Crossroads

Alive Together - Ephesians study intro

2012-02-24T11:27:00.002-05:00

Alive Together
Alive! together
alive Together!

Religion and even secular philosophy constantly ask whether we are wrong or right. But the Apostle Paul (and Jesus too for that matter) gave first importance to whether we are dead or alive. The New Testament letter of Ephesians is one of the clearest accounts of how the Gospel offers us the gift of life in Christ.

American life in the early 21st century has made an idol out of individualism. As a result, even the well adjusted among us tend to live for our own little kingdom instead of living faithfully in the covenant community that God brings together in Christ.

These are two of the great purposes of the letter to the Ephesians. I hope you enjoy the Alive Together series of talks and will benefit from studying the book together in your discipleship groups.

Study (Written and Edited by Trent and Emily McEntyre for GT cru)

Welcome Disciples,

We have an amazing privilege to help one another follow Jesus Christ. Through Gospel-driven Discipleship Groups in Atlanta we have seen God create new life changing friendships. We have seen that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is truly the power of God to face all of life. We have seen God use us to serve and reach out to the lost together in the power of the Spirit. And most importantly, we have seen God give us a greater passion to worship and adore our beautiful Savior.

So, our prayer is still that God would use D-groups to transform the students of Atlanta, Bosnia, Croatia, and East Asia into communities of Christ-centered laborers.

Ephesians is a book that God used to transform my entire understanding of Him and the Christian life during the summer of 1991 in Yellowstone National Park. Before I encountered Ephesians I subtly believed that salvation was cooperation between God and me. I was not really convinced that Christ had done everything to assure me of salvation now and forever. Ephesians also helped me realize what a blessing God has given us in the body of Christ, the new community of God. Instead of a lose association of individuals, God is creating a close-knit, interdependent family to glorify Him and fulfill our mission on earth. Today this powerful book is challenging me to not seek happiness apart from Christ and live boldly by faith because we have an inheritance in Christ who is over all things

We believe that Ephesians will be a rich and satisfying book for us to explore and apply to our lives together in our D-groups this Spring 2002.

Grace be with y'all,

Trent McEntyre

Crusade Atlanta Staff

Part 1 - Our standing as God's new community (Being in God’s new community)

Outline and Background of Ephesians

1 The New Community - Christ and the Church Ephesians 1–3

2 Blessing Him for blessing us. Ephesians 1:1–14

3 “I Keep Asking” Ephesians 1:15–23

4 Amazing Grace Ephesians 2:1–10

5 One new house Ephesians 2:11–22

6 Prisoner, Preacher & Man of Prayer Ephesians 3:1–21

Part 2 - Our walking as God's new community (A new way to walk in community)

7 Unity and Uniqueness Ephesians 4:1–16

8 Off with the Old, On with the New Ephesians 4:17–32

9 Live in Love, Live in Light Ephesians 5:1–21

10 Submit to One Another Ephesians 5:21–6:9

11 Prayer Wars Ephesians 6:10–24

12 Looking Over the Letter Again Ephesians 1–6

Gospel Application - Sin beneath the Sin

What are the best books on evangelism?

2012-01-26T15:00:00.000-05:00

Often our staff or students ask my recommendations for books about God, the Bible, and ministry. Below is a list of recommended books compiled by cru (aka Campus Crusade for Christ) for our staff training curriculum. I will add a few personal comments and recommendations as well. Please comment if you have read any of these or have another book you recommend and why.

Books on Evangelism:

Bright, Bill; Witnessing Without Fear

Trent says, "I have read this but it has been a while. Bill Bright is inspirational and exemplary when it comes to sharing your faith. If you are not sure about this, look for his condensed version, The Joy of Sharing Jesus

Carson, D. A. (ed.); Telling the Truth: Evangelizing Postmoderns

I have not read this, but have read other works by Carson and have attended his seminary lectures. He is an excellent teacher overall and is one the key leaders in the Gospel Coalition.

Coleman, Robert; The Master Plan of Evangelism

This is a classic - but be warned, it is actually a book about multiplying discipleship which is the Master's plan for evangelism.

Downs, Tim; Finding Common Ground

This is one of my favorites. Downs gives a compelling case for evangelism that is both relational and intentional. A great read for ministry leaders. Bill Boldt, Campus Director for cru at Auburn University (my alma mater, War Eagle!), often refers to this book and recommends it as well. We use a lot of the principles in Finding Common Ground in the design of our Greek ministry at Tech.

Green, Michael; Evangelism in the Early Church

I have not read this book. But, I think Green is a British Evangelical which means he probably knows a lot about holding on to the gospel in a challenging environment.

Hybels, Bill; Becoming a Contagious Christian

This is a good book about relational evangelism. One of the best features of this book is the guidance it gives for developing your personal style of evangelism. I also like Hybel's simple, clear gospel summary, "Do vs. Done."

McCloskey, Mark; Tell it Often, Tell it Well

A Campus Crusade author, thorough and clear, good book.

Newman, Randy; Questioning Evangelism

Another favorite - this book combines relational evangelism with clever apologetic methods that all of us can use.

O'Brien, P.T.; Gospel and Mission in the Writings of Paul: An Exegetical and Theological Analysis

Sounds solid, but have not read it... this must have been added to cru's list recently.

Sweet, Leonard; Soul Tsunami

Sweet was called a futurist a while back. I have not read this either.

Now a couple more not on cru's list but definitely on mine:

1. JI Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
I love essentially everything that Packer has written. He always points you to scripture and reasons with a warm heart for the Lord. This book does a great job showing how the promises of God's control over evangelism actually help rather than hinder our engagement in praying reaching out.

2. Outgrowing the Ingrown Church by Jack Miller
This book is not just about evangelism, but rather total renewal of life and ministry. It is particularly a wonderful challenge to ministers to renew their faith in Christ and the Gospel so that they overflow with love and power to reach the lost in their community.

Have you read any of these titles? What did you think? What others would you add to your own list and why?

New rankings out - Top 5 passages of the NT

2011-09-09T11:39:00.000-04:00

Okay - this is not something we are really supposed to do, rank the importance of certain Biblical passages over others. But what if you only had five weeks to teach college students about knowing Christ today? What passages would you choose? That was the motive behind this series. Thanks to comments and discussion with some of you, and how things have played out on campus for the past couple weeks, I have revised my rankings. Here they are:

1. Revelation 22 – The end or final blue print of what Jesus is doing, recreation, the new heavens and the new earth…

2. Matthew 28:18-20 - The Great Commission given by Christ after the resurrection.

3. Luke 11 - Jesus’ teaching on prayer and trusting the Holy Spirit

4. Ephesians 2:1-20 - What is so good about the Gospel?

5. John 7:42-47– Jesus and his invitation to believe and keep on believing in Him

We have a great time at the first two cru Large Group Bible studies digging into John 7 and Ephesians 2. Next we take a look at Luke 11 - Jesus' teaching to disciples on prayer.

What do you think? Top five passages you need to know?

2011-06-21T11:22:00.000-04:00

Top 5 things students need to know about Jesus from the NT

What if you had to choose the top 5 New Testament passages that a student needs to understand to become a true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ? Which passages you choose?

GT staff Greg Ashworth and students in Bosnia this summer.

Here is my first pass at answering this question:

Revelation 22 – The end or final blue print of what Jesus is doing, recreation, the new heavens and the new earth…
Luke 1,2 – Jesus’ origins and OT roots, the miraculous birth, his God-man nature, His name
Romans 3:21-28 In our place condemned He stood, the Gospel, justification by faith, propitiation
Ephesians 4 – Life Together in Christ, the Church, Christ-centered community
Luke 11 or Matthew 6 Jesus’ teaching on prayer and trusting the Holy Spirit

Will you help me create a compelling series of Biblical messages for Crossroads this Fall by suggesting your own Top 5? Feel free to agree or disagree with my list, tweak my list, or steal from other teachers or books or series!

Study notes on John 7:37-39

2011-06-04T11:50:00.000-04:00

Study Notes for John 7:37-39

Introduction

This passage became a favorite of mine after reading Jack Miller’s book Outgrowing the Ingrown Church. The book tells his story of the Lord renewing his faith in Christ and the promises of God’s grace that were available to him by continual repentance and faith. I really needed to experience the same renewal in my own life and ministry.(and still do!) So, I started committing the passage to memory. Since then I have often referred to this passage as I cast vision for our ministry to college students here in Atlanta and to unreached peoples throughout the world.

Here is a compilation of some of my study notes on the passage that you can read as you reflect on this wonderful and potent passage from the Gospel of John.

I. The Passage

³⁷On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. ³⁸Whoever believes in me, as^bthe Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” ³⁹By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. ^{^[1]}

II. A Commentary

Rivers of Water

7:37. The “last day” of the Feast of Tabernacles (7:2) probably refers to the eighth day. For at least the first seven days of the feast, priests marched in procession from the Pool of Siloam to the temple and poured out water at the base of the altar. Pilgrims to the feast watched this ritual, which Jews throughout the Roman world thus knew; it was even commemorated on souvenir jars they could take home with them.

7:38. The public reading of Scripture at this feast included the one passage in the Prophets that emphasized this feast, Zechariah 14, which was interpreted in conjunction with Ezekiel 47. Together these texts taught that rivers of living water would flow forth from the temple (in Jewish teaching, at the very center of the earth, from the foundation stone of the temple), bringing life to all the earth. The water-drawing ceremony (7:37) (originally meant to secure rain) pointed toward this hope.

Because the water of verse 38 flows to and not from the believer (v. 39), 7:37–38 may be punctuated to read: “If anyone thirsts, let this one come to me; and let whoever believes in me drink. As the Scripture says … ” (The original manuscripts had no punctuation.) Verse 38 may thus declare that Jesus fulfills the Scriptures read at the feast, as the foundation stone of a new temple, the source of the water of life (cf. 19:34; Rev 22:1).

7:39. Most of Judaism did not believe that the Spirit was prophetically active in their own time but expected the full outpouring of the Spirit in the messianic age or the world to come. Water usually symbolized Torah (law) or wisdom in Jewish texts, but John follows Old Testament precedent in using it for the Spirit (Is 44:3; Ezek 36:24–27; Joel 2:28).

^{^[2]}

III. A theological reflection

A very good piece on Biblical theology related to this passage can be found at http://www.ukapologetics.net/07/livingwater.htm

The concept of living water and the promise of the Holy Spirit is traced throughout scripture. It culminates in the picture of the final rest of God’s people around the throne of Christ.

Revelation 22:17 (NIV)

¹⁷The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.^{^[3]}

IV. Some thoughts of Application (These are my own reflections)

a. The first question this passage encourages us to ask and respond to personally and corporately is, “are we thirsty?” Do we see our true need for the LORD and the renewing work of His Spirit? Do we truly desire to know and serve Christ the LORD? If not, why not? What alternative thirst quenchers are we using? And if not, we should seek the LORD for the grace of repentance so that we might be truly thirsty for God alone.

b. “Believes in me” Now we know that faith in God is first and foremost faith in Jesus Christ, God the Son, through the strength of God the Spirit resulting in love and obedience to God the Father. So, do we believe in Him? Have we truly trusted Him to be who He claims to be? Are we continually trusting in Him to be our Savior and Lord? This is always a question of both sincerity and degrees. Is our faith authentic and how pervasive or full is our faith. We may need to pray, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief!” We may need to ask God for more love and faith in Him for the sake of His glory in our lives.

c. “from his innermost being will flow streams of living water” This is a promise to claim continually by faith by all Christians. This is, we know from Jesus’ following comment, the promise of the Holy Spirit which had not yet been fulfilled at the time of this pronouncement, but was not long afterwards at Pentecost. Now it is the normal gift to all believers. If we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He gives us the Holy Spirit to live in and through us and make our faith powerful.

This is vital to authentic and fruitful Christian living. We must live continually by faith in the life of God in our souls as we daily trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord. Later passages link filling with the Spirit to being filled with the Word of God. (Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3)So, we know this is not a completely abstract or mystical experience. It is filling your heart and mind with the truths of the scriptures and stepping out in faith to obey. When we do this God meets us with the power of His Spirit to actually obey and bear fruit for his glory.

This promise also equips us to live as Jesus did, as one sent from God the Father to bring salvation. We can only live missionally as our own quest for soul satisfaction and rest is being met in Jesus and His Spirit. Now, we can turn from trying to satisfy and secure our own lives and to trying to meet the needs of others. We become a blessing to others. Everyone who drinks this water becomes a well. We can no longer keep our faith to ourselves. We can no longer keep whatever blessings or talents we have for ourselves. We are now living on mission with and for the LORD!

V. A couple images

a. Cane Creek Falls – a natural waterfall in North Georgia. I have visited here many times throughout my life. My brother, Bradley, works at Camp Glisson where this falls is located.

Water Falls like this are likely one of the main images that comes to our minds when we think of streams of living water. The rush, the refreshment, the power and beauty of this image are a fitting picture of what Jesus is pointing us to in Him and in His Spirit. Obviously, He is so much more refreshing, powerful, and beautiful.

b. Tel Dan – this is the amazing headwaters of the Jordan river in Northern Israel. It is a remarkable place. You see the contrast between life near a spring of water and life in an arid desert.

^bOr / If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me. / And let him drink, who believes in me. / As

^{^[1]}The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Jn 7:37-39). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

^{^[2]}Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary : New Testament (Jn 7:33-39). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.

[3] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Current needs for special gifts

2011-05-25T17:26:00.000-04:00

We have just completed a great year at Georgia Tech. As the school year has ended we want to share the opportunity for strategic giving with those who want to partner with our ministry at Georgia Tech.

The need on campus:

Twenty-thousand students on the brink of adult life…..

Representing dozens of nations…..

At a top-ten U.S. public university…..

Most having no spiritual compass for their lives…..

An estimated 90% will not darken the door of a church during their time here…….

Most will not have a Christian friend……

Hardly any will read the Bible…..

How will they hear?

We are embedded in the Georgia Tech community. We are engaged with students in a strategic mission. We are expectant of the Lord for immediate and lasting fruit.

Our Current Funding Need:

Campus Crusade for Christ's Campus Director, Trent McEntyre, is requesting mid-year donations to meet a current need of $25,000. Any donation is appreciated. You can give through our secure website at https://give.ccci.org/give/View/6206612

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Trent

Living on mission during transition - support material - phases of life table

2011-05-06T12:58:00.003-04:00

Here is a table I created as a worksheet for young adults to think through their lives. I am indebted to David English for his names and definitions for the phases of life.

Years	Years 17-22	Years 23-28	Years 29-32	Years 33-39	Years 40-45
Name of phase	Defining Decisions	Entering the adult world	Minor life transitions	Priority Decision Phase	Major Life Transition
Key features	Establishing a value base. Deciding to grow up.	Exploring life. Testing choices.	Confusion about the future. Fear of the future.	Choosing covenant relationships over vocal priorities	Dealing with emotional wounds for future successful living
Connections to your dream, your covenant relationships, your mentors, and your vocation
Where am/was I during this phase? Emotionally? Spiritually? Physically? Relationally? Vocationally?
What did I or am I learning about God during this phase?
How did God send me to serve during this phase? How can I be on mission with God at this point?

Living on mission during transition - support material - seasons of life

2011-05-06T12:37:00.000-04:00

When I began preparing for these talks I immediately thought of some the insights I heard from David English. Here is a background essay on the seasons of life we all go through.

I was in my early 40’s and something was happening to me emotionally. For twenty years I had been involved in Christian ministry and loved what I was doing. College students were a joy to me and I had worked with them in various positions of responsibility locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. I had a wonderful wife and four beautiful children. Outwardly everything seemed to be going great. But inwardly something was wrong. Something was missing. It was the same feeling that I had before I had become a Christian at age 19.

Emotionally life was not making sense and I felt that it should because, after all, I had committed my life to Christ and I was serving Him with all my heart.

There were two circumstances that I was faced with that added to my confusion. Campus Crusade was in the midst of an organizational change in which my present position would no longer exist. There were very good options available to me during this transition and I was in the midst of evaluating what my future role would be.

And during the last year and a half, Beth had mentioned to me on several occasions how much I was needed at home with our four young children during this formative time in their lives. My scope of ministry was a 12 state region and over the years I had been traveling a lot. I came to the realization that she was right and I should no longer travel to the extent that I had.

I am a very intuitive person and sometimes it is difficult for me to articulate exactly how I feel. I began to process my emotions by simply writing down in my planner specific thoughts that would come to me:

I want to be a person of integrity.
I want my walk to match my talk.
I want to be a great husband and father.
I want Christ to have all of me.
I want to be available to do whatever God has for me.
I want Beth to fully experience the person and the destiny God has for her.

It was as if I wanted to start at ground zero in my life and allow God to lead and direct me in the desires of His heart.

Several months later I was visiting a church in Little Rock, AR that financially supported us in our ministry. Two of the pastors, Bill Parkinson and Robert Lewis, were good personal friends. When I met with Bill one afternoon I shared that I was faced with a future position change, increased need for greater time with my family, and I expressed some of the emotions that I was feeling. Bill shared a simple statement that grabbed me. He said, “David, three years ago I felt the same way that you feel today.” I asked him to describe what was going on inside of him three years earlier and I discovered that it was very similar to what I was presently feeling.

The next morning I had breakfast with Robert and shared about the discussion I had with Bill. He confirmed that there were emotional / developmental phases that men go through in life that are very predictable. They had studied this and to an extent had organized the small groups in their church around this concept.

I began to read and study about these phases and discovered that what I was emotional experiencing was not necessarily related to a position change or even our family dynamics. I was going through a very predictable
emotional / developmental phase of life that all men my age experience. And there were very significant spiritual implications.

Over the years I have written 8 age appropriate phases of life studies for men. These studies help men to navigate through life and to be able to finish strongly as a sage. The emotional isolation, independent spirit of self-determination, wounding, need for covenant relationships, and the prioritization of a relational value base that all men feel are themes that characterize our lives. These studies address those issues and many others.

As I have studied and written about theses phases it is the centrality of intimacy with God and the development of a covenant team of peers that has captured my person and destiny.

Who I am is more important than what I do!
Seeking God with all my person and trusting Him fully is His design for my life!
Life with God is all grace.
God’s value is my person and not what I do for Him.
Purpose in life has to transcend self.

As you study your phase of life my prayer is that you will process the emotional struggles that all men your age are experiencing, that you will choose to commit to your age appropriate defining decisions, that your need for the richness of intimacy with God will capture your person, and that God would give you men with whom you can process life personally and spiritually for a lifetime!

Living on mission during transition - introduction

2011-05-06T12:01:00.000-04:00

Faith in Transition - 1 Thessalonians

ChristChurch Young Adult Retreat – May 6, 7 2011

Trent McEntyre

Campus Director for Crossroads at Georgia Tech and Pastor for College Ministry at ChristChurch

Introduction

Welcome to most turbulent phase of your life. Young adulthood is a season of transitions. The typical young Atlantan goes through more major transitions between the age of 18-35 than any other phase of life. For example the first major transition is from living with your parents to out on your own. How many major transition have you been through or could you foresee going through in this season of your life?

Our Church is entering the young adult phase of its own journey. We were planted as a church to reach Atlanta’s leaders in the Buckhead area nearly 20 years ago. Today the church is maturing and growing as we embark on an exciting plan to expand our facilities in order to grow to a church of nearly 1,000 people. We will experience a number of exciting transitions in the process; building a new facility, redesigning some of our ministry initiatives, and of course receiving many new people.

I invite you to join me in a study of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the young church in Thessalonica. The letter is a rich, encouraging reminder of the roots of our faith, the experience of love, and the hope of Jesus’ coming.

How can we love those who are not natural for us to love?

2011-02-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

Can a Bosniac love a Serb? Can an Auburn fan love a Bama fan? Can a cat person love a dog person? These are difficult questions? The real test of love is whether or not we can sincerely love people who are not naturally lovable.

We tackled this issue at a recent student meeting on the Georgia Tech campus. Here are my notes from the message. They are somewhat raw and unedited but they contain the main Biblical references that we looked and the main application that I recommended.

“Love reign o’er me” - Trusting in Christ’s Supernatural Love

Intro - Have you ever noticed how love makes you do crazy things?

I remember how Emily, now my wife, made me crazy when we dated.

I wrote 50 letters in about 40 days.

I wrote a song for her in the voice of Scottish Highlander confessing his love for his lassie.

Have you also noticed that you have certain people in your life that you have a difficult time loving? A couple stories from my life: 1) my freshman year roommate 2)Me to my Bulgarian mission trip roommate (I smelled up the room, used his camera to take embarrassing photos, and used his deodorant stick without asking)

The main idea we are going to look at tonight is how Christ changes the way we love others.

Another way you could think about this issue is How you can love by faith - How faith in Christ changes how you love others - romantic, sexually, or platonically - friendship…

Why you need to know this?

Not really because if you don’t have God’s love you can’t experience true or quality love (Common grace - natural love - people naturally love their friends, their spouses, their children, for mutual benefit…)

But you probably already have people in your life that are not natural for you to love - and the natural force of life will be to exclude the other who is not loveable. Pretty soon, you have excluded yourself from people who are different than you. So, you will never embrace others who are significantly different than you (for example:Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia)

If our understanding and experience of love never transcends “natural” love we miss something incredible in our lives and our relationship with God.

This is central to God's character, if you don’t get this, you don’t get what it means to know God and you waste your life!

Selected Bible Passage on love:

Old Testament

1. Song of Songs 1:1-4, 2:1-13 (Romantic love, God's love for his people?)

Song of Solomon 1:1-4 (NIV)

Solomon’s Song of Songs.

Beloved

² Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—

for your love is more delightful than wine.

³ Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;

your name is like perfume poured out.

No wonder the maidens love you!

⁴ Take me away with you—let us hurry!

Let the king bring me into his chambers.

De2. Deuteronomy 6:4, 5 (General, central place of love)

⁴Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ⁵Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all 2. your soul and with all your strength.

New Testament

1. Matthew 5:43-48

⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

2. I John 4:7-19

⁷Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹²No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (God’s supernatural love - His life working in and through you Gives 1) you assurance and 2) a living testimony to others)

¹³We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. ¹⁶And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. ¹⁷In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. ¹⁸There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹We love because he first loved us. ²⁰If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. ²¹And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

3. Revelation 1:4-6

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, ⁵and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, ⁶and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

God’s ultimate goal is a world of love. Where people who were once his enemies and each other’s enemies have been transformed by His love and are now forever free to love!

Summary

1. 1. Love is the rule and the goal.

2. 2. We break that rule shoot for lower goals

a. Apathy, Antipathy, or any combination thereof is a violation of our obligation to love

b. Ezekiel 16:30-34 _ We are spiritual prostitutes -except we pay our lovers

3. 3. God’s love for us is not just unconditional, it is contra-conditional

a. Romans 5:8 God loves His enemies

b. Jesus was excluded by the Father so that we could embraced

c. Jesus suffered the wrath we deserved and gave us the inclusion that only a perfect Son or Daughter or Citizen deserves…

4. 4. By faith in Christ you can love the unlovable (Our love is not just a duty, it is not just a feeling, it is not just a wise or good idea - It is the life of God within us - a new power, a new personality enabling us to love supernaturally Gal 5:22 The fruit of the Spirit is love…)

What I want you to do - think about who you don’t love

a. List them (not on Facebook…privately, use code or nick names (not derogatory please)

b. Pray for them by faith…1 John 5:14-15

c. Seek God’s forgiveness if necessary; forgive them by faith if necessary…

d. Serve them by faith…(Emily’s incredible understanding of the love of a parent or a Mother…love that comes from investing, sacrificing, giving, suffering for the other…)

e. Enjoy them by faith…

What can you do as an act of love this week?

Why do you need to do this?

Right now there are people all over this world from here at Tech to Sarajevo to East Asia who are dying to experience the real embrace of God’s love. What we need a men and women like you who will step out in faith and say, Lord I will trust you to love them, to include them and embrace them with your supernatural love. Can you imagine what this campus would look like if every day we were taking leaps of faith to love people who are not easy to love?

5 Misconceptions of calling

2011-01-26T15:05:00.000-05:00

Five misconceptions of calling

[Trent McEntyre]

This is a continuation of my previous post on how to know your calling to missions. Here five misconceptions that can keep someone from confidently hearing their personal calling, especially to full time Christians service.

1. Individualism – The major tendency we face in discerning God’s call on our life, particularly if we are thinking about global missions, is to place inordinate emphasis on our personal judgment. For example some students may have struggled for almost a year about what to do when they finish college without opening up to their closest friends, seeking wise counsel, or pursuing direction from pastors or ministry leaders. We privatize the question of our calling and separate ourselves from the means that God has graciously given us to discern and confirm our calling.

2. Romanticism – Another misconception I find is that a call to missions equals an unexplainable and unquenchable passion. For example, new ministry and mission recruits are sometimes too quick to question their calling when the initial thrill of the ministry is gone. Or, qualified missions candidates refuse to go with the mission team of their church or city because they don’t feel a deep burden for the particular people group they are going to reach. While passion is good and heartfelt assurance of our calling is rightly sought, we need to be careful that we don’t fall into the hopeless subjectivity that comes when we fall into the misconception that to be called is to always feel passionate about the particular ministry.

3. Neglecting the role of authority – We like to be our own bosses especially when it comes to our calling in ministry or missions. I have seen people become bitter and mission teams derailed by neglecting the God given authority of pastors or mission agency leaders. I am not talking about brazen rebellion. Neglecting authority can be as apparently innocent as unnecessarily delaying seeking advice from your pastor or not following through with the normal application process for a mission opportunity. You cannot be sure of God’s specific call to or from a particular ministry or mission until you have heard from the God-appointed leadership.

4. Fatalism – John Calvin inspired a high view of the sovereignty of God that is a wonderful hope for all those who are called to serve as missionaries. However, some of us struggle, whether five-point or quasi-Calvinists, with the attitude that sees God’s sovereignty as an excuse for not adequately using the normal means He has given us to know our calling for service in His kingdom. There are many mysteries in the plan of God, but I do think that our calling is supposed to be one of them. We need to be careful not to excuse mistakes we make in discerning and answering God’s call on our life by saying nonchalantly “it must not have been God’s will.”

5. Distorted view of full-time Christian service – Most Christians profess that all believers are called to serve God in whatever their profession may be. Yet we are still heavily influenced by the notion that pastors and missionaries have a higher call.[1] For example, a godly young woman is trying to decide between going to China and teaching in Atlanta. She is gifted and motivated as a schoolteacher. Her Christian community tells her of the need for teachers at the local school. She prays, talks with her friends and church leaders. If she decides to stay and teach school in Atlanta she should by no means think or feel that her service as a schoolteacher is any less pleasing to God than if she were a missionary in China. Likewise if she pursues the missions job she needs to guard against the temptation to think God is more pleased with her as a missionary. If you are considering missions, pray that God keeps you from pursuing missions for a distorted desire for a higher calling.

Putting it together

Now that we have a foundation for discerning your calling to missions let me suggest a few applications.

o Be encouraged! The covenant of love that God has made with us in Christ covers our individual calling. We do not have to fear the plans God has for us because they are part of God’s wonderful plans to bless His people and make them a blessing to the nations.

o Be repentant! We may need to change our attitude, thinking, or approach to discerning God’s call. Regardless of the specifics of God’s call for you, he wants you to live by repentance and faith in Christ and the Gospel.

o Be faithful! Are willing to test the waters? Often you will have to take steps of faith long before you have feelings of assurance about your call. This might mean beginning the application process for missions or taking part in a short-term trip.

God has lovingly provided everything we need for life and godliness.[2] Surely this includes everything we need to know to respond to His call on our lives. In this life of struggle and sin, we should not be surprised to struggle with certainty about our calling. But, if we will accept the normal means of grace that God has given us in His word, prayer, and the body of Christ we can all receive sufficient direction for how to serve God with our time, talents and treasures.

[1] See Os Guinness, The Call, for excellent treatment of this subject.

[2] 2 Peter 1:3

Should I Stay or Should I Go Now - How to know your calling to missions

2011-01-26T15:00:00.000-05:00

“Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now?”

How to know your calling to missions

[Trent McEntyre]

A common and difficult question facing many Christians is, “What is my calling? Should I stay and serve God here or go overseas?” Currently this question is approached in a variety of ways, most of which can quickly become uncertain and frustrating. Some people have essentially given up and decided that they cannot expect to have adequate assurance of their particular calling in life, especially if it is directly involved in global missions.

The classic teaching on discerning God’s call

The classic teaching on discerning God’s call for your life is four dimensional, primary and secondary, internal and external. The primary call of all believers is as followers of Christ “by him, to him, and for him.”[1] The secondary call is how we each respond to God by living our entire life for Him. The answer to the question, “Should I stay or should I go now?” is a matter of determining our secondary calling. Many of the problems we have discerning our secondary call come from problems we have embracing our primary call.

The internal call of God is the part of God’s calling that begins with God’s moving in your mind and heart. At some point after you come to know Christ you realize that you have been given spiritual gifts that should be employed for the building up of the body of Christ. Herbert Cane describes this process particularly for those God is calling to global missions[2]: For example you may have started to experience:

1. Curiosity in other cultures and their relationship to God. Prayer should begin here and pervade the whole process.

2. Interest in mission work and opportunities to share the gospel. It is very helpful to engage in evangelism locally and take part in short term missions trips.

3. Understanding you giftedness and what might be needed in missionary service. This is where private Bible study and reflection is important.

4. Assurance of the promises of God in missions and that you should pursue it.

5. Conviction that God is the One that has been at work in your life through the curiosity that has sparked interest, understanding, assurance, and conviction.

We also need to discern God’s external calling. The external call of God is the part of God’s calling that he works through the body of Christ and your life circumstances. As you begin to seek out your personal calling internally you should immediately seek help from other Christians.

Close peers are often the best to help you confirm your natural and spiritual gifts and abilities.
Older or more mature believers are often best to counsel you in major decisions to confirm that you are in line with scripture and wisdom.
Church and ministry leaders are God given agents to help you affirm your calling to missionary service. You should not consider yourself “called” until it has been affirmed with a trustworthy agency or church.

The external calling of God also includes our considering the God ordained circumstances of our life. This consideration is often called looking for open or closed doors. Be careful though, because sometimes God will call you to follow Him through what may look like a closed door. On the other hand, a compelling need or opportunity may not finally dictate how you follow God’s call on your life.

Putting it together

As you develop a foundation for discerning your calling to missions let me suggest a few applications.

God has lovingly provided everything we need for life and godliness.[4] Surely this includes everything we need to know to respond to His call on our lives. In this life of struggle and sin, we should not be surprised to struggle with certainty about our calling. But, if we will accept the normal means of grace that God has given us in His word, prayer, and the body of Christ we can all receive sufficient direction for how to serve God with our time, talents and treasures.

[1] Os Guinness, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life, page 31

[2] Herbert Kane, Life and Work on the Mission Field. Refrenced in the RTS missions class Summer 2003.

[3] See Os Guinness, The Call, for excellent treatment of this subject.

[4] 2 Peter 1:3

Four steps of faith for missional leadership

2010-12-16T13:02:00.000-05:00

One of the great needs of the world today is for leaders who will live for the good of others. Traditionally, this has been called servant leadership. But in our increasingly fragmented society leaders have to be sent, they have to go "missionally" to where the needs are and live for the benefit of others.

One of my passions is to raise up missional leaders. Our work at Georgia Tech has been an ideal field for this effort. By God's grace we have seen students transformed into men and women who go and make a difference. We have seen students become transformational leaders in families, businesses, missions, churches, higher education, and media industries. We are constantly looking for how we can better reach the unreached and how we can train them to reach and train others. A big part of the process is teaching them what scripture says about being missional leaders.

Here are the notes and questions from a seminar that I presented to a group of student and staff leaders at Georgia Tech. Feel free to use them and adapt them to your situation. Let me know your ideas and experiences related to missional leadership.

Four steps of faith for missional leaders

A seminar with table discussion by Trent McEntyre

I. Aim for our destiny - which is to multiply missional leaders for the kingdom of God (Chrit-centered laborers)

Read John 13:1-17

Carefully read and consider John 13:13-14 (This is the the last supper Jesus would have with his disciples. They are in an upstairs room. This is a very important last session with his disciples before the Crucifixion and resurrection.)

Discuss the following questions:

1. What are some of the important characteristics leadership that you see in this passage?

2. How do you think those should play out in what someone in your position does?

Read John 17:15-23 (This passage takes place later the same night as last supper. It is Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer.)

Discuss the following:

1. What are some traits of a missional leader that Jesus talks about in this passage?

2. Summarize, what are we aiming to be for Christ?

II. Confess our dilemma

What keeps us from living as servants (or the other characteristics you discussed about Christ-centered laborers)?

What do you think prevents us from living missionally?

(For discussion leader: Hopefully they will see that our ultimate problem is a heart issue; unbelief in Christ and the gospel, self reliance, fear, idolatry… - If they suggest things that are secondary or surface issues like, “We are too busy” then try to follow up saying something like, “I agree, but why we tend to allow ourselves to be too busy?)

To summarize, what is the heart of our dilemma if we are to be missional leaders?

III. Trust our deliverance

Read John 7:37-39

What hope can find we find in Jesus’ words to overcome our dilemma?

Jesus invites the thirsty to come to him and drink. (Continual acknowledgement of our need)

Jesus commands us to believe. (Continual walk by faith, trust in who Christ is and promises to be

)To summarize, what is the only thing we can do to become missional leaders?

IV. Leave a legacy

What do” streams of living water” bring to mind in our lives and leadership?

Why do you think love is the great legacy we could leave?

(I Corinthians 13: 1-3, 13)

What do you need this summer in order to come back in the Fall growing as servant and missional leader? Let’s ask God for this in prayer together.

Gospel Application - Sin beneath the Sin - Idols of the heart article

2010-12-02T16:43:00.000-05:00

Gospel Application - Sin beneath the Sin

(This was written by Emily McEntyre, part of it was adapted from Tim Kellers early article on idolatry.)

Displayed in bold on her PC monitor were all of the offices that Kelly held on campus. She added them up quickly in her head. Hmmm….maybe that’s enough. If she could just have one more cultural volunteer activity she would be a shoe-in for the president’s council. And everyone on the president’s council has a future. She grabbed her bag on the way out of the door and nearly ran right over her roommate, Amy.

“Sorry Ames, just headed to the Girls’ Club to see if they need volunteers.”

But I thought that we were grabbing lunch today,” Amy said, sounding disappointed. “I never see you any more – you’re always in charge of something. My friend Katherine, who’s not a Christian, wanted to meet you. I really think she’s seeking.”

“I’m so sorry Ames. Let’s reschedule.” Kelly yelled as pushed open the heavy stairwell door and let it bang behind her.

“I’m seeking too,” she thought. “I’m seeking a resume that will have companies drooling in two years…”

1. We all have issues. What’s our core problem?

A. We are unwilling to glorify God – We don’t want to give him the centrality that is his due. (Rom. 1:21 ‑ for though they knew God, they neither glorified him nor gave thanks to him). Deep down inside, we do not like the idea of someone else running our lives.

B. We choose created things as "gods". --In order to deny God control of our lives, each of us chooses created things to live for and worship instead. (Rom. 1:25 ‑ worshipped ...created things rather than the Creator.) We must worship something.

C. Our lives are distorted by a life Lie. At the base our all our life choices, our emotional structure, our personality, is a false belief system centered on an idol‑‑that something besides God can give us the life and joy that only God can give. This may be a secret goal or pleasure. This may be a person, activity, position or possession that we order our world around.

D. We are in bondage. No one is actually "free", for whatever we give ourselves to live for, we must serve. Since every human being must have an ultimate "good" by which all other choices are made and values are judged, we all "offer ourselves" to something. Therefore every human being is in "covenant service" to a "lord" which works its will our through our bodies.

E. We need the Holy Spirit. Even after conversion, our old false saviors/lords and their attendant false belief systems still distort our lives unless the power of the Holy Spirit continually renews our minds and hearts. (Romans 7:14‑25) The key to freedom is the application of gospel of grace (Rom.6: 14 ‑ Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.)

"The principle crime of the human race…is idolatry. For although each individual sin retains its own proper feature… they all fall under the general heading of idolatry.... All murder and adultery, for example are idolatry, for they arise because something is loved more than God‑‑yet in turn, all idolatry is murder for it assaults God, and all idolatry is also adultery for it is unfaithfulness to God. Thus it comes to pass, that in idolatry all crimes are detected, and in all crimes idolatry."

-- Tertullian, On Idolatry Chap. I

2. How does idolatry affect us?

A. Provides Motivation– Sin does not occur in a vacuum. You don’t just tell a lie for the heck of it (unless you are compulsive or mentally ill). You don’t just wake up one day and decide, for no reason, that you will rob a bank, gossip about someone, or have a torrid affair. All behavioral sins begin at a motivational level. You do these things because they are a means to an end. They are a way of getting something that will make you think will make you happy (money, a certain reputation, pleasure, freedom, etc.)

B. Enslaves Us – An idol is something we have set our heart on, so we must serve it. If I value most highly having a 3.4 GPA, then I will do a lot of shady things to get it, and I will begin to worry and be anxious if anything gets in my way. If too highly value physical fitness and love having really great biceps, then I will order my life around going to the gym and eating certain food. At this point I’ve already committed sins of the heart by worshipping this, but if someone or something gets in my way, I will also commit behavioral sins to accomplish my goal.

3. How can we tell if something is an idol?

A. Misplaced Loyalty. As soon as our loyalty to anything leads us to disobey God, we are in danger of making it an idol....

Work, a commandment of God, can become an idol if it is pursued so exclusively that responsibilities to one's family are ignored.
Family, an institution of God himself, can become an idol if one is so preoccupied with the family that no one outside one's own family is cared for.
Being well‑liked, a very legitimate hope, becomes an idol ifh it means one never risks disapproval.

B. False Promises Idols are inflated and give us inordinate hope. They seem to promise things that will satisfy us or make us happy. These things tend to come in pairs.

For example, a nearby idol may be making a 3.4, but the faraway idol is the subconscious belief that a great GPA will lead to fulfillment and happiness.
Another nearby idol is working out. The faraway idol would be that having a great body is essential to a good life or will give us a good life.

C. Substituting. We worship idols because humans are wired to worship something. Ask yourself, “Has something or someone besides Jesus the Christ taken title to my heart's functional trust, preoccupation, loyalty, service, fear and delight?"

Questions bring some of people's idols to the surface. To who or what do you look for joy, security and acceptance? .... What do you really want and expect out of life? What would (really) make you happy? What would make you an acceptable person? Where do you look for power and success?' These questions or similar ones tease out whether we serve God or idols, whether we look for salvation from Christ or from false saviors. This helps determine the motives of my behavior, thoughts, feelings. In context of the Bible, the motivation question is lordship: who or what "rules my behavior, the Lord or an idol?" D. Powlison

4. OK, so I might have some idols. How does this affect me?

A. You become an unsuspecting servant. "The idol begins as a means of power, enabling us to control, but then overpowers, controlling us." -Richard Keyes, "The Idol Factory" in No God but God

B. Your views of what’s good and bad become twisted. "Your idols define good and evil in ways contrary to God's definitions. They establish a locus of control that is earthbound, either in objects (e.g., lust for money), or other people (e.g. I need to please my father'), or myself (e.g. attainment of my personal goals). Such false gods create false laws, false definitions of success and failure, of value and stigma. Idols promise blessings and warn of curses for those who succeed or fail their standards.. For example, “If I make enough money, I will be secure. If I can get these certain people to like and respect me, then my life will be valid.'.... ‑ David Powlison, "Idols of the Heart and Vanity Fair"

C. Your emotions are in bondage. (You might not notice this until an idol fails you.)

Idolatry related to the future leads to worry. Worry becomes intensified to whatever degree that I have worshipped my idols.... Suppose my god is my GPA or my physical health or my reputation. If I experience any of these under genuine threat, then I become worried and preoccupied.

Idolatry related to the past leads to guilt and bitterness. Suppose I value the fact that I am a good “moral” person… If my morality has become an absolute value for me, a center of value that makes all my other values valuable ...then if I slip up morally, I am stricken with guilt. Bitterness becomes intensified when someone or something stands between me and something that is my ultimate value. (Someone contributed to my moral failure.)

Idolatry in the present leads to boredom and emptiness. To be bored is to feel empty, [meaningless.] Boredom is an anticipatory form of being dead. To the extent to which limited values are exalted to idolatries...when any of those values are lost, boredom becomes pathological and compulsive.... My subjectively experienced boredom may then become infinitely projected toward the whole cosmos.... This picture of the self is called despair [The milder forms are disappointment, disillusionment, cynicism.]"

5. How do I combat sin on the motivational level?

A. Not with the Psychological Approach This approach says, “It’s alright to sin. You’re not perfect. Maybe your mom didn’t read you enough bedtime stories. No wonder you’re struggling with acceptance. God still loves you in spite of your sin.” This is not in line with the Gospel. God loves us the way Christ is, not the way we are. The Gospel is not centered on us, it’s centered on Christ. The psychological approach just makes us feel better about ourselves without getting to the root of the sin and pain.

B. Not with the Moralistic Approach. In this approach Christ's forgiveness is applied simply to behavioral sins. The solution is typically construed in all‑or‑nothing terms: “Let go and let God”, or “call it sin and call it forgiven” in an attempt to deal with the sinful motivations with a single act of housecleaning.

Moralism, whether it takes the form of either scolding or "pep talks", can ultimately only create an awareness of sin and guilt or of behavioral virtues built on will power.... We all gravitate toward the assumption that we are justified by our level holiness, and this focuses our attention not on Christ but on the adequacy of our own obedience. We start each day with our personal security in our present feelings or recent achievements or good behaviors in the Christians life. This leads to self-righteousness, if we are morally successful, and apathy or discouragement if we are unsuccessful.

Summary: The Rise and Fall of Idols

Step # I ‑ Pride. Sin is to seek to be God‑‑self‑existent and sovereign over himself! Sin is a desire to create a secure, independent life apart from God. An unwillingness to trust God, to admit we are creatures dependent on him.

Text: Genesis 3:5 ‑ you will be like God

Step #2 ‑ Fear. Sin‑pride leads to a pervasive awareness of our weakness and guilt. Thus there's a drive to ;get both control and worth, while hiding from God, self, others.

Text: Genesis 3:10 ‑ "I was afraid ...so I hid"

Step #3 ‑ The Lie. Sin‑anxiety moves us to construct an idol‑based belief system by which we seek both power and worth as independent from God. We trust the idols for them. The idol system distorts the way we perceive ourselves, success and failure, God, the world, and others.

Text: Genesis 3:12 ‑ "you will not die ...for God know when you eat it your eyes will be opened."

Step #4 ‑ Self‑justification. The Life‑lie leads to a life of pleasing the idol(s): choices and behavior coherently designed to seek its blessings and avoid its curses. All idol systems are essentially a form of "works‑righteousness" with its own set of standards and laws.

Text: Genesis 3:7 ‑ they ...made coverings for themselves

Step #5 ‑ Lusts. Because we give idols power to justify us, we must have them, creating deep inordinate drives and desires that master us and can't be controlled. Our idols control us by capturing our imagination in the form of vivid, positive pictures of certain conditions we believe will make us happy and fulfilled.

Text: Genesis 3:16 ‑ your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.

Step #6 ‑ Varied miseries. Depending on how our circumstances are and how our self‑justifying efforts go, our pain will differ. If someone or something blocks us from getting what we want, there is anger and scape-goating. If some condition threatens our idols there is deep fear and anxiety. If we fail our idol significantly, there is despair and self‑hatred or guilt. If we please our idol fairly successfully, there is still emptiness and boredom.

Ephesians Study 12 Looking Over the Letter Again Ephesians 1–6

2010-12-02T16:41:00.000-05:00

12 Looking Over the Letter Again Ephesians 1–6

Purpose: To review the whole letter, looking for its main themes and the main application Ephesians has for us.

At the end of a journey we can look back with satisfaction at having reached our destination and at having learned much along the way. We may also have painful memories, however, of problems or obstacles we had to overcome. But whether the trip was easy or difficult, we are different for having made the trek. Likewise with Paul's letter to the Ephesians, whether our study was easy or difficult, we are different now. This last study offers an opportunity to reflect on the major themes of the book and on how we have changed (and will change) because of it.

1. Look throughout the letter for the words “in Christ” or “in him” (referring to Christ). From these passages, what do you learn about being “in Christ“?

2. How do you feel about being in union with Christ in so many ways?

3. Often in this study we have referred to 1:9–10. How has your vision of God's plans and purposes for the universe been expanded through Ephesians?

4. Ephesians 1:22–23 and 3:10–11 focus on the theme of the church which is implicit throughout the rest of the letter. How has your view of the church been altered through your study?

5. What is the most important thing you have learned about the unity of the body of Christ in this letter? Explain.

6. What steps are you taking to strengthen your oneness with other Christians?

7. While Paul focuses on the spiritual forces in the universe most obviously in 6:10–18, he has also referred to the heavenly places and spiritual forces of evil in 1:3, 20; 2:2, 6; and 3:10. How has your awareness of spiritual realms been expanded through Paul's letter?

8. What step might you take to stand more firmly against your spiritual opponents?

9. How do the first three chapters of Ephesians lay a foundation for the practical instructions of the last three?

10. What does 6:21–24 reveal about Paul?

11. How are the words grace and peace, which lead off verses 23–24, a fitting conclusion to Paul's letter?

12. What have you enjoyed most about your study of Ephesians?

11 Prayer Wars Ephesians 6:10–24

2010-12-02T16:40:00.000-05:00

11 Prayer Wars Ephesians 6:10–24

Purpose: To grasp how the ultimate battle is fought and how it can be won.

In a war of bullets, careful aim and heavy armor win battles. In a war of words, eloquent speech and sharp pens overcome the opposition. But if the fight is outside the realm of sight, sound and touch, how are victories won?

1. How do you respond to the idea that there are spiritual forces in the universe that are working against God's will?

2. Read Ephesians 6:10–24. In 6:10–12 Paul emphasizes that our struggle is not with flesh and blood. How has he emphasized this same point elsewhere in his letter?

3. How do you sense a battle around you with more than physical forces and foes?

4. Four times in verses 11–14 Paul urges his readers to stand firm in the battle against the devil's stratagems. How do we fail to stand firm as Christians?

5. When Paul wrote Ephesians, he may have been chained to a Roman soldier (see 6:20). This could easily have inspired his analogy of 6:13–17. Since we obviously don’t put on literal armor, how do we utilize these weapons?

6. List the “pieces” and how they aid us in battle. Which piece(s) of armor do feel are underutilized in your fight?

7. In 6:10–12 Paul identifies our ally and enemies in battle. In 6:13–17 he considers our preparation and tactics. Now, how is the battle itself fought? Explain your answer.

8. In 6:18–20 Paul urges all kinds of prayers. How has he been a model of a prayer warrior throughout this letter?

9. What main obstacle do you face in fighting the battle of prayer more effectively?

10. Take time now to pray about your fight in spiritual warfare.

Ephesians Study 10, Submit to One Another, Ephesians 5:21–6:9

2010-12-02T16:39:00.000-05:00

10 Submit to One Another Ephesians 5:21–6:9

Purpose: To consider how the relationship between Christ and the church can be a model for wives and husbands.

Hang onto your hats; there's a good chance this will be your most controversial study. But don't be afraid of controversy itself or of strong differences of opinion. Try to present an atmosphere of openness and willingness to hear all sides. However, don't be afraid to ask people to root their contentions in the passage. Your purpose is to see what Paul says here and not to bring in a myriad of outside resources and opinions. You may want to remind everyone before you start to stick to the passage!

A lot of emotion and misunderstanding surrounds the word submit. So try to come to this text as if you had never seen it before. Try to set aside your own biases and see what Paul really has to say on the subject of submission.

1. How do you react to the idea of being told to submit to someone?

2. Read Ephesians 5:21–33. What four types of relationships does this passage imply or refer to?

3. In each relationship described, what is the motive for submission?

4. Does submission meat putting your mind in neutral or being passive?

5. In what ways are husbands, masters, and parents to submit?

6. In verse 25 Paul instructs husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. How has Christ shown his love for the church?

7. The word love in 5:25 and 28 is used to translate the Greek word agapa, meaning totally unselfish, sacrificial love. How are husbands to show love for their wives (vv. 25–30)?

8. In verse 31 Paul quotes Genesis 2:24 to root his arguments about the unity of husband and wife in creation itself. How do verses 31–33 summarize his teaching on the unity that is to exist between wives and husbands?

9. Why do you think Paul calls on wives to respect their husbands while he calls on husbands to love their wives ?

10. How would you characterize the relationship you have had with your parents?

11. Is it possible to obey your parents or others without honoring them? Explain. Is it possible to honor your parents or others without obeying them?

12. What is implied about the way slaves normally worked for their masters (vv. 5–8)?

13. How and why were Christian slaves to be different?

14. How could the principles Paul considers in 5:21-6:9 be lived out in situations you have been in or are in?

Ephesians Study 9 Live in Love, Live in Light Ephesians 5:1–21

2010-12-02T16:38:00.000-05:00

9 Live in Love, Live in Light Ephesians 5:1–21

Purpose: To continue to examine what it means for us to live worthy of our calling.

Not doing what is wrong is one thing. But sometimes it can be even more difficult to do what is right. In Ephesians 5 Paul continues to outline what it means “to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (4:1). He does this by considering ways we shouldn't act and ways we should.

1. How do children imitate? (Give some examples from your own observations of small children.)

2. Read Ephesians 5:1–21. In verses 1–2 Paul says that just as children imitate their parents, so we are to imitate God. What have you observed about God which you have begun or could begin to imitate?

3. How is Christ the perfect example of what Paul asks of us (v. 2)?

4. How does having an inheritance in the kingdom of God enable us to abide by v. 4?

How can you use thanksgiving to replace improper behavior in your life?

5. Why will immoral, impure or greedy people be unable to inherit the kingdom (vv. 5–7)? “What “problems” do you see with this verse?

6. Why are such people considered idolaters?

7. In verses 8–14 Paul contrasts light and darkness to say more about holy living. According to these verses, what does it mean to “live as children of light“?

8. Often we equate wisdom with intelligence. What characterizes wise people according to 5:15–17?

9. How can you live more wisely then?

10. Verses 19–21 look like four separate commands in English. In Greek, however, they are actually linked grammatically to verse 18 and describe several beneficial results of being filled with the Spirit. In your own words, explain the characteristics of those who are filled with the Spirit.

11. Do these results occur automatically when we are filled with the Spirit or must we also treat them as commands to be followed? Explain.

12. In your life, in what way do you most clearly see the need to be led by the Spirit?

Ephesians Study 8 Off with the Old, On with the New Ephesians 4:17–32

2010-12-02T16:36:00.000-05:00

8 Off with the Old, On with the New Ephesians 4:17–32

Purpose: Because we are new people, we should no longer walk as the Gentiles but rather experience renewal. To consider the purity of conduct and communication necessary for maintaining unity in the body of Christ.

“It's easier said than done” is a cliché that certainly applies to Christian living and unity. Remnants of the “old self,” (v. 22) too often get in the way. Somehow we manage to say the wrong thing or act the wrong way. Paul's aim in this passage is to help make Christian life and unity a little more “done.”

1. Do Christians necessarily live better lives than non-Christians? Explain.

2. Read Ephesians 4:17–32. Paul continues to flesh out what it means for his readers to live a life worthy of their calling (4:1). How does he contrast the life of the Gentile (unbeliever) with that of a true believer?

3. What are the effects of this condition (vv. 17–19)?

4. How do you see residual aspects of this condition in your life?

(Believers, though born again and truly new in real ways, still have the flesh, an aspect of ourselves that is still fallen and in need of renewal.)

5. What does it mean to put off the old self (4:22 )?

6. "To be renewed in the spirit of your mind" is interesting because it is a command given to us to passively receive something, (4:23) emphasizing God's role to renew us and ours to intentionally seek that renewal. How do you think we can do this?

(Prayer fits here, Bible study, worship, asking to be filled with the Holy Spirit.)

7. In verses 25–32 what does Paul tell us to put off, what does he say to put on and what reason does he give for doing these things? (If he doesn't explicitly state each of the three parts for a given topic, fill in what is implied.)

8. How do you do all of this “putting off” and “putting on?”

9. Which of the commands in verses 25–32 do you have the most difficulty following? Explain.

10. What practical steps could you take this week to improve your relationships with others in this area of difficulty?

11. Which of the commands in verses 25–32 have you seen God strengthen you to obey?

12. Spend time praising God for his work in your life, and pray that he will give you grace in the areas needing improvement.

Ephesians Study 7 - Unity and Uniqueness Ephesians 4:1-16

2010-12-02T16:35:00.000-05:00

7 Unity and Uniqueness Ephesians 4:1–16

Purpose: To see the place of unity and of unique gifts in the body of Christ. To see how God's specific gifting of the church equips us to grow.

While Ephesians 1–3 provides a doctrinal foundation, Ephesians 4–6 shows in practical detail how to give glory to God in the church. Paul now considers the quality of life that God calls believers to individually and in the fellowship of Christ's church.

1. “To have unity we must all be uniform.” Explain why you do or do not agree with this statement.

2. Read Ephesians 4:1–16. How do you think the "therefore" (or the “then”) may be significant to understanding this command? According to Ephesians 1–3, what is the calling to which they have been called?

3. What are the characteristics of a life that is worthy of our calling (vv. 1–3)?

4. Why are these virtues so important for maintaining unity?

5. Which qualities help you foster unity with others? Which do you still need to work on?

6. We are commanded to keep the unity of the Spirit. But Paul also says we already have one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father of all. If we are already one, then why must Paul also command us to be one?

How do these seven “ones” contribute to actually living out true unity?

7. In verses 8–10 Christ is compared to a conquering hero whose triumphal procession fills “the whole universe,” from the highest heaven to the lowest earth. He then generously distributes gifts (the spoils of victory) to his loyal followers. What is the nature and purpose of these gifts (vv. 11–13)?

8. How has God gifted you and others in this group?

9. What are the purposes accomplished by different gifts described in 4:11–13?

(Spiritual gifts, roles of service, like pastor/teachers are given to build up the body of Christ.)

10. How does spiritual infancy differ from spiritual maturity (vv. 14–16)?

11. What winds and waves are blowing and tossing the church today? You personally?

12. While 4:1–6 sets forth the unity we have as believers, 4:7–11 describes our uniqueness through the individual gifts we have received. How does Paul's explanation of the proper function and goal of these gifts bring us right back to the opening theme of Ephesians 4?

13. In verse 16 Paul says that the body “grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” What steps do you need to take to more fully work toward this goal?

Ephesians Study 6 - Prisoner, Preacher & Man of Prayer Ephesians 3:1–21

2010-12-02T16:34:00.000-05:00

6 Prisoner, Preacher & Man of Prayer Ephesians 3:1–21

Purpose: To look at the purpose of the church and its role in fulfilling God's plan.

v. 1-13 The ministry of the new covenant, revealing that all may have access to God in Christ.

v. 14-21 Prayer for the church to know and experience the love of and fullness of God.

What do you think of when you hear the word church? A building on the corner? A stuffy group of religious hypocrites? A vibrant fellowship? Paul's special ministry enables him to enlarge our conception of the church. In this passage he clarifies and exalts its place in God's plan.

1. Think of two or three adjectives that summarize your attitude and experience of the body of Christ. Explain.

2. Read Ephesians 3:1–21. What gifts of God's grace does Paul say he has received (vv. 2–3, 8)?

3. Explain the meaning of the mystery revealed to Paul (vv. 2–6).

How is it connected with the ministry given to him (vv. 7–13)?

4. What purpose does God have for the church (vv. 10–11)?

How does this mesh with God's overall purpose in Christ described in 1:9–10?

6. Paul was in prison “for the sake of you Gentiles” (v. 1). The Jews who arrested him reacted against the kind of teaching Paul has just expressed in Ephesians 2. Namely, Jesus has abolished the divisive elements of the law and is creating a new people and building a new temple. How then was Paul's imprisonment to the glory of his readers (3:13)?

7. Paul now turns from instruction to prayer. What was the reason for Paul's prayer for his readers (vv. 1, 14)?

8. Three times in verses 14–21 Paul mentions “love” and “power.” What do we learn about power and love in these verses?

9. Verses 10–11 state that the church is to make known God's wisdom. How is Paul's prayer directed toward fulfilling that purpose?

10. How is God's wisdom being made known through your local body of believers?

11. To what extent has his prayer been answered in your life or in the life of your church?

12. How does the benediction of 3:20–21 tie together the main themes that have run through the first three chapters of Ephesians?

13. Choose at least one item from Paul's prayer and make it a prayer of your own, for yourself and your church.

Ephesians Study 5 One new house Ephesians 2:11–22

2010-12-02T16:32:00.001-05:00

5 One new house Ephesians 2:11–22

Purpose: To see that Christ's death not only reconciled us to God but also to each other, and to consider the implications of this.

1. Read Ephesians 2:11–22. Paul uses analogies and metaphors imagery in this passage. What are some of these?

What are they intended to communicate?

2. How does verse 11 emphasize the ill feeling between the Jews and the Gentiles?

3. What similar issues do we encounter today?

4. Besides some superficial differences between Jews and Gentiles, there were also some very real divisions. What are some of the things that divided Gentiles from Jews (v. 12)?

5. How does the bond we have in the blood (death) of Christ supersede all that divides us from other Christians (v. 13)?

6. According to 2:14–18, what two reconciliations does Christ achieve?

How are they related?

7. There was a literal “dividing wall of hostility” (2:14) in Jerusalem. The Court of the Gentiles was separated from the Temple proper by a stone wall. This wall had a sign on it forbidding entrance to any foreigner on pain of death. Paul says Christ destroyed this barrier “by abolishing in his flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in the ordinances” (2:15). In what sense did the cross abolish the enmity?

What rules and requirements do we enforce which might cause enmity between Christians or between believers and unbelievers?

8. We still see divisions among Christians today even though Christ himself is our peace (vv. 14–18). How can those who are united in Christ still be divided?

9. How do the images Paul uses in 2:19–22 emphasize the unity Christians have with one another?

10. How is the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles to each other and to God (2:11–22) one fulfillment of God's will and purpose in Christ (1:9–10)?

11. What practical first step toward unity can you take in the next week to promote greater unity within this group and the larger body of Christ?

Ephesians outline, background information and theme

2010-10-19T16:59:00.000-04:00

Outline of Ephesians

By Trent McEntyre
Ch 1 - New Position of Blessing or “New way to be blessed”

v. 1-2 Introduction - An apostle of Christ Jesus to those set apart and believing in Christ Jesus at Ephesus, Grace and peace from God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
v. 3-14 Bless God for blessing us in Christ! God is praised for His glory and grace.
v. 15-23 Paul's prayer for them to know and be filled by God.

Ch 2 - New Relationships

v. 1-10 God makes the spiritually dead alive in Christ.
v. 11-22 You were separated from God, but now both Jew and Gentile are made into one new dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Ch 3 - New Ministry

v. 1-13 The ministry of the new covenant, revealing that all may have access to God in Christ.
v. 14-21 Prayer for the church to know and experience the love of and fullness of God.

Ch 4 - New People/Community

v. 1-6 Because God's love has made us a new people, we should walk in love and unity.
v. 7-16 Because God has graciously gifted us, we can grow together in Christ.
v. 17-24 Because we are new people, we should no longer walk as the Gentiles but rather experience renewal.
v. 25-32 Because you are being renewed, let your words and deeds edify others.

Ch 5 - New People/Community

v. 1-2 Because Christ has loved us, we can walk in love, imitating Him.
v. 3-5 We pursue moral excellence, and gratitude because we know that we are inheriting the kingdom of God.
v. 6-14 Because we are children of the light, we are no longer deceived by, partaking in, or speaking of the ways of darkness.
v. 15-20 Because we are now becoming wise, we want to be careful to avoid foolishness, sloth, and dissipation by being filled with the Spirit.

New Relationships

v. 21 Because we know and fear Christ, we renew relationships through mutual submission and love.

-33 Renewed submission and love in marriage.

Ch 6

v. 1-3 Renewed honor from Children to parents..
v. 4 Fathers renewed in how they discipline their children.
v. 5-8 Slaves renewed in view of knowing and serving God.
v. 9 Masters renewed in how they treat slaves.

New Warfare with Devil

1. v. 10-17 Be strong in the Lord and stand firm against the devil.

2. v. 18-20 Persevere in prayer, especially for those who are ambassadors of the Gospel.

3. v. 21-22 Paul's circumstances, new sent to comfort believers.

4. v. 23-24 Blessing, benediction, and closing.

Theme of Ephesians -"A new way to be and a new way to walk as God's new community." Or “Our new standing and our new walking as God’s new community.”

Context and Background of Ephesians

Historical context

The author of Ephesians is noted to be the apostle Paul both in the opening (1:1) and in the body of the letter (3:1). Paul's personal notes such as praying for them (1:15,16) and asking them to pray for him (6:18,19) support this claim. Paul also twice refers to his imprisonment (3:1,4:1), supporting the traditional view that Paul indeed wrote this letter from Rome during his final imprisonment in the early 60's.[1] Because of the lack of reference to concrete situations and personal address in the letter, most conclude that Paul wrote this letter for circular use starting with the church at Ephesus. Likewise the occasion and purpose of the letter is difficult to narrowly define. The letter presents the central truths about the Christian faith for gentile converts and promotes the unity between Jews and Gentiles in the church. The letter's explanation of the Christian faith and life in the church that was surely very applicable to many of the early churches.

Literary Context

I have outlined the content book of Ephesians and I see a basic progression from a doctrinal emphasis in chapters 1-3 to more practical application in chapters 4-6. After his greeting (1:1,2) Paul blesses God for blessing believers in Christ (1:3-14) and prays for these believers to know and be filled by God (1:15-23). In chapter two Paul teaches the amazing grace of the gospel (2:1-10) and how it reconciles both Jew and Gentile into one new dwelling of God (2:11-22). Chapter 3 tells of Paul's new covenant ministry and ascends once again in prayer for the church to know and experience the love and fullness of God (3:14-21). Because God's love has made the church, a new people, Paul calls for love and unity (4:1-6). Next Paul shows that God's gracious gifting of the church enables us to grow together in Christ (4:7-16). Growing believers must putt off Gentile lifestyles in order to experience renewal (4:17-24) of words and deeds so that we edify others (4:25-32) and live as children of light (5:1-20). The practical exhortation extends to relationships of mutual submission and love (5:21) in marriage (5:22-33), family, slaves, and masters (6:1-9). Paul urges them to be strong in the Lord and firm against the devil (6:10-17), persevere in prayer, especially for those who preach the gospel. He finishes the letter with a few remarks about his personal circumstances, comforting news, a blessing, and benediction to close (6:21-14).

Thematic context

The major theme that I find throughout Ephesians is the church, also called the body of Christ, the new dwelling of God. Particularly, Ephesians shows the sovereign purpose of God in recreating for Himself a people and graciously blessing them through Christ. Paul teaches not only what God has made the church to be, but also how God calls the church to live. The building up of the church in love for another, and ultimately love for God is the main ministry theme. One of the means of maturing in the body of Christ is growth in knowledge. We find this in the frequent use of phrases like "gnwrivsa" hJmi`n to; musthvrion"" (1:9 translated "He made known to us the mystery") and ^"pefwtismevnou" tou;" ojfqalmou;" th`" kardiva" »uJmw`n¼ eij" to; eijdevnai uJma`"" (1:18 translated "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened,[2]") The stress on growth in knowledge is also reflected against the darkness of the Gentiles (4:18)[3] Other passages refer to understanding and wisdom (5:8-10, 5:17).

Ephesians is one of the major letters that serves to help us understand the greater context of the teaching of the apostle Paul. One major theme of Paul's teaching is that Christ's reconciling the church to God is the breaking in of the fulfillment of God's great purpose for all time. As Ridderbos puts it:

"The whole content of this preaching can be summarized as the proclamation and explication of the eschatological time of salvation inaugurated with Christ's advent, death, and resurrection. It is from the principal point of view and under this denominator that all the separate themes of Paul's preaching can be understood and penetrated in their unity and relation to each other."[4]

The great declarations in Ephesians about the purpose of God worked out in His church and the practical consequences of that purpose have incredible significance taken in view of Ridderbos' summary of Paul's preaching.

[1] D.A. Carson, Douglas J. Moo, and Leon Morris, An Introduction to the New Testament (Zondervan Publishing House) 1992.

[2] The New American Standard Bible, (La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation) 1977. All English references in this paper are quoted from this edition unless otherwise noted.

[3] Carson, Moo, Morris, Intro to NT, p. 315

[4] Ridderbos, Herman N, Paul: an outline of his theology. Translation of Paulus, (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan) 1975.

Crossroads

Alive Together - Ephesians study intro

What are the best books on evangelism?

New rankings out - Top 5 passages of the NT

What do you think? Top five passages you need to know?

Study notes on John 7:37-39

Current needs for special gifts

Recommended reading for young adults

Living on mission during transition - support material - phases of life table

Exploring life. Testing choices.

Confusion about the future. Fear of the future.

Choosing covenant relationships over vocal priorities

Dealing with emotional wounds for future successful living

Living on mission during transition - support material - seasons of life

When I began preparing for these talks I immediately thought of some the insights I heard from David English. Here is a background essay on the seasons of life we all go through.

Living on mission during transition - introduction

How can we love those who are not natural for us to love?

5 Misconceptions of calling

Five misconceptions of calling

Putting it together

Should I Stay or Should I Go Now - How to know your calling to missions

“Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now?”

How to know your calling to missions

[Trent McEntyre]

The classic teaching on discerning God’s call

Putting it together

Four steps of faith for missional leadership

Gospel Application - Sin beneath the Sin - Idols of the heart article

Gospel Application - Sin beneath the Sin

Summary: The Rise and Fall of Idols

Ephesians Study 12 Looking Over the Letter Again Ephesians 1–6

12 Looking Over the Letter Again Ephesians 1–6

11 Prayer Wars Ephesians 6:10–24

11 Prayer Wars Ephesians 6:10–24

Ephesians Study 10, Submit to One Another, Ephesians 5:21–6:9

10 Submit to One Another Ephesians 5:21–6:9

Ephesians Study 9 Live in Love, Live in Light Ephesians 5:1–21

9 Live in Love, Live in Light Ephesians 5:1–21

Ephesians Study 8 Off with the Old, On with the New Ephesians 4:17–32

8 Off with the Old, On with the New Ephesians 4:17–32

Ephesians Study 7 - Unity and Uniqueness Ephesians 4:1-16

7 Unity and Uniqueness Ephesians 4:1–16

Ephesians Study 6 - Prisoner, Preacher & Man of Prayer Ephesians 3:1–21

6 Prisoner, Preacher & Man of Prayer Ephesians 3:1–21

Ephesians Study 5 One new house Ephesians 2:11–22

5 One new house Ephesians 2:11–22

Ephesians outline, background information and theme

Outline of Ephesians

Historical context

Literary Context

Thematic context