Gospel

Resurrection Life

Matt Otto D-Groups , , , ,

A skeptic’s response to the resurrection might sound something like this: “Do you seriously believe that Jesus was crucified in the most brutal and efficient manner devised in history and then rose from the dead, leaving an empty tomb behind?” Consider this question for a moment and then ponder your answer. Most of us would say, “Of course.” But why have you come to this conclusion? Certainly there is historical evidence and support from historians that validate the life and death of a man named Jesus. As a matter of fact, no true historian worth his salt would deny these facts. However, the bodily resurrection of a man once dead is a bit more difficult to believe, isn’t it? Yet, Luke is very clear in stating the purpose for writing his Gospel account: “… to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us … having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account” (Lk 1:1-4). In other words, Luke documents the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, from His birth through His ascension, using the accounts of those who were participants or first-person spectators in order to authenticate every happening.

As Luke’s account of Jesus’ life closes with the “unbelievable” events of chapter 24, we find a group of female followers discover an empty tomb and a disciple, by the name of Peter, who investigates their claim. Would that be enough to convince a skeptic that Jesus arose from the dead? How about all of the number of witnesses who claimed to have seen Jesus, beginning on the Sunday following His crucifixion? The list is quite lengthy: Early on Sunday morning Mary Magdalene and other women saw Jesus at the tomb. That same morning, Jesus appeared to Peter (Lk 24:34; Mk 16:7). Later that day, disciples traveling to Emmaus walked, talked, and ate with Jesus (Luke 24:13-35). Finally, still on Sunday, Jesus appeared to ten disciples, without Thomas, for a visit and little snack (Lk 24:36-49; Jn 20:19-23). A week later He appeared to the disciples again, this time with Thomas present (Jn 20:24-31). Jesus visited various disciples, both in Jerusalem and in Galilee (Jn 21:1-14; 1 Cor 15:5, 7). He even appeared to 500 followers at once according to Paul’s defense of the resurrection (1 Cor 15:6). Jesus’ appearances spanned a 40 day period between the resurrection and ascension with the final one occurring on the Mount of Olives as the disciples watched Him leave their sight and return to His Father (Acts 1:1-11). But, is the large and diverse group of eyewitnesses enough to sway a skeptic toward belief? While it may help, in the mind of a skeptic, their testimony may only be a collaborative effort to cover up the embarrassment of a wasted three-year devotion to a make-believe king! However, Dr. Peter Kreeft, professor of philosophy at Boston College, points out the obvious conundrum:

“Why would the apostles lie?….Liars always lie for selfish reasons. If they lied, what was their motive, what did they get out of it? What they got out of it was misunderstanding, rejection, persecution, torture, and martyrdom. Hardly a list of perks!”

The fact is that the most powerful evidence for any skeptic on the spectrum of doubt is not usually the “facts” that may be presented in a spiritual conversation or debate. Especially today, in a time where “my truth” carries more weight than “the truth”, facts carry very little impact. While the happenings and circumstances surrounding the resurrection are entirely true, the hardened heart of a skeptic or cynic is often left unmoved by cold historical facts. However, a changed, compassionate, and devoted life is hard to dismiss. The resurrection life that the disciples experienced following their encounters with the living Christ and with the indwelling Holy Spirit caused them to embody the Apostle Paul’s words, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). According to tradition – other than John, who died in exile on the island of Patmos – every one of the apostles died as a martyr taking the Good News to the nations.

The standard has not moved. It remains that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17). The Good News never changes! Nevertheless, the need for genuine surrender and dynamic life-change has never been more essential in making the living Christ known! Chinese church leader and martyr, Watchman Nee, once wrote, “Christ is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and resurrected after three days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die because of my belief in Christ.” Has the Good News of the living Savior so captured you that you live for it fully?

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (ESV) – “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”

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Sharing Your Grace Story

Alvin Cheng D-Groups , , , ,

As part of the MyCircle Training we experienced on Sunday, we were encouraged to do three things related to unbelievers in our lives: pray daily, engage weekly, and share monthly. One of the tools provided to help us share monthly was to write out our grace story. This consists of two parts: sharing our salvation story and sharing our ongoing story. 

Our salvation story is usually known as our personal testimony. However, when we share our personal testimony, we often only talk about our salvation story, and we forget to include God’s ongoing work in our life. When this was taught to us on Sunday, it was so evident to me that most unbelievers that I’ve engaged with aren’t always interested in how I came to Christ but instead interested in how Christ is working in my life today. Yet, it is the part that I often leave out! 

Scripture lays it out for us in 1 Peter 2:11-12: “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” Peter urged the exiled Christians to pattern their lives according to the salvation that they have received and for God to receive the glory. This was in the hopes that when they were questioned about their conduct, they could reflect it back to their salvation in Christ, the One who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light! And now, we are asked to do the same, to share our Christ-transformed life with unbelievers.

Elliot Clark in his book Evangelism as Exiles puts it this way:

We know the gospel has many powerful effects on our lives: deliverance from sin, communion with the saints, an eternal inheritance. But another critical and sometimes forgotten outcome of our conversion – and part of the message we proclaim – is that we’ve been transferred out of darkness and into God’s glorious light. As such, an integral part of our evangelism is the visible demonstration of our new nature as those walking in the light. Gospel declaration is linked to life transformation (emphasis mine).

So, Church, as we begin to write out our grace story, remember to include the ongoing work that Christ is doing in our lives. The MyCircle Training workbook provided some questions to help us with this part: Why do you follow Jesus today? How is He continuing to refine your life? How does the hope of eternal life bring you rest? How does Christ and His Word impact your worldview? How have you seen God move in your life these last few months? Why is being a part of Christ-centered community important to you?

A Christ-transformed life helps declare a Christ-centered gospel!  Happy writing!

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The Cross Before Me …

Matt Otto D-Groups , , ,

For many, the events described in Luke 5:1-11 are at least somewhat familiar. We can almost smell the wooden boats, feel the dampness of the nets, see the sun glistening off the water, and hear the lapping of the waves on the shore. We can empathize with the fishermen’s unsuccessful night of toiling – the backbreaking letting down of the dragnets and straining to pull them back in, only to repeatedly discover that they are empty. Jesus’ imposition of using Simon Peter’s boat and later expecting the fisherman to climb back into it, put into the deep water, and let his nets down once more is wearisome to witness. Simon Peter’s emotional response makes complete sense, making his ensuing reply even more remarkable and admirable: “… at your word I will let down my nets” (v. 5). And, of course, we know the outcome of his obedience – two boats filled with fish to the point of sinking!

So, beyond the enormously large unexpected catch of fish, what makes Simon Peter fall at Jesus’ feet and express his brokenness and shame (v. 8)? What makes Simon, his brother Andrew, and co-workers James and John leave everything and follow Him (v. 11)? Is it simply the power of another miracle demonstrating Jesus’ authority over all He has created, material and immaterial? The fishermen have seen Jesus do great inexplicable things before. What is it on this particular occasion that captures their hearts?

The events that transpired on this lake, in these boats, and using these nets were personal. Jesus entered Simon Peter’s everyday routine. He entered what Simon considered to be comfortably familiar and methodically simple and turned his life on its head. Jesus’ astounding authority over the everyday ordinary caused Simon to be shaken and realize that his life is not his own. It was not Simon’s lake, Simon’s boat, and Simon’s net. The fisherman was a sinner with nothing to offer the holy Son of God, except surrender. Similarly, it is not your life, your job, and your marriage. You – everything that you are and hold – belong to Him and are under His authority. Paul, writing to the church in Colossae, reminds us that, “For in him all things were created … all things have been created through him and for him” (Col 1:16).

When this is realized – that we are sinners and have nothing to commend ourselves to God except repentance and trust – an invitation to follow Jesus on mission is presented. This mission requires that we leave everything behind (v. 11) and “count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Phil 3:8-10). The widely loved and sung hymn, I Have Decided To Follow Jesus, is a simple and worshipful reminder of this truth. It likely traces its origins to Simon K. Marak, a pastor, schoolteacher, and missionary from Jorhat, Assam, India. Other hymnologists attribute it to anonymous Indian Christians who were called to renounce their faith in Jesus or face martyrdom. Regardless of its exact origin, the wonderful hymn certainly communicates a desire to follow Jesus at all cost. He is worth obeying and surrendering one’s life to Him.

I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
no turning back, no turning back.

Clearly, following Jesus and “fishing for people” should be natural responses to a personal encounter with the Jesus of the Bible. It is a call to go to your brother or sister, your friend or neighbor, your teacher or co-worker, and share the life-giving truth of the Gospel with them. The mission doesn’t wait for you to be ready – go when you’re not. The mission doesn’t wait for you to be clean and acceptable – follow when you’re not. The mission doesn’t wait for you to be courageous – speak when you’re not. In the end, we follow Jesus, because He has called us and will make us fishers of men (Lk 5:10; Matt 4:19). Like the prophet Isaiah, regardless of whether anybody else responds to the call, we will say, “Here I am! Send me” (Is 6:8).

Isaiah 6:1-5 (NIV) – “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’ At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. ‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.’”

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The Prelude to the Gospel of Luke

Matt Otto D-Groups , , ,

Are you familiar with these opening lines from five classic literary works?

“Call me Ishmael.”[1]

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”[2]

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”[3]

“He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish.”[4]

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”[5]

Recently, I have begun to re-read many of the classics I was required to read for my high school English classes. I must admit it is much more enjoyable now than it was then, during my mid-to-late teens. Further, I must admit that some of the literary works like The Ilead, Beowulf, and Great Expectations demanded some additional help to understand their challenging poetry or underlying plot themes. So, I turned to what many students did – I purchased a small yellow and black booklet to help get a better understanding of what I was reading. Yes, you guessed it, I purchased a copy of Cliffs Notes for every book in question.

Now, I am not advocating purchasing Cliffs Notes for the Gospel of Luke – I am not even sure they are available or how helpful they would be, but I am suggesting you take a few minutes to read and ponder the first four verses of his account of Jesus’ life to identify the purpose and motivation for its writing. Similar to the memorable opening lines or paragraphs in classics, the first few verses of Luke’s gospel are familiar, captivating, and revealing.

In the case of the beloved physician and travel companion of Paul, Luke didn’t launch into his Jesus-account haphazardly or casually. On the contrary. Being a fellow worker of the Apostle Paul (Philemon 24), Luke accompanied the missionary and church planter on several of his travels and surely gleaned much from his efforts and passion for the Gospel. In turn, these shared experiences surely influenced his account of Jesus’ life and ministry. Through carefully recorded eyewitness reports, Luke wrote an orderly account so his readers might “know the certainty of the things [they] had been taught” (Lk:1:4) and furthermore, have their faith make a difference in the world and for the one to come.

Finally, Luke 19:10 provides us with the central theme of the Lukan account, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” It is a gospel account that shows Jesus came for sinners – specifically, humans who are broken, troubled, wayward, weak, and helpless. To use Luke’s word, “lost”. Again, Jesus says, “I did not come to call the [self-proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to repent], but sinners to repentance [to change their old way of thinking, to turn from sin and to seek God and His righteousness]” (Luke 5:32, Amplified).

Jesus, makes all the difference! He becomes one of us, the Son of Man. He comes (Lk 1-4), He seeks (Lk 4-23), and He saves (Lk 23-24). Luke proclaims that Jesus invites sinners to His table and His invitation is for everybody. It is for you, for me, and for all those lost and longing. Have you accepted the invitation? Will you bring someone with you? That is the challenge that Luke lays before us.

Luke 1:1-4 (ESV) – “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.”

[1] Moby-Dick, Herman Melville, 1851

[2] Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austin, 1813

[3] A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens, 1859

[4] The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway, 1952

[5] The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien, 1932

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Advent: A Time To Remember

Matt Otto D-Groups , , , , , , , ,

Advent is nearing and Christmas is just around the corner. As I walked through the church building this morning, there was delightful laughter and creative chatter filling every space. Lights, decorations, and greenery were going up, as glitter found places to eternally abide. Yet, for many, this season is filled with busyness, even stress. Still, Advent invites us to slow down. The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming”… a translation of the Greek word parousia, which means “presence” or “arrival.” It is a time of preparation in anticipation of the arrival of Christ. It is a time to remember His story and rest in His presence.

As we come to the end of the year, the end of our “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” series, the end of the book of Malachi, and the end of the Old Testament, it feels as though we are standing at a place of tremendous importance. The closing verses of Malachi are burdened with the weight of the past and restless with the anticipation of the future. They form a connection between the Old and New Testament – a bridge between what God has said and done in the past and what He will say and do in the future. Here is what the prophet records in the final three verses of his message to God’s people:

Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction. (Malachi 4:4-6)

Malachi connects remembering God’s Word to the Messiah’s coming. Since the moment sin and the curse entered Creation, the promise of a Victor, Redeemer, and King ached in the hearts of men and caused Creation to groan with anticipation of its coming redemption (Rom 8:22-23). As the Old Testament unfolded over the centuries, the hope in the promised anointed King who would arrive and put this world – broken by sin – back together again seemed to turn into doubt. So, in God’s final oracle of the Old Testament, He reminds and reassures His people of His certain promises recorded in His Word: “The Messiah will come, and when He comes, hearts will be changed and evil will be destroyed!” What an incredible way to bridge the Old and New Testament!

So, here we are today. We find ourselves in the era between Savior Jesus’ first coming and King Jesus’ second coming. We need to remember the words of the angel as he spoke to Mary in Luke 1:31-32:

You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus [which means “God saves”]. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.

This message is the Good News – the Gospel that is for all people! God has come “to seek and save” (Luke 19:10). The Good News is for Israel, for the lost sinner, and even for the follower of the Savior. Jesus’ first coming as the Suffering Servant reassures us of His return as the Glorious King! Let us then remember and prepare ourselves for His return. Spend time reading and meditating on His Word. This is what Advent asks us to do: simply remember, rest in His presence, and joyfully prepare for His return as the King to end all kings!

Joshua 1:7-9 (ESV) – “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

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Live Dangerously & Witness Deliberately

Matt Otto D-Groups , , ,

One of my favorite genres to read when I need a pick-me-up or simply a kick in the pants is biographies. These accounts of men and women’s lives are filled with demonstrations of great wisdom, perseverance, and valor! A few years ago I received a short biography of Alexander the Great. The biography reminded me of an illustration I heard many years ago when I was first learning how to more effectively share my faith with others. Whether historically accurate or not, the event described certainly fits with Alexander the Great’s character.

The late D. James Kennedy shares the account in the following manner:

One day, Alexander held court in Nebuchadnezzar’s great palace in Babylon. He sat upon the great golden throne, pronouncing sentences for the crimes charged to his soldiers. The sergeant-at-arms brought in one soldier after another and read their crimes. No one could deliver them from Alexander’s severe judgments.

Finally, the sergeant-at-arms brought in a young Macedonian soldier and read aloud his crime: fleeing in the face of the enemy. This cowardice Alexander could not tolerate. But as he looked on this young soldier, Alexander’s countenance changed from stern to soft. Smiling, he said to the lad, “Son, what is your name?” The boy said softly, “Alexander.” The smile left the king’s face. He said, “What did you say?” The young man snapped to attention. “Alexander, sir.” The king turned crimson and shouted, “WHAT IS YOUR NAME?” The boy began to stammer and said, “Al . . . Alex . . . Alexander, sir.” The king burst out of his chair, grabbed the young man by the tunic, stared him in the face, then threw him on the ground and said, “Soldier, change your conduct or change your name!”

If you are a follower of Jesus, you have been given a name that carries royal undertones: Christian. Your life and mine must be lived in a manner worthy of that name. It should be consistent, courageous, and complete in its witness. As Christians, we have been called to obey the Lord by living dangerously and witnessing deliberately. The early church, as described in the beginning chapters of Acts, understood this unflinchingly and lived it fearlessly. The Gospel of Jesus Christ so gripped each believer that nothing caused them to shrink from proclaiming the good news to the captive and the lost.

This is a serious commission! One that requires the surrender or, as Jesus put it, death of ourselves. As He very clearly told His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Lk 9:23-24).

When it comes to our witness, let us not cower or remain silent, but let us stand firm in the Lord’s name, living up to our calling as Christians – disciples who know the value of the Gospel and treasure its Provider! And then, let us proclaim it boldly!

Acts 5:29-32 (ESV) – “Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.’”

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