The Heartbeat of the Sermon on the Mount

The heart beat of the Sermon on the Mount is found in Matthew 5:17-21 17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, he did not abolish them. You couldn’t abolish the Scripture anymore than you could abolish God. Every jot and tittle is accomplished in Christ. Disciples of Jesus are moved by the Spirit to obey everything that God has commanded and Jesus will reward them, from the least to the greatest. However, no self-righteous Pharisee who denies Jesus Christ will enter the kingdom of heaven. Why was Jesus so hard on the Pharisees? Here are six reasons: 1.) They rejected Jesus. 2.) They were legalistic law keepers. They tried to establish their own righteousness by good works. 3.) They were partial law keepers. They paid a great deal of attention to insignificant details (e.g., tithing spices), while managing to totally ignore the whole spirit of the law. 4.) They were exclusive law keepers. They believed they were the only true people of God. 5.) They were more devoted to their traditions than to the Law of God. 6.) They were proud law keepers. So Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus was not saying that in order for you to be in the kingdom you must have a slightly higher degree of the same kind of righteousness that the scribes and Pharisees have. Jesus was saying to enter the kingdom you must have a different kind of righteousness altogether. Your righteousness begins and ends in a personal relationship with Jesus. You must humble yourself and mourn over your sin so that the Holy Spirit can make you meek and gentle. You must hunger for righteousness so that you will be full of mercy and grace. Then your heart will be pure and your motives will be sincere. Once the character of Jesus is formed in your heart you will be a peacemaker. When people mistreat you because of Jesus you will rejoice because you know Jesus will reward you even more. This total transformation happens from the inside-out. It's an inside-out righteousness that allows you to shake and shine i.e., you can shake the salt and shine the light. I was a Pharisee and I’m in recovery from legalism. I was a legalistic law keeper. I thought I had to be saved by good works. I was an exclusive law keeper. I thought we (i.e., the COC) were the only true people of God. I was devoted to our traditions and confused our traditions with God’s commandments. I’m still not over it. I’m still in recovery. But I’m learning that the key to righteousness is a relationship with Jesus. I’m learning that the more I love Jesus the more important his law becomes. I'm learning to look at law, not as a means to salvation, but as insight into the heart of Jesus. It doesn’t save me. The Law helps me know him better and there is no greater thing than knowing Jesus.

From Louisville KY

We’re having a good time at the NACC. We’ve enjoyed good preaching and singing and fellowship and food. Tonight we ate at the Spaghetti Factory. It’s late. Kim and the girls are sleeping and I’m working on Matthew 5:21-26 for my sermon this Sunday.

Traveling to Louisville for Big Reunion at NACC

In the morning we will travel to Louisville for the North American Christian Convention. The a cappella COC and instrumental Christian Church are meeting to end 100 years of division. It will be an historic meeting - the largest gathering of our denomination since Cane Ridge. Jeanie, Allen, George, Dana, Brendan, Kim, our girls and me will be leaving in the morning. At this point in my life it all seems so strange. How could I have ever been so confused? How could I have thought that instrumental music was a salvation issue? I feel like I brain washed myself. One hundred years of division over a piano or a guitar. It just seems so strange to me now. I think about the people who come to me with problems like depression, sexual abuse, physical abuse, divorce, and people who are trying to break free from addictions to alcohol and drugs. I think about their pain and guilt and their desperation. What these people need is the Lord Jesus. They don't need to hear anything about issues like instrumental music vs. a cappella music. So I am resolved to share Christ and try to avoid talking about our history of division over something so irrelevant. Outsiders would not understand it because it is so weird. I’m happy that most of our denomination is together again but I regret that we split in the first place. It should have never happen. This convention is the right thing to do and I want to be there to celebrate at this reunion. However, I dream that we will move beyond our denomination and acknowledge everyone who follows Jesus Christ. I pray for the unity of all Christians. We don’t have to have unity meetings, such meetings have been taking place for years in events like Promise Keepers, Leadership and Church Growth Seminars, Marriage Conferences, Passion, Catalyst, etc. We’ve worshiped in arenas with 18,000 Christians at Marriage Conferences and football stadiums with 60,000 men who make promises to Jesus. These events continue to take place across the country and around the world. Christ’s church is huge! These events always inspire us. But it’s the day to day contact we have with Christians from other denominations that inspire us more. We develop friendships at work and in the community with people from various tribes. The main thing is that we follow the Jesus of the Bible. That’s it. That’s what we need to focus on. And when nonbelievers see our love for each other they will believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

Objections to the Gospel

When the gospel is preached there should be occasional objections like “This is too good to believe”; “Won’t this encourage people to sin?”; or “Are you saying that we don’t need to keep God’s commands?” or “Aren’t you disregarding the law?”. When I hear people asking such questions I know I’m preaching the gospel. Why do I say this? That’s what happened in the Bible. As Paul explained the gospel he frequently stopped to clarify inevitable objections. Below are a few examples. Romans 3:8 Why not say—as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say—"Let us do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is deserved. Romans 6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! Romans 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Romans 7:7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Sometimes these questions come from disciples who sincerely don’t understand and are seeking clarification. At other times these questions come from people who twist your words and accuse you of encouraging people to use grace as a license to sin. Regardless of the motive, when this happens, I know I’m preaching the gospel.

Speaking in Pike County

Today I provided six hours of training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for counselors at the Pike County Recovery Council. It went well. This was my fourth training and I'm scheduled to do four more trainings over the next year. They asked me to do an outcome study. The study begins in July and will last for one year. I believe we are ready. Today the counselors demonstrated their abilities in using CBT. The training I provide is interactive. I teach concepts and techniques. This is followed by having the counselors practice it using role play. We review and rehearse it until they know how to do it. The counselors I'm training are fast learners. They are very good people. Many are Christians. You would be surprised at how freely they talk about Jesus. It's really different from previous mental health settings I have worked in. Anyway, we are doing pre-post assessments using standardized measures. I'm excited about the study. And something else happened. Another agency, which provides mental health services to adolescents, asked me to come train their therapist. I thank God for these opportunities. When I think about where I was 3 years and 8 months ago and compare it to today - it's a miracle. God brought me out of the pit and sit me on a rock. I praise him tonight! I love you Jesus! I love what I'm doing and I am so grateful. I know these opportunities are gifts from God and I am so thankful.

Mistreated

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. In 1965 my mom and dad were a member of a church that, at that time, was very legalistic in their views regarding youth activities and cooperation with other churches, orphan homes and Christian Colleges. I do not remember this because I was only three years old but Jeanie and Susan witnessed it. Dad was an elder at that church and was taking the youth to Charleston once a month for area wide youth activities. This church had made a list of rules that were not found in the Bible and one of those rules made it a sin to have area wide youth activities. Some of the men in that church mistreated dad. They came to the house and knocked on the door. Dad would go out to their car and they would grill him for hours. They finally called the church together to disfellowship him. Other preachers came to that meeting in his defense and sit beside dad. Two men lead the meeting and they brought the ridiculous accusation against dad. They were going to excommunicate him for taking the young people to Kanawha City Church for youth fellowships. After they made their speech and formally disfellowshiped dad the man said “Now, I want the church to follow me and leave the building.” He walked to the back and no one followed him. Jeanie told me that Susan, who was 16 years old, said aloud “There goes the church.” Dad and mom went to another church and people all of the area invited him to preach. That legalistic church fell apart. The hostility and the power struggle became so bad that it actually escalated into a physical fight between two families. While all of that hostility was going on Dad was busy working a job, preaching on the weekends, and taken care of his family. He didn’t talk about it. He didn’t have a bitter bone in his body. There was not even a hint of resentment. Mom and Dad never mentioned it after that Sunday. They forgave them. When I read Matthew 5:13-16 I know that it describes dad and mom because they were the salt of the earth and the light of world because Jesus was shining in them. The way this sad story ended was so wonderful. The two men who mistreated Dad finally repented and apologized. Twenty years later one man called dad when the man was on his death bed. He said that he didn’t want to die without confessing and apologizing to dad. That church invited dad to preach for them again. Dad and mom went back to that church and supported it with their love and leadership. The last sermon dad preached was in that church before he died. Dad and mom loved the people in that church. I love them too. Dad and mom handled insults and mistreatment with grace and dignity. They were salt and light. Great examples for me to follow.

Peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. This beatitude is built on all the others. In order to be a peacemaker you have to be poor in spirit, you have to mourn over your sin and be meek so that you’re not emotionally reactive. You need to hunger and thirst for righteousness. You need to be full of mercy and your heart has to be pure so that your motives are sincere. When you possess these attitudes you can be a peacemaker. As far as it depends upon you, live at peace with everyone.

Pure in heart

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. When I was a boy a spent the night with a friend and his dad had a stack of Playboy and Hustler magazines. I don’t think this father understood the harm that comes from pornography. If you have anything like that in your home throw it away. Pray David’s prayer “Create in me a clean heart O God”. This beatitude, however, is focused on something different. To be pure in heart means to be single-minded. It means that you don’t have ulterior motives. Your devotion to God is real and authentic – not hypocritical. It means you’re genuine. Let it be said of you “There is not a phony bone in his body. He’s not fake. He’s real. He’s a genuine, bona-fide disciple of Jesus.” The pure in heart will see God.

Mercy

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. You can show mercy two ways. First, show mercy by helping other people. Be like the good Samaritan showed mercy to the man on the Jericho road. He put him up in the Holiday Inn and paid for his medical expenses. Second, show mercy by forgiving other people. Ephesians 4:32 says “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” You don’t merit God’s forgiveness by forgiving others. You forgive others because God has forgiven you. A sure sign that you have been forgiven is your willingness to show mercy to others.

Hungry

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. Your growth in Christ depends on your spiritual appetite. You're not supposed to hunger for blessedness or happiness. You're suppose to hunger for righteousness. God bestows his righteousness on us through our faith in Jesus Christ. Once God declares and imputes his righteousness upon us the Holy Spirit writes his laws on our hearts. The Holy Spirit provides us with new DNA. Even more, the Spirit takes our stone heart out and puts a new heart in. A heart that is sensitive and tender for God. He gives us a new spirit and he moves us to keep God's law. Far from this being some mechanical response to a list of rules, the Spirit shapes us into the image of Christ . God takes over our thoughts, will, and emotions so that he can work out the righteousness that he put in. How does he do it? He makes us hungry. That's right. God makes us hungry to live right. As you go about your day think about doing the next right thing. Then do it and see if it's not satisfying.

Meek

Meek means “gentle”, “considerate”, and “courteous”. Meek does not mean weak. Meek means “strength under control.” Think of it like a horse bridle. A horse is very strong. Before it’s broken you can’t even ride it. But once the horse is broken it becomes so gentle that a child can ride it. God wants to put the bridle of his Spirit on us. He controls our strength and makes us gentle, considerate and courteous.

Mourn

It’s one thing to be sorry for your sins, it’s another to cry about it. Most men have been taught not to show emotion. It’s not masculine, we think. But think about David. No one could be more masculine than David. He was a warrior and a king. Yet David prayed, “O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. 2 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears” (Psalm 6:1,2,6) God loves a bent knee, a broken heart, and wet eyes. When we mourn over sin God comforts us. We feel better after a good cry. We become more sensitive and empathic. We become more responsive and tenderhearted. If you know what it’s like to be comforted by the Lord you will be equipped to comfort others.

Poor in spirit

To be poor in spirit means to have a humble opinion of yourself. I’m not surprised that this beatitude comes first. To enter the kingdom you have to humble yourself before the Lord. You have to acknowledge your sin and ask Jesus to forgive you. You must admit that you are spiritually poor and morally bankrupt. God loves a broken spirit and a contrite heart. When this virtue is present it makes apologizing easier. One evening last week I was irritated and grouchy with my daughters who had done nothing wrong. I was studying these beatitudes and the Lord “spoke to me”. Not literally. But it’s like he said “Jeff you’re studying about these attitudes of the heart and your attitude stinks.” No matter how hard I tried I could not concentrate. My conscience was bothering me. I felt like the Lord was telling me to apologize. So I left the office in my garage and walked into the house. The girls were in the living room watching TV. I said, “Girls, I’m so sorry for raising my voice at you. You did nothing wrong. I apologize. Will you forgive me?” They said, “OK dad. Can you move out of the way so we can see the TV.” Now it wasn’t a big deal to them but it was a big deal to me. As I walked back to my office I wondered - How many times do I ignore this feeling of contrition and miss out on the blessing of God?

Daughters

Kim and I are so blessed. We have three daughters and I am so happy with my girls. I spent the day with my girls. They had three friends spend the night. Last night Kim and I pulled out futons and a mattress and the living room was full of girls. They giggled for a while then went to sleep. They were all so good. They woke up this morning and ate breakfast. Kim fixed cinnamon rolls and I fix bacon and eggs. Sloane, Tori’s friend, taught me how to fix egg whites. After breakfast they jumped in our pool and played all morning. I fixed the ladder for the pool as they laughed and screamed and chased each other. I ordered pizza for lunch. After taking the girl’s friends back to their mothers, Shayna and I went on a father-daughter date. Shayna asked some interesting questions about World Religions (she’s a deep thinker). We went to Stone Cold for ice cream, browsed the book store and then we went to the theater and bought popcorn. We saw Nacho Libre. Shayna said that it was “OK.” The best part of the date was not the movie however. It was just being together. When we got home Amber asked if she could have the next date. So I will take Amber on a date next week and Tori the following week. I like John Mayer's song "Daughters". My favorite line in the song is - On behalf of every man looking out for every girl. You are the guide and the weight of her world So fathers, be good to your daughters Daughters will love like you do I love my girls. I should say “We” love our girls. Kim and I are so bless and so thankful.

What Gnostic Writings teach about Jesus

In 1945 in Nag Hammadi Egypt a number of manuscripts were discovered that contained the writings of Gnosticism. This was an important archeological discovery. To that point in history we only had what the early church fathers said about Gnostic heresy. Now we not only have what the church fathers said, we also have some of the manuscripts they were referring to. I have read the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Phillip, and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene. Another one that was recently publish is the Gospel of Judas. I have only read sections of the Gospel of Judas. These manuscripts were not included in our New Testament for several reasons. First, they were not written by the apostles or any close associate of the apostles. We have no idea who wrote these Gospels. They used the names of some apostles and other famous people to make them look authentic. Second, the manuscripts were written late i.e.,150-200 years after Christ. Third, these Gnostic manuscripts contained heresies which denied the humanity and deity of Christ. The Gnostics didn’t even believe in the same God as Christians. The Gnostics worshiped a great invisible spirit. They didn’t know what his name was but they believed he ruled over a vast host of deities. They believed that there were 72 luminaries and each of them ruled over separate heavens. These 72 were higher deities than the God of the Old Testament. They believed that twelve angels were made to rule over Chaos which is our world. One of these angels was defiled with blood. This particular angel’s name is Nebro which means rebel. Others called him Yaldabaoth which probably means “Child of Chaos” and Yaldabaoth is the God of the Old Testament. That’s our God. He is Yaldabaoth, child of chaos. He’s a rebel. There was a second angel named Saklas which means fool. The Gnostics believed that our material world and that we ourselves were made by a rebel and a fool. Paul dealt with Gnostic heresy in the first century. Colossians 2:18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. The Gnostics believed Jesus was not the son of the God of the Old Testament. They believed that Jesus was the son of the female counterpart of the highest Gnostic deity and that he was not really a man. He did not take on flesh. The Gnostics believed that Jesus was not really crucified. They believe that real Jesus was a spirit who hovered above the cross, laughing at the people below. John dealt with Gnostic heresy in the first century. 2 John 1:7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. The Gnostics did not observe baptism or the Lord’s Supper because they believed those rituals were instituted by the God of the Old Testament who was an evil being that should not have made this material world in the first place. According to Gnosticism, when you get all this secret knowledge you become aware that divinity is within you. You also become aware that this material world and all the works of the Creator of this material world are worthless. Even your body is of no value and you would be better off without it. The goal of the Gnostic was to free the soul of the body and everything material. Now, do I have to tell you any more bizarre beliefs that come from the Gnostic writings for you to understand why these books were not included in the canon of the New Testament. They are valuable because they teach us what the Gnostics believed, but they teach us nothing about Jesus.

VBS and the International Coffee House

Thanks to Dana Welty and all the fabulous volunteers she recruited, our VBS is going fantastic. The kids love it! While the kids are learning, their parents relax in our International Coffee House. We offer a variety of coffees, good music, and live entertainment. We are having a good time.

Dear anonymous, (regarding legalism)

I sympathize with your struggle. I also carried the heavy baggage of legalism for a long time but I dropped it because it wore me out. You also need to drop it and trust Christ alone. Today I try to focus on Jesus Christ and not the Church of Christ. The Church of Christ is no longer my Savior. It used to be. But no longer. I used to convert people to the COC (rather than to Jesus Christ). I used believe that I had to be saved by a moral code that I couldn't keep. I excluded people from other denominations because they didn’t do the ceremonies like us. I actually thought that the COC was the only true church. I no longer believe or teach this way. You shouldn’t believe this way either. Let go of all of that. I have a history. I am a reformed legalist. I’m a recovering alcoholic. I have been broken by my own sin. I know that the only reason I am saved is because God loves me. I’m saved by his grace and love. I’m not saved because I got the doctrine right. I didn’t have the doctrine right – I was wrong! I’m still wrong about many things. I still struggle with sin. But I’m so happy today because I know I don’t have to be good for God to love me. He loves me all the time just like I love my children all the time regardless of their behavior. God may discipline me but he will not disown me because he cannot disown himself. I am his and so are you. Believe it. Accept it. It will free you up to obey him. It will give you motivation to keep his commandments. I am saved because Jesus died on the cross for my sin and God raised him from the dead. God saved me by faith in Jesus Christ alone! My behavior and my understanding do not contribute to my salvation. God did it all. Everything I have is a free gift from God. Even my faith and repentance are gifts from God. God caused me to repent and gave me the faith to believe. He saved me completely So today I follow Jesus. Today I try to follow the Bible. And I know that there are Christians in all the denominations that follow Jesus and the Bible as they understand it. Who in the world I’m I to think any different. I have been forgiven of so much. I am saved by grace alone. I am so happy to get out from under the burden of thinking that my salvation depended on whether or not I played Amazing Grace with a guitar. I just focus on Jesus. If other’s see it different I love them and say “God bless you!” and move on. I try not to get side tracked by spliting hairs over minor issues. I am very grateful to every church that preaches Christ. I'm even grateful for churches that are legalistic because, I figure, at least they are talking about Jesus. I respect them. But I can never go back. I hope this helps. Grace and peace, Jeff

The Bible is Reliable

If the Bible is reliable it should be accurate in all of its historical references. If someone could prove that it is historically inaccurate it would cast doubt on the rest of its claims. Does the Bible align itself with facts, dates, and people who lived at the time it was written? Josephus was a first century historian. In his Jewish Antiquities he referred to Jesus and his half-brother James. “Annus convened the judges of the Sanhedrin and brought before them a man named James, the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ and certain others.” References like this, from 1st century historians outside the Bible, support its reliability. The Bible does not read like a myth. Myths are usually vague e.g., Once upon a time in a far away place … . That’s not the way the Bible reads. The Bible is rooted in history. It speaks of countries and nations and fortified cities and the kings that ruled over them. It chronicles the succession of rulers and often dates events (e.g., Nehemiah 2:1 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes … ). The Bible contains geological references about rivers and mountains and bodies of water and islands and roadways. It also describes palaces and houses and buildings and walls and the materials that were used to build them. Unlike mythical stories, it is possible to stick a shovel in the ground and dig up artifacts that verify the historical accuracy of the Bible. Archaeology continues to confirm the historical accuracy of the Bible and has never produced one contradiction. In the 19th century skeptics criticized the Bible because it described a nation called the Hittites. The skeptics called it the “Hittite Myth” because at that time no secular evidence existed for that nation. But in 1906 archeologists discovered the capital city of the Hittites and concluded that the Hittites did exist as a powerful nation. At one time skeptics said that Bible was historically inaccurate because of it’s statements concerning Belshazzzar. At that time there were no secular historical records that listed this ruler. But in 1853 archaeologists found an inscription in Ur which confirmed that Belshazzer reign with his father. U.S. News and World Report published an article that read “New finds cast fresh light on the Bible.” The sub-headline read “From Mount Sinai to the Dead Sea, examination of historical artifacts is producing some real surprises about the origins of religious beliefs.” The article reads “A wave of archeological discoveries is altering old ideas about the roots of Christianity and Judaism and affirming that the Bible is more historically accurate than many scholars thought. For example, until recently most scholars dismissed the Biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as legendary. Now, two highly regarded American archeologists believe that they may have found the remains of these cities plus three other settlements referred to in Genesis as the cities of the plain. The ruins were where the Bible indicated they would be within a few miles of the Dead Sea. Moreover, at least three of the cities appear to have been destroyed by fire, which the Bible says was reigned down by God in vengeance and the cities are estimated to be destroyed about the same time, in 2300-2400 B.C.” Do you remember when Jesus said to the Pharisees – “If my disciples don’t testify of me the rocks will cry out.”? Today people are trying to suppress the testimony about Jesus and the archeologists are discovering that the rocks are crying out to give testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Da Vinci Fad

Dan Brown’s novel is a fast-moving thriller that keeps you in suspense. It’s also a money making machine. I was amused to see all the Da Vinci Code merchandise being sold on the internet. Leonardo never dreamed he would inspire so many crazy ideas. If you need to exercise you can purchase "The Da Vinci Fitness Code" for $21. If you need to loose weight for $16 you can buy "The Diet Code" which contains revolutionary weight loss secrets from Da Vinci. If you want to gain creative advantage in your career or business, for $18 you can buy the book "Work like Da Vinci". If you want to play you can buy "The Da Vinci Code Video Game" for your Play Station 2 for $39.99. Entrepreneurs are capitalizing on it’s popularity by selling everything from T-Shirts to posters. My favorite is a poster of Forest Gump running from an albino, killer monk. The Da Vinci Code is just the latest fad sweeping the nation. Like all other fads it will soon pass. I agree with Rubel Shelly who wrote “In the end, we may owe a debt of gratitude to Dan Brown for creating an opportunity for authentic faith to shine.” Despite the outrageous claims the novel makes, I think at least two good things have come from it. It’s easy to start spiritual conversations and it has caused us to study deeper. It has actually strengthened our faith in Jesus and our trust in the Bible.

My Teachers for the Summer

I’ve signed up for my summer classes which focus on the Sermon on the Mount. My teachers for the summer include John Stott, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, James Montgomery Boice, John MacArthur, and Chuck Swindol. I’m so excited because I get to sit at the feet of these great expositors. O, I forgot to add Bill Hybels and Mike Cope. Yes, these are my teachers. They come from around the world – from the Westminister Chapel in London and the Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia and the Grace Community Church in Sun Valley California and the First Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton California and the Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago – they come from different places and different traditions. I like it like that. They feed me well. They are brilliant, godly, and gifted expositors. My greatest teacher is Jesus. I love to imagine that I’m sitting on the mount listening to Jesus’ sermon. I pray, ““Lord, help me understand” and the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of my heart. Then, I see the others on the mount – my teachers. They are sitting closer to Jesus. Yes, Stott, Lloyd-Jones, Boice, Swindol and MacArthur are high on the mount in the front of the crowd near Jesus and his apostles. I can’t resist asking them questions about what Jesus said. They have more insight because they are closer to the Savior and they have been sitting on the mount longer than me. One by one they speak and I listen. They all have good things to say and they help me understand. Then I pray again “Lord, make it real to me too. Help me apply it to my life.” And he does. He helps me understand as I go about my daily routine. Jesus’ words resonate at strange times - when I’m playing with my children or talking to my wife or taking a walk or playing my guitar or visiting the sick. A scripture, a story, a thought, a memory, or an image will come to my mind and I will have an “Ah-Ha Experience” which I believe is the Holy Spirit’s work. This process goes on all week until I’m full. Then, when I’m full, I am ready to share what I’ve learned with others. The whole process is exciting, consuming and I love every part of it.

Tonsillectomy

Tori and Shayna had tonsillectomies today. They were so brave and good. The surgery went well. We are watching "Parent Trap" right now. They like eating Orange Sherbet as they recover.

Memorizing the Sermon on the Mount

This week I’ve been memorizing the Sermon on the Mount. I plan to quote it this Sunday. It only takes about 20 minutes to preach but it takes me a long time to memorize it. I’ve done it before. I think it was 1992. It’s been a long time. I could still quotes sections of it but now I’m “re-memorizing” it. I copied Matthew 5, 6, 7 from my Bible and I’ve worn it out. I read it over and over aloud. Then I did memory work on sections of the sermon. I use “memory beads”, sticks, rocks, and my fingers to count. I repeat each section ten times until I can say each section without many mistakes. I tape my self and then listen to the tape while reading the sermon. I highlight words, phrases and sentences that I missed and do the same memory exercises ten times over again. At this point I can quote chapters 5 and 6. I've still got a ways to go. I typically walk while I’m memorizing. When I finish a section or a chapter I drop a bead or break a stick or drop a rock until I’ve done it ten times. I quote it over and over until I get dizzy then I take a little break and do it over again. I wish I could find a short cut to memory work but this is the only way I know how to do it. I like to do this memory work in the cemetery across the street from the church. Jeanie has walked with me a couple of times. When I make a mistake she corrects me. I also quoted chapter 5 to mom this morning while we were waiting for folks to show up at the food pantry. It helps to have others listen and correct me when I make mistakes. Distractions are a problem. A dog can run across the cemetery or a person can walk by and I get distracted. I have to overcome this because there will be all kinds of movement in the assembly this Sunday. I hope I can do it without drawing a blank or experiencing some uncomfortable pause because I forget some part of it. There have been several wonderful moments of worship this week. At times, I remember all of chapter 5 and 6. And as I quote the sermon I feel so alive in the Spirit. I’m spellbound by Jesus’ words. Sometimes, before I quote it, I pray “Lord, live in me. Speak through me. Let me say it like you said it.” It’s the greatest sermon ever heard. I hope I do a good job this Sunday. I hope I can remember it and that the people will see and hear Jesus.