17/04/2013 by sevennotesofgrace

The blessings of explaining your faith

I have been working through the course Christianity Explained* with a new friend over the past few months. She came to our church because she has seen the huge changes Jesus made in the life of her adult son, and wanted to know what it was all about!
Now I must say, it can be a scary thing when you realise you are the first person to explain to someone who Jesus is and what he has done. You think you will say the wrong thing or put them off, and damage their only hope of knowing peace with God! But then you remember that God works through His Spirit and His Word (and us) despite our abilities or inabilities. You just have to keep resting on this knowledge and move forward. God worked in my own stubborn heart (and yours I trust) so that I would come to a point of repentance and faith. . . and He will keep drawing people to Himself in this way until Jesus returns! Softening hearts to the Gospel is something only God can do. Let’s trust Him to do it. And just keep explaining it as best we can. (Apart from all this, Christianity Explained is a really easy course to use, where the Bible and the course booklet explain everything simply and well. You can check out the summary of the course at the end of this post, with links for where to buy the resources.)

It is such a privilege to be explaining Christianity to someone – not just because of the earthly and eternal benefits involved for them – but also for growing your own faith. I have been challenged and refreshed in going carefully over the basics again, looking deeply into Mark’s Gospel and being confronted by Jesus up close! I see anew his character, his humour, love, compassion and his determination to fulfill his rescue mission for all people, even for those who despised him. He showed people such grace and such patience, dealing with crowds who really just wanted to see a show – crowds that made it difficult for those who had real faith in Him to get close. He lived for three years with a group of men who almost understood who he was, yet showed great lack of faith at times and were probably quite annoying! (a bit like me).

I have also been challenged by the way my friend has been so keen to share with her friends the things that she has been learning about Christian beliefs, particularly the difference between salvation by works and salvation by grace! She realises that GRACE is so totally opposite to the message the media portrays of do-gooder Christians who are trying to make it to heaven!

So can I encourage you if you are a Christian, to keep explaining the Gospel as much as you can . . . not just in the quick hit evangelism format (which is often very useful) but in the more relaxed teaching-style format of this course (or something similar). It gives people plenty of time to think and process what they are being told, and for God to challenge them personally through His Word. It also means you grow a close relationship with someone else who gets to know you, over time, and see how your belief makes a difference in your life.

Don’t miss out on sharing that moment of awe, when someone sees God’s amazing grace for the first time! It is such an encouragement to see God working, challenging someone in what they know and believe about the Son of God who died for them. Whether or not they become a Christian in the end – well that is up to God (and I pray that may be so) – the encouragement and growth gained along the way is certainly worth the journey.

* * *

*Christianity Explained is a great short course which in 6 sessions takes you through the basics of what Christians believe and who they are. The course, developed by Michael Bennett, has been widely used in Australia and internationally for several decades. Each session takes about 45mins to an hour to complete, depending on how many questions your person wants to ask and discuss. It is based on the gospel of Mark, which course participants read at home in small segments for the duration of the course. It is a great tool for clearly and fully explaining the Gospel – one to one, or in a group setting. The 6 sessions focus on the meaning of:
1. Jesus, Son of God
2. The Cross
3. The Resurrection
4. Salvation by Grace
5. Repent
6. Believe

Check out the course here at The Good Book (US) or Koorong Books (Australia).

08/04/2013 by sevennotesofgrace

Let me be unashamed

I have been taking John Piper out for a walk now and then recently – well, obviously not in person, but in mp3 format on my smart phone. Today I listened to a talk from 2010 on Mark 8, titled “The Son of Man Must Suffer many things“….. It was an astounding message. The first half explored the passage and the topic, and the second explained why he needed to take a complete 8 month break from preaching!

In the first half, the climax was this challenge from Piper on verse 38:

“Verse 38: “Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Let’s get the meaning clear before we make the connection. What’s the opposite of being ashamed of somebody? Being proud of them. Admiring them. Not being embarrassed to be seen with them. Loving to be identified with them.

So Jesus is saying, “If you are embarrassed by me and the price I paid for you (and he’s not referring to lapses of courage when you don’t share your faith, but a settled state of your heart toward him)—if you’re not proud of me and you don’t cherish me and what I did for you—if you want to put yourself with the goats that value their reputation in the goat herd more than they value me, then that’s the way I will view you when I come. I will be ashamed of you, and you will perish with the people who consider me an embarrassment.”

Now I’m sure you are curious how preaching on this passage links with Piper announcing his request for a leave of absence from ministry (you can read or listen to the talk if you follow this link.) And I’m not going to tell you . . . because his challenge is what I want you to contemplate: are you in a settled state of admiration for Christ, do you love being identified with him – or are you in a settled state of embarrassment for the “foolishness” of the Cross of Christ? As I was being challenged by Piper’s words I was reminded of a similarly challenging plea that comes in a song from Sovereign Grace:

“Let me be unashamed, Jesus, to speak Your name
Let me be bold to claim you as my Lord”

This is a brilliantly rousing song. The faster pace and guitar riffs would surely appeal to many, even though it may be considered “old”. I hope you will be able to encourage your whole church to bring this plea before God in song: “Let me be unashamed….” I definitely need to add this one back onto the new song list for our church!

(Click here to listen, for lead sheets and other music formats.)

UNASHAMED

VERSE 1
You were not ashamed to be
Emptied and poured out to death
Unashamed to give Your dying breath
You were not ashamed to bear
All of my reproach and sin
Jesus, You were such a faithful friend
So I will glory in the cross
And in the blood You shed for us
Glory in the gospel of Your grace

Let me be unashamed
Jesus, to speak Your name
For You were the one who came
The Savior of the world
Let me be unashamed
Jesus, to speak Your name
Let me be bold to claim
You as my Lord

VERSE 2
You were not ashamed to give
Your body to a Roman lash
Unashamed to bear God’s holy wrath
You were not ashamed to hang
Naked bleeding on a tree
Gladly You did all of this for me
So I will glory in the cross
And in the blood you shed for us
Glory in the gospel of Your grace

26/03/2013 by sevennotesofgrace

The Glories of Calvary

It is sometimes a challenge as a Christian to explain why Good Friday is good, why the Cross is our delight, our boast. Unless you are willing to talk about God’s judgement, it makes it very tricky to explain why Jesus came at all. But that is why Jesus came – to live a perfect life then die a death where all the judgement for sin was laid on him. Grace has come to us at such a cost – but not a cost to us! God’s boundless love held his own Son to the Cross, for us. “By our Savior’s crimson flow Holy wrath has been removed“. This is an ‘older’ song from Sovereign Grace writers Steve and Vikki Cook, but you don’t get a much better picture of the Glories of Calvary!

Listen here

THE GLORIES OF CALVARY

Lord, You’re calling me to come and behold the wondrous cross
To explore the depths of grace, that came to me at such a cost
Where Your boundless love conquered my boundless sin
And mercy’s arms were opened wide

My heart is filled with a thousand songs
Proclaiming the glories of Calvary
With every breath, Lord how I long
To sing of Jesus who died for me
Lord, take me deeper into the glories of Calvary

Sinners find eternal joy in the triumph of Your wounds
By our Savior’s crimson flow Holy wrath has been removed
And Your saints below join with your saints above
Rejoicing in the Risen Lamb

“The Glories of Calvary”, by Steve & Vikki Cook.
©2003 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Ministries.
From Songs for the Cross Centered Life.

23/03/2013 by sevennotesofgrace

From the Womb to the Tomb: thank You for the Time In Between

For so many people the time between Christmas and Easter is a whirlwind of busy-ness, and the latter holiday simply provides a welcome breather. (Is that how it has been for you?)
But I am reminded by the lyrics of this song that really it is the time inbetween Jesus’ birth and the Cross for which we must be thankful.

In that time Jesus lived the fully obedient life that pleased His Father, which we could never live. It was in this time he preached the good news that the Kingdom of God (and its King) had come. In this time he called people to follow Him. Here he was also despised, rejected, beaten and hung on a cursed tree – for us! We are the reason he gave his perfect life, a righteous life that now envelops us, if we are in Him. Hope you enjoy the song and take the time to be thankful, for the “time in between”.

https://youtu.be/yg0pDZfWBn0

Time In Between by Francesca Battistelli
You were there when your Father said “Let there be light”
You obeyed when He whispered “Son, You have to leave tonight”
To spend nine months in a mothers womb
Three days in a borrowed tomb

But it’s the time in between
That brings me to my knees
Knowing you came for me
And all that I can’t be
I’m amazed, so amazed
And I thank You for the time in between

Don’t take much for this crazy world to rob me of my peace
And the enemy of my soul says You’re holding out on me
So I stand here lifting empty hands
For you to fill me up again

But it’s the time in between
That I fall down to my knees
Waiting on what You’ll bring
And the things that I can’t see
I know my song’s incomplete
Still I’ll sing in the time in between

So many ways
Your love has saved the day
And I’m grateful for them all

But it’s the time in between
The middle of two thieves
That says everything. It’s the reason I believe
I’m amazed, so amazed
And I thank you for the time in between
Oh Lord, I thank you for the time in between

Appears on Album: My Paper Heart

19/03/2013 by sevennotesofgrace

“Christ has Risen . . . indeed”

There aren’t many songs with the word “indeed” in the title, but indeed, this one is worth it. It would be great for your Easter Sunday celebrations! Keith and Kristyn Getty have managed to capture the awesome significance of the resurrection of Jesus. He’s alive! We have this hope in Christ because He is alive. Praise God! (If you click the song title below you can watch a clip of the song. Here is a link to sheet music). Blessings!

Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed

How can it be, the One who died,
Has borne our sin through sacrifice
To conquer every sting of death?
Sing, sing hallelujah.

For joy awakes as dawning light
When Christ’s disciples lift their eyes.
Alive He stands, their Friend and King;
Christ, Christ He is risen.

CHORUS
Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!
Oh, sing hallelujah.
Join the chorus, sing with the redeemed;
Christ is risen, He is risen indeed.

Where doubt and darkness once had been,
They saw Him and their hearts believed.
But blessed are those who have not seen,
Yet, sing hallelujah.

Once bound by fear now bold in faith,
They preached the truth and power of grace.
And pouring out their lives they gained
Life, life everlasting.

CHORUS

The power that raised Him from the grave
Now works in us to powerfully save.
He frees our hearts to live His grace;
Go tell of His goodness.

CHORUS
He’s alive, He’s alive!
Heaven’s gates are opened wide.
He’s alive, He’s alive!
Now in heaven glorified.

14/03/2013 by sevennotesofgrace

Grace has “Overflowed” in song

I’ve recently discovered an Aus

tralian songwriter, Trevor Hodge, who is churning out heaps of inspiring tunes that are both filled with the Gospel of grace and easy to sing together – what a great combination! This song is but one of many. It has a lively tune with a challenging reminder, that the “riches of Your grace have raised us up to live in Him always – and bring You praise”. This is what we were made for. Not for us, but for the glory of God.
You can listen here, and then follow the links to Trevor’s own website where the lead sheets are free to download. Thanks Trevor! You can also read about two of his songs we have taught at Cafe Church this year: ‘See the Man‘ and ‘No Other Name‘. These are in my post about New Songs for 2013.

OVER FLOWED

We will exalt Your name, O God
We will rejoice in what Youʼve done
That one so high should come so low
Resolved to die so all can know

In Christ, Your love has overflowed
The debts we owed have been all wiped away
And now, the riches of Your grace
Have raised us up to live in Him always
And bring You praise

Weʼve been created in Your Son
To do good works You have prepared
To serve the poor, the captives – free
To be Your light, that all may see

The Church of Christ to love as one
Display Your Kingdom, now begun
To serve the poor, the captives – free
To be Your light, that all may see

from No Other Name, released 29 August 2011

04/03/2013 by sevennotesofgrace

Holding on to what we already have in Christ – Philippians 3:16

Today we have arrived at Philippians 3:16 in the Three Sixteens series. Let’s start by looking at the verse in a few different versions:
But we must hold on to the progress we have already made. NLT
Only let us live up to what we have already attained. NIV
In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. Holman

At first glance it seems this 3:16 has little content to grab hold of and provides little encouragement. But if you think on it a while, possibly the reverse is true! There is huge encouragement here, as Paul points us to what we already have in Christ, urges us to keep hold of it – and live up to it!
So what have we already attained?
In verses 8-11 we find out what Paul is referring to as he urges us to “hold on” and “live up to” the privileges we have IN Christ:
“. . . I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ¹⁰I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

Knowing Christ surpasses all else. If we are in Christ we are secure, we are united with Him in his sufferings, death and resurrection. We are not self-righteous, but we have the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith! We are right with God, we are holy and acceptable to Him because we are IN Christ. A great analogy for this is being clothed in Christ’s “robes of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10, Revelation). We are wrapped up in Christ’s perfection, our sins are completely covered. When God the Father looks at us He sees the righteousness of Christ his perfect Son.

What great progress we have made – if we are found IN Christ. Let’s live up to it! We don’t have to attain or achieve anything. This is pure grace! I love what the Holman translators have done with the verse: we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. We should live up to the truth that we have the righteousness that comes from God – so let’s live in a manner worthy of what we have attained. Let’s be “killing sin” as John Piper puts it, by the sword of the Spirit (God’s Word).

Blessings to you as you seek to live up to Christ’s righteousness today. How will you go about that?

“Come as you are and He will cleanse you. You are guilty; your pardon is of God” –Charles H. Spurgeon

Two great Keller quotes

“Christ will do everything for you, or nothing. You cannot combine merit and grace.”

“Human beings will only be drawn out of themselves into unselfish acts of service to others when they see God as supremely beautiful.”

Tim Keller

26/02/2013 by sevennotesofgrace

On being persistent, creative and sacrificial to bring people to Christ

In preparing to take a new friend through Christianity Explained I have been reading through the book of Mark in my old faithful NIV study bible. Scribbled in the margins around Mark 2 I found a wealth of challenging comments which were exactly what I needed to hear. Mark 2 is the story of the persistent men who brought the “man on the mat” to Jesus. Jesus’ concern and his actions showed all those gathered that He was the Son of God. I’ll list some of my notes here in point form for you to contemplate:

1. The greatest miracle Jesus performs is that of forgiving our sin – has He ever said to you “your sins are forgiven”?
2. This miracle authenticated Jesus’ power to forgive sin. Neither forgiving sins nor healing was an easy task – but they were ‘God tasks’ – things only God could do. Jesus was clearly the Son of God.
3. The men who carried the paralytic in were persistent, they had faith. Their love for their friend was clear – God is pleased to work where there is love.
4. The teachers of the law showed indifference to the man’s needs and criticised Jesus for healing.
5. Jesus met the man’s greatest need first – his need for forgiveness. This was most costly to Jesus – it revealed his power, his authority, and it was by revealing these that the road to the Cross was paved. It brought out the wrath of the Pharisees who charged him with blaspheming, claiming to be God.
6. We must find ways, at any cost, of bringing people face to face with Jesus. (Do we love those around us this much? Do we love them as much as the men loved the man on the mat?)
7. If we believe in Jesus then we will be persistent, creative and sacrificial in bringing others to Christ.

Please pray for me as I bring another sinner who needs forgiveness face to face with Jesus.

You may also like:

The Blessings of Explaining your Faith Sharing the rich, indwelling Word of God

19/02/2013 by sevennotesofgrace

The Hurt and the Healer

I have been listening to this song over and over in the car today. Every time I listen it reminds me of something more of God’s grace. On the Cross Christ suffered. He was hurt for our healing. When we realise we are sinners, we are hurt, but this realisation makes for our healing. In our lives we may experience loss or disappointment when things we plan or expect don’t happen. Such pain makes us doubt the very love of God, and doubt His best plans for us. The “Why? question” is never too far away.
But in all this hurt the Healer meets us. God’s glory meets our suffering. The Hurt and the Healer collide. I trust you will also be encouraged by the truths of God’s powerful grace in what may be my new favourite song (for the week). Check out the lyrics below or watch the clip at the end.

THE HURT AND THE HEALER (Mercy Me)
Why?
The question that is never far away
But healing doesn’t come from the explained
Jesus please don’t let this go in vain
You’re all I have, All that remains
So here I am what’s left of me
Where glory meets my suffering

I’m alive, Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I fall into Your arms open wide
When the hurt and the Healer collide

Breathe
Sometimes I feel it’s all that I can do
Pain so deep that I can hardly move
Just keep my eyes completely fixed on You
Lord take hold and pull me through
So here I am What’s left of me
Where glory meets my suffering

It’s the moment when humanity is overcome by majesty
When grace is ushered in for good and all our scars are understood
When Mercy takes its rightful place and all these questions fade away
When out of weakness we must bow and hear You say “It’s over now”

Jesus come and break my fear
Wake my heart and take my tears
Find Your glory even here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxqfDs-64I0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

(Click here to listen to another one of their songs which I have written about You are I AM)