CCWblog.org: March 2010

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

"A Call to Repent" - A Sermon from Jim Elliff

Jim preached this mess

age at the 2003 Missouri Baptist Pastors' Conference in St. Louis, Missouri.

To listen, click here.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Grace for a Wretch like John Newton

by Susan Verstraete

It must have been cold in John Newton's study as he prepared his sermon during the last week of December, 1773. From his second-floor retreat, Newton could see the church at Olney, England, where he would preach on New Years' Day, just as he did every Sunday. His habit was to write a hymn to correspond with the sermon each week as way to help his mostly-illiterate congregation review the Bible lesson. The text for this week was 1 Chronicles 17:16:

And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?"

In meditating on his text, the forty-eight-year-old Newton surely asked along with King David, "Who am I that you have brought me here?"

As a young man, John Newton was a sailor, like his father before him. He went to sea for the first time on his father's ship when he was just 11 years old. By the time John was 17, his father was ready to retire from the sea-faring life and anxious to see his son in a good position, but John didn't fit easily into the discipline his vocation required. He was sometimes days late in reporting for duty. He created bawdy and disrespectful songs and taught them to his shipmates. He drank too much and boasted. He deserted his ship and generally caused so much trouble that one captain traded him to another ship in mid-voyage, just to be rid of him.

In 1748 John stopped sailing for two years and went into the African slave-selling business with a man named Clow. Together they took longboats into the African interior and paid natives to capture men, women, and children. Newton and Clow transported these victims to the coast, where they were sold at great profit to waiting slave ships. It was a dangerous business, and soon Newton contacted malaria in the swampy inland. Clow and his wife seized this opportunity to abuse and enslave Newton, starving him and leaving him bound and exposed to the elements for days at a time. Even the black slaves on the island where he was held took pity on Newton and sometimes shared their food with him. Newton, however, did not return the slaves' compassion for the helpless until much later in his life.

Some associates of Newton's father intervened and helped gain his release from Clow. Newton immediately sailed back to England on a merchant ship. On his next voyage, Newton was the mate on a slave ship headed to Africa. After learning the trade, Newton became the captain of his own slave ship and spent the next seven years transporting kidnapped men, women, and children from Africa to England. He later said that at the time, he never questioned the morality of this form of commerce. His conscience was clear, though he eventually came to see slavery as corrupt and worked in the British Abolition movement.

It's hard to pinpoint when Newton met Christ. According to his own testimony, he "took up and laid down his religious profession" regularly during his sea-faring years, usually taking it up after a brush with death and gradually letting go over the course of his months at sea.

Nonetheless, gradually and certainly a change was noticed in the life of John Newton. First he quit blaspheming, gambling, and drinking and spent hours in Bible study and prayer. Later he instituted Sunday worship services on his ship. He resisted the common temptation to take advantage of the women slaves under his control and he forbade his crew from abusing them. On one trip to Africa, he made peace with the woman who mistreated and enslaved him during his illness, and on another trip he tried to mentor a sailor he had led astray many years earlier. Grace had found John Newton.

After retiring from the sea for medical reasons, Newton spent a few years working for the government, and then was ordained into the ministry in 1764. Nearly ten years later, as the much older and wiser Newton reflected on his life in his chilly study, he penned the following lines:

Amazing grace! (How sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!

Thro' many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

Shortly before Newton died in 1807, he said:

My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.

Copyright © 2006 Susan Verstraete.
Permission granted for reproduction in exact form.
All other uses require written permission.

www.BulletinInserts.org

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

An Intimate Hour with God

by Jim Elliff

The Lord invites us to know Him better. What a privilege! If the joy of heaven is in knowing the Lord's presence without any sin to hinder us, surely seeking His presence now must be the greatest possible pursuit.

Do you feel your need to pray? A person who has no need to pray cannot be living by faith. Prayerless-ness says, "I am sufficient in myself for everything required of me." But is that so? And do you not grieve God by your persistent self-sufficiency? The Bible says, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him." (Heb. 11:6)

The following suggestions are designed to help you spend an extended time in prayer and meditation with God. You may spend this hour alone or with others. The order is not essential, but does provide a helpful way to progress. This tool may be used daily or for special times of retreat with God. Some may wish to follow this hour with more intense Bible reading.

It is sometimes good to kneel or to lie down before the Lord. "Come let us bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our God, our Maker." (Ps. 95: 6) Walking while praying can also be helpful, or sitting in a comfortable chair so that all the focus can be on God. Be sure and find a quiet place.

1. Come in Christ's Name

The audience we have with the Father is entirely based upon the merits of Christ. In other words, it is solely because Christ lived perfectly, died satisfactorily, and rose again victoriously for us that we have the privilege of addressing the Father. Because God accepts Christ, He can accept us in Him. "…He made us accepted in the Beloved." (Eph. 1: 6b)

Don't just say the words, but actually trust in Christ as your mediator. Express in some detail your dependence on Christ's worthiness and on His substitutionary work on your behalf.

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ….For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father." (Eph. 2:13, 18)

2. Delight in Him

Express your wonder and delight in God. Praise Him for His character and His power. Do not thank him at this time for His activity in your life, but focus on the person of God and His attributes: His Love, Patience, Immensity, Strength, Holiness, Grace, Glory, Knowledge, Wisdom, Goodness, etc.

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." (Ps. 37: 4)

3. Express Your Longings to Him

Tell God what you desire above all other things. Express your deepest longings for fellowship with Him and for holiness of life, or whatever is in your heart. This is not a time to pray about everything you need, but to make known your deepest, long-term desires. You may wish to personalize Ephesians 1: 15-23 as a guide.

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." (Ps. 42: 1-2a)

4. Read a Psalm

You may wish to use one of the "Psalms for the day," according to the day of the month. Add 30 to the day of the month to arrive at 5 Psalms for the day (i.e. on the 15th, the Psalms would be 15, 45, 75, 105, and 135). It may be helpful to read the Psalm you choose out loud.

5. Sing to Him

Use a hymnbook, recall a chorus or hymn from memory, or make up your own song from the Scriptures.

"Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing." (Ps. 100: 1-2)

6. Intercede for Others

Remember…
Those who have asked you to pray for them
The leaders of your church
The missionaries you know
The leaders of our country
Those who are unsaved
Your family members
Your friends
Those in trouble or grieving, etc.

"Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you…" (1 Sam. 12: 23)

7. Place Your Day Before Him

If you are praying in the morning, you may wish to place every aspect of the day before the Lord, one item at a time. "Lord, please give me patience with my daughter when she comes to breakfast, help me show her love and kindness." "Lord, when I try to make that sale at 2:00 this afternoon, help me to speak as a Christian would speak, and give me wisdom." By going chronologically through every possible event of the day, you are learning trust Him in the details of life.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Pr. 3: 5-6)

8. Petition Him for Other Special Needs

There are matters needing attention in your own life and in the lives of others, the church or your group. Tell these to God and ask for His guidance, deliverance, endurance, wisdom, or whatever it is that you need. It is at this time that you will want to deal with any repentance God is requiring. Expect Him to give you grace to overcome. "Be zealous therefore, and repent" (Rev. 3: 19b) Ask with faith and genuine humility.

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4: 16)

"…Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (Jn. 16: 24b)

9. Meditate on His Word

To meditate means to ponder, reflect, contemplate, or think over slowly, the Words of God. If this is your only Bible reading time, continue reading the passage that is next for you in your plan. Read at least a chapter of Scripture. Look for the key verses and meditate on them, asking God to show you what they mean. Mark them in your Bible and ask God to help you remember what He is showing. Pray that He will give you a way to humbly share these truths with others. Read to obey.

If you are in a group, allow a period of quiet so that each person may read the Word. The leader may wish to suggest the passage for use with the group. If there is time, insights may be shared with each other.

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." (Ps. 1: 1-3)

10. Offer Thanks to Him

Even if there have been difficulties in your life, the Lord has been good to you. Express to God your appreciation for specific acts of kindness He has done in the light of what you truly deserve.

"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." (Heb. 13: 15)

You may help others learn how to pray by copying this guide and leading others through it, adding your own personal insights. See if God will use you to make intercessors for the Kingdom.

www.BulletinInserts.org

Monday, March 15, 2010

Improving March Madness

by Steve Burchett

Men's college basketball provides one of the most entertaining tournaments of the year. Sixty-four teams (or sixty-five, if you count the "play-in" game) make the "Big Dance," a single-elimination tournament that culminates in a national championship. Sometimes bigger schools are defeated by smaller schools that weren't expected to make it past the first round. One of these lesser, relatively unknown teams might even win a few games, and the media dubs them "Cinderella." Even if the prominent teams dominate, the tournament is still full of drama and enjoyable moments. This time of the year is affectionately referred to as "March Madness."

But it can be improved. I don't mean the actual tournament needs to be changed for the better (though I always question how certain teams were qualified to make the field of sixty-four!), but how you participate might need to be modified. Here are a few ways you can improve March Madness:

Beware of being a "couch potato."
I speak from experience on this one. I could sit on the couch and watch games all day. I like not only close games, but I also enjoy critiquing coaching styles and team strategies. I admit it: I am a recovering couch potato.

Is it wrong to sit and watch games for several hours in a row? Sometimes, but not always. Jesus did attempt to get away from the crowds with His disciples for some rest (Mark 6:31). However, when we decide to relax and watch a ballgame, we should remember that the New Testament is full of teaching about responsibilities like pursuing holiness (Hebrews 12:14) and losing your life for Christ and the gospel (Mark 8:34-38). We rest, take in a ball game, and even sleep, so that we are refreshed and ready to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Christ with zeal.

Involve your wife by encouraging her to fill out a bracket.
Every year before the tournament begins, a "bracket" appears in newspapers and on certain websites that shows who is playing whom and what the future matchups could be. Before a single game is played, thousands take this bracket and fill in the teams they think will win each contest. Most of our wives don't understand our joy in the competition (just like we don't identify with their love for shopping). However, these tournament brackets might be a way to involve our wives in the "madness."

Here's what you can do: Both you and your wife fill out your own brackets, and see who gets the most games correct. (My wife and I like to make the later games worth more than the first round games.) This may seem like a trivial endeavor, but small things like this, done together, can strengthen a marriage. Involving your wife shows her that you love her and have a disposition of kindness toward her (Colossians 3:19), and it will humble you when she does better than you!

Point out to your children players who exhibit hard work and integrity.
When a child is watching a game with you, highlight a player who may not be the highest scorer, but who plays hard defense and is not afraid to dive on the floor after a loose basketball. Say to your child, "That's the kind of Christian I want to be—hardworking and faithful to do even the painful things."

You might even find out that one of the players is a true believer. Watch how he reacts when a poor call is made against him, and ask your child, "Do you think he responded like a Christian when the referee made that bad call?" Redemptive conversations could become normal throughout the tournament.

Don't be miserable if your favorite team loses.
Perhaps you have heard someone say, "It's just a game." That's an accurate statement, but some individuals, including Christians, are depressed for days after their beloved team is defeated. Is there any good reason for such behavior? No. Paul writes, "Rejoice always . . . In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16, 18). If you have been redeemed by Christ, joy should be constant.

When we mope around after our team loses, we are forgetting about eternal realities. People all around us are sinners who will perish without Christ. Millions of people throughout this world are not thinking about who won the big game; they just want to know where they will get their next meal. Enjoy the tournament, but let's get serious about what really matters in this life and how we should engage people with the hope of the gospel.

"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."(1 Corinthians 10:31)

Copyright © 2009 Steve Burchett
Permission granted for reproduction in exact form, including web address. All other uses require written permission

www.BulletinInserts.org

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Jim Elliff Interviewed About House Churches

Click here for an interview on house churches Todd Friel (of Wretched Radio) did with Jim Elliff.

FYI: Since this interview, Jim has come to see that there were churches in buildings prior to Constantine, at least in the mid 200's.

www.CCWtoday.org

Monday, March 8, 2010

What Does Luck Have to Do With It?

by Jim Elliff

Joni Eareckson Tada is one of the most gracious and effective Christians in the world. She has lived with the results of a diving accident that broke her neck during her teen years. In her 50's she continues to radiate Christ to a listening world. Joni is known by thousands of Christians, perhaps millions, through her books, radio program, and conference speaking.

Once my brother asked Joni how she made it through the difficult battle with her paraplegia. I later heard her give the same answer in a large conference in Orlando. Her reply will surprise you. "I suppose what helped me get through this more than any other thing" she said, "was reading Loraine Beottner's Reformed Doctrine of Predestination."

Now that caught you off guard, didn't it?

shamrock

What she was saying was that she came to understand through this book that God is in control. And if God is in control then her accident wasn't just a fluke, but a purposeful arrangement by a loving God. She could trust a God like that. That accident cost her freedom and brought chronic suffering. But to Joni, that diving accident was a huge gift from God—a platform for speaking to the world about her favorite subject, Christ.

I know that it might seem insensitive to say that God is in control. But this is what the Bible teaches, like it or not. When we analyze national tragedy we sometimes recoil from the notion that God could be in control of His world. We seek to protect God from such an accusation. But the Scriptures don't do this.

The Bible teaches that all good things, as well as all tragic things, come from God. (See Lam. 3: 37-38) They usually come via secondary sources, that is, they are delivered on your doorstep by other people or through the convergence of events and complex connections. Without being a tempter or evil (James 1:13), God determines all things, while still leaving men responsible for their actions.

Complicated? Sure. But true nonetheless.

A clear illustration of this can be seen in the death of Christ. Is the death of Christ a good thing? Of course. Did God just "hope" that everything would work out to accomplish the greatest event of the universe? Did God feel lucky that it all worked out as He projected?

The early Christians did not think it was luck that brought about Jesus' redemptive death. Here's the way they put it in a prayer meeting:

For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. (Acts 4:27-28)

We can think of all events, tragic or good, under two categories. They are either for the punishment or for the benefit of the person, but they're all in the end for the glory of God.

Now think carefully. First, realize that everything that happens to a non-believer is a tragedy. Even mercies from God, if sinned against, work out for the worse to the non-believer. Every apparently good thing coming to a person who will finally reject God, only serves to make his judgment more severe. (See Rom. 2: 4-6)

But for the child of God, life works out exactly the opposite. The Bible says, "All things work together for the good of those who love God, the called according to His purpose." (Rom. 8:28).

So, when a difficult thing comes into the life of a believer, as in Joni's swimming accident, then the end result is good. It is for a loving purpose. Even discipline from God toward true believers is for the good. And when sinful people are involved, we can say with Joseph, "You meant it for evil; but God meant it for good." (Gen. 50:20)

As one theologian said, "Tragedy is anything that happens to a non-believer." And we can add, "Good is anything that happens to a true Christian."

This can only be said because God is in control. And luck, well, it isn't even there.

Christian Communicators Worldwide, Inc.
Permission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in unedited form
including author's name, title, complete content, copyright and weblink.
Other uses require written permission.

www.CCWtoday.org

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Seven Principles of Finance for the Believer

by Jim & Pam Elliff

One of the most recognizable differences in the believer and the world he lives in is his unusual relationship to money and possessions. However, even serious believers sometimes balk at the seeming extremities in the teaching and lifestyle of Christ and the leaders of the New Testament church. Can we duplicate this New Testament lifestyle in our day?

This outline provides the diligent believer with some key principals preparing him/her for radical, other-worldly financial behavior. Alone, or if married, with your spouse, take some time for reading the Scripture texts and thinking through the obedient thing to do in each area. Then write out what you find. There is only one thing for you to do after this meditation … obey!

The Principle of Non-Attachment
I will purchase or receive nothing that I cannot give away.

And He said to them, "Beware and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions. Luke 12:15

Luke 12:32-34; 16:13-25; 1 John 2:15-17