Category Archives: Christian Living and Practice

Throw A Matthew Party

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“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.

Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples.”

Matthew 9:9-10

Most of us enjoy parties. We love the friends, food, and interaction between people who are gathered together at the invitation of their host. Parties are a great American tradition where the stressors of life are momentarily set aside and a healthy dose of laughter, conversation, and encouragement is bountifully supplied.

Did you know Jesus enjoyed parties too? Our focus passage highlights one such event held at Matthew’s house. Apparently after Matthew was called by Jesus to follow Him, the first thing he did as a new disciple of Christ was to throw a party. But this wasn’t just a party with no purpose. Matthew’s party had a clear intention.

Note the invitation list for Matthew’s party consisted entirely of Matthew’s former co-workers and peers who are described simply as “tax collectors and sinners,” as well as Jesus and the few disciples who were following Him at that time.

What we see in this narrative is a heart overflowing with love for Jesus. Matthew’s life had been fundamentally changed by Christ’s love for him and so one of Matthew’s first actions was to extend an invitation to his former colleagues and acquaintances to come and experience the same life change in Christ.

How do I know this was a purposeful strategy of Matthew? By the words Jesus spoke at the party to some who criticized His presence there with sinners. Here is what Jesus said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matt. 9:12-13). Jesus understood clearly what Matthew wanted for his friends.

Friends, the next time you throw a party be sure to invite some of your unbelieving friends along with some friends who are able to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a conversational fashion. Be intentional with your guest list. That is how you throw a “Matthew Party.”

Men – Pray For Your Wives (Part 4)

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I’ve been speaking primarily to men in this series. The topic has been praying for our wives so that we will be changed. I know many of you men are of the attitude that you pray for your wives so that God will change her. My point in this series is that God is going to change you in order to change her.

So far we’ve discussed the fact that praying for your wife will result in you evaluating your relationship with her, your responses to her, and the type of love you show her. Guys, this is “gut check” time. Will you be honest with yourself? Will you listen as well as hear when God answers you concerning your prayers for your wife?

This process will yield the sweet fruit of confession and repentance toward God and if necessary, to your wife. Men, you have a high calling as spiritual leader in your marriage. This leadership position can only be powered by the Holy Spirit who will enable you to love her sacrificially.

You will see a definite change in your heart attitude toward your wife. You will cherish, treasure, and celebrate her as God’s gift to you. You will see her as God’s appointed helper to walk alongside of you. She is your biggest supporter. She is worthy of celebrating and praising with a thankful heart.

This in turn changes your behavior. Men, the way we show that we treasure something is to spend time engaged. Schedules can be cruel task masters that will ransack a fruitful marriage. Make sure your priorities are right which means that time with your wife is near the top of your list.

This transformation will change the way you pray for your wife. It will no longer be “God change her because I can’t take much more,” and will instead become, “God change me so that I don’t take my wife for granted, so that I’m not bitter, so that I’m not hateful.” Your prayer life for your wife lays the foundation for a marriage God designed it to be.

Men, praying for our wives is a powerful and much-needed discipline. But I will boldly tell you that we need to pray for her as much, if not more than she needs us to pray for her. God change us so that we might be the men our wives need.

Grasping these truths will create a transformed heart. The next post will be the final in this series, “Men –Pray For Your Wives Part 5.”

Friends, I welcome your comments.

Mike’s Mix For Your Weekend Reading

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Studying to grow in your knowledge of the Lord is important.  In the age we live in it is easy to find many more resources than you will have time to read. I want to encourage you to read intentionally in 2015 and to give time to meditate upon what you are reading so that Christ might be magnified in your life and in the lives of all those you have contact with.

This list is a small sampling of what I found interesting and/or thought-provoking this week.

Mike Leake is inviting folks to read through a book about John Newton written by John Piper throughout 2015. Sign up at Borrowed Light.

Steve Brown’s Key Life ministry blog features an article by Justin Holcomb entitled Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work.

Tim Burns continues to provide great biblical content on his blog Preach The Word.

Greg West manages one of the best apologetics blogs aptly called The Poached Egg, a play on CS Lewis’ famous quip concerning the moral character of Jesus Christ in light of His claims to be God. You will be hearing much more about The Poached Egg from me this year as we coordinate our efforts to reach more people and provide them with the tools to make Jesus known in every place God grants us favor.

I pray that your 2015 will be blessed of the Lord friends.  Let’s strive together for the King this year.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
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Men – Pray For Your Wives (Part 3)

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In this series of posts I’ve been talking primarily to men.  The subject has been praying for our wives.  Today is part three in this ongoing conversation.  Thus far you’ve learned that praying for your wife means you will undergo change.  God will begin to work in your wife’s life by first preparing you to be a change agent for her.  But being a change agent means that you will change first.

Today’s question is this – Men, do you understand that your treatment of your wife is a commentary on you and not her?  I can hear the grumbling already, but guys think about this.  God has called us as husbands to love our wives and to sacrifice ourselves for her. Sacrificial love does not seek its own welfare as of first importance.  It is concerned primarily with loving others, and I might add, loving others extravagantly.

Some might question that last qualifier – extravagant – as a proper descriptor of the love that we should have for our wives but I ask you to consider that loving your wife in a sacrificial manner means that you will not allow any earthly thing to become a priority in your life over your wife. You will see her as a reason to celebrate God’s goodness to you. In effect, you are becoming a servant leader to her.

This heart attitude reflects your understanding that your wife is God’s gift to you.  When was the last time that you considered that truth?  God matched the two of you to become one flesh for His glory and honor. Does your treatment of your wife reflect this reality?  Here is where the rubber meets the road.  No excuses are accepted.  Leaders lead by example, so show the world that you value your wife by your words and actions.

Your relationship with your wife is a mirror that reflects what is in your heart. Take the time today to pray earnestly for your wife. When you do you will notice a definite heart change in you and in time if it is necessary, in your wife.

Men, these truths can be transforming moments in your lives if you recognize the opportunities before you.

Stay tuned for Part 4 of “Men – Pray For Your Wives.”

God bless you today as you seek Him.

Pastor You Must Be A Theologian (Part 1)

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Of interest to many pastors, ministry leaders, and church support organizations is the rise in the number of people who consider themselves to be “nones” and/or “dones.”  The “nones” group is comprised of people who respond to questions related to religious affiliation with “none.”  The second group is comprised of people who are “done” with the Church as an institution.  It is not my intention here to detail and discuss the myriad reasons for these responses.  I mention them because I think they share a common root cause.

A large percentage of the nones have never darkened the door of a church.  Their knowledge of Christianity is based solely on what they happen to observe on television or hear their friends or family discuss.  The dones are on the other end of the spectrum.  They have for the most part been raised in the Church, have been active in various roles, and still profess faith in God even though they no longer attend any Church services.  Many opt instead for home fellowships or other gatherings of believers in an informal setting.

What do these groups have in common?  Simply they both want a message that matters and neither group is hearing one.  The nones among us are not necessarily anti-Christian.  Indeed spirituality is at an all-time high in America so there is a large percentage of seekers among the nones.  Unfortunately the modern Church is more concerned with feeding God’s people the latest self-help pop psychology wrapped in Christian garb than it is teaching God’s Word faithfully book by book and chapter by chapter in a systematic and comprehensive fashion.  The competition is fierce in the self-help category with the likes of Oprah, Chopra, and Osteen carrying the day. No wonder nones aren’t listening to the religious equivalent of this group of new age icons.

The dones likewise long for a clear declaration of God’s truth through a matter-of-fact exposition of the text.  A large number of pastors have rejected a deep dive into the Scriptures and an equally challenging presentation of the biblical texts.  Their weekly offering of the Word falls well short of being spiritual food and nourishment for God’s people. This is so because God must be the focus of our exposition and Christ the answer to the issues we face. When the focus becomes people, their problems, and the steps they must take to regain their happy life, a concoction of spiritual poison has been brewed and dispensing that week after week will guarantee a Laodicean church.

King David declared in Psalm 19:7 that “the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”  This entire chapter is devoted to general (v. 1-6) and special (v. 7-13) revelation.  The point in verse eight is that God’s Word is sure because it is trustworthy.  It is trustworthy because it corresponds to reality.  In other words, God’s Word speaks with razor sharpness concerning our common human condition and provides the same clarity when it comes to what remedy He has provided for us.

Pastors, it is time to scale again the mountaintop of biblical exposition and declaration.  God has called you to that task, He has supplied you with all you need to perform it, and the people He has entrusted to your care must have it. We are called to be theologians and shepherds not a self-esteem masseuse or motivational coaches.

This is the first installment in a five-part series entitled “Pastor You Must Be A Theologian.” Stay tuned for more.