Immanuel and Christmas trials

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. Our church family just had a wonderful time of celebration both through our annual Christmas concert and our childrens’ Christmas musical. It is a wonderful season of hope, anticipation, and joy as we celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ.

But Christmas can also be difficult. There can be difficult family relationships. There can be pain and grief. It can be a reminder of financial hardship. It can be a time of uncertainty. It can be a time of mourning over what has been lost. Christmas, as well as other holiday seasons, can bring up a variety of trials and hardships in our lives, and a variety of emotions that come with that.

But the truth of Christmas itself speaks to us in the midst of those hardships and gives us hope: Isaiah prophecied, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) Immanuel means God with us. And the account in Matthew 1 is explicitly clear that this prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus.

Jesus Christ is Immanuel, God with us!

So what does that mean? Well, three things:

1. It means that God himself is near to us, he is not some far off and distant deity who has no interest in what you’re struggling with.

2. It means that God in Jesus Christ identifies with us, he identifies with our struggles and our temptations, and so closely identifies with us that he died for us on the cross for our sins.

3. And it means that now through the Holy Spirit when we trust in Jesus Christ for our salvation we experience an even deeper closeness with God, he dwells in each and every believer through the Holy Spirit. So God is truly with us in the most intimate way imaginable.

So this Christmas we can celebrate Jesus as Immanuel, God with us, who died for us, and brings us into a deep intimate relationship with God. My prayer for us this Christmas is that we would experience the depth of this closeness with God as we grow in our relationship with him.

But then how can this truth, that God is with us and close to us, comfort us in all of these trials and difficulties that we face? Well, this truth has any number of wonderful implications:

·         God is with us, so he is intimately aware of our struggles and our circumstances.
·         God is with us, so we are not alone in the struggles and trials that we face. We don’t need to ask, God, where are you in this mess? He is right here in the middle of it with us.
·         God is with us, so he gives us strength to face each and every day.
·         God is with us, so he can minister to us in our pain.
·         God is with us, so he can provide for our needs.
·         God is with us, so he gives us his peace.
·         God is with us, so we can pour our hearts out to him in prayer. And he is a God who hears and answers prayer!
·         God is with us, so he can encourage us through his Word.
·         God is with us, and there is no problem that is too big for him. And if your problems and issues and struggles are not too big for God, then think about it, if God is with you, then they’re not too big for you.
·         God is with us, and he knows what is unknown to us. You know those questions that we don’t know the answers to that cause us a lot of anxiety? God knows the answers, and he is with us, so we don’t need to be anxious.
·         God is with us, and he can move the unmoveable, fix what cannot be repaired, and fill what is seemingly a bottomless pit. So we don’t need to get frustrated if we can’t change a difficult situation, because God is with us, and he can change it.
·         God is with us, and he is in control of all things, even those things that seem like they are spiraling out of control. From God’s perspective, nothing is out of control. Nothing! And since God is with you, then nothing in your life is actually out of control! Let that sink in for a few minutes as you consider the circumstances surrounding you!

Jesus Christ is Immanuel. God is with us! This is such a beautiful, beautiful truth. And whatever circumstances you are facing this Christmas, remember this truth: that God is with you. And I hope that this deep and amazing truth is an endless source of encouragement, joy, strength, and perseverance for you as we celebrate the birth of our savior. Merry Christmas!

Discipleship Week 24: Don't give up...praise God by affirming others!

Philippians 4:17-19

“Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

A word of affirmation has a powerful effect. Thanking someone for their service, recognizing the hard work of an individual or a group, or praising someone for making a hard but Christ-like decision often fuels perseverance in the Christian life. Think about times you have been affirmed, or thanked, or praised for something you did. What was the result? Often the result is a deeper desire to continue in the same work or action. I know that for myself, when someone affirms me, it encourages me to continue in the work that God has called me to, having seen some of the fruit of that work.

But this leads us to somewhat of a dilemma. How do we affirm and praise people without elevating those people over God? It is great to be encouraging, but does our affirmation create a situation where we are focused more on people than on God? D.A. Carson notes that some churches can be so generous in the praise of others that they simply become what he calls “mutual admiration societies” that are no longer focused on God…they simply spend a lot of time patting each other on the back.  

However Carson notes that we can also err too far in the other direction…where our fear of not wanting to elevate anyone above God leads us to never affirm or praise anybody. We never tell the pastor we were blessed by the sermon that morning because we fear the praise will go to his head and make him prideful. Or we do not tell those under our ministry care when they have made a good decision for God, because we don’t want that to lead to self-centeredness and arrogance. So we can err with praise that ignores God, or we can err with not giving any praise out of fear of leading someone to pride and arrogance.

Thankfully Paul, in these closing verses of Philippians, gives us a model of how we can be affirming and encouraging and not make either of these errors. The Philippian church, while still very young in all senses, had supported Paul over and above all expectations as he had moved on to other cities in his gospel ministry. And Paul is thankful for them and expresses his praise of them for their generosity. But notice how he gives out his praise…he does so by including God in it. His praise of the Philippians is not just for their financial support, it is about how he is seeing God work in the Philippians through their support. Carson says it this way:

“But Paul has the matter right. In his letters, he does not simply thank people…he thanks God for God’s grace in them—but he utters his thanks to God in front of the people. In effect, he approaches these believers and says, ‘I greatly rejoice at the grace of God displayed in your life’ or ‘I thank God every time I remember you’ or ‘Your life is a fragrant sacrifice to God, a sacrifice with which God is well pleased.’ That is precisely what Paul does here.” –D.A. Carson, Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians

What does this God-centered affirmation mean for us practically? Well, if our praise of others is first and foremost directed at God, then we can be wildly affirming of each other, knowing that we are not elevating others above God. If the Lord blesses you through a Sunday sermon, tell the pastor that the Lord really blessed you and challenged you through the message. If the Holy Spirit used a certain song in worship to speak to your heart, tell the pastor or worship leader how God worked in you through that song. If you see someone making difficult decisions to honor God in their lives, praise them for how you see God at work in their hearts. If our praise is directed Godward, then there is absolutely no reason for us to be stingy with our praise and withhold our affirmation of each other. If God is receiving the glory (4:20), then our praise and thanksgiving towards God and others can and should overflow.

Finally, there is the benefit that such praise and affirmation has for the one giving the praise. Certainly there is a benefit to receiving God glorifying affirmation; it does drive us to see God glorified more in our lives, and strengthens us in our relationship with God. But the same benefit comes to the giver of such affirmation. Giving God glorifying praise to others directs us to focus on God. Affirming God’s work in others leads us to desire God to work in our lives in a similar manner. And praising God for who he is and what he has done in others gives us the strength to persevere in the Christian faith, even when times are difficult…especially when times are difficult. God-centered affirmation of our brothers and sisters in Christ really does help us persevere in the Christian life! Therefore, this is a fitting end to this section and to this letter as a whole: Don’t give up…praise God by affirming others. 

Discipleship Week 23: Don't give up...be content!

Philippians 4:10-13

^“I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

I am becoming convinced that one of the greatest weapons that Satan uses to derail the Christian life in our culture today is planting seeds of discontent in our hearts and minds. Discontentment runs rampant in our culture today, and it is seen in how people view their jobs, their cars, their studies, their relationship status, their socio-economic status, and so much more. And discontentment is not reserved for those who are poor or in difficult situations. Even those in seemingly wonderful positions are not content with what they have. John D. Rockefeller, certainly one of the richest men in history, was once asked how much money was “enough.” His famous answer: “Just a little bit more.” Regardless of our circumstances, discontentment with our circumstances leaves us wanting something more, something different, or something better. And nothing is ever enough.

Clearly the impact of this discontentment on the Christian life can be devastating. If we are constantly in a state of wanting something more, something different, or something better, then we will never be satisfied with what God has called us to and given us for today. And we will certainly not be ready or equipped to endure periods of hardship that God calls us to as we follow him. The result of discontentment is that we begin to look for satisfaction outside of God, we look for solutions on our own, and we often settle for something that is not in line with God’s will for us that causes us great harm down the road. The Israelites in their forty years of desert wanderings are an excellent example of where discontentment leads us. All because we want something more, something different, or something better.

Thankfully Paul gives us the secret to true contentment in these verses, and they hold a powerful key to persevering in the Christian life. And the secret is this: Contentment is found by trusting in God for strength to do anything he calls you to do, regardless of circumstances. And this secret is so wonderful, it deserves a little more reflection:

I. Trusting in God for strength

One of the keys to contentment is trusting in God for strength. Now it is important to remember that Paul is discussing this strength from God not to do anything he wants, but to be content in whatever circumstance God leads him to as he continues his gospel ministry. So we must add an important qualification that God will not give us strength to do things that are outside of his will for us. We cannot use this verse to think that we will have the strength to fly if we jump off a cliff, nor should we think that we will be content if we do jump off a cliff. The result of us jumping off a cliff will be that gravity will do its work, and we will not feel contentment as we fall!

So we cannot use verse 13 as a justification for doing whatever we want, or for convincing others to do whatever we want them to do. Nor can we look at verse 13 as a kind of Superman, self-sufficient kind of strength. No amount of personal self-will brings about contentment. But when we trust in God for strength, we can persevere through any situation that God calls us to, because it is God’s strength, and not our own. When we trust in our own strength, we end up only wanting something more, something different, or something better. But God’s strength enables us, just as it enabled Paul, to be content.

II. Regardless of circumstances

Another key to contentment is that contentment that comes through God’s strength has nothing to do with our circumstances. Paul is clear that he has experienced joys and trials, ease and hardship, riches and poverty. But none of that impacts his contentment as a Christ follower. I think it is easy to only focus on the need for contentment when our circumstances are difficult, or different than what we desire. But there are two problems with this approach. One, if we only work on contentment when our circumstances are not what we desire, then our efforts for contentment invariably gets focused on improving our circumstances, and not looking for God for strength regardless of the circumstances. And two, this approach usually results in us not seeking contentment when our circumstances are by most standards good or desirable. So instead of being content with the blessings God has given us, we still follow Rockefeller and want “a little bit more.” Something more, something different, or something better.

But when we look to God and trust God for strength regardless of our circumstances, then our contentment truly is not based on our circumstances, but based on trust in our sovereign God who sustains and governs all things. And that contentment can be sustained regardless of what circumstances we face in life. And one of the overall keys to standing firm in the Christian faith, this theme that Paul has been developing in these verses, is that we should not focus on our circumstances. We can rejoice in the Lord regardless of our circumstances. We can stop worrying, regardless of our circumstances. We can think holy thoughts, regardless of our circumstances. When we allow our circumstances to dictate our trust in God, then we will struggle in the Christian life, because our trust will change daily with our circumstances. But if all of our circumstances are simply opportunities to trust God more and more, then we will thrive in the Christian life, because we are trusting more and more in an unchanging God who loves and sustains us and is working all things together for good for us.

I confess that far too often my contentment rests on my circumstances, and not in trusting in God’s strength. Most of us have been taught that contentment is based on our circumstances, whether we know it or not. But when I am tempted to be content based on my circumstances, my mind comes back to a well known hymn:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul. 

Refrain:

It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.

What are some circumstances where you are not content? Why are you not experiencing contentment? Are you focused too much on the circumstances, not looking to God for strength to go through those circumstances, not trusting in the strength God gives you, or all of the above? Don’t give up…be content! For when our contentment rests in God alone, trusting in his strength regardless of circumstances, we will never need anything more, anything different, or anything better. 

Discipleship Week 22: Don't give up...think holy thoughts!

Philippians 4:8-9

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

This is a beautiful exhortation to us to think holy thoughts. The mind is critical to the Christian life. If we do not think through life in light of what God desires for us, we will certainly not live life in light of what God desires for us. Actions always begin with thoughts. The things that we do are always connected to the things that we think. This may be for good or for bad. But actions are always tied to thoughts. This is why the following give and take between parent and child isn’t really accurate:

Parent: What were you thinking?

Child: I…I guess I wasn’t thinking.

Parent: That’s right! You weren’t thinking. Now go to your room and think about what you didn’t think about!

Whatever it was that got the child in trouble, he or she certainly did think of something that led to those actions. Maybe it was thinking about a selfish desire, or maybe it was thinking about rebelling against their parents. There is always a thought process which leads to actions. Which is why Paul calls us in this passage to think holy thoughts. As D.A. Carson notes, “If you think holy thoughts, you will be holy; if you think garbage, you will be garbage.” If we want to live holy lives, as God calls us to do, we have to begin by thinking holy thoughts. So perseverance in the Christian life really does begin first with our minds, then our actions.

Now this idea that actions always begin with thoughts is not a unique idea to Christianity, it is very widely accepted. And it is fairly widely accepted that changing your thinking will change your actions and your life. But the question then becomes, how? How do we change our thinking? How do we think these holy thoughts? Our culture will tell us that we have enough goodness to think these thoughts on our own, so they will look at this exhortation from Paul as a challenge to work hard to raise their thought level to this standard.

However the Scripture is clear that we are incapable on our own of raising our thoughts to holiness. The universal brokenness and sinfulness of humanity (Romans 3:23) impacts our entire being, which includes our minds. So our own efforts to improve our thought life will inevitably lead back to our sinful desires. To use Carson’s terminology, our own efforts to elevate our thoughts only lead to garbage. It is only through the gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit that we can have a renewed mind (Romans 12:1-2) that can think about these wonderful, holy things. Holiness in our thought life must, first and foremost, be an act of God, graciously working in our lives.

And yet, we do play a role in our sanctification, we do play a role in this renewal. Part of our role of course is recognizing that the majority of the work of renewal is done by God, and not by us. And yet as we submit ourselves to God and to his sanctifying work in our lives, there are several ways that we can apply this passage into our lives.

1. Think God’s thoughts. Our own thoughts will lead to back to our sinful nature, and then to sinful actions. God is holy, and his thoughts lead to holiness. So instead of trying to elevate our thought life on our own, a far more fruitful work is to begin to understand what God’s thoughts are. One way we can do this is through prayer. A great question that we can pray to God in ANY situation that we face is this: “God, what do you think about this?” If our default thought process is our selfish and sinful desires, asking our Father what he thinks about something is a great way to cause us to slow down before we make a decision (because so many of our foolish actions come very quickly after foolish thoughts!). It is a great way to filter out voices and opinions of others that might be leading us away from God. And it is a great way to orient us away from ourselves and towards God and his will.

2. Saturate yourself in God’s Word. The best way to think God’s thoughts is to read what God has spoken. If our minds are saturated in God’s Word, then we will naturally move away from our sinful mindsets and move towards holy thoughts, because God is holy. The more we have God’s Word hidden in our hearts, the easier it becomes to recall God’s Word to mind when we face difficult decisions and temptations to sin. There are several ways we can take in God’s Word, but I think it important to note here that the task of memorizing Scripture, while daunting and challenging for many, bears great fruit in the Christian life. When we are tempted to sin we often do not have an hour to sit down and read God’s Word to saturate our minds. However the Scripture that we have memorized is already right there, and can be called to mind very quickly to help us think God’s holy thoughts in the face of temptation, which leads to holiness in us. So let us give ourselves to this task!

3. Learn how to think from your spiritual mentors. We often look at our mentors to see how they live, and Paul has made an excellent case earlier in Philippians that we should emulate the spiritual mentors who God has placed in our lives. Here Paul applies that same principle of following the example of strong spiritual role models to the task of thinking holy thoughts. So as you seek to follow the example of your role models, don’t just look at how they live their lives, but also look at how they think. Get inside their heads, and understand their thought processes. When faced with a difficult decision, how do they think through their options? When confronted with temptation, how do they look to God? When experiencing trials and suffering, what do they think about? When celebrating success (or processing failure), where are their minds focused? If holy thoughts lead to holy lives, then it is critical that our growth in the Christian life focuses just as much, if not more, on our minds than on our actions. And learning how our role models think holy thoughts can train us to do the same.

We can persevere in the Christian life by thinking holy thoughts. We can continue to grow in holiness as our minds are renewed more and more, day by day. And while recognizing that much of this is God’s work in us, we still have work to do ourselves. So how do you need to grow in thinking holy thoughts? What leads you away from thinking holy thoughts? Don’t give up in the Christian life, think holy thoughts, and persevere in holiness. 

Discipleship Week 21: Don't give up...stop worrying!

Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

If we knew and actually applied these two verses on a regular basis, our lives would be radically transformed. Far too many of us carry worry on top of worry…so much so that the weight of these worries almost crushes us. I recently asked the college students I work with to write down every single thing that they were worried about. The result was that they actually became…more worried. It was easy for them to suppress all of the vague worries that were floating around in their heads; it was terrifying to actually write them down, because then those worries became so much more real. And then with the reality of everything that they worried about written down in front of them, they saw these verses and worried about how much they were worrying.

But thankfully this passage gives us an incredible road map to a life lived for God that is free from the crushing burden of anxiety. In just two verses, Paul gives us a prohibition against worry, a prescription for not worrying, and a promise for when we do let go of our fears. And the prohibition, the prescription, and the promise hold a powerful key to persevering in the Christian life.

The Prohibition

The prohibition is simple. Do not be anxious about anything. Do not worry. There are no qualifications to this statement. The size of the problem we worry about is not a reason to justify worrying. The amount of money at stake is not a reason to justifying worrying. And the people involved, no matter how powerful they are or how messy and problematic they make a situation, are never reasons to justifying worrying. As Christians we should not be crippled by fear.

Now in affirming Paul’s prohibition without qualifications I do realize that people do struggle with such things as clinical anxiety and depression. These are very real medical issues, and it is sad that some in the church have written off anxiety and depression as simply people having a lack of faith. There are good treatments for anxiety and depression, both in terms of therapy and medicine, and we should encourage those treatments for those who need them. As a former pastor of mine once asked, “Is there any difference between medicine from the neck down and medicine from the neck up?” The answer is no, and Christians should not be shamed for their need to undergo such treatments. The benefit of such treatments is that they bring an individual to a place where they can take and apply this passage. Treatment does not do away with anxiety, it manages anxiety. It allows an individual to come to a place where he or she can completely focus on God’s Word, and apply this verse along with everyone else.

Therefore we can say that even clinical anxiety or depression, as difficult and debilitating as they can be, are not qualifications by which we can ignore this command to stop worrying. All of us face anxieties in life. All of us need to stop worrying. And whereas some of us need prescriptions from our doctors, all of us need the prescription from God’s Word to stop worrying.

The Prescription

The prescription is almost as simple as the prohibition: “…in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Instead of worrying, pray. As D. A. Carson notes, “I have yet to meet a chronic worrier who enjoys an excellent prayer life.” Now I have had people over the years tell me that they have been praying, and yet they still worry. In that situation, either something is wrong with the Scriptures, or something is wrong with an individual’s prayer life. And given our confidence in the Scriptures, let me suggest two areas where our prayer lives are often deficient:

First, pray about everything. Paul says “but in everything…” So we should be in prayer about everything that we face and encounter as we go through our day. Do we pray about everything throughout our day, or do we only pray in moments of crisis when our anxiety is skyrocketing? In seminary I received two incredible tips about having a thriving prayer life: 1) Ask God for everything. Everything. Big, small, important, seemingly trivial. Ask God for everything. And 2) turn all of your thoughts into a conversation with God. When you are talking with a friend, talk to God about your conversation. When you go into work, talk to God about that day and the work you have to do. When you’re spending time with friends and family and you’re thinking about the pile of unfinished homework you have, talk to God about that pile of homework and ask him for wisdom regarding time management. And when you get cut off on the freeway, talk to God about your frustrations. Praying about everything will orient us more towards God. Praying about everything will help us to better see difficult situations from God’s perspective (and God is not worried about the things we are worried about!). And praying about everything will help us to have God’s priorities, not our own. (and when you think about it, so much of our worry is because our priorities are not in line with God’s!). Pray about everything.

Second, pray with thanksgiving. As we are to pray about everything, Paul is equally clear that we are to pray with thanksgiving. This may seem counterintuitive, especially when there is seemingly nothing in a stressful situation to be thankful for. But there are always things we can be thankful for. We can be thankful that God is in control and that he is working in this stressful situation for our good (Romans 8:28). We can be thankful for how valuable we are to God (Psalm 139:14), which interestingly is the reason our Lord gave for not worrying (Matthew 6:25-34). We can be thankful that we have an opportunity to glorify God in the difficult situations that we face (Isaiah 26:8), and we can be thankful that even our suffering can be used by God to further the gospel (Philippians 1:12). And we can always be thankful that God loved us and sent his Son to die for us (1 John 4:10). It is possible to offer fearful prayers to God. It is much more difficult to offer ongoing, continual, thankful prayers to God and still be fearful. Praying about everything and praying with thanksgiving helps us to lay down our worry and instead obey Paul’s command in verse 4: “Rejoice in the Lord always.”

The Promise

What this leads us to is the promise of this passage, and that is when we pray about everything with thanksgiving, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Note that the promise is not the wiping away of the circumstances that caused us worry in the first place. The promise is peace. A deep, lasting, supernatural peace. The peace we so often look for (and indeed the only peace the world really knows) is a kind of peace that comes when a tension has been resolved, or a difficult situation that caused us to worry went away. And we should certainly be thankful for those times where that happens. But God’s peace that guards our hearts and minds allows us to not worry even when (and especially when) the tension is not resolved. The situation that caused us to worry before could remain the exact same, and yet we don’t have to worry because of God’s peace guarding us. It is always helpful to remember that Paul did not write these words from a beach in a care free tropical paradise, he wrote them from prison in Rome. Just like Paul, we don’t have to wait for our circumstances to improve to stop worrying, we can experience God’s supernatural peace now.

This all seems simple. It seems too good to be true. But God’s Word is either true or it isn’t. So what are you worrying about? How long is your list of worries that you have been suppressing? What is keeping you from having the deep, thriving prayer life that allows you to give all of you worries to God? And are you looking for circumstantial peace, or God’s peace? In order to persevere in the Christian life, stop worrying. Start praying. And receive God’s peace. 

Discipleship Week 20: Don't give up, be known for gentleness

Philippians 4:5

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”

As we consider Paul’s exhortations for how to persevere in the Christian life and not give up, this verse is tricky. One, it is difficult to see what gentleness has to do with perseverance. And two, it is hard to tell what is meant by this word translated in the NIV as gentleness. Some translations use forbearance, others use reasonableness, and on and on. So what does gentleness mean, and what does it have to do with persevering in the Christian faith?

What is meant here in this verse is intentional, self-effacing kindness. This word is used (among others) in James 3:17 to describe the kind of wisdom that comes from God, which is directly contrasted with earthly wisdom of this world that is rooted in bitter rivalry and selfish ambition. So the kind of gentleness that is in mind here is a selfless, others-focused kindness or service. It is not self-centered in any way. Rather, it follows the selfless, self-giving example of Christ laid out earlier in 2:5-8. So Paul is exhorting the Philippians to be selfless, to be known for not drawing attention to yourself. Be known for not being known.

Why is this importance for perseverance in the Christian life? Well if the focus is on ourselves, it is not on God, and it is not on the work of Christ that has saved us and brought us into relationship with God. It is very difficult to stay strong in the Christian life when our decisions, our actions, and yes, even our good works are focused inwards and away from God. And it is very difficult to proclaim the gospel and Christ’s sacrificial work on our behalf when the attention is on ourselves. We can’t point people to God when we are pointing at ourselves!

This focus on the self is a major problem in our churches today. How often do we help people out of purely selfless motives? Very rarely. We help someone because it helps us as well. We help because it makes us feel good. We help someone because of what they have promised to do for us in return. We help someone while keeping a mental note of the action so we can use it to get a favor done for us in the future. We help because it helps us. It is even easy to appeal to this selfishness when trying to get others to join you in an act of service... “If you come to the church work day this weekend I’ll take you out for dinner afterwards.” And the sin of self is an easy trap for pastors, who can easily be motivated more by praise instead of being motivated by faithfulness to the one who deserves all of the praise.

Part of this self-centered service is driven by our culture, which tells us more often than not that the ends justify the means. In other words, if good is the final result, it doesn’t matter what you have to do to get there. But the Scriptures repeatedly tell us that the ends don’t justify the means, and that God is just as concerned if not more concerned with how we do something as opposed to the result of what we do. The how matters. The heart matters. And we should be motivated to cultivate this selfless heart in ourselves, because this verse succinctly reminds us: The Lord is near. Whether this means his return is near or he is near to us in the presence of the Holy Spirit, we should be motivated by his presence to become like him, to serve him, and to repent of our self-centeredness.

How do we persevere in the Christian life? By not being known. We persevere by following the self-giving, self-sacrificial example of our Lord Jesus Christ, by having the same heart. So when people look at us and look at our service, they shouldn’t actually see us, they should see Christ. This is described so beautifully in the well known hymn:

May his beauty rest upon me

As I seek the lost to win,

And may they forget the channel,

Seeing only him.

-Kate Barclay Wilkinson,

May the Mind of Christ, My Savior

What are you known for? Selfishness or selfless kindness? When people look at the work and service that you do, do they see you and your accomplishments? Or do they see Christ? What needs to change in your life so that when others look at you they see Christ? Don’t give up, but be known for gentleness, for self-effacing kindness. 

Discipleship Week 19: Don't give up, but rejoice in the Lord always!

Philippians 4:4

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Remembering that Paul writes this letter from prison, we can quickly reject any idea that the basis for rejoicing in the Lord has anything to do with one’s circumstances. But if we’re honest with ourselves, the basis by which we rejoice most often actually is our circumstances, and understandably so. It is easy to rejoice when you have gotten a new job or received a wonderful gift. And it seems crazy to rejoice in the midst of suffering or pain.

And yet Paul calls us to rejoice in the Lord always. All the time. There is no qualification to always. Always means always. Therefore we can and should rejoice in the midst of wonderful circumstances, and we can and should rejoice in the midst of pain and suffering. But how is it even possible to rejoice in the midst of difficult circumstances?

The key lies in that Paul exhorts us to rejoice in the Lord, not in our circumstances. The basis for our constant rejoicing is God himself and what he has done for us. And God has done so much for us! He has taken us, wretched, miserable sinners, and saved us from the penalty of sin and death by sending his son Jesus to die for us and pay the penalty that we deserve. Christ has not only taken our sin on himself, but he has given us his righteousness, so that while we struggle with sin this side of heaven, God looks at us and sees Christ’s righteousness. Furthermore, when we received Christ as our Lord and Savior we were adopted into God’s family…we are sons and daughters of the most high God! And because of what God has done for us in Christ we have a glorious future ahead of us…eternal life with our heavenly Father!

Therefore when we look at what God has done for us, the natural response should be rejoicing! Even if we face the worst circumstances possible, what God has done for us far outweighs the worst situation we could face in this life. This is why Christians throughout history have been able to joyfully face persecution, suffering, and even martyrdom. Our joy is not found in our circumstances, it is found in what God has done for us.

And not only can we rejoice in what God has done for us, when we do face difficult circumstances in life we can rejoice because we know that God is in control. Romans 8:28 teaches us that God works all things together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Just as always means always, all things means all things, even the hard circumstances in life. So God is in control, and uses even our suffering for his glory and for our good. So we can truly rejoice in the Lord always.

It is liberating when we realize that we can rejoice in the Lord regardless of our circumstances. When we learn to rejoice even in extreme hardship, it makes the struggle so much easier to endure. But rejoicing in the Lord also gives dignity to the suffering that we do go through. So many of us consciously or unconsciously believe in a “put on a happy face” theology that tries to find the silver lining in everything, or puts a positive spin on a bad situation. But if our rejoicing is not based on our circumstances, then we can honestly acknowledge our pain and suffering, and we don’t have to cover it up with a fake smile. Sometimes there is no silver lining. Sometimes there is no positive spin possible. Sometimes we will never see the good, even if we know that God is working in that situation for good. And that’s OK.  We can rejoice in the Lord while in tears, grief, and pain. And that kind of rejoicing glorifies God, strengthens us, and gives dignity to our suffering.

So is your rejoicing based on your circumstances or in the Lord? Is your rejoicing occasional or continual? What do you think it looks like to authentically rejoice in the midst of a difficult circumstance? And what circumstances are you currently facing where you need to begin rejoicing? Don’t give up: Rejoice in the Lord always!

Discipleship Week 18: Don't give up, but be like-minded with other believers

Philippians 4:2-3

"I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life."

It is simple in theory to advise two people who can’t agree to just agree with one another. And yet all of us who have had any disagreement or conflict with another person (which really is all of us!) know that it is rarely that simple. And yet in Paul’s appeal to these two Philippian women to be like-minded in the Lord we find some valuable wisdom for how we handle the disagreements and conflicts that we face in our lives, especially when that conflict is with another Christian.

But first it is important to understand what Paul is not arguing for here. He is not arguing for uniform agreement on every issue. Even Paul had disagreements with his co-workers, seen most clearly when he and Barnabas part ways because they disagreed on whether to take John Mark with them on their second missionary journey (Acts 15:36-41).

Paul is also not arguing for unity at the expense of truth. Of course it is easy to attain unity if you force people to throw away their convictions that lead to disagreements in the first place! But in Galatians 1:8-9 Paul is abundantly clear on how he views those who twist and distort God’s truth. And while most people in our culture would probably deny that they push for unity at the expense of truth, this is often seen in the elevation of one truth that trumps every other truth and so brings about conformity to one viewpoint.

So what is this like-mindedness that Paul is calling for here if it is not uniform agreement on everything? It is an appeal for believers to have a common heart for Christ and for the gospel. Paul reminds these women that they have labored side by side with Paul for the work of the gospel. It is the gospel that brings us together; it is the gospel that gives us a common mission and purpose. Being like-minded means that we are focused together on the gospel, and when we are like-minded with other believers with regards to the gospel, we will be heading in the same direction and have the same priorities. And we may still not agree on every issue, but the centrality of the gospel puts our disagreements into perspective and their relative importance (or lack of importance as the case may be!).  

Can you imagine if we as followers of Christ were truly like-minded around the gospel with fellow believers? I believe most issues that divide a church would fade away, and the disagreements that remain would be relegated to respectful discussions instead of fights that threaten to tear apart the congregation. Like-mindedness around the gospel would allow us to have disagreements, even arguments, and not have to win every argument (and when winning becomes the objective, disagreements get ugly and destructive very quickly!). I also believe that this kind of like-mindedness would drastically improve our witness as a corporate church body. Unfortunately too many seekers and skeptics come through the doors of our churches and see politics, petty disagreements, and gossip…everything they see in the world around them each and every day! Our (not so) internal fighting with each other keeps those on the outside from seeing and hearing the gospel. But if we are united around the gospel, and allow the gospel to mold us and shape us and give us a common direction and purpose, then those seekers and skeptics who come through our doors will see and hear…the gospel! So like-mindedness around the gospel is critical to our kingdom work.

How is God calling you to grow in like-mindedness with other believers? What are the disagreements you have with other believers where you need to focus more on your common heart for the gospel? Do you care more about the gospel or about winning arguments? And what needs to change in your heart so that you can be more like-minded with other believers? Don’t give up…be like-minded with other believers. 

Discipleship Week 17: Do Not Give Up!

Philippians 4:1

“Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”

This last section of Philippians begins with Paul exhorting the Philippians believers to stand firm. Do not give up the Christian life! But it is not an isolated call to stand firm, it is a call to stand firm in light of the beautiful truths that have come before this point. Stand firm because of the gospel. Stand firm because of what Christ has done for us. Stand firm because of the example Christ has set for us. And stand firm because of the excellent role models who have stood firm before us.

This is also not a call to stand firm with no practical application. Paul will go on in the rest of this chapter to outline several excellent and practical ways we can persevere and not give up the Christian life. Philippians 4 is one of my favorite chapters in the bible, and is something I keep coming back to time and time again when I do face trials and difficulties, because of the practical encouragement it offers for standing firm in those times.

But why do we need this exhortation to stand firm? Why do we need to be told not to give up the Christian life? Two answers come to mind:

One, we need to be told not to give up because to varying degrees we are predisposed to giving up when times are hard. It is a hard lesson for young kids to learn that even when they fail at something, or don’t understand something right away, that they should keep trying and keep persevering until they succeed. This temptation to give up easily leads to commitment issues, which can lead straight into adulthood. Matt Chandler notes this about his experience as a college pastor:

“One of the things I noticed…was the large group of students who wouldn’t commit to anything—a college major, a gym, a church, a place to live, a group of friends. The only thing they seemed committed to was being noncommittal. Every semester the talk would turn to another school they might transfer to, a new major they were going to try out, or a new part-time job they were interested in (because, you know, their current one was lame).”[i]

Two, given that we give up easily and have commitment issues, we need to be told not to give up because our enemy takes advantage of these weaknesses. If Satan can throw enough frustration and hardship at us, it can be easy to throw in the towel. Consider the variety of ways that we are tempted to give up in the Christian life:

• We are tempted to give up in prayer, especially when we do not see results, or see prayers answered differently than how we think they should be.
• We are tempted to give up on good relationships when there is conflict instead of doing the hard work to strengthen that relationship.
• We are tempted to give up and settle for a bad relationship with someone who does not love Jesus because we don’t see God providing us with a relationship with someone who does love Jesus fast enough.
• We are tempted to give up on sharing our faith because of a fear of rejection. 
• We are tempted to give up on sharing our faith because it threatens our friendships.
• We are tempted to give up on what God has called us to do when it leads to hardship and trials.
• We are tempted to give up on our church when we get hurt by someone in the church (news flash: the church is full of sinners!).
• We are tempted to give up on discipleship and spiritual growth because it messes up our lives too much.
• We are tempted to give up on giving and tithing, because we don’t see God’s immediate provision for us.
• We are tempted to give up on ministry, because it takes too much time and it gets messy (same news flash: the church is full of sinners!). 

This list could go on and on. But I think you get the point. If we are predisposed to give up, and Satan is actively trying to get us to give up the Christian life, then it is critical that we take Paul’s words to heart and never give up. James 1:2-4 tells us that perseverance in trials is what leads to spiritual maturity. So then in the trials that we face, are we going to give up or are we going to persevere? What are the ways that you are tempted to give up in the Christian life? Don’t give up, but stand firm in the Lord.

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[i] Matt Chandler, The Mingling of Souls: God’s Design for Love, Marriage, Sex & Redemption

Discipleship Week 16: Imitate those whose hope is in heaven

Philippians 3:17-21

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

As we seek to have mature Christian influences in our lives, we should seek out people whose hope is in heaven. Very simply, where is their focus in life? Is it in the things of this world or in the hope that is found in eternal life? And as we apply the same standard to ourselves as we seek to be role models for those around us, are our minds focused on this world or on heaven?

The people that Paul describes as “enemies of the cross of Christ” likely are not unbelievers, but believers who only focus on the things of this world. If they were not Christians Paul would not lament so much over their worldly focus. But the sad reality is that too many Christians, both then and now, have their identity and hope only in the things of this world.

Now in most cases we do not actively wake up and say “I am going to focus on the things of this world today!” There can be a variety of ways that we can be distracted to set our minds on earthly things, and over time those distractions become permanent mindsets. Some are distracted by money. Others by success and accomplishment. Culture, current events, demands of others on us, and fear can all distract us towards having an earthly mindset. But that earthly mindset keeps us from having the mind of Christ that Paul calls us to throughout Philippians: a gospel-centered, self-sacrificial, cross-shaped life. It keeps us from proclaiming as Paul does, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (1:21). An earthly mindset destroys the Christian life, and truly does transform us into “enemies of the cross of Christ.”

So where is our hope? What shapes us? What shapes our values, goals, and priorities? Do we view our citizenship to be of this world, and of our country, or do we first and foremost, like Paul, recognize that as Christians our citizenship is in heaven? The answers to these questions will greatly shape how we lead our lives, how we lead others, and how we allow those around us to influence us. So as we seek to have mature Christian influences in our lives, we should seek out people whose hope is in heaven.    

Discipleship Week 15: Imitate those who are continuing to grow spiritually

Philippians 3:10-11

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”

As we seek to have mature Christian influences in our lives we should seek out people who are continuing to grow spiritually. If our role models are not continuing to grow, how will it set an example for us to continue to grow in our relationship with God for our entire lives?

Now in the physical world it is easy to see the effects of something that is stagnate, that is not moving and growing. A body of water that has no movement is not appealing to look at. There is a canyon near our home, and at times I will go down into the canyon with my kids. And in the summer there are pools of water that have just been sitting there, because there is not enough water to connect those pools with a stream to go out to the ocean. And while those pools may be appealing to the swarms of mosquitoes and gnats in the canyon, they certainly are not to me!

Unfortunately, when it comes to spiritual stagnation, Christians can be quite good at covering it up. An individual may appear to be growing and strong in his or her relationship with the Lord, but in reality they are as stagnate as the pools in the canyon. But despite our best efforts to hide our lack of spiritual growth, there are still signs that may reveal our true heart condition. We can vocalize our belief but it makes little to no difference in our day to day lives. We acknowledge the wisdom of God’s Word but we are resistant to godly counsel. We celebrate God’s love for us but show no love or care for the world around us. We acknowledge the importance of community but we isolate ourselves, or only surround ourselves with people who will affirm us (which I would argue is just as bad as isolation, and in some cases, worse). Just digging a bit below the surface reveals the true condition of one’s relationship with God.

Thankfully in the midst of the spiritual stagnation we see Paul continuing to strive to grow in his relationship with God. Philippians 3:10-16 are not the desires of Paul the new believer, young and passionate and wanting to grow…these are the desires of Paul who has been walking with the Lord for decades, planting churches around the Roman Empire, and suffering regularly for the sake of the gospel. And yet Paul still wants to grow more. What a wonderful example for us! And so the spiritual goals that he sets for himself in this passage are goals that we can and should take on ourselves, and they are marks that we can and should look for in any potential role model. Consider the following marks of continued spiritual growth from verses 10 and 11:

1.  Seeking to know Jesus more and more (v.10)

Obviously there is always more we can know about an infinite God. And after decades of serving Jesus, Paul still wants to know him more. And so should we. If we get to a place where we feel that we know what we need to know about our Lord and about the Christian faith in general, then we are standing on very shaky ground. Sadly too many Christians settle for a bare minimum knowledge of Jesus, and when that happens, spiritual stagnation is soon to follow. We should always seek to know Jesus more and more.

2. Knowing and experiencing God’s power in your life (v.10)

Paul mentions knowing the power of Christ’s resurrection. It is staggering to think that the power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is the same power that is available to those who believe in him, because the Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of each and every believer. But how many Christians have truly known and experienced that power? Do we enter difficult circumstances knowing the power of Christ’s resurrection? Do we ever rely on that power? Or do we just rely on ourselves and our own strength?

Thankfully I got a lesson in Christ’s resurrection power early on in my ministry career. One of my first pastoral assignments after seminary was to lead a grief support group, and I knew I was in way over my head. There was nothing that I could offer personally in that situation that would minister hope and comfort. But I was able to share God’s Word, and reveal who God was in the midst of suffering (it really was the only thing I had to offer!). And God worked powerfully, bringing deep peace to people who based on their circumstances should never have had peace. Through God’s Word, every person in that group knew and experienced Christ’s resurrection power!

3. An ongoing willingness to suffer (v.10)

Paul desires to continue to participate in Christ’s suffering. And clearly he has suffered significantly up to this point in his life and ministry. He does write this letter from prison after all! But there is no sense in which Paul feels entitled to a break from suffering because of what he has already endured. He is willing to continue to give everything for the sake of Christ and the gospel.

And while we should never actively want suffering in our lives (that would be weird), we should always be willing to suffer for Christ. In his book, The Mingling of Souls, Matt Chandler highlights a willingness and ability to suffer as one of the character traits that we should look for in someone that we are attracted to and are considering dating. And the same goes for any potential mentor or role model for our faith. The reality is that we will suffer in this life as Christians, and we can either run from that suffering and in doing so run away from Christ, or we can accept that suffering, and in doing so run towards Christ. One approach leads to spiritual stagnation, the other to spiritual growth. 

4. An ongoing willingness to die to yourself (v.10)

Paul wants to become like Christ in his death. In other words, just as Christ completely and fully sacrificed his life for us, Paul wants to completely and fully sacrifice his life for Christ. For us this is nothing short of following Jesus’ command to daily deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow him (Luke 9:23). We may or may not have a chance to actually die for our faith. But we daily have a choice to live for Christ or for ourselves.

Now it is easy to look as if you have died to yourself on Sunday morning, when we come together in corporate worship, praising God through singing and the Word. But the real evidence of a sacrificed life is seen on Monday through Saturday, and whether we die to ourselves in our work, our families, our social lives, our finances, and our relationships. Jesus calls us to take up our crosses daily, which means a complete and full surrender to Jesus and to his Lordship over our lives.   

5. Focusing on where you are headed, and living in light of that target (v.11)

Paul knows that eternal life lies ahead of him. He does not know the when and how, which is the reason for the seeming uncertainty in this verse. But he knows with complete certainty that one day he will be with God in heaven for all eternity. And in the new heavens and new earth, there will be no more sin, no more pain, no more death, no more suffering. And there will be a perfect relationship with God (Revelation 21:1-4).

This is what Paul is focused on. This is his goal. This should be our goal as well. But goals do not just give us hope for the future, they shape our present realities. They shape how we live. If you have a goal to get into better shape, you do not sit around and wish and hope to be in better shape. You work towards that goal. You exercise, you make choices like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and you change your diet to eat healthier foods. And the same is true of our spiritual goals. If heaven is our goal, where there will be sinless perfection, perfect relationships with God and others, and perfect justice, then we should work towards that future reality in our lives now. What does that mean for you? Kill sin in your life. Don’t settle for ongoing sin in your life just because sin is still a reality that we face this side of heaven. Work towards better relationships with God and with others. Do the hard work of reconciling with those you are in conflict with. Look for injustice in the world around you and fight for justice in those situations. When you know where you are going, it helps you live in light of that target, which will lead to a deep, vibrant, growing relationship with God.

So which of these areas challenge you the most? How can you begin to take Paul’s desires and make them your own? And do you see these desires in the lives of the people you allow to influence you? As we seek to have mature Christian influences in our lives, seek out those people who are continuing to grow spiritually. 

Discipleship Week 14: Imitate those whose confidence is in Christ alone

Philippians 3:7-9

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

As we seek to have mature Christian influences in our lives we should seek out people whose confidence is in Christ alone. And this point comes out of Paul’s discussion of his Jewish opponents. It seemed to be a common practice that they would follow Paul in his travels, and after he left a city they would go to the Christians there and try to convince them that to truly be a part of God’s people they essentially had to become Jewish first, and be circumcised. To truly follow God they also had to follow the Jewish law.

Now this raises two issues. One is the theological issue, the question of how we are made righteous in order to be accepted by God. Clearly we must be righteous in order to stand before a perfect, holy, just God. But how do we become righteous? The Jewish answer is that righteousness comes through obedience to the law, hence the emphasis on circumcision and the zeal of the Pharisees to follow the law to the letter. This is somewhat ironic given that throughout Israel’s history they had a massive problem in obeying this very law.

And Paul rejects such thinking, both here and more fully in other epistles. Righteousness does not come from following the law, but comes from God through faith in Jesus Christ. We are accepted by God and drawn into his family, not on the basis of our own efforts to keep the law, but because of Jesus Christ. That is why Paul can say that we are the circumcision, even though the vast majority of Gentiles were not physically circumcised. God has circumcised our hearts through faith in Jesus Christ, and therefore we are his people. All of this is completely by his lavish grace. So any effort to focus on righteousness through the human effort of law keeping severely undermines the gospel message.

The second issue flows out of the theological issue, and it addresses where we place our confidence. What do we stand on for our status and our self-identity? How can we be confident that we are right with God? Paul rightly argues that the only thing that we can be confident in is Christ alone. The only thing we should boast of is Christ, for it is only through Christ that we can come to God. Paul points out that if he wanted to stand on his Jewish resume, he had far more qualifications than any of his opponents. But he calls those qualifications garbage. Rubbish.

Now as D.A. Carson notes, most of us probably are not seriously tempted to boast about Jewish religious heritage and circumcision. But all of us have things in our lives that we do boast about and place our confidence in for our status. Dr. Sheldon Cooper from the TV show Big Bang Theory is a perfect example of this. Despite being socially clueless, he is a brilliant theoretical physicist, and he uses his vast intelligence to establish his status over and above everyone else. Knowing that he is smarter than everyone else is one of the keys to his self-identity. And he is quite vocal about it!

Now I think one of the reasons Sheldon is so loved by fans of the show is because in some ways he makes us feel better about ourselves. We may have our social failures and struggles, but surely we’re not as arrogant and narcissistic as he is! Surely we do not boast about ourselves as much as Sheldon does! But… if we boast in anything other than Christ, we are Sheldon. When we place our identity and status and confidence in anything other than Christ, we are Sheldon. And while this boasting is sometimes vocal, it often takes place deep in our heart. These are the things that make us feel superior to others. We boast about the quality of our church’s worship. We boast about the outreaches that our church is doing. We boast in our pastor’s preaching ability. We boast about the strength of our family, and we boast about the awesomeness of our spouse or significant other. None of these things are bad…it is great to have a church that has great worship, strong preaching, local and global outreach, and healthy families and relationships. We can take joy from these things, because ultimately these things are good gifts from our heavenly Father. But when we begin to find our identity in these things over and above Christ, when we begin to place our spiritual status in these things over and above Christ, and when we use these things to elevate ourselves spiritually instead of pointing others to Christ, then we face the same problem as those who opposed Paul…we are finding our identity in our own efforts, and not in Christ.

So we need to take an honest inventory, and ask what those things are in our lives that we are boasting about that we need to consider as garbage. And then we need to actually make them garbage, and turn to the only one we can and should place our confidence in: Jesus Christ. And as we seek to have mature Christian influences in our lives, we need to seek out people whose only confidence is in Christ. Having a strong spiritual resume is not a bad thing for a potential role model to have, in fact it is quite important! But if that resume is their identity instead of Christ, then they will not point you to Christ but to themselves, and that is not someone you want to imitate.

1. What are some things the world puts its confidence in? What are some things Christians put their confidence in that is not Christ?

2. When a person only has confidence in Christ, how do they look different than others? What qualities make them good role models?

3. What are things in your life that you boast about (either publicly or privately) that you need to “consider them garbage” this week?

Discipleship Week 13: Imitate those who have been tested

Philippians 2:22

“But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.”

As we seek to have mature Christian influences in our lives we should seek out people who have been tested. It is easy to be attracted to the charismatic pastor, or to the believer who appears to be on fire for the Lord. We want what they have. And often the fire that we see does come from a deep, genuine faith that is well worth emulating in our own lives.

However the appearance of godliness and a deep passion for God does not always correlate to actual godliness and a strong relationship with the Lord. Sadly, the charisma and passion often does not go beneath the surface. But this is why Paul gives us the example of both Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples for us to imitate. Both men have been tested, and the tests have shown their faith to be substantive, genuine, and lasting. In Timothy’s case he has been tested by time. He has served alongside of Paul for years, in the same way that a son grew up learning his father’s trade. So the Philippians would know, based on his long association with Paul, of his qualification for gospel ministry. In Epaphroditus’ case the test was hardship. Verse 27 tells us that he almost died, and it was seemingly only a sovereign act of God that kept him alive and helped him to recover. But such a hardship reveals Epaphroditus’ true character and faith…he is willing to die for the work of Christ (v.30). His faith is not superficial in any way! Because of the testing of their faith, both Timothy and Epaphroditus stand as examples of faith that is worth imitating.

So when we seek to have mature Christian influences in our lives, people who can be examples for us on how to live the Christian life, we need to seek out people who have been tested, by time, or by hardship, or better yet, by both. Such testing reveals how much substance there is to a person’s faith. It burns away any superficiality, it destroys the masks that people put up to appear spiritual, and it leaves only real, genuine faith (or a lack thereof). It reveals whether a person’s faith is built on a strong foundation or a weak one (Matthew 7:24-27). And such testing produces perseverance in the believer, which leads to spiritual maturity (James 1:2-4). So it is critical that the people we seek to imitate in the Christian life are people who have been tested.

1. Think about Christians you know who have been tested, either by time, by hardship, or both. What do you notice about their faith that is different from someone who has not been tested in these ways? What is attractive about their faith that you want to see in your own life?

2. James 1:2-4 says that the testing of our faith produces perseverance, which leads to spiritual maturity. What are areas of your life where you are lacking in perseverance, and how does the example of other believers who have been tested, either by time or by hardship, or both, challenge you and encourage you to grow in perseverance and in your relationship with God?

Discipleship Week 12: Imitate those who are selfless

Philippians 2:20-21

“For I have no one like him (Timothy), who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”

As we seek to have mature Christian influences in our lives we should seek people who are selfless, not selfish. That may seem obvious, but in our world, just like in Paul’s, the majority of people “seek their own interests.” Finding selfless people, even amongst Christians, can be difficult. So often those in leadership or in positions of authority (both inside and outside the church) act with self-centered motives. Even good deeds and actions can be done with selfish intentions. An easy example of this is found in politics, where politicians so often vote and push legislation with selfish motives (staying in office), regardless of whether said legislation is good for the people they represent. But self-centered actions can be found in the church as well, when leaders serve with the motivation to get recognized, or when money is allowed to speak louder than spiritual maturity in policy decisions, or when people advocate for decisions based only on their personal preferences and tastes. The list of self-centered motives goes on and on.

This is why the example of Timothy is so refreshing. He is someone who is genuinely concerned for the welfare of the Philippians. The needs of the Philippians come above his own. And this is the kind of person we should allow to influence us, for ultimately this is the kind of person who points us back to Christ. As D.A. Carson notes about Timothy’s selflessness, “this is nothing other than a sign that Timothy follows not only Paul but Jesus. Although Christ enjoyed equality with God, he did not think of such equality as something to be exploited, but adopted the form of a servant. He became a human being, a man, and then obediently went to his odious death on the cross. Those who follow Jesus Christ inevitably learn to cast self-interest and self-comfort and self-focus to one side.” –D.A. Carson, Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians

Have we learned to cast self-interest and self-comfort and self-focus to one side? First, we need to consider where we are on a scale of self-centeredness. Are we self-focused, or others-focused? Most of us are far more self-centered than we care to admit! But then, knowing where we are on that scale, we need to find Christ-centered influences who can help us become more selfless, and follow Christ’s example.

1. What are characteristics of leaders who are more self-focused than others-focused? What has been the result in your life when you have let this kind of person influence you?

2. What are characteristics of Christian leaders who are more others-focused than self-focused? What has been the result in your life when you have let this kind of person influence you?

3. If we are to move on the scale of self-centeredness to looking more to the welfare of others than ourselves, we need to follow the example of Christ and Timothy. What are some practical ways we can follow this example?

Discipleship Week 11: Influenced for Christ

Philippians 3:17

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”

This section in Philippians (2:19-3:21) comes right after Paul’s beautiful and powerful description of the work of Christ on the cross, and his call for us to imitate Christ and his example of self-sacrificial, self-emptying love. We should constantly be seeking to imitate Christ, and the cross should shape our entire lives. But as we seek to imitate Christ, it is always helpful to have other influences in our lives that can show us how to live the Christ-centered lives that we ourselves are seeking to live. Therefore Paul spends some significant time in this section describing the type of mature Christians that we should seek as examples for ourselves.

Bottom line: It is critical that we have mature, Christ-centered influences in our lives. And the reason that this is so critical is that we are influenced by so many things that shape who we are and how we view the world. And if we are not careful, we will be influenced by people and things that do not point us towards Christ-likeness, but that in reality lead us away from Christ. And I can think of at least four ways that we can err when it comes to the influences that we allow in our lives.

1. We allow too many influences in our lives.

How much influence do your friends and family have over you? How much influence do the games you play and media you use have over you? Given the astronomical amount of media consumption by the average college student,[i] I would argue that most of us have altogether way to many things influencing us. And this may seem overly simplified but it needs to be said: if these influences are not Christian influences, they are not going to point you towards Christ. And even if you do have Christian influences in your life that do point you towards Christ, they will be massively overshadowed by the staggering amount of other influences that you have in your life that point you away from Christ.

2. We limit the influences in our lives, but we allow the wrong influences in.

Maybe we can be discerning and realize that there are too many people or things that are influencing us. But it is one step to realize that and another step to limit those influences to people or things that will point you towards Christ. Often we will let family and long time friends influence us, not because we have evaluated the quality of their influence, but simply because there is so much longevity and closeness in those relationships and we equate that closeness with reliability. The question should not be, how close are you to the person you allow to influence you? Rather, the question should be, how close is that person to Christ?  

3. We do not allow ourselves to be influenced at all.

Once we realize that there are a lot of negative influences surrounding us, it can be tempting to go too far in the opposite direction and just shut out everyone and everything, and not allow ourselves to be influenced at all. Often people who have been hurt or abused can easily shut everything out, simply as a form of self-protection. But this creates all kind of problems. It leads to a kind of self-centeredness, where we only allow ourselves to be influenced by our thoughts and our feelings, and not by God. It can also become destructive to friendships and relationships, because when you refuse to allow someone to influence you, there is no way for that relationship to grow. It is a very helpless feeling when you realize that you cannot influence someone that you care about. Those relationships will not last. So we cannot just shut out every influence, because then we would just be left with our (broken, sinful, deceitful) selves.

4. We think we are not influenced by people and things that really do influence us.

“This ____________________ doesn’t impact me.” That is a line that has been used countless times to justify sinful behavior. Fill in the blank. This movie with graphic nudity doesn’t impact me. This pornography doesn’t impact me. This show with constant profanity doesn’t impact me. My messed up family doesn’t impact me. My friends who like to get drunk and party don’t impact me. This may seem like a statement of strong willpower. But it is really just naïve. These people and things DO impact us, and often their influence goes far deeper than we could possibly imagine. Studies have shown for example, that pornography not only impacts us relationally, but actually alters our brain biochemically, hurts us physically, and is linked to a whole host of emotional struggles.[ii] And that should rightly freak us out. So instead of carrying on the game that the influences in our lives don’t really influence us, we need to acknowledge that they do influence us and seek to have more Christ-centered influences in our lives.

So the challenge as we enter this next section of Philippians is to consider what the influences are in our lives, whether or not they point us to Christ, and to seek more Christ-like influences to help us as we grow in our relationship with God.

1. Who has influenced you the most in your life? How has this person influenced you? Has this been positive or negative?

2. We are shaped by any number of influences in our lives: family, friends, teachers…even video games and media influence us. How have these influences shaped you? Have these influences drawn you closer towards Christ or away from Christ?

3. What are the areas where you need to grow in your faith? What kind of Christians should you seek to be around in order to grow in these areas?

4. What are ways you can learn from mature Christian leaders that you cannot learn from other influences?

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[i] Given the tendency of younger generations to multitask their media (i.e. be on their phone, watching tv, and gaming all at the same time), it is now possible to consume more than 24 of media in a single day.

[ii] http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/9-things-you-should-know-about-pornography-and-the-brain