I listened to the training found here on Church Planting Movements. These are highly reproducible discovery bible studies that eventually turn into self-replicating churches (warning: this is a simplistic definition, but it's not the main focus of the post). While I disagree with some of what he teaches, all in all, this training has really inspired me to treat my evangelism a little bit differently.
One of the things he suggests is having a cache of "micro" bible studies. Something that could be shared in a minute or less. He suggests you state something like "God taught me something today," or "I learned something new about God today." If the person asks "What?" then you have permission to share a micro-bible study.
One study he presents would go something like this: "God knows all of my thoughts. That's frankly kind of scary. I have thoughts that I wouldn't want anyone to know about. What do you think about this?" The goal is not walk through your gospel summary or outline, rather over the course of 6mos to a year going through enough content that the person would know the gospel message.
I asked my small group to pray that I would be bold enough to try this at work. Here are my results.
Micro-Bible Study 1: Someone had shared about a hard time a family member was having with long-term illness. I shared out of Romans 8:18-28, pointing out that all of creation groans for redemption. It is clear that there is something wrong with the world; suffering is in a sense, wrong. Secondly God does redeem suffering, and he uses it for good. So in the midst of suffering that seems so wrong (and it is!), it can be used for good.
MBS 2: Romans 10:1-4. I shared the passage and tried to drive home the idea that we can't be righteous on our own. Nothing that we do will ever be good enough. We can only stand justified before God because of Christ's righteousness.
Selection: I selected the passages pretty passively. They were part of my bible reading plan and as I read a passage I thought of these people. I had to know what was going on in these peoples' lives in order for the passage to jump out, so you have to talk to people.
Opportunity: I just looked for times when I was basically alone with the person. At the end of the day I have my own office and people are usually filtering in and out throughout the night. I just took advantage when one of them were in there. Each time, someone else walked in while I was reading the bible passage to them. I just kept going and they left. So far I haven't heard anything about it.
Ice Breaker: I was pretty clunky. I just told them I was reading something and I thought of them. Would it be OK if I shared it with them. They both seemed fine with it.
Room for Improvement: I read the passage out of my pocket NT and the layout was different. It through me off a little. I remembered where on the page the passage was, but I didn't remember the exact verses. So know exactly which verse it is, or look it up in the bible you're going to use.
I was somewhat nervous. Need to get more casual about this sort of thing. I need to pray more.
I shared the second one and the person basically responded "Yeah, and it's good to do "_______." This is the exact opposite of what the passage states. Maybe I should have picked a clearer passage for this? I tried to gently correct, but I knew my goal wasn't to push for a decision tonight, rather to keep feeding gospel truth over the long term, so after a little bit of back-and-forth, I let it go.
I didn't pray enough. It was really foolish on my part. I prayed for opportunity and boldness, but I didn't pray for receptivity. Dumb.
How I Changed the Approach: I don't think he actually reads the passage to them, he just shares something true about God. I think both are good and I should write/think of some that could be useful, but I like being able to share the actual Word of God with them. Secondly, he asked a question to get them to interact with the "nugget" or the truth that he shared. I just opened it up for conversation and had more of a religious discussion with one of them than I had ever had. The other was one more opportunity to share what Christ has done on the cross. I should consider which questions would be good to ask.
All in all, it was more than I did last week, so I praise God for that. I pray I keep it up with them, and add new people as well. What do you think of this approach? How would you do it?
Friday, December 14, 2012
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Notes on Colossians 3:1-4
[3:1] If then you have been raised with Christ,
Paul sets this in the form of a question to force the listener/reader to answer in the affirmative. The ει ουν (if therefore) sends us down a new road from the worldly rules that the false teachers were trying to force the Colossian believers to travel (2:20-21). Our being raised with Christ means we no longer are under the rules of the world, that is trying to gain peace with God, rather we are raised with Christ already (c.f., 2:12-13). Our old man, the flesh, our sin nature, has died. It's power and the sure and just penalty of eternal death and separation from God is now gone (2:15), so we are free and commanded to seek after God and his kingdom.
seek the things that are above,
Literal translation: Seek the above [things].
Far from just dealing with our thought-life, this passage puts us on a whole-person trajectory. Ζητεω (seek) is used in Matt 6:33 where we are called to seek first the kingdom of God. Paul uses it in 1 Cor 1:22 where he states that the Greeks search for wisdom, and the later in 7:27 that a man already engaged should not seek to be released. To seek the things that are above is no passive endeavor. This is a whole person passion that leads us to not only strive after the above things but also seek out spiritual and intellectual resources that would enable us to be more fruitful. Commentator Douglas Moo says, "Believers "seek the things above" by deliberately and daily committing ourselves to the values of the heavenly kingdom and living out of those values."1
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Paul draws the logic out here for us. If our lives are found with Christ, if we have died to sin and now live life anew in the Spirit's power, then all anything of the world takes on a new and lesser value. We have seen behind the curtain, and now understand that this world is passing away (2:22).
Christ sitting at the right hand of God is a reference back to Ps 110:1. Moo argues that Paul is only referring to a place of honor and probably not thinking of all of the context and meaning of Psalm 110. Beale, on the other hand, argues that Paul is showing how God is making all of Christ's enemies a footstool under his feet.Beale interprets the drive of the passage this way: "The 'seeking' is a desire to have one's thinking and lifestyle oriented around Christ's kingship over all things."2 Our job is not a negative one, to pull away from the world, but rather a positive one, to extend Christ's kingship throughout all of our lives.
[2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
The first half of v.2 is a restatement of v.1, with the change from a generic "seek" to "think" or "set your minds." Again, Moo: "'Things above,' Paul is making clear, are tied to Christ, enthroned above, and must reflect the values of the kingdom that he has inaugurated. Anything else, or less, is no more than 'worldly' thinking."3
[3] For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
The "for" tells us that what follows is the "ground" for what has come before. Vv.1-2 can and should be obeyed because vv.3-4 are true. This theology is the foundation that allows us to seek and set.
Again, our death, previously assumed in the "raising" of v.1, is a death to the sinful nature. Our ability to partake of the kingdom is based in eschatological truths found not only in our union with Christ, but also our part in the expansion of his kingdom. This death is in the aorist tense. It's an event that happened, and nothing more is being said about it.
Because we are dead to the world, we are alive with Christ, and our lives are hidden with Christ. "Hidden" is in the perfect, which can have a breadth of different meanings, but here it is focusing not on the time or place in which our lives were hidden (purchased at the cross, and hidden upon our new birth), but that our lives are still hidden with Christ. Paul is focusing on the continued effects of that hiding. Hidden here probably has more to do with safety than an obscuring of the location. Because we died, nothing else in this world can touch us, and we are safe with Christ, where he is, in heaven (above), seated at the Father's right hand, where he is bringing all things into submission to Christ. That's where your life is. Feel safe yet?
[4] When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
The believer no longer has a life that can be in any way separated from Christ. We died with him, were raised with him, and now we live in him. His appearing is in the end, when he returns, and at that time, his kingship will be finalized, where we will be like him for we shall see him as he is. The path of our life is small, stumbling steps towards what will take place. There is no question or doubt. One day, Christ will be fully formed in us, and we will appear with him in glory, our sinful nature and desires completely eradicated.
1 Moo, Douglas J. The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2008, 246.
2 Beale, G. K., and D. A. Carson, eds. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007, 865.
3 Moo, Colossians, 248.
Paul sets this in the form of a question to force the listener/reader to answer in the affirmative. The ει ουν (if therefore) sends us down a new road from the worldly rules that the false teachers were trying to force the Colossian believers to travel (2:20-21). Our being raised with Christ means we no longer are under the rules of the world, that is trying to gain peace with God, rather we are raised with Christ already (c.f., 2:12-13). Our old man, the flesh, our sin nature, has died. It's power and the sure and just penalty of eternal death and separation from God is now gone (2:15), so we are free and commanded to seek after God and his kingdom.
seek the things that are above,
Literal translation: Seek the above [things].
Far from just dealing with our thought-life, this passage puts us on a whole-person trajectory. Ζητεω (seek) is used in Matt 6:33 where we are called to seek first the kingdom of God. Paul uses it in 1 Cor 1:22 where he states that the Greeks search for wisdom, and the later in 7:27 that a man already engaged should not seek to be released. To seek the things that are above is no passive endeavor. This is a whole person passion that leads us to not only strive after the above things but also seek out spiritual and intellectual resources that would enable us to be more fruitful. Commentator Douglas Moo says, "Believers "seek the things above" by deliberately and daily committing ourselves to the values of the heavenly kingdom and living out of those values."1
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Paul draws the logic out here for us. If our lives are found with Christ, if we have died to sin and now live life anew in the Spirit's power, then all anything of the world takes on a new and lesser value. We have seen behind the curtain, and now understand that this world is passing away (2:22).
Christ sitting at the right hand of God is a reference back to Ps 110:1. Moo argues that Paul is only referring to a place of honor and probably not thinking of all of the context and meaning of Psalm 110. Beale, on the other hand, argues that Paul is showing how God is making all of Christ's enemies a footstool under his feet.Beale interprets the drive of the passage this way: "The 'seeking' is a desire to have one's thinking and lifestyle oriented around Christ's kingship over all things."2 Our job is not a negative one, to pull away from the world, but rather a positive one, to extend Christ's kingship throughout all of our lives.
[2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
The first half of v.2 is a restatement of v.1, with the change from a generic "seek" to "think" or "set your minds." Again, Moo: "'Things above,' Paul is making clear, are tied to Christ, enthroned above, and must reflect the values of the kingdom that he has inaugurated. Anything else, or less, is no more than 'worldly' thinking."3
[3] For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
The "for" tells us that what follows is the "ground" for what has come before. Vv.1-2 can and should be obeyed because vv.3-4 are true. This theology is the foundation that allows us to seek and set.
Again, our death, previously assumed in the "raising" of v.1, is a death to the sinful nature. Our ability to partake of the kingdom is based in eschatological truths found not only in our union with Christ, but also our part in the expansion of his kingdom. This death is in the aorist tense. It's an event that happened, and nothing more is being said about it.
Because we are dead to the world, we are alive with Christ, and our lives are hidden with Christ. "Hidden" is in the perfect, which can have a breadth of different meanings, but here it is focusing not on the time or place in which our lives were hidden (purchased at the cross, and hidden upon our new birth), but that our lives are still hidden with Christ. Paul is focusing on the continued effects of that hiding. Hidden here probably has more to do with safety than an obscuring of the location. Because we died, nothing else in this world can touch us, and we are safe with Christ, where he is, in heaven (above), seated at the Father's right hand, where he is bringing all things into submission to Christ. That's where your life is. Feel safe yet?
[4] When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
The believer no longer has a life that can be in any way separated from Christ. We died with him, were raised with him, and now we live in him. His appearing is in the end, when he returns, and at that time, his kingship will be finalized, where we will be like him for we shall see him as he is. The path of our life is small, stumbling steps towards what will take place. There is no question or doubt. One day, Christ will be fully formed in us, and we will appear with him in glory, our sinful nature and desires completely eradicated.
1 Moo, Douglas J. The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2008, 246.
2 Beale, G. K., and D. A. Carson, eds. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007, 865.
3 Moo, Colossians, 248.
Preaching Through Colossians: Christ Destroys Syncretism Col 1:15-20
I think of all my sermons in this series, so far, this is my favorite. At least, this is the one I had the most fun studying for and preaching.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Resources on Christian Marital Counseling
Christian Marital Counseling: What If?
This walks you through what three or four sessions would look like with associated homework and biblical passages.
The Least-Heard Marriage Truth
This covers biblical vow-making
Marriage is not really about hapiness
Marriage: Two in one-ness
How to talk to the present spouse when the other is absent.
Link to any others you know in the comments!
This walks you through what three or four sessions would look like with associated homework and biblical passages.
The Least-Heard Marriage Truth
This covers biblical vow-making
Marriage is not really about hapiness
Marriage: Two in one-ness
How to talk to the present spouse when the other is absent.
Link to any others you know in the comments!
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