Assigned Passage 1 John 1:1-4
Task: Turn to page 19 in the FOF workbook and after completing step 1 move to step 2 writing out your observations. When you are done with this step practice step 3 by answering the question “what does this text mean? And how would I explain that to someone?”
Come prepared to share you insights this Sunday.
[And do] not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:25
I was reminded recently of the importance of regularly meeting together with the saints. The old saying goes that “distance makes the heart grow fonder”. While this might be true in matters of this world, it does not hold true for Christian fellowship. In fact the opposite is warned about in this verse. Absence from the flock makes the heart grow colder. When you exclude yourself from regularly gathering your commitment wains, the voices of criticism grow, discontentment can take root, and then a prejudiced view of either the church or your place in it can grow. Soon emotions are aroused and excuses are found to justify the now cool or negative feeling towards the fellowship you’ve selected out of. It’s then almost inevitable that the distant one finds an unwarranted justification to excuse themselves from any further participation in the church.
If I can be frank, this is nothing less than a form of spiritual robbery. By opting for absence rather than participation you rob your church of the gift of your presence and the gift of your spiritual gifts. An empty seat in a pew is not inconsequential. We grow together and so by separating you deny your church the opportunity to watch your spiritual development and rejoice along with you as you grow. Your testimony which could have been used to spur others on, is now impotent because you’ve withdrawn it. Whatever rewards there were supposed to be for pastors and leaders is now denied them, and far from making it a joy for them to provide oversight for your soul, the habitually absent church member becomes an anxious burden.
Habitual church absence is symptom of spiritual myopathy that grows as your soul is cut off from the regular and normative contact with the Christian community. How do you presume to make a good decision about a life altering issue when you are spiritually weak and without the counsel of the spiritually strong? Such activity smacks of spiritual arrogance communicating a cheap commitment to the community you are opting not to participate in and a lack of awareness about the urgency and value of fellowship in these fleeting last days.
In the end selecting to not participate and making a habit of it is the same thing as holding your breath hoping to stay alive, refusing to drink water and expecting to live. Fellowship is as fundamental and essential to your spiritual health as these things, so why would you deny that to yourself? There is no good thing to expect from spiritual anorexia. And if a man will starve his own soul, why should he presume it saved to begin with. If he understands the cost with which his soul was purchased he would never treat it that way. Poor soul care shows poor soul value, and a poorly valued soul is not one that has been redeemed by the great price of Christ’s blood. For once you see the value paid to secure your soul, you would never want to mistreat its care ever again. Why? Because you know your life is no longer your own, it belongs to Christ.
Introduction
The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies that are understood by Christians to point to the coming of the Messiah, whom they identify as Jesus Christ. These prophecies encompass his birth, life, death, and the establishment of his eternal kingdom. Here’s a summary of key Old Testament prophecies concerning the Christ:
1. The Birth of the Messiah
- Virgin Birth: Isaiah 7:14 prophesies that the Messiah would be born of a virgin: *"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel"*. This is understood by Christians as pointing to the miraculous birth of Jesus.
- Born in Bethlehem: Micah 5:2 predicts that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, a small town in Judah: *"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel"*. This prophecy was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
2. The Lineage of the Messiah
- Descendant of David: The Messiah would be a descendant of King David. This is prophesied in passages like 2 Samuel 7:12-16 and Jeremiah 23:5. The Messiah is described as a "son of David" who would establish a kingdom that would never end.
3. The Character and Nature of the Messiah
- Divine and Human: The Messiah would be both fully divine and fully human. Isaiah 9:6 calls the Messiah *"Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace"*, highlighting his divine nature, while other passages, such as in Isaiah 53, describe his human suffering.
- The Suffering Servant: Isaiah 53 details the Messiah’s suffering for the sins of humanity. It depicts the Messiah as one who would be despised, rejected, and wounded for our transgressions: *"He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities"*. Christians interpret this as a prophecy of Jesus' crucifixion.
4. The Ministry of the Messiah
- Healing and Miracles: The Messiah would bring healing and perform miracles. Isaiah 35:5-6 says, *"Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy."* This is seen in the healing ministry of Jesus in the Gospels.
- Preaching Good News: Isaiah 61:1-2 prophesies that the Messiah would proclaim good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim freedom for captives. Jesus quoted this passage in Luke 4:18-21, identifying himself as the fulfillment of this prophecy.
5. The Death of the Messiah
- A Sacrificial Death: Psalm 22 describes a suffering servant who is mocked and pierced, which is seen as a prophetic image of the crucifixion of Jesus. Verses like *"They pierce my hands and my feet"* are interpreted as foreshadowing Jesus’ crucifixion.
- The Crucifixion: Zechariah 12:10 speaks of a time when the people will look on the one they have pierced, which is associated with the crucifixion of Jesus.
- The Lamb of God: Isaiah 53:7 describes the Messiah as a lamb led to slaughter, highlighting his sacrificial death for the sins of the people.
6. The Resurrection of the Messiah
- Victory Over Death: Psalm 16:10 expresses confidence that God will not allow his "Holy One" to see decay, which is interpreted by Christians as a prophecy of Christ’s resurrection: *"You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay."*
7. The Reign of the Messiah
-Kingdom of Peace: Isaiah 9:6-7 speaks of the Messiah’s reign, declaring that "of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end." This eternal reign is associated with the future, as the Messiah’s kingdom is not of this world, but it will be established after his return.
-Righteous Judge: Isaiah 11:1-5 describes the Messiah as a righteous judge who will bring justice and peace. His rule will be characterized by wisdom and understanding, and he will establish peace on earth.
8. The Restoration of Israel
- Gathering the Exiles: The Messiah will restore Israel. In passages like Isaiah 11:11-12, God promises that the Messiah will gather the scattered people of Israel and bring them back to their land.
- A New Covenant: Jeremiah 31:31-34 prophesies that the Messiah will establish a new covenant with Israel, one that will involve writing God’s law on their hearts. This new covenant is seen by Christians as fulfilled in the life and ministry of Jesus.
Conclusion
The Old Testament prophecies concerning the Christ paint a picture of a Messiah who would be born in Bethlehem, of the line of David, a healer, a suffering servant who would atone for the sins of humanity, and a king who would reign eternally. These prophecies were seen by the early Christians as fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who they believe is the promised Messiah.
The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies that are understood by Christians to point to the coming of the Messiah, whom they identify as Jesus Christ. These prophecies encompass his birth, life, death, and the establishment of his eternal kingdom. Here’s a summary of key Old Testament prophecies concerning the Christ:
1. The Birth of the Messiah
- Virgin Birth: Isaiah 7:14 prophesies that the Messiah would be born of a virgin: *"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel"*. This is understood by Christians as pointing to the miraculous birth of Jesus.
- Born in Bethlehem: Micah 5:2 predicts that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, a small town in Judah: *"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel"*. This prophecy was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
2. The Lineage of the Messiah
- Descendant of David: The Messiah would be a descendant of King David. This is prophesied in passages like 2 Samuel 7:12-16 and Jeremiah 23:5. The Messiah is described as a "son of David" who would establish a kingdom that would never end.
3. The Character and Nature of the Messiah
- Divine and Human: The Messiah would be both fully divine and fully human. Isaiah 9:6 calls the Messiah *"Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace"*, highlighting his divine nature, while other passages, such as in Isaiah 53, describe his human suffering.
- The Suffering Servant: Isaiah 53 details the Messiah’s suffering for the sins of humanity. It depicts the Messiah as one who would be despised, rejected, and wounded for our transgressions: *"He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities"*. Christians interpret this as a prophecy of Jesus' crucifixion.
4. The Ministry of the Messiah
- Healing and Miracles: The Messiah would bring healing and perform miracles. Isaiah 35:5-6 says, *"Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy."* This is seen in the healing ministry of Jesus in the Gospels.
- Preaching Good News: Isaiah 61:1-2 prophesies that the Messiah would proclaim good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim freedom for captives. Jesus quoted this passage in Luke 4:18-21, identifying himself as the fulfillment of this prophecy.
5. The Death of the Messiah
- A Sacrificial Death: Psalm 22 describes a suffering servant who is mocked and pierced, which is seen as a prophetic image of the crucifixion of Jesus. Verses like *"They pierce my hands and my feet"* are interpreted as foreshadowing Jesus’ crucifixion.
- The Crucifixion: Zechariah 12:10 speaks of a time when the people will look on the one they have pierced, which is associated with the crucifixion of Jesus.
- The Lamb of God: Isaiah 53:7 describes the Messiah as a lamb led to slaughter, highlighting his sacrificial death for the sins of the people.
6. The Resurrection of the Messiah
- Victory Over Death: Psalm 16:10 expresses confidence that God will not allow his "Holy One" to see decay, which is interpreted by Christians as a prophecy of Christ’s resurrection: *"You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay."*
7. The Reign of the Messiah
-Kingdom of Peace: Isaiah 9:6-7 speaks of the Messiah’s reign, declaring that "of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end." This eternal reign is associated with the future, as the Messiah’s kingdom is not of this world, but it will be established after his return.
-Righteous Judge: Isaiah 11:1-5 describes the Messiah as a righteous judge who will bring justice and peace. His rule will be characterized by wisdom and understanding, and he will establish peace on earth.
8. The Restoration of Israel
- Gathering the Exiles: The Messiah will restore Israel. In passages like Isaiah 11:11-12, God promises that the Messiah will gather the scattered people of Israel and bring them back to their land.
- A New Covenant: Jeremiah 31:31-34 prophesies that the Messiah will establish a new covenant with Israel, one that will involve writing God’s law on their hearts. This new covenant is seen by Christians as fulfilled in the life and ministry of Jesus.
Conclusion
The Old Testament prophecies concerning the Christ paint a picture of a Messiah who would be born in Bethlehem, of the line of David, a healer, a suffering servant who would atone for the sins of humanity, and a king who would reign eternally. These prophecies were seen by the early Christians as fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who they believe is the promised Messiah.
Christology is a key theological concept that unifies Christianity because it centers on the person and work of Jesus Christ. Since Christianity is fundamentally based on the belief that Jesus is the incarnate Son of God, understanding who He is and what He accomplished is central to the faith. Here's how Christology helps unify Christianity:
1.Common Core Belief in Jesus' Divinity and Humanity
At the heart of Christology is the doctrine that Jesus is both fully divine and fully human. This dual nature (the "hypostatic union") is a unifying element for all Christian denominations, whether Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, or others. Believing that Jesus is both God and man enables Christians to affirm key doctrines such as:
- Jesus' role in salvation: Only a divine Jesus can reconcile humanity to God, and only a human Jesus can fully represent humanity.
-The incarnation: The idea that God took on human flesh in Jesus is a central tenet of Christianity and emphasizes God’s desire to engage with creation in a profound, personal way.
2.The Focus on the Person and Work of Christ
Christology addresses both who Jesus is (His nature) and what He did (His work, including His death, resurrection, and ascension). These two elements are essential to Christian faith:
- The work of Jesus: Christians universally affirm that Jesus' death and resurrection are the means by which humanity is offered salvation. Whether it's through atonement, reconciliation, or redemption, Christ’s work on the cross is understood as pivotal in Christianity.
- The resurrection: The resurrection of Jesus is central to Christian hope and belief in eternal life, which is the foundation for the Church’s message of salvation.
3. Doctrinal Agreement and Debate
While there are variations in how different Christian traditions articulate Christology, there is a broad agreement on several key points:
- The Nicene Creed: Most Christian denominations, including Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant churches, affirm the Nicene Creed, which articulates the belief in Jesus Christ as "God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God...begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father." This consensus provides a theological unity across Christian traditions.
-The role of the Trinity: Christology is inextricably linked to the doctrine of the Trinity—the belief that God is One in essence but exists in three Persons: Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit. This doctrine helps Christians maintain a unified understanding of God’s nature and how He interacts with creation, especially in the person of Jesus.
4. Theological Reflection on Jesus' Authority and Mission
Christology also unifies Christianity through its emphasis on Jesus’ authority and mission. Christ is seen as the one who reveals God fully to humanity, as the one who teaches, heals, and proclaims the Kingdom of God. This authoritative role in teaching and salvation is central to the Christian faith and binds believers together in their shared reverence for the person of Jesus. His mission—proclaiming the Kingdom of God, bringing redemption, and establishing a new covenant—forms the foundation for Christian practice and belief.
5. Christ as the Model for Christian Life
Christology also unites Christians through the example set by the life and teachings of Jesus. Christians are called to follow Jesus’ example of love, humility, sacrifice, and obedience to the Father. Jesus' ethical teachings, especially His command to love God and love others, are a source of unity and shared mission among all Christians. No matter the denominational differences, the figure of Jesus as the “model” for Christian living is a point of convergence.
Conclusion
In essence, Christology unifies Christianity by providing a shared foundation upon which all Christian beliefs about salvation, God’s nature, and Christian living are built. Regardless of denominational differences, all Christians affirm some form of Christological doctrine that centers on the person of Jesus Christ as both divine and human. This central focus on Christ provides continuity, identity, and purpose to the global Christian community, fostering unity in the midst of diversity.
If information is like a car and our church like an intersection, the traffic director in the middle of the flow is our Leadership Team Administrator Jolene Corkwell. Her role is integral in getting the right information and opportunities connected with the right Leadership Team area of responsibility. Those leaders will follow with volunteers, planning, and execution in an efficient, ministry-minded way. This is the engine that will drive the ‘Body Life Dynamic” of our church going forward.
By ‘Body Life Dynamic” I mean organizing our community structure so that our needs are met, our opportunities realized, our pastoral care increased, and our evangelism and discipleship expanded. We want to see more counsel given and more teaching provided. We want an increasing participation in worship, and growing humility and meekness in love. Against a growing environment of insular and polarizing division outside of our church, I pray for more open homes and hearts inside our church as our congregation grows with those God brings to us.
Make no mistake: things will look different tomorrow than they did today. This is because healthy things grow and as they do, they grow past the place they once were. A 20 year old infant is as bizarre as a church which never changes. Faithfulness is not unchangeability. Faithfulness is walking in the sanctifying, transformative, upward call in Christ Jesus that changes us from one level of glory to the next, both individually and corporately.
How we pursue that changing growth in Jesus is together, under the leadership of our Elders and Leadership Team. You the congregation have an integral role in helping. Your comments, feedback, ideas, and constructive criticisms have been and always will be invited. The proper way to communicate what you want to is by contacting our Elders at elders@anchoredchurch.org or talking with any of us directly.
The body life dynamic is reference to how we conduct the business of our community. It addresses how we communicate our needs, wants, and desires. It’s how we get the right information to the right people to make sure follow through happens and follow up is pursued. It’s how we make sure no one falls through the cracks, that visitors get greeted, that prospective members get informed, and how we grow as disciples in the church.
ABCModesto has a dedicated team of servant leaders who oversee important aspects of ministry. We still have roles to fill, but below is a chart that shows who is serving where. This is important for you to understand because when a need or opportunity comes up in your life, this is the team that will respond.
This team of leaders will provide oversight of their respective areas of ministry, work with me address problems and take advantage of opportunities, and work together as a unified team to ensure the highest level of excellence at ABCModesto. The slots underneath each category are for volunteers who want to serve in a particular area of ministry. Volunteers will help ministry leaders develop plans to achieve the goal of a given project and then execute those plans.
How are decisions made at ABCModesto? Decisions are made in collaboration with the elders and leadership team with feedback from the church. Our church is elder led, leadership team implemented. This structure is important because it ensures that the people with the best information are empowered to make the appropriate decisions. You as a congregant are an important part of this leadership plan. We seek a collaborative relationship between members and leaders which is why you are always invited to converse with our leaders. To see how our leadership team works, take a look at the graphic below.
“Be ye doers of the Word, not simply hearers” - James, brother of Jesus (James 1:22). The book of James was written by the half-brother of Jesus to settle a dispute that broke out in the church. Was it possible to be saved by simply professing faith in Jesus? Or, was something more required? On one hand, there is the argument that salvation is all of grace, and "not of works so that no person could boast" in their good deeds (Ephesians 2:8,9). On the other hand, faith is alive, and would therefore seem to imply that there would be evidence in the life of a faithful person. So how do we reconcile the tension between the truth that salvation cannot be earned, but that those who are saved will bear good works?
At our church we believe, “good works do not save, but save people do good works.” That is to say, no one can ever do enough good works, even someone like Mother Teresa, to earn heaven or approval from God. It is also to say that no one is approved by God if they are not willing to keep the commandments of God. All throughout the New Testament, love and faith are used as verbs, meaning that they convey actions.
Therefore, we believe that Scripture is provided as a means, with the end being your obedience to it. James teaches that faith without works is dead. No fruit means a dead tree. Neither good intentions nor orthodox beliefs justify a person's claim to be saved. Only the fruit of the Spirit, evidenced through good works prepared beforehand by God, that we are supposed to walk in, give any warrant to the profession that someone is saved.
What are some of the good works that saved people do? Saved people believe the Word of God, accept the Word of God, do the Word of God, and have lives transformed by the Word of God. They give generously, love without limit, accept without condition, and serve without thought of self. Christians suffer joyfully, pray regularly, witness boldly, and forgive readily. They sing passionately, read diligently, and speak boldly. They live as citizens of heaven, engaged in the ministry of reconciliation. They live peacefully, and die full of hope. They speak against evil and cheerlead every good thing. They count others as more important than themselves, and trust God to supply all their needs. This is just a sampling of the activities that will be generated in the life of a person possessing living faith.
Philosophically speaking, we do not have the right to say we believe anything that we are not willing to do. Imagine a husband who says he loves his wife but does nothing that demonstrates love. Would the poor spouse of that loud-mouthed husband believe she is loved? Likewise, between two friends, if one always gives and another never reciprocates, we would call that an abusive relationship because it is no true friend who drains his friends dry. So it is with Jesus. If you are saved, you will love Him, and if you love Him, you will keep His commandments. Keeping the commandments is applying the Word to your life as you live differently, because of the intersection of the Word of God with your life.
Saturated in idolatry, the city of Corinth was a challenging ministry environment. The goddess Aphrodite had no fewer than three temples. Tourists from all over the Roman world came to pay homage to her and other lesser deities. Individuals lived their lives believing that everyday events were due to various gods. From this cloth were cut the first church and the first Christians.
Recently converted pagans who abandoned their idolatry had joined the church. There they met mature Christians who were engaging in practices that seemed contradictory. Christians were eating meat that had been slaughtered in temples! This grew to be a significant controversy that focused on the issues of idolatry, tolerance, and Christian love. While these topics are essential, we must first ask a proactive question. Does idolatry exist today, and is it a problem for Christians who live in the 21st century?
First, what is an idol? An idol is an object on which someone has fixed their identity, hopes, and fears. An idol can be an experience, circumstance, person, or object. An idol can literally be anything, which means the potential for idolatry exists everywhere.
Second, what is idolatry? To keep it simple, let's use the acronym BOW. An idol is anything that we "B-elieve, O-bey, or Worship" that is contrary to God's will. God's will is that we believe, obey Him, and worship Him based on His Word. In return, He promises to provide us with a new identity, promises us His sufficiency, and gives us a new lifestyle based on worship. In short, he promises to be everything and to do everything our souls long for. God alone can provide what we need. When we look outside of His provision for us, we are in danger of creating an idol that we imagine will deliver and provide for us. It is hazardous when we make an idol out of a person. No person has ever been created to bear the weight of being worshiped except Jesus.
Why do people create idols? The first of two answers is ignorance. People are created in God's image and have an acute sense of eternity. Without Scripture, people stitch together something to make sense of the universe they live in. Second, idols are created in the fertile soil of unbelief. When people doubt that God is faithful, they turn to another source they self-identify as trustworthy. In this circumstance, the person or object they place their faith. We see that either in ignorance or unbelief, the heart has a tremendous capacity to create its own idols.
The shape and form of idolatry may look different today than it did in Roman times, but the reasons and motivations remain the same: rebellious human hearts. The reformer Martin Luther observed that the human heart is a factory of idols, indicating this proclivity we all have to worship the wrong thing. So it's important that we examine our lives to see if any part of it is trusting in someone or something other than God. A good test to see if something is an idol in your life is to ask, "Would I be whole, healthy, and happy if I lost (x)? Since you know that God will never leave or forsake you, you can trust him wholly. Every idol you've ever faced is completing for that trust by trying to convince you God is untrustworthy. That's the key to defeating idolatry in your life! Trust God, and repent from trusting any other circumstance, person, or object that tries to win you away from Him.
I've linked a helpful article for you to explore from our friends at the website called "Got Questions?" It continues the conversation about idolatry by pointing out some very common ways we modern humans still create idols. Click here to continue…