Forgive us, Father, for our indifference to the coming of your Son. We have not kept our lamps of expectation burning or bought the oil of eagerness in hope for the Bridegroom to return. We have bought a field and gone to look at it. We have bought oxen and spent time ooing and aahing over their height and weight. We have married a wife and desired her more than the coming of your Son. O Lord, forgive us. We are sorry for the dishonour that our wandering affections show to you and your servant, Jesus.

But Lord, we are eager to change. And we come to you for help. Incline our hearts to Christ. Open our eyes to the glory of Christ. Make the appearing of our great God and Saviour a ‘blessed hope’ in our hearts – a happy hope, a satisfying hope. Break our addiction to this world. Cause us to set our minds on things that are above where Christ is seated at your right hand. Work in us the command of Peter to ‘hope fully in the grace of God that is coming at the revelation of Jesus Christ’. Free us from the anxieties that come from too much dependence on earthly circumstances. Form us into a radical band of risk-takers in the cause of love because we know that this mortal flesh will put on immortality and this body of lowliness will be transformed into a body like Christ’s glorious body.

We love you, Father. We love your Son’s appearing. Grant us to live out this hope in the freedom of self-sacrifice to the glory of your great grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Piper’s prayers are soul-nourishing.

Coming up on the CMS calendar is this event – which we’d encourage non-CG-South 5:17ers to get along to if you can – for thought-provoking help in understanding Islam and Muslims in Australia, plus a yum home-cooked dinner!

Find out more about Journey In Mission here.

This last slide acts as a summary of the whole OT based on the framework introduced above. (click on it to see a bigger version of it)

If you’d like to read more about Goldsworthy’s Framework, look for The Goldsworthy Trilogy (Gospel and Kingdom, Gospel and Wisdom, The Gospel in Revelation) or According to Plan.

It’s easy for perfectionist-types to conceive of their sin as being frustrating lapses in their attempts to attain a perfect standard (which they delude themselves about actually being able to keep). Sin for perfectionists is against an impersonal standard, and against their better ability to achieve it. Repeated sin perpetuates the perfectionist’s prideful frustration.

It’s easy for self-pitying types to conceive of their sin as being yet another pitiful lapse, in keeping with all their other pitiful lapses to be a better person. Sin confirms them in their mindset that ‘the only thing keeping you from achieving your dreams is your negative attitude’. Sin for self-pitying types is also against an impersonal standard, and against their chronic inability to achieve it. Repeated sin perpetuates the self-pitier’s self-ward misery.

In both cases, there’s a terrible delusion at work – not that a perfect standard of morality doesn’t exist, but that it’s (supposed to be) achievable by us apart from Jesus achieving it for us.

But there’s also the key delusion that sin is merely against a standard rather than against a person. In actual fact, our sin is grievous not because it reflects our lack of self-betterment, but because it’s an expression of our rebellion against God. There’s a Person on the other end of our sin who is personally grieved by it.

If the perfectionist or the self-pitier would see their sin as being against a person, they would have the right biblical and relational motivation and empowerment to fight it – because not only does that Person care deeply about hating and fighting sin, He alone is able (and willing) to empower this fight to enable consistent victory. No longer then will the impersonal standard mock the hapless sinner, because the aggrieved Person doesn’t stop at being grieved, but offers the repentant sinner grace – grace to see and hate their sin rightly, and grace to overcome it.

It might be scarier to acknowledge that we sin against a Person rather than a standard, but it’s infinitely better for us. Because what an incredible God we serve (and sin against! :S) – who not only knows and grieves our weakness but is faithful and just (and unbelievably gracious) to forgive us our sin, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and to renew our very hearts and desires to love and obey Him.

‘Only conversion shatters the idol of self’;

2 Corinthians 5:15 tells the Christian that ‘my life is no longer mine’;

‘God has placed His throne where self has been’;

‘I have lost control of my life to Jesus’;

‘A Christian who lives for self is a contradiction in terms’.

What piercing statements.  And along with this death to self, is the certainty that Jesus’ disciples will suffer just as he did.  But God can be trusted; you will not find yourself on the losing side by being His, because He is no man’s debtor (Mark 10:29-31).

Someone who knows this incredibly clearly is Joni Eareckson Tada, and I thought it worth posting the link to the short video we watched of her on Sunday so you can be re-encouraged by her steadfast faith in God’s sovereignty and goodness.  (Joni’s book, A Step Further has been the best and most helpful (and readable!) book I’ve ever read on God’s purposes in suffering in our lives; I can’t recommend it highly enough!)

Click here for the 5-minute video (scroll down to bottom of screen), here for the article Joni mentioned by Dr John Piper called ‘Don’t waste your cancer’, and here for ongoing updates and encouragement re Joni’s medical progress.

After we finish our current Sunday Bible talks on the Letter of James, we’re going to head into the Old Testament book of Jeremiah. The series is going to be called “Beauty for Ashes”. Although ‘Beauty for Ashes’ is a quote from Isaiah 61:3, it works as a summary statement for the Book of Jeremiah for the following reasons:

• Jeremiah tells the story of people forsaking their Maker, Redeemer and First Love, and subsequently turning on each other. Jeremiah tells the story of a world in chaos.
• Jeremiah shows the effects of sin as it digs the depths of human anguish and pain, rejection, hatred, futility and foolishness.
• Jeremiah vividly portrays God’s wrath at all sin, and the fires of judgement that leaves devastating effects.
• But out of ‘the ashes’, Jeremiah shows the beauty that grace brings forth. New life is created, people are re-united – and God makes a new forgiven and renewed people for Himself, who treasure Him and find Him all-satisfying.

Here’s the outline of the sermon series (dates for each sermon will be finalised soon). Reading the passages ahead of time will help you grasp the sermons better!

18/7  - To pluck and to plant (Jeremiah 1:1-12)
25/7  - The Unheeded God (Jeremiah 7:1-29)
01/8  - Fire in the Bones (Jeremiah 20:1-18)
08/8  - The Ingathering (Jeremiah 23:1-8)
15/8  - A Fresh Start (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
22/8  - Seeking great things for yourself (Jeremiah 45:1-5)

“Beauty for Ashes” will be a roller coaster ride, but hopefully it will be a profound ride, as we further grasp the world we live in, its problem/s, the solution, and the God of justice and of grace.

Sometimes saying something unpopular or politically incorrect is like this. Like when Christians repeat things Jesus said that were most definitely unpopular and un-PC. Like when Christians talk about sin or hell or judgement like they’re real, and refuse to pretend that God is so ‘loving’ He arbitrarily accepts all people in heaven.

Several weeks ago, we displayed a series of 4 signs on our church signboard that were probably both unpopular and un-PC to most onlookers.

School violence, racism, GFC

- do society’s problems run

deeper than our solutions?

—

Does a solution exist

that runs as deeply

as the problem?

—

GK Chesterton said -

‘the problem is I’.

Will anyone else agree?!

—

Biblical Christianity offers

both diagnosis and solution -

Sinners need a Saviour.

Hardly politically correct,

but worth investigating?

But we were trying to be carefully confronting, because what good is being popular, palatable, and PC, if it also means being deceptive? If Jesus presented his Father in words that were comfortable to his hearers but not actually true, what good would that do them when they came to meet God in judgement? So as Jesus showed integrity to his mission by being ruthlessly true to his message, we believe as Christians we have to show integrity to Jesus by not mincing our words either.*

So back to our church signs. In one sense we are sorry if they caused offence. We don’t want to turn people off or away from Jesus and his message, because he said that it’s only through trusting in him that we can have forgiveness and Life. But we acknowledge these can be difficult ideas to swallow. Heck, many of us in this church found this to be the case and wrestled hard against them before being won over by them.

Ultimately that’s our hope (and prayer) for you if you’ve come across our signs or this blog post and find yourself offended by biblical Christianity. Could we humbly, respectfully, sincerely ask you to not just dismiss Jesus’ claims, but to wrestle with them?

Because we truly don’t like being unpopular in presenting them to you; we don’t enjoy the feeling of causing offence! But we’re bound by the spirit of integrity to risk our mutual embarrassment now, for the sake of minimising some awful repercussions later.

Because Jesus said -

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

—

*Contrary to popular opinion, this doesn’t equate with being judgemental. Judgementalism has to do with standing above another person by showing personal disrespect or disdain to them or their beliefs. However, respectfully disagreeing with another is simply that (unfortunately seen as intolerant and unpopular when Christians do it, but acceptable practice otherwise!).

Jesus is the senior pastor / the chief Shepherd / the Good Shepherd of 5:17 church (1 Peter 5:4; John 10:11). Jesus is the head of the church worldwide, including 5:17 church. He bought the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28), and He sets the agenda for who we are and what we do:

1. To love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; and to love our neighbours as ourselves (Matt 22:37-39); and
2. To make disciples (of Jesus) in all nations (Matt 28:18-20).

How do we do this?

1. We listen to His voice and follow Him (John 10:4). This is why the Bible study, Bible reading and sermon are the heart of our Community Groups and Sunday services. All of Scripture speaks of Jesus (Luke 24:27, 44-47) – the Old Testament points to Jesus, the New Testament describes His person and work and shows us how to live in light of His life, death, resurrection, ascension and Second Coming. 5:17 gathers to hear from Jesus and to know how to know Him better and follow Him more wholeheartedly.
2. We go to Jesus for pastoral care – to cast all our anxieties on Him, and to approach His throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy and help in times of need (1 Peter 5:7; Hebrews 4:14-16)
3. We pray in His name – because there is only one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (John 14:13; 1 Timothy 2:5)
4. We serve each other as His hands and feet – the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27).

In the end, my confidence as a pastor and our confidence as a church is the promise that nothing can separate us from God’s love, and He will build His church and the gates of hell won’t prevail against it (Romans 8:38-39; Matt 16:18).

And that has made all the difference to my mentality. Hope it gives you confidence to keep moving forward too!

(I know I haven’t exhausted all the things Jesus is for us and calls us to do: feel free to add more in the comments!)

Here is the recording of last Sunday’s sermon on James 1:2-18 entitled Pursuing wholeness through trials.

James 1.1 – Pursuing wholeness through trials

Enjoy

If you are ever struggling to think of something to pray for 5:17 church, here’s a great 8-second prayer that we would love you to bring to God our Father:

“Lord, cause your Word to run and be glorified in the ministries of 5:17 and the missions we support. Amen!”

You can find the source of this prayer here, reflecting on 2 Thessalonians 3:1