 12:36-37).

Blessings, Joey

BREAKING FREE FROM ANGER

I have always viewed myself as having a long fuse when it comes to anger.  However, the older I get, I believe that fuse is getting shorter!  A lot has to do with the way I deal with the frustrations of life.

Most of us can be lumped into two groups for purposes of classification: expressers and suppressors.*  Expressers are categorized as such because they express their anger outwardly.  They may do so positively or negatively.  They may explode in a temper tantrum or they may express it more appropriately, but the key word is they express it.

On the other hand, there are suppressors.  Suppressors tend to hold their anger inside of them.  They may act politely when inside they feel like they are about to explode.  They usually reason (often, correctly) that the frustration is a small one and not worthy of mentioning or (incorrectly) that anger, in and of itself, is wrong and suppressing their feelings is a strategy for overcoming anger.

Both expressers and suppressors struggle with “sinning” in their anger.  Expressing anger appropriately and dealing with it as soon a possible is the ideal.  However, those who are expressers by nature tend to lack the control to do so.  Something happens and BAM!—all of their feelings are out there – the good, the bad, and the ugly!

In the same way, suppressors may not say or do something rash, but the frustration eats at them from the inside out.  This is not healthy.  It can cause ulcers, headaches, high-blood pressure—you name it!  You cannot keep swallowing poison, before it comes back up—often violently.  Suppressors reach the point where they can’t take it anymore and they EXPLODE!  Usually, their explosions are grossly disproportionate to the situation and often are directed toward the wrong people.

Here is where my temper comes in.  I am a suppressor.  Over the years, I have been the good boy and kept my anger hidden from view.  So yes, I reach the last straw a lot more often than I used to and my fuse keeps getting shorter.  Usually, the people I hurt in my anger are those I love the most—my family.  They may have little or nothing to do with my state of frustration, but they may get the brunt of it.

The scripture addresses both expressers and suppressors in Ephesians 4:26  “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”  To both expressers and final straw suppressers, Paul commands, “Don’t sin in your anger.”  To all the suppressors of the world, Paul commands, “Deal with your anger ASAP.”

All anger and frustration must be dealt with and the sooner the better.  Again, the goal is expressing anger appropriately.  Express your anger to the right person at the right time and in the right way.  If you can’t find any one of those “rights,” it is time to go out in the woods to stomp, howl, cry, pray, throw rocks—whatever it takes to get it out of your system!

 Blessings!  Joey

BREAKING FREE FROM ANGER

Message Outline

•  Own Up to your Anger – Ephesians 4:26
• Take a “Time-Out” – Ephesians 4:26, Ephesians 4:29-30
• Deal Positively with your Anger – Ephesians 4:26
• Get Rid of It – Ephesians 4:31
• Don’t Suppress It  – Ephesians 4:25
• Express it Appropriately – Ephesians 4:26
• Forgive– Ephesians 4:32
• Be Forgiven – Ephesians 4:32-5:2

Breaking Free

Sunday morning we begin a series of lessons on Breaking Free.  We will be examining various sins from which we find it difficult to break free.  In the weeks to come we will discuss how we can break free from sins like gossip, anger, bitterness, and greed.

Jesus can set us free from the sins that so easily entangle us. In John 8:31-36 Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”  Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.  Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

These lesson, as well as Independence Day, has allowed me to do a good bit of thinking on the subject of freedom.  In my imagination, I put myself in the place of different groups of people who would desire freedom.  Let me share some thoughts on two of these groups: prisoners and slaves.

Prisoners are locked behind iron bars. Their routine is restricted. They are told what, when, and how to do everything.  Freedom for prisoners would be for them to have the doors opened and be released. Then there would be no more restrictions; they could live however they saw fit.

The slave’s life is not his own.  He must work for another who could be kind or cruel.  However, even under the kindest conditions, he must still do what his master says.  He is told when to get up, where and when to work, and how he must behave.  For the slave, freedom is to be released from his obligations to his master and the ability to make his own decisions about life.

I jotted down a few observations I believe can help us.

1. Freedom, in human terms anyway, always involves a desire to haveno restrictions. We see freedom as a kind of self-autonomy which allows us to live for our own self-interests.
2. For this reason true freedom demandsresponsibility. This is a quality the recently liberated may not have.  Slavery and imprisonment replace personal responsibility with imposed obedience.  There is no need to think or decide, only obey.
3. Without responsibility,this kind of freedom only leads back to slavery. The prison recidivism rate speaks for itself. In the OT some slaves, even when freed, opted to remain with their masters rather than provide for themselves in the real world.
4. Jesus offers a freedom that he describes as being “free indeed.” His is a freedom from sin, self-interest, and the slavery that counterfeit freedom can bring.  His is not a freedom from restrictions or responsibility.  Rather it is a freedom to truly live and enjoy the life that comes from complete and total surrender to him!

Blessings, Joey

Good, Moral People Still Need Jesus

When talking to many about their relationship with Jesus, they often deny they have any need for religion or Jesus because they are already good, moral people. They say, “I treat other people right. I give to charities. I’m honest in my business dealings. Isn’t that enough to get me into heaven? I don’t really need the trappings of organized religion. In fact, I’m better than many of those hypocrites who go to church!”

Others might even add, “I go to church with my spouse/children/friends. I’m active in church ministries. I give every week to the work of the church. Surely that is enough to spend eternity with God!”

I can understand this perspective because it is a message that Christians have inadvertently communicated to others. We have so emphasized doing good works and avoiding sinful behavior that we have left the impression that this is the core message of our faith, i.e., good works can save us and ensure a home in heaven.

Christianity is about God reclaiming his creation from the forces of darkness through the finished work of Jesus Christ. Sure, sin is to be avoided and as God’s image-bearers we are to do good in his name. However, in Christ, God is asking all humans to make a commitment to him as Creator and Lord instead of our own will, our culture, or some false ideology. It is about trusting in Christ to empower us to live and allowing God to renew our relationship with him in spite of our ability to be perfectly good and moral. It is about God’s promise to preserve all those who trust in Jesus for an eternal relationship with him in the new heaven and earth. It is about our resurrection as a new humanity to accomplish our divine vocation in a new Eden.

The problem with depending on our own goodness and morality is we deceive ourselves. NONE of us are as good as we think we are and ALL of us minimize our own sinfulness. Our issue is that we compare ourselves with others. There will always be those with whom we can compare ourselves favorably. The standard we should use is God himself, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). None of us can earn heaven by our own goodness.

Beside, the fact that we cannot earn our salvation, there is the issue of mortality and death. When Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the beginning, they lost their perfect communion with God and access to everlasting life. They became subject to death and all humanity with them, For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a). We, like the first couple, inherit those wages. No amount of good done in this life can insulate us from the cold hand of death. However, Paul continues, But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23b).  The only way to forgiveness, resurrection, eternal life, and full communion with God is through a commitment to Jesus Christ.

Sunday, my lesson will be an illustration of that. Cornelius was a good, moral man, but he still needed Jesus.

Blessings, Joey

Misplaced Pride

By presidential proclamations, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans­gender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Inn Uprising in Manhattan. Homosexuality and crossdressing were illegal many places in the country. While it was not unusual for the police to raid gay bars, there were accusations of brutality at Stonewall which led to a six day riot. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States (Source: Library of Congress).

What began as a struggle for civil rights has morphed into a militant crusade.  Strategic efforts have been launched to move LGBTQ issues and behavior from being rejected by the public to being accepted as normal and good.  Culturally, we are most familiar with this movement through its promotion in social media, television, and cinema. However, we now see the movement making major inroads politically – from the push for gay marriage to that of transgender issues.

The attempt to mainstream LGBTQ issues and behavior has led to an effective propaganda campaign.  Activists lobbied successfully to have homosexuality and gender identity disorder, removed from the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic manual of mental disorders. Early on in the movement, the term homosexual was considered to be pejorative, so they opted to describe themselves as gay using slogans like, “It’s Good to be Gay!” It stuck.  Later in the movement, Gay Pride was used to mitigate the shame felt by those who believed their feelings and behavior were not normal. They were urged to be proud of who they were.

This leads us back to Pride Month, a celebration not only designed to instill pride in one’s LGBTQ identity, but also enjoin those who are not a part of this movement to join them in this celebration. It is working.  Banners in downtown Boise declare that “we” are “together” with them. Social media is filled with affirmations and expressions of solidarity. Various companies, manufacturers, retailers, breweries, etc. are commemorating this month in various ways. Much of this is mere “virtue signaling,” but it contributes toward greater, widespread acceptance. There is a real battle for the minds of our youth and the LGBTQ activists are winning.

I will be addressing some of this in my lesson Sunday; however, the message will not be a political call to action, but a biblical one.  I will be approaching this solely from a biblical, Kingdom of God perspective.  Since we are inundated with this propaganda and since our young people are so vulnerable, we need a word from the Lord.

I will be presenting a worldview that encompasses God’s plan for his people from Genesis to Revelation.  This will not just be a lesson of the so called “clobber texts,” but a systematic study on God’s design for humanity.  As a result of this study, I hope you will conclude with me that pride in these LGBTQ issues is sadly misplaced.

Blessings, Joey

View This Lesson Online

What Does it Mean to Be Grace-Oriented?

Matthew 20:13-15  “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?  ¹⁴ Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you.  ¹⁵ Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

DEFINITION OF GRACE

1. Gift– being given what one needs instead of what one deserves
2. Unmerited Favor– goodwill expressed  which is not earned.
3. Scandalous Goodwill – true grace is offensive.

JESUS DESCRIBES GRACE (Matthew 20:1-5):

1. Is Scandalous
   “…You have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.”
2. Brings Accusations and Criticism
   “Friend, I am not being unfair to you.”
   “Are you envious because I am generous?”
3. Is Everyone’s Favorite Gift to Receive, but least Favorite to Give!

A GRACE ORIENTED CHURCH…

1. Understands God’s Grace
2. Accepts Others as they Are
3. Gives People the Benefit of the Doubt
4. Gives Others Room to Grow and Make Mistakes
5. Emphasizes Being Over Doing
6. Forgives

ARE WE A GRACE-ORIENTED CHURCH?
ARE YOU GRACE-ORIENTED?

Blessings! Joey

Hopeful Memory

Memory is a beautiful thing. I put together an eighty-page book, recording the photographic record of our Alaskan Cruise in 2017 celebrating our 35th Wedding Anniversary. The process itself allowed me to re-live the entire trip. While it was certainly a lot of work (culling around 2,000 pictures and putting them in a chronological narrative), the experience made the task a real joy. I joked to Tina that, hopefully, even when our memory began to fail, the book would help us remember this once-in-a-lifetime trip.

My comment, however, reveals the other side of memory – the tragedy of forgetfulness. I’m known for my absent mindedness. I tend to be so focused on a task that I can forget the other things I have temporarily moved to the periphery. While embarrassing, I would not really describe such lapses as “tragic.”

We have seen the tragedy of forgetfulness, though, in many of our older friends and family members. Sometimes our brains age faster than our bodies and a lifetime of precious memories slowly slip away.

We have seen the tragedy of forgetfulness in many due to neglect. Sometimes we forget to acknowledge those who have helped us. It is said that, as a culture, we have lost the art of writing thank you notes. I believe it is more than that: we are living in a culture of entitlement where people believe they deserve the kind generosity and gifts of others. They see it as their “right.”

This contributes to the greatest tragedy of forgetfulness — when we deliberately refuse to acknowledge the goodness of others. This is a faithless forgetfulness. God’s people have often been guilty of being faithless in their recognition of God’s gifts. In fact, there are stern warnings against it.

Deuteronomy 8:11-18

Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God…
12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down…
14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God….
17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”
18 But remember the LORD your God….

I’ll say more in my lesson.

Joey

FAITH OF OUR FATHERS (MOTHERS)

 Since last summer, we have been celebrating our 65th anniversary in this area, culminating in this homecoming service today. The Boise Church of Christ actually came into being in the Spring of 1940 (established by two women meeting in their homes 83 years ago). The church grew to around 240 by 1956 and built this building in 1957. The first service in the new building occurred July 28, 1957.  Below is an excerpt from the following week’s bulletin, dated August 4, 1957:

God has blessed us beyond measure and we should be so thankful and appreciative of our fine new building. Let us make it only the beginning and with love and zeal filling our hearts, let us push onward toward the mark of the high calling. Brethren, we’ve just begun. There are no limits.  If God be with us, who can be against us.

 Our opening day in the new building was an inspiring one with a morning attendance of 427 and approximately 350 at the evening service, to hear the wonderful messages brought to us by Bro George Benson, President of Harding College, Searcy Ark., and Brother Batsel Barret Baxter, of Nashville, Tenn.  It was a privilege to have such able men come and be with us in our efforts….

 Now we would like to voice our deep felt appreciation to the building committee who spent so many hours working and planning and carrying out those plans so that the building is the fine accommodating thing that it is.  And next, to the women who spent so many hours in hard work. We believe it was all the work of love and our building as it is would not have been possible without Your help. There were many more who gave their time and their money and we would like to thank each and every one for the efforts that have been put forth.

 Brother John York arrived this week to start his work with us here. Let us welcome him and his family, and encourage his efforts with our willing cooperation….

Do you believe in the providence of God? Let’s put our trust in God, nothing wavering and give him the glory.

 The Elders (Ivan Harris, Harvey Evans, Dallas Harris, Paul Swearingen, Hale Miller, Orie Henson, and Leo Smith) – Dated August 4, 1957

We have a proud legacy. Let’s continue to carry it out in ministry to the souls in this area.

—   Joey

WELCOME SPEAKER,
KEVIN HOOPER!

What happens when you put a small-town conservative Church of Christ boy with an urban-raised Pentecostal girl?  You get Kevin and Elise Hooper!  They met through the BSU Campus Ministry of the Boise Church of Christ in 1996 and were married on July 5, 1997.  They have seven children: Corban (23), Micah (21), Eliana (17), Gideon (14), Evangeline (10), Everly (6), and Emeline (3).  Their first daughter-in-law, Natalie, joined them by marrying Corban in September 2019.

They are in full-time ministry with the Midvale and Weiser Churches of Christ; two small, rural congregations about twenty miles apart in western Idaho. On December 31^st, Kevin marked 25 years in full-time ministry, which has included youth ministry with the Boise Church of Christ, and associate ministry with the Cross Tower Church of Christ in West Jordan, Utah. They have been in rural Idaho since 2011. Kevin holds a BA in Christian Ministry through Austin Graduate School of Theology, sings with a community choir, and serves as Vice President on the board of directors for Love, INC of Washington County.  Elise home educates their children, which is a full-time job she has been committed to for 19 years.

Kevin enjoys hiking, basketball, reading, hunting for and harvesting firewood, watching movies, and listening to Mike Rowe tell stories. Elise loves to read, write, cook, sew, make her home beautiful, and teach her children.