Dear Friends - February

I love being taught, lectured or preached at. I used to have to attend conferences to hear the finest preachers, theologians and apologists, not any more. I can just download their materials. And I’m not alone. I know that many at CCB feast on the best of Keller, Piper and Driscoll, to name a few. And I’m all for it. But what do we make of this phenomenon? Is it all good? I’m not so sure.

I want to encourage people to grow in their faith through listening to the word of God and being built up in the faith. In that sense listening to online sermons is a little like reading a Christian book. But I have a few reservations. Let me try and articulate them.

1. We can’t see their lives
I have no idea how Don Carson treats his wife. I have no insight into the family life of Mark Dever. I don’t get to hang out in the pub with Dick Lucas. I have no reason to doubt that they are godly men. But I don’t get to see it. And that’s not enough. I don’t just need to know what godliness looks like on the page, I need to see what godliness looks like in the flesh. I need it modelled. Of course, even local church pastors can pull the wool over our eyes. We may have little idea of the secret sins that take place behind the front doors of the Vicarage. But if a man who runs his family well stands up and talks about how to discipline his children, I’m all ears. If a man who lives an evangelistic life offers a seminar on explaining the faith to others, I’m there. Many will have heard the sad news that Mark Ashton, the Rector of STAG, in Cambridge has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He announced to the church that he ‘counted it a great privilege to show them how to die well’. You can’t do that online. We need to see how our pastors live.

2. They don’t know our issues
As brilliant as he is, John Piper doesn’t know how my life needs to be reformed by the word of God. I’m sure he’d work it out, but he doesn’t know what it’s like to be a Dad of three small children, living in an aspirational inner city suburb in 21st Century London with a mortgage, some unbelieving mates and a church plant. And I’m not criticising him for that. He’s addressing his own church situation in Minneapolis. A friend nailed this issue for me when he wrote, ‘A sermon is not (or at least, it shouldn’t be!) some timeless exposition of a Scriptural text that is delivered irrespective of a particular group of hearers; it is a passionate and persuasive exposition of a Scriptural text that is aimed fair and square at a particular group of people, exhorting them to mature and active faith in Christ’. And so we need to remember that God is more concerned that we listen to our local church sermon than we do to something travelling through the ether from the other side of the world. And so when we’re downloading sermons make sure that the first sermon you listen to is the last one you missed at your local church.

3. No one can compare with ‘the greats’
I’m no Tim Keller. No really, I’m not! I’m an average preacher. I’m not the worst but I’m not the best. There are many like me. We’re just ordinary pastors who try and understand, teach and apply the scriptures to the local congregations in which God has placed us. But if we constantly compare the average with the exceptional then we’re in danger of disparaging the pastors God has given us. If God thought that I needed Vaughan Roberts he’d have given me the brains to get an education at Oxford or made him a pioneer church planter with a predilection for getting up the nose of the Anglican authorities. But He didn’t, because I don’t. And so let’s value the average pastor teachers that God has given us and beware of dissatisfaction because they compare unfavourably with ‘the greats’!

4. They can’t lead us from afar
We’d never go online and ask someone on another continent to be our virtual Dad and take over the running of our family, no matter how good they were at parenting. Neither should we allow any of these terrific preachers to become our virtual pastors. But that’s often what happens when we begin to be influenced by and submit to the leadership of others. They become our de facto leaders. Be wary of inadvertently seeking to undermine local church leadership with an ever growing allegiance to someone else.

5. Nothing replaces reading God’s word
When I’m tired it’s easier to listen to a sermon than it is to read the Bible and pray. Occasionally that’s fine. Trouble is I’m often tired. And so the regular healthy habit of listening to God’s voice in the scriptures and responding in prayer can easily get ditched in favour of a much less demanding activity. That can’t be good. Somehow I need to carve out time in order to diligently study the scriptures and feed on God’s word. So if I’m going to listen to online talks I need to make sure that I do so with an open Bible and an open mind. I need to test what’s said by the scriptures and ensure, as I should with all teaching, that I believe only what can be substantiated from the text.

Generally speaking I’m enthusiastic about the wealth of online evangelical talks, sermons and theology. Of course, if you really want to have your life shaped by the brilliant men whose sermons we download then move! But just in case you miss my sermons you can find them online!

Dear Friends - March

Confidence is a funny thing. Not funny as in witty but funny as in peculiar. Semantically it’s got a range of meaning. Sometimes it’s a good thing and at other times it’s not. It all depends on the context. Spiritually speaking; self confidence is misplaced. It’s known as arrogance. And that’s bad. Jesus told a story to warn of the dangers of spiritual self confidence. It’s called the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. It’s one of my favourites!

It was my privilege to speak to some of the pupils at Cranleigh School this last week, as part of their Lenten Addresses. It was essentially a school mission. This parable got more leverage than any other talk that I gave. I think that’s because it’s so unexpected. No one really thinks that God works like this. We assume that God makes friends with the religious types. But we may have taken for granted the wonderful surprise of the gospel.

Jesus told this parable because there will always be people confident of their own righteousness and therefore their own standing with God. He told a story about two men; one was an upstanding member of the community and the other was a disgrace. Both went to the Temple to pray. One returned home God’s friend and the other left as God’s enemy. But it wasn’t the way round that we’d expect. It was the man who’d made a mess of his life that walked away confident that God would accept him. Why is that?

It’s because there were three things that were true of the tax collector that were not true of the Pharisee.

1. He recognised his sin
The Pharisee thought much of his exemplary religious performance. Not so the tax collector. In his heart of hearts he knew that he’d lived life in God’s world without any reference to Him. He knew that he’d treated God with contemptuous disdain and so he couldn’t even approach him or even look up to the heavens. And he was right. In the same way, we need to recognise that we too are sinners. We’ll get nowhere in the Christian life until we own up to the fact that we have not lived the way that God would have us do. He’s not been number one in our lives. He’s not directed the way we live, the things we say and what we allow ourselves to think. Unless we admit this truth, Jesus Christ will never amount to much in our lives.

2. He relied on God’s mercy
The Pharisee prayed but didn’t think he needed anything. He was supremely self confident. Not so the tax collector. His plea was that God would not give him what he knew he deserved. What he deserved was God’s punishment for the way that he’d treated Him. But he threw himself at God’s mercy. In the same way, we need to rely on God’s mercy. But will we throw ourselves at His feet and rest on nothing else but His compassion. What other option do we have? How else do you propose we persuade God to overlook our sinful rejection of His rightful rule? Do you really want to rely on your good works? Do you really want to tell Jesus that he was wasting his time dying on the cross because you don’t need his help?

3. He returned home justified
The Pharisee left the temple God’s enemy. Not so the tax collector. He returned home justified. God decided to think of him ‘just as though he was Jesus’. That’s incredible. This sinful man who threw himself on the mercy of God was declared righteous. Every time God thought of him He thought he was morally perfect. Every time God looked at him He looked at someone pure and holy. He knew his life was a mess but God thought he was blameless. How? Is God stupid? No, but He is gracious. He gives us what we don’t deserve. And what we don’t deserve is Christ’s righteousness. But on the cross an exchange took place. Jesus took our unrighteousness and gave us his righteousness. God regarded Him as a sinner and punished him accordingly. God regards us as holy and treats us accordingly. When God thinks of us, even at the moment of our worst sin, He thinks of us as though we’re His perfect Son.

Conclusion
Jesus concludes his parable with these words, ‘For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted’ Luke 18:14. God will humiliate the arrogant but praise the humble. That’s the way it is. So what will you do? You’re of age; make up your own mind. How do you fancy your chances going down the merit route? Jesus says that there’s a better way; mercy. If we’re prepared to recognise we’re sinners and if we’re prepared to rely on God’s mercy then we can be confident that we’re God’s friend. Is that not the single best thing that you have ever heard in your whole life?

Dear Friends - January

Dear Friends

Church has been cancelled. Not for ever; just February. And a bit of March as well. But why? What on earth could justify taking such a drastic step? Evangelism; that’s why! We’re so committed to helping enquirers get to grips with the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that we’ll do what we can to get them to hear it. And so, as much as we love Sunday Evening Church, we’re prepared to suffer a bit of mild personal inconvenience just so that others might be able to join us.

Personally I’m very excited by the initiative to run Christianity Explored in place of Evening Church. The last time we did this, one of our elders got converted! What I mean is that one of our current elders, [who wasn’t an elder back then], came along on a Sunday evening, heard the gospel and was converted. Who knows what the Lord might decide to do this time? I’d love to see the same sorts of numbers of guests that came to the Bedford Carols at Christianity Explored, wouldn’t you?

I guess some of us might be asking, ‘what can I do to get ready for February 1st?’ Let me suggest that there are three ways that we can get involved so that we take part as a participant rather than simply as a spectator.

1. We can pray!

That great first century evangelist, the Apostle Paul, knew that the success of his missionary activity depended to a very great extent on the prayers of others. So in Colossians 4:2-4 he pleaded with his friends to pray. He wanted them to ask God to open the way for the gospel and to help him be clear in his explanation. He might have been in possession of the finest evangelistic course ever written and could have had the best gospel opportunities afforded to man. But that’s not enough. On their own that won’t produce a single conversion. He needed God to be behind his evangelistic endeavours. And so do we. Evangelism is ultimately God’s activity. He has chosen those whom He will save; we don’t know who they are. But He uses our prayers coupled with our evangelistic efforts to bring to saving faith those whom He has chosen. And so we’re partners with God in one of the most exciting responsibilities given to humanity. So lets’ pray; as a church, in our congregations, in our small groups, in our triplets and on our own. Let’s ask God to give His backing to our Christianity Explored project this year. In particular, why not think of two or three people whom you would love to invite so that they might follow Christ as you do. And pray for them every day.

2. We can pitch up!

The church remains the single best apologetic presence to challenge the sceptical assumptions of a secular world. In Matthew 5, Jesus said that we’re a city on a hill. And so it’s by looking at us and observing how we live that people will be drawn to the lifestyle with Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Christianity Explored provides a wonderful opportunity for our friends, colleagues and neighbours to come into the city of God, walk around and meet its inhabitants. They can chat to us, ask us questions about why we believe what we do and enter into lively debate about the big issues of life. But if we’re not there then they’ll assume the city is deserted and they’ll have no one to talk to. We’ll look like the Square Mile at the weekend! Of course, not everyone will be able to come every week. I imagine it’ll be problematic for some from the All Age Congregation to join us because someone’s got to bath the kids, do Bible story and put them to bed. But I suspect that some of us will be tempted to take a few weeks off. That’s human nature. The sinful bit! We need ‘all hands on deck’. There are lots of things that need doing even if none of our friends were willing to join us. And so, do come, I want my friends to meet my church family. Collectively we may not be that impressive but we are attractive. God has brought together a very ordinary group of people who love Him and love one another, and that’s powerfully persuasive to those who otherwise might normally be very dismissive of Christianity.

3. We can pull out all the stops!

In Matthew 25:26f Jesus berated the wicked slothful servant who’d done nothing with Jesus’ investment. He cast him out into the outer darkness to experience unparalleled torment. For my money this servant was a servant in name only. He showed what he thought of the Kingdom of God and its’ ruler, Jesus Christ in his refusal to do anything with Jesus’ investment in him. He went to hell because he didn’t belong to Jesus or believe the gospel. The Bible is clear that no genuine Christian is going to lose their salvation, so don’t panic. Our ungodliness will not undo the work of Christ in securing our salvation. But let’s not be functional unbelievers. Let’s not be guilty of doing nothing with the responsibility that Jesus has given to every single one of us to be using our resources, abilities and opportunities for the growth of the gospel. Of course none of us will go to hell for failing to bring anyone along to Christianity Explored. But imagine how wonderful it would be to hear from Jesus those words of affirmation and appreciation when he says, ‘well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master’. So let’s really pull out all the stops. We may never have tried to invite anyone to church before but let’s get hold of an invitation, think about what we’re going to say, pray and then step out and see where God takes us. We may have had little success with our friends in recent months but let’s pray and give it a go once again. If we brought friends to Christmas events let’s see whether they want to follow up on that. Let’s invite everything that moves because the good news of adoption by the Father, forgiveness of sins through the Son and transformation of life through the Spirit is too good to keep to ourselves!

With best wishes in Christ

richard

Advertising Christianity Explored

This is the text of the CE advert from last night's pub quiz. Feel free to cut and paste and use it with friends.

Christianity Explored is an informal course for people who would like to investigate Christianity, or just brush up on the basics. It explored who Jesus is, why he came and what it means to follow him.

• You don't need to know anything about the Bible
• You won't be asked to read aloud, pray or sing
• You can ask any question you want

The course runs for six consecutive weeks on Sunday evenings, 6.30 - 8.00 pm, from 1st February at Chestnut Grove School.

I wanted to give you three irrefutable reasons to come. But I couldn't think of any. So let me give you three unanswerable questions to ponder!

1. what else is there to do?!
Sunday evening is dead time. It's an entertainment black hole. I chcked the schedule and the highlights are the Antiques Roadshow and Dancing on Ice. On the other hand CE promises to be an enjoyable and stimulating time of lively discussion. So prolong your weekend and come along.

2. What have you got to lose?!
The worst case scenario is that you come to the first one, decide it's rubbish and choose not to return. That's 90 minutes of your life you'll never get back again. That's about the length of a pants film and we've all made that mistake. We got over it! But this is a fabulous opportunity to investigate the single most influential individual in all of human history. And to do it by looking at one of the best preserved historical documents available to us. Most of us haven't done that as adults. But we can now.

3. What are you afraid of?!
No one's going to be manipulated or indoctrinated. We don't expect everyone to tow the party line. In all honesty if we all agreed it would be a pointless exercise. But this is a chance to chew over the big issues of life. All the bad bits of Christianity have been banished; the incoherent sermons, incomprehensible liturgy and ritual and the embarassing singing. This is Christianity stripepd bare so that we can consider it.

If you're keen to get to grips with who Jesus is, why he came and why he continues to be significant in a 21st Century world then come and join us.

Perks

Christianity Explored

CCB is so committed to helping enquirers get to grips with Jesus Christ that we've taken the decision to 'cancel' Sunday Evening Church and run Christianity Explored instead! Not for ever, just for six weeks. We start on February 1st.

Christianity Explored is a hugely popular course used by churches up and down the country. You can find out more about it here. It's my preferred course for helping people keen to investigate Christianity. Using Mark's gospel, it concentrates on who Jesus is and why he came. Those are two critical questions when exploring Christianity!

In the way we run the course, there are six sessions in total

1. What is Mark's Gospel?
2. Who is Jesus Christ?
3. Why did Jesus come?
4. Why did Jesus die?
5. What on earth is grace?
6. Why did Jesus rise?

Within each session there'll be time for the following things

1. a look at a passage in Mark's gospel
2. a talk from the front by Perks, Pete or Alex
3. a time for discussion and debate in small groups
4. a chance to hear from others with interviews

We'll meet in the hall around small tables. One of the Knowing God group leaders will host the discussion and keep things moving along, though we all have a responsibility to make others welcome. There'll be no congregational singing and no corporate prayer. This is an evening for non-regulars.

It may sound a little radical cancelling church. We're not really cancelling church, we're just making some concessions. But rest assured, this is something that we tried, with great success, a few years ago in Wimbledon. We found that the great strengths were as follows

1. We were able to provide the large group setting that produced a great atmosphere for stimulating discussion and also allowed people to enjoy a degree of anonymity.

2. We found that people were more enthusiastic about coming out on the weekend than giving up a weekday. After all, have you seen what's on TV at that time?!

3. We found that it was helpful to be doing this together. There was real benefit to meeting one another's friends so that they could discover that Christians weren't the unhinged, brain dead bigots that they'd anticipated! But the different areas of expertise and different perspectives people brought to the discussion meant that the group times were hugely productive.

4. We found that we got very excited about Jesus Christ and explaining his significance to others. And that's no bad thing!

We start on 1st February. What can you do? Four things.

1. pray for its success - ask God to bring enquirers along and to help them find answers to their questions
2. invite your friends - this is a fabulous opportunity for people we hold dear to investigate things a little further
3. pitch up regardless - we need 'all hands on deck' to make the evenings work, please don't take six weeks off from church!
4. read Mark's gospel - we'll be looking at this together over the six week period