Continuing on in looking at 1 Timothy we come to a section on those who teach heterodoxy or false doctrine. Paul writes the following, 1 Timothy 6:3–8 (NIV): 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

People seem to get very excited when some new theory is proposed about Scripture. Yet the church has been doing theology for about two thousand years. The problem with new ideas is that it can lead to friction and quarrels. An important word to remember is heterodoxy. Wikipedia defines it as “any opinions or doctrines at variance with an official or orthodox position”. So it is not heresy but it is comments and questions that lead people away into speculation and other forms of thinking. Typically this results in trying to match the Bible to the current cultural trends rather than us trying to move our lives to the Bible. 

Think about it. Orthodoxy, which is the practice of ancient doctrines, is boring because we have been doing it for a long time. Heterodoxy is exciting because it is new and speculative. We live at a time where trends change every 24-hours by the news cycle. We get used to all the new trends. Yet God comes to us in our condition and offers us love and grace.

The best way to fill our hearts and minds with what is good is to stay with the classics. I was reminded of this in our own church constitution of the confession of faith and how we state the importance of the Augsburg Confession and Luther’s Small Catechism. Both of these were written around 1530 A.D. A long time ago and yet they assist us better in the understanding of the doctrines of the Bible better than the latest copy of Newsweek and Time. 

I would encourage you to heed the Apostle Paul’s admonition to not fall into speculation and begin reading those pieces of the faith that are ancient in their time and yet keep us anchored in the sola scriptura; the ancient Scriptures of faith.

Pastor Aaron 

One boat began falling behind. Not enough fuel. There had been plenty of coal for the trip, but not enough for a race. As the boat dropped back, an enterprising young sailor took some of the ship’s cargo and tossed it into the ovens. When the sailors saw that the supplies burned as well as the coal, they fueled their boat with the material they had been assigned to transport. They ended up winning the race, but burned their cargo.

God has entrusted cargo to us, too: children, spouses, grandparents. Our job is to do our part in seeing that this cargo reaches its destination.

Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:8 “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Ouch. Strong words from the Apostle Paul to the young pastor Timothy. Things are slightly different in modern America today. Yet, part of God’s grace to us is the institution of the family. This week my parents and my father-in-law have come to stay with us for Christmas. We have three extra bodies in our home for the next two weeks and I smiled this morning when I heard the talking and laughter over cups of coffee. Even though the children are now sleeping in the living room and our days are crazier with three extra people it is good to have them all with us. 

I am reminded today of God’s kindness to me. I was told years ago that I might not have children due to an experimental treatment I had to take and yet I am married with three children. My children have their grandparents who spoil them silly. Do we drive each other crazy? Sometimes. Yet God is reminding me through my children to have more patience and to not take myself too seriously. I am also reminded about life not being about what I want but how I can serve those in my family. I feel His grace molding me and helping me to reflect His Son Christ, in my life with those He has given to me. 

Sometimes in seeing the bad during this time of the year, we need to change our perspective and see God’s grace in who He has placed in our lives. I think God is more interested in what we are becoming than what we are acquiring. If this is a challenging time for you this year, my prayer is that God’s grace will help you to have a different perspective. May you receive the ability to have eyes of faith rather than a heart of bitterness. In spite of your circumstances may the joy of Christ fill your heart this year.

Pastor Aaron 

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways And no message could’ve been any clearerIf they wanna make the world a better placeTake a look at yourself and then make a change

Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:15-16, “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

A mirror never lies. I look one way in the mirror when I first get out of bed and then I look totally different after a shower and a cup of coffee. Mirrors show us who we are on the outside. Yet, where is the mirror for the inside of our lives?

The only way we really know is in the situations of life. Everyday events are the finals to know who we are becoming on the inside. Paul reminds us that there is another mirror and it is Scripture. He reminds Timothy to look closely at doctrine and himself. 

James writes in James 1:23-24, “22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”

Scripture reveals who we are from God’s point of view. Then we are left with the question of “Who do I want to become?” Do not be the one who walks away and quickly forgets what was seen in the mirror. Remember that change in the world begins with me. As I look in the mirror of Scripture, I must change. It is always easier to say someone else needs to change but the truth is that I am the one who needs to change. It must start with me.

Pastor Aaron 

I was reflecting on Timothy 4:9-10 that says, “This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.” 

I know sometimes I forget that I break the rules. I am well aware of those who break the big rules and cause harm but sometimes I need to be reminded that I am a rule breaker too. As soon as we forget that we break the rules too and need to be saved is when we fall into a pit in which we cannot receive help. It is only those who can recognize that they need help who will receive it. 

I am not always sure how this works with God but I know from my experience that things change in my life when I remember this trustworthy saying that my hope is in the living God who saves. So to myself and to you, this Christmas reach out and receive that which has been given to you. Receive it in faith for we all break the rules and we all need some help. 

Pastor Aaron 

Imagine someone handed you an old treasure map, like the kind you see in storybooks, with an X marking the spot. Would you just toss it aside, thinking it’s a hoax? Or would you drop everything to search for the gold, dreaming of what you could do with the fortune? Most of us would go on the treasure hunt. We’d be fools to ignore something so valuable.

But there’s something infinitely greater than a buried chest of gold. The kingdom of heaven is the ultimate treasure, and we have access to it without a map. Salvation and eternal life with Jesus are worth more than anything you could find in this world.

As believers, we know the way to heaven—His name is Jesus. Do you realize how priceless a relationship with Him is? Would you lay down everything to seek and obtain it? Often, the only risk is your time as you learn to follow Him, and the reward is beyond worth it.

Where is your treasure?

Pastor Chance

“God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.” – Daniel 1:17

Wow, this morning I started reading the book of Daniel, and what a joy it is to get a good word in the present season. This happens during a time when the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem and exiled many Israelites to a foreign land led by King Nebuchadnezzar. The king took young strong boys from Judah’s royal family, including four teenagers: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (better known by their Babylonian names: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego).

The king wanted them in his court but required three years of training in the new language, culture, and affairs. He provided them with the finest foods and wines, like a Las Vegas buffet! Though tempting, this food violated God’s dietary laws. Daniel and his friends chose to obey God and requested a vegetable and water diet for 10 days. If they looked unhealthy compared to the others, they would eat the king’s diet. After 10 days, they looked healthier and even gained weight!

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men” – Acts 5:29

How often do you find yourself in sticky situations, where you boldly have to stand up for your faith and for others? Maybe you’ve built a close relationship with a friend, but now it might get awkward because you have to correct them, which could damage the relationship or make things feel weird. Maybe when you were younger, you found yourself in a peer-pressured situation or a time where you had to stand for something no matter the cost.

In the book of Acts, the Apostles found themselves in a situation where they were just thrown into prison. Can you imagine going to prison for your faith? Suddenly, an angel of the Lord frees them from the cell and tells them to “Go stand at the temple and tell the people the words of this life.” Then, the high priest and other Jewish leaders tell them to stop preaching.

Peter, who once denied Jesus three times, replied, “We must obey God rather than men.” What a transformation! How could this happen? Because “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).

In your life, you have the greatest calling, which is living for Christ. Living for Christ means obeying Him even when it’s hard. You don’t need to go through life seeking approval or validation from anyone because you already have it from Jesus.

Rest in the truth that doing the right thing may be difficult, it may cause awkwardness, it may cost you something, but for Jesus, it cost Him everything. Are you willing to follow Him and pay that price of discipleship and obedience?

 “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”  – Winston Churchill.

In the beginning of the movie, a side character named Billy grew up on the other side of the tracks in a house that looked abandoned and broken down. Billy grew up poor, and because he felt poor, he felt neglected and unloved. This led him to not believe in Santa, and since he didn’t believe, Christmas never came to his house.

By the end of the movie, when the Polar Express returns and Billy finally decides to believe in Santa, Christmas comes to his house. His house now has a Christmas tree and is lit up, filled with new life.

Many of us act like Christmas has never come to our house. We lose that youthful vigor, drive, enthusiasm, and passion. We forget the feeling we had when we first put our faith in Jesus or felt that joy during worship or when a prayer was answered long ago.

We forget that at one time, the house of this world and our lives were dark, riddled with sin, and without hope. But now, Jesus has come and breathed new life into us. He has given us the ability to bear fruit, experience an abundant life, and find hope.

Because of Jesus, we go from lost to found, from poor orphan to priceless inheritance, from enemy to friend, from sinner to saint, and from hopeless to hope-filled.

Polar Express Part 1

Yesterday, I had the joy of preaching at our sister church, Proclaim, in Lake Worth. They are doing an amazing series called Christmas at the Movies, and I preached on The Polar Express.

In this verse, the Israelites were walking in darkness, neglecting their worship and obedience to the Lord. Because of this, they were under the judgment of God through the invasion of the Assyrian Empire. The Israelites felt hopeless, but the prophet Isaiah cast a vision of hope for a Savior to come and a great light to establish an eternal kingdom.

In the movie, a kid who had turned his back on the belief in Santa is awakened by a noise and a bright light as the Polar Express rolls into his neighborhood.

Similarly, one night in the land of Israel, amidst the darkness, evil, and injustice, God’s great light, Jesus, rolled into our neighborhood.

Today, I want everyone to understand that without God, life is dark. Without God, this world would fall apart quicker than it was created. Because God became human, He introduced the kingdom of God that fights against the kingdom of darkness, and we are part of that kingdom. By His grace, God is working through us to bring light into this world, just as He did and continues to do.

How is that? Christianity is the biggest religion in the world. Christians invented hospitals and healthcare, the first universities, charities, and significant inventions like the printing press. They also established home values such as the sacrament of marriage and taking care of the vulnerable.

Jesus and His kingdom have brought light into the darkness and give us hope, ‘qavah’ (הוָק), a confident expectation that He will return soon and forever remove darkness, reigning for all eternity.

Let’s wait with eager expectation that one day the blind will see, and the crippled will walk. Until then, God is with us.

Pastor Chance