Category Archives: Discipleship

Holiness & Me

According to Scripture, the most significant characteristic of God is his holiness(Lev. 11:44–45). God’s holiness is the most mentioned attribute in both Testaments of Scripture. It is our sinfulness in light of his holiness that created the need for a mediator. God satisfied this need through sending Jesus Christ. Jesus didn’t only save us from our sin; he saved us so that we might too, become holy.

Holiness is often associated with separation from sinfulness, which is true, but more importantly, our holiness is being set apart for God. In other words, it’s not about what we’re against, but who we’re for. When a person is living for God, their sinfulness acquires a stench which must be eradicated. Holiness is a lifelong process, as the Christian grows in faith, their holiness should become more evident.

Let’s look at a few ways we can work for holiness.

Pursue Jesus, Not Morality

As we become holy we grow in morality but morality is not the goal of holiness. The goal is Jesus, not a moral life. The pursuit of moralism is a pursuit of self-glory. It leads to legalism, something Jesus regularly condemned and mocked (Luke 11:37-41). Holiness does not equate to morality, it is far greater. Holiness is to be set apart for God and the only way to do that is through Jesus.

Do Not Ignore the Holy Spirit

Most Christians are confused by The Holy Spirit, but according to 1 Peter 1:2, it is the Spirit that sanctifies. The Spirit of God casts light on our sinfulness which leads to conviction and repentance. The Holy Spirit also allows us to understand Scripture, and it helps us to see Jesus for who he is. If we are to grow in holiness the Spirit of God cannot be overlooked.

Love Your Neighbor

Scripture is clear that love is a vital part of the Christian life. Jesus lists this as one of the two greatest commandments, people should matter to us because they matter to God. It’s easy to love people who are similar to ourselves, but we are called to love everyone, even our enemies. Jesus set an example of love throughout his ministry, most notably while he was hanging on the cross. Luke 23:34 records Jesus, facing those who tortured him saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” His ministry is filled with examples of healing the sick or injured, feeding the hungry, and forgiving the condemned. He did this out of love, not obligation or contempt. If we refuse to love others as ourselves, we are recusing ourselves from the pursuit of holiness. Part of being holy is bringing the message of Jesus to others in a loving manner.

Persevere

Too often Christians don’t consider holiness because we think it’s an impossible goal. This is absurd, it would be like a runner quitting a sport he loves because he has no chance of an Olympic gold. Our failures should remind us to rely on Christ and not on ourselves, to cling to him in faith. Like the runner who won’t stand on the podium, a life devoted to Christ, holiness, obedience, and love is a life well lived. Even better than Olympic gold is a faithful, loving life devoted to a holy God.

Is Eating Bacon a Sin?

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Have you ever wondered why Christians don’t follow all of the Old Testament laws (see Lev5:5-6; 11:4,7; Deut22:11)? Maybe you’ve heard critics say we pick and choose which Bible verses to obey? If evangelicals claim all Scripture is the word of God, why do we eat bacon? In an effort to discredit Scripture, many detractors point out the “inconsistencies” of the Bible as they defend an issue Scripture forbids, usually homosexuality. As a pastor and student of theology, this is annoying because a basic theological study would resolve the issue.

I don’t expect non-believers to be experts in Christian theology, but if one uses theological arguments, they should at least understand it. So should we abstain from shrimp and repent or is there a reason we ignore some Old Testament laws?” Let’s take a look at some reasons why there may be some confusion surrounding Laws of Scripture.

Ceremonial Laws

The Old Testament thoroughly describes the various sacrifices offered in the tabernacle (and later temple) to atone for sin so that worshipers could approach a holy God. There was also an incredibly complex set of rules for ceremonial purity and cleanness. You could only approach God in worship if you ate certain foods and abstained from others, wore certain types of clothes, refrained from touching unclean objects, etc. God did this to demonstrate, unmistakably, that human beings are spiritually unclean and can’t go into God’s presence without purification.

Many Old Testament writers hinted that the sacrifices and the temple worship regulations pointed forward to something beyond them (cf. 1 Sam. 15:21–22; Pss. 50:12–15; 51:17; Hos. 6:6). When Christ appeared he declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19), and he ignored the Old Testament cleanliness laws in other ways, touching lepers and dead bodies.

When Jesus died the veil in the temple tore, representing that he had done away with the need for the entire sacrificial system, there was no longer a need for sacrifices or cleanliness laws because Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice and only he can cleanse humanity for good.

Moral Laws

Ceremony and cleansing were fulfilled by Jesus, but the laws concerning morality don’t deal with approaching God, they deal with his character, which does not change (integrity, love, and faithfulness). This means everything the Old Testament says about loving our neighbor, caring for the poor, generosity,sexuality, social relationships, and commitment to our family is still in force. The New Testament makes clear that moral laws remain intact, often times even quoting them (Romans 13:8). The New Covenant in Christ changed, as Tim Keller put it, “how we worship but not how we live”.The New Testament explains that sin remains, but the consequences have changed because of Jesus.

Wrap Up

Because of Jesus, ceremonial laws are no longer binding, but moral laws are clarified. The ceremonial laws could never remove sin, but Christ did. Accepting Jesus as the son of God who came to redeem mankind clarifies these positions while rejecting him just confuses the relationship between the two testaments of Scripture. This means we don’t have to worry about the cleanliness of food, but we do need to humbly submit to God’s character.

3 Essentials to ReachingOur City

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Heights Baptist Church has been going through a transformation in the last couple of years. As new people join this community, it changes. These changes bring about exciting new opportunities while at the same time they threaten some old traditions that have long been valued. This tension is beneficial, as we must always be looking for innovative ways to bring the gospel to Billings while still ministering to the faithful who have come, served, led, and worshiped for nearly forty years of ministry in the Heights.

As a pastor, I am consumed with ministering to my church while also leading her to reach our city. I love the city of Billings, and it hurts when I remember that most people who live here are lost. When Jesus gave the Great Commission he instructed his original disciples to begin in Jerusalem. Billings is our “Jerusalem.” This city is where we begin. The Heights should be the epicenter of a transformational ministry that began because we believe what the Bible says. We believe that Jesus died for all. Our ministry should be an authentic response to the gospel directed at a city that we love.

So how does this happen? What are some things you can do today to reach the lost in your city?

Love Jesus

Jesus is everything. I love the book of Hebrews because it constantly tells us how great he is. If we love him we will obey him. When we place anything as a priority over Christ it’s a form of idolatry. Too many Christians make worship a second thought, only fitting it in once everything else is accomplished. Some people even become overly occupied by Christian activity to take time for worship and glorify our Lord. Too often our prayers are filled with a checklist for him to accomplish in order to serve our interests. Our faith is wonderful because our God is wonderful. Our faith brings joy because Jesus provides it. You and I were created for him and by him, so we shouldn’t see him as simply another thing to add to our already busy schedule.

Love People

The idea that we should hunker down and separate ourselves from the lost is foolish. We cannot hide from sin because sin resides in all of us: “all we like sheep have gone astray.” This approach reminds me of the Pharisee in Luke 18. When we refuse even to talk to the lost, how will we lead them to Christ? People matter to God, and because of that, they should matter to us. Our actions, in this regard, demonstrate if we actually believe what Scripture says.We cannot be the big brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son, as he didn’t bring glory to the father any more than his brother. Jesus loves the world so much that he died for it, and then he commanded his church to reach it. Jesus did the work all we have to do is share the story and love people.

Love Your Church

I am not writing this because I am a pastor. I am writing this because Scripture expects it. I love the church not because it employs me, but because God brought me here at this place and at this time to minister to these people. As Jesus launched the church, Paul put its blueprints into words in his epistles. I expect you to love your church because Jesus loves the church. To love your church is to serve your church. To love your church is to partner with your church. To love your church is to give to your church. To love your church is to pray for your church. The One Another Commands make clear how a Christian is to approach fellow believers.

Creating division, gossip, grumbling, slander, and refusal to follow are all ways of demonstrating sinful disdain for the bride of Christ. Too often Christians come to a church with a fear of commitment. Every church isn’t for every Christian but every Christian should be a contributing member of a church. In order to reach our city for Christ, we must come together as a community centered around Jesus.

Wrap Up

It doesn’t make sense to me why some Christians give lip service to the idea of loving the lost. Far too many believers think it’s shallow to prepare for the “seekers” or whatever words we use to describe people who may be willing to turn to Jesus. Scripture is clear that the church is in the people-loving business. If we cannot love people (including those that are difficult) we are failing to obey Christ. As I mentioned above, Jesus himself said if we love him we will obey him. The Christian life can be explained by love. When we love Jesus, his bride, and the world, we are on the right track.

Reaching The Lost

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Two weeks ago Gallup released its latest poll listing the most and least religious states in America. Not surprisingly Mississippi was revealed as the most religious state for the eighth year running. New Hampshire overtook Vermont as the least religious state in America, having only 20% of their residents claiming to be “very religious” as compared to 55% being “not religious at all.” Montana and Wyoming both revealed that there are more people who are “not religious at all” than “very religious.” Obviously these polls don’t give us the entire picture of spiritual health in America, or even in our own state, but they do represent trends. The trend we can see clearly is that in Montana people show little concern for Christianity. As a church in Montana’s largest city, we should take notice and see the incredible challenges and opportunities this trend presents. We have been called to minister in a highly secular context. God gave you and me the responsibility to bring the message of Jesus Christ to our neighbors.

We know that the majority of people in our city and state are without Christ. God has entrusted the people of Billings to us. His expectation is that we love our city, serve our city, and most importantly, reach our city. You and I don’t have an excuse for sitting on the sidelines. We cannot sit back and wait for unbelievers to walk into our doors looking for redemption. We cannot sit complacently in our beautiful building while the other churches strive to care for widows and orphans. We can’t grumble about the immorality surrounding us as we withhold the Gospel from those who need it the most. We must not hide from the lost because they act lost; instead, as a church, we must be intentionally and lovingly proclaiming Christ to our city. Polls are revealing what we already knew: Montanans need Jesus. If we want to see morality, wisdom, and Christianity take hold in our city, we must declare the beautiful message of Jesus Christ. Last week we covered discipleship based on Matthew 4:19. Today I want to look at the first phase of discipleship, usually referred to as evangelism and the three essential aspects of reaching the lost.

1. Reaching the Lost must be intentional

John 4 gives us one of the most direct examples of evangelism in Scripture. This passage shows how Jesus goes out of his way to reach a broken woman with secular beliefs and an immoral lifestyle. Verse four says “And he had to pass through Samaria.” Jews hated Samaritans, so they did not walk through Samaria. They would go out of their way to walk around the region. The reason Jesus “had to pass through” was so he could meet this woman. This meeting didn’t occur by chance. Jesus intended to meet her because unlike other Jews, Jesus loved Samaritans. Jesus loved that woman before she repented. He loved her and he saw through her brokenness and immorality.

Jesus wanted to bring healing, fulfillment, encouragement, grace, and forgiveness to a woman so broken even the pagan Samaritans rejected her. Jesus went out of his way not to condemn her, but to transform her. Her sinfulness wasn’t ignored, but it wasn’t the focus. When we sit back and wait for the lost to come to us we’re failing to obey the very first part of the Great Commission: “go therefore” or “as you are going.”

2. Reaching the Lost must be done from love

1 Corinthians 16:14 says “let all that you do be done in love.” Sometimes Christians get so distracted by the sinfulness around us that we forget the Biblical expectation to love our neighbors. Sometimes we begin to despise our neighbors. While Jesus was on the cross, some of his last words were “Father forgive them.” To his last breath Jesus was concerned with those who hated him and didn’t deserve his sacrifice. Luke 10:25-37 records a lawyer asking Jesus (after quoting Leviticus 19:18) “who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds with what is likely his most famous parable: The Good Samaritan. The Samaritan, whose people were known to have been bitter enemies with Jews, demonstrated sacrificial love to his expected enemy. The point of the parable was that love is never out of the question. A demonstration of self-sacrifice and humility for the sake of your enemy’s salvation is always noble. Love is always right and (according to Romans 13:10) love is the fulfilling of the law. Jesus lived this principle. He demonstrated this on the cross when he died for the sins you and I committed. Jesus loved his people regardless of how they felt about him, and through his power, we must love our city regardless of how they feel about us.

3. Reaching the Lost Must Be Christ Centered

Reaching people is about Jesus. Sharing the gospel isn’t about winning an argument or reaching a moral victory. It’s always about making disciples of Jesus. He is the reason we teach, preach, serve, and love. Jesus is why we care about the widows and orphans; he is why we hurt for the teenage mother. Our mission is to lead the lost to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot accomplish this if we are distracted by the vanity of earthly pursuits. Jesus loves those whom the world would prefer to ignore. As his followers we should love them too. Love them with humility, sacrifice and grace. After all, that is exactly what Jesus did for us.

Wrap Up

Ministry isn’t always easy. In fact, when done correctly, it comes with criticism and opposition. Reaching the lost is a critical responsibility of the church and living in a wonderful city like Billings gives us plenty of opportunity to share the gospel with some pretty incredible people. Fortunately we don’t have to rely on our own knowledge, ability or power to accomplish this. 2 Corinthians 9:8 reminds us that God will work through us. In Christ we will have all sufficiency in all things at all times.

What Did Jesus Mean By “Make Disciples”?

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As Jesus was ascending into heaven he gave his last command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:19-20). Jesus ushered in a new covenant which requires his followers to make disciples. It can be difficult to make disciples if you don’t know what that looks like or how to tell when your task is complete. If Jesus expects us to make disciples, we had better know what he meant by the order.

At Heights, we are bringing a new emphasis to the discipleship process and working to define what this process looks like. When defining what a disciple is, the definition must come from Scripture and it must be simple. One of the best outlines of discipleship comes from one of the most quotable verses in Scripture. Matthew 4:19 states “And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” This verse shows three aspects of discipleship (as described so well by Jim Putman and Bobby Harrington in their book “Discipleshift”).

Follow Me.

Jesus is giving an invitation. To be a disciple, one must accept that invitation and one must acknowledge Jesus as Lord and leader. Following him is recognizing who he is while submitting to his leadership and his teaching. Jesus taught this same principle in John 12:26. According to Jesus, a disciple is someone who knows him and follows him. Jesus taught us that those who love him will obey him as well (John 14:23-24). This means that disregarding the Great Commission is an attribute of a “convert,” not a disciple. One who acknowledges Jesus as Lord but does not obey his teaching is self-centered, not Christ-centered. The first step in being a disciple is cognitively accepting the Lordship and authority of Jesus.

I will Make You.

Jesus is promising transformation. Once we acknowledge his authority, he commits to transform us. All disciples of Jesus have been transformed by him. A person does not transform themselves before discipleship. Transformation is a part of discipleship. This is why we cannot expect unbelievers to behave in ways that glorify God. We live in a secular society, so we should expect to see secular morality. Romans 8:29 and 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 both describe the transformation process and it’s beautiful. Jesus transforms how his disciples see the world. He transforms how they see the lost and he transforms what they value. The apostle Paul is a perfect example of this. Discipleship is not just the acquisition of biblical information; instead, it is the complete transformation of one’s identity by the Spirit of God.

Fishers of Men.

The final part of discipleship refers to action. Our acceptance of Jesus begins in our head, extends to our heart, and is demonstrated with our hands. A disciple of Jesus takes up the mission given by him. This is why Peter stood up and preached at Pentecost. It’s why Peter and John refused to remain quiet and it’s why Paul wasn’t intimidated by persecution. Their hearts had been transformed. They viewed people in a new way and they prioritized Christ’s mission. Because of their transformation, their actions centered around glorifying God by making disciples of Jesus Christ. They were fully devoted disciples of Jesus Christ in their head, heart, and hands. When a person’s heart is transformed they begin to care about the things God cares about. Their heart is broken for the things that break his. Disciples of Jesus care deeply for the lost. 2 Corinthians 5:15-20 describes this well. We are saved not for our glory or purpose, but for his. Our mission isn’t to gather biblical facts or morality score cards, it’s to join God’s mission for his purpose and his glory.

Wrap Up.

Matthew 4:19 isn’t the only verse that describes discipleship and we could write a series of books on the topic, not just one blog post. The point is that discipleship is more than an intellectual acceptance of Jesus’ leadership. It’s more than a heart transformation or good works. The authentic disciple of Jesus Christ combines all of these. The disciple believes, loves, and obeys Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The true disciple completely relies on Jesus for everything. When we allow other issues to take the place of discipleship, we become ineffective for our Lord. The moment a program becomes the focus of our faith or moral behavior becomes the end goal, we have lost sight of what Christ last commanded us: make disciples.