Living Theologically

Three friends were asked, “When you’re in the casket, what would you like your friends and congregants to say about you?” Artie said: “That I was a wonderful husband, a fine spiritual leader, and a great family man.” Eugene commented: “I would like them to say I was a wonderful teacher and servant of God who made a huge difference in people’s lives.” Don said: “I’d like them to say, “Look, he’s moving!”

Speaking of moving, as my family travels from NY to TX, we eagerly anticipate being with our new Lakewood family. Upon my arrival, we will begin studying the book of Matthew on Wednesday evenings. In an effort to get the most out of our study this spring, we will be providing you with a sheet listing the dates, topics, and chapters to be covered. I hope you will read ahead so that you can get the most out of our studies and participate in our class discussions!

Matthew’s genealogy (1:1-17) reveals Jesus as a descendant of the Davidic family and the legitimate Messiah. Matthew uses the word commonly translated as “to beget” or “to be father of” not in the sense of how we use it, but in a “relative/descendant of” sense. Through this list of seemingly inconsequential names, one can learn many lessons. In researching the names listed, we learn this genealogy: proclaims God’s faithfulness, demonstrates Christ’s humanity, and hints at God’s purposes in how he dealt with Israel. One of my favorite observations of the genealogy concerns the sinfulness of those individuals found within it. God saw fit to save humanity through the bloodline of a family with a checkered past. I am thankful that just as God was able to do great things through the line of David, he is able to do great things through and in spite of my own shortcomings! Remember to thank God for the grace and hope he has given to those who choose to serve Him!

A Celtic Prayer of Blessing for Our Children
Edited and translated by Patrick Mead.

Dear Father above, we ask that your angels have charge
Over these souls, these young in the fold of the saints.
Encamp around them at night and in the day.
Show them your mercies.

Drive from them every temptation and snare
And surround them as they sail through a world of unrighteousness.
Keep them in the narrows, the crooks and the straits
And never let their boat be overwhelmed.

Be a bright flame before them,
A guiding star above them,
A smooth path below them,
And a kind shepherd in front of them
Today, tonight, and forever.

Ward them from distress and danger
Place your pure light before them,
And let them always lean on your arm,
On the arm of the King of heaven.

Since it was you, O Christ, who bought these souls,
We pray that you would also give them wisdom and peace.
Direct your angels to prepare their paths,
And lead them gently through this world to their final home with you.

Amen.

The Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25:14-30

Growing up I believed this was about the “gifts of the spirit” that we have been given which are listed in Paul’s letters. This was because I often heard it preached that the point Jesus is driving home is that we each have been given spiritual gifts and we must use them or lose them.  I am not so sure that this is the case though.  In fact, I don’t believe this is anywhere near what Christ was actually teaching given its context.  Given the surrounding context and internal evidence, it seems that this parable is not so much about “gifts” or “god-given talents” like serving and giving, rather, it seems to be more about returning to the throne of God “with interest” (v.27). Many preachers and teachers over the last 20-30 years have been taking this parable out of context and inadvertently changing its intended meaning.  We have been taking the english meaning of the word “talent” (which is transliterated from the greek word “talanton” which is a measure of weight used for coinage (BDAG).  This word has been overused and misrepresented when it comes to this pericope while the crucial points of the text have been neglected.  Following are four crucial points of this pericope:

1. God has given us a great gift.  This gift was the gift of life and the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven.
2. God expects us to gain interest on His behalf and not return empty-handed.  We must do our best to share the gift we have been given (life and the Kingdom of God) with those around us.  Essentially this goes back to what will later be known as the Great Commission, the sharing of the hope that is found in Christ.
3. God expects us to sow even where He did not.  This brings to mind a parable.  While Christ came and sowed the seed in an earlier time, we are called to continue His work and sow where He did not.
4. We will be judged on these things.  These are not optional items.  We must follow through with providing an interest on God’s investment.  God has invested in our lives as Christians and granted us the power and His Spirit to help us spread the good news.  While some will be better than others (just as different amounts of talents were given to each), and each will bring a different amount of interest, we must all work to not return empty handed.

It seems that this parable has to do with being prepared and preparing others to meet the eternal Kingdom as its King returns for us. I have a hard time believing this is only discussing social services & benevolence. This is a great teaching on discipleship and the necessity of proclaiming the hope we have in Christ.

What are your thoughts? How have you invested the gifts of life and the Kingdom?

Often times, churches begin small group ministries believing they will be wildly effective and are disappointed.  Scratching their heads, leaders evaluate and discuss but cannot understand why their new groups are ineffective.  As one who has not only spend tons of time researching effective groups and has led small groups which grew rapidly, I want to share a few of my thoughts on what makes a small group ministry ineffective and then how we might change direction to making them a positive addition to congregations.

What makes a small group ineffective?

1. Lack of preparation.  Many churches believe they can begin small groups without having been a part of one before and be just as effective.  Before a congregation begins a small group ministry, the ministry leader heading it up should spend at least 6 months researching, reading, and gathering information.  There is lots of information out there and many ways to do it.  Do not just pick one book or one model to follow.  If you, yourself have never lead or been part of an effective small group, you likely will not be very effective for a while as it will be a HUGE learning curve.
2. Lack of focus.  Why are you gathered?  What is the schedule?  What is the desired outcome?  Small groups need a focus.  If you are not offering anything focused, why would anyone show up?  They can “hang out” with people in bars, parks, stadiums, etc.  All of which are better options if you’re trying to reach the lost and have un-focused small groups.
3. Lack of DNA. Often times we struggle to get small groups going because it is new to the congregation and not part of its DNA.  This will be a problem for many many years until it slowly works its way to the foundation of the established church.  In reality, it may never work as well as if it was originally implemented at the beginning of the churches DNA formation.
4. Lack of facilitation.  Many times small group discussions bomb because it is not really a discussion at all.  The leader may not know how to facilitate conversation, a member may dominate the conversation, or it may not be an environment others feel comfortable sharing in.  This is one of the hardest areas to overcome.
5. Lack of “lay leadership.”  One of the biggest mistakes a church can make is to ask its elders or minister to be the leaders of the group or perceived as the leader of the group.  This sets up the default view that they are the expert and one with the answers.  We already have this problem in churches causing a lack of lay ministry…we don’t need it in small groups.  It is true that the small group leaders may work with the elders or minister, but that does not make the elders or minister in charge of the discussion of the small group.  if you empower lay leaders to lead the group discussions and plan it, you will notice a shift in livelihood of the discussion.

What am I risking for God’s Mission? In my last post I wrote about our call to live a life of risk for the sake of the Gospel.  This has been weighing on my heart for some time as I examine my life and realize the lack of risk I have taken and the life of my last few congregations and their lack of risk for Christ.

God works when we only trust Him.  I feel we do not see God working in big ways in our lives because we like to keep a comfort zone around us and to trust God as long as we have our own “padding” surrounding us as well.  This “do it yourself” is unnatural to God’s creation.  From the birds, to the fish, and ultimately to humanity, God has created them to rely upon Him.  In fact, Christ tells us not to worry about our needs but about being within God’s Will (Luke 12:22-31).

Christ teaches us to FIRST seek His Kingdom.  We must seek to do the Will of God.  We must first seek to proclaim the good news.  We must first seek to save our souls and our family.  We must look to God FIRST, and only then do we think about our necessities.  Christ says in verse 31 that if we will first seek God’s kingdom, everything we need will be given to us!  Can you see the risk involved?  This is risky living.  When we completely rely upon God, we risk our house, our job, our suburban lifestyle–we risk everything.

Complete trust in God leads to provision.  In Luke 12:32-34, Christ encourages His listeners not to fear but to completely trust God.  He tells them to sell everything and give to those in need, to store up treasures in heaven, and to adjust their concept of true treasure.  Christ teaches His disciples that it is not the physical that is important, but the spiritual.  While this does not mean we must literally sell everything (for even Peter seems to have owned a house), it does mean we must be willing to give up whatever is asked of us for the sake of the kingdom.  We must be willing to risk everything for God’s mission.

How can we begin to take risks?  When living in a culture that provides its own safety nets but still claims God is their only one, how can we make the transition to living a risky life?  Below are several area’s we might begin a life of “risky Christianity”:

1. Risk Rejection.  Open your mouth and tell people about the hope you have in Christ.  Take a chance on them.  Sure, they may reject you and never speak to you again, but wouldn’t you rather them reject you now instead of getting to heaving knowing you never tried to bring that person with you?
2. Risk Complacency.  Get out and do something.  We have become so comfortable and complacent that we will never impact our community if we don’t get up and start living on mission for God.  Shake things up in your life, go out on a limb, and try something great for God.
3. Risk Employment.  Sometimes God calls us from a job to do His Will.  Are you willing to answer Him in that way if ever asked?  Are you willing to risk a nice comfortable job for the unknown if God calls you to that?
4. Risk Failure.  Anytime we do something great for God, we run the risk of failure and embarrassment.  This is how we grow and learn.  Failure is just a reinforcement of “what won’t work.”  It doesn’t mean God has given up on you or that you have done wrong.  Use failure as a teachable moment and move on with God.
5. Risk Everything.  Follow God blindly if asked to do so.  I don’t know what God will ask you to risk for His sake, but let Him know you are willing, scared, but ready to risk it.  Jesus risked His life for you, will you do the same?  The early church risked life and work to bring you the message of Christ, are you willing to do the same?
6. Risk Reputation.  Sometimes, those who risk everything for the call of Christ are jeered (Noah), beat (Paul), condemned (Christ), and rejected by those around them.  Are you willing to risk a reputation of what the world sees as “holy” for a reputation in the eyes of God?  While this is not always the case, depending upon your circumstances, it is a reality.

Missio Dei requires risk.  The mission of God requires a risk on our part.  The beautiful thing is that God has already promised us the reward.  We are placing all our bets on God and we have a sure thing!  What is God calling you to do in order to live a life of “risky Christianity?”

What has God asked you to risk?

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.’” Daniel 3:16-18

Forgotten Heros.  While the book of Daniel is typically only spoken of in relation to, well, Daniel, it seems unfair to his three friends who had just as much courage and trust in God.  These forgotten heroes of faith are mentioned in Hebrews 11 but are often overlooked when discussing the chapter.  As I reflect on Daniel 3, I always come to a stop at these few verses above.  What faith they must have had in God, what trust it must have taken to walk into those flames!  When faced with death, the three friends gladly accepted their fate and placed it all in the hands of God. When asked to recant, they simply said there was no need for them to defend themselves and even if God chose not to save them from the fire, they were still willing to endure the flames!

Uncertain Fate.  We often talk about placing our life on the line and trusting God, especially when we know the outcome.  But what about when we don’t know if God will save us from the eminent doom?  Daniel’s three friends loved God, believed God, and even trusted Him but they were unsure of their fate!  They had no idea if God would save them from the fire or if they would be burned alive in a horrible, torturous display of wickedness.

They Jumped Anyway.  Even though they didn’t know if God would save them from the fire, these three young men were willing to jump in anyway for the sake of God’s glory.  It’s easy to take a bullet with a vest on…it’s a lot harder to take one without the vest.  Where was their vest?  They didn’t know what God’s plan was.  Their only concern was staying faithful to Him above everything else, even life itself!

Will You ?  When we are faced with a problem and we are uncertain of the outcome and it seems as though God is silent at the moment, are we willing to jump into the fire anyway?  Do we love God so much that, even if he does not save us from the fire we would willingly endure it?  When you can’t see God through the flames and smoke, will you still journey into the unknown for the sake of God’s name?  These young men were.  Because of their trust, God came to their rescue and allowed them to work for Him on the earth longer.  But what if He didn’t save them from the fire?  Apparently they were okay with that.  Dying for loyalty to God is better than living as a traitor.

Living Involves Fire.  The more I read, write, research, and interview others about living incarnationally, the clearer it becomes that this is not to be taken lightly.  To truly follow Jesus requires walking into the fire, sometimes without a clear sighting of God or His angel!  It is a game of risk that God has called us to.  Sometimes you will fail many times before you get it right.  Sometimes your plans go up in flames and God allows them to burn without giving the reason.  On occasion, God rewards those who trust Him with a relatively easy success.  Often in following Christ we will be sent into the fire for not compromising on our trust in God.

Are you ready and willing to jump in if God asks you to?

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord…For the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:13-14, 16b

I was following my daily routine.  Walking into a patients room at the VA Hospital, I was prepared for the worst case scenario, except for this one.  It was customary to switch off with others when you needed a break or to get some lunch.  While we were happy to fill in for each other, there was the understanding that if anything goes wrong, it is ultimately the fault of who the primary caretaker of the patient was.  Therefore, when relieving one for a break, all caution was taken to ensure things remained stable until the caretaker returned.

Returning from break, I began to walk my rounds and check on my patients.  It’s the VA Hospital and we had patients who ranged from minor issues to critical ones…we had those who were moments from death and those who would be going home later that day.  So, it’s not out of the ordinary to find people huddled over a bed trying to revive a patient and other times they are simply trying to mobilize the patient.  No matter what was going on, usually the commotion was great enough to call attention to it.  Not on this day however.

Then I found the silent horror.  I walked into the patients room, looked with horror, and while yelling for help, flipped the emergency switch and dashed to the patient who was laying on the floor in a large pool of blood.  As other nurses gathered and we assessed the situation, we knew it was time for careful, calculated action.  Checking for head and spine injuries, we eventually determined it was safe to slowly move the individual from the floor to the bed to further assess him.  In now soiled scrubs, we each did our part and eventually the patient returned patched up and recovering from the fall.  Then it was time to talk with the family.

Gathered around and vividly concerned, the family canon balled me with questions as I entered the room.  While there was someone assigned to cover my patients, the blame still came back to me.  As they fired questions, one after the other, at me–hardly giving me time to answer any of them, the patient began to speak.  In a quick hush, all turned to hear what would be said.

“You’re a minister, right?” the patient asked.  ”Yes,” I replied wondering how the situation was influencing their view of Christ.  ”What does that have to do with anything!?” one of the members yelled, “Minister or not, he should have taken care of you!”  While I know that I did the best I could and everything I was trained to do, these words still have an effect on me.

“Does your church have elders?”  Yes, I replied.

“Son, please ask them to pray for my health and tests.”

This patient understood the importance of a righteous mans prayer.  This patient understood not only grace (which he had not just for me but for the entire nursing staff when we fall short), but that our elders, our spiritual guides are held in a special place of the heart of God.  Just as God heard the shepherd of Israel, Moses, he pays attention when our congregational shepherds speak to Him.  Who is it that you call when you are sick, suffering, hospitalized, or just down?  Is it the preacher, a friend, a family member, or a therapist?  I want to challenge you to make your first response, a phone call to your shepherds so that they may pray for you and lay hands upon you, lifting your problem into the hands of God.

-JLF

Katie and I have fallen in love with our church family in Clifton Park over the last year.  It’s amazing how quickly time flies when you’re doing what you love.  Following is a quick “recap” of what accomplishments and differences have come about over the last year in relation to my job:

Baptisms:  4

Evangelistic Studies:  17

Discipleship Studies: 6

Sermons: 49

Classes: 47

Average Work Week: 62 hrs

Miles Driven: 2,677+

Area Wide Sing: 128 attendees

Guest Speakers: 6

January 2011 average attendance:  44

Average attendance by December 2011:  73

Peak Attendance:  87

Web Traffic:  Average 43 unique’s a week

New Songs Learned:  17+

Added an additional Elder and one additional Deacon.

New or Improved:

• Began Life Groups
• Began Evangelism Group
• Began writing about Discipleship
• Improved Worship Flow
• Overhauled Website
• Compiled New Song Book
• Hosted Capital District Christian Conference
• Hosted Area Wide Sing
• Participated in Binghamton Flood Relief
• Laid a new, wood floor in the Family Room
• Redistribute Missions funds to help support domestic missionaries

So one of the many stops our cruise went was to San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Rather than book an excursion, Caitlin and I felt this was the perfect time to explore the city of San Juan.  Being a sucker for old cities and cobble stone streets, we began exploring the “old city” first.  To our delight, we found many hidden ally’s, cobble stone streets, and other old looking stuff.  This picture was taken in one of those ally’s.  I’m so glad my wife allows me to photograph her everywhere we go!  She just makes the picture look so much better!

This was taken in an ally that we seemed to have to wait forever to find a moment without people traffic.

Whew!  It’s been several months since I have written on this blog and so much has happened.  As you see, I have been reworking the look and layout of joshuafreeman.net.  I have also added many additional things such as my sermons found under “media” and various categories of resources.  I will write more concerning these later.

Matthew 28:18-20a “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.’” (ESV)

Mark 16:15 “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’”  (ESV)

From an early age I have loved these two verses.  They gave me mission and purpose.  I have always looked at these as speaking not only to the 11 apostles but also to every Christian who would follow.  I had understood this from the end of Matthew 18:20a where it commands the disciples to teach everyone to “observe all that I have commanded you.”  I had always assumed that when Jesus said to teach every new believer to obey everything he has commanded that the great commission was something every new believer was to fulfill.  Recently I have heard arguments against this which claim it was only for the apostles and according to Ephesians 5 and other scriptures, not all are to evangelize and make disciples.  I’m curious as to what you all think.

Was the Great Commission intended for all followers of Christ?  Why?