BLOG | What is a Disciple?

By this point of our journey, we've come to trust in Jesus by faith for our salvation. We've been washed of our sin, buried with him, and risen to new life in baptism. And we've received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And we walk in that love and power and life day-by-day. So what's the next step?

What does the journey with Jesus now look like? The next step (and all the rest of our steps) is becoming a disciple of Jesus. And this begins with Jesus's call to discipleship. Jesus' death and resurrection isn't the end of the story. He calls us to continue our trusting relationship with Him on a journey that lasts the whole of our lives, and even into eternity. We've trusted Him as our Saviour and now we trust Him as our Lord. As those who've been saved through Jesus's death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, we now offer to the living Jesus what Paul calls our obedience of faith. We trust him. That's what faith is. And in our trust, we obey what he's calling us to, which is discipleship.

One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. And as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said "You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy." The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness where He was tempted by Satan for 40 days. He was out among the wild animals and angels took care of Him.

Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee where he preached God's good news. "The time promised by God has come at last," he announced, "the kingdom of God is near. Repent of your sins and believe the good news." One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. And Jesus called out to them "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people." And they left their nets at once and followed him.

A little farther up the shore, Jesus saw Zebedee's sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. He called them at once and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men. Jesus was calling them to a journey of discipleship, and they responded.

So, what is a disciple? To be a disciple means to be a learner or a student. Our English word comes from Latin and is related to our word discipline. To be a disciple is not by definition to have achieved something, but to be on the way. To be a disciple is not a status you've already obtained or achieved. But as a student today, it's a status meaning you don't yet have something, but you're on the road to learning something.

Now in our society, learning and education are tied to a set curriculum. There are certain things that everyone should learn and be able to do by going through the education system. Who your teacher is doesn't change what you're expected to learn. We have many teachers over the course of our education, and they're all teaching us from the same curriculum. But things were a bit different in the ancient world, and specifically for Jesus's own Jewish culture.

In the ancient world, people attached themselves to particular teachers they wanted to learn from. In the ancient Jewish world, that teacher was called the rabbi, which means "my great one" or "my master." They might form a school as the Pharisees did with their disciples, or a teacher might be out on their own as John the Baptist apparently was with his disciples.

Another way ancient education was different was that learning was not limited to knowledge. A student (or disciple) wasn't only learning what their teacher knew or what could be expressed in their words, but what their teacher did and who they were. A disciple wanted to learn not only their teacher's knowledge, but also how to live like their teacher. In this way, a disciple is more like an apprentice, learning the trade of a master carpenter or electrician by doing what they do. But even more than that, the disciple wanted to be just like their teacher.

When Jesus goes to Peter and Andrew, James and John, and calls to them, "Come follow me," He's inviting them to be His disciples and to learn His particular wisdom and His own way of life. For the rest of Jesus's life, they'll be following Him, hearing Him teach the masses, watching Him heal the sick, listening intently to His arguments with the Pharisees. This is not our Monday-to-Friday, nine-to-three kind of education. This is the whole of their lives. They will walk where He walks, sleep where He sleeps, and try to understand every word He's saying. They want to be just like their master, to be like Jesus.

You see, discipleship is not just something we do. It's not one task among others, like I'm a parent, a spouse, an employee, and a disciple. No, discipleship describes who we are. The whole of my life is given shape and focus by discipleship to the Lord Jesus. Jesus gives us our identity and everything we do flows out of our identity as His disciples. This means there's no part of our lives in which we are not a disciple of Jesus.

Discipleship is not a solo effort. Jesus called 12 people to learn from him in an especially close and committed way. He formed a community of students. Discipleship also takes a long time; we never perfectly learn Jesus and are continually on the journey with Him.

And finally, the outcome of our journey of discipleship is increasing likeness to our teacher. As we follow, if we're learning well, we're becoming more and more like our Master. We are becoming more like Jesus.

Click here to learn more about discipleship, or click here to find ways to get connected at Elim.

BLOG | What is Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

The next step in our journey after baptism in water is baptism in the Holy Spirit. Just as you are immersed in water in burial and resurrection with Jesus, the promise of God is that you will be immersed in his Holy Spirit. Remember the words of John the Baptist: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!” (Mark 1:7-8). We baptized you in water, but Jesus himself baptizes you in the Holy Spirit!

After his death and resurrection, Jesus promised his followers, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This promise was first fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost in the year Jesus died and rose nearly two thousand years ago:

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues [i.e., languages] as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4)

When spectators questioned the source of these languages, Peter stood up and told them: “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today” (Acts 2:32-33). This was the fulfillment of John’s prophecy that Jesus would baptize his followers in the Holy Spirit or “pour out” the Spirit on them.

The experience of that Day of Pentecost is still for us today! Jesus’ promise of baptism in the Spirit is “…for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:39). The Day of Pentecost lays out a pattern we experience over and over, in which we see people filled with, or baptized in, the Spirit and enabled to speak in tongues, that is, languages they never learned. They go on to confidently announce the good news about Jesus (Acts 2:13-36).

People have different experiences when they encounter the Holy Spirit; God wants to meet each of us in a personal way. Here are some other things you may experience:

• God pouring out his love into your heart (Romans 5:5)

• A deep sense of joy or peace (Romans 15:13)

• A tangible sense of God’s presence, which may feel like an overwhelming energy in your body (Colossians 1:29)

When the Spirit comes on you, he often gives you new abilities; we call these “spiritual gifts” because they come from the Holy Spirit. Generally, they involve supernaturally-empowered speech. There are gifts of:

• Boldness or confidence in sharing the good news about Jesus (Acts 4:31)

• Tongues and their interpretation into a known language (1 Corinthians 14)

• Prophecy, sharing a word from God for others (1 Corinthians 14)

• Words of knowledge or wisdom, facts or insight that could not be otherwise known (1 Corinthians 12:8)

• Healing, a supernatural empowerment to heal the sick (1 Corinthians 12:9)

• Discernment, the ability to tell what is from the Holy Spirit, a human spirit, or an evil spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10)

• A greater desire to worship (Acts 10:46)

This is not an exhaustive list (see 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Romans 12:6-8; and Ephesians 4:11-16), but all evidence the Spirit’s power in a person’s life.

When Jesus gave this promise of baptism in the Holy Spirit, he told his disciples to wait until they received it. They spent ten days in prayer and worship before Jesus fulfilled his promise on the Day of Pentecost. So, as you desire the baptism of the Spirit, set your heart on God’s promise, ask God in prayer to fill you with his Spirit, and seek him in worship. Jesus will fulfill his promise in his own divine time as we wait and ask.

Finally, while being baptized in the Holy Spirit is a step we each take on our journey with Jesus, it is not one we then leave behind. Paul instructs us: “Be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18), that is, go on being filled over and over and over. For it is the Spirit, his power and his gifts, that enable us to grow in our lifelong journey of becoming more like Jesus. May God fill you with his Holy Spirit!

BLOG | What is Water Baptism?

The next step after placing your faith in Jesus is baptism in water.

The word “baptism” comes from the Greek language spoken by the early Christians and refers to a washing by immersion in water. This ritual has its origin in the various washings of people and things undertaken by faithful Jews before the coming of Jesus. But with Jesus, it took on new significance.

At the very beginning of Jesus’ work, He Himself was baptized in water by John. The opening of the story as told by Mark says this, “John the Baptizer was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

“John announced ‘Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am, so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of His sandals. I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’ One day, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized Him in the Jordan River. As Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens splitting apart, and the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, ‘You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.’”

There are a few things to notice here. First, baptism is connected with repentance and confession. In coming to the water for baptism, we confess that we've sinned against God and others. And we are repenting or turning from those old ways of life. We've received forgiveness of sin in Jesus.

Second, in Jesus's baptism, the voice of God His father, the voice from Heaven, announces that Jesus is His dearly loved Son who brings Him great joy. In baptism, we are joined to Jesus, God's eternal Son, and we become a brother or sister of Jesus, and a son or daughter of God. Those same words of affirmation, acceptance, and welcome that the father spoke over his Son, Jesus, are spoken over us.

The Holy Spirit also descends on Jesus, anointing Him for His mission. So, in this event, we see three: the Son (Jesus), the voice of His father, and the Spirit descending. This is why Jesus commands us, “Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” When we baptize, we do so while invoking the three who were present at Jesus baptism. We baptize you into the name of the Trinity.

An important early Christian named Paul also wrote about baptism in his letter to the Romans. He says, “When we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in His death. For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” In the light of Jesus’ death on the cross and rising from the dead, baptism has become a ritual that identifies us with what Jesus went through by first dying and then rising again. What we once were in our sin has died with Jesus.

Paul goes on to say, “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ,” Paul goes on, “we know we will also live with Him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and He will never die again. Death no longer has any power over Him.

“When He died, He died once to break the power of sin. But now that He lives, He lives for the glory of God. So, you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin, and alive to God through Christ Jesus.” When we go down into that water to be washed, to be baptized, we are joining with, or being identified with, Jesus in His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. Who we once were in our sinfulness is washed away and is buried with him. And we come up from the water to new life in Jesus.

If you desire that—if you're ready to confess your sin and turn from it in repentance, to join with Jesus in putting your old life behind you and beginning a new journey with Him—you can be baptized.

Get in touch with us by clicking here, and it will be our privilege to baptize you. This will take place as part of our worship together as a church to witness to and celebrate God's salvation in your life.

There’s one more thing about Jesus's baptism: you'll notice that John said “someone is coming soon who's greater than I am. So much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down and untie His sandals. I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!” We will baptize you with water and we're excited to take the step with you.

The next step after that is baptism in the Holy Spirit, something Jesus Himself does.

BLOG | Start your journey

True life is found in a journey with Jesus.

Jesus announced that He had good news: the Kingdom of God was coming. In Jesus, God was bringing an end to injustice and was really establishing His Kingdom. This is really good news for all who suffer at the hands of others.

The problem is, it's also bad news. It's actually bad news for each one of us who've ever done anything wrong. Whether big or small, we all have done things that make us guilty, and we're guilty before God and before others. That's what we call sin. It's what separates us from God. It's what separates us from one another.

But there's good news again: Jesus came to establish God's Kingdom and justice even for those who have sinned. He loves us so much that He refused to abandon us, despite our sin. By dying on the cross for us, Jesus satisfied God's justice in our place. And so now he offers forgiveness for all our sins, because He Himself paid for them when He went to the cross. Through Him, we can come home to God.

Our journey with Jesus begins when we accept what He has done for us. For He did not stay dead. He actually rose from the dead and lives forever, sending His own Spirit to live in us when we trust Him for our salvation and leading us into true life.

Listen, if you feel led to place your trust or your faith in Jesus, who gave His life for you, you can pray something like this "Dear Jesus, I open my heart and my life to you. Would you come and bring the gift of your new life into me? Forgive me my sins. I want to be a follower of Jesus."

This is what we mean by beginning a journey with Jesus. It's a journey of a new life in Him. And if you're just starting out, or maybe you have some questions before you start this journey and pray this prayer, we'd actually love to walk alongside of you in that. You can get in touch with us just by clicking here.

The next step after placing your faith in Jesus is baptism in water. Read our blog about water baptism here. If you’re ready for that next step, you can fill out our baptism card here.

Talking about Money with Jesus: Part 3

Radical Generosity

All of us thought about money this week. It’s very likely that you had conversations with someone this week about money and perhaps even conflicts over money.

Some of our strongest emotions connect to money, both negative and positive emotions—such as fear and anxiety, or happiness and fulfillment.  Money is a significant life issue. 

The main reason that I preach about money is because the scriptures reference money over and over. Jesus spoke about money more than just about anything else. Why would Jesus do that?

Jesus’ words make it clear that there’s a deep connection between our spiritual lives and our relationship with money. You can’t help but conclude that there can be no significant spiritual growth until you put your money and your attitude towards it in God’s hands.

Unlike anything else, money vies to replace God in a person’s life. As we saw over these weeks from Jesus words, “You cannot love God and money.”

That means that the stakes are high when dealing with this subject. Our attitude towards and our relationship with money is a matter of eternal significance.

Most often when Jesus refers to rich people, they are not the heroes of the story. We see that God’s secret weapon to breaking the power that money has over us is generosity.

The Parable of the Wedding Feast

In this parable, Jesus is invited to the home of a prominent Pharisee. As Luke describes the scene, this is not a simple dinner party for a bunch of friends as we might experience.

In the Roman world there was a patronage system in place. The term “patronage”refers to a form of social ordering where wealthy patrons would extend their help to a lower-class client. In return, that client would offer their loyalty and obedience.

When a patron would put on a dinner it offered clients an opportunity for advancement. The dinner was the primary way that a lower-class person could enhance their social status.

The closer you were to a wealthy patron the more social status you enjoyed and the greater your chance for advancement. With advancement came greater opportunities and financial status. 

So, a banquet was for networking, for making deals, for establishing your place in society. As Jesus is observing the guests, he notices how they are jockeying for position.

Jesus addresses the need for humility. And, often when this passage is considered in a sermon, the preacher will emphasize the inclusiveness of the gospel.  The kingdom of God is a feast to which all are invited. Through Jesus, all can come. He came to establish a kingdom where status and social position come down.

I also want us to see the radical generosity that Jesus is calling for in this passage. In verse 12 Jesus turns to the host and what he says is astonishing. Here they are at a dinner with people jockeying for position and Jesus’ words to the host are a rebuke.

“When you give a luncheon or dinner do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbours.” Here’s who you should invite to a banquet: “the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.” 

We need to pause here to understand what Jesus is saying. Is this a blanket statement for all people for all circumstances? The obvious answer is no. 

Jesus is not prohibiting family gatherings or evenings out with friends.

Here Jesus is making a point with an idiom. Idioms are not meant to be taken literally. They are meant to get your attention. Like when Jesus taught on the danger of lust he says, “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.”

The reason Jesus gives is that a dinner with friends and relatives in the patronage system was motivated by social and economic advancement. This is not generosity. You’ll be repaid and that’s all the reward you’ll get. 

When you put on a banquet for those who will be of no advantage to your social or economic status, God sees and will reward you.

Part of the reward is that though the poor can’t repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. Verse 14 is a restating of the message that Jesus consistently conveys; what you give away you’ll be able to enjoy in eternity.

If we get what Jesus is saying through this idiom it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that what you give that will enhance the physical and spiritual wellbeing of people should be more than what you spend on enhancing your financial and social status in this life.

Jesus turns their and our cultural norm on its head. We see spending money on ourselves as a priority and generosity as a nice thing to do if I’ve got some money left over.

We imagine that if I put on a banquet for people who will never be able to benefit me it means that I’ll be poorer. And in the natural it looks that way. 

Jesus says here that repayment is coming. You might not see repayment in this life, but you will enjoy it in the life to come. The way of God’s kingdom is generosity.

I think it’s noteworthy that Jesus was speaking to people who subscribed to the Old Testament law of tithing. They gave a tenth of their increase to God.  Generosity began after they had already given their tithe.

Can you see how Jesus’ words are an astounding standard for generosity? If it makes you uncomfortable, you’re not alone. To prioritize generosity over maintaining my status and financial wellbeing doesn’t come naturally. 

The Parable of the Great Banquet

In the second parable a man prepared a banquet and invited his friends. The host has everything ready but no guests come. The host is angry and sends his servants out to bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.

It’s a not-so-subtle dig against the Pharisees. God had invited them to his banquet, but they had busied themselves to the point that they didn’t want a relationship with God. Their refusal to come to God’s great banquet didn’t cancel the banquet. It got filled up with people who they regarded as unimportant.

The kingdom of God is for those who would never make it in on their own merit. The banquet host has paid the way for me to get in.

Notice in verse 16 that it’s a great banquet. The word for great is “megas.” It’s not a potluck. It’s all bought and paid for me to enjoy.

What’s the point and what’s the connection to the earlier parable? I am reminded of the passage in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. In those two chapters Paul is appealing to the church in Corinth to be generous in providing for the church in Jerusalem that was going through famine.

Paul’s team was collecting funds for famine relief. In these chapters Paul references the churches in Macedonia who, amid their own severe trial, which Paul describes as “extreme poverty,” welled up in rich generosity.

He goes on to describe their generosity in 8:3 saying, “…they gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability.” They had nothing and they still found a way to demonstrate generosity. 

As Paul describes their radical generosity, he identifies their motivation. In 2 Corinthians 9:8 he writes, “For you know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”

There are two things to note:

• Jesus models radical generosity. He gives up the riches and the privilege of heaven to come to earth and then to literally spend his life for my sake so that I’d have a seat at God’s banquet table of grace. He purchases my salvation so that I can come into the riches of salvation: abundant life now and an eternity with God. He models generosity.

• His grace is the basis for my generosity towards others. Our motivation for generosity is not compulsion. It’s not because someone twists my arm hard enough. 

Here’s the motivation for generosity: 

Having experienced God’s extravagant grace, I’m free to cheerfully give, as an expression of my gratitude to God and my trust in God, that as I give, He’ll put more in my hands to give away.

  — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermons on March 26th and 27th, 2022.

CLICK HERE to watch the full service on YouTube.

Talking about Money with Jesus: Part 2

When it comes to Jesus’ teaching on money, it’s often in parables. Luke, more than the other gospel writers, records Jesus’ words on this subject. 

Money occupies a lot of our thoughts. So many hopes, fears, dreams, and conflicts are connected to money. Jesus speaks to our attitudes about and our use of money and possessions. 

There are a few common themes that run through Jesus’ teaching on this subject. Some of these themes are: a) guard your heart against loving money because money is a demanding master, b) money must be seen from an eternal perspective, and c) using money only for yourself is short sighted and foolish.

As we come to the parable in Luke 12: 13–26, we’ll see those themes articulated. In this passage we’ll look at:

• Jesus’ context

• Jesus’ warning 

• Jesus’ perspective

Jesus’ Context

Luke sets the stage in verse 1. There are many thousands who had gathered to be around Jesus. In verse 13 a man steps out of the crowd and breaks into the conversation Jesus is having with his disciples. 

The man is in a dispute with his brother about dividing up their estate. In Jewish culture the oldest brother oversaw the family’s money when the father died. This younger brother is wanting his share. Why is he coming to Jesus to resolve the matter? 

He refers to Jesus as “teacher” as a title of honour. Jesus is recognized as having authority and in Jewish culture conflicts could be brought to a teacher or rabbi for resolution.

The man asks Jesus to “tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus gives the man a hard “no” and gives him a warning.

I wonder as well if this man appealed to Jesus because Jesus had a lot to say about money. The man had a money problem, and he turned to a teacher who spoke often about money. 

Jesus then (in verse 16) tells the parable about the wealthy man. If you’re a follower of Jesus this message is particularly for you. But then those who are interested get to listen in to what Jesus is teaching his disciples.

His teaching on money is motivated by the desire that his hearers would be free from the tyranny of having money and possessions rule their life. It’s always about being free from worry and anxiety over money. 

The Warning

Look at verse 15; “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”

These two brothers thought that their conflict was over money. Jesus was able to identify the issue that was the root of the problem. Conflicts over money reveal what’s in the heart.

If Jesus would have agreed to arbitrate or mediate it would not solve the problem of greed that lay at the root of their conflict.

When he says “watch out” it can carry the idea of “staring at” something. Don’t avert your attention. When greed is identified, don’t ignore it. 

The challenge with that is that greed is difficult to detect in oneself. It’s usually easier to see it in others.

The NIV uses the word greed. Older translations use the word “covetousness.”   The two are very similar but the nuances are helpful. Covetousness sees something and wants what it sees. That moves to needing it, and finally to “I deserve it.” 

Greed is the insatiable desire for more. The word “enough” is not in greed’s vocabulary. Greed is forever discontented and therefore insatiably craving and striving for more.

Behind greed is the idea that if I have more stuff—if my bank account is bigger—then I will experience the true peace, happiness, and fulfillment I deserve. Jesus counters that lie in his warning; life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.

As the story begins, Jesus is describing someone that our culture says is “living the dream.” His business is farming, and he’s gotten wealthy. He has a problem that every business owner longs to experience: his business has grown beyond his expectations. He’s harvested more crops than he has storage capacity.

Jesus’ next words fall like a sledgehammer, “God said to him “You fool.”  Why was he a fool? 

He forgot where his wealth came from.

Notice that in verse 16 Jesus tells us how he came to enjoy a bountiful harvest; “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.”

What we have comes from God—He’s the owner and I’m the manager. In looking at the rich man’s words there is no thought of God. In fact, in verses 17–19 where Jesus reveals the man’s thoughts it’s filled with “me,” “myself,” and “I.”

It’s foolish to think that you got to where you are without God. And even more foolish to act as if you have ultimate control over your life. Jesus reinforces the foolishness of this man’s mindset by the announcement that he wouldn’t be alive by the next morning.

He viewed money as security.

He was foolish because he believed the lie that money equals security. He assumed that the more you have the more secure you are. The scriptures counter this foolish way of thinking. 

The wise man Solomon who was very wealthy writes:

• Proverbs 11:28, “Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.”

• Proverbs 23: 4–5, “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.”

• In 1 Timothy 6:17 Paul writes to young Pastor Timothy, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant not to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain…”

It’s not that money and possessions can be taken from you. It’s that they will be taken from you.

And Jesus asks the question to make the point, “Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”  We don’t know the answer to that question, but we know this—it won’t be him.

Jesus’ Perspective

Jesus’ consistent messaging around money is that how I use my money in this life has a great effect in the next life. We see it here in verse 21, “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

It's the punchline of the parable. Note here that this is not a blanket condemnation of savings and pension funds. Jesus’ indictment of this man is that he stored up for himself but was not generous toward God.

He had managed money and possessions without regard for God and for making an eternal difference. 

God is my provider.

It’s at this point that Jesus turns from speaking to these two fighting brothers and now speaks to his disciples. Jesus reminds them how God provides for birds and flowers. He feeds them even though they don’t store away food. He clothes the fields with the beauty of wildflowers. 

If God feeds insignificant nameless birds who live for a few years and are forgotten, how much more will he look after you? If you’re a follower of Jesus, you never have to spend a moment’s energy worrying about the necessities of life. 

For those who belong to a Heavenly Father who knows what we need and when we need it, worry is inappropriate and unnecessary.

Because we belong to our Heavenly Father, we have a different relationship with money. In verse 33 when Jesus says to sell your possessions and give to the poor, it’s because we are free to be generous. I don’t need to fear that somehow if I’m generous that God won’t provide. 

The message from this parable of the rich fool is this; what you hang on to you’ll lose. It will be destroyed and ultimately, you’ll forfeit ownership.

What you give to God will last. As we embrace this upside-down kingdom we are invited into the joy and fulfillment that Father God intends.

 — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermons on March 19th and 20th, 2022.

CLICK HERE to watch the sermon on YouTube.

Talking about Money with Jesus: Part 1

All of us have opinions about money. All of us believe certain things about money. Over these three blogs we’ll dive into Jesus’ teaching about money and what we’ll find is that it’s highly counter-cultural. Underlying it is the loving heart of a Heavenly Father who wants his children to live with joy and freedom.

When you see it in that light and embrace the truth of God’s word, there is freedom and blessing in this area that is often a cause for stress, anxiety, and conflict.

In Luke 16 Jesus is speaking with his disciples and he tells them a parable. 

Usually, you learn good lessons from good examples in parables. Here, it appears that Jesus is commending bad behaviour.

In Jesus’ day there were many absentee landlords who would hire a manager to run the operation. They were entrusted with the management of the business (which was usually farming.) They took care of the day to day running of the business and made sure that all the workers were cared for.

In this story the owner got word that his manager was wasting his possessions. The owner calls in the manager and lets him know that after the audit he’ll no longer have a job.

The manager begins to scheme and plan for his future, and he comes up with a clever plan. He goes to his master’s debtors—likely tenants who rented land—and he makes them a great offer. To the one who owed 900 gallons of olive oil, he reduced it to half. To the one who owes 1000 bushels of wheat, he knocked off 20%. 

He knew that he would soon be without a job, and he was looking after his future by making some friends, so that down the road he could collect on the favours. 

You’d think that the owner would be furious but in verse 8 the owner commends the dishonest manager. Notice that he commends him for his shrewdness. The dictionary defines “shrewd” as “having sharp powers of judgement” or “to be astute.” 

He was intensely practical and forward looking. What he did, though wrong, was very creative. So that we’re clear, Jesus is not saying that it’s alright to cheat if you’re creative about it. 

I want us to see three things that we learn about money:

1. We are managers of money that is not ours.

2. Using money to make friends is smart.

3. How you use money reveals what’s in your heart.

1. We are managers of money that is not ours.

Jesus’ reference to owners and managers is: when it comes to money, time, energies, etc. I am not the owner. I’m a manager who has been entrusted with the owner’s resources. 

The consistent message of the scriptures is that God owns everything. Whatever I have in my hands belongs to Him, and it comes with the responsibility to manage it on behalf of the owner. 

When it comes to money and possessions, Jesus’ radical teaching is to “stop acting as if it’s yours.” I can hear the objection: “It’s my money. I earned it. It’s mine to do with as I please.”

Let me push back with this: it all comes from God. Our very breath comes from Him. All I have comes from the hand of Creator God.

In 1 Chronicles 29 King David prays a powerful prayer, “Everything in heaven andearth is yours. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things, in your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.” David understood where wealth came from. He understood that everything belongs to God. 

There are all kinds of implications to this truth:

• When the car breaks down or a possession is damaged—if its mine, it can be devastating. If it’s God’s car, it’s His problem that I get to manage with His wisdom and His provision. 

• If God is my source, then I can be content with what He chooses to provide. If it all depends on me, I’m overwhelmed, and I won’t be able to sleep at night worrying about how I’m going to make it.

• If God is my source, then I can live in the joy, peace, and security that my Heavenly Father knows what’s best for me and will give me what I need when I need it.

2.  Using money to make friends is smart.

I know this sounds strange but understand the point Jesus is making. Jesus is not advising us to buy friendship. In verse 9 he says to use worldly wealth to gain friends. The reason is “so that when it is gone you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

The dishonest manager, when confronted with the reality that his money was going to be gone, did what he needed to do to have a good future. He was thinking ahead. 

In verse 9 Jesus takes the idea of our future and says that when we think of money, we need to think beyond this life and keep eternity in view. 

Obviously, we need a certain amount of stuff to live—a place to live, clothes, food—but one day all will be taken from us. Nothing in this world lasts, with one notable exception: people.

Jesus is making the point that when you use money to enhance and cement friendships that make an eternal difference in people’s lives, you’ll be able to enjoy your money long after this life is over. 

Regardless of how much God entrusts you with, be wise. Use it in such a way that you’ll be welcomed by many, many friends when you enter eternity. We use money to love people and to make an eternal difference in lives.

There are a few other implications to consider:

• Never make money at the expense of people.

• Invest in people.

• We use money to connect people to the word of God.

3. Guard your heart.

From verse 14 we see that Jesus is teaching within ear shot of the Pharisees. It says, “The Pharisees, who loved money heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.” In the verse immediately before, Jesus has said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one anddespise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Jesus gets at the insidious power behind money. Money wants to be a competing god in my life. Jesus didn’t say you shouldn’t serve God and money, He said you can’t. It’s not possible. 

Jesus’ call was to have an honest, unvarnished assessment of the condition of one’s heart. To help do that, I ask questions like:

• What place does money have in my life?

• Am I trusting in it?

• Is it my security?

• Am I constantly looking to money to satisfy?

• Who am I living for?

• What am I investing in? 

A master demands allegiance. So why should it be God and not money? Because in giving myself wholeheartedly to Him, everything else makes sense for time and for eternity.

  — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermons on March 12th and 13th, 2022.

CLICK HERE to watch the sermon on YouTube.

8 Ways Community at Church has Changed

The last two years have been different for all of us. At some points we weren’t in-person at all for church, then we’d go back to in-person, then online, sometimes we could have 150 people—it’s been a whirlwind to say the least. Now that we’re back to full in-person services, some things haven’t quite gone back to how it used to be. Some of these changes make us feel like we’ve lost that sense of community.

Here’s how a typical Sunday morning might go:

You wake up on Sunday and wonder, “do I even want to go to church? I could just watch online.”

If you are going to go in-person, you’re going to need lots of coffee.

Then you decide that, yes, you’re going to be intentional about going to church. So, you start driving.

You start walking into the building when the weather wrecks your hair

Finally, you get inside and fix everything that the wind/snow damaged.

The moment of truth: do you shake hands with the greeter?

“Do I try one of these handshakes?”

“Maybe I should just shake their hand? Or smile and wave? I just saw someone else walk right past them.”

And then you see someone you recognize but you’re not sure how to greet them. You honestly aren’t sure when the last time you hugged a non-family member was.

Eventually, the social anxiety goes away as you enter the sanctuary.

You have a scratch in your throat and try to cough just a little

“I just have a scratch in my throat, I swear!” you scream internally. The whole service, you pray that you don’t need to sneeze and see someone do this:

The pastor says “Amen” and it’s a stampede to the parking lot

“If I leave now, I might beat the rush, but I also want to go talk to ____.”

Someone asks your political opinion and you wish you could become invisible

“Avoid conflict whenever possible” has become your motto.

You’re invited out to lunch but you don’t know where to go anymore

“What’s still open? Do we need a reservation? Do I want to eat lunch with that many people?”

You finally get home (exhausted) and lay down for a “quick” nap

And it starts all over again in a week.

We’ve all felt all or most of these things in the last few months, but is this really how it's supposed to be?

Community feels so different now. We need to be intentional about getting involved and finding connection with others who might be outside of our “bubble.” If you’re seeking community, Elim is a place where you can find it.

We’re choosing to be intentional in connecting with our community. Sign up here to join a serve team at Elim.

Solid: Doers of the Word

Text: James 1:18–27

James, the brother of Jesus, is writing to followers of Jesus who were facing persecution from outside the church but also some conflicts within the church. If you’ve read this letter, you know that James is very direct and practical. Faith is based on a set of beliefs but is always expressed through actions.

His letter is written on the premise that an encounter with Jesus will change not only what you believe but how you act. Early on in his letter he describes the relationship that a follower of Jesus has with God’s Word.

James’s message is that true faith in Jesus produces “doers” of God’s word.  It’s not just a call to do but a call to embrace the totality of what it means to commit to doing God’s word. There are four things we can get from this passage:

1. God’s word produces new birth.

2. God’s word, when its implanted, saves you.

3. God’s word practiced frees you.

4. God’s word shapes your behaviour.

God’s word produces new birth.

Verse 18 says, “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth.” The way we are initiated into this new, eternal life is through the word of truth. Of course, it involves the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit draws us and opens the eyes of our understanding. But our eyes are opened through the word of truth.

Paul says in Romans 10 that if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved.

New birth, and then new life, comes when we embrace the word of truth. But it’s not only the basic truth about Jesus. When I choose Jesus, I put myself under the authority of God’s word.

God’s word implanted saves you.

In verse 21 James calls them to “humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” The word “accept” carries the idea of embracing something as you would welcome someone into your home. It’s the word used to describe hospitality. 

His reference to God’s word being “planted in you” is a statement about its permanence. When a person experiences new birth through the word of truth, they then embrace the word that is planted in them.

The word “save” here speaks of the continual, ongoing growth and maturing of the believer. So, we begin our journey with Jesus through God’s word, we continue the journey, and we navigate the journey by the ongoing commitment to practicing God’s word and living accordingly to the truth of God’s word.

God’s word practiced frees you.

There is so much packed into these verses. Let’s go through this almost line by line.

Verse 22 “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

There is something that happens when you listen to or read God’s word. You’ll be challenged and feel conviction. When you hear but then don’t follow it with doing, you deceive yourself.

When I hear a convicting sermon, I feel bad. It identifies something I need to change, and I feel guilty. I feel good about the fact that I’m hearing the truth of God’s word, but then I don’t follow through. I go on my way unchanged in my actions and behaviour.

Just feeling conviction and feeling the need to change—unless acted upon—changes nothing. James states over and over that saving faith is much more than mental assent to a set of truths.

Verse 25, “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

Note the words, “looks intently.” It literally means to stoop down to take a close look. It’s the same word used in the gospels when Peter and another disciple look into the empty tomb. They look intently and are absorbing what they see. They’re thinking through the implications of what they are seeing. James says, “that’s how we approach God’s word.”

Look at how he describes God’s word, “the perfect law that gives freedom.”   When James speaks of the scripture in terms of the perfect law it speaks to the authority of God’s word set in place by God. Every part of the Bible is authoritative for my life. 

Note that he says that the perfect law gives freedom. To the Jewish mind, freedom had to do with the ability to fulfill what you were designed for.  We view the scriptures as God’s loving authority designed to enable the greatest freedom we could ever enjoy.

“and continue in it—not forgetting what you’ve heard but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

The blessing is in the doing. James is echoing the famous words that God speaks to Joshua in Joshua 1 as he assumes the leadership of the nation of Israel.

Joshua 1:7–8 says, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

When we hear prosperous and successful our minds often go to money. God’s definition is far broader in scope. Prosperity and success have to do with living in the flow of God’s blessing, enjoying the favour of God and people.

Think about the only One who in all human history who was the consummate DOER of God’s Word. There is only one person who did it perfectly. 

In his most well-known sermon that we call the Sermon on the Mount he teaches about the Kingdom of God and at the very end he says, “Everyone who hears these words of mine AND PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

He goes on to tell the story of the two men; the wise man who builds his house on a firm foundation of rock and the foolish man who foregoes the foundation and simply builds on the sand. A storm comes and the wise man’s house stands and the house of the foolish comes crashing down.

Jesus makes it clear that both men HEARD Jesus’ words but only the wise man put JESUS’ WORDS INTO PRACTICE. Putting Jesus’ words into practice built the foundation. The good work of hearing PLUS the hard work of doing is what gave the house the ability to withstand the storm.

The word shapes our behaviour. 

James gives three examples of how God’s word shapes our behaviour:

•  We keep a tight rein on what we say and how we say it.

• We look after orphans and widows. The term “orphans and widows” speaks of the vulnerable, those with little power and few resources, those who need advocacy and support.

• We keep our lives free of the things that pollute our lives.

This final point could be a whole sermon or a sermon series. But here’s the point: God’s word is an invaluable gift that shapes my character, my behaviour, my habits, my relationships—everything about me and how I live this life.

I Hear it. I Read it. I Do it.

 — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermons on February 26th and 27th, 2022.

CLICK HERE to watch the sermon on YouTube.

Solid: Canonicity

Psalms 119:89, 97–100, 105

How did we end up with the 39 Old Testament books and the 27 books that make up the New Testament? How was that decided?  

In the popular novel, The Da Vinci Code, the author promotes the theory that Emperor Constantine hired people to put together a New Testament that suited his slant. It’s claimed that more than 80 gospels were considered but only four were chosen because those four omitted the more human side of Jesus and emphasized Jesus’ divinity.

Brown’s conclusion is that the Bible we have is a hoax used to cover up the truth about Jesus. It got people wondering about the claims of the movie and I kept reminding them that Dan Brown is a novelist who is writing fiction designed for entertainment. 

What about canonicity? There are scholars who have developed an understanding of how books of the Bible were included in the Bible.

Canon is the Greek word for a rod or a straight piece of rounded wood that was used for measuring. It is a standard measurement. It’s the instrument that provides authoritative, agreed upon measurement.

The Apostle Paul uses the word “canon” in Galatians 6:16. He says, “Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule” (this canon). Paul was affirming that what he had written was the standard of truth.

So, who decided on these 66 books? Were these the only books considered? What was the criteria? 

The Old Testament

When we think of the 39 books that make up the Old Testament, it wasn’t a group of people in a room who decided. Rather, it took shape in three stages: The first five books are called The Law and were written by Moses. By about 600 B.C they were recognized as God-breathed. Then came the prophets and, thirdly, there are what was called “the writings.” 

There were at least a couple of criteria:

• The human author was a recognized credible spokesperson or prophet of God.

• There were no errors of history, geography, or theology.

I love the story in Luke 24 that takes place on the day of Jesus’ resurrection. His disciples don’t yet know that Jesus has risen from the dead. They are still grieving, confused, and scared. 

Luke tells the story of two disciples of Jesus who are walking on the road when Jesus enters the conversation. In verse 27 Jesus says to them, “And beginning with Moses n(The first five books of the Old Testament) and all the prophets he explained to them what was said in the scriptures concerning himself.”

Later in Luke 24 Jesus is now huddled with his disciples he says to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you; Everything must be fulfilled that is written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”   

We can conclude that Jesus fully accepted the whole Old Testament as the canon.

The New Testament

The 27 books that make up the New Testament emerged over time as it became clear that they were God-breathed. There wasn’t a group of people who decided on the books but rather, Godly people recognized these 27 books as being divinely inspired. 

Four criterion emerged as important tests:

• Was the book authored by an Apostle or someone closely associated with an apostle?

• Was the writing consistent with what the Apostles taught?

• Was the book regularly used privately and used in churches? In other words, was this book affirmed by godly people as something to be read and practiced?

• Was the book recognized and used by succeeding generations?

When these four tests were applied, only 27 books remained. By 370 A.D. a council came together to settle that the New Testament canon was closed. When you open your Bible, you can be confident that you are holding the “canon,” the standard by which absolute truth is measured.

Psalm 119

Psalm 119 is the longest of the Psalms with 176 verses. It’s divided into 22 sections of 8 verses each, each section corresponding to one of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

Look at Psalm 119:89, “Your word Lord is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” In the verses that follow the Psalmist gives us three amazing benefits of turning to and relying on God’s word:

1.  Verse 98 “Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies”

The Bible is the stabilizing force of my life. No life is exempt from people who oppose us or situations that seem to be orchestrated to bring us down. We don’t know what David was going through when he wrote this but read David’s story and see that he had no shortage of enemies. 

David had come to understand that when the word of God attends my life there is a strength and a power that enables me to stand when my enemies want to knock me down. To the Hebrew mind, “wisdom” is about right living, right responding.

And the scriptures do that for us. In this book we have the wisdom of the one who designed us and created us. Look to God’s word to bring stability and wisdom when enemies want to shake you up. 

2.  Verse 99 “I have more insight than all my teachers for I meditate on your statutes.”

This Bible offers us the amazing gift of insight. The word insight carries the idea of being able to see beyond what is obvious—to comprehend things in a godly way and to act wisely. When you meditate on God’s word, you’ll have insights and comprehension beyond what those who are smarter are able to impart to you. 

Teachers can impart information and even insight but when you allow God’s word and God’s ways to permeate your life, it will result in a measure of success that’s not possible apart from living and walking in truth.

3.  Verse 100 “I have more understanding than the elders for I obey your precepts”

David noticed that when he obeyed the precepts (the commandments) of God’s word that it produced a maturity beyond his years. That requires believing with all your being that the Word of God is true. 

It will mean that I live out a Biblical ethic when it’s difficult or when I don’t see the practical advantage of obedience to God’s word. If you stake your life and future and reputation on this book you will be mature beyond your years.

Those who embrace the Word of God walk in obedience to it, they grasp life’s issues, and they respond to life’s situations in a way that seems to be the way God designed life to be. They may not get it right every time but it’s obvious that they have embraced the rule of God. 

Let me conclude with three quick questions:

• Do you want a life of stability?

• Do you need insight?

• Do you desire to be mature?

If yes, then I have a book for you.

 — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermons on February 19th & 20th, 2022.

CLICK HERE to watch the sermon on YouTube.

Solid: God Breathed Book

2 Timothy 3:14–17

Some context: The Apostle Paul is once again in prison. His days on earth are numbered, but he’s been thinking about his protégé, a young man named Timothy. Timothy is the pastor of the church in Ephesus and Paul is writing to him because he’s concerned.

There were things happening in the church that were causing Timothy discouragement. There was dissension among some leaders. There were false teachers who were gaining ground. It appears that young Timothy was intimidated and being pressured to back off of his commitment to the truth or even to quit.

Not only were there pressures from within the church but living and serving Jesus in the city of Ephesus had its challenges. Biblical truth was literally a foreign concept. Earlier in this letter, Paul describes the moral and spiritual condition of the culture; lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, lovers of pleasure, etc.

Timothy needs to know that when he stands to preach that it’s a message of truth. He needs to be confident that the scriptures are true, that they are authoritative, and that they indeed come from God. I think we need that today. In a day with so many opinions on so many debatable issues, we need truth upon which to base our lives.

So, hear what the Apostle Paul writes:

The source of Scripture

In verse 16 Paul writes, “All scripture is God breathed.” Paul is stating the fundamental truth about the source of Scripture: it comes from God. The scriptures are the inspired word of God. 

We need to be careful here because the word “inspiration” has various meanings. When it’s used to describe how we got our Bible there are several things that “inspiration” doesn’t mean:

It’s not natural inspiration.

It’s not simply a high level of human achievement. You can look at a great painting or hear a great speech or listen to a great song and it’s obvious that the artist or the orator were inspired. But that’s not what we’re talking about when we say that the scriptures are inspired. The Bible is not a collection of writings by highly skilled authors.

Inspiration is not only in the thoughts of the writers.

God didn’t just inspire a writer with some ideas and then they wrote their own words and thoughts to convey those ideas.

In 1 Corinthians 2:13 Paul writes, “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” These words are the words that are taught by the Spirit. Inspiration is not just about the concepts but in the words used to express the truths and concepts.

Inspiration is not just the act of God on the reader.

Some people believe that inspiration is determined by the reader so that as you read there are verses that inspire you. While that may happen to you, there may also be times when you feel nothing upon reading the Bible. When you feel nothing, it’s still inspired. 

God-breathed

There are other ideas about inspiration but think about inspiration as “God breathed.” God has given us a written record. The Bible is 66 separate books written by 40 different authors who wrote over a period of 1600 years. 

Each one reached the point that God intended, and God directed the free choice of the author to write down the words of God. The human authors were not automatons whose will was taken over by God. God literally selected the words out of the author’s life and personality and vocabulary and emotions. The writers put pen to papyrus, but they were carried along by the Holy Spirit to where they needed to go.  

Note the words “all scripture.” In verses 14 and 15 when Paul refers to the scriptures that Timothy knew from infancy it’s a clear reference to the Old Testament. 

So, what about the New Testament? Did the writers know they were writing scripture? We’re not certain but here’s what we do know: In 2 Peter 3 he is defending the Apostle Paul’s writings as authoritative. He writes this, “His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort” and then this, “as they do the other scriptures.”  Peter recognized Paul’s letters to be on par with the Old Testament scriptures. 

The power of Scripture

In verse 15 Paul reminds Timothy how from infancy he had known the Holy Scriptures “which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.” We know from Chapter 1:5 that Timothy’s mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, were committed followers of Jesus. Paul describes them as having “sincere faith.”

From infancy on these two-woman had trained Timothy in the scriptures.  We know that his dad was a Greek speaking Jew who was not committed to the scriptures. But his mom’s and grandma’s influence had conveyed faith in Christ to this young man.

If you boil down the message of the Bible to its basic message it tells the truth about humans and the truth about God. Humans are sinful and need a Saviour. God came to our rescue through Jesus’ death and resurrection.  He is our Saviour. That’s it. 

The message of the Old Testament is that humankind is sinful and incapable of rescuing ourselves. The Old Testament law only confirmed human’s inability to live a perfect life. The message of the New Testament is that a Saviour is here to rescue us.

The usefulness of the Bible

This God-breathed book is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.

Teaching

Teaching focuses on the Bible as giving us the truths we need to live our lives as our Designer intended. The Bible teaches me not only about salvation but about money and about marriage and about how to treat people and how to resolve conflict and more. 

Rebuking

Rebuking sounds harsh, but it really means “confronting my wrong ideas, attitudes, and behavior.” All of us carry misconceptions and distortions about God and ourselves and life. Those need to be confronted and changed.

Correcting

This is similar to rebuking, but it focuses more on behaviour. All of us wander off the path of life. The scriptures bring us a course correction.

Training in righteousness

The word “righteousness” means right living. I need to be trained in it. It doesn’t come naturally. The Bible provides the necessary training for me to live right.

So that

Paul then adds a “so that.” If you embrace the scriptures for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in right living you will be thoroughly, completely, fully equipped to live a purpose-filled life.

All scripture is God breathed—that’s it’s source. It’s also what brings me to salvation. And when I embrace it and live it, I live out the Designer’s will and purpose.

 — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermons on February 12th & 13th, 2022.

CLICK HERE to watch the sermon on YouTube.

Solid: Is the Bible Reliable?

2 Peter 1:12–21

We all observe and maybe even study human behavior and we see the best of what people can do, and we witness and experience human behavior at its worst. What I’m more interested in is why people do the things they do. If you dig down just a little bit, what you’ll find are a set of beliefs. Those beliefs become our authority. 

Foundational to how you live is what you believe. And what you believe is foundational to who/what you accept as your authority. For the follower of Jesus how you view the Bible is foundational to your life. 

As we turn to 1 Peter, we’re looking at the reliability of the Bible. If it’s our authority, why can we trust it?

In verse 12 Peter says, “I will always remind you of these things even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.” He was saying that there is a body of truth that is the authority on life and how to live it. 

In the next sentence he lets them know that his death in imminent, but he was leaving them this letter so that “after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.” And then he launches into my first point:

Why the Bible has authority.

Look at verse 16; “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”

Here’s Peter’s argument; “We were eyewitnesses.” In the New Testament God has spoken through two sources:

• People who saw Jesus with their own eyes. Peter is one of them.

• Those who spoke with eyewitnesses. That would be people like Luke who speaks to eyewitnesses and records what they have seen, heard and experienced.

In this passage Peter speaks specifically of the transfiguration of Jesus. It’s the account recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke where Jesus takes three disciples (Peter, James, and John) with him up a mountain. 

There Jesus is transfigured before them. His face shines bright as the sun and his clothes become white as light. Moses and Elijah appear and speak with Jesus. 

It’s such a holy and impactful experience that the three disciples fall face down on the ground, terrified. For a few moments they get an eyewitness glimpse into Jesus’ divinity. 

In John 1:14 and Acts 2:22–23, Peter is preaching to a vast crowd 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection in the city where it all happened. Why did no one challenge Peter? Because it was common knowledge in Jerusalem that a man named Jesus was crucified and then rose from the dead. 

Virtually all of the N.T was penned within 30–60 years after the resurrection. There were many eyewitnesses of Jesus alive at the time the gospels were written who could have discredited the writings if they were made up stories.

Peter then refers to the Old Testament prophets in verse 19. He states here that they are completely reliable. Peter is reflecting what he observed from Jesus’ words about the Old Testament. Read the gospels and you see that Jesus saw the Old Testament as true, reliable, and authoritative.

Jesus based his life on scripture. Remember the story of the temptation of Jesus? Every time Satan came to Jesus with a temptation, remember how Jesus responded? “It is written.”

The scriptures were the operating principle of Jesus’ life. He lived with full confidence in the scriptures. The scripture was His authority. For Jesus, the scriptures were God’s word. If you’re a follower of Jesus, you can’t faithfully follow him without embracing the scriptures as the authoritative Word of God.

How we know the Bible is reliable.

Those who question the authority and/or the reliability of the Bible often argue several things:

• The Bible was written by people. It’s just a bunch of people who wrote down their own ideas and over time someone selected the writings that had a common theme.

• We don’t have the original manuscripts so it may have started out as reliable but there have been so many copies of copies of copies that we can’t trust that we have the genuine thing.

Let me address these objections. In verses 20 and 21 Peter writes that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. True prophecy doesn’t originate in the human will but rather, “prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

The word translated “carried along” has as one of its meanings, what wind does to a sail on a boat. Human authors wrote—and they did it in a certain style and with a certain vocabulary—but the Spirit got them to where they needed to go.

So, what about manuscripts? The integrity of any historical document depends on the number of manuscripts that can be referenced and compared. There are 14,000 Old Testament manuscripts that were copied from 500–800 years. When you compare the copies, there are variations in one out of every 1580 words and virtually every variation is a difference in spelling.

What about the New Testament? There are 24,000 manuscripts and in all of those transcribed over hundreds of years there is less than one variation in every 1000 words. These are minor variations that don’t affect the meaning.

So, what does this mean?

In verse 19 Peter writes, “you will do well to pay attention to it as to a light shining in a dark place.”

The scripture is a light shining in a dark place. The human heart, the culture, and the world are all dark places. Only scripture shows you how to live.

Throughout history this Book has profoundly affected positive change in the lives and destinies of countless numbers of people. It's amazing what happens in a person’s life when they approach God’s Word with faith and humility and surrender. 

I have seen it again and again; a person may start out with objections and intellectual reservations about the Bible but the moment they surrender their heart, mind, and will, the lights go on and this Book becomes a shining light that lights the path of life.

  — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermons on February 5th & 6th, 2022.

CLICK HERE to watch the sermon on YouTube.

Solid: The Bible as Truth

John 17:14–17

A few years ago, a comprehensive study was done in the U.S. by the American Bible Society titled, “The State of the Bible.”  A bright spot in the findings: despite many aspects of society that devalue the scriptures, penetration of the scripture remains high, even among younger people. 79% of 18–28-year-olds own a Bible. 

A negative finding: neutral or negative attitudes towards the Bible are more commonplace. The percentage of adults who believe that the Bible contains everything a person needs to live a meaningful life declined substantially in the two years between surveys.

Here’s my disclaimer as I begin this series: I hold to the authority of the scriptures for life and godliness. I believe that the scriptures are God’s eternal word for all people. I believe the Bible is reliable for us when it’s properly interpreted. I believe it contains everything I need to live for God now and then to gain eternal life when this life has ended.

Beginning in John 14 Jesus is preparing His disciples for the events that will unfold shortly. He was leaving them. He was going to prepare a place for them in his Father’s house. When he’s asked by Thomas how they can know the way to be with Jesus in heaven, he makes the definitive statement, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Your word

In Chapter 17 John records Jesus’ prayer. Twice Jesus uses the words “truth” and “word.”

Look again at verse 14, “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, …”  In the opening verses of his gospel, John refers to Jesus as “the word.” He’s expressing that Jesus is the embodiment of who God is and what God has said. In John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God and the Word was God.”

It’s the Greek word “logos.” John was establishing that Jesus is God. Calling Jesus “the word” refers to the fact that Jesus came as the personification of the written and spoken word of God. The testimony that God revealed through the Old Testament was now made human in the coming of Jesus. 

He is God, and because of that he is the embodiment of truth.  So, when Jesus prays, “I have given them your word,” he was referring to the fact in his earthly life he had fully lived out the expression of who God is.

In verse 17 when he says, “your word is truth”, he was stating that he, Jesus is the truth. The scriptures reveal him. The scriptures are authoritative and reliable because they speak the truth about Him.

The Bible is not a book to be worshipped. The Bible is not a list of rules to be followed. Open the pages of the Bible and discover the wonder and the beauty and the glory of Jesus. Read it to discover how to live to glorify him.

Your word is truth

I want to circle back to Jesus’ words here. When Jesus says, “Your word is truth” it immediately raises the issue of defining truth. 

We understand that the Bible is not a science book or a medical journal. It doesn’t answer every question about everything, but in matters of how to live life and how to follow Jesus, it is truth.

For so many today, there are many competing truths. Sometimes, your opinion is seen as your version of truth. In Jesus’ prayer he was letting us know that when you embrace Jesus as the ultimate truth and the scriptures as the testimony of ultimate truth,  it’s going to step on people’s toes.

Few if any are ever argued into the kingdom. Most are loved into the kingdom. It’s God’s kindness that draws us to repentance. In 1 Peter 3:15 Peter admonishes us to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”  And then he adds this important proviso, “But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Jesus’ prayer for his disciples and for us is that we stay engaged in the world and that we enjoy a sense of God’s protection and favor as we are committed to truth. 

Perhaps you are the odd person out in your workplace or in your family. You don’t stand on a soap box to preach in your lunchroom, but you live your life by the truth and directives of the Bible. You walk with integrity. Jesus’ prayer for you is not that you be taken out of that environment but that you would be protected from the evil one.

Sanctify them by the truth

Let’s look briefly at a phrase in verse 17, “Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is the truth.”

What does the word “sanctify” mean? “Sanctify” means, “to be set apart for God’s service.” In 1 Thess 5:23 Paul’s use of the word carries the idea of the progression of spiritual renewal and growth in the believer so that increasingly they become more and more like Jesus. 

We often talk about “growing in faith” or “spiritual growth.” Here in John 17:17 the word, “sanctify” incorporates all of this. Jesus’ prayer for his disciples is that they be more and more committed to serving God and that they would become more and more like Jesus.

We grow our capacity for effective kingdom service through a number of things, but the primary way of growing is by the truth. That happens at least a couple of ways—through prayer as you connect with the God of truth and through regular engagement with the Scriptures.

In order to help our church family regularly engage with Scripture, we offer the Vista Bible Reading Plan. Together as a church we are reading through the New Testament in 2022. You spend about 5 minutes, 5 days a week and then take time to reflect on the passage. (Find the reading plan here)

The story is told of Sir Walter Scott the famed British novelist and poet. He was also a committed Christian. On his deathbed Scott is reported to have said to his secretary, “Bring me the book.” His secretary thought of the thousands of books in his library and asked him “which book?” “THE book—the Bible—the only book for a dying man.”

I would add that the Bible is not only the book for the dying. The scriptures are the authoritative revelation of God’s eternal truth.

 — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermons on January 29th & 30th, 2022.

CLICK HERE to watch the sermon on YouTube.

A Community on the Journey to be More Like Jesus

A community

As we begin to think about community as disciples, let’s go back to the very beginning of the story of Jesus, as it’s told in Mark 1:1–20 and 3:7, 13–14. The story of Jesus begins with people (1) repenting of their sins, (2) being baptized in water, and (3) Jesus being baptized in the Spirit. These are the initial steps of our own journey with Jesus. If you haven’t taken those first steps on the journey, click ‘Start Here’ to learn how you can.

What is a Disciple?

To be a disciple means to be a “learner,” or a “student.” To be a disciple is not, by definition, to have achieved something, but to be on the way—on the journey—towards learning something. As Jesus’ disciples, we are on the long road of learning how to live into his life and how to live out his salvation.

Whereas people would approach a philosopher or rabbi wanting to become their student (and we see some of this in the gospels), primarily what we see is Jesus acting on his own initiative and authority to call people to become his students. Jesus goes to Peter and Andrew, James, and John, and calls to them, “Come, follow me!” 

Discipleship is not something we do; it describes who we are. Everything we do and are flows out of our calling to follow Jesus, to be a student of Jesus. This means that there is no part of our lives in which we are not a disciple of Jesus. But notice this is not something we do alone; discipleship is not a solo effort. We read that Jesus called Peter and Andrew, James, and John to learn from him. He formed a community of students.

A Community – with the Spirit and One Another

When Jesus rose from the dead, he sent his Spirit on his disciples. This Spirit knit the disciples closer together than ever before. We read about the meeting of believers in Acts 2:42–47. The disciples were devoted to fellowship, to eating together, to praying together—the practices they had learned from Jesus. The community continues the way of Jesus—without Jesus’ physical presence. 

The Spirit gives a whole range of gifts to share with one another: teaching, serving, encouragement, wisdom, prophecy. Using these gifts is the Spirit’s work, and the way he builds our community with one another. Being a disciple involves learning what gifts the Spirit has given me, and how I can best share them in the community.

Community Groups

Community was important to Jesus—he intentionally called twelve people to accompany him—and it is the work of his Spirit to build community. At Elim, community groups are a primary way of seeing this vision realized. These communities are places, within the larger community of the church, where we can more intentionally learn Jesus, learn what he teaches us, learn to do what he did, and learn to be more like him.

So, I invite you to join your life to other disciples of Jesus in deeper, more intentional community. This is a work the Spirit undertakes, moving hearts in love towards one another and giving us gifts to share around. This helps accomplish the purpose for which God sent his Son into the world, to bring us back into community with himself, ultimately, and so to restore us to relationship with one another. 

On The Journey

How do we, as a community, get from where we are today, to the goal of looking and acting and being more like Jesus? Discipleship takes a long time—in fact, a whole lifetime. We never perfectly learn Jesus—we never really ARRIVE—at least on this side of the heaven. We are continually on the journey WITH Jesus.  

There is so much to learn about Jesus and it will take all our lives, and, truthfully, we will never quite get there because Jesus is far greater than we can ever learn. The journey that we’re on really is the mission. Being like Jesus is the goal but we accomplish that through the journey. 

We’re going to start by looking at the disciples and how they followed Jesus (Mark 1:16–18). When Jesus called his first disciples, they committed to following him. They literally left their nets behind to go where Jesus went. For the disciples, Jesus was the journey. They followed him around towns and villages in the northern region of Galilee and watched him perform miracles and preach the good news of God’s love and salvation. They were following him so they could learn how to be like him. 

Jesus has already won the battle

Now you might be thinking “yes, we know this.” But let me flesh it out a bit for us today. Jesus has already secured our salvation by dying on the cross and rising again, right? And we know that we’re called to follow Jesus. We follow Jesus, not in physical form, but in spiritual form. So, this means that we don’t follow the pre-cross Jesus—we follow the post-cross Jesus. 

My friends, we can be certain that this faith journey that we’re on ends with victory because Jesus has already won our salvation. It’s over, we celebrate Easter every year because it commemorates what was done 2000 years ago. 

Before his death and resurrection, the disciples literally followed him step by step down the roads of Galilee and Judea, but after his resurrection and ascension Jesus sent his Spirit to guide his disciples, and us, into new territories. This means they had to learn how to follow him by the Spirit’s leading and this is where the rubber meets the road for us today. 

So how did they do it?!

Primarily it was through prayer. Talking with and listening for God’s voice within themselves.  Jesus himself learned his Father’s will through prayer, and we learn the same way—we learn his will through prayer too.  

But there’s other ways that we can hear from God so that we can follow Jesus. Things like prophecy, dreams, and visions provide us ways to glimpse God’s glory in our everyday life. We also learn from the first disciples and what Jesus taught them (which is why we value the Bible so highly!) 

In spite of our fear and trepidation, Jesus calls us to trust him. You don’t have to be a certain person or live a certain life for Jesus to call you to follow him. He just sees us doing whatever it is we’re doing and calls us out. 

Jesus doesn’t leave us in the same place he calls us 

We may not literally follow Jesus on the roads of Galilee, but we are following Jesus’ Spirit on the roads of our city, in our homes and workplaces, even to the far ends of the earth. Augustine captures this idea of Jesus, and he writes, "Because he is God, he is the destination. Because he is human, he is the road by which we get there."

Each of our journeys looks a bit different because Jesus calls us personally and he has a plan for each of us to partner with him. Jesus wants us to follow him. There’s no direct command other than just simply give up what you’re chasing and follow him. As we follow Jesus, our lives come to take the shape of Jesus’ life.

The journey is better with other people. There’s an old proverb that says, “if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.” We actually need one another for the journey. The road is long and difficult. 

Wherever you are, whatever stage of life you are in (even if you’ve been following Jesus for 50 years), you still have more to learn. We will always have more to learn. Jesus calls us, by his Spirit, to go wherever he is going, to be with him, and to become more like Jesus. 

To Be More Like Jesus

We can think about becoming like Jesus in three areas that all overlap and interconnect: knowledge, practices, and character.  

Knowledge: Learning to Teach What Jesus Teaches

We place our faith in Jesus when we learn things we did not know before. The disciples listened closely as Jesus spoke about the kingdom of God, his relationship to the Father, the Holy Spirit, his own identity, what will take place at the end of the world, and more. The disciples wanted to know what Jesus knew.

As we grow, we come to a point where we can teach others. It’s often said that you know you really understand something when you can teach it to others. This is part of learning as a community of disciples. The primary way we all grow in our knowledge is through reading the Bible or listening to a sermon (or reading a blog like this.) 

Practices: Learning to Do What Jesus Does

Practices involve learning to do what Jesus does. It’s one thing to understand in our minds the truth that Jesus speaks—it’s another to put it into practice. 

Reading the Bible is one of the key practices of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus himself knew the Scriptures deeply. So, we read and study our Bibles to learn about God, his character, and his ways.

Prayer is a second major practice of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus himself modelled a life of continual prayer. We can bring all our concerns and requests to God, who we know through Jesus as a caring, loving Father who wants to give good gifts to his children.

The Bible and prayer are two foundational practices for Jesus’ students, but there are many more. Discipleship describes who we are; we are students of Jesus. We walk where he walks, do what he does, and when it comes our turn, we teach others what he first taught us. 

Jesus taught and modelled how we are to forgive one another; how to resolve conflict; how to pray; how to treat our work, possessions, and money; how to care for those in need; how to love our neighbour, and how to love God. Indeed, Jesus showed his disciples a whole new way of living in God’s kingdom that is different than the world’s ways.

Character: Learning to Be Who Jesus Is

The most important aspect of being more like Jesus is not just knowing or doing but being. As those who have died and risen with Jesus, we are developing a new character. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18, we need the Spirit to work deeply within so that we become a new person, a new creation.

The lifelong journey of discipleship is about living ever more deeply into Christ, and so being transformed into his glory by the Spirit. Becoming more like Jesus changes us from within in many ways: followers of Jesus are gentle, humble, merciful, pure of heart, peaceable, and hungry for God’s righteousness (Matt 5:3–9), just like Jesus himself. 

But most of all what characterizes Jesus and his followers is love. “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35). To be a disciple is fundamentally to love. 

Being More Like Jesus (For Others)

As a community on the journey, we have others to show us what it looks like to be more like Jesus. Besides our own practices of reading the Bible and prayer, we learn by following someone in our community who is further along.

After his resurrection, Jesus gave his apostles this commission: “Go and make disciples all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matt 28:19–20).

As you move further along in your journey, you will become an example of Jesus for others. As we grow, each of us should be following someone ahead and leading someone along behind. Our task in leading others is to point them to Jesus, and to offer them a pattern of life—of knowledge, practices, and character—for them to imitate.

So, where do we go from here? We can only become more like Jesus if we are on the journey with Jesus. Jesus calls you to follow him. If you answer his call, there are then different avenues through which we grow in our knowledge, practices, and character as a disciple of Jesus. At Elim, this could be through a community group, Sisterhood or Brotherhood ministries, or following our discipleship courses.

You and I still have so much to learn from Jesus. Let’s continue on the path to the cross and resurrection together with him. Let’s be a community on the journey to be more like Jesus.

— Notes from Pastor Luke Gordon and Pastor Steve Harris’ sermons on Elim’s mission statement: A Community on the Journey to be More Like Jesus

Hebrews 13: Love and Leadership

Hebrew 13: 1–9, 17–19

“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

    What can mere mortals do to me?”

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.”

The final chapter

For 12 chapters of Hebrews, we have these lofty ideas about the supremacy and superiority of Jesus. He is better than anything that we might settle for. Chapter 13 contains practical instruction about how the Christian life is lived. It’s necessary instruction for us. 

These practical instructions in Chapter 13 are the way that we live a life of gratitude and worship. How I live my life—my actions and responses, how I treat people, the decisions I make—is an expression of worship.

Admittedly, chapter 13 seems disjointed with a handful of different two-line sermons. 

Love those inside the church

A word to our church; keep at it. Keep on loving one another. I am so impressed by the atmosphere of love and acceptance and care and compassion that has marked our church family for so many years.

We don’t take that for granted. We know it doesn’t happen by accident. That has consistently marked this church. Let’s keep at it.

Love those outside

The author says, “do not forget to entertain strangers.” Behind this idea of entertaining strangers is the concept of hospitality and offering them practical comfort. When it says to entertain strangers, we tend to think of entertaining as cleaning the house, putting out the fancy dishes, and serving an elaborate meal to some friends.

But the concept of hospitality in the Bible is very different. It’s much more about extending a hand of friendship, particularly to those who are in need. It implies a concern for social justice. It’s engaging with the disadvantaged and the under-resourced. Love starts inside and from a strong base of a loving church family it flows out into the community.

Love the Persecuted

“Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” In a 2020 report, 260 million Christians faced persecution globally. 3711 Christians were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced, and imprisoned. 

The writer says, “remember those in prison.” Become aware of persecuted Christians. Engage with organizations that work with the persecuted church. As we live our lives with significant freedoms, we remember those who are in prison for the gospel. The writer says, “as if you were their fellow prisoner.” When one suffers, we all suffer. 

Love your spouse

Marriage should be honoured by all.

Whether you are in a good marriage or a difficult one, whether you are single by choice or single in this moment, as followers of Jesus we affirm and honour Biblical marriage.

The marriage bed be kept pure.

God’s core purpose for sex is to bind husband and wife together in a one flesh relationship. Each partner will guard their lives sexually so that when they come together their intimacy will not be impeded by actions or attitudes or attachments to anyone or anything. 

God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

The word adulterer refers to a person who has sex with someone other than their spouse. The term sexually immoral refers to sex outside of the marriage relationship.

Don’t love money

“Keep your lives free from the love of money.” Money is not the problem—the problem is when a person loves money. Paul says it in 1 Tim 6:10, “…the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”

Money has this deceptive way of drawing you into its grip. The writer tells us here to keep our lives free from the love of money. We shouldn’t underestimate just how difficult that is in a culture that loves money. As followers of Jesus, we understand that God has given us everything we have. God doesn’t want you to be stressed about money. 

He quotes from Psalm 118 and here’s the message: as an expression of my worship, I trust God to provide for me. He knows what I need, and I trust Him to provide for me in His way and in His time. As an expression of worship, I reject the love of money and I embrace contentment. I will be content with what God allows me to have and experience.

Spiritual leaders

In a 2017 Gallup poll done in the US found that the level of trust in pastors have dropped steadily since 2009. Thirty-five years ago, 67% of Americans put pastors in a category of being trustworthy. In 2017 it had dropped to 25%.  

There are a number of factors;  moral failure of high profile pastors, our penchant to value charisma over character so that leaders have gotten away with abusive behaviour because they could continue to draw a crowd, and many other factors.

Some of you know about spiritual abuse firsthand. You were part of a group or a church where a leader or group of leaders damaged people. Given all these realities, I’m aware of how sensitive this topic of leadership is. I know that when we come to a passage that contains words like, “obey” and “submit” that it’s terrifying.

And yet spiritual leadership is the provision of God for the church of Jesus to flourish. Jesus chose 12 men and trained them. One failed miserably and the other went on to lead the church. 

What is a spiritual leader?

In this passage we see seven things that describe a spiritual leader in the life of the church:

 They speak the word of God (verse 7)

Central to spiritual leadership is speaking God’s word. Leaders may have opinions on many things, but a spiritual leader’s task is not to share opinions. Our task is to bring God’s word to those who will hear it. And where God’s word doesn’t speak to an issue, we should leave the matter alone.

Live as an example of faith to be imitated. 

In spiritual leadership you conduct yourself in such a way that if people imitate your faith the result is that they look more like Jesus. Think of Paul’s words in 1 Cor 11:1, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.”    

Keep watch over the people of God (verse 17)

Every one of us is responsible for the wellbeing of our own soul—our own relationship with God. But spiritual leaders keep watch and are attentive to the spiritual wellbeing of God’s people.  

They serve with joy.

In 1 Peter 5:2 the author writes, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be not pursuing dishonest gain but eager to serve.” 

Spiritual leaders find delight in serving. The author says in Hebrews 13:17 that when a pastor leads with a sense of joy it is to the advantage of the church. When a spiritual leader doesn’t lead from a place of joy the people suffer. 

They are accountable.

In verse 17 he writes of leaders that they must give an account. To be accountable is to understand that your life and ministry is an open book and that within your structure is a group of leaders who are given the responsibility to call you to account.

Brings advantage to those he/she leads.

In verse 17 he writes about the leader’s work and makes the point that it is for the advantage of those served. A spiritual leader is not in it for their own advancement. In the gospels you see Jesus’s disciples arguing over who was the greatest among them and who would get the positions of highest privilege & power when Jesus came to political power. And Jesus continually reminds them that in the kingdom He came to establish, whoever wants to be great must be servant of all.

Live Honourably (verse 18)

Let’s go back to 1 Peter 5 to the passage directed at spiritual leaders in the church. He says they are shepherds who care for sheep and watch over them. Then in verse 3 he writes, “not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” It’s a description of spiritual abuse and what leaders should not do.

What’s our response to spiritual leaders?

Remember them (verse 7)

Be mindful and appreciative of those who have taught you God’s word and modelled faith in Christ. Value your spiritual leaders.

Imitate the faith of faithful leaders.

Every leader is human and won’t be perfect or live out their faith perfectly but look for those Godly qualities in your leaders and imitate their faith.

Don’t get carried away by strange teaching (verse 9)

Don’t get drawn away from the simple gospel message of salvation by faith in Christ. Beware of leaders who come with a new truth that God has revealed only to them.

Obey your leaders (verse 17)

The word translated “obey” can mean “to comply” but it also carries the idea “trusting in” or “having confidence in.”  In the NIV it reads, “be confident in your leaders.”

As they are trustworthy, you trust them, and you give them the benefit of the doubt when you don’t understand or agree with them. Obedience is not absolute. 

Submit

The word translated “submit” is only used here in the N.T. Elsewhere it’s a different Greek word. Here, it carries the idea of willing compliance, or a disposition of yielding. 

There are limits and boundaries. It is not unquestioning and absolute compliance. When it comes to that leader’s words, he or she speaks authoritatively when they are speaking biblical truth.

Pray for your spiritual leaders (verse 18)

As you pray for spiritual leaders it sets your heart in a good place to support them in the work they are doing. Secondly, you pray for them because they are human and therefore need God’s help and protection. They have weaknesses, they are vulnerable to temptations, and they are prone to distractions and discouragement.

Thank God for them as ones He has appointed to care for and lead God’s people. Pray that they will have God’s wisdom. Pray that they would walk humbly and serve with joy.  

 — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermons on August 1st and 8th, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 13 sermons on YouTube.

Hebrews 12: Peace

Hebrews 12:14–17

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord.

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.

Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.”

Deep divisions

In these last 16 months, we have gone through things as individuals and as a culture that have impacted us in ways that we have yet to realize. One of the things that this season has revealed is some deep divisions in our culture.

In the stresses and challenges of the pandemic, opinions have become more entrenched. Not surprisingly, as happens in families—that includes church families—is that there are brothers and sisters in Jesus who differ in their opinions and ideas. In fact, people who love Jesus have been on opposite sides on several issues relating to the pandemic.

While this was going on in the culture, it was being played out in the lives and relationships of our church family. Some of you have lost friendships. Some of you have seen your family divided and fragmented over these issues.

Hebrews was written to 1st century Christians who lived in a divided, polarized world. While their issues differ from ours, the issue of good human relationships is the same as in our setting.

To put this passage in its context, Hebrews 12 begins with the metaphor of the Christian life as a race where we throw off everything that can hinder us and the sin that so easily trips us up. If you’re running the race, how you process relationships with others and what you do when people hurt you will significantly affect how you run and how far you’ll go.

It’s noteworthy that the author begins with the issue of relationships. It points to the reality that some of them were struggling in their relationships, and it was affecting their progress.

In verses 14–17 there are two things to pursue, a warning, and an Old Testament character whose life serves as a warning for us.

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone.

Another translation uses the phrase, “pursue peace with everyone”. To “pursue” or to “make every effort” means to expend energy in this quest for peace between me and another.

Before we get to what that looks like, I think it’s good to see what it’s not. To live in peace with everyone doesn’t mean:

- That I don’t have opinions or preferences.

- That I agree with everyone’s opinions.

- That I never engage in disagreement.

- That I avoid people with whom I disagree or have conflict.

So, what does “peace with everyone” looks like? In Romans 12:18 Paul writes, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Obviously, if someone doesn’t want a peaceful relationship you can’t make it happen. But you make every effort—you pursue it. At some point, you may have to relax your pursuit if there is an unwillingness on the part of the other person.

The goal is a robust peace, and that may look like this: “we disagree but our unity in Christ is bigger than any issue or opinion that will divide us.”

So how do I pursue peace? I’m grateful for the resources of Lifeway and their 5 Tactics that are useful for the pursuit of peace.

1. Deal with conflict early.

The pursuit of peace begins with the honesty and the courage to recognize that peace is being threatened in a relationship.

When you become aware of a lack of peace, make it both your business and your initiative to pursue peace. Deal with it early and don’t let it fester. Time doesn’t resolve it.

2. Practice restraint, especially with your tongue.

I love the practical counsel of James 1:19, “that every person be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.” Self-expression has been elevated to an unhealthy place in our culture. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that it’s ok to have opinions but sharing them when no one’s asking is often unhelpful.

3. Prepare for a long journey.

1 Peter 3:11, says, “Seek peace and pursue it.” When Peter instructs us to seek peace, it’s because sometimes it’s hard to find.

There are times when peace with another seems like it’ll be impossible to find. Peacemaking is at times a process that requires ongoing effort and humility and the work of the Spirit on both sides.

4. Take the first step.

In Romans 12:20 Paul writes, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he’s thirsty, give him something to drink.” Ask God to show you what simple first step you can take for the benefit of someone with whom you are in conflict.

5. Trust God to settle the injustice you’ve suffered.

All of us will be hurt or wounded by people along the way. Through others’ words, because of selfishness, every one of us will experience injustice. Of course, you confront it, and you hope for an apology and restitution. But if it doesn’t happen, entrust them to God.

In 1 Peter 2:23, he writes this of Jesus, “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to Him who judges justly.” When I’m hurt, retaliation and retribution are off the table. I give it to God. Pursuing peace takes courage and humility.

Make every effort…to be holy.

There’s a famous quote by theologian F.F. Bruce: “Christian holiness is not a matter of painstaking conformity to the individual precepts of an extended law code; it is rather a question of the Holy Spirit’s producing his fruit in the life. Reproducing those graces which were seen in perfection in the life of Christ.”

Holiness is not about focusing on avoiding bad things. It’s allowing the Spirit to work in your life to become more like Jesus. A good start is the nine qualities of the fruit of the Spirit in Gal 5:22–23, “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” The Spirit will produce those in growing measure as you yield to the Spirit.

A warning

Verse 15 says, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

As people who have experienced God’s grace, we are called to extend the same grace we’ve received, to others. Think about God’s grace. Grace means “unmerited favour.” It’s favour that God pours out on me that I didn’t earn, deserve, or work for.

To not fall short of God’s grace means in part, that I extend grace to those who hurt, offended, or disappointed me. It means a whole lot more than that but, in this context, it has to do with pursuing peace and rejecting bitterness.

Bitterness is a sin, but it seems to stand in a special category because he calls it a bitter root. Every plant starts with a single seed that develops roots and grows.

Bitterness always begins with small seeds. It usually starts with someone doing something that offends you. And it doesn’t matter if they intended it or not—you get angry.

What happens next is that you pull up the root through grace and forgiveness or you internalize the anger, and you allow it to fester. As the roots grow deeper you fertilize it with resentment, and it doesn’t take long, for that root to be well established.

All bitterness starts with hurt. So, when you are hurt by someone, here’s the warning, “see to it that you don’t miss the grace of God.” And if you don’t respond with grace, it will take root and the longer it grows, the deeper it grows.

You determine whether an offence takes root in your heart. You determine how long and how deep that root becomes.

It’s been said that bitterness is one of the hardest sins to see in the mirror. We feel justified in our bitterness, and in that justification, the roots grow and grow. And bitter roots always produce bitter fruits. Bitterness will always show up and when it does it causes trouble and defiles many.

An Old Testament example

In verses 16 and 17 the writer references Esau as an example of one who refused to live in peace—who turned away from holiness and who lived with a bitter root.

If you know the story of Esau and his twin brother Jacob, you know that Esau made some bad decisions and was taken advantage of by his mother and his twin brother. The pivotal event of his life was when he sold his birthright for a simple meal. In a moment of carelessness, he gave up something of great spiritual value to satisfy the momentary desire for a bowl of stew.

The writer here calls him godless—not because he didn’t believe in the existence of God but because he made light of spiritual values.

Later, he had huge regrets and lived with bitterness towards his brother. The warning from Esau’s life is “see to it that you don’t trade spiritual things for a moment of earthly pleasure.” Listen to the regret of Esau. Learn from his experience.

 — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on July 25th, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 12 (part 3) sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 12: Discipline

Hebrews 12:4–13

“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 

Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.”

When life is difficult

If your idea of a life of faith is less problems, less challenges, God answering every prayer in the way and time you want, this passage is going to make you uncomfortable.

How do you cope when life is difficult? How do you process the reality of suffering? How do you make sense of life when things come at you that seem to make no sense or have no purpose?

People respond to difficulty and suffering in one of these ways:

·      Some people resign themselves to it and accept it.

·      Some people are crushed by it. 

·      Some grow by it.

If you choose a posture of growth, it may not ease the suffering or stop the pain, but it will mean a move from being victimized by suffering to deriving value out of the suffering.

Suffering because of others

This passage is mostly about this suffering because of the actions of others. In verse 3, speaking of Jesus, he writes, “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners…” For the original audience so much of what they were enduring was the result of the actions of people who were hostile and hurtful. 

Suffering because of the fall

When our first human parents sinned, the world changed. Paradise was ruined. The world as God intended it as a place of human flourishing became a place of struggle. All of us experience suffering because the world is out of alignment with God’s perfect design.

Suffering because of ourselves

My behavior has consequences. A person commits adultery and loses a marriage. A person steals and goes to jail. A person cheats and loses their job. All sin can be forgiven. All sin can be covered by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. However, in this life we experience the consequences of our own mistakes and sins. 

How we process suffering

Regardless of whether you are a Christian or not, all of humanity experiences difficulties and suffering from these three sources. The difference is that for people who have embraced the Biblical faith we’ve been studying in Hebrews 11; we process suffering with an understanding and a perspective that turns it from something that works against us to something that works for our benefit.

For the believers who received this letter he writes in verses 5 that they had forgotten that for the Christian, hardships can be purposeful. If you forget that, it’s easy to grow weary and eventually to despair. 

A godly perspective 

As this passage unfolds the writer uses three metaphors to give us a godly perspective on suffering:

·      God as Father (verses 5–10)

·      God as Coach (verse 11)

·      God as Gardener (verse 11)

God as Father (verses 5–10)

The writer takes the reader back to the wisdom of Solomon in Proverbs 3 to remind them that the heart of God is the heart of a loving father.  

The word that is translated as “discipline” in these verses carries the idea of the whole training and education of a child and relates to the cultivation and development of the child’s mind and morals and character. 

It’s the actions of a loving parent who uses commands and admonition employed to form a child into a person of virtue and goodness and godly character. The concern and the goal of discipline is that the child flourishes. It’s never payback or retribution. It’s always for building them up. 

Good, loving parents will do what they think is best. However, they are not omniscient. They don’t know all the facts. They are limited in their understanding of what is of ultimate good for their child. With Father God he is a perfect father who knows me and knows precisely what is needed for me to become who He designed me to be.

Understanding that when hardship comes it informs my response. No longer is it “Why me?” but rather, “How can I cooperate with all that God wants to do in me?” 

When I know that a loving Father is watching over me, trouble and suffering have an entirely different meaning. Certainly, in our pain, it may seem like God is silent or absent. But the truth of God’s word assures me that God is very present and anything but indifferent. 

God as Coach (verse 11)

Chapter 12 starts with the idea that the Christian life is a race. It’s the picture of a well-trained athlete who has trained and continues to condition and stay in shape for the race. 

God is working in your life like an athletic coach. The way that an athlete becomes better and stronger is by way of training. The way you grow a muscle is by breaking it down. After you break it down what your body rebuilds is stronger.

For most of us the dilemma is that we want to have the body of an athlete but the price of getting there is too high. It hurts too much. Breaking down the muscle by pushing your physical limits is necessary but uncomfortable. 

It’s only after you’ve persisted and persevered and pushed through the pain that you see the benefits of what you put your body through.

Right now, you may be going through some things, and they don’t make sense and it seems like your prayers that God deliver you are falling on deaf ears—trust the coach. He’s working all things for your good. You’re being torn down not as a way to destroy you but as the only way to build strength and character and virtue in you.

God has a way of building your life through everything that comes into your life. Even the things that are done to you by people with evil intent—God won’t let that go to waste in your life. When He chooses not to heal or not to intervene, He’s still at work in ways that we may not understand amid of our discomfort.

God as Gardener (verse 11)

There’s a mixing of metaphors in verse 11. There’s the metaphor of an athlete. But there’s also the reference to “harvest.” Of course, a tree doesn’t experience pain like we do but there is physical damage, but there is some trauma to the tree. The cutting away is done for one reason: fruitfulness.

A fruit tree that’s never pruned eventually grows lots of leaves but not fruit. The gardener is looking for fruit.

3 thoughts on discipline

Tough times are not God’s punishment

Discipline is not punitive. As a follower of Jesus, your sins were dealt with when Jesus went to the cross. He paid the penalty in full. God doesn’t come back for more payment by inflicting pain on you. Paul says it so well in Romans 8:1 “…there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

As a believer, God is not paying you back for your sin in the hardships of life. You are no longer living under that curse. Jesus fully absorbed the curse for you.

Don’t waste tough times

Of course, we don’t wish for or welcome pain on ourselves or for others. But when it comes, realize that it’s not there to destroy you. God is at work through it to refine you and to polish off the rough edges and to form you more and more into the image of Jesus.

You are being trained. Lean into the growth.

Learn from Joseph

In Genesis chapters 37 through 50 we track Joseph’s life from age 17 to his death about 90 years later.  At 17, hated by his brothers, he’s sold into slavery. He’s purchased by an Egyptian official and ends up in jail on false charges.

Through a miracle he is released from prison and goes on to a high position in the Egyptian government. Years later his brothers come looking to buy food because of famine. They don’t recognize Joseph, but he inquires and finds out about his father and younger brother.

When he finally reveals his identity to his brothers, they are sure that he will use his position to punish them. Instead, he says this in Gen 50:20, “You intended to harm me but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

There is never a moment where God is absent. There is never a moment when God has abandoned you. There is never a moment when God is indifferent. In and through all of the things you experience He is working all things for your good.

 — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on July 18th, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 12 (part 2) sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 12: The Race

Hebrews 12:1–3

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

What to expect

Every follower of Jesus has ideas of what to expect. Often a person becomes interested in Jesus and they come to faith because they see the benefits of faith. I think at times preachers talk more about the great benefits than anything else. 

In Psalm 103:2 the Psalmist writes, “Praise the Lord o my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” And then for the next 20 verses he lists the benefits. 

If we sell the Christian life in terms of only benefits, we have told the truth but not the whole truth. Hebrews 12 is a reality check. The words of this chapter inform our expectations so we can navigate life in a better way. 

We have a couple of distorted ideas of Christianity that Hebrews 12 brings reality into focus. There’s the idea that the Christian life is supposed to be struggle free. And the other idea is that Christianity is a conversion experience that a person goes through that’s their ticket to heaven. While I absolutely affirm that for most people there is a moment of conversion, I can’t affirm biblically that that is the sum total of the Christian life. 

Let us run the race

Central to this passage is the phrase in verse 1: “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Central to this phrase is the word “race.” 

I don’t know what comes to mind when you hear the word “race”—likely the school track where you ran your heart out in the 100m dash. Or maybe you participated in a marathon and that’s how you think of a race. 

The word that is translated “race” is the word “agon” from which we also get the English word “agony.” 

For the writer to use this word he is referring to their national competition where athletes competed, but it also refers to any struggle or contest. Some commentators believe it is a reference to the pentathlon event, which was for high level athletes in the ancient Greek Olympics. An athlete competing in the pentathlon was considered more well-rounded than any other athlete.

That’s the Christian life—it’s a race. There is struggle and training. There are opponents who will do everything in their power to pin you down or get you to tap out. It’s a theme that shows up in Paul’s letters to the churches.

In Philippians 2 and then again in chapter 3 Paul refers to running the race and straining toward the finish line. He’s concerned for himself that he does not slack off as he saw the finish line ahead. In what would be his farewell words before his death, Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” 

Paul speaks of the Christian life not as a walk in the park but as a fight. There is no coasting. It’s a race to the finish line.

In verses 1–3 we see three things about this race we’re in that’ll help us finish it:

The race can be won

Verse 1 begins with “therefore.” When this letter was written it wasn’t written in chapters and verses. Our chapter 12 is a continuation of the heroes of faith in Chapter 11. 

The message; you’re not the first one to experience the struggle. There is an impressive list of people who struggled and stayed in the race when they had reasons to quit. 

Every one of the Hebrews 11 heroes of faith pressed on and persevered and obeyed God and trusted God to the end. Surrounding us in our race are a whole list of people whose lives demonstrate that the race can be won. 

When you consider the 17 individuals and groups of named and unnamed heroes, their lives say to us that no matter what you are facing and no matter what is challenging you, God will bring you through it. Trusting Him and walking faithfully with Him is worth it. 

So, when the race gets difficult—when you are tempted to quit—consider that there are millions who have gone before you who faced the same stuff you’re facing, and they kept on going. Their faith leaves an amazing legacy for you that will strengthen and encourage those who come after you.

The race requires intentionality

“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”

Not so many years ago a runner in a race would wear baggy shorts and a looser fitting shirt. You watch an Olympic running event today and the clothing is tight and minimal to cut off a millisecond of time.

There are two categories of things to put off: everything that hinders and sin that so easily entangles. That distinction is noteworthy. There are things that are weights that hinder us and slow us down.  Sometimes it’s a lifestyle choice, or something like regret, or aspects of your personality that hold you back. 

When evaluating your life choices, the question to ask is not, “What’s wrong with this?” A better question is “Will this help me run the race better?” There are weights that you are carrying that you can throw off. 

And then there are sins that so easily entangle. Sin is like a rope that is wrapped around my ankles fully intent on taking me out of the race. To hold on to sin is to set yourself up for a fall.

We lay aside sins as an act of the will. Saying “no” to sin is sometimes difficult but always necessary. It’ll trip you up. 

Fix your eyes on Jesus

The phrase that is translated as “fix your eyes” is one word in the original but it requires a phrase in English because it carries the idea of turning your eyes away from other things and fixing them on something. 

In a race you are focused on one thing. And that’s true for us in this race called the Christian life. For us, Jesus is the finish line. Rivet your attention on Him. 

We’ve all seen people who got their eyes off of Jesus. Some get their eyes on how others around them were running the race and got caught up with comparisons with other runners. Some get focused on someone who hurt them, and it got them off course.

Jesus is our fixed position of reference. Fixing your attention on Him anchors your faith and His example is the necessary motivation that’s needed to run the race with endurance. He’s the pioneer of our faith. He’s shown us what faith looks like. 

He endured the unspeakable shame and agony of the cross for us so that we could have life in Him. Look at verse 3 which says, “Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that you don’t grow weary and lose heart.” That’s the message for us. And particularly for those who are going through opposition for your faith, or you have taken your eyes off of Jesus, remember to “come on back.”

So don’t lose heart. Fix your eyes on the only One who will take you through to the other side.

 — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on July 11th, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 12 (part 1) sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 11: Faith for Hard Times

Hebrews 11: 32–40

“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection.

Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

Unique faith

Perhaps because of our success and results oriented society, when it comes to faith, we want faith to produce great results. In fact, some have taught that a life of faith results in health, wealth, and happiness. This passage at the end of a chapter on faith is a problem for those who hold that view. 

The voices of those who were criticizing Christians were starting to make more sense when life was getting more difficult. The writer of this letter repeats the theme over and over that Jesus is better. Jesus is better than all they held dear in their Jewish faith. In fact, Jesus is the fulfillment of all that was foreshadowed in the Old Covenant.

People can have such different experiences with their faith. There’s the person who comes up against a challenge and through their faith they experience a miracle or God provides in an unmistakable way. And then, equally as faithful and faith-filled, is the person who prays and trusts God and takes steps of faith and the answer to their prayer doesn’t come. Our passage has those two groups.

Faith turning into triumph 

In verses 32–35 the writer references six Old Testament characters and prophets who faced incredible odds but saw their weakness turned to strength. In the end, their faith resulted in triumph. Each of them have a phenomenal story.

Gideon

Gideon is known as the greatest judge of Israel. He doesn’t start out that way. When we first see him in Judges 6, he’s hiding from the roving bands of Midianites who were raiding and decimating the people of Israel. 

God calls him to raise up an army. In all he’s able to muster 32,000 men. And even at that he’s outnumbered and outpowered by the mighty army of Midian. In the end he’s left with 300 soldiers and when his 300 defeat the army of Midian it’s clear that God has won the battle.

Jephthah

Then there’s Jephthah: a complete underdog. His mom was a prostitute. His brothers drove him away to prevent him from claiming his inheritance. But through his faith he becomes the ruler of Israel and defeats the mighty Ammonites.

David and Samuel

David and Samuel were both underdogs. They were both disadvantaged and through their faith they went from weakness to strength. Remember David and Goliath? David is able to see Goliath not as the giant that others see,  but by faith, he sees him as a puny man compared to the power and greatness of David’s God.

These heroes of faith conquered kingdoms. Through faith they ruled and governed the nation of Israel. They gained what God had promised to them. All of these stories resonate. When bad things happen, God fixes them for people who exercise their faith. But that’s not where the passage ends.

Faith in hard times

In the middle of verse 35 is the words “others.” They stand in sharp contrast with the heroes of faith in the previous verses; however, they are as much heroes of faith as those in the previous verses. 

The heroes of faith in verses 1 to 35 acted and took a bold dare on the unseen. They had a certainty about the God who they could not see with their physical eyes. And that is just as true of those in these latter verses of Hebrews 11. 

Maccabees 7

The book of Maccabees is part of Israel’s history from the intertestamental period (in the 4-year gap between the end of the Old Testament and the coming of Jesus). During that time, Israel was under the brutal reign of the Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes. 

The author is referring to the story of a mother with seven sons. The king orders them to violate the Law of Moses by eating food that is forbidden and the sons refuse. The king orders that a caldron be heated up. Refusing to defy the law of God, the first son gets his tongue cut out. He is scalped, his hands and feet are hacked off and still alive he is thrown onto a frying pan over a fire. 

The mother speaks words of courage to her sons urging them to remain faithful to God, and son after son goes to his death the same way. As they come down to her last son the king threatens to be even more brutal if he refuses to compromise his faith in God. In Maccabees 7:23 the mother encourages her youngest son by saying, “the Creator of the world, who shaped the beginning of man and devised the origin of all things, will in his mercy give life and breath back to you again.” And in verse 29 says, “do not fear this butcher but prove worthy of your brothers. Accept death so that in God’s mercy I may get you back again with your brothers.”

Other characters’ faith

Tradition tells us that Isaiah the prophet was sawn in half. Much more contemporary to those who received this letter, John is put to death by the sword at the order of King Herod. Peter is imprisoned, as are Paul and Silas. Verse 35 refers to the fact that they refused to be released. 

All they needed to do was to recant their faith. All they had to do was to walk away and their lives would have been spared. But they made the decision to stay the course—to be faithful to God—and leave the outcome to Him.

Faith’s plan, price, and prize

As we look at this other side of faith, I want us to highlight three things from this passage.

-           Faith’s plan.

-           Faith’s price.

-           Faith’s prize.

Faith’s plan

If there’s anything that’s clear it’s that God doesn’t use a cookie cutter. God’s work in each of our lives is tailor-made for us. Faith can’t be reduced to a formula where God works the same way in every life.

The pathway of faith involves trusting God with your life knowing that your journey is different from another person’s journey. It also involves me not making judgements about another person when they process faith differently than I do. 

God may choose to deliver someone else from their troubles while I am given God’s strength and grace to go through the troubles—and vice versa. Faith’s plan for me is unique.

Faith’s price

God’s salvation is a gift freely given to me because Jesus paid for it. This is not about paying for salvation.

Reading through the list of things that people endured it is clear that their love for God didn’t end when difficulty began. Their faith compelled them to pay the price. They stood firm in the face of persecution and deprivation.

To follow Jesus is to relinquish ownership and control of one’s life. To follow Him is to walk in obedience to Him as the ultimate authority. 

Jesus is not something we add to our lives. He is our life. Living as Christians in North America we face moments of discomfort for following Jesus so we may not be as aware of the tens of thousands of Jesus followers who are martyred annually around the world. 

Faith’s prize 

From a human perspective these suffering people were failures. However, within the heart of every one of those heroes of faith was the certainty of resurrection—certainty that physical death is the beginning of an eternal life with God. They weren’t afraid of death; therefore, they weren’t afraid of anything. For the mother in Maccabees who encouraged her sons to accept death rather than give up their faith in God, she did it because she was convinced that they would all be reunited in eternity.

And then think of this; those O.T heroes of faith believed based on a promise. You and I have much more than that. We have Jesus who actually experienced death and came back from it. His resurrection assures us of our own resurrection. And that makes all the difference in how we live and how we die.

These heroes of faith teach us to live with an unshakable confidence that Jesus is better than what life can give us and better than what death can take from us. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

 — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on July 4th, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 11 (part 2) sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 11: Biblical Faith

Hebrews 11:1–6

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.  

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

The faith chapter

Hebrews 11 is called the “faith chapter” of the Bible for obvious reasons. The word “faith” appears over 20 times in this chapter and in the 40 verses that make up this chapter you have faith described here in the opening verses and then you have a grand demonstration of faith through the lives of Old Testament heroes of faith. 

Through the stories of seventeen heroic figures out of the pages of the Old Testament we come to understand what true biblical faith is and what it looks like as it’s lived out. On top of the seventeen Bible characters that are named, the writer mentions those nameless heroes of faith whose lives and faithfulness help us understand what Biblical faith is.

The subject of faith is a big subject, and the word “faith” is defined and understood differently by our culture. When the word “faith” is used in our culture some people think of religion or religion systems. 

Biblical faith is defined here in Hebrews 11.  Biblical faith is not trusting in something for which there is no evidence. It’s not a leap into uncertainty. 

The writer of this letter has finished off Hebrews 10 with a call to persevere. Now in chapter 11 he gives his readers reasons for endurance. He’s appealing to the stories of their faith heroes to show them both that it can be done, and that the outcome of persevering faith is worth it. 

What is faith?

Verse 1 has two descriptions for faith:

1. Confidence in what we hope for

2. Assurance about what we do not see

Faith is confidence in what we hope for

When you see the word “hope” in the Bible, it carries the idea of certainty. In our common usage we think of hope as wishful thinking.  “I hope things go my way” or “I hope to get a better job.” 

Biblical hope is not a wish. Biblical hope is about certainty. So, when we talk about “things hoped for,” it’s referring to the complete confidence I have that God will do what He’s promised to do. It’s based on His character. 

When I trusted in Christ for salvation, I experienced a measure of what is yet to come. Right now, I have peace of heart. I have His presence with me. I know there’s a whole lot more coming but right now I lay hold of what will one day be mine in fulness. My faith is not a leap into the unknown. I can move forward with confident expectation based on the character of God. 

Faith is being certain of what we do not see

The word “certain” carries the idea of “conviction.” There is a reality that extends beyond what we perceive with our five senses. There are unseen realities and faith is what enables me to receive the benefits of the unseen realm.

Another translation uses the word “evidence.” Faith is about evidence. God has left his fingerprints all over—in everything He’s made. Whether it’s the vastness of the universe or the intricacy of a spider web or the marvel of the human body, faith enables us to see the unseen. 

This God that I cannot see, feel, taste, or touch spoke a word and created everything out of nothing. All around us is evidence of God. Faith enables a certainty in the unseen reality of God.

Ephesians 2:8 says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift from God.” Salvation is a gift. Faith is God’s gift. 

Heroes of faith

Later in the chapter, the writer fleshes out how faith operates by profiling this impressive list of Old Testament heroes of faith, starting with Abel and Enoch. What’s interesting is that in both their stories their faith is not referenced, and yet here it is. 

Abel is the second son of Adam and Eve. He and his older brother Cain bring sacrifices to God.

We’re not told the reason why God accepted Abel’s sacrifice but not Cain’s in the story in Genesis 4. What we understand from Hebrews 11 is that because of Abel’s sacrifice offered in faith he is commended as a righteous man. 

In jealousy, Cain kills his brother, but Abel stands as a man of faith because of his faith towards God that was communicated by his gift.

The other hero of faith here is Enoch. We don’t know much about Enoch except that he walked with God and one day, God took him. He didn’t die a natural death.  What’s said about him here is that he pleased God. 

We actually know quite a bit more about the others named later in this chapter. From their stories there are three things that all of these had in common in terms of faith:

1. A faith that’s active.

2. A faith that obeys God in spite of feelings, circumstances, or consequences.

3. A faith whose object is God.

Aspects of Biblical faith

A faith that’s active

Biblical faith is not just a knowledge of and an assent to facts or directives. In every case these heroes of faith acted based on what they knew God wanted of them.

Abel offered. Enoch walked. Noah built. Abraham left everything and went to the place God called him. Later he was willing to offer up his son. Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau. Moses’ parents hid him. Moses left Egypt. The people of Israel walked into the waters of the Red Sea before God parted them. Later they marched around the walls of Jericho. Rahab hid the Jewish spies. 

Faith always involves bold action in response to what a person knows God wants them to do. The author is describing the effects that faith has on a person. It’s not just static belief. Genuine faith spurs a person to act on God’s truth. They step forward, often with a tenacity and with great courage to do things for no other reason than obedience to God. 

A faith that obeys God in spite of feelings, circumstances, or consequences

All of these “heroes”  are ordinary people who experienced moments of doubt and complicated emotions. They all faced obstacles. In virtually every case they experienced difficult consequences for their obedience. 

They were misunderstood. They were rejected. Some were mocked. They were people whose belief in the invisible was so great they didn’t care what happened to them. To obey God was the difficult choice. To obey was to take the road less travelled.

If your faith has caused you to make unpopular decisions and at times resulted in conflict and difficulty, it’s a pretty good sign that it’s genuine faith. Faith is our response to God’s word and God’s directives. 

The object of faith is God

Every person has faith. All of us put our trust in something. All of us live and act based on a belief system. The difference between a Christian and someone who is not a follower of Jesus is not that one has faith, and the other doesn’t. The difference is that the Christian’s object of faith is God.

Our faith is never in vain. The reward of faith begins in this life and when this life comes to an end, faith continues, and the reward continues.

— Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on June 27th, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 11 (part 1) sermon on YouTube.