by johnkking

Hearing Jesus

Do you remember the VBS song? The words are, “The wise man built his house upon the rock…”

Before you read any further, please answer a question. What is Jesus talking about when he made the comparison that this song memorializes? What is he saying to the people who have just heard the “Sermon on the Mount”?

Jesus says, “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).

Our wisdom or folly hinges on whether or not we put Jesus’ teachings into practice in our daily lives. What kind of things has Jesus just been teaching?

A survey of chapter 5 in Matthew reveals the following teachings:

Rejoice when people persecute you (5:11-12). Do good deeds openly so people will praise God (5:13-16). Quickly seek reconciliation with any brother you harm (5:23-25). Guard against looking lustfully (5:27-30). Honor your marriage vows (5:31-32).  Keep your promises (5:33-37). Refuse retaliation (5:38-42). Love your enemies (5:44).

Add to that brief list the teachings of chapters 6 and 7. Now honestly answer the question, “Am I practicing Jesus’ teachings? Am I a wise man, or a fool? Am I building on a solid foundation or sand?”

“Do I obey Jesus?” is the heart of discipleship. Will I listen to him and put what he tells me to do into practice?

Accepting him as Savior is one thing. Obeying him as Lord is another.

This morning I met with seven guys in the local jail. We did a Discovery Bible Study of John 15:1-17. Here Jesus teaches his disciples that our heavenly Father works for us to be abundantly fruitful. God is the gardener. He is willing to do whatever it takes to bear much fruit in our lives. Here we also see Jesus is the vine–we must abide/remain in him.

Then Jesus transitions from the word picture of the vineyard to say that if we love him we will obey him. Disobedience demonstrates a lack of love. His perfect love for the Father was revealed through his perfect obedience. Part of Jesus’ obedience was to reveal the Father to us. Watching Jesus through the gospels shows us God’s heart.

Growing in love with Jesus causes us to abide. Abiding prompts us to build wisely. Our obedience forms a solid foundation. The structure of our lives is secure on this foundation. Are you wise? If so, God will bless you with abundant fruitfulness.

by johnkking

So Much Potential!

A few weeks ago I was attending a “Pass the Salt” luncheon. It meets most Wednesdays here in Murfreesboro and the focus is encouraging believers to exert kingdom influence in the marketplace. A good friend was speaking. He told amazing stories about God’s move among Muslim people in Africa. The message that God is touching historically resistant people captured the attention of another man who was present.

The second guy introduced himself to me and we started talking about some of the trips I had made to Africa with the speaker. Eventually our mutual friend started talking with both of us. The guy I had just met asked the speaker to mentor him in doing the same kind of outreach here in some neighborhoods where he had been working for a while. The speaker suggested I would be the better candidate for training and mentoring him, so a new relationship was begun.

We have been meeting weekly for just over a month. This brother clearly has a heart for the neighborhoods he mentioned and has gained credibility among several people there. As I introduced him to Discovery Bible Studies (DBS) he started to see that they may hold great potential. While it took him a few meetings to get his brain wrapped around the counter-intuitive approaches, he quickly grasped the concept of a Person of Peace opening his/her family to the good news of the kingdom and he was convinced he already knew some (last week he expressed there may be as many as 17).

After he set up the first gatherings through one of these possible Persons of Peace he called to see if we could meet quickly so I could review what should take place in a DBS. Our schedules allowed us to meet immediately and we reviewed the eight questions that drive these studies. He was excited about what would come from this gathering.

Last Wednesday he shared that there were seven people present for the DBS. They were all invited by a guy who had just been released from jail two weeks ago. Five of the seven were totally unchurched. Each found the format enjoyable and non-threatening. One confessed he usually stayed away from religious discussions, but this was different. Another participated freely even though she usually did not talk in group settings. It will be interesting hearing how their second Discovering God study went when we meet again.

While this group is very much in the infant stage, I wanted to share about it to tell about a specific point. The guy that I am training/mentoring told me that he needed to talk about an idea he had. He was just “running it by” me and was not sure whether he was set on this yet, but wanted my input. He said, “I am thinking I will facilitate the group for about six meetings and then hand it off to the Person of Peace.” Though I am confident I had already talked with him about the need to train the Person of Peace to facilitate much earlier than that, it was obvious this had not sunk in, yet.

I reminded him that the goal is to make sure everything we do is reproducible. Those who are participating need to be able to do what we do in a DBS from day one. This is one reason we keep all the discussion tied to that day’s passage and always steer the conversation back by saying, “Help me see where you find that in the verses we read.” We want anyone to be able to reproduce what happens in a DBS.

Then I reiterated that he should not facilitate more than two or three of the gatherings. The earlier he gets the Person of Peace to agree to facilitate the greater the likelihood is that additional DBSs will multiply from this one. As God’s Spirit produces transformation in the lives of these people, they will begin to talk about what is happening in the studies with others. This is when they will probably ask about inviting new people to the group. Rather than doing that, it is better to begin coaching that group member in facilitating a study where that new person invites other family and friends to participate. If this person has seen the Person of Peace facilitate the DBS, then he/she is more likely to be willing to give it a try. The longer it takes for the transition to happen, the less likely it will happen. Then the whole process is restricted by the ability of one person to facilitate multiple studies.

This is why we talk about focusing on the few to reach the many and going slow to go fast. This process of reproduction benefits those who learn to facilitate a second-generation group. They are studying these passages that reveal God’s character multiple times. First, with their original group. Second, when they are being trained to facilitate the second-generation group. Third, with the second-generation group. Also, they are quickly imitating what they have witnessed and this process has them handling God’s Word at successively deeper levels.

Often when believers first hear about this process they doubt it can really happen. Even if they believe it happened in India or Africa, they are sure it cannot happen here in America. What they really doubt is that what happens in such a discovery study can produce enough positive effects that participants will become motivated to help others experience it, too. They are really revealing that their handling of Scriptures does not produce enough fruit in their lives to motivate them to share what they are learning with others. If they are not willing to pass this on, they cannot envision DBSs accomplishing more.

Recent interviews with people in the U.S. who are being blessed by such DBSs drove this point home for me. People who are discipling multiple people who are facilitating DBSs realized that around the fourth or fifth studies the participants recognized that they were being changed by what happens in the gatherings. Upon this realization they begin actively telling others about Discovering God. As they talk it up, they eventually encounter others who are open to experiencing the same and second, third or fourth generation groups begin. The key is keeping this easily reproducible so those who start talking it up are able to envision themselves facilitating this group or coaching the Peron of Peace to facilitate it from day one.

The guy I am discipling said something astute about the Person of Peace who pulled together this first group–“He has so much potential! I could see him reaching so many people.”

by johnkking

Why Not Here?

Recently I was asked if I have a theory for why Church Planting Movements (CPMs) happen in some places and not in others. I do and I am sharing that answer below.

Simply put, the more “churched” people are, the more likely they are resistant to disciple making movements. We have always seen a strong correlation. CPM works in the highly resistant, radical Hindu and Muslim areas of northern India more than in the southern areas where Churches of Christ, Baptist, et al missionaries have operated for generations.

Our approach (what Western people grew up experiencing) is actually a highly contextualized gospel presentation/modeling that developed in response to the highly individualistic rationalistic-enlightenment of Western Europe and the U.S. But the very same reasons why it appealed to several generations of Americans are the same reasons why it is being rejected by post-enlightenment people in those same regions and why it bore little fruit in pre-enlightenment people groups in other parts of the world..

I know, you are glazing over. I understand. I do too, just reading back over it. While I am tempted to delete that last paragraph, I will leave it because it may connect with other things you have read. Let me use an analogy, though.

Near where I live there is a large farm that is surrounded by subdivisions on two sides and an industrial park on the other two sides. It is just a matter of time before that land is bought out and converted to one of these two uses. Until that happens, there is some high-tech farming going on there to raise cotton. They use herbicides to poison the ground cover in the spring and then use huge no-till equipment to plant the cotton in perfectly aligned rows. At the peak time they use some Star Wars-like apparatuses to apply more herbicides to the weeds growing between those rows and fertilizers on the cotton. Recently they have used specialized machinery to harvest that cotton and pack it in bales about the size of a tractor-trailer trailer.

All of that technology works here in Murfreesboro. Would it work in sub-Saharan Africa? Yes, but would it be practical? No.

Highly educated people like me have tried to take a highly contextualized gospel presentation/modeling method (comparable to the high-tech farming) to people groups who rejected it because it is so foreign. Yes, even if they know it will work for us here, they are quite sure it will not work for them there. Even if we use it there successfully, they will attribute that to us because we are different from them. They have seen lots of our stuff work only as long as we are there to prop it up with our money and our foreign ways.

But Jesus lived and discipled in a far different culture than our Western world. His life was lived with people with worldviews much more like those of sub-Saharan Africa and rural China than like ours.

CPM feels like a natural fit to people groups who still have a strong sense of multi-generational extended family. Such families feel like our Western evangelism is more closely akin to kidnapping and brainwashing (like we might view a cult). To reach them it is best to use a slower process that simultaneously exposes many of the family members to the worldview-shaping stories of Israel’s God and Jesus, the Father’s final answer to humanity’s problems. When such a process is facilitated by a family member, he/she intuitively raises issues as an insider, unlike we would because we are outsiders. Here the family comes to consensus.

Now here is the challenge for us, if I am correct. How much are the people there in your situation more like the Western worldview than the pre-enlightenment worldview? Maybe the region of the world where you live is in transition. Because of rapid urbanization and increased financial resources, mega-cities more nearly resemble the Western world from the outside. But are they?

Likely you’ve heard the old adage: “You can take the boy out of the country, but you cannot take the country out of the boy.” How does this apply? While they may be doggedly pursuing Western wealth, fashions and power, are they still rural people in their inner being? I do not know.

I firmly believe that the CPM critical elements will have to be applied differently in urban settings than in rural settings. They will have to be tailor-fitted for each people group.

Within one of the African nations where a friend worked extensively, there are multiple CPMs within the same geographic region. One is among people who grew up in an ancient church heritage (comparable to the Russian Orthodox). There is another for Muslim Background Believers. There is another for former Animists. The starting worldview for these three groups is radically different and attempting to address all in the same setting with the same strategies would preclude reaching any of them.

Okay, I anticipate you want me to ground all of this in Scripture—as you should. Think with me about why there are four gospels in our New Testaments.

Each is an accurate presentation of the good news of Jesus for four different people groups with four different worldviews. Matthew presents Jesus for the Jewish background believers. Mark presents Jesus for the Roman worldview. Luke presents Jesus for the Gentile background believer. And John presents Jesus for the Eastern worldview people who were conducting their trading excursions into the province of Asia.

The Jesus film has met with more success in Muslim African regions than in most of Asia. A young Cambodian church planter told a friend he knew why. “The Jesus Film uses the wrong gospel. If it used John’s gospel instead of Luke’s it would be more fruitful here,” he opined.

Now what do we do here in America? We chop up the four and then put the pieces together in chronological order and call it a Harmony of the Gospels. Our actions could be seen as presumptuous. It looks as though we believe God needs our help to get it right. I believe this is an example of our cultural imperialism.

Back to the opening question, again. Why haven’t any of the guys I worked with in jail become church planters planting churches that plant churches? I am attempting to do this in a highly churched area. Every guy in this jail (except possibly a couple of Laotians at one point) brings a mental image of “church” to every Discovery Bible Study. Some of their experiences help and some hurt. Much like a marriage counselor working with a couple, they bring their family of origin and their marriage experiences into every discussion of family—whether they realize it or not. You can deconstruct that (and sometimes you must) and/or you can try to quickly train them in healthy ways to deal with challenges rather than digging through their past dysfunctional coping skills.

I’ve tried the later. My fruit says I probably need to also do more of the former. I thought the brother who trained me was too confrontational on these matters and wanted to try a different approach. I think I have kept some people engaged in the conversation longer than he would, but he certainly has room to challenge whether or not that has produced the results I wanted. He stays overly busy with people who want to give something new a try so he does not worry about those who will have to chew on this for a long while. Because I have stayed with a congregation that I had already spent 13 years modeling very traditional approaches, I was forced to attempt different approaches.

I pray for the day when there are CPMs in middle Tennessee. I am currently training a group of six and then also a couple of individuals who have a passion for refugees and/or college students in this area. Recently I have heard that there are some exciting things happening among Hispanics and Latinos in California. I pray for the day when it happens among some of the 136 different people groups in the Nashville region.

by johnkking

Why Does Coming Home Feel So Strange?

Earlier this year I had a group of friends who came back to the U.S. after spending a year teaching English in Asia. They shared a range of emotions experienced through re-entry. Uniformly, they were surprised that the adjustment was so hard.

Each expressed that moving to this Asian nation had brought culture-shock. Speaking so little of the language compounded the cultural challenges. Knowing they were not staying long enough to gain fluency made it difficult to pour themselves into learning the language. Being employed to teach conversational English meant their job kept them focused on speaking their mother-tongue, too.

But that was last year. Now they are home. Their blond hair and pale skin no longer result in anyone staring. Why feel so odd being back in the States?

People in any culture are basically oblivious to how they are shaped by their upbringing. Many of us have little appreciation for what culture is until we are adrift in a foreign one. Paul Hiebert says, “Culture shock is the disorientation we experience when all the cultural maps and guidelines we learned as children no longer work…In a new culture much of our old knowledge is useless, if not misleading….We are overwhelmed by constantly having to face confusing situations and the strain of learning a new way of life” (Anthropological Insights for Missionaries, pp. 64-73).

But we are more prone to cut ourselves some slack when we move to a new country. Yes, we go with unrealistically high expectations for ourselves, but we are at least open to the likelihood of experiencing culture shock. But when we return home, the re-adjustment will be much quicker and easier, right?

Hiebert warns us, “After this initial excitement [of our return] subsides, we begin the serious business of reestablishing ourselves in the local culture. It is now that we begin to experience irritation and frustration. Things that once seemed so natural now look extravagant and insensitive in a world of need. People seem so parochial. They soon lose interest in our stories and turn to more important topics of conversation—changes in the latest models of cars, local politics, neighborhood gossip, and sports. We even find it hard to relate to our friends and relatives because they will not listen, or they will listen politely but do not seem to understand what we are trying to say….Our frustration is intensified by the fact that all this is so unexpected. We have become strangers in our own culture! We are put into new roles we did not expect. We are out-of-step with the lifestyles that once seemed so important but now seem so extravagant and self-centered” (AIfM, pp. 78-79).

Humor, flexibility, forgiveness and thankfulness are four antidotes to the stress of culture-shock. Whether we are leaving or returning, we need to remember that people are not laughing at us, but at our strange ways and faux pas. Laughing with them overcomes the fear of failure that often prevents us from trying something new. Remember that relationships are more important than plans and schedules. Be flexible. The Gospel is a message of grace. Forgiveness is at the core of our identity in Christ. Thankfulness rejoices at everything that goes well. Peace is often found in the company of joy and thanksgiving. Practice the gospel. Live kingdom realities.

When you re-enter, be sure to thank Papa God for the insight you have by gaining a second cultural lens. You are now able to see the world with greater depth (the distance between your two eyes creates your capacity to adequately judge depth). Realize no place is home, as it used to be. Recognize that we are pilgrims—we are just passing through!

by johnkking

Coping With a Crazy Busy Schedule

Two down, two to go! I am halfway through a four-day stretch that is crazy busy. Yesterday we participated in an annual fund-raising dinner for a ministry where I am president of the board of directors. This morning I had my annual physical. Tomorrow my wife and I will be running our first half marathon and then on Sunday our church is participating in Church Outside the Walls!

Putting any of these into a normal week would add to the stress level. Adding all of them to a four-day stretch has been interesting. Everyone of these activities is good. But even good things can add to busy-ness.

Jesus seemed especially prone to slip away from such hectic times to spend special times with Papa God. While I did not spend any all-nighters in prayer, I have found myself praying whenever I wake up thinking about these activities. When our schedules are busiest we most need to guard our times with our Father.

Training for this half marathon has helped me in several ways–some unanticipated. I thought it likely that I would lose some weight and that my cholesterol numbers would benefit. My physical revealed both happened. But the training has also helped me spiritually. I find myself praying while I run. There are some Muslims for whom I pray. There are friends who have lost loved ones. I have prayed for Church Outside the Walls. Like training for a half marathon, intercession requires discipline. It has been great to couple spiritual discipline with physical discipline. But the running has also given me deeper insights into Hebrews 11:39 – 12:13.

Running a 13.1 mile race takes planning. It is easier to train when you have a partner–Debra and I have kept each other going. Keeping your eye on the goal and breaking the preparation down into manageable chunks is essential. Perseverance is demanded and it increases with training.

Throw a major home-remodeling project into the mix over these last two weeks and the recipe was ripe for a melt-down. But the extra prayer time and the running helped me stay sane through a crazy busy schedule.

Practice discipline. Be healthy. God will equip you for challenges that lie ahead!

by johnkking

Overcoming Apathy in Your Walk

A few months ago, I heard from a friend who is a missionary in the southern hemisphere.  He wrote, “I have struggled immensely with language shock, apathy in my walk with God, spiritual warfare, despair, and depression.  I am tired.  I have felt so alone here.” Below is the counsel and offer to help I gave him.

Fold a piece of unlined paper into three equal parts like you would a letter you are about to put into an envelope.  Open it up and draw a line in those two creases.  Turn it landscape orientation and write the following at the top of each of the three columns:

God’s Word:                             In My Words:                               “I Will…” Statements:

Open to Ephesians 1:1 and write as many verses as you can in that first column taking about 10 minutes (including beginning with a prayer to hear God’s voice).  Yes, write the verses out word for word.  This is a form of meditation that addresses “Spiritual Attention Deficit Disorder.”  Ten minutes.

Now take the next 10 minutes to re-write the meaning of what you just copied from the Bible.  Here you want to rephrase it like you are telling a 12 year old what the passage means.  Be sure to highlight any insights into God that are revealed in the passage you just wrote.

Now take the next 10 minutes writing statements affirming what you are going to do to obey this passage.  Each statement should begin with the words, “I Will.”  Some passages are harder to do this with than others, but it can be done with any section of God’s Word.  There is an acrostic (S.P.E.C.K.) that can help with the more difficult sections:

  • Sin—Is there a Sin identified in this text that I need to confess or avoid.
  • Prayer/Praise/Promise—Is there a Prayer I should pray? A Praise I should give? Or a Promise I should claim?
  • Example—Is there an Example in this passage I should imitate?
  • Command—Is there a Command I should put into practice?
  • Knowledge—Is there Knowledge here that I need to learn?

Do this Monday through Friday.  Saturday take a break from writing.  Review the five sections you have written.  Ask God to reveal who you know who needs to hear one of the interesting things you have learned about God through your study this week.  Thank God for what he has revealed and ask him to reveal even more about himself next week.  On Sunday begin by asking for wisdom to discern which “I Will…” Statement you most need to pursue.  Now list 3-4 steps you can take next week to put that “I Will…” Statement into practice.

Start the process over again the next Monday.  Thirty minutes a day.  Work through Ephesians.  Scan these into your computer and email them to me as attachments.  I will respond to them as a friend, brother and accountability partner.

The only way this can get any better is to start doing the process with 3-5 people from your neighborhood.  It is amazing how much more we hear from God when we do this process with a group.  The other benefit is they will help provide accountability for you.

by johnkking

Ephesians Applied to My Life (cont.)

Ephesians 6:10-24

(10-12) Strength comes in God’s power. To stand against Satan you have to wear the protection God gives. Remember our warfare isn’t against people, but against spiritual beings that rule over darkness.

(13-17) Wear God’s protection so you can withstand their attacks. The belt of truth protects your waist and righteousness your chest. Your feet are readied by the good news of peace. Trusting in God shields you from every flaming arrow Satan sends your way. Salvation protects your head; God’s word is the Spirit’s sword.

(18-20) Always pray in the Spirit.  Be vigilant, especially in prayer for other believers. Pray for Paul to speak the right words with boldness as he tells of God’s plan for oneness. That’s why he represents Jesus from imprisonment.  Pray he will faithfully keep on telling this good news.

(21-22) Tychicus will verbally fill in the gaps letting the churches of Asia know how Paul is doing—he’s trustworthy like that. He’s coming to let you know how Paul is doing and to build you up.

(23-24) Peace, love and faith come to his children from Papa God and Jesus. God will be gracious to everyone who loves Jesus with an unending devotion.

“I Will…” Statements

  • I will rely on God’s power.
  • I will take up God’s protection and withstand Satan’s deceptions.
  • I will stop fighting people, because I am at war with spiritual beings.
  • I will win my battles through God’s protection.
  • I will act with truth and righteousness to stay safe.
  • I will walk consistent with the good news from God.
  • I will rely on God to protect me from Satan’s attacks.
  • I will wear my salvation helmet and use the word—the Spirit’s sword.
  • I will keep my eyes open and pray through the Spirit for all the disciples.
  • I will pray that my teacher will be faithful and fearless at the work of including others.
  • I will pray my teacher will speak without fear, even in spite of persecution.
  • I will remember that some things are better said face to face.
  • I will accept the messenger of a dear friend and receive encouragement as though delivered in person.
  • I will bless others with peace, love and faith from Papa God and Lord Jesus.
  • I will experience grace as I love Jesus with an unending devotion.
by johnkking

Ephesians Applied to My Life (cont.)

Ephesians 5:21-6:9

(21) Since Jesus submits to the Father, we will recognize proper lines of submission.

(22-33) A wife’s husband is accountable. Just as Jesus answers for the church, he will answer for his wife. As the church submits to Jesus, so the wife submits. Husband, imitate Jesus with a servant love for your wife. His love made the church godlier. Jesus made the church more beautiful and purer. Model Jesus.  Love her like your own body—you are one in marriage. Every sane person takes care of his body rather than abusing it.  We get to imitate Jesus in this. We are parts of his body. This oneness has always been God’s plan for marriage. A great marriage gives deep insight into Jesus’ love for the church. Husband, love her like yourself; wife honor him.

Ephesians 6

(1-4) God rewards children for obeying their parents. He attached the first promise of a blessing to honoring them. Good things and life expectancy are tied to obeying your parents. Dads must nurture faith rather than bullying their children.

(5-9) Superiors should be treated in the same way you submit to Jesus. Not only when they are watching you because you are mindful of God’s will for you. Give them the kind of service you would give God. You know God sees and rewards every good deed.  Your status doesn’t matter in this. Supervisors, treat your people with respect.  Don’t bully them since you know God is over both of you and he doesn’t play favorites.

“I Will…” Statements

  • I will build respectful relationships.
  • I will be the kind of husband to whom  Debra finds it easy to submit.
  • I will have a saving influence in my leadership role.
  • I will lead like Jesus so Debra knows she’s blessed in my leadership.
  • I will be like Jesus—loving Debra with a sacrificial love.
  • I will love so that it makes her a better person.
  • I will lead her into increasing holiness.
  • I will love Debra with the protective love I have for myself.
  • I will care for her as I care for myself—better yet, love her as Christ loved the church.
  • I will reflect Jesus’ cares for me.
  • I will remember that oneness is God’s goal for marriage.
  • I will show Jesus’ love for the church in my marriage.
  • I will love Debra like myself so she can readily respect me.
  • I will obey my parents with a godly respect.
  • I will remember God’s promised blessing.
  • I will recognize God blesses my respect for my parents.
  • I will create a healthy environment that nurtures faith in Kenneth and Rachel rather than frustrates them.
  • I will have a respectful relationship with my accountability people.
  • Iwill be a man of integrity doing what’s right even when they are not looking.
  • I will give them the service I would give God as my boss.
  • I will recognize God will reward any good I do.
  • I will treat those who answer me with dignity and respect.  I will not strong-arm them because God will settle the score.
by johnkking

Ephesians Applied to My Life (cont.)

[NOTE: I will begin with my re-statement of the passage. Then I will present a list of “I Will…” Statements that I wrote based on that section. Reading these sections will give you some insight into what struck me as I studied through these texts, but your time would be better spent doing your own 3-column study first. After you have written your study then reading mine will give you another set of eyes and experiences that may help you with your efforts to hear from God.]

Ephesians 5:1-20

(1-2) Our lives increasingly look like Papa God. They are shaped by the love of Jesus, our ransom price.

(3-5) Living righteously like God precludes sexual sins and fulfillment of any kind of lust or greed. Rather than “suggestive” speech, we should be known for our words of gratitude. Rest assured, rebellion against godly living disqualifies us from kingdom living.

(6-9) God will punish such living regardless of what talkers may say. Don’t join with their rebellion. You used to live that way, but Jesus enlightened you.  Shine! Light shows in goodness, holiness and honesty.

(10-14) Do what pleases Jesus. Reject rebellious ways.  Shine the light of Jesus on them. Don’t even whisper their hidden, rebellious ways. Under the light we see clearly. The truth becomes apparent. That is why we are told, “Wake up, live anew, Jesus will shine on you.”

(15-20) Make godly choices about your lifestyle. Use time wisely—too much of it is already wasted in rebellion. Recognize God’s ways and choose them always. Rather than being known for drunkenness, be full of God’s Spirit. Use your voices to sing God’s glory.  Praise him with your heart melodies. Through Jesus you can thank Papa God for all things.

“I Will…” Statements

  • I will behave like God does out of love.
  • I will love others with a self-sacrificing love like Jesus.
  • I will be godly—stay sexually pure, honest and financially content.
  • I will replace “suggestive” speech with thanksgiving.
  • I will receive Jesus’ inheritance through growing purity.
  • I will be obedient and avoid God’s punishment for rebellion.
  • I will not join with the disobedient.
  • I will remember how God has changed me and live that change out.
  • I will be fruitful in godliness.
  • I will seek Jesus’ will.
  • I will avoid rebellion by being honest about it.
  • I will stay totally away from the rebellious.
  • I will bring the hidden out to the light.
  • I will let Jesus’ light test everything.
  • I will make good choices.
  • I will use time constructively.
  • I will seek God’s will.
  • I will not be a drunkard, but will fill up on God’s Spirit.
  • I will use my voice to teach others and praise God with wholesome words.
  • I will thank God through Jesus.
by johnkking

Ephesians Applied to My Life (cont.)

[NOTE: I will begin with my re-statement of the passage. Then I will present a list of “I Will…” Statements that I wrote based on that section. Reading these sections will give you some insight into what struck me as I studied through these texts, but your time would be better spent doing your own 3-column study first. After you have written your study then reading mine will give you another set of eyes and experiences that may help you with your efforts to hear from God.]

Ephesians 4:1-32

(1-6) Reminded why Paul was imprisoned, he admonishes them to be righteous in their living. Love excludes haughty and harsh behavior.  It prompts compassion. Work hard to maintain the peaceful oneness the Spirit created: One family, one Comforter, one confident expectation. One master, one surrender, one washing. One Papa God reigning and living in each and every one of us.

(7-13) Individually Christ gave us gifts. This is why the Word says, “Coming up he had the Victor’s entrance, leading his spoils and giving out gifts.” (The one coming up had earlier gone down from heaven to earth. The one who came down later went up to the highest place, so everything reaches fulfillment.) This Victor appointed some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastor/teachers. Giftings to equip God’s children to do edifying acts of servanthood. This building up continues until God’s family is mature compared to Jesus, walking like he walked.

(14-16) Such maturity will prevent us from being battered by false teachers who work hard to trip us up. Rather, lovingly saying what is right, we will become more and more like Jesus our Master. He is the one the family becomes stronger in by doing our own part.  Like a body growing stronger through focused exercise, we work together focusing on our mutual good.

(17-19) In view of all Jesus has accomplished, we must stop living the way unbelievers do, in their vain thinking. They don’t “get it” since their hearts are hard and they are spiritually dull and live a different lifestyle. Without a spiritual focus they keep choosing rebellion to God by seeking increasingly unholy ways to satisfy their human desires.

(20-24) Jesus changed our thinking. We came to know the truth about God through him when we were discipled. We were taught to stop living in self-destructive ways. We learned to be renewed in our thinking. We learned to be transformed to become more and more like God—doing what is right and holy.

(25-29) Integrity—being honest with our neighbors is expected because we are in the same family. When angry we must not sin—we will deal with our anger today so we limit Satan’s access to us. As people of integrity we avoid the temptation to steal by working hard to provide for ourselves and have some to share with the needy. We replace destructive speech with constructive conversation.  People who hear us are blessed.

(30) Our talking doesn’t sadden the Holy Spirit—God’s pledge of the coming redemption.

(31-32) Hatefulness, stirring up turmoil and lying about others are out of the question for us. Like God treated us with grace, we forgive and treat others with gentleness and empathy.

“I Will…” Statements

  • I will live up to my calling to a righteous life.
  • In humility I will put up with a lot from the people I love in God’s family.
  • I will work hard to hold on to the peace God’s unifying Spirit creates.
  • I will remember the seven ones:  church, Spirit, hope. Lord, faith, baptism and Father unite us.  I will put work boots and gloves on this unity.
  • I will stay humble regarding Jesus’ gifts.
  • I will recognize only Jesus earned the right to give these gifts.
  • I will follow his example of humbly leaving heaven to become a man.
  • I will recognize God exalted him for his humility; he will exalt you.
  • I will accept the fact that Jesus set the kingdom up according to his purpose.
  • I will build up the body by using my gifts in serving others.
  • I will work for God’s goal of mature faith in Jesus.
  • I will measure up to the standard of Jesus.
  • I will seek maturity because it protects us from the damaging effects of false teachers.
  • I will lovingly speak the truth like Jesus so we grow to be more and more like our head.
  • I will remember it takes all of us working together under his guidance to be built up in love—each must do his/her part.
  • I will choose mature thinking, rather than thinking in the old futile ways.
  • I will keep my heart soft by doing whatever God calls me to do.
  • I will realize disobedience contributes to a destructive insensitivity and sets in motion increasing levels of rebellion.
  • I will remember how I started.
  • I will remember the truth about Jesus started me off so I will stay in it.
  • I will obey the truth I learn and stop the old way of living.
  • I will seek a godly attitude each day.
  • I will do righteous and holy things since God transforms me through them.
  • I will be honest with members of God’s family.
  • I will deal today with anger that arises.
  • I will limit Satan’s use of my anger.
  • Rather than stealing, I will use hard work to provide for myself and to share with the needy.
  • I will speak only helpful words so my words are beneficial to my hearers.
  • I will make sure what I say is appropriate for the Spirit to hear.
  • I will choose not to be hateful and/or a trouble-maker.
  • I will treat others with kindness and forgiveness because Jesus did the same to me.