Helplessness as Your Greatest Strength

How helpless are you? I bet the last time you worked up a resume, you didn’t list helplessness under the category of “strengths of the applicant.” I mean, how can helplessness be a strength? Isn’t it by definition a weakness? We pride ourselves on virtues like independence, resilience, inner strength, confidence and dependability. What about helplessness is attractive or useful? If you’ve noticed through our study of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus likes to turn things upside down. So, could it be that our greatest strength or asset on the journey of following Jesus is helplessness? Often the Kingdom turns our world around so that the first shall be last and losing your life actually saves it. Our text this week is no different. True strength, Jesus says is found in helplessness.

Jesus had just revealed His true glory on the Mount of Transfiguration to the inner three. They were however still very confused about his impending suffering and resurrection. Like Moses, coming down from Sinai, Jesus is met with a people plagued by unbelief. A crowd had formed, including the Scribes who were arguing with them. A man relayed the story of his son who was possessed with a spirit which made him mute and caused violent spasms. He brought the boy to the disciples but they could not cast the demon out. Jesus’ response was to categorize the entire generation as unbelieving! The boy is brought before Jesus and the father admits that he has doubts as to whether or not Jesus can heal him. Jesus declares that “all things are possible to him who believes.” The man begged for more faith–”help my unbelief!” Jesus commanded the demon to leave and the boy was rescued. When the disciples inquired about their inability to cast out the demon Jesus’ response was that “this kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” In other words, you weren’t helpless enough. You did not depend on the Father, but on yourselves.

This week, we will be considering this text with a message entitled, Mission Strategy: Prayer, from Mark 9:14-29. Have you ever run into a situation in your life that was so debilitating that no matter what you tried to do, it would not go away or get better? Imagine this man’s plight as a parent who’s son was tormented day and night by a demon who would throw him into violent convulsions and even into the fire? How helpless would you feel? How do you respond to situations like these? I think Jesus’ response to the disciples is one of the keys to prayer. We cannot make any progress in this life until we realize that WE cannot make any progress in this life. It must be God–his power, working through His Spirit, for His glory. If that is our understanding we simultaneously become helpless and incredibly strong. We become dependent upon God and lose our confidence in our own abilities. Is it possible that the thing that you are dealing with in your life is a mechanism that God is using to teach you to depend on Him? Are you helpless? Join us this Sunday as we seek to lay down our strengths and confidences and lean fully into Him.

Latest 9 Marks E-Journal: “Pastoral Moves”

Here’s a taste of the latest 9 Marks E-Journal on Pastoral Moves. You can download the entire thing in PDF format here.

Editor’s Note, by Jonathan Leeman:

Quick, before you make another move, pastor, read this eJournal!

If you’re thinking of leaving your church for another, start with Michael Lawrence’s article on leaving wisely. In fact, look at Matt Schmucker’s even before you think about leaving. Have you looked yet? Okay, what about now? I’ve seen enough pastors come and go to know that Lawrence and Schmucker just might shift your paradigm.

Or maybe the process of searching has begun. Mark Dever, Bobby Jamieson, Walter Price, and Dennis Newkirk will help you to avoid common mistakes and pursue the next pastor wisely.

Then again, maybe you should not make a move at all. Jeramie Rinne and Mark Dever will tell you why. Pastor Rinne, in fact, would rather see you dead right where you are. What a pastor!

Articles:

PASTORS GOING

Leave Your Church Well: An Interview with Michael Lawrence
In light of his recent transition from one church to another, 9Marks asked Michael Lawrence how to candidate, interview, and say goodbye wisely.

Prepare the Church for the Next Guy
Someday your ministry will belong to another pastor. Here’s how to set him up for success.
By Matt Schmucker

Book Review: Handle That New Call with Care, by David Campbell
Reviewed by Bobby Jamieson

PASTORS COMING

What’s Wrong With Search Committees? Part 1 of 2 on Finding a Pastor
Search committees are fraught with dangers and pitfalls, including risk-aversion, wrongheaded secrecy, and a beauty pageant mentality. Why? It turns out the problem is in their very premise.
By Mark Dever

What’s Right About Elders? Part 2 of 2 on Finding a Pastor
Why should elders lead a pastoral search rather than a search committee? Because they’re charged to raise up leaders and are best qualified to assess a man’s preaching and character.
By Mark Dever and Bobby Jamieson

What Not to Do When You’re the New Guy
Beginning a new pastorate is tough. So we asked a veteran pastor what pitfalls the new guy should avoid.
By Walter Price

You Might Have the Wrong Candidate If…
There are a lot of men out there you wouldn’t want to pastor your church. Here’s a few ideas of what to avoid.
By Dennis Newkirk

Tips for an Interim Pastor
The interim pastorate is a tough gig. You have the role of a pastor but not the authority. How do you do it well?
By Jonathan Leeman

PASTORS STAYING

Staying to the Glory of God: One Preacher’s Death Wish
It may sound morbid, but this preacher tells you exactly where he wants to die.
By Jeramie Rinne

Staying to the Glory of God: The Sibbes, Simeon, and Stott Model
What do three Cambridge, Anglican, bachelor “S’s” all have in common? They each planted themselves in one place and stayed. Here’s why you should consider doing the same.
By Mark Dever

Miscellaneous Book Reviews

God’s Glory in Salvation Through Judgment, by James M. Hamilton, Jr.
Reviewed by Stephen Dempster

Church 3.0, by Neil Cole
Reviewed by Geoff Chang

Marks of the Messenger, by J. Mack Stiles
Reviewed by John Starke

Planning Your Menu for 2011–Reading the Bible by Genre

2010 is coming to a close. My practice every year is to spend time evaluating the previous year, making note of evidences of God’s grace, as well as areas of needed grace/improvement/repentance/sanctification etc. Perhaps one of the biggest areas of focus for me centers around this question: “Did I give myself to understanding/reading/memorizing the Scriptures this year,” or the related, “Did I model this for my wife, children, and congregation?” I hope that you will take some time at the close of 2010 to consider these things and move forward into the new year with a renewed passion to treasure Christ through His word.

This next year, our church will be reading the Bible together, but in a slightly different manner. In the past, perhaps you can relate to this, we’ve gone chronologically through the Scriptures–beginning in Genesis and going right through the OT into the New. . . Unfortunately, Leviticus and Numbers can be as far as many people get. This year, we are not proposing that you skip those books (they are inspired and are all about Jesus [Luke 24:25-27]!). We are however offering a different approach–reading the Bible by Genre in 2011. Genre is just a fancy word for type, of Scripture or literature. So, we are suggesting that each week, you read different types of Scripture . . . for example, the first week in January will consist of the opening chapters of Matthew, Genesis, Joshua, Psalms, Job, Isaiah and Romans.

Here’s another way to think about it. . . we are scheduling your dinner time meals for the entirety of next year . . . each week you’ll get to dine at ALL of your favorite restaurants! Excited yet? You will get familiar with each of their menus, service and desserts. . . and your pallet will dance as you go from steak to lobster, to fajitas, to grilled shrimp. Here’s an example of what I mean:

Sunday: Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse [Gospels/Acts]
Monday: Cheesecake Factory [Law]
Tuesday: Pappasitos [History]
Wednesday: Red Lobster [Psalms]
Thursday: Taste of Texas [Poetry/Writings] –this is an amazing steakhouse with a salad bar that will probably be in heaven.
Friday: Fogo de Chao [Prophecy/Apocalyptic]
Saturday: Benihana’s [Epistles]

I hope that you will join us on our tour through the Scriptures in 2011. If you don’t read the Bible by genre in 2011, read it chronologically, or pick a book (restaurant) to set up camp in–memorize, read and re-read, trace the argument, ask questions, sink your teeth in! Get so familiar with the waiters that when you walk in the door, they know your name (pardon the Cheers reference)!

You can find a word doc. with our plan here.

Praying that we treasure Christ through His word in 2011!

Ordinary People Serving in Ordinary Ways

Mike McKinley comments: “At the Trellis and Vine Workshop in DC, Colin Marshall shared ways that ordinary church members can serve the church on Sunday mornings”:

Before the Service

Read the passage in advance
Pray for the gathering
Greet newcomers (act like you are the host)
Think strategically about who you should sit with
Arrive Early

During the Service

Sing with gusto (even if you can’t sing)
Help with logistics (if there’s a problem, help fix it)
Don’t be distracted
Listen carefully
Be aware of your facial expressions (you may affect others and discourage preachers)

After the Service

Connect newcomers with others
Get newcomers information
Start a conversation about the sermon
Ask someone how they became a Christian
Stay late

(HT: Mike McKinley and the 9 Marks Blog)

The “Church Office” Video from Family Camp 2010

Here it is. . . the video that introduced our Family Camp this year—an exclusive look at the elders ironing out the final details of our retreat.

Big thanks to Jason Allison for his wonderful work on this video. It could not have turned out better. Let me preface this video with a few things:

1) If you are new to Redeemer, this will become funnier as you stick around. . . and see how we are making fun of ourselves. If you’ve been around a while, prepare to laugh.

2) My son (Brayton) actually got hit will a baseball at Family Camp. He has still has the baseball threads on his forehead to prove it. You’ll see the irony when you watch the video.

3) No we are not endorsing the television show, The Office. We simply thought the format would provide a hilarious context to make fun of ourselves and get folks excited about Family Camp. I hope it worked!

Two Paths; Two Women; Two Destinations

This past Sunday at Redeemer, we had the joy of hearing Mr. David Joseph finish up our series on Proverbs entitled Questioning Wisdom, with an exposition of Proverbs 7. David’s sermon, “How Can You Live with Temptation?” is available online here and I highly commend it to you! David’s answer to the question posed by the title was threefold: How can you live with temptation?

1. We must grow in wisdom (verses 1-9)
2. We must recognize evil for what it is (verses 10-20)
3. We must think on the results of temptation (21-27)

You can listen to the entire Questioning Wisdom series (Proverbs 2-7) here.

Billy Newhouse on the Deception of Sin

Each week Billy Newhouse writes sermon previews in order to prepare our church for the upcoming Sunday meeting. He consistently writes thought provoking and convicting stuff! I wanted to share this from his preview of David Joseph’s upcoming sermon on Proverbs 5 entitled “Are You Deceived by Sin?” Enjoy!

Buyer’s remorse. Everyone knows this dreaded feeling. You have spent your hard earned dollars on some particular item only to end up wishing you hadn’t made the purchase. Instead of feeling satisfied in your decision you are left with disappointment and regret. Consider the new couch that looked perfect in the store, but when you brought it home it just didn’t seem to fit with your existing furniture. The piece that was going to tie everything together has not only failed on its promise, but now it sticks out like a sore thumb. How could this have happened? It’s possible you don’t necessarily have an eye for picking the right furniture, but more than likely you have been a victim of marketing. The couch in the stored looked good for a number of reasons. It was sitting next to other complimentary pieces, placed on a high-end area rug, nestled next to a fancy lamp, and placed under the ideal lighting. And this use of marketing doesn’t just apply to furniture. All types of media (movies, commercials, TV shows, banner ads, billboards, etc.) push an agenda that promises the good life. Wicked things that God opposes are given a false spin and millions of people are duped into chasing after them, but at the end of the day it leaves the seeker with nothing but a bad case of buyer’s remorse.

As we continue our current series Questioning Wisdom in Proverbs, we see the father moves from more general instructions on wisdom to a specific warning regarding adultery. And contrary to the glamour and excitement that’s depicted by TV shows, the choice of adultery is defeating and deadly according to God. The son is warned not to be enticed by the smooth words of the adulteress nor to go near her house. Although the initial call might be appealing, the end result is folly and groaning. You don’t have to look far to find someone who has destroyed their marriage, family, ministry, and reputation and is left feeling alone, disappointed, and penniless as his paycheck is covering child support and alimony. On the other hand take a peek at the couple who has been married 40 years. They have grown old together and have seen their outer beauty fade, but the joy and contentment they share as they sit on the porch together is a lasting joy that adultery can’t match. God has designed sex to be a good thing, yet anytime we pervert His good gift we left with buyer’s remorse.

This Sunday David Joseph will consider these truths in Are you Deceived By Sin? from Proverbs 5. The father in Proverbs 5 understands how deceitful sin can be, and in turn gives his son a vivid picture of what sin really looks like. It’s offer of life is really an offer of death. It’s offer of sweetness is really an offer of bitterness. It’s offer of personal fulfillment is really an offer ravishment. But the father doesn’t just leave the son with a cautionary tale. He then lifts up the institution of marriage and proves to the son how enjoyable the wife of his youth is. Married folks, how are you doing in rejoicing in your God-given spouse? When the allure of others seeks to pull you away, do you look at that sin and see it as a gigantic wrecking ball seeking to destroy you? Singles, how are you doing in the area of purity? Are you walking in faithfulness? Friends, we shouldn’t think that what we do in private is secret. The father says, “For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths (v.21).”

How to be a “Difference Maker” in the Local Church

From C.J.’s Blog:

To close out his Next 2010 conference message, “The Church,” Kevin DeYoung gave a list of suggestions for how to be a difference maker in the local church. He said:

• Find a good local church.
• Get involved.
• Become a member.
• Stay there as long as you can.
• Put away thoughts of a revolution for a while.
• Join the plodding visionaries.
• Go to church this Sunday and worship in Spirit and truth.
• Be patient with your leaders.
• Rejoice when the gospel is faithfully proclaimed.
• Bear with those who hurt you.
• Give people the benefit of the doubt.
• Say “hi” to the teenager that no one notices.
• Welcome the old ladies with the blue hair and the young men with tattoos.
• Volunteer for the nursery.
• Attend the congregational meeting.
• Bring your fried chicken to the potluck like everybody else.
• Invite a friend.
• Take a new couple out for coffee.
• Give to the Christmas offering.
• Sing like you mean it.
• Be thankful someone vacuumed the carpet for you.
• Enjoy the Sundays that “click.”
• Pray extra hard on the Sundays that don’t.
• And in all of this, do not despise the days and weeks and years of small things (Zechariah 4:8–10).

(HT: C.J.)

Family Camp Theme: Union with Christ

Our theme for Family Camp this summer will be our unity with Christ: “Union with Christ”—How Are We United with the Savior? The big ideas to be covered will be “We are in Christ,” “Christ is in us,” “We are like Christ,” and “We are with Christ.”

Please pray that this would be a life-giving weekend spent in the Word and with the family of God! More details to come. . .

Jim Hamilton Interviewed by King’s Evangelical Divinity School

Check out this recent interview by Andy Cheung (King’s Evangelical Divinity School) of Dr. Jim Hamilton regarding his forthcoming book.