The Glorious Gospel

What is the nature of authentic Christian ministry?

The apostle was writing to the Corinthians in part because they had been influenced by false teachers who claimed that Paul was not much of a minister of Christ and that they had a more complete message than he did.

Investing Our Lives - Thoughts on Luke 16

Many people have pointed out that in the gospels Jesus talks a lot about money.  Some people use those passages to teach financial principles. There is nothing wrong with that unless people begin to think that Jesus' primary intention was to give us instructions about finances and that finances should be our central focus.

What they seem to ignore is that Jesus clearly said that we should not be focused on our finances and that a perspective that puts finances in the center is a form of idolatry.

Luke 16:13 - No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

When Jesus does talk about handling money he uses it as a shorthand for everything that has been entrusted to us. Not just finances, property and resources, but also time, energy and talents. Here in Luke chapter sixteen, the dishonest manager is in trouble for "wasting" his master's possessions (v.1). The implication is that we are in a position of responsibility as managers of what God has entrusted to us - financially and otherwise. But it is not ours, it is God's. We have no right to waste it.

The dishonest manager was smart enough to see that he should not focus on maximum dollar value, but on relationships with other people. In doing this, he is taking a long view - beyond his immediate pleasures. Anticipating a time when he will not have access to his master's resources, he wants to have other people who will "...receive me into their houses." (v.4)

So what was Jesus praising about a "dishonest manager?" Certainly not that he was dishonest, but that he eventually realized the importance of investing in relationships and the long view.

Everything we have belongs to our Master. We have no business wasting it. He didn't give it to us to waste on our pleasures (James 4:3), but to use for his kingdom. Do we have money, homes, cars, technology, time, energy and talents? All of them are God's and we should use them to accomplish God's purposes. To a large extent we should be using everything to invest in relationships with other people.

People are not units of revenue. They are God's creation. They are precious souls with an eternal destiny. They are brothers and sisters with whom we can have relationships. We need to be generous and strategic in building into people's lives for the glory of God.

The Aroma of Christ

In the wars between nations one person’s Conqueror is another person’s Liberator. So it is with Christ. Praise the Lord that he is the Victor who has taken us captive!  As sinners we fought against him, but when he made us his captives we discovered true freedom. Now we are delighted to be on display as trophies of his grace!

Called To Forgive

We live in a time when people talk a lot about tolerance, but usually at the top of their voices in profanity laced tirades. If you watch the news, look at social media or spend much time on the road it is easy to see that people are seething with rage.

Jesus presents a stark contrast.  "When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly."  1 Peter 2:23

We are called to practice the grace of forgiveness.

Straight Talk

There is not lack of opportunity to hear religious broadcasting or to ready religious material. But not all preaching is worth our attention. In fact, we need to be careful what we listen to and what we promote.

2 Corinthians comes in the midst of a conflict between the Apostle Paul and some false teachers who have come to Corinth. We don't have direct writings from them, but Paul's letter gives us some information about them and about their attacks on Paul's ministry.

Comfort In Affliction

Some preachers claim that God wants Christians to always be healthy and wealthy. If a Christian is sick or having some sort of problem it must be because of sin in his life.

The Apostle Paul sets the record straight. Christians do suffer affliction according to the will of God. And God works in those afflictions and through those afflictions.

Sack Sermon: The Tape Measure

People like to measure themselves against other people. Who is taller, stronger, faster? Who is better?

The Bible says that this is foolish. It doesn't matter how you compare to most people. What matters is how you compare to the perfect son of God - Jesus Christ.