Failure: Where do we go from here?

Yesterday at Vintage we continued the journey through “LIFE” our study on Matthew 5-7. Our topic was not an easy feel good message. We talked directly about sin, focusing on three specific areas: sexual lust, marriage and lying. (Matthew 5:27-37) In these situations Jesus’ focus is on the internal.

Rob's sermon: Our Vintage Podcast

As I listened and personally reflected, Psalm 38, the Psalm for the day in my one year Bible reading plan, came to my mind. In Psalm 38 David is experiencing trouble as a result from his own sin. God helped me to see a picture of repentance in this text. When failure happens in one of the three areas of Matthew 5:27-37, God desires for each of us to respond in a certain way. Repentance is a Biblical word we might not truly understand, especially in relation to what it looks like practically lived out in our daily life.

So, note the progression of repentance from Psalm 38

The Anguish
v.1-8 David describes his anguish and acknowledges that he deserved it because of his sin. Repentance begins at this point of humility. First we tell God that we messed up and did what we wanted, not what He wanted.

The Loneliness
v.9-14 David describes his loneliness because his friends have deserted him. As king, David felt vulnerable to his enemies in this trouble. In our repentance we must also reach this point where we realize that nothing around us (spouse, family, friends, counseling, therapy or a monthly meeting) can ultimately fix our situation. The reason is because when we’ve tried everything else like David we must come to realize that we have a issue in the heart that is only for God. He alone is our Hope.

The Desperation
v.15-22 David declares his desperation on God alone for salvation. Repentance happens at this exact point when we confess and apologize for the sin that we have committed against God. (v.18) Amazingly we have a God that hears our cries for help no matter who we are or what we’ve done. His salvation has no limits. His response to our sin is salvation only through Jesus’ death burial and resurrection. Through surrendering our life to Christ we are forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God. Once this happens we can begin to deal with the effects of the sin and those around us who have been affected. Then forgiveness and restoration are lived out towards others.

Other Psalms of Repentance: 6, 32, 51, 130, 143

Live the Gospel, Love the City, BE the Church!

Vintage Haiti Response

On January 12 the country of Haiti was hit with a 7.0 massive earthquake. The country, which is the poorest in the Americas, has been totally devastated.

For full details, a New York Times article: A synopsis of what happened.

What should our response be? How should we, as a church, come together to help bring aid? As you’ve read or heard, this is a massive tragedy, and we, the church, must have a response.

In the days ahead it will become more clear how we should be involved, but, in the meantime, we’re coordinating our response in the following ways:

Gather: (PRAY)

As Community Groups:
Over the coming days and weeks we’ll continue to encourage your community groups to be praying specifically for this crisis - Pastor Rob & Drew will continue to remind all of our Community Groups to be praying.

As families:
Pray over dinner, at bedtime prayer with your kids, with your spouse…

As individuals:
Pray in your devotional time and throughout the day.

Give: (Financially)
It is beyond belief how much has been destroyed and how many lives were lost. There are organizations already established to best utilize financial donations for maximum impact in disaster relief scenarios. So we at Vintage Church are encouraging you to give to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund of the International Mission Board or the Samaritan’s Purse. All money given will be directed to the people and recovery of Haiti. We will take offerings over the next four Sundays, so if you feel compelled to give please designate a check and we will send it all to these organizations.

Go: (Travel to Haiti)
We want to make sure that we are a help and not a hindrance in the relief efforts. Vintage Church would encourage anyone who has a desire to go and help to wait and consider what the needs are.

It’s our understanding that as of now they’re requesting specific medical and specialized relief workers connected to relief organizations to respond. If you fit into that category and are working to get to Haiti, we would love to discover ways in which we could help. Please let us know.

What will the needs be?
In time, we may discover that it would be very helpful for our church to coordinate sending a team of folks to dig in and help. It is too early to be able to tell what the long-term needs of Haiti will be. As a church we will continue to listen, evaluate, pray and ask for Jesus to reveal how we should move.

“⁹The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
¹⁰And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
--Psalm 9:9-10

The Vintage Staff

This is AlanseShe's an orphan that my parents support through One Vision International

She is just one of the Haitian faces that have been on my mind over the last few days.

Live the Gospel, Love the City, Be the Church!

The Christmas Message: God is here!

I'm writing from Knox-Vegas. Enjoying a week with family and relaxing alittle bit. Before I sign off for a couple days I wanted to share a devotional thought I received from one of my Lutheran friends.

The roulette wheel whirls in a red and black blur. The ball clatters and jumps, finally settling into one of the slots. In that moment, just before you can read the winning number, time freezes. That is particularly true for the person who has piled all his chips on the table, investing his whole bankroll on a single spin. Ecstasy or despair? It all rides on something beyond his control, the bounce of a ball.

Most of us do not hang out in casinos wagering the milk money on games of chance, but we may do something similar with our emotional health during this Christmas week. Heart-warming television specials, a rose-tinged memory of holidays past, and a deep desire to turn the page on whatever disappointments and stresses linger at year’s end tempt to us to invest too much emotional capital in the next few days. Don’t get me wrong. I am looking forward to time with family, the quiet mystery of Christmas Eve worship, and the chance to disengage from familiar routines. But expecting Christmas to satisfy all our longings is like hoping two days at the gym can undo a whole year of overeating and riding the couch.

If we expect Christmas to “fix” all our broken relationships or give us joy when we have not cultivated the ability to find it in our daily existence, we will inevitably be disappointed. Tempers flare when the family gathers. Deep griefs intrude as we think of empty places at the table. Life can not measure up to a Hallmark card’s fantasy world.

So, rather than expecting Christmas to supply a year’s worth of hope, let it be what it was that first night in Bethlehem , a visible sign that, even in the midst of the darkness, there is light. Christ did not come fully formed into the world. The mystery had to mature; it was years before its implications were manifest. Christmas is not an oak, strong enough to bear the full weight of our human need; it is the acorn of hope planted in our lives to grow slowly, but dependably, each day of the coming year. Let Christmas teach you a new way of seeing the world, as a place where heaven touches even the most ordinary act, fills it with radiance, and calls you to celebrate God’s drawing near.

This week, by all means, remember, but do it also during the other fifty one: “How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given! So God impart to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.”

The Christmas Story: Luke 2:1-20

Merry Christmas

For....Toward....To

God really had my mind of the nations today.

Jerry Rankin, retiring President of the International Mission Board, brought a powerful message in NOBTS Chapel.

I also spent the day reflecting on Psalm 96.

And finally I received a video from "The Walk," a college ministry of Sevier Heights Baptist Church in Knoxville, TN. Last week during the gathering Tim Miller challenge 100's of college students to give to a orphanage in Haiti....The actual shoes on their own feet.

Video Link

*They won't allow it to be embedded here :-( , so you'll have to click the link.

Testimonies on the Blog.

All of these made me want to post a simple blog. I pray that we all actively pursue new & creative ways to:

• Pray for the Nations
• Give towards the Nations
• Go to the Nations

Psalm 96 must drive our hearts to engage our neighborhoods, cities, states, country and world for Christ.

¹⁶Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.
¹⁷Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

--Psalm 67:16-17

That'd be 'the day'

October 31, 1517 Wittenberg, Germany... that was the day.

The day change began.

The day the Reformation began.

The day God got All the Glory.

Martin Luther gathered a hammer, nails & his 95 Theses.

His desire was to refocus the church on salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone

Read: Martin Luther's 95 Theses

His study of God's Word inspired him to adhere to God's Word. He knew the Truth and courageously stood for the Truth no matter the cost. He suffered many hardships because of this and was continuously questioned. His life is a great example.

Video Clip of His Defense (From 'Luther' the movie)

*'Luther' the movie is a great reenactment and retelling of his life.

I pray that we are encouraged and inspired to know God and His Word like Martin Luther.

May God work today in and through our lives for His Glory.

Timeout...

Well, it’s been awhile. Honestly I’m so slammed each week with ministry, school and my relationship with my beautiful fiancé that I don’t have time to blog. Life is in the fast lane. But what am I telling you, so is yours. Life is good.... and IT’S BUSY!

Have you noticed that the busier we get the less time we spend with our Lord Jesus? Yes, even a seminary student & church leader can get so busy that he or she can actually go a whole week without growing personally. The Christian life is all about learning and becoming more like Him. But sometimes my Bible serves as a paper weight instead of the manual for daily life that God intends.

Sarah and I have both noticed this in our life this semester. So we’ve done some talking about what we’re going to do about it. (Yep, she’s a precious gift from God and I'm grateful to be so blessed.)

What about you? Can I ask you what your plan is for being intentional to study and grow in your relationship with God? This day, week or month?

I wanted to share with you some things I am pursuing.
First, Sarah and I decided to take a date night that I worked to plan for us next weekend (Nov. 6-7th). We will be spending about 35 hours in B-Ham with our UT friends the Sams. Friday evening Sarah will experience her 1st Secret Church at Brook Hills. If you’ve ever been to a Secret Church you know just how intense this evening will be. If you’ve never been you should check out the website and plan to attend the one in May.

November Teaser:


Link: http://www.brookhills.org/secretchurch/schedule.html

That gets my adeline pumping every time.

**Note: tickets sell out in minutes for this thing, I only got two by luck because my friend works for the church.

What is Secret Church? Well David Platt basically provides seminary level teaching for free in 6 hours chunks twice a year. People of all ages fill the room to learn all they can in that 6 hour time. It’s like trying to drink from a fire hose.

Why do stuff like this? Well I truly believe that every Christian should be diving deep into God’s Word. This means some intense study where we really absorb this Bible, yes all 66 books.

When Matt? I don’t have anytime, I’m so busy.
Well here’s what God told me about Sarah and myself. “Matt, you all spend 4 hours on Saturday watching the mighty Vols and 3 hours on Sunday watching the 2010 Super Bowl Champs Saints :=)” Some of you all reading this watch 1-2 hours of TV a day, surf Facebook or Tweet. We all have our hobbies. That’s not bad, unless they take us away from Jesus. So fast for a while and focus more fully on Him.


So, here’s my challenge.

1. Check out the Secret Church Website
2. Pick one that covers a topic which you're interested in, watch it and learn.

How? Every Secret Church is about 6 hours so if you do the math that’s 12 “Office” episodes. Divide it up in chunks and it becomes real easy. 30 minutes here, 1 hour there.

Try this challenge and see if your soul doesn’t hunger for more.

A Final Word
Technology like the internet is amazing. There’s never been an easier time to become a fully devoted followers of Jesus. I hope that your local church in which you are serving is teaching and growing you. If not, well pray about how you should change either that church or move to one that is. Also, why not use the numerous resources on the Internet to your benefit?

Below are several men I listen to & learn from who offer all of their Biblical wisdom for FREE!

Mars Hill Church, Seattle, Mark Driscoll
The Village Church, Dallas, Matt Chandler

The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Daivd Platt

Desiring God, Minneapolis, John Piper
Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York, Tim Keller

Check it out and dive into the feast. From personal experience it’s delicious!

That's our Jesus

Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Seattle, spent a couple of weeks of August in Israel in preparation for a 3 year journey through Luke's Gospel.

After I saw this clip I wanted to post it here for people to see.

This is the conclusion of his 1st sermon from Luke. He is talking about the one thing that impacted him the most on his trip, which is a new insight that he learned about one verse in Luke.

Clip

Link: http://blog.marshillchurch.org/2009/09/23/filthy-roman-sponge/

Luke 23:34-36

³⁴And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. ³⁵And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" ³⁶The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine.

What a humbling verse.

What a sobering thought, that Jesus would forgive me.

Thank you God.