Cool or Not

Great post from the guys at Lifechurch.tv

Here it is:

The American Church is not lacking for “cool” pastors. Like a single guy who is trying just-a-bit-too-hard to impress a girl, some churches are simply trying too hard to be cool.
I’m very encouraged to see a shifting in direction. For years, many of us seemed focused on:

Designing relevant church experiences.
Producing entertaining videos.
Creating inviting environments.
Crafting sermon series to draw a crowd.
Writing sermons with shock value and plenty of humor or stories.

While all of the above can be effective tools, many of my friends are intentionally moving in a stronger direction. So many great Christian leaders are seeing far better results with:

Bathing a sermon in prayer.
Fasting regularly.
Practicing personal confession and repentance.
Preaching from the overflow of time alone in God’s word.
Caring deeply for others in biblical community.

I’m thrilled so many leaders are placing less emphasis on being cool and more emphasis on being like Christ.

learning again

I remember a preacher once said that the journey of Israel out of Egypt to the promise land was suppose to last 40 days but ended up being a 40 years experience. As the preacher put it when they did not learn the lesson God said "take another lap". I have since understood what was happening. Israel needed 40 years to undo what they had become in 400 years. God used those years to help Israel rid itself of the Egyptian influence.

Was God with them in the wilderness? Just study the Tabernacle and it is very clear He was. In the study of the Tabernacle we see God helping His people understand there past, present and future. Just as there are 3 areas in the Tabernacle we must also see what God wants to understand about our past, present and future.

The Outer Court- every person starts on the outside. We are sinners by nature. We are lost without hope. We need help to get right with God. The Cross of Jesus is our way in the door. We need forgiveness of sin. Our past must be washed in the Blood of Jesus. Our sins must be washed away. We need a new beginning. In Christ we are new creatures, the old is past away and everything becomes new.

The Holy Place- In the present we are living daily by the help of God through His Holy Spirit. We are righteous because of what Christ has done for us. In the Holy place we have bread, light and access to God. The bread is His word. The Light is His will and the incense is our walk with the Lord.

The Holy of Hollies- One day we will be in the completed presence of God. Right now we only know in part but one day we will fully know. The future is bright for those who have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

So what is God up to? God is calling all believers to work out there salvation with fear and trembling. Our God is sanctifying us and preparing us to present us as church without spot, wrinkle or blemish.

more later.

Mother's Day

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to mothers everywhere. Mothers deserve every bit of our respect, honor and love. It has been over 1 year since my mother went to be with the Lord. I miss her. My mother was so kind and generous. My mother was the greatest example of unconditional love that I have ever known. I was very blessed to have had such a great mother. I will see her again one day in heaven and for that I am so thankful.

When the Spirit Came

Today I preached about the day of Pentecost. The day of Pentecost was such an important day in the life of those 120 believers.

Three things to keep in mind:

1. The power of the Holy Spirit came to empower every Christian for victorious living
2. The power of the Holy Spirit is the key to evangelism. Personal and global evangelization.
3. The power of the Holy Spirit is for spiritual equipping

The Bible said that the Spirit came like fire. Here are few words to remind us of fire.


F Foundational/First Fruits/Fresh wind, fire, water
I Intercession/Interrupted/Infusion
R Repenting/Relying/Reverencing
E Enabling/Engaging/Equipping

The Upper Room before Pentecost

Jesus was on the earth 40 days after His resurrection. Before His Ascension He told them to go to the upper room and wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit. From the time of His ascension to the the day of Pentecost would be 10 days. In those ten days we find the training that Jesus had given them kicking into high gear. Hear are 3 fundamentals of every maturing believer.

1.They showed there dependence on Prayer

"They all joined together constantly in prayer" Acts 1:14

2.They showed there devotion to scripture

"The Scripture had to be fulfilled" Acts 1:15

3. They showed there determination for Gods Will

"Show us which of these two you have chosen" Acts 1:24

Post Resurrection

What happened after Jesus rose from the dead? I want to key in on three things

1. He Appeared to the the women, the disciples and to 500 wittiness at one time. He did this in order to confirm his resurrection to his followers. He appeared to confirm His prophetic word about His resurrection. He appeared in order to give further teachings and instructions to His church. He tied up a lot of loose ends that where out there in the minds of His disciples.
(Jn. 20:30

2. He Announced that in not many days they would receive power when the Holy Spirit would come into them (Acts 1:8). Power to be witnesses. Power to be bold for God. Power to live victorious in a hostile world.

3. He Ascended to His place of Glory and Power. The pre-existent Christ would return to His place of God on His throne. His earthly ministry was complete and now the Holy Spirit would come into the hearts of every believer.

Jesus Was on the earth for 40 days after His Resurrection

40 is an important number that denotes testing or a period of examination. 40 days or years in the wilderness.

50 day after Easter Sunday came Pentecost

50 is the number of Jubilee, denoting restoration and newness of life. The captives are set free. The most significant symbol in this regard is the Jewish Feast of Pentecost which becomes the very day the church was born in 30AD.

40 = Testing
Part of The Process
50 = Jubilee
Everyday freedom to live for Christ

The Tomb

The resurrection changed everything. When the disciples went to the tomb they found it empty. This Biblical recorded event, while not expected by most, was declared by Jesus before it happen.

What are the things that make the resurrection real in my life.

1. Just like salvation it is a faith issue. Without faith it is impossible to please God(Heb 11)
2. The Bible is truth. Everything the Bible records is reliable.
3. I don't believe that the early Christians (especially the Apostles) would give up there lives for a lie. They saw the resurrected Savior alive after seeing Him crucified, die and buried.
4. Christianity continues to grow even 2000 + years after the resurrection.
5. People testify to the the life changing power of the risen Lord.
6. The Presence of the risen Lord can be felt.
7. He personal has changed my life through putting my trust in Him.