Stephen McAlpin's Blog

McAlpin Newsletter, April '13

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:55:05 PDT

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Photo Credit: Brea Photography

Dear family, friends, and all others,

We're excited to share with you about what God has been doing in our lives lately, including how he has called us to start a new church in Los Angeles, CA. As we share about this ministry opportunity, we ask that you prayerfully consider partnering with us as a supporter. We also are glad to be able to share about a way God has used us for good in the midst of the recent terrorism in the greater Boston area.

CHURCH PLANTING EFFORTS
The church we're starting in the Westside of Los Angeles is called Adorn Church, and I, Stephen, will be serving as the Lead Pastor / Planter of the church. More information and ways to support us are available at the website (www.adornchurch.com) but will also be provided below.

Name & Vision:
The idea for the name, "Adorn Church" comes from Revelation 21 in the Bible and reflects how believing the gospel gives new, beautiful shape to a person's life as they belong to God's community and get to participate in his renewing work. More simply, it teaches us that church is all about worship, belonging, and renewal, by power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and for the glory of God.

Location:
We've chosen to move to the Westside of Los Angeles ultimately because of our heart for the people there. It's an area defined by hope, and we passionately want to help people there to know that Jesus is their only hope for true, meaningful, everlasting life. Beyond that, there are many other reasons (e.g., research, experience, fit, etc.) why we've chosen the Westside. There are around 530,000 people in that part of Los Angeles (which overall has around 20 million people, with less than 10% saying that they believe the gospel according to NAMB) and, according to the research we've done and conversations with local pastors, a huge need for more gospel-centered, missional churches there. Nearly all the local churches we've talked to (SBC churches, Reality, Soma, Clarity, Pacific Crossroads, etc.) have confirmed that it's an area that we should plant in. Hundreds of thousands of people in the Westside are without a healthy, local church. That need deeply bothers us, and is part of how we know God is calling us there to live as missionaries and start a new church. Visiting in person and feeling our hearts burn with passion for the place and its people has also confirmed our calling, as have our assessments of our own gifting and wiring and the best possible place for us to live long-term. Our family doctors have even confirmed that Emily's quality of life, as a thyroid cancer survivor, would be much better in the Los Angeles area. As a husband who deeply loves my wife, it's encouraging to hear that such health progress could be a part of our journey in planting a new church.

Basic Strategy
Our strategy for starting Adorn Church will be simple. After developing enough support, we'll relocate to the Westside of L.A. in late August, be part of a local church there to continue developing our team and adjust to the culture, then we'll start a Local Gathering out of our home, along with a Prayer & Vision Gathering at another location, then once we have around 30 people we'll launch a Sunday Worship Gathering nearby in the West L.A. area, and from there we'll keep on multiplying and renewing the area around us. In the long run we hope to become a church that trains new leaders and sends them out to plant churches citywide and worldwide.

Ways to Support
To start Adorn Church we need committed supporters, and so we're calling on everyone we know and even strangers to join us as partners. There are 3 ways for you to support us:

1. Pray - Praying is often the means God uses to do incredible things. So, with a tough task before us, we desperately need prayer partners.

We’re hoping for at least 200 people to commit to being our prayer partners, regularly praying for us as a couple, for the church plant, and for the city of Los Angeles (amongst other things). Aside from personal contact with us, two ways that prayer partners can stay informed about how to pray are subscribing to this Monthly Newsletter and attending our Vision & Prayer Gatherings. Click "subscribe" on this page to begin receiving our newsletter, and please inform us with a reply if you'd like to become a prayer partner.

Boston Area: Prayer and Vision Gatherings will be meeting at our home in Watertown at 7:00pm on Saturdays. Please contact stephen@hopefellowshipchurch.org to RSVP.

2. Give - Churches cost money to get started, and we will be funded 100% through donations in these early phases of Adorn Church. Considering the extremely high cost of living in the Westside of Los Angeles, and based off our research and conversations with other local pastors in the area, we estimate that we’ll need an annual budget of $130,000 each year in the initial phases of Adorn Church. This should provide for personal expenses of the Lead Pastor and his family (including relocation) and also ministry expenses, with ministry being done mostly out of the Lead Pastor’s home. We expect to need this amount of annual financial support for five years, due to the difficulty of planting in the context of Los Angeles. After that time, we hope to be completely self-sustaining. Thus, we are in need of individuals, churches, and other groups to support us financially through one-time and monthly financial gifts.

If you’d like to become a financial supporter, please know that all giving is through our sending church, Hope Fellowship Church, and is tax-deductible. A detailed explanation of our $130,000 annual budget is available upon request. Please give however much you feel called (one-time gift, $100/month, $200/month, $500/month, etc.). You could give on a one-time or monthly basis by either sending a check or online giving.

Checks should be made out to: "Hope Fellowship Church,” with “McAlpin Church Plant" in the memo, placed in a stamped envelope, and mailed to:

Hope Fellowship
c/o Stephen McAlpin
16 Beech Street
Cambridge, MA 02140
Online giving is also available at http://hopefellowshipchurch.org/#/service-timesdirections/giving which is the giving page for Hope Fellowship Church. Once set up, designate funds for "Church Plant: Stephen McAlpin."

3. Join - Churches are made up of people, and so we are seeking people to join our church plant in order to advance the gospel with us as a church community in Los Angeles. We're praying that five people will commit to joining our church plant in Los Angeles early on, either coming with us or joining us there. Perhaps God is calling you to be a part of what he’s doing through Adorn Church; you may be in transition, or God may be calling you to do something radical for his kingdom. Or maybe you know of someone in L.A. who might be interested in joining us. Please consider giving one to two years to starting a new church, or connecting us with others who might be interested in that. If you share in our vision and burden to reach Los Angeles with the gospel, and want to join us in planting Adorn Church, please contact Stephen McAlpin (stephen@hopefellowshipchurch.org) or leave a comment for more details and so that we can walk through that decision with you.

Thank you for your consideration. Ultimately, we realize that many of you may have additional questions and we'd like you to know that we would be glad to have a conversation in person, over Skype, over the phone, or even over email. Please just let us know if you're interested.

RECENT EVENTS IN WATERTOWN
Finally, we are glad to be able to share about one way how God is using us, even now, for the good of his kingdom. Recently Emily and I witnessed the shootout between the Boston Marathon Bombers and police as it happened in front of our home in Watertown, MA. It was a very terrifying experience that resulted in our home being hit with seven bullets, one coming through our living room, our SUV being hit with a bullet too, and explosives being through around on our street. Yet being in the midst of it all gave us an incredible opportunity to share our story - including a gospel presentation - with the world through interviews with NBC, CNN, and many other news stations and media outlets around the world. We are grateful to have been used as instruments of God to share about Jesus with the world. Emily and I are OK now but do ask that you pray for continued healing when it comes to such things as our mental and emotional wellbeing. Pray too that our damaged things can be replaced easily. Also pray that we will have continued opportunities to love our neighbors out of our experience. What we've been through has changed us and moving forward is a challenge which requires constant faith. Those interested in hearing our story can find all the interviews listed at http://www.stephenmcalpin.com/2013/04/links-to-our-interviews-about-watertown.html

Contact info
Please contact stephen@hopefellowshipchurch.org with any questions, and direct all physical mail to Hope Fellowship Church, C/O Stephen McAlpin, 16 Beech Street, Cambridge, MA 02140.

Copyright © 2013 Stephen & Emily McAlpin, All rights reserved.

SUBSCRIBE HERE: http://hopefellowshipchurch.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=14cd210798d9d3b7d33bc2d83&id=8c0a1bc87e

Links to our Interviews about the Watertown Shooting

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:57:16 PDT

For family, friends, and others interested, here's a list of all the news articles telling our story about the Watertown Shooting in April 2013. All available links have been listed. If you have a link to something that is listed N/A, please let me know in the comments section. We are grateful to have been able to share with people all around the world about how Jesus saves in the midst of a terrifying time in the Boston/Watertown area.

NBC with Brian Williams (phone interview, transcript): http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nbc-news/51598709/#51598709
NBC Rock Center (Skype interview): http://www.nbcnews.com/video/rock-center/51602988/#51602998
CNN with Jake Tapper (transcript of phone interview): http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1304/19/cg.01.html
CNN (written article). http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/20/us/boston-changed-city/index.html
The Sunday Times, (written article is under a pay shield but also posted at Real Clear Politics): http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/04/22/manhunt_for_the_tsarnaev_brothers_118058-full.html
The Gospel Coalition: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/04/21/the-boston-bombers-were-outside-their-house/
Leadership Journal's Out of Ur Blog (written article): http://www.outofur.com/archives/2013/04/my_midnight_enc.html
The Christian Post (written article): http://www.christianpost.com/news/watertown-mass-couple-recounts-prayers-to-jesus-flying-bullets-during-tsarnaev-gun-battle-94486/
Radical (Skype interview). http://www.radical.net/blog/2013/04/hope-in-the-midst-of-terror-a-firsthand-account-from-watertown/
Crescenta Valley Weekly in Los Angeles: http://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/religion/04/25/2013/late-to-church/
Baptist Press (written article). http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=40111
St. Louis Post Dispatch (written article). http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/former-st-louisans-describe-fierce-gunbattle-near-boston/article_710d1241-cec1-5bd6-bc3d-ab8e61116758.html
KMOV in St. Louis (short video clip, written article). http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Former-St-Charles-County-residents-witness-Boston-suspects-shootout-with-police-203843341.html
KSDK in St. Louis (short video clip, written article). http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/376389/3/St-Louis-couple-forced-to-take-cover-during-Boston-firefight
Fuji Tv (video interview). N/A
WORD-FM in Pittsburgh (radio interview): N/A
Chris Fabry Live on Moody Radio (radio interview): http://www.moodyradio.org/radioplayer.aspx?episode=109163&hour=1Starts

Our Church Plant

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:51:36 PDT

We're excited to announce formally that we're planting a church in Los Angeles, California. We're exploring the Westside, around West L.A., as the place where we'll do that. I'll be serving as the Lead Planter / Pastor. At this time we're planning on calling the church plant Adorn Church.

With a plan of relocating in late August, we're now entering into a phase where we're looking for supporters to pray, give, or join. If you're interested in finding out more about Adorn Church and these three ways to support us, please visit our support page at www.adornchurch.com for more details (including a prospectus). Thanks, and God bless.

Sermon (Audio): Romans 12:9-21 - "Relating to Others"

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:59:04 PDT

My recent sermon, "Romans 12:9-21 'Relating to Others'" is available for listening at http://www.sermoncloud.com/stephenmcalpin/romans-129-21-relating-to-others/

Sermon Manuscript will be posted here soon.

Prayer Devotional for Boston (4/16/13)

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:25:42 PDT

Scripture Readings (to be read aloud):

Psalm 13
Psalm 42:1-6

Written Prayers (to be read aloud, from The Worship Sourcebook, 2nd Edition)

O Lord, open our eyes, that we may see the needs of others. Open our ears, that we may hear their cries. Open our hearts, that they need not be without help. Let us not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong, nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich. Show us where love and hope are needed, and use us to bring them to those places. Open our eyes and ears, that this day we may do some work of peace for you. Amen.
We pray to you, O Lord, our God and Father, because we are encouraged by Jesus Christ, your son and our brother, to do so. You have said through the mouth of the prophet: “Seek the good of the city and pray for it to the Lord”; we therefore pray to you today for our cities and villages and for the whole land, for justice and righteousness, for peace and good order everywhere. Have mercy, Lord, we pray. We pray for those who govern. Teach them that you are ruler of all and that they are only your instruments. Grant them wisdom for their difficult decisions, a sharp eye for what is essential, and courage to obey your commandment. Have mercy, Lord, we pray. We pray for all who, by your ordaining, are responsible for justice and peace. We pray for all who continue to seek salvation in violence. Show terrorists that no blessing rests in violence. Take the young among them especially into your care and bring order into their confused thoughts. Bring murder and kidnapping to an end. Have mercy, Lord, we pray. We pray for all who are no longer able to sleep in peace because they fear for their own life and for the lives of those near and dear to them; we pray for all who no longer have hope in your kingdom and for all who are tormented by anxiety or despair. Grant that they may be blessed with faithful friends and counselors alongside them to comfort them with your strengthening gospel and sacrament. Have mercy, Lord, we pray. Lord, you have the whole wide world in your hands. You are able to turn human hearts as seems best to you; grant your grace therefore to the bonds of peace and love, and in all lands join together whatever has been torn asunder. Amen.
We offer ourselves to you, O God, our Creator. We offer our hands. Use healing touch to comfort sisters, brothers, and children who are afraid. We offer our eyes and ears. May we see and hear the signs and stories of violence so that all may have someone with them in their pain and confusion. We offer our hearts and our tears so as their hurt and sorrow echo within us. May we be healed as we embrace each other. We offer our anger. Make it a passion for justice. We offer all our skills. Use our gifts to end violence. We offer our faith, our hope, our love. May our encounters with violence bring us closer to you and to each other. All this we ask through Jesus Christ, who knows the pain of violence. Amen.

Scripture Reading (to be read aloud):

Psalm 146

Free Prayer

Pray for the victims of the tragedy (As of 4/16/2013, there were 170+ injuries and 3 deaths). Pray for those who were wounded, their families, and the families of those who were killed.
Pray for the workers and volunteers who are assisting victims, providing relief, and working for justice. Pray that God would use them as instruments of his grace.
Pray for the city of Boston, at large. Pray for peace and welfare.
Pray for the evildoer(s) who were responsible for the tragedy, for repentance and faith. Also, pray for apprehension, that no more evil may be done.
Pray for your own heart, that you might not be overcome by evil, but instead might cling to the gospel of Jesus Christ, leaving vengeance in the hands of the LORD.

Study Notes: 1 Corinthians 9:1-18

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:33:07 PDT

The following are some of my study notes on 1 Corinthians 9:1-18. They were part of our sermon prep process at Hope Fellowship, and so they're notes intended to help a preacher out a little bit. This sermon was part of our sermon series, "A Messy Community of Grace." All members of the teaching team contributed their study notes as part of our regular weekly practice.

Text:
1 Cor. 9:1-18

[9:1] Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? [2] If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. [3] This is my defense to those who would examine me. [4] Do we not have the right to eat and drink? [5] Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? [6] Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? [7] Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? [8] Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? [9] For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? [10] Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. [11] If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? [12] If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. [13] Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? [14] In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. [15] But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. [16] For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! [17] For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. [18] What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Structure:

9:1-2 Paul’s apostleship in question
9:3-7 The rights of the Paul & Barnabas in question
9:8-12a The Law’s prohibition about not giving workers their rights
9:12b-14 God’s command to support rightfully those who proclaim the gospel
9:15-18 Paul’s abdication of his rights for the sake of the gospel

Theme / Main Idea:
Gospel-Proclamation: Responsibility and Rights.

Aim / Complementary Ideas:
Every preacher has a responsibility to proclaim the gospel, and that gives him provisional rights. A church is responsible for providing for gospel-preachers, and that gives them the right to hearing the gospel proclaimed. Altogether, preachers and the congregation must work together to advance the gospel.

Gospel Focus:
Primarily, define “the gospel” in the context of this passage. Also, focus on how Jesus makes new life in community possible for his followers, and then what that new life looks like. The gospel is what made Paul, Barnabas, and the other believers who they were and called them to do what they did.

Preaching / Application Points

9:1-2. Paul qualifies his apostleship. Application: Help people to understand the qualifications of a pastor. Teach them the essentials of a good sermon (biblically based, gospel-focused) and good pastoral care (working to shape lives according to the gospel). Help people to see how God works through pastors/sermons/care.
9:3-7. The Corinthians wanted Paul and Barnabas to have the same status as other (non-Christian) speakers. Application: You could speak into what modern Christians expect from their preachers regarding worldly looks, dress, education, communication skills, hobbies, and so on. Challenge them not to compare preachers to businessmen, counselors, self-help gurus, etc. and to instead have a biblically-informed view of what a preacher is and what he does.
9:8-12a. There’s a biblical, general call here to work and be paid well for one’s wages. This is a challenge for all Christians to grow up, get jobs, make wages, and use them for God’s kingdom. Application: Challenge the young men in the audience to “man up” to this challenge, getting a biblical view of wages and then taking on responsibility, stewarding their finances well. Paint an image of what it looks like to be financially responsible (work, budget, tithe, save, invest, etc.). Tell them to get help from another believer if they don’t know how to become financially responsible.
Application. Calvin points out that this doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love animals, or that all scripture should be taken allegorically. Paul simply is providing an interpretation for the particular passage in the Law. The point is that God gave principles for the right use of oxen in the field in order that we might apply the same principles to ourselves as workers. As if, if oxen are treated so good, then human beings should be treated better. Illustration / Joke: If you’re more concerned about the name and background of the cow in your hamburger than the wellbeing of your pastors, there’s a problem.
12b-14. Spirituality is more important than worldly things. However, the Word of God is often not the priority in the lives of Christians. Application: help believers to diagnose where their priorities lie. What they give their time and finances to is an indication of where their hope lies. Those who hope in the gospel must prioritize it in all areas of life, including the use of their financial resources.
15-18. Paul refused to compromise the advancement of the gospel. Application: If at any point our liberty causes us to be a stumbling block to the gospel, we should be of good mind to forsake it in that situation. If you have an opportunity either to “stand out” for the gospel or just to “fit in” with the crowd, do your best to stand out. Stand out for what really matters, though – the gospel – and not things that don’t matter (religion, liberty).
Calling. Paul knew that what he was called to he had no right to deny. When God calls you to something, truly, there’s no way you could do anything else. God’s calling demands our committed, undivided devotion. Running from God’s calling is to call a curse, a woe, upon oneself. In regards to preaching, this means that pastors should be terrified of not preaching the gospel. Congregants should have nothing to do with a pastor who doesn’t preach the gospel.

Study Notes - 1 Corinthians 8

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:24:38 PDT

The following are some of my study notes on 1 Corinthians 8. They were part of our sermon prep process at Hope Fellowship, and so they're notes intended to help a preacher out a little bit. This sermon was part of our sermon series, "A Messy Community of Grace." All members of the teaching team contributed their study notes as part of our regular weekly practice.

Text:
1 Corinthians 8

[8:1] Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. [2] If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. [3] But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. [4] Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” [5] For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—[6] yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. [7] However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. [8] Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. [9] But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. [10] For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? [11] And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. [12] Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. [13] Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Structure:

8:1-3 Human knowledge vs. God’s knowledge
8:4-6 False gods vs. the true God
8:7-13 weak consciences vs. strong consciences

Theme / Big Idea:
Being known by God

Aim / Complementary Ideas:
Being known by God humbles us, puts all of creation in its place, gives us a new conscience, and makes us responsible for helping weaker Christians.

Gospel Focus:

As God knows us, he sees us for who we are as sinners, and has hidden himself from us for our own good. The good news, though, is that God made himself known to us in Jesus Christ, and it’s through him that we can have a loving relationship with God. Jesus is thus our possibility for knowing God, rightly relating with all of creation, and helping one another grow up in our faith.
Jesus > religion

Preaching / Application Points:

8:1-3. The heart issue here is pride. All human beings are prone to take pride in what they think they know. However, human beings are not God and cannot know him apart from how he reveals himself through faith. Faith helps us to see that God himself is far beyond our comprehension as finite beings; the more we know him, the more we realize that we are nothing compared to him. Thus, it’s futile to take pride in what we know. Help people in the congregation to see the futility of what our culture encourages them to take pride in knowing. For instance, someone who thinks he/she is God’s gift to the world because of his/her education and experience needs to understand that life is not just about sharing what you’ve learned in school and in your workplace. It’s about sharing God’s love with others. One potential illustration of this point could come through sharing about how some seminary students get so prideful about knowledge that they lose concern for all uneducated people, or are in the library so much that they lose all their social skills.
8:4-6. Paul addresses the false belief of some of the Corinthians that their special knowledge made them able to eat food sacrificed to idols by at first acknowledging that idols are indeed not the real God, then promoting the idea that all of creation is made for God’s purposes, and then calling believers to use all of creation for God’s purposes. His discussion about the Trinity highlights the idea that creation does not exist for mankind but for God. So, being a believer gives liberty, but liberty is meant to be used for pleasing God, not self. Don’t make it into more or less than it is. So…you can eat meat sacrificed to idols, but if you’re not doing that with the right heart, then your liberty has actually become a means of worshipping a false god in your life – yourself. We exist for God, through Jesus Christ, and should be eating, drinking, etc. in ways that glorify God alone and are consistent with how Christ acted during his earthly ministry. I think this gives you room to challenge how people use their mealtimes in ways that please God – such as a quality time with family, taking out newcomers from church, or bonding with fellow believers.
8:7-13. Strong Christians must act with consideration for the weak, working to build them up in their belief in the gospel. It’s important to note that the morality of certain foods/drinks is not what’s even being questioned here. Paul already established that all of creation can be used for God’s glory. The issue is really whether or not it’s wise to consume food/drinks that men have devoted to false gods while in the presence of weaker believers. A modern parallel would be how many non-Christians use alcohol as a way to serve their false god – their own flesh – and because of that, many young Christians believe that alcohol is entirely off limits for all believers. Making a scene and just going wild with meat or drinks isn’t the answer. All believers abstaining all the time isn’t the biblical answer to that problem, either. Strong believers are called to at times refrain from eating/drinking in order to not cause weaker believers to stumble, but also to help them grow in their understanding of liberty over time. I would challenge believers to study the bible and consider how it teaches us to enjoy food and drinks in a way that pleases God. One good illustration would be to talk about not eating meat around vegans because it freaks them out, but eating veggies with them as you study the bible with them and help them understand that bacon is a gift from God to be enjoyed by all believers.

Study Notes: 1 Corinthians 7:25-40

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 12:46:14 PDT

The following are some of my study notes on 1 Corinthians 7:25-40. They were part of our sermon prep process at Hope Fellowship, and so they're notes intended to help a preacher out a little bit. This sermon was part of our sermon series, "A Messy Community of Grace." All members of the teaching team contributed their study notes as part of our regular weekly practice.

Text:
(1 Corinthians 7:25-40)
[25] Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. [26] I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. [27] Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. [28] But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. [29] This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, [30] and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, [31] and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. [32] I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. [33] But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, [34] and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. [35] I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. [36] If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. [37] But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. [38] So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better. [39] A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. [40] Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Structure:

7:25-31 Pleasing God in the present as a betrothed person
7:32-35 The need for and benefits of pleasing God.
7:36-38 Using one’s passion to please God
7:39-40 Pleasing God in the present as a widow

Theme / Big idea:
Pleasing God in the present.

Aim / Complementary ideas:
Pleasing God satisfies us like nothing in this world can; help people to believe that, and teach them how to find his satisfaction. Be content with your present situation, live in the reality of the future, prioritize your relational devotion to God above all else, and experience the satisfying benefits of living for God. Really, it’s all about one’s relationship with Jesus being real, and thereby satisfying.

Gospel Focus:

Jesus as the living water who satisfies our thirst. The satisfaction of our desires.
Jesus as King and Peacemaker. He is going to make all things right in his kingdom, as he makes new all of his creation in eternity. Delighting in King Jesus and living with hope in his kingdom satisfies the desires of our hearts in a way that no idol (person, thing) can.

Preaching / Application Points:

The major application point to drive home, in my opinion, is whether or not Christians are actively delighting in Jesus. Delight in Jesus, for who he is and what he’s DONE, is what really defines a relationship with God. C.S. Lewis said, “Delight is incomplete until it is expressed.” So I think it would be wise to help singles, engages couples, married couples, and widows actively delight in the Lord. Talking to him, serving him, giving to him, prioritizing him, singing to him, and so on. I think you can expand on this central application in various ways as you deal with the various topics in the text.
One good illustration might be apocalypse “end of the world” movies. Often, the dire situation frees up a man and a woman to recklessly fall in love with each other. “We’re going to die anyways, we might as well experience love now.” God wants us to have that sort of reckless abandon when it comes to our relationship with him. Nothing else should matter.

Study Notes: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 09:41:28 PDT

The following are some of my study notes on 1 Corinthians 7:17-24. They were part of our sermon prep process at Hope Fellowship, and so they're notes intended to help a preacher out a little bit. This sermon was part of our sermon series, "A Messy Community of Grace." All members of the teaching team contributed their study notes as part of our regular weekly practice.

Text:
(1 Cor 7:17-24)

[17] Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. [18] Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. [19] For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. [20] Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. [21] Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) [22] For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. [23] You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. [24] So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

Structure
7:17 - All life belongs to God, and is for God
7:18-20 – Jews / Gentiles belong to God and have the same calling
7:21:23 – Bondservants / Freedmen belong to God and have the same calling
7:24 – All believers are called to live continually as a family

Theme/Big Idea
Responding to God’s call

Aim/Complementary Ideas
We must contently accept our calling, forsake false callings, remember how we were called, and actively pursue our calling, all to reveal God’s glory. Overall, aim to help people rest in the gospel and live out the gospel, whatever the person or circumstances.

Gospel-Focus
Very directly, Paul states that believers were bought with a price. So there’s a responsibility to preach the good news about how Jesus died as our penal subtitutionary atonement. Along with that, promote him as the Suffering Servant. You can also preach about the themes of gospel newness, freedom, work, and family.

Preaching/Application Points

17. We do not choose God; he chooses us. As a man/woman is called by God, he/she is simultaneously equipped to live for God. The assignment/equipping of a man or woman is intended to result in progressive sanctification. A believer is responsible for doing his or her part in this process, following God’s lead. One important thing to note about this process and Paul’s emphasis on it is the overarching theme of God’s sovereignty in all of life: he’s working before, during, and after salvation in the lives of believers. This means that whatever condition he’s called us out of can glorify him in a unique way when there is a new life being lived out now.
Application: Gospel-Contentment with who God has called you to be sets you free to be vulnerable with people about who you were, and also the ways you’re struggling to live as God’s called you. Help people diagnose whether they’re content, and also encourage them to be vulnerable with others. Also, encourage people to consider how they can use the particular life experiences they have to glorify God – particularly, living life with and sharing the gospel with people who could relate with their story or were once part of it.
18-20. Jews and Gentiles are both reminded that both circumcision and uncircumcision are not important in the New Covenant community. Repentance, belief, and baptism – i.e., faithful obedience - is what initiates a person in the NC community. The big idea here is that religious practices are not important to God; obedience in worship is what’s important to him. Religious practices never should divide the church up, or unite it. Only the gospel truly unites us as a body.
Application: Christians tend to dress themselves up or down, with either religion or irreligion. Both deny the gospel. Explore the wrong ways that people try to earn friends either in or outside of the church, perhaps using a story to illustrate. For instance, talk about how church kids often rebel to the extreme, or rebels try to clean themselves up to the extreme. But what the gospel do for us?
21-23. Paul emphasizes believer’s relationship with Jesus Christ. Both bondservants and freedmen have a relationship with God, and this equal status that all believers have in a relationship with Jesus changes the way we need to think about and act in our other relationships. It’ll be important to speak to what a bondservant is and what a freedman is and why Paul says that both types of person can still have a relationship with God and uniquely relate to others in ways that glorify him.
Application: Even if you hate your job, remember that it’s an opportunity to be around other people. All people are missionaries in their workplaces. What does that look like? It looks like being great at your job, letting people know you’re a believer, sharing the gospel at the right times, making money in order to give it away, and using your skills in order to build up the kingdom. Don’t think of what your job lets you do for yourself; think of what it lets you do for God.
24. The term “brothers” is unifying; Paul calls together the religious and irreligious, the socially accepted and the socially rejected, to live as a family unit. All believers belong to the same family as siblings. No one should break off from the family. Moreover, each should know that God is with him/her in their current situation. No one is ever alone in the Christian life, though it can feel like it at times.
Application: What are some practical ways that believers can be living together as a family in this particular city? Meals together, activities together, helping one another with chores and tasks, going out and meeting new people together, babysitting, dog watching, giving rides, calling up each other to talk about work, dating, etc. and so on.

McAlpin Newsletter March '13

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:58:39 PDT

McAlpin Newsletter, March 2013

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Dear Family and Friends,

We're excited to share an update with you about what God has doing in our lives lately!

After nearly 9 months of processing God's call for us, finally we've made a decision about what's next for us, and have decided that Los Angeles is where God is calling us to go to and plant a church.

This was a tough decision for us that involved tons of prayer, research, exploration, and the input of our community. Ultimately, we chose Los Angeles because of a consuming sense of calling to the area and people, the need for gospel-proclaiming churches there, and other factors related to it being a good fit for us as a couple. We still have a lot to figure out, including exactly what part of LA we'll be moving into (e.g., Westside, Silverlake, etc.), and still have a lot of things to do in preparation (i.e., assessments, gaining partners, raising funds, etc.), but currently our plan is to relocate to LA in August 2013 and after about 6 months begin the planting process.

Please consider partnering with us in prayer, most importantly, as we move forward in our journey. Here are a few particular ways you can be praying for us as a couple:

Pray for Emily's health. She is scheduled to have foot surgery and possibly also knee surgery this month, in order to correct some issues, reduce her pain, and improve her overall quality of life. Pray she recovers quickly and that our insurance covers the cost of the procedures.
Pray for continued revelation of God's plan. LA is a huge place, and we need clarity about exactly where in LA we should pursue living and doing ministry. Pray that we'd have opportunities in that area for the first 6 months of adjusting.
Pray that God would provide us with enough finances to be able to move, have an adjustment time (6 months), and survive the first year at least.
Pray that people will join our team. Pray that people will move with us to join us, and also that we can find people already in LA to join us. Pray for experienced pastors & their wives to mentor us and partner with us. Pray about whether or not God might be calling you to be a part of a team to plant a new church.
Pray that it will be all about Jesus, and not us, from the beginning until the end. We want to glorify God alone.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read our newsletter. Please consider subscribing or sharing with a friend. Feel free to contact me, Stephen, with any questions at stephen@hopefellowshipchurch.org. If you'd like to provide us with any financial support, you can do that through the Paypal button on the left menu or by contacting me personally. Our mailing address is below. Thanks, and God bless.

Love,
Stephen and Emily McAlpin

Copyright © 2013 Stephen and Emily McAlpin, All rights reserved.
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Study Notes: 1 Corinthians 7:1-16

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:38:19 PST

The following are some of my study notes on 1 Corinthians 7:1-16. They were part of our sermon prep process at Hope Fellowship, and so they're notes intended to help a preacher out a little bit. This sermon was part of our sermon series, "A Messy Community of Grace." All members of the teaching team contributed their study notes as part of our regular weekly practice.

Text:
1 Corinthians 7:1-16

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Structure:
7:1-5 – Sex is good for married couples
7:6-9 – Good instructions for singles and widows.
7:10-11 – Covenant faithfulness in marriage is good
7:12-16 – Remaining married to unbelieving spouses is good

Theme/Big Idea:
We're made to have holy relations

Aim/Complementary Ideas
We should live according to God's design in marriage, singleness, and church life. This means rightly relating with both God and each other, always.

Gospel Orientation
We're designed to glorify God in our relationships, but fall short of his design as unholy sinners. The good news, though, is that Christ makes it possible for us to have holy relations with both God and each other. When our relationships are centered around Jesus (the covenant-mediator), we can share in the blessing of joy in holy relations.

Preaching Points

7:1-5. According to Paul’s quote, it seems like some of the Corinthians were calling into question the goodness of sex, even in the context of marriage. Note that their focus in on behavior modification, and directly challenges God’s design for marriage as good in Genesis. Paul’s response focuses in on how sin itself is not good but that God’s design is the remedy, making sex in marriage good, holy, and satisfying.
In response to the Corinthians’ false beliefs, Paul gives commands to them in regards to getting married and having sex. In English, the commands may come across as ideals or encouragements, but in the Greek the imperative has the force of a strict command. It’s like he’s saying in a direct, matter-of-fact way, “get married” and “have sex with your spouse.” Altogether, Paul is commanding the Corinthians to have holy sexual relations, and not unholy ones.
Application: Many people today don’t have a biblical view of either marriage or sex. Often, there’s an “it’s all about glorifying me” or an “it’s all about glorifying you” attitude when it comes to sex, and marriage doesn’t change that. God has designed our sexuality in every form (mind, emotions, body) to be experienced in biblical marriage as a way to be an illustration of unity with God. The truth is that we need to see sex as two unified persons glorifying God together, living in accordance with his design. Thus, the ultimate “litmus test” for romance is this: does everything about your sex life, from the very pursuit of sex to consummation itself, glorify God? Does the woman delight in all parts of the process? Does the man? If one spouse says some part of your sex life is “off,” and things aren’t working out in ways that both people feel are glorifying to God, it’s wise to use Paul’s concession to wait on sex temporarily and pray together about it instead.
Be sensitive to the fact that a lot of women and even men struggle to have enough sex because of past abuse; help them to understand that recovery is possible and can begin with gaining a biblical understanding of sex. Also, be sensitive to the reality that a lot of couples are living in "sexless" marriages for other reasons.
7:6-9. Because of their false belief about the goodness of sex within the confines of biblical marriage, some Corinthians may have chosen to remain single or as widows, despite their lack of self-control. Paul teaches that singleness is a gift from God, and should be treasured as such, but used for his purposes. Singleness is not an “escape” from pursuing marriage and marital relations; there’s no need to escape from something that’s good. Don’t let a commitment to singleness be an excuse to keep on sinning as a single person, and not take responsibility for living according to God’s design for sexuality. Singleness is intended to be used for pursuing God and his church fully with one’s life. Paul is an example of someone who used his singleness in order to serve God and the church. He was able to do this because he lived for God, not himself, and had cultivated self-control. If you’re a Christian - even if you’re single - your life is not your own; you belong to God, in his church, and are called to be a part of his mission! Remember, too, that self-control is possible and can be cultivated.
Application: (1) How to develop self-control as a single person or widow. Repent truly from sexual sin. When you lust or act on lust, consider your motivations. Develop a log of when/why/how, etc. you lust and sin. Then develop healthy practices to remind yourself of God’s promises during those times of temptation. Single people committed to singleness must be able to delight in God to the point of satisfaction. This comes through regular practices of praying, reading scripture, being in community, and serving others JOYFULLY. (2) How to determine if you DON’T have the gift of singleness: if you continually struggle with temptation and self-control, prepare yourself to GET MARRIED. One needs to be aware of his/her own desires, to the extent that he/she is setting himself/herself up for holy living in the future.
7:10-11. Define marriage according to covenant, calling for faithful obedience. According to the covenant-nature of marriage, divorce is not part of God’s design. Paul only briefly talks about this subject, but he calls on the authority of Christ when talking about it. Jesus wants married couples to stay married. His name being referenced as Lord draws attention to how he makes it possible for married couples to stay married (despite the brokenness of people and the world). Jesus’ lordship is what binds the covenant between God and the church, and it’s similarly what binds the covenant between every believing man and woman. The bigger point here, though, is that spouses should be faithful altogether to each other in marriage. Marriage is all about Jesus.
Application: Discuss what to do if there's trouble in marriage. Explain how Jesus is our standard and hope during times of conflict.
7:12-16. Divorce is not an option for Christians in marriages with non-Christians; Paul commands them to remain together, working and hoping for the conversion of the spouse. It seems that some in the Corinthian community were actually divorcing because they thought it was sinful to have marital relations with an unbeliever. What is relevant for today is that God shows a common grace to believers in mixed marriages with unbelievers.

Mark 12:41-44 - "What Matters to God" (Devotion for Drop-In Fellowship)

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 18:01:12 PST

The passage for this devotion, which was given at the Drop-In Fellowship at Hope Fellowship, is from Mark 12:41-44. It’s a story about Jesus and something that he sees happening, and it includes a lesson by him about what matters to God.

(Mark 12:41-44 ESV)
And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

The passage we just read helps us to understand what matters to God. In the passage, Jesus had been hanging out at the temple along with his disciples during a time of day when people would come to the temple to give donations. Donations were supposed to be an act of devotion; people would give a portion of their money back to God as an act of obedience and as a way to express their dependence upon him. In the story, both rich people and a poor woman were giving donations, with varying motives, and it seems like people were trying to figure out who was doing the best at giving.

Jesus saw a great teaching opportunity in what was going on in the temple. He challenged a false understanding of what matters to God when it comes to giving and receiving, and he taught about what really matters to God. Jesus taught that what matters to God is that we give our whole selves to God, and that we fully receive what God has to give us.

This was an important teaching because a lot of people have a false understanding of what matters to God. For instance, from a human perspective, it can seem like being rich and giving large sums of money at church is a way to make God like you. But that’s not what matters to God. Jesus taught that things like wealth and what’s on the outside don’t impress God. He taught that to God, what matters is what’s on the inside and how it affects the way we live. What matters to God is…

I. Offering our whole selves to him

In the passage, Jesus taught that the poor widow’s offering of just a penny –which was all that she had to live on – was more valuable to God than what the rich people had given. In giving all that she had to live on back to God, the poor widow was expressing complete dependence on God to take care of her.

It was like she was saying, “God, my very life is in your hands, and I trust you’ll give me what I need to stay alive.” So what she offered God was her whole self; which was the perfect offering, because we ourselves are what matters to God.

God is God, and so he knows when people are holding back in their offerings. Even when rich people give large sums of money, God knows when they’re holding back the rest of their money for themselves, or – even worse - when they’re holding back their lives. But the poor widow didn’t hold anything back, and God knew that.

The rich people in our story teach us that it can be challenging to give our whole selves to God. But the poor widow in our story teaches us that giving our whole selves to God is what’s necessary.

That’s what faith is. It’s entrusting your very self and your destiny to God. It’s putting your life in his hands, trusting in Jesus to save you from sin and from this world, and to deliver you into eternal life with him in paradise.

It matters to God that we offer our whole selves to him, because it’s only by having faith that we can fully receive what God has to give us. And because God loves his people of faith, what matters to God is:

II. Fully receiving what he has to give us

When people offer themselves fully to God in faith, his response is to give graciously to his people, providing them with far more than they deserve. Through faith, people receive the gift of God’s salvation. That means being saved from all the consequences of sin and being able to live in everlasting paradise after you die. Salvation is a free gift from God.

God’s grace means that salvation is not something that can be earned or bought by us. Jesus earned it for us, buying it with his sacrifice on the cross. We can freely receive salvation by simply having faith in Jesus and what he did on the cross to save us.

In our story, the poor widow offered her very life to God in faith, and she became spiritually rich. She got what matters to God. It mattered to her too. In receiving God’s salvation in faith, by God’s grace, she gained something far more valuable than money or prestige or anything else in this world. She got the free gift of eternal life with Jesus in paradise.

Anyone who repents from their sins and believes that Jesus is Lord can fully receive what God has to give us – eternal life in the kingdom of heaven. That’s a free gift that promised to all of Jesus’ followers. Having that gift of grace frees you to live for what matters in this life, letting you experience all the richness of God’s peace and joy in community.

In God's community, the church, all of God's people have equal richness. Even though our lives on this earth differ, everyone who has faith belongs all the same because we all share in the same inheritance in Jesus Christ.

In sum, what I’m saying is that, what matters to God is that we offer our whole selves to him and fully receive what he has to give us.

My hope is that, like the widow in the story, you’ll offer all of yourselves to God, trusting in him to provide for you. Here are some questions you could ask yourself to explore the extent of your devotion:

Do the same things that matter to God matter to you?
Are you holding anything back from God?
How would you like to receive what God can give you?

McAlpin Newsletter - January '13

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:57:58 PDT

McAlpin Newsletter
January 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

Hello from Stephen and Emily McAlpin! We want to share an update about our lives and ministry with you, with the hope that you'll consider becoming support partners. We'll be sharing updates more regularly moving forward, so please consider subscribing.

As you may know, we've sensed a call into church planting and have been working with our local church, Hope Fellowship, to determine the next steps in the pursuit of our calling. It's been exciting to give ourselves to this mission, but it's also required depending on God and our community in deep, new ways as we try to figure out the specifics.

Thankfully, we've made some real progress lately. We've narrowed down our location search to California; specifically, to the cities of San Diego and Los Angeles. We feel like California is a perfect fit for us because of the casual and social culture, the warm and dry weather, and the general need for more gospel proclaiming churches (amongst other reasons). Both cities also seem like places beneficial for Emily's physical health. In regards to need, San Diego is reportedly about 90% non-evangelical, with an overall population of around 3 million, and Los Angeles is also reportedly about 90% non-evangelical, with an overall population of around 20 million. So both cities are in need of new, gospel-proclaiming (evangelical) churches. We've visited San Diego already, and will be visiting Los Angeles at the end of this month in order to compare the cities and expand our network. Shortly afterward, we hope to make a decision, and plan to then get assessed by agencies, begin fundraising, and eventually relocate to the location after my church planting residency at Hope Fellowship ends.

We're moving into a very important time of our lives and really need the support of our family, friends, and even strangers as we seek out God's will for our lives. There are three kinds of support we need: (1) prayer, (2) sharing, and (3) financial.

We're looking for people to commit to praying for us regularly, as well as people who would commit to giving to us financially. Please pray that God will guide us in discerning the best location for our church plant, and that we'll remain well as we seek out what's next.
Please consider sharing about us or just sharing our newsletters with people in your lives. This might include your church, your family, your friends, or connections via social media. We need all the support we can get!
If you'd like to send a financial gift to help us cover travel expenses or future expenses (assessments, training, etc.) in this process, you may do so by using the Paypal feature (right sidebar) or by sending a check made payable to "Hope Fellowship Church" with "McAlpin Church Plant" in the memo to Hope Fellowship Church, c/o Stephen McAlpin, 16 Beech Street, Cambridge, MA 02140.

Peace,
Stephen and Emily McAlpin

Copyright © 2013 Stephen and Emily McAlpin, All rights reserved.

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Col. 3:1-4, "Finding True Life" - Sermon Audio and Manuscript.

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 17:03:38 PST

The following is the manuscript for my sermon on Colossians 3:1-4, entitled, "Finding True Life." It was preached on January 13, 2013 at the Chinese Baptist Church of Greater Boston, in the English service for youth. Audio is available at the church's website, as well as here

________________________________________

(Colossians 3:1-4 ESV)
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

In this sermon, as we explore Colossians 3:1-4 together, we’re going to focus on the subject of finding true life.

Everyone has an idea about what life should look like. We all have our dreams about who we want to be, and how we want the world to be. And we give our selves and our resources to these ideas and dreams – we seek after them, with both our hearts and our actions.

A lot of people dream about being things like rich, powerful, beautiful, popular, comfortable, perfect, religious, or free from rules, so that they can have the kind of life in this world that they really want to have. For a lot of people, that’s what life is all about.

When I was a teenager, I dreamed about those kinds of things. I really wanted to be a famous athlete and movie star – not because I wanted to glorify God with those professions, but because I wanted to glorify myself, and be loved by people. And you know what else went along with that? I was a really annoying, hyper-religious Christian too. I believed in Jesus, but I thought that with hard work I could make myself into a better person, and get God to like me more. Along with my life dreams, my religion also became something that I used to glorify myself. Guess what? None of those things satisfied me, not just because they were really unrealistic dreams and I failed at doing them, but because even the pursuit of self-glory itself wasn’t enough to satisfy my deep desires.

In my experience, and as I learned from the Bible, it became clear over time that those kinds of worldly and religious pursuits - on their own - can never give us the true life that our hearts crave. And because of this heart craving that we all have, we all need to figure out how to find true life – the life that’ll satisfy our hearts forever. We need to get our hearts and lives in order, to please God and be satisfied ourselves.

Now, in the passage we read, the apostle Paul made clear to the Colossians how to find true, satisfying life. He wrote about this subject to the Colossians because they were faithful believers in Colossae but they had gotten a little mixed up in their quest to find true, heart-satisfying life.

An evil, false teacher had come into their midst – kind of like an evil guidance counselor or evil Dr. Phil - and he’d deceived them. He had taught them that worldly pursuits could satisfy them, and that they could use the elements and things of this world to make themselves better. He even taught them that they could basically use God to make themselves better.

So a lot of them had started not only to live for things of this world but also to practice a false kind of religion, in order to glorify themselves. Overall, they had been deceived into thinking there was some kind of mystical, self-improving power they could unlock by doing all the right things. They had wrong intentions in their hearts and were seeking after all the wrong things in life, and it was ruining their hearts and lives, leading them to suffering and destruction. It was messing up their relationships with God and with one another.

That’s why in the book of Colossians as a whole the apostle Paul reminded the church of the basic teachings of Christianity. Overall, he reminded them that true Christian life is all about Jesus. But in how Paul addressed the Colossians in our passage, 3:1-4, he put a big focus on the resurrection, and we can identify several principles about what a true, satisfying life looks like, and how it can become a reality for us. One of the first principles we can identify in the passage is that:

I. FINDING TRUE LIFE REQUIRES FOLLOWING JESUS

We see this in how Paul spoke to the Colossians in verse 1, as he called them all together to question their condition. In verse 1 Paul to those who were “raised with Christ.”

It was like he was saying to the whole bunch, “Look, do you want to find the true, satisfying life that you dream of? You can only get that true life if you’re each following Jesus Christ, raised with him, as an active member in his church community.”

Following Jesus means having faith in him as Lord, letting him be the one who saves you from your sins – the ways in both your heart and life that you disobey God. Following Jesus means no longer living for yourself, and instead living for God.

When you follow Jesus, in your heart you’re believing that he lived a perfect life, suffered and died on the cross as a substitute for imperfect sinners like yourself, rose from death, and then ascended into heaven, where he’s living now. You’re believing that Jesus is God, and that you need to be with him..

You become willing to suffer for his name’s sake. You put your sins to death, on the cross with him, and try to live sacrificially for others. And it’s through following Jesus to the cross that you gain eternal, true, satisfying life.

Because when you put your faith in him, you’re also raised with him from death. You’re born again into new life. You’re born into a new family, a new community, and it’s in that new family-community that you get raised up and grow into Jesus’ likeness. In the church community, we can help to raise each other up, as all of us depend on Jesus together.

In our passage, in verses 1-2, the apostle Paul the Christians in Colossae to depend on Jesus in a particular way. He called them to set their hearts (v.1) and minds (v.2) on “the things that are above.” In other words, it was a call for them to set their whole inner beings on the “things that are above,” so much so that it would transform them from the inside out and lead to a changed life. It was a call to have the right identity and right purpose in this world.

The “things that are above,” which Paul talked about, were not the things of this broken world, but the things of God’s perfect heaven. In a nutshell, what he was trying to tell them was that the only way they could ever find the truly satisfying life that they desired was to look for it from Jesus alone.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, to his throne where he could sit down as king over all creation, he came up with a sweet deal for his followers. He promised that one day, as an act of grace, he would make all people and things in his kingdom new and perfect for ever and ever. He made it so that by grace alone, all of his followers will get to share in everything he owns in the kingdom of God, for ever and ever. So God’s people will be made new, all things will be made new, and God’s people will get to share in all of God’s things. God’s kingdom will be a place of everlasting peace and joy. And Christians are promised to get all that just from having faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. That’s a sweet deal.

And because Jesus’ followers have such a sweet deal lined up for them in heaven, it makes sense for Christians not to settle for the things of this broken world. It makes sense to live for Jesus and for God’s glory, not for one’s self and one’s own glory, because of how sweet God and his deal is, and how it perfectly meets our needs. So don’t believe the lies of this world that say you get what you need without Jesus. Only Jesus and God’s glory can lead to a true, satisfying life.

Even though the Colossians got that messed up, we don’t have to make the same mistakes they did. We can measure ourselves to get a sense of what we’ve set our hearts and minds on and are seeking after with our lives, and re-calibrate if needed.

As a way to measure yourself, try to think about your life as a journey. You’re on a road, and you’re traveling somewhere. As you think about it,

What do you want your life’s journey to be like along the way?
Where do you hope to end up?
And why do you want to get there?

God calls all his people to follow the path of Jesus. He calls them to travel in community, not alone. He knows that people do a lot of different things in their journeys, but he wants his people to do them with the right intentions, so that they end up in a place that both glorifies him and is good for them. As you begin to think through how you’re going to journey through life and where you want to go, make sure the intention of your whole inner being is to glorify God, and keep that intention central no matter what you choose to do and how you choose to get there. Who are you living for? Your goal in all of life should be to glorify God; if you do that, you’ll find the true life that your inner being is longing for.

Following Jesus is the only way that leads to true, satisfying life. If that’s not how you’re traveling through your life’s journey, and you don’t have the heart-satisfaction that comes along with it, perhaps it’s time to make some changes.

You see, following Jesus is meant to change us, from the inside out, as we experience true life in him. This leads us to a second principle that we see in this passage of Colossians, which is that:

II. FINDING TRUE LIFE CHANGES US

When you’re a Christian, it changes everything in you and in how you relate with everyone and everything else. Jesus changes everything. He’s the one who makes true, satisfying life possible for us. Jesus is the only possibility for true, lasting change that gives true life.

Everyone is longing for change. We know that things in us and in the world could be better. Still, it can be hard to accept that it’s Jesus who does the change, and that his kind of change is a better kind than ours.

In Colossians 3:3, the apostle Paul reminded the Colossians that having faith in Jesus is what gives true, eternal change. He described the kind of change that Christians undergo as “death” in a spiritual sense. Paul taught them that as God’s people have died to their sins, through their faith in Jesus and his work on the cross, they’re also intended to see themselves as “dead” and set apart from the things of this world. Also, he wanted them to see that Jesus’ changing work in their lives was finished. It was done, once-and-for-all, on the cross.

Beyond that, he also reminded the Colossians that their lives were “hidden with Christ in God.” Paul taught them that the future, new life they’d gained through Jesus was secure for all of eternity, hidden away in a safe, secret place. Just as Jesus will always be God, and always be able to hang out with the Father and the Holy Spirit, all of Jesus’ followers will always be saved and can never do anything either to add to or to lose the eternal life in heaven that’s promised to them. God’s people can never lose their salvation, or even get “more saved.” The promise of God to his people is what it is and endures forever.

I think that the hidden, mysterious nature of the Christian life means that at times it can get a little weird to be a Christian in this world, at or at least it should. You see, when people in the world look at Christians, they ought to be able to notice that there’s something really different about them. Not by just the external things like Christian t-shirts with Jesus surfing on a wave, tattoos of out-of-context bible verses, cheesy Christian-ey music, or all the other things that Christian don’t do in order to glorify themselves, but instead by inner things like what Christians believe and why they choose to relate with others in love. Faith and love are weird, and they grab good attention on their own. The real but good weirdness of Christians won’t make sense to non-Christians, though, because of the living hope of Christians in what’s to come in eternity.

You see, the Christian life only really makes sense if you have faith in Jesus. Faith opens our eyes to the reality of eternity in God’s kingdom, and lets us live for the things of God’s eternal kingdom instead of the things of this world. Without faith, the Christian life seems like a waste of time in this world. It seems like a weird way to exist. You might even get made fun of for being a Christian, or treated differently because of it. Or it could lead to some interesting conversations. But the good news is that it’s OK to be weird as a Christian.

In fact, it’s normal. You fit in perfectly in Christian community if you’re weird – if you have mysterious faith, and live for God and his kingdom instead of yourself and this present world. All of us in the church have been changed by Jesus, and we’re all trying to figure out this weird but really cool life together. We are together on a journey of hope.

I wonder, though…Do the people in your life know that you’re a Christian, who’s been changed by Jesus? Does your family know about how Jesus has changed you? Do people at your school know? Dour friends know? Or have you been hiding that you’re a Christian? Just because your life is hidden in Christ doesn’t mean that your Christian life should be hidden. Let your new, true life be known to the world. Let people know about how Jesus has changed you through faith. Let people know about what he’s teaching you now. Find ways to gracefully talk about Jesus and act like Jesus with the people in your life – at home, at school, at work, with friends, wherever. Be cool about it, and follow the Holy Spirit’s leadings, but be sure to expose your faith. It might be the very way that God begins changing someone else.

Finding true life requires following Jesus, and when we follow Jesus, he changes us. But there’s more. This leads us to the third principle, which is that:

III. FINDING TRUE LIFE GIVES US REAL HOPE

Following Jesus, and being changed by him, gives real hope for what’s to come in eternity. The true life that can only be partly experienced now will be fully experienced then. God is going to make all things new, and perfectly so, on the final day when Christ is revealed in glory on his throne in heaven.

In Colossians 3:4, Paul called the church to remember their real hope in Jesus and live for his glory. He talked about a future day on which Christ would be revealed, along with his true followers. Essentially, he was teaching them that on one day--the very last day in the world--all people will have to stand before God and be judged by him, held accountable for whether or not they had faith in Jesus, and lived in a way that glorified God. In scripture, this day is often called the Day of the LORD.

On the last day, the Day of the LORD, everyone who had faith in Jesus Christ as Lord will be granted eternal life in the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is a place of never-ending, completely satisfying joy. All people will be made new and perfect there, and all things will be new and perfect there too. It’s everlasting paradise. But everyone who didn’t have faith in Jesus Christ will be condemned and will have to spend all of eternity in hell. Hell is a place of eternal suffering. All people in hell will experience the consequences of their sin for ever and ever. It’s everlasting punishment. So, it’s a good day for Christians, but a bad day for non-Christians.

Knowing that this Day of the LORD will come someday should cause God’s people to live now with a real hope for what’s ahead. God’s people should have so much real hope in what’s to come that they spend their lives preparing for it, and helping to make it come true.

There are a lot of things to talk about when it comes to eternity, but one thing Paul focused in on with the Colossians was that true life is all about Jesus, both now and forever. He focused in on that by saying that Christ is the very life of believers and the very glory of believers. When a person becomes saved, the Holy Spirit begins to reveal Jesus in them, and he progressively makes them more and more into his likeness. This is a painful process that lasts all of life, but on the final Day of the LORD it is completed, and believers are then revealed as completely new in Jesus’ likeness. Paul explaining this to the Colossians was a way to tell them that it’s worth it to hope in Jesus.

It’s worth it because God’s kingdom isn’t just a place where you become a better you. It’s not just a place to get a better life. And it’s not just a place where your personal dreams are glorified. That would be pretty lame, because all people are pretty bad to begin with and can have some pretty messed up and weak dreams. Rather, the kingdom of God is much better than that. It’s a place of true life, and true glory. It’s where all of God’s people are made into Jesus’ perfect likeness, with true life, and where all of Jesus’ dreams for us become a reality, and are truly glorified.

When we can hope for the same things that God hopes for, it’s then that we can begin to enjoy life fully with Jesus and his church community. What Jesus is doing now and will do in eternity is way better than anything else that’s going on, and it’s way more satisfying to be a part of than anything else. If you can hope in Jesus and live for his glory now, you can get a feel for what it’s like to have your heart fully satisfied.

You can get a feel for what it’s like to be the person God made you to be and to do what you’ve been designed to do. We were made to live for Jesus and his glory.

Do you believe that? That living for Jesus, as a changed person, who hopes in what God hopes for, will satisfy you and fulfill your purpose? Or is that a little hard for you to believe? Be honest with yourself. I think that a lot of us, including me, struggle to believe that at times in our lives. Personally, I often struggle because it can be really hard to believe that what I’m hoping in is going to become a reality. The future seems so far off. The kingdom of God can seem so far off. I kind of wish there was some kind of proof, in this life, that the kingdom of God is worth living for. What helps me to believe that my hope in Jesus is real, and will someday come true fully, is when I’m in my church community, and I get to witness how God is already changing people through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Changed people are living proof of the gospel.

If you struggle to believe in this real hope, I want to challenge you to spend some more quality time in the Christian community and to be very intentional about getting to know other Christians and hearing their stories of hope. Ask about:

what life was like for them before they knew Jesus
what it’s like now that they do know Jesus
and how that affects the ways they think about the future.

You’ll discover that Jesus Christ has given his followers a whole new life, has started to change them into his likeness, is using them to make the future a reality, and has made them part of a community that will endure forever in paradise.

It’s hard not to hope in what Jesus is going to do when you’re exposed to what he’s doing and has done.

Finding true life requires following Jesus, changes us, and gives us real hope.

You need the real hope of Jesus. Deep down, you’re longing to know him and glorify him. Be honest about that, and seek after him and his kingdom with all of yourself and all of your things all of the time. Don’t lie to yourself, believing that anyone or anything in this world is what you need instead of Jesus. Don’t have false hope in what doesn’t truly satisfy and last. Be very intentional to find ways to hope in what God has done on the cross, what he’s doing in the world, and what he’s going to do in his eternal kingdom. And share your hope with others.

If you don’t have real hope in Jesus because you aren’t a Christian, please consider placing your faith in Jesus Christ and repenting from your sins today. Jesus can save you from your sins and give you true life, and that’ll make you new and give you real hope. Come forward after the service and ask me or another leader about how to do that.

Let’s pray.

Study Notes: 1 Corinthians 5

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:00:26 PST

The following are some of my study notes on 1 Corinthians 5. They were part of our sermon prep process at Hope Fellowship, and so they're notes intended to help a preacher out a little bit. This sermon was part of our sermon series, "A Messy Community of Grace." All members of the teaching team contributed their study notes as part of our regular weekly practice.

Sermon Text:

1 Corinthians 5

Sermon Title:

“Celebrating Purity.” We celebrate sin, but need to celebrate purity, and Jesus has made that kind of celebration possible.

Preaching Points

Christians can believe lies about sin. The truth is that sin has tragic consequences, can’t be hidden, and must be dealt with appropriately. The truth is that the church needs to be pure, celebrating Christ alone.
5:1-2. Sin was being tolerated in the Corinthian church. It was tolerated on every level, it seems, including some really awful forms of sexual immorality. The amount and kind of tolerance present indicates that they didn’t have a biblical view/definition of sin, or at least were acting like they didn’t, as if they were all pagans. Further, they prided themselves in their tolerance, and celebrated it, as if they were right and the bible was wrong. Altogether, we see that they believed worldly lies about sin, esp. sexual sin. The worst part of it was not the individual sins themselves, but their tolerance of sin altogether.
Similar to the Corinthians, people in our context pride themselves on celebrating tolerance, and many people think that culture ought to inform what we accept in the Scriptures about sin. To deal with this, provide a correct definition of sin. Also, talk about how tolerance of sin is sin and ruins a church.
Application: what sins are you celebrating/tolerating in your life, or in the lives of others? What elaborate ways do you defend your sin? Do you let the bible tell you what’s right and wrong, or do you let culture do that? Help people diagnose those two issues. Challenge them to have a right understanding of sin, mourning over it, celebrating purity instead.
5:3-5. The necessity and purpose of church discipline is made clear. In order to keep the church pure, God has instituted authority in the church body. Christ is the head of the body, and all authority belongs to him. He has given authority, by his Spirit, to the apostles and elders, so that he might rule through them. They are to prepare people for the Day of Judgment. Why did Jesus give this kind of authority to apostles and elders, and to an extent to all believers? He loves his people and wants them to be pure, able to avoid wrath and fully enjoy community both now and forever.
As Paul reminds the Corinthians of their responsibility in church discipline, he calls them to excommunicate the man committing sexual immorality. I think it would be helpful to explain in detail what church discipline is, including the various steps we take in disciplining members, and why it’s essential to practice. It’ll be very important to talk about handing people over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, due to the people who hate discipline (b/c of past experiences) and critical skeptics in our context. Church discipline always has redemption in mind, making it perfectly good-natured.
Application: Perhaps you could give some examples of issues that, if not dealt with, would lead to church discipline. Encourage people to seek out help for their sins, in order to avoid discipline or God’s wrath. Also remind them that as a church, we are all responsible for confronting one another and helping one another through sin. How we deal with sin in the lives of others matters. It’s sin to be idle about it.
Challenge: Many people just leave church when they’re in sin and don’t want to be disciplined for it. Often, people will just find a more tolerant church or group to be a part of. Challenge people to embrace God’s design for community, which includes governance and church discipline. If you want to be able to celebrate life in community as God has intended it, you need to be part of an elder-led church that practices discipline. It’s for your own good.
5:6-8. The Passover analogy is introduced and must be explained. Christians are challenged to begin celebrating the Passover festival, which includes a meal, by being pure –without leaven - as a church community. Believers are called to cooperate with God in the process of sanctification, for the purpose of celebration. Holy living is a celebration of what God has done, is doing, and will do in us.
Christ is the Passover Lamb who makes celebration possible. Only his bloody sacrifice would do; it was necessary because of sin. If sin wasn’t a big deal, that needed to be dealt with, then Jesus wouldn’t have had to die. Tolerating sin is like saying that Jesus didn’t need to die, and you aren’t sorry that he did. Tolerating sin is mocking Jesus on the cross right after you put him there. He died because all of life – both now and forever - is meant to be a holy celebration, and he makes that possible for us thru the crucifixion.
5:9-13. This section is about both the purity and mission of the local church. Believers have been called out of the world in order to be in pure community, on mission for God in the world. There is a strong call to excommunicate those who bear the name Christian but act like they are still from the world. This excommunication protects the integrity of the church which is for the good of the individual cast out, the church community, and even the world in the long run.
What defines you? Who do you associate with?

Study Notes: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 12:54:32 PST

The following are some of my study notes on 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. They were part of our sermon prep process at Hope Fellowship, and so they're notes intended to help a preacher out a little bit. This sermon was part of our sermon series, "A Messy Community of Grace." All members of the teaching team contributed their study notes as part of our regular weekly practice.

Sermon Text:
1 Corinthians 1:18-31

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Preaching Points:

Intro. An overall theme of this passage is the ungratefulness of the Corinthian church, which is a lifestyle fueled by their false ideas about wisdom. Even though they were saved, they weren’t living as grateful for their salvation, and in their works tried to take credit for and earn both their justification and their sanctification.
The Corinthians needed a reminder about what happened on the cross, and what the Christian life is all about now. Also, they needed to be challenged to believe in the gospel daily and reject the lies of the world daily. Paul’s foundation for all of this was the power of the cross. When you’ve experienced the power of the cross, and are reminded of what it has done for you and its promises, you have no excuse to believe in the powerless lies of the world.
Cultural Exegesis. A passage like this is particularly relevant for a church in our context. We live in a culture that says learning and getting fancy degrees and then being intellectually generous with others is the key to living rightly in the world. When that cultural story creeps into the church, it corrupts our understanding of justification and sanctification, too. Christian life can become all about knowing the right things, hanging out with the right crowd, or doing the right religious activities. It can become about things we can take credit for and have pride in. But the Christian life isn’t something we can take any credit for, or have pride in, truly.
1:19, Paul challenged every form of human wisdom that exalts its own cleverness, and essentially he said to the church, “God isn’t impressed with you at all. He doesn’t care about all your worldly knowledge, wisdom, and degrees. In fact, he’s disappointed in you for the ways you’ve put so much stock in the wrong things.”
Historically, God’s people have always--at times--turned to people, political systems, and things other than God for salvation. If you wanted, you could use the Isaiah reference here to provide an overview of how Israel as a nation turned away from God time and time again, trusting in pagan nations and false gods for deliverance. It sounds incredibly stupid when we hear about Israel turning away from God, but it hurts when we realize that we are prone to do the same thing as we trust in America, political systems, degrees, jobs, and our own efforts to save us or make us more holy people.
1:20, Paul challenged the ways that people try to put God’s plan of salvation into a box. He challenged the people and things that the Corinthians were relying on, other than God, for their identities. He reminded them that it was by faith alone that they were able to be saved, and that God’s power alone sustains believers in their living.
1:26-31, Paul promotes a right understanding of community. He invokes the idea that God’s community is one of adoption; we are brothers and sisters together in family. I think there’s an implicit challenge to love each other as a family does; just because you’re a family. We were born into something and can’t take credit for being a part of it, really. Yet we must live as a family.
Application: One way to speak to non-believers who struggle to believe in the cross is to encourage them to ask Christians to share their testimonies about how the power of God has transformed their lives. This could be useful for Christians, too. Hearing how God has changed another believer is a powerful witness of his life-changing, life-saving power and can be truly inspiring.
Storyline: When presenting the gospel in this passage, it seems wise to emphasize Jesus as the Suffering Servant, especially considering all the references to Isaiah. He used his power to serve others in the most ultimate way. Such an emphasis on how God used his power would allow you to challenge people to also be suffering servants, which would rightly crush their false wisdom and values.

Study Notes: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:04:05 PST

The following are some of my study notes on 1 Corinthians 1:10-17. They were part of our sermon prep process at Hope Fellowship, and so they're notes intended to help a preacher out a little bit. This sermon was part of our sermon series, "A Messy Community of Grace." All members of the teaching team contributed their study notes as part of our regular weekly practice.

Sermon Text:
1 Corinthians 1:10-17

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Preaching Points

This is a challenging passage to preach because it’s confusing, due to its highly contextual nature. Paul’s main idea is fairly clear, but the issues he’s speaking to are not necessarily clear.
Overall, there’s a call for agreement in the gospel. Paul is essentially saying, “As Christians, we need to learn how to get along. We need to be able to have charitable conversations with each other, as we live life together.”
The church in Corinth was so divided that it left Paul in a position where all he could really say was, “Well, what can we all agree upon?” In the case of Corinth, all they could really agree upon was the name of Jesus Christ. And so Paul appealed to that. He helped the believers there to look at Christ and see beyond themselves. Sometimes we have to remember our doctrine rightly in order to get our affections right, too.
Application: In times of conflict, it’s important to help people find “common ground” in the name of Jesus Christ. If you associate yourself with his name, as a Christian, you have a responsibility to see all conflict through the lens of the cross of Jesus Christ. We have to look beyond ourselves, and even each other, and look to the cross in order to find true resolution. **Perhaps you could give people some helpful steps or tips, based on biblical principles, for resolving tough arguments.
In his commentary, Calvin offers a potential outline for preaching through this pericope. He offers three guiding points: (1) the need for harmony in our design, (2) evil causes in us that prevent harmony, and (3) the nature of true harmony in Christ. In this outline, he sets up many opportunities to talk about the overarching storyline of the whole bible (e.g., creation, fall, redemption, eternity).
The arguments, disunity, and disharmony of the Corinthians reminds me of the Tower of Babel. In their sin, they had all become spiritual elitists trying to earn their own glory and be like God himself.
It’ll be really important to explain what’s going on with people saying they’re exclusively following Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ and also in how they take so much pride in who baptized them. People were finding their identities in their social groups and in cultural values, not in Jesus himself. They had made the Christian life into a game of rank and popularity.
Potential Joke: Which pastor in your church do you like the most? Or who is the Christian leader who seems the coolest to you, for whatever reason? Or who are the people with the same beliefs as you (name some silly ones). It’s easy to divide over stupid things. When that happens, Satan is winning little battles.

Study Notes: 1 Corinthians 1:-9

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:04:28 PST

The following are some of my study notes on 1 Corinthians 1:1-9. They were part of our sermon prep process at Hope Fellowship, and so they're notes intended to help a preacher out a little bit. This sermon was part of our sermon series, "A Messy Community of Grace." All members of the teaching team contributed their study notes as part of our regular weekly practice.

Sermon Text:
1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sermon Title:

“Surviving in Community.” Big Idea: It’s a challenge to survive the perils of Christian community, but God gives us the tools to survive into eternity.

Preaching Points

Apostleship. Paul claims authority for himself from the start. He says that he’s an Apostle, called by God. It could be useful to define what an apostle is. It could also be useful to talk about how God has instituted authority in the church and calls certain men to special positions of authority in the church as elders, pastors, and deacons. And after God calls a man, he is affirmed in his authority by the local church.
This would be a great opportunity to talk about being called into ministry. You can challenge all the men to aspire to fitting the qualifications of an elder, or at the very least a deacon.
It seems like the Corinthians struggled with Paul’s authority. A lot of people in our context probably struggle with trusting in authority figures in the church, as well as the authority of the bible. It might be important to acknowledge the legitimacy of some of their concerns, while also challenging them to understand that it is disobedience against God to disobey his Word and the authorities he has placed in the church governance.
Unity of God’s covenant people, in Jesus. From the start, Paul acknowledges that the church in Corinth is indeed the “church of God.” This is important because of how messed up these people were. Even though they were a messy group of people, they were still the church, and they were still loved by God as his covenant people.
What are some barriers to unity? In our modern context in Cambridge, there are some very specific, prevalent sin issues in our church community that often prevent unity. Some of them include arrogance, pride, greed, legalism, relativism, all-inclusiveness, and fundamentalism.
Sanctification. Clarify what it is, and how it’s an act of grace. It’s not through our own efforts that we’re holy, but it’s by the call of God alone, because we are depraved in nature and yet he sanctifies us. Referring to the church as “holy” alludes to the covenant of God with his chosen people. God is committed, wholly, to the people whom he has made holy. He will preserve the holiness of his people for all of eternity.
Grace. When considering life in Christian community, it is important to recognize the grace of God working in the midst of his people. God’s grace is what sustains the community of believers into eternity. By his grace, God has equipped us with the Holy Spirit and his spiritual gifts. And God’s grace calls us to love one another actively, using our gifts to inaugurate the kingdom now.
Application: the need for a loving character. The Corinthians were commended for how God gifted them in grace, but there’s no mention of their love or service. The big idea is that gifting and skill without character is useless. What good is a person’s gifting if it isn’t being used to serve God and one another, building his kingdom? What good is a worship leader who wants to be famous, or a pastor who just wants to get books published? We should make it our ambition to have a right, loving character so that we can use our gifts and offices rightly. So seek out opportunities to grow in your character. Repent of vanity/selfishness.
In a quote in Garland's commentary, Brown said, “The Corinthians’ greatest liabilities and greatest strengths lie in their gifts.” (p. 34 in Garland). If we don’t use our strengths rightly, they become our weaknesses and can be used by Satan to destroy us.
Community in Jesus. The most important thing to see in this pericope is that Christian community is all about Jesus and life together in him. Nothing should be more important about community than Jesus himself. He is the richness of all believers. We should all see the primacy of Christ in community, having his same attitude as we live with one another in love.
No one should see themselves as a lone-ranger Christian. Individualism and self-sufficiency has no place in Christian community. We are a saved people. We all need Jesus, and we all need one another. Further, it can be argued that we can’t rightly know Jesus apart from community in him. It’s only by being a part of the mosaic that we can see it as a whole, for what it truly is. If a mosaic is missing a piece, it’s an incomplete image.

Study Notes: Acts 11:19-30

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:04:56 PST

The following are some of my study notes on Acts 11:19-30. They were part of our sermon prep process at Hope Fellowship, and so they're notes intended to help a preacher out a little bit. This sermon was part of our sermon series about the various elements of our church's heart. All members of the teaching team contributed their study notes as part of our regular weekly practice.

Sermon Text:

Acts 11:19-30

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Sermon Title:

"The multiplying of mission outposts – church planting"

Preaching Points

The disciples had different strategies for church planting. Some of them went along the coast of Phoenicia, and then traveled overseas to the distant city of Cyprus. Some of the disciples who went out brought the gospel to a large city of great importance, Antioch.
In this we see that our church must plant churches both near and far, being strategic about where and why we plant churches. Some people in our church may be called to go overseas and plant churches. Others may be called to go to major cities in our country. We must be equally supportive of all church planting, and some of us must get ready to go and be a part of church planting.
Antioch became Paul’s supporting church. It was the prime city church to do that. As a church here, what kind of opportunities and responsibilities do we have?
Those who traveled only spoke the gospel to Jews, initially. It’s fair to say they had reservations, many of which were valid, about sharing the gospel with others who weren’t like them. Maybe it didn’t even occur to them. But, throughout the course of the story, it becomes clear that they needed to get out of their comfort zones. They needed to take God’s big gospel out of the little box they put it in. Christians often put the gospel in a little, unnecessary box that only certain people can open.
The disciples preached “the Lord Jesus,” which means they preached him contextually. Lord was a common word in that context. So we see that they spoke of Jesus and shared the good news about him using language that made sense, contextually. They didn’t try to talk about all their Jewish practices or use Jewish language. They used the language of the people to tell a story about Jesus that was good news to that particular people.
What does it mean that Jesus is Lord? Great opportunity to explain what that word meant, historically. And what it means for us now. We often use it in vain, so it’s important to understand its significance.
Church planting was going well. The gospel was being shared faithfully, and people were being converted. But there was an apparent need for both oversight and various kinds of support. Churches supported the new church plant, even going so far as to send Barnabus to encourage and care for them. As Christians, we need to be thinking about supporting church plants while also taking action to support church plants. We need to encourage church planters. Pray for them. Give them money. Go serve with them, using your gifts. Mention a list of ways to support your local church planters.
In church planting, there is a great need for both governance and discipleship. Leaders need to be leading rightly, and new leaders need to be raised up continually. Planting a church is a team effort. This is a great opportunity to talk about being an elder-led church that has discipleship structures in place (internships, etc.).
As the church community grew, it would have been a mix of all kinds of people, both Jews and Gentiles alike. Such growth and diversity would have been uncomfortable. As a church we always have to be ready to grow and to change our appearance. We have to reach all people. The church is “wide” enough in what it is that all kinds of people are welcome to be a part of it .This is a great opportunity to speak to non-Christians, letting them know that no matter what they’re welcome to be a part of our church. You don’t have to clean yourself up, vote a certain way, etc. before you come to church or become a Christian. Jesus calls people to come just as we are.
As people are called into community, they are also called onto mission. They serve others outside of their church, providing famine relief and other kinds of support.

13 Favorite Albums of 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:45:18 PST

Bat for Lashes - The Haunted Man
Bear in Heaven - I Love You, It's Cool [+Digital Booklet]
CFCF - Exercises
Chromatics - Kill for Love
Clark - Iradelphic
Crystal Castles - (III)
Grimes - Visions (Bonus Track Version)
Grizzly Bear - Shields
Purity Ring - Shrines
The Lumineers - The Lumineers
The XX - Coexist
Trampled by Turtles - Stars And Satellites
Trust - Trst

Study Notes - Ephesians 2:1-10

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 10:34:51 PST

The following are some of my study notes on Ephesians 2:1-10. They were part of our sermon prep process at Hope Fellowship, and so they're notes intended to help a preacher out a little bit. This sermon, "a heart for the gospel," was part of a series about the various elements of our church's heart. All members of the teaching team contributed their study notes as part of our regular weekly practice.

Text: Ephesians 2:1-10

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Sermon Title/Topic:

“A Heart for the Gospel” – the gospel at the center of our lives and community

Preaching Points

1. A case for the necessity of the resurrection. All people are spiritually dead without Christ, who is the source of true life.
Cultural exegesis: The attitude of our culture seems to say, “it’s OK to trespass and sin. Just do what you think is right, and everything will work out.” And the world also tells us that certain things – fame, money, extramarital sex, etc. – make life worth living. But if our trespasses and sins truly lead us to spiritual death, as the Bible teaches, then it’s not OK to trespass and sin. We are all spiritually dead and we all need Christ to be alive, truly.
Application: It’s important, from the start, to clearly define what sin is and what its consequences are. Also, it’s important to help Christians understand why sin – of any kind- doesn’t belong in their lives. Perhaps you could find a way to challenge the “excusable sins” of Christians that are harmful to our lives and community in Christ.
2. An overview of the kingdom of the world, its powers, and its citizens. It draws attention to the concept of belonging in a community.
For Christians, there’s an opportunity here to remind them of their past citizenship in the kingdom of the world. Illustration: This could be an opportunity to share a story about your own life before Christ, emphasizing how it was spiritually dead.
3. It’s necessary here to talk about how, because of original sin, all people are “children of wrath” by nature. Link back to God’s design for humans, community, and give a simple overview of Adam’s sin and what that means for all of us. This is important to discuss because it introduces the idea that the will of Christians is in bondage to the flesh while at the same time being freed by the Spirit. There’s a spiritual war taking place in us.
4. God is rich in mercy, which is proved by his love for us. We’re intended to view God’s love for us as mercy. We are not entitled to it; his love is an act of grace. God’s love is shown for us in Jesus Christ.
5. Salvation is defined. Faith in Jesus changes everything for believers. It gives new life. We are resurrected with Christ, and for a purpose - so that we might live together for Christ in his community.
Define Christian community. What is it?
In Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this.”
Application: there are barriers to simple, gospel-centered community. How do we try to add to or take away from the simplicity of what it means to be the Christian community? Generally speaking, it’s by creating room for our sin to exist safely with us in community. Religion and rebellion. We let things like our politics, appearances, and educational prowess divide us. We form “clicks” in community that are counter to the gospel.
In community, we’re intended to work out our salvation together. We are meant to bear one another’s burdens. Our community is meant to be authentically messy. You could challenge people on this: Do you have any messy relationships? If not, you probably don’t have any real ones. Real relationships aren’t surface level and clean, they expose our sin. But we work through it together, depending on Christ.
6. Here there’s an emphasis on the newness of life and community in Jesus. There’s a really powerful statement about how believers are already enthroned with King Jesus in the heavenly places.
The Holy Spirit seals believers, guaranteeing their future inheritance in the kingdom of God. The HS makes us into Christ’s likeness. This can be helpful to emphasized to both rebellious and religious types. The HS leads us away from both of those extremes, which are both sinful. There is hope for all believers in the work of the HS.
Christ’s ascension to the throne empowers all believers to participate in the work of establishing his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Martin Luther describes this as the kingliness of all believers. We are all little kings. In its calling, the Christian community is intended to bring Christ’s justice to the world, as we expand his rule.
7. Great opportunity to promote our justice/mercy ministries. Challenge believers to serve those who need justice/mercy. Also, consider inviting non-Christians to serve with us in this capacity, somehow, like by helping with cooking for the homeless.
8. What is grace, really? Grace is undeserved favor that is freely given. In regards to salvation, it means that we can’t take any credit for it. Salvation is a work of God alone; it’s an act of grace. To paraphrase Karl Barth, “faith is a response to the work that God has done prior.” Faith is our realization of God’s saving work. We commit to believing in what he has already done. We can’t take credit for faith.
Application: your view of salvation affects how you treat others. Unless you have a deep, rich understanding of grace, you’re bound to mistreat others when they sin against you. A right understanding of grace enables us to love others like Jesus. Do you show grace to your wife? Your kids? Your friends? Your enemies? Other Christians whom you disagree with?
9-10. There’s nothing to boast about in the Christian life. All that we are is Christ’s work, and he’s the one doing work in us. We are called simply to cooperate with Jesus in doing his good work. That is, sharing the gospel with one another. All that we do should revolve around the person and work of Jesus. What does this good work look like? Illustrate it with some examples.

Study Notes - Psalm 131

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 10:40:54 PST

The following are some of my study notes on Psalm 131. They were part of our sermon prep process at Hope Fellowship, and so they're notes intended to help a preacher out a little bit. All members of the teaching team contributed their study notes as part of our regular weekly practice.

Text: Psalm 131
O LORD, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, hope in the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore.

Major Theological Themes:

Sin – what is it? What are its effects?
Repentance – what is it? How to repent well?
Grace – what is it? Why is it so great and marvelous?
Peace – with God and with self
Hope – now and forever. Related: 1 Peter 1:3-9
The Lordship of Christ.

Preaching Points:

131:1 Synonymous parallelism between 1a and 1b.
To have a heart “not lifted up” seems to refer to having no pride in how one sees oneself.
Diagnostic: what are some things that people in our culture pride themselves in?
People have a tendency to see themselves as God. Talk about our original sin, or perhaps the 10 commandments.
To have eyes “not raised too high” seems to refer to having no pride in how one sees himself before God and others.
God’s people should not view themselves as higher, but lower, than others. To look at others with haughty eyes is to embrace vainglory.
This verse is a great opportunity to connect with Philippians 2. Christ made himself lowly and took on the form of a servant. Tim Keller’s Phil 2 sermon, Be Humble and Make Peace, is one of the best sermons I’ve heard on this matter.
In declaring he doesn’t occupy himself with things “too great and marvelous” for him, the Psalmist seems to recognize his stance before God and other men. He sees himself as a sinner in need of grace. The great and marvelous things seem to refer to the works of God, i.e., his grace towards those who break his Law. He recognizes that he can’t do what God does, and needs Christ to do it for him. And God promises that for his people in his plan of salvation, which is great and marvelous.
On a practical level, you could ask people how they “occupy themselves.” In other words, how do they deal with their own sin, practically? Through legalism or through rebellion? Both are kinds of vainglory.
131:2 Be very careful, clarifying, in any connections to Jesus interacting with children in the NT. Having “faith like a child” is easily misinterpreted by some as the “faith of all children.”
131:3 The nature of hope is centered on Yahweh’s covenant. His promises are what enable his people to live with hope both now and the future.
What hope is. What hope does. What hope isn’t. What not hoping does.
Many people don’t know how to live well in this world. What are some barriers to hope?
True hope can only be experienced in community.

Study Notes - Psalm 127

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 08:37:02 PST

The following are some of my study notes on Psalm 127. They were part of our sermon prep process at Hope Fellowship, and so they're notes intended to help a preacher out a little bit. All members of the teaching team contributed their study notes as part of our regular weekly practice.

Text: Psalm 127
Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Major Themes

The private and public life of God’s people.
God’s sovereign providence over all life (public, private)
Human responsibility (i.e., the office of man), including the importance of having right motivations in all of life.
Blessings of life and glory for obedience.
Curses of death and decay for disobedience

Preaching Points

V.1. God is the true builder and watchman. As the Creator, he’s sovereign over all of life and providentially sustains it by his grace. He was, is, and always will be. All of life is subject to him. No one compares to him and his glory; he’s absolute.
Illustration question: Did you know that God is both overseeing and preserving your life? Is that something you believe? Why or why not?
The word “house” emphasizes the individual, private life of God’s people. The word can refer to both the physical building and the family that dwells in it. The word “city” emphasizes the corporate, public life of God’s people. The word can refer to both the people at large and the physical location of them. Together, these words provide readers with an understanding that God is sovereign over all of life, public and private, and that his people must recognize him as such and live for him.
The ongoing actions of mankind are held in contrast to God’s finalized actions. We are intended to see our actions with the right perspective. Do our actions agree with God’s perfect will, or are they working in opposition to it? Application: What are we building and watching over? God’s house/city, or our own houses and cities? Are we building and sustaining God’s church and kingdom, or just living for ourselves? Only one kingdom will last for all eternity. Here you can challenge people to use all of their lives for God’s glory, including their gifts and talents.
In his commentary, John Calvin refers readers back to the Adamic Covenant (we’re designed to work and keep, doing God’s labor in the world for is glory) and talks about the curses associated with disobedience – hard, restless labor.
V.2. There are consequences to disobeying God’s will, living for oneself instead of him. One of the main consequences is vainglory, or having a truly meaningless life that’s like a vapor that fades away. Also, those without faith in God’s providence have every reason to be anxiety and worry, because they think it all depends on them. Not trusting in God ruins lives.
Rest is a gift from God. More than sleep. It is peace that you live with. Illustration: you could probably make a joke about overworking and getting tired. When we overwork ourselves, we often get so tired we shut down. Ex: One time in seminary I overworked myself so much, not sleeping for 3 days, that I passed out in the shower and hit my head. But according to God’s design, we get all the rest we need. Our work is not of the most importance in life – his work is. Another illustration: Have you made work more important than your own health, than getting rest?
V3. All of life comes from God. Children are an example of how God provides his people with new life.
Parents typically like to take credit for making their children. As if it was a totally natural, scientific thing that they accomplished. But that is not true; life is a miracle that comes from God alone.
V4. Having children equips and prepares you for life in the world, just as having arrows equips an archer for battle. Illustration: the way we live at home, raising our children and loving our families, is a primary witness to the world. Our ministry begins at home. And we should all aspire to have godly, private lives that are blessings to others.
Illustration question: What kind of legacy are you leaving at home, at work, and in your city? One that glorifies you, or one that glorifies God? Only one kind of legacy is truly lasting and a blessing to others.
V5. When you have to confront your enemies in the public sphere, like the Israelites had to do at the gates, it is important to have a sterling witness in your private life. For instance, how you’ve raised your children. A man has to pastor his family well.
There’s probably a pastoral need here to address singleness and the inability to have children. For singles, you could advocate living with purity and serving families. For childless families, you could advocate adoption.
The blessing of having children is parallel to the blessings of being a child in God’s family. God is a good Father who has given his Son, Jesus, to care for all the needs of his family. And as a church family, we take care of one another. God’s children have all their physical and spiritual needs met. See Luke 12:22-34 and 1 Timothy 6:6-8.

Study Notes: Exodus 40

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:43:56 PST

The following are some of my study notes on Exodus 40. They were part of our sermon prep process at Hope Fellowship, and so they're notes intended to help a preacher out a little bit. All members of the teaching team contributed their study notes as part of our regular weekly practice.

Text: Exodus 40

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “On the first day of the first month you shall erect the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. And you shall put in it the ark of the testimony, and you shall screen the ark with the veil. And you shall bring in the table and arrange it, and you shall bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. And you shall put the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and set up the screen for the door of the tabernacle. You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. And you shall set up the court all around, and hang up the screen for the gate of the court. “Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy. You shall also anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar, so that the altar may become most holy. You shall also anoint the basin and its stand, and consecrate it. Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall wash them with water and put on Aaron the holy garments. And you shall anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve me as priest. You shall bring his sons also and put coats on them, and anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve me as priests. And their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations. This Moses did; according to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did. In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected. Moses erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars. And he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the LORD had commanded Moses. He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark. And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the LORD had commanded Moses. He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil, and arranged the bread on it before the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses. He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle, and set up the lamps before the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses. He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil, and burned fragrant incense on it, as the LORD had commanded Moses. He put in place the screen for the door of the tabernacle. And he set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the LORD had commanded Moses. He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing, with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet. When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, as the LORD commanded Moses. And he erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

Main Themes

Holiness. God is holy, and his people need to be holy.
The testimony of God in the ark, in the tabernacle. The Word of God is the center of all worship, of peoples’ relationship with him.
The glory of God. Sanctification.
Responding to God’s Law

Preaching Points

In 12-15, there is an emphasis on the anointing and role of the priests. In principle, this could be an opportunity to talk about how - even now - God calls some people to serve in full-time, vocational ministry. But there is a lot of room for discussion about priesthood here, especially in regards to its perpetual line through the generations. Importantly, it points forward to Christ as our priest, and then the priesthood of all believers.
16-33. Moses obeys God and establishes the tabernacle. The tabernacle is a physical manifestation of God’s revelation. In so doing, Moses points forward to how Christ fulfills the whole Law in perfect obedience, establishing the people of God as the living temple of the LORD. In Christ, we are all obedient to God.
16-33. Focus on what kind of experience you’re supposed to have in God’s presence. In the order of the tabernacle, there is a particular process that people are forced to go through as they come into God’s presence. It’s an evocative process that would force them into a certain heart-posture, and hopefully lead them to faith. I think that this could be a great opportunity to talk about how worshipping God in faith affects our hearts – our minds, our wills, and our emotions. Responding to God is not just a matter of the will – it is a matter of the whole being coming before God in faith.
In 36, there’s an interesting shift in the narrative. The text kind of “fast forwards” and gives a summary of “all the journeys” of the Israelites in relation to the cloud of God’s glory. In this there is an emphasis on how God was sanctifying his people, in leading them in ways glorying to him and good for them. A principle we see here is that God’s glory is what gives direction to the lives of God’s people. If you’re not following after God’s glory, you’re headed to death or at least suffering. You shouldn’t head in any direction that doesn’t lead to God’s glory.

Study Notes: Exodus 35 - 36:7

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen McAlpin) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:39:05 PST

The following are some of my study notes on Exodus 35-36:7. They were part of our sermon prep process at Hope Fellowship, and so they're notes intended to help a preacher out a little bit. All members of the teaching team contributed their study notes as part of our regular weekly practice.

Text: Exodus 35 – 36:7

Moses assembled all the congregation of the people of Israel and said to them, “These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do. Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day.” Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “This is the thing that the LORD has commanded. Take from among you a contribution to the LORD. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the LORD's contribution: gold, silver, and bronze; blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; goats' hair, tanned rams' skins, and goatskins; acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. “Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the LORD has commanded: the tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its hooks and its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the veil of the screen; the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; the lampstand also for the light, with its utensils and its lamps, and the oil for the light; and the altar of incense, with its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle; the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin and its stand; the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court; the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their cords; the finely worked garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests.” Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the LORD. And every one who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats' hair or tanned rams' skins or goatskins brought them. Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought it as the LORD's contribution. And every one who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work brought it. And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats' hair. And the leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastpiece, and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense. All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD. Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer. “Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded.” And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the LORD has commanded us to do.” So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.

Major Themes

Sabbath. Important to emphasize, due to the action/work-orientation of the passage.
Tabernacle. Importance of quality/beauty is emphasized.
God’s Holiness
Hearts of God’s People: willing, generous
Actions of Response by God’s People: Coming, Bringing, Making. All this is part of repentance. It is a response to God’s work in judging, showing his wrath, and warning his remnant people. When you really grasp God’s grace, you repent, and live for him.
The filling of the Holy Spirit
God’s covenant-faithfulness. He continues to establish his people, despite their sin.
The kingdom of God.

Preaching Points (w/ potential illustrations & applications)

35.1 The tabernacle itself is not what would “make possible” worship for the Israelites. The tabernacle was a symbol of God’s dwelling place on the earth, and building it was simply an act of obedience. Building it was worship. The important point to note here is that all of life is worship; worship comes in all forms of responsive action.
35.2 Focus on Sabbath. God’s view of time and work is different than the world’s view. As Lord of the Sabbath, he sets apart special time for holy rest, and his people are commanded to be distinguished from the world by imitating him in this matter. The Sabbath was a covenant-sign. The importance of obeying this command is noted by the death penalty that is used to enforce it. In his commentary, Ryken notes that it’s one of the most important commandments in the book of Exodus.
Illustration: In the Greater Boston area, there is a strong cultural objection to using time for things other than personal achievement and charity. Many people would rather die than simply rest for a whole day. To get attention easily and quickly, you could address cultural objection this in your introduction.
Application(s): What should the Sabbath look like, exactly? How do we receive God’s rest? What are some things that get in the way of people keeping the Sabbath, perhaps even as they try to “keep” it (email, TV, etc.)? In his commentary, Ryken wrote, “Anyone who is too busy to keep the Lord’s Day holy should take a Sabbath to rethink his or her priorities” (1065).
35:3 Strange prohibition not to make fires in households. People may not make the connection here, since not many people make fires these days except for relaxation. Stuart points out that this was a command not to cook on the Sabbath, but to eat pre-prepared, cold food instead.
Illustration: You also could joke about how this prohibition would have been great news for people who hate to cook, but idol-crushing for the kind of people who love the Food Network. Not a command to turn off your electronic fireplace, just a command to not cook and rest instead.
35:5-9. In his commentary, Stuart wrote, “This passage stands as a model for the way things of God are provided for by humans. The covenant community responds to what they perceive as a divine call and give freely, without coercion, until the need is met. They give of their own possessions so that each person participates through personal sacrifice. Part of the privilege of serving God is to be found in the opportunity to donate to his purposes things that in his common grace he has already entrusted to the possession of his people. The highest honor a person can have in connection with anything he or she owns and might otherwise have used for self is seeing it given over to and incorporated into that which God thereafter owns and uses for his honor.”
Application: what does it look like for us, as the modern church, to give freely to one another? Talk about HF ministries: the Back 2 School, Drop-In, Hope Café, etc. but also point to specific ways that believers can share life with one another. Sharing meals, using skills to help one another, giving possessions to one another, etc.
35:10. A principle we see here is that God has designed human beings to accomplish his purposes in this world. He has made each of us a certain way, in order to do certain things, and we are intended to live for him. Human beings will experience the most joy in life when they live for God’s purposes and not their own purposes.
35:20-29. The impression given is that few, if any, people held back from contributing. I think this is important to note, considering how many people may have had decent excuses for not contributing. A principle that’s seen here is that all of God’s people have something to give; they just need to figure out what they can joyfully and freely give.
Application: Challenge people on their reasons for not being willing to give to the church. Explain how God desires us to have hearts that are willing to give back to him. Give them some examples of ways they can give. Example: if you’re poor, and refuse to give, try giving $1 every week. There are plenty of NT tie-ins here, including Jesus’ parables on gratitude.
35:25-26 One group that is singled out is the women who spun things with their hands, which might be a role in church service that is objectionable to feminists and egalitarians. It is important to note that while the women weren’t called to serve as elders or prophets, they were called to use their gifts in a way that served God’s purposes.
Application: if you’re a woman, in the church, you don’t have to be an elder or pastor in order to be usings your gifts. Contribute however you can in a way that’s biblical. For some, that might mean cooking and cleaning and sewing. For others, it might mean leading other women and making disciples of them. Ladies need to be ministering to one another, too, and can do so in a way that men just can’t! As Ryken said in his commentary, the church needs “women who are willing to serve God from the heart,” (1086), using their gifts for his glory.
35:30-35. Bezalel and Oholiab. God has both raised them up with certain personalities and skills and also, seemingly, specially filled them with his Holy Spirit in order to accomplish his purposes. Their leadership role here emphasizes God’s perfect design, his holiness, his beauty, and many other things. Their ability to impart their skills to others, through discipleship, is an example of how apprenticeship and discipleship should work in the covenant community. Leaders are meant to raise up and sharpen others, in order that all people might be doing God’s work.
Find out how to use your life for God’s glory. Find your sweet spot in serving in the church. Use your gifts for the edification of the body. If you’re an artist, share that with others. If you’re a good host or have lots of resources, invite others to your house for a party. But also do the grunt work that just needs to get done! Clean up the church, do counseling with tough people, be a disciple-makers, etc.
36:1-7 In this chapter we see the culmination of the “come, bring, and make” command from the previous chapter. God had called his people to come, enabled his people to bring things, and even empowered them to make things. Their response in this matter is a clear act of repentance from their idolatry in previous chapters. They turned away from idolatry and came back to God. A principle that is made explicit through this context is that repentance demands a redirection of one’s will, from sin to worship.
Application. God wants us to commit our whole beings to him. Work, family, personal, finances, possessions – our whole lives. Are you just doing one thing and not all of it? We must dedicate all of ourselves, and all we have, to God.
Storyline: A general idea that becomes clear through the pericope is that when we are living right with God, we are partnering with him in establishing his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. God is gracious to us in letting us be a part of what he’s doing in the world. Just as the Israelites built the tabernacle, we must build the church. Here there is a great commission to work towards the redemption of both people and the world around us, according to Revelation 21.
Lifting up Jesus One potential allusion to Christ in the pericope is Jesus’ willingness to offer himself freely as a sacrifice, for the benefit of all God’s people. God gave him as a gift for us, in order to build us into his covenant community, and he will dwell with us for all eternity.