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A Christian Perspective on Decision 2024

Philippians 3:17-21 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say  again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Tuesday will be the culmination of another contentious election cycle and we will go to the polls to select who will govern us for the next few years. Most are very passionate about which  candidates should be in power. Our opinions have been shaped by our political perspectives, economic perceptions, and moral values; this is true for both sides of the aisle. The stakes are high.  Emotions are at a fever pitch and rhetoric is all but out of control. Is there a Christian perspective in all of this? I believe there is.

There is no biblical analog to our political system, but there are some principles we can glean from God’s word. My lesson Sunday will attempt to examine some of these principles.

1. Our Citizenship is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20). While we are affected by political realities, ultimately we must conclude that these are “earthly things” (3:19) and our true allegiance lies with the Kingdom of God. Residents in Phillippi were very proud of their citizenship status, but Paul points believers to something much higher.
2. Many Live as Enemies of the Cross of Christ (3:18). This is as true to day as it was then. We speak of the de-evolution of our culture and decline of moral values, but this is neither new, nor unprecedented. Paul describes his culture, Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. We should do our part at the polls, but ultimately, The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).
3. God is Sovereign (3:21). God raises and deposes world leaders. It is all under his control. We trust in his control.
4. Our Goal is to become as Jesus is Now (3:21). We do not belong to this earthly world order and we will not remain in it for long. Our bodies will be transformed to be like his glorious body and we will live in the Kingdom of God forever.

(more…)

The Sufferings of Jesus

Philippians 2:5-11 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross!  9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I knew I wanted to preach about Jesus this coming Sunday, but the structure of the message did not come into shape until after our Wednesday night Bible class. We sang “One Day when Heaven was Filled with his Praises” as a part of our worship time and I couldn’t get verse 3 out of my mind.

One day they left Him alone in the garden,

One day He rested, from suffering free;

Angels came down o’er His tomb to keep vigil;

Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He.

One day He rested, from suffering free. This verse kept playing over and over again in my mind. Jesus was freed from suffering only when he died. That is our human condition, is it not? We suffer in life until we find rest in death. The grave is the only respite for the human condition. Sadly, that is the only hope for the non-believer. You hear it all the time after a death, “At least he/she is not suffering anymore.” I think the common epitaph “RIP” (rest in peace) is evidence of that. The only thing that mere humans can look forward to is cessation of suffering after death. Of course, in the merely human worldview we will also have ceased to exist. With death comes also the cessation of love, joy, consciousness, and life itself.

In context, this verse is referring to Christ’s sufferings on the cross, but that was not the beginning of his suffering; it began when he became a human. Jesus was subjected to all the indignities  and sufferings of the human condition. He became like us in every way to rescue us from these very sufferings: Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He! The song continues in the chorus…

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;

Buried, He carried my sins far away;

Rising, He justified freely forever:

One day He’s coming—O glorious day!

I’ll say more in my lesson. — Joey

The Full Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-20 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not  against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the  full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled  around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of  faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all  occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given  me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Paul concludes his letter to these new Christians at Ephesus with a solemn warning about their opposition. He has reminded them of all God had accomplished in Christ for them and the  behavior it should elicit on their part. He had cautioned them to forsake their previous pagan worldview and behavior. He had even reminded them that they already have the power within to  overcome the wicked forces at work in the world. They shared in Jesus’ victory over the forces of evil. The same power that had raised Jesus from the dead was at work in them so that every spiritual blessing available in Christ and every (imaginable and unimaginable) power made possible through the Holy Spirit was at work in their fight against evil.

Now he encourages them to put on the whole armor of God in their fight against the powers of wickedness. Theirs was a hand to hand combat with evil; preparation was necessary!

I’ll say more in my lesson. — Joey

The Collection for God’s People

1 Corinthians 16:1-4 Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in  keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with  your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

Paul had a grand idea! No doubt it was initiated by the prompting of God, but a grand idea, none-the-less. For almost 25 years he had worked among the Gentiles as an apostle of Jesus Christ. His  unique apostleship had placed him at the heart of God’s plan of uniting the whole world under the authority of Jesus. He had put his blood, sweat and tears into this goal. He had suffered greatly and endured much persecution, but through his efforts, he had witnessed the gospel spread throughout Galatia, Asia Minor, Macedonia and Achaia.

However, there remained a schism in the church between Jewish and Gentile Christians. This division existed due to numerous factors— cultural practices, socio-economic status, understanding of the place of the Torah, and hard feelings regarding all of the above.

At or around the 25 year mark in his ministry Paul was preparing to shift gears in his ministry and preach the gospel in Spain, but he had one last thing to do. This was his grand idea to mend the  schism between the more affluent Gentile churches of his ministry and the much poorer Jewish churches of Judea and Jerusalem: a monetary collection for the poor.

Paul uses cultic language in Romans 15:16 calling it the “offering of the Gentiles” making the collection an act of worship. This is reinforced by his usage of ἐπιτελέω in 2 Corinthians 8:1–12, often translated simply as “to carry out,” but is used in cultic contexts for the fulfillment of religious obligations. Paul believed the Gentiles should be grateful for the grace of God and his blessings in Jesus which originated from within the Jewish people (Romans 15:27). Paul was willing to die to make this a reality (Romans 15:31-32).

Similarly, Paul believed that the collection would not only relieve the needs of the poor Jerusalem saints, but it would also mend much of the suspicion and ill will that might have been held by these Christians resulting in thanksgiving to God for them and their offering (2 Corinthians 9:12-14).

1 Corinthians 16:1-4 consists of instructions on how this contribution was to be taken. Unlike, the acute needs of the church in the early chapters of Acts, this offering would require time to be collected.

Each member was to put aside a portion of the money they earned ever day (proportionate with their income) until the next Sunday, when the church met, and give it to the church to save up  (church treasury?) until Paul returned to collect the entire sum. This model continues to be used today. Paul has to revisit this with the Corinthians in his second letter.

I’ll say more in my lesson. — Joey

How To Behave At Home

Ephesians 5:21 – 6:9   21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church– 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery– but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”– which is the first commandment with a promise– 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

It was common in ancient literature to relate household codes to guide the members of a household (wives/husbands, children/parents, and slaves/masters) in how they should behave toward one another. It was also common in Greco-Roman culture for the patriarch in the family to exercise absolute, sometimes cruel, authority over family members. Paul’s household code, here at the end of Ephesians, serves as a corrective to the harsh treatment found in contemporary culture. It is founded upon the principle of mutual submission. Ephesians 5:21, Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Remember, this occurs in the context of exhibiting distinctly Christian behaver, over against that of the gentiles.

I’ll say more in my lesson,

Joey

A Primer on Basic Morality,
Part II

Ephesians 5:3-21 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person– such a man is an idolater– has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then, how you live– not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Paul continues his primer in basic morality in Ephesians 5:3-21. Living worthy of the gospel presupposes changes from our pre-Christian lifestyle. He deals with more mature themes in this second half of the list.

1. Avoid even the hint of sexual immorality.

2. Keep your thoughts pure.

3. Exercise self-control in your desires.

4. Don’t use obscene language.

5. Don’t tell dirty jokes.

6. Replace inappropriate language with thanksgiving to God.

7. Do not partner with the wicked in their immorality.

8. Make the most of every opportunity for good.

9. Don’t get drunk.

10. Sing, praise, & thank God (be filled with the Spirit).

11. Don’t insist on your own way.

Paul urges the Ephesians (and us) to avoid the “fruitless works of darkness” and to live as “children of light.”

I’ll say more in my lesson, Joey

Welcome Trail Life & American Heritage Girls

Sunday, we celebrate two of our ministries—American Heritage Girls and Trail Life. Welcome!

Both organizations are alternatives to traditional scouting that feature a distinctively Christian worldview. You can read more about them on their national websites traillifeusa.com and  americanheritagegirls.org.

This congregation chartered, oversees, and supports both troops. We will recognize both groups before worship this Sunday.

Congratulations to Hunter S. in Receiving the

Trail Life Freedom Award

The Freedom Award is Trail Life USA’s highest and most prestigious award. The trail that one takes to earn this award is one that will stretch and grow the Trailman as a man. It will help them  hone their skills and practice servant leadership. Their faith will be tested and grown along this trail. These experiences will prepare them to head out into the open rangelands of Freedom.

Among the other tasks completed for this award, Hunter worked hard to gather funds and build the welcoming gazebo on the east side of our building. He is only the second youth in the state of Idaho to receive this award.

A special ceremony was held at the building last Tuesday night to honor him. Congratulations, Hunter!

A Primer on Basic Morality

Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may  have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may  benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along  with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

There is behavior that is worthy of the gospel and behavior that is not. Paul divides this letter into two parts:  Chapters 1-3, God’s salvation in Christ and Chapters 4-6, our response to his grace. He has already urged the Ephesians to maintain the unity he created and warned them not to live like the other Gentiles do. Now, he gives them a primer in moral behavior. We may find his list obvious, as would the average Jewish Christian. However, they are converted pagans, not long removed from their immoral lifestyle and Paul wants to make sure they understand. Sometimes, we need a  refresher as well!

1. Always tell the truth.

2. Deal with your anger before you sin.

3. Don’t take what doesn’t belong to you

4. Work hard, be useful.

5. Share with others.

6. Say helpful, not hurtful things.

7. Get rid of all destructive behavior.

8. Be kind and forgiving to one another.

9. Imitate God in his love, forgiveness, compassion and sacrifice.

Paul doesn’t stop there with his moral primer. In fact, he begins his PG-13 list in Ephesians 5:3, but we’ll get into that next time.

I’ll say more in my lesson,

Joey

Life Group Kick-Off is this Sunday!

This Sunday, September 8, is the kick-off for our 2024-2025 Life Group Ministry! We will have a potluck meal following AM worship for those who are in our Life Groups or who want to know more about Life Groups. You will have opportunity to sign up for a Life Group or start your own! Please plan on coming and participating in our Life Groups this year.

This is Life Group Potluck, but is not restricted to new groups or group members. It is for our current life groups and those who are thinking about joining a group. Please bring a full meal to share with others.

Life Groups are a vital part of our discipleship strategy at the Boise Church! We believe in the “three-legged stool” approach to discipleship :

1) large groups (worship assemblies);

2) medium size groups (Bible classes and fellowships); and

3) small groups (1:1 mentoring, Evangelistic Bible studies, and Life Groups). All three are vital because of their goals, function, and group dynamics.

Life Groups are a powerful way to grow! The assemblies of the early church (Acts 2:42-47), public and private, produced three kinds of growth:

1) Spiritual – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship,”

2) Relational – “All the believers were together and had everything in common,” and

3) Numerical – “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Life Groups are a way we can S.H.A.R.E. our Christian walk together. Life groups allow us to:

S – Serve One Another (Galatians 5:13 Serve one another in love);

H – Heal Life’s Hurts (2 Corinthians 1:7 Because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort);

A – Apply God’s Word (Luke 11:28 Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it);

R – Relate to Others (Acts 2:44 All the believers were together and had everything in common); and

E– Evangelize (Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey  everything I have commanded you).

I’ll say more in my lesson Sunday.

We are always on the lookout for Life Group leaders and hosts to open their homes to a group. The latter requires no training at all – only a willingness to fellowship with other Christians. Life  group leader training is available. I can arrange this with you and schedule a time for you to participate in a small group Bible study where you can see firsthand the Serendipity method of group  dynamics.

Please plan on staying for our fellowship Sunday and learning more about our Life Group program.

God Bless! Joey

What Team Are You On?

Monday, August 26th, Danny Jansen made major league baseball history when he became the only player ever to start a baseball game as a member of one team and finish it as a member of the  opposing team. How is that possible? The game actually started on June 26th. The Toronto Blue Jays, his previous team, was playing the Boston Red Sox. Janson was up to bat with a 0-1 count  when the game was called for rain. It was rescheduled for August 26th, but not before Jansen was traded to the Red Sox on July 27th. When the game resumed, Jansen was behind the plate for the  Red Sox as catcher making him the only player to play for both teams during the same game.

My lesson Sunday morning deals with another change of allegiance, but on a significantly larger scale and certainly more serious than a ball game. Consider Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:17-24.

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of  impurity, with a continual lust for more. 20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put  on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

The Ephesians had changed teams. Formerly, they were owned by the Gentile Old-Selves, but their contracts were bought out by the Christian New-Selves. They had changed owners and thereby  their allegiance. That’s why Paul said they should not live any longer as the Gentiles do – futile thinking, darkened understanding, separated from God, ignorance, hardened hearts, given over to sensuality, impure, and with a continued lust for more.

Once under contract to their new owner, Christ, they learned they should put off their old selves and deceitful desires and put on their new selves – new in their attitude, created to be like God in  true righteousness and holiness. That’s quite the change.

It would have been traitorous and disloyal for Jansen to return to his at bat for the Blue Jays or step behind the plate again as their catcher. He is on a new team now with a new allegiance.  Similarly, for a Christian to return to his or her old ways or return to the opposing team would be a betrayal of Christ and an affront to the price paid for them.

What team are you on? I’ll say more in my lesson.

Joey