Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges - An overview

Chapter 1 - The Performance Treadmill

Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? - Galatians 3:3

He used the analogy of bankruptcy to talk about our position before God: permanent bankruptcy and temporary bankruptcy. First of all, every person in the world is spiritually bankrupt. Because of sin, they have a debt before God and it is a debt they cannot pay. In the business world there are two types of bankruptcy, Chapter 7 and Chapter 11. Chapter 11 is temporary because given time, the company can work through its financial problems. Chapter 7 speaks of a business that has lost everything. Its all over and everyone loses. The Gospel speaks of permanent bankruptcy and most Christ following Christians say they embrace this permanent bankruptcy and yet they often live like with the idea they can earn God's blessings in their lives. We act like we can sort of pay back our debt. The one difference though is with Christ, unlike the business world, there is no possibility of going into debt again and Christ covers all future sins.

The problem is we are engulfed in the false security that "rights" correct "wrongs." But these wrongs are not a temporary or momentary issue in our lives, but our condition. In our world of self-improvement, betterment, progression, we believe the idea we can improve ourselves.

Improving oneself is a good thing. We want to be a better person, but for the purpose of obedience to God, thanking Him for the eternal life he has given us, and realizing that following His plans make us content with life. It is interesting, though, how we daily get reminded of this notion of "you give, you get" and how innately we want hard work to be rewarded. At my job, when someone works hard, does their best and then gets promoted, we cheer. We cheer over merits receiving a reward or acceptance. and we don't cheer when just because of a relationship, someone gets promoted. 

Grace means that Jesus has completely paid our fine through his death. God provided grace. This grace makes us righteous before God. Grace is His Son dying for us. Jesus didn't offer grace, though, he was the result of God's grace.

3 Distinct phases of the Christian experience.

1. Justification - being declared righteous before God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a point in time event.
2. Sanctification - our growth in Christlikeness.
3. Glorification - is the time we depart from this life to be with Christ

Each phase of the experience is covered by grace.

Grace is God's free and unmerited favor shown to guilty sinners who deserve only judgment.

Romans 11:6 shows how grace and works are mutually exclusive. "And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; it it were, grace would no longer be grace."

Great story of Mephibosheth, the son of David's friend Jonathan. Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet at age five. Through his kindness, David allowed to sit at his table and be like one of his sons. He was kind to Mephibosheth, but he offered this because of Jonathan.

Chapter 2 - Grace - Who Needs It?

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. - Romans 3:22-24

Through an analogy (I decided not to reflect here), this chapter reiterates the message of Chapter 1--grace is completely free from any of our works. It then talks about the misconception that grace covers what we can't (cover). Meaning, our good works get us some of the way, but grace gets us the rest. Using another analogy, it is not like the Grand Canyon and thinking that someone could leap across the canyon (all nine miles or 47,520 feet). But any of our leaps of any size are worthless. Whether we can jump 5 feet or 30 feet Jesus bridge over our sin reaches the entire distance, not just stopping short of our leap.

Its interesting because he brings up the point, that I say, when we are sharing our faith, that a person is never on a quest to live a good life and then they will get to heaven, but rather each person, upon asking them the question thinks that at that moment they have merited heaven by being a good person. It is not that they think they are trying to get to heaven, but that they are already there. 

The book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, begins with the assumption that people are basically good. But Paul said in Romans 3:10-12 that we are all bad.

"--going our own way. Your way may be to give money to charity, while another person's way may be to rob a bank. But neither act is done with reference to God; both of you have gone your own way."

"Rather we are all born sinners with a corrupt nature, a natural inclination to go our own way."

Psalm 51:5 - Surely I (David) was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me."

It is amazing to hear how most people barely think they are a sinner. The Bible references sin as wickedness and rebellion. The Bible "charges another man of God with defying the Word of the Lord, when all he did was eat and drink in a place forbidden to him by God (I Kings 13:21). God takes a far more serious view of sin than man."

We need a grace that completely cancels our debt. "Grace considers all men and women as totally undeserving and unable to do anything to earn the blessing of God."

Based on the words of C. Samuel Storms quoted, Bridges concludes that if we even feel for a moment that we deserve an answer to prayer or a blessing because of my hard work or sacrifice, then I am living by works, not by grace. Ouch. It could be the other way around as well, thinking we don't get something when we haven't done what we know in our heart we should have done.

"If you are trusting to any degree in your own morality or religious attainments, or if you believe God will somehow recognize any of your good works as merit toward salvation, you need to seriously consider if you are truly a Christian." 

In answer to the title of the chapter, Grace, who needs it? All of us. Equally.

Chapter 3 - Grace - It Really Is Amazing

But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 3:20-21

This chapter pits man against grace. It focuses on the idea that man is incapable of saving himself, not because his deeds are inadequate, but rather because, quite simply, he is a sinner.

Righteousness is completely apart from the Law. We must stop thinking that deeds or good works make us right before God. If this were so, then righteousness would be self-attaining. Instead, righteousness comes from God. God sent His Son to be our righteousness and then impute it to us.

Sin results in death. Sin's result or wage is charged to His Son. Through our faith, Christ's righteousness is then credited to us.

Romans 3:25 - "God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood." A sacrifice of atonement means Jesus by His death turned aside the wrath of God from us by taking it upon Himself. I deserved condemnation. I deserved pain. I deserved separation from God. 

Ephesians 2:1-3 describes the plight of the unbeliever: "dead in our sins, under the sway of Satan, captivated by the world, prisoners of our own sinful lusts, and objects of God's holy wrath." The plight is a condition. It does not represent deeds per se that could be contrasted with good deeds. Hopeless. Only answer: grace.

Titus 3:3-5 also shows the clear contrast between our lost condition and how this is solved by grace. We were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 


Psalm 103:13, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Our sin is removed an infinities distance. Psalm 103:10, "He (God) does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities." The grace of Jesus Christ removes the sin.


Isaiah 38:17, "You have put all my sins behind your back." Out of sight. 


Micah 7:19, "You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl our iniquities into the depths of the sea." Lost forever.


Isaiah 43:25, "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remember your sins no more." Removes the record from the file. Blotting out is a legal act. Remembering no more is a relational act.


Grace doesn't just cover our past, but our daily life as well. And because God has dealt this way to us, we can forgive others as well.

Chapter 4 - The Generous Landowner

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? - Romans 8:32

The bookends of this chapter is a good discussion on God's generosity toward us. In the world we live, we have the idea that we are rewarded in proportion to our work, but God makes it clear--grace is a gift.

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son..."

The bulk of the chapter is about the parable many know as the Parable of the Workers or Laborers in the vineyard, Bridges focuses on the Landowner. 

The parable is about the landowner hiring workers. At the beginning of the day, workers are hired and told they will earn a denarius for their work. As the day goes on, he hires workers at the third, sixth, ninth, and eleventh hours, each time stating he will pay them whatever is right. At the end of the day, each worker is paid one denarius. 

Some may be upset with the outcome of this parable because it doesn't seem right, but once again, that is looking at life through man's eyes and how man defines worth. The landowner (God) makes payment not based upon hours of labor, but based upon His generosity. "He chose to pay them according to their need, not according to their work. He paid according to grace, not debt."

Earlier when Peter heard the message about the rich young man who was to sell  his possessions and give to the poor, Peter thought his sacrifice should merit great results. But, Jesus responds to Peter by stating that his reward would be one thousand percent more than his offering. In essence, God's generosity goes beyond what we can comprehend.

Bridges then tells us how, since the beginning, God has been all about grace and generosity. In the garden, he provided trees with fruit, not just a one tree. When man needed a helper, God gave him a gift--woman. And even after they sinned, while consequences occurred, God was still gracious in providing them clothes.

He also talks about God's goodness and gives examples from Jeremiah 32:38-41 and God showering His goodness on people who had been sinners (Jer 32:30) and from Joe's prophecy of locusts in Joel 2:25 where God tells the people they will be repaid, not simply restored, for the years the locusts have eaten.

He speaks of Peter and all the problems he had with his obedience and yet, all the blessings and high positions God continued to show Peter. "It looks not to our sins or even to our good deeds but only to the merit of Christ."

The problem is most of us don't live the full life Jesus promised us (John 10:10) because we don't really believe in Jesus' words, completely. Do we believe that Jesus loves to answer prayer or do we think He is a reluctant giver? In Philippians 4:19, God promises to meet everyone of our needs. Really?

Atheism speaks of evolution which speaks of survival of the fittest. The concept of grace stands in direct opposition to survival of the fittest. RC Sproul stated, "Grace is for other people - for beggars." Grace is a sign of weakness, not strength. This is why the theology of man getting to heaven on his own boot straps, on his own merit is such a popular one as it is basically survival of the fittest. Grace, on the other hand, states that man isn't strong and man can't do anything to save himself. And so the 11th hour worker (homeless guy) in the parable of the landowner (or laborers) receives the same wage as the beginning of day worker (Billy Graham) and to us, we don't like that.

Thank goodness for God's generosity.

Chapter 5 - Does God Have a Right? 

‘These last (men) worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.” (Matthew 20:12-16, ESV)

How is it God rewards people at the 11th hour in the same way as he rewards those at the 1st hour? Everything in our being makes this out to not be fair. In life we want merit or good work to be rewarded. One big problem with this thinking though is people reward differently. Two teachers grading an essay will probably grade it differently. And since we are a culture that is merit based, Satan has done a thorough job setting up a myriad of faiths that each basically grades people differently. The LDS states they are the true church and have many ordinances set up to follow. The JW's state they are the true ones and have their good deeds, somehow in concert with grace. Islam, again, like LDS and JW's state they believe the scripture, as long as it is translated correctly. This means they are the only ones to translate it correctly. And Catholicism is the same way, focusing on works or deeds and doing certain things. The result is 4 main beliefs accounting for million adherents, each focused on ultimately the same thing, grading merits in their own way, each stating they are right, everyone else is wrong.

Luke 7. Centurion healed.  People bring Jesus the Centurion. “And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying,“He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” (Luke 7:4-5, ESV)” Elders pleaded to Jesus. “Jesus, heal this guy. He’s done so much for you.” Our problem thinking: We must work hard to get God’s blessings.

Centurion’s response. “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. (Luke 7:6, ESV)” Centurion got it right. Jesus isn’t focused on rewarding us based upon our faithfulness. He rewards based upon His generosity.

Love that. Opposite of what trains us daily. What trains is Do, Do, Do, then you will Receive, Receive, Receive. Centurion got it right. The problem is our condition. We are sinners. Focus on Him redeeming us and His generosity. The world focuses instead on how we are to be faithful. 

Bridges uses a great example about obeying the traffic laws our entire life. What do we get at the end of life for our obedience to laws when driving on the road? Nothing. We have simply lived the way the laws intended. Same way with God's word. It isn't there with a reward dangling at the end. We live that way because that's the Law set up by God. 

"I have merely done my duty." God isn't obligated to give me something for my obedience. 

Bridges continues to give example after example from God's word. It's refreshing to see how God's word confirms the message of grace over and over, backwards and forwards. 

Romans 11:35 - "Who has ever given to God that God should repay him?"

As people, we think the government owes us, our jobs owe us, society owes us, our parents owe us. We are focused on entitlement. James 1:17 states, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who not change like shifting shadows." Don't live with the idea that God owes you something. 

This reminds me of the Steve Taylor song, "You don't owe me nothing." Catchy tune that speaks of people doing things for God then expecting a blessing. 

I know you'll give me what I need
They say I need a shopping mall
I claim the victory over greed
Lord Jesus, I surrender all

And yet God wants us to have peace through difficult circumstances. And realize He is working out all things for our good. God's promises are "yes" in Christ. To meet our needs during difficult circumstances we depend on God for His work, not on our own good deeds.

Chapter 6 - Compelled by Love

Romans 6 is written because grace alone could be misunderstood. People can easily see "grace alone" as a license to sin. The response to grace and good works should always be about gratitude. Our lives are lived as a "response" to grace and not as a "condition" for grace. Problem - we often preach grace to the non-believer and duty to the believer,

The book of Romans is the foundational letter to believers (those called as saints) on salvation. The first 11 chapters is doctrine. Chapter 12 is the first mention of application. Verse 1 shows us that our offering is in view of mercy. And this offering is living and perpetual. Motive is as important as performance. If we ever think that we must be obedient otherwise we are not saved then we have misunderstood grace. Our motive can never be to prove ourselves worthy. Motives are not based upon having the right feelings for God. Motives are about the reason we do what we do. For example, with my wife, do I serve her with a pure motive or is my serving in hopes of receiving something in return?

Christ and His love for us compels us to do works for Him. It is gratitude based living. Freedom from the law is too often preached without first really teaching grace. And so people end up not doing because they think the Law does not constrain them. I think we often look at the roles in the church (pastor, elder, deacon) and think people earn this positions from faithful living. But we do these roles because God has called us to them.

We are also compelled by our reverence to God's greatness.

• He is worthy; 
• He is majestic; 
• He is infinitely perfect. 

While His blessings are numerous, our service is not due to what we have received but for who He is.
Run from merit based programs in your walk in Christ.

A free gift (Response to LDS follower)

I asked a Mormon whether Jesus' shed blood and resurrection completely saves us.  His response was, "It is a free gift. But as in all gifts, it has to be accepted. It cannot be forced on us. We accept the gift by obeying his commandments."

Here is my reply:

Thanks for your words and understanding where you are at. Isn't this a fascinating conversation we are having. To think, we are each seeking to know God with all of our being and yet, at a foundational level, there is not unity in understanding and belief. Interesting and scary at the same time. I mean, I only expect you to be attached to your beliefs because you believe them and yet I would hope you see the same in me.

I believe a gift is a gift with no strings attached. You stated "we accept the gift by obeying his commandments." When I give my child a gift, all they do is reach out their hand and grab it.

Acts 16:31 - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.

If I'm ticketed for going 55mph in a 20mph school zone. And thrown before the judge with a $20,000 fine I can't afford. If a man from the back of the court room comes forward and says, "I'll pay his fine." When I hold out my hand to take the money, my hand does not make or earn the money, nor improve the money, nor do I deserve the money. It's a gift. I receive it.

Have you ever seen someone receive a gift and they say, "I can't accept that." The value of the gift is so great that the individual receiving it feels unworthy to receive such a valuable gift. The giver usually states, "But, I want you to have it."

Faith is chosen by God to be the receiver of salvation. It does not pretend to help it.

Luke 7:50 - Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Obviously, using the court room example, a person who receives this sort of gift should want to do something for the giver. He should want to get to know him. To learn from him. To be with him. And if the giver asks him to do something, he would do it. But, if the receiver does nothing, is the gift taken back?

If I give my son Derek a present and afterwards my son consistently disobeys me, do I go back and say, “I’m taking my gift back. You don’t deserve it. You didn't fulfill your end of the contract." I don't think so. There is no deal. The love I have for my child is unconditional. Sure I desire him to be obedient. Sure, I want him to follow the rules because as he does it will make him a better person and his life will be more fulfilling, his paths will be straight as obedience has natural consequences of good outcomes. But if Derek doesn’t obey me, my love for him and acceptance of him does not change. I'm still his father. I still love him. Why would I think Heavenly Father is different?

Now, let me say something. Your belief is consistent with the way of the world. Think about it. Living in the world we have been trained with a way of thinking and being and doing that is consistent to "Believe + Do = Good results." Think about McDonald's ad campaign several years ago. "You deserve a break today." The thinking is that you have had a hard day or you have achieved a lot today and now, you deserve a break.

Take a child going to school. It's his first day in a class. The teacher says, "This class is simple. Do all the work. Do it well. You will get an "A."
"Work hard and you will graduate."

And then people get a job. If a person does a bad job, what happens? Do they get a raise? No. They get fired. They lose their job. Bad performance equals bad results. You get a paycheck because you agree to do what has been set out for you do. You work hard and follow the rules and you get a paycheck.

You said, "If we don't repent and obey his will, his atonement will not be save-able for us." So, the gift is no longer a gift. I don't agree. 

New Years Resolutions (2013)

1. Learn Gentleness - strength under control. Do I explode or not even care? Need to be in the middle of those and be gentle. Like breaking a horse.

2. For evangelism to be in my life more, throughout my day. I want to look for opportunities to be intentionally bold in all my relationships, not just when I log onto GMO or go to the mall, but in all walks of life.

3. Pray daily. I want to be more disciplined in my praying.

Defending our Faith - Session 3

Question on People leaving the church because of sins they see in leaders.

 -- Why is it when Tiger Woods has an affair people don't give up on Golf, but when a minister has an affair, people leave the church?

  -- Because people don't associate Golf with moral character. People expect religion to change a person and make them different.

Question of Tolerance. Every one is right, no one is wrong. Remember conversation with Joannah in office. All faiths right. I'm right. Everyone is right. No one is wrong. We preach inclusion.

 -- Christians are becoming a problem because they are viewed as not tolerant.

Think about the new Iphone or any new technology when it comes out. What is communicated? The perks or the reasons this product will change your life. Never do you hear the concerns or problems.

As a society we are only concerned about the goodness of life.

So, Why WOTM? Why not use something else?

Let's think about this:

How do people of another faith see our faith? -- Mormon vs. Christian, List areas.

How do people who believe in God (in some way) view religion or your faith?  -- Answer, list things generally about faith -- all protestant faiths.

How do people who have no faith or are atheists view religion? -- They clump together any religion into one.

Now, let's think about faith for a moment.  We can strip down all religious thought or really all belief systems into 2 options.

1. God saves you. (Christianity) -- Think of the illustration. Jesus saves us, throws down a rope or ladder, climbs down rope or ladder, reaches out his hand, grabs us and takes us up the rope/ladder.

2. Man saves himself (Muslim, Mormonism, Atheism) - God throws down the ladder, people climb up it.

The more I study the Gospel and Grace the more I understand that all faiths can be stripped down into these two categories.

Scripts: Write out scripts to use at a bus stop

Remind people that your neighbors know you go to church (example: neighbor stating I ride my bike)

As I read scripture and study it, there is just an amazement that I am a child of God. As you engage with people and begin to talk with them and begin to understand that how their worldview has been shaped into what they believe currently is so distant from where you are in your faith. How utterly amazing of our position in Christ. You see this enthusiasm as Eric gives the message. I hope you can see and hear his enthusiasm. As you study God's word you walk away with just an amazement that God did what he did and he did it for you, for me. Wow.

Hebrews 3:1 - Consider. Attentively ponder all that is said of the Messiah. Think of his rank; his dignity; his holiness; his sufferings; his death; his resurrection, ascension, intercession. Think of him, that you may see the claims to a holy life; that you may learn to bear trials; that you may be kept from apostasy. The character and work of the Son of God are worthy of the profound and prayer consideration of every man; and especially every Christian should reflect on him. Of the friend that we love we think much; but what have we like the Lord Jesus?

Authority is so important with Mormon’s. They will always try to make it sound like they have the only truth. They have the authority over you. When talking to them, resist the temptation to feel like you are trying to convert them.  It’s important to simply identify the differences.

They will say, “you are wrong, this is the right way.”

Focus on simply the idea that we disagree. God will decide who is right or wrong.

Always make it personal. Versus simply intellectual. 

Quotes: Passion is perhaps the most important of these characteristics; it’s the one attribute I find most lacking in the Church as I begin to travel around the country speaking on these issues. Most of us are not passionate about Christian Case Making. We fail to recognize the calling of 1 Peter 3:15-16 on our lives. We’re not excited about it. - J. Warner Wallace

Defending our Faith - Session 2

1st Lesson

Cultivating a Compassion for the Lost - 30 minutes

1. Let's get Psyched before we go out. I do this. Listen to tapes. Listen to WOTM episode. Pray together for boldness and God would lead us to the people he would have us to speak to.

2. Sometimes we think we need to build a friendship before we speak to someone. What I've discovered is the longer I'm friends with someone the longer it takes me to initiate a spiritual conversation.

3.  Pray before each lesson. Pay close attention. Do the homework.

Defending our Faith - Session 1

1st Class
I want to spend 15 minutes in each class at the end, praying. 3 Main ideas to this class and praying.

1. God Draws People. He saves.
2. I need to be Bold.
3. God is in Charge of Outcomes.


Why are we here? 
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
(1 Peter 3:15 ESV)


But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
(Acts 1:8 ESV)


And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
(Mark 16:15 ESV)

Many do not engage in their faith because of fear and yet fear is a good thing. The response of fear is faith.

How did we get here?
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
(Matthew 9:35-38 ESV)

What is our message?

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
(Mark 16:15 ESV)

Way of the Master

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
(Psalm 19:7 ESV)
Get personal. Focus on conscience (right and wrong), not their brain or intellect (argument).
Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
(Romans 3:19 ESV) 

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
(Romans 3:20 ESV)


Mark 10 - Rich Young Man

START of Class
-- When my wife and I were expecting our first child, my wife Pamela went out and bought a book called, "What to expect when you're expecting." It was a very popular book at the time (it might still be). As you can probably imagine it was written on the simple premise of, as you are getting to engage yourself in something that you look forward to, but yet, is a an unknown, here is some information. For a woman, being a mother is ingrained in them. And yet, there is still uncertainty. There is excitement. There is a little fear, mostly in the unknown. It became a book she poured through and constantly consulted.

For us, as we begin this class and time together, in some ways we could write the Title of this course as "What to expect when you are sharing your faith." It's normal.

The Bible is full of individuals that stepped into a situation, by faith, and yet, not completely knowing what lies ahead. Jonah (confirm this). Isaiah (confirm this). David. There are many individuals.

As we begin let's get some basic expectations out of the way. First of all, this is a 13 week course and so, what will transpire in those 13 weeks.

Week 1 - Introductions, Basic understanding of basic conversations with people and faith
Week 2-9, Begin the 8 lessons. Take your time. If people aren't doing the work, then take longer to move through material. Do the other lessons at the end.
Week 10-13 - Wrap up, concluding thoughts, next steps, Field Work continues


-- This is a class about being confident of Christ and Who He is and what he has already done. And just like singing in the choir, or teaching a Sunday school class, we can be of good cheer. In Choir, we practice. In teaching, we practice. In evangelism, we practice. In all of our acts of service, there will be trials and distresses, but through them all, we can still be of good cheer. - John 16:33 (Amplified)

 -- Our focus in Evangelism must be to depend on Christ. January 4 Jesus calling states, "It is through problems and failure, weakness and neediness that you learn to rely on Me."

Homework: This is a course that requires work. I'm not here to give you something that will only take a few minutes. It is amazing that ministry is often a sales effort to get people to do something that won't take much time.

Sharing our faith
1. Face to face
2. Online/Email/Chat (GMO, Facebook)
3. Telephone (Billy Graham, Church follow-up)

Writing out a Testimony
When we think about 2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
(2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)


Often, when using this verse, a testimony is something good to insert here. So, before the next session, I would like you to prepare your testimony.



but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
(1 Peter 3:15 ESV)

Write out the Gospel message.

This is an incredible verse to study and pick apart. It would be good to look at I Peter 3:8-17

But, just looking at 3:15 we see this:

• Be ready to give an accurate reason connected to God's truth
• Honor Christ in your response (speak of Him)
• Be gentle and respectful (think about who you are speaking to; look them in the eye; consider their position; get in their shoes)

With this in mind, here are some questions for self.

1. Am I memorizing God's word? If not memorizing it, am I meditating on it. At the very least, do I have a Bible with me I can refer to. Not, a big Bible, but something to whip out of my pocket or retrieve on your phone.
2. In my normal, everyday life, do I speak of the Lord's work in my life and give him praise? When good things happen; when trials happen - do you give God the credit for his rewards, for teaching you. And here is the challenge for me -- do I only do this around people I feel safe with? Do I voice in God's goodness with my neighbors who I'm pretty sure are not believers?
  -- around church people we easily talk about God and how he is working in our life and the things we are learning from the Bible
  -- around non-church people, we easily don't talk about God, but instead talk about life as just happening, almost by chance.
3. Does my walk = talk? Can I be proud of my behavior?

Happy New Year 2013

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

My last day

Tackling the Issue

At the mall on Wednesday night this week, we spoke to a man who very quickly asserted that he didn't believe in hell. Despite his apparent hearing of words to the contrary, he made a point to mention that his belief was different and he could not believe that there could be a place like this because God is a forgiving God.

We went through the Law and Grace in our discussion. He admitted to being a liar and thief (though he couched this in the past when he was young), stated he never might have disobeyed his parents, but never taken the Lord's name in vain and even corrected those who had. There was a hint of  him thinking that sins of the youth did not equal being a sinner today so we clarified that one sin (like murder or rape) means you are a sinner for all time. And yet, what we didn't say, or talk about, was whether he thought he currently sinned.

In retrospect, we didn't focus on sin and judgment, but instead on grace and God's love and acceptance of us. We had limited time as when his wife showed up she seemed ready to go and take him, but I pressed Bobby to continue talking (Bobby was doing all the talking).

But why didn't we tackle the issue of hell? This man's belief in no hell meant that life could be lived in whatever manner deemed appropriate. He stated that consequences are present in this life for wrong behavior (breaking the law), but God is one of forgiveness.

Reading this morning Francis Chan's book, "Erasing Hell: What God Said abut Eternity, and the Things We've Made Up" he remarks that "Jesus threatens hell to those who curse their brother (Matt 5:22)." And he states earlier that while many of us just want to think that only the devil and his angels go to hell, Revelation is clear that "the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, the murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars" will experience separation from God for all eternity (Revelation 21:8).

I guess I'm thinking that we need to be better listeners and not feel like we shouldn't speak on the subject at hand. It was fine to share the usual message that we share in talking to people of Law and Grace, but the real issue with this man (Joe Romero was his name) was his own thinking that hell was not an option. And we really should have focused our conversation on this for it really is the crux of his belief.

Ten Things

I saw this on a video a friend sent in respect to the future and uncertainty.

1. Learn new skills.
2. Improve your health, both mental and physical.
3. Store back-up food
4, Create a how-to library
5. Start a side business
6. Gather trade-able goods
7. Build community alliances
8. Alternative energy
9. Water purification
10. Love and appreciate

Ephesians 2:4-7 - Gift, Glory, Grace

Erik Christensen gave the message this past Sunday--September 23, 2012. My 2 LDS missionary friends were with me. It was an incredible time of worship to Jesus and then this teaching was just phenomenal. I'm not sure if the younger one was listening much, but Elder Rudy was definitely listening as I saw him flipping to James 2, wondering I think about what it was saying because Erik was very clear that their are no works involved.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
(Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV)

We live under the banner, "By Grace You have been saved."

How is grace going to be enacted in our life? In Christ. Our Identity is In Christ. And then our conduct reflects our identity in Christ.

Erik asked, "Are we walking according to the course of this world?" On the contrary, He is in us and He is a part of everything in our lives.

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
(2 Corinthians 3:4-6 ESV)

Of note here is walking of the course of the world, by the law, or living the letter of the law--this kills. It is the Spirit that gives life. When we walk to the course of the world, do we think that our walking and our good deeds is making us sufficient?

1. These are factual statements. Not based on feeling.
2. It is a done deal. It is finished.
3. It is the basis of our hope. Assurance changes our walk.

A.  The Gift
verse 5 - God "made us alive together with Christ"

Like baking a cake, you put ingredients into the cake. After it bakes, you then can't decide to take out certain ingredients from the cake. It is complete. In Christ, we are complete. Nothing can be removed.

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
(Romans 8:11 ESV)

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

(Colossians 2:13 ESV)

My citizenship is in heaven. I have received the Gift of life, eternal life. As Christ is resurrected, I have been resurrected. I have life.

B. The Glory
verse 6 - "and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus"

When was I raised up? When I believed. At that moment, I was raised up.

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
(Colossians 2:12 ESV)

I am "not of this world" any longer. This is not by feelings. We don't walk by feelings. We walk by faith.

When God sees me right now, he sees me seated with him in the heavenly places. How does this occur? Because I am In Christ.

My present Glory is in heaven.

C. The Grace
verse 7 - "the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

Grace = Favor

Jesus went to the cross with joy.

Kindness is usefulness; it is without sharpness. "There is nothing in Him that would cause us to be repulsed."

Jesus says, "I am here to help you. I will lay down my life for you."

Salvation is a completed action.

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
(Romans 2:4 ESV)

It is God's kindness that leads us to repentance.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)

Kindness is not in us. It is borne by the Spirit in us. It manifests itself because of the Spirit of God.

God in me produces kindness.


Circumstances don't define us.
     -- Our identity is In Christ
          -- We are made alive with Christ.

Deacon Meeting - September 2012

We had our first deacon's meeting in some time. It was led by the new Chairman of Deacons, Rick Davison. The senior pastor, Erik Christensen, started things off and gave us a good challenge.

Erik's Words

For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
(1 Timothy 3:13 ESV)

We were reminded that the work of a deacon allows the pastoral staff can have time in the Word. Deacons come alongside pastors and elders in a three fold way.

1. PRAY - Prayer with pastor / elders for the ministry and individuals ministries
2. CARE - Care of people and families in that ministry
3. HELP - Helping with specific needs of that ministry

The church is currently wanting to make sure all of the ministries in the church are discipleship based and are leading to discipleship (K-Groups and D-Groups). In the future, will focus on leadership training to more shepherd the Body. 

Goal is to move to people involved in ministry versus that pastoral staff involved in ministry. Pastor's need to shepherd the flock. Ministry is for everyone. 

Rick's Words

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

(Colossians 2:6-7 ESV)

His message that no matter what is going on in your life, no matter how circumstances change, we are to "continue to walk." Don't give up. We will be tempted. We will be tested. Sickness may come our way. Death may hit our families. But, we need to "continue to walk." 

Being a slave

A friend recently pointed out a verse that got us thinking.

"Bondservants (or Slaves), obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.(Colossians 3:22 ESV) 

He wondered whether a slave should not be a slave. 

We are rescuing people from a life of slavery all over the world, but are we to rescue first or give the gospel first. Obviously, people are in danger at times and if it was my daughter or son, I probably wouldn't ask questions and just go get them back. And yet, is this what we should be about all the time? Can we even rationally talk that the slave, in whatever the circumstance, is being provided for? And yet how can slavery be compatible with the Bible? Paul seems to be stating that slaves are to fear the Lord first and obey in everything those who are your masters.

My friend mentioned wanting my advice regarding a lady he leads in swimming at the local college in the morning and how she asked him to hold his phone. She's an abortion doctor. And she is known for doing abortions at the last possible moment, receiving $5K per. She even has times when 911 has to be called because the baby escapes the womb and is born (somehow). And at that point, it has rights and 911 must be called for an ambulance to show up to take the baby away--alive. She was swimming and he was holding phones. He does this for the other doctor's there he teaches. The other people that swim think she is an ER doc, but he knows she isn't and they may not want to be even be there if they knew the truth of her. And he struggled with it because she said that if the phone rings, let her know immediately. He was hoping and praying it wouldn't ring. It did. He told her and she was out the door in less than a minute. And he wondered, was he helping an abortion procedure and could he keep doing this? 

I reminded him he was her employer basically.  He has a contract with the college to teach swimming and he gets payment from the college and these folks pay the college. So, he is in a way her slave. Just like Colossians 3:22. He is to be obedient to her as she is his earthly master. He wondered whether he should tell her he is uncomfortable doing this and he can't be a part of an abortion (if that is what in fact the phone call was about). To me, based upon this verse and what we know of the Gospel, it's Christ that changes lives. People need to be "in Christ." I told him, what she needs is the Gospel first. If you tell her her work makes him uncomfortable you judge her and you do more damage to her having any hope of seeing the Light. Instead, share the Gospel and let the Law (as we have learned) be the judge. You be obedient to the Gospel and let God take care of the outcome. 

Is this good advice?

Love Does: Ryan in Love

Chapter 3 of Love Does

"I used to think being loves was the greatest thing to think about, but now I know love is never satisfied just thinking about it."

Ryan is a young man that walks by the author's home, in their backyard, by the water. They live by the water and people often walk by their house. Ryan bravely asks if he can use their house as a backdrop for asking a girl to marry him. He is in love.

The author agrees, but then Ryan one by one on successive days begins to add additional requests to the proposal. And each request further adds to the wonder and excitement of this event. The author also surprises him with a detail of his own doing for the proposal.

There is an obvious reminder here of the significance of beginning a union with your mate. The preparation involved in a wedding day should confirm that the coming union is like no other union a man and woman share on earth. Life is lived in a relationship, one with the other, for the remaining days of one's life.

I think of this with my wife who I often turn to look at and am so filled up with wonder and enthusiasm and thankfulness that I get to live side by side this person all my days.

Someone recently told me that in the Bible there are double the number of commands for husbands to love their wives than there is for wives to submit; six to three.

And yet this union or this excitement for a lifelong commitment reminds us of the even greater union we have with Christ that will transcend our days on earth. And so, God has prepared man for this union in a similar way and he sees his union with man in all the same (and more) excitement and anticipation of a wedding day. I am so blessed. I am so loved.

Love Does: Sniper Fire

Chapter 2 of Love Does

"I used to think I had to act a certain way to follow God, but now I know God doesn't want us to be typical."

Typical.

Bob shares about his first encounter with Jesus and it didn't come through a lot of talking or preaching, but through watching someone live life who was a follower of Jesus. Bob was in high school hanging out with Doug and doing things boys do: shoot BB guns. Along the way of playing, Doug shot Bob in the belly. "I liked how Doug could be friends with Jesus and still shoot pellet guns."

Following Jesus may begin as a person being typical. But, intense intimacy with Jesus results in people not being typical. We are real with life and faith. Our love for people transcends all that we thought. Jesus changes us into fully loving and fully living creatures.

To be honest, I'm not sure what this means. I never thought of myself as being typical. Does typical mean traditional? Does it mean that we don't put people or ourselves in a box and think, "God can only work within the confines of that situation?" Does it mean that we stop trying to please the church and what they deem acceptable behavior?

Jesus didn't speak to typical people. He went to the poor, the suffering, the outcasts, the unpopular. When the rich or literate did come his way he generally showed them what they had gained was not what he was necessarily looking for in a person.

Maybe the key really is just to be yourself and not care what people think about you.

The other big reminder from this reading is life does need to be lived and people will see more of what you do than what you say (yet our words can't contradict our living).

It reminds me of a great t-shirt we had at college: Walk=Talk

Love Does: I'm With You

Chapter 1 of Love Does by Bob Goff.

"I used to want to fix people, but now I just want to be with them."

The culmination of this chapter was Bob realizing that his high school buddy (Randy) who had traveled with him to Yosemite had just gotten married, but rather than letting his good friend go off on life on his own (and staying home with his new bride) told him , "Bob, I'm with you." 

My first impression from this was I'm not sure I would be this unselfish at that moment in time. In fact, I know I wouldn't drop everything like this. Randy had been spending time with Bob. So, he was invested in his life. Bob wasn't yet a follower of Jesus. So, Randy took off with this kid to go to a place, probably, far away.

It reminds me of Phil Floyd from high school and how this guy invested in us high school students. He had us over for sleep overs, watching "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" all night, spending time with us young guys. Phil was newly married as well. But, instead of spending alone time with his wife, Lori, he spent a lot of his free time with us guys.

He was with us.

Who am I with? Am I even with my kids wherever they go? Sure, I try to take them places and go to soccer games, drill team events, matches where Tyson referee's, but what kind of time am I really investing in their lives. Maybe it's not that bad. I know I tend to think I'm always the worst and I could always be better.

I've got friends, but what about people I've just met and barely know?

I thought it was also great that Randy offered Bob truth and perspective during any trials that may come along. He didn't correct, but encouraged.

That's a great challenge for me in my life. How can I be this type of person?

Lord, help me to be bold and help me to be a friend that goes along and invests without asking for anything in return.

Holiness of God - Chapter 9

God in the Hand of Angry Sinners

Most famous sermon is probably Jonathan Edwards "Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God." But, this sermon probably doesn't have much place in churches today. "Ours is an upbeat generation with the accent on self-improvement and a broad-minded view of sin." We tend to think that "His love and mercy override His holy justice." And so we don't want to think He possesses wrath.

But, by truly understanding God's holiness we must see that God is angry with us because we violate His holiness and He does possess justice. This is what Jonathan Edwards was getting at, not to guilt trip his listeners but to "awakening them to the peril they faced if they remained unconverted."

"O sinner! consider the fearful danger you are in: it is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath, that you are held over in the hand of that God, whose wrath is provoked and incensed as much against you, as against many of the damned in hell. You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder." 

Edwards states that a holy God must also be a wrathful God.

1. God's wrath is divine. Human wrath terminates, but God's wrath can go on forever.
2. God's wrath is fierce. God's wrath is a consuming rage against the unrepentant. 
3. God's wrath is everlasting. There is no end.

And yet this doesn't quicken us with an urgency to believe nor tell others. Our problem is we think the best of ourselves and think the way we get out of judgement is by living a good life. We have changed God into our idol and made him something we are more comfortable with.

Edwards had a sequel sermon called "Men's Naturally God's Enemies." Sproul would say, "God in the Hands of Angry Sinners." "If we are unconverted, one thing is absolutely certain: We hate God."  And in turn we are God's enemies. We have all been at this point. Romans 5:10 declares, "When we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son." Thus, we have a need for reconciliation. Our tendency is to flee from Him. What we often want from God is only the riches; only the gifts and the good stuff. We want everything our way. For natural man God "represents the highest possible threat to our sinful desires." 


Those that have been reconciled are friends of God. Yet "our natural human natures were not annihilated." 

Good enough

I have been reading "Spiritual Depression" by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.  I'm into the 2nd chapter. The first chapter made a first address of the problem by looking at Psalm 43:5 where the writer of the Psalm questions himself: "Why art thou cast down, O my Soul?" The essence of this statement and the application to our lives is 'Do we speak to ourselves? Do we allow ourselves and/or our self talk to say things about ourselves that are not true.  We must first learn to speak to ourselves rather than let ourselves speak to us. We must be handled.

In the 2nd chapter, Lloyd-Jones states that before going further we must first understand that man is a sinner, incapable of saving himself. Jesus completely fulfilled the Law on this earth.  As a sinner, man's sins must be punished. But, as a sinner man has no hope of justifying himself on his own. By Jesus fulfilling the Law he satisfied the Law. Jesus kept the law.  Jesus obeyed it.  And Jesus bore the penalty of it by his death on the cross and then resurrection.

Our response is to see our need. We are to confess our need that we can not save ourselves because we are sinners first. And sinners can't save themselves. If we confess it, God will give us His own Son's righteousness.  God imputes God's righteousness to us when we declare to God that we need it. Then God declares us as righteous. He declares us to be righteous in Him.

This is what it means to be justified by faith.

In his discourse and explanation, Lloyd-Jones makes the comment that men and women often believe they are not good enough. He states that individuals are often not ready to be called a Christian because of a belief that they are not yet good enough.  Lloyd-Jones is stating that people are still ingrained with the belief that before coming to Christ we must be good enough.  This sermon of his was delivered in the early 1960's in London. My guess is that at this time people saw themselves as "not good enough."

In my conversations with people, the overriding sentiment I hear from people now is instead, "I'm good enough."  And by being good enough they already think they have Christ or they think being "good enough" is the means in which they win the After-Life Lottery. I see this as I take people through the 10 commandments and often they respond that they really haven't done anything wrong or if they have they are not unlike anyone else.

It is an interesting dichotomy. 

I think the secret here is the clear presentation of the Gospel to people and the repetitive presentation of the Gospel to people. People need to hear that one sin makes them imperfect and that God can only accept the complete fulfillment of the Law and not just a partial fulfillment. A partial fulfillment would then give rise to boasting. Many churches today and beliefs state that they are the true church and in so doing they put forth the idea that allegiance or alignment to a church renders acceptance by God. But, this is not complete allegiance to Christ. This is partial. "You have to rest exclusively upon the Lord Jesus Christ and His perfect work." Anything else, is partial.

In the words of the hymn:

I dare not trust my sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesu's Name.

Family Picture from Easter 2011

This is outside Heritage Christian Fellowship where my oldest son attends with my brother T and his family. Left to right is Pamela (42), Derek (10), Chris (43), Tyson (15), and Megan (13).

What are you?

Do you ever get this question?

I was at the mall the other day sharing with someone. (A friend and I venture to the mall on Wednesday nights to strike up spiritual conversations with people.) We asked him what church he went to and then he goes, "What are you?" And suddenly I found myself wondering how I was going to answer that question besides the sarcastic "human" response.

25 years ago I would have said, "Christian." But, can I really say "Christian" these days when the LDS church is currently on a drive to align themselves with the label, "Christian." So, if it's not Christian then it seems to be a myriad of titles like

• Follower of Christ
• Disciple of Christ
• Orthodox Christian (though I don't what that means)
• Fundamentalist (yet I remember my college Baylor had a lot of problems with fundamentalists)
• Baptist (this rarely works because now it sounds like I'm siding with a particular religious group)

I guess in our "have it your way" world that's what has become of a single question. I don't care, I'm saying, "Christian."