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In a recent sermon by Mark Driscoll, Pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, he stated that, “Movies are sermons with pictures.” For too long Christians have played the naive card, the 0“it doesn’t affect me” line or the “Yeah, but it’s funny” comment concerning movies. When we watch movies the “Hollywood” worldview oozes from the silver screen (not to mention other inappropriate content).
Bruce Ashford of Southeastern Seminary stated in a recent blog, “Without even realizing it, many people allow movies, music, and television to have a formative role in shaping their worldviews.” It might not surprise you to know that most of the people responsible for making movies today do not possess a Bible worldview.
I must let you know that I am a huge movie fan. In fact, several times a year I brave the midnight showings of new releases and anticipate big movie titles months in advance. I know that there is no perfect system for viewing movies. Many PG-13 movies tip the scales and other R-rated movies possess redeeming stories. We must become students of the movies.
Here are a few hints I have discovered over the years:
1. Lookup every movie you want to see on a website like plugged.com or screenit.com before viewing it. Know what you are getting yourself into and be willing to say “no” if the movie doesn’t make the cut.
2. If you are under the age of 17 you should not watch R-rated movies, even with a note from your parents.
3. Nudity disqualifies any movie.
4. Ask yourself, “Is this movie redeeming?” (Philippians 4:8-9)
5. As a whole, does the movie affirm or contradict what is taught in Scripture?
6. Guard your heart and preserve your innocence and purity. (Proverbs 4:23)
7. Recognize the potential power that movies have to influence you. Watch with wisdom.
8. Be willing to walkout if it gets bad or inappropriate. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
9. Look for ways to use movies to talk to others about your faith.
10. Watch movies critically. Look for what information is communicated about truth and God.
11. Pray.
P.S. Please no comments about the Passion of the Christ be R-Rated. Nice try though.
Below I have listed a revised version of John Wesleys 22 Questions. Although John Wesley and I (as many others) would disagree on several doctrinal issues, this list confirms his personal passion for Jesus and longing for others to know him. I hope as you read you will allow Jesus' sanctifing Spirit to convict, confirm and encourage you. Disclaimer: I warn you that these questions can be personally challenging and you must be willing to be honest.
1. Have I recently given the impression that I am better than I really am?
2. Am I honest in all my actions and words, or do I exaggerate truth?
3. Do I pass on to others that which was told to me in confidence?
4. Can I be trusted?
5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, possesions, work, or habits?
6. Am I too self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
7. Did I read the Bible today? Was the Bible lived out in me?
8. Do I give the Bible time to speak to me each day?
9. Did I spend time in prayer today? Am I enjoying prayer?
10. When did I last share with someone else about my faith?
11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time? Eat properly?
13. Do I disobey God in a specific area of my life?
14. Do I insist upon doing things that my conscience confirms are wrong?
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Am I proud?
19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially the Pharisees?
20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
21. Do I grumble, act dissatisfied, or complain constantly?
22. Is Christ real to me?
Recently my wife, Nicole, and I went on a Mediterranean cruise and spent several extra days exploring the city of Rome, Italy. Certainly one of the highlights of our trip was the time we spent at the Vatican. Not being Catholic I was very skeptical about what I might experience. Major doctrinal differences aside, I was pleasantly surprised to find inside a church built on Jesus Christ and rich in faith and church history. Our last day in Rome, the Vatican had put on display its elaborate and beautiful Christmas decorations. One of them was a massive nativity scene featuring the baby Jesus in his manger.
Now fast forward a few weeks, and I am back at home in Wichita preparing messages for upcoming weeks on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. What a great joy it was during the Christmas season to remember the atoning work of our King Jesus on the cross and his glorious resurrection, defeating sin and death on our behalf. It would seem that in every home you would enter during Christmas, you would find one if not many Nativity scenes commemorating the birth of our Lord. Why is it that we never see Warrior King Jesus statues? I will concede the month of December to the Nativity lovers out there, but my challenge is that the rest of the year we must find a Warrior King Jesus seated on the throne statues to display in our homes in order to remember the mighty work he did for us on the cross. Merry Christmas.
I don’t know about you, but I grew up with an over-zealous grandmother who began to celebrate Christmas way too early each year. I did not understand why at our Thanksgiving dinner the Christmas tree was in full bloom and stockings were already hung from the fireplace mantle. It was somewhere during this time I developed a "no Christmas” policy until after Turkey Day. That was until something happened to me about two years ago. I spent the Christmas season that year working in an orphanage for children affected by AIDS in the country of South Africa. Although we did take a break and spent Christmas day on the beach, that trip changed my view of Christmas forever. That Christmas we handed out gifts of clothing to children who literally had nothing and we worshipped together and sang Christmas songs with one another and celebrated the birth of our Savior, Jesus.
Something has changed in me, this year more than ever. I want to begin celebrating Christmas earlier than ever before. I have decided to begin now. So whether you celebrate by reading the story of Jesus’ birth, by purchasing baby chickens sent to third-world countries in the name of loved ones, by listening to tons of Christmas music you don’t know all the words to, by exchanging well thought-out gifts (and receiving gift cards in return), or by wearing a tacky sweater to parties, let us all now begin celebrating Jesus.
Step 1
Read some portion of Scripture each day. One chapter is a good goal, but it could be much more or even less depending on the day. Although it is fine to shift from different books throughout the Bible, it is always suggested that you read though chapters and books of the Bible in order to gain proper context.
Step 2
After reading the chapter of Scripture identify around three verses you connect with the most. This does not have to be the main idea or point of the text. It is what you feel is most speaking to you where you are in you spiritual journey. You will use this in a few minutes to pray.
Step 3
Once you have read the chapter, identified the verses you connect most with, next determine “What is the one Key Truth (theme, idea) in these verses that I have connected with most?” The Key Truth could be one or more words, but most always will be less than a verse. The goal of identifying this Key Truth is that you take it with you all day. You will think and pray on this idea throughout the day. If you pray out loud with someone or for something, include this in your prayer. Also, try to bring up the Key Truth in conversations thoughout your day with you friends, family or anyone else God might have you encounter.
Step 4
Pray using Scripture. Use the three verses you connected with the most, Step 2, and allow them to guide your prayer time. As these verses present an idea, pray as long as you can in relation to that idea. Once you have exhausted the topic continue though the remaining connect verses in the same manor.
Now take your Key Truth with you throughout your day as you “Pray with out ceasing.”
8.28.09
“Church is not a meeting you attend or a place you enter.” This quote, taken from Total Church by Chester and Timmis, is seeking to redefine our understanding of the Christian experience. On our journey to becoming Christ-centered we must transition to becoming gospel-centered. If we desire to achieving being gospel-centered we must also become mission-centered. We no longer attend church; instead we become the Church. Our goal as Christians is now to “become whole-life disciples who live and share the gospel wherever (we) relate to people in their daily lives”, and who use our “daily routines” with full intentionality for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
6.12.09
Definition of Missional: God sending his Church (This means you!)
Mark Driscoll’s book The Radical Reformission discusses how being missional means correcting the church’s “flawed view of missions as something carried out only in foreign lands” by vocational missionaries “and to focus instead on the urgent need in our neighborhoods…filled with (people) who desperately need the gospel of Jesus and a life in his Church.”
Living missionally means living a life being intentional with the gospel throughout your life.
Here are some ideas for living missionally I have found in different books or blogs and some I have developed over time.
- Eat meals with Non-Christians
- Walk, don’t drive
- Be a regular in coffee shops, restaurants, grocery store, gas stations etc.
- Hobby with non-Christians
- Develop relationships with your co-workers / classmates
- Volunteer with non-profits
- Know & serve your neighbors
- Be involved in community activities
- Missional dog walks
*My Favorite
- Join or coach a community sports team
5.11.09
Scripture
2 Timothy 3:16
Look up every passage that pertains to the question/issue you have.
Spiritual Mentors
Proverbs 4:4-19
Talk to someone you look up to spiritually.
Spirit of God / Conscience
Romans 2:14-15
Pray and listen to God, allowing him to speak you through his Spirit and your conscience.
Open Doors
Look for doors God is opening and barriers that he is removing for you to proceed in a specific direction. (Closing of specific doors can also be a way God communicates his will in a given situation.)
5.4.09
3 Books Every Serious Christian Should Own
1. A Great Study Bible
• My Recommendation: John Macarthur Study Bible by MacArthur
2. Complete Bible Commentary
• My Recommendation: The Bible Knowledge Commentary (2 vol.) by Walvoord and Zuck
• The John Mac Arthur Bible Commentary by MacArthur
3. Systematic Theology or Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem
3 Books All Parents Should Read to Their Kids
1. Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
2. Chronicles of Narina by Lewis
3. Lord of the Rings by Tolkien
Bonus: Westminster Shorter Catechism (Modern English)
3 Movies Every Dad Should Watch with His Son(s)
1. Braveheart (1995)
2. Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001,2002,2003)
3. Hoosiers (1986)
4.8.09
Have you ever felt like you were at the beginning of something great? Like right on the edge of experiencing God doing something amazing? I occasionally get this feeling. I do not have great theological explanations for this experience other than to say that God’s spirit is awakened within me, or is it that I have been awakened to God’s spirit?
Anyway, there have been many times in my life that I have experienced God moving me to new heights in my spiritual journey. It seems like at these times God is saying to me, “Now work from here, this is your new ground floor." This new place is the highest spiritually I have ever traveled, yet God is showing me this is now the place from which I will never go lower than again.
What is God showing me? Does God work like this? These moments have become like spiritual mile markers in my journey. I look back on them and see the unbelievable things that God has done. The new levels of intimacy with Jesus that I have been brought to at these times.
I am writing this now because I feel like I am at one of these moments, right on the edge of a marvelous thing that God is beginning. That Jesus is doing something only he can do in my life, my family, in his Church.
What will this become? God, what do you want to do in our students' lives? In our leaders' lives and our families’ lives? Within our church and with ekklesia? What are you doing now? I long to see what it is he will do. I am on this edge, I step forward, and I actually run towards my Savior, to experience what he has planned for us. Will you come with me?
3.23.09
“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
This quotation was taken from a speech about citizenship by Theodore Roosevelt in France, 1910. Philippians 3:20 also talks about this same topic, stating that our “citizenship is in heaven.” The goal of each of these quotations is to help us to understand who we are and in turn understand the responsibility that that role demands. “The man who is actually in the arena” is one who is chosen to no longer be a person who sits in the stands and watches as life passes by. He has entered the trenches and understands living a life of significance. He is not perfect. In fact, he has fallen short many times, but he chose a life that this in the arena. This is the only place that great achievements occur and the only place where you can discover and experience life in the presence of our majestic God.
What does a person look like who is “in the arena”? For a Middle School student? A leader? For each of us the answer to that question is different. This morning as I read the Ignite quiet time notebook I began to understand some of what it means to "bein the arena.” As I read about the person, life, and actions of Jesus I realized that there is something that everyone who chooses a life in the arena possesses. It was actually shown in the quote from Teddy Roosevelt. The characteristics that everyone who chooses a life “in the arena” shares, are the dust covered face that comes only from fighting with all that you have, a body drenched in sweat that comes only from working hard and giving all you have, and the blood stained clothes of a life spent in sacrifice and giving to others.
Will you leave the life of only sitting in the stands? Will you exchange a life of insignificance for a life of daring greatly and high achievement? Will you enter the trenches? Will you live the life God is calling you to live; will you live a life “in the arena”?
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Wednesday nights at 6:15 • Student Center
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