The Journey Begins :: Marah :: part two

Over the last several weeks in New Community, we've been looking at the Israelite's journey from Egypt to the Promise Land. Interestingly, God choose to take them on a route other than the one that would have been the most direct.

Why? What was His purpose in doing so?

There were lessons He wanted them to learn, principles He wanted them to understand. He was forming them into the kind of people He wanted them to become. 1 Corinthians 10 teaches us that they were given as examples for us to learn from.

What can we learn from them? Are there ways in which God dealt with them, that He also deals with us? Are there principles He wanted them to embody, that He also wants us to embody as well?

The following are a few reflective thoughts inspired by Exodus 15:22-26.

v. 22 :: Voices, Death & New Identity

22aThen Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur.

Our journey with God isn’t designed to always be comfortable.

We all need voices in our lives that remind us (regardless of how good our present circumstances look) that this is not our destination…

Who (or what) are the voices in your life?

The Journey Begins :: Marah :: part one

Though written centuries ago, it is as relevant today in our own lives, as it was thousands of years ago. I’m amazed, again and again at how rich passages of Scripture are and how much can be learned from them. Especially passages, like the passage in Exodus, where Israel journeys to Marah. The following are a few principles regarding spiritual formation and discipleship that we can learn from Israel's experience found in Exodus 15:22-24.

Israel had just finished singing their song of triumph. Deliverance from the bondage of Egypt wasn't the destination, rather it was simply the beginning of their journey with God. It is with this journey, that God began the process of forming Israel into the people He had called them to be.

There comes a time for all of us,
where the songs of our lips are tested by the fortitude of our hearts and the way of our feet.

The journey isn’t just about getting us out of Egypt,
it’s about getting Egypt out of us.

We often think of Israel's time in the desert as dreary experience, but consider how the prophet Jeremiah portrays God's perspective. 

 ²I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you love me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown. ³Israel was holy to the LORD. Jeremiah 2:2-3

As the echo's of Israel's song can still be heard on the banks of the Red Sea, God leads them away from that which was comfortable and represented safety into the desert.

Divine Architect

“The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;

By understanding He established the heavens.”
(Proverbs 3:19)

Have you ever bought something new and tried to assemble it? Chances are, if you’re like me, often those pieces don’t always seem to fit as snug and sturdy as I remember the store display being. Or, what do you do with the three bolts left over? “Did I forget something?” I’ve asked myself more than once. “Oh well, it looks fine to me. At least it’s standing…” “It’s only leaning a little to the right.” “The wheel does seem to be wobbling a little bit, but I think it’s okay.” Any of these sound familiar? Sometimes the extra pieces turn out to be a little more significant than others and before long the whole thing falls apart.

Imagine if you had been contracted by God to design and assemble the universe, or perhaps just little ole Earth. Consider the following intricacies of the planet we live on.
If the earth were as small as the moon, the power of gravity would be too weak to retain sufficient atmosphere for man’s needs; but if it were as large as Jupiter, Saturn, or Uranus, extreme gravitation would make human movement almost impossible.

...in the beginning.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—
his eternal power and divine nature—
have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.”
(Romans 1:20 NIV)

“Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
even from everlasting to everlasting,
you are God”
(Psalm 90:2)

God is eternal, i.e., God is without beginning or end. God not only pre-existed creation, He preceded and created time. Sometime ago I came across a fictitious story about a group of men who set out to find an answer to the question, “Where did the earth come from?” They compiled much data covering many areas of investigation and then fed it into the mammoth computer. When they had completed their work and had given the machine all the information, they pushed the “answer” button and waited expectantly for the results. Lights flashed! Bells rang! Buzzers sounded! When the great moment arrived, this printed message emerged: “See Genesis 1:1.”[i]

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
GENESIS 1:1

Meditate on the following statement: God is eternal. He has no beginning, nor end.


What thoughts, emotions and questions does this arise for you?

New Series :: INDESCRIBABLE

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard." ~Psalm 19

The heavens are telling the glory of God, and their expanse declares the work of His hands. The Apostle Paul wrote, that “by taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being.”

This series will take you on a rich journey through the cosmos, allowing you to peer into God's universe to discover the amazing magnitude of His greatness and grace.

New Series :: DAVID

Tonight we kick of a new series in New Community. We're going to be looking at the life of David.

Except for Jesus, there is more written about his life than any other character in Scripture. Unfortunately, our flashbacks to flannel-boards and David & Goliath story-sound-bytes have shrouded our understanding of David and perhaps kept us from digging beneath the surface of the story itself.

David's life is a fascinating drama that's narrated by a brilliant story-teller. I'm looking forward to what we'll discover...

Day 14 of Lent :: Dancing God

Reflection:
How is the God of the Old Testament typically depicted?

What emotions or dispositions frequently come to mind when you think of the God of the Old Testament?

How often do you relate to God (at least subconsciously)
out of this mental model?

The prophet Zephaniah gives us a vivid portrayal of the God of the Old Testament, as One who passionately encircles those in whom He finds pleasure.

“The LORD your God in your midst,
the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

Zephaniah was trying to illustrate a stunning picture of the heart and posture of God.

Based on studies of this verse in the Hebrew, let’s look at an expanded interpretation of what this verse is literally saying,

The Lord your God, is the One who created and upholds all things by the power of His word. He is the self-existent and eternal Being, who is in covenant with you. The One and only Giver and Sustainer of life, is not far away and out of reach, rather, He is in your midst, in the very center of where you exist. He is a Mighty One, a Victorious Warrior, who is endowed with salvation and deliverance and has come to help. He does so because He delights over you with great pleasure, joy and even happiness. As He shows forth His love, you become speechless. He is lovesick for you. Because of this lovesickness, He spins around with intense emotion, leaping for joy, dancing as one intoxicated with deep emotion. Enraptured, there’s a cry that rings out from the depths of His being, a song is sung – a song that causes all of creation to tremble, as the notes of His love resonate.

Often times we misconstrue God as a wrath-filled, white-knuckled tyrant on the edge of His throne, anxiously waiting the moment of vengeance. After all, the “God of the Old Testament” is a God of wrath, isn’t He? This isn’t the image Zephaniah communicates. He speaks of a God who so loves us, He can’t stop singing about us. He is a passionate, celebrating, joy-filled Being!

Reflection:
How does this verse challenge some of your internal models of God’s emotional posture towards you?

How could a deep revelation of this verse change
the way you walk throughout your day?

Prayer:
God help me to be consciously aware of You as a passionate, love-sick, God celebrating over Your Universe and even me.

What is the Role of Women in Ministry and Leadership?

Back in the spring, we presented a teaching on the role of women in ministry. In some circles of Christianity this in a none-issue, in others, this has been a controversial topic for many years. Central to the subject, is what is the "role" of women within the church, particularly in the context of leadership.

Does Scripture permit them to teach in venues other than Sunday School?

Does Scripture prohibit more?

The teaching endeavors to look through Scripture for some clear answers to these questions, as well as exactly we read and interpret Scripture to find such answers this question and others like it.

Several have asked for a downloadable version of that teaching. Though the quality isn't the greatest, the following is a link to download both the audio and notes of the teaching.

Women in Ministry: A Look at What Scripture Says

Over the past several months at Southgate, we've been wrestling through what Scripture says about women in leadership. Our current bylaws don't state that a woman can't serve in a position of leadership, but it has seemed to be our understanding of them, as well as our praxis has demonstrated something other. Therefore, we sensed the need to wrestle through Scripture and Tradition. 

This past sunday night at our annual business meeting our congregation voted on two females who will serve on our deacon board. While woman have been leading in various capacities, this public recognition does seem to be significant for the ongoing movement of our community. 

Below is a teaching that we presented to our congregation in regards to what Scripture says about women and how we've come to understand their place in the Body of Christ.

Authenticity & Image Management

“There is nothing more winsome or attractive,” writes John Ortberg in Everybody's Normal Til You Get to Know Them, “than a person who is secure enough in being loved by God that he or she lives with a spirit of openness and transparency and without guile.” He continues: "One of the defining moments in any dating relationship is the first time the man sees the woman without makeup. Makeup is the art of “facial management.” You don’t want to let a guy look at your actual, unadorned face. So makeup is designed to make eyes look bigger, to make lips look fuller, nose look smaller, and hide the facial blemishes and flaws. But it is not just our physical blemishes that we try to hide. Most of us work pretty hard to conceal the flaws that mar our character." We learn this art of image management from an early age. Image management is simply trying to appear better to those around us than they really are. Sometimes these means are extreme, and at other times they are simple and very subtle in nature. Our culture is full of examples. To mask, veil, or alter one’s self and appearance is more common than uncommon. We watch it on television and the movies. We read about it in the magazines and newspapers. We see it on the billboards. Ever since the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, deep within humans is a propensity to cover ourselves up – to wear make up. John Eldredge sums it up well in Wild at Heart, comparing the way we veil our true selves to how Adam and Eve concealed themselves behind the foliage in the Garden of Eden: “We are hiding, every last one of us. Well aware that we, too, are not what were meant to be, desperately afraid of exposure, terrified of being seen for what we are and are not, we have run off into the bushes. We hide in our office, at the gym, behind the newspaper and mostly behind our personality. Most of what you encounter when you meet a man is a facade, and elaborate fig leaf, a brilliant disguise.” Authenticity draws us out from behind the trees and causes us to drop the "fig leaves." It poises us before the One who created us and loves just for who we are. It is out of that acceptance with God that we interact with humanity. It is out of that posture that we no longer have to try to "appear" better than we think we are perceived, we can simply be who we are and becoming....

Strength or Strain

“For thus said the Lord God,
the Holy One of Israel:
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
(Isaiah 30:15)

In our Western world, we are often influenced to believe that to get more we must do more. To grow in strength and power we must exert more energy. Success is achieved by arriving early, working hard, staying late. Working as long as needed, no matter the cost. Though elements of this may be true in the world of commerce, it is not so in the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God operates on principles vastly different. To be strong, you must become weak. To become great, you must become small. To go up, you must bow down. Everything is seemingly backwards and upside down.

In the day of Isaiah the prophet, 8th Century BC, success and status was achieved by frantic, anxious military and political posturing. It is in this context that the word of the Lord comes. Rather than a reliance in one’s military, political or personal strengths, he say’s, let your complete reliance and trust be upon Yahweh. Isaiah is not a pacifist; rather, he believes that trust in Yahweh is the taproot of security. All trust in arguments and alliances, he reasons, is an act of mistrust and idolatry that will only lead to destruction.

“If you do not stand firm in faith, You shall not stand at all.”

(Isaiah 7:9)

Something happens when we intentionally pull away and pull into God in Solitude and Silence. Salvation (wholeness, freedom, healing, deliverance) is experienced in the midst of returning to the Source, and rest (intermission) in His Presence. Strength is released into our body, soul (mind/emotions/will), and spirit.

It will never happen unless we are intentional about making it happen. The writer of Hebrews even says that there is a rest that remains, but that it is not automatically experience and appropriated by followers of Christ. It is something that we must position ourselves in such a way to partake in it.

“Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.”
(Hebrews 4:11)

Pastor Jerrell's Slides for Message "Wide Angle"