Now, let me ask you this...

I went to college in the south. I'm from southern California, born and raised. One of the things that people from the south do is when they are going to ask you a question they often say, "Now let me ask you this, " before they actually ask you something.  I always wondered why they didn't just ask? It's just part of the southern culture. Asking questions is also how we naturally learn.

As I said yesterday I have been teaching a class on how to study the Bible using a plan I have used and been developing. When we read something or interact with information our minds naturally ask questions in order to understand what we are interacting with. Asking questions is what I like to focus on for the second step or second day of study. The point is not necessarily to ask and answer every question. The point is to use questions to help us understand what the author wants us to know. 

This week we are looking at 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,^d that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

So, let me ask you a few questions:
Are you informed about those who sleep?
Is your belief system aligned with the Biblical teaching on death?
Are you encouraged by the truth that we will be with the Lord forever?

That Reminds Me Of...

I am having a great time teaching a study plan based upon  a combination of how I think we naturally learn and basic old school hermeneutical methods. My thought is that very few of us think like old school theologians. Not that I have a problem with what they come up with it's just that not many of us think that way. It's just like most educational systems are actually only designed for a very small group of people (in my opinion). The rest of us have to just sort of muddle our way through trying to figure out what we are supposed to learn and what the teacher/professor is trying to say and how they want us to communicate to them what we think we learned. 

That said, I have broken down a process that takes advantage of the way most people naturally learn. The first thing we do is connect to what ever we are reading. We are reminded of things we read, we did, or we heard about (or saw like a TV show or movie). For example last week we studied 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. 

13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,^d that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

When I read these verses verse 17 Reminds me of John 14:2, My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you. 

The whole section reminds me of the world today in that I have heard many different views about what happens to people when the die. From when you die you die and no longer exist to when you die you become one with the cosmos. 

But Paul wants us to know, to be assured that death, as a Christian, is more like falling asleep. In that we have hope because we will meet the Lord and those who have already fallen asleep in him. The truth that we will be with the Lord forever, with every tear wiped away and knowing fullness and completeness, being how we were created to be is real hope, real encouragement. 

Set Your Sights

But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. 

   Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 

   “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Mark 14:61-62 NIV

We look back to the when Jesus first came and we look forward to the when he will come again reigning in power. 

As we start off this new week I encourage to remember that the real purpose of our lives is to advance the Kingdom of God. No matter where you work, God still reigns in you. You are his Kingdom representative. As Paul told the Colossians, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will  receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." 

So, set your sights on serving Christ in everything you do.

The Day of the Scoffers

First of all, you must understand that in the last day scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires." 

II Peter 3:3

It is as if the Apostle Peter foresaw the twenty first century, the world as we know it today. Atheist's demand that people of faith stop mentioning God on nearly a daily basis. Go to Hot on Google! and you will find someone raging about the evils of Christians and mocking Christians for not believing in their cartoon religion/science dogma known as evolution. 

According to revisionist history every evil ever done was because someone acted in the name of their god. They blame the god they don't believe in for the evil that is the natural outcome of mankind choosing to deny God. 

This world mocks the idea of a literal interpretation of the Bible which states that God created the world in seven days. They scoff at the second coming of Christ. They "forget" that God created and will judge the world.  

Here's the deal: the world mocks out of arrogance and ignorance. We believe and trust in Christ's faithfulness in humility and faith (being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see - Hebrews 11:1). 

Father, help us to stand strong in our faith with hope and certainty in Christ. Praise be to you in us today!

FIGHT, FINISH, FAITH: II Timothy 4:7

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." II Timothy 4:7

Fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith. There it is, three checks to make sure you are on track.

Are you fighting the good fight? Think about that...the good fight. There are many bad fights out there. I think back on most of the battles I have had over the years and I doubt if I would get into it about many at this time. They just wouldn't be a good, as in worthwhile  fight.  There are some things that you must fight for and there is no way to avoid it unless you totally cave into the world. What was Paul's good fight? Sharing the gospel and building up churches. 

Are you setting yourself up to finish the race? When I first gave my life to Christ I guess thought that Christ's second coming would be within a few years. I still believe Christ could come at any time, I just realize that he is very patient and there are many yet to be saved. My place is to run this race like he might come today or the day after I die. Either way, I run for  Christ and to Christ.

Are you keeping the faith? Not a faith, the faith. Faith in Christ, in his death, resurrection, intercession and return. Faith in his faithfulness, his unfailing love, his grace, mercy and forgiveness. Faith in his absolute sovereignty. He alone is God. 

Father, help us to fight the good fight, to finish the race, and to keep the faith. Praise be to you in us today!