Friday, October 1

Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity.                                Colossians 3:12-14

Without a doubt, my wife and I would agree that the births of our four sons were the most exciting and joyful moments in our 25 years of marriage. Of course my wife’s joy was slightly different than mine because she also had to go through labor and delivery – whereas I was more of a “spectator” in the whole thing! But one of the things that made those moments even more special was sharing them with several of my guy friends from FBCG. Within hours of each of my boys being born – these guys met me at the hospital just to spend a few minutes looking through the window at this little scrunched up red face – to slap me on the back, make goofy jokes, and simply share my joy. In those moments I knew two things – I was blessed beyond measure with the birth of a son – and I was loved by those guys who shared my joy.

Fellowship is the spiritual “Velcro” of the church. Fellowship is forged by shared worship, shared truth and, ultimately, shared life. To share life means to be willing to share the kind of relationship with each other that allows us to share each other’s joy, to share each other’s pain and, simply put, to love each other.

In order to experience this kind of connection – we must do more than worship together in a big group on Sunday morning. Don’t get me wrong – worship is the life-blood of the church – but our connection with each other only goes so deep in a big group. Our connection grows as we share the truth of God’s word and equip ourselves to serve together. But the strongest and deepest sense of connection happens when we share the joys and pains of life together. And this happens best in smaller groups.

At FBCG this kind of sharing life happens in all kinds of ways. Most of our major ministries eventually break down in to smaller groups where relationships can be forged. In the next few weeks we will be launching our “C-Group” ministry (Core Groups, Couples Groups, Content Groups, etc.) – which invite people to join some kind of in-home small group experience. I hope you will consider taking a step out of your comfort zone in order to find a comfort zone! I hope this will be the year when you can share what it means to be “devoted to the fellowship!”

Prayer: Thank God for the connections you have already made with other followers of Jesus. Ask him to deepen your experience of shared joy, shared pain and shared love as you grow together through sharing life.


Brian Coffey

Thursday, September 30

It was he who have some to be apostles, some to be evangelists, some to be prophets, some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.               Ephesians 4: 11-13

Back to football for just a moment! Someone once described professional football as “50,000 people desperately in need of exercise watching 22 men desperately in need of rest.”  We can see this same phenomenon in other areas of life. Have you ever driven through a “work zone” and noticed that one guy seemed to be working on the road while five or six guys leaned on their shovels? Have you ever worked in an office where two or three people carried the work load for 15-20 people? Sometimes that can be what the church looks like. There’s an old saying in church leadership circles that goes, “In the church 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people.” In other words, even in the church there are more spectators than participants!

That’s not the vision of the church we see in the Bible!

If you read Ephesians 4:11-12 again (now would be a good time!) you’ll see that it is NOT the job of the pastors and ministry staff to DO all the ministry of the church. Rather, it is the job of the pastors and ministry staff to equip “God’s people” (that’s you!) to do the ministry of the church! At FBCG we believe that the church exists to reach, connect, equip and serve. Sometimes we have a tendency, as individuals, to stop after we have been reached, connected and equipped! We find a church home where we like the worship, enjoy the teaching, and make some good friends – and then we become, well… comfortable. And that’s a good thing! It’s great to be part of a church where you are comfortable! But, as we have been seeing in this series, God does not want us ONLY to be comfortable. He calls us out of our comfort zones and into growth and into his service!

The Bible teaches that each one of us was created not only for an eternal relationship with God, but for the purpose of serving him in some way (Ephesians 2:10). That service may be within the church – like serving in Children’s or Student Ministries; or it may be outside the church – in short term missions, or “Feed My Starving Children,” or simply in your community or neighborhood. The point is, we were each created and called to serve – and our shared service is part of the spiritual Velcro that makes us the church!

Prayer: Thank God for creating you with the potential to serve him by serving others. Ask him to plant a willingness to serve in your heart and to lead you to an opportunity to give of yourself in service.

Brian Coffey

Wednesday, September 29

here is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4: 4-6

A number of years ago I had the opportunity to preach at what was then our sister church in Samara, Russia. It was truly one of the highlights of my life as a pastor! After sharing two and a half hours of worship, prayer and preaching God’s Word, I was leaving the church when an elderly Russian man approached me with his face beaming with joy and tears streaming from his eyes. He came straight to me, grabbed my face in his gnarly hands and pulled me toward him. I naturally resisted because it was, well, weird! But he was too insistent and before I knew it he had planted a giant kiss right on my lips! Talk about comfort zone! I was several zones removed from comfort zone in that moment!

I learned later that this was his cultural way of expressing his respect and love for me. Despite the fact that we were very different – in age, language, culture, life experience – we did have in common shared truth and shared faith!

If you go back and read Ephesians 4:4-6 (go ahead – read it again) – you can count seven “ones.” These “ones” are what bind us together as the church – whether in suburban America or Samara, Russia. These “ones” are what make it possible for our short term mission teams to enjoy fellowship with other followers of Jesus anyplace in the world – Ecuador, Turkey, Austria, Mexico, The Czech Republic – and they are what led that Russian man to kiss me on the lips!

Now, I’m not saying we have to go around kissing each other on the lips (trust me on that one!) – but I am saying that just as the early believers were “devoted to the Apostle’s teaching” – so also we are to be devoted to God’s word. At FBCG we call this being “equipped.” To be equipped by God’s word is to allow God’s truth to shape our minds, hearts and lives into the likeness of Jesus. The truth of God’s word also unifies us as the Body of Christ in the world – as the church.

If you are not currently involved in an intentional process of being equipped through God’s word (other than “10 Minutes with God”) – consider stepping out of your comfort zone and into one of FBCG’s many equipping opportunities. Adult Learning Communities (ALC’s) meet on Sunday morning at both East and West Campuses; our Women’s Ministry offers several levels of Bible studies during the week; our men’s TEAM ministry meets early each Friday morning, etc. Make this the year you become devoted to connecting through God’s word!

Prayer: Ask God to increase your hunger for his word – and to lead you to the right class or group in which you can grow in your knowledge and understanding of his truth.

Brian Coffey

Tuesday, September 28

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16


My favorite definition of worship is “the offering of extravagant devotion to someone or something.” And when you consider this definition, perhaps the best illustration of “worship” in our culture is football! Every weekend, from Friday night in the small towns of America, to Saturday afternoons on college campuses, to the giant stadiums of the NFL on Sundays – millions of people gather to offer extravagant devotion to their favorite teams. Even though most of these fans (short for “fanatic” – which, when you think about it, is someone who offers extravagant devotion!) are virtual strangers to each other they will experience a powerful sense of connection because they share devotion to their favorite team. They will wear the team colors, share “tailgate” meals in the parking lot, and celebrate wildly when their team achieves a dramatic victory. In short, they will experience a kind of fellowship that comes from shared worship.

How much more this can and should be true of us as the church!

The Bible teaches that we are to worship God “acceptably with reverence and awe, because our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). The Book of Acts describes these early believers as being “filled with awe.” They were filled with awe and wonder because they had just witnessed the “Day of Pentecost” when the Holy Spirit came upon the church like the sound of a mighty wind, people heard the gospel in their own languages, and several thousand people came to faith in Jesus in one day. In the same way our own worship is to be filled with reverence and awe in response to who God is and what he has done – in our own lives and in the lives of others!

But reverent awe is only one aspect of worship. We are also connected through a sense of shared celebration. Just as football fans will celebrate together in unbridled joy when their team wins a game – so also we are to express our extravagant devotion to God through praise and celebration!

At FBCG we worship in multiple “languages,” that is, in multiple worship styles. At the East Campus our worship is led by a pipe organ, orchestral instruments and a sanctuary choir. At the West Campus our worship is led by electric guitars and drums. On Saturday night our worship feels more like a “coffee house” – with a smaller, more intimate setting. But even though we worship in different ways – we are one worship family because our worship is filled with both awe and celebration. And worship is the first step of building the spiritual Velcro of fellowship – of connecting.

Interestingly, on any given weekend, over half of the people who call FBCG their church home are doing something OTHER than worshiping with the FBCG family. This ratio is consistent throughout the churches of North America – and is probably a sign of the busyness of our modern culture. But the point is, when even one person, one voice in worship, one part of the Velcro is missing, we all miss out just a little bit. Each one of us is important to the Body of Christ (the church), because each one of us is important to God – and because each and every one of us has something to contribute to the reverent celebration of worship!

Whatever your personal style of worship, whatever your favorite FBCG service, make sure worship is part of your life and make sure you are part of worship!

Prayer: Ask God to help you make worship a greater priority in your personal life as well as in your experience of the church. Ask him to teach you to worship with both awe and celebration!
 
Brian Coffey

Monday, September 27

They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47
History tells us that Velcro was invented by a Swiss engineer, George de Mestral, who was curious about what made cockleburs stick to his dog’s fur. He discovered a tiny “hook and loop” system that he then used to create a revolutionary fastening system that is now part of everyday life. The truth is, of course, that God invented Velcro because he invented cockleburs – it just took many centuries for human beings to discover it!

The Bible tells us that 2000 years ago God invented the church and that in order to hold the church together, he invented a kind of spiritual Velcro called fellowship. Now fellowship is one of those churchy words like sanctuary, or narthex, that we only use around church and can sometimes take for granted. Fellowship comes from the ancient Greek word KOINONIA, which has a root meaning of “sharing in common” or “communion.” When used in the context of the church, it communicates a unique kind of relationship between people -- a unique kind of connectedness that holds us together as the Body of Christ despite all our differences.

Notice that scripture says these early followers of Jesus were “devoted to … the fellowship.” I think that means two things. First, it means that this sense of connection was important to them – that somehow they understood that if the church of Jesus Christ was to survive they had to be committed to each other! Second, I think it means that, like Velcro, KOINONIA has two sides. That is, just as one side of Velcro sticks to nothing – so also fellowship does not happen unless there is both a place to stick and a willingness to stick! The place is the church but the willingness belongs to each one of us.

We are talking about our “Comfort Zone” in this sermon series. We have learned that we all have a comfort zone – but that, quite often, in order to grow we must be called out of our comfort zones and into a new kind of living that God has for us. I believe that the “fellowship” described in the Book of Acts both creates and challenges our comfort zone! It creates a comfort zone because it gives us a place to belong. It challenges our comfort zone because in order to experience it we must take the risk of devoting ourselves to the process of knowing and being known by others.

So how’s your KOINONIA? Are you connected to the church as your church? Are you willing to devote yourself to the fellowship? Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone in order to be the church?

Prayer: Ask God to use his word this week to both challenge your understanding of the church as well as to encourage you to connect more deeply with your church.
 
Brian Coffey

Friday

Friday

We have spent this week reflecting on the encounter between Peter and Cornelius, and this is how the story ends…

When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying,  “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”  Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews.  Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.  – Acts 11:18-21

The above passage is the result of Peter’s explanation and defense of his sharing the gospel with Cornelius and his whole family.  It is amazing to think that Peter’s visit to Cornelius’ house would be the catalyst for the spread of the gospel message to the rest of the world! 

But the word of God continued to increase and spread. – Acts 12:24

The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. – Acts 13:49

In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. – Acts 19:20

A little history here might help give us perspective on how significant this event really was.

Up to this point, the spread of Christianity was almost exclusively among the Jewish people.  The first disciples were Jews and so were the first converts to Christianity.  The center for the early church was in the Jewish city of Jerusalem and the first church even met in a place called “Solomon’s Colonade” on the back steps of the Jewish Temple (Acts 5:12).  Even when the Jewish Christians were scattered because of persecution, they initially only preached the good news to other Greek speaking Jews.  We should all be eternally grateful that Peter was willing to go into the house of a Gentile stranger to share the “good news”!  If he had not, Christianity might have remained an obscure sect within Judaism and we may never had heard the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

How could Peter and Cornelius possibly have known what was at stake in their little encounter?  They couldn’t have imagined what God was going to do in their wildest dreams!  Peter was just trying to be obedient even though he didn’t fully understand his vision or why God would send him to a gentile house.  Cornelius was only seeking the true God for the sake of his own soul and the souls of his family.  But God was orchestrating events for a much wider eternal impact!

Just consider some of the life transforming implications of the meeting between Peter and Cornelius…

1.    Peter has his heart enlarged for all people.

2.    Cornelius and his household give their lives to Jesus Christ.

3.    The Jewish Christians who hear about this decide that the gospel should also be preached to the gentiles.

4.    Missionaries are sent out into all parts of the Roman world to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

5.    Churches are established in every corner of the Roman Empire.

6.    Christianity eventually becomes the dominant religion in Rome and then later in all of Europe!

How amazing it is to think that you and I are the spiritual descendents of this movement!

Every encounter with another person, every time we extend grace to someone, every opportunity to share the love of Christ can have eternal consequences, which reach far beyond our comprehension. 

I can’t help wondering what God might be up to right now!


Jeff Frazier

Thursday

Then Peter began to speak:  “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.  You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.  You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached — how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.  “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.  He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen — by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.  He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.  All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”  While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.  – Acts 10:38-44

We have been reading and reflecting this week on this amazing encounter between Peter, the Jewish disciple of Christ and Cornelius, the gentile Roman centurion.  The passage above is what Peter actually said to Cornelius and his family. 

Peter essentially gives them the gospel in brief.  In this short sermon, he lays out the heart and foundation of the Christian faith; that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, that Jesus died on a the cross for the salvation of the world, that Jesus rose from the dead and was seen by many witnesses, and that Jesus sent his followers out to preach this good news to the world!  This is the first time in history that the gospel was preached to gentiles (non-Jews).  This is the beginning of the spread of Christianity to the rest of the world.

There are several places in the New Testament where we get a little synopsis of the gospel message (1 Cor. 15:3-8, Acts 2:22-36).  Each time I come across these passages that outline the gospel message I am struck by the fact that the power of the gospel hinges on a single historical fact - the resurrection! 

In other words, the “good news” of Jesus Christ is not good advice.  Peter doesn’t show up at Cornelius’ house with a new set of rules to live by, or some new self-improvement plan for him to follow.  God sent Peter to tell Cornelius that Jesus Christ has conquered the power of sin and death and opened the way to God through his death & resurrection!  That is it!  That is the message!  Everything else in our faith leads up to and/or flows out of that single truth.

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

­- 1 Corinthians15:14

Sometimes I wonder if we aren’t tempted to think; “Can it really be that simple?  There must be more to it.”  We feel we have to add something to “spice up” the message.  We feel like we need to “update” the gospel for contemporary minds.  We are too quick to complicate and cloud the message of the gospel.  The amazing truth is that since this encounter between Peter and Cornelius over 2,000 years ago, right down to the present day, it has been the simple message of the cross of Jesus Christ that has been transforming lives!

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  – Romans 1:16

Lord Jesus, we praise you for the truth and power of your gospel.  We thank you for revealing it to us and for the forgiveness and freedom we have in you!  Help us to joyfully and humbly proclaim your good news wherever you give us opportunity – Amen.


Jeff Frazier

Wednesday

The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.  As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.  But Peter lifted him up.  “Stand up,” he said,  “I am only a man myself.”            

- Acts 10:25-26

Cornelius and Peter have had an interesting few days (and they are about to get even more interesting).  There is wonderful drama in this story!

Here is a brief synopsis of the story so far:

Cornelius is an “unclean” gentile and a Centurion in the Roman Army. He is also a very devoted man seeking God with all his heart and mind.

Peter is our beloved, stiff-necked fisherman turned Apostle who is now being humbled and remolded by Jesus.

Cornelius had a vision of a man 'in shining apparel' who told him to send for Peter. 

Peter, a Jew, has had a vision instructing him that it is all right to eat what was ceremonially unclean. Peter is warned not to call anything unclean that God has declared as clean.

Cornelius sends for Peter.

Peter sets out to Cornelius’ house.

Cornelius has been in prayer for years seeking God. His devotion is known in the area. His gifts to the poor are generous and from the heart. Still, he knows he is missing something, but what? The man in the vision told Cornelius that Peter would have his answers.

The day Cornelius has prayed for has arrived as Peter walks through the door, years of searching and seeking for God is coming to a climax.  Cornelius falls to the ground and begins to worship Peter.  This is shocking behavior! It would have been unthinkable for a Roman officer to bow before a common Jew.  Roman centurions did not fall on their knees before anyone but a superior officer and Caesar himself.  But Cornelius has been praying and seeking God, and God has told him that this man (Peter) will have the answers he seeks. 

Here things get really interesting…Peter stops and touches Cornelius!  Peter raises him to his feet and lets Cornelius know his guest is also just a man. It was unlawful for a Jew to touch a gentile.  This would have made Peter “unclean” under Jewish law, but Peter has a new understanding of what it means to be clean!  So Peter hauls Cornelius to his feet giving him equal status as a man.  The work God has been doing in Peter's heart has begun to have it's effect and the answers Cornelius has been seeking are just moments away! Peter knew he was no better or worse than Cornelius. He may not have completely understood it.  But he was willing to put aside the distinctions he had learned trusting God in these new things.  God has brought these two unlikely men together for their transformation and for his glory!

We are still frail, fallible flesh and blood in spite of the fact that Jesus has saved us and begun to work in our lives. I'm nothing special in this regard. One thing I learn as I move forward in my life with Jesus is that I have so much more to learn!  Another thing I learn is that God can use anybody to teach me!

Question:  Can you think of a time when you God used unlikely individuals to teach you something?  (Perhaps through a little child, or someone from a different language or culture?  Perhaps he taught you through someone you once considered an enemy?)

Take a few moments to thank God for all of the people in your life that God has used to teach you, challenge you and shape you.  (you may even want to make a list)

Oh Lord We praise you for the teachers you have brought into our lives.  Grant us the humility to be able to learn from anyone you send our way and give us the grace to be able to influence others for your glory!  Amen.

Tuesday, September 21

The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.
- Acts 11:1-12

At first glance this passage may seem a bit odd and difficult to understand; Peter has a weird dream about bed sheets and animals, he hears voices telling to eat the animals and then to go with three strangers who show up at his door?

We have to probe a little deeper to grasp the meaning of this vision and what God is really up to in Peter’s life. First of all, Peter was a Jew, and the Jews had very strict food laws (Leviticus 11). Generally speaking a Jew could only eat animals that chewed the cud and had cloven hoofs. All other animals were “unclean” and therefore forbidden according to the Levitical law. This is why Peter was so shocked and refused to obey when the voice in his vision told him to eat the unclean animals. Three times, the voice (God) tells Peter not to consider anything unclean that God has made clean.

You might be thinking – So what? Does God just want to change Peter’s diet?

Notice that immediately after this vision, the three messengers from Cornelius’ house show up looking for Peter. Remember that Cornelius was a gentile and a Roman soldier. Faithful Jews wanted nothing to do with gentiles because they were considered “unclean”, not to mention the oppressive and cruel Romans. Many Jews of this period believed that God himself had no use for gentiles. Peter would not ordinarily have been willing to go with three strange gentile men to meet with their pagan Roman army officer.

But God has been preparing him for this moment! The vision was not just about Peter’s diet, it was to prepare his heart for the meeting with Cornelius and his family!

Don’t think this is a small thing, this was a very big deal. It was against the Jewish law for a Jew to enter the house of a gentile (Acts 10:28). This is the reason that Peter was being criticized and questioned by the Jewish believers in the region (Acts 11:1-2).

One of the critical implications of this story for us is that we must not have any racism or prejudice of any kind in our hearts if we are to be true followers of Christ!

“Prejudice or racism of any kind in the heart or on the lips of God’s people is an
obscenity and a great offense to Him.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The encouraging thing about this amazing story is that although Peter is an apostle, a close companion of Jesus, a witness to the resurrection, and a key figure in establishing the early church, he still had some growing to do. He had some old prejudices, blind spots and parts of his heart that the Gospel had not yet completely transformed.

In other words God was not done working on Peter, and he is not done working on you either!

Take a few moments and ask God to probe your heart for spiritual blind spots. Invite him to point out any attitudes in you that may be offensive to him.
(write them down as a way of naming & confessing them to God.)

Father, you are the author of all life, and the Lord of all nations. Thank you that you are not finished with us! Reveal our prejudices and sinful attitudes so that we may be healed of them. Teach us by your Spirit to the world the way you do – Amen.

Jeff Frazier

Monday, September 20

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. – Acts 10:1-5

From what we know of him, Cornelius is really a fascinating fellow…

He is a Roman centurion. Interestingly, the Scriptures consistently present centurions in a positive light. Jesus praised a centurions faith in Matthew 8:10. It was a centurion that cried, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” In Matthew 27:54, and it was a centurion who protected Paul and spared the prisoners in Acts 27:42-43. I don’t know why centurions get such good press in the Bible. Perhaps it is because the centurions were the backbone of the Roman Legion. They were non commissioned officers (kind of like a Sergeant). They were the real working officers of the Roman army and they had a sense of honor, integrity and justice.

We also know that Cornelius was “devout and God-fearing”. As a typical Roman, Cornelius would have been exposed to the Roman gods; Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Augustus, etc. He must have found that they were not real and could not do anything for him. While stationed in Palestine, he became exposed to the monotheism of Judaism and became a devout worshipper. As a result, he, a Roman Soldier, prayed and even gave gifts to the poor and needy among the Jewish people! This would have been unheard of, shocking behavior for such a man!

So, Cornelius is a noble and spiritual minded Roman army officer who is longing for the true God. However, we also know that despite his devotion and generosity, Cornelius was missing something. He did not yet know this God personally, he did not yet know Jesus! (but he is going to…)

So, in response to his devotion and yearning (here is the best part…) God met Cornelius in a vision. God wanted to make himself known to this gentile soldier! How amazing and gracious is our God that he would hear and answer the prayers of a common soldier?

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
– Jeremiah 29:12-13

The average Jewish person in that day would have looked at Cornelius as nothing more than a symbol of the oppressive power of the Roman Empire. He was a pagan, a gentile by birth and therefore unclean to the Jewish mind. Yet here he is praying, giving and longing for the true God.

Who of us can tell what is really going on in another person’s heart and mind? Which of us can determine who is genuinely seeking God and who is hardened toward him? The truth is that we cannot even discern what is going on in our own hearts most of the time. Only God knows the depths of the human heart. The story of Cornelius should serve to remind us that the most unlikely person we can think of, may in fact, be just a step away from knowing and trusting Jesus. Even those who look and act like they are far from God on the outside may actually be longing to draw near to Him on the inside.

Who have you “written off” spiritually? Who have you stopped praying for?

Oh Lord, help us to see beyond the external. Give us your eyes to see people and your heart to reach them. Remind us by your Holy Spirit that every person we meet may be just a step away from knowing and trusting You – Amen.

Jeff Frazier

Friday, September 17

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in to the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Mark 1:14-20


We all have a comfort zone. We all have a place where we feel safe, in control – where life is at least somewhat predictable. And comfort zones are good! We all need a place where we can retreat and rest from the pace and stress of everyday life. That’s part of the reason God created the Sabbath principle – so that we can find our rest and refreshment in him!

But just as a La-Z-Boy is great for taking a nap or watching the game, but not so helpful for getting exercise; so also our comfort zones are good and necessary – but just aren’t very conducive to growth! Growth only happens when we leave the La-Z-Boy behind!

Notice that when Peter, Andrew, James and John decided to accept the invitation to follow Jesus – they also had to leave certain things behind. They all left their boats, their nets – and James and John left their father as well – in order to follow their Teacher. In a greater sense – they left their identities behind as well. Never again would they think of themselves as “just fishermen.” From that point on they would think of themselves as “followers of Jesus” first and foremost – and everything else – fishermen, sons, fathers, friends – became secondary.

Where does “follower of Jesus” fit in your definition of yourself? Do you tend, as I often do, to see your faith itself as a “comfort zone?” Do you keep Jesus in the “spiritual” compartment of your life – where he is safe and predictable - or do you allow him to lead all the compartments of your life and to call you out of your comfort zone to follow him?

Consider closing your time with God by considering whether or not you may have become somewhat “comfortable” in your faith. While it’s certainly not a bad thing to be comfortable with Jesus – he may want to challenge you to step out of your comfort zone in some way this fall. Are you ready to get out of the La-Z-Boy?

Brian Coffey

Thursday, September 16

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in to the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.


“At once they left their nets and followed him.”
“…and they left their father Zebedee in the boat …and followed him.” Mark 1:14-20

Just like that!
I’ve always wondered how and why these fishermen were so quick to climb out of their boats and follow Jesus. Yesterday we saw that part of the reason they responded this way was the sense of being “chosen” by Jesus. Today we will see that the second reason was that Jesus had not only called them to follow him – but he had also called them to a new and bold purpose!

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

I have read that Steven Jobs, founder of Apple Computer, recruited John Scully, then an executive with Pepsi, by challenging him with the question, “Do you want to spend your career selling sugar-water – or do you want to change the world?” Scully left Pepsi and joined Apple. In a sense, that’s what Jesus does here. He asks, “Do you want to spend your life catching fish, or do you want to change the world by catching men?” Now that doesn’t mean that we all have to leave our jobs to become full-time evangelists or missionaries! It does mean that when Jesus calls, he calls us to invest our time, talents and treasures in his eternal Kingdom and for his eternal purposes. He calls us to make a difference in the world!

You may not think of yourself as a “world changer,” or even as a “person of influence,” but, then again, these four Galilean fishermen didn’t think of themselves that way either! Are you willing to allow Jesus to change the way you look at yourself and your life? Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone and allow Jesus to use you to make a difference?

Brian Coffey

Wednesday, September 15

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in to the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:16-20

Do you remember the playground ritual of choosing up sides for a game of kickball or softball? Inevitably, the two dominant boys (usually) – who were either the biggest kids in the class, or the most verbally assertive, and often both – would designate themselves as “captains.” Then they would take turns picking their team from the gaggle of kids nervously waiting their names to be called. One by one kids would be chosen, beginning with the best athletes and moving on to the more popular classmates and finally it came down to the last couple of kids. No one wanted to be one of the last two kids to be chosen. Anything but that. No one wanted to be exposed as the least gifted kickball player; no one wanted to be the least wanted.

I think that might be a little how these four fishermen may have felt before they met Jesus. People who know this sort of thing tell us that most boys in Jewish culture aspired to become disciples of a local Rabbi. But in order to be chosen they had to demonstrate an aptitude for deeper study and understanding of the scriptures. Young men who did not display this aptitude were encouraged to go into the family business. So, we can assume that these four men – Peter, Andrew, James and John – had, in a sense, been left standing in the playground – unchosen.

Along comes Jesus, who would have been seen as a Rabbi, and without even so much as an interview or theological exam, he “chooses” these four fishermen for his “team.” I picture each on of them looking surprised, glancing around saying, “You talking to me?” and thinking Jesus had to be making some sort of mistake. They weren’t the best and the brightest; they weren’t students of theology or well-versed in the interpretation of ancient texts; they were fishermen, plain and simple. Yet the Rabbi invited them to follow him!

Maybe you have felt a little like these four men – spiritually speaking. Maybe you feel like a beginner when in comes to your knowledge of the Bible. Maybe you feel that you don’t possibly have anything to offer Jesus because of issues in your past. Yet Jesus chooses YOU! The Rabbi thinks you can be like him!

Take a few moments in prayer, quiet your heart, and listen to the voice of Jesus. Can you hear him call your name? Can you hear him whisper, “Follow me!”?

Brian Coffey

Tuesday, September 14

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in to the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:14-20


Think about this for a second: Jesus is the incarnate Son of God, who was born in a miraculous way, lived in obedience to his parents and to his heavenly father for 30 years, was baptized by John the Baptist, and when he is set to finally begin his public ministry he goes looking for a bunch of fishermen? Really? The truth is, these men were in the fishing business most likely because they failed to qualify for higher level religious training. At some point they were encouraged to join the family business instead of pursue further theological studies. After 30 years of preparation, Jesus is finally launching the public phase of his earthly ministry – a ministry that will last only a scant three years. You would think that he would look for the most qualified and well-trained men he could find to join his team. Why would he choose these relatively uneducated men who had absolutely no experience in what he was going to ask them to do?

While no one can know with certainty the mind of Jesus, I think we can guess that Jesus was not necessarily looking for those who already thought they had the whole “religious thing” figured out. I think he was looking for ordinary guys – but ordinary guys whose hearts were ready for his call.

Throughout the Bible we see stories of how God calls and uses otherwise ordinary people for his own extraordinary purposes. Sometimes we think of characters like Gideon, Ruth, or Daniel as being “Bible people,” and therefore as somehow different from you and me. The truth is that before their stories became part of God’s story – they were exactly like you and me! And the same is true with Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John – ordinary fishermen called by Jesus to extraordinary faith and extraordinary lives.

So do you think of yourself as “just an ordinary Christian?” Most of us do. Part of this way of thinking is, of course, appropriate humility. But part of it might also be that we have a tendency to underestimate what Jesus might want to do in and through us. I believe Jesus always sees more in us than we see in ourselves! And when he calls us to follow him into some “Kingdom assignment” – he does so because he wants us to discover who we can be and what we can do through him!

Ask the Lord today to help you discern his call and to have the spiritual courage to follow!

Brian Coffey

Monday, September 13

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in to the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Mark 1:14-20


I am not a fisherman. I didn’t grow up fishing – and the only time I remember going fishing with my Dad it was on vacation and he took us deep sea fishing for some reason and we all got sea-sick. But as my own boys were growing up – I wanted to be a good Dad so I bought a small fishing pole for one of my boys and we went to some local ponds a few times. On these occasions, my greatest fear is that we would actually catch something – because I didn’t want to actually have to touch the fish to get it off the hook. So I always took these big, thick gardening gloves and some needle-nosed pliers with me – just in case!

Just this past August my son Jesse asked me to go with him on his D-Group fishing trip (D-Groups are High School Discipleship Groups at FBCG), and their leader, Keith Duncan. Again, wanting to be a good Dad and wanting to spend that time with my son, I agreed to go. We traveled some 10 hours north, to the boundary waters of Canada, and camped and fished for three days. Spending three days coated with mosquito repellent, inhaling smoke from the campfire and trying to avoid touching worms, leeches and the fish we caught was WAY out of my comfort zone- but we had a blast!

Everyone has a comfort zone. That is, we all have a place where we feel safe and secure; where life is familiar and predictable. Unlike me, Simon (Peter) and his younger brother Andrew, found their comfort zone in a fishing boat. Fishing was what they did. “Fishermen” was who they were. And toiling away with their nets on the Sea of Galilee was where they were most comfortable. Then along came Jesus!

We’ll explore the change Jesus brings to our lives as we move through the week – but let’s just begin with the question: “Are you ready to step out of your comfort zone when it comes to your faith?”

It seems to me that as we read through the New Testament stories of Jesus, he never encounters people only to leave them the way they were. Jesus always brings change. That change often brings challenge and even discomfort – but it is always good.

This week we began a series entitled “Comfort Zone: Moving beyond ordinary faith.” Week by week we are going to see how Jesus calls us to get out of the boat of our own “faith comfort zones” and to follow him into a life of obedience, challenge, growth and impact. Are you ready? Are you willing to allow Jesus to confront you, challenge you, and change you?

Close today by asking Jesus to both meet you in your comfort zone – and to call you out of it if he so desires!

Brian Coffey

Friday, September 10

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4

Take some time to pray for your house – that is the “rare and beautiful” treasures that are your family. If you have children who are growing up under your roof – ask God to help you establish a solid spiritual foundation for them. If your children are grown – ask God to strengthen their faith. If you do not have children – or live alone – ask God to deepen your own faith and to allow your life to be an influence on others.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Matthew 7:24-27

As we close our study of this passage – and as we close our discussion of the entire Sermon on the Mount – one more word deserves attention. I wonder if you noticed it?

Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Practice. What does it mean to put Jesus’ words into practice? What does it mean to practice the Kingdom of God?

Well, first of all, is does not mean that we must put into practice all these teachings in order to receive salvation. The Bible teaches very clearly that salvation is a matter of faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-10). It is because we have received God’s gift of salvation through the grace and forgiveness of Christ that we seek to practice the life to which he calls us!

It seems to me that to put into practice Jesus’ teaching requires some of the same disciplined effort that the practice of other pursuits requires. Think, for example, about a sport like basketball or a musical instrument like piano. You might want to become a better basketball player; you might like to be able to play the piano; but without hours of practicing the fundamental skills of either, usually with the help of a coach or teacher, you will not develop or improve your capacity to play either. Furthermore, without consistent and committed practice – you will not increase your enjoyment of basketball or piano. You will simply continue to miss the shots you have always missed, and you will play the wrong notes you have always played!

But if you dedicate yourself to practice; to learning the fundamentals, to repeating them over and over until they are second nature; you will not only slowly improve your skills – but your enjoyment of the sport or of the instrument will grow dramatically.

The same is true in our faith. While salvation is a gift received by faith, spiritual growth is most often the result of spiritual practice! When it comes to spiritual practice there are three fundamental disciplines we must develop.

1. Reading and studying God’s word. There simply is not substitute for studying God’s word on your own.

2. Spending time in personal prayer. Prayer is what opens our hearts to the work of the Holy Spirit.

3. Investing in mutually encouraging Christian relationships. The Christian life was not meant to be lived alone! We find encouragement when we share our spiritual journey with others traveling the same road.

Jesus is simply reminding us that it is not enough to know his words – we must practice his words. As we put his words into practice we will deepen our own experience of his Kingdom and we will become ambassadors for that Kingdom to those around us!

Close your time with God this week by thanking him for his word and ask him to help you put all you have learned into practice in your life!

Brian Coffey

Thursday, September 9

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-2

Take some time today to identify the pain, trouble or stress that burdens your heart. Then offer all of these to God in confession – thanking him for being your constant refuge in times of trouble.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27


It took me a number of years to notice – but there is only one constant in the illustration Jesus uses to close the Sermon on the Mount. The constant is, of course, the storm. While Jesus is using the illustration of a well-constructed house to teach us the importance of building our lives on the truth and values of the Kingdom of God, he is also teaching us something about the storm! Simply put, Jesus is teaching that the storm is both inevitable and indiscriminate. He is NOT teaching us that if we follow him and put our faith in him, that we will avoid the storms of life!

Sometimes we assume that because we have put our faith in Jesus – and because we follow him and pray to him – that he will protect us FROM the storm. While certainly he can and sometime does shield us from pain and calamity, we must understand that his promise here is to protect us IN the storm. For the question is not IF the storm will come – but rather, WHEN the storm comes will you be prepared?

This is actually the same question that the Apostle Peter dealt with in a slightly different way when he wanted to encourage the early followers of Jesus who were experiencing persecution for the first time.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 4:12-13

Sometimes we bring the storm on ourselves – through selfish, foolish or sinful decision or behavior. When we do – the Holy Spirit will lead us through a process of confession, forgiveness and repentance. Sometimes the storm is brought on by the decisions or behavior of others – a boss, a co-worker, or a family member. When this happens, we can choose to confront the issue with both truth and love and seek resolution and reconciliation. If our efforts are rejected – we can simply forgive in the strength of Christ himself.

But sometimes the storm seems to just come out of nowhere – for no apparent reason. Illness or disease or an accident leaves our lives shaken to the very foundation – and we wonder if we can survive. Jesus is teaching us that storms do come, but that he is greater than the storms. Yes, our lives can be shaken to their very foundation – but if that foundation is anchored in his truth and promise – we will not be destroyed!

Thank God for the strength and hope that you have in Christ.

Brian Coffey

Wednesday, September 8

Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11

Ask God to help you today to allow his word to examine your heart and life – and to help you learn to increasingly put into practice the truth of his word.


But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. Matthew 7:25


A friend of mine used to have a cottage on Myrtle Beach. It was one of those classic beach houses – just 50 yards or so from the ocean and built on pylons so it looked like it was on stilts. He doesn’t have that cottage anymore – not because he sold it – but because a hurricane-force storm quite literally blew it away. Completely. Right down to the pylons that supported the frame. Gone.

But not every beach house was destroyed in that particular storm. Some remain to this day. But my friend’s house was washed into the sea in a matter of a few hours. The difference between the homes that withstood the power of the hurricane and those that were washed to sea was not in the force of the wind that beat against them. Rather, the difference lay in how the homes were constructed. Those built on the sand – that is set up on pylons – were quickly destroyed. Those with foundations reaching beneath the sand to the solid rock beneath, withstood the storm.

Jesus is saying that our lives are a bit like a beach house. We can build our lives on that which is essentially sand – and hope a hurricane never comes. Or we can build our lives on a rock – that which is sturdy enough to withstand the storm when and if it comes. The question, of course, is how do we know if we are building on sand or on the rock?

The answer to that question comes down to truth. What is the truth about human existence? What is the truth about God? What is the truth about salvation? What is the truth about eternal life? Who do we trust to tell us the truth about each of these ultimate questions? Do we trust our modern cultural attitudes that tell us there is no ultimate spiritual truth? Do we trust ourselves to create our own spiritual truth? Or do we trust the word of God, which claims to be true, unchanging and absolutely trustworthy?

The point is we have to trust someone to tell us what is sand and what is rock – because we are all building a house! No one builds a home and only after it is built inquires about the quality of the foundation. Yet, when it comes to spiritual truth, people do this all the time. Maybe you have spent a significant portion of your life building on sand – only to realize that your foundation is lacking. Take some time today to thank God for his word, his truth, his salvation and his promise – and ask him to continue to strengthen and deepen your foundation in him.

Brian Coffey

Tuesday, September 7

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:1-2

Begin your time with the Lord today by thanking him for knowing you, loving you, and “hearing your cry” when you called to him for forgiveness and salvation. Thank him for rescuing you from sin and giving you a firm place to stand in your faith!

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-27

My boys and I love summer storms. More accurately, we love to watch summer storms blow in from the safety and comfort of our home! We will watch from either our back deck or front porch as the storm approaches – marveling at the rolling dark clouds and flashes of lightning. But when the storm gets a little too close – we simply step inside and listen to the thunder from the comfort and safety of our family room! We do this, of course, because we trust the structural strength and stability of our home without even thinking about it. The storm can pass right over head and the rain and wind can beat against the roof and windows – but we stay dry as a bone – because our house is well built.

Jesus is teaching us that the truth and promise of the Kingdom of God, when properly understood, is that which protects us in the storms of this life. The Kingdom of God is our place of safety because it anchors our lives in eternity “where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6). As followers of Jesus, and citizens of the Kingdom of God, we live in a real world with real concerns and real storms. But we also understand and believe that our eternal destiny is in heaven. Therefore, when the storms of life come our way, we know that while storms can bring pain and loss – our ultimate destiny remains secure – and in this truth we find peace and rest.

Take a few moments to thank God for the promise of eternal life and ask him to allow you to know his peace and rest – even during the storms of your life.

Brian Coffey

Monday, September 6

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:1

Today, ask God – by his Holy Spirit – to help you put aside all the things you have to do today – and to sense his presence as you meet with him. Ask him to use his word to refresh your soul.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Matthew 7:24-27

My wife and I have twice had the experience of building a house. And when you dream about a new house – you start thinking of what you want the family room or the bedrooms to look like. You imagine having a nice front porch – or a spacious kitchen – but you don’t start thinking immediately of building a foundation! I remember watching the construction company dig the hole for the foundation of our current home. There wasn’t much exciting or glamorous about it – it was just a big hole that they then reinforced with steel forms and concrete. I couldn’t wait for them to get on with building the house! But the truth is, without that foundation, the house we would eventually live in would not be safe for my family.

Jesus here concludes the entire Sermon on the Mount with an illustration about the importance of establishing a solid spiritual foundation for our lives. He has been teaching us about the Kingdom of God, and how the truth and values of his Kingdom are to shape our lives as his followers. In essence, Jesus has been methodically tearing down our assumptions about everything from religion to prayer to wealth – and rebuilding our understanding of both God and the life he calls us to live. And the foundation of this life is built on the “rock” of two unchanging spiritual truths. The first is that the Kingdom of God is real – and the only way we can enter it is to put our faith in Jesus and follow him. The second is that our lives only make sense when we see them from an eternal perspective. This life is not all there is. When we understand that Jesus has called us into an eternal relationship with God – we see our lives, our material possessions and our relationships in a different light.

The point Jesus is making to close the Sermon on the Mount is that we have a choice in the matter. We all build our lives on something – some philosophy, some belief system – whether or not we are conscious of doing so. Jesus is saying that we either build our lives on the foundation of HIS truth, HIS kingdom and HIS salvation – or we build on the foundation of something else – like career, wealth, or personal achievement. While there is certainly nothing wrong with placing at least some value on these things – Jesus is reminding us that, at the end of the day, all these are temporary and will disappear – and therefore do not make a very reliable foundation for our “houses.”

Take a few moments to think honestly about the values, priorities and assumptions that serve as the foundation of your life. Are you building on that which is unchanging and eternal – or that which one day will let you down?

Brian Coffey

Friday

Friday

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.  Away from me you evildoers.’

-       Matthew 7:23

“But he will reply,  ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ 

- Luke 13:27

Not long ago I was browsing through a local bookstore and picked up a copy of one of those “Worst Case Scenarios” books and began to leaf through it.  It covered a wide array of topics like, how to escape from a sinking car, how to get out of quick sand, what to do if you are being eaten by a python, how to jump from a building into a dumpster, and how to survive a killer bee attack, (just your basic, common, everyday situations).  In addition to piquing my curiosity and making me laugh out loud, it also started me thinking…what is my worst case scenario?  What is the event or occurrence that I fear most?  What is yours?

As a parent, of course I dread anything happening to my children.  In my work as a pastor I have dealt with many people in the midst of deep relational and emotional pain.  Most of us don’t have to think too hard to bring to mind tragedies or disasters that we hope we never have to face.  But I think the ultimate worst case scenario might be to hear Jesus speak the words “Away from me!” to you. 

Think about it for a moment, what could be worse than to be away from Jesus for all eternity!?  When we slow down and really consider this, I think we pretty quickly come to the conclusion that this is our worst case scenario.  And if being away from Jesus is our worst case scenario, then doesn’t that mean that being close to Jesus is our best case scenario?  The truth is that far too often, far too many of us really don’t live as if being near Jesus is our best case scenario. 

The life of Peter is powerful example for us on this issue.  Peter was certainly a passionate individual, and he had his share of ups and downs.  It was Peter who was the first one to jump out of the boat when Jesus came walking on the water (Matt. 14).  When Jesus predicted his death, Peter was the one who basically told him not to be so negative and that he would never let this happen.  Jesus turned and said to Peter,  Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.  (Matthew 16:23)  Later when Jesus predicted that some of his disciples would betray him, it was Peter who said that he would die before he ever disowned Jesus (and we all know who’s prediction was right on that score don’t we).  Finally, when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus and take him away we read in Luke 22:54, Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.

Did you notice that last line?  Do you see what was happening to Peter, he was distancing himself from Jesus.  Following Jesus at a safe distance is the same thing as not following him at all, just ask Peter!  If you want to be close to Jesus in eternity, then you need to start getting close to him now!

(By the way, just in case you don’t know how things turned out for Peter, read John 21 and you’ll get the rest of the story, it’s pretty good.)

So, here is the your final reflection question for this week:

Is being near Jesus your best case scenario?  How close are you to him?

Come near to God and he will come near to you.  – James 4:8

Jeff Frazier

Thursday

Thursday


Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
- Matthew 7:21-23

This passage may be among the most troubling words of Jesus in all the New Testament. At first glance we might be tempted to think that Jesus is simply talking about those who say one thing and do another, i.e. the hypocrites. There are plenty of places in the Gospels where Jesus a great deal to say to the hypocrites. But here Jesus is referring to those who not only say “Lord, Lord”, but who are also serving and ministering in his name.

These individuals are speaking to Jesus with proper respect and they recognize his authority as Lord and Master. They appear to believe the right things about who Jesus is, at least as far as we can tell from their words. To make things even more difficult for us, Jesus tells us that these people are doing good things in his name, and yet, on the last day, Jesus will say to them, “I never knew you. Away from me.”

How is it possible for a person to profess the right things about Jesus and to be serving in his name, and yet have Jesus say, “I never knew you”?

Notice that Jesus does not say, “I used to know you”, he says “I never knew you”. In other words, despite all of their good talk and good deeds, they have no genuine relationship with Christ. There has never been any authentic spiritual connection, it has all been a matter of externals; saying the right things and doing the right things. The key distinction Jesus is making here is not between the obedient and the disobedient, or between good people and the bad people. He is not even contrasting the righteous with the wicked. Jesus is drawing the distinction here (and throughout the entire Sermon on the Mount) between those who have a relationship with him and those who are merely religious.

The problem for the religious people is not in what they say about Jesus or in what they do for Jesus. Their problem is what they think their words and their deeds will get them. They come to Jesus on the last day saying “Lord, Lord, didn’t we do this and didn’t we do that” As if all of their saying and doing will earn them favor with the King. The one who truly has a relationship with the King, the true “kingdom Christian” understands that no amount of words or deeds could possibly gain them favor with the King because he has already given them all they seek! It is with this assurance and freedom that they move out into the world to help establish His Kingdom & His righteousness!

Read this final stanza from Christian Rossetti’s poem “In the Bleak Mid-Winter”

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.

The simple truth is that we are poor and we have nothing to offer our King. We have nothing to prove our value or worth. We have nothing with which to buy his love or favor.
 You are poor. You have nothing. You deserve nothing.
 But your King Jesus loves you and has redeemed you with his love! What can you do but give your whole heart to Him!

Jeff Frazier

Wednesday

Wednesday

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.      - Matthew 7:16, 20

 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.    – John 15:5,8

We have looked at how Jesus tells us we can discern the truth in another’s teaching.  We should be aware that not everyone who claims the name of the Lord is actually teaching the truth about him, but there is another, more personal application of this passage for us.  We must be willing to apply Jesus’ teaching to the fruitfulness of our own lives!

First of all, what exactly is “fruit”?  What does the Bible mean when it talks about being fruitful?  Most of us probably think of doing good deeds (i.e. serving in ministry, giving to the poor, etc.)  Of course good deeds are a part of what it means to bear fruit.  However, if we stop at the external actions and not probe deeper to the heart behind the actions, we miss the entire point of not only this passage, but of the whole Sermon on the Mount!

The fruit which Jesus is referring to here is Christlikeness -- his character reproduced in us.  In Galatians 5:22-23 the Apostle Paul says, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Nine qualities gathered as one cluster, just as a grapevine produces. It consists, really, of the spiraling application of the first three, love, joy, and peace. As those reach out to involve the relationships of life they appear as patience, loving kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. So love and joy and peace are the fruit he expects in us.

But how does this happen?  How can we produce this kind of fruit in our lives?  The answer is that we cannot produce it!  We can do a good deed now and then, but only Christ can transform us on the inside into truly loving, peaceful, patient and joyful people.  Look closely at the images Jesus uses in the following passage;

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  - John 15:1-5

We do not produce fruit, we only bear it.  In other words, we are just displaying the good things that Christ is doing in our lives.  We produce nothing!  If we are just the branches, then we have no life and no fruit unless we are connected to the vine – Jesus!  Jesus says himself, no branch can bear fruit by itself.

Take a few moments to reflect on the following questions…

What does it mean for you to “remain” in Christ?

Where have you seen the evidence fruitfulness (Christlikeness) in your life?

Where do you need to be “pruned” so that you can be even more fruitful?

Oh Lord Jesus, may we always remain in you, our true source of life.  Remind us each day that we can do nothing apart from you.  Produce in us the fruit of your Spirit that we may known as your disciples – Amen.

Jeff Frazier