Big Dreams and Celebrity Letters

Sometimes I get to thinking about our big dreams, and I write letters to Christian celebrities. (I wrote one yesterday to Candace Cameron Bure...you just never know, right?) We have wonderful supporters, but honestly could use additional financial support - what missionary couldn't?  We’re partial tent-makers, so to speak.  I teach part-time, we want to rent the apartment behind our house from time to time, and we’re even considering cooking at a restaurant down the street a few nights a week to provide training, jobs, and maybe even more income to cover extra costs we have in ministry, not to mention the new relationships we can build there.

What costs you ask?  We would love to be able to pay for one of our guys to take guitar lessons, so that rather than always using dowloaded videos from youtube for worship time, we can have worship leaders in the future. (We’d need to purchase a guitar too.) We’d like to have a soccer workshop for kids in our neighborhood in order to get to know more families, but need resources for that (a trainer, cones, balls, snacks, etc.).   We would love to have our own lawn equipment that we could rent to teens and young adults needing work, and to also save on our own lawn care.  We need a scooter so that when I take the car to school or have something with the kids, Seth can have easy transportation to make better use of our time. There are several kids we'd like to sponsor and send to a Christian school next year, but we'll need sponsors for them. And the biggest dream of all….purchasing land.  Land is so expensive, but we dream of building a ministry center that would include a small cafe, large meeting room for Bible studies/church, and small apartments to assist families with housing and discipleship.  (We're probably talking minimum $250,000 including construction costs, land, building up, etc.) If you're curious as to what that would look like, Click Here for our rough draft and outline of the dream we have for ministry here. Sometimes it's daunting but God continues to encourage us in small ways. 

This week we had a great lunch with a pastor friend of ours.  He was telling us that just four years ago he began a church with his family and four other couples.  Soon after that, God orchestrated it so that he could team up with a missionary from Canada, and they built up a church body together, that is now a solid, well-established gospel-centered church with over 100 people there every Sunday morning (including us!).  It was so encouraging to see the evidence that with our faith and trust in the Lord, nothing is impossible with God. We trust Him and His plans.  The Bible tells us to hope in Him, to wait on Him, and to allow Him to direct our path. We can trust him and walk wisely, doing what we can to steward what he's provided us, while hoping expectantly for greater resources for expanding ministry to His glory.  

Currently we make our budget work for the ministry and for our family. I'm able to get homeschool materials at a discount. I don't get my nails done, rarely get hair cuts (even though its about $4), and we shop in the markets rather than grocery stores to cut costs. Our 10 year anniversary trip was a $15/night cabin, rather than one of the $75-$100/night luxury hotels in the area.   We've learned how to be thrifty and content with what we have.  We can and will continue like this, but our prayer is that more people will be compelled to support the dream God has put in our hearts.  A dream to help young fathers provide for their families and learn how to live for Christ, a dream to help young men who can't find work to start somewhere, whether cutting grass or cooking, etc.   A dream for a safe home for people, like orphans aging out of orphanages with no place to go or displaced families.  A dream of teaching families God's word in a church that is easily available to the community and focused on serving the least.  

Would you pray with us about this dream?  Its exciting.  We've watched as others have seen God do

big things to make their dreams come into fruition, and we know our God is able.  Our God is almighty, all-knowing, all-sufficient, and a good Father to those that are in Him....absolutely nothing is too hard for Him!   The other night as Seth was speaking to a mom who is caring for 8 children in a home that isn't at all the best situation, we could only imagine how awesome it would be in the future, to be able to offer a cheap, safe, and Christ-centered housing option to families like this one needing such a place, and needing to know the great love of God. His kindness leads to repentance. We want so desperately to show that loving kindness while sharing the hope of the Cross with those who are without hope. Thank you for your prayers, your support, your encouragement, and your faith as you join it with ours for the Dream we have for Bolivia to know Christ.

Blessings,
Ashley

Spotlight - Alvarez Family

We met on the concrete canchita where the boys from the neighborhood play soccer almost nightly. The two brothers, differing in appearance and personality, were there almost every time I visited; and after meeting them, I was surprised that each time I saw them I was greeted with a bright smiling hello and a hug.

It's a funny thing, here. The culture has so many layers that you don't really get to see, let alone understand, until after you've been here a while. And still, there are language and cultural barriers. But thank God, his love can transcend any barrier. Hugs aren't common in our barrio. But a kiss on the cheek is expected everywhere for greetings between men and women, women and women, and only among very close friends when men with men. In fact, one boy told me once I was the first person to ever hug him (at almost 18 years old). So, the awkward hugs from the gringo where different for them, but intriguingly comforting. Overtime, it became the norm for these kids who I was getting know. The practice spread somewhat and I don't know if they warned there friends or if they had observed, but every time I meet a new friend of our teens, they immediately greet me with a hug. Seems simple, but you'd be amazed at how quality contact goes, particularly for teens that come from broken or dysfunctional homes. I ask them about their relationships with their parents and it saddens me to hear responses such as, "when he isn't drunk he is really nice." Or, "we get along good, we just do our own thing, and stay out each other's way."

So, when I met Marcelo and Eric, I found more of the same and saw two boys who needed some love and investment. Not that they come from a horrible family, I've met their mom and she seems really tender-hearted. She must be given the boy's kind demeanor. Their family sells eggs in town and to other cities. But don't let their business mislead you, they scrape by just like everyone else in our neighborhood. They make do with what they have and live humbly.

Initially, they would come separately and very sporadically to the house with a few of the other boys. But now, Eric more than Marcelo, is a weekly regular, arriving early for bible study and for church. They both profess Christ, though have never made a profession or confession with me. But I try to steward the relationship as best I can, through discipleship, encouragement, etc. They listen intently to each study and message. The engage in the lessons, offering commentary and questions. I'm generally surprised by their knowledge of scripture. Neither had a bible when I met them, and I think I've replaced a lost one once or twice for them. They even bring their little brother, Luis, pretty regularly now. It's a little odd having a 9 year old in my youth group, but I love that he wants to come and learn. And, I love that his brothers thought it important to bring him. Although I've invited them several time, their parents have yet to come.

So, my goal with this post is to spot light one of the many families we minister to and ask for your prayers. Please pray for this family, for their salvation, for their boys. Pray for Marcelo and Eric to grow in Christ and in sincere faith. Pray for Luis that from his young age, he'll begin to see and perceive, hear and understand, the great and glorious news of Christ Jesus and his finished work of the Cross. Pray for their parents to know the Lord, and for desire to grow and learn to be placed in their heart. Pray for continued favor for us and the ministry we do here. Thank you so much for your labor of intercession on behalf of the Church in Bolivia. Thank you!

Two of the brothers are in this photo, however due to privacy and
protection, names have been changed and we cannot post individual pictures. 

Old Style New Beginnings

This past Sunday, March 13th, we began the home church meeting in our house in Cochabamba.  We were fortunate about 10 months ago to find a home with a grand salon off of the back (used in the past by the owners for family parties and functions). This space has been wonderful for Bible study meetings and other functions for reaching our community (able to seat around 75 people).

Seth teaching youth on Friday night. 

Seth has studied God's word and church planting books for the past few years, and we felt like the best style of church plant for the area we live in would be a home church.  Many of the unchurched people we meet in Bolivia are uninterested and often put-off by the institutionalism they see in the religious climate here.  For many, they see leaders abusing authority, asking for money, or living lives contrary to what they teach. Creating Christ-centered relationships, focusing on discipleship, and the teaching of God's word, we feel we have found our niche for reaching our community here in Condebamba and the surrounding area. A relaxed, home-based environment where Christ is exalted and his Word held in utmost esteem. As we grow and as new believers mature, the goal is to create leaders to be pastors, elders, overseers, missionaries, etc. Our goal is to grow The Church in our community through the means and resources God has given us.

Our first Sunday night family service

We raised funds in the states for two months, speaking at several churches across the south and, with the funds raised, were able to hit the ground running when we got back to Cochabamba February 5th.  We've purchased a projector, 50 chairs, 10 tables, two room fans, a Mac mini, hardback Bibles, and even a sewing machine (this is Bolivia - you never know when you need to sew a curtain, hem a tablecloth, or sew up the hole in your church pants).  We were also able to get an old van about a week ago, affectionately named Big Bertha.  It can hold about 20 Bolivians (And maybe 8 of us Mississippians...ha, just kidding!), and its already been a huge help.

Ashley with some of her students on Sports Day

We have been SO busy!  Ashley's job at the school, Cristo Nacion, has taken a lot more time and mental energy this year.  She's teaching World History and Geography to 6 different groups from 7th-12th grade.  Students range from very beginning English to advanced, all in the same classes.  Its been very challenging and stressful at times, but her job at the school has also opened many doors to the gospel for us.  Seth has spoken the past two Monday's at the school giving a devotional to the 100 or so high school students.  Seth has also begun volunteering as the Bible teacher for 7th and 8th grade classes.  While there twice a week, Seth is building relationships with teens, many of whom are unchurched and have been turned off to christianity in the past.

Our youth night on Friday's is also growing.  After an initial slow start back since being gone 2 months, we are now getting a big group that is a variety of neighborhood teens and teens from the school.  This past week Seth began a series using Francis Chan's Basic resources.

Youth on Friday night 

Monday nights Seth is still having young adult Bible studies with our friends from the south zone of Cochabamba.  This is an amazing group of young adults who serve in their church and want to develop their faith in deeper understanding of God's word.  They are a tremendous blessing and encouragement to us as well.

The Monday night young adults group

A few other things we'd like to get started in the next few months:

-big brother volunteering at an orphanage: We'd like to take christian teens to volunteer and invest in kids that really need the love, attention, and example of an older Christian guy.

-children's ministry: This may be out of our home, or a kid's club that we do an the canchita (soccer court) near our home, but we want to teach a younger generation the gospel.

-A youth retreat: Seth will work with the leadership at Cristo Nación Bilingual School to help plan a retreat for the high schoolers.

We need your prayers!  Here's how you can pray for the work here:

1.  Pray for a few volunteers that are gifted in the area of leading worship for our youth nights and family Bible studies.

2.  Pray for wisdom and leadership as the Church grows in our area.

3. Pray for the resources we will need as growth occurs (additional seating, tables, literature, Bibles, materials for classes, food for meetings, hiring help for cleaning and upkeep, etc.)

4. Pray for our family, that Christ would be our focus and our goal.

5. Pray for the one-on-one discipleship Seth is doing with some select teens and young adults, that they would grow spiritually. Our goal is to disciple leaders.

6. Pray for the families and individuals we do ministry with, that they would see and know Christ, for their spiritual growth, and for their understanding of the cross to increase.

"The Cost of Everyday Ministry" - Sermon Transcript April 26, 2015

This week, I’ve been tired. Any of you ever just feel tired? I’ve been all over Cochabamba this week, from government offices, to the dentist several times, to meeting with boys I disciple to the tasks I have at home. And it seems like my weeks keep getting busier and busier. Sometimes, I just need a break. To slow down, to sit down, and rest. You ever have a week like that? 

We all have our obligations, we have our responsibilities. We also try to squeeze in time for a hobby occasionally. And it can be easy for us to get so wrapped up in what we have to do, that we forget to focus on the one who provides the strength we need in every season.

Today, this message will be a little different. It will be more of a testimony, really, than an instruction or application. However, my prayer is that God would use what I’m about to say to challenge, encourage, and spur you on towards love and good deeds. I hope that you will see the comfort of the Cross and the refuge of God’s grace.

Over the past few months, my obligations that pertain to ministry and discipleship have been on a steady increase. I’ve been more stressed than I’d like and I haven’t invested in my family as I should. I haven’t invested in myself as I should. Now when I say invest in myself, I’m talking about spiritually, not that I've been skipping massages and manicures. I’ve let the burden of ministry and the burden of friendship stretch me in ways I’m really not capable of handling.

Let me ask you all a question, anyone else have trouble saying no? There are a lot of things I can say no to, but a friend in need is generally not one of them. I know with my head that I can’t meet every need, but sometimes, my heart just doesn’t listen. So, what happens is, I overextend myself. With dental visits, government offices, helping with homework, rides to school, market visits, etc etc etc.

Here’s another question, anyone have a burden for people? For people you love and are discipling? In this respect, I so often wrongfully assume the responsibility for their growth in Christ rather than trusting God. In 1 Corinthians 3:6, Paul in his letter makes this statement, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God brought the growth.” When it comes to ministry, and I’m talking about ministry because we are all called to be a part of it, we have the tendency to feel responsible for growth. One aspect of my stress lately, is I haven’t been giving time and room for God to bring growth in the hearts of those we get to minister to. I began to worry that if I missed an opportunity to talk to or spend time with these boys, their families, or others, that their seed would die and that they would return to the world. The Holy Spirit challenged me with this question: "Where is your faith in God’s sovereign work in salvation?"

Anyone struggle with a lack of patience for those closest to you? I'm sure there men here who take for granted that your family attends church and supposedly knows Christ. I know that I’ve struggled with this. Sometimes the question would be presented, “Why aren’t you investing as much time, energy and prayer into your family as you are these other people?” And my response was this religious (albeit a real conviction), “because my family knows Jesus and these people don’t. What about their souls? What about eternity?” Again the Holy Spirit challenged me, "Where is your faith in God's grace?"

My time has literally become enslaved to the needs around me rather than submitted to the word of God. My heart has been overcome by carnal thinking and by my own understanding in my attempts to meet all the needs I see, to the point that I wasn't relying on the Holy Spirit as I should. And, now I’m tired. I’m tired because I can’t pay the cost of everyday ministry. There is no way that I can afford what it cost to walk in obedience to God, to administrate my time in a way that honors him, to meet needs showing Christ’s love, to be a good husband who leads and washes his wife in the word, to be a good dad who disciples his children and brings them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. I can’t pay that price on my own. It's impossible.

My testimony is that this week, and over the past month, God has really begun to reveal to me the cost of ministry; and to show me our need for the Cross and our need for his Grace. Personally, I’m about to make some changes. I’m changing my schedule, I’m taking steps to be more disciplined with my time. But most importantly, I’m making a choice to honor God with my trust in his grace.

Here’s that part that I hope will challenge, encourage and spur you. Remember my confessions about needs around me, spiritual growth and evangelism in ministry, and honoring God with how I interact with my family? Let’s talk about those and look at God’s word.

I told you I have a hard time saying no. But the problem is that sometimes many of us also have a hard time saying yes. We have got to learn which needs deserve a yes and which needs can handle a no. For me, the difficulty is that the needs on the street are much easier for me to meet than the needs in my home. I could attempt to excuse this with my childhood without a father and the lack of an example, but that would be an offense to God's grace. For others of you that may be backwards. Maybe you are a great dad or mom or son or daughter, but you don’t serve anyone outside of your home. How can we determine when we should say yes and when we should say no to needs?

Obviously, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the word of God, and not through the guidance of our hearts (or minds). This comes down to scripture and what it instructs about our priorities. My first priority is my soul and it’s condition. Am I connected to the vine? In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

I want to focus on the last clause of that verse. “Apart from me you can do nothing.” If we are not connected to Christ through his word and through confirmation of his word by his Holy Spirit, we can do nothing. There are a lot of people in this world who do not know Christ and yet think they are doing something; but in reality they are doing nothing. Nothing of impact, nothing of value. But, what is even sadder, is that there are a lot of us, because of our carnal thinking and our pride, think we are doing something for God, and yet we are not operating from a point of connection to Christ. We can do nothing apart from Christ. So, the first thing we must do is make sure we are investing in our relationship with Jesus. We have to spend personal, independent time studying God’s word, praying and seeking Jesus, and “working out our salvation with fear and trembling.” Here’s something to think about, do you walk with a steady gaze on your need for the Cross and for Christ? Guys, this may seem elementary and basic, but it is so incredibly important.

The other ways we can evaluate the needs we should meet is a bit more practical. What does God’s word say are my responsibilities? Well, first is your spouse, then comes your children (Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands love your wives as Christ loves the church, in that he gave himself up for her that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her but he washing of water with the word.”). I don’t think you can get a much bigger priority than that. I mean, this commandment is compared to Christ's work on the cross! Wives, love your husbands, respect them, honor them. I say this to challenge myself too. How am I loving my wife with God’s word, washing her with the water of the word?

Your family. Ephesians 6:4, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Not going to lie, I struggle with this. It is honestly easier sometimes to exasperate (provoke to wrath) my kids than it is to take the time, energy and patience to teach them. When all they receive from me is provision and discipline, but not love, I steal their hope, that leave them scrounging and searching for a sense of love and instruction. That is what it means when it says exasperate. Parents, love and teach your children. And pray for me to do a better job myself.

The thing is, we cannot do this (honor spouse, teach kids) if we aren’t doing the first. “Apart from me you can do nothing.” You know why I’ve felt so tired and stressed lately? Because I was working apart from Christ. I was looking really good, really devoted, seeing changes that made me really happy, but I was not walking in step with his Spirit. I was not leaning on my connection to the vine to bear fruit; I was trying to make the fruit happen myself. In our own strength, we will indeed get exhausted.

But, when we hope in the Lord, we have this amazing promise from Isaiah 40:31, “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” This is a great promise, but it can also be a great gage. In the moments when I feel weary, like I’m going to faint, that is a sign that my hope is not in the Lord, but in my own strength. I’m tired because I’ve trusted too much in myself and not enough in the Lord.

If you are like me, sometimes you have a hard time hoping in the Lord because you have an easy time forgetting the power of his grace. When it comes to ministry that we do, I often times, wrongly attempt to carry the burden of making disciples grow. But like I quoted earlier from Paul, I can plant and I can water, but I have to trust God for the growth. Our growth is a product of his grace. My hope rest in Christ, because I know that at the cross, grace was administered and his grace is always sufficient. If I can’t spend hours in discipleship with a new convert, God’s grace is sufficient. If I can’t provide for every need I encounter, his grace is sufficient. If those around me stumble or fall, his grace is sufficient. If I stumble and fall, his grace is sufficient.

"Christ the Vine"

In Deuteronomy, we have a promise that God will never leave us nor forsake us. In Romans, we see that nothing can separate us from God’s love. In John, we see that nothing can pluck us from his hand. John also quotes Isaiah saying, “they will be taught by God.” I have to remember that my job is to be obedient. God’s job is to bring growth. How am I obedient? By staying connected to Christ, honoring my wife, instructing my kids, and meeting the needs that I can meet without forfeiting those first priorities. How else can I be obedient? Trust God to do what he says he will. To place my hope in him, so that I can endure all things in Christ who gives me strength.

Do you lack strength? Do you lack joy in your service? Put your trust in him. Place your hope in him. Evaluate your life and your spiritual state. Where do you need to say no? But, don’t forget to look to where you need to say yes. Seek his word. 

Sermon Outline, "The Cost of Everyday Ministry" 

Cochabamba International Church, April 26, 2015

A Special Letter from the Powells

Dear Friends and Family,

Thanks for your continued support. Your partnership is vital to the ministry we do here. We have been amazed at the outpouring of blessing in the work that we do here, from consistent giving from ministry partners to the lives we see changing here. As you know, one major component of our ministry is discipleship. And, that the steps we are taking now are to expand this ministry to plant a church in the area where many of the boys that we disciple live. This expansion will lead to a Christ centered and family focused church that will work to spread the gospel, create disciples of Christ and strengthen families so they can be a testimony and representative of Christ's love.

A crisis we see so often here is the brokenness of families and the hopelessness that finds it's way in the hearts of their homes. We want to share the hope of Christ and help them reconcile, build up, and become strong families that honor God. We hope to accomplish this through discipleship and teaching the word. Through meeting needs and sharing love with the least.

Also, as many of you know and have seen, a vast majority of the ministry that we do takes place in our home. In fact, the idea is for the church plant to begin in our home, and that our move would provide a place for the many ministries this will produce. From Bible studies to hosting events and dinners to simple one on one discipleship, our home sees a great deal of traffic. From our 15-20 person Monday night bible study, to the families we have over as we make strategic relationships for sharing the gospel, to 10-15 boys who are becoming regulars, to the one on one time I spend with them in discipleship and mentorship, we can begin to feel a little cramped. This paired with, "where will everyone sit for a church?"

We have prayed for months about how God would have us move forward, where he would lead us for housing, and how our steps would fall into our goals for ministry and His purposes for us in Bolivia. We also are praying that we would be focused on Christ and learn to more deeply trust Him rather than our own understanding. These plans and our steps will require us to step out, yet again, in great measures of faith.

Recently, we unexpectedly found a home that is in the exact location where we have been praying about doing ministry. This home has everything we've asked God for. The space is perfect for hosting families, events, and Bible studies. The layout is perfect for providing family space and ministry space. It even has a large meeting hall that would be great for the church plant. There is an apartment in the back that would be great for interns, visitors, or other ministry activities we do (such as the youth retreat we hosted for a church in another area of town). We are amazed that God has led us to something so perfect for our needs.

But, now we must walk in faith. This home is about $250 above our housing budget. However, given that it will also act as a church, ministry center, and more, the investment is worth it for the great resource it will be to our ministry. We know God is good and that he "watches over his word to perform it" and that "his word does not return void." As we walk in obedience to Him, we know that he will provide according to his will for his ministry in Bolivia. We are simply stewards and vessels. Our prayer is that we will honor Him in all things. Will you pray with us about this endeavor, for our faith, for his financial provision for this and other resources we need, for the hearts that will be touched, for the families that we'll come in contact with, for our family to walk in joy and strength in the midst of more transition?

With great gratitude,

The Powell Family
(Seth, Ashley, Cruz, Carmen, and Lola)

How you can help...

We need funds to cover the costs of moving, resources (such as speakers, chairs, etc), food (for dinners and events), transportation, and more. Consider becoming a partner if you are not already and/or recruiting other partners who have a heart of the mission of Christ to seek and save the lost. 

Front View

Meeting Hall for Church Services, Events, Etc.

Great Room for Bible Studies, Hosting Families, Etc.

One Bedroom Apartment for Interns and More

Kitchen

Office

Library/Resource Room

In the Age of Cliff Notes and Movie Trailers

      In the last year or so, I've gotten an increase in requests from friends, family, and supporters for book recommendations, teaching series suggestions, and the like. Truth be told, I'd search for something I really liked and hand out the link like a free sample at the grocery store. When I come across a topic that interests me or a verse that sparks a question in my heart, my natural tendency is to go to the web and look for an article, a 5 minute youtube video, or some kind of wiki-dictionary. I lean on people who have studied more than I, for longer than I have, to fill in the blanks, answer the questions and teach me in 5 minutes what took them years to understand or learn.

     Most would say this was smart or efficient. Which, if I were writing a paper for a university class, this would be a very effective way to cram a great bit of information in a small amount of time. The problem is that this information is only useful for the project I'm currently completing or for gathering a simple understanding of something I'm curious about. But, doing this does not give me ownership of what I'm learning. Without ownership, I don't respect it and it's likely that I won't remember what I'm studying for very long.

     A boy I disciple here in Bolivia has read the first 4 books of the Bible in the past 2-3 weeks. He told me he doesn't like to move around because you're supposed to read books from the front to the back. I admire his ambition and am frankly very surprised that he's done this. He's yet to make a profession of faith, but his interests and Christ's fruit are truly showing. I love this boy and his impact in my life. He teaches me more than he knows. "I like reading it all the way through, but I skip over the boring parts." Now, don't get me wrong, he can't have skipped over too much because I quizzed him and he remembers so much - I'm very impressed. But this comment resounded with me.

     How often have we "skipped the boring parts?" Now, in case of this boy, he was talking about ceremonial law, how to do sacrifices, and lengthy genealogy. Considering he was introduced to Christian faith just a few months ago and is, on his own accord, reading the Bible with such commitment, I think I'll give him a pass....for now. But, for those of us who claim to be "mature believers" or who have known Christ for years, why do we see it as so acceptable to "skip the boring parts?"

     We would rather have someone else study the boring parts, fit them with the interesting parts, and spout them out in an easy-to-read, not-too-long format. Are we producing the fruit of true believers, rooted in Christ? What about the fruit of obedience? The fruit of self-control? Patience?

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15, KJV

     I'm not typically a KJV person, but I love this version of this verse. In the Greek, the word used as study, is a word with a lot of meaning packed into it. It means, "to hasten, to make speed of, to do diligently with, to endeavor and labour, to be prompt and earnest." That is a lot of meaning with a  very tough challenge for us. We are to "study, hasten, be speedy about, do diligently, endeavor, be prompt and earnest about" showing ourselves approved unto God. In the Greek again, "shew thyself approved" means to "stand beside, exhibit, present, prove." We must "work diligently" to "prove" ourselves unto God. This is not a "work-salvation" post. We cannot earn our salvation. "Proving" is not "earning." Proving is simply demonstrating the evidence of something. God requires - and so brings forth fruit in our lives - for us to "prove" that we are in him. Don't misunderstand. You cannot earn your salvation. But your salvation better be evident in your fruit (Matthew 7:16). 

     We are called "workmen" or laborers. Are we known for our laboring in the kingdom? We are to diligently work (or study) to prove ourselves unto God, that we are in Christ, so that we will be workers who do not need to be ashamed, or in the Greek, "a disgrace or disfigurement." Claiming Christ, yet failing to bear his fruit, is a disgrace and is seen as a disfigurement of the proclaimed church (all those who claim Christ's name). 

     The last part of this verse is one of my favorites, "rightly dividing the word of truth." First of all,

this is not a command to divide or to dissect scripture to our liking. This is an example of the use of a 17th century expression that we no longer use. Ever heard someone say (maybe your math teacher) that "the shortest distance between two points is a straight line?" In the era of Garmins and GPS, we don't think of this too often. But if you are mapping directions somewhere, the best assumption for making the journey in the shortest amount of time is to "go in a straight line," or as they would say in the early 1600s, "divide the route." Rightly dividing the word is not "dividing" the word at all. It is using it effectively and efficiently in the way it was intended to accomplish what it was intended for. Do we study God's word sufficiently so that we are obediently using it as effectively as we should?

     I say all this to say that God has really been challenging me lately in my personal study of his word. Relying on his word, and the testimony of His spirit living in me, to grow in my walk with Him. Reading a great book or article and listening to that illuminating message are great tools for helping us grow, but they cannot substitute personal prayer and study of God's word. We are to each "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12), and that requires a great deal of personal diligence. Are you counting the cost and putting forth the effort to "show yourself approved?" Are you known as a "laborer who needs not to be ashamed?" Are you rightly "dividing the word of truth?" 

Grace to you friends, 

Seth 

Bonus: 

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

(1 Peter 1:3-9 ESV)

Abundance of the Heart - Sermon Outline 2-1-2014

Key Text: 

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by it’s own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” 

- Luke 6:43-45

Several times in scripture, we see that Christ makes a statement about Christians being known by their fruit. As much as we try to avoid it, the Bible talks a lot about how and what we do. We have a hard time skirting the limits on simple behavior modification versus promoting genuine longing for Christ. We are often challenged with how to uphold goals of sanctity while not promoting a works-based doctrine on salvation.

Salvation - By Grace, Through Faith, In Christ

Salvation is a “free gift of God, not received from works, so that none should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). We have to first remember that salvation is by grace, through faith, in Christ. Grace is received through the cross in that Christ paid our penalty. We were given mercy we didn’t deserve. Faith is the channel that is used to receive that grace. And Christ is the substance of our faith, the cornerstone of the aqueduct that channels grace into our lives.

We have two analogies here; one is the image of a grace coming from heaven through the channel of our faith, built up in Christ, and connecting to our hearts. We also see Christ as the vine and ourselves as the branches, remaining connected to Christ so that we can bear fruit. The fruit comes from the vine, not the branch. In our lives as Christians, we are to bear fruit. But, we have to understand that the branch cannot bear fruit without being connected to the vine.

What do these two concepts have in common? Connectedness to Christ. I receive saving grace only because of my faith in Christ. I must be connected to that grace by the channel of faith in Jesus. I can only bear fruit if I am connected to Christ. I do not have salvation, and I cannot bear fruit, if I am not connected to Jesus Christ.

When we understand this truth, we are faced with a logical conclusion that should challenge us in our thinking, our behavior, and our outlook. If salvation only comes through connectedness to Christ, then salvation cannot be present without fruits. If I say I’m saved, I say I’m connected to Christ. If I say I’m connected to Christ, I must bear fruit. I cannot claim Christ, and yet lack his fruit.

Sanctification - “Predestined to conformity” “he who began a good work”

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:29

“being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

“the one who calls you is faithful, and he will surely do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24
One of the greatest things about connected to Christ, is that Christ will work in us to conform us to himself through the Holy Spirit. Paul told the Philippians that “it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). The Christian life is one that has been called to holiness. But that charge, that duty, doesn’t rest solely on our shoulders. When God said, “be holy for I am holy” in Leviticus, he said this knowing that he was sending his Son to us to make us holy. When we read that we are a chosen people, set apart, we can trust that Christ in us sets us apart by lives marked with holiness. Lives that bear good fruit.

What is the connection between sanctification and bearing fruit? Look at Galatians 5:19-26. You see there a list of the Fruits of the Spirit that we are to bear. And don’t forget that this list is not all-inclusive. There are other good fruits mentioned throughout the Bible. But what I find interesting, and worth looking at, is that the fruits are listed as an alternative to works in our flesh. We are told the works of the flesh first. We are presented with the sinful attitudes of our flesh, before being given the alternative to bear good fruit. Bearing good fruit is another way of walking in holiness because those fruits oppose the flesh, and the flesh represents our sin-nature. We cannot be holy without good fruit. Likewise, we cannot bear good fruit and not walk in holiness.

Obligation vs Joyful Duty

Where does our duty come from? If Christ does it, if connectedness to him causes me to walk in holiness and to bear good fruit, what is my responsibility? Where is my obligation?

These questions are good. That can operate as a sort of test or evaluation for our spiritual state.

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?” 2 Corinthians 13:5

Self-Test - “Examine yourself to see that you are in the faith”

Personally, a great test for me, a great gage is, “how do I view what I’m doing?” Do I see it as an obligation or a joyful duty?

If I see bearing fruits, being obedient to scripture, studying God’s word, treating others well, discipling those around me, honor God in big and small things as an obligation, then I am operating under a work-salvation mentality. I am trying to earn my salvation and I am not recognizing or appreciated the truth of God’s word or the beauty of Christ’s work.

But, if I see doing those things as a joyful duty, something I GET to be a part of, I am honoring God and walking in obedience to his word and treasuring and savoring Christ. I need to get in the habit of thinking about my thinking to determine if my motivation is to please God or avoid hell. Paul Washer, in a sermon on salvation, once said, “Everybody wants to go to heaven. They just don’t want God to be there when they get there. The question is not do you want to go to heaven. The question is this. Do you want God? Have you stopped being a hater of God? Has Christ become precious to you? Do you desire him?” What is the motivation of your heart?

One more quote from him, “Do Christians struggle with sin? Yes. Can a Christian fall into sin? Absolutely. Can a Christian live in a continuous state of carnality all the days of his life not bearing fruit and truly be Christian? Absolutely not or every promise in the Old Testament regarding the New Testament covenant has failed and everything God said about discipline in Hebrews is a lie. A tree is known by it’s fruit.”

Evaluate the Body - “spur one another” “if you see your brother in sin”

How often do we evaluate not only our lives but our church body as a whole. How often are we attentive to one another’s spiritual state? Not as a mean for judging others or feeling better about ourselves, but of loving our brothers and sisters enough to see them walk in truth instead of in their flesh. Loving them the way Christ has commanded. Are we attentive to the fruits we bear individually and collectively?

Scripture tells us to “spur one another on towards love and good works.” It also says that if we see our brother in sin, we are to restore him gently, so as to save his soul from hell. We walk this road with each other with two motivations in our hearts. For our own lives, to seek and savor Christ - to live a life pleasing to our father. For our brothers and sisters in the faith, to see them avoid hell because we love them. How are we helping each other bear fruit by helping each other remain connected to the vine, to Christ?

Abundance of the Heart - “with your words you will be justified…”

How do you evaluate your fruit? How do you assess the state of the tree? That brings us to our principle text. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Our words (and responses and actions, all the ways we communicate) are evidence of what is in our hearts. Are they filled with love? Jesus said something in Matthew that I think should cause us to think more deeply than we probably do. “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” We are told that we will have to give account to God for every word we speak. Why? Because the things that come out of us show us what is in us.

I can’t pour lemonade from a pitcher of milk. What I put in the pitcher is what will come out. What goes into my heart will be what comes out. We spoke earlier that Christ works in us to conform us to himself. We already said that God works in us to will and to do. But what about those questions we asked earlier, about obligation and duty? Not only are we called to assess and evaluate our motivations, but we are also responsible for the things we allow to enter our hearts. If I’m called to live not by bread alone but by every word of God, so that his word in me produces the fruit of a good tree, why am I going to go and put all the things that are contrary to that word in my heart too?

What I put in, will come out. If I have too much drama in my life, poor relationships, easily angered, jealous, etc etc etc, does that mean I’m filling my heart with Christ’s word or am I filling it with the things of this world and walking in my flesh? Let’s examine ourselves.

Growing up, I remember pastors, teachers, preachers using this passage as evidence in a case. You slip and say something, and someone says, “out of the abundance of the heart.” It was always an after-the-fact statement. But what if that’s not the primary purpose for this statement? What if instead of only using it as tool for evaluation, we used it as a strategy for the future?

How do you refill? - Guard your heart… Stewarding the gate of your heart

In a church I grew up in, I remember a sermon series our pastor did called “gatekeepers.” It was on stewarding the gate of your heart, your family, your home, etc. I especially liked the idea of guarding the gates of our hearts.

How are you guarding your heart? How are you attentively stewarding the doors to your heart and mind to ensure that it is filled with things that honor God? How often do we use this verse, not simply to assess our heart’s condition, but to prepare our hearts to honor God.

Are we spending time reading and meditating on God’s word? Are we careful with our movies, our shows, our music, our friends, our hobbies. Are the things you fill your heart with things that honor God and make you more like Christ?

Psalm 19:14 - words and meditation (be pleasing in your sight), Psalm 119:11 (hide in my heart, not sin against you)

I love what Psalm 19 and 119 says about our hearts and what our desire should be.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, oh Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” - Psalm 19:14

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11

You will notice the connection between heart and words with pleasing God and abstaining from sin. Our hearts are the roots of who we are. What we fill it with will determine what type of tree we are, and whether we are living a life in pursuit of the Name that we claim.

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by it’s own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” 

- Luke 6:43-45