"Love Wins" summary

As I said a few days ago, I will post a synopsis or review of Rob Bell's new book "Love Wins". My review would be summed up two ways: 1.) CAUTION!!! This book in my opinion was written to make people question their beliefs. At one point in the book about 5 pages or so in... I counted 27 Questions on the page. If you are not firmly grounded in your faith or sure of your beliefs then you will very easily doubt what you believe and start thinking that Rob Bell is right. Now granted, asking questions is not a bad thing at all, but when you ask questions you should always lead someone down the right path with answers. In this book there is not many answers or much guidance, and if you happen to see some then it is not guiding you down the right path. Which leads me to my second way of summing it up, 2.) ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? if you like question marks then you will get your fill in this book. However, that is all that you get. You will read many questions and many sentences that start off, "which lead to another question." If like reading questions without getting answers, and feel completely confused while reading then feel free to read this book. However, that leads back to my first point of Caution. I personally would not suggest this book to anyone, and if someone were to say that they bought it and were about to read it I would make sure they knew what kind of mind games they were in for. My intentions were to give a chapter by chapter summary but I honestly think that it would be a waste of my time to type that out and for you to read it. So if you take my advice on Rob Bell's book..... you wont need to buy it, read it, or listen to anything else about it.

It's been a while!

I have not blogged in a very long time. Over the next few days I will be re-reading a book called "Love Wins" by Rob Bell and posting my thoughts on it. This book has been very controversial and has caused a huge uproar within the Christian faith. I will say that I do not believe in any of Rob Bell's theology within this book, but I think it is good to read what other people believe so that we can defend our own beliefs. So within a few days, I will post a synopsis of his book.

Colossians Study (Part 3)

It has been a while since my last post, life has gotten very busy, but my study in Colossians has still been very important to me so I am going to continue my journey through Colossians with Colossians 2.

(v. 1-5) Paul begins by telling us about his deep passion and burden for the church at Laodecia as well as Colossae. He wants to go and preach in person to both churches. He speaks of the members of the churches and how their hearts are knit together with love, and that they will discover the knowledge and understanding of Christ is the source of all true wisdom and knowledge. He then warns the churches of attractive yet false teachings within their own church bodies. In verse 5 Paul brings alove one of the greatest truths in the world, that being: "The Spirit of Christ lives within us."

(v.6-15) Paul starts out trying to get the church at Colossae to come back to its original foundation. To come back to true knowledge, and get back to their roots. Paul uses the illustration of a tree being built up and its roots getting deep (in faith). False teaching in Colossae is bringing a real threat to the church there. What they have fallen into is believeing in the empty and dry teaching. Paul states that in true and biblical teaching one comes to know of the deity of Christ. If one is a believer Paul tells us that they share in power and authority over every rule and authority. This comes from our union with Christ, being one. We as christians no longer live in the flesh, we have been spiritually circumcised and now live in and through Christ. Christians now live in solidarity with Christ and His righteousness. Paul mentions the metaphor of baptism in salvation, we die with Christ, and rise up again a new person. In verse 14 Paul puts the gospel in amazing terms of "cancelling the record of debt that stood against us... and nailed it to the cross." Paul ends with explaining the defeat of darkness by His death on the cross.

(v.16-23) Paul begins this passage by continuing his warning againse false teachers. Theses false teachers had been preaching traditions were needed for salvation. Paul again references Christ being the head of the body and the church which he previously mentions in (1:18). If we do not have the head, our body falls apart. The false teachers gave a list of worldly things you should not do. Paul says to take the focus off of the world and place it on God.

Colossians Study (part 2)

So I have been studying Colossians for a little over two weeks now, and it has produced a very fruitful time in my life, and I am learning a lot from this study. I have finished chapter one now and will give you some of my thoughts and notes from (v.15-29) in this blog.

(v.15-20) Paul tells us that Christ has authority over all things on earth and in heaven. He created all, and rules over all. In verse 17 Paul mentions that in Christ all things hold together, and nothing falls apart. In verse 18 Paul says says that Christ is the head of the Church. Now that statement of Christ being the head of the Church is a very BIG TRUTH. Christ is the leader of the saints (believers who make up the church) and He should be our focus. Unfortunately a lot of church bodies do not have Christ as their head and focus on numbers of members, or how many people get "saved". When Christ is not the head of the Church, most things done in that church are in vain. Paul goes on to tell us that Christ in our redemption (deliverance) and has accomplished reconciliation at the cross. Christs blood created peace and redemption for believers. Paul ends with saying that Christ is our atonement.

(v. 21-23) Paul states that when we were born and until we were saved we were doing evil and were hostile. When he is saying this he is talking about the church at Colossae before they believed the Gospel. Paul tells us that Christ has reconciled the believers and gives us a new body to be presented as Holy and blameless before God. However, we must continue to pursue God and bear good fruit in our lives above all. We must stay in the true Gospel, Paul claims to have become a minister from the gospel.

(v. 24-29) Paul says he rejoices in his sufferings for Christs sake. He says that we suffer for the sake of Christs body which is the church. Paul mentions being a minister to makes Gods Word fully known to the world, which is a reference to preaching and spreading the Gospel. Christs' gospel is being revealed to the Saints (believers that make up the church). The Saints are to make Gods Glory known to the people, by showing Christ through their lives. Christ Works within us to proclaim this message (the Gospel) (Matthew 28:16-20)

I want to end this blog with a few quotes and thoughts on suffering from a pretty popular named John Piper. He has a book called, "Brothers, We are NOT Proffessionals" which is a plea to pastors for radical ministry. If you feel called into the ministry I highly recommend this book. But in chapter 19 "Brothers, Our Affliction is for their Comfort" he says the following statements: "The afflictions suffered by the Family of God are from the Heavenly Father for our good." In the Bible Job and Paul realized that when they were struck by Satan, they felt the hand of GOD. Ultimately, their suffering was from the Lord, and they knew it. "Satan's design is the destruction of faith, but Gods design is the deep cure of our soul." " The only genuine comfort will come from acknowledging that the all-powerful God has done it and He is infinitely wise and infinitely loving to those who trust Him." (referring to suffering) "If, by grace, we manage a mustard seed of faith in God's sovereign goodness through it all, we will discover unspeakable comfort" "In all our affliction, I am overflowing with JOY" (2 Cor. 7:4). For "if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation" (2 Cor. 1:6).

part 3 will be coming next week....

Colossians Study (part 1)

So a few days ago (1-26-10) I began an in depth study on the book of Colossians. Since that day I have only gotten through the first 14 verses of the first chapter, due to studying each verse word for word, and in such depth. I want to encourage you to, if you are not already, to start reading your Bible everyday. It does not have to be much just a chapter a day or even a few verses, just to get Gods word in your life. If nothing is coming into our lives spiritually, nothing can come out spiritually. It would be like trying to get water from your sink, with the water turned off. So I really hope that you start picking up your Bible once a day and just reading a few verses from the richest and most thirst quenching thing on earth which is God and His Word.

But back to my Colossians study, I just want to share with you a few things that I have picked up on just from studying the first 14 verses of chapter one.

(V. 1-2) Paul designates himself as an apostle, and takes responsibility of the church in Colossae. The interesting thing about that to me is that Paul has never visited Colossae, and never even preached the gospel to the people there, yet he is taking responsibilty for the church there.

(V. 3-8) Paul thanks God for the Colossians and their expressions of faith, hope, and love. An interesting thing that I have picked up on is that Paul never thanks the people of the church at Colossae, he always thanks God Himself. Now Paul is in jail at the time of this letter being written. He has heard that a fellow servant by the name of Epaphras has preached the gospel to the people and that they have believed. One of the biggest thing that has stood out to me in my study of these verses comes in verse 4. Paul mentions the love for the saints. And I began thinking about the connection between loving the saints (fellow believers) and the gospel. I saw a connection between the two, then I began listening to a podcast by Matt Chandler where he was preaching on Colossians and he brough up the same connection. He said this, "Our trust in the Gospel is an inseperable link to loving the saints or body of believers". So if we really believe and trust in the true Gospel, we will also love our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, these two things are inseperable. Paul mentions in theses verses that the true gospel is spreading throughout the world and bearing good fruit.

(V. 9-14) Paul and Timothy (who is with Paul during this time) say that they have never ceased to pray (1 Thess. 5:17) for the people at Colossae after hearing they have received the gospel message. They ask for the Holy Spirit to fill the church at Colossae and guide them in understanding and knowledge of Gods will. Paul asks that God would give them strength in their walk of life and to bear good fruit. Paul again thanks God Himself for the work He is doing in Colossae. Paul mentions as believers, Christ has delievered us from darkness, defeated evil, and it has no dominion over us now. We are now a part of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and are now living in redemption (deliverance) and forgiveness of our sins.

I will continue posting blogs about Colossians as I continue my study of it. To be continued....

Make Disciples!!!

In the Bible, the word christianity is mentioned 0 times, the word Christian is occurs 3 times in the Bible, the word Disciple (follower of Jesus) occurs 263 times. (I believe God is trying to tell us something through that.)

The Great Commission: Matthew 28:16-20
"Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped Him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. "
Fulfilling the Great Commission is the very mission of our lives as Christians. Here is a breakdown of the word 'Commission': com- means: a prefix meaning "with", "together", "in association" and (with intensive force). mission means: the business with which such a body of persons is charged, or, a special assignment to a person or group.

So Gods will for our lives as Christians is to GO!! (which literally in the greek means "while you are going, or as you are going") and make disciples of all nations by teaching and preaching the one true gospel. Put your faith into action and make Disciples. But we must makes sure that we preach the one true gospel (Galatians 1:6-10). Too often people go out and proclaim a false gospel message. The most common of these false gospels is the "Health, Wealth, and Prosperity gospel" which is completely false and is actually idolatry and not the true gospel.

"The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is not that everything is going to go well. The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that you get HIM and He is enough no matter what circumstance comes, and He sustains us." -Matt Chandler

So how do we go and proclaim the Gospel to all the nations and make disciples??
(Romans 10:12-15):
Christ Sends Preachers.
Preachers tell the Gospel
People Hear the Gospel
Hearers believe the Gospel
Believers call on Christ
Those who call are saved

The breakdown of this cycle is: "Preachers tell the Gospel" That means the weak point of this process is us. If we do not do our job we are hindering the advancement of the gospel and therefore disobeying God. So if you are a true born again believer, you are a disciple, and you are to be spreading the gospel as an image bearer of Christ and as His disciple everyday of your life.

Be a Living Sacrifice

Once I got a hold of the meaning these very words by Matt Papa, my life changed:

"Be a truly living sacrifice, at the, altar it's easy to come and kneel down front, but the altar in the Old Testament is a place where things came to die. Have you died to yourself?, died to your sinful habits?, pride?, jealousy?, envy?, things that keep you from being a living sacrifice? Bring them to the cross in the view of Gods mercy, NOT in the view of His judgement, or damnation, but in the view of His mercy, and His love. Bring it to the altar and sacrifice it upon the cross." -Matt Papa (Impact 08)